So I’ve been watching the series. I’m on episode 7.
At first glance it seemed to be about the patriarchy or a condemnation of religious fanaticism, maybe even Islam.
But as it goes on, the layers reveal themselves and show first perceptions to be small thinking. That it was women whose rights were taken using religious zealotry as an excuse is not the important point. You could use the same plot and substitute any subgroup and excuse.
It reminds me very much of Europe during WWII.
The point is the incrementalism. The convincing of the population to accept “measures for their own good.” The “well, that’s not so bad and it’s only temporary” - until it’s not.
There was a line from the commander:
Better never means better for everyone… It always means worse, for some.
Margaret Atwood
What a profound statement. And insight into the political system and ruling class.
I would offer that it is more often than not only better for “me and/or my group.”
This one simple truth sums up the failure of national policy decisions in a country the size of the United States. Why a “strong central government” with supreme power simply does not produce “a more perfect union.” It’s not a union.
It is why the anchor is so important and why we should not tolerate the rulers drifting away from it, as we have done.
There is a comment in the thread about the House using proxy voting, “The courts won’t touch it” or words to that effect. I agree, they won’t. Should they? What will the next escalation be? Just an example.
When the Final Arbiters are free to determine, of their own volition, what they will touch or not. When they are free to issue edicts through silence or without an accounting. When we have secret courts named by members of the courts. When we give away that kind of power with no demand for accountability to unelected rulers, what do we expect to happen? History tells us what the end result will be.
This recent emergency has given us a glimpse. Don’t be surprised to see legislation giving the ruling class the means to address the gaps in their power that scared them during this crisis. They will consolidate.
