It could be interesting to draw some parallels between late USSR and modern US. Even more so because they are very different economically and socially.
Near-senile Politburo.
Adherence to marxist ideology and growing detachment from reality.
Discrimination of core population.
Massive donations to foreign entities with questionable returns.
Massive and ever-growing bureaucracy and ever hungry military complex.
Never let a crisis go to waste. Regardless of the answers to all the questions about 9-11, it's clear there were many plans just waiting to plug and play. 9-11 diverted Americans from wanting that peace dividend we expected after the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War ended. The dismantling of America and the upward transfer of wealth and power happened over decades in the 20th C. You correctly point out the shoes waiting to fall. Seems there's lots more now.
Looking forward to the new format. So far, so good.
Plug and play is spot on. Well put Dianne. I too would have loved to have seen the peace dividend. Imagine what we could have done with all that money. What would our country look like now? How would our own individual lives be different? It's an entirely different timeline and, I'm afraid, a nicer one.
The USSR most certainly collapsed under its own weight, and the US handled it atrociously — both practically and morally. The Ukraine war wouldn't be happening today if it had been handled differently. One thing I aim to do over the next several pieces is try to view now from a future perspective so future generations don't make such dumb mistakes (provided they read this and I turn out to be right).
Re: your realization — that's poignant and accurate. How old were you?
It could be interesting to draw some parallels between late USSR and modern US. Even more so because they are very different economically and socially.
Near-senile Politburo.
Adherence to marxist ideology and growing detachment from reality.
Discrimination of core population.
Massive donations to foreign entities with questionable returns.
Massive and ever-growing bureaucracy and ever hungry military complex.
After reading Chris's post above I was having a similar thought. There are indeed some striking similarities. Will add this to the list. Good idea
Military spending is good for the USA but military spending by other countries weakens them.
Maybe someday this will be explained. Ha.
Never let a crisis go to waste. Regardless of the answers to all the questions about 9-11, it's clear there were many plans just waiting to plug and play. 9-11 diverted Americans from wanting that peace dividend we expected after the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War ended. The dismantling of America and the upward transfer of wealth and power happened over decades in the 20th C. You correctly point out the shoes waiting to fall. Seems there's lots more now.
Looking forward to the new format. So far, so good.
Plug and play is spot on. Well put Dianne. I too would have loved to have seen the peace dividend. Imagine what we could have done with all that money. What would our country look like now? How would our own individual lives be different? It's an entirely different timeline and, I'm afraid, a nicer one.
The USSR most certainly collapsed under its own weight, and the US handled it atrociously — both practically and morally. The Ukraine war wouldn't be happening today if it had been handled differently. One thing I aim to do over the next several pieces is try to view now from a future perspective so future generations don't make such dumb mistakes (provided they read this and I turn out to be right).
Re: your realization — that's poignant and accurate. How old were you?