Posting has been light lately, I know. Inspiration is harder to come by when you’re juggling a lot of big things at the same time. Where I live, there’s a constant hum of demoralization going on in the background. It’s analogous to the electrical hum from a power transformer. If you are unlucky enough to live near one, you “get used” to the low-mid-level annoying, discordant hum. Enough to get through your day, but you’re never unaware of it. And it enervates.
Really sorry for what you’ve been going through, Josh. Your essay talks about Burlington, though, and I wonder if the same thing is going on in Montpelier. Natural disasters can make people more appreciative of their neighbors, at least in the immediate aftermath. Have you noticed that at all?
Yeah, the people around Mplr after the flood really stepped up in a prosocial way. The actual compassion and decent treatment was nice, and I remarked on it somewhere, I think. The worry is that it won't last.
At least where I'm going is a rural road. It won't solve all these problems; I'll mainly detour around Montpelier and go somewhere else for my shopping. But it'll be something.
I was mainly wondering if it’s Vermont entirely or just Burlington (like Austin vs. Texas). Sounds like it’s all over. So, rhetorically speaking, might it be possible to move elsewhere? I live in Durham, NC, which is very purple politically but basically well run (as far as I can tell, and I’ve lived here since 1984), and in the main, people are quite friendly. I call it a mid-Atlantic blur between north and south. . . . A quick aside, though: my sister’s pet peeve in recent years is how clerks will say “Not a problem” instead of “Thank you” at the end of a transaction. It’s very rare to hear “thank you” anymore. So, whenever someone *does* say it—always a young person—I quickly smile at him or her and say, “You’re very good at this. You’re going places.” The clerk looks dumbfounded but pleased, which I hope means they’ll remember and keep progressing. That’s my dreamed of outcome, anyway.
Oh Josh, the parking lot scenario......yes, yes. I used to drive a Toyota Celica-low to the ground and terrible rear line of sight. I always felt like the old lady I now am when backing out because I could not see until I was halfway out of the parking spot. No one, and I mean no one, stops to let you out. The zoom on by fully expecting you to stop. Amazing.
Josh -- I have just left a comment on Holly’s post. I have some observations on what makes a functioning town, based on where I live now. It’s a place I chose because it reminded me of where I grew up in the midwest 50 years ago. It’s a town 1/10 the size of Burlington, yet the county seat. It’s remarkably diverse, both racially and socioeconomically, yet we all get along pretty well. We’re a red county in a *very* blue state (Maryland). I’ve lived here for almost ten years, and despite the upheavals of Bidenomics and Covid we’ve not just kept pace but improved the place. I’m writing it up for my Substack now.
Holly mentions homelessness. This has increased due to the open border. Not just drugs flow freely, but people too, and they can get to Burlington in a day, whereas new housing (even if we wanted the newcomers to come in, which most of us do not) takes two years to build from conception through all the permitting, to construction, to sales, to housing new people. The rush of millions of people have caused home prices and rental prices to skyrocket everywhere, tempered only a little by the higher interest rates. I bought my home 2 years ago (at 2.875%) and even though the interest rate has increased to 6.5%, my home value has gone up by $100,000. This is not normal. Only a relentless, excessive demand causes this behavior. So home prices are skyrocketing, people are flooding in with non-Anglo-Saxon orderliness cultures, drugs are flooding in, and mental illness is no longer being treated with the seriousness and funding it deserves. Add in a garnish of BLM and you’ve got yourself an explosive mixture for any town, whether Baltimore or Chicago, or Burlington VT. I’m afraid the only solution is to move to a more rural area, with all the negatives (as well as positives) that entails. I can’t move as my job keeps me on the giant hamster wheel that is Norther Virginia. But at least I am actually *on* the hamster wheel. I feel bad for those people who, through no fault of their own, fall off the wheel.
I love your writing Josh, and you put into words things that make me think more deeply about my own behaviour. Thank you for this. I ran an orange light the other day- slightly legal but I realise not good manners. I was in a rush to get somewhere. I feel ashamed now.. This article is going to make me be more of a stickler to be a better more aware driver.
The world does feel like it is going to hell in a hand basket, it’s true. But when I feel bleak about the political situation and the fact that all the corporates, media and politicians are completely captured...I have to remember that there are many people, like you, and your subscribers, who don’t agree with this madness. And for every subscriber that you have there are surely many millions more (hopefully billions more) baffled by what is going on, but trying to stay afloat. And remaining loving to their nearest and dearest, and polite and respectful to the strangers and acquaintances in their lives. I keep the desiderata in my heart when I have a conversation about the madness that is sweeping the globe. ‘With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.’ Easier said than done of course. But we can strive.
Thank you for being the kind of person who fesses up, takes responsibility and apologizes for their behavior. We're all wrong sometimes, it's so much harder to admit it. 🌻💜🌻
Yes, the 'Bring your whole self to work' nonsense! I think about this too. Companies now have job posts saying 'work where you can be your true self!' This doesn't make any sense! When I was in my 20's I worked at a department store, and the LAST thing I wanted to do was shave every day and put on a jacket and tie. But I did it, because they were paying me to do a job. If I demanded to be my 'true self', I would've come in wearing jeans, Doc Martens, and a 'Frankie Say Relax Don't Do It' T-shirt. If someone hires you to work for them, they get to define the rules! At least that's the way it used to be. Now it seems like employers are caving in (and encouraging) to people's narcissistic need to express their 'identities'. Including (at my job) the bizarre spectacle of Pride Month, where there are bulletin boards around every corner and everyone is encouraged to display their sexual orientation, 'gender identity', and 'the flag they identify with'. WHY does this need to be shared at work?!?!?
The anxious, addled and deracinated monads of the 21st century don't have communities or roots, and they certainly don't have what used to be called "character" or "personality", instead they have "Identities" which are brittle, tenuous and unstable, thus needing to be constantly discussed, paraded and reinforced.
Also, as punitive moralism in the guise of "activism" has replaced things like joy, communion, and creativity, if everyone lugs their True Self™ around everywhere this means someone's True Self™ may turn out to be the Wrong Self, which gives you carte blanche to denounce and destroy them.
21st-century America is a mashup of "Idiocracy" and "The Lives of Others" with a nice dash of 1984 and "Brave New World", starring Nietzsche's Last Man.
The only answer I have currently is to model the behaviour we wish to see in others. And, if that doesn't work, run them over.
No, really though, I try to be orderly and well-mannered and make a point of thanking people who do the same (where possible), especially kids. It does feel like a drop in the ocean though.
Josh, I don't have a lot of time to read a lot of things but boy this really was depressing. I mean the writing is good but depressing situation. In the last 4 years we've moved to three different states, by choice. and I think a lot of it has to do just with plain old selfishness. People want what they want and by gosh they're going to get it.
Being in a car doesn't help. Traveling on the interstate going the speed limit and people pass us as if we are absolutely stock still and nobody does a thing and then they wonder why there's so many accidents.
We now live in a smallish town on the east coast of Florida and it's delightful. We walk at the river almost every day and people converse, it's amazing! You should come visit.
Along with civil decline, we have large numbers of people rapidly entering the country; no time given to assimilate into being an American. Your 4-way stop scene reminded me of someone from Nigeria who said about driving here in the States; they have no such driving rules there. Sad to say, without strong leadership, the spiral will continue. I believe it could be halted and reversed if done soon. Otherwise it may take a few hundred years.
“Collectively, we seem to have an issue with order. “
Collectively/ Collective......
It has been my belief that we have been behaviorally steered for several decades ( at least) now towards collectivism 3.0.
Collectivist cultures need and breed Narcissists. The planners are always narcissists and the people they desire to control become narcissists.
It’s a behavioral engineering program for infantilism. Children are easier to control as they are supremely self involved, emotional and not terribly rational. Adults who behave like children are terrifying.
Narcissism hates order. Narcissism thrives on disorder. Narcissistic self interest above all ensures chaos as no one else is allowed to have more or come first or beat the narcissist .
A collectivist culture with its word salad, performative empathy and rules for thee mindset can only ever devolve into pure hellish destruction.
The culture that values individualism ( individual responsibility vs the unaccountable collectivist village) will see respect and order blossom.
It will come back one day. But probably not in our lifetime .
You just described my work environment to a T. Any attempt to rectify or rationalize the conversation to create a work culture where people respect others is met with illiberalism, casting the blame on the victims of the ongoing abuse and pretending that nothing “out of the ordinary” is transpiring. If someone has a problem with it, it is “they” who are somehow not “emotionally intelligent.”
This particular environment plays people off against each other quite openly, openly demeans the ones who are not the Pathocrats creating the toxic environment, and then cops this laughing, jovial fake persona on the surface for cover.
That is the biggest difference in the workplace since 2020, pathological narcissists running around laughing and pretending to be “nice,” all the while being illiberal tyrants on the down low when no one is watching. It’s as if everyone knows the new script and laughs at what they are able to get away with. Nothing on the surface is real, and no one seems to mind?
I just read the following ( part of a longer tweet) from someone who lived under Maoist communism before she made her way to the US. She writes beautifully about how what we are seeing in the US is exactly what took place in China . Communism 4.0.
“ Communism is all about endless revenge where yesterday’s oppressed can become today’s oppressors & vice versa.“
Yes, social collapse at the hands of narcissism. The amount of entitlement that I’m experiencing these days is through the roof!
Exactly
Yuri tried to warn us 40 years ago about subversion. Demoralization, crisis, now normalization.
Yes, the friction inherent in life is getting worse.
But I think that it is a symptom.
Take politics.
The two leading candidates are old, snarky men of blatant dishonesty.
The good candidates are either suppressed or don't run at all.
Take economics.
Many people are afraid - of failing, of going broke, of not having enough money to retire, of being poor.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
People aren't happy and they show it in their daily interactions.
One is a snarky old man of blatant dishonesty and complete protection from the law.
The media tells you that the other one is evil and blames him for all of the crimes of the big guy.
Worst of all, you believe them.
Really sorry for what you’ve been going through, Josh. Your essay talks about Burlington, though, and I wonder if the same thing is going on in Montpelier. Natural disasters can make people more appreciative of their neighbors, at least in the immediate aftermath. Have you noticed that at all?
Yeah, the people around Mplr after the flood really stepped up in a prosocial way. The actual compassion and decent treatment was nice, and I remarked on it somewhere, I think. The worry is that it won't last.
At least where I'm going is a rural road. It won't solve all these problems; I'll mainly detour around Montpelier and go somewhere else for my shopping. But it'll be something.
I was mainly wondering if it’s Vermont entirely or just Burlington (like Austin vs. Texas). Sounds like it’s all over. So, rhetorically speaking, might it be possible to move elsewhere? I live in Durham, NC, which is very purple politically but basically well run (as far as I can tell, and I’ve lived here since 1984), and in the main, people are quite friendly. I call it a mid-Atlantic blur between north and south. . . . A quick aside, though: my sister’s pet peeve in recent years is how clerks will say “Not a problem” instead of “Thank you” at the end of a transaction. It’s very rare to hear “thank you” anymore. So, whenever someone *does* say it—always a young person—I quickly smile at him or her and say, “You’re very good at this. You’re going places.” The clerk looks dumbfounded but pleased, which I hope means they’ll remember and keep progressing. That’s my dreamed of outcome, anyway.
Josh, you have a lot in common with the comedian Sebastian Maniscalco😁
He gets it! I’ve seen you make a crowd laugh at the insanity too. You both help us not feel alone ...and able to cope.
Oh Josh, the parking lot scenario......yes, yes. I used to drive a Toyota Celica-low to the ground and terrible rear line of sight. I always felt like the old lady I now am when backing out because I could not see until I was halfway out of the parking spot. No one, and I mean no one, stops to let you out. The zoom on by fully expecting you to stop. Amazing.
Josh -- I have just left a comment on Holly’s post. I have some observations on what makes a functioning town, based on where I live now. It’s a place I chose because it reminded me of where I grew up in the midwest 50 years ago. It’s a town 1/10 the size of Burlington, yet the county seat. It’s remarkably diverse, both racially and socioeconomically, yet we all get along pretty well. We’re a red county in a *very* blue state (Maryland). I’ve lived here for almost ten years, and despite the upheavals of Bidenomics and Covid we’ve not just kept pace but improved the place. I’m writing it up for my Substack now.
Holly mentions homelessness. This has increased due to the open border. Not just drugs flow freely, but people too, and they can get to Burlington in a day, whereas new housing (even if we wanted the newcomers to come in, which most of us do not) takes two years to build from conception through all the permitting, to construction, to sales, to housing new people. The rush of millions of people have caused home prices and rental prices to skyrocket everywhere, tempered only a little by the higher interest rates. I bought my home 2 years ago (at 2.875%) and even though the interest rate has increased to 6.5%, my home value has gone up by $100,000. This is not normal. Only a relentless, excessive demand causes this behavior. So home prices are skyrocketing, people are flooding in with non-Anglo-Saxon orderliness cultures, drugs are flooding in, and mental illness is no longer being treated with the seriousness and funding it deserves. Add in a garnish of BLM and you’ve got yourself an explosive mixture for any town, whether Baltimore or Chicago, or Burlington VT. I’m afraid the only solution is to move to a more rural area, with all the negatives (as well as positives) that entails. I can’t move as my job keeps me on the giant hamster wheel that is Norther Virginia. But at least I am actually *on* the hamster wheel. I feel bad for those people who, through no fault of their own, fall off the wheel.
I love your writing Josh, and you put into words things that make me think more deeply about my own behaviour. Thank you for this. I ran an orange light the other day- slightly legal but I realise not good manners. I was in a rush to get somewhere. I feel ashamed now.. This article is going to make me be more of a stickler to be a better more aware driver.
The world does feel like it is going to hell in a hand basket, it’s true. But when I feel bleak about the political situation and the fact that all the corporates, media and politicians are completely captured...I have to remember that there are many people, like you, and your subscribers, who don’t agree with this madness. And for every subscriber that you have there are surely many millions more (hopefully billions more) baffled by what is going on, but trying to stay afloat. And remaining loving to their nearest and dearest, and polite and respectful to the strangers and acquaintances in their lives. I keep the desiderata in my heart when I have a conversation about the madness that is sweeping the globe. ‘With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.’ Easier said than done of course. But we can strive.
Thank you for being the kind of person who fesses up, takes responsibility and apologizes for their behavior. We're all wrong sometimes, it's so much harder to admit it. 🌻💜🌻
Yes, the 'Bring your whole self to work' nonsense! I think about this too. Companies now have job posts saying 'work where you can be your true self!' This doesn't make any sense! When I was in my 20's I worked at a department store, and the LAST thing I wanted to do was shave every day and put on a jacket and tie. But I did it, because they were paying me to do a job. If I demanded to be my 'true self', I would've come in wearing jeans, Doc Martens, and a 'Frankie Say Relax Don't Do It' T-shirt. If someone hires you to work for them, they get to define the rules! At least that's the way it used to be. Now it seems like employers are caving in (and encouraging) to people's narcissistic need to express their 'identities'. Including (at my job) the bizarre spectacle of Pride Month, where there are bulletin boards around every corner and everyone is encouraged to display their sexual orientation, 'gender identity', and 'the flag they identify with'. WHY does this need to be shared at work?!?!?
The anxious, addled and deracinated monads of the 21st century don't have communities or roots, and they certainly don't have what used to be called "character" or "personality", instead they have "Identities" which are brittle, tenuous and unstable, thus needing to be constantly discussed, paraded and reinforced.
Also, as punitive moralism in the guise of "activism" has replaced things like joy, communion, and creativity, if everyone lugs their True Self™ around everywhere this means someone's True Self™ may turn out to be the Wrong Self, which gives you carte blanche to denounce and destroy them.
21st-century America is a mashup of "Idiocracy" and "The Lives of Others" with a nice dash of 1984 and "Brave New World", starring Nietzsche's Last Man.
The only answer I have currently is to model the behaviour we wish to see in others. And, if that doesn't work, run them over.
No, really though, I try to be orderly and well-mannered and make a point of thanking people who do the same (where possible), especially kids. It does feel like a drop in the ocean though.
Josh, I don't have a lot of time to read a lot of things but boy this really was depressing. I mean the writing is good but depressing situation. In the last 4 years we've moved to three different states, by choice. and I think a lot of it has to do just with plain old selfishness. People want what they want and by gosh they're going to get it.
Being in a car doesn't help. Traveling on the interstate going the speed limit and people pass us as if we are absolutely stock still and nobody does a thing and then they wonder why there's so many accidents.
We now live in a smallish town on the east coast of Florida and it's delightful. We walk at the river almost every day and people converse, it's amazing! You should come visit.
I wanted to be the first to comment. Alas...
Hedonism
Along with civil decline, we have large numbers of people rapidly entering the country; no time given to assimilate into being an American. Your 4-way stop scene reminded me of someone from Nigeria who said about driving here in the States; they have no such driving rules there. Sad to say, without strong leadership, the spiral will continue. I believe it could be halted and reversed if done soon. Otherwise it may take a few hundred years.
This sentence struck me:
“Collectively, we seem to have an issue with order. “
Collectively/ Collective......
It has been my belief that we have been behaviorally steered for several decades ( at least) now towards collectivism 3.0.
Collectivist cultures need and breed Narcissists. The planners are always narcissists and the people they desire to control become narcissists.
It’s a behavioral engineering program for infantilism. Children are easier to control as they are supremely self involved, emotional and not terribly rational. Adults who behave like children are terrifying.
Narcissism hates order. Narcissism thrives on disorder. Narcissistic self interest above all ensures chaos as no one else is allowed to have more or come first or beat the narcissist .
A collectivist culture with its word salad, performative empathy and rules for thee mindset can only ever devolve into pure hellish destruction.
The culture that values individualism ( individual responsibility vs the unaccountable collectivist village) will see respect and order blossom.
It will come back one day. But probably not in our lifetime .
You just described my work environment to a T. Any attempt to rectify or rationalize the conversation to create a work culture where people respect others is met with illiberalism, casting the blame on the victims of the ongoing abuse and pretending that nothing “out of the ordinary” is transpiring. If someone has a problem with it, it is “they” who are somehow not “emotionally intelligent.”
This particular environment plays people off against each other quite openly, openly demeans the ones who are not the Pathocrats creating the toxic environment, and then cops this laughing, jovial fake persona on the surface for cover.
That is the biggest difference in the workplace since 2020, pathological narcissists running around laughing and pretending to be “nice,” all the while being illiberal tyrants on the down low when no one is watching. It’s as if everyone knows the new script and laughs at what they are able to get away with. Nothing on the surface is real, and no one seems to mind?
I just read the following ( part of a longer tweet) from someone who lived under Maoist communism before she made her way to the US. She writes beautifully about how what we are seeing in the US is exactly what took place in China . Communism 4.0.
“ Communism is all about endless revenge where yesterday’s oppressed can become today’s oppressors & vice versa.“