tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post9038330502600914279..comments2024-03-19T11:28:58.168-04:00Comments on History Unfolding: The U.S. and the Middle EastDavid Kaiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020082243968071584noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-9307583124719930032011-04-03T08:48:38.057-04:002011-04-03T08:48:38.057-04:00These are cogent thoughts, albeit depressing ones....These are cogent thoughts, albeit depressing ones. It seems Secretary Gates is right, that the US cannot afford to "police the world", as we are stretched too thin now in Iraq and Afghanistan. The national mood and our $Trillions of debt preclude a return of the draft.<br />The conservative right has appropriated "American exceptionalism" as its latest ideological thrust to destroy remaining New Deal safety nets, driving us apart from European "welfare states", and securing the grip of the financial elite over our "democracy". Their attacks on collective bargaining and Obamacare and Obama's character are just the beginning.<br />If the financial system collapses again, and massive inflation occurs, as many predict, the US could devolve into riots, militia actions and marshall law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-78932245898645457812011-04-02T22:09:44.087-04:002011-04-02T22:09:44.087-04:00Professor:
Great short essay.
I do not expect su...Professor:<br /><br />Great short essay.<br /><br />I do not expect such a thing from an American President in the future, either.<br /><br />The Presidency has long now been so accustomed to using trade and commerce for foreign policy objectives (using all cabinet posts, really); the bipartisan willingness to deceive the average American regarding this aspect of federal governance has been so universal; <br /><br />that one must hope for some greater reform of our system <br /><br />(yet this is only one aspect of reforms in the direction of economic nationalism that have long been needed, for mere political survival), <br /><br />some day, to reduce the risks of such a course as has heretofore been followed, <br /><br />and, unfortunately, not just in the Middle East.<br /><br />All the best,<br />GMBozonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18078858723231122013noreply@blogger.com