With the world stage becoming more violent and politically polarized, America’s position and influence can become more relevant in the long term. Seems that a tipping point between democratic and autocratic governments is happening more widely and quickly than anytime since pre-WWII. To which side America leans can make or break the outcome. This U.S. election is about how Americans and the world perceive our leaning . Will we choose a President who openly embraces dictatorial tendencies and admires Strong Men? Or will we stand with a President who strives to preserve and strengthen democracies and alliances committed to holding the line against fascism? As Herb Paine stated, I’ve made my choice, have you?
Nice summary, Herb! I believe that the civil war raging in America right now is complicating our position in the present state of global conflicts, and I am siding with all of us moderate folks who see the dangers and yet still strive every day to extend compassion and fairness to others. As an independent voter, I am going to vote heartily for Democrats in 2024, because the "aim to propel the arc of progress forward and exercise diplomacy and force on behalf of global democracy" is a cause worthy of the sacrifice and diligence that only the Democrats are making, and will, I believe, continue to do so. I have hope that we will rise to create a better more livable planet because of our trials through this prolonged clash of ideologies.
Herb, interesting take on the instability in the world. I don't disagree things are dangerous out there and that "war" is not the same as it was. I am not sure though how much voting between one unstable genius and one neo-liberal grandpa is going to make any difference at all. It seems to me the U.S. is no longer a global superpower. Yes, we have weapons of mass destruction so we're dangerous. But we're pretty irrelevant on the world stage these days and getting less relevant. The entire country needs a reboot or the American experiment is in its death throes regardless of who wins the presidency this year.
Len ~ Great to hear from you...and thanks very much for your comment. As it turns out, I couldn't agree with you more. It feels like I've made a career around writing about democracy at risk, failures of governance, and the decline of our nation as a global superpower. A decline it is, and yet, we still have power if the powers that be exercise it prudently. With the right "reboot", as you put it, far better and visionary leadership, and the more effective and sophisticated exercise of diplomacy and leverage, we just might climb out of this downward spiral. That's a lot of ifs, of course. My exhortation about the 2024 election is not without some irony, because, notwithstanding our shared concerns, we seem to be confronted once again with a choice between the lesser of two bads. In selecting between the "unstable genius" and the "neo-liberal grandpa', we're confronted with Morton's Fork. I see the "unstable genius" as reckless, but I am concerned as to whether or not the "grandpa" can wave a heavy enough stick. So, yes, like you, I'm deeply worried about our future.
well, we only have a choice between two parties in an ever-widening political gap. I can offer a protest vote in the primary (Marianne Williamson perhaps) but in November I'll be holding my nose and shading in the Biden bubble. I'm not optimistic we can change the course of this enormous ship...
Interesting piece Herb...and I get your approach here. Years ago, I recall a Professor in college raising a question of whether the world as we've known it most of our lifetimes was sustainable when the global population approached 10B. And, since then, climate degradation has increased. These two realities fuel the geopolitical strife....not that anything we write will reverse it.
Herb, What is the middle ground, er, center lane between isolationists and globalists? Exercising "diplomacy and force on behalf of global democracy" is unsustainable. We cannot endure proxy wars like North Korea (PRC) vs South Korea/Japan or Hezbollah (Iran) vs Israel without risking international incidents or downright annihilation. Heck, our own bureaucrats can't negotiate a fair trade for U.S. border security and Ukraine's military defense. #wearescrewed https://apnews.com/article/un-us-russia-korea-japan-war-lavrov-63d967578093723a106113cfc75da5a0
With the world stage becoming more violent and politically polarized, America’s position and influence can become more relevant in the long term. Seems that a tipping point between democratic and autocratic governments is happening more widely and quickly than anytime since pre-WWII. To which side America leans can make or break the outcome. This U.S. election is about how Americans and the world perceive our leaning . Will we choose a President who openly embraces dictatorial tendencies and admires Strong Men? Or will we stand with a President who strives to preserve and strengthen democracies and alliances committed to holding the line against fascism? As Herb Paine stated, I’ve made my choice, have you?
Nice summary, Herb! I believe that the civil war raging in America right now is complicating our position in the present state of global conflicts, and I am siding with all of us moderate folks who see the dangers and yet still strive every day to extend compassion and fairness to others. As an independent voter, I am going to vote heartily for Democrats in 2024, because the "aim to propel the arc of progress forward and exercise diplomacy and force on behalf of global democracy" is a cause worthy of the sacrifice and diligence that only the Democrats are making, and will, I believe, continue to do so. I have hope that we will rise to create a better more livable planet because of our trials through this prolonged clash of ideologies.
Herb, interesting take on the instability in the world. I don't disagree things are dangerous out there and that "war" is not the same as it was. I am not sure though how much voting between one unstable genius and one neo-liberal grandpa is going to make any difference at all. It seems to me the U.S. is no longer a global superpower. Yes, we have weapons of mass destruction so we're dangerous. But we're pretty irrelevant on the world stage these days and getting less relevant. The entire country needs a reboot or the American experiment is in its death throes regardless of who wins the presidency this year.
Len ~ Great to hear from you...and thanks very much for your comment. As it turns out, I couldn't agree with you more. It feels like I've made a career around writing about democracy at risk, failures of governance, and the decline of our nation as a global superpower. A decline it is, and yet, we still have power if the powers that be exercise it prudently. With the right "reboot", as you put it, far better and visionary leadership, and the more effective and sophisticated exercise of diplomacy and leverage, we just might climb out of this downward spiral. That's a lot of ifs, of course. My exhortation about the 2024 election is not without some irony, because, notwithstanding our shared concerns, we seem to be confronted once again with a choice between the lesser of two bads. In selecting between the "unstable genius" and the "neo-liberal grandpa', we're confronted with Morton's Fork. I see the "unstable genius" as reckless, but I am concerned as to whether or not the "grandpa" can wave a heavy enough stick. So, yes, like you, I'm deeply worried about our future.
well, we only have a choice between two parties in an ever-widening political gap. I can offer a protest vote in the primary (Marianne Williamson perhaps) but in November I'll be holding my nose and shading in the Biden bubble. I'm not optimistic we can change the course of this enormous ship...
Interesting piece Herb...and I get your approach here. Years ago, I recall a Professor in college raising a question of whether the world as we've known it most of our lifetimes was sustainable when the global population approached 10B. And, since then, climate degradation has increased. These two realities fuel the geopolitical strife....not that anything we write will reverse it.
Herb, What is the middle ground, er, center lane between isolationists and globalists? Exercising "diplomacy and force on behalf of global democracy" is unsustainable. We cannot endure proxy wars like North Korea (PRC) vs South Korea/Japan or Hezbollah (Iran) vs Israel without risking international incidents or downright annihilation. Heck, our own bureaucrats can't negotiate a fair trade for U.S. border security and Ukraine's military defense. #wearescrewed https://apnews.com/article/un-us-russia-korea-japan-war-lavrov-63d967578093723a106113cfc75da5a0