The End of the American Century?

[Ryuji_tanaka]

I find obama's militarization of the DHS, plus drone strikes against US citizens, indefinite detention, his executive orders, etc reminiscent of what Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and Lenin tried. he is trying to outlaw gun ownership at the same time that the DHS is being set up as some kind of private army/praetorian guard. This could precipitate a violent reaction or civil war that could turn the US to a basketcase.

[dungeonbaby]

I find obama's militarization of the DHS, plus drone strikes against US citizens, indefinite detention, his executive orders, etc reminiscent of what Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and Lenin tried. he is trying to outlaw gun ownership at the same time that the DHS is being set up as some kind of private army/praetorian guard. This could precipitate a violent reaction or civil war that could turn the US to a basketcase.

 

Obama is far from being Hitler, Stalin, or Mao. i doubt he will cause civil war.

 

but okay some of his people's moves such as trying to diminish the constitution are reminiscent of totalitarian regimes that want power centralized.

 

your first page replies were more on point though.

 

 

[hit05]

I find obama's militarization of the DHS, plus drone strikes against US citizens, indefinite detention, his executive orders, etc reminiscent of what Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and Lenin tried. he is trying to outlaw gun ownership at the same time that the DHS is being set up as some kind of private army/praetorian guard. This could precipitate a violent reaction or civil war that could turn the US to a basketcase.

You have a point. Maybe Obama wants to spark a civil war in the USA. He actually cherished the role of Abraham Lincoln and even had a speech on a train coach ala Gettysburg Address as an activity for his inaugural day speech when he was elected first time as president.

[Ryuji_tanaka]

Obama is far from being Hitler, Stalin, or Mao. i doubt he will cause civil war.

 

but okay some of his people's moves such as trying to diminish the constitution are reminiscent of totalitarian regimes that want power centralized.

 

your first page replies were more on point though.

 

 

He is provoking a lot of people with what he is doing with the First and Second Amendment. It wouldn't be that worrying if he also isn't moving for the militarization of the DHS. If he does provoke a civil war, it would cause fragmentation of the US, like what happened before with the USSR.

[jacuzzi]

The topic is defective in the sense that a little less than a hundred years ago, the USA too was in a similar predicament when the whole world suffered from the effects of economic depression. This struggle to overcome economic change lingered and progressed into another world war.

 

 

 

 

Shortly after WW2, the USA mistakenly entered the Vietnam War which became too expensive after the OPEC controlled world prices of Oil in the 70's. Again, that would have been the end of the American decade yet it was not. The USA continued to move forward and during the Reagan era, overcame competition with the USSR, putting an end to the Cold War.Today may yet be the USA's darkest moment as the US President may turn out to be a dud and have more in common with Osama Bin Laden than Abe Lincoln, but I feel that the spirit that makes America great is not lost. Who knows, the US system may change permanently and its administration become professionalized rather than politicized perpetually.

 

 

[jacuzzi]

The topic is defective in the sense that a little less than a hundred years ago, the USA too was in a similar predicament when the whole world suffered from the effects of economic depression. This struggle to overcome economic change lingered and progressed into another world war.

 

 

 

 

Shortly after WW2, the USA mistakenly entered the Vietnam War which became too expensive after the OPEC controlled world prices of Oil in the 70's. Again, that would have been the end of the American decade yet it was not. The USA continued to move forward and during the Reagan era, overcame competition with the USSR, putting an end to the Cold War.Today may yet be the USA's darkest moment as the US President may turn out to be a dud and have more in common with Osama Bin Laden than Abe Lincoln, but I feel that the spirit that makes America great is not lost. Who knows, the US system may change permanently and its administration become professionalized rather than politicized perpetually.

 

 

[Bugatti Veyron]

The topic is defective in the sense that a little less than a hundred years ago, the USA too was in a similar predicament when the whole world suffered from the effects of economic depression. This struggle to overcome economic change lingered and progressed into another world war.

 

 

 

 

Shortly after WW2, the USA mistakenly entered the Vietnam War which became too expensive after the OPEC controlled world prices of Oil in the 70's. Again, that would have been the end of the American decade yet it was not. The USA continued to move forward and during the Reagan era, overcame competition with the USSR, putting an end to the Cold War.Today may yet be the USA's darkest moment as the US President may turn out to be a dud and have more in common with Osama Bin Laden than Abe Lincoln, but I feel that the spirit that makes America great is not lost. Who knows, the US system may change permanently and its administration become professionalized rather than politicized perpetually.

 

 

The USA mistakenly entered the Vietnam war on the mistaken assumption that the "domino effect" would apply to other Southeast Asian nations. Others may argue that the assumption wasn't a mistake at all but rather, it was used to justify the need for American intervention around the world.

[sonnyt111]

The USA mistakenly entered the Vietnam war on the mistaken assumption that the "domino effect" would apply to other Southeast Asian nations. Others may argue that the assumption wasn't a mistake at all but rather, it was used to justify the need for American intervention around the world.

This probability was first suggested by Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950's when the Cold War was in its infancy. This principle was later escalated and institutionalized by the Administration of John F. Kennedy.

[jacuzzi]

The USA mistakenly entered the Vietnam war on the mistaken assumption that the "domino effect" would apply to other Southeast Asian nations. Others may argue that the assumption wasn't a mistake at all but rather, it was used to justify the need for American intervention around the world.

Maybe what you mean is the change of guards in Washington after a Catholic President, JFK opened the gap in policy that allowed Vietnam War to happen. Vietnam is a mistake which even his Vice President -successor Johnson in a biographical movie did not like despite being BLAMED for the conflict.

 

 

Truth is the diplomatic ties of JFK made entry to Vietnam happen. The Kennedy patriarch had been US Ambassador to the Court of St James during the term of the longest serving US President to date, FDR. The older Kennedy is a media magnate, king maker of FDR who mistakenly wanted the British to embrace Hitler when London was being bombed leading to the British Government under Sir Winston Churchill to ask the US to reprieve the US diplomat a few months before D-Day. Think of the humility that the Kennedy clan underwent. Reader's Digest published the unknown story of JFK and showed the struggle and problems which created the determination of the siblings to gain prominence and political power.

 

Anyway, the obvious link to the French was the wife of JFK, Jacqueline, who got French descent. The pieces to the puzzle are supplied by the historical facts like the assassination of Kennedy brothers or the strategic role of Ted Kennedy in the rise of US President Obama.

 

I would not be surprised if the current environmental movement, which is rooted from journalism is likewise heavily influenced by a Kennedy too. Environmentalism is the reason for high oil prices and the closure of industries in the guise of preservation of the planet. The RH Bill locally is likewise promoted as an environmental advocacy and if we remember Senator Sotto was linked to a speech by RFK in an apparent attempt to punish opposition to the RH Bill.

 

 

 

 

 

[maxiev]

Maybe what you mean is the change of guards in Washington after a Catholic President, JFK opened the gap in policy that allowed Vietnam War to happen. Vietnam is a mistake which even his Vice President -successor Johnson in a biographical movie did not like despite being BLAMED for the conflict.

 

 

Truth is the diplomatic ties of JFK made entry to Vietnam happen. The Kennedy patriarch had been US Ambassador to the Court of St James during the term of the longest serving US President to date, FDR. The older Kennedy is a media magnate, king maker of FDR who mistakenly wanted the British to embrace Hitler when London was being bombed leading to the British Government under Sir Winston Churchill to ask the US to reprieve the US diplomat a few months before D-Day. Think of the humility that the Kennedy clan underwent. Reader's Digest published the unknown story of JFK and showed the struggle and problems which created the determination of the siblings to gain prominence and political power.

 

Anyway, the obvious link to the French was the wife of JFK, Jacqueline, who got French descent. The pieces to the puzzle are supplied by the historical facts like the assassination of Kennedy brothers or the strategic role of Ted Kennedy in the rise of US President Obama.

 

I would not be surprised if the current environmental movement, which is rooted from journalism is likewise heavily influenced by a Kennedy too. Environmentalism is the reason for high oil prices and the closure of industries in the guise of preservation of the planet. The RH Bill locally is likewise promoted as an environmental advocacy and if we remember Senator Sotto was linked to a speech by RFK in an apparent attempt to punish opposition to the RH Bill.

I'm sorry but I must admit I cannot see the correlation between America's entry into the Vietnam conflict which escalated under the Administration of JFK and what you said about Joe Kennedy Sr.'s sympathetic stand toward the Nazis nor how the Vietnam conflict ties in with Ted Kennedy's strategic role in the rise of President Obama. Neither do I see any connection between the increased American intervention in Vietnam with environmental issues and the RH bill. And how does Tito Sotto fit into the discussion about the Vietnam War? The only link I know between Tito Sotto and the family of Robert Kennedy is the issue of plagiarism.

[paeng]

U.S. oil production started dropping after 1970, and more countries were having their dollars redeemed, leading to the Nixon shock. A few years later, the trade deficits began.

 

The Reagan years led to increasing debt, part of three decades of deregulation, borrowing, and spending. The result is over $400 trillion in unregulated derivatives, more than $200 trillion in future liabilities, tens of trillions in debt for households and corporations, and the first of what will be a series of economic crashes leading to permanent economic crisis for the global economy coupled with the effects of peak oil and global warming.

[sonnyt111]

U.S. oil production started dropping after 1970, and more countries were having their dollars redeemed, leading to the Nixon shock. A few years later, the trade deficits began.

 

The Reagan years led to increasing debt, part of three decades of deregulation, borrowing, and spending. The result is over $400 trillion in unregulated derivatives, more than $200 trillion in future liabilities, tens of trillions in debt for households and corporations, and the first of what will be a series of economic crashes leading to permanent economic crisis for the global economy coupled with the effects of peak oil and global warming.

There is a saying that when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. I think this is an accurate statement. What is bad for America is bad for the rest of the world economically. And the state of the American economy is today is less than ideal.

 

And I don't think the problem is limited to the US. Economic problems in Europe particularly Greece, Spain, and Ireland have had international repercussions which didn't spare the Philippines. Governments in these European Union nations are now practicing fiscal austerity measures to prevent their economies from collapsing. People living in those countries greatly resent these austerity measures but they have no choice but to bite the bullet because of the irresponsible acts of their past leaders.

 

It's surprising but it is easier for the Philippines to borrow money from the IMF/World Bank that countries like Greece, Spain and Ireland and a much lower interest rate to boot.

[oscartamaguchiblackface]

U.S. oil production started dropping after 1970, and more countries were having their dollars redeemed, leading to the Nixon shock. A few years later, the trade deficits began.

 

The Reagan years led to increasing debt, part of three decades of deregulation, borrowing, and spending. The result is over $400 trillion in unregulated derivatives, more than $200 trillion in future liabilities, tens of trillions in debt for households and corporations, and the first of what will be a series of economic crashes leading to permanent economic crisis for the global economy coupled with the effects of peak oil and global warming.

No wonder the US IRS is tightening its noose on US citizens living overseas. It's trying to help reduce this huge deficit. The IRS now requires banks around the world to disclose the names of US citizens who have deposits in their banks.

[oscartamaguchiblackface]

U.S. oil production started dropping after 1970, and more countries were having their dollars redeemed, leading to the Nixon shock. A few years later, the trade deficits began.

 

The Reagan years led to increasing debt, part of three decades of deregulation, borrowing, and spending. The result is over $400 trillion in unregulated derivatives, more than $200 trillion in future liabilities, tens of trillions in debt for households and corporations, and the first of what will be a series of economic crashes leading to permanent economic crisis for the global economy coupled with the effects of peak oil and global warming.

No wonder the US IRS is tightening its noose on US citizens living overseas. It's trying to help reduce this huge deficit. The IRS now requires banks around the world to disclose the names of US citizens who have deposits in their banks.

[maxiev]

BIR commissioner Kim Henares is doing some squeezing of her own. Problem is taxes aren't returned to the public in terms of public service as it is in the US. Americans may pay a lot in taxes but the government also gives back in terms of good public schools, excellent roads, efficient and effective law enforcement, unemployment benefits, etc. Over here, taxes are squandered by corrupt government officials on useless projects that benefit no one, on pork barrel allocations that corrupt senators use as they see fit, etc.

 

We are being shortchanged by this government. Before they tighten the screws on the citizens, they should try to put a lid on corruption first. So much money is lost to corrupt practices. And just like Meralco customers who must unfairly shoulder "system losses" (the euphemistic term of customers paying for stolen electricity) taxpayers must unfairly shoulder the cost of corruption in this country.

Edited March 16, 2013 by maxiev