History Repeats Itself, First as a Tragedy then as the 2024 Election
They're so similar it's creepy.
Georg Hegel, the favorite philosopher of annoying people, once wrote that history tends to repeat itself. Karl Marx would quip that Hegel “forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce". And as I watch the election unfold, I can’t help but feel like I’m watching a comedy.
Like a lot of people, you probably, I found the 2016 and 2020 elections deeply unpleasant – especially the latter1. This election though? It’s been amazing. Truly, everything I could ask for. Twists. Tragedies. And so, so much comedy.
I’ve found myself laughing everything off now. No matter what terrible thing has happened today, what new fear that he’ll do this instead of that, no matter who’s imperiling democracy and righteousness or how they’re doing it. It’s a joke. A sublime comedy. It’s not like a TV show, it’s much better than any TV show that’s depicted similar subject matter because it’s really happening.
So if 2024 is the farce, what was the comedy? That was what I couldn’t figure out. Until I saw this:
And suddenly, it all fell into place.
Both featured the Democrat president and presumptive candidate shockingly stepping down, and the Vice President taking their place… but LBJ stepped down voluntarily, while Biden might literally be so old that he is dying.
Both feature a Republican who is running again after losing the presidency, but Nixon was cunning and slick, a brilliant political operator, and extremely adept at appearing normal to the public. Trump is half megachurch preacher, half pro wrestler.
Left-wing protesters against an unpopular war, but the Vietnam protesters were protesting actual atrocities and war crimes committed by the US military, while the pro-Palestine protesters don't have any idea what a "war crime" is besides something with bad vibes.
Both were highly polarized, but the 60s was a full-on clash of civilizations and one of the greatest social reckonings in the country's history, and 2024 is a stupid meme fight.
Both featured a "Robert F. Kennedy" running, but the original one is some sort of civic saint who would have delivered us were it not for his martyrdom and the current one is Mr. Brainworms.
Both featured an assassination attempt but one was successful and iconic while the other one would be a comedy of errors if real humans hadn't died during it.
I can’t believe it. Hegel was right. This is so embarrassing. HE CAN’T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH IT
Combined with many other trials during that annus horribilis. I was let go twice, endured a considerable amount of social stress, and quietly developed agoraphobia. Overall, it was a slightly below-average year for me.