Institutions Re-Examined… an Introduction
… if you prefer to read this series as one page, please go to https://mikevargamusings.com/institutions-re-examined/
Years ago I wrote about institutions https://mikevargamusings.com/2016/05/01/institutions/
In the context of finding value in these institutions, of seeing them as a tool by which we can do great good or terrible evil. At the time I wrote that blog, I was urging that we have an obligation to look at institutions in the context of what they are accomplishing, their role in history, their purpose and use information available to us to have reasoned debate and to make the tools of institutions work for us.
As of late, I’ve been thinking about the distrust of institutions some of it valid some of it crazy, of the rise of alternative ways of thinking, and even a retrenching to the values we have and should hold dear. Some might call the retrenching to values as conservatism. Others would endorse a tear it down approach, in the name of Progressive Reform. Both are fraught with problems as a generic approach. I think there is something in between. As I started to write about this, I realized this would be a multi-part series. Over the next week or more, I will express my thoughts on the following:
- What corrupts our institutions over time, and what are the implications?
- The rise of “conspiratorial” thinking and how we should address this?
- The rise of “woke” thinking and “elitism” and how we should address this?
- The advantage of rule of law and free press, and journalism.
- The next generation, educated, unchained, and ethical… Our hope!
Please stay tuned.
Read your post from May 2016 about the GOP and the election. I would be very interested in reading what has changed for you since writing that post. Your post was well before much about Trump was commonly and more accurately known, and the sex assault tape had yet to be aired. Since then so much has happened, and so many have died, I would wonder both how you would view your post now, and how things may have changed for you. Granted, hind sight is always 20/20, but it can be a useful analysis, and help to give some perspective on the future. With many institutions now in jeopardy, with some exposed as toothless when once thought ever so powerful, and with the institution of government and elections teetering in the balance, I think a look back might add insight and perspective.
Just a thought.
In Sept. 2020, I published a book, “Trump, Power and the Lessons of Orwell’s 1984” in it I elaborate in much detail how I thought if not checked Trump would use the institutions of government as was done in the book, “1984” to manipulate the masses, and if social media and our institutions of justice, and our free press were corrupted for purpose, we could see the demise of democracy and the rise of an authoritarian regime. We have so far survived this threat. This series on institutions and the book mentioned above are the continuation and maturation of the May 2016 thoughts. I agree with myself of 2016. Hind sight and fore sight coexist and are in agreement.
Yep. Agree.
Have you heard or read the excerpts from the latest insider tell all book? “Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration’s Response to the Pandemic That Changed History,” a book from two Washington Post journalists . I ask because according to this book and other sources, he did try, over and over again to do what you pointed out. My greatest fear was that if he got elected, he would finish the revamping of all the departments and institutions, and he would then be very hard to stop. The election won us some time, but that time is running short.
Our institutions held, thanks to career bureaucrats, the diversity and separation of powers, and the next generation that came out to vote. I have faith that the next generation will improve and strengthen the democratic institutions, and themselves in defense of democracy. Our democracy has been threaten many times in our history, and has come out on top every time. It will again.