Robert Kirsch

is potent because Americans have never actually had to go to ground, never actually had to sort of take cover in the way that, say, many Europeans had to during the Second World War. And so that's one part of the story is that it's easy to sort of think about readiness and what to do in the face of total collapse because it's sort of been deferred. And so it becomes a site of fantasy.

is potent because Americans have never actually had to go to ground, never actually had to sort of take cover in the way that, say, many Europeans had to during the Second World War. And so that's one part of the story is that it's easy to sort of think about readiness and what to do in the face of total collapse because it's sort of been deferred. And so it becomes a site of fantasy.

On the other hand, you're also right that the U.S. has ongoing extreme weather events, hurricanes, wildfires, dust bowls, droughts. The list goes on and on. And the way that we tell that story is sort of the way that we diagnose the sort of neoliberal condition of American political life, which is these disasters happen. there is an oftentimes inadequate or incomplete state response.

On the other hand, you're also right that the U.S. has ongoing extreme weather events, hurricanes, wildfires, dust bowls, droughts. The list goes on and on. And the way that we tell that story is sort of the way that we diagnose the sort of neoliberal condition of American political life, which is these disasters happen. there is an oftentimes inadequate or incomplete state response.

On the other hand, you're also right that the U.S. has ongoing extreme weather events, hurricanes, wildfires, dust bowls, droughts. The list goes on and on. And the way that we tell that story is sort of the way that we diagnose the sort of neoliberal condition of American political life, which is these disasters happen. there is an oftentimes inadequate or incomplete state response.

And so the reaction to that becomes, well, I can't rely on the government to do things or to sort of reorganize things or to play a role in this. So it's up to me to take responsibility for my own preparation. And the way that I do that is through consumption choices.

And so the reaction to that becomes, well, I can't rely on the government to do things or to sort of reorganize things or to play a role in this. So it's up to me to take responsibility for my own preparation. And the way that I do that is through consumption choices.

And so the reaction to that becomes, well, I can't rely on the government to do things or to sort of reorganize things or to play a role in this. So it's up to me to take responsibility for my own preparation. And the way that I do that is through consumption choices.

I think it's the latter. I really think this is a sort of conspicuous consumption. And so these ultra-rich people, we hear a lot about their preparation plans. You mentioned Zuckerberg and Thiel. And those are, I think, the two most sort of high-profile examples of

I think it's the latter. I really think this is a sort of conspicuous consumption. And so these ultra-rich people, we hear a lot about their preparation plans. You mentioned Zuckerberg and Thiel. And those are, I think, the two most sort of high-profile examples of

I think it's the latter. I really think this is a sort of conspicuous consumption. And so these ultra-rich people, we hear a lot about their preparation plans. You mentioned Zuckerberg and Thiel. And those are, I think, the two most sort of high-profile examples of

And what I think is notable about those is that they get profiled in Forbes or Fortune or, you know, these sorts of like monocle like publications, right, for the sort of upwardly mobile people. And they lavish the reader with all sorts of details about the extravagant things that these folks are doing. And then there's always this kind of coy like, but we'll never tell you where it is, right?

And what I think is notable about those is that they get profiled in Forbes or Fortune or, you know, these sorts of like monocle like publications, right, for the sort of upwardly mobile people. And they lavish the reader with all sorts of details about the extravagant things that these folks are doing. And then there's always this kind of coy like, but we'll never tell you where it is, right?

And what I think is notable about those is that they get profiled in Forbes or Fortune or, you know, these sorts of like monocle like publications, right, for the sort of upwardly mobile people. And they lavish the reader with all sorts of details about the extravagant things that these folks are doing. And then there's always this kind of coy like, but we'll never tell you where it is, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And so it's a way to sort of signal this kind of conspicuous consumption that maybe more middle-class or upwardly mobile Americans can at least sort of try to emulate. But I do want to suggest, too, though, that this takes on kind of strange dimensions. I'm sure, for your instance, you've read a lot about Elon Musk's desire to go to Mars.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And so it's a way to sort of signal this kind of conspicuous consumption that maybe more middle-class or upwardly mobile Americans can at least sort of try to emulate. But I do want to suggest, too, though, that this takes on kind of strange dimensions. I'm sure, for your instance, you've read a lot about Elon Musk's desire to go to Mars.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And so it's a way to sort of signal this kind of conspicuous consumption that maybe more middle-class or upwardly mobile Americans can at least sort of try to emulate. But I do want to suggest, too, though, that this takes on kind of strange dimensions. I'm sure, for your instance, you've read a lot about Elon Musk's desire to go to Mars.

Right. And it's a fantasy. It's in many ways based on this sort of like mentality of like, well, you know, there's nothing we can do here anymore. And so we're going to have to try again on another orb.

Right. And it's a fantasy. It's in many ways based on this sort of like mentality of like, well, you know, there's nothing we can do here anymore. And so we're going to have to try again on another orb.

Right. And it's a fantasy. It's in many ways based on this sort of like mentality of like, well, you know, there's nothing we can do here anymore. And so we're going to have to try again on another orb.