Comments on: The Choice of Accelerating our Decline

By: tdaxp

tdaxp — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:11:42 +0000

Nathan — do you have anything other than an ad hominem attack to add to this conversation?

Please be aware of this site’s policy on trolls. [1]

[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/06/22/trolls.html

By: nathan zuckerman

nathan zuckerman — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:17:32 +0000

It becomes tiresome to read endlessly by those on the right that the left does not love and support our nation. Could it be that they do not support mindless lockstep following of Bush et al when they p;unge us into a war in iraq and screw up Afghanistan, and lie to us about WMD?

I have served a few times in our military and so I truly resent the accusations about not caring about our country. What, just what, have you done for your country?

By: tdaxp

tdaxp — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:20:42 +0000

Jeffrey,

You can use whatever jargon you wish. Certainly words can generate emotions which the speaker does not intend. Nonetheless, seeking the diminution of American power seems a reasonable and valid definition of American power. I do not believe Obama supports this goal, though doubtless many of his supporters do.

Seerov,

Could you explain?

By: Seerov

Seerov — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:11:11 +0000

Obama is not responsible for our decline, he’s a symbol of our decline.

By: Jeffrey James

Jeffrey James — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:23:12 +0000

“Often, I meet people who are incredulous when I describe a serious anti-Americanism among members of the political left.”

To be honest with you, I sort of originally brushed past that point in your article. I perceive the assertion “anti-Americanism” in the same context that you perceive the word Neoconservative.

In other words, the definition of the words seem to keep changing when most convenient for whomever.

By: tdaxp

tdaxp — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:20:37 +0000

Jeffrey,

Thank you for your comment.

Often, I meet people who are incredulous when I describe a serious anti-Americanism among members of the political left. However, your comment is a great example of the ‘fear of America’ tendency in American life.

Tim,

Thanks for your kind words!

I recall describing Obama as a ‘Liberal version of Bush’ a while ago to a friend, and I think you nail the similarity very good. However, I don’t think the answer is as simple as hubris. One can have hubris and not engage in stupid decisions, or be humble and engage in stupid decisions anyway.

By: Jeffrey James

Jeffrey James — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:36:25 +0000

You know what, maybe we could do with a little bit less influence in this world. We may not be a threat in the same context of, say, Russia’s nationalist sentiment, but more so in terms of having a corrupt bureaucratic structure that seems about as manageable as a black hole.

More often than not, only when sh*t falls on someone does one reflect upon themselves, and we are in serious need of reflecting on what America is supposed to be.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:23:47 +0000

Hello TDAXP,
I love your insight and logic in this post!

“The acceleration of decline is a choice – one which we’ve already made.”

Saying nothing of the corruptive influence of special interests, do you think the acceleration of decline is a result of something as simple as American hubris? Or do you think the hubris displayed by both administrations is a reaction to the decline?

Each man (Obama & Bush) is/was a “messiah” to one part of the population and an “anti-Christ” to another – a partisan environment which seems to enable and promote an accelerated agenda and accelerated action, regardless of the dangers.