Morris Berman On the Decline of Empire: 'Why America Failed'

To say that Morris Berman has a 'dark vision' to share is an understatement.

I think his view is legitimate, but only if you look at one somewhat narrow aspect of the American character, and ignore all the rest. It seems to be singularly focused to the point of distortion by a depressive fatalism.

I have traveled all over the world. To my own view, people are on the whole much the same everywhere. The primary difference is that some cultures tend to incent and reward certain characteristics and behaviours more others, and at different times. This creates a certain 'flavor' to that region or country.

The best example I have observed is the profound difference in the assumptions between the Japanese and American cultural views. But one can still find those sorts of differences in regions of a large country like America, despite the homogenizing effect of mass consumerism and entertainment. But alas, they are becoming less vibrant and distinctive.

My own view is quite a bit more in line with Thomas Hartmann. I do think that America 'went off the tracks' in the 1980s, and bought this 'greed is good' meme, which has been repeatedly reinforced by a well funded PR campaign.

And there was a kind of financial coup d'etat that is distorting American policy and character in profound ways even now. It is very apparent if you can somewhat remove yourself from it and then look at it from a 'distance.'

The public and the governmental and financial elite are diverging, becoming almost two different things, as the elites swing further to the extreme, carrying a vocal minority of camp followers with them.

"Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people."

Garrison Kellor

Such minorities have taken over whole nations before, particularly when the people have become intellectually and emotionally exhausted, but only for a time, and only by the use of systemic violence and repression with which to maintain control and spread the contagion of their madness.

This period now seems very similar to other cyclical changes in the past in American history, that were followed by awakenings and changes in attitudes. One need only to compare the gilded Age with what came after it, for example. And if I compare America today it seems more like modern China than the America of the 1960's.

But whatever you might think this discussion is thought provoking.  Again, I am sorry to go to this source for such discussions, because I know it upsets some people, but the topic and speakers such as this are not often presented on the mainstream media.

Morris Berman has a blog, appropriately named Dark Ages America.

Gold Daily and Silver Weekly Charts - Coil and Cap

Until Europe resolves and QE asserts itself again I don't see any of the markets doing anything significant.

Keep in mind that if there is a liquidity driven selloff in markets that gold and silver are likely to decline as well.

SP 500 and NDX Futures Daily Charts - Another Dull Day

They like to run stocks higher during the day, but they do not hang on to them into the close.

Neil Barofsky On the Economy

I think there is a general recognition that the economic and financial systems are broken, no matter what words one wishes to use to describe them.

A credibility trap impedes honest discussion of what happened and what is wrong. The corrupt bargain between the politicians and the monied interests casts a fog over any investigations and the rule of law.

Reform efforts like The Tea Party have been quickly turned by the corporate money powers into platforms for further economic repression of the weak. People are easily led during times of high emotion, no matter how superior they may think themselves to be. Even a cultured, educated people are capable of monstrous acts of madness.

So it is a tough situation, when no one loves the truth, and when appeals to hate and greed find such a ready footing amongst a vocal minority. Sounds familiar to those who read history.

Power structures that have outlived their time remain in control through force and fraud. And as the fraud deteriorates, the force increases.

I found it interesting that Barofsky thinks that the impulse to reform might require another financial crisis to make it happen. I happen to think that there will be another crisis and that it will be pivotal. Which way it goes depends on who grabs the reins of power and who can hold them the longest.

"Barofsky served the watchdog role for the Troubled Asset Relief Fund for years and knows a thing or two about how money and politics are paired in Washington. Now with the current state of the country still causing concern even after his tenure with TARP, Barofsky made little effort to paint a pretty picture to the readers of Gawker.com when offering his input.

In a question-and-answer session hosted on the website this week, one commenter didn’t hold back by asking Barofsky for confirmation on America’s current condition.

So we're just totally f*cked, right?” a user with the online handle grebeck asked. “As citizens, like no-way-out f*cked?”

Barofsky eventually responded to the inquiry with a bit of optimism, but not before confirming that fear with a simple, two-word statement.

“Pretty f*cked,” Barofsky wrote.

“But there is a way-out,” he added. “We need to convince those seeking or trying to retain power that they will not get our votes unless and until they commit to meaningful change of a financial system.

Might not work until we are in the grips of another crisis, but worth trying until then.”

RT, Top Obama Watchdog: We're Pretty F*cked

The problem is that it does not matter if you vote for them or not, if they control who makes it on the ballot.  This is why some people have concluded that working within the system is death by a thousand cuts, and the only recourse at this point is alternative movements and peaceful demonstrations such as the country saw in the civil rights movement.

And these movements should take care in who offers to fund and lead them, keeping the Tea Party in mind as to how quickly reform movements can be co-opted by those with money, slick public relations skills, and ulterior motives.

"That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those who are opposed to them. The friends of liberty trust to the professions of others because they are themselves sincere, and endeavour to secure the public good with the least possible hurt to its enemies, who have no regard to anything but their own unprincipled ends, and stick at nothing to accomplish them."

William Hazlitt