Comments on: Hunky Dory

By: Bonzo

Bonzo — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:11:15 +0000

Owen,
What version or translation of the Bible are you reading from? Conspiracy? Capital @ war with labor? How ’bout a little chap;ter & verse on that on e if you please.

By: Owen

Owen — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:53:00 +0000

It all points to the vast conspiracy against God that has existed even before the Creation. The Bible tells us clearly that there is a great conspiracy and that in the latter days (that would be the present time) that there be a war between capital and labor (read: they won’t pay the workers of the world a fair wage) — that would be our current Free Trade policies. They already knew that this would lead to fewer and fewer buyers of their products, but that would be fine with them for this will lead to an opportunity to reduce the size of our current population as well. Yup, that too, is confirmed by their own testimony and, more importantly, by the Bible itself. Plan accordingly. Know what is truly important in this world. Time is shorter than you think.

By: Henry Balfour

Henry Balfour — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:47:04 +0000

Re. Tony Bonn’s little patchwork quilt of a comment:
and now that the roost has come home to crow it is not a pretty sound…
I’m still struggling with this one – any ideas ?

By: Francis-Lucian

Francis-Lucian — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:50:32 +0000

I especially agree with the idea that our problems are an expression of moral decrepitude. Softened by comfort, we have nothing on the soldiers of Capua, or the guests of Circe. To take this a little further, we fail at traditional morality in that we fail to rephrase it for the confusing modern world. The end does not justify the means. Obliviating does not produce a morality.

By: Simon

Simon — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:17:58 +0000

At last an American who appreciates that the world is giving you the finger. You had it all, and blew it! Your country has bullied, tortured or gone to war with anyone who disagrees with you. You’ve squandered more than your fair share of the Earth’s resources and are the only country to have annihilated a civilian population with nuclear weapons. You’ve brought the world now two great depressions, without even an “Oops, sorry”.
This comment is from a friend – imagine what your enemies think!

By: OhIngardail

OhIngardail — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:51:33 +0000

These problems – in abstract – are not unique to the USA. I live in the UK, and things are about as deluded here also.

I would hesitate to agree that the world is ‘full’ of societies that would enjoy watching the USA fail. As irritating as the American Empire is – or ‘British Empire Lite’ as I like to think of it – I have enough historical knowledge to recognise that when great empires fall, what replaces it isn’t freedom and prosperity but anarchy and poverty. The outlook for client states (such as most of Europe) is especially bleak when this happens.

I do not want the USA to fail. I suspect that many people outside the USA, whilst mouthing off about the USA’s manifest economic, political and military idiocies, would recognise that the USA is the best empire we’re likely to get.

The alternatives are far, far worse.

By: David

David — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:48:53 +0000

Good article Jim, but I could do without the “Jesus-haunted” comment.

I understand how you’re using it but even accepting the use of that kind of phrase is playing into a demonization that I don’t want to stand for anymore.

Otherwise – great piece.

By: David Z

David Z — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:38:33 +0000

Jim – good stuff today. I’ve often found myself disagreeing with you in the past, but this is spot-on.

By: lainvestorgirl

lainvestorgirl — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:41:41 +0000

Kunstler is a brilliant writer, but his bit about how most of us have already bought our last car and don’t even know it yet is a little over the top. Just try getting around LA without a car. Besides, the Indians are coming out with those cheap, fuel efficient, little tin can thingy cars.

By: tony bonn

tony bonn — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:28:18 +0000

there is not a thing in this essay with which i would quibble….

i definitely reject the peak oil fraud and the austerity gospel as vision but limits are the future because we squandered our heritage monetarily….

i have been blabbering since the 1970s about the irresponsible and foolish decisions of this government and its people and now that the roost has come home to crow it is not a pretty sound…

it didn’t have to end this way….there were sensible people who knew the way but pixie dust is a powerful drug….

my primary indictment is the chronic multi decade debasement of the currency and the replacement of gold with debt as currency….everything else is just a consequence