24 January 2005
Pax Americana's decline
There was an interesting article in Slate Magazine about a recent CIA study predicting the decline of US global dominance over the next 15 years. For many non-Americans, it would seem rather obvious, given the tremendous fall in its stature during Dubya's first term. The article's last paragraph highlights some of the key reasons for America's fall in global public affection and respect.
Strange as it may seem, I'd suggest that many non-American critics wouldn't necessarily want to see such a decline; if not for the complete dominance of the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the US government by the neo-con Republicans. But then again, as Bush supporters have trumpeted loudly, a majority of Americans did vote for him - even without help from a finagled Florida ballot! So they shouldn't be surprised to be on the nose when travelling outside of Fort Dubya.
I'd suggest many non-Americans wouldn't give a brass razoo which party, faction or pseudo-religious cult dominates government in the US. After all, the average person is too busy scratching out a living to worry about neo-cons or pinko-Commies in the White House. People certainly don't hate the US nor Bush for freedom practised in the US. I suspect they take exception to people trying to ram "freedom" (neo-con style) down some other nation's collective throat. I mean, who invited this fancy-dress cowboy to our party, anyway?
So as the writer concludes, "If the president really wanted to spread freedom and democracy around the planet, he would (among other things) need to present America as that "model of governance"—to show the world, by its example, that free democracies are successful and worth emulating. Yet the NIC report paints a world where fewer and fewer people look to America as a model of anything. We can't sell freedom if we can't sell ourselves."
Are you listening, Dubya?
We don't want nor need your model of freedom and liberty because we don't buy what we've seen so far.
Strange as it may seem, I'd suggest that many non-American critics wouldn't necessarily want to see such a decline; if not for the complete dominance of the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the US government by the neo-con Republicans. But then again, as Bush supporters have trumpeted loudly, a majority of Americans did vote for him - even without help from a finagled Florida ballot! So they shouldn't be surprised to be on the nose when travelling outside of Fort Dubya.
I'd suggest many non-Americans wouldn't give a brass razoo which party, faction or pseudo-religious cult dominates government in the US. After all, the average person is too busy scratching out a living to worry about neo-cons or pinko-Commies in the White House. People certainly don't hate the US nor Bush for freedom practised in the US. I suspect they take exception to people trying to ram "freedom" (neo-con style) down some other nation's collective throat. I mean, who invited this fancy-dress cowboy to our party, anyway?
So as the writer concludes, "If the president really wanted to spread freedom and democracy around the planet, he would (among other things) need to present America as that "model of governance"—to show the world, by its example, that free democracies are successful and worth emulating. Yet the NIC report paints a world where fewer and fewer people look to America as a model of anything. We can't sell freedom if we can't sell ourselves."
Are you listening, Dubya?
We don't want nor need your model of freedom and liberty because we don't buy what we've seen so far.
