The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire by Matt Taibbi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Off The Reservation For Good?

Taibbi dates it to 9/11 and America’s incredibly stupid responses, domestically and internationally, ever since. This is certainly the period when the American condition of functional insanity became unarguably visible. But the symptoms are not the cause of the disease. Something far more insidious is at play. Who knows, there may be something in the soil that infects Americans with a virulent inability to recognise that their principle enemy is themselves.

America was founded as a pure democracy. Not in the sense that it has ever lived up to its stated principles of justice and opportunity for everyone, but it had no real history or experience with any other form of governance. It never had a monarchy so lacked experience in dealing with the excesses of nobility. Although governed from abroad without real representation, the American colonies weren’t ruled by a dictatorship. So they never really understood the subtle mechanics of suppression and how they get institutionalised. Its laws inhibit theocracy, but it has no clear idea of the relation of religion to government. And despite the initial dominance of English culture, the diversity of class and economic background didn’t generate tribal camaraderie - except, of course, when confronted by the native inhabitants.

In short, the country has never had any established traditions to rely on other than its Constitutional document which in its naïveté it has turned into a biblical scripture to be interpreted in terms of ‘original intention.’ The country had to make up the rules as it went along. So, as it was recognised at its foundation, America is an experiment. It was, and likely still is a model of what democracy means despite its flaws. And when you’re the model, and you believe it, there isn’t even anywhere else to look for comparison… or help. When it starts to go wrong, therefore, no one knows quite what to do. There is no Plan B. To give the impression of competence the democratic government plays to the crowd… by invading the wrong countries, establishing senseless security measures at home, declaring war on an idea rather than an enemy, and sending its populace into a xenophobic frenzy.

Taibbi thinks that the rot started at the top. He thinks that this early 21st century fiasco caused the American people not only to lose faith in their government but also to turn to fundamentalist religion, conspiracists, and assorted other snake oil salesmen for solace and guidance. So in place of politics, America had culture wars. Its elected representatives in both parties became disassociated from their constituents and played their self-aggrandising games within the Beltway, oblivious to the national peril. The result is a grotesque parody of government. In everything but name, Taibbi predicts Trump a clear decade before his arrival on the scene.

But Taibbi, I think, overplays the phenomenon of governmental, particularly Congressional, incompetence as a relatively recent thing. As he also does the propensity of electoral candidates to pander, deceive, and betray their constituents. Does he expect his readers to believe that back room deals, payment for votes, and personal aggrandisement have ever not been an essential part of the American democratic system. Such behaviour has been de riguer since the founding of the republic. These are actions required to obtain and maintain power in the American democracy. They are not recent aberrations. They are not aberrations at all but the consequences de Tocqueville had recognised a century and a half before. America has never been short on political crooks; and most have been successful.

The difference now is the electorate finally smell the rot under the perfume of pious nationalism. And as Taibbi says, they’re leaving the reservation in increasing numbers. Not that they’ve done any better at discussing or solving their problems than their leaders. The policies of both Right and Left (except maybe Bernie Sanders) don’t address anything essential about the system. It’s easier to believe in the impending apocalypse or that Hillary is a sex trafficker or that Trump is sent from God than that democracy might work in a different way. And in that, perhaps, they’re right. It is possible democracy has exceeded its limits in the American experiment. What reform is even conceivable that might reduce the influence and financial power of political lobbyists, or create the means to publicise and prosecute the corruption that is carried out more or less publicly? What voluntary code might the parties adopt to ensure the transparency of nominations and sources of financial support?

Even more fundamentally, how would it be possible to successfully encourage an awareness of authentic self-interest among Americans. Taibbi thinks that they buy ideological messages like they buy washing powder. If the message is packaged attractively, and the reason for buying is received often enough, they’ll make a purchase. The fact that so many Americans look forward enthusiastically to the Second Coming is proof that they’ll buy anything. If the neighbour has it, they’ll want it - from hot tub to eternal salvation, a bargain is not to be missed. This is the land of myths and cults and survivalists and gun nuts… and as Taibbi documents so well, really entrenched stupidity. America is after all a highly conformist nation despite their self-image of pioneering independence. And as John dos Passos pointed out, "So many Americans feel that their neighbour has no right to know more than they do." Learning is consequently mightily restricted.

So many Americans have escaped already into a Neverland of political lunacy and they ain’t coming back any time soon. This makes the very rationale of democracy suspect. Dare anyone admit it?

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