1. These Are Very Ordinary Times -- the Most Extraordinarily Ordinary
One of the sorry-ass formulations I am revolted by is, "Ordinarily we wouldn't do this, but these are no ordinary times" used haphazardly to justify some unseemly maneuver to gain political advantage.
One of the sorry-ass formulations I am revolted by is, "Ordinarily we wouldn't do this, but these are no ordinary times" used haphazardly to justify some unseemly maneuver to gain political advantage.
2. The phrase 'no ordinary time' is almost exclusively used to imply a deviation from the norm so severe and so dangerous that extraordinarily scandalous and/or imprudent measures are justified to overturn the political equilibrium.
3. In reality, and blessedly, 'no ordinary times' have been few and far between over the last couple of centuries in the U.S. Civil War was no ordinary time. WWII was no ordinary time. And so on. By comparison, we live in the most extraordinarily ordinary times.
4. The only extraordinary thing about our time is the unprecedented level of global peace and prosperity. Yes, there are exceptions, but the fact that they stick out as exceptions itself says something about how good things are globally and for the largest number of people ever.
5. These are overly broad statements, but any statement about 'our time' is by its nature overly broad, whether positive or negative. But what I am expressing is not some wishful notion. Look at the hard data to get a proper perspective.
Thread.👇
Thread.👇
6. Millions in the U.S. have been emotionally shell-shocked by the 'extraordinary' presidency of Donald J. Trump. The initial shock and concern was understandable. What seemed like an extraordinarily vulgar man moving into the White House is understandably unnerving.
7. But now we have three frickin' years of hard data on how he has governed, and he has governed like an extremely mainstream Republican president, only more efficiently, if you ignore what comes out of his mouth and twitter feed, and focus on his substantive policy actions.
8. I wouldn't ask anyone to 'get used to' his social media antics or his off-the-cuff embellishments of his own accomplishments or put-downs of others, but I would ask people to put those in proper perspective, since we know by now that there are no adverse policy repercussions.
9. Trump's style is polarizing -- endearing to untold millions and jarring to another set of untold millions. They all have their reasons why it is so. But it is not too much to ask, for our own sanity, to segregate style from substance in own reactions to whatever Trump says.
10. Trump's style will leave the White House when he does. Our founders didn't create a blessed republic that can be undone merely by the stylistic flourishes of one man, no matter how much you dislike them. So get a hold of yourselves. These are very ordinary times.
The End
The End
