There are times when James Howard Kunstler strikes me as one of those overwrought "cranks" Charles Pierce says in his book
Idiot America that we need in our country (it's a fine read I might add!). In
The Long Emergency, Kunstler put forth a rather pessimistic view of our national trajectory in the face of the end of cheap energy. Indeed, Kunstler's views of our future can be downright frightening - the end will be violently painful, almost apocalyptic a la "The Road." (For a less pessimistic view of the future, check out John Michael Greer's
The Long Descent.)
Kunstler also writes a
blog sharing his view of current events, and how they seem to dovetail into his predictions of our future. To wit:
"The Tea Party people are the corn-pone Nazis I have been warning you about. They are gathering strength in numbers as President Obama and congress fritter away their remaining legitimacy in a manner of governance that more and more resembles an endless Chinese Fire Drill. The delusional craziness of the Tea Partyists exists in direct proportion to the wimpy deceit of the government, especially in matters of money and statistics reporting. Our political leaders are resorting to wholesale deceit because the truth of our situation -- comprehensive bankruptcy -- is too painful to dwell on and for the most part they are too chicken too state it." (We're Weimar, Feb 8, 2010)
So, is Kunstler right? Are we entering our own new Weimer period with the "Tea Party" denizens in the lead? Are these angry citizens delusional?
I have to admit, the so-called "Tea Party" folks have me flummoxed. These citizens are definitely angry about many of the same things I am angry about: lack of governance, arrogant elites, financial fraudsters, do-nothing legislators. But, it seems to me that often the root of their anger lies in more base human emotions:
racism, tribalism, jealousy and busy-bodiness. And I cannot get over the fact that many of these genuinely
angry Americans are being manipulated by the very forces they are angry with. I mean really, do they honestly believe multi-millionaire media stars like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh actually care about them - except as mindless listeners good for high ratings (and higher salaries)? Does Rupert Murdoch and his corporate media automatons in Fox News and the Wall Street Journal actually desire the involvement of these angry citizens in their own governance? And,
if this really is a new grassroots band of Minutemen arising to oppose the tyranny of Washington, why does Sarah Palin get
paid thousands of dollars to speak to them (if she's so committed, shouldn't she speak gratis? And the "convention" be not-for-profit?)??
Well, I think Kunstler is right on about the root cause of the anger -- the visible end of these citizen's comfortable way of life. You know, when the end of a good thing becomes undeniable, there will be those who react by denying. Or lashing out. Or blaming. And I think we see all of these on grand display when it comes to the genuine anger of vocal Tea Party supporters. But my crystal ball remains hazier than Kunstler's in that I'm not as sure as he that these manipulated folks are going to be the change agent that drags us all down the Wiemar rabbit hole. Time will tell, of course, but one thing is for certain -- thoughtful citizens need to get out there also and better inform our fellow citizens as to the root causes of their anger. Because if they remain solely educated by the likes of Beck and Limbaugh, then they will form the large body of "useful idiots" needed to intimidate the rest of us.
Over at Stonekettle Station,
Jim raises an alarm as well. He's right about how these things start. But, have we entered the phase of inevitable ending?
And if you care to, you can listen to Diane Rehm's conversation on the Tea Party and what it means to America
here.
(Image found via Photobucket.)
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