It seems sometimes that there is a ruthless leveling downward in the froth of industrial production and consumer desire on these shores. Those who understand, or who seem to understand, or who seem to make an effort to understand face a very difficult life. The mimetic fury of desire becomes the only litmus of social encounter. An indolence, and a refusal to think.
------------------------
Separately: I realized rather suddenly an ominous implication of the historical mistake of celebrating the present year as the 250th of the country. (It is the anniversary of independence of the colonies. Confederation resulted, and then fell apart. Then, much later, came union.)
But if you celebrate the 250th of "America", you might as well be celebrating the America of some future republic -- or other form of government.