Minneapolis
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on January 16, 2026
I was born in downtown Minneapolis, and even though I grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I always identified with Minnesota. We had relatives in Madelia and Mankato, and I followed the Twins and the Vikings, then finally lived for a decade in Minneapolis during my Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. Those were some of the most fun years of my life! I still identify with the city, the sports teams, and even though I’ve lived in Maine now for thirty years, it still feels special when I fly into the Twin Cities.
To watch what is going on there now is mind numbing. Minneapolis and St. Paul – and many other parts of Minnesota – are under siege in a way I never thought possible in this country. A poorly trained force called ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement – which should have no jurisdiction except on immigration or customs issues, is terrorizing the city and its inhabitants. They take people away just because they have brown skin or an accent, and often hold even citizens for hours before releasing them without a ride back. They have injured people with pepper spray and tear gas, even causing one person permanent blindness. They have killed a young mother because she wanted to drive away from them. Schools and day cares are being raided and attacked.
They demand to see ones’ “papers,” and if you can’t prove you’re a citizen, you can be taken away and often abused.
That was what we thought authoritarian hell holes were like – a secret sadistic police that demanded “show us your papers” (the idea one had to have papers on them at all times was seen as contrary to US values) and claimed “total immunity” for whatever they do. Vice President Vance says ICE has total immunity.
In Minneapolis the community is rising up, working together, helping each other, supporting each other, and observing, recording and making known the atrocities and indignities being committed. Yet the President declares them “agitators” and “insurgents,” investigating the mayor and Governor for “crimes against the State,” and threatening to call in the military if people won’t simply be quiet and give in to whatever the leader and his minions want.
Simply, this is a fascist takeover of the US government, built on racist lies and efforts to spread fear and hate. I’ve even heard people say “do you want them here?” suggesting that immigrants are parasites. Trump says they are “poisoning our blood.” The same rhetoric as the National Socialists used in the 1930s in Germany – and the same tactics.
That isn’t hyperbole. That is what is threatening the US now. Patriots recognize that freedom is our core value, and when the state threatens to tread on citizens rights’ and freedoms with brutality and unaccountable force, the American way is to resist, not to give in.
I never thought this country would see a fascist threat. But there is one, and we must resist and fight authoritarian attacks on our liberty. Freedom is the core value.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on December 25, 2025
While I am not a Scrooge (relating to the last post), I also am not one to celebrate Christmas. My house has no decorations, I give only a few gifts, and the day itself is not important to me. I’m not a Christian so it has no religious value, and I find the capitalist “spend, spend, spend to make big business richer” materialism distasteful.
Despite that, I still believe in the ideas that truely define Christmas, just as I find true Christian principles (love your neighbor, be kind to those who would harm you, help immigrants and people in need) to be very beautiful. Indeed, much of my morality is defined by those core Christian principles, not by the faux-Christian ideals that many pretend represent the faith: anti-choice, anti-gay/trans, and anti-foreigner. Indeed, it seems once one creates an organized religion its possible to build it around ideas contrary to the ideals that gave rise to the faith. This happens in Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, etc….not to everyone professing the faiths, but far too many fall victim to those who would use religion to justify biases rather than spread love.
I have no true understanding of how this world works. Over my life I’ve developed beliefs that I choose to live by, even though I know I may be wrong. I believe that all is one, and that each of us is connected to every part of the universe in a fundamental way. What happens to any part of reality also happens to me. I believe that rather than to judge others, even those who act contrary to my beliefs, I should try to understand them – they are still a part of me. That last one is difficult. I’ll find myself angry about an ICE deportation or something, and start thinking about some kind of violent response. I have to pull myself back. I have to live by my beliefs, even I can’t know whether or not they are true.
Christmas to me reflects that core – a sense of commonality, a oneness that unites people. Families, communities, even strangers can come together and recognize that a spirit of love underlies reality, even if we often deny, hide or mock its power. Gift giving in its pure form – giving of oneself to show love to another – is part of that – not the consumerist orgy that now permeates the culture. When I wish people ‘Merry Christmas,’ it is that core meaning that I have in mind. It doesn’t limit itself to those who profess the Christian faith (though if I know someone is not a Christian I’ll respectfully say “happy holidays.”)
So if you see my house without colored lights or a tree, treating the season and day like any other, don’t mistake it for “bah humbug.” When you hear me say that I’m not a Christian, don’t mistake it for lack of respect for the values of Christianity or any religion. I believe that despite all the noise and cultural pollution – ICE raids, rampant consumerism, anger and fear – the true values of Christmas go beyond the holiday or any one religion. They exist and have power. The more we show love, understanding and concern for others, the more we experience love, understanding and concern for ourselves. It’s not just our families, our culture, our country or our town – it is everything, everywhere, all the time. Merry Christmas!
The Relevance of ‘A Christmas Carol’
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on December 22, 2025
Everyone knows Charles Dickens’ story, “A Christmas Carol.” Numerous films have been made, and next year a new one with Johnny Depp as Scrooge is coming out. There are lots of variations of the story, my favorite being a Dr. Who Christmas episode a few years ago. This weekend I saw a performance at the Portland Stage Theater in Portland, Maine. Watching it I was often moved to tears by the power of its message, one as relevant today as it was in Dickens’ time.
We all know the plot and about the ghosts of past, present and future, so I won’t dwell on that. Instead I want to simply emphasize some themes that are powerfully relevant today.
- Pursuit of wealth for its own sake is empty.
While the miserly Scrooge may be a caricature, in some ways he’s more down to earth than the current wealth hoarders. There is nothing wrong with earning a living, providing for oneself and family, or even wanting some of life’s pleasures. But when getting more becomes an end in and of itself, it loses meaning. In “A Christmas Carol” it was said that Scrooge would die with massive amounts of money he never used (as he was frugal). Yet he wouldn’t give to the poor, or even pay his employee more than a pittance – making more was his only goal.
Think about today’s wealth hoarders. Elon Musk accumulates more and more, yet he seems empty – addicting himself to ketamine, condemning “empathy,” having numerous kids (but not bonding with them) and seeing life as a contest to “win.” President Trump, while earning billions with crypto schemes related to his Presidency, is constantly angry and lashing out, building something new, never satisfied, always fighting some foe. Like Scrooge, they have worldly wealth, but are failures at life.
2. We can shape our lives, but they are short.
The spirits prove their point about wealth and its emptiness by looking at the past, present and future as an ongoing story. Every character has an end, the world is in constant change, and anything we strive for is ultimately lost to the dust of time. Scrooge’s money and belongings will be stolen, discarded or allowed to rot. But yet we have the power of choice – Scrooge’s sorrow turns to joy when he realizes he can change his path, he can turn an empty life into a full one. All of what happens in life may ultimately fade and be forgotten, but while it is happening we can find joy and connection.
3. The beauty and meaning of life is in our connections.
The spirits guide Scrooge to various encounters with one common thread: his life of solitary indifference is empty. People, even those who are impoverished and dealing with intense problems, get joy and meaning from their connections. Kindness is the most powerful force, much more potent than wealth.
At one point Scrooge’s nephew mentions that people like Scrooge play their own price – both in this life in the life beyond. I think that should give us some comfort, even as we are angered by the excesses, indifference, and cruelty of Scrooge like folk in our day. Those who want to attack the poor, condemn immigrants, cause people to suffer due their sexual identity or religious beliefs, are only showing the emptiness of their own souls. They pay a price in their own lives that we don’t see (though the President wears his frustration and constant anger on his sleeve). And I’m convinced that there is a reality beyond this life where they will come face to face with the consequences of their choices.
Therein is perhaps the greatest beauty of Dicken’s story. Scrooge gives us a guide whereby we can undergo self-examination of how we are living our lives while we are still here. We can contemplate the past and future, and what true meaning there is in the choices we make. For those of us who are self-reflective enough to be self-critical, this provides a way to change our lives in the present, thus avoiding both a dark future and a difficult transition to the world after this one.
And that’s the true meaning of Christmas. Meaningful connections and kindness. Or more succinctly: love.
Trumpville
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on December 11, 2025
President Donald Trump has decided that the name “United States” is too bulky and old fashioned. Now that he is expanding Presidential power to reshape the US, he believes its time to come up with a “fancy and up to date name,” as he put it, “for our great land.”
Trump said that the inspiration came from his favorite movie, which he described as a tragedy in which a do-gooder loser thwarts the efforts of a great man to transform his city. Trump says the film is the story of how a courageous capitalist corners the real estate market and puts his stamp on his community. Alas, an entity which Trump calls a “demon” named Clarence thwarts the effort by convincing another “do-good loser “to choose to live. Trump says it brings tears to his eyes everytime he seems the glorious paradise of Potterville return to “woke and pathetic city of losers,” Bedford Falls.
“I won’t let that happen here,” Trump vowed. “The film is a cautionary tale of how you have to be ruthless and stop woke do-gooders before they can take over.” Trump noted as well that a later film had a similar theme, when Biff Tannen’s paradise was undone by a “time traveling woke weakling with Parkinson’s,” as Trump put it.
“Trumpville will be an actualization of the dream of Pottersville,” the President stated proudly, asking Congress to move quickly on his desired name change.
Liveliness
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on December 2, 2025
A friend of mine told me that she was thinking of the word “liveliness” as a kind of mantra – a desire to live life to the fullest and appreciate it completely. That struck me as a piece of wisdom – after all, what is life if not something to be fully lived?
Still, now that I’m 65 I’m finding my perspective on life changing, even as my core values stay the same. Getting older is a fascinating experience, and frankly, not as bad as I imagined it would be when I was younger.
To be sure, I make staying fit – physically and mentally – a priority. I live really close to the gym and try to get there everyday. I’m also actively learning Italian (while practicing my German) and am involved at work. So at one level I feel healthy and alert, not like an old man. But I also realize that this is a quixotic fight. I can keep learning and exercising, but sooner or later time does catch up. My life goal is now basic: to stay active, alert, and engaged. Or as my friend put it, liveliness.
That sounds rather obvious, but it’s amazing how often in ones’ youth such things are taken for granted. You don’t worry about being active and alert at 40 – instead, one is thinking about goals, plans, dreams, and what one has yet to accomplish. Now the shadow of the future is smaller and I doubt I’ll have major accomplishments in the time remaining. But I want to experience and enjoy the time I have left on the planet. Even if I don’t ever get a chance to live in Italy or spend a lot of time there, learning the language is an end in and of itself. It’s not what I do in life that matters, but rather being able to live and enjoy each moment.
That is the secret. To enjoy getting older one has to let go of the idea that life is about some grand accomplishment, achieving a goal or a particular way of life. Instead, life is about living and experiencing life as it happens, with as much vibrancy and joy as possible. The future matters far less than the present. The moment is to be lived, not simply taken for granted. Liveliness.
Looked at in that way, life becomes both easier and more exciting. It’s about living in the now, not planning for tomorrow. Age forces one to truly internalize the now, because the future is relatively short, and time will take its toll. Suddenly embracing each day – even an experience as mundane as washing the dishes or folding clothes – can yield a sense of joy and appreciation.
And if one experiences and truly lives each moment as it happens, then getting older is irrelevant. One lives now, and that is what matters. Now lasts forever.
The nature of the self
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on December 1, 2025
We find ourselves in a very strange world, defined by time (an organization of the progression of events/thoughts), matter (stuff that we are made up of, interact with, and which creates the texture of this reality), and energy. Energy seems to be the constant; matter is in essence condensed energy, energy seems to be the core stuff of this reality. Reality as we experience – color, sound, feel – is a creation of our brain, reflecting how it interprets the interaction of molecules and energy around us (vibrations, lightwaves, etc.). Light waves have different wave lengths and are objectively “real.” Color is a creation of our brain.
Why and how does this “reality” even exist? One can point to the big bang, and surmise that even “empty space” has latent energy due to quantum mechanics, but that still leaves open the question about the source of that latent energy, or why quantum mechanics is even a thing.
The best way to approach this may be from the other direction: what does this existence entail? We experience. Experience is at one level subjective – we each interpret our experiences as actions in a world we understand through our mind (with past experiences shaping how we understand current and future ones). But subjectivity isn’t solid, we are fluid creatures experiencing reality as part of a series of connections with other entities and objects. Being in a world means to be in part constructed by it – programmed by the experiences and sensations around me. These can be cultural, material, psychological, and personal – but they are never completely independent from the world outside oneself. To an extent, individual identity can be considered an illusion.
The part of us not “constructed” by the world around us is a result of information being passed down genetically. Our material bodies and minds are information processing machines, what we perceive as our “essence” or “identity” is given to us ahead of time in our genetic predispositions. This mixes with the world around us, which acts to program our subjective selves in this world. The self, or Freud’s “ego” is a part of our subjective existence that has the capacity to balance out that internal prepacked programmed genetic self with the myriad of influences coming from the world that infiltrates our minds and perceptions while living in the world.
So the first big question, it seems to me, is to figure out what this “ego” actually is. Much of our existence is the interplay of genetic with environmental, the pre-programming we were born with, with the influence of the world around us. At one extreme, the self is seen as powerless. These interactions are mechanical as the pre-programmed genetic self simply incorporates new programming and alters behavior depending on the environment. To the other extreme, the self is an essential agent of choice, able to reflect on ones’ internal drives and beliefs (genetic programming) and analyze and reflect on the outside world, able to shape how it influences the self, and thus have a role in advancing ones programming – advancing how the self understands and interacts with the world.
I choose to view the self as being an agent of choice. If it isn’t, well, then we’re just on destined courses and have no control over our lives. That may be true, but if so, it’s pointless to reflect and mediate on it. So I’ll embrace the possibility that the “ego” has agency of some sort, and has power to mediate between internal genetic programming and the influence of the external world. But why would such a situation even exist? And what should we do with it?
Perhaps the “ego” is actually an expression of a universal consciousness, a fundamental character of reality that expresses itself in different perspectives – different times, places, and situations. This is not just fantasy, there is a theory in physics that considers consciousness a universal ‘field,’ with our individual experiences of it excitations of that field. If consciousness is universal, then the separation we experience in this reality is an illusion – all is one, but for some reason, we experience it as separate and distinct. But why would that be the case?
Understanding the Ukraine War
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on November 23, 2025
There is a lot of misunderstanding and propaganda on the left and the right about the Ukraine war – it’s a complex conflict with roots that go back deep in history, yet are based on economic and political realities of the 21st Century. I taught an entire course on this conflict in which we examined diverse perspectives and issues over time – far too much to cover in a brief internet post. So here I’ll summarize my own personal interpretation of the conflict.
When Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev “gifted” the Crimea to Ukraine, it was meant to signify a renewal of close connections between the Russians and Ukrainians. Those connections were always tenuous – ever since the Moscovite Russ overtook the Kievan Russ for dominance, the Ukrainians had a sense of a separate identity, a fact made more intense when Stalin’s efforts at control led to what many Ukrainians believe to have been a genocide (Holodomor) in 1932-33. Stalin cut food supplies and millions of Ukrainians died. However, by the end of the Cold War the two peoples seemed closely connected, border crossings were frequent and uncontrolled. Ukraine gave up its Soviet era nuclear weapons in 1994, and the Russians promised to respect Ukrainian sovereignty. Ukraine gave the Soviets a lucrative lease on the Crimea for the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.
But as the post-Cold War era unfolded, Russia became angry at the expansion of NATO and the EU not only into Eastern Europe, but into Russia’s “near abroad,” including the former Soviet Republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Putin, determined to keep Russia a viable global power, schemed to put together a Eurasian union to counter the European Union, with a focus on Russian leadership/control in geostrategically important areas with resources. Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan formed this Eurasian Union. Key for Putin was to include Ukraine – Russia had to have it in its sphere of influence. If it became close to the EU, that would cut into Russia’s Eurasian plans and further diminish Russian influence. Ukraine was the lynchpin.
From 2004 on Putin worked to try to build an agreement to convince Ukraine not to flirt with the EU. Luckily for Putin, corruption and dissatisfaction in Ukraine led to pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych winning the Presidency in 2010. By 2013 Putin had enticed him with promises of cheap energy, economic aid and trade preferences to shift away to from the European Union towards the Eurasian Union. That would assure Ukraine would be part of that Russian-led bloc. But the Ukrainian people, at least in the west of the country, revolted. Yanukovych fled to Russia, and a new pro-Western government rejected Russia’s plans. Putin was incensed, grabbed the Crimea for Russia, and started an uprising in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine where the population is pro-Russia. This smouldering civil war continued form 2014 to 2022. At that point Putin, convinced that the government of Ukraine was weak and unpopular, launched a massive “shock and awe” campaign designed to depose the pro-western government and install a pro-Russian leader. Putin figured it would take the Russian military a few days, and in Washington, the US agreed, believing that Russia was too strong for Ukraine.
But not only did Ukraine fight back, but the fruits of Putin’s corruption were obvious in the ill prepared and poorly trained Russian military. Not only did the invasion fail, but once the West realized Russia could be stopped, sanctions against Russia and aid to Ukraine created a stalemate. Russia was too strong to actually be defeated, but too weak and disorganized to win. Despite the war weakening Russia immensely (the fear of Putin rolling into Europe is fantasy at this point), Putin felt he couldn’t just lose without gaining something. His goal shifted to keeping the Donbas, the pro-Russian section of Ukraine in the East.
Putin can’t win – even if he gets this land, it is not enough to fulfill his goal of making the Eurasian Union a central Asian power center, and Russia is so weakened that its ability to lead has been ceded to China. Putin wants to save face. President Zelensky of Ukraine – who went from being a ridiculed President with a 20% favorability rating to a Churchillesque hero – does not want to give up land that legally belongs to Ukraine. Hence the stalemate.
I personally believe it would be worth it for Ukraine to give up some land in the East if it can have an agreement that assures its sovereignty, especially close security ties to NATO and the EU. Putin will have failed in his major goal, even if he is “rewarded” with some land. That land is destroyed and the people there more pro-Russian anyway.
My view: peoples’ lives have been devastated in Ukraine and Russia, and ending this war is in the interest of humanity. People are more important than lines on a map. If an agreement can be made so that Russia has some land in the far east that should be Ukrainian, but is populated by people supporting Russia, that is worth it to end the suffering and start the healing. However, others believe that borders should be protected at all costs, lest it be a precedent that other would-be warmongers would use. Ending this war, in other words, might make other wars more likely.
But my bias is to put people ahead of politics – ending the killing and the suffering isn’t worth accepting any agreement, but it is worth accepting one that is good enough. Though Russia is far too weak to seriously threaten Europe, I do think that Moldova should be given support, to make sure Putin isn’t tempted there.
Yet, of course, it’s ultimately up to the Ukrainians, who have to consider what kind of ongoing support they’ll get from the Americans and Europeans. I think – and hope – we may finally be near an end of this absurd, insane and pointless disaster initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Democrats won
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on November 12, 2025
A lot of them just haven’t figured it out yet.
During the shutdown fight Democrats put health care in the public eye with focused, precise messaging. When Obamacare subsidies end and insurance costs skyrocket for 22 million people, it’s because the GOP choose not to continue these subsidies, even as it spends massive amounts on unpopular agencies like ICE (fully funded during the shutdown). Moreover, GOP messaging during the shutdown was inept, and issues like SNAP funding and air travel created an air of incompetence.
Many believe that this means the Democrats should have kept going. After all, the issue was working for them. Politics can turn on a dime, and the Democrats were on the brink of seeing their advantage melt away. Politics is, as Aristotle noted, the art of the possible.
First, the Republicans were never going to cave to their demand. If the shutdown dragged out longer, the Senate would have ended the filibuster to allow a majority vote to open up government. Ending the filibuster would have also opened the doors for easy votes on such things like an abortion ban. Second, Democratic leverage was probably at its best right after the November election. This was likely the best deal they could achieve. Finally, the pain of the shutdown was real – nobody was stepping in to help the federal workers without pay, travel disasters as holidays approach, growing economic costs to the country, and real cuts in important programs were starting to sting.
Many supporters of the shutdown were in a place of privilege. They were not hurt – they could afford to say “keep it going.” The emotional desire to finally do something substantive against Trump was compelling. And, of course, there are the 22 million people facing health insurance cost spikes – they were fighting for them. But again, the GOP would have ended the filibuster before giving in on that.
The agreement, however, commits the GOP Senate to a vote on the subsidies, making all Senators put on the record that they are voting to increase insurance costs to millions. Even those not receiving subsidies will likely blame the GOP for insurance cost spikes. And it could pass – some GOP Senators may not want to vote that way. Of course, the House might fail to act, but that puts Mike Johnson in a horrible situation. Moreover, he now has to reconvene the House, ad swear in the Democrat elected in Arizona in a special election, making it more likely than ever that the Epstein files will be released.
And, of course, the Democrats could shut down government again, something that would not be possible for them if the filibuster had been nuked. The battle is not over, not by any means.
Politics is the art of the possible. Until the 2026 elections, the Democrats are a minority party in Congress. For those who demand fighting to the end for a noble cause and damn the consequences, this felt like surrender. But it got the Democrats much more than most people expected when this fight began. They leveraged a weak position into one where they were able to dominate messaging and help push Donald Trump into an increasingly weak position. And they’re ending it at the right time, keeping the filibuster in place, and securing a vote on the ACA subsidies.
It’s not the glory of absolute victory. But it was a clear political win.
The End of the Shutdown Explained
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on November 10, 2025
The Democrats are choosing to end the record setting shutdown with a compromise that does not get them their main goal: guaranteed continuation of the Obamacare subsidies to protect 22 million people whose insurance is likely to skyrocket. This is the right thing to do, but it’s tricky.
First, the Democrats saw that while the shutdown has worked for them politically so far, things were getting much dicier. Federal workers are entering their second month without pay, air traffic is being congested to a horrible state right before the holiday season. The US economy is starting to take a hit, with economic costs rising. Moreover, the administration has become adept at navigating lawsuits to try to cut spending where it hurts Democrats the most, while keeping funding high for ICE and agencies/activities that are Trump priorities. The costs were mounting dramatically.
Beyond that, the Republicans simply were never going to agree to their main demand. This is in part due to principle – you can’t simply give in to the minority party on a demand like that, or else the government could be held hostage anytime the minority party wants its way. The Democrats took the same kind of hard line when the Republicans tried similar tactics in the past. They knew that if it got really bad, the Republican poison pill would be to end the filibuster to at least get the government going. Neither party wants it to come to that.
Moreover, the Obamacare subsidies were about to end anyway as the shut down went on. Simply, the Democrats reached that point where the politics of the shutdown, good for them so far, now were going to start getting much worse. Now was the time to end it.
Alas, the base had been brought to emotional fervor about the shutdown. Finally we’re standing up to Trump! Finally we have clout! We can make them squirm. Now we have to be steadfast, strong, and not give in! All that sounds romantic, but strategy is never so easy. Still, how do you stand down from the shutdown without angering the base too much?
The solution: find eight people – the minimum necessary – to vote for a compromise solution. The eight chosen (or who volunteered) are not vulnerable. Many are retiring, or not up for election soon. That means that others could claim they had been willing to fight on, and allow the wrath of the angry base be focused on these eight.
But all is not lost on the Obamacare subsidies. This compromise should force a vote on those subsidies in December. That will force Republicans to go on the record as wanting to end them – and it’s possible that after the shallacking the GOP took in the elections last week, many will decide to break with their party on this. The Democrats may win the big prize afterall. If not, well, this will be a big issue in 2026.
The base will be angry, but they will move on. New issues will emerge, and the emotions of the 2026 election fight will take over. The Democrats have been pretty adept at managing this whole shutdown – but they know it is time to move on. They just have to try to keep their supporters engaged and active.
America will get the government it wants
Posted by Scott Erb in Uncategorized on September 20, 2025
A number of Americans, frustrated by changes in culture ranging from women becoming leaders to gays marrying and gender identity becoming fluid, yearn for a powerful government to re-establish the kind of cultural norms that were prevalent 50 years ago. Men out working, women staying home and being mothers, gays only rarely venturing out of the closet, and transgenderism…not existing (except on the almost invisible fringes). If this means curtailing liberty and even embracing authoritarian rule to stifle out the “cultural excesses” of the “secular left,” so be it. That is necessary to save America from this dangerous cultural degeneracy.
Others (including myself) see those cultural changes as improvements – an advancement of individual freedom, as we move away from cultural norms rooted in misogyny, racism, and bigotry. To be sure, I’m from the demographic that often fits the first description – I’m an older (OK, I’ll admit it, I’m 65), straight white male who grew up in an era when it was progressive to believe women should be able to have their own bank accounts and credit cards. But I’ve always been a believer in freedom. I argued in favor of gay marriage back in college in the late 70’s, simply because government shouldn’t limit the freedom of people to choose who to love (I am proud that I was right on that issue so early). I today favor the ability of individuals to choose their gender identity because, well, that’s freedom. Freedom is my number one value.
Whether or not MAGA and the Trump administration will succeed in bringing about a “new American revolution” to throw away the progressive ideals of the past decades and bring back a “traditional” America – one run by white males, with Christianity a dominant force – depends on what the American people want.
Though MAGA and Trump seem to have the power now – they certainly have television and entertainment executives quaking in their boots – I don’t believe they reflect where the American people are. Most Americans believe in freedom. Most don’t want to keep women in the home, label anyone with a transgender identity as a terrorist, or embrace fundamentalist Christianity. The moves by the Trump administration to attack freedom of speech and use government to extract revenge against political opponents are distasteful even to many Republicans. Most Americans don’t like images of ICE agents abusing immigrants and anyone with brown skin, with methods that look more like the German Gestapo of the 1930s than traditional US methods. Though, to be sure, the “war on drugs” operated with a similar playbook.
Moreover, the economic costs of high tariffs (which are essentially taxes that fall primarily on working class Americans) and draconian immigration policies will almost certainly mean that 2026 will see some really difficult economic times. Inflation is rising, job growth has already evaporated, and the “good times” promised by Trump are not materializing – quite the contrary.
This all points to a resurgence of the left in 2026 and 2028. (I have criticisms of the “left” too, but I’ll save that for later.) And although there are threats and fears that free elections won’t take place, it seems implausible that the government would have the ability or even the competence to undertake what would be essentially a revolutionary activity to undermine a 250 year old democracy.
When I see the hyperbolic and angry “tweets” from Trump, hear MAGA folk question freedom of speech, and see obvious partisanship in government agencies, it seems obvious to me that this administration has not only jumped the shark, it is in collapse.
But that ultimately depends on what the American people decide.
World in Motion 
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