Stand up or surrender

Historian Joseph Stromberg’s First Law: “there is virtually no situation anywhere in the world that can’t be made worse by U.S intervention.”

Ivan Eland’s book, The Empire Has No Clothes, concentrates on the expansion of the “American Empire” following the close of WW II. Prior to about 1950 there was no American Empire, we basically adhered to the policies of our founding fathers and did not meddle much in things beyond our borders. But starting with Truman we more and more began to meddle in far flung affairs that had no real relationship to our own security. The result of this has been the creation of an American (informal) empire that stretches clear across the globe. Eland argues, very cogently I believe, that like all empires in history ours will inevitably expand to the point that we cannot afford it and it will fail. He points out that the some 170 countries that we now maintain troops in have little or nothing to do with our security – and everything to do with promoting our corporate business interests and our false need for empire. He argues that we would be far better off to abandon most of these bases, retreat to our own borders, and, following the advice of our founders, simply stop meddling in affairs that do not truly concern us. This would enable us to save billions of dollars that could be much better used to strengthen our own economy and thus increase our ability to compete in the international marketplace:

“America’s geographical advantages should allow it the luxury of narrowing its list of vital interests and safeguarding them, while adopting a policy of military restraint overseas. The United States needs to monitor the balance of power in two key regions – Europe and East Asia – and take action only if regional powers or organizations fail to maintain the balance of power. The policy of military restraint should allow the United States to cut its military budget by more than half, but would still require American to have a capable Navy to protect U.S. trade and a minimum strategic nuclear force to act as the ultimate deterrent to an attack on the United States. Using a policy of military restraint to defend a narrower set of vital interests will lower the cost to the taxpayer and actually increase the security of the United States by lowering the motivation of outside parties to attack them.” (p. 252).

Eland suggests reasons why neither conservatives or liberals should be in favor of an American Empire, and, indeed, why anyone should. He has a persuasive argument that everyone should read and consider. But of course as virtually no one in America reads, and certainly not serious books like this one, his well reasoned and historical precedents will be lost except for a few “pointy-headed intellectuals.” I hate to sound like a true elitist, but I have come to believe that no one should be allowed to vote without having completed at least 40 hours of non-partisan socio-political-economic study. They should then be given a certificate that would have to be presented to their precinct before they would be allowed to vote. If you have to study to become an American citizen why should you not have to study to be an informed voter? I guess we prefer voters like my mother-in-law who simply says, “my husband and I have always voted Republican and I am going to vote Republican now.” She pays absolutely no attention to what is happening in the world, doesn’t watch the news (maybe that is a good thing), and spends her days in shopping and watching movies (much to her credit I don’t think she watches the soaps).

Tomorrow, January 6, 2005, members of the House are prepared to challenge the Ohio electoral votes. For this to actually happen they need at least one Senator to join them. As of now, as far as I know, they still have no Senatorial commitment to this important and historical act, not even John Kerry, who is conveniently going to be out of the country. This is a monumentally important step for our Democracy. If no Senator steps forward to be counted on this momentous occasion you can conclude that on January 6, 2005, our nation was surrendered to Fascism.