On the decline of the American Empire

"Fat and indolent as they are today, the descendants of Jefferson today are at the precipice of a great decline. The principles of jurisprudence and government on which America was founded have been corrupted, perverted and manipulated by an unholy alliance of power hungry elites, ignorant but well meaning do gooders (read leftists), parasites of the state and liberal intellectuals. While of course much lip service is still given to the ideals of the Constitution of the United States of America the principles on which America was founded - the principles that gave rise to the phenomenal economic growth and technological development of the last two centuries - have long since been abandoned.

The nature of America is best understood through observing it's genesis. She was a nation conceived in liberty. A country founded on a tax revolt! The pioneer nature of early America was such that a great deal of respect towards the concept of property rights was adopted by the general population. The intellectual climate of the time with regards to the state's role in society was that it should be as minimal as possible and restrained to those powers enumerated in the Constitution. It was this idea of the separation of economy and state - that is the economic philosophy of laissez-faire - that was the foundation of the robust American economy.

The nature of the state is that of expanding power. While the American state was once quite weak, each year it grew stronger and stronger. The people barely noticed as it's scope began to creep. Always those who opposed the expanse of state power were painted as greedy heartless monsters, always those who supported it given the presumption of self righteousness. Those who opposed the expanse of state power did so weakly and without rigour, but for a few exceptions (Robert Taft, for example). All too often they were corrupted by the prospect of power itself.

In no area of American political history is the tendency of power to concentrate itself as evident in the modern imperial presidency. The presidency as envisioned by those who framed the American Constitution was to be a primarily a figurehead. It was presumed that most people wouldn't even know the Presidents name. Today the President can declare war, exert great influence over the purse strings of Congress and write law by fiat (executive orders). Since the executive branch has the most to gain from war the power to declare it was assigned to the legislative branch but this, like many things, has changed (and without any amendments to the Constitution).

Traditionally the American foreign policy was generally one of non intervention but after Wilson imperialism and intervention abroad have become common place. One could even argue that this began under Lincoln. The financial and geopolitical resources required to sustain this empire are tremendous (currently at around 1 trillion a year). While the economy has become rigid and strained from over regulation, over consumption (with regards to consumption vs savings), ridiculous government spending and high taxation this is while still a virtually insurmountable problem actually the lesser issue. America's empire enrages the world and is bankrupting her people. It is a strong motivator of terrorism.

America's days of greatness are over. We should learn from the American experiment. Freedom works - if you can keep it."

interesting, where is it from trit ?

That was interesting? A loose rant connecting taxes, the constitution and imperialism?

Yes interesting but... Jefferson was more into freedom of states and people. That's Hamilton who pushed for federal government, treseaury and control.

Nah, we're not done yet.

What America really needs to get out is more free market and stop that government interventions. It's becoming to look more like corporatism.

I don't like Ron Paul

Man, Trit, did you change personalities again?

Well you have a nice new avatar !

Hope you are fine now [B-o]

I just had an upper respiratory infection, too! That stuff sucks.

Anyway. Why do you seem to bounce around in your opinions of both US and Canada?