This concisely connects the discordant and seemingly dysfunctional state of national affairs right now. f or a long time I guess I just thought republicans were evil and the democrats weren't that far off which was why everything seemed to be going downhill. But that still didn't fully explain why a lot of their decisions just felt stupidly hypocritical and nonsensical. Like, why would they be actively destroying the country and agitating the population that keeps them in power?
But this has me realizing that when you zoom out, a lot of it has just been a predictable pattern, which makes so many of their moves finally make sense. It's not about building a 'free nation' like you say, because if it was, they would be behaving very differently. It's building towards something else entirely. They used that 'american excellence' story to lure people into participation, but now that they've got us, they're moving onto the next step.
I'm usually pretty enraged lately but I do strangely feel a sense of calm after reading this. The idea of our nation being run by hedge fund strategists is not comforting at all, but it at least helps my brain to put the pieces together in a way that actually seems to map up with reality instead of constantly asking WTF ARE THEY DOING THIS.
Glad it might have connected some things for you. Thank you so much for subscribing too, it means a lot. I hope I can keep delivering work that is worthwhile <3
I do not like that word. I've seen it around and it gives me the ick. But there is no doubting that your observations are correct. I had no interest in celebrating yesterday and my dog didn't appreciate it either. You're also right about the fact that our "National Birthday" festivities are made to look and sound like an active war zone! Hmm why would they do that?? The levels of psycholgical subversion go so deep.
It's an ugly word! No doubt about it. But wow does it speak to the times we are living through. Guess it's time for a makeover? Ugly times call for beautiful measures, maybe?
I think I was scared to read this on the 4th, but I decided to read it now, on the 7th. You know me, as per usual, your writing made me cry, but this time its different. It’s those deep inside tears for when you know something is despairingly true, a thing you wanted to believe in so badly, because you want to believe in good. Like when a mask comes off in a relationship and you just wanted to believe in a good human with good intentions but damn humans kinda suck or worse (they are evil)…but not all of them. The mask is definitely off, and the ‘good’ country and the ‘good companies’ are all exposed just like when the mask comes off a narcissist you’ve fallen in fairytale love with, and while I weep at the very true feeling dark in your essay - there is also light, and its dim, but walking towards it. Thanks as always Cal, for saying what needs to be said. As enshitty as it may be :)
Comparing our macro-political situationship to being entangled with a narcissist is very appropo. I guess that once the mask comes off, the question becomes "what do we do now?" How do we move on now that we're aware of the mistake of our misplaced trust? I think the intimate relationship scenario might be more painful though. Because at least with the enshittification of a country, we are all in this together! We are not alone in the realization. We can be together in the truth and the struggle and the solution!
Ugly-wept to your response. The song that happened to be playing in my background: Nuala by Tiernan. All the appropos! And all the comforts in being in this together for the struggle and solution. All the S words in 2025: synthesis, struggle, solution ❤️ And T for Together!
This concisely connects the discordant and seemingly dysfunctional state of national affairs right now. f or a long time I guess I just thought republicans were evil and the democrats weren't that far off which was why everything seemed to be going downhill. But that still didn't fully explain why a lot of their decisions just felt stupidly hypocritical and nonsensical. Like, why would they be actively destroying the country and agitating the population that keeps them in power?
But this has me realizing that when you zoom out, a lot of it has just been a predictable pattern, which makes so many of their moves finally make sense. It's not about building a 'free nation' like you say, because if it was, they would be behaving very differently. It's building towards something else entirely. They used that 'american excellence' story to lure people into participation, but now that they've got us, they're moving onto the next step.
I'm usually pretty enraged lately but I do strangely feel a sense of calm after reading this. The idea of our nation being run by hedge fund strategists is not comforting at all, but it at least helps my brain to put the pieces together in a way that actually seems to map up with reality instead of constantly asking WTF ARE THEY DOING THIS.
You've earned a follower out of me
Glad it might have connected some things for you. Thank you so much for subscribing too, it means a lot. I hope I can keep delivering work that is worthwhile <3
I do not like that word. I've seen it around and it gives me the ick. But there is no doubting that your observations are correct. I had no interest in celebrating yesterday and my dog didn't appreciate it either. You're also right about the fact that our "National Birthday" festivities are made to look and sound like an active war zone! Hmm why would they do that?? The levels of psycholgical subversion go so deep.
It's an ugly word! No doubt about it. But wow does it speak to the times we are living through. Guess it's time for a makeover? Ugly times call for beautiful measures, maybe?
I think I was scared to read this on the 4th, but I decided to read it now, on the 7th. You know me, as per usual, your writing made me cry, but this time its different. It’s those deep inside tears for when you know something is despairingly true, a thing you wanted to believe in so badly, because you want to believe in good. Like when a mask comes off in a relationship and you just wanted to believe in a good human with good intentions but damn humans kinda suck or worse (they are evil)…but not all of them. The mask is definitely off, and the ‘good’ country and the ‘good companies’ are all exposed just like when the mask comes off a narcissist you’ve fallen in fairytale love with, and while I weep at the very true feeling dark in your essay - there is also light, and its dim, but walking towards it. Thanks as always Cal, for saying what needs to be said. As enshitty as it may be :)
Comparing our macro-political situationship to being entangled with a narcissist is very appropo. I guess that once the mask comes off, the question becomes "what do we do now?" How do we move on now that we're aware of the mistake of our misplaced trust? I think the intimate relationship scenario might be more painful though. Because at least with the enshittification of a country, we are all in this together! We are not alone in the realization. We can be together in the truth and the struggle and the solution!
❤️
Ugly-wept to your response. The song that happened to be playing in my background: Nuala by Tiernan. All the appropos! And all the comforts in being in this together for the struggle and solution. All the S words in 2025: synthesis, struggle, solution ❤️ And T for Together!
😢😢⛅️☀️