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Peter Turchin's avatar

Random thoughts inspired by comments:

1. Agenda: things to be done. Of course, everybody on Substack (or any social media) has an agenda, or they wouldn't be here.

3. There is a great diversity of voices and themes. An unsystematic reading of social media will inevitably give you a distorted idea of what people (all people, or all that are on social media) think. The proverbial echo chambers rule.

3. I also live in Europe (Austria) half time. Life is comfortable and well-regulated. It's hard to imagine Austrians rebelling and starting a civil war. But it was equally hard to imagine the Yellow Vest movement in France before it happened. So what was the energy that fueled it?

4. Indicators of instability, such as antigovernmental demonstrations and violent riots are trending up everywhere in Europe. Will they simply blow out, or are they a precursor of something more serious? I don't know.

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Mullet Snyder, the Lying Poet's avatar

I feel like everyone who posts on Substack has an agenda to push or an ax to grind.

I see stories like this about the USA with almost exactly the same theme and tone; pining for better times when life was easier or looking forward to the future with dread.

None of these match my experience living in the United States or in Europe (Spain).

I am squarely in the middle class; 57 years old and still working for the Man.

I also own a small business with over 15 employees which is far more difficult than merely being employed.

Life would be much easier if I just punched a clock every day.

Life felt easier in Europe where nobody I know aspired to own a small business.

Everyone aspires for a government job.

But, since many people live in large, multi-generational homes with extended family, there’s relatively little homelessness or immiseration.

I know my view is out of the mainstream; everybody wants to predict a Civil War in the near future.

I just don’t see it.

Plus, with Social Media, everybody has a voice.

Perhaps the ability to go on Facebook or Substack and rant will let people vent their vitriol and will keep them from going out in the streets and punching a cop.

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