What?

"Yet Americans tend to forget the fact that Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda were essentially created by U.S. policies. In short, a force launched by the United States came back to bite ­it." So I guess America should have let Iraq overun Quwait instead of saving it and not protected Saudi Arabia from Iraq? That was why we had troops in Saudi Arabia, and that was the main reason, per OBL, that 9/11 happened?

Posted by: Dave | 4/10/09

More of the same!

This is more of the same Bush hating, America hating nonsense. American policies have kept Americans safe, and much of the rest of the world free. We have spent our blood and treasure time and again to come to the rescue of the oppressed and downtrodden - including Hong Kong by the way. The author unfortunatly omits that the sole reason a child in Europe or the Nordic countries has a better chance of being in the middle class is because that of massive government subsidies for all aspects of life. Why not compare per capita income, or GDP, or any of a hundred other metrics that really compare the wealth and prosperity of the US to those countries? Thanks for your in depth analysis, but until your countrymen get the fortitude to tell China where to get off, do the US a favor and keep your advice to yourself!

Posted by: Rick | 4/10/09

this is "what"

Perhaps America (Reagan Admin) shouldn't have helped Saddam during the Iran-Iraq War (while also selling TOW missiles to Iran. It only encouraged Saddam to believe he could get away with with invading Quwait (sic).

Posted by: Agatha | 4/13/09

America hating nonsense

re "America hating nonsense" - so, Rick, whenever someone criticizes you, do you automatically assume they hate you?

Posted by: Agatha | 4/13/09

it's over

it's over .. america didn't make the cut ..

Posted by: gregorylent | 4/14/09

The man is right

He should be applauded for standing up to tell the truth, not attacked as another reflexive America-hater by reflexive American foreign-bashers. It's time for us to admit that the same-old, same-old policies - cut taxes while deficits accelerate, let lobbyists run the country, support Israel no matter what it does, bomb civilians in the third world with cluster bombs and "depleted" uranium, treat all insurgencies like al-Queda, reflexively hate anyone who criticizes us - are not working. And that they are what got us into this mess.

Posted by: Charles | 4/19/09

RESPONSE RICK AND DAVE'S COMMENTS.

Rick and Dave's emotional rhetoric reveals their lack of academic knowledge and inability to effectively communicate, why Bush’s international and economic policy did not work, probably because he never had one! Also you can enlighten us why he initiated a war in Iraq when the terrorist were in Afghanistan, it certainly had a positive impact in the middle east and OUR ECONOMY. Thank him for our current economic crisis, surging national debt and global relations. Bush failed at Washington economics 101 and failed to convince anyone that nuclear weapons existed in Iraq. Intellectual minds would appreciate real facts and not your emotional non-sense. Responding to your very brief comment on GDP; 2/3 of GDP was generated by consumer spending, which was artificially induced by easy excess of credit; that banks and wall street aggressively encouraged while politicians turned a blind eye, resulting in their financial benefit at the expense of the investment funds and home equity from hard working people. All elements that impact purchases of goods and services, affects GDP. One major factor is unemployment, for every 0.5% increase it inversely impacts GDP by 1%, thanks to your Wall Street Friends and Bush, the jobless rate has significantly increased, also reducing GDP. Easy credit will not return, impacting consumer spending and GDP, resulting in a big economic problem, with no easy solutions ahead. Dean Mahbubani's economic and political overview is accurate and gives the American people an idea how we got into this economic mess. Best Regards Mav

Posted by: Mav | 4/21/09

Worth Considering

It is interesting to see the responses by people to Mahburbani's article. It is an issue that we American's have such a hard time taking criticism constructively or being truthful about our responsibility in current national/world crises. I'll agree it is simplistic to blame Bush for everything, current conditions stem further back than that (let's consider the shift starting back with Reagan), and every president, whether democratic or republican, has had a hand in it. It is equally simplistic to state that "American policies have kept Americans safe, and much of the rest of the world free." They have also insured the poverty, starvation, and demise of many other populations - let's re-examine the plights of many African nations(and yes, America didn't do it alone...our European cousins and Asian counterparts have their feet in it too). What's wrong with considering our failures? What reasons explain our inability to own up to them or face them? Don't we tell our children that failure is where learning begins? So perhaps we should all take our cue from that? There is a strong need to examine our political system and the overwhelming influence of special interest groups that bargain and control it - serving little else but their own self-interests. If we fail to struggle to live up to "for the people, by the people," then where does that leave us? It is all troubling and anyone that can keep the discourse going is worthy of consideration - don't you think?

Posted by: mickhono | 4/27/09

America

This article was good and tough to read. Constructive critical argument is difficult to hear about one's self or country. But we need to look at it if our country is to develop and grow. Easy to turn a blind eye to issues I don't want to see, but it takes courage to look at the problems then become part of the solution. America has serious problems, challenges that can be dealt with only if we, together, put our hearts and minds on the problem. This is not a time to be emotionally reactive, but a time to put our minds to the task at hand. Terry

Posted by: Terry | 4/29/09

Listening to reality

To the Ricks of the world: Imagine your football team had not won anything for a while, had no clear prospects (except maybe with a charismatic new coach) and was being beaten by teams you consider to be beneath you. What do you do? Do you sit on the couch and relive the old days when you used to beat them? Do you pretend that your team is not losing, somehow ignoring the scoreboard? How long can you live in denial like this? It's painful, but the sooner you accept that your team needs to change its ways, the sooner you get back to winning ways. Your team is the USA; former champions, now sadly declining with every passing year. So listen to what this article is saying - the man speaks the truth.

Posted by: Ralph | 5/3/09

Very refreshing...

This is a beautifully articulated and very constructive criticism of America's current position in the world. I for one am going to pass this piece along to as many people as possible.

Posted by: d3b0rah | 5/3/09

This is Largely Unrealistic

I'd like to tackle the assumption Dean Mahbubani writes about, with regard to the $1.00 tax on gasoline. The premise that the average American can handle such a tax is out of touch with reality. The truth is that American society revolves mostly around an urban framework requiring the use of automobiles in the vast majority of American cities and their surrounding areas. The truth is the bottom 40% would be devastated by the oppressive increase in cost of a gallon of gasoline, which although by many international standards appears cheap, is in our economy quite expensive near $4.00 a gallon, quite unaffordable with the lifestyle many Americans are accustomed to. The answer is incremental change. Sure, with the global recession, America should retool our auto-production to be the model of efficiency. Yet it will take many years for most Americans to possess these vehicles, even with plausible federal or state incentives. Urban planning is desperately needed to increase the functionality and accessibility of public transportation. The way Americans live in cities need to change also, into a model which emphasizes communities living together instead of endless urban sprawl. Never forget the American obsession with the car. On the global warming front, our biggest problems are not cars; it's power plants and particularly coal, this produces most of America's greenhouse gases. Moving to wind and solar on our national grid is the way to significantly reduce our carbon-foot print in a short period of time. Also, I'd like to point out that America's dependency on Middle East oil has some very difficult dimensions to it. Only incrementally lessening our dependency will have a positive result. The region would become too unstable otherwise and we've already made a ferocious mess from Iraq to India that I pray the Obama Administration can begin to deal wisely with. I fully agree with the issues raised concerning farm subsidies and education. At the heart of America's decline is a lack of investment by our political leaders in our people. We need talented minds from all the Arts & Letters! Wealth concentrated in the hands of the few seems to be at least partly responsible. I honestly wonder how long it will take for America's ruling class, the corporate elite and their political "bed-fellows", to realize that they've gotten too greedy and manipulative. American capitalism unregulated, vis-a-vis the conservative Republican agenda and the big business lobby, has crippled America's educational framework for far too long. This issue coupled with the lack of adequate healthcare and the stagnation of wages make for an arguably unparalelled crisis in American culture. We Americans must have the courage enough to tell our leaders, enough is enough; we must share more of the wealth of this great country among us, for the benefit of all.

Posted by: Marc | 5/5/09

Voting for a party

People get the politicians they deserve. Many people vote for a Party no matter who the represesatative is. Sadly, this is a world wide problem.

Posted by: MIke | 6/11/09

Marc ignores important facts

Marc decries the idea of $1/gallon gas but ignores the reality that 2008's high prices did not make a huge dent in miles driven. Moreover, he ignores the reality that billions of poor people in the developing world pay two to three times the American prices of fuels. This is just as deleterious as Rick's thinking that the article was an American-bashing article. It is much closer to the reasoning of Sen, Nash or Krugman than it is to being bashing. For nearly 40 years, beginning with four years as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I've watched the US from the perspective of 'development work'. While I would tweak some of the author's analyses and recommendations, it is an overall fine and useful essay. Let's hope people in the right places use some of its analyses and recommendations.

Posted by: Dr Kick | 6/16/09

Excellent

Excellent article. Anyone perceiving this as America-bashing is not reading it properly. This is not anti-American rhetoric being spouted by a biased foreigner; this is a blueprint. It is totally constructive criticism. And while I don't agree with EVERY aspect of the article I do think he speaks a lot of truth. Great empires can and do fall. History shows it. We should think very carefully on how the rest of the world views us and consider carefully how our own egos may blind us to our shortcomings. Strength comes from self-awareness, not from denial. America could be great again.

Posted by: eltmoore | 6/26/09

the state of America

I find I agree with the analysis in this article while finding the proposed remedies a little simplistic. A petrol tax of $1 a gallon would, as pointed out, impact upon the poor and upon the entire economy as America is dependent on the private automobile. (It is true that gas in the US is cheaper than elsewhere in the world.) Could we get behind Obama and health care reform, and watch the ripples this huge change will create in the economy as a whole? The issue of electoral apportionment remains a vital one. Agricultural subsidies must go in fairness to the world's developing and developed economies: this will in the long term only impact well on the American consumer, but the resulting economic restructuring in the agricultural sector will have pain attached for those hard-working farmers who have received the subsidies. No easy answers.

Posted by: Caroline | 9/26/09

No silver bullets

I don't think that the U.S. can truly consider the "silver bullet" options. The article presents very good analysis of the failings of the U.S. to effectively progress into the future, but, once again, the $1 increase on gas per gallon, for example, is not as easily affordable as one would imagine. It is common for rural americans to travel an excess of 50 miles per day, many earning minimum wage. There is no public transportation in the rural U.S., and that covers a lot of area. To admit that a large portion of the U.S. is living at unacceptable poverty levels, and then posit that those same individuals are capable of paying more dollars to fill the tank, is just not logical. While taxation must increase, finding ways to insulate the poorest and most disadvantaged from those costs is imperative to the success of the country as a whole. I would be loathe to imagine a U.S. that picked itself up by breaking the backs of its weakest citizens.

Posted by: Lauramath | 1/17/10

You already are...

Sorry to inform you, but you already are profiting off the dumb, weak masses from within your own and other countries. Not liking it is fine. Next Americans may have to revert back to farming communities if this keeps up. I am Canadian, and am faithfully observing your plights. You guys are just letting your rich get away with far too much. Crucify some of those head honchos on Wall Street. They'll get the message.

Posted by: Hans Booby | 2/9/10

I know the problem, what do we do about it?

This article confirms what a lot of us (the ones who really care) already know: that America is not as great as we would like to think it is. It is actually pretty deeply flawed, and sometimes it feels like it is hopelessly flawed. This article in large part ignores the mechanisms that drive the problems discussed in the article. In my eyes, these mechanisms are an ignorant, consumer culture that is hopelessly devoted to American superiority while spending most of their time watching TV, and if they do tune into the news, it tends to be Fox or local news, neither of which attacks the core issues facing America in any coherent way. The citizenry is increasingly uninformed and educational attainment is dropping and will only get worse with a new wave of teacher layoffs. We have a corrupt congress (albeit legally corrupt) that is so dependent on the lobbyists of large corporations for campaign contributions and future lobbying jobs that real public interest is largely ignored. They are more interested in petty political battles that in the end support their funders at the expense of their constituents (see health care), or when we do have reform, such as in finance, it is ostensible and will not attack the underlying problems, mostly because the financial lobby paid through the roof to overwhelm the debate. So yea, I think America can fail, considering the staggering sizes of both the government debt and the government deficit. The American government is a glorified ponzy scheme, and until we have accountable politicians who have the incentive to ignore corporate interests, we will not see any progress. The problem is, how do you reform politics itself, when the ones making the laws are the ones benefiting the most from the current system. You can pretty much count the congressman with any real integrity on one hand, and that is a problem. And yet, any policy debate must by definition pass through congress to be passed into law.

Posted by: Greg | 4/27/10

An American Perspective: Agreement and Points to Be Made- From a Kid

Overall I think anyone can agree that America is failing, but it seems that some just figure that it happens. Which it does, but there ARE reasons and whether or not the author hates America- he still managed to tell the truth. And if it takes a hater to admit whats wrong here than shame on all of us, I as an american citizen am ashamed that some people say they love their country when clearly they do not love their country because they are not willing to fix its flaws. Those same people are the people I see everywhere every day and they spend a lot of time complaining, so clearly they dont love it as much as they think. Besides, for the people that were saying this is just more American hating nonsense and refuse to admit there is a problem let alone that this is cause: YOU CLEARLY GOOGLED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE COME UP ON YOUR DAMNED SELF-RIGHTEOUS COMPUTERS IF YOU HADN'T. That is all I will ever have to say to those people. Thank you, dear author-be you hater or a true lover...I thank you.

Posted by: Shilo | 12/24/10

Rebuilding Trust in Our Government (R)

Rebuilding Trust in Our Government (R) One of Americas statesmen stated “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” His presidency ushered in an era of disdain for government and a widespread cynicism that government could be effective in addressing our challenges. Today, as we confront a crisis that has shaken confidence in our financial system and economy, we have an opportunity to restore public trust and confidence in the legitimate role of government. Indeed, to effectively tackle our economic challenges and to implement the reforms we need in our healthcare, education, energy, and environmental policies, our government will need to garner strong public support. However, rebuilding public trust will not happen in the face of a pervasive perception that government is not transparent and accountable, cronyism is rampant, and public officials are more interested in helping themselves than in serving the public good. Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address abuses and begin to rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal government in the new legislative session. Create a Task Force on Public Integrity with a mission to develop a comprehensive proposal for ethics and lobbying reform in our city and state. Which addresses reforms in three areas: (1) strengthening enforcement of ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws; (2) strengthening civil and criminal penalties for abuses; and (3) improving awareness and education for public officials. Reinforce honesty, integrity and transparency by government officials as the core requirement to be and stay in office, any violations of these core tenets will cause the removal of the public official and the loss of "all benefits" retroactive. I think we should consider putting public official on a base salary plus commission based on performance. While the many of our elected officials and government employees are honest, dedicated public servants, the actions of a few create a dark cloud over all. Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address these abuses and begin to rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal government in the new legislative session. "The benchmark of a civilized society is the quality of its justice" Compiled by: YJ Draiman PS We need honest government with integrity. “Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion” Public confidence in the integrity of the Government is indispensable to faith in democracy; and when we lose faith in the system, we have lost faith in everything we fight and spend for. As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law-givers and the law-abiding, the beginning and the end. Change is inevitable. Change for the better is a full-time job. Action speaks louder than words. Every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of the things that are to be. Freedom is not an ideal; it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than the freedom to stagnate. Action speaks louder than words. An Independent is someone who wants to take the politics out of politics, a person with principles. "The benchmark of a civilized society is the quality of its justice"

Posted by: YJ Draiman for City Council | 1/13/11

Rebuilding Trust in Our Government (R)

Rebuilding Trust in Our Government (R) One of Americas statesmen stated “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” His presidency ushered in an era of disdain for government and a widespread cynicism that government could be effective in addressing our challenges. Today, as we confront a crisis that has shaken confidence in our financial system and economy, we have an opportunity to restore public trust and confidence in the legitimate role of government. Indeed, to effectively tackle our economic challenges and to implement the reforms we need in our healthcare, education, energy, and environmental policies, our government will need to garner strong public support. However, rebuilding public trust will not happen in the face of a pervasive perception that government is not transparent and accountable, cronyism is rampant, and public officials are more interested in helping themselves than in serving the public good. Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address abuses and begin to rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal government in the new legislative session. Create a Task Force on Public Integrity with a mission to develop a comprehensive proposal for ethics and lobbying reform in our city and state. Which addresses reforms in three areas: (1) strengthening enforcement of ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws; (2) strengthening civil and criminal penalties for abuses; and (3) improving awareness and education for public officials. Reinforce honesty, integrity and transparency by government officials as the core requirement to be and stay in office, any violations of these core tenets will cause the removal of the public official and the loss of "all benefits" retroactive. I think we should consider putting public official on a base salary plus commission based on performance. While the many of our elected officials and government employees are honest, dedicated public servants, the actions of a few create a dark cloud over all. Taking strong, swift, and decisive action to address these abuses and begin to rebuild public trust should be the first priority for our city, state and federal government in the new legislative session. Compiled by: YJ Draiman PS We need honest government with integrity and fiscal responsibility. “Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion” Public confidence in the integrity of the Government is indispensable to faith in democracy; and when we lose faith in the system, we have lost faith in everything we fight and spend for. As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law-givers and the law-abiding, the beginning and the end. Change is inevitable. Change for the better is a full-time job. Action speaks louder than words.

Posted by: Draiman for Mayor of LA | 3/4/11

FAILED!

America has failed, take a good look. It is bleeding out.

Posted by: JC | 9/23/11