We have been hearing about how the problems of 2020 and 2021 endanger democracy. Are democracy, freedom, and constitutional government in jeopardy? I think they are. But the reasons go deeper than the Capitol riot, which is a symptom of larger breakdowns. Also, what would a non-democratic America look like?
Mob action undermines freedom and democracy both in the breakdown of social order and by provoking an authoritarian response. Both Plato and the American founders wrote about how anarchy brings about tyranny. We are already seeing that dynamic in the aftermath of the Capitol riots.
The Capitol, one of America's most august symbols, was last assaulted in the War of 1812. This time it was desecrated by Americans, by people who consider themselves conservatives. Luther sympathized with the grievances of the peasants, but when they became violent, he drew the line. He was arguably too harsh, but he laid out some principles regarding protests that go too far.
The Democrats won both of the senate seats in Georgia, giving them control of the Senate and thus the entire government. The reasons? Low Republican turnout due in part to Trump supporters' boycott, as well as higher turnout of Georgian reacting against the president's behavior. Now Democrats control the whole government and can do whatever they want, as a discredited conservative movement goes into exile.
Both Democrats and Republicans have decisions to make. Neither party did as well as they hoped to in the last election. And both parties have ideological issues and contending factions that need sorting out.
Technological developments could result in a surge of productivity that could bring on significant economic growth, heralding a new "Roaring Twenties." So say some economists. Then again, we don't have the small government and cultural vitality of that earlier era of prosperity, which itself ended in the Great Depression.
Since decades technically begin with a year ending in "one," we are embarking on a new decade. We have left the "teens" and are now officially in the "twenties." Looking at what was predicted over the last ten years and making new projections for the future.
The custom on this blog on New Year’s Day is for readers to predict what they think will happen over the course of the year ahead. Then, once the year is over, on or around the next New Year’s Eve, we will revisit those predictions and see who made the best one. So what do you think will happen in 2021?
In this blog's annual contest to predict what will happen in the upcoming year, someone looking ahead to 2020 predicted COVID-19.
This past year was dominated by COVID-19, politics, protests, and dismay. A post-mortem on the year's top stories.
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