Book SummaryProgressively Worse, by Joe Concha

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Progressively Worse

Trust in a range of institutions, media entities among them, has eroded.

American Trust in Institutions, Media Hits Historic Lows

In this segment, Concha delves into the notably eroded trust that Americans have in institutions including the government, judicial system, educational entities, and media organizations. He blames this decline on the perception of these institutions being biased, prioritizing political agendas over their core functions, and consistently failing to deliver on their promises. Concha supports his position by citing numerous examples he perceives as inherent flaws.

Public Trust Erodes in Government, Justice, Education, and Media due to Perceived Biases and Failures

Concha argues that the trust Americans place in their national institutions has sunk to all-time lows, with research from Gallup indicating that the average confidence in these entities is now at a mere 27 percent. In 1979, close to 50% of the U.S. population still held trust in their government, even amidst the lingering effects of Watergate and the Vietnam conflict.

Public disillusionment is further underscored by Concha's observation that only about a quarter of the population in the United States trusts the public education system, while the presidency secures the confidence of a mere 23%, with the judiciary system earning the trust of 14%, television news is trusted by only 11%, and a scant 7% have faith in the dependability of Congress. The author concludes that this alarming erosion of trust stems from the perception that these institutions prioritize political agendas over their core functions and consistently fail to deliver on their promises.

Practical Tips

• Engage in micro-volunteering for local branches of national institutions. Many organizations offer short-term or one-off volunteering opportunities that don't require a long-term commitment. By contributing even a small amount of your time, you can get a closer look at the inner workings of these institutions, which may either reinforce or challenge your level of trust in them.
• Implement a "fact-check Friday" where you take a claim made by a government official or agency from the past week and research its accuracy using non-partisan fact-checking websites. This habit not only keeps you informed but also helps you develop a more nuanced view of government trustworthiness based on evidence rather than perception.
• Create a feedback loop with local educators by drafting and submitting constructive feedback on your or your child's educational experience. This can be done through regular communication with teachers or participation in school board meetings, providing actionable suggestions that can help improve trust through transparency and collaboration.
• Start a personal blog or vlog to openly discuss your decision-making processes and values. This transparency can build trust among your audience by showing that you're willing to be open about your thoughts and actions. For instance, if you're a small business owner, share behind-the-scenes decisions about your products or services, explaining why you made certain choices and how they align with your values.
• Start a discussion group with friends or community members to talk about experiences with the judiciary. This allows for a collective exploration of personal stories and viewpoints, which can lead to a deeper understanding of why the trust level is as reported. You might discover commonalities in experiences that contribute to the trust percentage, such as the length of time it takes to resolve cases or the accessibility of legal assistance.
• You can enhance your understanding of news credibility by starting a news source rating journal where you track and rate the reliability of different news segments you watch over a month. Note down the name of the news program, the topic covered, any noticeable biases, and rate the trustworthiness on a scale of 1 to 10. This personal audit will help you become more aware of the quality of information you're receiving and identify patterns in news sources that consistently score high or low in your trust ratings.
• You can increase your understanding of congressional actions by tracking legislation relevant to your interests. Start by identifying a few issues you care about and use a free online service like Congress.gov to follow related bills and their progress. This will give you a clearer picture of how Congress works and may either reinforce or challenge your perception of its dependability.
• Engage in community forums to foster transparency and rebuild trust. Participate in or initiate local community discussions that focus on the role of institutions in society. Use these forums to advocate for a clear separation of core functions from political agendas, encouraging institutions to communicate their priorities and actions openly to the public.
• Develop a habit of direct communication to seek accountability. Whenever you encounter an unfulfilled promise from an institution, draft a concise, fact-based message to the relevant department or representative. Explain the...

Progressively Worse Summary The evolution of the Democratic Party away from its foundational working-class ties.

This part of the book examines Concha's key argument that there has been a notable shift in the Democratic Party, transitioning from its traditional support of laborers to primarily catering to urban elites and specific population groups. The author ascribes this shift to the disengagement of the voting population, particularly those in blue-collar occupations, who tend to favor the Republican Party despite having concerns about certain tactics employed by the party.

The party has redirected its attention towards urban professionals and diverse groups defined by their identity, distancing itself from its historical foundation of working-class support.

Concha contends that the Democratic Party has shifted its focus, now catering predominantly to affluent city dwellers and various groups defined by their distinct identities, rather than to the laboring populace. He critiques the party's environmental policies, emphasizing the contradiction of supporting costly sustainable energy projects while figures like Pete Buttigieg engage in environmentally harmful practices like flying on private jets.

Concha contends that the gap between the party's declared values and its actions,...

Progressively Worse Summary Imposing restrictions on free speech and the infiltration of partisan objectives.

The section under scrutiny explores Concha's perspective on the troubling trend of suppressing free discussion and incorporating progressive beliefs into the political sphere, primarily through educational institutions and corporate organizations. He argues that these establishments, once celebrated for promoting free discourse and capitalist principles, are now silencing right-leaning perspectives and molding societal discussions to align with the viewpoints endorsed by the Democratic Party.

In academic, corporate, and social circles, progressive ideas are frequently imposed, while dissenting perspectives are often silenced.

Concha illustrates how progressive ideology is increasingly imposed and dissent censored within American universities, corporations, and popular culture. The author emphasizes the rigorous enforcement of language policies on university campuses and the stifling of right-leaning perspectives in scholarly environments, along with businesses that prioritize "woke" endeavors over their core business activities, impacting both customers and shareholders.

Universities: Left-Wing Strongholds Where Conservative Speakers Are Often Silenced

Concha argues...