Today is the "economic blackout", another attempt by the Left to exert group power. This thread at DU was a bit amusing...

After careful consideration, I have decided that the 24 Hour Economic Blackout is bullshit. - Democratic Underground Forums
Democratic Underground ForumsPeaceWave

Summary:

"I can't participate in today's boycott because supermarkets have special sales on Fridays, next time choose a different day"

lmao.gif gsbrnint.gif

And I realized... you must be willing to endure pain if you wish to inflict it. Like in boxing. Or football. Or elections.

In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Ray Dalio characterized this period as a transition from community/teamwork to self-interest. I'd noticed a similar relationship with the Credit Cycle but in terms of altruism versus self interest. Altruism reduces collective cost but only when most members act in good faith.

A real-life example from my time in Hartford, CT: A dinner club formed to qualify for a 10% group discount and worked fine until a few members started underpaying, forcing the rest to carry the difference. That's when self interest superceded the collective good.

Trump is dissolving the Federal dinner group because too many members feel cheated. And of course the freeloaders will squeal, they were getting a good deal. Altruism creates immediate savings at scale but breeds freeloaders long-term and the timing difference drives the cycle.