tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post4370283226123058419..comments2024-03-19T11:28:58.168-04:00Comments on History Unfolding: A peaceful crisis?David Kaiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020082243968071584noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-86636893601266064692008-02-29T17:01:00.000-05:002008-02-29T17:01:00.000-05:00Sir,The emails that say Obama won't say the Pledge...Sir,<BR/><BR/>The emails that say Obama won't say the Pledge, or that he is (or even was) a Muslim, or that he won't wear an American flag lapel pin have probably reached millions already. <BR/><BR/>The Obama campaign has basically ignored it.JoshSNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034864979736555692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-2134671444838390362008-02-26T19:31:00.000-05:002008-02-26T19:31:00.000-05:00Marx was apparently correct when he said that when...Marx was apparently correct when he said that when history repeats, it is often farce.<BR/><BR/>The feeble fascist regime of the Bush Administration – I mean “fascist” in the classic sense, as when, in most desperate times, the most reactionary section of capital takes control of the state to ensure its own ends; in this case, it was the US-based oil industry – was farcical in its brutal ineptness. Yet, for the American electorate – not to mention the world’s people, especially those in Iraq – it has been a costly lesson, in terms of money borrowed, good will squandered and lives sacrificed. If Americans go with Obama rather than McCain, we will be making a strong statement that we are now inoculated against the fascist impulse.<BR/><BR/>That said, after the neocon debacle, the jihadist terrorists are now emboldened. Their assault will continue until an aggressive, proactive, global program is implemented to undermine and divert their popular base. Does anyone see a plan for that?<BR/><BR/>The one thing that is qualitatively different in this fourth turning from those of the Great Depression and the Civil War is the near universal alignment of national saecula worldwide. That is a consequence of the imperialist era (circa 1870 – 1975) during which the rivalry and warfare among imperial powers (as well as their increasingly interactive economic depressions) gradually but steadily forged aligned national saecula, especially in the US, Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, China, Latin America and the republics of the former USSR. <BR/><BR/>This alignment does not only mean that that the saecula are (will be) mutually reinforcing, it means that they are, in the main, one global saeculum, the product of global integration that was initiated by imperialism and has flourished, liberated, in the 20 years since the end of the Cold War.<BR/><BR/>The question for Obama, as well as any other would-be Global Grey Champion, is can he find a way to make progress in addressing the actual problems of the long-simmering global crisis, first brought into global consciousness by 9/11. He has the advantage of being the elected leader of the most powerful state in the world, but, unfortunately, this is the era of declining power for nations and states.<BR/><BR/>The trick will be to find a way to tap the resources of the global economy to accelerate economic and social development at the local level, especially in underdeveloped areas of the world. The power structures of nation states and the UN (their federation) – and the US state, in particular – are old school, contradictory to the kinds of power structures necessary to most effectively solve problems along the global-local nexus in the era ahead.<BR/><BR/>If Obama can find a way to align the US government with the creation of these new kinds of power structures, he can reduce pressure on US taxpayers, enhance American prestige in the world and put real pressure on the world banking system to come forward with concrete action to address world problems. Specifically, the banking industry should be required to (1) establish a credit line for every adult worldwide (universal micro-lending); (2) establish a capital homesteading investment program to democratize corporate capital, foster global savings and ensure old-age personal security for everyone, worldwide (universal social security); (3) collect a small fee on every electronic commercial transaction worldwide to catalyze corporate-NGO, local-global problem solving partnerships (universal Tobin tax); and (4) create a means for popular oversight of these programs.<BR/><BR/>Under this kind of an agenda, the sacrifice of young adults – rather than as cannon fodder in war – really can be non-violent, peaceful and successful. It will involve the personal sacrifice of restraining global population growth (universal one child ethic) and the collective sacrifice of giving some years of subsistence level service in the local-global common interest (in exchange for education at public expense).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-64554503674965310692008-02-24T10:27:00.000-05:002008-02-24T10:27:00.000-05:00We are, however, facing economic meltdown.We are, however, facing economic meltdown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-69667199384047307492008-02-24T01:05:00.000-05:002008-02-24T01:05:00.000-05:00Very nice articleVery nice articleCochiseandSpurLethrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10628578138390246512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-51904774943661829222008-02-23T09:35:00.000-05:002008-02-23T09:35:00.000-05:00On a lighter note, there's a wonderful new Obama m...On a lighter note, there's a wonderful new Obama meme at http://obamawill.com Very funny!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com