America in decline?

From time to time in conversation with friends, and even in this blog, I lament about the condition of the United Stares.  I have used the unwieldly phrase "banana-republification", as well as other terms.

James Fallows pointed to an article in der Spiegel which advances several themes about how we got in the condition we're in.  Its interesting to see our quandary from the point of view of others.   Maybe there is a little schadenfreude, but its gentle enough not to distract.

Anyway, if you've got a few minutes, take a look at: http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,726447-6,00.html

recently, in San Francisco (or nearby)

Who knew it was fleet week?  I was invariably too slow to photograph Blue Angels.

Apollo! 

USS Makin Island

Muir Woods deer

in line during William Gibson book tour

belated post:

2nd half of line in Brookline

that HTC EVO I got at Google IO?

oops!   Gave it to my lovely wife and.....

Shattered!

Concord River

recent experiences captured for posterity

Our Friendly Pasta guy

From a Recent Hike

More From a Recent Hike in the White Mtns

Cats Monitoring the Garden

woodpile - firewood delivered today

We like the woodstove and the heat it generates, and the cats really like it, especially on those otherwise cold days.   Delivered today...

collapse

I frequently think about what I refer to as the banana-republification of the United States.  Just watching, it seems hard to understand what a country of our wealth, innovative spirit, and successful history can no longer afford, or perhaps - chooses to no longer to afford.

Here is an article on that theme by Glenn Greenwald in Salon, "What Collapsing Empire Looks Like":
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/08/06/collapse

I think we've increasingly moved to a winner-takes-all style of economy, and in so doing we've managed to also develop a winner-breaks-it style of economy that is anything but resilient.  Perhaps these winner-takes-all policies are really golden-goose-killing policies.

I think of the lottery winners who squander their winnings and wake up one day to realize they've lost it all and and only in that moment of realization recognize what they now wish they had done differently.  Or athletes that  sign a big contract only to see themselves in bankruptcy court because they failed to treat their good fortune wisely.   I have optimistic friends who see emerging innovative ways-of-living and economic models of activity that may result in more success again for our country in the future; they turn away from the dystopian view I might see in Glenn's article.  I hope they are right.

Boston Globe on Fisher Cats

The Boston Globe has an article today about Fisher Cats locally.   We've seen a Fisher around our house for at least three years now.  A beautiful creature (similar to the one to the left) he's graceful and dangerous-looking.

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2010/08/04/house_cats_be_warned_fishers_are_back_on_prowl/

"strike at the root"

Excellent 18min video from TedXBoston, - Lessig's plea to "strike at the root" of the problem facing us today.   He makes a strong case that our Republic stands in the balance, and the root of the problem is the effect of corporate funding of Congressional campaigns.

No one has said it better, in my opinion.  Its worth the 18mins, check it out here:  Of/By/4

 http://lessig.blip.tv/file/3945764/