We often talk as though the anger and authoritarianism in our politics were intrinsic, part of some global cycle, or perhaps a response to news fragmentation and the attention-deficit-inducing clickbait of social media. But some countries have managed to hold out against the trend, and it is worth looking at why.
Most European states, it is true, have seen their established political parties upended. The old parties of the Center-Left have been obliterated in France, the Low Countries, and most of Eastern and Central Europe. The Christian Democrats with whom they used to alternate in power have also lost ground across the Continent. Leftist voters have largely gone to more radical parties, especially the Greens. Rightists have turned to populist parties that have little interest in free markets.
In the United States, where primaries anchor the parties to public opinion, these changes have happened within the established political blocs. Democrats have become obsessed with identity politics; Republicans have succumbed to Führerprinzip. Both hate free trade.
But things don’t have to be this way. I am writing from a country that is subject to the same cultural trends as the other great English-speaking democracies, where lots of people watch Fox and MSNBC and have strong opinions about U.S. elections, but that has just elected a mainstream conservative government on a platform of cutting tax, spending, and debt.
We could easily reduce the federal workforce by 30% with multiple positive outcomes….
Fewer useless people on the payroll for salary, benefits and pension!
Better efficiency as the departed will no longer get in the way!
Processes will improve due to the reduced workforce!
CLEAN UP the GOVT !!! Put it in CHECK !!!