Now there’s a vivid image, CJ. It suggests that you view history according to Twain’s Dictum: “History may not repeat itself, but it surely rhymes.” America will collapse through the same stages as prior democracies, like Weimar Germany.

But maybe not a rhyme this time (he said ironically), but a cusp. I take some comfort in stepping back from the day-to-day hell of the loss of the will to self-government in America, to view the bigger picture, and wonder if perhaps we’re not seeing the beginning of the end of the nation-state.

America was in on it at the beginning, and perhaps we’re in the thick of the decommissioning of the idea.

Domestically, Tea Party sand in the machine is rendering America inconsequential, in the memorable words of Rick Perry. And in the rest of the world, American innovations like the Net and social media are giving people the tools to transcend the need for old-fashioned nation-states. Egypt and Tunisia this spring were an example of people using those tools to organize themselve and their actions across national boundaries.

Maybe we’re stumbling toward a world in which physical infrastructure is maintained by government-like jurisdictions, much-reduced in power from today’s nations; while the better part of human affairs is carried on globally by people who connect and freely associate in a high-bandwidth quasi-virtual world.

Which is a mouthful to write, let alone say. But a guy can dream, can’t he?

This had nothing to do with stupidity. It was a boldly conceived, carefully planned and brilliantly executed parliamentary maneuver designed to prevent a routine vote and hamstring the government.

The only ineffectiveness and stupidity in evidence was that of the President and the Democratic Party who tried to appease these political terrorists and gave in to blackmail in a pointless attempt to compromise. For these people, ‘compromise’ and ‘debate’ are only signs of liberal weakness and cowardice. Even fellow Republicans and moderate conservatives are starting to realize this now, but I fear it is too late. The Reichstag’s already on fire.

The Tea Party is not as interested in promoting their position as they are in discrediting and humiliating their political opponents, whether they are on the left or right. They have opposed almost every policy and appointment of this administration, even those they supported in the past, in an attempt to obstruct the President, paint him as weak, ineffective, and bring the nation to its knees so they can then blame him for it. And I am afraid they have succeeded.

They want the Obama administration to fail, regardless of what price the nation as a whole has to pay. After all, they have no intention of paying their share of that price. They’ve made that abundantly clear from the very beginning.

A few days ago I received this email from a fellow space buff I correspond with Down Under.

I sometimes visit a blog for space news and opinions – like most “Newspace” advocates this guy is right wing,
indeed a Pea Farter. (There is actually a Tea Party policy outline for space, which does make some fair
points about sustainability and the problems of bureaucracy.) On that basis (space policy) I can read their stuff, because it seems that NASA has become over bureaucratized since the 1970s – apparently the
technical staff is now just one out of four (i.e. the other 3 are “executives”) – is that correct? If so that would just mirror the rise of the managerial class which began in the 1980s with Ronnie R and Margaret Thatcher.

Anyway regarding the blog: this Pea Farter is so intensely political and with the stridently expressed
“arguments” which make me gape slack-jawed at the screen. Here’s just a partial point summary:

1. Woodrow Wilson was a fascist.
2. The Great Society is and always was, a disaster.
3. Hitler was a leftist (this keeps getting repeated, like a riff).
4. Today’s “extremists” are in fact, moderates.
5. Today’s “moderates” are in fact, extremists.
6. “President Downgrade” has a birth certificate problem.
7. Who says our SUVs are drowning polar bears?
8. Time to raise taxes – on the poor (yes he said that, arguing against a progressive tax)
9. Stay clear from my right to keep my assault weapons.
10. Entitlements, entitlements ….

Etc … and this guy is well known and respected in the Newspace community. In fact he does have some good material on space architecture (mission design), and even on other social issues, occasionally.

Bottom line though, is that I have realized, there may be some advantages to be living in boring Australia. No Pea Farters here … yet …

It is between those who believe there should be maximum opportunity for those few who are able to seize it, and those who believe there should be at least some minimum level of security for as many as possible.

It appears that the attempt to work out some sort of compromise between the two has failed. And it isn’t clear either side can deliver on what it promises even if it does prevail.

Can you imagine a President nicknamed “Crotch?” Mwahahahahahahahahahahahaha

You think we’re the laughingstock of international politics now…