How Gradualism Built the Great Pyramids and Trillion Dollar Deficits
Ancient civilizations had no electricity, no computers, no bulldozers, and no knowledge of steel. But despite these limitations, they accomplished tremendous engineering wonders. Egypt’s Old Kingdom is the epidemy of large scale determination and willpower1. The following, age-old proverb summarizes this determination:
How do you build a pyramid? One brick at a time.
All of the Egypt’s pyramids are engineering marvels, and all of them took decades to complete. The long term planning and the deferral of gratification required to build a pyramid using ancient technology is virtually unparalleled in the modern world.
I want it all; I want it now
With modern technology and conveniences, instant gratification has changed the average persons’ time preference. The modern world is so automated that people can satisfy the basic needs of life with less effort now than ever. But instead of using excess productivity to save for the future, over three quarters of Americans live pay-check to pay-check2. Technology and globally integrated markets enable common workers to live without fear of starvation, famine, pestilence, or disease.
Short term thinking and greater security of life’s necessities is only somewhat new. Since wide spread usage of fossil fuels, the world entered a new age of abundance. This abundance, however, distorts the natural desire to plan and save for the worst. Historically, people feared the future, especially with regards to disasters. Since the beginning of time, people have predicted the end-times3.
Progressive Elites
While the rest of society moved to the here-and-now, progressive elites have maintained their winning, long-term strategy of gradualism. Since the gilded age, capitalists have accumulated enormous fortunes that span the generations4. The internet age will surely create another round of wealthy families, but for now politics is controlled by old money5.
But why would wealthy families embrace progressivism? They built their fortunes from market capitalism, so surely they should be last people on earth that would champion progressive values. Evidence suggests otherwise6. Whatever the stated reasons, it should be obvious that both major American political parties talk a big talk, but govern on behalf of their super-wealthy supporters.
Used and Ignored
If the major political parties govern for special interest, then how do progressives continue to win? Since 1900, every major reform and/or landmark legislation has advanced progressivism. Meanwhile, conservatives are so tired of losing they abandoned virtually all their principles to back Trump, with the belief that he could defeat the progressive establishment7. The Trump presidency, and more specifically how the establishment treated him, is evidence enough that the establish will not tolerate challengers.
Rich families aren’t dumb and they don’t benefit from egalitarianism, so why back progressivism? The simple truth is they have no choice. Just think about it, if wealthy families supported a minimal, free-market state, then the lesser rich and upper-middle classes would be quite happy, but the rest / majority of the nation would be left out in the cold. Worker strikes and violence still exists, but has vastly decreased since the Gilded Age8.
Deal with the Devil
To avoid outright socialism and communism, the elite embraced progressive values, particularly with regards to social issues. Since then, progressives won women’s rights, social security, union rights, civil rights, female equality, Obama Care, and gay rights. During the same period, taxes have fallen for the ultra-rich9. Both sides win but, unfortunately, the culture loses10.
This grand bargain shows the Left’s willingness to focus on social issues and downplay traditional economic concerns. The elites gain from enormous political kickbacks in the form of regulating their competition, government contracts, bank bailouts, and favorable taxes. And, like the great pyramids, the government has gradually expanded to trillion dollar deficits.
Future
How long will the grand bargain continue? It should be clear with the rise of Trump that the Left is happy to ignore economic issues and focus on racism, transgender issues, and immigration. Sadly, most elites remain content with this arrangement, despite the obvious culture wars it triggered.
However, I believe the agreement is close to ending. Americans are fatigued with political correctness and the lunatic emphasis on transgender rights. Further, progressives and the media have overused the word “racist” so much that it has no real meaning. The culture has moved too far towards the progressive left and any further shifts will surely intensify violent conflicts.
Elites want to avoid conflict at all cost since they are so greatly outnumbered. However, they are indifferent so long as the violence is between conservatives and progressives. The elites are playing with fire. Fire and violence consume all and will eventually affect the super-wealthy. It is my hope and guess that the elites will pivot away from the grand bargain before this happens.
What replaces it is anybody’s guess. I suspect a socialist, right wing movement will arise. The emphasis will be on working and the virtue of labor instead of victimhood. Of course, elites would be fine with this too so long as their wealth and status aren’t in danger11.
Concordia
In the book, Concordia, There Must be a Better Way, the hero, Paul Walters, warns about gradualism. He says:
We must always remember that the great pyramids were built one brick at a time. Gradualism can accomplish great things, like the pyramids. But gradualism can also turn one of the weakest central governments in human history into the largest of all time. This radical transformation wasn’t done by conquest or revolution. Instead, it occurred by the incremental erosion of freedoms. It is important to realize that governments do not evolve. They only expand. Freedom is always the cost of centralization of power. The two forces are equal and opposite. As centralization goes up and governments grow, freedom necessarily goes down. To add insult to injury, this gradual expansion of the state is euphemistically called ‘progress’.
To learn how he combats progressivism and gradualism, buy the book now on Amazon. It is an exciting novel that challenges your assumptions and entertains you in the process.
Additional Reading
Please help support my blog by purchasing one of these excellent books. I get a tiny commission for each purchase, but only if you purchase using one the links below.
