Prediction: Nothing will change as a result of the recent revelations about NSA spying on US citizens. There will be no substantial restrictions on its programs or slowing of its growth. This is a key moment in the birth of a New America, when we feel the harness on us — and accept it. America is a democracy, and we choose to accept our fate.
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Qui tacet consentire videtur ubi loqui debuit ac potuit.
Silence gives consent when he could have spoken.
Every day is referendum.
Every day without large protests is a vote for the New America.
Most of what you see and read about the NSA revelations ignores its true significance: the NSA revelations are just another party in the Versailles on the Potomac. Like Benghazi! (a fake scandal) and the IRS investigations into the tax exemption of the Tea Party groups (fully justified; many or most do not qualify). Journalists scribble copy. Wise men and women speak deep thoughts before the cameras. Congress will hold hearings.
These are important functions of government, maintaining the illusion that the Second Republic gives while its corpse rots and stinks in full view. Our OODA loop is broken because we do not want to see (understanding that explains much of the news, much about New America).
We pay people well to do provide this valuable service, helping us to ignore what we have become and how we have betrayed the trust passed down to us from our forefathers. These things are happening because we have a democracy. Government power grows and concentrates inevitably once the people no longer fight to retain their liberty. That’s the great circle of life in action.
Our elected representatives give us what we truly want.
- Both political parties support the expanding government power.
- Majorities of both parties vote for its enabling legislation. They vote not to know what the government does.
- When the revelations surface about the latest expansion of government power, they utter meaningless vague protests.
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That is the important aspect of the previous revelations about increased government power. And about recent revelations of increased government power. And about the next ones. Americans want a better government just like Cinderella wanted a better life — in dreams, not by deeds.
Silence gives consent. A harsh reality; part of the great circle of life.
For More Information
The “For More Information” section of yesterday’s post has links to some of the best articles about the NSA revelations.
Pretty much all you need to know to see America’s future (unless you decide to change it):
- Loki helps us to see our true selves
- The short version of American history: past, present, & future
- There is no problem with America’s political system, or the Republic
- A nation lit only by propaganda
Now more than ever, Uncle Sam needs your help
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You are right, this is what the politicians deliver because they have every reason to believe that is what we want. We ask for protection, safety, security, prosperity, and everything else under the sun, but we refuse to take on the burden of self-government upon our own shoulders.
We need to start seeing politicians as aids to our goals, not as crutches to alleviate our responsibility to collectively create our own future.
“We ask for protection, safety, security, prosperity, and everything else under the sun, but we refuse to take on the burden of self-government upon our own shoulders.”
I agree. When Americans want change, then we can work to get politicians to deliver change.
“We need to start seeing politicians as aids to our goals, not as crutches to alleviate our responsibility to collectively create our own future.”
Politicians are “aids to our goals”; that is the essence of representative democracy. They are not crutches, they are the links (eg, cams, driveshafts) in the democratic machinery between us and the government.
Your first paragraph went to the heart of the matter. How to change what we want, how we see ourselves? A first step might be getting Americans to assume responsibility for America — rather than shifting the blame to others, like we do today. Or perhaps creating dissatisfaction with current conditions, or with the trend of events. These are important details. The key is understanding that we are the schwerpunkt.
From the Strategic Science website:
Is this unknown territory without map? I have been trying to come up with some historical parallels but come up blank. If this is so as you describe Fabius, are there historical precedents for a slow internal derailing of a middle class based society? Precedents for revolution and crisis yes. But creeping … the only ones that comes to mind are -very approximately- Argentina early 20th c. (economics), maybe France of the 3rd republic (demoralization), but the security part …
“Interesting times” ahead?
I have often said that we’re in unknown territory — off the map — in terms of economic dynamics. Modern economies are unlike anything in history; modern monetary policy has few precedents in modern history.
Politically less so. Perhaps we are following soemthing like Polybius’sequence of anacyclosis: Monarchy, Tyranny, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy, and Ochlocracy (mob rule). While the sequence varies, the broad pattern is age-old.
Some historical parallels:
Polybius money quote on the decline of democracy :
“And as long as any survive who have had experience of oligarchical supremacy and domination, they regard their present constitution as a blessing, and hold equality and freedom as of the utmost value. But as soon as a new generation has arisen, and the democracy has descended to their children’s children, long association weakens their value for equality and freedom, and some seek to become more powerful than the ordinary citizens; and the most liable to this temptation are the rich…”
Not encouraging, but the fellow seems spot on to this juncture. I gather they did try to build Polybius solution into the current US constitution….
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