Though our country might have devolved into complete authoritarianism by then—we are, after all, one *month* into a 48-month ordeal—it may be helpful to remember the midterms are historically unkind to the party in power.
Amen! I have learned to be very cautious about hoping too much, but barring a major course correct, I have trouble seeing how there won't be huge electoral backlash in 2026. The scenes at town halls from the past few weeks remind me of the Obamacare blowback in 2009-2010 when Democrats lost Congress, and that was for the crime of <checks notes> trying to GIVE people healthcare
Normally, I would not be in favor of such things, due to the ‘gridlock’ that happens. However, we are now in a time that threatens our democracy, with a president and cabinet bent on that destruction, so having a new partly-new Congress to slows down, if not halt this craziness for a bit.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
(worth remembering that Tolkien wrote LOTR as a parable of what he witnessed during WWI)
The same people who rail about excess government spending overheating an economy seem rather incurious about what effects the opposite policies could have. How could there NOT be a recession risk? Abruptly laying off hundreds of thousands of employees, cutting the majority of funding to states and universities, and slashing Medicare/Medicaid (which fund the largest sector of our economy, healthcare) represents a massive negative demand shock.
I am deeply tempted to send this the the GRD
Feel free to share it wherever! I'm not familiar with the acronym GRD (it's probably something obvious, I haven't had my morning coffee yet 😅)
Though our country might have devolved into complete authoritarianism by then—we are, after all, one *month* into a 48-month ordeal—it may be helpful to remember the midterms are historically unkind to the party in power.
And they are two years away.
Amen! I have learned to be very cautious about hoping too much, but barring a major course correct, I have trouble seeing how there won't be huge electoral backlash in 2026. The scenes at town halls from the past few weeks remind me of the Obamacare blowback in 2009-2010 when Democrats lost Congress, and that was for the crime of <checks notes> trying to GIVE people healthcare
Normally, I would not be in favor of such things, due to the ‘gridlock’ that happens. However, we are now in a time that threatens our democracy, with a president and cabinet bent on that destruction, so having a new partly-new Congress to slows down, if not halt this craziness for a bit.
None of this should have happened
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
(worth remembering that Tolkien wrote LOTR as a parable of what he witnessed during WWI)
We should be in a time where people care about humanity, our planet, our lives. A true functioning democracy.
This is such amazing work, thank you so much for this deep dive. I hope we can connect. I’d love to follow up with you on this!
Thanks Stephie, I look forward to chatting!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/02/25/economists-starting-worry-serious-trump-recession/
The same people who rail about excess government spending overheating an economy seem rather incurious about what effects the opposite policies could have. How could there NOT be a recession risk? Abruptly laying off hundreds of thousands of employees, cutting the majority of funding to states and universities, and slashing Medicare/Medicaid (which fund the largest sector of our economy, healthcare) represents a massive negative demand shock.
All of it is heartbreaking and we are headed backwards and who knows if our country will survive. They thrive on dividing and depopulating the people.
I think we will likely survive, but it will be a really rough road ahead and I don't want to minimize the harms we'll face 😞