We’re on the path of least resistance, too distracted and addicted to our comforts and routines. Many of us see the reality but lack the means to change it. Even our elected representatives, those not of the GOP, don’t seem able to rein this lawlessness. For months we keep asking, what can we do? The only answer has been, peaceful protest, which they now try to deny us. The truth is, this regime cares nothing about the Constitution, the country, or the people. The GOP has abandoned us and the Democrats are too weak to lead. It’s going to take something far more radical than anything we’ve seen so far, and so much damage has been done to the country already it’s going to be a hard recovery if we manage to turn it around. The sooner we start the better.
That is the point. No one is really facing the challenges civilization faces. the parties are all 'dominant elies' just as is the corporate sector.
doing anything has to come from us, and from us facing those real problems, and becoming 'emulatable'. However, people are more likely to face illusionary problems pushed by the dominant groups, than the real problems they face.
For example Trump voters may recognise social disintegration and economic abandonment, but their leaders focus on suppressing minorities and boosting corporate power.... which leads nowhere good.
While smalle groups facing real challenges is difficult, Toynbee's other point is that it has happened, and retreat from the challenges because they are hard, will make the challenges worse and harder to deal with.
Agreed. We’ve been retreating from our challenges for decades at least, and accepted blithe reassurances that we’re still the greatest nation on earth, etc. Meanwhile the challenges have continued to grow and become more intractable year after year until now it’s obvious the US has been left behind among developed countries. I think many reasons for this, but mostly our choices as a country have been motivated by industry, economic growth, and the wealthy.
we live under a plutocracy which has its own challenges, but the USA is not the only country that suffers from the rich elite being unobservant of challenges which face the rest of us.
The point of this article is not that some political party can come to our rescue and “rejuvenate”‘the Constitution. The problem is much deeper. Sense of purpose and meaning are the outgrowth of a cohesive society, not a fragmented one. This is, at base, a cultural/philosophical problem, not curable by a minority of citizens on the “right path”. It is correct that the majority is diverted by material comforts and entertainment. I fear this era will just have to run its course.
i think Toynbee would suggest that the problem of cohesion of culture is a problem which is generated by elites turning away from society in general, and only facing their own challenges of maintaining power.
Inequality seems to be a great generator of social incoherence
True, but he also believe that when elites loose touch with society in general, they tend to adopt values of the working class, which leads to more fragmentation.
We’re on the path of least resistance, too distracted and addicted to our comforts and routines. Many of us see the reality but lack the means to change it. Even our elected representatives, those not of the GOP, don’t seem able to rein this lawlessness. For months we keep asking, what can we do? The only answer has been, peaceful protest, which they now try to deny us. The truth is, this regime cares nothing about the Constitution, the country, or the people. The GOP has abandoned us and the Democrats are too weak to lead. It’s going to take something far more radical than anything we’ve seen so far, and so much damage has been done to the country already it’s going to be a hard recovery if we manage to turn it around. The sooner we start the better.
That is the point. No one is really facing the challenges civilization faces. the parties are all 'dominant elies' just as is the corporate sector.
doing anything has to come from us, and from us facing those real problems, and becoming 'emulatable'. However, people are more likely to face illusionary problems pushed by the dominant groups, than the real problems they face.
For example Trump voters may recognise social disintegration and economic abandonment, but their leaders focus on suppressing minorities and boosting corporate power.... which leads nowhere good.
While smalle groups facing real challenges is difficult, Toynbee's other point is that it has happened, and retreat from the challenges because they are hard, will make the challenges worse and harder to deal with.
Agreed. We’ve been retreating from our challenges for decades at least, and accepted blithe reassurances that we’re still the greatest nation on earth, etc. Meanwhile the challenges have continued to grow and become more intractable year after year until now it’s obvious the US has been left behind among developed countries. I think many reasons for this, but mostly our choices as a country have been motivated by industry, economic growth, and the wealthy.
we live under a plutocracy which has its own challenges, but the USA is not the only country that suffers from the rich elite being unobservant of challenges which face the rest of us.
The point of this article is not that some political party can come to our rescue and “rejuvenate”‘the Constitution. The problem is much deeper. Sense of purpose and meaning are the outgrowth of a cohesive society, not a fragmented one. This is, at base, a cultural/philosophical problem, not curable by a minority of citizens on the “right path”. It is correct that the majority is diverted by material comforts and entertainment. I fear this era will just have to run its course.
i think Toynbee would suggest that the problem of cohesion of culture is a problem which is generated by elites turning away from society in general, and only facing their own challenges of maintaining power.
Inequality seems to be a great generator of social incoherence
True, but he also believe that when elites loose touch with society in general, they tend to adopt values of the working class, which leads to more fragmentation.