This is a fascinating, though disturbing view of America's decay, from a European perspective, headlined "A Superpower in Decline: Is the American Dream Over?"
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,726447,00.html
Here's a paragraph, early in the piece, that stands out in the wake of last week's elections:
"The country is reacting strangely irrationally to the loss of its importance -- it is a reaction characterized primarily by rage. Significant portions of America simply want to return to a supposedly idyllic past. They devote almost no effort to reflection, and they condemn cleverness and intellect as elitist and un-American, as if people who hunt bears could seriously be expected to lead a world power. Demagogues stir up hatred and rage on television stations like Fox News. These parts of America, majorities in many states, ignorant of globalization and the international labor market, can do nothing but shout. They hate everything that is new and foreign to them."
Definitely worth a read.
--Michael Hasty
Monday, November 8, 2010
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1 comment:
Hey Mike, Hey Bill, Hey Guys, Great stuff, I just started writing in this last election. Here is one I wrote where I discussed the absurdities of 2 GOP candidates, these bums lost, but what is significant is that the Fimian race was close, b etween 400 & 900 votes. My point is is that these articles both take away and give votes, and in a close race, I believe it's important.
Letters to the Editor: October 21 - 27, 2010 Print E-mail
Wednesday, October 20 2010 07:11:01 PM
2 GOP Hopefuls Reveal ‘Absurdities’ in FCNP
(Falls Church News Press)
Editor,
I want to thank the FCNP for reporting the absurd comments of two GOP candidates, Keith Fimian, during his debate with the incumbent, Rep. Gerry Connolly, and New York Republican gubernatorial candidate, Carl Paladino. FCNP’s Nicholas Benton records Fimian’s statements that came during the face-to-face debate with incumbent U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly and included the following remarks by Fimian: “anyone who is a friend of unions” is not pro business,… “ global warming is inconclusive.”
In addition, during the Tuesday debate held at GMU, Congressman Connolly noted that he voted against the “don’t ask don’t tell”, military policy towards lesbians and gays, while Fimian said, “the decision should be made by senior brass.” At this point in the debate, Fimian’s support for the policy that has prevented thousands of Americans from fulfilling military service was obvious. It appears that more than one GOP candidate seems to be hung up on the issue of gay and lesbian American rights, which for some reason, has become a campaign favorite among the extreme conservatives issues.
The FCNP article, The Bloody Path of Victory by W. Benson, then reported that GOP governor hopeful Carl Paladino “trashed the LGBT community” saying, “I don’t want children to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option, it isn’t!” citing that Paladino’s situation went from uncomfortable to downright embarrassing,” when it was revealed that the candidates son, William, had once run a gay Buffalo nightclub”.
Just hours after Paladino’s remarks, the NY Daily News reported that Paladino, who spent much time attacking what he calls “the homosexual agenda,” cashed in on gay clubs Cobalt, & Buddies ll. According to the NY Daily News, Paladino’s “son William, ran Cobalt up to 2004, a nightclub dubbed Buffalo’s gay club of the moment & that Carl Paladino cashed fat rent checks from Buffalo gay bars Buddies ll and Cobalt.
Keith Conway
Vienna
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