farmdoc's blog post number 75

Happy Birthday, America. According to the propaganda: On 4 July 1776, Americans claimed their independence from Britain, and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the ‘land of the free and the home of the brave’ to begin their American Dream. The USA is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. America brings the world closer, with understanding and knowledge that can benefit all nations. Since December 1991 when the USSR ceased to exist, the USA has been the only superpower due to its unrivalled pre-eminence in every domain of power – economic, military, diplomatic, ideological, technological, and cultural. But I believe it’s fallen far short of its promise. Disappointing at best and a laughing stock at worst. It’s hard to think how it could have messed things up more: financially, socially, environmentally, militarily, any way you look at it. Except one: apart from totalitarian countries where you can’t tell what the people think or want, everyone aspires to the capitalist materialist American culture. And even this is environmentally destructive via global warming and dimming. As I’ve written, America’s naivity or stupidity – I don’t know which – could right now be producing a monumental shift in geopolitical power. If so it has only itself to blame. Think about it, America, as you blow out your 232 candles today.