Monday Musings: On Russia, Helplessness, and Polls
W.J. Astore
A few items for this Monday:
1. A strategic analyst wrote to me about how America can improve relations with Russia. The gist of my response was this:
I totally agree on ending the "new" cold war. But the military-industrial complex (MIC) seems determined to use threat inflation to justify high Pentagon budgets. Meanwhile, establishment Democrats think they can use Trump's alleged softness toward Russia against him. Hardline policies rule the day.
What is to be done? First, I suppose, is recognizing the vital importance of domestic politics -- and profit and power -- vis-a-vis our foreign relations with Russia. As long as the MIC keeps exaggerating the Russian threat, and as long as the Democrats keep exaggerating the Russian threat to the election while alleging Trump is a Putin-puppet, there's little we can do. We simply need to work to change the narrative.
2. So many Americans have a sense of learned powerlessness. We simply think there's nothing we can do to effect change. As I wrote to a friend this weekend: Lots of people have lost faith in government. But they've lost faith in collective action as well. They just don't think they can do anything to fight corruption and a rigged system.
They feel powerless -- then a Messiah-like candidate comes along offering hope and change. (In a strange way, Trump is the yang to Obama's yin.) Trump said he'd drain the swamp -- but it proved fetid and fertile land for his long con. His supporters just love the guy even as he hurts them -- but at least he makes them feel good, empowered, liberated from the libtards …
A true confidence man, Trump poses as a helper. He's going to drain the swamp, make things better, make us (you) great again. Turn back the clock -- when America was America, men were men, women were women.
Interestingly, Trump has no vision for the future. His vision is relentlessly retrograde. The only way we can be great "again" is by rejecting change and today's "kids" who support BLM, LGBTQ, and so on.
A new wrinkle is the reactionary and authoritarian "blue lives matter" narrative. Who could have guessed that American activism would culminate in societal militarization and the glorification of police forces?
3. Recent polling suggests Joe Biden has a lead of up to 14%. Don't believe it. As I wrote to a friend: My sense is that this election will be very close. Many people support Trump but they keep that support quiet. And his people show up to vote. Maybe twice if they follow Trump's advice. Plus, of course, it's the electoral college that matters, not the popular vote. And there's still a lot that can happen in the next month.
Readers, what are your musings for this Monday?