On reading a book, “After America” (Update)
During the years, I have come across the name Alexis de Tocqueville and was never curious enough to look up the name and find out anything about him. I would simply glaze over the name understanding what it meant in the context of the reading which was almost always, “Alexis de Tocqueville said..” or “On his visit to America,” Tocqueville said this or that.
It was this morning did I read in “After America” by Paul Starobin the imperceptible Alexis de Tocqueville was from France. He came to America in 1831 “..in order to make a survey of the country’s prisons….” And ironies of ironies, Tocqueville published volumes of his trip titled “Democracy for America” which is also the name of the political group for Healthcare Reform producing the classic ad regarding Sen. Ben Nelson and a restaurant owner in Nebraska. Funny I never read anything as to what Tocqueville had to say about our prisons in the 1800’s during his nine month visit.
Mr. Starobin writes on Pg. 7 in his book that Hollywood, one of the pillars of America “by which American-style values were communicated to the world…” is no longer in control of that influential vehicle. With that fact and many others at his disposal, Mr. Starobin ponders the essence of his book, “…. how can Americans adjust to a world in which their civilization is no longer dominant?”
One final note catching my attention was on Pg. 9 wherein Mr. Starobin quotes James Schlesinger, “..a steward of the American Century..” as saying “..America is living an illusion”. Oh, how the oligarchy and its minions do wish our first Black President were such an illusion, aka, a bad dream!
-Really now, Mr. BB. Do you really want us to take you seriously when you say you want us to bestow upon you a PhD, a doctor of letters, because you are reading and believe everything you have read in this….this…this book?
-You got that right! I wants to be known as a historian!
-But by your own admission, you have only read thirty pages or so of, let me see, out of three hundred and thirty two pages in three days of this thing, the book, I mean. Why don’t you just wait until you have at least finished reading it and maybe we could talk. How about that? Good?
-(Faculty members) Hear! Hear!
-Can’t. I am a slow reader. I contemplates alot. And besides, most of you would probably be dead by then. You did it for Alan Greenspan. You gave him one for economics. Why can’t you do the same thing for me? And don’t tell me he wrote no thesis neither ’cause I ain’t seen it!
-Oh, dear!
Fighting for the dignity of my Ancestors,
God bless Bill Gates, WPFW, C-Span and the spirits of the unborn for the help,
BB
Reading inspiration
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/2/760206/-Book-review:-Paul-Starobins-After-America
(Update)
US Economic Myths Bite the Dust
by Mark Weisbrot
Comment:
Weisbrot overlooks the one
Sun, 08/16/2009 - 00:33 — Anonymous (not verified)
Weisbrot overlooks the one area where the US is clearly superior - that of starting and supporting wars and terrorism. Since Reagan - Grenada,Iraq I and II, Afghanistan, and Panama are direct wars the US started - each an invasion of another county. We also supported terrorists in Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Sudan, Nigeria. We instigated then supported both sides to some degree in Iraq/Iran. Our defense/weapons/security budget is a whopping $1.2 trillion per year, and we export well over one half all the weapons exported worldwide each year, and have been doing so since dear old Ron tool office. Have the Europeans top that!
http://www.truthout.org/081409K
It was this morning did I read in “After America” by Paul Starobin the imperceptible Alexis de Tocqueville was from France. He came to America in 1831 “..in order to make a survey of the country’s prisons….” And ironies of ironies, Tocqueville published volumes of his trip titled “Democracy for America” which is also the name of the political group for Healthcare Reform producing the classic ad regarding Sen. Ben Nelson and a restaurant owner in Nebraska. Funny I never read anything as to what Tocqueville had to say about our prisons in the 1800’s during his nine month visit.
Mr. Starobin writes on Pg. 7 in his book that Hollywood, one of the pillars of America “by which American-style values were communicated to the world…” is no longer in control of that influential vehicle. With that fact and many others at his disposal, Mr. Starobin ponders the essence of his book, “…. how can Americans adjust to a world in which their civilization is no longer dominant?”
One final note catching my attention was on Pg. 9 wherein Mr. Starobin quotes James Schlesinger, “..a steward of the American Century..” as saying “..America is living an illusion”. Oh, how the oligarchy and its minions do wish our first Black President were such an illusion, aka, a bad dream!
-Really now, Mr. BB. Do you really want us to take you seriously when you say you want us to bestow upon you a PhD, a doctor of letters, because you are reading and believe everything you have read in this….this…this book?
-You got that right! I wants to be known as a historian!
-But by your own admission, you have only read thirty pages or so of, let me see, out of three hundred and thirty two pages in three days of this thing, the book, I mean. Why don’t you just wait until you have at least finished reading it and maybe we could talk. How about that? Good?
-(Faculty members) Hear! Hear!
-Can’t. I am a slow reader. I contemplates alot. And besides, most of you would probably be dead by then. You did it for Alan Greenspan. You gave him one for economics. Why can’t you do the same thing for me? And don’t tell me he wrote no thesis neither ’cause I ain’t seen it!
-Oh, dear!
Fighting for the dignity of my Ancestors,
God bless Bill Gates, WPFW, C-Span and the spirits of the unborn for the help,
BB
Reading inspiration
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/2/760206/-Book-review:-Paul-Starobins-After-America
(Update)
US Economic Myths Bite the Dust
by Mark Weisbrot
Comment:
Weisbrot overlooks the one
Sun, 08/16/2009 - 00:33 — Anonymous (not verified)
Weisbrot overlooks the one area where the US is clearly superior - that of starting and supporting wars and terrorism. Since Reagan - Grenada,Iraq I and II, Afghanistan, and Panama are direct wars the US started - each an invasion of another county. We also supported terrorists in Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Sudan, Nigeria. We instigated then supported both sides to some degree in Iraq/Iran. Our defense/weapons/security budget is a whopping $1.2 trillion per year, and we export well over one half all the weapons exported worldwide each year, and have been doing so since dear old Ron tool office. Have the Europeans top that!
http://www.truthout.org/081409K
posted by BB at 2:55 AM
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