...WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

About 10 years ago, a group of us at work were having a discussion about US politics which was spurred by something the US government did, (I think it was Bill Clinton's ‘wag the dog' attack on Sudan looking for Bin Laden or something) and the topic moved towards US's behavior around the world. During the discussion, I made a comment about how the US has turned into an empire and that it would eventually fall just like all the other world empires in the past, only that in this case, given the advancement in technology and the nature of conflicts in the world, the US will make sure that the rest of the world will go down with it. Of course, the Americans in the group, except for one elderly gentleman, reacted to my comment with righteous indignation like any ‘true blue blooded American' would. Thank God, it was only 1998! Comments like that can get you a one way ticket to Guantanamo these days. But, I still hold that belief.

It is looking more and more like the US is inching towards that possibility, whether we accept it or not. Militarily, the US is bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan in an occupation that is costing it precious lives and treasure and at the same time is saber rattling against Iran threatening to attack with nuclear weapons. The resignation of Admiral William Fallon, the top commander for Iraq and Afghanistan, who has threatened to resign if US bombed Iran, has moved the possibility of an attack closer to reality. Economically, the new ruthless capitalism that is driven by globalization and privatization, is destroying the middle class in the US and moving the country towards a third world status in terms of its economy. Politically, the US is seen as one of the most dangerous and feared countries by the rest of the world and its politicians are getting caught with their pants down more often than a tourist with diarrhea. Socially, Americans would rather watch American Idol and Dancing With the Stars than watch what is being done in their name around the world and in front of their noses. And the president? Well, it seems like he has never been in a better mood. In the middle of all these crises, with oil prices at an all time high, the economy in recession, mortgage foreclosures at record pace, jobs being lost at record level, just to name a few, Mr Bush is tap dancing on the White House porch, singing about his screw-ups at a dinner with the wonderful 'liberal media elite', going around the world and dancing with the locals in Africa, and ‘ cracking jokes about his presidency at a press conference. Yes, Nero is fiddling while Rome is burning.

I was listening to a radio program recently and the host read an e-mail sent from Norway by a Norwegian listner, which described exactly the way I feel about America and Americans these days. Here is that what he wrote.

Elliot Spitzer another seemingly decent Democrat, what a joke! You f'n Americans! The Romans, British, French, Germans were bad, but they didn't have nukes during their empire days. The USA has the potential to be the worst and the most lethal empire ever. Yeah yeah, I know, the Spitzer thing is ridiculously tiny compared to the war crimes and evil of the Republicans and most Democrats, but the Spitzer thing says so much. Who did he appear to be? Maybe not as principled and decent as Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich, but I perceived his as pretty darn close, and a potential, with real chance to becoming president - and a good one. And even if this really is mostly a personal matter, it still speaks volumes. How much does he really care about his work for the people, this Spitzer? I don't care whether it's legal or not, immoral in itself or not, I care about what this tells us about the man. Buying expensive sex from luxury prostitutes, just keep those words in mind, if this guy ever tries telling you, what he's really about. Money is what he is about; prosecuting crimes he himself is guilty of is what he is about. And by the way, I am withholding judgment of Hillary Clinton no more. She IS a monster - truly a monster. Why? It's become so damn apparent to me what she's doing. She knows she can't get the nomination; this is a fact only idiots would debate this now, so why does she continue? She continues so that she can make sure she hurts Obama so much that, evil insane old man McCain wins in November setting the scene for her to run again in 2012. So, you well-meaning idiots who call in and complain that Malloy and Hartmann (the hosts) knock Hillary too much, you better wake up. She's as bad as McCain. They will both say and do anything to become president. She and McCain do not care about the USA; they care about becoming president. There is still hope that the impressive Senator Obama is a pragmatic idealist, one who knows to tone the Liberalism down in order to win the presidency, but Hillary? No, not an idealist.

My tiny spec of optimism about the USA is now history. I'm back to expecting the worse from the USA. Show the world this November, again, that you have the most ignorant and stupid voting populous on the planet. Hear the call - important impoverished Christian peasants in Kansas and all over America, please bend over so that your rich Republican owners, mostly corporatist politicians and pedophile preachers can pick your pockets while they enjoy your posteriors. Bring your Bibles! Democrat voting common heads, who think you're liberals, you're nothing but Oprah Winfrey's audience. Naive, middle class, well-meaning idiots. Democrats, you are so much worse than you think you are. The good, decent and informed Democratic voters are as rare as good, decent and principled Democratic politicians, maybe 1 in 30. Has it occurred to you that the reason Al Gore doesn't run again is that he sees most of you Democrats as inferior and not worth his time? And all you militarists, you have any idea how pathetic you look to Europe and the world? Your pretense that any moron who has worn a uniform is by default a hero, your constant mindless whining about enemies abroad and at home - you don't look brave, like you're willing to fight any danger. What a joke! We see you for what you are. No people in the world are more scared of the world and its own shadow than the USA. You can catch Michael Moore in minor or even major factual errors easily, but his main point in "Bowling for Columbine" is spot on. The USA collectively is an illiterate scared of everything 8-year-old boy with an arsenal of weapons. You're easily scared, poop in your pants about everything, and you're dangerous and scary. That's what you are military America. But like any 8-year-old boy, you think having guns and scaring people is cool, don't you?

I'm just gonna sit here and shake my head as you all ‘f' up again in November. To the remaining few good Americans who haven't moved to Canada, Europe or New Zealand yet, I mourn with you.

Can't add anything to that! Oh and we are looking up to the US to save our problems back home, right?

Incidentally, did I mention the writer lives in the most peaceful nation in the world? Way to rub it in! And where does US rank? 96th out of 121 countries, just before Iran.