Volume 6, Issue 7
What conditions developing in society today forewarn of community turbulence?
Governments around the world are pursuing economic policies that are in defiance of sound economic principles. The purveyors of information, i.e. the national press, continue to dwell on peripheral issues to support their ideological positions. And, political parties and leaders are intensifying their dysfunctional partisan rhetoric in absolute distrust of each other.
The United States economy is based on capitalism and free enterprise. Ongoing deficits and accumulated debt are not conducive to long-term economic growth. The current proposed federal budget is $1 trillion in the red.
China’s economy is based on communism and a command economy. Citizens are expected to participate in economic growth as dictated by the state. Communism results in the accumulation of internal debt. The Chinese economic model struggles with the reality that for communism to exist, internal debt is always a byproduct. China’s President Xi has declared that he intends to expand socialism Chinese-style.
Both economic giants are doubling down on policies that are in direct violation of proven economic principles.
The national press is obsessed with the theatrics of the White House West Wing. The current drama du jour is, “what did Chief of Staff John Kelly know about Rob Porter, and when did he know it?” It’s as if they are the news networks of reality TV. It is one thing to criticize President Trump’s response to the Porter scandal, wherein he called for due process and failed to mention compassion for the abused women. These are important points. But for the issue to dominate the entire news cycle for five days, with little mention, interviews or coverage of other world events, is ridiculous at best, and journalistic malpractice at worst. The debate on DACA and immigration began in Congress yesterday. Hearings on the budget are in progress. Apparently, there is a breakthrough in negotiations with North Korea. At least these critical issues facing our country deserve respectful attention.
The national news media is doubling down on coverage of off-the-main-field issues to support their ideological bias against the Administration and Congress.
The dysfunctionality of our elected leaders has now reached a level of total failure in system protocol. Democratic leaders, Republican leaders, and special interest group leaders are now in a state of absolute distrust of each other. The Me Too movement and deficit spending hawks are distrustful of the leaders of their traditional party alliances. Therefore, political and special interest group activists are demanding purity in all policy compromises.
Our political leaders are doubling down on the narrow definitions of their ideological platforms.
The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States began an unraveling of business as usual, not only in America, but also in the world. Arrangements established over decades of wiring the system, resulting in financial, political, and economic cabals, has brought the world to a point of stagnation. This unraveling is causing great anxiety among the establishment who participates and has a stake in the wired system.
On the opposing viewpoints, processes and policy of the competitors: United States and China, the press and the public, Democrats and Republicans, one can be right and the other can be wrong. Both can be wrong. But both cannot be right. In any scenario, played out to its logical conclusion, someone or something is damaged and changed forever. All are doubling down on their positions that they are the only ones who are right.
These are the conditions that will lead to a societal storm.
No prediction on timing is intended. The storm could hit next week or ten years from now. No analysis is offered on the intensity or severity of the storm. Yet, each of the above adversaries will ultimately impact countries and peoples beyond their immediate spheres of influence.
In the calm before the storm, America has gone from a country of “In God We Trust,” to a country of “In Distrust We Live.”
What is the average person to do?
When conditions are ripe for tornadic activity, we plan our activities accordingly. Recently in Oklahoma, schools were dismissed hours early because of anticipated storms even though, at the time, the skies were clear.
Each person must decide for themselves what preparations should be made. Right your own ship. Manage your own debt as you see fit. And network with like-minded people in your community for support.
When a tornado strikes, unless it is a mile-wide monster, it twists, turns and swerves, thus the nickname “twister.” If, in fact, it hits a town, it may destroy one house, move across the street and hit another, leaving two houses in between untouched.
And so it may be in a societal storm.
As business as usual is resisted, the great unraveling will continue. A new system and protocol will take its place. The winners and losers of the now “doubling down” will be the determinants of the storm’s damage.
The United States still has within its power, not only the authority, but the roadmap of principles, to chart a safe and successful course for world freedom and prosperity.
Pray that America never loses its faith in eternal principles.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?