The Setting of the American Empire

When the history books are written about the demise of the American Empire. Certainly they will attribute it's fall to the banking crisis of 2008. There will be an entire chapter on how the 1971 President Nixon and his fatal decision to move away from the gold standard. Causing massive disruptions in the form of inflation in the 1970's and 1980's. There no doubt will be numerous reasons given for his folly. Mine would focus n Vietnam and the enormous expenses it caused not only in human lives and suffering , but financially. They will I am certain make note of the hundreds of millions of dollars that poured into Washington, DC from the from financial institutions as Glass-Steagall was systematically dismantled. There has always been corruption with all governments, though the corruption of the US government over the last twenty years is quite astounding. For the most part it has been done within the legal frame work, however the betrayal of trust, total disregard to nationalism and complete lack of knowledge and wisdom is unprecedented in history. As the prestige of American politicians and power soared to unimaginably height, so did their ignorance. As great as the founders selflessness and vision was that gave such hope to hundreds of millions in every corner of the world. The modern American leaders were equally incompetent incapable of following the obvious logic conclusion of the ill determined decisions.

President Clinton for mastery of navigating the political mine fields of his own creation and George W Bush for his adherence to the Christian world view that  guide the world so successfully through the twentieths century. Appear as naive and unaware of the consequences of their actions as now as they were when they were in office. Likewise Alan Greenspan and Larry Summers and Robert Rubin seem more interested in preserving their reputations then acknowledging their collective ignorance.

The one area which to me may not get totally examined is president Obama. His obvious lack of management skills have been evident from day one, but with most others who rose to such prominence he appears to have gained little wisdom and his actions will no doubt have a major contribution to the fall of the American empire.  We all watched as in March of 2009 in the early days of his presidency the stock market begin a free fall. The S&P bouncing of the auspicious 666 number. The signal was being sent to the new president, we are in control and if you screw with us we have the power to make economic life for the American citizens intolerable. He then foolishly embarked on health care reform, failing to understand that the system in which he was placed in charge was completely and utterly corrupt. Any reform would end up being so badly constructed that the American people would reject it almost as much as the health care profession and insurance industry. At that time his efforts would have been more fruitful had he tackled lobby reform. clearing the way for both parties to work in harmony as appose to bitter conflict. As if to follow incompetence with stupidity he then isolated himself from his greatest asset. The American people. One decision after another was made to had high administration positions to business individuals who have as their world view corporate interest and power. No of which, at least as of the timing of this writing have any understanding of America role as beacon of light in the world. To them the world is to be manipulated and distorted to suit the profit forecast. when the world needed leaders president Obama hired money changers. This effort to appease his enemies will no doubt result in financial asset appreciation and a bounce in make believe and manipulated polls, but I doubt it will result in a second term or in his presidency being viewed as successful. The corporate elite have much power to influence the American economy and even the economies of the world. Their prestige however is not inapproachable around the world, having spent decades creating enemies of exploited countries and peoples.
In the end as the American people, who often are referred to as sheeple stand hopeless by. having experienced an "ET Brut" moment from President Obama. It may be the people of the world that ride to our rescue. Not by buying our goods or bailing us out financially, but by rejecting the fallacy which is greed and corruption masquerading around as freedom and justice. The may just reject the dollar and the fraud of Wall street and bring the entire foolish experiment down to earth. As we once saved them, so they may just save us. Though I doubt most Americans will say it feels like that. It will be pain and misery, but that is the necessary ingredients of all great things and people. difficult is often the blessing and prosperity the curse.