God and Gold: Britain, America and the Making of the Modern
Вставка
- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Walter Russell Mead, a foreign policy expert of the Council on Foreign Relations, speaks about his new book, "God and Gold: Britain, America and the Making of the Modern World".
Mead argues that the key to the predominance of the United States and England has been the individualistic ideology of the prevailing Anglo-American religion. The synergy of this ideology and capitalism propelled Britain and the U.S. to global dominance, and as a result, the two nations were able to create the liberal, democratic system whose economic and social influence continues to grow around the world. Mead goes on to discuss the purpose of Anglo-American power in the post-9/11 world.
nice
-Cont.- (10% of the US earns and owns more than the rest of 90% combined) As economic independence disappear, so does political liberties and genuine Democracy replaced by oligarchic exploitation and oppression. Democracy is reduced to a fake democracy where the choice for the plebs is reduced to choosing between two establishment parties offering the same variety as Pepsi offers to Coke. -Cont.-
-Cont.- There are every indications that this Anglo-American maritime conglomerate maturing along these familiar and predetermined lines.
Mr. Mead can ridicule Marx but he was right that Capitalism will necessarily culminates into Monopol-Capitalism (see gigantic multinational corporations whose revenue and profit surpass even respected mid-size countries) and wealth will gradually be concentrated in ever fewer hand. -Cont.-
-Cont.-Or the similar fate as the progressively more corrupt Roman Republic finally buckles under pressure and demises in a coup d'etat and transforms itself into the Roman Empire just before the time of Augustus. The imperial system in the ultimate analysis was only an intermediary stage however, before its final and complete demise about 400 years later. History shows by these examples, that these cycles are 500-800 years long. -Cont.-
-Cont.- The rising oligarchic (and increasingly autocratic) elite, thus gradually emptying out these countries from their unique democratic and innovative values, and subverting the erstwhile progressive nature of the enterprise.
Therefore the Greek federation of democratic, free states necessarily deteriorates into a Hellenistic Empire under the burden of exigencies to hold the Greek colonies against pressure coming from inland. -Cont.-
-Cont.- What Mr. Mead forgets to apply, is the chronological development which eats these maritime entities from inside-out as the untold riches flowing into the centre from the peripheries, which are gradually causing a concentration of wealth (and correspondingly political power) into ever fewer hands. -Cont.-
-Cont.-By its nature a maritime power holds pivotal economic and strategic advantages over non maritime powers, so its chances of success over them is greater as well. Where I differ from him, is to see the Anglo-American system as an unparalleled unique phenomenon in history, glowing in an almost Messianic light.
Both the Greeks through their federation of states and later the Romans were their spectacularly successful practitioners. -Cont.-
-Cont.- When sustaining the Empire costs more in expenditures than what it takes-in, decline sets in which can be slow and gradual or short and violent according to the vagaries of history. This era might even allow time to spawn such eloquent but flawed apologists as Mr. Mead in Academic circles, who misread history and ignore its lessons, preaching instead an intellectual version of living-in-denial.
Thank you for your attention.
-Cont.- Then the Empire takes hold with its Praetorian guards and large imperial bureaucracy who will make and enforce the laws and decisions instead the people among themselves. The final phase is like this: The maritime Empire (just like every other empire) creates its own enemies (both internal and external) in a fashion which increases their numbers until its being overwhelmed by them. -Cont.-
Mr. Mead is a brilliant orator, and I dare to say a brilliant (although selective) thought synthesizer in order to come to his own individual reading of history, so I don't envy his opponents or his debaters. Still I wish to fill that role.
I have longer outlook in history than Mr. Mead has. It actually goes back to millenia. As Mr. Mead touched on it, the Anglo-American system is a maritime system based on liberal values. -Cont.-
I agree with mohakom and some other rational commentators.
My suggestion to those that oppose capitalism and communism is very simple, if you and your acquaintance dislike either of this mechanism you have the freedom or choice to set up own system of governance and see whether it's sustainable.
It's easier to blame past occurrences on one's current unfruitful position but only freedom will set you free nor love or truth - but 'freedom.'
Peace!!
i think Mr Mead has gave me a great opportunity to be acquanted with even a part of the very obscure history. to talk frankly i am going to search for his videos and talks ...a great video ...