Caution: These are observations about apartheid,the social and legal system that dominated social policy in The Republic of South Africa until the early 90’s It is NOT an endorsement.
The first thing one notices about apartheid is that it was an attempt by a minority (South Africans of European descent) to control the native and mixed heritage populations, Xhosa, Zulu, Coloureds. It was all about minority control.
In the USA, at this moment, politicians representing minority populations and civil servants of the administrative branch are seeking to marginalize members of the population of the dominant ethnic faction, Americans of European descent. The few are seeking to dominate the many, just as in Apartheid-era South Africa.
The analogy isn’t perfect. Right now, white people in the USA have plenty of money, power, and guns. But looking 20 or 30 years down the road, could minorities come to dominate the government, the legal system and the economy and marginalize the majority population?
If the legal environment of Affirmative Action and racial “equity” continues, will American society move along a track of instability and unrest?
Can minority factions hold on to political power, as they do in urban enclaves presently and still claim to be politically disenfranchised and oppressed? Just consider the City of Chicago, IL, for example. Or Detroit, MI, or Newark, NJ?
Remember the saying from Orwell’s Animal Farm: “All animals are created equal. Some animals are more equal than others.”
That is a philosophy, whether explicitly stated or implied, that inevitably promotes instability, whether apartheid South Africa, the Jim Crow era American South, or 21st Century “Woke” America .
When you mention Chicago, i think that some of the changes to poling in the city if approved will drive the money out. i have moved about 45 minutes north of the city not for that fear but for the peace and quiet of being away from the hustle and bustle i grew up in and worked on for 40 years. All my children and Grandchildren now outside city limits for similar reasons. Life is ever evolving and change is inevitable. i wonder what this world will look like in 40 years.
“Voting with your feet” works for the interests of the political bosses. It strengthens their hold on the populations who can’t move, e.g. the poor and/or the elderly. The actual cities will shrink in population. We see it now in Detroit, St. Louis, Baltimore, many other cities.
The pandemic has accelerated the decline of the physical office. That renders the skyscraper office building obsolete. Unintended consequences abound from the pandemic.
and yet in Chicago they are still building skyscrapers. Maybe 10 multi use buildings currently, in progress and plans for at least 4 more.
San Francisco is experiencing lower price rentals as folks are moving out due to work at home.
More changes still to come .
i am glad i am on the downside of life and these things do not effect me so much but my grandchildren will live the effects. Fortunatley my daughters and spouses have chosen good careers. Nursing, teaching.
Where do they get the financing to build the skyscrapers? There is a good chance it is Chinese money. So when the property is foreclosed, who are the new owners? Imperialism 2.0 is a fitting name, brought to you by good old free market capitalism.
Your kids are smart in their choices.
A very haunting reality.