By Michael
The new abnormal
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists calls the current political climate “the new abnormal.” Their 2019 “Doomsday Clock” is set at two minutes before midnight. Even the sober military analysts at Stratfor are warning that “weakening arms control regimes and the emergence of disruptive weapons technologies will erode global geopolitical stability” in the year ahead.
From his first moments in office, President Donald Trump has wanted nuclear weapons that he could actually use. A new Nuclear Posture Review produced by his administration in 2018 calls for a “tailored nuclear option for limited use.” Accordingly, new W76-2 “mini-nukes” began production in Texas in February as the administration was withdrawing from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia.
The Bulletin notes that with weapons development racing forward, “new…governance structures are desperately needed to manage rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous technologies.”
The politics of magical transformation
The “new governance structures” hoped for by our scientific friends do not appear to be on the horizon. As of February 20, 2019, the FEC had already processed 538 filings for presidential candidates in the 2020 election. At this pace, a record number of candidates will file in this cycle.
The idea that anyone can become president of the United States irrespective of their background or social station has been an article of faith drummed into the minds of US school children for at least a century. For many, Donald Trump’s surprise victory in 2016 no doubt proves the theory.
The persistence of this powerful myth serves as testament to the enduring American faith in the idea of magical transformation, a marketing concept that lies at the heart of US culture. It undergirds all modern publicity and advertising, including political PR. Drink our beer; Drive our car; Wear our clothes or perfume; Take our prescription drugs; Vote for our candidate, and your life will be instantly, magically transformed.
Of course marketing this kind of chimerical nonsense requires lots of money, and 2020 will be the most expensive political campaign in human history.
Being brave enough for real transformation
A liberal friend in Atlanta who started the Civic Dinners project a few years ago recently gave a TED speech talking about hosting a die-hard Trump supporter for dinner at her home after the 2016 election. He reached out to her. They broke bread, shared vino, and in spite of their differences, found common ground in their local community.
There is real magic in encounters such as this. They show that genuine transformation is possible. But we have to be willing to try something different. As my friend in Atlanta says, “Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.”
Through my seminars, civic tours and books, I am working hard to create transformative dialogue around new civic models that are truly Reimagining Politics. The minimum donation to help me continue is $5, the price of a Starbucks latte.
Contact me if you want to make a sustaining donation or to discuss my ambitious new two year plan for 2019-2020 during the heart of the US election cycle.
