"We were never allowed to leave the house looking like a scumbag." Haha. Ahh the days when mom would stop you at the door and make you tuck your shirt in or button your collar. It's fascinating to watch the cultural cycle come full circle. The whole thing might be a product of liberty. Maximum liberty (in a consumer society) births hyper…
"We were never allowed to leave the house looking like a scumbag." Haha. Ahh the days when mom would stop you at the door and make you tuck your shirt in or button your collar. It's fascinating to watch the cultural cycle come full circle. The whole thing might be a product of liberty. Maximum liberty (in a consumer society) births hyper individualism and "counter cultures" which must manifest through greater and greater grotesque extremes until simple, clean, respectable attire and presentation becomes the new counter culture. The cycle from the 1960s to the present though, at least last century bounced within a spectrum (mod to rock to punk to preppy to grunge etc) until recently when it may have all collapsed into one indistinguishable mess of nothingness where we arrive at your brilliant point (that I might steal one day): "A society that cannot control themselves sets themselves up to be controlled."
This is one of the best posts I've ever read on Substack. Thanks for allowing us all to read this magnificent story. It really touched me because I long for the Golden Era of America when I was fortunate enough to grow up as a youngster, child, teenager and adult. Those were the best of times because people cared for things they don't care for at all now. It's all due to the decline of civilization which will ultimately be the demise of the American Empire. It's so sad to see America in the condition it is today. But it was all by design by those who control all the power, wealth and knowledge. The glory days are long behind us. 😥
I give this Stack a 1st Place prize for epic storytelling. 🥇👏
Thanks James. Having been in the states for a few months this spring and summer, the longest spell since 2006, I sensed this ominous feeling in people I'd met. More so in Arizona than Portland, of course.
"We were never allowed to leave the house looking like a scumbag." Haha. Ahh the days when mom would stop you at the door and make you tuck your shirt in or button your collar. It's fascinating to watch the cultural cycle come full circle. The whole thing might be a product of liberty. Maximum liberty (in a consumer society) births hyper individualism and "counter cultures" which must manifest through greater and greater grotesque extremes until simple, clean, respectable attire and presentation becomes the new counter culture. The cycle from the 1960s to the present though, at least last century bounced within a spectrum (mod to rock to punk to preppy to grunge etc) until recently when it may have all collapsed into one indistinguishable mess of nothingness where we arrive at your brilliant point (that I might steal one day): "A society that cannot control themselves sets themselves up to be controlled."
This is one of the best posts I've ever read on Substack. Thanks for allowing us all to read this magnificent story. It really touched me because I long for the Golden Era of America when I was fortunate enough to grow up as a youngster, child, teenager and adult. Those were the best of times because people cared for things they don't care for at all now. It's all due to the decline of civilization which will ultimately be the demise of the American Empire. It's so sad to see America in the condition it is today. But it was all by design by those who control all the power, wealth and knowledge. The glory days are long behind us. 😥
I give this Stack a 1st Place prize for epic storytelling. 🥇👏
Thanks James. Having been in the states for a few months this spring and summer, the longest spell since 2006, I sensed this ominous feeling in people I'd met. More so in Arizona than Portland, of course.
"This is one of the best posts I've ever read on Substack."
By far.