While I delighted in the "zing, gotcha!" quips - e.g., "Trump says he needs it for his 'dream' military. It sounds far more nightmarish than dreamy" - this is beyond sobering, approaching the existential. One-half the Federal discretionary budget. De rigeuer "tax reform," meaning the rich pay less and less, meaning the war budget gets piled on to already incomprehensible national debt, the interest payments alone on which will top over 40% of the Federal budget in twenty years (let's see, 50% for the Pentagon, >40% for those holding the debt, doesn't leave much for everything else). The pervasive culture of militarism in this society, e.g., you're not a patriot if you don't subscribe to the malarkey of "Thank you for your service." The dismissal of diplomacy to address conflict and issues seemingly of multinational interest, e.g. global warming. The unleashing of militaristic, death squad- and special ops-like ICE thugs in civil society. All these and more are warnings to "Hit the silk," if only we could.
McCain. Just couldn't understand the guy. Five years a prisoner of the North Vietnamese, and none of that experience rubbed off on him, no ingenuous examination of what he and this country were doing in that country. Mind boggling.
"no matter who you vote for, you’ll end up with another warhorse: another John McCain." As long as people sit at their computers doom scrolling being passive critics, we will continue to lose the space we do have to exercise civics to defend democracy. That's Ralph Nader's message. Bill, you would be better off cross posting Nader's Substack than posting this lazy self-fulfilling prophecy.
Yes, well, I like Ralph Nader, but even he would admit that he's failed to move the needle when it comes to our state of permanent war.
What is the answer? It isn't doom-scrolling, that's for sure. Or surrender. But we do need to see clearly where we're at. We need to put aside our illusions, one of them being that we still have a democracy to save.
The U.S. is an empire, a plutocracy, even a kleptocracy, and what is required is a major awakening, some kind of revolution, one that's unlikely to be "velvet."
Perhaps a massive protest movement, as Chris Hedges has suggested, could move that needle, but with militarized police forces suppressing it, we need to be prepared for bloody scenes and a lot of innocents killed -- which could lead to further crackdowns in the name of "law and order."
Our 250th birthday party this year could be an opportunity for reflection, for a reawakening of nobility and idealism, but I don't see it happening under Trump. Nor should we be surprised by this. If our government supports and enables a genocide in Gaza, if it kidnaps foreign leaders and threatens to seize Greenland from an ally, it's not exactly a democracy worth preserving and celebrating.
I'm interested in your ideas on how we "defend democracy." I know one thing: my blog isn't the answer.
We've not seen it yet, but I assume we'll soon see the arrival of 'patriots' individually and in groups to "support ICE" in Minneapolis and perhaps other cities. And I think we can assume Noem, Bovino, Miller, and Trump will thank them for their support.
Bill, you served at least 20 years; I did my five. But we both swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies (foreign and domestic) I never seriously understood what that oath meant until now.
I don't know what the answer is to preserve what's left of this bought-off republic as it collapses into one-person tyrannical rule, but even peaceful mass protests (general strikes as Chris Hedges writes) will not be without perhaps the 'last full measure'.
Minneapolis proves one thing. White people can finally see - what black people, Hispanics, native Americans, and other marginalized groups have - you can be killed just for being somewhere - even peacefully protesting.
If you read Nader, you would know that he knows we are a plutarchy...but he also knows there is still space for democracy. He has won more battles against corporatism that most begin to know....He does not just call for mass strikes but offers details on how to get them going....that's where the time and energy should be spent.
I'm taking this conversation as opportunity for two final quotes from Volker Ullrich's "Fateful Hours--The Collapse of the Weimar Republic," first published in English just last year. I finished reading the book last night and highly, highly recommend it. This will be a very long comment, but I think the parallels with current situation are striking. As he pressured Reich President Hindenburg to appoint him the new Chancellor in January 1933, Hitler "promised" he would abide by the constitution established after Kaiser Wilhelm's downfall after WW I. After he was indeed appointed, within a few months the Nazis demolished constitutional rule. A little more quickly than Trump has done here, but the latter's successes have been head-spinningly rapid as well. "The camarilla around Reich President Hindenburg that had lifted Hitler to power through their intrigue completely shared his goals of preventing a return to parliamentary democracy, eviscerating the Treaty of Versailles [which imposed the war reparations post-WW I--Greg], massively rearming, and making Germany the leading military power in Europe again. Hitler's conservative allies were inclined to DISMISS everything he said he intended to do as MERE RHETORIC. Once in office, they thought, he would behave reasonably." [My emphasis added.] --pg. 285. Under the pretext of a declared national emergency, the Weimar Constitution was officially rescinded in March 1933. Ullrich quotes the then French Ambassador to Germany: "[Hitler had] won the game with little effort. ... All he had to do was huff and puff--and the edifice of German politics collapsed like a house of cards." --pg. 292, final sentences in the book prior to an Afterword. We need only substitute "Trump" for "Hitler."
Yes.., be wary of any leader who spreads division! Any who espouse an us versus them mentality, and angst ridden as well... Real leaders build bridges and relationships, lift people up don't tear them down, and its not all about their own ego gratification. Trump & Hitler both suck be careful where you pledge your allegience!!
Hello Bill... DJT is slowly destroying the Status of the US$ as the World's Reserve Currency... If the US$ loses this status, the Nat-Sec Budget will be cut as it paid via the National Credit Card... As was once said, "All Empires Die Broke"... DJT is the World's Greatest Destroyer...
Ralph is very specific is showing us the space we still have -strategies he has modeled others have modeled...there is still space for civics but is being filled has been filled by anti-democratic forces and will continue to be filled until we fill the space that is still there and use it rather just be passive consumers- know it all's who sit in arrogance.
It takes inspiration- imagination-models of resistance that have worked. Most of all it takes work rather than being stuck in despair and myths about impotency that suit inaction...rationalizations to keep you stuck in despair. Genocide is not a reason to not exercise the freedoms that you actually have here and now.
There are people making a difference, Bill. Why don’t you attend to them? Because it is easier to sit back and criticize to attend to the easy negative headlines that make the news- to stay passive and sit in arrogance.
That's quite the accusation. You're certain that I'm not attending to people who are making a difference? That I prefer "to stay passive and sit in arrogance"? I'm not sure that was directed at me, but if it was, how do you know this?
Did you find this one article to be contemptible, or is all my writing and work that of a man who just sits in arrogance? It's OK with me if you dismiss what I'm doing, but it's hard to build a movement when those who likely agree with you and who want to work with you are cast aside as pretty much worthless.
I was not going to reply because I suggested to Bill before that he write less often-summerize the negative news less-research and be more like Nader, Bill McGibben-Matt Stroller...They are critical but zero in on key problems and offer good and bad news-examples of people winning the fight-Stroller focuses on concentrated wealth- our biggest problem and does research and tells me things I wouldn’t know otherwise. He tells of battles I had no clue were going on-who’s making inroads how they might make further inroads in the fight against monopolization oligarchs-technofascists-technofascism.
Bill McKibben does reach and has tons of news on fights being won-the world is going solar in spite of Trump. Going solar means decentralized power-more space for democracy-more freedom from Big Oil. He’s no Pollyanna, he makes it clear these are crucial years and activism is crucial. These authors are “this is what we can do about it-here’s what some are doing about it” oriented. They are too busy being activists and researching to just collect the headlines and put a cute and clever spin on it several days a week. They write weekly. They take the time and effort to carefully follow thoughts through.
Bill McKibben -- I've read his stuff at TomDispatch and respect his efforts to curb global warming. Ralph Nader -- I've listened to him a lot and remember teaching about his efforts as captured in "Unsafe At Any Speed." Matt Stoller I haven't read.
Myself? I've been writing since 2007 as well as working with EMN, the Global Network (for peace in space), and providing antiwar and anti-MIC testimony.
Some of my writings are long, detailed, and provide examples of what we can do to try to make things better.
And some of my writings, at this blog for example, are short pieces where I try to stimulate thought or just break through a mainstream bias.
I'm no Ralph Nader, that's for sure. And I'm no Bill McKibben. I just hope my writing and my efforts help to make the world a little bit better over time. It's not for me to say if I've succeeded; I will say the world is stubbornly resistant to peace, especially in the "exceptional" USA.
Nader has the genocidal death toll in Gaza closer to around 600,000-he stresses this every episode of his radio hour as the 90 thousand reported and even the two or three hundred thousand reported makes no sense in relation to the number of bombs dropped in such a small space. He does this while reporting on how we can make changes here to stop this. If enough people cared and pressed Congress, change would occur. But they don’t care enough for the work involved to use to make what space we have. We are too busy attending other things and we wonder why the space we once had for civics-democracy- shrinks.
Although we had several third party candidates in the last Presidential election who wanted to vastly decrease the military budget. Seems it's vastly a two-party problem.
By design. In most states, D's and R's get on the ballot automatically. Third party candidates have to get enough signatures to qualify so they have to spend money and time doing that. Tough to get your message out.
Yes, I understand that. Ralph Nader speaks often about the rigged process. But to advance in the D and R system, one must toe the line. Maybe Ilhan Omar is an exception. But Bernie changed his tune and supported Hillary, and then Biden. Same with AOC. This is why we need to educate the public.
Yep - absolutely. Every time I hear someone continuing to praise H. Clinton or Obama, I can only shake my head.
Never quite understood how they got to Sanders. One theme is that he wanted to maintain seniority with the Dems; the other is there was dirt on his wife, which would have led to her prosecution.
In general, I think they bribe you, then blackmail you, then threaten harm to family members.
Three C-17s flew out low and very loud over our house late last week - the dogs were startled (they typically do not react), after taking off from JBLM. The flight was already heading north as they did so - toward what I assumed to be over the pole to the Mideast. I read Larry Johnson's article that said open source intel and flight data showing dozens of flights into that region. An attack on Iran - and what follows - may be imminent.
Though carrier battles are not in the region - there are dozens of bases with thousands of U.S. personnel. Any war with Iran will mean many dead Americans - no matter what Hegseth tells Trump.
I wonder if the 'peace dividend' comes with a global economic depression from a blockaded Strait of Hormuz, burning oil facilities, and hyper-inflation to add to the funeral pyre of the dead.
Until Americans are yanked out of their state of consumer-driven, greedy state of exceptionalism, the U.S. will continue to circle the toilet. A blood-drenched conflagration with Iran - at genocidal Israel’s direction - might do it. We need to see body bags, flagged-draped coffins and a collapsed economy at home to pull it off.
It would be cataclysmic, tragic beyond belief, but who could blame Iran for defending its sovereignty. And it has the hardware to do it.
Hello Denise... Putin is plotting the Dissolution of NATO.... Miller plotting the dissolution of American Democracy, and the Evil Siths are counting their Money...
That's it, in a nutshell, Apache. I've been wondering, though, if the U.S. leaves NATO, does that automatically dissolve the organization? Everything I've read seems to indicate it does, but I don’t know why that would necessarily have to be.
Hello Denise.... Thanks... The Europeans would have to decide if they can Stand-Up for themselves... Some Remember that Russian Occupation is not Pleasant or Gentle... People are Adaptable....
I think the Europeans are already envisioning---and preparing for---life apart from the U.S. I think that's very intelligent of them, no matter what future politics here look like.
Hello TomR... According to CNN, the US Airbase in Qatar is being evacuated.... Ever see "Dr. Strangelove"?... Notice that Marco Rubio was anointed Viceroy of Venezuela, and now he is the anointed Presidente of Cuba.... Are we seeing DJT's Grandiose Delusions leading to a Global 'Charge of the Light Brigade'?...
the DNC is not in the slightest advocates of trimming the MIC. That's my biggest worry in our demcocratic republic system where "the duppoly" just can't shed any of its lust for constant wars: IMHO the war machinery is what keeps the american economy greased that along with the health industry. Both in need of reform.
President Donald Trump called on Iranians to continue protesting. Rights groups say at least 500 people have been killed since demonstrations began over two weeks ago.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers,” the President wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. “They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”
Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham have sported hats that say “Make Iran Great Again” (MIGA) in recent weeks.
Why don’t you just admit that the USA democracy/republic bit was a fraud from the beginning. The lofty words of Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence were nothing more than empty phrases as the finished Constitution showed. From then on the imperial road was entered and we see today how far it can go; most likely much further or till it falls into the abyss of annihilation.
I don't know about "fraud." Perhaps more "flawed." Imperfect. But we had a goal of forming "a more perfect union." Instead, those with power wanted more of it, aggravating flaws and creating new ones.
Certainly, the USA as it acts today is a fraud democracy. We the people have essentially no say.
A few years back a read about Alexander Humbold visiting Jefferson. The German/Prussian nobleman who was probably the first major European naturalist who travelled widely in the Americas. He visited Jefferson and pointed out to president Jefferson that there were no superior or inferior races (he seems to have agreed on that with Charles Darwin) as Jefferson argued and was clearly a contradiction of the wording in the Declaration where he wrote of “all men are created equal”, but then practiced chattel slavery and did declare blacks inferior. A few days ago I learned that American authors Fenimore Cooper and Herman Melville criticized US imperialism were scorned and boycotted because of their criticism. They publicly burned Cooper’s books. Melville was forced to get a regular job since nobody wanted to buy his books. Your term flawed hides the actual reality (ugliness or brutality) of the USA since its beginning. The American people and the world were given a Hollywood picture of America long before there was a Hollywood and Trump is its most recent iteration with MAGA propaganda.
Yes, there's plenty of bad in my country's past. What about Germany's past? Is it all ugliness and brutality as well? Or just goodness and light?
Are we not dealing with human nature and the corrupting nature of power? Look at various empires throughout history. The British. The French. The Spanish. The Roman. Germany, of course, has had three Reichs. Japan. And so on. Plenty of ugliness and brutality.
If we focus solely on the ugliness and brutality, we stare into an abyss that stares back at us, warping us.
There is light everywhere. Goodness is not a product of any one country. It is a quality of humans who recognize we can be something more than ugly and brutal.
Let's look toward the light--and let us not consign any one country to utter darkness.
While I delighted in the "zing, gotcha!" quips - e.g., "Trump says he needs it for his 'dream' military. It sounds far more nightmarish than dreamy" - this is beyond sobering, approaching the existential. One-half the Federal discretionary budget. De rigeuer "tax reform," meaning the rich pay less and less, meaning the war budget gets piled on to already incomprehensible national debt, the interest payments alone on which will top over 40% of the Federal budget in twenty years (let's see, 50% for the Pentagon, >40% for those holding the debt, doesn't leave much for everything else). The pervasive culture of militarism in this society, e.g., you're not a patriot if you don't subscribe to the malarkey of "Thank you for your service." The dismissal of diplomacy to address conflict and issues seemingly of multinational interest, e.g. global warming. The unleashing of militaristic, death squad- and special ops-like ICE thugs in civil society. All these and more are warnings to "Hit the silk," if only we could.
McCain. Just couldn't understand the guy. Five years a prisoner of the North Vietnamese, and none of that experience rubbed off on him, no ingenuous examination of what he and this country were doing in that country. Mind boggling.
"no matter who you vote for, you’ll end up with another warhorse: another John McCain." As long as people sit at their computers doom scrolling being passive critics, we will continue to lose the space we do have to exercise civics to defend democracy. That's Ralph Nader's message. Bill, you would be better off cross posting Nader's Substack than posting this lazy self-fulfilling prophecy.
Yes, well, I like Ralph Nader, but even he would admit that he's failed to move the needle when it comes to our state of permanent war.
What is the answer? It isn't doom-scrolling, that's for sure. Or surrender. But we do need to see clearly where we're at. We need to put aside our illusions, one of them being that we still have a democracy to save.
The U.S. is an empire, a plutocracy, even a kleptocracy, and what is required is a major awakening, some kind of revolution, one that's unlikely to be "velvet."
Perhaps a massive protest movement, as Chris Hedges has suggested, could move that needle, but with militarized police forces suppressing it, we need to be prepared for bloody scenes and a lot of innocents killed -- which could lead to further crackdowns in the name of "law and order."
Our 250th birthday party this year could be an opportunity for reflection, for a reawakening of nobility and idealism, but I don't see it happening under Trump. Nor should we be surprised by this. If our government supports and enables a genocide in Gaza, if it kidnaps foreign leaders and threatens to seize Greenland from an ally, it's not exactly a democracy worth preserving and celebrating.
I'm interested in your ideas on how we "defend democracy." I know one thing: my blog isn't the answer.
We've not seen it yet, but I assume we'll soon see the arrival of 'patriots' individually and in groups to "support ICE" in Minneapolis and perhaps other cities. And I think we can assume Noem, Bovino, Miller, and Trump will thank them for their support.
Bill, you served at least 20 years; I did my five. But we both swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies (foreign and domestic) I never seriously understood what that oath meant until now.
I don't know what the answer is to preserve what's left of this bought-off republic as it collapses into one-person tyrannical rule, but even peaceful mass protests (general strikes as Chris Hedges writes) will not be without perhaps the 'last full measure'.
Minneapolis proves one thing. White people can finally see - what black people, Hispanics, native Americans, and other marginalized groups have - you can be killed just for being somewhere - even peacefully protesting.
If you read Nader, you would know that he knows we are a plutarchy...but he also knows there is still space for democracy. He has won more battles against corporatism that most begin to know....He does not just call for mass strikes but offers details on how to get them going....that's where the time and energy should be spent.
I'm taking this conversation as opportunity for two final quotes from Volker Ullrich's "Fateful Hours--The Collapse of the Weimar Republic," first published in English just last year. I finished reading the book last night and highly, highly recommend it. This will be a very long comment, but I think the parallels with current situation are striking. As he pressured Reich President Hindenburg to appoint him the new Chancellor in January 1933, Hitler "promised" he would abide by the constitution established after Kaiser Wilhelm's downfall after WW I. After he was indeed appointed, within a few months the Nazis demolished constitutional rule. A little more quickly than Trump has done here, but the latter's successes have been head-spinningly rapid as well. "The camarilla around Reich President Hindenburg that had lifted Hitler to power through their intrigue completely shared his goals of preventing a return to parliamentary democracy, eviscerating the Treaty of Versailles [which imposed the war reparations post-WW I--Greg], massively rearming, and making Germany the leading military power in Europe again. Hitler's conservative allies were inclined to DISMISS everything he said he intended to do as MERE RHETORIC. Once in office, they thought, he would behave reasonably." [My emphasis added.] --pg. 285. Under the pretext of a declared national emergency, the Weimar Constitution was officially rescinded in March 1933. Ullrich quotes the then French Ambassador to Germany: "[Hitler had] won the game with little effort. ... All he had to do was huff and puff--and the edifice of German politics collapsed like a house of cards." --pg. 292, final sentences in the book prior to an Afterword. We need only substitute "Trump" for "Hitler."
Yes.., be wary of any leader who spreads division! Any who espouse an us versus them mentality, and angst ridden as well... Real leaders build bridges and relationships, lift people up don't tear them down, and its not all about their own ego gratification. Trump & Hitler both suck be careful where you pledge your allegience!!
Hello Bill... DJT is slowly destroying the Status of the US$ as the World's Reserve Currency... If the US$ loses this status, the Nat-Sec Budget will be cut as it paid via the National Credit Card... As was once said, "All Empires Die Broke"... DJT is the World's Greatest Destroyer...
Ralph is very specific is showing us the space we still have -strategies he has modeled others have modeled...there is still space for civics but is being filled has been filled by anti-democratic forces and will continue to be filled until we fill the space that is still there and use it rather just be passive consumers- know it all's who sit in arrogance.
It takes inspiration- imagination-models of resistance that have worked. Most of all it takes work rather than being stuck in despair and myths about impotency that suit inaction...rationalizations to keep you stuck in despair. Genocide is not a reason to not exercise the freedoms that you actually have here and now.
There are people making a difference, Bill. Why don’t you attend to them? Because it is easier to sit back and criticize to attend to the easy negative headlines that make the news- to stay passive and sit in arrogance.
That's quite the accusation. You're certain that I'm not attending to people who are making a difference? That I prefer "to stay passive and sit in arrogance"? I'm not sure that was directed at me, but if it was, how do you know this?
Did you find this one article to be contemptible, or is all my writing and work that of a man who just sits in arrogance? It's OK with me if you dismiss what I'm doing, but it's hard to build a movement when those who likely agree with you and who want to work with you are cast aside as pretty much worthless.
I was not going to reply because I suggested to Bill before that he write less often-summerize the negative news less-research and be more like Nader, Bill McGibben-Matt Stroller...They are critical but zero in on key problems and offer good and bad news-examples of people winning the fight-Stroller focuses on concentrated wealth- our biggest problem and does research and tells me things I wouldn’t know otherwise. He tells of battles I had no clue were going on-who’s making inroads how they might make further inroads in the fight against monopolization oligarchs-technofascists-technofascism.
Bill McKibben does reach and has tons of news on fights being won-the world is going solar in spite of Trump. Going solar means decentralized power-more space for democracy-more freedom from Big Oil. He’s no Pollyanna, he makes it clear these are crucial years and activism is crucial. These authors are “this is what we can do about it-here’s what some are doing about it” oriented. They are too busy being activists and researching to just collect the headlines and put a cute and clever spin on it several days a week. They write weekly. They take the time and effort to carefully follow thoughts through.
Bill McKibben -- I've read his stuff at TomDispatch and respect his efforts to curb global warming. Ralph Nader -- I've listened to him a lot and remember teaching about his efforts as captured in "Unsafe At Any Speed." Matt Stoller I haven't read.
Myself? I've been writing since 2007 as well as working with EMN, the Global Network (for peace in space), and providing antiwar and anti-MIC testimony.
Some of my writings are long, detailed, and provide examples of what we can do to try to make things better.
And some of my writings, at this blog for example, are short pieces where I try to stimulate thought or just break through a mainstream bias.
I'm no Ralph Nader, that's for sure. And I'm no Bill McKibben. I just hope my writing and my efforts help to make the world a little bit better over time. It's not for me to say if I've succeeded; I will say the world is stubbornly resistant to peace, especially in the "exceptional" USA.
Worth checking out Chris Hedges on "America, the Farewell Tour" here at Prose & Poetry Books https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeE5WnTUsF8 and in Common Dreams "Trump is the Symptom, Not the Disease" https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/05/15/trump-symptom-not-disease.
Nader has the genocidal death toll in Gaza closer to around 600,000-he stresses this every episode of his radio hour as the 90 thousand reported and even the two or three hundred thousand reported makes no sense in relation to the number of bombs dropped in such a small space. He does this while reporting on how we can make changes here to stop this. If enough people cared and pressed Congress, change would occur. But they don’t care enough for the work involved to use to make what space we have. We are too busy attending other things and we wonder why the space we once had for civics-democracy- shrinks.
“They were too busy attending to other things” reads the epitaph of Western civilization.
Although we had several third party candidates in the last Presidential election who wanted to vastly decrease the military budget. Seems it's vastly a two-party problem.
By design. In most states, D's and R's get on the ballot automatically. Third party candidates have to get enough signatures to qualify so they have to spend money and time doing that. Tough to get your message out.
Yes, I understand that. Ralph Nader speaks often about the rigged process. But to advance in the D and R system, one must toe the line. Maybe Ilhan Omar is an exception. But Bernie changed his tune and supported Hillary, and then Biden. Same with AOC. This is why we need to educate the public.
Yep - absolutely. Every time I hear someone continuing to praise H. Clinton or Obama, I can only shake my head.
Never quite understood how they got to Sanders. One theme is that he wanted to maintain seniority with the Dems; the other is there was dirt on his wife, which would have led to her prosecution.
In general, I think they bribe you, then blackmail you, then threaten harm to family members.
Excellent point, Tom.
Three C-17s flew out low and very loud over our house late last week - the dogs were startled (they typically do not react), after taking off from JBLM. The flight was already heading north as they did so - toward what I assumed to be over the pole to the Mideast. I read Larry Johnson's article that said open source intel and flight data showing dozens of flights into that region. An attack on Iran - and what follows - may be imminent.
Though carrier battles are not in the region - there are dozens of bases with thousands of U.S. personnel. Any war with Iran will mean many dead Americans - no matter what Hegseth tells Trump.
I wonder if the 'peace dividend' comes with a global economic depression from a blockaded Strait of Hormuz, burning oil facilities, and hyper-inflation to add to the funeral pyre of the dead.
Until Americans are yanked out of their state of consumer-driven, greedy state of exceptionalism, the U.S. will continue to circle the toilet. A blood-drenched conflagration with Iran - at genocidal Israel’s direction - might do it. We need to see body bags, flagged-draped coffins and a collapsed economy at home to pull it off.
It would be cataclysmic, tragic beyond belief, but who could blame Iran for defending its sovereignty. And it has the hardware to do it.
And unfortunately, those coffins will not be filled with the children of the elites - only those considered disposable.
The word from ancient Greece - hubris - describes this empire. And like Icarus, Trump will fly too close to the sun, and bring it all crashing down.
The creature in the Oval has been blathering about military strikes in Iran.... What are his handlers up to?
Hello Denise... Putin is plotting the Dissolution of NATO.... Miller plotting the dissolution of American Democracy, and the Evil Siths are counting their Money...
That's it, in a nutshell, Apache. I've been wondering, though, if the U.S. leaves NATO, does that automatically dissolve the organization? Everything I've read seems to indicate it does, but I don’t know why that would necessarily have to be.
Hello Denise.... Thanks... The Europeans would have to decide if they can Stand-Up for themselves... Some Remember that Russian Occupation is not Pleasant or Gentle... People are Adaptable....
I think the Europeans are already envisioning---and preparing for---life apart from the U.S. I think that's very intelligent of them, no matter what future politics here look like.
Hello TomR... According to CNN, the US Airbase in Qatar is being evacuated.... Ever see "Dr. Strangelove"?... Notice that Marco Rubio was anointed Viceroy of Venezuela, and now he is the anointed Presidente of Cuba.... Are we seeing DJT's Grandiose Delusions leading to a Global 'Charge of the Light Brigade'?...
Dr. Strangelove - another movie that couldn't be made today.
Rubio probably would settle for being Viceroy of Venezuela, though his grand design means being the same in Cuba.
the DNC is not in the slightest advocates of trimming the MIC. That's my biggest worry in our demcocratic republic system where "the duppoly" just can't shed any of its lust for constant wars: IMHO the war machinery is what keeps the american economy greased that along with the health industry. Both in need of reform.
And then there is this... :
President Donald Trump called on Iranians to continue protesting. Rights groups say at least 500 people have been killed since demonstrations began over two weeks ago.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers,” the President wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. “They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”
Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham have sported hats that say “Make Iran Great Again” (MIGA) in recent weeks.
Full article at https://libertarianinstitute.org/news/trump-tells-iranians-keep-protesting-help-is-on-its-way/ .
Why don’t you just admit that the USA democracy/republic bit was a fraud from the beginning. The lofty words of Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence were nothing more than empty phrases as the finished Constitution showed. From then on the imperial road was entered and we see today how far it can go; most likely much further or till it falls into the abyss of annihilation.
I don't know about "fraud." Perhaps more "flawed." Imperfect. But we had a goal of forming "a more perfect union." Instead, those with power wanted more of it, aggravating flaws and creating new ones.
Certainly, the USA as it acts today is a fraud democracy. We the people have essentially no say.
A few years back a read about Alexander Humbold visiting Jefferson. The German/Prussian nobleman who was probably the first major European naturalist who travelled widely in the Americas. He visited Jefferson and pointed out to president Jefferson that there were no superior or inferior races (he seems to have agreed on that with Charles Darwin) as Jefferson argued and was clearly a contradiction of the wording in the Declaration where he wrote of “all men are created equal”, but then practiced chattel slavery and did declare blacks inferior. A few days ago I learned that American authors Fenimore Cooper and Herman Melville criticized US imperialism were scorned and boycotted because of their criticism. They publicly burned Cooper’s books. Melville was forced to get a regular job since nobody wanted to buy his books. Your term flawed hides the actual reality (ugliness or brutality) of the USA since its beginning. The American people and the world were given a Hollywood picture of America long before there was a Hollywood and Trump is its most recent iteration with MAGA propaganda.
Yes, there's plenty of bad in my country's past. What about Germany's past? Is it all ugliness and brutality as well? Or just goodness and light?
Are we not dealing with human nature and the corrupting nature of power? Look at various empires throughout history. The British. The French. The Spanish. The Roman. Germany, of course, has had three Reichs. Japan. And so on. Plenty of ugliness and brutality.
If we focus solely on the ugliness and brutality, we stare into an abyss that stares back at us, warping us.
There is light everywhere. Goodness is not a product of any one country. It is a quality of humans who recognize we can be something more than ugly and brutal.
Let's look toward the light--and let us not consign any one country to utter darkness.