Reply #7: Which con was this?

[SheilaT]

Thank you for your post.

I'm somewhat active both in my local (Kansas City) science fiction community, and in Democratic politics.

I agree that we are in a time of great change -- whether pre-revolutionary or pre-civil war I can't tell at this point. Read the book Generations and The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe and you will become even more convinced. We probably have about ten years, maybe more, of things getting worse until the real crisis finally peaks. It's not going to be pretty.

added on edit:

I just checked my copy of The Fourth Turning and here's the part I want to quote. It comes in the chapter called "A Fourth Turning Prophecy" in which they talk about possible scenarios for the Crisis, and suggest ways in which it might be triggered.

"Soon after the catalyst, a national election will produce a sweeping political realignment, as one faction or coalition capitalizes on a new public demand for decisive action. Republicans, Democrats, or perhaps a new party will decisively win the long partisan tu-of-war, ending the era of split government that had lasted through four decades of Awakening and Unraveling. The winners will now have the power to pursue the more potent, less incrementalist agenda bout which they had long dreamed and against which their adversaries had darkly warned. this new regime will enthrone itself for the duration of the Crisis.

Clearly there's more than one way this can actually play out. But I'm personally inclined to see that the Republicans consolidated the power they grabbed in 2000 with further gains in 02 and 04. They control all branches of government, and without free, fair, and honest elections, they will continue to control all branches for some time to come.