by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
I am not, by nature, a violent man. In fact, I hate guns and I hate violence of any sort. I’m a man of ideas, a man of peace. And the argument could be made that having three cats when I was growing up gave me that brain parasite in cat urine that is makes you “nicer.”
But even I have to admit that income disparity in the United States is growing so alarming as to make the country far more unstable than you might think. I keep being reminded of this massive disparity when I listen to some of my favorite liberal-progressive podcasts.
The things they talk about are simply impossible for me to imagine being able to afford. And they’re so casual about it. They talk about their jetset lives and the elements of their latest AirBnB as if EVERYONE can do such a thing. I understand that some of it all is aspirational in nature — they talk about it to make themselves sound cool or they’re just clueless — but the net effect is I feel like going to the ramparts in the spirit of Thomas Jefferson.
All of this is even more relevant when you realize that the wealthiest, most stable, most powerful democracy humanity has ever seen could very well implode into civil war at some point between now and spring 2025. I know that at the moment that sounds both hysterical and fantastical, but if you look at macro trends — like income inequality — oh boy.
What’s even more alarming to me on a personal basis is I’ve shifted own my position on the future of the Union some. I used to consider myself a Lincoln Unionist through and through….but now, as autocratic MAGA fascists grow more and more politically ascendant I have come to believe that on paper, at least, Blue states should seriously consider secession.
But at the same time, I hate violence so much that I suppose it would be for the best if Blues simply bent a knee to fascist on the state level and let wealthy liberals flee the country en masse. Of course, there is a possibility that some sort of military junta will step in during any Certification Crisis in 2024 – 2025 and that will be a stop gap solution between autocracy and civil war.
Who knows. But all I know is the United States is primed and ready for civil war / revolution from either the Right OR Left. I suppose your best bet is to get a passport and leave the country now, in advance, if you have the means.
