Those who theorize that the Overton Window is in play... may be accurate.

Part of the Overton Window thesis is;

All of this suggests that politicians are more followers than they are leaders — it’s the rest of us who ultimately determine the types of policies they’ll get behind. It also implies that our social institutions — families, workplaces, friends, media, churches, voluntary associations, think tanks, schools, charities, and many other phenomena that establish and reinforce societal norms — are more important to shaping our politics than we typically credit them for.

https://www.mackinac.org/OvertonWindow

Do we blame politicians and the "government" as some impersonal icon of fiends, when it's the people themselves who set the political direction and agenda of a nation?
Intriguing premise that is hard to argue against.

Blessings,
Mark

Use fiscal responsibility as an example. Govt cannot manage money, they run massive deficits and add a huge amount of debt yearly. Most people cannot responsibly handle their finances, they are in debt and only able to live the life they are due to Govt policies that keep interest low and food cheap.

What came first, poor govt fiscal responsibility or poor personal fiscal responsibility? They seem to walk hand in hand.

That is interesting Mark, the more tolerant people become, the crazier the politics , as long as it is tolerated it will never change.

TV and movies especially TV movies, have been shaping American values for a long time. Those who say they just reflect our changing society are lying to them selves. When Rob and Laura of the Dick Van Dyke show slept in separate twin beds it wasn't a reflection of how American married couples slept. From that beginning of silly over protective TV shows we eventually got Cat House on HBO. Media, and the ideas it made seem normal and healthy have been a huge factor in Americans going from Nixon having to resign to Joe Biden remaining President. We accept Kamala trading sex for advancement in her legal career with no repercussions. Those values come from TV and movies. Not the other way round.

I'll have to look into that.

It's an Unseen war.

The U.S. Gubmint first went into debt in 1790. They figured out real quick there was nobody to hold them responsible.

Yes! If the people do nothing, the bad guys will further screw us

A true leader can shift the Overton Window. Or megalomaniacal figures hiding in shadows sending forth the minions. Organic shifts of the Overton Window by the people seem to be more powerful and longer lasting.

I don't know how anyone could believe this wasn't true. If politicians were making laws the masses didn't agree with they'd be out on their tails the next election. Obviously it is society setting the rules.

Men love to defy laws. Take gravity for example. Airplanes don't defy gravity but use the law of lift. We all know what happens when the law of lift fails. Of course we have the trusty parachute which will use drag and resistance to land us, although not always in the most convenient of places. Sometimes we might land in a pile of donkey, elephant or even a pile of rhino dung. All of which would be embarrassing, but the most dangerous one thing to land on might be a slippery banana peel.

Unless elections are fixed.

^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^

Laws are passed that an overwhelming majority dont agree with all the time. We're just apathetic to what goes on now unless something truely appalling or intrusive to our lives comes up.

Laws are passed that an overwhelming majority dont agree with all the time. We're just apathetic to what goes on now unless something truely appalling or intrusive to our lives comes up.

People don't pay attention until it's too late. Have you ever read a 1500 page bill that gets voted on? Doubt it....lobbyists are in charge. Not politicians.

Makes it seem like society is in control...not. And it's not the politicians...Think global big money runs this world. 3-4 yr olds playing with cell phones who determines what's on those phones not you or I or politicians...the elites are influencing the next generation what will the shifts be , it's whatever they choose...Yeah guess I'm little conspiracy nut

Voter apathy. 20% voter turnout at many elections. Elections bought and paid for by big money. Big problem but not hopeless:

https://www.americanthinker.com/art...n_expect_to_lose_a_lot_of_elections.html

https://www.americanthinker.com/art...empire_falls_will_the_republic_rise.html

Excellent read. Thank you.