Posted on 11/28/2005 5:39:36 AM PST by beaureguard
The Drudge Report is reporting this morning that several broadcast television networks are considering a series loosely based on the concept of the end of America. Details on the various programs aren't yet available, but my bet is that the fictional end will come through either terrorism or some sort of a natural disaster.
The networks have part of this right. The end of America as we know it could well be on the horizon. The networks just wouldn't dare present the end as it very well may happen. The death of America will more likely come from the advancement of the American welfare state.
Empires have life expectancies. The history of civilization would tell us that a country based on freedom and economic liberty generally last just a bit over 200 years. If you know of such a society that has lasted well beyond the 200-year mark, let me know. I haven't been able to find one. Our Constitution was ratified on December 15th, 1791. In just a few weeks the United States of America will be 214 years old. That, for those of you who went to government schools, is just a bit over 200 years.
You can trace the decline of American to several different and varied beginning point. Among them:
1. The adoption of a graduated and progressive income tax, as envisioned by Karl Marx.
2. The adoption of a system of government education of our children, again as envisioned by Karl Marx.
3. The movement away from a rule of law to a rule of the majority (Democracy) which really took hold during the days of Franklin Roosevelt.
America, the welfare state, is growing steadily. In the last few weeks we started George Bush's Medicare prescription drug program. The original estimates for this welfare boondoggle ran at about $300 billion for the next ten years. Those estimates doubled before the program even began. The actual tab will probably be closer to one trillion dollars for the first ten years .. and growing after that. Baby boomers will be retiring over the next decade. As they retire they will start drawing down Social Security and Medicare dollars by the bucketful. The cost will be enormous. As presently structured, these income transfer programs can't handle it, but all attempts at reform, at least insofar as Social Security is concerned, have failed.
Back to the main point. Americans are no longer in love with freedom. In fact, the case can be made that Americans are afraid of freedom. Oh, they want to be free to go on vacation and to chose where to live, who to marry and what to wear each day, but that just about covers it. Americans want the government to educate their children, guarantee their jobs, determine their wages, provide them with medical care, pay for their prescriptions, insure their comfort in retirement, regulate their business competitors, and control the actions of their neighbors. If you suggest that the responsibility for any of these factors be placed back into the hands of the individual the screams and howls of outrage and indignation will be heard across the country.
If the networks want to do a series on the end of America, their script has already been written ... .by some Russian named Ayn Rand.
Since the United States is the first and only example, it's a bit disingenuous to point to history as a precedent. Now it's true that empires usually only last about 200 years, so if the currently evident transition of the US into the world's preeminent military empire with plenty of bread and circuses to keep the slackers quiescent continues, we probably won't have more than 200 years left - or 130, if you start counting from the advent of New Deal economics.
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. (The Federal Reserve Bank, 1913- -the system of privately-owned Federal Reserve banks which maintain a monopoly on the valueless debt "money" in circulation.)
6. Abolition of all rights of inheritance. (Partially accomplished by enactment of various state and federal "estate tax" laws taxing the "privilege" of transfering property after death and gift before death.)
Having said that, there are several other historical events that truly defined this nation as a modern, socialist state. I would include the following: 1) the Civil War (after which the United States became a single nation defined by a Federal government, rather than a confederation of quasi-independent states); 2) the Spanish-American War (the first time the U.S. engaged in an imperial war overseas for reasons that had nothing to do with the protection of our sovereignty); and 3) the admission of New Mexico and Arizona to the Union in 1912 as the 47th and 48th states, which effectively marked the end of our nation's expansion and the beginning of the modern era in which some nebulous idea of "national interests" replaced "national defense" as the driving force behind every U.S. military engagement.
Sort of. In 1707 Scotland and England agreed to join together as Great Britain. Some 220 years later, Great Britain and Northern Ireland formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ;)
The history of civilization would tell us that a country based on freedom and economic liberty generally last just a bit over 200 years
You can't effectively argue that England remains a "free" country based on economic liberty. Individual rights in the UK have eroded tremendously since WWII. Look at the national healthcare system where hospitals go to court (successfully) seeking to end care of a child who is improving and on her way to a normal life. Who did the hospitals go to court to fight? Her parents.
You can't fox hunt in England for crying out loud. You can't protect your property. You are very limited in gun ownership.
As far as economic liberty or freedom in any European country, just look at the EU's constitution. They may have rejected it initially, but that is the future of Europe. Freedom is dead there.
It isnt the rule of the majority that is destroying America, it is the rule of the minority.
When one Shiitebird can take away the words Under God from the pledge, When the ACLU can make war on Christians,when the government bends over backwards to every minority in the country,when jobs are given to those in the minority because they make the quota and not the grade. When homosexuals can demand to have their sickness taught in schools and have homosexual clubs in high school.When the media can make war on the President of the United States, it isnt the rule of the majority which will destroy America, but the sniping of the minorities.
You are correct.Walter and his brother Victor were leaders of the welfare state who went to Russia for their training in the early 1930's.
I don't know; I hope so. It was the first time I'd ever listened to him; I'm quite impressed with this man.
Have a nice one...heading out.
Just lovely :(
Then DIE STANDING UP! ;)
Walter Williams sometimes fills in for Limbaugh. Usually when he does he'll interview Thomas Sowell. The two of them together are great.
Townhall.com carries Sowell's columns which I try to read regularly.
Sure you can---it's more free than Cuba. It's more free than China. It might be less free than you'd like it, but "free" is one of those moving target-type definitions, is it not?
Boortz is using this argument as a rhetorical device; nothing more, nothing less. In order to whip the faithful into a frenzy.
When these "projects" crater like the Hiroshima bomb, will the studios and networks wake up and realize that the consuming public is sick of America-bashing? Will they understand that an edgy public wants movies that comfort them, that reassure them, that tell them they're doing the right thing? Or will they continue to invest millions in products nobody wants to buy?
So you disagree with him?
No doubt.
Funny thing is...this isnt the first time the Hollywood types have rolled out something like this. There was that stinker. "AMERIKA" with Kris Kristofferson in the early eighties.
How about Hollywood have a good ole future war movie where the US gets attacked by roving bands of jihadis that crossed the border...regular citizens send them to ALLAH, via Smith and Wesson, and the US remains the good ole US...or is that to positive for them?
The history of civilization would tell us there isn't enough data on which to base that kind of statement.
I believe he's being hyperbolic in order to make a point. And I do tend to be leery of opinion pieces signing America's death certificate, yes.
Starring Claire Wolfe, Boston T. Party, and friends?
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