tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post6720132231234991890..comments2024-03-18T23:21:40.731-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: "Are we becoming medieval?"Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-38500967296637330252013-04-15T14:08:17.652-05:002013-04-15T14:08:17.652-05:00The optimum size for a polity is the largest homog...The optimum size for a polity is the largest homogeneous stable configuration.<br /><br />Its pretty clear that the current setups everywhere are too large. The USSR of course was the 1st to go but its logical that the others, most of whom are based on rather flimsy premises are soon to follow.<br /><br />And before you get angry that I suggested the Constitution was flimsy, <br /><br />It didn't really survive the first civil war .<br /><br />Don't get me wrong its a great premise but it won't work well with low IQ low trust immigrants in a world with increasingly fewer jobs and/or when cored out by communists and ethnic diversity. Another Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-5165592677777763392013-04-15T08:20:15.931-05:002013-04-15T08:20:15.931-05:00The US has always had a strong tradition of locali...The US has always had a strong tradition of localism. A modified form of that is codified in the Federalist structure of our government. <br /><br />The national glue was a strong belief in American revolutionary ideals, and form of government & nature of man as expressed in the Declaration, Constitution and Federalist Papers. <br /><br />The light hand of local governance was specifically chosen over the heavy hand of centralized power of a king or tyrant.<br /><br />I think Hanson may be nostalgic for that very brief and unique period in our history - a time he grew up in - the early to mid 20th century - when localities and regions put aside their differences and rights to defeat fascism and then communism in Europe and Asia.<br /><br />During the 20th century, out of the necessity to survive, power was centralized and culture homogenized to an unprecedented degree. I think that was a historical aberation - at least for the United States. <br /><br />Currently, the US has the most highly educated, informed and plugged-in citizenry its ever had. People feel they are smart enough to live their own lives without detailed direction from a central bureaucracy.<br /><br />I don't see the US breaking apart but merely shedding those centralized temporary arrangements of the 20th century that no longer fit the current situation and re-invigorating traditions and ways of life that worked so well for over 100 years for us. <br /><br />I would guess a majority of people do not see a need for the uber-strong central government we now have. Many view it as a hinderance and would like a relaxing of its hold over us. <br /><br />Since the central government now has those powers, they are loath to give them up, so the transition will be noisy and nasty. But when haven't our politics been so? <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-16116247903968330042013-04-14T15:50:16.341-05:002013-04-14T15:50:16.341-05:00Hanson is right,and I can't wait for it to hap...Hanson is right,and I can't wait for it to happen. I live in the northwest part of New York and my fondest wish is for New York to become two independent states. Pick a spot a little bit northwest of Albany and draw a line straight South from that spot to the Pa. border, and another straight east to Massachusetts. If that's not a big enough piece of real estate to satisfy the downstate commies maybe they can hook up with New Jersey. Rik-in-NYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-48714437705645691412013-04-14T08:22:56.358-05:002013-04-14T08:22:56.358-05:00Why is there today a nostalgia for localism?
Pres...<i>Why is there today a nostalgia for localism?</i><br /><br />Presumably because people everywhere are getting tired of being ruled by people they have no hope of influencing, and paying for people they don't know, and being forced to comply with the cultural mores of people they have nothing in common with.perlhaqrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920117742664645165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-31566432464025629362013-04-13T17:26:24.256-05:002013-04-13T17:26:24.256-05:00Given the financial math and the widening gap betw...Given the financial math and the widening gap between worldviews, I see no alternative to either a collapse out of which regional States emerge, or a grudging separation in which the national government becomes unable to enforce its will in large swaths of the formerly United States.<br /><br />The theory originally behind federalism was that the sovereign states would run things as they saw fit, other than foreign policy and not restraining interstate commerce. Each state would attract people who agreed with its views and lose those who couldn't abide living there. <br /><br />Today, it is becoming more and more difficult for Americans to move to a "better place" as the economy and the housing market have placed high barriers to many folks. The American System (as called back in Lincoln's day) of crony capitalism mixed with corporatism, is slowly strangling entrepreneurial activity with tens of thousands of regulations, enforced not so much by the courts but by administrative hearings, in which the deck is stacked in favor of the bureaucracy.<br /><br />I hope I am wrong, but all I see coming is some sort of major violence. And mo matter what grievance begins the conflict, I see it spreading as other disaffected groups figure it's time to make their play as well. Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08015544320906146949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-952208666337244242013-04-13T16:10:07.696-05:002013-04-13T16:10:07.696-05:00Anon,
I could jump up and down about how my ancest...Anon,<br />I could jump up and down about how my ancestors really did build this country.<br />I would rather spend my time trying to keep this country together and true to the Constitution of the United States of America.<br />As far as I can tell one side wants to ditch the Constitution and the other sides wants to ditch the United States. Neither side has my respect.<br />I have no desire to live in either the Balkans or a more efficient Soviet Union.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-55970532436847634352013-04-13T08:36:10.580-05:002013-04-13T08:36:10.580-05:00The internet seems to be Balkanizing not only us i...The internet seems to be Balkanizing not only us in the USA, but every other place, as well. Over in UK half the country wants to pay tribute to Margaret Thatcher, the other half wants to moon her casket as the hearse goes by.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11402651457453813639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-1848853518043662312013-04-13T08:05:00.854-05:002013-04-13T08:05:00.854-05:00How can the "cure" be worst than the dis...How can the "cure" be worst than the disease?<br /><br />We'll have several small socialist states instead of another giant Soviet Union? That all tear at each other? Better that way in fighting them.<br /><br />I always like that mantra about the "Good ole days not being so good".<br /><br />Do you man for the non-Christian, non-white, women and fags?<br /><br />Good, says I. And a hell of a lot of others. We're tired of being the fall guy for those others. My people built this country not Africans or Indians.<br /><br />Give me an old fashion Western Christendom any day over the modern crap salad he have now. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-1476657802618582912013-04-13T07:16:35.084-05:002013-04-13T07:16:35.084-05:00The 'good old days' only look good if you&...The 'good old days' only look good if you're not an honest historian...<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-5240823956101292502013-04-13T03:07:42.088-05:002013-04-13T03:07:42.088-05:00It's a hard choice. Globalization in large na...It's a hard choice. Globalization in large nations has essentially resulted in mass unemployment, failed economies and generalized corruption in financial and government entities. It's no wonder folks are looking at alternatives. And like in so many other things, a return to the "good old days" is always attractive.<br />The danger here of course is fascism and balkanisation. <br /><br />It's up to governments to provide a credible alternative that encompasses a little more than just "austerity for the poor". <br />Under penalty of utter failure of Western-style society...Noonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04285930853937157148noreply@blogger.com