I love Fareed Zakaria so much

[Wilder]

I just wanted to share this short clip of Zakaria talking about the single greatest danger to America:
(Hint: it's not Mexicans, Muslims, Capitalists, or gays)






I think he has hit the nail pretty much right on the head. This is also why I voted for Obama, because I think he will engage the rest of the world, instead of trying to put ourselves as the great lone monolith. I think the best way to protect and promote the US is to see ourselves as part of the world, rather than as the only part of it. What ever the man's flaws, I think he has so far.

[Gromovnik]

So what is it?

[Wilder]

So what is it?

Stagnation and political paralysis

[Gromovnik]

Sounds lame...

[nopasties]

Sounds lame...

It makes some good points but does not point fingers for good or bad reasons. I look at it as the US has been living off of our legacy for a generation. All advancements in the US are private advancements and not public. The public sphere has been essentially stagnant since the 70's or early 80's IMO.

[Gromovnik]

It makes some good points but does not point fingers for good or bad reasons. I look at it as the US has been living off of our legacy for a generation. All advancements in the US are private advancements and not public. The public sphere has been essentially stagnant since the 70's or early 80's IMO.

But how can you bomb stagnation and political paralysis?

[Wilder]

But how can you bomb stagnation and political paralysis?

To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.


*waves flag harder*

[Heinz Guderian]

But how can you bomb stagnation and political paralysis?

why do you hate America?

[Gromovnik]

why do you hate America?

I hate their freedom.

[Claudius Gothicus]

It makes some good points but does not point fingers for good or bad reasons. I look at it as the US has been living off of our legacy for a generation. All advancements in the US are private advancements and not public. The public sphere has been essentially stagnant since the 70's or early 80's IMO.

But isn't that the point of living in the USA getting things done by yourself with very little intervention by the Government? Self made individuals in a society?

[nopasties]

But isn't that the point of living in the USA getting things done by yourself with very little intervention by the Government?

I generally had made the point before in a few other threads but I point my finger at Reagan pushing:

"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."

The conservative movement coming off of these ideas pushed the emphasis from the public to private sphere. There is a definite arguement for this perspective and I generally agree in a smaller government and such than what existed in 1970's. A side effect of this movement was the dumbing down of government bureacracy and a conversion of the government from that which serves a public good to that which serves private interest. The government enables private gain at the expense of public good sometimes. After the financial crisis of late it seems the government is a fire sale and 'everything must go'.

Self made individuals in a society?

The amount of aggregate wealth at the top is endangering the 'self made individual'. Not now so much but inheritable wealth in such vast amounts makes me nervous for our future.

[Phier]

It makes some good points but does not point fingers for good or bad reasons. I look at it as the US has been living off of our legacy for a generation. All advancements in the US are private advancements and not public. The public sphere has been essentially stagnant since the 70's or early 80's IMO.

Oh noes, what ever will we do not having 'public' advancements while I sit in my spacious home watching HD tv while posting over the internet on a state of the art computer after a very good meal, almost exclusively provided by 'private' advancement

Which reminds me I need to take a pill, that was developed by the private sector.

[nopasties]

Oh noes, what ever will we do not having 'public' advancements while I sit in my spacious home watching HD tv while posting over the internet on a state of the art computer after a very good meal, almost exclusively provided by 'private' advancement

Which reminds me I need to take a pill, that was developed by the private sector.

I expanded on the point tlo Claudius Gothicus. The public advancements like public education and healthcare and our infrastructure are sadly falling apart. The private sphere is doing quite well for some at the expense of the greater good. Things that would fall under responsibilities of citizenship are lacking. Civic education is almost non-existant in some places. Political persuasion dictates how big of a problem this is but do not confuse me for some collectivist. The conservative movement undid alot of excess from Dem's but as a side effect of diminishing the government role in America I feel they have made us a rudderless ship.

[justicar5]

Oh noes, what ever will we do not having 'public' advancements while I sit in my spacious home watching HD tv while posting over the internet on a state of the art computer after a very good meal, almost exclusively provided by 'private' advancement

Which reminds me I need to take a pill, that was developed by the private sector.

The internet is a goverment invention, so is the computer.

[mrmouth]

It makes some good points but does not point fingers for good or bad reasons. I look at it as the US has been living off of our legacy for a generation. All advancements in the US are private advancements and not public. The public sphere has been essentially stagnant since the 70's or early 80's IMO.

Thing is, you can pretty much apply that to all developed nations. The difference is, this is the most highly transparent system in the world. And given its role int the world, it is also open to criticism much more.

Point is, of course the cat has gotten too fat, but it isnt just a problem, here.

[InsaneHanz]

People in the US actually think free trade is a bad thing? Must be GM factory workers.

[Hiero of Syracuse]

That's a bit harsh. But we can't please everyone.
Anyway this guy is pretty convincing....anything else on him.

[Каие]

Is this the guy who was in the running for Secretary of State?

[Kanaric]

People in the US actually think free trade is a bad thing? Must be GM factory workers.

Except what we have in the US isn't free trade. So whatever the government calls free trade here IS a bad thing.

[Acco]

I think he has hit the nail pretty much right on the head. This is also why I voted for Obama, because I think he will engage the rest of the world, instead of trying to put ourselves as the great lone monolith. I think the best way to protect and promote the US is to see ourselves as part of the world, rather than as the only part of it. What ever the man's flaws, I think he has so far.

Absolutely, and this is where I think George W. Bush failed to capitalize. George W. Bush failed to send top foreign policy officials to other countries in the hope of soliciting views and making a case for his actions worldwide. By sending envoys to other capitals to garner support for the Gulf War, George H.W. Bush signaled respect for other nations by showing that their opinion mattered, made them feel that they were a part of a worldwide consensus, and managed to construct a mighty coalition which could then engage in warfare. The elder Bush's son basically belittled other nations by questioning the relevance of the United Nations, which, whether you believe the U.N. to be beneficial or not, is something that should never be done in public, with representatives from the entire world watching. Hopefully Obama will steer clear of George W. Bush's great lone monolith approach and adopt a consultative style similar to that of George H.W. Bush's in the future.