More and more I just see the same pattern repeating.

The left (broadly) has had power/control over the most influential institutions since the 1970s at least. Probably the 60s. Slowly they have taken the worst parts of their ideas to destroy (not always intentionally) the safety of people in cities. They have used the abuses in the legal system as well as the monopoly police forces to justify changes that have resulted in the average person feeling less safe. They appear to be soft of crime and usually side with the repeat offender. For most of my life the right was basically progressives going the speed limit. They weren't stopping anything from the left. This is why people rallied around the Orange Man btw. Its not complicated.

Now we finally see opposition rising to this decades long trend. But its also not good. Since people feel so unsafe and have lost trust in institutions the right is pushing for police state like policies. They will result in less bad guys on the street. You see people hand waving away the right to trial and presumption of innocence. I guess they think that our guy is in there and they will do the right thing.

The result is that any power given to government almost never is relinquished. These bi-polar approach to governance is resulting in less freedom and the slow march toward tyranny. I really don't care if it is from the left or the right... if the end result is an bureaucratic tyranny powered by private companies or a democratic tyranny powered by state agencies.

In both futures the problem is monopoly control over the use of violence and the current system is leading us down this path. MAGA will not be in power forever. In fact in four years we could have a swing back the opposite direction. Or, we could have a more authoritarian right wing ruler. Both sides seem to have forgotten this as they keep centralizing more power in a few positions.

We see the same thing on immigration. My whole life the debate has been the same and no resolution was ever reached. Biden did such a poor job enforcing the "so called rules" that people finally had enough and elected a guy that would do something. Now people are upset about it. Well... your democracy didn't change the laws. People got fed up and now we have a guy that is gonna do something any way he can figure out to do it.

I can hear the MAGA people now though. Well, the dems have done worse. You're not getting it. Yeah, both sides have done the same things. In some areas one is worse than the other. I get it. That's not the point. As long as the nation (people) are split on core issues this system will just lead us closer to violent conflict.

So I blame both sides. Because all they care about is power, we will end up in tyranny unless people wise up and say I've had enough. I don't wanna be a part of this thing anymore. I'm out. Break it up. I'd rather live in peace. I don't care what people that live in another part of the country want to do. Let them live their lives. I'm just gonna take care of myself, my family, and my own community. Until a critical mass decides they are sick of this nonsense we will not have peace. Until people stop thinking in booleans we will be stuck.

The only way to win is to refuse to play their game. Don't be passive though. Play your own game.