If we want to save America we have to give up our empire....

[Deicide]

http://www.amazon.com/Dismantling-Empire-Americas-American-Project/dp/0805093036/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290267000&sr=1-1

The author of the bestselling Blowback Trilogy reflects on America's waning power in a masterful collection of essays

In his prophetic book Blowback, published before 9/11, Chalmers Johnson warned that our secret operations in Iraq and elsewhere around the globe would exact a price at home. Now, in a brilliant series of essays written over the last three years, Johnson measures that price and the resulting dangers America faces. Our reliance on Pentagon economics, a global empire of bases, and war without end is, he declares, nothing short of "a suicide option."

Dismantling the Empire explores the subjects for which Johnson is now famous, from the origins of blowback to Barack Obama's Afghanistan conundrum, including our inept spies, our bad behavior in other countries, our ill-fought wars, and our capitulation to a military that has taken ever more control of the federal budget. There is, he proposes, only one way out: President Obama must begin to dismantle the empire before the Pentagon dismantles the American Dream. If we do not learn from the fates of past empires, he suggests, our decline and fall are foreordained. This is Johnson at his best: delivering both a warning and an urgent prescription for a remedy.

[Soul Crusher]

Not only that, but we need to direct a lot of these tax dollars into domestic manufaxturing, infrastructure, driving dow tax rates, and being a magnet for foreign invesmtnet and commerce. 

[Deicide]

Not only that, but we need to direct a lot of these tax dollars into domestic manufaxturing, infrastructure, driving dow tax rates, and being a magnet for foreign invesmtnet and commerce. 

Exactly. We don't need an empire of bases around the world to be an efficient country at home. It is a waste of time, energy and lives and the longer we go at it abroad the more we will lose at home.

[MuscleMcMannus]

I wouldn't say America's power is waning at all.  I'd say the power structure is less and less about protecting US citizens and more about protecting global corporations at the expense of US tax payers.  The US military is stronger than it's ever been.  We have more nuclear weapons than anyone save for Russia.  Our power is most definitely not waning.  But our sovereignty most definitely is and our military is obviously not protecting the constitution nor the liberties of the American people. THe US military no longer represents anything related to freedom and the protection of its people/constitution.  They are a corporate security force......and a very powerful one.  I just wish all the dumb lemmings serving in the US military would wake up and realize that.  Many are starting to but we have a long way to go.  

Just ask yourself why the US southern border is not militarized when it's one of the most lawless, violent places in the world.  

[Deicide]

I wouldn't say America's power is waning at all.  I'd say the power structure is less and less about protecting US citizens and more about protecting global corporations at the expense of US tax payers.  The US military is stronger than it's ever been.  We have more nuclear weapons than anyone save for Russia.  Our power is most definitely not waning.  But our sovereignty most definitely is and our military is obviously not protecting the constitution nor the liberties of the American people. THe US military no longer represents anything related to freedom and the protection of its people/constitution.  They are a corporate security force......and a very powerful one.  I just wish all the dumb lemmings serving in the US military would wake up and realize that.  Many are starting to but we have a long way to go.  

Just ask yourself why the US southern border is not militarized when it's one of the most lawless, violent places in the world.  

Uhm yes, that is the point of this. I agree.

[Soul Crusher]

Uhm yes, that is the point of this. I agree.

Go get this book asap.    I made my father read it and he cant stop talking about whats in there.    Look up the reviews on amazon too. 

[Deicide]

Go get this book asap.    I made my father read it and he cant stop talking about whats in there.    Look up the reviews on amazon too. 

Already read it a long time ago before it became a popular hit.

Sometimes I think our government is so stuck in its habits that it is willing to continue them, even if we all die from them.

[theonlyone]

 Nice to hear it, you have no option guys btw Hollywood is great!!!

[theonlyone]

Not only that, but we need to direct a lot of these tax dollars into domestic manufaxturing, infrastructure, driving dow tax rates, and being a magnet for foreign invesmtnet and commerce. 

 A magnet for foreign what??? I know you post a lot on political issues board but that post of yours has said it all for me...

[Soul Crusher]

A magnet for foreign what??? I know you post a lot on political issues board but that post of yours has said it all for me...

My keyboard is going and I have been getting a lot of spelling mistakes. 

Our over regulation and high corporate taxes discourage foreign investment.   Why would anyone build a manufacturing plant here anymore? 

[theonlyone]

My keyboard is going and I have been getting a lot of spelling mistakes.  

Our over regulation and high corporate taxes discourage foreign investment.   Why would anyone build a manufacturing plant here anymore?  

 No the issue is not that your keyboard has broken but is that you do speak to Russian. The US (not you of course) owe too much money, you do live in credit, got it?

[Soul Crusher]

No the issue is not that your keyboard has broken but is that you do speak to Russian. The US (not you of course) owe too much money, you do live in credit, got it?

Yes, because we over-consume and under-produce. 


We can't produce because it simply is not feasible to manufacture and make mosth things here do to a variety of factors, being taxes, regulations, wage rates, mandated benes, etc. 

We have priced ourrselves out of th market production wise and instead borrow money to sustain our lifstyles.  At some point, probably sooner than later, that is going to end. 

[theonlyone]

Yes, because we over-consume and under-produce. 


We can't produce because it simply is not feasible to manufacture and make mosth things here do to a variety of factors, being taxes, regulations, wage rates, mandated benes, etc. 

We have priced ourrselves out of th market production wise and instead borrow money to sustain our lifstyles.  At some point, probably sooner than later, that is going to end. 

 hmm I'm drunk but I heard wise thoughts, I'll think. Props to you

[24KT]

There is no question that America will be giving up her empire.
The only question remaining is whether she does it at a time of her own choosing?
..or whether she follows the course laid out for her by mad men? ...at which time she will have no choice.