Maybe like living in the time of the emperor Honorius, with the Visigoths on the way, we are facing the end of the empire's days - hoping, praying, and writing for a different future that is no longer possible.
Our empire probably began at the end of the 19th century with the Spanish American War - certainly no later than when Wilson went looking for monsters and sent the AEF to WWI. Since then maybe our fate was sealed - just like every other empire in history.
Trump is just the first - likely not the last - of the grotesque and narcissistic mediocrities who seize control and position themselves as the 'sole leader' (only until deposed by another mediocrity).
I read this morning there are serious discussions to have his image added to Mount Rushmore. That Congress even considers it is a sign of how far down we have degenerated.
Perhaps South Park is our only remaining hope to alert the masses.
I didn't read about Republicans wanting to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House for Melania until you mentioned it. Trump doesn't do anything without personal gain in mind - I wonder what she has on him? (Ha!)
Will Rogers said (paraphrasing a bit) "Every time Congress makes a law it's a joke, and every time Congress makes a joke it becomes law." We are learning that with Trump, his most preposterous declarations cannot be dismissed as fantasies. Will he sign an Executive Order that his image be carved on Mt. Rushmore? Even if established law is that such matters must be left to those overseeing the National Parks and Monuments, remember that those now running the show must bow to The Donald's ego. And they were recently ordered to ferret out (for ultimate removal, no doubt) any signage, plaques, inscriptions, whatever, that are "derogatory of Americans." What does that mean? In Trump's head, only he and his "Christian"-Nationalist White Supremacist crowd are "real Americans." So any historical marker indicating "X number of Indians were massacred on this spot by ______ in 17__" would need to be removed. Likewise anything related to Harriet Tubman and other abolition activists, etc., etc. Because nothing bad ever happens in Fantasy America, the Shining City on the Hill. Congress? Most in the GOP would sign off on this absurdity, I dare say. But if necessary Trump wouldn't hesitate to bypass Congress.
When we visited Mt. Rushmore years ago, the tour guide mentioned that the face of mountain became destabilized, so there can be no further images chiseled into the rock. But perhaps tRump can find a way, given enough taxpayer billions.
No problem there! Trump can have geologists scour the Bad Lands (appropriate, no?) for a nearby stable rock formation he can claim all for his own!!! [Picture puking emoji here.] Hey, it would be the only thing "stable" about the guy!!
Hello TomR... The USA has been an Empire from its Beginning... The Indigenous Lands are called 'Subject Nations'... The Brotherton Indian Reservation in New Jersey was established in 1758... Once the Frontier was declared 'Closed' in 1890, the Powers-That-Be started looking Off-Shore from CONUS.... Reference the Acquisitions of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Cuba, Philippines, Guam, etc... As regards to Mt. Rushmore, I've read that the Rock-Face is unstable, and cannot support another Face...
This, and proposals for an 'international holiday' for his birthday and putting his fat face on the $100 bill, will go nowhere.
Forty years ago there was the Reagan memorial project where they basically wanted to rename everything in America after him. Except for an airport and a couple of post offices, it doesn't seem much came of that effort at hagiography
Hello Tom R... Imagine the Irony of that Rock Face collapsing faster then his Human Face... BTW: The 'Reagan-Memorial-Project' was instituted by those that wanted to invoke the 25th Amendment during his second term... The GOP has run out of Ideas after the Reagan Counter-Revolution...
I don't recall a widespread attempt to "name everything" for old Ronnie. But bear in mind Congress back than was packed with far fewer loonies than today, and Trump thus far just keeps "winning." Every "win" for him is a loss for us.
That AI report is spot on, recognizing you offer: "a sobering, historically grounded perspective"
on how the United States has increasingly come to view war not as a last resort, but as a first option.
I would say that's a very positive review. That's why, after all these years, I read everything you publish, Bill, even though I get 100+ email every day to read this or that.
The system has a million million reasons not to listen to me (and others like me). That, after all, is the "defense" budget, now at a trillion dollars and rising.
Unfortunately, Aunty Jean, the Warmongers haven't failed at all.
The MICIMATTT has never been doing so well in terms of Power and Wealth. And will continue to do very well when the Economy spirals into what has been termed "The Greater Depression."
Thank You for sharing that, Bill. Based on its overview of Your work and perspective, it would be interesting to ask ChatGPT exactly How IT would go about de-militarizing America. And Who it recommends to enable that to happen.
Another good question to ask it would be: ”How likely is an authoritarian, autocratic, plutocratic, oligarchic, patriarchal Dictatorship in America’s near future?” As in before its 250th Birthday of July 4, 2026; 341 days from today?
But let me ask You and all BVers the questions i'll pose:
1. What can be done and needs to happen to de-militarize America; and Who is going to do it and How? Anybody currently playing or considering playing in America's Reality TV Soap Opera called TRUMPLANDIA?
2. Do You think a Dictatorship is in America's near future? And if so, what, if anything, can be done to prevent that from happening? Or is it already too late to stop it from happening?
Plutocracy, dictatorship of a deranged power-mad idiot, the whole enchilada, baby. The plutocracy is hardly new, but the shredding of the Constitution is the big news out of Trump HQ. And so far the opposition is utterly incapable of curbing his gross abuses of Executive authority.
There are a couple of reasons Why that so-called "opposition" is incapable of reigning in Trump.
1. They did absolutely nothing to reign in Biden with his Proxy Wars on Russia in Ukraine and Iran in Palestine.; thus setting a precedent for Trump to build on.
2. They are assuming that whatever abuses of Executive authority Trump gets away with will be available to them when they get back in the White House [assuming there is an election in 2028; which assumes that the United States will still exist as a Nation State that still has elections.]
Points well taken. Virtually every then-Member of Congress signed off on the "Patriot Act" to curb our civil liberties. IMO it's really the hideous current SCOTUS that has stabbed the citizenry in the back repeatedly. Only very occasionally do they say "Naughty, naughty" to Trump's abuses. A Federal Judge has issued a nationwide injunction against certain deportation policies (at least I think that was the issue; hard to keep on top of events!). But this is precisely what SCOTUS shot down a little while ago, unless a suit is launched as a class action one. I predict this new ruling will not survive long. And in the name of "national security"--Trump keeps talking about "this horrible invasion"--SCOTUS will likely strike down the class action suit option as well.
Hello JG.... A useful 1st step is stop giving Israel a 'Blank Check'... That would stop Netanyahu's Wars fast... I'll conjecture that Israel would stop acting like a Rabid Dog among its Neighbors...
Israel IS America's Rabid Dog in the Middle East, Apache.
Ever since its creation in 1948, Israel is now and has ever been a Strategic and Tactical Forward Operational Base for the American Empire's military, economic, and political interests [as in domination] in that part of the world with all its fossil fuel and other natural resources; and its strategic and tactical geographic proximity to, first, the the USSR, and now Russia.
No POTUS has ever tried to really swim against the tide of mandatory support for Israel. Look where Jimmy Carter's efforts at resolving the situation in the Levant led. Things are far worse now than at time of the "Camp David Accords." Trump dares not disappoint his "Evangelical" supporters. That he acknowledged today that the starvation in Gaza is real (he didn't call it "fake news")--while Netanyahu denies it--should NOT be taken as encouraging. We're all going to be getting awfully old waiting for a POTUS to cut off support for the Zionist regime.
Hello Gregory... Eisenhower forced them to withdrawal from their '56 Suez War Gains... LBJ was of a mind to impose significant sanctions after the U.S.S. Liberty Attack, but he was talked out of it by his Jewish Advisors... Nixon was indifferent.. The USA Policy became lopsided after Kissinger, who was the Son of Holocaust Survivors, thru massive USA support during the '73 Yom Kipper War... Nixon was incapacitated at that time due to Watergate... Bill Clinton tried during his last days, but he was exiting... Obama gave a Speech... The Israel 1st Lobby is Deeply Embedded in DC...
But a mere eleven years after the "Suez Crisis," the US had helped Israel become a highly-armed technologically advanced state that positively humiliated the united Arab forces that opposed it, as they would again in 1973. All to serve the interests of Western Big Business. O-I-L. Gold and diamonds are nice, but the modern world absolutely cannot function without Black Gold. It's all about business ("The business of America is business"), has nothing to do with sympathy for European Jews post-Holocaust. Hell's bells, take a look at this young lawyer Paul Ingrassia, appointed by Trump to do "ethics investigations" (gee, surely The Donald has nothing to fear in that regard, ever) for Office of the Chief Counsel to POTUS. (I may have botched title of the office, but it's a key position in Fed. Gov't.) What is this guy's background? A far-right "Internet personality" (what else?) who has PROMOTED the spoutings of a HOLOCAUST DENIER. Yup, Trump and his ilk sure love and care about the safety of Jews, eh?
Thanks Gregory... The Israelis used mostly European Arms in the '67 War... British Chieftains, French Mirage Jets, etc... The '67 War was a Pre-Emptive Land Grab on Israel's part... On the Arab side it was a Kabuki Play, with Kabuki Results... The Attack on the Liberty ties into the Backstory.... '73 was an attempt to undo the results of the '67 War... It started better for the Arabs, but it ended badly for them... Net: the Arabs are not very Good at Modern Warfare... Look at the results of the Saudi's, and Emiratis in Yemen... The Results of the '67 War has laid the Genesis of Israel Wars today... DJT Loves Whoever Pays Him... That is called a Wh*e...
Thanks. I wasn't aware it was mostly European entities arming Israel back then, but of course--with sometimes glaring exception of DeGaulle--those guys dance to the tune the US calls. [Monsieur Macron's recognition of a Palestinian state the other day is highly interesting, but it won't curb Israeli-US war crimes.] Nasser of Egypt, with his dream of pan-Arab Socialism, was doubtless a prime target for the humiliation. I still remember seeing Nasser's funeral procession on US TV while I was in the Army. Biggest crowds I'd ever seen up to that time, lining every yard of the route. There hasn't been a leader like that in the Arab world (Egyptians aren't Arabs, precisely, but they're lumped into the scene) since.
I like the idea of an intervention for the USA. But there is no power on Earth that can shake our country by its Uncle Sam suit lapels and force it to "get its shit together." What would be required? Enter Klaatu and his ass-whupping robot Gort!! But alas, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is but Science FICTION. :-(
AI frightens me. Maybe I've read too many sci-fi novels, maybe I'm just a luddite, but I don't see any good coming from turning our creativity over to algorithims.
The Writing is on the Wall for the Netanyahu government, kept in Power by an Old Testament Jewish Religious Establishment.
'Israeli human rights groups are now publicly accusing their own government of committing genocide in Gaza'
Two Israeli rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel just accused their own government of genocide in Gaza. Their reports cite mass killings, starvation, forced displacement and the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system. They document statements from senior Israeli officials that show intent to dismantle Palestinian society. This is the first time Israeli organizations have made the charge. The taboo is broken.................................
America like Hulk Hogan R.I.P.., and his friend Donald J. Trump do need an Intervention.-- the Steroids whether literal as in the Hulkster, or "Symbolically" (1 Trillion dol. Defense Budget) as in the US Mil. Ind. Complex will no doubt harm more than help the bodies ie. flesh & blood & Legislative of both, and did!! Hulkamania & Amerikamania needs to end.
Maybe like living in the time of the emperor Honorius, with the Visigoths on the way, we are facing the end of the empire's days - hoping, praying, and writing for a different future that is no longer possible.
Our empire probably began at the end of the 19th century with the Spanish American War - certainly no later than when Wilson went looking for monsters and sent the AEF to WWI. Since then maybe our fate was sealed - just like every other empire in history.
Trump is just the first - likely not the last - of the grotesque and narcissistic mediocrities who seize control and position themselves as the 'sole leader' (only until deposed by another mediocrity).
I read this morning there are serious discussions to have his image added to Mount Rushmore. That Congress even considers it is a sign of how far down we have degenerated.
Perhaps South Park is our only remaining hope to alert the masses.
Trump on Mount Rushmore: Anything to "own the libs." With Melania as the name and face of the Kennedy Center Opera House.
We are both tragedy and farce.
I didn't read about Republicans wanting to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House for Melania until you mentioned it. Trump doesn't do anything without personal gain in mind - I wonder what she has on him? (Ha!)
And I wonder what he'll want renamed for Ivanka?
Will Rogers said (paraphrasing a bit) "Every time Congress makes a law it's a joke, and every time Congress makes a joke it becomes law." We are learning that with Trump, his most preposterous declarations cannot be dismissed as fantasies. Will he sign an Executive Order that his image be carved on Mt. Rushmore? Even if established law is that such matters must be left to those overseeing the National Parks and Monuments, remember that those now running the show must bow to The Donald's ego. And they were recently ordered to ferret out (for ultimate removal, no doubt) any signage, plaques, inscriptions, whatever, that are "derogatory of Americans." What does that mean? In Trump's head, only he and his "Christian"-Nationalist White Supremacist crowd are "real Americans." So any historical marker indicating "X number of Indians were massacred on this spot by ______ in 17__" would need to be removed. Likewise anything related to Harriet Tubman and other abolition activists, etc., etc. Because nothing bad ever happens in Fantasy America, the Shining City on the Hill. Congress? Most in the GOP would sign off on this absurdity, I dare say. But if necessary Trump wouldn't hesitate to bypass Congress.
When we visited Mt. Rushmore years ago, the tour guide mentioned that the face of mountain became destabilized, so there can be no further images chiseled into the rock. But perhaps tRump can find a way, given enough taxpayer billions.
No problem there! Trump can have geologists scour the Bad Lands (appropriate, no?) for a nearby stable rock formation he can claim all for his own!!! [Picture puking emoji here.] Hey, it would be the only thing "stable" about the guy!!
I remember when I camped in Badlands Nat'l Park & Teddy Roosevelt Nat'l Park-- it was loaded with Rattlesnakes!! He'll be in good Company...
No argument there, Greg!
As has been noted several times here on BV before, TomR:
The DECLINE of The American Empire has ended, and The FALL has begun. And with it the Experiment called "The United State of America."
Hello TomR... The USA has been an Empire from its Beginning... The Indigenous Lands are called 'Subject Nations'... The Brotherton Indian Reservation in New Jersey was established in 1758... Once the Frontier was declared 'Closed' in 1890, the Powers-That-Be started looking Off-Shore from CONUS.... Reference the Acquisitions of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Cuba, Philippines, Guam, etc... As regards to Mt. Rushmore, I've read that the Rock-Face is unstable, and cannot support another Face...
Unstable rock? The perfect location for Trump.
This, and proposals for an 'international holiday' for his birthday and putting his fat face on the $100 bill, will go nowhere.
Forty years ago there was the Reagan memorial project where they basically wanted to rename everything in America after him. Except for an airport and a couple of post offices, it doesn't seem much came of that effort at hagiography
Hello Tom R... Imagine the Irony of that Rock Face collapsing faster then his Human Face... BTW: The 'Reagan-Memorial-Project' was instituted by those that wanted to invoke the 25th Amendment during his second term... The GOP has run out of Ideas after the Reagan Counter-Revolution...
I don't recall a widespread attempt to "name everything" for old Ronnie. But bear in mind Congress back than was packed with far fewer loonies than today, and Trump thus far just keeps "winning." Every "win" for him is a loss for us.
That AI report is spot on, recognizing you offer: "a sobering, historically grounded perspective"
on how the United States has increasingly come to view war not as a last resort, but as a first option.
I would say that's a very positive review. That's why, after all these years, I read everything you publish, Bill, even though I get 100+ email every day to read this or that.
Thanks, Ray. The highest compliment you can pay an author is to read them.
You haven't failed, the warmongers have.
The system has a million million reasons not to listen to me (and others like me). That, after all, is the "defense" budget, now at a trillion dollars and rising.
Unfortunately, Aunty Jean, the Warmongers haven't failed at all.
The MICIMATTT has never been doing so well in terms of Power and Wealth. And will continue to do very well when the Economy spirals into what has been termed "The Greater Depression."
They failed morally, but that's par for the course.
Thank You for sharing that, Bill. Based on its overview of Your work and perspective, it would be interesting to ask ChatGPT exactly How IT would go about de-militarizing America. And Who it recommends to enable that to happen.
Another good question to ask it would be: ”How likely is an authoritarian, autocratic, plutocratic, oligarchic, patriarchal Dictatorship in America’s near future?” As in before its 250th Birthday of July 4, 2026; 341 days from today?
Jeff, you should ask! Go to ChatGPT.com and type in your question. If you don't want to create an account, let me know, and I'll try it.
Will do, Bill, and share the findings.
But let me ask You and all BVers the questions i'll pose:
1. What can be done and needs to happen to de-militarize America; and Who is going to do it and How? Anybody currently playing or considering playing in America's Reality TV Soap Opera called TRUMPLANDIA?
2. Do You think a Dictatorship is in America's near future? And if so, what, if anything, can be done to prevent that from happening? Or is it already too late to stop it from happening?
We're pretty much already "there," but I see that AI stuff is often not up to date!
We're already "there" as regards what: a Dictatorship?
Plutocracy, dictatorship of a deranged power-mad idiot, the whole enchilada, baby. The plutocracy is hardly new, but the shredding of the Constitution is the big news out of Trump HQ. And so far the opposition is utterly incapable of curbing his gross abuses of Executive authority.
There are a couple of reasons Why that so-called "opposition" is incapable of reigning in Trump.
1. They did absolutely nothing to reign in Biden with his Proxy Wars on Russia in Ukraine and Iran in Palestine.; thus setting a precedent for Trump to build on.
2. They are assuming that whatever abuses of Executive authority Trump gets away with will be available to them when they get back in the White House [assuming there is an election in 2028; which assumes that the United States will still exist as a Nation State that still has elections.]
Points well taken. Virtually every then-Member of Congress signed off on the "Patriot Act" to curb our civil liberties. IMO it's really the hideous current SCOTUS that has stabbed the citizenry in the back repeatedly. Only very occasionally do they say "Naughty, naughty" to Trump's abuses. A Federal Judge has issued a nationwide injunction against certain deportation policies (at least I think that was the issue; hard to keep on top of events!). But this is precisely what SCOTUS shot down a little while ago, unless a suit is launched as a class action one. I predict this new ruling will not survive long. And in the name of "national security"--Trump keeps talking about "this horrible invasion"--SCOTUS will likely strike down the class action suit option as well.
Hello JG.... A useful 1st step is stop giving Israel a 'Blank Check'... That would stop Netanyahu's Wars fast... I'll conjecture that Israel would stop acting like a Rabid Dog among its Neighbors...
Israel IS America's Rabid Dog in the Middle East, Apache.
Ever since its creation in 1948, Israel is now and has ever been a Strategic and Tactical Forward Operational Base for the American Empire's military, economic, and political interests [as in domination] in that part of the world with all its fossil fuel and other natural resources; and its strategic and tactical geographic proximity to, first, the the USSR, and now Russia.
No POTUS has ever tried to really swim against the tide of mandatory support for Israel. Look where Jimmy Carter's efforts at resolving the situation in the Levant led. Things are far worse now than at time of the "Camp David Accords." Trump dares not disappoint his "Evangelical" supporters. That he acknowledged today that the starvation in Gaza is real (he didn't call it "fake news")--while Netanyahu denies it--should NOT be taken as encouraging. We're all going to be getting awfully old waiting for a POTUS to cut off support for the Zionist regime.
Hello Gregory... Eisenhower forced them to withdrawal from their '56 Suez War Gains... LBJ was of a mind to impose significant sanctions after the U.S.S. Liberty Attack, but he was talked out of it by his Jewish Advisors... Nixon was indifferent.. The USA Policy became lopsided after Kissinger, who was the Son of Holocaust Survivors, thru massive USA support during the '73 Yom Kipper War... Nixon was incapacitated at that time due to Watergate... Bill Clinton tried during his last days, but he was exiting... Obama gave a Speech... The Israel 1st Lobby is Deeply Embedded in DC...
But a mere eleven years after the "Suez Crisis," the US had helped Israel become a highly-armed technologically advanced state that positively humiliated the united Arab forces that opposed it, as they would again in 1973. All to serve the interests of Western Big Business. O-I-L. Gold and diamonds are nice, but the modern world absolutely cannot function without Black Gold. It's all about business ("The business of America is business"), has nothing to do with sympathy for European Jews post-Holocaust. Hell's bells, take a look at this young lawyer Paul Ingrassia, appointed by Trump to do "ethics investigations" (gee, surely The Donald has nothing to fear in that regard, ever) for Office of the Chief Counsel to POTUS. (I may have botched title of the office, but it's a key position in Fed. Gov't.) What is this guy's background? A far-right "Internet personality" (what else?) who has PROMOTED the spoutings of a HOLOCAUST DENIER. Yup, Trump and his ilk sure love and care about the safety of Jews, eh?
Thanks Gregory... The Israelis used mostly European Arms in the '67 War... British Chieftains, French Mirage Jets, etc... The '67 War was a Pre-Emptive Land Grab on Israel's part... On the Arab side it was a Kabuki Play, with Kabuki Results... The Attack on the Liberty ties into the Backstory.... '73 was an attempt to undo the results of the '67 War... It started better for the Arabs, but it ended badly for them... Net: the Arabs are not very Good at Modern Warfare... Look at the results of the Saudi's, and Emiratis in Yemen... The Results of the '67 War has laid the Genesis of Israel Wars today... DJT Loves Whoever Pays Him... That is called a Wh*e...
Thanks. I wasn't aware it was mostly European entities arming Israel back then, but of course--with sometimes glaring exception of DeGaulle--those guys dance to the tune the US calls. [Monsieur Macron's recognition of a Palestinian state the other day is highly interesting, but it won't curb Israeli-US war crimes.] Nasser of Egypt, with his dream of pan-Arab Socialism, was doubtless a prime target for the humiliation. I still remember seeing Nasser's funeral procession on US TV while I was in the Army. Biggest crowds I'd ever seen up to that time, lining every yard of the route. There hasn't been a leader like that in the Arab world (Egyptians aren't Arabs, precisely, but they're lumped into the scene) since.
I like the idea of an intervention for the USA. But there is no power on Earth that can shake our country by its Uncle Sam suit lapels and force it to "get its shit together." What would be required? Enter Klaatu and his ass-whupping robot Gort!! But alas, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is but Science FICTION. :-(
Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen..!
AI frightens me. Maybe I've read too many sci-fi novels, maybe I'm just a luddite, but I don't see any good coming from turning our creativity over to algorithims.
The Writing is on the Wall for the Netanyahu government, kept in Power by an Old Testament Jewish Religious Establishment.
'Israeli human rights groups are now publicly accusing their own government of committing genocide in Gaza'
Two Israeli rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel just accused their own government of genocide in Gaza. Their reports cite mass killings, starvation, forced displacement and the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system. They document statements from senior Israeli officials that show intent to dismantle Palestinian society. This is the first time Israeli organizations have made the charge. The taboo is broken.................................
https://citizenwatchreport.com/israeli-human-rights-groups-are-now-publicly-accusing-their-own-government-of-committing-genocide-in-gaza/
It will be interesting to see what happens to B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel as a result of their condemnation of the Genocide, eh?
They'll probably bomb them claiming Hamas was operating out of their basements.
Heh, Good guess.
America like Hulk Hogan R.I.P.., and his friend Donald J. Trump do need an Intervention.-- the Steroids whether literal as in the Hulkster, or "Symbolically" (1 Trillion dol. Defense Budget) as in the US Mil. Ind. Complex will no doubt harm more than help the bodies ie. flesh & blood & Legislative of both, and did!! Hulkamania & Amerikamania needs to end.