I agree that the first would be chaotic - they would be tumbling over themselves for the first hour - that’s why it needs to be a six-parter with the first one to clear the air and then themes for each one, such as Electoral Success and its importance, Elite overproduction, Media Management, Mass Education, Culture, whatever etc. etc. and moderated by someone they can defer to - I think they both know Douglas Murray, for example.
"A regime change is like a satellite launch—it either reaches orbit, establishing a new and stable constitutional state (maybe even under the same document), or it explodes."
Here's a handy Saint-Just quote for the same notion: "Whoever does only half of a revolution, just digs his own grave".
The comparison to Germany's regime changes in 20C is spot on: 1) From the German Empire to the Weimar Republic was like Brexit. Becoming a "republic" was a goal in itself and afterwards - who knows? It's a republic so we figure something out and everything will be fine. Didn't work out very well. Weimar ist interesting because it shows a template how to end democracy by elections (also by emergency ruling). For me our current times also seem a bit like alternate Weimar Republic where the Nazis aren't elected. Weimar where the dysfunctional establishment continues in 1933
2) The regime change to the Nazis was as complete as any neoreactionary could hope. But: Hitler. Very effective revolution but wrong goals and end structure
2.1) Failed coup of July 20th 1944. Interestingly their goal was not democracy but rather monarchy in the structure of the German Empire. Sounds pretty reactionary. But they had very limited means and a fractured power base. Interesting "what if...?" scenario nevertheless
3) De-Nazification did work but total military defeat was needed as foundation. Also the very real crimes of the Nazi regime were needed to morally condemn it. Wouldn't work today because people wouldn't support the view that every gov employee was part of crimes against humanity. It would seem like fake justice
3.1) East Germany's change to socialism was also pretty complete and they had a long term vision - communism. But their plan sucked and so did their system. Got rotten without being a democracy or having a Cathedral. But quite similar symptoms in the end to our system today
4) West Germany swallows the GDR. Also changed everything and was a complete regime change. But: They should have also abolished the SED party from the GDR. So they're still powerful under their new name 'Die Linke'. Would be like if they didn't demolish the NSDAP and they would still be today - und a new name - in german parliaments
Honest line of inquiry; had “Defund the Police” been marketed (for all politics is marketing now) as “We Deserve A Better Police” or “Reform it, For Them And Us” could that have been an example of an achievable reset?
Similarly to Brexit (UK citizen here), it seems the Defunding is viewed as the endpoint. Once the defunding is complete, job done. However, if the promise of Carlyle’s Coal had been offered up, who knows?
Anyhoo, it maybe time for Yarvinians (Cummingsians ?) to play at least one hand with progressives - you want “defund”?, well, I see your bet and I will raise you “how”.
There has been a generational reform of the police/criminal justice outside of 'Defund the Police' from bail reform, eliminating or limiting qualified immunity, federal and state sentencing reform, drug and psychedelic decrim, cannabis legalization, etc. and like anything it is a mixed bag of good and bad and most of it gets ignored for the big hairy crazy stufff like defund the police...
"And needless to say, you need to be able to sell this reset to both red and blue cultures. I don't really think there can be a successful reset which is completely partisan."
What would our friends in Kandahar have to say about this?
My objective for brexit was that the UK should leave the EU and then British politicians would no longer have any excuse for their incompetence and petty power lust. I'm happy just to watch what happens next.
Brexit was a bipartisan plan to shut up the proles once and for all. No one with any power even contemplated a Leave result.
FDR had the kind of thumping majorities needed for his kind of makeover. The American people haven’t come close to giving that kind of mandate to any subsequent administration.
yes, well it's never too late to adopt a fallback grift - he surely is clocking the dough. hope he doesn't spend it all in one place though. i think it's said to never invest your own money in the theater
Moldbug is Machiavelli to Cummings's Lorenzo de' Medici. Un-frigging-real
Yes- now we need the Yarvin-Cummings 6-part debate series podcast - it will need a moderator, though
The trouble is we’d be compelled to do something with the information afterwards. Like “clean your room” but with reality?
I’d pay to witness it though.
It would be better written than a podcast for these two - I think a podcast would be a trainwreck.
I agree that the first would be chaotic - they would be tumbling over themselves for the first hour - that’s why it needs to be a six-parter with the first one to clear the air and then themes for each one, such as Electoral Success and its importance, Elite overproduction, Media Management, Mass Education, Culture, whatever etc. etc. and moderated by someone they can defer to - I think they both know Douglas Murray, for example.
"A regime change is like a satellite launch—it either reaches orbit, establishing a new and stable constitutional state (maybe even under the same document), or it explodes."
Here's a handy Saint-Just quote for the same notion: "Whoever does only half of a revolution, just digs his own grave".
(Well, he, of all people, would know)
The comparison to Germany's regime changes in 20C is spot on: 1) From the German Empire to the Weimar Republic was like Brexit. Becoming a "republic" was a goal in itself and afterwards - who knows? It's a republic so we figure something out and everything will be fine. Didn't work out very well. Weimar ist interesting because it shows a template how to end democracy by elections (also by emergency ruling). For me our current times also seem a bit like alternate Weimar Republic where the Nazis aren't elected. Weimar where the dysfunctional establishment continues in 1933
2) The regime change to the Nazis was as complete as any neoreactionary could hope. But: Hitler. Very effective revolution but wrong goals and end structure
2.1) Failed coup of July 20th 1944. Interestingly their goal was not democracy but rather monarchy in the structure of the German Empire. Sounds pretty reactionary. But they had very limited means and a fractured power base. Interesting "what if...?" scenario nevertheless
3) De-Nazification did work but total military defeat was needed as foundation. Also the very real crimes of the Nazi regime were needed to morally condemn it. Wouldn't work today because people wouldn't support the view that every gov employee was part of crimes against humanity. It would seem like fake justice
3.1) East Germany's change to socialism was also pretty complete and they had a long term vision - communism. But their plan sucked and so did their system. Got rotten without being a democracy or having a Cathedral. But quite similar symptoms in the end to our system today
4) West Germany swallows the GDR. Also changed everything and was a complete regime change. But: They should have also abolished the SED party from the GDR. So they're still powerful under their new name 'Die Linke'. Would be like if they didn't demolish the NSDAP and they would still be today - und a new name - in german parliaments
3) people wouldn't support the…
Honest line of inquiry; had “Defund the Police” been marketed (for all politics is marketing now) as “We Deserve A Better Police” or “Reform it, For Them And Us” could that have been an example of an achievable reset?
Similarly to Brexit (UK citizen here), it seems the Defunding is viewed as the endpoint. Once the defunding is complete, job done. However, if the promise of Carlyle’s Coal had been offered up, who knows?
Anyhoo, it maybe time for Yarvinians (Cummingsians ?) to play at least one hand with progressives - you want “defund”?, well, I see your bet and I will raise you “how”.
There has been a generational reform of the police/criminal justice outside of 'Defund the Police' from bail reform, eliminating or limiting qualified immunity, federal and state sentencing reform, drug and psychedelic decrim, cannabis legalization, etc. and like anything it is a mixed bag of good and bad and most of it gets ignored for the big hairy crazy stufff like defund the police...
The skyrocketing crime statistics are not ignored by those forced to endure them.
"And needless to say, you need to be able to sell this reset to both red and blue cultures. I don't really think there can be a successful reset which is completely partisan."
What would our friends in Kandahar have to say about this?
I think you need just to sell to the blues - the reds will follow if they can just feel the boot on their neck easing
My objective for brexit was that the UK should leave the EU and then British politicians would no longer have any excuse for their incompetence and petty power lust. I'm happy just to watch what happens next.
Brexit was a bipartisan plan to shut up the proles once and for all. No one with any power even contemplated a Leave result.
FDR had the kind of thumping majorities needed for his kind of makeover. The American people haven’t come close to giving that kind of mandate to any subsequent administration.
Well they did to LBJ which is why he was the Augustus to FDR"s Gaius.
Did Cummings respond to this?
he is britain's greatest living statesman. presumably he's busy statesing or curtseying or something
he will never get elected or work for another government again - right now substack is his only gig
yes, well it's never too late to adopt a fallback grift - he surely is clocking the dough. hope he doesn't spend it all in one place though. i think it's said to never invest your own money in the theater