bill bonner doesn't try to be politically correct but speaks about things he see's as clear as he can;

The U.S. empire had probably reached its sell-by date by January 2000. Bad money, bad policies, and the Deep State had already sent the empire into a decline.

Then, two disastrous decisions sealed the deal…

American Favor

The first was George W. Bush’s misbegotten War on Terror. Now in its nineteenth year, the bill has reached $6 trillion so far, with still no plausible victory in sight. As many as 1 million people have died… and Iraq is in shambles…

Now, the ingrates want to kick us out.

But our president is standing up for American interests. He says he won’t leave until the Iraqis pay for the military bases we leave behind. If and when we go, we will also leave Iraqis bankrupt, with hundreds of thousands of ruined shops, houses and factories… a civil war… and millions of unexploded bombs and IEDs throughout the country.

“Thanks a lot,” they will say, as they wave goodbye with the stumps of what were their right arms.

But another casualty is never mentioned. Endless, pointless wars damage aggressors as well as their victims.

The latter show the mutilations and scars of war. But the former corrode from the inside out…

War Society

In a prosperous, civil society, win-win-deals between consenting adults add to the wealth of the country. People say please and thank you, happy to exchange favors with one another.

And the government – with its naked, win-lose power – is held in check by culture, constitutions, checks and balances… and most important, by a scarcity of resources. It may want to conquer the world; but it lacks the wherewithal.

A war society is a different matter. It is win-lose all the way… and claims almost unlimited resources for the war effort.

People come to believe that they can only win by making someone else lose. They celebrate the cult of the “warrior.” Their soldiers are protecting them, they believe. They say special prayers in church for the “fighting men and women… and their families.” Airlines provide early boarding for soldiers in uniform. And no member of Congress dares to oppose military spending… because “we have to support our troops.”

And then, as more resources are dragooned into the war effort, less remains for the win-win economy. People get poorer. But they don’t blame themselves. They blame the enemy!...........http://www.silverbearcafe.com/private/01.20/spiral.html