Your comments pretty well reflect not only the opinions of your friends and relatives but of some of the more prominent pundits, too. A few months ago, Peggy Noonan (whom I don't have much use for) wrote a column about the well to do spending like there's no tomorrow, apparently because of the feeling that the US is in serious decline, and that the party will be soon over.
It's hard to envision the return of optimism and true restoration of some kind of decent national re-development. There are no saviors out there. But, recently Brian Sweitzer, gov. of Montana, I think, was on C-SPAN, and I was impressed by the very positive nature of his outlook and comments. I'm sure that there are other good leaders out there, but I'm not sure that any one of them can reverse the national trend of pessimism and fatalism. It probably could be done through a truly massive effort and the willingness of the country to sacrifice and unify behind a common cause (for the common good, taking from Tomasky's essay).
The first step, though, is to get rid of the poison at the top, in the Bush administration and the crazy, greedy, evil fundamentalist Republicans.
My sympathy to you and your wife.
Posted by KathyP at August 8, 2006 04:59 AM
America's decline isn't an issue of left/right, Republican/Democrat, North/South or other differences. Ultimately I think it boils down to financial stability and treating the rest of the world with compassion. Taking internal and external responsibility would go a long way in righting the ship. But it won't happen. Legislators don't throw money at non-existent problems without our acquiescence. If some Senator earmarked into the budget a project to dig holes all over Montana and then promptly refill them, all for a cost of 10 billion dollars, construction companies would line up to bid on the deal. It wouldn't matter to either the owners of the businesses or their employees it was a grand waste of money. All that would matter is getting a piece of the action. Refusing to participate in digging the holes wouldn't even be considered. The debt balloons and we spend like drunken sailors. In the same vein U.S. arms manufacturers are perfectly happy to load up 10 year old African kids with weapons, no matter the death and mayhem it perpetuates on the continent. All that counts is the contract, the money. So, we'll continue to earn the enmity of the rest of the world for the violence we visit on them or enable. Politicians aren't the problem, the citizenry is.
Posted by steve duncan at August 8, 2006 05:52 AMin the long run, we're all dead. is the fight worth it if it spares your children a couple of years of totalitarianism, poverty, or an uninhabitable planet? john maynard keynes votes yea.
Posted by john maynard keynes at August 8, 2006 06:04 AMY knw t's rlly bd whn th pthgn lmnts th hst.
[Editor: ignore=off]Is it apathy....or feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair that will be our downfall?
I don't know. But I will be voting today in the local primary to help keep that helplessness feeling from swamping me. I urge all to do the same.
Posted by Sharon at August 8, 2006 06:18 AMdon't be so gloomy, gus. Look at it this way--would you rather be a citizen of the US or Iraq? Yes the politicians are self-serving crooks. Was there ever a time when they weren't? When, not if, we extricate ourselves from Iraq it will be a great day in America. What this country needs is more honesty, and less BS. And that's why it's imperative that somebody on this site immediately reveal the lurid details of Condi's sex life, particularly her kinky escapades with Dubya.
Posted by howard hughes blues at August 8, 2006 06:21 AMYes Bendito, That's what Pessimist was saying. Even conservatives (the pathogens) are in a state of mourning for what the neo-cons have done to America. Only the few, the proud, the truly stupid are in denial.
Posted by Oaklander at August 8, 2006 06:48 AMThe sorting and boxing stage somehow masters the clarity of life. The emotional ambushes as you cling to a set of chipped dishes, fighting over Christmas tree ornaments and reviewing what that generation held dear which was a spare collection of things and a rich collection of memories. It is simply draining.
America can and will be brought to her knees with grief, we will tear at each other, we will begin to sort through, but yes P, much has died already. Time to guard the tools of survival which are left.
Posted by mainsailset at August 8, 2006 07:05 AMExcellent post. Three books I have read most recently confirm your (and my) view. American Theocracy (Kevin Phillips), Dark Ages Amnerica (Morris Berman) and The Sorrows of Empire (Chalmers Johnson). All see the mistakes of previous empires repeated today in America. Clearly the democratic experiment has been lost to the usual suspects; the greedy elite.
Posted by Don Beal at August 8, 2006 07:43 AMYou know it's really bad when the pathogen laments the host.
Ah yes. The "compassionate conservative" weighs-in. It's strong faith in the christ it remakes in its image only mitigated by its hatred of others unlike itself and never having once followed the true teachings of its christ. America turns around when these things are hanging in the public square. Swaying in the breeze, connected by piano wire to the lamp poles.
Posted by phidipides at August 8, 2006 07:46 AMWow, great post and really great comments. steve duncan---remarkable!
Let's not forget that "pessimism" in this case isn't just a baseless feeling, an unjustified emotion---it's based on actual factual analysis involving our economy, militarism, materialism, corporatism and failed democracy. We've all written many observations on these facts.
But while we are now incontestibly and irreversibly in decline as a nation and people, don't think for a moment that we are just going to fade quietly away like the Soviet Union did. Our people are saturated with far, far too great a sense of exceptionalism, entitlement and divinely granted priviledge for that.
No, our decline will be accompanied by a brutal and ruthless lashing out against those nations and peoples that some future authoritarian religious rightist "Grand Leader" declares to be the author of our troubles. The world better be ready.
Our dominant social culture is very strongly militarist, and that ain't declining.
Posted by euzoius at August 8, 2006 07:55 AMWhat I just can't understand is when the wealthist 5% have looted our country till there is nothing left, what then? Are they all planning an escape to some other place? Don't they realize it takes all of us to make them wealthy? We are the ones who buy their mechandise and services. Without us they are simply occupying an empty shell of a country. No middle class means no business being done and they will have killed the golden goose. On vacation last year, I noticed the thriving business the tour companies & cruise ships were doing and I wondered if they had even given a thought to what will happen once Bush privatizes social security and does away with all of the pensions which are paying for so many of these trips. The 5% won't keep them going-it takes the middle class to do that and we are short timers.
And they are probably too thick to realize that they are too.
Classic rightist logic from bendodo.
The Left hasn't been responsible for a single federal policy decision of the past six years (our reps aren't even allowed on conference committees!), yet WE'RE the pathogen!
They truly live in an alternate universe.
Posted by euzoius at August 8, 2006 08:16 AMThat's a great piece P.
Posted by Steve Soto at August 8, 2006 08:22 AMezoius, I disagree. America will slowly fade from its "the only superpower" status, maybe not so slowly. Two reasons: the military right now is broken more than most people are willing to admit; and we're about eight trillion dollars in debt. Right now we're losing two wars at the same time. How's that for unexceptional?
Posted by howard hughes blues at August 8, 2006 08:24 AMWe need only the right leaders...including ourselves.
This is a great nation. It is YOUR nation. Take it back from those who defile and ruin it. Take it back by any means necessary.
Posted by God Of War at August 8, 2006 08:28 AMSorry, gents. I have little sympathy.
I've been there and seen the elephant:
Far-call'd our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
I believe Nineveh is very near Baghdad, and Tyre near Sidon.
What I just can't understand is when the wealthist 5% have looted our country till there is nothing left, what then? Are they all planning an escape to some other place?
Dianne, Yes, they can afford their own little Islands or anything else for that matter! They will squeeze this USA until the last drop of resource is depleted. Then wring their grubby little hands and be gone!
Yes, the people will be left to pick up the pieces!
People need to realize that capitalism is only as good as the lack of greed that controls it.
It will be time for America to begin experimentation with Socialism because until we are out of this hole the neo-cons have created nothing else will help the remaining survivors!
Pess, though your writing is lovely, I am unwilling to give up on the Great American Experiment.
Look at this pic. This is representative democracy in action.
The people are waking up. Even though Lieberman's camp was just on MSNBC whining about how their website is down and it must be because the bloggers hacked it, I see this as proof that they are terrified of the people waking up and recognizing that the status quo does not cut it anymore.
We the people are our government. It has taken absolute horror for the people to wake up and realize that we do not want the crap that is being done to be done in our name, I do not believe that it is too late.
I believe that we are in the middle of a revolution. The founders thought that it might come to this. They warned us.
Now we must fight. We must get active.
Blogging about it is not enough. We must get out and knock on doors, make phone calls, talk to people, send checks to progressive candidates.
There are 300 million of us. I do not conceed power to the top 1% asset holders. I do not conceed power to Bu$hCo and his crew. No matter how powerful they think that they are - I do not conceed power to them.
They only have the power that I give to them. They only have the power that they can manipulate via fear. I am not afraid.
We can take our despair and apathy and turn it into action. We can make a difference. We cannot give up on this.
I will leave a better world for my child than I had; this has always been the motivation of America - for our posterity. We must not forget this.
Posted by Anjha at August 8, 2006 10:26 AMWell, there's a little battle going on right now in one of the original thirteen colonies over our future.
It'll show whether people-power can defeat entrenched corporate special interests, whose candidates get free saturation coverage for whatever eleventh hour propaganda talking point they choose to explode.
The nation awaits.
Posted by euzoius at August 8, 2006 10:37 AMWhat voting machines do they have in CT?
Posted by Seven of Six at August 8, 2006 10:41 AMI know I shouldn't be shocked, but I still am.
And occasionally a crashed website has more value than an operating one.
Posted by idiosynchronic at August 8, 2006 10:58 AMEuzoius - that is EXACTLY what today is about in CT
Posted by mainsailset at August 8, 2006 10:58 AMCT uses old time lever machines, I think. no Diebold.
If anyone wants to see what the future looks like under the economic policies of the Bush administration, look at Mexico or post-Soviet Russia.
A very small moneyed elite and a ginormous underclass with very little chance at escape. No opportunities for education, economic or social betterment, everything controlled by a rapacious oligarchy.
Posted by susan at August 8, 2006 11:02 AMI thought the juxtaposition of Lamont and the oft-rocketed kibbutz Kiryat Shmona was a bit over the top, even by Fox standards.
There must be a special secret R&D division of News Corp. that constantly produces newer and better sharks for Fox News to jump.
Posted by Davis X. Machina at August 8, 2006 11:54 AMGreat post, pess. My mother died 4 years ago, and my garage is still full of boxes of her stuff that my sister in Chicago just had to have. Getting to the cat box rivals the toughest Marine obstacle course. Thanks for reminding me to call and bitch her out.
Oh yea, that America decline analogy stuff was good, too.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 8, 2006 12:25 PM"Only the few, the proud, the truly stupid are in denial."
Oaklander, there is great news for Benito and our other trolls. Hopefully distribution will be in the US prior to the next election.
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German scientist has been testing an "anti-stupidity" pill with encouraging results on mice and fruit flies, Bild newspaper reported Saturday.
It said Hans-Hilger Ropers, director at Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, has tested a pill thwarting hyperactivity in certain brain nerve cells, helping stabilize short-term memory and improve attentiveness.
"With mice and fruit flies we were able to eliminate the loss of short-term memory," Ropers, 62, is quoted saying in the German newspaper, which has dubbed it the "world's first anti-stupidity pill."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060807/od_nm/germany_pill_dc;_ylt=AtPU5Yyhid9XKinlyoKGN
Posted by Judith at August 8, 2006 12:36 PMThanks susan!
Posted by Seven of Six at August 8, 2006 12:39 PMSeven of Six, I was going to leave a similiar response to Dianne. First, these people never did and don't now, care about this Country. They all own homes in other countries anyway, so once they have destroyed this Country, they simply pick-up and move their residence to another country.
Posted by Judith at August 8, 2006 12:45 PMThey only have the power that I give to them. They only have the power that they can manipulate via fear. I am not afraid.
We can take our despair and apathy and turn it into action. We can make a difference. We cannot give up on this.
Anjha, BRAVO!
Posted by Judith at August 8, 2006 12:49 PMPessimist:
when it's all over, everything ends up in a box.
That can be one of the most traumatic things survivors must do. I trust y'all made the best choices and are at peace.
Posted by Toby Petzold at August 8, 2006 02:20 PMThe smart pills have not been tested on brains smaller than fruitflies, so troll results remain an unknown.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 8, 2006 03:01 PMThank you Pessimist for the thoughful message. When my Dad died a couple of years ago, I went to collect his belongings in the home that was to keep him for only two weeks. Unfortunately, he did not last the two weeks. I remember thinking that when all is said and done, you are reduced to a few tangible things in a box. However, what he left behind in terms of the untangible would not fill a stadium.
My Dad would say agree with Anjha. You fight until the last drop of blood flows from your veins, and then, and only then, do you give up.
No, no TIKI AL, that's what's so exciting. If you can make fruit flies smart, trolls can't be far behind.
Posted by Judith at August 8, 2006 03:28 PMi read your post about packing up the baggage of a loved one's lifetime. i don't know you, but i understand that "mystery".
i did that some year's back. it took me weeks to pack up the household. principally because so many drawers, cabinets incited so many memories. i would open a drawer, see something of hers, something that she had saved of the family's life, and lose hours remembering, reflecting upon it all.
as to your pessimism. i tend to share your outlook. but i wonder if there has ever been a time since 1945 when a sense of optimism prevailed? and not just for the united states, but in all the countries of this planet.
for me, there is one side of my brain that wants me to stay in bed, assume the fetal position, and turn the electric blanket up to nine[i think that was a tom lehrer vision of a response to the u.s.a.'s homicidal ways since the end of ww2].
there is another side that says that won't work. so, on a daily basis i engage my brain, my spirit, in manufacturing a sophisticated product that in a very real sense makes the world that you have known all your life, happen.
i have concluded that one must live one's life with the attitude that one[as an attitudinal species] will outlast the fascist bastids, will make the world a better place.
i employ 75 individuals, most of whom care passionately about doing the best that they can. as i write this, i am making serious investments in facilities and equipment to increase my output..
the pessimist side of me says that i am crazy to do this at this stage in my life with the world rushing so fast for the precipice. the other side of me says that if i refrain from making that investment, my employees are out on the street looking for another job.
the world wants what we manufacture. to be unable to produce it would be a certain death spiral. not just for my company, but for the industrial world that must have what i manufacture.
so, shake off the blues. utopia will always be ephemeral. the world is made better by moving forward. as my dad used to tell me when i was consumed by the blues, "persistence, al. persistence can overcome most of the array opposing you. just keep after the idea of a better world."
i think he was right. as i have traveled around the planet in most of the tough places, i have seen the results of persistence. in my memory banks, the most magnificent day was when i was in santiago, chile observing the parades for the plebiscite to defenestrate the gangster general, augusto pinochet ugarte, and his gangster myrmidons.
persistence, amigo. persistence.
i would like to conclude this way. i listened to a doctor with medecins sans frontieres today on either npr or pacifica. he discussed the real victims of the israeli stukas, the israeli bombing of the lebanon infrastructure. and what it was doing to lebanese noncombatants.
i could say much more, but i shall leave this way, please donate to msf. help them to administer medical relief to the victims of artillery, aerial bombardment facilitated by this evil empire that is the united states of amerika.
venceremos.