brainstorm #34 - the post truth dystopia

Opening: Random observations

The International New York Times is quite a useful publication. In fact, I made the comment to somebody earlier in the year that I thought if the I-NYT ever decided to establish business in a sizeable way in Australia that it would put a lot of pressure on News Ltd and Fairfax - organisations already struggling. 

My casual remark may have held some unintended prescience. Amanda Meade, media correspondent with Guardian Australia, reported a few weeks back that Fairfax was entering into some sort of arrangement with I-NYT. It will be interesting to see what comes of it. (Hopefully something good!)

The world is getting freaky. Alliances need to be made and strengthened and solidarity against a "neo-fascism" - for want of a better term - needs to be planned. 

Why do I say this?

The I-NYT is running an article this morning titled "Donald Trump's Anything Goes Campaign Sets An Alarming Precedent"

Trump is shifting the boundaries of what is acceptable in the pursuit of political power.

In part the article observes:

He seemed untroubled in using an ostensible campaign event just a few blocks from the White House to openly promote his personal commercial interests 52 days before the election.

In fact, this past week offered a vivid illustration of how little regard Mr. Trump has for the long-held expectations of America’s leaders. He is not only breaking the country’s political norms, he and his campaign aides are now all but mocking them.

Besides using his campaign as a platform to make money on a new hotel, Mr. Trump leveled an untrue assertion that Hillary Clinton had been the first to claim Mr. Obama was born abroad. He also boasted about his healthon the show of a daytime television celebrity while releasing just his testosterone levels and a few other details about his well-being.

And this 

Routine falsehoods, unfounded claims and inflammatory language have long been staples of Mr. Trump’s anything-goes campaign. But as the polls tighten and November nears, his behavior, and the implications for the country should he become president, are alarming veteran political observers — and leaving them deeply worried about the precedent being set, regardless of who wins the White House.

“It’s frightening,” said Vin Weber, a former Republican congressman from Minnesota. “Our politics, because of him, is descending to the level of a third-world country. There’s just nothing beneath him. And I don’t know why we would think he would change if he became president. That’s what’s really scary.” 

Given that corporate America and the apparatus of state has done so much to interfere in "third world countries" it should perhaps not seem strange that America - and its project of disestablishment and manipulation of chaos - has now turned on itself with a weirdness and ugliness it has normally exported. What goes around comes around. The circle becomes complete. And the tension becomes unbearable. (Or, as Yeats said, "The centre can't hold") 

But why do I say this? 

Hmmm... I am not sure. I am wanting to say something about the importance of the public space, the public forum, that stands as a place of integrity and of reason in the face of 'stuff' like Trumpism.