An unforgivable sin in U.S. politics today is to advocate for peace and a non-imperial foreign policy based on diplomacy and restraint.
Harris and the Democrats are trying their best to outflank the Republicans on who can wield the most bellicose rhetoric--and who can be the most subservient to Israel.
Meanwhile, Trump's response is to accuse Harris of hating Israel and loving Marxism.
Stealing a line from Scrooge, forgive me if U.S. politics makes me want to retire to Bedlam.
And the hell of it, Bill, is that the American people are either buying into it wholesale, or are attempting to ignore it completely in the hope that it will go away.
They'll pay attention once Russia is pushed even further and suddenly they're drafted to fight over smoldering remains of some miniscule Baltic country.
You write..."But, if you want to advance America as a republic that leads "by the power of its example," one that focuses on national defense and defense alone, then "three cheers for the MIC" guarantees the death of that republic and the corruption of its moral authority as an exemplar of democracy.|"
Not only does this guarantee the death of the republic, but quite possibly the world as the need for the most "lethal military force" in the world only leads to everlasting fear of the US which does not encourage diplomacy and peaceful resolution.
Also...this brings to mind the famous "Cross of Iron" speech by Eisenhower detailing what the MIC deprives the common citizen of good schools, healthcare, housing, education and more.
If Harris wants the most lethal military, she dooms the inhabitants of her country to the loss of all of this and more.
One of the worst features of the U.S. over the last 30 years has been the diminishing role of diplomacy, and with it an understanding and respect for the cultures, history and languages of other nations. An inability to understand a different view of the world has led us to where we are today.
We are to the point that the State Department is no longer an advocate for talking to nations and finding peaceful solutions; it is little more than a junior partner to the DOD in advocating for "peace through fire superiority",
As you observe, Harris will not change the emphasis - and that would seem also to be true for Trump.
The same individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions that run and have run American Foreign Policy for a long, Long time, will continue to run it, regardless of who is selected to be the next POTUS.
i think Evolution has decided to leave it entirely up to Humans as to what happens to us as a Species, and to what happens to the rest of Life on the Planet.
Indeed, Bill, it is now irrefutable that America is a one party state. The US ruling party has 2 wings, one is called Republican and the other is called Democratic. The 2 wings have differences over some social, cultural and economic issues, but they are in virtual lock-step concerning war making policy, asserting US global hegemony, and maniacal support for the military-industrial complex. And they both whole-heartedly embrace neoliberalism and corporate rule, with one wing (the Republican) a bit more rabid than the other. The presidential election that takes place every 4 years gives the voters the choice of which wing will control the White House. Thus, the facade of "democracy" is maintained. It is hard to imagine that the vast majority of the American people would ever come to understand and accept that they have actually been living in a one party state, however. The indoctrination has been relentless, and the demonization of our adversaries as evil, one party dictatorships has been so totalizing.
I would be hard pressed to say which of our recent presidents (no point in wading through our entire history from which we clearly have learned nothing) drew “red lines” and then ignored them, or who at best, drew fuzzy lines easy crossed or ignored at will. Biden certainly would be very high on the list. Our military lethality is a badge of honor in an un-honorable and hubristic system. (By God, we’re the United States of America!) But any close look into the system at large would have to extend that lethality to so many more aspects of our economy and national policies.
The unholy doctrines of “bigger is better” and “might makes right,” rule our ethos in evermore blatant and destructive ways. I am taken to the words of our American peace prophet, Wendell Berry (yet again), “Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.”
Thank you sir, for the quote from Wendell Berry (a hero of mine) that I did not know and will be on my essential quotes list for helping to keep me sane....and hopeful.
It is a tragic mix-up when the United States spends $500,000 for every enemy soldier killed, and only $53 annually on the victims of poverty. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Big 10-4 on that, Dennis, which is what troubles me perhaps more than anything: both parties are clearly dedicated to foreign policy over domestic policies. As Starbuck said of the crew of The Pequod in Moby Dick, when I consider the "ship of state" I see "madmen beget more madmen," and no safe harbor in sight.
You commentary and that of many, many others seems to always fall on deaf ears in the political as well as public arena. Guess we be a war faring nation. Poor Tiny Tim(Palestine) and many other nations.
All of our "enemies" are only enemies because we made them enemies. Having huge oceans on both sides and Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, we are one of the most protected countries on earth. If all our "enemies" banned together, they could never militarily defeat our country, so where's the threat and why all the fear mongering?
It's long passed time we stopped making enemies and started making friends. It's not that hard to do if you respect other people's cultures and allow them to live in peace.
This Country just chooses to be disgraceful in its not caring for its own people, even tho. it is an extremely rich country, but forget about that we have Crusades to go on. We are useing money for the wrong stuff. ie. the MIC Oh well Gird your loins and get ready for the Star Wars...!
In Haaretz yesterday an article with this headline: Doug Emhoff (Harris' husband) Tells Jewish Democrats: Antisemitism Was a Massive Problem Before October 7. Now It's a Crisis.
In the article there wasn't a single thing to indicate what Israel is doing might have something to do with what he claims is antisemitism, but he did reference his family history in Poland of how there is no longer a synagogue in the town there, which is the mandatory reference to the holocaust that is always used to excuse anything Israel does. Nobody ever says two wrongs don't make a right.
Biden has said he is a Zionist. It looks like another one will be in the White House at Harris side in the near future so cheerleading for the MIC will indeed continue.
An unforgivable sin in U.S. politics today is to advocate for peace and a non-imperial foreign policy based on diplomacy and restraint.
Harris and the Democrats are trying their best to outflank the Republicans on who can wield the most bellicose rhetoric--and who can be the most subservient to Israel.
Meanwhile, Trump's response is to accuse Harris of hating Israel and loving Marxism.
Stealing a line from Scrooge, forgive me if U.S. politics makes me want to retire to Bedlam.
Or in my case, Cuenca Ecuador. :-)
And the hell of it, Bill, is that the American people are either buying into it wholesale, or are attempting to ignore it completely in the hope that it will go away.
Which it ain't.
They'll pay attention once Russia is pushed even further and suddenly they're drafted to fight over smoldering remains of some miniscule Baltic country.
You write..."But, if you want to advance America as a republic that leads "by the power of its example," one that focuses on national defense and defense alone, then "three cheers for the MIC" guarantees the death of that republic and the corruption of its moral authority as an exemplar of democracy.|"
Not only does this guarantee the death of the republic, but quite possibly the world as the need for the most "lethal military force" in the world only leads to everlasting fear of the US which does not encourage diplomacy and peaceful resolution.
Also...this brings to mind the famous "Cross of Iron" speech by Eisenhower detailing what the MIC deprives the common citizen of good schools, healthcare, housing, education and more.
If Harris wants the most lethal military, she dooms the inhabitants of her country to the loss of all of this and more.
One of the worst features of the U.S. over the last 30 years has been the diminishing role of diplomacy, and with it an understanding and respect for the cultures, history and languages of other nations. An inability to understand a different view of the world has led us to where we are today.
We are to the point that the State Department is no longer an advocate for talking to nations and finding peaceful solutions; it is little more than a junior partner to the DOD in advocating for "peace through fire superiority",
As you observe, Harris will not change the emphasis - and that would seem also to be true for Trump.
The same individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions that run and have run American Foreign Policy for a long, Long time, will continue to run it, regardless of who is selected to be the next POTUS.
Seems to be true throughout history - names and times change; the personalities are all the same.
Evolution isn't working quickly enough for the human species. :-)
i think Evolution has decided to leave it entirely up to Humans as to what happens to us as a Species, and to what happens to the rest of Life on the Planet.
It's all part of that Experiment.
Nope - and most of humanity to be relegated to irrelevance by AI machines, which will likely be as dysfunctional as us Mk 1 Mod 1 humans.
I have no doubts about the potential of AI to help humanity, but I have serious doubts about how humanity will handle AI.
Indeed it is. And of course, not just American History; but Human History.
Indeed, Bill, it is now irrefutable that America is a one party state. The US ruling party has 2 wings, one is called Republican and the other is called Democratic. The 2 wings have differences over some social, cultural and economic issues, but they are in virtual lock-step concerning war making policy, asserting US global hegemony, and maniacal support for the military-industrial complex. And they both whole-heartedly embrace neoliberalism and corporate rule, with one wing (the Republican) a bit more rabid than the other. The presidential election that takes place every 4 years gives the voters the choice of which wing will control the White House. Thus, the facade of "democracy" is maintained. It is hard to imagine that the vast majority of the American people would ever come to understand and accept that they have actually been living in a one party state, however. The indoctrination has been relentless, and the demonization of our adversaries as evil, one party dictatorships has been so totalizing.
The US ruling party has 2 wings, one is called Republican and the other is called Democratic."
It's like the AFC and NFC in the NFL.
Bill, your post reminds me of this great tweet from @Nodutdol | 노둣돌
https://x.com/nodutdol/status/1826980572926775309
Kamala Harris claims Kim Jong Un is “rooting for” Donald Trump. This is false.
Trump tried to claim KJU endorsed him. This was North Korea’s response:
“No matter what [party] takes office in the US the political climate does not change. We do not care.”
I would be hard pressed to say which of our recent presidents (no point in wading through our entire history from which we clearly have learned nothing) drew “red lines” and then ignored them, or who at best, drew fuzzy lines easy crossed or ignored at will. Biden certainly would be very high on the list. Our military lethality is a badge of honor in an un-honorable and hubristic system. (By God, we’re the United States of America!) But any close look into the system at large would have to extend that lethality to so many more aspects of our economy and national policies.
The unholy doctrines of “bigger is better” and “might makes right,” rule our ethos in evermore blatant and destructive ways. I am taken to the words of our American peace prophet, Wendell Berry (yet again), “Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.”
Thank you sir, for the quote from Wendell Berry (a hero of mine) that I did not know and will be on my essential quotes list for helping to keep me sane....and hopeful.
It is a tragic mix-up when the United States spends $500,000 for every enemy soldier killed, and only $53 annually on the victims of poverty. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Big 10-4 on that, Dennis, which is what troubles me perhaps more than anything: both parties are clearly dedicated to foreign policy over domestic policies. As Starbuck said of the crew of The Pequod in Moby Dick, when I consider the "ship of state" I see "madmen beget more madmen," and no safe harbor in sight.
Put aside the MIC phrase and ask yourself honestly what America can offer the world worth emulating.
That, Karl, is what is termed in the parlance as a "DFQ," or "Damn Fine Question."
And it is one that every American needs to start asking themselves, each other, and particularly, their so-called "leaders."
Americans, educated and uneducated, are living in an intellectual fog.
You commentary and that of many, many others seems to always fall on deaf ears in the political as well as public arena. Guess we be a war faring nation. Poor Tiny Tim(Palestine) and many other nations.
Well said, sir! 64 years and counting!
All of our "enemies" are only enemies because we made them enemies. Having huge oceans on both sides and Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, we are one of the most protected countries on earth. If all our "enemies" banned together, they could never militarily defeat our country, so where's the threat and why all the fear mongering?
It's long passed time we stopped making enemies and started making friends. It's not that hard to do if you respect other people's cultures and allow them to live in peace.
This Country just chooses to be disgraceful in its not caring for its own people, even tho. it is an extremely rich country, but forget about that we have Crusades to go on. We are useing money for the wrong stuff. ie. the MIC Oh well Gird your loins and get ready for the Star Wars...!
Good article as usual, Bill, which I will be linking today @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
Eric Zuesse also had a similar article today that I will be linking as well: "Kamala Harris’s jingoistic neocon acceptance speech" - https://ericzuesse.substack.com/p/kamala-harriss-jingoistic-neocon
Thank your wife for teaching me a new word: febrile.
To be a true patriot now means not voting.
Here it is in two minutes and seven seconds . . . https://vimeo.com/935438280
The only way to stop the continuing crimes against humanity is to unite and oppose. Here is a strategy for doing that . . . https://warismakinguspoor.com/a-nation-at-peace/
Regarding Israel...
In Haaretz yesterday an article with this headline: Doug Emhoff (Harris' husband) Tells Jewish Democrats: Antisemitism Was a Massive Problem Before October 7. Now It's a Crisis.
In the article there wasn't a single thing to indicate what Israel is doing might have something to do with what he claims is antisemitism, but he did reference his family history in Poland of how there is no longer a synagogue in the town there, which is the mandatory reference to the holocaust that is always used to excuse anything Israel does. Nobody ever says two wrongs don't make a right.
Biden has said he is a Zionist. It looks like another one will be in the White House at Harris side in the near future so cheerleading for the MIC will indeed continue.
Good article as usual, Bill which I will be linking today @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
Eric Zuesse also had a similar article today that I will be linking as well: "Kamala Harris’s jingoistic neocon acceptance speech" - https://ericzuesse.substack.com/p/kamala-harriss-jingoistic-neocon