October
13The End of Empire
Writing in the New York Times, David Carr observes that New Yorkers are numbed by the chaotic economy, while in Los Angeles folks seem to be maintaining their cool. He’s got a point.
Perhaps this is to be expected: New Yorkers interact more emotionally because they’re always packed together. Los Angeles people spend too much time in their cars listening to the know-nothings of talk radio.
But Carr nonetheless raises a good point: How are you suppose to respond to cosmic change? You instinctively know these are historic moments. So do you yell at your kids? Drink another beer? Kick the dog?
Or do you sit back and perspire quietly as you add up the import of what’s taking place before you?
It became apparent to the world that Rule Brittania was a myth. It’s been apparent ever since.
And now is it America’s turn? Our foreign ventures have enriched the war machine, as President Eisenhower once predicted, but reduced the nation to third-world status.
Think about that for a while and you become as numb as a New Yorker.
Perhaps this is to be expected: New Yorkers interact more emotionally because they’re always packed together. Los Angeles people spend too much time in their cars listening to the know-nothings of talk radio.
But Carr nonetheless raises a good point: How are you suppose to respond to cosmic change? You instinctively know these are historic moments. So do you yell at your kids? Drink another beer? Kick the dog?
Or do you sit back and perspire quietly as you add up the import of what’s taking place before you?
- The world economy is on a roller coaster ride and governments are injecting billions directly into the banking system. OK, cool.
- The Bush Administration’s initial brainstorm of a $700 billion bailout already seems to be a washout. OK, we knew they were idiots anyway.
- The ideal of the free market, which has powered global recoveries since the ‘50s, is now considered an anachronism. OK, let’s see if anyone has a better idea.
- Historians around the world are concluding that the United States is no longer a superpower and is in fact in decline, like the post-colonial British Empire. Now that’s a show-stopper. Haven’t people named Bush been telling us we still rule the world?
It became apparent to the world that Rule Brittania was a myth. It’s been apparent ever since.
And now is it America’s turn? Our foreign ventures have enriched the war machine, as President Eisenhower once predicted, but reduced the nation to third-world status.
Think about that for a while and you become as numb as a New Yorker.
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I would say that if a Dem was in office, the bailout would be much bigger. Look at the $150 billion of pork and special interest funding that was added to the original $700 billion package by the Democratically led Senate.
As for a free market, we don''t have a free market, that''s the problem. Clinton greatly expanded a home financing package begun by Reagan that made these sub-prime mortgages to people who couldn''t afford them possible. This led to things like 5 million illegal aliens being able to get mortgages! A free market wouldn''t have let loans like that happen.
And finally, if we''re no longer a superpower, then you have to redefine the word superpower because there isn''t another country that has the vibrant economy that we have as well as a high standard of living for more people than any other country on earth. Half the people of China, India and Russia are still living like 17th century peasants, while the Europeans are so overtaxed, they have no incentive to do anything. Africa is a basket case, and South America is a mess. Who else then is a superpower?
You shouldn''t base your world view on what the New York Times writes. The newspaper is like Pravda for American socialists.
Posted by: Dan Zee | 10/15/2008 9:35:09 AM
Obviously Mister Bart has never been to a third world country if he believes the U.S. has been reduced to one.
Posted by: Mark | 10/15/2008 8:31:17 AM
Ideal of a free market is alive and well as long it is well regulated.
Posted by: Mkaven | 10/15/2008 12:58:07 AM
A large part of New York's economy is centered on the financial industry. That industry will be a bit reduce in the next few years, of course New Yorkers are more concerned. But, for American firms that produce actual goods, the economy is not terrible.
Posted by: fredville | 10/14/2008 10:51:52 PM
New Yorkers tend to have a stronger reaction to issues regarding the country and the world. Most people in Los Angeles only react to things that happen in showbusiness and could care less about real news. That''s mainly because they are souless, selfish, greedy and too busy screwing each other over. If you don''t believe me, just go and hang around the Coffee Bean across from the DGA on sunset.
Posted by: mlp | 10/14/2008 2:35:49 PM
Stick to movies, Peter. Hollywood folk are out of their depth on any other subject.
Posted by: Banjo | 10/13/2008 5:43:17 PM