During the nadir of the Cold War, there was, at least, the knowledge that the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (a term I learned when I was probably 6 or 7 years old) kept the dogs of war at bay. Only a true madman would take the first step in a conflict that would turn most of civilizaton into a big glass parking lot.

Fast forward almost 20 years later. The nightmares are gone, but I can't open the paper or watch the evening news without feeling the familiar cold feeling of terror creeping up on me. The Janus-like balance of global security is gone. The lone superpower is now freely stating its imperial agenda and no international law or military force can stop it. Its leaders are exhbiting the kind of bloodlust normally associated with such power-mad monsters of history as Stalin or Genghis Khan.

I'm scared.

I am also torn. On one hand, I harbour some hopeful optimism that these are the last thrashings of a dying beast, grown fat on oil and the sweat and blood of the rest of the world, but now bloated and desperatly trying to grab what it can before it collapses under the weight of its own corruption. On the other, though, I am afraid that we are living in the early stages of a global empire whose ambitions, long tacet, are now on display for all to see. I see words that were concieved as expressions of the highest ideals of mankind-truth, justice, freedom- cheapened and abused by rich men who mouth them as platitutdes, but deal in lies, miserey, greed, and hypocrsicy.

But remember that the thugs in power do not necessarily speak for a majority of Americans. Recall that approximately 52% of voters did not vote for Bush in 2000. And many of the people who support his foreign policy do so out of reflex, and don't really understand what's going on. Maybe I'm being naive, but I'm hopeful that eventually the people will see the truth. That the thugs will go too far and even the media whores will be forced to say that the jig is up. That the people will come to realize that the emperor has no clothes. I saw it happen with Nixon and George I; maybe it will happen with George II.

If not, I may join you behind that couch.

[ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: josh ]

It is a scary thought that I have to rely on the awakening of a people who watch reality TV shows showing actual arrests of people. I have always loved the duplicity of no alien being allowed to donate money to American politicians and then those same politicians demanding that other peoples change their governments.

I like the campaign finance reform bill they passed - the one that was supposed to ban 'soft money'. Instead of an outright ban, now politicians are are only banned from ASKING for soft money contributions. They can still accept them, and even SUGGEST- but not ask for- these kind of contributions.

You're right public financing is important. But unfortunately that's a long-term goal.

But good God why can't there be one Democratic leader who will throw away the polls and the political and media advisors and take a principled stand. Say that Bush's whole plan since 9-11 has been to exploit the situation for political benefit. That he's destroying many of the country's freedoms. And that he's a fraud who made his money through inside connections.

I long since gave up being loquacious in my criticisms of the United States and its leaders and a goodish segment of its population. You can only hollar that some damn stupid people are running this planet for so long before it doesn't even get to be funny anymore.

You don't suppose the Bushites will make a claim that the descendants of the United Empire Loyalists are really Americans, and that they belong in the Greater USA - the way Sudeten Germans were brought into Greater Germany - do you?

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You can only hollar that some damn stupid people are running this planet for so long before it doesn't even get to be funny anymore.

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Honestly, Arch.

[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: skdadl ]

I am also very happy that there are many countries rebelling against the USA's War on Terrorism. Also, I had the chance to live in 3 countries in my 19 years of life, (Canada(Born here) USA(During High School years) and Belgium(On an Exchange Program), and I saw 3 different points of view from them.

Canada - We have our "National" news and support, but we are also looking out into the World at other issues, not just the ones that will be on the Front Page of "The New York Times."

USA - They were more into their own stuff going on, like with the Politics going on in the country, National Team Sports, and just OVERKILL of "BIG TIME" Topics in the Nation ONLY. Living in the West coast for 2.5 years there, I rarly heard news (unless like Electric Problems in California, or local news) about the West Coast States. And that bothered me for a country who is united like that. So if they can't find out info like that and report "less" important things, but important non the less.

Belgium - Ok, I don't know if many people know where this country is, I before going on this Exchange Program didn't even know it existed. And that is a problem with North American Countries (Especially in USA and Canada) But when I was there, I found out that they care about (a) Their local news (b) Forgein News (c)Everything in the World and in Europe. Sure you could say "Belgium is part of the European Union, and that would mean they have to, but just being in Europe made you realize that there is more to the world than just Canada and USA. Unfortunatly we in North America Don't Care much about What is going on in the World, unless it Hits us Directly. I got an example of how much they care about news in the World. I cliped out an article like in April or something that said that G.Bush2 wanted to make Schools Seperate from Boys and Girls. Do you think you would see something like that in a USA newspaper? Especially this clip, being a Local paper, do you think it would be in a Local paper in North America? Maybe 1:10000 ?

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"The important thing is not to stop questioning."

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I meditate on that line frequently, and hope people will sooner or later get fed up, as they did with Nixon, and let GWB carry his ass home inna bucket.

I liked Flowers By Irene's post on the other thread about the break-up of the US empire, and think that is the best hope for us now.

[ September 19, 2002: Message edited by: SuperGimp ]

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I am not sure why (have read numerous theories) --but there is a huge hate-the-government streak in America that stretches back to the old west and the civil war.

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And well before that. Gary Wills has written a superb book on this topic, which exists in paperback, too. It is called "A Necessary Evil", and I highly recommend it.

I'm also a newbie and this is my first post. So I'll feel priviledged and you can feel priviledged and then we'll both feel priviledged.