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Waiting For Everyman

(9,385 posts)
14. I couldn't disagree with you more.
Mon Feb 23, 2015, 04:55 PM
Feb 2015

Nationalism is not an invention of the right, it's the concept all countries were based on up until recently, except maybe nomadic tribes. Just because some problems cross borders, that doesn't mean there shouldn't BE borders.

Nations are nothing more than logical units of government, just as states are, and nobody says there shouldn't be states, so what is so especially toxic about nations that they shouldn't exist? They are practical, making self-government possible. They are metaphorically like having "yards" which we can keep up and customize ourselves, rather than "open space" which is necessarily hired out and one-size-fits-all.

The more we coalesce into one globalist blob, the more we are prey to the wealthy vultures. It becomes harder for us to manage and defend ourselves, and it becomes easier for the vultures to scoop us out of one nest rather than many.

Up until rather recently, we functioned quite well as a nation, by making bilateral agreements with one other nation at a time, or at most a few, as needed. Each country should be first and foremost its own market, and then import what it doesn't have and export surpluses. That is how the American model was intended to work, and it did work. Now, as globalism spreads, it works less all the time, as the economies of the world compete for and cater mostly to, not their own populations, but the small percentage of affluent consumers in all countries. Gee, that must a coincidence, I suppose? (Not!)

Today, we very seldom even see LOCAL PRODUCE in the grocery stores, in an agricultural state. We have onions etc. (not special ones) from some other country. You know why? Because it's more convenient for the international grocery giants to order that way. Why should ordinary produce, which literally grows surrounding the store, be shipped and trucked from across the globe? And what is THAT doing for the environment? our health? our jobs? our future? And that's just one example.

We have outsmarted ourselves. People are only beginning to admit that fact. Those admitting that globalism is a failure, are not the problem. Those resistant to change are those holding onto globalism... it's a failed ideology which not only doesn't work now, it never will, just like "trickle down" economics never will. Because it's bullshit, fascist-serving bullshit.

Life is not a John Lennon song.

Btw, some liberals do not have so much of a "we're all in this together" mentality as they like to think -- they are very much attached to their niche politics -- the focus on minority rights over civil rights or human rights; and identity by interest-group communities rather than as Americans.

Also, the "invisible hand" has to do with laissez-faire capitalism, not nationalism. There is a difference. And nationalism does not mean "yay, we're the best!" It is maintaining, as much as possible, the autonomy of the nation as a political unit.

great post as usual Ichingcarpenter Feb 2015 #1
CIA and Secret Government largely a creation of the GOP Octafish Feb 2015 #10
That is a book now at the top of my "must read" list. hifiguy Feb 2015 #17
Online sampler... Octafish Feb 2015 #20
ISIS ISIS ISIS Fear Fear Fear -- "They're everywhere" and "They are going to kill us all!" dissentient Feb 2015 #2
Fear. Why fear? Fear burns memory into our brains in a special way. Octafish Feb 2015 #3
The nationalism that is integral to the far-right's mentality is a danger as well. pampango Feb 2015 #4
Conservatives *loathe* fair competition Fumesucker Feb 2015 #6
True. They love nationalism, racism, sexism - any way to divide the world into smaller and smaller pampango Feb 2015 #9
Important points about the Invisible Hand and Globalism, pampango. Octafish Feb 2015 #12
I agree about how conservatives/corporatists operate. My point is that they can do that pampango Feb 2015 #13
I couldn't disagree with you more. Waiting For Everyman Feb 2015 #14
And I with you. pampango Feb 2015 #15
+ 7 billion. CJCRANE Feb 2015 #30
you left obama out of the picture. TPP anyone| nt msongs Feb 2015 #5
First graph under first grey quote box... Octafish Feb 2015 #11
Your mind hasn't yet reached the required softness for malleability whatchamacallit Feb 2015 #7
Plato said it's like Play-doh. Octafish Feb 2015 #16
I fear Girl Scouts more than weasels. OilemFirchen Feb 2015 #8
To the Greatest Page woo me with science Feb 2015 #18
Benito Mussolini summed up our situation today way back then. Octafish Feb 2015 #24
Recommend. Great post, thanks, Octafish. nt Zorra Feb 2015 #19
Poppy took charge when Reagan was prez. Octafish Feb 2015 #27
The globalists support and arm the terrorists (I see the Saudis in the background there) sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #21
Explosive Saudi 9/11 Evidence Still Ignored By Media Octafish Feb 2015 #22
Thanks for the thread Octafish. CanSocDem Feb 2015 #23
One begets the other. Recommended. mmonk Feb 2015 #25
Know your BFEE: Judge Laurence Silberman, Go-To Guy of the Military Industrial Complex Octafish Feb 2015 #28
Thank you. The pleasure is mine. mmonk Feb 2015 #29
Kicked for the fine display of players… MrMickeysMom Feb 2015 #26
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