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In 1789, when the American intellectuals of the time created a Constitution in the shelter of their meeting rooms, French mobs were storming the Bastille. France has had almost 233 years to tame their mobs, successfully only part of the time, while Americans at long last now have to deal squarely with mob rule, an established bureaucratic aristocracy, and a clergy compromised of high-tech media. Will they succeed?
My father was impressed by Americans, namely the occupation forces in Austria after WWII. My father's family had to flee Croatia because they were ethnic Germans. He wanted to emigrate to the US but settled for Canada.
I have heard stories about German POWs who were put to work in Canada in forestry, and after they were repatriated, did everything they could to return to Canada.
I guess those are just nostalgic memories, now that North America has gone woke.
I went to NYC on business recently. The place has always been special for me, as my grand-grand-grandfather was one of the Ellis islanders at the beginning of the past century. He went to work in the mines in California for almost 20 years, then fled back after he pinned an Italian guy to the door with a knife for cheating on poker. He came back to Croatia and bought land, was the first in our village to buy horses instead of oxen. As it turns out he also fathered a few kids in Bay Area but hey, nobody’s perfect.
Back to NYC; America really looks tired, even more so now than last time I went in early 2010’s... Not only by infrastructure, but It looks like a place devoid of ideas, where culture wars reached such proportion they shadow everything else. Something went terribly wrong and until reading your article, I couldn’t really pinpoint what. Very insightful. If you go ahead and say some poor white sod who can’t afford aspirin in the Flyover Country that it’s all his fault and that he’s somehow privileged, you’re not really leaving doing anyone a favor.
In the latter half of the essay you talk about hyphen Americans, which brings to mind Roosevelt's campaign to shame those of multiple loyalties. Maybe you knew of this?
I couldn't stop myself from doing a couple of Fourth of July think pieces, and I'm not even American.
Some form of civic nationalism could, I think, work, but (and it's a big and probably disqualifying but) it requires willingness to expel those who reject the civic creed:
The basic model I work with here is religion. Anyone can convert to Christianity and receive the sacraments, but for the church to stay viable it has to excommunicate apostates. Similarly in a feudal system, anyone can become a vassal by swearing allegiance to a new liege lord, but they lose the rights of vassalage should they break their oath of fealty.
The civic nationalism advocated by people such as your the subject of your essay can only function if those who reject or undetermine the civic creed can be stripped of citizenship.
Politics is Power, Divide and Rule, this is the greatest political outcome of 1965 (who’s aim explicitly contra Soldo above was Black assimilation, at least until the Ink was dry). We were for a moment after WW2 until 1965 entirely too United and had entirely too much cultural unity.
One must see who the winners of Power struggles are you know?
Karens in DC and HR.
Administrative government got an enormous boost from 1965, and so did lawyers, so did HR.
That Civil Rights violated all promises of going too far, that it became instantly a tool of abuse and extortion was warned against by such as Barry Goldwater and Reagan who previously supported civil rights, but didn’t like the poison pills.
If you’re going to refer to Christopher Caldwell do understand that’s his core argument in his recent book.
For whatever reason The elites simply reorganized our divisions and changed who was the evil marginalized group to rally against (this is the key to open borders which is more or less the policy since 1965, going after 85% of the population is unwise).
So Black is now White and White is Black. The lower rungs priorities were rearranged.
Politics is Power.
The Balkanization of America was done by the elites because they wanted it that way, we’re seemingly easier to control.
We were anything but Balkanized in 65, and even into the 90s - its all social engineering.
As far as the de-industrialization poor people are easier to control as well. See also the constantly changing rules, also control is easier. More laws than man can count- again, its power and control.
Great essay and spot on. The US right now is analogous to the late Roman Empire c.375 or so.
The costs of government including defense are out-of-control, the economy is sliding and heading towards a collapse (especially when the US dollar loses reserve currency status), and we are beset by enemies all around. A difference is that for 50 years previously, the US has effectively opened its borders, with the Biden Admin now effectively declaring it to be wide open. We have destroyed our common Christian European culture and have been far more concerned about newcomers than establish citizens.
I think a Civil War in the immediate future is very unlikely (though not impossible) but I do so regions in the US that over the next 30-50 years might slide away from the US, because the local elites no longer think that paying taxes to the US and following its overweening rules and regulations. If the federal government refuses to let that happen, then a Civil War could well happen; it will be bloody beyond belief.
Nico do you recall Michael Barone writing years ago “Hard America, Soft America “ * that the Hispanics will develop here as the Italians did? I grew up with Italians (working class Irish-Italians- some Poles - rest Scot Irish- Rust Belt NY) and I have worked with and served with a lot of Hispanics and he’s correct, Current Thing Coalition Rulers notwithstanding.
The great American assimilation engine being work. Also living around people.
* Barone has an encyclopedic knowledge of American politics to at least the county level, and no small grasp of the sweep of our history. Something that MIGHT cheer you up Sr Soldo. Seriously I’m Irish, we’re the gloomiest people on earth (ask the American Italians) but you are getting TOO BlackPill
Niccolo, I enjoy your work! There are good points in your essay, On America. However nothing is as simple as it may seem. The choir of the "hyphenated folks" are the noisiest perhaps, but only a small percentage and the least real in the fabric of everyday people. The purported rise in White Nationalists is a pipe dream of the left (check out hate-crime stats). Cleary there are significant numbers of blacks, hispanics and asians who are multifaceted citizens and lining up on the other side of the far-left, progressive line in cultural issues as well as politics. Like all countries, the U.S. has exceptional opportunities, significant challenges and serious problems. Throughout history, in even the darkest times of prejudice and institutional discrimination, immigrants created their own "American Dre from China, East Asia and India and yes even those "White-European" folks like "Irish need not apply"; "Jews not allowed"; or my Italian grandfather who heard a constant flow of colorful epithets due to his ethnicity... and even today with the example of Nigerian immigrants, what seems to matter most is the culture and the work ethic and the family ethic. Academia is doing it's very best to deconstruct the common culture of liberty and pursuit of happiness through hard work that can unite all people and replace it with victim consciousness, which helps no one, not even the real victims! I think most Americans, born here or recent immigrants, are beginning to see that "man behind the curtain," (the false wizard of Oz)—and recognize the charlatan for what he is... much needs to change on this we all agree,,, there is still much to instill hope.
Happy 4th of July to my American readers!
Please hit the like button and use the share button to share this piece across social media. Leave a comment (be nice!) if the mood strikes you, and don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already.
In 1789, when the American intellectuals of the time created a Constitution in the shelter of their meeting rooms, French mobs were storming the Bastille. France has had almost 233 years to tame their mobs, successfully only part of the time, while Americans at long last now have to deal squarely with mob rule, an established bureaucratic aristocracy, and a clergy compromised of high-tech media. Will they succeed?
An excellent question.
Whichever ethnic group has superior weaponry/firepower can retake America.
My father was impressed by Americans, namely the occupation forces in Austria after WWII. My father's family had to flee Croatia because they were ethnic Germans. He wanted to emigrate to the US but settled for Canada.
I have heard stories about German POWs who were put to work in Canada in forestry, and after they were repatriated, did everything they could to return to Canada.
I guess those are just nostalgic memories, now that North America has gone woke.
🎆🇺🇸 from this American to you…let freedom ring, etc etc.
"..... centrists and liberals view as growing support for authoritarianism on the right side of the political aisle...".
I think you have you aisles mixed up.
I went to NYC on business recently. The place has always been special for me, as my grand-grand-grandfather was one of the Ellis islanders at the beginning of the past century. He went to work in the mines in California for almost 20 years, then fled back after he pinned an Italian guy to the door with a knife for cheating on poker. He came back to Croatia and bought land, was the first in our village to buy horses instead of oxen. As it turns out he also fathered a few kids in Bay Area but hey, nobody’s perfect.
Back to NYC; America really looks tired, even more so now than last time I went in early 2010’s... Not only by infrastructure, but It looks like a place devoid of ideas, where culture wars reached such proportion they shadow everything else. Something went terribly wrong and until reading your article, I couldn’t really pinpoint what. Very insightful. If you go ahead and say some poor white sod who can’t afford aspirin in the Flyover Country that it’s all his fault and that he’s somehow privileged, you’re not really leaving doing anyone a favor.
In the latter half of the essay you talk about hyphen Americans, which brings to mind Roosevelt's campaign to shame those of multiple loyalties. Maybe you knew of this?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyphenated_American
I couldn't stop myself from doing a couple of Fourth of July think pieces, and I'm not even American.
Some form of civic nationalism could, I think, work, but (and it's a big and probably disqualifying but) it requires willingness to expel those who reject the civic creed:
https://barsoom.substack.com/p/what-is-america
The basic model I work with here is religion. Anyone can convert to Christianity and receive the sacraments, but for the church to stay viable it has to excommunicate apostates. Similarly in a feudal system, anyone can become a vassal by swearing allegiance to a new liege lord, but they lose the rights of vassalage should they break their oath of fealty.
The civic nationalism advocated by people such as your the subject of your essay can only function if those who reject or undetermine the civic creed can be stripped of citizenship.
Politics is Power, Divide and Rule, this is the greatest political outcome of 1965 (who’s aim explicitly contra Soldo above was Black assimilation, at least until the Ink was dry). We were for a moment after WW2 until 1965 entirely too United and had entirely too much cultural unity.
One must see who the winners of Power struggles are you know?
Karens in DC and HR.
Administrative government got an enormous boost from 1965, and so did lawyers, so did HR.
That Civil Rights violated all promises of going too far, that it became instantly a tool of abuse and extortion was warned against by such as Barry Goldwater and Reagan who previously supported civil rights, but didn’t like the poison pills.
If you’re going to refer to Christopher Caldwell do understand that’s his core argument in his recent book.
For whatever reason The elites simply reorganized our divisions and changed who was the evil marginalized group to rally against (this is the key to open borders which is more or less the policy since 1965, going after 85% of the population is unwise).
So Black is now White and White is Black. The lower rungs priorities were rearranged.
Politics is Power.
The Balkanization of America was done by the elites because they wanted it that way, we’re seemingly easier to control.
We were anything but Balkanized in 65, and even into the 90s - its all social engineering.
As far as the de-industrialization poor people are easier to control as well. See also the constantly changing rules, also control is easier. More laws than man can count- again, its power and control.
Politics is Power.
Great essay and spot on. The US right now is analogous to the late Roman Empire c.375 or so.
The costs of government including defense are out-of-control, the economy is sliding and heading towards a collapse (especially when the US dollar loses reserve currency status), and we are beset by enemies all around. A difference is that for 50 years previously, the US has effectively opened its borders, with the Biden Admin now effectively declaring it to be wide open. We have destroyed our common Christian European culture and have been far more concerned about newcomers than establish citizens.
I think a Civil War in the immediate future is very unlikely (though not impossible) but I do so regions in the US that over the next 30-50 years might slide away from the US, because the local elites no longer think that paying taxes to the US and following its overweening rules and regulations. If the federal government refuses to let that happen, then a Civil War could well happen; it will be bloody beyond belief.
Ok here’s an interview- Christopher Caldwell.
(If you have and I missed sorry)
Nico do you recall Michael Barone writing years ago “Hard America, Soft America “ * that the Hispanics will develop here as the Italians did? I grew up with Italians (working class Irish-Italians- some Poles - rest Scot Irish- Rust Belt NY) and I have worked with and served with a lot of Hispanics and he’s correct, Current Thing Coalition Rulers notwithstanding.
The great American assimilation engine being work. Also living around people.
* Barone has an encyclopedic knowledge of American politics to at least the county level, and no small grasp of the sweep of our history. Something that MIGHT cheer you up Sr Soldo. Seriously I’m Irish, we’re the gloomiest people on earth (ask the American Italians) but you are getting TOO BlackPill
2 good interviews for you
Christopher Caldwell
Michael Barone
Niccolo, I enjoy your work! There are good points in your essay, On America. However nothing is as simple as it may seem. The choir of the "hyphenated folks" are the noisiest perhaps, but only a small percentage and the least real in the fabric of everyday people. The purported rise in White Nationalists is a pipe dream of the left (check out hate-crime stats). Cleary there are significant numbers of blacks, hispanics and asians who are multifaceted citizens and lining up on the other side of the far-left, progressive line in cultural issues as well as politics. Like all countries, the U.S. has exceptional opportunities, significant challenges and serious problems. Throughout history, in even the darkest times of prejudice and institutional discrimination, immigrants created their own "American Dre from China, East Asia and India and yes even those "White-European" folks like "Irish need not apply"; "Jews not allowed"; or my Italian grandfather who heard a constant flow of colorful epithets due to his ethnicity... and even today with the example of Nigerian immigrants, what seems to matter most is the culture and the work ethic and the family ethic. Academia is doing it's very best to deconstruct the common culture of liberty and pursuit of happiness through hard work that can unite all people and replace it with victim consciousness, which helps no one, not even the real victims! I think most Americans, born here or recent immigrants, are beginning to see that "man behind the curtain," (the false wizard of Oz)—and recognize the charlatan for what he is... much needs to change on this we all agree,,, there is still much to instill hope.