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February 12 2008
All of the media coverage of the current American political primaries is focused on the candidates, but it ignores a larger question. Will just a change in government be enough to allow America to recover from its present malaise or are we seeing the twilight of the United States?
If I were writing this back in 1908 instead of 2008, the most powerful political entity on Earth would have been the British Empire. The British controlled or at least influenced events all around the globe and Britain was the world's greatest military power. If I had told somebody in 1908 that the British Empire would be gone within fifty years, I'd have been called a lunatic. Today, anyone who predicts the disolution of the American Empire is also regarded as crazy, yet we see it happening around us.
Back in 1945, the United States was in a position that was unique in history. America was the world's only nuclear power. It's economy was booming at a time when many other nations had been bombed flat by the Second World War. The United States was helping to rebuild Europe and Japan through the Marshall Plan. Because it had tipped the balance in the war against fascism, America was seen around the world as a bastion of democracy and human rights. It was the "shining city on the hill" towards which immigrants gravitated to seek a better life.
Flash forward sixty-five years and the picture is startlingly different. America invades other countries at will to further her political interests. The United States Military bombs civilians and tortures prisoners. America does its best to prevent progress in fighting global climate change and refuses to cooperate in setting up an international war crimes tribunal. The country that once fought to defeat fascists is now itself regarded internationally as a rogue state. The once prosperous America now has the largest national debt in its history and the gap between rich and poor has become a chasm.
None of this means that the United States does not face real threats, that America is the only country to commit atrocities or is the only nation to have social inequality. The differnce is that the world expects better of America because we remember her former greatness.
Tens of millions of Americans grieve over what has happened to their nation and to its image abroad. They've been working hard for years to turn things around and they hope that this election will be a tipping point. No matter who wins the Presidency, he or she will need to wind down the foreign wars, slash military spending, mend political fences with other countries and initiate domestic programs on the scale of The New Deal of the 1930s. Doing all of this will be enormously difficult, particularly when there will be powerful vested interests who will not want to see change.
Any readers who interpret this post as an anti-American rant will miss the point. There are many of us outside the United States who want America to succeed. We want her to get control of the national debt, extract herself from the quagmire of foreign wars, heal her internal economic divide and repair her international reputation. All countries will benefit if the United States regains her rightful position of influence, not as a conqueror but as one of the leaders moving the world toward a better future.
What do you think? Can the United States return to its former greatness or is the sun setting on America?
George
P.S. Visit my website at www.checkmatefiction.com
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Posted by gjcondon on 2008-02-12 14:19:50 | Rating: | Views: 116
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I see your point- but disagree on a few of your ideas. America is still great- maybe not as strong as in the past- but great.
a new New Deal- hugely increasing the size of the government and creating a welfare state- would quicken our demise, not improve things
yes- there is a divide between rich and poor (and i am on the poorer end)- but there is everywhere and always will be- but lets look at the fact that even people who live below the american poverty line live in complete luxury compared to most of the world- they own homes with heat and air conditioning, they own tv's and new cars
the national debt- is not as big a problem as people like to make it out to be- but needs to be worked on- the only way to truly improve it is to cut government spending
as for the international issues- i for one really don't care how forein countries view us- as long as we are doing what is right- freeing millions of iraqies from torture and oppression is as right as it gets- sorry if that offends you
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Posted by thefranchise
on 2008-02-12 14:59:45
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I KNOW we will make it all the way back and higher for one reason, greed. Someone will figure out a new way to make money and start new buisnesses here. Also, no large buisness will allow this country fall. The British Empire was built on all that old tradition, Lords and Earls and such..it made it unweilding...great part about being a younger country is that we have none of that. Yes we have the rich and powerful, but in 1980 Bill Gates was a schlub in a garage, now he is richer than all those old families, that keeps us flexible
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Posted by whiteknight
on 2008-02-13 12:04:29
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thefranchise and whiteknight
Thanks for the comments. You've both made some interesting points.
George
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Posted by gjcondon
on 2008-02-13 17:42:26
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