'Gang of Three' must be put in check
John O'Sullivan suggests we continue the full-court press.
France, Germany, and Russia united against the United States because they think that America has too much power and that this power is used to advance what the French call "Anglo-Saxon liberalism"--broadly speaking, the free market in economics, unfettered free speech, vigorous popular democratic debate in politics, and a rooted respect for social and political equality.For some reason, this brought to mind something that has always nagged my thoughts regarding The Great Experiment. Throughout history, every civilization has endured a rise, a peak and a fall into decadence, corruption, and tyranny. I had always considered it at least a possibility that America would experience the same fate - eventually. For the most part, what retained this as a possibility in my mind was the growing casual acceptance of deviancy in our society, such as homosexuality. Most of the great acient civilizations (Egypt, Greece, and Rome, for three examples) each flaunted their sexual deviants (especially their emperors) before collapsing into the trash-bin of history.
What the "Gang of Three" favor for their countries is extensive economic and social regulation by government institutions that, though formally democratic, place almost all power in the hands of remote bureaucratic elites. But they know that American freedom is infectious and that it undermines their own more rigid systems--if only because the United States is beating their countries by almost every economic and social test extant. And they fear that Iraq means an extension of this destabilizing freedom to the Middle East.
But while "Rise and Fall" has always been the rule, the corollary has been their autocratic political underpinnings. The closest any of the great civilizations came to democracy was the Roman Republic - which was really a rather large oligarchy. So the questions remain: Can a true liberal democracy Fall, and Will it, as a given?
Comments
Sometime in the new century the sale and use of marijuana will be legalized. Along with the sale of the drug, the drug will be taxed. If the government can't stop drugs they might as well bennefit. The disagreement against the Iraq war between the United States and France, Germany, and Russia is very deep rooted to racial superiority and gangs. The one thing, "the only thing that makes the government powerful is that they have figured out how to make people fight for them, im talking about military, but what makes someone want to join the military, "free lodging, food, protection" this is the aspect of a gang and the gang leader has to be able to provide it. But who is to tell me how I live?
Posted by: asfd | August 31, 2004 12:06 PM
To the tune of Rawhide:
Ramblin', ramblin' ramblin'
Keep them Demmies ramblin...
It appears some people aren't waiting for pot to be legal.
Posted by: Richard | August 31, 2004 02:24 PM
Christmas in Cambodia
Any man who invents a fable and later describes
it as the defining moment of his life is a
fantasist as well as a liar and unfit to be
president. If any reporter has the chance to
directly confront Kerry with his Christmas-in-
Cambodia lie, his campaign will unravel further
than it is now. Till then:
Captain Fraud
I am Captain Fraud
And I am, by gawd,
Captain of Cambodia.
With my lucky hat,
From a spy, at that
I stormed into Cambodia.
Jingling three purple hearts,
Three bandaids apart,
I spent Christmas in Cambodia.
With camera and gall
I re-enacted all
My exploits in Cambodia.
My fantasy, "seared" in memory,
Will end with me in the presidency,
President of Cambodia.
For I'm Gaptain Fraud
And remain, by gawd,
The Liar of Cambodia.
Gene Neary
Captain,
USS Fantasy
templar137webtv.net
Posted by: gene neary | September 18, 2004 08:26 PM