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Great, yet scary article by Peggy Noonan
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Anonymous
Anonymous
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Why is a small step backward seen as unthinkable for America? Is it a bit troubling that we have a generation that may not surpass the previous one? I suppose. But maybe it is exactly the slap in the face to realize we can't live the way we have for the past few generations. Maybe we need to get knocked down a peg or two to propel ourselves to greater heights. This notion that any adversity we face is unfathomable and must not be allowed to happen is exactly the way we have gotten ourselves into the situation we find ourselves in. America, warts and all, is great. A mini-slide back, which isn't really a slide back but just a flattening of our rate of progress, isn't the end of the world. Many other nations have endured similar. We can do the same, if we are truly as great as writers like this make us out to be.
When did we become such 'fraidy cats? "Oh no! Things might get worse before they get better. WHAT A TRAVESTY!!! WE DESERVE BETTER!!!" That sense of entitlement is more of a threat to our nation than the current state of affairs. |
Anonymous
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I suspect the second age of American unipolarism (the first was immediately after World War II, lasted militarily until 1950 or so and economically until 1973) is coming to an end.
And yes, it's going to suck. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. My theory: In 1900, the two nations that mattered with the most internal physical resources and population were the US and Russia. Britain, France, Germany, and Japan were all able to punch above their weight due to colonial empires -- which by definition are inherently unstable. By 1950, Britain, France, Germany, and Japan were in ruins from World War II -- and it was the US and Russia who struggled for world domination for the next forty years. Even without World War II, all these nations' empires would've fallen apart in time (see: Portugal in the 1970s.) In 2000, the nations that mattered with the most human resources -- for today that is the most important thing -- are China and India. The next cold war is between India and China. If the US has to be someone's poodle, I'd rather it be the world's largest democracy than an authoritarian regime. But that's just me. Yeah, yeah, peace love and the UN and all that. Maybe the 100 or so years of experimenting with social democracy and multi-culturalism will help. I certainly hope so, I'd rather see that world than the dog eat dog world of the past 7,900 years. This is even assuming hunter-gatherer societies were peaceful, if they weren't try 107,900 years. |
Anonymous
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It is her job as a Republican speech writer to worry about how America is in trouble and needs to be saved. It is no surprise that the high water mark in her mind was the end of Reagan Administration, in which she served.
I understand that she may have some valid points. But the Wall Street Journal has become a place to park Republican operatives, give them a paycheck and a weekly column, and if necessary (Rove) rehabilitate their public image so that they can get called up again some time. Every generation has worried that their future kids will not have it better than them. This is not new. A few generations actually did have it worse, although I doubt she would care to take notice because it lessens the drama. But while we have cause for some concern in the short to medium term, it is unlikely that the long term will be so bleak. |
Anonymous
I'm intrigued by those numbers. Where do they come from? |
Anonymous
Entirely arbitrary. Maybe 10,900 years, since the first known permanent town, Jericho, appeared in the Middle East then, and Damascus dates to about 8000 BC or so. 107,900 was just 100,000 more years added to that. Fill in your own numbers. My idea was to date the beginning of permanent human settlements, or the appearance of hunter-gatherer societies (as some of the Stone Age tribes can get pretty !@#$ violent at times.) |
Anonymous
Thanks for the explanation. They looked so precise I thought they might be from some source. Given your explanation, I'd have used 10,000 and 100,000, but when we're rounding, we might as well have fun. |
Anonymous
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Noonan is the lowest form of hack. I would bet you a year's salary that the second the next Republican president takes office, it'll be "morning in America"! Thanks be to God.
Meanwhile, if America is in decline, perhaps we should cut back to, say, three nuclear carrier groups. We're going to do it one way or other; might as well be by choice. |
Anonymous
Remember, we're taking off 100 of those years to account for our dabbling in social democracy and multi-culturalism. 
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Anonymous
The bubble had to burst and it did. That doesn't mean we have to lie down and die. We've had it far too easy in the US for far too long and we do think we are entitled to everything and anything we want. Hard lesson but a good one to teach our children. |
Anonymous
Agree. It was a great big, wildly fun and extravagant bubble, but it burst and it's over. We're lucky to live in DC, with all our govt jobs and advanced degrees - we live in our own little mini-bubble. |
Anonymous
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OMG Peggy! What's the solution! Tell us now! Is it eco-veganism and political correctness? What, even that won't work? Noooo!!! The children!!!
Please, Peggy, just tell us what to do. I'm scared. Really. Scared! (sob!) Really, I'll do whatever you say. Just bring back the good times. |
Anonymous
O.K. Here it is: Stuff it. Peggy. |
Anonymous
I thought the bible didn't allow that, Peggy. |