One of my favorite writers at The New York Times is Thomas L. Friedman. He’s a smart, knowledgeable, articulate writer. On March 11 he wrote “A Great Unraveling Is Underway” about what’s happening in America right now. It’s a good read for those who still don’t fully appreciate the ramifications of what’s going on and a deeply disturbing confirmation of what the rest of us fear is happening.
The link above will get you past the paywall if you aren’t an NYT subscriber. I thought some of you might be interested in what Friedman had to say.
You should be.
thank you for sharing the link, this is an incredibly important piece that all should read and heed
I thought so. But I’m not sure even Friedman, with all his cred, can overcome willful ignorance.
I agree about Friedman, he says it about as well as anyone can. Profound. Especially the last part, Lincoln’s prediction that our destruction, if it comes, it will come from within. It’s happening. Thanks for sharing this.
Doesn’t history tell us that the fall of all great civilizations has come from within? I knew a Trump presidency would be ugly, but I never dreamed he’d take a scythe to everything.
Always happy to share Friedman.
The article caused me to re-subscribe, Colorado – with the intention of taking in everything this multi-Pulitzer Prize-winning journo has written. Thank-you !
I saw several relevant columns from him that I need to go back and read. I check a number of sources (when I can bear to read at all) but I’m reminded that he says it better than anyone else and, importantly, with a broader perspective than most.
It would be SO GOOD if all journos wrote as does he; I don’t mean they should all win the Pulitzer Prize, but that they actually think deeply about what they’re writing.
Reporters have to start somewhere and there’s not much they can do to gain the perspective that comes with age and experience. However, they can and should spend a lot of time studying and understanding their subjects. Unfortunately a lot of them will just spew the company or party line in order to collect their paychecks.
A loss of trust in institutions laid the foundation for what’s happening now, and that blame — in no small part — can be laid at the feet of Democrats. The current batch of self-declared champions of virtue and values are doing the same thing Democrats did, only amped up. It didn’t work well for Democrats, and one can hope it won’t work well for Republicans.
As of now, it seems Democrats still have not learned anything, and the MAGAnians might soon experience the full brunt of what they didn’t know they were voting for. I don’t see things ‘normalizing’ for many years . . . if ever.
I haven’t claimed allegiance to either party for a long time. Nor would I. I do think/hope maybe some some who voted Republican are beginning to regret their actions. But the damage has been done (with maybe much more to come) and I agree, it will take a very long time to repair the damage. But I have to hope it will be repaired. I have two grandkids who will be living in whatever world we leave them.
Almost more depressing and horrifying is that almost every Republican supports almost anything Trump does. It appears there is no courage among in the GOP.
I don’t get it. I really don’t, and it’s frightening to see so many Americans of any party (or no party) buying into what Trump (and Musk) are doing. Is there really that much ignorance, illiteracy, religiosity, or whatever in this country? (I think I’d prefer you not answer that.)
I once heard the Trump run for office described as “a conspiracy to seize power”, and events over the last few weeks certainly seem to bear that out. There is absolutely no interest in actually governing the country. This is about unchecked hate, corruption, and absolute unthinking loyalty to the leader. What a mess.
Nope, no governance in sight. Just unchecked dismantling and destruction. Taking what they can, sparing what serves them, destroying the rest because it costs them to maintain it. We the people are just getting in their way.
johnthecook…”The Great Unraveling is Underway” spoken of most recently by Thomas L. Friedman, actually began in America back in 1962-1963 and perfected by the Government in the months and years after 22 November 1963. I believe it was Nakita Khrushchev who said America would crumble from within, and I believe we are doing exactly that, even as America is stumbling to regain the confidence of the rest of the World in a most uncertain future.
The president then was JFK, and beyond the national shock over his assassination (I was in college at the time), I wasn’t paying much attention to national news then other than the space race. Khrushchev apparently either knew his history re nations and governments crumbling from within or he was indulging in some serious wishful thinking.
Personally I think the crumbling began with Trump, not back with JFK. Now Trump and Musk seem determined to finish the job as soon as possible. They aren’t trying to regain the confidence of the world. Quite the opposite.They are trying to dismantle our 250-year-old government as quickly as possible and replace it with their own oligarchy ala Putin.