Why America Feels Like it's Been Ruled by a Foreign Occupier
As Obama takes over the wreckage this country is in, one can't help but feel like something alien to America has been controlling it these past eight years. The wave of emotion that has erupted with the election of Barack Obama reminds me of the Allied victory in France in WWII. After a long foreign occupation in which foreign German interests occupied the agenda of France, French governance would once again be representing the concerns of it's populace. That hope seems to pervade America after it's long neocons occupation. Here are a few of the parallels that I see.
- American Public Opinion Has Been Ignored
Polling has consistently shown that the American government pursues an agenda far to the right of American public opinion. For the slight margin of victory that Bush had in both elections he won, the sweeping changes he pursued illuminate his disregard for the sizable chunk of our society that disagree with him.
When Dick Cheney was questioned on ABC about whether the fact that two thirds of Americans were opposed to the Iraq War had any influence on decision-making, he basically said that the American people get to make their input every four years and after that they can be ignored. The government is there to represent the people and now that it seems like that is returning; joy is understandable.
- Core American Values Overturned
America fought a revolution to have its opinions represented by it's government. That has faded in Bush's term. America set up the UN after World War II to set up international law and put an end to military aggression and imperialism. That went out the window. Habeas Corpus was inherited from England where it originated in the 12th Century. Bush in that sense has embraced the morals of the middle ages. Along that line, America reinstituted the use of torture. England discontinued its use in the 1600's Frederick the Great ended it in Prussia in 1740, Italy in 1786, France in 1789, and Russia in 1801. Besides moral reasons, the practice was written off as ineffective in terms of yielding useful information. This administrations moral conduct is clearly alien to the values of most Americans.
- Basic Infrastructure Neglected
Bridges, roads, and environmental standards have degraded these past eight years. What could be of more interest to a population than the upkeep of these vital elements of society? Clearly the vital interests of the population did not matter. You would have to be completely foreign to what America is not to see it, as basic infrastructure degraded tremendously in Bush's tenure.
- National Resources Diverted Overseas
If you study any foreign occupation, one common thread would be that national wealth would be diverted into foreign lands. While American healthcare, education, and infrastructure languished, we dumped billions of dollars into Iraq and pursued an otherwise aggressive and destructive foreign policy across the world at large at tremendous cost.
On top of that, national debt doubled the past eight years. It's like America lost a war, suffered an occupation and had to pay a 5 trillion dollar indemnity. We're in a similar position to France in 1870 or Germany in 1919 in that our common interests have been ignored, we've pursued an aggressive foreign policy to our own detriment and we are now deeply in debt.
- Propaganda Tuned Up
Bush took the stance of a foreign occupier in his governance- rational argument would never win the minds and hearts of the masses so crude propaganda such as Fox News was trotted out to scare and paralyze America into obedience. The same quest for obedience through misinformation and crude scare tactics are the same you see in the totalitarian governments from South America to Asia that have brought nothing but misery to their own people and the world at large.
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Actually, I have felt more like I was no longer living in America -
As if someone had stolen America and I was left behind in some alien country ruled by dictators without decent values or morals.
However, your explanation of a foreign occupier makes sense -
I'll consider it.
Ditto for me! I've been listening to these people claiming they're the true patriots and I was the traitor for a long time. The evening of November 4th, I bought a new American flag and I now fly it daily. Dude, we found our country!
In conclusion, Bush has been our worst president so far! Hope he's proud of his accomplish
Unfortunately, he has no idea how bad a president he is/was. He will forever convince himself that he was misunderstood and go on with his life..
i believe he prefers the term misunderes
Huh? This? Now?
I've been saying for years that Bush is actually the head of AQ, which was started by his father Bush Sr.
Yes, we've been ruled by a foreign occupier because everything Bush has done has greatly benefitted AQ. And I've been saying for years that Bush is not dumb - he's played dumb to distract from his real role.
AQ???? Whazat?
Al Qaeda.
Mr. Hallman's piece is filled with erroneous historical claims and lacks emprical evidence of a single instance of "torture".
Britain got rid of torture in the 1600s...? Tell that to IRA gunman Kevin Barry who was interrogated by the Blacks and Tans in 1920 prior to his execution.
As for 18th century liberalization of Prussia, Russia, France and Italy Mr. Hallman seems to forget Nazi Germany, Vichy France, Fascist Italy and the Soviet Union. What about the brutal treatment of insurgents by the French Army during 1954-1960 Algerian War or the French agents who blew up the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand in 1985 killing a photographer.
If America really believed it were occupied by an "alien" force in the form of the Bush Administration it's people would have liberated itself through legitimate means of impeachment or through the ballot box.
Americans didn't turn out in adequate numbers to "liberate" themselves from their "oppressor" George W. Bush.
France was was occupied because it's bizarre political system robbed it of the capacity and the spirit to defend itself.
As for infrastructure, Mr. Hallman is obviously unfamiliar with the real-world fact that infrastructure is the fundamental responsibility of county, municipal and state governmental entities.
The devil is in the details which Barack Obama will soon learn. Tossing off high-sounding statements without research is easy but doing so is nonetheless misleading no matter how much it satisfies the target crowd.
The "target crowd" - those who have a favorable opinion of the President elect - constitute approximately 70% of the population.
Those with a favorable opinion of Bush and an unfavorable opinion of Obama: uhh, not so much. Approximately 27%
http://www
How does it feel to live in an isolated bubble of cantankerous discontent?
Tell you what: the "target crowd" doesn't have to pay a whole lot attention to marginal right wing extremist thinking anymore. The Christian Neocon coalition has proved itself to be incompetent, shrill, and intolerant, and has maneuvered itself into irrelevance.
The "target crowd" said ENOUGH! on November 4.
GOOD RIDDANCE!
Sounds to me like you occupy the bullseye of a very specific target crowd yourself. Satisfied?
Gosh, you folks are trapped ina most severe form of mental lockstep, aren't you?
Pay attention to current events, the statements of President Elect Barack Obama, his selection of his White House staff and his choice of an "economic team."
He has already "betrayed" the Left which believed he was their "Messiah" ready to wage a holy war against all the conjured phantasms the Left invented because it wants something to hate.
Sen. Obama, a highly intelligent and sensible person, has now entered the realm of reality, and is presently staring into a deep and awesome abyss of real-world issues which he will be held responsible for dealing with. Believe me, this is enough to wake up even the dreamiest liberal.
The howling on the Left will soon begin as Obama navigates national and world problems like a grownup.
Remember, the Left was similarly "betrayed" by Clinton as well (accounting in no small part for the defeat of Hillary), although his presidency, we've learned, was made valuable and productive by quiet cooperation with the "evil" Republicans who moved Clinton toward welfare reform and sensible economic policies.
Please, answer me with your thoughts and your knowledge. Don't waste everyone's time by sending links to silly websites. Pretend you're a conservative and think for yourself.
This throwing up of links as a method of "discussion" seems to take the place of critical thinking among today's liberals.
Be your own person!
"If America really believed it were occupied by an "alien" force in the form of the Bush Administration it's people would have liberated itself through legitimate means of impeachment or through the ballot box."
Contrary to your statement, there has been massive support and legal movement to impeach Bush and Cheney.
Here is just one list smartypants:
http://www
It is not provided in the Constitution of The United States for the People to remove the President through the 'ballot box'. States can't even remove the President. Impeachment is an indictment done in The House of Representatives. The Senate conducts the trial. If found guilty, the guilty person is removed immediately.
You're obviously missing the point, which is rooted in reality, which is why you're missing the point.
Bush was not impeached and he was elected a second time. Disliking Bush does not alter this reality and your self-deception that makes you believe ALL of America hated Bush accounts for your inability to understand that Bush was the choice of the people, even if they weren't your sort of folks.
You ought to read your own postings in an intellectually critical fashion and realize how at odds with reason you are.
As for impeachment, you must realize that members of Congress will do what their constituents want or risk being tossed from their comfortable offices. Bush was not impeached. There was no legal cause to do so other than to criminalize decisions one party didn't like. (And please, don't go on and on about Bill Clinton's impeachment. He was a licensed lawyer who lied during a sworn deposition. He begged for his impeachment with this action. He was also disbarred.
If reality is your enemy, you need to take a very close look at whom you believe your friends are.
First of all, the fact that other countries have used torture in the recent past does not negate the fact that Bush disregarded americam law and acted illegally. Secondly he was not impeached because there were a bit too many of your sort in congress.
Mr. Hallman's piece is filled with erroneous historical claims and lacks emprical evidence of a single instance of "torture".
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Yes, you speak rightness. America have never been richer, prouder, healthier, more peaceful, less torturful and more loved than it have be in time of Bush, greatest leader ever.
All we of the Bizarro World no this for true.
Hmmmm...a quick google check shows that US Interstates and highways are managed federally
Most public school districts depend on federal funding
The American Water Works Association has already sent Obama a position paper on federal funding to help water system infrastructure improvemen
Need I go on?
Do you realize the Halliburton and Bectel were sent into Iraq to rebuild their infrastructure? The funding of them did not detract from Repub disinterest in funding those projects here(our Repub governor wanted to privatize several publically constructed roadways) but it limited our ability to fund reconstruction here in the future, unless, of course, you think the Chinese are going to fund our government indefinitely
Who are you going to hate when Bush leaves office? Okay, lets pick apart your response with a short class on infrastructure while I again point out no one has addressed my original criticisms of Mr. Hallman's silly comparison of America to a nation released from "occupation".
You fail to realize that city, state and county road systems dwarf the federal highway system in terms of mileage.
The Federal Government pays little or nothing for most American infrastructure. Duh... this is why you have local government at city, county and state levels.
There is the massive local infrastructure for sewage distribution, treatment and disposal.
There is the gargantuan responsibility of garbage and debris pickup in which nearly every building in America is visited once or twice weekly for the removal of trash. This is transported and disposed of.
There is water collection, purification and transport to every home and building in America not serviced by its own well.
Health inspections of restaurants. Public schools areoverwhelmingly funded by local dollars. (America does not have a national school system.) There are also building inspections, local police and fire department operations that get precious little federal funding, etc, etc.
Local government pays a massive amount of money for flood control projects, athough the federal government and the Army Corps of Engineers have responsibilities related to flood control as well.
Do any knowledgeable grownups ever post on the HP site?
Please consider this---Every since the day G.w.Bush was born, he has NEVER had to want for anything. Every stitch of clothing, bite of food, education, every essential for living that most of us have to get for ourselves, has been handed to him via the American Taxpayer.( Remember, his father was a member of the senate on the day GW was born.) No wonder he is so out of touch with the rest of America. He believes in his heart-of-hearts that we all owe him everything he has , and will ever own. People like this spoiled brat will never give a darn about anybody but themselves. He did not work well as President because he did'nt feel like it was necessary. Why work hard for a country that has given you any and everything you have ever wanted or needed? People like him think that hard work is for other people. Thank your makers (whoever they may be to you) that Bush was only able to be POTUS for 8 long yrs! There is hope for America as long as we keep people like GW out of office and on the golf course.
i agree in spirit with your post; your details are way off. G.H.W. Bush was never a Senator (that was HIS daddy, Prescott). George H.W. moved to Texas in the late 40's, working for Dresser Industries, a subsidiary of Brown Bros. Prescott Bush and Geroge Herbert Walker ran a Nazi-owned bank for Brown Bros. until the bank was seized by the government for collaborating with the enemy in 1942.
G.H.W. Bush then started Zapata Oil, a CIA front company. It wasn't until 1964 that he entered politics, losing a race for Senate from Texas. In 1966 he was elected to the House. He was then appointed US Amb. to the UN, then chairman of the RNC; then AMb. to China, Director of CIA, VP and President.
Kinda scary when you look at all that information all together. I am starting to think that the Bush family may not have the best interest of the US in mind.
Foreign occupier is putting it mildly.
http://www
The most dangerous and lasting effects of this failed leach is the power grab of the Executive office and the subversion of the Constitution and Congress. The reversal of power back to the people remains to be seen. It is said that Presidents aren't usually in favor of letting go of power. It has to be taken back by the people.
It's not clear from any thorough reading of US history (not the "official line" regurgitated in "approved" school/college textbooks, please) that genuine, Constituti
Taking 'power back to the people' too literally here you. I am referring to the Constitutional protections that were provided to citizens as a form of protection from t y r a n n y. It's all relative - going from perceived democracy to f a s c i s m. Even as perfect as our Constitution was in it's original form, the founding fathers were well aware that any form of government impedes liberty, but for a society to have survival it needs structure of a governing process - " even in it's best state is a necessary e v i l".
Thanks for the important link. Everyone should read it.
http://www
We desperately need impeachment. To be allowed to leave office without some repudiation for these 8 years is equally criminal. There is another article talking about them re-writng the Iraq invasion, and who and were not their allies. This has to be recorded for future generations correctly.
This country as been sold down the river by these people and the people get no justice? Our democracy was hijacked! He deserves to have the justice system work and do what it is supposed to do.
Yes!
The question begged in your comment: what sort of democratic system (see Nancy Pelosi: "impeachment is off the table") ignores a demand by a majority of its citizens for a process of redemptive justice. Surely, in a genuine democracy, the people's will is served by their elected public servants--um, or is it? Hmmm....
So that avenue failed. What are our alternatives now?
The purpose of impeachment is to remove from office. It is not a punishment or a criminal conviction. What is the point of impeaching someone who will no longer be in office before the procedings are completed? Once he is a private citizen and can no longer pardon his croneys, he should be pursued to the full extent of the law.
Mr. Hallman, this is a very helpful article. I have read the malaise of the American public described as "battered citizen syndrome," akin to what someone in an abusive relationship feels. I think your analogy is closer to the truth, because we are jubilant and celebrating now. We have been liberated.
Almost. We're not over this chapter until January 20. Much can happen between now and then.
Its ironic. During the campaign we heard the terms "Socialist"," Marxist" ,"Communist" mostly labelled at Obama by the Republicans. And the nation which is 'helping' the US from falling further into debt .. China! You couldn't make it up, if you tried!
China has loaned money to the US, and taken on its debt.
The US will be indebited to China for a very, very long time!
The Republicans always blame their opponents for everything they themselves are guilty of.
Isn't something going to be done to punish Bush & Cheney & Rove & Gonzales, etc? I mean, bring us some closure, please!
If we kept Guantanamo open, we could put them all there, because as everyone knows you don't have to proven anything or tell anyone when you put people there, you can interrogate and abuse them all you want, and no one notices! A fitting ending for these clowns.
Oh, and while we're at it, can we put Gingrich in there too? He's coming back as the second coming of the Republican party. Although a Gingrich/Palin ticket would present a rich target for satire.
Bush has decided to 'pre-pardon' himself and all his buddies before anyone has a chance to charge them with crimes. It's estimated he is considering 148 pardons - INCLUDING his own!!! It's being debated as to whether or not pardoning himself is legal.
The executive branch has been controlled by the illuminati since woodrow wilson gave the country away to foreign banks in 1913. According to the George Washington and John Kennedy speeches concerning this issue. The NEW WORLD ORDER is the ultimate goal. First there will be eight unions. European Union, North American Union and etc.... After a few years of this, the the eight separate unions will become one. The Bushes and the Clintons were to take over in 20 years of running the country into the ground to bankrupt the USA so that we, as a people had to except the North American Union. The central bankers have and will continue to reward these treasonus indiviuals and CHRIST will be there in the end to judge fairly. Type in " Amero" or the "The Truth Seeker" ..........
Having lived thru post WW II France I find your comparison appropriate with one exception: the French were not as excited about their future: WW II was their second go-around and it had been much worst than the first time. They were a defeated nation with little optimism left. Their institutions were destroyed, their land ravaged and their people worn out by five long years of foreign occupation
I've considered myself a good, church-going practicing Christian all my life until this administration. Now, not so much. Either the whole thing is a lie concocted by those who wish to govern through intimidation, or these greedy bastards are simply abusing a gentle Christ's design to get the gullible to follow them anywhere in His stolen name.
This is a great analysis.
It reminds me of the T-shirt I saw "I love my country, its the government I hate"
Bush & co sure did not represent me and my beliefs!
the other historical parallel I see is Bush is our Felipe II , the king of Spain (1500's)who led to/accelerated their decline as a world power...on
Coz it is ruled by bush again !
iwebforums
I am going to keep this article on my file — i'll be very interested to see and compare what you are going to have to say in months ahead regarding 'Obam' and his administration. From what a get from you up to now is that — you eat your daily bread depending upon the price of the bread that day! — meaning you will criticise what ever and whom ever that is the fashion of the day and are not too bothered about what you say....
I'm guessing you see Bush as the Iraqi liberator?
It's not whether history will repeat itself sir...it's that this is the first time our president has acted with such utter disregard for the values and laws of this country and has ignored the people's voice. It is Bush's behavior and attitude and the outcome of his decisions that blatantly condemn the man. Clear your sinuses you obviously don't smell the dung heap he has made of this country. All presidents are subject to criticism. Obama is already being analyzed whether he makes a move or not. It comes with the job. At least Bush came into office with a healthy budget waiting for him not the disasters that Obama must try to clean up. Bush treated this country like his own personal kingdom , his own toy. Instead of being the steward and caretaker of it he ransacked it and played with it like a sole owner. Opinions and ratings don't come out of thin air. Had Bush's performance been praiseworthy that would have shown too.
"W" now stands for "W"reckage
Another meaningless threat from someone who refuses to see reality.
Erm... I think you will find that MANY have been VERY critical of Bush for YEARS. Impeachment has been a serious consideration. This article isn't about the "fashion of the day." In 2000 we had peace, a healthy economy, and a national budget surplus. At the end of Bush's term... ?
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