Which combines democratic & elitist conceptions…perhaps “meritocratic” captures the balance.

I read it a long time ago, but I think William James was getting at something similar in his essay, “The Moral Equivalent of War” (itself referenced in a Jimmy Carter speech on the energy crisis!).

JD Vance's ideal America is a place with half the GDP where everyone with potential and options gets the fuck out, a shithole that people from countries with actual dynamism visit to watch chintzy 'traditional' dances before going home.

Ultimately an incident such as this compels people to decide whether they believe in collective punishment based on ethnicity or nationality, whether they think certain ethnic, racial, & religious groups are incompatible with American society, etc.

great game; all teams left it out on the field.

good chance that he *hasn’t* made up his mind; as usual he’s trying to put off any commitment & getting buffeted by warring factions of advisers.

“Invest in land & pay $500 extra on your taxes” is serious rural grandpa energy.

As long as he comes over to the press pool & gives any response to their dumbass questions, they’re cool with it.

read theory, etc.