Lament After Lament

I say this with no pride but the United States is done, finished, kaput. It is broken. We have nothing to do but watch its inexorable decline. Watching may not be appropriate, for its demise will not be pretty; it may even be dangerous. A country that is highly armed, romanticizes war(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnCAjAVsM_E), is in steep economic decline, has both an obsession with its own exceptionality and a political system that no longer functions, is ripe for demagogues and tyrants to move in.

Nothing can stop this decline. There is no savior. (Obama’s election healed a national wound and that was a significant gift to the Republic. After that? Yes we can, but only if everyone wants too.) Some time ago—who knows exactly when?—politicians learned that while you speak to the people, you listen to the money. Some time ago—who knows exactly when?—the dumbing down of the citizenry went too far. Some time ago—who knows exactly when?—the role of government stopped being about serving its citizens and became about serving those who run its machinery and grease its wheels. Some time ago the press stopped trying to be a courageous and honest voice, and surrendered. Some time ago conversation and compromise packed up and went home, leaving theatre and spectacle and sound bites to claim center stage. Some time ago the Supreme Court wasn’t politicized, the ads weren’t written by pit bulls and civility had a seat at the table. Some time ago—who knows exactly when?—the United States could still turn things around.

Despite all of this, I have no deeper hope than being proven entirely wrong.

And here’s an equally cheery lament from Christopher Hedges author of Death of the Liberal Class:

The lunatic fringe of the Republican Party, which looks set to make sweeping gains in the midterm elections, is the direct result of a collapse of liberalism. It is the product of bankrupt liberal institutions, including the press, the church, universities, labor unions, the arts and the Democratic Party. The legitimate rage being expressed by disenfranchised workers toward the college-educated liberal elite, who abetted or did nothing to halt the corporate assault on the poor and the working class of the last 30 years, is not misplaced. The liberal class is guilty. The liberal class, which continues to speak in the prim and obsolete language of policies and issues, refused to act. It failed to defend traditional liberal values during the long night of corporate assault in exchange for its position of privilege and comfort in the corporate state. The virulent right-wing backlash we now experience is an expression of the liberal class’ flagrant betrayal of the citizenry.

The liberal class, which once made piecemeal and incremental reform possible, functioned traditionally as a safety valve. During the Great Depression, with the collapse of capitalism, it made possible the New Deal. During the turmoil of the 1960s, it provided legitimate channels within the system to express the discontent of African-Americans and the anti-war movement. But the liberal class, in our age of neo-feudalism, is now powerless. It offers nothing but empty rhetoric. It refuses to concede that power has been wrested so efficiently from the hands of citizens by corporations that the Constitution and its guarantees of personal liberty are irrelevant. It does not act to mitigate the suffering of tens of millions of Americans who now make up a growing and desperate permanent underclass. And the disparity between the rhetoric of liberal values and the rapacious system of inverted totalitarianism the liberal class serves makes liberal elites, including Barack Obama, a legitimate source of public ridicule. The liberal class, whether in universities, the press or the Democratic Party, insists on clinging to its privileges and comforts even if this forces it to serve as an apologist for the expanding cruelty and exploitation carried out by the corporate state.

Populations will endure repression from tyrants as long as these rulers continue to effectively manage and wield power. But human history has amply demonstrated that once those in positions of power become redundant and impotent, yet retain the trappings and privileges of power, they are swiftly and brutally discarded. Tocqueville observed that the French, on the eve of their revolution, hated the aristocrats about to lose their power far more than they had ever hated them before. The increased hatred directed at the aristocratic class occurred because as the aristocracy lost real power there was no decline in their fortunes. As long as the liberal class had even limited influence, whether through the press or the legislative process, liberals were tolerated and even respected. But once the liberal class lost all influence it became a class of parasites. The liberal class, like the déclassé French aristocracy, has no real function within the power elite. And the rising right-wing populists, correctly, ask why liberals should be tolerated when their rhetoric bears no relation to reality and their presence has no influence on power.

The death of the liberal class, however, is catastrophic for our democracy. It means there is no longer any check to a corporate apparatus designed to further enrich the power elite. It means we cannot halt the plundering of the nation by Wall Street speculators and corporations. An ineffectual liberal class, in short, means there is no hope, however remote, of a correction or a reversal through the political system and electoral politics. The liberals’ disintegration ensures that the frustration and anger among the working and the middle class will find expression in a rejection of traditional liberal institutions and the civilities of a liberal democracy. The very forces that co-opted the liberal class and are responsible for the impoverishment of the state will, ironically, reap benefits from the collapse. These corporate manipulators are busy channeling rage away from the corporate and military forces hollowing out the nation from the inside and are turning that anger toward the weak remnants of liberalism. It does not help our cause that liberals indeed turned their backs on the working and middle class.

To read the rest of it: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_world_liberal_opportunists_made_20101025/P100/

Having Successfully Ended the Long-form Census but Failed to End the Long-gun registry, Conservatives Determined to Ban Long Johns

Yesterday sources learned that the Conservative government under Stephen Harper is eyeing a ban on long johns. A Canadian tradition, long johns have not previously attracted the attention of the federal government. Minister of Natural Resources, Jim Prentice, stated that long johns are no longer necessary, given the rise of global warming, particularly in the Canadian arctic. Such a strong admission of global warming is rare for the Harper government, but given their determination to stop all things “long”, even deniers of global warming have apparently been thrown under the bus.

A government spokesperson, without confirming or denying a ban on long johns, tried to correct Prentice’s gaffe by acknowledging global warming while questioning whether it is manmade. He added that “long johns are becoming less critical in Canada, and whether we should put our manufacturing and textile industries to such use is an open question.” When asked directly about the ban, he acknowledged that all options are on the table, and admitted that “rural regions may find it more difficult, but the government believes our urban manufacturing base needs support to adapt to change, particularly in the current economic downturn.”

In a related note, some members of the Canadian Olympic Committee have expressed concern about the stability of funding for Canadian long jumpers heading into the 2012 Olympics in London. Long-track speed skating, always one of the best Canadian teams at the Olympics, has already secured its funding for the Winter Olympics in Russia.

Air-conditioning and Toll Roads: Solving America's Energy Crisis

We head down to the Jersey shore for vacation, to a quiet bit of beach far from the boardwalks and miniature golf and arcades. We lay on the beach--ahhh, the sound of the ocean, the warm sun, the…wait, what’s that? A small propeller plane towing a flying advertisement for—but of course—a cosmetic surgeon! Then here come three planes in a row for an internet provider, the three planes offering--in order--a fast, a faster, and a fastest internet connection. Last but not least a plane putters by towing a sign for-–am I reading correctly?—Dick Cheney at the Atlantic City Hilton. Who knew he planned to retire and go on the comedy circuit? America. Empire and carnival for the price of a single ticket.

Driving down we were caught in traffic jams. Were there accidents? Too many cars? No and no. The frequent slow-downs seemed to be caused by the presence of tolls. Lots of tolls, and cars slowing down to figure out which lane to go to—EZ Pass, Cash, Cash with Receipt. I admit I am no longer accustomed to toll roads. Canada doesn’t seem to have them. When I check out details in Wikipedia, it says that most toll roads in Canada are actually bridges to the United States. Is that perfect or what? Canada pays for its roads by something known as taxes. The U.S., on the other hand, makes the user pay—once at the toll and once by sitting in the traffic jam all the tolls create. Sitting in the traffic jams, I couldn’t help but think of how much gas was being wasted; it was like a miniature blowout of an offshore platform in the Gulf—day after day traffic jams waste gas all in the name of a refusal to tax sufficiently to build and maintain infrastructure.

So here’s part one of my solution to solve America’s energy crisis: eliminate toll roads. Here’s part two: lighten up on the air-conditioning. I mean, really, is air conditioning supposed to cool things down so much that your testicles retract? Someone ought to do research on the comparative use of air conditioning. Whether you're in a mall or a home, everyone seems to want to put their bodies on ice. Why not pass a law that says all air-conditioners need to be set to no cooler than 75? Because, duh, that infringes on our fundamental freedoms, you ex-American, law-abiding, government-loving Canadian. Oops, sorry, I forgot. Well, okay, how about if someone makes it a very strong suggestion? You could still chill out, but just not quite so thoroughly. And you’d do the planet a world of good in the process. Think about it America.

My Gift to the U.S. on July 4th: fairy tax dust

An email from a friend from last week:

In the US the state of gov't finances is really grim, massive budget deficits that by law have to be balanced - talk of states like California going bankrupt unless bailed out by the Fed gov't which would unleash a floodgate. Warren Buffet spoke about this last week, saying that after the feds bailed out Wall Street banks it would be inconceivable that they would refuse to bailout a state - good point. And many US voters, in their populist uprising wisdom, have voted in laws essentially giving legislators no decent options for raising revenues, so it's cuts cuts cuts. Not long ago I read that US voters have been convinced - by the Tea Party, Republican types (and then embraced by a lot of Democrats) that they pay high taxes and don't get enough from their government when in reality they have one of the lowest tax rates in the developed world - so there is a huge ideological wall they have to climb before they can deal with this mess they have created. As Buffett quipped, he pays less tax than his secretary.

After reading this cheery email, I came upon a remarkable article in the NY Times titled Illinois Stops Paying Its Bills, but Can’t Stop Digging Hole.
Two paragraphs:
For the last few years, California stood more or less unchallenged as a symbol of the fiscal collapse of states during the recession. Now Illinois has shouldered to the fore, as its dysfunctional political class refuses to pay the state’s bills and refuses to take the painful steps — cuts and tax increases — to close a deficit of at least $12 billion, equal to nearly half the state’s budget.

...From suburban Elgin to Chicago to Rockford to Peoria, school districts have fired thousands of teachers, curtailed kindergarten and electives, drained pools and cut after-school clubs. Drug, family and mental health counseling centers have slashed their work forces and borrowed money to stave off insolvency.

My gift to the United States is an unlimited supply of fairy tax dust. When you toss it over lawmakers, it gives them the courage to raise taxes. When you toss it over the electorate, it gives them the wisdom to accept what is necessary.

Without this gift, you can launch all the fireworks you want but the country will still go nowhere but down.

For the complete article go here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/03/business/economy/03illinois.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&hp

Happy Birthday Canada!

You don't look a day over one hundred and fourty three. Okay, so maybe the arctic ice is melting and the permafrost is turning to mud, and yes, it's true, the tailing ponds from the Tar Sands are a bit of an eyesore(or is it birdsore?), and we can't deny that the CN Tower is no longer the world's tallest structure, but morally we don't send more asbestos that's banned here to the third world than they can use, and we did just host the G-20 that accomplished (what DID it accomplish? anyone know out there?), and people are admitting that the Parliament that just went home for the summer was one of the most useless on record and--wait, wait a minutes, THAT'S GOOD! they all went home for the summer: Parliament is not in session!
Ah, something to celebrate.

And may you have another one hundred and fourty three to grow kinder, gentler and wiser than you are now.

Psssst, American Companies, Move Up Here

The Director’s of one of Canada’s MBA programs recently had this to say:
“Never in the history of our country have we been ahead of the United States. The United States has always been richer, more powerful, more aggressive, more dynamic, more successful, more entrepreneurial. And right now they’re going off the cliff. Their banking is a mess. Their real estate is a mess. Their tax system is a mess. The place is going bankrupt before your eyes.” He actually thinks “we have the opportunity to steal some of their business” and get American companies to relocate up here.

Think again. Capitalizing on an opportunity happens because you’re aggressive, dynamic and entrepreneurial. And THAT is the essence of Canada…not! Actually, because things are fine up here, why bother, eh? Isn’t it Canada’s low risk-tolerance and conservative banking culture that saved the country’s butt in the first place. Where exactly are these new traits going to come from to capitalize on the opportunity he sees? And besides that, it’s the height of the NHL play-offs. Business opportunity? What opportunity? Pass the chips and dip, and break open the Molsons.

Notes From The Nanny State

THAT would be Canada, at least according to Michael Steele, the Republican National Committee Chairman. At the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (is there an oxymoron buried in there by chance?), he said in his keynote, “You need to understand something here folks, we’re not in a nanny-state induced coma, like Europe and Canada.” My young teenage son, listening along with me, started up a conversation that went something like this:
“What’s that mean dad?”
“Well, a nanny state is a state that takes care of its citizens, it has things like an old-age pension for its citizens, universal healthcare, maybe generous parental leave policies, perhaps national daycare, things like that.”
“But that sounds good, why does he think it’s bad?”
“He thinks it’s bad because it means people will get lazy, and they won’t work hard because the state will take care of them, like a nanny.”
“But if that’s true, why are Americans so lazy? They live in a country that doesn’t take care of them.”
“Why do you say Americans are lazy?”
“Well, geez dad, you’ve been down there, they’re the fattest people around. You get fat when you’re lazy, right?”
And so there, you have it at last—a metric for measuring the degree of Nanny-statism. The U.S. wins by a landslide! No wonder they have that show called The Biggest Loser. France, on the other hand, deep in its nanny-state coma, has citizens known for their thinness. And how about those socialist Scandinavians—aren’t they a bunch of fatties? Wait a minute, they’re actually pretty damn fit….I could get to like this metric.

* * * * *

Parity

That’s been the big word here this past week. Parity. It means the Canadian dollar is of equal value to the U.S. greenback. “Parity” is said with a kind of pride. If the Loonie is of equal value, than the country must be as well. Another metric. Canada, in other words, is finally as good as the U.S.! Right? Aren’t we? I mean, is it okay to say we are? Is that Canadian? Okay, maybe we’re not really as good. But almost, eh?

Truth is, the northern Nanny-state is actually outperforming the U.S.in most economic measures. Take that, Michael Steele. You would think that Canada coming out of the global recession stronger than any other G8 country would also be a source of pride, and it is, but, and this is a big butt, Canada knows its economy is completely tied to the U.S. Canada would actually be better off in the long run if the U.S. were coming out the strongest. It’s why Canada, as much as it may like to see itself as better than the States, can never wish the U.S. anything other than good fortune.

* * * *

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference and Ann Coulter Revisited

Underlying the content of the remarks of those at the conference is a reminder again of the breakdown of political discourse in the U.S. Newt Gingrich described the current administration as “a perfect, unrepresentative left wing machine dedicated to a secular, socialist future.” Sarah Palin was saying the kinds of things Sarah Palin says. Give her points for consistency; then take them away for accuracy…Imagine being fed a constant diet of this stuff, as many Americans are.

Think of political rhetoric as food; given that you are what you eat, perhaps Americans need to eat something more nutritionally balanced. Eating primarily the empty calories of emotionally-charged language is no healthier than eating cheap, overly-processed foods. One is satisfied only temporarily, before one needs to return for more. The reason Canada and Canadians ought not to partake of the words of Ann Coulter and her like is not because of any issues of freedom of speech, but rather because it makes sense to pay attention to what you take in—whether its food or rhetoric. A diet of nothing but twinkies is only good for the producers of twinkies, just as consuming right-wing rhetoric only benefits the producers of that rhetoric. Junkfood is junkfood. Don’t take it in. It’s bad for your health. Eat your vegetables, said your mother. And she was right. The reasonable (and reasoned) language of civil conversation may be a diet that’s a bit bland but it’s good for all of us. Canada still has some of it; the United States, none.

Bringing in those American chefs to listen to their recipes is folly.