American Unseriousness

[CO. Hoosier]

An interesting piece about where we are as a country and society at this moment. Read the whole thing

The Case for American Seriousness

We don't need aging institutions to pave the way for 21st-century dynamism. What we need is will. And audacity.

bariweiss.substack.com

As noted, in many important ways, the United States is in a period of decline in the world. While many will contend this decline is part of the natural rise and fall of great societies, I refuse to accept that. Societies decline for reasons, reasons that we see right now.

There are reasons why we have a group of geriatrics well past their sell-by dates in office and in charge.
There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and brightest.
There are reasons why unfettered free expression and open discussion of ideas and opinions is under attack.
Most people in the world do not live under a system that features the consent of the governed. We do. There are reasons for that. There are also reasons why it is now fashionable to reject those who gave us that system.

Most importantly our racial struggles was on the cusp of seeing people for character apart from skin color, we then slammed on the breaks and now again make race and skin color the most important and defining human attribute. There are reasons for that too.

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

^^^ Very meta of you.

 

[larsIU]

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

^^^ Very meta of you.

What does “meta” mean?

 

[CO. Hoosier]

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

I had to say something to engage all levels of thinking to my point.

 

[UncleMark]

What does “meta” mean?

There are reasons for this.

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

What does “meta” mean?

Bravo on not breaking character.

 

[larsIU]

Bravo on not breaking character.

He's a method poster. The Christian Bale of the WC

 

[IUCrazy2]

When you make a post about unseriousness and everyone responding trips over themselves to prove your point.

Edit to add: which is the meta response from leftists when a topic that could lead them to face things they don't want to talk about because it leads to cognitive dissonance comes up.

It is funny when the unserious world turns and bites them on the ass though, like Zeke's comment that men cannot have babies so they have no say in abortion but ooopsie, we live in a clown world now.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

Bravo on not breaking character.

I don’t think meta means that. Try again?

 

[CO. Hoosier]

He's a method poster. The Christian Bale of the WC

Nah. Just a old fart trial lawyer.

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

When you make a post about unseriousness and everyone responding trips over themselves to prove your point.

Edit to add: which is the meta response from leftists when a topic that could lead them to face things they don't want to talk about because it leads to cognitive dissonance comes up.

It is funny when the unserious world turns and bites them on the ass though, like Zeke's comment that men cannot have babies so they have no say in abortion but ooopsie, we live in a clown world now.

Good try, loyal soldier.

 

[outside shooter]

It's hard to recover quickly from having a corrupt lying leader for 4 years who the entire world laughed at.

 

[Bowlmania]

An interesting piece about where we are as a country and society at this moment. Read the whole thing

The Case for American Seriousness

We don't need aging institutions to pave the way for 21st-century dynamism. What we need is will. And audacity.

bariweiss.substack.com

As noted, in many important ways, the United States is in a period of decline in the world. While many will contend this decline is part of the natural rise and fall of great societies, I refuse to accept that. Societies decline for reasons, reasons that we see right now.

There are reasons why we have a group of geriatrics well passed their sell-by dates in office and in charge.
There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and brightest.
There are reasons why enfettered free expression and open discussion of ideas and opinions is under attack.
Most people in the world do not live under a system that features the consent of the governed. We do. There are reasons for that. There are also reasons why it is now fashionable to reject those who gave us that system.

Most importantly our racial struggles was on the cusp of seeing people for character apart from skin color, we then slammed on the breaks and now again make race and skin color the most important and defining human attribute. There are reasons for that too.

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

Are you sure you're not well past (not "passed") your sell-by date? This is very poorly written (e.g. "enfettered," "our racial struggles was on the cusp," "slammed on the breaks," etc.).

The reason we have a past-his-prime geriatric in the White House is because he got the endorsement of Jim Clyburn, he then won the SC primary and picked up momentum, and he was running against the worst president in modern American history.

I'm sure you won't have a problem with a "well past his sell-by date" presidential nominee in '24 if his initials are DJT, though.

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

Are you sure you're not well past (not "passed") your sell-by date? This is very poorly written (e.g. "enfettered," "our racial struggles was on the cusp," "slammed on the breaks," etc.).

The reason we have a past-his-prime geriatric in the White House is because he got the endorsement of Jim Clyburn, he then won the SC primary and picked up momentum, and he was running against the worst president in modern American history.

I'm sure you won't have a problem with a "well past his sell-by date" presidential nominee in '24 if his initials are DJT, though.

While I thought his thread on "Bunnies and Presidents" was his creative high point, he blew me away with this masterstroke of 3d chess. Almost Trumpian.

 

[IUCrazy2]

Good try, loyal soldier.

My man, you have admitted on several occasions that you go the humor route on some of this stuff. Not one person has posted a serious reply.

Edit to add: looks like bowl may have been the first while I was typing this.

 

[tooold4]

When Aaron Aardvark has a 10-20 point lead before voting even begins, maybe it's not unfettered free speech
that is the problem. Neither are guns, abortion, religion......

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

My man, you have admitted on several occasions that you go the humor route on some of this stuff. Not one person has posted a serious reply.

Well, it's not really a topic that was posted in a serious manner, or by a serious poster, for that matter.
(That's been my whole point, btw, and COH knows it.)

 

[mcmurtry66]

It's hard to recover quickly from having a corrupt lying leader for 4 years who the entire world laughed at.

View embedded media

No. Not even a good try. Just a moronic Yabbut

 

[CO. Hoosier]

Are you sure you're not well past (not "passed") your sell-by date? This is very poorly written (e.g. "enfettered," "our racial struggles was on the cusp," "slammed on the breaks," etc.).

The reason we have a past-his-prime geriatric in the White House is because he got the endorsement of Jim Clyburn, he then won the SC primary and picked up momentum, and he was running against the worst president in modern American history.

I'm sure you won't have a problem with a "well past his sell-by date" presidential nominee in '24 if his initials are DJT, though.

Thanks for the corrections. You’d make a good helper to a creative genius.

In some ways I am well past my sell-by date. In others I’m just getting warmed up.

 

[mcmurtry66]

Are you sure you're not well past (not "passed") your sell-by date? This is very poorly written (e.g. "enfettered," "our racial struggles was on the cusp," "slammed on the breaks," etc.).

The reason we have a past-his-prime geriatric in the White House is because he got the endorsement of Jim Clyburn, he then won the SC primary and picked up momentum, and he was running against the worst president in modern American history.

I'm sure you won't have a problem with a "well past his sell-by date" presidential nominee in '24 if his initials are DJT, though.

Isn't this the oldest congress in history?

 

[larsIU]

When you make a post about unseriousness and everyone responding trips over themselves to prove your point.

Edit to add: which is the meta response from leftists when a topic that could lead them to face things they don't want to talk about because it leads to cognitive dissonance comes up.

It is funny when the unserious world turns and bites them on the ass though, like Zeke's comment that men cannot have babies so they have no say in abortion but ooopsie, we live in a clown world now.

Ok.

It is unserious when the most trusted men in news are stand-up comedians.

Yep. But they are often telling more truth than our "news" channels.

It is unserious to watch the most educated generation in American history not be able to afford a starter home.

Agreed. But, what institution caused this? How does "will" affect home prices?

Building is a political philosophy. It is neither red nor blue, progressive nor conservative. It is averse to the political short-termism and zero-sum thinking that permeates our aging institutions that won’t protect us in this era. There is no fixed pie when it comes to building. Building is an action, a choice, a decision to create and move. It is shovels in the dirt with a motley crew of doers who get the job done because no one else will. Building is the only certainty. The only thing we can control. When the projects we believed were Teflon strong are fraying like the history they toppled, the only thing to do is to make something new again.

So, BOOTSTRAPS KIDS!! Got it. "Building is the only certainty" says the venture capitalist. Like a lion saying meat is the only food.

Build housing for the middle class. Build schools for the kids who want to learn math. Build next-generation defense capabilities with young people who grew up coding. Build PCR tests so that a nasal swab stops the nation from closing businesses at the mere sight of Covid case increases. Build trade schools. Encourage men and women to work with their hands again. Cut the red tape that stops us from building infrastructure fast. Build factories in America. Build resiliency in the supply chain. Build work cultures that support mothers and fathers so they can have more children.

What institution is supposed to build housing for the middle class? Yeah, let's have better schools but don't raise my taxes or pay for better teachers. "Build trade schools", ok. Who's going to do that? "Encourage men and women to work with their hands again". Right, b/c that pays so well in our economy. "Cut the red tape". Effing regulations amirite?

"Build factories in America". HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. If they could make money they would. Ask mcm about it.

Build resiliency in the supply chain. Again, for the hundredth time, who is going to pay for this?

---

This essay, such as it is, is unserious. HERE'S ALL THE PROBLEMS. SOMEBODY FIX THEM FOR ME.

A generation of Musks won't solve those problems. It will actually take institutions to do it.

 

[zeke4ahs]

When you make a post about unseriousness and everyone responding trips over themselves to prove your point.

Edit to add: which is the meta response from leftists when a topic that could lead them to face things they don't want to talk about because it leads to cognitive dissonance comes up.

It is funny when the unserious world turns and bites them on the ass though, like Zeke's comment that men cannot have babies so they have no say in abortion but ooopsie, we live in a clown world now.

Where did I say they have no say? I don’t believe that is the case…

 

[mcmurtry66]

Ok.


Yep. But they are often telling more truth than our "news" channels.


Agreed. But, what institution caused this? How does "will" affect home prices?


So, BOOTSTRAPS KIDS!! Got it. "Building is the only certainty" says the venture capitalist. Like a lion saying meat is the only food.


What institution is supposed to build housing for the middle class? Yeah, let's have better schools but don't raise my taxes or pay for better teachers. "Build trade schools", ok. Who's going to do that? "Encourage men and women to work with their hands again". Right, b/c that pays so well in our economy. "Cut the red tape". Effing regulations amirite?

"Build factories in America". HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. If they could make money they would. Ask mcm about it.

Build resiliency in the supply chain. Again, for the hundredth time, who is going to pay for this?

---

This essay, such as it is, is unserious. HERE'S ALL THE PROBLEMS. SOMEBODY FIX THEM FOR ME.

A generation of Musks won't solve those problems. It will actually take institutions to do it.

Yeah that ain't happening on factories. They are already all over Asia, Central America, and Mexico. Here's one that makes much of the activewear we wear: Lululemon, Puma, Under Armour, Hanes, etc. Two million units a month. And this is just one of so many. These companies aren't pulling their shit from there to start from scratch here. It would cost too much money to reproduce the physical plants here and then the cost of labor - forget it.

Zentrix

ZENTRIX es una empresa de confección de paquete completo, especializada en los mercados de lencería y ropa deportiva.

www.zentrix.com.mx

 

[IUJIM]

Well, it's not really a topic that was posted in a serious manner, or by a serious poster, for that matter.
(That's been my whole point, btw, and COH knows it.)

Quick question, and maybe I missed you posting something about it. Did you give up the WC for Lent?

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

Quick question, and maybe I missed you posting something about it. Did you give up the WC for Lent?

I mean this with all due respect, but that's really no one's business, and because of that, I won't ask why you are asking me.
Sorry if that sounded shitty...it wasn't meant to be...really.
Full disclosure, several weeks ago, I did post that I would see everyone in about 40 days. Take that for what it's worth, but I never said why, and no one else has addressed it upon my return.
Fair enough?

 

[IUCrazy2]

Where did I say they have no say? I don’t believe that is the case…

No say was maybe a little too far, but based on your posts you sure seem to come across as saying that men should have little input, particularly "conservative" type of men, no?

(And you don't have to respond to this one obviously, if you do, I will let the conversation on this particular thing die because I don't want to derail the OP any more than I already have.)

 

[IUCrazy2]

I mean this with all due respect, but that's really no one's business, and because of that, I won't ask why you are asking me.
Sorry if that sounded shitty...it wasn't meant to be...really.
Full disclosure, several weeks ago, I did post that I would see everyone in about 40 days. Take that for what it's worth, but I never said why, and no one else has addressed it upon my return.
Fair enough?

You were gone for awhile and he probably noticed that and connected the two.

I have taken non religious related sabbaticals from the board too. Sometimes it is nice to just turn off the negativity, both that which I create and otherwise.

 

[Bulk VanderHuge]

You were gone for awhile and he probably noticed that and connected the two.

I have taken non religious related sabbaticals from the board too. Sometimes it is nice to just turn off the negativity, both that which I create and otherwise.

I understand, and would have answered the same regardless of who asked.
Good for you, btw.

 

[IUJIM]

I mean this with all due respect, but that's really no one's business, and because of that, I won't ask why you are asking me.
Sorry if that sounded shitty...it wasn't meant to be...really.
Full disclosure, several weeks ago, I did post that I would see everyone in about 40 days. Take that for what it's worth, but I never said why, and no one else has addressed it upon my return.
Fair enough?

Sure.

 

[iuwclurker]

An interesting piece about where we are as a country and society at this moment. Read the whole thing

The Case for American Seriousness

We don't need aging institutions to pave the way for 21st-century dynamism. What we need is will. And audacity.

bariweiss.substack.com

As noted, in many important ways, the United States is in a period of decline in the world. While many will contend this decline is part of the natural rise and fall of great societies, I refuse to accept that. Societies decline for reasons, reasons that we see right now.

There are reasons why we have a group of geriatrics well past their sell-by dates in office and in charge.
There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and brightest.
There are reasons why unfettered free expression and open discussion of ideas and opinions is under attack.
Most people in the world do not live under a system that features the consent of the governed. We do. There are reasons for that. There are also reasons why it is now fashionable to reject those who gave us that system.

Most importantly our racial struggles was on the cusp of seeing people for character apart from skin color, we then slammed on the breaks and now again make race and skin color the most important and defining human attribute. There are reasons for that too.

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

The biggest source of our societal decline by far is drugs and their side effects, mostly pharmaceutical drugs but also “recreational.”

 

[GuyDatHoo]

The biggest source of our societal decline by far is drugs and their side effects, mostly pharmaceutical drugs but also “recreational.”

Someone just watched Dope Sick it seems. The pharma companies re: opioid epeidemic is a red herring. Not they aren’t complicit and profit motivated but the vast majority of people that abuse their drugs were already addicts and people are dying of Fentanyl and Heroin not Vicodin.

 

[hoot1]

Hard for me to get serious over a commentary which in part states,

It is unserious when the most trusted men in news are stand-up comedians.

 

[bub-rub]

An interesting piece about where we are as a country and society at this moment. Read the whole thing

The Case for American Seriousness

We don't need aging institutions to pave the way for 21st-century dynamism. What we need is will. And audacity.

bariweiss.substack.com

As noted, in many important ways, the United States is in a period of decline in the world. While many will contend this decline is part of the natural rise and fall of great societies, I refuse to accept that. Societies decline for reasons, reasons that we see right now.

There are reasons why we have a group of geriatrics well past their sell-by dates in office and in charge.
There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and brightest.
There are reasons why unfettered free expression and open discussion of ideas and opinions is under attack.
Most people in the world do not live under a system that features the consent of the governed. We do. There are reasons for that. There are also reasons why it is now fashionable to reject those who gave us that system.

Most importantly our racial struggles was on the cusp of seeing people for character apart from skin color, we then slammed on the breaks and now again make race and skin color the most important and defining human attribute. There are reasons for that too.

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

who told you America is on the decline? when you are top dog, people always describe you as either rising or falling. they are convenient, if lazy, narratives.

Of our two biggest rivals, one is stuck fighting a major war to secure Ukraine as a buffer, a country it's basically controlled for 500+ years, and the other, despite all the money and troops in the world, is too afraid of us to invade a country that's only about a 100 mile boat ride away. The US still accounts for about 1/5 of world GDP. American culture, for better or worse, is dominate. We're also in a unique spot geographically and culturally to accept new immigration as the rest of the word sinks into a cycle of population decline, labor scarcity, and inflation.

Ya, there are issues. when aren't there? America is still figuring out the social contract that was rewritten in the 60s. still suffering from the rebalance of post-industrialization. still can't get the middle-class growing again. both parties still spending money that will never be paid back. falling behind in some tech. complacent in letting too many of our kids get shit educations.

don't get me wrong, wokism and your culture warrior routines aren't helping, but that's mostly just look-at-me BS

 

[hoot1]

Hard for me to get serious over a commentary which in part states,

It is unserious when the most trusted men in news are stand-up comedians.

Hard for me to get serious over a commentary which in part states,

It is unserious when the most trusted men in news are stand-up comedians.

Katherine Boyle describes the current period as one of being unserious.

We may be going through a period which has occurred before. A seriously humorous sage of his time (1879=1935) Will Rogers once said, "Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke".

 

[i'vegotwinners]

An interesting piece about where we are as a country and society at this moment. Read the whole thing

The Case for American Seriousness

We don't need aging institutions to pave the way for 21st-century dynamism. What we need is will. And audacity.

bariweiss.substack.com

As noted, in many important ways, the United States is in a period of decline in the world. While many will contend this decline is part of the natural rise and fall of great societies, I refuse to accept that. Societies decline for reasons, reasons that we see right now.

There are reasons why we have a group of geriatrics well past their sell-by dates in office and in charge.
There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and brightest.
There are reasons why unfettered free expression and open discussion of ideas and opinions is under attack.
Most people in the world do not live under a system that features the consent of the governed. We do. There are reasons for that. There are also reasons why it is now fashionable to reject those who gave us that system.

Most importantly our racial struggles was on the cusp of seeing people for character apart from skin color, we then slammed on the breaks and now again make race and skin color the most important and defining human attribute. There are reasons for that too.

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

it is "unserious" to have military industrial complex venture capitalists writing total and complete propaganda BS pieces.

she represents the problem, not the one pointing out the solution.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


"It is unserious to be led by a gerontocracy, where our elected officials had kids in college when the internet was invented".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


and while we do have some leaders that are no longer fully mentally capable of doing their job due to age and mental decline, some old farts are still ten times sharper than the young idiots in our legislature.

those past their prime that still get elected, is because of the same IDIOCRACY that elects the mentally challenged young politicians.

and the beyond corrupt politicians of all ages..

and a "gerontocracy" isn't inherently bad in of itself, just due to the age thing alone.

but a PLUTOCRACY is.

and i have no doubt the author Ms Boyle is fully behind and a contributing element to our plutocracy, which is our real problem.

and no doubt Ms Boyle does all she can to direct attention away from the real problem, for totally greed driven self serving reasons.

"Hey, look over there".

 

[i'vegotwinners]

An interesting piece about where we are as a country and society at this moment. Read the whole thing

The Case for American Seriousness

We don't need aging institutions to pave the way for 21st-century dynamism. What we need is will. And audacity.

bariweiss.substack.com

As noted, in many important ways, the United States is in a period of decline in the world. While many will contend this decline is part of the natural rise and fall of great societies, I refuse to accept that. Societies decline for reasons, reasons that we see right now.

There are reasons why we have a group of geriatrics well past their sell-by dates in office and in charge.
There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and brightest.
There are reasons why unfettered free expression and open discussion of ideas and opinions is under attack.
Most people in the world do not live under a system that features the consent of the governed. We do. There are reasons for that. There are also reasons why it is now fashionable to reject those who gave us that system.

Most importantly our racial struggles was on the cusp of seeing people for character apart from skin color, we then slammed on the breaks and now again make race and skin color the most important and defining human attribute. There are reasons for that too.

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

CO. Hoosier,

"There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and the brightest".




yes,

because of a totally corrupt political system and a totally corrupt media.

but then you already knew that, but wished to misdirect away from the real cause.

 

[JamieDimonsBalls]

 

[CO. Hoosier]

who told you America is on the decline? when you are top dog, people always describe you as either rising or falling. they are convenient, if lazy, narratives.

Of our two biggest rivals, one is stuck fighting a major war to secure Ukraine as a buffer, a country it's basically controlled for 500+ years, and the other, despite all the money and troops in the world, is too afraid of us to invade a country that's only about a 100 mile boat ride away. The US still accounts for about 1/5 of world GDP. American culture, for better or worse, is dominate. We're also in a unique spot geographically and culturally to accept new immigration as the rest of the word sinks into a cycle of population decline, labor scarcity, and inflation.

Ya, there are issues. when aren't there? America is still figuring out the social contract that was rewritten in the 60s. still suffering from the rebalance of post-industrialization. still can't get the middle-class growing again. both parties still spending money that will never be paid back. falling behind in some tech. complacent in letting too many of our kids get shit educations.

don't get me wrong, wokism and your culture warrior routines aren't helping, but that's mostly just look-at-me BS

Nobody told me, although I have heard and read people who say that. its my observation. I think the evidence is pretty clear and I’ve posted about all of it over the years.

First, I think government at all levels and in all branches is of less quality, less effective, and is declining,

Second, at the other end of our social structure is the breakdown of the nuclear family.

Third, our pathetic and worsening educational system for large swaths of youngsters, particularly those who need it the most.

Fouth, the diminished role of individuals and the tendency to insist on conformity.

I think all the negative metrics affecting millions of people can be traced to a combination of those factors. To be sure, the decline isn’t hitting all of us the same way, that is also a symptom of decline.

Good question.

 

[twenty02]

An interesting piece about where we are as a country and society at this moment. Read the whole thing

The Case for American Seriousness

We don't need aging institutions to pave the way for 21st-century dynamism. What we need is will. And audacity.

bariweiss.substack.com

As noted, in many important ways, the United States is in a period of decline in the world. While many will contend this decline is part of the natural rise and fall of great societies, I refuse to accept that. Societies decline for reasons, reasons that we see right now.

There are reasons why we have a group of geriatrics well past their sell-by dates in office and in charge.
There are reasons why we elect unaccomplished and incapable people instead of the best and brightest.
There are reasons why unfettered free expression and open discussion of ideas and opinions is under attack.
Most people in the world do not live under a system that features the consent of the governed. We do. There are reasons for that. There are also reasons why it is now fashionable to reject those who gave us that system.

Most importantly our racial struggles was on the cusp of seeing people for character apart from skin color, we then slammed on the breaks and now again make race and skin color the most important and defining human attribute. There are reasons for that too.

Our decline is by no means inevitable but it is clearly unmistakable. All we need to do is refocus and stop government and policy by irrelevant BS. Dare i say Make America Great Again?

I actually read it this AM.... found it interesting and accurate