Thursday 1 December 2011

America's Greatness

It is a generally accepted fact that the United States of America was a great country.

Some would argue that it still is; they are wrong. If you think about it honestly for a moment you will agree it is no longer the case. It remains true that there are still many things that are impressive about America, such as their military and the amount of debt they have. Overall, however, America has lost its greatness, that quality of being untouchable regardless of the circumstances. The OWS movement is indicative of this.

It is important to understand why America was great, because it allows them to reclaim it and others to follow in their footsteps.

It is widely misunderstood . This lack of understanding meant that the critical component of it has been lost without their realization.

What is generally focused upon is men who achieved a measure of greatness. Men such as J.D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

This half-measure still remains, but it does not complete the picture.

We recognize these men because they achieved tremendous wealth in their lifetime.

Men are still allowed to succeed, though they are sorely hampered, but are men still allowed to fail?

The answer is quite obviously no. From regulations protecting the wealthy right up to Too Big To Fail, in the USA today the wealthy are not allowed to fail. They are allowed to influence law and regulation to protect their wealth and industry, not by their ability, but by law, i.e. the rule of force.

This same advantage is not afforded to their would be competitors, the entrepreneurs that would like to challenge their command of industry. In fact small businesses are deliberately hampered by the laws and taxation regulation that big industry lobbies for - for the precise reason of safeguarding their wealth and position.

If one looks at history there is the critical difference that set America apart in it's young days. It set them apart from the rest of the world, and is the reason for their greatness, whether acknowledged or not.

From tribalistic Africa to medieval Europe , those in control of wealth have always been able to keep their position with the use of force. It is true today again in the USA.

Perhaps the OWS crowd senses the problem, even if they are unable to articulate what is lacking.

If one has to distill in a single sentence why America was great, it would be this :

Men were allowed to fail, despite their wishes to the contrary.

This one attribute of a young America above all others is the reason. It is why they prospered and were able to build so much wealth in such a short period.

When wealth and position is protected by law, those in power become complacent, they no longer strive for efficiency, they become lethargic and dull. The possibility of failure, the sharp edge of the cliff, the battle...that is what keeps man in his best form, using his best ability, producing the most he is able. When younger sharper competitors are able to slice away at an old weary opponent, and use those resources more efficiently, then wealth is created and society thrives.

Today America is a sad imitation of its former glorious self. This loss is a tragedy.

Peace

The Fool

18 comments:

  1. A tragedy?

    Most particularly if one is a self-interested American, but even then as you state in your tagline :

    "We see the world not as it is, but as we are."

    The only tragedy in my opinion would be to not learn from America's example, the only tragedy in any mistake, at any scale.

    Everything rests on perception.


    p.s. add an RSS subscription gadget.
    p.p.s. I'm gonna enjoy holding you to that tagline.
    p.p.p.s. IMHO, as a fellow PGA, gold, even when utilizing its highest function is still the means and not the ends, and it is the performance of this highest function rather than personally owning any which supplies said ends. However, personally owning physical gold does remove it from the market, thus bringing performance of that highest function closer in time.

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  2. I think it is unfortunate that this defining characteristic was not recognized, and is not still in force today, a tragedy, yes.

    Added the RSS thingy, thanks.

    I'll be sharing my view on that means and ends soon. Stay tuned. :P

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  3. A tragedy in that respect, yes, that failure is not allowed.

    But without this larger failure, that of the system, this concept is no more than that: a concept. Living the truth of it as reality is what makes it knowledge, and this is what gives it value.

    A tragedy or the best thing that ever happened?
    Depends upon your perspective.

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  4. Fair enough. It was however just a matter of time. Even with that allowance the current system would still fail.

    The nature of the dilemma means that there would be cyclical swings until the middle way was found.

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  5. IMO, what made america great was the concept of an equal playing field for all, and yes failure is a necessary component of equality. It is unfortunate that the same constitution that boldy set out to provide the framework for said equality has been trampled upon by those that had benefitted from it. This does not come as a surprise. At the end of WWII, we really started to see the emergence of a global economy, to which the USA benefitted greatly having the USD as the reserve currency. Those of that have grown up in this system have been lulled into a false sense of security, because we don't get why that was significant. Seeing things the way they are now, it has been both a blessing and a curse. An entire generation has lived very well, at the expense of their children's futures. Because failure was not allowed by those at the top, those that operated prudently will also now fail.

    If the average american new the real value of the dollar, the world's gold supply would be bought up in a matter of days!!

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  6. "An entire generation has lived very well, at the expense of their children's futures. "

    I feel compelled to take issue with the second part of this statement. Their children are more than capable of providing for themselves, it's just up to them to take responsibility for that. It is both a disservice and a dishonor to remove this responsibility, IMO.

    An entire generation of westerners (most especially Americans) have lived very well post WWII at the expense of the rest of the world whose currencies were artificially diminished by the USD. America has misappropriated value from its foreign peers via the reserve currency status it granted itself at Bretton Woods.

    To the victor the spoils.

    "In this world, there are two kinds of people; those with loaded guns, and those who dig."

    America has had the loaded gun, as it were, while the rest dig. Of course this is not an easy perspective to see for Americans in particular.

    "We see the world not as it is, but as we are."

    Fortunately this world with its two kinds of people is concluding, because it is an inequitable monetary system that creates it. An equitable monetary system produces only one kind of people, sovereign individuals. Freedom is attained in direct proportion to responsibility taken.


    "When the house of cards built on the dollars reserve status comes crashing down, there will be millions of people looking to hold onto their standard of living."

    Perhaps so, but this doesn't mean it will be possible, and if their SOL has been achieved via an inequitable monetary system, is this even desirable?

    "I wonder how many patriots would choose freedom over comfort. "

    Don't get me started on patriotism.

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  7. Love the new look blog

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  8. When wealth and position is protected by law, those in power become complacent, they no longer strive for efficiency, they become lethargic and dull. The possibility of failure, the sharp edge of the cliff, the battle...that is what keeps man in his best form, using his best ability, producing the most he is able. When younger sharper competitors are able to slice away at an old weary opponent, and use those resources more efficiently, then wealth is created and society thrives.


    Today America is a sad imitation of its former glorious self. This loss is a tragedy

    Well said MF.So very true.

    There s a lot of BS talked about America in my opinion.
    Why did America become great?I ll tell ya.
    You ve gotta look who populated America.And also what a great piece of real estate they were populating.

    A-lot of people where pissed of with the lot given to them in British society way back when.
    Born into poverty, a/lot of them, and most died in poverty.

    Now at this point it s important to realise that all men are not created equal.Some are big.Some are small.Some are interelectual and some are so thick they can t even spell inntalectual.Some are born brainy, but lazy and some are born with a_lot of get up and go.And thats what some of the more intelligent of them did.They where natural born trailblazers.
    It s all in the genes you see.
    Americans where bred from good stock.Surviving in early America was bloody hard work and many did nt.What you are left with is trailblazing intelligent hard nuts.Just the sort of stock you need to build a great country.

    Of course, over generations life gets easier and the weak survive and breed and you end up with what we see today.Its nature.Its just the way it is, not good and not bad.It just is.

    As for Blondie seemingly not to happy with the US.Well i m not sure thats justified.Since WW2, they ve been the only ones stronge enough to stand up to the commies.And after the USSR collapsed(this is takeing history at face value of course), it s been the worlds only superpower.Now if there was going to be just one superpower, who would you choose Blondie?
    USSR? Yikes, no.
    What if Germany had won the war?You think the worlds brown people would still even be here to have bombs dropped on them by drones?Naa, biofuel, the lot of em if Hitler had had his way.
    Yes America has done a lot of bad shit but it could have been a lot worse.

    Part two of this comment will follow over the weekend.possibly.

    Regards
    Ozzy

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  9. I said, in an earlier comment:

    "An entire generation of westerners (most especially Americans) have lived very well post WWII at the expense of the rest of the world whose currencies were artificially diminished by the USD. America has misappropriated value from its foreign peers via the reserve currency status it granted itself at Bretton Woods.

    To the victor the spoils.

    "In this world, there are two kinds of people; those with loaded guns, and those who dig."

    America has had the loaded gun, as it were, while the rest dig. Of course this is not an easy perspective to see for Americans in particular."


    This is not casting judgement upon the US, merely describing how the view appears from my perspective. Your exception to my comment, Ozzy, is a strawman.

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  10. I agree with your thoughts on what made America great however. This is not the only factor, but certainly one of the most important.

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  11. What made America great, that set it apart from every other nation before it was its Constitution. And when I say that MY children's future has been compromised, it is based on not just the economic collapse, which is certain, but also by virtue of the end the American experiment, and the end of its constitution. Will they survive, yes. Will they enjoy the Freedoms and Liberties of their Fathers, no.

    Freegold may be many things good. But has nothing to do with the actual governing of the people. In terms of America having had the gun and others digging, that was no accident, it was providence. That gift was unappreciated and is being taken away by the One that gave it.

    IMO, what will replace it will be a terrible thing. And time will prove that out. Equity in the market place is not the same thing as equity every other sense. To think so is to see only a fraction of the equation.

    The American spirit, what is left of it will be broken. And only an American that understands what the constitution was suppose to be can appreciate that loss. IMO

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  12. Thanks Ozzy, and yes that did have a great deal to do with it.

    @Nickelsaver

    The American constitution was great document at the time. However, it is very much flawed. They were 'honest mistakes' in truth, as the founders simply did not have the knowledge (and philosophy) to know how it was great and how it was flawed.

    You seem to have a very superficial understanding of Freegold. I suggest you spend some time at my good friend Blondie's blog and learn a bit about the foundational shifts that Freegold will effect, in terms of social organization.

    It will be a great thing.

    I'm not American, but I truly understand what your constitution was suppose to be, so I know where it is lacking.

    Assuming of course I'm not in the mood to argue for Anarchism. (which I am not today) ;)

    Peace

    TF

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  13. There was no flaw in the American Constitution that one could point to as compared to any other form of government. There is no such thing as a government run by men that could be fair and last forever.

    "You seem to have a very superficial understanding of Freegold"

    Trying to decide if that is an ad hominem statement or a strawman. Your understanding of my understanding is incomplete. I understand the logic of Freegold and do not argue its inevitability. I do disagree with the conclusions drawn (opinions) of those that believe that peace, even LASTING peace, will necessarily emanate out of trade equity.

    Feel free to engage your arguments for Anarchism at any time.

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  14. NS

    Yes, at that stage it was the most perfect document conceivable, I agree. I am just of the opinion that more has been conceived since it has been drafted.

    "Your understanding of my understanding is incomplete."

    It was simply a observation, and honest sharing of perspective. Call it constructive criticism if you will. It wasn't meant to be insulting.

    I'm not quite convinced by Anarchism myself yet, so I wouldn't argue. :P

    TF

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  15. This is not casting judgement upon the US, merely describing how the view appears from my perspective. Your exception to my comment, Ozzy, is a strawman.

    Fair enough.I obviously read too much into your comments.


    As for the constitution.It was writen by the men of the time and so suited the vast majority of people arount at that time.

    Maybe the laws of today suit the vast majority of people around today.
    Today most westerners would not be able to live by the constitution.They are not physicaly or mentaly strong enough.
    I think the Freegold way of life is similar to the constitution way of life in that you produce more than you consume and get fairly rewarded for that production surplus.

    Now considering the western sheeple cannot even understand the concept of valuble work ,as opposed to any unproductive work.They will vote down any government that tries to force the change to a freegold way.

    So... we either dont get a fair Freegold system OR we get a dictatorship that can force the Freegold system on millions of ex government 'workers', IF that is even possible.
    You can t get blood out of a stone.
    What happens to all the people who refuse or can t work under this new ,harder system.
    Guess we ll have to wait and see.

    Regards
    Ozzy

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  16. Ozzy

    Part of the reason the sheeple cannot distinguish between productive and unproductive work is due to the manipulated metrics and government interference in the current system. Under FreeGold gold proves to be a reference by which to judge value fairly. They will learn, quickly. :)

    Peace

    TF

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  17. One does not need to be a pseudo-intellectual to understand Freegold. Granted, to follow the dialog without understanding the terms can be an exercise in frustration, but I have picked it up. My interests do not include discussing to the nth degree the relationships between the CB's, the markets, the fed, and the other players. I accept the Freegold position as an inevitable result of the collapse of the current system. I bring my own bias and understanding to the table as to what I think may happen after the collapse. In either case, I am very much a PGA.

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