re: #36 Shiplord Kirel

I think it started with Reagan essentially telling people that it was okay to be a superstitious rube and a general asshole.

I’ve had the depressing mindset recently that maybe we’re seeing this now because of the extent to which the levers of party power have been democratized over the last thirty or fifty years. The corrupt assholes in the smoke-filled rooms made decisions based on what served them best, but they were usually rational about it. Okay, rational-ish. Err, not totally bugfuck batshit crazy.

What if this is always the country we’ve been, and only now are we democratic enough to see it? What separates Rick Santorum from William Jennings Bryan other than the internet, the modern primary system and ever-more-widespread radio and televised talking heads?

Does anyone have any gin?