Steve Bannon and the Fourth Turning

The American Thinker ^ | 04/21/17 | Peter Skurkiss

[pgkdan]

In its ongoing effort to counter Steve Bannon's influence in the White House, the New York Times recently ran a piece essentially ridiculing Bannon's for his admiration of The Fourth Turning (1997) by William Strauss and Neil Howe.

As is the Times' MO, instead of addressing the substance articulated in The Fourth Turning, it dismisses the authors as 'amateur historians' and writes that their thesis is provocative and disputed.

Well, yes, The Fourth Turning theory of history is provocative. And it certainly is disputed by those who are presently warmly ensconced in today's establishment as well as their paid mouthpieces, for reasons that will soon become evident. But disapproval from the status quo doesn't mean Strauss and Howe are wrong. Quite the contrary. As for me, I find their arguments and analysis very compelling.

***SNIP***

And for sure, America does need a realignment. From the 60s to the present, the dominant ruling class has poisoned the foundation of the republic with their secularism, liberalism, and multiculturalism. Normal politics will not correct this; the rot is too deep. Only a massive upheaval will bring the country back on course -- provided the right people are in power, which is to say, not the Democratic Party.

[Mr. Douglas]

Yeah. That last paragraph. It’s why I moved from Seattle to a farm in central KY six years ago.

and I’m more glad every year that I did.

[jazminerose]

Excellent article, thank you for posting.

[bigbob]

I bought that book after reading about it on an FR thread. I found it fascinating as a concept but tedious to read, need to go back and give it another look now I think.

The concept makes sense because we all incorporate the attitudes and experiences of previous generations into our own world view, and in a broad sense the common views each generation holds is pretty amazing.

[redgolum]

I first read that book when I was a young college grad.

It has held true so far.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Gotta stick it out here in Seattle area for another 12 yrs them Montana here I come.

[AndyJackson]

Managerialism vs skilled and knowledgeable craftsmen. It’ s Chinese junk and American Airlines “service” vs American pride in quality,

[TheNext]

Great find, thanks.

The biggest problem historians have is few understand current social economics, so they are lacking expaining the past.

Test your child’s history teacher. Ask a loaded question about current economics and politics. Tell him a communist can never understand history.

[TheNext]

>> moved from Seattle to a farm in central KY six years ago. <<

I love reading stories like yours.
Life is difficult but you improved it.

You win the “Honorable FReeper of the Week” award,
for taking concrete action.

[Mr. Douglas]

I bought it on a handshake two weeks before the 2008 election. ;-)

We have 24 chickens, two streams, two knobs, three hollers, ~20 acres of woods and 32 acres total. It’s the garden of Eden but with more chiggers.

[McGavin999]

You can clearly see us headed in that direction

[pepsi_junkie]

Back in the early 90s I postulated that there was a roughly 70 year cycle of culture shaping catastrophes which reset society. Revolution -> Civil War -> Depression / WWII. I called it the 70 year itch. I posted about it here in the early 2000s and another Freeper pointed me towards the Fourth Turning, which postulated a four generation, 80 year cycle. Close enough. All that says that we’ve been in the fourth turning since, I’d say, the financial “crisis” and rise of Obama and ISIS and global random terrorism. This is why I’ve said all along that if we got Hillary, it was over. Our chance to have bold leadership that steers us in a sound direction for the next 80 year cycle is NOW and if we got her, it was over all but for the shouting. Thank God we got Trump! But I do worry about his counselors burrowing in and making him wobbly.

[pgkdan]

I bought that book after reading about it on an FR thread. I found it fascinating as a concept but tedious to read, need to go back and give it another look now I think.

I remember that thread from years ago. I think it was during clintoon's second term and I was pretty interested. I bought the book but never finished it. Going to give it another go soon. It was what made me read this article.

[billorites]

I bought the Fourth Turning this spring and made it all the way to the end. It was a long slog.

I've found myself thinking a great deal about the authors' thesis since. I almost want to read it again. Emphasis on the word almost.

[rwa265]

It’s why I moved from Seattle to a farm in central KY six years ago.

---

Our family had a wonderful vacation on Herrington Lake near Harrodsburg, KY, three summers ago. Really enjoyed visiting Old Fort Harrod.

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[Mr. Douglas]

Heh. I was just in HarrodsBurg on Tuesday. I love the small towns in this commonwealth.

[fortes fortuna juvat]

>> moved from Seattle to a farm in central KY six years ago. <<

I love reading stories like yours.
Life is difficult but you improved it.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I lived in the D.C. burbs from birth to retirement. Eight years prior to that happy day I bought an 87-acre farm in the mountains of Garrett County, in western Maryland. A week after my last day at work I moved to the farm and never looked back. The nearest town is eight miles away and has no traffic lights. My days are occupied with hunting, fishing, and trail riding. Evenings are devoted to reading, the Internet, and vintage wine.