Thomas Fried-man

WV,

I’m guessing this is your (unsaid) point. But, just in case:

He’s describing the Democratic Party. That’s the center-right party he says he wants. It already exists.

So, that means the center-left party should be the Greens, not the Dems, and the GOP should disappear into the dustbin of history.

That said, we need more than just two parties. We need parties to the left of the Greens, too. An expanded, expanding Socialist Alternative, for example. A libertarian socialist party — though the very structure of political parties likely goes against the core philosophies making up LS . . . . which you and I share. So, maybe not a “party” per se. But a strong, grass-roots movement — one that exists to keep political parties honest, perhaps. To keep them focused on “the people,” instead of their own power, etc.

Lotsa other possibilities for new parties and coalitions. Maybe a party of Rams fans, the Constantly Disappointed but Eternally Hopeful Party, or something.

Anyway . . . . I think Friedman’s missing the obvious.

wv wrote:

Yes, BT, Friedmen makes me crazy. I can only read him once or twice a year.

And notice how breezily he writes about “managing” weak countries. As if thats the US Government’s job. Can you IMAGINE what the NY Times would say if
other countries talked openly about ‘managing’ America ?

Empire. Imperialism. It makes me ill.

w
v

Agreed. It’s not our job, or place, or right, or business. And, of course, imperialism isn’t just horrific for other nations; it ends up being horrific for Americans too. Blowback, endless wars, the concentration of resources in the MIC instead of education, health care, the environment, food safety, clean water, etc. etc.

It’s dead wrong and profoundly immoral that we do this to others. But it also ends up hurting “we the people.”

Time for the empire to die. No more hegemons. I don’t know how to accomplish that . . . but history shows us they’re always massively destructive, on the way up and on the way down. Will we ever reach the point where we say no to them, period? No gods, no masters at home, no masters far away, no nation-state masters, no group of nation-state masters, no economic masters, etc. etc.