Dimensionally Barrett

On the eve of Election Day, November 8, 2022, I am neither hopeful nor despairing. We get the democracy we deserve; if turnout is not robust, what do we say? What we can we say? If election results denial is the ploy in Republican led districts, what does this signal for the nation? Are people aware that that dangerous precedent has been set and that it is very much a sign of how precarious the fate of democracy is in the United States of America, now so ironically, ruefully named? No one who has studied the history of the U.S., let alone the world, of the past hundred years or so, should be surprised that we find ourselves at the current juncture as a nation, let alone a world. Democracy may not be the easiest form of choosing leaders (and in a democracy, they should be representatives, not merely “leaders” which can be turned into “rulers” a little too easily), but until something better comes along, it is or should be the fairest method. Nevertheless, the democracies of Greece and ...

I have my sincere doubts that anything I proffer here will be of moment or of value to the historical record. That said, the situation in the Ukraine should be examined from several perspectives other than “Putin’s a maniac!” (a not unwarranted observation) or “Ukraine should be free!” (no argument there) or “Make Peace! Not War!” (also, a fine sentiment.) Maybe better to say “in addition to”? This might be one of the few times where I don’t feel a need to delve into antecedents or review the history between two nations. I don’t even necessarily feel a need to look at Putin’s reasons for invading. There are plenty of analyses that speak to this and are worth reviewing that my regurgitation wouldn’t add any value to.  What we have before us is the fact that yet another world power has invaded and tried to subjugate another independent state. There are some narratives surrounding this that I think are worth looking at, however superficially. I want to start with a more high-level ...