America seems to go crazy every 50 years or so – Washington Examiner
Amid news that Donald Trump is about to be indicted by a hyperpartisan prosecutor and of his hysterical responses, and prompted by vagrant reading about the War of 1812 and Woodrow Wilsons violations of civil liberties in World War I, a thought occurred to me. America seems to go crazy every 50 years or so.
Start with the War of 1812, about 50 years after colonies Stamp Act protests. Theres a touch of absurdity here. Because of the slowness of trans-Atlantic communication, Congress declared war because of British restrictions on neutral shipping six days after the British repealed them. Americans won their major land victory in New Orleans, 15 days after the peace treaty had already been signed in Ghent.
IS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE REASON HALF OF BLACK STUDENTS CAN'T READ?
The Americans strategy was based on a delusion that Canadians would welcome American conquest and American tactics were riddled with blunders. Detroit was surrendered without a shot, and Washington was left undefended, allowing the British to burn the White House. The treaty left in place the status quo, and the positive response was psychological, verging on delusional. In historian Gordon Woods words, this inconclusive war did finally establish for Americans that independence and nationhood of the United States that so many had doubted.
Almost exactly 50 years later, the U.S. plunged into civil war, which outgoing President James Buchanan might have prevented by sending troops to secessionist South Carolina, as his mentor Andrew Jackson had done almost thirty years earlier. But the differences were fundamental. Democrats supported the liberty of slaveholders to retain their property anywhere in a nation an increasing number of whose citizens regarded slavery as intolerable. Republicans were determined to deploy the federal government to put slavery, in Abraham Lincolns words, on the path to extinction.
Winfield Scott, a young officer in 1812, provided Lincoln with the Anaconda strategy, squeezing the South by blockade until Grant and Sherman could defeat the Confederate armies. The result wasnt crazy slavery was abolished in an ultimately intact Union. But it all came at a crazy cost, with some 600,000 lives in a nation of 38 million.
Fast forward 50 years to the only American president who spent his boyhood in the Confederacy, watching Sherman march into South Carolina, Woodrow Wilson. After Congress, with 56 dissenters, voted to enter World War I, Wilson superintended the overbroad 1917 Espionage Act. As Adam Hochschild vividly recounts in American Midnight, the Wilson administration imprisoned those who spoke against the war or the draft, including Socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs. Wilson deported aliens supposedly involved in radical activities under the supervision of the twenty-something J. Edgar Hoover. He censored the press, stamping out what liberals today call misinformation, and cooperated with local efforts to suppress German cultural organizations.
As Hochschild makes clear, it wasnt only the Wilson administration that went crazy. Radical anarchists set off deadly bombs on Wall Street, at Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmers house, and across the street from Assistant Navy Secretary Franklin Roosevelt.
The much-derided Red Scare was a response to fears raised by the takeover of the larger and more populous Russia by a handful of Bolsheviks, whose murderous and squalid regime ended up lasting 70 years. Americans a century ago didnt know that this wasnt going to happen here.
Sometimes people can learn from mistakes. In World War II, FDR, who witnessed Wilsons excesses up close, didnt seize the railroads or shipyards. With the important exception of the Japanese American internments, he also didnt violate civil liberties as Wilson had.
Unfortunately, sometimes people dont learn. Fifty years ago, America saw a tripling, roughly, of violent crime and welfare dependency in a decade, even as prison populations were reduced and police delegitimized. A rash of hundreds of violent bombings was followed by serious government misconduct.
Ironically, after the 1964-68 civil rights acts changed America for the better, there were cries that racist treatment of blacks was as bad as ever. America was going crazy again, on schedule.
And so it has in the last few years. After the election and reelection of the first black president, we heard Black Lives Matter, like the Black Panthers 50 years before, proclaim that America was even more racist than it ever had been. Since the mostly peaceful riots of summer 2020, there have been sharp increases in violent crime and moves to defund and delegitimize police departments, which are, in fact, far less racist than in the 1960s.
America went crazy too over COVID, in my view, by treating a virus fatal to just a small segment of the population as if, like Ebola, it had an infection fatality rate of around 50%. Authorities imposed lockdowns and mandates while ignoring economic costs and lasting collateral damage, like adults missing cancer screenings and children missing first and second grade.
Like Woodrow Wilsons propagandist George Creel, government agencies suppressed as misinformation speech and arguments, including many which turned out to be accurate.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM RESTORING AMERICA
Another symptom of America going crazy is presidential dysfunction. Fifty years ago, the highly intelligent and experienced Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon were ousted at ages 60 and 61 because of Vietnam and Watergate. Now, despite repeated stumbles, the inexperienced and distractable Donald Trump and the (according to bipartisan Defense Secretary Robert Gates) nearly-always-wrong Joe Biden are seeking second terms they would complete at ages 82 and 86, respectively.
Having witnessed and written for publication during two 50-years-apart episodes of craziness, I seek consolation from Adam Smiths reflection, after Britain lost the 13 colonies, that there is a great deal of ruin in a nation. But I hope America will do a better job, 50 years hence, of learning from this episodes mistakes.
Read more:
America seems to go crazy every 50 years or so - Washington Examiner
- Community continues to demand answers concerning Rayvon Shahid during Black Lives Matter protests - Flint Courier News - November 28th, 2024 [November 28th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter protests police shooting of 17-year-old in Flint - WJRT - November 24th, 2024 [November 24th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter Flint hosts three-day protest for death of 17-year-old Rayvon Shahid - WEYI - November 21st, 2024 [November 21st, 2024]
- Davis, Black Lives Matter say police discipline bill is being rushed - WVPE Public Media - November 21st, 2024 [November 21st, 2024]
- Revealed: Starmer called for an export ban on police gear to Trump during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2 - Daily Mail - November 14th, 2024 [November 14th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter activist to vote for Donald Trump: 'I definitely would not be supporting Kamala Harris' - Fox News - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter activist to vote for Donald Trump: 'I definitely would not be supporting Kamala Harris' - MSN - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter activist to vote for Donald Trump: 'I definitely would not be supporting Kamala Harris' - AOL - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Lake County Black Lives Matter co-founder going to jail on contempt charge: They said I was trying to incite a riot - Chicago Tribune - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Portland Book Festival: Robert Samuels, author of His Name Is George Floyd, reflects on the police killing that ignited Black Lives Matter - Oregon... - October 31st, 2024 [October 31st, 2024]
- Jury awards $6M to family members of Black Lives Matter protester killed by a car on Seattle freeway - Yahoo! Voices - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- Jury awards $6M to family members of Black Lives Matter protester killed by a car on Seattle freeway - The Associated Press - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- City of Ft. Lauderdale could stand trial following class action lawsuit after judge rules police have immunity in Black Lives Matter protester case -... - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Participating in Black Lives Matter Protest Isn't Protected by Federal Labor Law - Reason - August 29th, 2024 [August 29th, 2024]
- NYPD texted one another to Kick their a before mass arrests at Black Lives Matter protest - Gothamist - August 29th, 2024 [August 29th, 2024]
- One decade later: How Ferguson boosted the Black Lives Matter movement - The Alestle - August 29th, 2024 [August 29th, 2024]
- NYPD texted one another to Kick their a before mass arrests at Black Lives Matter protest - R Street - August 29th, 2024 [August 29th, 2024]
- From Ferguson to Minneapolis, AP reporters recall flashpoints of the Black Lives Matter movement - Toronto Star - August 29th, 2024 [August 29th, 2024]
- J.D. Vances 2020 Black Lives Matter Lie Shows the Threat He Really Is - The New Republic - August 18th, 2024 [August 18th, 2024]
- How Do I Put This? J.D. Vance Thinks Amazon Funded the Black Lives Matter Movement. - Esquire - August 18th, 2024 [August 18th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter Attacks Democratic Party for Anointing Kamala Harris without Primary Votes - National Review - July 24th, 2024 [July 24th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter slams Democrats for 'anointing' Kamala Harris without primary vote - The National Desk - July 24th, 2024 [July 24th, 2024]
- California teachers were right to severely punish girl, 7, for writing these words under Black Lives Matter dr - Daily Mail - July 24th, 2024 [July 24th, 2024]
- A 2020 Black Lives Matter protest is revived as a neighborhood celebration in Mantua - WHYY - July 14th, 2024 [July 14th, 2024]
- Plymouth man accused of causing tens of thousands in damage to church, Pride and Black Lives Matter flags - Fall River Reporter - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Florida Republicans terrorized a teacher for her Black Lives Matter flag but now she's prevailed - Salon - June 24th, 2024 [June 24th, 2024]
- Black Lives Matter sign to return. Sacramento's Oak Park monument will receive updates - ABC10.com KXTV - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Cincinnati Artist Collective Creates Sculptural Series that Spells Out Black Lives Matter - Cincinnati CityBeat - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Viral SF Karen who went on rant against Fil Am man speaks out AsAmNews - AsAmNews - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Black History Matters; MET Gala Attendee Lewis Hamilton Is Taking On The World With One Outfit at a Time - EssentiallySports - May 7th, 2024 [May 7th, 2024]
- Court revives fired Whole Foods worker's lawsuit over Black Lives Matter masks - New York Post - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- BLM Protests: Black Women Police Chiefs Led To More Peace - NewsOne - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- Man who recorded fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt on Jan. 6 sentenced - The Washington Post - April 28th, 2024 [April 28th, 2024]
- Amid Black Lives Matter flag debate, Milton school board votes to only fly U.S. and Vermont flags - VTDigger - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Parkway sub tore down Pride and Black Lives Matter signs. He has no regrets. - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- The mass protest decade: From the Arab Spring to Black Lives Matter - The Real News Network - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Substitute teacher escorted off the job in Chesterfield - KSDK.com - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Liberal medias latest Black Lives Matter martyr tried to murder police officers - Washington Examiner - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- O.J. Simpson Is Dead. To Understand His Life, Watch These Two Shows - GQ - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- What Happened to the 'Glove of Blades' Man Who Threatened Black Lives Matter Protesters? - The Root - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- "Black Lives Mat[t]er" + "Any Life" Drawing "Not Protected by the First Amendment" in First Grade - Reason - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- AP Black History Program Makes Discussing Black Lives Matter Optional and Won't Mention Rape - The Good Men Project - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Employees have a right to express support for Black Lives Matter while they're on the job, according to a historic labor ... - New Pittsburgh Courier - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- City seeks to avoid trial over Black Lives Matter mural - Palo Alto Online - March 7th, 2024 [March 7th, 2024]
- NLRB: 'Black Lives Matter' insignia allowed New England Biz Law Update - New England Biz Law Update - March 7th, 2024 [March 7th, 2024]
- How parents talked with kids about Black Lives Matter differed by race - Futurity: Research News - February 19th, 2024 [February 19th, 2024]
- Vermont Conversation: What is happening to really ensure that Black lives matter? - VTDigger - February 19th, 2024 [February 19th, 2024]
- RFK Jr Confronted by BLM Leader Over Police Brutality - The Daily Dot - February 19th, 2024 [February 19th, 2024]
- How the Church Can Help Black Women Heal - ChristianityToday.com - February 19th, 2024 [February 19th, 2024]
- Seattle crews remove Black Lives Matter garden in Cal Anderson Park - KUOW News and Information - December 30th, 2023 [December 30th, 2023]
- City clears Black Lives Memorial Garden from Cal Anderson Park - CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News - December 30th, 2023 [December 30th, 2023]
- The City of Seattle Destroyed the Black Lives Memorial Garden - The Stranger - December 30th, 2023 [December 30th, 2023]
- Seattle removes Black Lives Matter garden from Cal Anderson Park - Crosscut - December 30th, 2023 [December 30th, 2023]
- Seattle Supporters Watch Black Lives Matter Garden Leveled After It Was Overrun by Drug Users, Homeless - The Messenger - December 30th, 2023 [December 30th, 2023]
- City finalizes $4.8M payout to protestors trapped by NYPD during 2020 BLM protest - Gothamist - October 26th, 2023 [October 26th, 2023]
- Jason Aldean removes Black Lives Matter protest footage from 'Try That In A Small Town' video - NME - July 30th, 2023 [July 30th, 2023]
- How Christian Theology Created the Need to Assert that Black Lives Matter - Religion Dispatches - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Reckoning With the Marxists of Black Lives Matter 10 Years Later - Daily Signal - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- FBI Hired Social Media Surveillance Firm That Labeled Black Lives Matter Organizers Threat Actors - The Intercept - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Science activism is surging. This is why | Opinion - Pennsylvania Capital-Star - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Black men's resilience in the face of twin pandemics - KU Today - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- The English city facing up to its troubled past - BBC - July 11th, 2023 [July 11th, 2023]
- Black Lives Matter mural in Hartford unveiled following hateful vandalism - NBC Connecticut - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Support for the Black Lives Matter Movement Has Dropped Considerably From Its Peak in 2020 - Pew Research Center - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Mayor Bowser Invites Residents to Commemorate Juneteenth 2023 ... - Executive Office of the Mayor - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Juneteenth puts focus on preserving enslavement sites - Axios - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- The Racial Wage Gap Is Shrinking - The New York Times - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- What does the black heart emoji mean? - Android Authority - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Opinion | America's Poverty Is Built by Design - POLITICO - May 22nd, 2023 [May 22nd, 2023]
- Opinion | America Has Become Both More and Less Dangerous Since Black Lives Matter - The New York Times - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- David Starkey in bizarre claim that left-wing wants to replace Holocaust with BLM - The Independent - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Congress should fund the BLM (no, not that one) - The Economist - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- MPD Lieutenant Charged with Obstruction of Justice and False ... - Department of Justice - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- I'm a Couples Therapist. Something New Is Happening in ... - The New York Times - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- PARTING SHOT: Don't move off the sidewalk. - University of Virginia The Cavalier Daily - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Countering organized violence in the United States - Brookings Institution - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Black Lives Matter campaigner included in king's birthday honour list - DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl - April 28th, 2023 [April 28th, 2023]
- From dress codes to equality, Phil Jackson is exactly who we thought he was - The Guardian - April 28th, 2023 [April 28th, 2023]
- When the Broadway Lights Went Out, Two Theater Workers Found ... - The New York Times - April 28th, 2023 [April 28th, 2023]
- How Tucker Carlson rode a wave of populist outrage - BBC - April 28th, 2023 [April 28th, 2023]