I had a friend, now deceased, who was a student of history and American politics, Were I to express dismay at the dismal state of American politics today, he would surely have said “Oh, this is nothing. Let me tell you about back in xxxx.”
My friend not being here, I asked chatGPT to do the following: “Please tell me about a time in U.S. history when our politics was as bad or worse than it is today. Thank you!”
The response came immediately. Here is what chatGPT said:
ChatGPT:
“One period in U.S. history known for its highly contentious and divisive politics is the era leading up to the American Civil War in the mid-19th century. The nation was deeply divided along various fault lines, primarily centered around the issue of slavery.
During this time, the political climate was characterized by intense polarization, heated debates, and a breakdown of compromise. The issue of slavery became the central focus, with passionate advocates on both sides. The conflicting interests and ideologies led to a significant deterioration in the political discourse and contributed to the growing tensions between the Northern and Southern states.
The political landscape was marked by fierce political debates, such as the series of congressional clashes known as the “Bleeding Kansas” events, which were triggered by the expansion of slavery into new territories. The debates often turned violent, and the country witnessed acts of aggression and bloodshed.
The contentious 1860 presidential election further exacerbated the already strained political environment. The election of Abraham Lincoln, who was openly opposed to the expansion of slavery, prompted several Southern states to secede from the Union, culminating in the formation of the Confederate States of America.
The subsequent years saw the outbreak of the American Civil War, a devastating conflict that tore the nation apart and resulted in immense loss of life and destruction. The war represented the culmination of the deep-seated political divisions and highlighted the failure to find a peaceful resolution to the conflicts plaguing the nation.
The period leading up to and during the Civil War serves as a reminder of a time in U.S. history when political tensions and divisions reached a breaking point. The deeply entrenched differences and the failure to find common ground demonstrate the severe challenges faced by the nation in overcoming political discord and maintaining unity. While contemporary politics may be fraught with its own set of challenges, understanding historical precedents can provide valuable perspective on the complexities of political turmoil and the need for dialogue, compromise, and the pursuit of common ground.”
End of chatGPT ———————————————
My first reaction to that chatGPT response is amazement. How do they do that? It’s well-written, to the point, and even interesting. It came immediately and it seems they can do something like that on any subject. It’s truly extraordinary!
My second reaction is: OMG! The Nation was unable in 1860 to find a solution to slavery, even with a leader as astute as Lincoln, and the failure led to the devastating Civil War. If we can’t find a way to resolve our current contentiousness and get back to a system that works, where will that lead?
It leads me to this question: Are we, a free people and a democratic Nation, able to solve really tough problems? We couldn’t solve slavery without a war; can we solve Trumpism without a major upheaval of some sort?
The issue in 1860 was slavery; the issue today is Trumpism. Donald Trump’s cult of believers are so passionate and so ill-informed they support him no matter what. They don’t care about stolen documents, whatever he did on January 6, 2021, or anything else. They’ll support him in jail if it comes to that.
Democrats and Biden believe they can beat Trumpism by beating Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential election. There are many problems with this plan. The first is that Donald Trump is as likely to beat Biden as is the reverse. Biden is a weak candidate. His age is against him, his running mate is not popular, and he is just too much a politician. His biggest problem may be food and energy inflation. It’s much worse than they admit, and it really hurts the middle and poorer folks who vote.
A second problem with the Democratic theory is that, even if Trump loses, he may ultimately become President. The election, and the period leading up to it, will surely be contentious and chaotic. There will be public arguments, maybe even fights, and disputes, and law suits, and all sorts of shenanigans. In this chaos, there will likely not be a clear winner. It may well go to the Supreme Court . . .
If Trump becomes President again, we will have lost it all.
The Democrats think that the coming election will be more or less normal. It won’t be. Trump and his cult will be fighting for their lives. It is impossible to predict what they will do, but the election it won’t be ‘normal’.
So my question remains: Are we, a free people and a democracy, able to solve really tough problems like Trump and Trumpism? Can we run the next election, turbulent though it will be, elect Biden fairly, and cope with the ruckus that follows – all with our institutions still intact?
Maybe, but probably not. Just Sayin’.
John R. Dixon 