The Berlin Wall was torn down in December, 1989. The Soviet Union was dissolved on December 26, 1991. The USA, apparently, had won the Cold War.
Here’s the crowd on top of the Berlin Wall in 1989:
Many people were quite optimistic. One such was the political philosopher Francis Fukuyama, who declared “the end of history”. By this he meant that the “dialectic”, the struggle between opposing historical forces, was over. Liberal Democracy had emerged as the final synthesis. Good times had come at last. (Oversimplifying a little.)
It didn’t work out that way, did it? The struggle between Communism and Capitalism had been resolved in favour of Capitalism. But it was soon obvious that the Capitalists no longer had any use for Liberal Democracy, and, starting with Ronald Reagan, set about dismantling the structure that Liberal Democracy had built. Gradually, the word “liberal” was turned into a pejorative, replacing “communist” in the lexicon of insult.
The impending Trump administration is dedicated to a comprehensive trashing of what still remains. And people voted for this! Many people, who will soon themselves suffer the consequences.
The Democratic Party appears bewildered. Times are good and getting better. Just look at the figures! Consider the infrastructure improvements, medical coverage extended, drug prices reduced! And more to come! Let the good times roll!
But they lost the election anyhow.
What went wrong? Maybe Fyodor Dostoevsky has a clue.
In 1866, Dostoevsky wrote Notes from Underground, a monologue by a bitter and spiteful man … Read the rest