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Farewell, the American Century
Andrew J. Bacevich, The Nation
... In its classic formulation, the central theme of the American Century has been one of righteousness overcoming evil. The United States (above all the US military) made that triumph possible. When, having been given a final nudge on December 7, 1941, Americans finally accepted their duty to lead, they saved the world from successive diabolical totalitarianisms. In doing so, the US not only preserved the possibility of human freedom but modeled what freedom ought to look like.

So goes the preferred narrative of the American Century, as recounted by its celebrants.

The problems with this account are twofold. First, it claims for the United States excessive credit. Second, it excludes, ignores or trivializes matters at odds with the triumphal story line.

The net effect is to perpetuate an array of illusions that, whatever their value in prior decades, have long since outlived their usefulness. In short, the persistence of this self-congratulatory account deprives Americans of self-awareness, hindering our efforts to navigate the treacherous waters in which the country finds itself at present. Bluntly, we are perpetuating a mythic version of the past that never even approximated reality and today has become downright malignant. Although Richard Cohen may be right in declaring the American Century over, the American people--and especially the American political class--still remain in its thrall.

Constructing a past usable to the present requires a willingness to include much that the American Century leaves out.

For example, to the extent that the demolition of totalitarianism deserves to be seen as a prominent theme of contemporary history (and it does), the primary credit for that achievement surely belongs to the Soviet Union. When it came to defeating the Third Reich, the Soviets bore by far the preponderant burden, sustaining 65 percent of all Allied deaths in World War II.

By comparison, the United States suffered 2 percent of those losses, for which any American whose father or grandfather served in and survived that war should be saying: Thank you, Comrade Stalin.

For the United States to claim credit for destroying the Wehrmacht is the equivalent of Toyota claiming credit for inventing the automobile. We entered the game late and then shrewdly scooped up more than our fair share of the winnings. The true "Greatest Generation" is the one that willingly expended millions of their fellow Russians while killing millions of German soldiers.

Hard on the heels of World War II came the cold war, during which erstwhile allies became rivals. Once again, after a decades-long struggle, the United States came out on top.

Yet in determining that outcome, the brilliance of American statesmen was far less important than the ineptitude of those who presided over the Kremlin. Ham-handed Soviet leaders so mismanaged their empire that it eventually imploded, permanently discrediting Marxism-Leninism as a plausible alternative to liberal democratic capitalism. The Soviet dragon managed to slay itself.
(28 April 2009)
Also at Asia Times

Accused BLM Bid Monkey-Wrencher de Christopher Pleads Not Guilty
Judy Fahys and Brandon Loomis, The Salt Lake Tribune
Tim DeChristopher pleaded "not guilty" Tuesday to disrupting a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction in December and pledged to use his prosecution to attack policies he says are allowing climate change to careen out of control.

About 200 supporters rallied for the 27-year-old University of Utah student at the downtown Salt Lake City library and marched with him to the federal courthouse, where he was arraigned and his weeklong trial was scheduled to begin July 6.

DeChristopher faces up to 10 years in prison but he told his supporters that those consequences did not compare with the starvation and homelessness millions will suffer around the world if climate change is not stopped.

"Until [U.S. Attorney for Utah] Brett Tolman can start dishing out punishment penalties like that, I'm not going to back down, and I need to know you are not going to back down, either," he told a cheering crowd.
(29 April 2009)
Also at Common Dreams.

The UK and US governments are certainly coming down hard on climate protestors. I wonder why? Shenanigans in the financial markets pose a much greater threat to the well-being of society. -BA

Recession Has Changed Lifestyles, Poll Shows
Nancy Trejos and Jon Cohen, Washington Post
The recession has forced a majority of Americans to alter their lifestyles, and many are upset about it, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. Still, many are optimistic about their financial prospects over the next year.

... For much of the decade, Americans grew used to soaring real estate values, a booming stock market and healthy job prospects. Now, they find themselves in a situation many have never experienced. According to the survey, 66 percent have lost a job or have seen someone close to them get laid off or lose a job, and 71 percent have had their wages or hours cut or seen it happen to a close friend or relative.
(29 April 2009)

Rich people feel guilty buying luxury stuff in bad economy
Jayne O'Donnell, USA TODAY
More than half of affluent consumers say they feel "guilty" making luxury purchases in this economy, a survey of the most-moneyed Americans finds. Fewer this year also say they like to be labeled as "wealthy."

The survey of people with an annual discretionary household income of more than $100,000, which is generally those earning $500,000 or more, was released Wednesday by consulting firm Harrison Group and American Express Publishing. Discretionary income is what's left after the mortgage and taxes are paid.

People with such discretionary incomes make up 10% of households yet account for more than half of retail sales and 70% of profit margins.

With luxury chains Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue posting about the highest monthly sales declines in retail, it's clear the well-heeled have closed their wallets about as tightly as other shoppers. Figuring out why is a billion-dollar question in luxury retail.

Of course, far more than a guilty conscience is at play. More than half of those polled — 53% — said they worry they could actually run out of money.
(30 April 2009)