
What will the aftermath be after the riot in congress?


- Less than meets the eye. As usual, the country - as is its' won't at the moment - is responding to predictable events with cackling hysteria and this will not facilitate a calming of the social and cultural waters.
Just for starters, imagine had the Capitol police - and just to add, I am a former Capitol Hill staffer - been holding the perimeter of the Capitol grounds as they NORMALLY do in protest situations. There may have been some violence - it has happened dozens of times before and that does not even count the time gunmen sprayed the House chamber in 1954, wounding 6 Members - but the occupation of the Capitol building would never have happened.
Grant that this should not be taken lightly, but this was as much about incompetence as it was an attempt by protesters to take over the Capitol. Hence, why the Capitol police chief - among others - is now out of a job. As your mother once likely told you - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Moreover, as the questioner and I have discussed elsewhere, this event was a symptom and not a cause. A result of the deep resentments, particularly among the lower middle class, that have evolved as the economy transitions from a manufacturing/extractions base into a service/tech base. Resentments fed by the transition of the Democratic party away from the working class toward the college educated upper class. (See also Mrs. Clinton's infamous "deplorables" comment. See also Mr. Obama's "clinging to guns and religion.")
Mr. Trump fed off of these resentments and, unlike Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s and Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, did nothing to calm the social waters. Being content instead to - mixing metaphors - pour salt in the social wounds.
Unfortunately, the Democrats - like the French kings of whom it was said "forget nothing and learn nothing" - are repeating Mr. Trump's mistakes. Mr. Biden's language has been inflammatory - his speech injecting race into an already volatile situation was nothing short of stunning. The Speaker and the - at this hour still Senate Minority Leader - to go down the impeachment road again will be seen by many Trump's supporters - of which there were 74 million - as an attack upon themselves.
Churchill famously said, "In defeat, defiance. In victory, MAGNAMITY. In peace, good will." (Emphasis added.) Whatever the merits or lack of same in the matter of impeachment wisdom is knowing what to overlook. Mr. Trump likely will have articles of impeachment lodged against him. Then the clock will run out on his term and that will be that.
It may bring emotional catharsis to Democrats who loathe Mr. Trump, but it will hardly be worth the cost. Mr. Biden - a man of whom it can be said was elected without a mandate - says he wanted to unify the country, and then inserted the always torrid subject of race into and already torrid situation. As to the rest of the Democrats - be careful what you wish for,
The aftermath is likely to be that each side will go to its corners. Leaders - on both sides - who should be thinking 5 steps ahead are going for the satisfactions of the moment. Thus proving that America is, at this moment, neither a republic nor a democracy, but rather an onagocracy.
The term being defined by the 20th century Italian political philosopher Bernedetto Croce. It meaning, "government by wild asses."
So, in the short to medium term, not much will change. In the long term, though, as happened after the 1960s and 70s, as happened after the 1917 to 1953 era, as happened after the Civil War, the nation will grow tired. Then will follow a period of comparative social peace and stability. As the nation awakes to find itself amidst the rubble that its lack of prudence and penchant for self-indulgence made possible.0|20|0Is this still revelant?Great 1 an it makes me feel like why destroy these buildings it belongs to we the people we pay taxes to keep it in good condition i wish people would get that through there heads that they just costed Americans more taxes for destruction destruction an riots an never the way people die or get hurt senseless people who can't realize they take privileges to us all being able to visit these plaves after covid19 is vaccinated in america
Thanks for your kind comment. As far as the financial costs of this episode, believe it or not, relative to the maintenance and security costs that accrue each year to the repair and protection of a 200 year old building, it will be slight. Grant additional costs that were not needed, but relative to overall, not dramatic,
Take it from a guy who used to work in Congress and who got to see the Legislative Branch appropriations bill. (You can look it up yourself.)
There is no doubt that this was badly handled and that a lot of people who should not have been were asleep at the switch. Still, it is more significant as an indicator - the proverbial canary in the coal mine - of the nation's social tensions.
Of course, we have been here before and we have seen worse. See also a civil war in which 650,000 Americans killed at each other's hands. More than we lost in both world wars combined. There is also the astonishing figure of over 8,000 domestic bombings between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1969.
Still, it would be gratifying to think that there was in the country at least some segment of the population that was inclined to calm the waters instead of indulging their emotions. They are out there, it is safe to say, but at the moment are a distinct minority.- Show All Show Less
Best to you and yours as well. As to your latter point, that is true. However, my hunch is that the construction materials - and I know that building very well - did not take it personally. They were probably more upset by being burned to the ground in 1814 or having guns shots fired all around the House chamber in 1954.
Cheers!@Texaskid1 Not in the city itself. I live in Falls Church, a northern Virginia suburb. As an independent consultant I work from home - though obviously my work takes me into the city. However, with COVID and all the rest, I spend less time in the city and more time working from home than I used to.
"A result of the deep resentments, particularly among the lower middle class, that have evolved as the economy transitions from a manufacturing/extractions base into a service/tech base. "
That resentment is understandable. However, many of the rioters are comfortably well-off, and were fighting to maintain their privilege as straight white Christian men.
www.theatlantic.com/.../@slatyb My reference was to Mr. Trump's base - which is mostly, though not entirely - lower middle class.
The tumult of the 60s and 70s showed a particular populist bent. Much of the tumult from that period was about the poor and racial issues, but was led by well off upper middle class whites. They, after all, have the time and money that affords them the opportunity to participate in protests and such.
As I have said elsewhere, we have been here before.
Most Helpful Guy
- A, B, likely E. Not too worried about more riots because security will be heavy and consequences will be severe.0|10|0Is this still revelant?
@jamesgoldman The house can quickly pass articles of impeachment. Not sure there are enough Republicans who will vote for it.
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@jamesgoldman The house will move to impeach even though Trump has left office. If impeached Trump would lose his privileges as an ex-President, particularly his pension. The way his businesses are going it may be the only thing he has left. The Senate can also vote to bar Trump from holding public office in the future (Amendment 14, Section 3):
"No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability."
Most Helpful Girl
- Probably more serious than the aftermath of all the riots all across the country this summer... You can burn cities, businesses, kill people but it's not a problem unless you attack a Capitol building smh if that don't speak enough to say People in this country don't matter as much as politics and political power, what does 🤷🏼ββοΈ0|10|0Is this still revelant?
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25- There will be heavier security but I believe a foreign country could hit American soil so everyone in the District of Columbia should be on guard wouldn't that be hell if the White House / Capitol was a target of extreme terrorist attack brought about on Donald Trump he is dangerous person and I don't trust him.. That could be days of sadness in Washington D. C. I just worry about these things happening.. If we got 9-11 happen in New York City who says it can't hit twice but the Capitol they better have security and have no plane flights going from anywhere to Washington D. C. until things calm down0|10|0
- Look out for more riots. The cult.. sorry.. his followers believe that it was stolen. So they will do everything in their power to keep their anointed king there.0|10|0
- Anonymous17 dTrump will die in his sleep. His company and wealth stripped from his children.0|10|0
- Just more security till transition of power and some more months after that0|10|0
- More security that is for sure.0|10|0
- Anonymous17 dBiden there will be president lol0|00|0
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