My top 10 political events of the 2010s (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

OK, for what it’s worth, this is my own list. I did not get it from any source, haven’t read any articles. This is straight from me. In order of importance: 

1. The election of Donald Trump in November, 2016.

2. The Brexit vote in August of 2016.

3. The enactment of Obamacare in March of 2010 (the bill actually passed in September, 2009) 

4. The advent of climate change as the dominant world issue (throughout the decade) 

5. The impeachment of Donald Trump in December, 2019

6. The rise and fall of ISIS (throughout the decade) 

7. The “me too” movement (2017- now) 

8. The Russian invasion of Crimea (2015)

9. The failure of the Trans Pacific Partnership and the ensuing trade war between USA and China (2017- now) 

10. The legalization of gay marriage (2014) 

Considered but not included:  The re-election of Obama, Trump’s tax cut, the increased national debt, the assassination of Osama Bin Ladin, the gun control movement (Parkland kids), the Birther Conspiracy, the Russian involvement in the 2016 election and the Mueller investigation, the opioid crisis, the Occupy Wall Street movement, the debt ceiling crisis in 2010, Black Lives Matter, and Trump’s “build the wall” movement. 

How’d I do? 

 

[Dickies]

Thanks, Wheelhouse. 

 

[timschochet]

Thanks, Wheelhouse. 

You’re too hip for me. I don’t get it. 

 

[AAABatteries]

You’re too hip for me. I don’t get it. 

Given your prolific posting I don’t see how this is possible.  Think about it for a second.

 

[ShamrockPride]

So in #6 you chose a "throughout the decade" type event. With how much you go on and on about it, I'm shocked you didn't consider the growing crisis of gun violence and mass shootings in this country. Just shows how easily we put that issue on the backburner.

 

[timschochet]

So in #6 you chose a "throughout the decade" type event. With how much you go on and on about it, I'm shocked you didn't consider the growing crisis of gun violence and mass shootings in this country. Just shows how easily we put that issue on the backburner.

I considered it- it’s on my secondary list. 

But it only becomes a political issue if a political change occurs and as I noted yesterday with some frustration, that hasn’t happened. Despite the best efforts of protestors who have the support on this issue of 80% of the public, the NRA has successfully blocked any attempts at reasonable gun control legislation. 

 

[timschochet]

Interesting list. Thanks for sharing.

Think rise of social/mobile is top 5, and particularly Facebook, Google and Amazon and their dominance of the world’s information, e-commerce, and advertising economies. 

That’s one of the most important issues for sure- but I don’t think it qualifies as a political event. 

 

[timschochet]

I disagree. If you’re counting climate change, I’d argue two reasons to including rise of social mobile.

1. Its profound impact on democracy, namely on impacting thinking and voting cohorts 

2. Slow realization that these companies are too powerful and need regulation. If Facebook were a nation it’d have 1.2 billion people, rivaling China. It knows as much about its citizens. It’s issuing its own currency.

In light of that, I don’t know how it’s not political.

I see your point- I don’t disagree, but the reason I chose climate change is because political action is being taken. That’s the distinction. If we were seriously discussing the regulation of the internet and that was a major priority for elections then it would be more relevant to this list. 

 

[dkp993]

OK, for what it’s worth, this is my own list. I did not get it from any source, haven’t read any articles. This is straight from me. In order of importance: 

1. The election of Donald Trump in November, 2016.

2. The Brexit vote in August of 2016.

3. The enactment of Obamacare in March of 2010 (the bill actually passed in September, 2009) 

4. The advent of climate change as the dominant world issue (throughout the decade) 

5. The impeachment of Donald Trump in December, 2019

6. The rise and fall of ISIS (throughout the decade) 

7. The “me too” movement (2017- now) 

8. The Russian invasion of Crimea (2015)

9. The failure of the Trans Pacific Partnership and the ensuing trade war between USA and China (2017- now) 

10. The legalization of gay marriage (2014) 

Considered but not included:  The re-election of Obama, Trump’s tax cut, the increased national debt, the assassination of Osama Bin Ladin, the gun control movement (Parkland kids), the Birther Conspiracy, the Russian involvement in the 2016 election and the Mueller investigation, the opioid crisis, the Occupy Wall Street movement, the debt ceiling crisis in 2010, Black Lives Matter, and Trump’s “build the wall” movement. 

How’d I do? 

The widespread legalization of Marijuana.  

 

[timschochet]

The widespread legalization of Marijuana.  

Almost seems like an afterthought at this point. 

 

[dkp993]

Almost seems like an afterthought at this point. 

That shows the importance, it’s how things always should have been.  (And I don’t even partake).  

 

[timschochet]

@Mr. Ham it’s funny that you mention Arab Spring. Right when that happened at the start of the decade I thought it was earth shattering, that it would lead to a revolt by Muslim youth all over the Middle East. I foresaw possible revolutions in the two great competing dictatorships of Iran and Saudi Arabia, with huge unpredictable consequences. I would have told you then that THIS was the most important event of the decade, perhaps of the last 50 years. 

Boy was I wrong. Egypt’s revolution has done nothing to affect its power structure, and Iran and the Saudis were untouched. It really was a big nothingburger. 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Hong Kong protests could end up being a huge topic/event......or not......but tough to say right now......

 

[rockaction]

Soon after Arab Spring, around 2013, I went to Barcelona for a conference. There were mass student protests in the streets by my hotel.

So if you don’t see the political trend lines, first to demonstrate ability to topple regimes, and then used as a commercial tool for them, then you didn’t see the other hand of the magician this decade. 

This is what I thought as soon I saw your contention. The Arab Spring and social media have certainly become synonymous with each other, and should be. And your point is taken that they alerted governments to the subversive nature of the media and how it might be kept under control, autocratic or regulatory. 

I also don't think social media is a nothingburger. It's how we communicate, which is inherently political and oft-regulated from new technologies' inceptions.