LateCycle contains observations and analyses concerning life in contemporary America – the condition of society (“everyday life”), the economy, politics, and dynamics vis-a-vis not just with the rest of the world but the planet (biosphere) itself. These discussions are based on certain assumptions and analyses that act like a lens with which to frame the site’s topics. Although described in more detail throughout the site, they can be summarized as:
- America is an empire
- All empires have a life cycle: at the simplest level there are the phases of Rise, Top, and Decline
- The American empire is well into the Decline phase
- This can be seen in many ways, including (briefly mentioned as part of an overview) massive accumulation of debt (accelerating as we speak), high level of social fragmentation, widening disparity in wealth and power between an elite and a large portion of the population, and a high level of political polarization (with some casualties)
- This state of affairs links to broader trends/dynamics, such as a major shift in the current world order – entailing all sorts of implications for the future (which is also a topic for this site)
The various specifics of deterioration and unraveling as described in this site (with references to a myriad of sources) can be broadly seen on two levels: “outer” and “inner.”
“Outer” refers to anything that can be considered as observable and amenable to some sort of measurement. Data such as the government deficit and debt level, the percentage of share of net wealth among segments of society (such as tied to income level), and so on.
“Inner” encompasses what is not easily measured or observed. Such as sentiment (indirectly measured via polling), so-called bullishness in the markets (verging into delusion), the rallying theme of Make America Great Again, (dis)trust of the government as well as fellow citizens. We hear anecdotally about high levels of anxiety and frustration… even as we observe the bulk of population continuing their daily lives (making it difficult, for now, to understand the extent of this anxiety). “Inner” also concerns beliefs and psychological processes of denial and fantasy. It is the domain of hypernormalization.
So throughout the site there will be a lot of reference to data points and statistics, if only to bolster the argument that something is seriously amiss in our society (contra mainstream narrative). But this condition is also something that is felt. And so this site will also look for clues at what is not obvious and hidden, that could prove to have more consequence than “outer” things such as debt levels or how net wealth is divided up by segments of the population. That could, in fact, lead to further social deterioration, including outbreaks of unrest (of which we are in fact witnessing).
At a deeper level there is the unquantifiable acknowledgement/denial of reality. Of what in fact is the case, beyond narrative and the obfuscation of cheerleading and various forms of gaslighting and denial. With ensuing consequence. This aspect, I believe, is at the core of current phase of our society, as it begins to grapple with an emerging state of affairs that deviates from the bs narratives we’ve been conditioned to believe in for so long. This site, then, is looking at the details of this deviation, and ensuing fallout.