Inaugural post
This is my initial post, adapated from a comment on Gilliard's blog, maybe to be followed by others as I am moved to create a more or less public record of my thoughts:
America's record on "no strings" foreign aid is indeed abominable. As a per capita figure it is way down the list. I think its Norway that's on top by a wide margin. Of course this doesn't prove much, except, Americans are fond of seeing themselves as a hugely generous people who bail out the rest of the world. No indeedy. With the exception of Israel, and Egypt, no one gets a whole lot of US bucks. And, dare we say, many millions of US citizens think that's just fine -- foreign aid is always a hard sell in Congress.
As far as our vaunted political system, I'm one of those who says its broke. Look at the mess we are in; socially, heath care and health insurance wise, militarily, economic fairness and distribution, economic debt; you name it. If our system was so damn fine, this should not tbe the case.
And while Kerry may get elected, and maybe even a shift in balance in Congress, this will not solve fundamental problems as both parties, internet fundraising notwithwtanding, are beholden to a failing system owned by corporate interests. Sure, its a polarized system right now, reflecting a multi-polarized society, but as this polarity is played out through the two parties, it comes out "shit" for government. And to complete my rhetorical circle, is it even a system so much as a mirage managed by propaganda, enabled by insipid news media, and abetted by a recumbant body politic?
As George Wallace had it right when he ran for President "there's not a dimes worth of difference between the two parties". Still true today? George Bush may be an aberration -- I liked to think of the framing of the 2000 election as the last gasp of reactionary 20th century politics . . . until they won. And the best the Dems can counter Bush with is to lay low and basically "me too" the America uber alles approach. Call it tactical, but its sickening.
So to come around to a point in reflecting on the idea of America as the "leader" of the world (if perception is reality, shall we instead say "bully".) I've been overseas a few times in the past few years. There is still a great reservoir of good will towards (the memory of?) what America used to represent. I wouldn't be surprised if that good will is being stretched mighty thin these days and the sins of the father (Dear Leader and cohorts) may indeed be visited on the son.
Agreed: Bush and handlers have totally betrayed their trust. And,if this is such a great system, how did we let this happen? Or rather, how did things get out of hand so fast?
America's record on "no strings" foreign aid is indeed abominable. As a per capita figure it is way down the list. I think its Norway that's on top by a wide margin. Of course this doesn't prove much, except, Americans are fond of seeing themselves as a hugely generous people who bail out the rest of the world. No indeedy. With the exception of Israel, and Egypt, no one gets a whole lot of US bucks. And, dare we say, many millions of US citizens think that's just fine -- foreign aid is always a hard sell in Congress.
As far as our vaunted political system, I'm one of those who says its broke. Look at the mess we are in; socially, heath care and health insurance wise, militarily, economic fairness and distribution, economic debt; you name it. If our system was so damn fine, this should not tbe the case.
And while Kerry may get elected, and maybe even a shift in balance in Congress, this will not solve fundamental problems as both parties, internet fundraising notwithwtanding, are beholden to a failing system owned by corporate interests. Sure, its a polarized system right now, reflecting a multi-polarized society, but as this polarity is played out through the two parties, it comes out "shit" for government. And to complete my rhetorical circle, is it even a system so much as a mirage managed by propaganda, enabled by insipid news media, and abetted by a recumbant body politic?
As George Wallace had it right when he ran for President "there's not a dimes worth of difference between the two parties". Still true today? George Bush may be an aberration -- I liked to think of the framing of the 2000 election as the last gasp of reactionary 20th century politics . . . until they won. And the best the Dems can counter Bush with is to lay low and basically "me too" the America uber alles approach. Call it tactical, but its sickening.
So to come around to a point in reflecting on the idea of America as the "leader" of the world (if perception is reality, shall we instead say "bully".) I've been overseas a few times in the past few years. There is still a great reservoir of good will towards (the memory of?) what America used to represent. I wouldn't be surprised if that good will is being stretched mighty thin these days and the sins of the father (Dear Leader and cohorts) may indeed be visited on the son.
Agreed: Bush and handlers have totally betrayed their trust. And,if this is such a great system, how did we let this happen? Or rather, how did things get out of hand so fast?
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