In addition to the blatant corruption of the Ford cabal, my other ongoing obsession is with all that Donald Trump represents for a rapidly-declining Amerika.
Here, John Kelly, his former chief of staff, confirms things we already know about the morally-diseased wannabe dictator who, by the way, recently opined that shoplifters should be shot.
Were it not for the global influence of Amerika, I would happily sit by as it destroys itself. But that's not the way things work, eh?
No, it's not the way things work! The democratic world needs a functioning America, but, sadly it looks as if, with the cold perspective of distance, historians will conclude that American exceptionalism, adherence to democracy and moral strength were all just the tag lines of a massive Madison and Madison Avenue marketing campaign from a power isolated by oceans from the world's troubles. Still thriving European democracies were catastrophically reduced to rumble and lost hundreds of thousands in the World Wars while, in the end, America was brought to the canvas by 19 dudes with box cutters.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not. The democratic world needs a functioning America, but, sadly it looks as if, with the cold perspective of distance, historians will conclude that American exceptionalism, adherence to democracy and moral strength were all just the tag lines of a massive Madison and Madison Avenue marketing campaign in a power isolated by oceans from the world's troubles. Still thriving European democracies were catastrophically reduced to rumble and lost hundreds of thousands in the World Wars while, in the end, America was brought to the canvas by 19 dudes with box cutters.
ReplyDeleteA chilling but perhaps realistic scenario for what is to come, Brian..
DeleteI am not necessarily saying it IS to come, Lorne. But it sure looks like this is where it is heading at this stage with 40 percent of their populace supporting autocrats globally and at home. Neoliberalism and deindustrialization are also significant factors in what has felled them.... atrocities committed by both centrist Dems and Repugs. That said they can pull themselves out if it and continue to lead. We shall see. If they do, it will be their greatest achievement, IMO, even over their massive innovation, winning contribution to the world wars, and putting a human in the moon. Keep up the good work, Lorne. Much appreciated here.
DeleteThank you, Brian. One would like to see people and nations achieve their full potential, but there seems to be something in our species that takes us through a number of stages until we reach the late stage. History shows this to be true, and I guess that speaks to our failure to achieve our full potential.
DeleteIndeed, Lorne. We see this impulse at the individual level as well, one I am guilty of a number of times over as a person, I admit. The impulse is, "got to reach Rock bottom to recognize the need for progress."
DeleteThe sketchy Vegas referee is at 6 in the standing 8 count. We will see if America can stand up and meet the ideals of it's world inspiring rhetoric.
Time will ultimately reveal all, Brian. Looking at the current mess that promises to get even worse (Jim Jordan possibly replacing McCarthy?), I remain very pessimistic.
DeleteI think we are witnessing both capitalism and western! democracy destroying itself.
ReplyDeleteAs communism has already destroyed itself the time has come to look outside of the box and find some new guidelines on how to conduct our lives..
We should not and cannot continue to run our lives on the old right vs left, up vs down mentality.
RIght vs wrong will be a hard sell!
TB
You're right, TB. The need is great for a new model. However, the majority seem to want only stark choices, absolutes that appeal to simpler mentalities. Good vs. Evil, Commie Vs. Capitalists, etc.
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