“Collective Passivity” Indeed

The New York Times has an op-ed up, penned by Sudhir Venkatesh, a professor of sociology at Columbia, under the title Feeling Too Down to Rise Up, which considers populist rage, a subject which I commented on here, and to which this post is also closely related.

Venkatesh, noting the lack of populist rage, and wondering at this lack, states the following as a possible cause.

It certainly doesn’t mean we have more love, patience or tolerance for one another. Indeed, it may mean just the opposite, that we tend not to trust one another and that we are more alienated from our neighbors than ever before. The lack of direct action could signal the weakening of a social contract that keeps people meaningfully invested in the fate of our country — which may, in turn, be hindering our ability to resolve this crisis.

I do not think Venkatesh’s above stated postulation is the cause of the lack of populist rage, and he considers other possible causes in his piece, but I do think when Venkatesh states this,

Today widespread anger and collective passivity exist side by side. (bold by ed.)

he hits the nail on the head in regards to Americans’ docile acceptance of being herded around and slaughtered (financially) like sheep, and this “collective passivity” to the expansion of the State, which has been ongoing for decades, now, will continue to smother any “populist rage” which may be brewing.

Until such time, if indeed it comes, Americans come to the realization that the State is actually hindering them from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and demand the freedom to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness individually, collective passivity will continue to ruin the day.

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