Spotting the Losers: Seven Signs of Non-Competitive States

Parameters ^ | 1998 | Ralph Peters

[Voice in your head]

I did a search and did not find this posted. Brilliant for its insight and brevity.

[hchutch]

Ralph Peters ping.

[JohnGalt]

I use to really like the futurist writers, incidentally, you may like "Sovereign Individual" by James Dale Davidson.

But I think it naive to dismiss two millennia of learning on self-government and the concept of liberty to pursue a utopian end-- free trade in a world of fiat currency for example. While the author captures the most optimistic of Yankee Commercial Empire theories dating back to the founding of the nation, his belief that America is no more than a place to work and earn money ignores so many of the elements that makes life an enjoyable experience. In that sense, his dichotomy is like a reverse antagonist/protagonist Marxism that ignores an entire piece of American culture, the less class conscious tradition of the South as if we have nothing to learn from simply living and spending time with our wives and family.

In his dichotomy, he is actually opposite Robert Reich who in the futurist spectrum would be a labeled a conservative, and this fellow a liberal.

[Grampa Dave]

This is a superb article/op ed/thesis or whatever.

Thanks for posting it.

I have bookmarked it.

[Ichneumon]

Bookmark for later.

[The Radical Capitalist]

"While there is no global culture yet, American popular culture is increasingly available and wickedly appealing--and there are no international competitors in the field, only struggling local systems"

Hasn't this guy heard of Islamisism?

[Grampa Dave]

Take a few minutes to read this long but excellent look at how to determine the losers in today's world.

The key to this is the free flow of information that we have in America and in particular on Free Republic.

Please ping this article to your FR buddies.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I did a search and did not find this posted. Brilliant for its insight and brevity."

I must concur. I would put this at or near the top of a list of "best articles on Free Republic".

A true gem---it should be required introductory reading at "Foggy Bottom" (aka the "State" Department). They seem to have less of a grasp of the "seven factors" than any other department of our government.

[Sergio]

Save for later read.

[tkathy]

This is a brilliant article. Also is relevant to failed segments of our own society.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

At some point in time last year, Col. Peters was excoriated on this website for having the audacity for saying that women do a nice job in the military. He's another RINO, y'know.

[dirtboy]

ping

[Helms]

Fine article:

Countries with large Muslim populations and especially living under Islamic Law are currently and in the future (France??) imperiled.

America is triumphant because of our science and technology.

[wardaddy]

Pretty thoughtful.

I could pick at some issues though.

I expect to see certain FReepers lauding this in total and some like me with a few questions.

[LTCJ]

Bookmarked for reading later.

[umgud]

bump for later read

[Chancellor Palpatine]

That being me, right?

;)

[AzSteven]

He's another RINO, y'know.

Actually, he has been known to vote Democrat in the past. Saw an interview with him recently where he discussed some of the political shifts he has undergone since 9/11. I would not have called him a liberal prior to that, but I suspect if he was registered in a party at all prior to 2001, that party had a D in its name.

He is a rather good analyst, and he is not shy about discussing his own mistakes. That tends to be somewhat career-limiting, but is the sign of a good intel analyst.

[Texas_Dawg]

At some point in time last year, Col. Peters was excoriated on this website for having the audacity for saying that women do a nice job in the military. He's another RINO, y'know.

One other thing along these women/RINO/restrictive state lines that you fail to realize in your simple reasoning, Chancellor, is that the South has zero to do with its problems. Northern Yankees and the FedGuvs are entirely to blame for anything that might possibly be wrong with the Deep South. You better learn yourself up sumthin fierce if ya ain't want to be soundin' like a dimwit around these here parts any more.

[Poohbah]

Consider any culture's heroes. Generally, the more macho or male-centric the culture, the less emphasis there will be on steady work and achievement, whether craftsmanship or Nobel Prize-winning research, and the more emphasis there will be on wealth and power as the sole desirable end (apart, perhaps, from the occasional religious vocation). As national heroes, it's hard to beat Bill Gates. But even a sports star is better than a major narco-trafficker.

Remember the celebration when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke the record for longest streak of games played?

A guy I rode the bus with commented on it the next day. He said that Cal's record was the kind we need to hold up to our kids--that success isn't built on one day's flashy performance or getting a big signing bonus, but on years of hard work and self-discipline.