Earlier in the campaign season, Presidential candidate Jeb Bush released a commercial in which he says that America “cannot be the world’s policeman,” but that we must “lead the world.” He, along with Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, et al. are solid supporters of the Washington establishment and the status quo of a federal government whose foreign policy is dictated by the faceless operatives of the national security state.
For the past century and a half, a cabal calling themselves Republicans and Democrats has ruled America, and every four years we get to vote for one of the two candidates they provide for us. This gives Americans the perception that they are somehow participating in their government or that they have some voice or influence when it comes to the laws they live under and the wars they are compelled to fight and pay for.
While these two political parties pose as opponents for the voters, they have long ago become a single entity; a ruling elite that believes in the power and supremacy of the state over the affairs of its citizens. They have genuine disagreements about which government programs to promote and exactly in what way they will control our lives, but neither party has any allegiance to the constitution or the principles of limited democratic government upon which this country was founded. This is why candidates who stand on actual principles are marginalized and have little chance of getting the nomination of their party.
Rand Paul, the Republican senator from Kentucky stands up for his principles concerning constitutional democracy and the founding ideology. He believes the federal government should not be interfering in the affairs of the people or the states beyond the powers delegated in the constitution. For his commitment to such outdated ideas, he’s called names and laughed at by Republican big shots and warmongers like John McCain and Lindsey Graham. He is not welcome in the Republican Party and they have put an end to his campaign.
Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont also stands up for his principles. He is an unreconstructed socialist and is not afraid to say so. He believes that the government owns your income and property and is entitled to take whatever, in its judgment, is required to carry out what it judges to be best for the collective; and he says so plainly. Despite his insane socialist ideas, old Bernie is absolutely correct that our government is bought and paid for by Wall Street banks and that their money controls the election cycle. While many in the Democrat Party are in favor of his policies, the ones in charge - Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Chuck Schumer, etc. are never going to permit an honest to goodness socialist get the party’s nomination; and the big money donors are never going to permit anyone to occupy the Oval Office who - to paraphrase Professor Tom Woods - strays from the John McCain to Hillary Clinton political spectrum.
Not to pick on Jeb Bush, but he spelled out so clearly the establishment viewpoint on foreign policy, that his words are very instructive; he made these comments in August:
“There is one thing that will hold us back — if as Americans we don't lead the world. This country is not a warmongering country. Our history is replete with examples where we... create peace and security. This president and his secretary of State believe we are part of the community of nations, believe that we can lead from behind.”
"We need to rebuild the military. We need to show respect for our veterans. We need to rebuild our intelligence capabilities, and our intelligence capabilities. And there should be no gap with the alliances that have kept us safe, starting with Israel."
Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, and even Hillary Clinton have echoed these remarks. Jeb began his remarks by calling for America to return to its “traditional role” in world affairs. They all believe America is somehow destined to be the sole leader of the entire planet, with carte blanche to bully, bomb, and invade any nation that fails to cooperate - unless of course they have nuclear weapons.
The “traditional role” of America in world affairs is to mind our own damn business. From George Washington’s Farewell Address where he reminded the country that, “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any part of the foreign world,” to John Quincy Adams who praised America’s role as leader by example only, and her principled refusal to meddle in the affairs of other nations;
“She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when the conflict has been for principles to which she clings…Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own…”
Jeb and company believe that America will be “held back” if we don’t “lead the world.” We’ve been leading the world for 75 years now, and this sort of arrogance has given us the Korean War - which is still ongoing - the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq War, permanent war in Afghanistan, and a 40-year Cold War. While Americans have been led to believe that all these efforts were needed to protect their own freedom, and our soldiers have fought heroically in their cause, the world and America are no better off or safer because of all our sacrifice in blood and treasure.
The Republican establishment believes along with Jeb that America needs to “rebuild the military.” This is utter madness; the United States spends more money on its military than the combined expenditures of China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, Italy, and Brazil. How is it that the most powerful military on earth requires “rebuilding?” Despite Jeb’s claims to the contrary, America is the world’s policeman, and its shadow government believes it is the ultimate arbiter of all political affairs on earth. We have Troops stationed in a military empire in more than 100 countries across the globe, and while our troops are motivated by patriotism and a genuine desire to do good, our militarism makes us despised by billions around the globe.
Jeb is right; Americans are not a warmongering people, but the Republicrats and the shadow government bureaucrats that pull their strings are extremely bellicose. The American president keeps a running “Kill List” from which - without any grant of authority form the congress - he selects those he determines to be enemies of the state for assassination; regardless of whether they reside inside other sovereign countries or even if they are American citizens.
Our ill-fated invasion of Iraq lasted for eight years and created ISIS, against whom the Republicrats clamor for another war. Our invasion of Afghanistan has led to a war without end in a country known for centuries as the graveyard of empires. We have troops still stationed on the Korean peninsula - kept there for no other reason than to die if North Korea invades - thereby providing a pretext for plunging us headlong back into a war that is still unresolved, and has nothing to do with the American people.
Yet the Republicrats beat the war drums relentlessly; demanding military attacks against countries from Asia to the Middle East. Bomb Syria and remove the tyrant Assad from power and replace him with whom? ISIS is the primary enemy fighting Assad, so the Republicrats say we should arm and train unnamed “moderate” rebels. We need to “keep the military option on the table” with regard to the Iranian nuclear program, yet bombing alone could never prevent their acquisition of the bomb. Do we really have the money and political will to invade with a million-man army and stay there indefinitely?
The so-called War on Terror is a dream come true for the national security apparatchiks that run the shadow government. Since everything about this war is closely held national secret, the government’s mistakes and crimes can be largely hidden from the American people. Our enemy plays their role perfectly as a virtual caricature of bloodthirsty evil villains. An underlying state of fear of terrorist plots provides a compliant public that willingly submits to the all-seeing government in exchange for a false sense of safety. The perpetual state of war provides legal cover for the government to trample on civil rights, as they have twisted the meaning of war to mean a war against a tactic (Terror) and not an identifiable nation-state or entity.
And so the war goes on with no end in sight within this century. The emergency powers the government has granted to itself will continue to grow until our freedom is utterly extinguished. Randolph Bourne observed that “War is the health of the state,” and indeed war is the preferred state of affairs for aspiring tyrants. Our founders understood the danger of war to the health of a free republic. James Madison put it best when he wrote,
“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”
Unless we somehow bring our government to heel - an unlikely prospect with the crop of Republicrats running in this year’s circus - Our freedom will be lost under the weight of our ever-expanding warfare state.
For the past century and a half, a cabal calling themselves Republicans and Democrats has ruled America, and every four years we get to vote for one of the two candidates they provide for us. This gives Americans the perception that they are somehow participating in their government or that they have some voice or influence when it comes to the laws they live under and the wars they are compelled to fight and pay for.
While these two political parties pose as opponents for the voters, they have long ago become a single entity; a ruling elite that believes in the power and supremacy of the state over the affairs of its citizens. They have genuine disagreements about which government programs to promote and exactly in what way they will control our lives, but neither party has any allegiance to the constitution or the principles of limited democratic government upon which this country was founded. This is why candidates who stand on actual principles are marginalized and have little chance of getting the nomination of their party.
Rand Paul, the Republican senator from Kentucky stands up for his principles concerning constitutional democracy and the founding ideology. He believes the federal government should not be interfering in the affairs of the people or the states beyond the powers delegated in the constitution. For his commitment to such outdated ideas, he’s called names and laughed at by Republican big shots and warmongers like John McCain and Lindsey Graham. He is not welcome in the Republican Party and they have put an end to his campaign.
Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont also stands up for his principles. He is an unreconstructed socialist and is not afraid to say so. He believes that the government owns your income and property and is entitled to take whatever, in its judgment, is required to carry out what it judges to be best for the collective; and he says so plainly. Despite his insane socialist ideas, old Bernie is absolutely correct that our government is bought and paid for by Wall Street banks and that their money controls the election cycle. While many in the Democrat Party are in favor of his policies, the ones in charge - Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Chuck Schumer, etc. are never going to permit an honest to goodness socialist get the party’s nomination; and the big money donors are never going to permit anyone to occupy the Oval Office who - to paraphrase Professor Tom Woods - strays from the John McCain to Hillary Clinton political spectrum.
Not to pick on Jeb Bush, but he spelled out so clearly the establishment viewpoint on foreign policy, that his words are very instructive; he made these comments in August:
“There is one thing that will hold us back — if as Americans we don't lead the world. This country is not a warmongering country. Our history is replete with examples where we... create peace and security. This president and his secretary of State believe we are part of the community of nations, believe that we can lead from behind.”
"We need to rebuild the military. We need to show respect for our veterans. We need to rebuild our intelligence capabilities, and our intelligence capabilities. And there should be no gap with the alliances that have kept us safe, starting with Israel."
Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, and even Hillary Clinton have echoed these remarks. Jeb began his remarks by calling for America to return to its “traditional role” in world affairs. They all believe America is somehow destined to be the sole leader of the entire planet, with carte blanche to bully, bomb, and invade any nation that fails to cooperate - unless of course they have nuclear weapons.
The “traditional role” of America in world affairs is to mind our own damn business. From George Washington’s Farewell Address where he reminded the country that, “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any part of the foreign world,” to John Quincy Adams who praised America’s role as leader by example only, and her principled refusal to meddle in the affairs of other nations;
“She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when the conflict has been for principles to which she clings…Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own…”
Jeb and company believe that America will be “held back” if we don’t “lead the world.” We’ve been leading the world for 75 years now, and this sort of arrogance has given us the Korean War - which is still ongoing - the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq War, permanent war in Afghanistan, and a 40-year Cold War. While Americans have been led to believe that all these efforts were needed to protect their own freedom, and our soldiers have fought heroically in their cause, the world and America are no better off or safer because of all our sacrifice in blood and treasure.
The Republican establishment believes along with Jeb that America needs to “rebuild the military.” This is utter madness; the United States spends more money on its military than the combined expenditures of China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, Italy, and Brazil. How is it that the most powerful military on earth requires “rebuilding?” Despite Jeb’s claims to the contrary, America is the world’s policeman, and its shadow government believes it is the ultimate arbiter of all political affairs on earth. We have Troops stationed in a military empire in more than 100 countries across the globe, and while our troops are motivated by patriotism and a genuine desire to do good, our militarism makes us despised by billions around the globe.
Jeb is right; Americans are not a warmongering people, but the Republicrats and the shadow government bureaucrats that pull their strings are extremely bellicose. The American president keeps a running “Kill List” from which - without any grant of authority form the congress - he selects those he determines to be enemies of the state for assassination; regardless of whether they reside inside other sovereign countries or even if they are American citizens.
Our ill-fated invasion of Iraq lasted for eight years and created ISIS, against whom the Republicrats clamor for another war. Our invasion of Afghanistan has led to a war without end in a country known for centuries as the graveyard of empires. We have troops still stationed on the Korean peninsula - kept there for no other reason than to die if North Korea invades - thereby providing a pretext for plunging us headlong back into a war that is still unresolved, and has nothing to do with the American people.
Yet the Republicrats beat the war drums relentlessly; demanding military attacks against countries from Asia to the Middle East. Bomb Syria and remove the tyrant Assad from power and replace him with whom? ISIS is the primary enemy fighting Assad, so the Republicrats say we should arm and train unnamed “moderate” rebels. We need to “keep the military option on the table” with regard to the Iranian nuclear program, yet bombing alone could never prevent their acquisition of the bomb. Do we really have the money and political will to invade with a million-man army and stay there indefinitely?
The so-called War on Terror is a dream come true for the national security apparatchiks that run the shadow government. Since everything about this war is closely held national secret, the government’s mistakes and crimes can be largely hidden from the American people. Our enemy plays their role perfectly as a virtual caricature of bloodthirsty evil villains. An underlying state of fear of terrorist plots provides a compliant public that willingly submits to the all-seeing government in exchange for a false sense of safety. The perpetual state of war provides legal cover for the government to trample on civil rights, as they have twisted the meaning of war to mean a war against a tactic (Terror) and not an identifiable nation-state or entity.
And so the war goes on with no end in sight within this century. The emergency powers the government has granted to itself will continue to grow until our freedom is utterly extinguished. Randolph Bourne observed that “War is the health of the state,” and indeed war is the preferred state of affairs for aspiring tyrants. Our founders understood the danger of war to the health of a free republic. James Madison put it best when he wrote,
“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”
Unless we somehow bring our government to heel - an unlikely prospect with the crop of Republicrats running in this year’s circus - Our freedom will be lost under the weight of our ever-expanding warfare state.
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