Years ago, when I started my career in technology, I had faith in a system that provided opportunity for all. It didn't matter whether a person was black or white. There was a relative meritocracy in this country, with an elite that cared somewhat for the conditions that the masses lived under. I learned to analyze a situation, find the cause of a problem, and resolve it. Over the years, I learned to look at larger systems and perform root cause analyses for problems in these systems. Today, what I'm seeing frightens me.
We're seeing, in real time, the gradual destruction of American society. A bandit class has gained control, a class which has no ability to care for the welfare of the masses. The leader that we elected has exposed his toxic nature, and many of his followers are finally seeing the man for what he is - a man who only cares for himself, someone who has no ability to care for the little people who put him back in power.
People like me are under attack because we don't cleanly fit into the gender binary that his core supporters use to define their world. But we are not the only people under attack. People who believe in science and the scientific method are under attack too. We've seeing the destruction of the CDC, due to a crackpot in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services. I can only wonder what epidemics will affect our nation, given the outflow of qualified, talented professionals from our government. We're seeing a government ready to debase our currency, institute questionable tariffs, and do everything possible to create another great depression. What's going to happen when people lose hope?
What is the root cause of society's current problems? As I see it, it was a big mistake made by the elites 50-60 years ago. America's business elites decided to globalize manufacturing without providing a safety net, a transition plan for those workers who would be displaced from their jobs as work migrated overseas. Educated people in large metropolitan areas would still be able to find work. But few jobs were being created in areas being hollowed out by globalization. People in these areas lost hope in the system, and became ready to follow a populist leader who'd make idle promises. They needed to show their anger towards the elites, and became more radicalized.
Once people become marginalized and lose hope, they are willing to gamble on anything that would improve their lots in life. They will often feel that restoring the oppressive social norms of the past will fix things. But they only make things worse. Instead of looking for ways to grow the economic pie, they look to keep others from getting their share the pie. This only serves the bandit capitalist, as alienated people will blindly support leaders that make speeches that give lip service to the supposed needs of those people.
Right now, our president has set America on a course to fail. As a result, he will likely collapse the world economy. I shudder to think of what will happen if he succeeds in his plans. What he will gain from this, I'm not sure. I think he's a Nero who will fiddle while Rome burns - and enjoy the flames. As for me, I want to be as far away from Rome as possible....
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