Posted on 05/15/2009 3:34:33 PM PDT by Wontsubmit
Time was when the sun never set on the British Empire. These days, it seems the sun never sets on a crisis. This week alone you can take your pick among the mysteries of the spreading swine flu, the drumbeat of Iranian nuclear pursuits, the conundrums of American self-flagellation over Guantanamo Bay, the wild uncertainties of the modern world's financial system or the Taliban onslaught in nuclear-armed Pakistan. You can go online and make a career out of delving into each in turn--and while you are doing that, another crisis will turn up.
And yet, for the average American, how much does all this dramatically intrude into daily life? For many--apart from those with family members fighting abroad in the military--the world goes on more or less as usual. Sept. 11 is for most a fading memory. The current financial wreck has caused plenty of pain, but the great majority who want work are still employed. If there are vast Hoovervilles of Americans actually starving, CNN has not yet found them.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
What rules? The rules that say US Government can take over and run banks and automakers? Set compensation guidelines for industries? Fire CEOs of public companies before nullifying the contracts of bondholders and transferring ownership to unions?
The only thing this government is willing to "lay down the rules and proudly defend" revolves around cell phones in White House press conferences.
As far as being cocooned in comfort, I suppose that is true for Americans whose hands are out to the government, or whose agenda consists of vilifying every value that allowed America to reach a point where Britain would look up to us in the first place.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.