Cartoon 717: Subconscious

Authors have discussed in detail when the mantle of a nation as world leader changes hands. It is never instantaneous. The further back in history, the longer it took to reach a new position. But the pace seems to have greatly accelerated in today’s world. 

In modern times authors focused on Britain. Once, “the sun never set on the British empire”. A nation and its people’s have a very difficult time adjusting to their new place in the world. They attempt to exhibit signs and proclaim just the opposite. One of those signs which included empires of the Spanish, Roman and British is a neo-militarism. Even when the domestic hand writing is clearly on the wall.

Another effort is a surge back toward traditions of a more assertive era. During the decline politicians that do the best job of marketing “hope” will achieve office. This is what ushered in Reagan. The message will be that the nation has only had a temporary set back and the greatness will continue. Admission of the real state of affairs will be pushed from the public consciousness. After all, what is the alternative, despair?

Nations in decline go through a “Pollyanna”. The Republican’s are already gearing up. Sara Palin now hosts a “feel good” show about America. People of all political spectrums will join the optimism. David Brooks wrote a “Pax America” article in today’s New York Times. The media in America is controlled by Wall Street. It is in their interests to perpetuate this myth. The goal is keep the system of things and keep people spending. Big business is in a mad rush strip mining consumers and other businesses for profits. They know the American domestic market is thinning. They have nothing really to lose as the domestic market shrinks. Money knows no borders.

To keep the music playing, financial games are played. Deregulation and a credit nation from the Reagan years. NAFTA from the Clinton years. Successive lowering of interest rates by Alan Greenspan. The housing bubble from the Bush years and deficit spending. Now it is the bailout.

The people are about to be bombarded by optimism with election campaigns and through the media. People will embrace the imagery. They will not consciously think about the fundamentals that belie the optimism. But all the time the subconscious will be churning away.