Several times I have spoken of the predictive power of Robert A.
Originally shared by David Brin
Several times I have spoken of the predictive power of Robert A. Heinlein. Among other things, he knew that underneath the American surface of tolerant, progressive pragmatism there simmers a spectacularly anti-future, anti-science troglodyte. A Nehemia Scudder, who might leap upon a populist wave, much like 1930s Europe, only with a fundamentalist-zealous tinge, and proceed to shut down our Great Experiment on any contrived excuse. Heinlein had scheduled him for 2012, but there's still time. (See his novel REVOLT IN 2100.)
He forecast separately that america would experience “the crazy years,” never figuring that the two events might be combined.
Finally, look at RAH’s short story “The Year of the Jackpot, in which several dozen insanities result when all sorts of statistical ‘cycles’ combine, at the same time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Year_of_the_Jackpot
Is it possible then, that we are in a fluke? Heinlein’s Crazy Years? Certainly all the smart folks whose professions deal in actual facts and bringing about positive change did not want or see this coming…
So might we just ride it out? Well, to do that… Survive. I urge you to. And keep hope.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Year_of_the_Jackpot
Several times I have spoken of the predictive power of Robert A. Heinlein. Among other things, he knew that underneath the American surface of tolerant, progressive pragmatism there simmers a spectacularly anti-future, anti-science troglodyte. A Nehemia Scudder, who might leap upon a populist wave, much like 1930s Europe, only with a fundamentalist-zealous tinge, and proceed to shut down our Great Experiment on any contrived excuse. Heinlein had scheduled him for 2012, but there's still time. (See his novel REVOLT IN 2100.)
He forecast separately that america would experience “the crazy years,” never figuring that the two events might be combined.
Finally, look at RAH’s short story “The Year of the Jackpot, in which several dozen insanities result when all sorts of statistical ‘cycles’ combine, at the same time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Year_of_the_Jackpot
Is it possible then, that we are in a fluke? Heinlein’s Crazy Years? Certainly all the smart folks whose professions deal in actual facts and bringing about positive change did not want or see this coming…
So might we just ride it out? Well, to do that… Survive. I urge you to. And keep hope.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Year_of_the_Jackpot
I fucking love Year of the Jackpot, it has had a profound effect on me and may explain my reaction to this election cycle.
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