Chalmers Johnson, Interview on Democracy Now, February 27, 2007
"History teaches us that the capacity of things to get worse is limitless. Roman history suggests that the short, happy life of the American republic may be coming to its end. [the US will probably] maintain a facade of constitutional government and drift along until financial bankruptcy overtakes it. Of course, bankruptcy will not mean the literal end of the United States any more than it did for Germany in 1923, China in 1948, or Argentina in 2002-03.
It might, in fact, open the way for an unexpected restoration of the American system, or for military rule or simply for some development we cannot yet imagine. Certainly, such a bankruptcy would mean a drastic lowering of our standard of living, a loss of control over international affairs, a process of adjusting to the rise of other powers, including China and India."
Chalmers Johnson, Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic, 2007
"Nemesis, the goddess of retribution and vengeance, the punisher of pride and hubris, waits impatiently for her meeting with us,"
Chalmers Johnson, Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic, 2006
"So, what do I suggest probably will happen? I think we will stagger along under a façade of constitutional government, as we are now, until we’re overcome by bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy would not mean the literal end of the United States, any more than it did for Germany in 1923, or China in 1948, or Argentina just a few years ago, in 2001 and 2002. But it would certainly mean a catastrophic recession, the collapse of our stock exchange, the end of our level of living, and a vast series of new attitudes that would now be appropriate to a much poorer country.
Once you go down the path of empire, you inevitably start a process of overstretch, of tendencies toward bankruptcy, and, in the rest of the world, a tendency toward the uniting of people who are opposed to your imperialism simply on grounds that it’s yours, but maybe also on the grounds that you’re incompetent at it.
There was a time when the rest of the world did trust the United States a good deal as a result of the Marshall Plan, foreign aid, things of this sort. They probably trusted it more than they should have. Today that is almost entirely dissipated At some point, we must either reduce our empire of bases from 737 to maybe 37—although I’d just as soon get rid of all of them. If we don’t start doing that, then we will go the way of the former Soviet Union."
Harvey Kreisler, Talking with Chalmers Johnson, Counterpunch, May 6, 2010
"Jesus told this parable to those who were proud of their own righteousness, and looked at others with contempt.
Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his place, and spoke this prayer to himself: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or worse, like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes on all my income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance, and would not even raise his eyes to heaven. He simply beat his breast and prayed, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’
This man, I tell you, went home justified, but the Pharisee did not. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14
"Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance goes before a fall."
They are going to push these markets until they break. And then loot the wreckage.
Gaza seems to be the model for modern Neo-colonialism.
And the Western elite are more like the British rule in colonial India, rather than the elected representatives of the people.
The US financial system seems to be reaching peak hubris, and is heading for a nasty tumble.
Stocks rallied hard on a 'framework' for a solution to the trade dispute with China.
Gold and silver were hammered with program short selling hitting the miners.
The Dollar fell.
VIX has dropped to a low level. It could go lower, but its nearing the area of a correction.
Try not to be among the fallen.
I have been watching the new series based on Stephen King's book The Institute.
It is classic King, and is very engaging.
Have a pleasant evening.
