Welcome to the New Dark Ages

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Welcome to the New Dark Ages
If Trump has his way, the next four years will be far worse than even the Gilded Age

By Austin Sarat
Published December 7, 2024 6:18AM (EST)


(Salon) Donald Trump has moved at warp speed to nominate people to serve in his Cabinet and other important government posts who have chosen loyalty to him as their most important virtue, making a mockery of merit even as the nominees claim to uphold meritocracy.

Moreover, like Trump himself, his nominees denigrate science and scientific expertise, subscribe to conspiracy theories, are eager to impose litmus tests in the arts and education, and seem hostile to the world beyond America’s borders.

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While much of the post-election commentary has focused on its implications for American democracy, there is another side to what will unfold starting on Jan. 20. When he takes office, Trump, who promised to Make America Great Again, seems determined to lead America into a period of scientific, cultural, educational, and global retrenchment, which collectively might be called the new “Dark Ages.”

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On education, the incoming Trump Administration hopes to give free rein to “an army of far-right Christians” and attack “the very foundations of free, secular education.” Last week, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, called for “an ‘educational insurgency’ where ‘you build your army underground" of children, so they can grow up to be the next generation of fundamentalist culture warriors.’” ................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2024/12/07/welcome-to-the-new-dark-ages/