A discussion with Manisha Sinha, whose new book, "The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic," is now the definitive work on the most consequential period of American history.
Good morning, Greg. I haven't listened to the podcast, so I am only reacting to what you have written and quoted here. I will read this book, as this is the period in US history that fascinates me most, so thank you for bringing it to my attention.
What stands out to me in the excerpts here is that an "outsider" looking in (a woman, a continental Indian) to the system is more likely to see with acuity, particularly when her own land's history overlaps (colonialism) with the foreign system she observes. I am more likely to trust such an observer, as a result.
About 4 years ago, I attended a funeral in Conn. In attendance was a big-name-bank financial advisor to the wealthiest of the wealthy, who was explaining to me the latest what I can only call "scheme": making up a new entity in name only, with no intention of doing anything at all with it, and then raising money off it in order to then create a vehicle to buy actual assets. So, selling shares of nothing in order to buy all the things.
He then explained that the politics of the day (2020) were just like Reconstruction, with the same kind of power grab and violence. This was making the marketplace ripe for new ways to "succeed".
To which I asked, "Do you mean, act illegally?" Which elicited a laugh.
So, perhaps had Reconstruction not been how we rigged our nation's wealth in the past, we would not have the same shell game today.
My takeaway from what you've shared here is that we've a) never had a true, free Capitalist marketplace; b) we've never had true democracy ("Save the slaves, kill the Indians!"); and c), one way we've done this is to create an empire at home and abroad while simultaneously saying that is not what we're doing --- "here, go to sleep, have an American Dream..." and lastly, d) we've allowed the conflation of democracy into Capitalism by confusing citizenship for consumerism...to fund wars that keep us confused, and this started with Reconstruction, which, by the way, was really just a period when a handful of weirdoes said, thought, and acted as though they were better than everyone else -- similar to the Nazis -- and so demanded they have all the resources. It is colonialism in its archetypal form.
Great western democracies like ours see a miracle. I believe our union is strong now and will keep on.
The worst thing about living in Florida. (and most of the states] is that my vote doesn’t count. All of our electoral college votes went to Trump, even though half of us voted for Biden. The fucking electoral college must go. Bill Serle.com.
A constitutional amendment seems unlikely in our hyper-partisan environment. 3/4 of the states have to ratify, how likely is that to happen. Better than nothing at least would be to push for state-level split electoral votes. (And keep Nebraska from undoing their own law about that.)
May I suggest a companion book by Heather Cox Richardson, "How the South Won the Civil War (2020)." I have not listened yet to the podcast, but what Greg has summarized pretty much mirrors what Professor Richardson has written in her book. "West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America After the Civil War (2008)" is another Cox Richardson book that I have yet to read but I trust is another detailed account: "A sweeping history of the United States from the era of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, this engaging book stretches the boundaries of our understanding of Reconstruction. Historian Heather Cox Richardson ties the North and West into the post–Civil War story that usually focuses narrowly on the South, encompassing the significant people and events of this profoundly important era."
Thanks, Greg, for introducing me to another "voice," speaking for our side!
UPDATE: This podcast with Manisha Sinha was terrific. I will be ordering (and reading!) her book, for sure.
"Hayes lost the (suppressed) popular vote but prevailed in the Electoral College. The thinking was that he would continue Reconstruction and continue Lincoln’s project. But he didn’t. As soon as he took office, he pulled federal troops out of the South, throwing the emancipated Black Americans living there to the proverbial wolves." The truth of this comment is the tragic underlying current of our world today. Is this the outcome he was hoping for? Did he not think about the consequences of this action?
TGIF🎉🎉🎉
Good morning, Greg. I haven't listened to the podcast, so I am only reacting to what you have written and quoted here. I will read this book, as this is the period in US history that fascinates me most, so thank you for bringing it to my attention.
What stands out to me in the excerpts here is that an "outsider" looking in (a woman, a continental Indian) to the system is more likely to see with acuity, particularly when her own land's history overlaps (colonialism) with the foreign system she observes. I am more likely to trust such an observer, as a result.
About 4 years ago, I attended a funeral in Conn. In attendance was a big-name-bank financial advisor to the wealthiest of the wealthy, who was explaining to me the latest what I can only call "scheme": making up a new entity in name only, with no intention of doing anything at all with it, and then raising money off it in order to then create a vehicle to buy actual assets. So, selling shares of nothing in order to buy all the things.
He then explained that the politics of the day (2020) were just like Reconstruction, with the same kind of power grab and violence. This was making the marketplace ripe for new ways to "succeed".
To which I asked, "Do you mean, act illegally?" Which elicited a laugh.
So, perhaps had Reconstruction not been how we rigged our nation's wealth in the past, we would not have the same shell game today.
My takeaway from what you've shared here is that we've a) never had a true, free Capitalist marketplace; b) we've never had true democracy ("Save the slaves, kill the Indians!"); and c), one way we've done this is to create an empire at home and abroad while simultaneously saying that is not what we're doing --- "here, go to sleep, have an American Dream..." and lastly, d) we've allowed the conflation of democracy into Capitalism by confusing citizenship for consumerism...to fund wars that keep us confused, and this started with Reconstruction, which, by the way, was really just a period when a handful of weirdoes said, thought, and acted as though they were better than everyone else -- similar to the Nazis -- and so demanded they have all the resources. It is colonialism in its archetypal form.
Great read Miss Whitney. I learn a lot from Mr. Greg’s essays and books. Now…You! Billserle.com
Thanks, Bill. Greg definitely opens doors to provocative conversations.
Just arrived in my mailbox. Looks like Spring cleaning takes a seat this weekend.
Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks once again for your columns.
Great western democracies like ours see a miracle. I believe our union is strong now and will keep on.
The worst thing about living in Florida. (and most of the states] is that my vote doesn’t count. All of our electoral college votes went to Trump, even though half of us voted for Biden. The fucking electoral college must go. Bill Serle.com.
Make America a real democracy by amending the old slave drivers’ unfair electoral system in the constitution. 🗽#VotingRights #NPVIC
A constitutional amendment seems unlikely in our hyper-partisan environment. 3/4 of the states have to ratify, how likely is that to happen. Better than nothing at least would be to push for state-level split electoral votes. (And keep Nebraska from undoing their own law about that.)
May I suggest a companion book by Heather Cox Richardson, "How the South Won the Civil War (2020)." I have not listened yet to the podcast, but what Greg has summarized pretty much mirrors what Professor Richardson has written in her book. "West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America After the Civil War (2008)" is another Cox Richardson book that I have yet to read but I trust is another detailed account: "A sweeping history of the United States from the era of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, this engaging book stretches the boundaries of our understanding of Reconstruction. Historian Heather Cox Richardson ties the North and West into the post–Civil War story that usually focuses narrowly on the South, encompassing the significant people and events of this profoundly important era."
Thanks, Greg, for introducing me to another "voice," speaking for our side!
UPDATE: This podcast with Manisha Sinha was terrific. I will be ordering (and reading!) her book, for sure.
"Hayes lost the (suppressed) popular vote but prevailed in the Electoral College. The thinking was that he would continue Reconstruction and continue Lincoln’s project. But he didn’t. As soon as he took office, he pulled federal troops out of the South, throwing the emancipated Black Americans living there to the proverbial wolves." The truth of this comment is the tragic underlying current of our world today. Is this the outcome he was hoping for? Did he not think about the consequences of this action?
Thank you for this. History for me is connecting the dots. I will be listening to the Podcast today.