Exactly.

But it depends very much on the social consciousness of the leadership. What's important; the horrors of domination on the world stage, or seeking to make life better for us all?

The every man for himself doctrine is consistent with survival of the fittest, but it undermines the progress of society, which far outshines the dog eat dog method of survival.

We have survived because we have pooled our resources and strengths for the benefit of the whole. This is socialism. But as an economic system it fails.

Hopefully the next century will utilize the strengths of both. But to use the domination of brute power for the survival of the few (instead of for the whole) is to kill the ...

Exactly.

But it depends very much on the social consciousness of the leadership. What's important; the horrors of domination on the world stage, or seeking to make life better for us all?

The every man for himself doctrine is consistent with survival of the fittest, but it undermines the progress of society, which far outshines the dog eat dog method of survival.

We have survived because we have pooled our resources and strengths for the benefit of the whole. This is socialism. But as an economic system it fails.

Hopefully the next century will utilize the strengths of both. But to use the domination of brute power for the survival of the few (instead of for the whole) is to kill the success of social progress.

The whole succeeds for the whole better than the few succeeds for the whole. The whole is the human race.

At some point, we will realize we are all in the same boat and our mission is to grant our children (all of them) a better life than the one we found.

Leaving our world a better place than how we found it is the mission of survival for our species, and all the species on this planet earth.

On the flip side of this coin, America was formed out of a common demography already well established for 150ish years as our 13 colonies. Even the freedoms our forefathers established were not firmly established until case law established precedents arising from passage of the civil rights act.

The afore-mentioned is essential to understand a fundamental difference between our own revolution and a forced revolution on people that may not want it.....after all I never heard an Iraqi say they preferred democracy over their own style of theocracy. If Iraqis prefer another type of politico/social lifestyle than American democracy and capitalism (an entirly different sermon for another day), t...

On the flip side of this coin, America was formed out of a common demography already well established for 150ish years as our 13 colonies. Even the freedoms our forefathers established were not firmly established until case law established precedents arising from passage of the civil rights act.

The afore-mentioned is essential to understand a fundamental difference between our own revolution and a forced revolution on people that may not want it.....after all I never heard an Iraqi say they preferred democracy over their own style of theocracy. If Iraqis prefer another type of politico/social lifestyle than American democracy and capitalism (an entirly different sermon for another day), than spending $2 trillion dollars on this war is truly moral and ethical debauchery not unlike soviet occupation of eastern bloc countries after WWII.

However, I agree the money should be spent on more worthy causes. I respectfully disagree however, it should be spent on social security. I wonder what would happen if we threw that money and human resources (trade in our military uniforms for work uniforms) at worthwhile causes like building modern day farming infrastructure and eductional facilities in many African countries, resulting in self sufficient people less likely to continously butcher each other in a farcical shot to be the next corrupt group of rulers ready and willing to plunder their countries few natural resources and treasuries for personal gain.

Part of this money could surley be spared to fund similar activities all over the world....including the U.S. To cure disease, starvation and global warming to mention a few issues. Although I see the above items as American hypocracy, I am compelled to say that a certain level of hypocracy is unavoidable in any society. That being established I am proud every day I live and breathe to be an American. I have nothintg but admiration for our soldiers fighting in Iraq, who are truly heroes to me. May they come home safe

Shame to be Wide awake
2 Trillion to take Iraq back 65 years. Back then it was clearer who the enemy was (Not much clearer.) I may be wrong but I heard the National Debt is 'Borrowed' from the Federal Reserve, and repaid with interest. I notice interest rates are going up. That may be a problem. The Federal Reserve is subject to no Authority and is controlled by a banking conglomerate, owned by people close to a bunker.
Perhaps someone from the Federal reserve can correct me if I'm wrong. The money is owed to them or the Chinese. Or both? Ther're both really just facades. One thing I know, and anyone in debt will know, money doesn't just appear out of nowhere, (unless it's printed by the Fed...

Shame to be Wide awake
2 Trillion to take Iraq back 65 years. Back then it was clearer who the enemy was (Not much clearer.) I may be wrong but I heard the National Debt is 'Borrowed' from the Federal Reserve, and repaid with interest. I notice interest rates are going up. That may be a problem. The Federal Reserve is subject to no Authority and is controlled by a banking conglomerate, owned by people close to a bunker.
Perhaps someone from the Federal reserve can correct me if I'm wrong. The money is owed to them or the Chinese. Or both? Ther're both really just facades. One thing I know, and anyone in debt will know, money doesn't just appear out of nowhere, (unless it's printed by the Federal Reserve, or maybe a Bull market)
Theres nothing more galling than having to pay someone else's debt. Particularly when so much of the military spending is both spurious, and going up in smoke.
Money to burn.
It's giving the U.S economy Lead poisoning, and radiation sickness - Don't tell me depleted uranium ammunition doesn't have profound long term destructive effects. Far distant from the initial hit. Once it's in the environment, it becomes part of the scenery - worldwide.
The designers (who like to think they're unidentified) of this 'situation' have absolutely no idea the way the impact of the spending that has created. This debt will change the lives of everybody on Earth themselves included. I often hear how people laugh off the idea of a 'conspiracy' theory.
Look it up in the dictionary, and look at the number of people charged with conspiracy every day.
Another thing that occurred to me The Chinese NEED energy to grow. They will get it. It doesn't seem hard for them to walk through the pass next to the Himalayas,
into Afghanistan alongside the place the Soviet Union tried to get a foothold. The certainly have the military.
Perhaps I worry too much.

@pokkets

You're pretty much right on (with exception to the current interest rates; the Fed has been lowering rates practically every FOMC session to stave off the economy coming to a complete halt).

The banks are supposed to follow suit, but they have not because risk is much higher (sub prime, foreclosures, higher credit card debt, etc.). In other words, it's not working!

But while rates are at a 40 year low, inflation is skyrocking! Good ol stagflation here we come.

But I believe you're right; it's a conspiracy. The money is owned by a few families that own the Federal Reserve. Every single dollar printed is "owned" and therefore "owed" back to the Fed with interest!

That's why the...

@pokkets

You're pretty much right on (with exception to the current interest rates; the Fed has been lowering rates practically every FOMC session to stave off the economy coming to a complete halt).

The banks are supposed to follow suit, but they have not because risk is much higher (sub prime, foreclosures, higher credit card debt, etc.). In other words, it's not working!

But while rates are at a 40 year low, inflation is skyrocking! Good ol stagflation here we come.

But I believe you're right; it's a conspiracy. The money is owned by a few families that own the Federal Reserve. Every single dollar printed is "owned" and therefore "owed" back to the Fed with interest!

That's why they discourage gold. No one owns all the gold and it can't be created by fiat.

Gold, by the way, has risen sharply against all the major currencies for the last 5 years by about 31% and growing.