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cloudboy -> US Foreign Policy (8/17/2008 1:42:38 PM)
Is an imperial presidency destroying what America stands for? Bill Moyers sits down with history and international relations expert and former US Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich who identifies three major problems facing our democracy: the crises of economy, government and militarism, and calls for a redefinition of the American way of life. Much more eloquent than me, Colonel Bacevich says that American problems are within, not without.

pahunkboy -> RE: US Foreign Policy (8/17/2008 3:26:57 PM)
Cloud- I am always suspicious of belt-tightening mantra. I understand the ponzi scheem and hopefully we dont get too hurt. In general when society is booming- I dont and vice versa. I am always out of the loop. An otsider but with innate vision into the mess. The situation wont change. We can not put "it" into country AND the world. What I mean is the 2 enities are different things. When the big wigs talk about a new world order- new from WHAT??? Over and over my age group- { the last year of the baby boom] has had the leftovers of life. promises fall thru. I have very little say in governance. I however can make choices in my day to day life. I have scaled down some. But this is out of concerned for my hyde. Especially the evolving of 2008 business practices, namely auto debit-credits----- When so many are a few lays away from nursing home material.... the horse left the barn. naybe we all will get bird flue and diie happy. I am alarmed over the escalation of dead zones in the oceans.

Alumbrado -> RE: US Foreign Policy (8/17/2008 6:34:01 PM)
The imperial presidency is a symptom, not a cause and those calls for 'redefining the American way of life' are little more than re-arranging deck chairs. I do agree with many of Colonel Bacevich's premises, and like that he is seeing past the usual 'blame the evil other party' rhetoric and is blaming all who deserve it.

meatcleaver -> RE: US Foreign Policy (8/18/2008 7:34:11 AM)
Interesting and right on the button. How come there are no American politicians that are as perceptive and eloquent as Colonel Bacevich? Interesting that he points out that America rejected one of the most intelligent and perceptive of policiticans (Carter) for one that was a snakeoil salesman (Reagan). EDITED. To add last sentence.

cloudboy -> RE: US Foreign Policy (8/18/2008 7:49:49 AM)
He gives the reason. According to the politicians he's advised and consulted with, no one could get elected with his message and world view. Honesty about our system and way of life --- and a frank critique of the status quo --- equal political suicide. We are a consumer, debtor nation that doesn't want to be bothered or troubled. Exhibit A is the mythology of solving our current energy crisis through more drilling. The electorate prefers this message over, "you have to change your lifestyle." Exhibit B is the list of foreign policy debacles I listed. The reaction I got to that is typical: its anti-American, its wrong, and a denial reflex. In the 2002 election Republican increased their strength in Congress by portraying critical democrats as "aligned with the terrorists."

meatcleaver -> RE: US Foreign Policy (8/18/2008 8:00:29 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cloudboy Exhibit A is the mythology of solving our current energy crisis through more drilling. The electorate prefers this message over, "you have to change your lifestyle." The demise of America and the west for that matter will be the malaise he describes, the need to have politicians telling us what we want to hear, rather than what we should be told. The west has become decadent and lacks a vision, we want our luxury, we want it cheap and we want it now. We are basically spoilt children and will ruin everything for succeeding generations. Interesting that Colonel Bacevich states the Vietnam years as being a tipping point. Harold Wilson, the then British Prime Minister refused Johnson's request to send British troops to Veitnam stating it was a colonial war and wanted nothing to do with it.

cloudboy -> RE: US Foreign Policy (8/18/2008 8:05:42 AM)
Reagan was the second tipping point.

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