The Political Party Like It's 1899

Nations of the world have yet to learn, and may never learn, not to put evil dullards in charge. Russia and Israel have twice elevated to power a pair of clearly sinister megalomaniacs, this despite relieving each of duty once, only to somehow allow them back into office. In Russia's case, it's possible Vladimir Putin was the guiding hand all along, that Dmitry Medvedev never wielded any real power. Israel, though, appeared to kick Benjamin Netanyahu to the curb around the turn of the century, subsequently electing multiple Prime Ministers of different political parties before deciding, apparently, they liked the jerk. 

Not to be outdone, the United States of America has now twice handed the keys to somebody who not only never learned to drive, but also believes learning to do things is for suckers. The key to strong leadership is to be a weak, whiny liar who pretends to know everything. 

Every relevant and influential figure within the current United States Government shares a range of abhorrent traits, the most notable of which is petulance, an incomprehensible smallness of character. Despite being men--almost entirely men--of means and success in their respective fields, they suffer from a raging insecurity, a belief that for all the power they possess, they're entitled to more. Above all, they should be loved. The notion that money can't buy them love was never Beatled into them the way it was most of us. 

As only the second President in United States history to serve two non-consecutive terms, this Prez has determined the Grover Cleveland years represent the zenith of American society. The two men may appear to have little in common, considering that Cleveland was quite famously opposed to political corruption, but he did pay a Polish immigrant to fight the Civil War in his place, something his 21st Century counterpart would never have done since it required money upfront. 

What, then, was so great about the 1890s? Not much. American life expectancy was about 47 years, lower than any country in the world in the 2020s, six years below men in Chad, who as of 2024 managed a meagre 53. During the same decade, the US infant mortality rate stood at over 250, two and a half times the present rate in Afghanistan. the world's worst. 

The 1890s also witnessed more lynchings than any decade in American history; in particular the number of Black Americans lynched surged as the final vestiges of Reconstruction faded, and a new wave of strict, brutal segregation ascended. 

More than 3 million immigrants arrived in the United States during the 1890s, but the rate of immigration peaked early in the decade. In 1892, Congress passed the Geary Act, an extension of the Chinese Exclusion Act ten years earlier. Still, arrivals from Italy, Poland, and other parts of Eastern and Southern Europe poured onto Ellis Island, which did not become the gateway to America until 1892. 

Health, life expectancy, lynching and immigration in the late 19th Century may appear tangential to 2025 US politics. This Presidential Administration has identified tariffs as the key 1890s policy to emulate. The effectiveness of those tariffs even 130 years ago is debatable, never mind whether such a strategy can be successfully duplicated now. An intelligent, thoughtful President, alongside competent Treasury and Commerce Secretaries, could conceive a path and infrastructure to encourage domestic production on a sensible timeline, building a measured approach to tariffs around those plans. Sadly, this is not a functional administration. 

But it is a mean and lazy administration, which is why the aforementioned realities of 1890s America can't be dismissed as irrelevant. On the subject of lynchings, the President has praised extrajudicial murder and summary executions, such as those carried out by former Philippines despot Rodrigo Duterte. When it comes to immigration, numerous officials employed by the administration, including the acting Director of ICE and the Homeland Security Advisor, have referred to immigrants as invaders, implied they are less than human, and have no rights. On matters of public health, the HHS Secretary has no medical background and downplays the threat of dangerous diseases during a resurgence of measles. These may not be serious men, but they pose serious threats. 

Finally, the racism looms above every action, every policy, and all the incompetent personnel. Anti-Asian racism drove the Geary Act, just as anti-Asian, Latino, and African racism drive the nascent immigration crackdown. Anti-Black racism propelled lynchings and emboldened racists. just as anti-Black racism pushes the backlash against DEI and widespread firings of government professionals. Of course they're bigots. Of course they're ignoramuses who grossly overestimate their intelligence and understanding of global politics. Of course they're needy, insecure crybabies. And of course, a large portion of Americans support them. Why own a problem or embrace hard work and learning when there are so many scapegoats in the pasture?