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Posted on 01/02/2013 4:36:36 AM PST by expat1000
As the edge of the fiscal cliff approaches and then recedes, like an imagined desert isle appearing and disappearing admit the waves, the process that has brought America into the tyranny of debt goes on. The national debt, like our annual deficits, is a symptom of the true problem.
Irresponsible behavior is a symptom of irresponsible thinking. Bad choices come from the failure to understand consequences. Power is not just an aphrodisiac, it numbs one to the understanding that there even are consequences.
The centers of people in a nation are the last to feel the cold and their decisions are insulated from their consequences by power and comfort. Even as they warn about the danger, they are too far away from it to truly feel it. It is a shadow to them. An idea. Not a reality.
To the powerful, power is the only reality. And the limits of their own power are unknown to them. The possession of power is a constraint that prevents the possessor from seeing its limits.
We live in a world that has lost touch with the very idea of hard choices. That even in the richest and most prosperous country in the world, you still have to choose one or the other. That you can't have you cake and eat it too. But as the hard edges of reason have blurred into the haze of wishful thinking, the idea of mutually incompatible choices also fades away. Soon there are no choices, only options.
Our government has vanished into that haze. A haze in which our leaders actually believe that we can be tough and kind, strong and beloved and spending as much as we want without worrying about where it's coming from. The haze extends to our policies which assume that we can win wars without offending anyone, and spend as much money as we want without recouping it in some way. In a system built on a two party stalemates usually broken by compromises, it's all too easy to believe that you can give and take, without ever having to choose. One or the other.
A country whose leadership does not understand the concept of mutually incompatible choices is doomed to have its political structure decay into tyranny and its economy stagnate and finally collapse. Without the understanding that some choices are hard and fast things, success becomes impossible. When you think that you can do everything, you end up being unable to do anything. When every option is on the table, then no option is on the table. And if the political leadership cannot make those choices, then it will be replaced by another form of leadership that will solve the problem with tyranny. This has happened before. And it will happen again.
The Middle East presents us with the troubling sight of an entire region run by people who are unable to make such absolute distinctions. Princes, sheiks and prime ministers pursue mutually incompatible policies at the same time, make contradictory assertions and often remain unaware that their actions are contradictory. In a region that is outside the territory of reason, everything is always on the table. There is no truth, only layers of lies. Push far enough down and you come away with nothing but hot air. The popularity of Islam as a political solution is due in part to the perception that it represents an absolute certainty. An anchor in a turbulent sandy sea. Not an intellectual anchor of reason, but of fanatical force. The comfort of the thoughtless tyranny of power.
But the West has been headed out of the territory of reason for some time now. Its truths have become ideological beliefs. Its goals have become the self-worship of its own symbols, size for the sake of size, and centralization for the sake of centralization. There is a mingled horror and longing for the savage and the barbaric, as civilization appears to have lost its meaning. The leadership cries "Onward to a united world" on the one hand, and "Back to the caves" on the other. That confused melange boils down to a cultural intelligence which has lost the awareness of its own contradictions. High tech environmentalism, soft wars and valueless money are all symptoms of that same intellectual degeneracy.
The rise of China is directly tied to our own irrationality. The People's Republic of China has become rich and powerful by serving as the reservoir of our contradictions. We wanted cheap products, no pollution, high wages and generous benefits. All these things are not compatible, so we outsourced our manufacturing to China and pretended that we could have it all. But all we got were cheap products, and the country we outsourced them to got the jobs and the national prosperity. We wanted to spend money without worrying about where it came from. Again we turned to China. And like the grasshopper and the ant, we sang and played all summer, while the ants worked and prepared for the winter.
We used China to escape the limits of reality, but there is no escape. Only temporary vacations from consequences. The PRC has made its own choices. It has chosen to compromise the lives of its people in order to amass wealth and industry by selling our own knickknack designs back to us. Now a generation of Chinese is preparing to reap the harvest of that industry. While we are in debt to that same industry. In debt to the banks who loan us the money with which we buy Chinese products and the government which collects taxes in order to repay China for the entitlement programs. And the banks are in debt to the government which bailed them out with China's money. And the government is in debt to China.
The People's Republic of China is no model of reason, but it understands choices better than we do. It left Communism behind in all but name, in order to gain wealth and power. And we left our wealth and power behind in all but name, in order to gain Communism. Without ever admitting it to ourselves, we traded a system that worked for one that didn't. And our leaders used a Communist country to lessen the immediate pain of the transition. But what our leaders treated as waste products, manufacturing jobs and heavy industry, helped turn China into a superpower. We thought that we could have everything, the best of both worlds, cheap products and only high paying jobs or subsidized unemployment. And by believing that, we lost both the jobs and the products will follow once the PRC no longer needs to needs to keep its currency artificially low.
There is no such thing as too big to fail. Size only serves as a delaying factor. The bigger they are, the slower they fall. But they also fall harder. And size also dulls the speed of the response. The more space there is between the outer regions and the inner controlling sector, the slower the system is to respond to a crisis. We're not too big to fail. We're failing so slowly that it's hard to see from the inside.
It comes down to choice again. If we're going to escape from this trap that we have set for ourselves, then we're going to make sacrifices. And our political system is poorly adapted to making sacrifices. The system we have is based on everyone getting what they want. On short term satisfaction over long term solutions. Plenty of Americans are out of work or living hand to mouth, but that deprivation doesn't translate to the centers of power. Which means that the kind of slashing spree being practiced by Cameron in the UK is unlikely to happen here. Democrats have conniption fits over much smaller proposals, and an alliance between conservatives and the left that slashes government spending to the bone is still virtually inconceivable here.
But we can't afford to keep going the way we are. We are deep in debt and spending money that we don't have. And we're doing it because our system is built on spending money, not on saving money.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed that, "One of the greatest favors that can be bestowed upon the American people is economy in government". He warned about "the stupendous sum of about 7 billion, 500 million dollars" that is taken from Americans. Today 7 billion dollars wouldn't cover a day in the operation of the Federal government. If things keep going as they are, we might come to look upon the "stupendous" sum of 6 trillion dollars discussed now as equally minute. But it is not likely that day will ever come, because the camel's back is too close to breaking under the strain.
To save ourselves we must return to the territory of reason and make the difficult choices that must be made. It is too easy to fall into the haze of thinking that we don't really need to make such choices. That we can go on the way we have. And the world is full of cautionary examples of fallen civilizations that lost touch with those decisions and accordingly faded out of history.
The ability to perceive and make difficult choices is fundamental to the survival of a country. We used to be able to make those choices. Otherwise we will be another Republic of Ozymandias, a civilization lost through its own ineptitude, a monument to the knowledge that there is no free lunch, only the wages of difficult choices.
You can’t reason with an Idiocracy. It has to fail under it’s own weight.
Amazing how stupid Americans elect similar drecks as so-called leaders. All the rotten fruits of results out of DC are proof positive. Those drecks are highly overpaid as well to boot. Its a sorry state we’re in with the wrong people in leadership.
The ability to perceive and make difficult choices is fundamental to the survival of a country.
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First, Great Article! to start the new year with! Thanks.
With reference to the sentence above that I copied and pasted, the federal government proved once again last night around midnight that it is incapable of dealing with the radioactive part of the problem..........i.e. spending and entitlements. Most of us think the “system” is permanently broke this side of total replacement including the cataclysmic consequences attendant thereto. But, many individuals have already made difficult choices, like switching currencies, moving and selling assets. This is the erosion of our economy referred to in the same article and it has already begun for millions of folks. Circa 1860, much like today, half the nation thought about things one way, half the other. It cost one half million lives to settle the argument. Wars do settle things and some see no way around cw2.
Great find! Thanks! Bookmarked.
Excellent again. Thanks for the ping.
The opposition to Obama, his Leftist World perspective, and his gaggle of sycophants are up against a Leftist consumed media as well a Leftist consumed Corporate heirarchy capable of funding the lot of the Leftist dreams, thus goals.
The off the radar lies, the off the radar threats to expose via the MSM funded by Leftist supporting Corporations the opposition as deliberately undermining this President’s goals, this President’s success due the color of his skin is the card, the race card, the trump card used to neutralize, tame, cow, and control that opposition.
It’s beyond time to neutralize the Left’s ability to use that form of intimidation.
We must begin by not giving a damn what they say, or do, and doing the right thing. Let them campaign away to their hearts content. The black man is President because all those prejudiced people voted for him.
We wad up the old newspapers, magazines, and place them into the fireplace to ignite the kindling, and we light the old papers in numerous locations to get the fire started. That’s what we must do today with the Left’s portrayal of we the opposition until the fire is flaming away in the fireplace. Then if nobody believes them anymore. what will the Left have to fight with?
The lie has to be exposed.
The centers of people in a nation are the last to feel the cold and their decisions are insulated from their consequences by power and comfort.
True...but “centers of people”? Socialists/totalitarians.
The plunder of the nation continues unchecked. The forced economic enslavement of “Americans” living and not yet born continues without abatement. Legislative totalitarians living large roam the republic from sea to shining sea. We know the looters names but the “WANTED” posters with bounties are not being printed.
—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Some...here...
http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/caucus-members/
Socialist/totalitarian agenda...here...
Legislator/Totalitarian “hate speech”...here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBi2y84l1cQ
You're looking at the situation as a maker. The takers look at the situation with a whole 'nother view and mindset.
This nation is now screwed because the takers out number the makers.
We need something to accelerate this process to it's logical conclusion, what ever that is. Then we can begin rebuilding.
It’s time for liberals and conservatives to realize we don’t want the same things... time to split - walk away, breakup, get a divorce - whatever.
A THIRD PARTY is NOT the answer. Trying to explain for the upteenth time that we must be responsible doesn’t work. The takers don’t care. They think we’ll ‘figure it out’ and come up with more for them to take.
A ‘red’ United States and a ‘blue’ United States is the answer.
Consider the two countries: Liberal elites won’t have to fight us to win all the things they want - and we won’t have to argue with them about our positions. They can act (as we see it) in irresponsible ways. And we can be responsible without hurting their ‘feelings’ ...
It’s a win-win. Liberals can have ALL of the following in their BLUE UNITED STATE:
Free - TOTALLY FREE Medical care from cradle to grave. ObamaCare on speed.
Unlimited gun control laws.
Unlimited immigration from third world countries.
A minimum wage of $50 an hour.
Taxes on the ‘rich’ of 90% to 98%.
No voter ID laws. Anyone can vote - and as often as they want to.
Teachers will have life time appointments - even if they can’t pass a simple reading test.
“Marriage” is something between any groups or species or whatever. Anything and everything goes...
Birth control is free. Abortion is free. All drugs are legal. The only ‘against’ laws are laws against gun control. Chicago will be the liberals’ beacon of proof that gun control works. Just like it’s working there now..
Newspapers in Blue United States will be totally subsidized by the State. They won’t have to ‘give it away’ to dems anymore - they’ll officially be ‘liberal press release organizations’. And since every job will be unionized, no ‘journalist’ will ever lose their job. (Rewriting liberal elite press releases can be tiresome)
Krugman of the New York Times can run the economy - and borrow money from the world until (red state) debt is a million to one.
The Constitution will be tossed in favor of a document that gives liberal elites all the power they need to prove how superior they are. After all, elites have never tried to run a country before, right? And if they did - it worked out, right? Well, OK, it’s never worked, but maybe it will this time....
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OUR SIDE - the RED UNITED STATES can have traditional values...
Traditional Medical Care.
Voter ID Laws
Marriage between a man and a woman.
Balanced budgets
Newspapers will work to win the respect and trust of their readers rather than working for liberal ‘prizes’ to adorn their office walls.
Citizens can keep the Constitution we have now - and ALL of the Bill of Rights.
Sounds so pretty... but it will never happen. Every time in the history of Western Civilization, when one group of people attempt to peacefully part from their former countrymen, they have ALWAYS been attacked. The Red/Blue division might get attempted, but it would just be the catalyst for CWII. In the end, the winner takes all anyway.
If we give dems everything they feel they deserve - and then some - - big houses - infrastructure - cash - they'll go for it.
They get their country away from us... AND we get our country away from them. That's a win for both sides.
Dems want their piece of the pie NOW - they don't care who makes the pie, or bakes it, or delivers it - they just want their piece. And we've got it for them. Impulsive greed works in our favor. They'll go for the short term gain - AND the long term loss will be something they don't think about...
Yes, they want theirs - to hell with the children and grandkids. Give them everything ... we can earn it back - they'll be left with only each other to loot.
We don't want a war. They don't either. Just offer dems what they want. We believe they're takers - they'll go for the immediate gratification of 'stuff' NOW. Cash - land - houses - whatever rocks their boat. We just want out.
Think how fast a dem congress could pass new 'food rules' without us in their way? They could ban all products that had sugar in them... They would be so happy. And us too. No more roadblocks for either side... Win - Win...
Offer incentives - cultural things they want too:
Marriage between any and all entities. Groups, family members, animals - you name it - they got it.
Gun Control, bullet control, gun show control, citizen control. And MORE. I
Food control, light bulb control, nanny state control... They name it, they got it.
Dems hate the Constitution - it stands in their way. Let them throw it out and write a paper giving themselves all the power. No more messy voter ID anywhere. Everyone can vote as often as they want with ZERO proof of who they are.
Schools can unionize on every level. No teacher will ever be held accountable for anything. Kids can't read? So what? Teachers preying on children? Yawn - give the kids free birth control. Unions demand 3 hour school days? So what? Our kids won't be in those 'schools'... Dems will have everything they want - and everything they deserve. It'll be fun to watch - wait and see.
Minimum wage? Start ALL wages at $50 an hour. They can all be rich. Conservatives won't be there to rain on their parade...
They'll got for it. Really, Dems will buy it. We just appeal to their greed - just like the pols they elect... By the time dems figure out they only have each other to loot we'll have a fence around our part of the country.
You have a point - but what if BOTH groups are totally sick of each other and BOTH want to split? This isn't a marriage where one party wants to 'make it work'. Both groups have grown to hate each other. Liberals feel the same way about us that we feel about them... maybe even more so...
It's time to consider allowing both groups to live happily - and apart.
In 1947, when the Supreme Court "established" separation of church and state as a billy club against religion in the public square (Everson v. Board of Education), they stabbed "nature and Nature's God" in the back.
Then in 1961, when SCOTUS put atheists on the same legal footing as those who believe in "nature and nature's God" (Torcaso v. Watkins), they stabbed the tattered remains of Western civilization in the heart.
I'm just amazed the collapse has taken this long.
In 1947, when the Supreme Court "established" separation of church and state as a billy club against religion in the public square (Everson v. Board of Education), they stabbed "nature and Nature's God" in the back.
Then in 1961, when SCOTUS put atheists on the same legal footing as those who believe in "nature and nature's God" (Torcaso v. Watkins), they stabbed the tattered remains of Western civilization in the heart.
I'm just amazed the collapse has taken this long.
I only hit “post” once. I swear....
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