This is pretty accurate for a brief summary. Obviously there are cross-currents but the thrust has been on a downward spiral, with the rot visible for all to see, not that so many wanted to look closely at it. Sometimes I wonder if we're in a brief interregnum between the Age of Great Powers and a more chaotic period of regional ones. …
This is pretty accurate for a brief summary. Obviously there are cross-currents but the thrust has been on a downward spiral, with the rot visible for all to see, not that so many wanted to look closely at it. Sometimes I wonder if we're in a brief interregnum between the Age of Great Powers and a more chaotic period of regional ones. Since mid-century we've see the British, French and Soviet empires vanish, and there's really no reason why the American one won't too, though in this case we seems to be committing suicide. And really, how much does the U.S. even exist for the average citizen? They use the money, maybe travel on a passport, salute the flag, sing meaningless songs, perhaps vote and often have a very jumbled idea of history. Like most times and places people are involved in their local issues and lives. But somewhat unlike the past the majority of folks probably feel quite isolated and ignored by the national government. There might not have been any sharp break in the bond such as occurred with Russia's 1905 Bloody Sunday massacre by the czar's troops or India's 1919 Amritsar slaughter by the British. But the ties are just fading away. And maybe that's what those at the top really want.
This is pretty accurate for a brief summary. Obviously there are cross-currents but the thrust has been on a downward spiral, with the rot visible for all to see, not that so many wanted to look closely at it. Sometimes I wonder if we're in a brief interregnum between the Age of Great Powers and a more chaotic period of regional ones. Since mid-century we've see the British, French and Soviet empires vanish, and there's really no reason why the American one won't too, though in this case we seems to be committing suicide. And really, how much does the U.S. even exist for the average citizen? They use the money, maybe travel on a passport, salute the flag, sing meaningless songs, perhaps vote and often have a very jumbled idea of history. Like most times and places people are involved in their local issues and lives. But somewhat unlike the past the majority of folks probably feel quite isolated and ignored by the national government. There might not have been any sharp break in the bond such as occurred with Russia's 1905 Bloody Sunday massacre by the czar's troops or India's 1919 Amritsar slaughter by the British. But the ties are just fading away. And maybe that's what those at the top really want.