America in the Doldrums

 America in the Doldrums             Gerry OShea

All countries have their ups and downs, their times of elation and depression. Think of Germany in the last century, losing two world wars and promoting the despicable Nazi ideology but then turning into the 21st century as the most powerful and successful country in Europe. Despite their history of promoting the baseless idea of a superior Germanic race hostile to foreigners, their leader, Angela Merkel, almost alone in Europe, extended a welcoming hand to millions of unfortunate refugees from wars in the Middle East.

Or consider Great Britain which in 1900 was ruling so many countries that the sun never set on its far-flung empire. It was the most successful of all the colonial powers and, militarily, the British navy ruled the waves. They also led the winning coalition of forces in two world wars that saved Europe from the clicking heel of German tyranny.

 Now, in a fit of spleen and nostalgia for past glories, they have left the European Union, losing tariff-free trading rights with over 500 million people in 27 countries. Challenging days ahead for Westminster!

America too is experiencing the doldrums even though the country was never stronger militarily. The annual defense budget of the United States is larger than the combined military spending of the nearest six countries combined. We have the deadly firepower to destroy the whole world multiple times.

 A look back provides some perspective on why our international standing is low and we are failing disastrously to deal with global warming, inequality and healthcare at home.

Dwight Eisenhower commanded the successful Allied war effort to defeat the Nazis. Afterwards Secretary of State, George Marshall, instituted the famous plan that bears his name. Americans with memories of the Great Depression fresh in their minds still supported a massive infrastructure investment plan for Europe, including for the defeated Axis powers.

Marshall was a visionary statesman who calculated that if he allowed a repeat of the punitive Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War, that in a few years the same combatants would be drawing America into another major European conflagration. Instead the millions of dollars that were generously distributed throughout Europe led to a new spirit of recovery and a gradual surge in economic activity.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 as an American and European defense pact, including countries that fought against each other in the two world wars. Led by the United States, NATO, headquartered in Brussels, warned the leaders in Moscow that if they attempted to invade any of the countries in the alliance that they would face a massive unified military response.

NATO proved to be a successful deterrent because Russia, always inclined to territorial expansion, remained within its own borders until six years ago when they invaded Ukraine, which is not a NATO member.

Washington also encouraged economic co-operation among former enemies.  The Treaty of Paris in 1951 started the European Coal and Steel Community, assembling six countries, led by France and Germany, in a major move to supranationalism where common agreed economic interests prevailed over the narrow limitations of the nation-state.

This was followed by the Common Market, now called the European Union, a group of 27 countries, the most powerful economic bloc in the world.

All of these changes, military and economic, were part of what is called Pax Americana, the high point of American diplomacy in modern times. This progressive movement minimized considerations of national allegiance while stressing the promotion of common economic goals, thus effectively ending any chance of another war in Western Europe.

Back in America, Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, won the presidential elections in 1952 and 1956, and the country gradually developed a strong economy, aided by the GI Bill which opened third-level education to veterans and millions benefited.

Taxation was as high as 90% on the top salaries and on some company profits, but there was a genuine sense of pride in community effort and sacrifice. Waves of immigrants helped to build a bountiful and exuberant America.

In the 1960’s along with the angry conflicts about demands for civil rights, the Vietnam War occupied a central place of importance in the body politic. Washington feared that if the North Vietnamese defeated the government in Saigon then not only would that country fall to the Communists, but there could be a domino effect in other Asian capitals.

The Vietcong and North Vietnamese forces had all the strategic advantages because the people were mostly on their side and the jungle terrain was very difficult for American GI’s. Close to 60,000 US troops died before they conceded defeat leading to the North Vietnamese achieving their goal of a united country when Saigon fell in 1975.The feared domino effect never materialized.

The message was clear to American leaders: do not get involved in unwinnable nationalist or tribal wars against local armies who have the support of the indigenous population.

Unfortunately, that lesson was disregarded when we invaded  Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2005. In comparable situations to Vietnam, American soldiers were faced by local enemies, speaking different languages, immersed in tribal cultures, believing that they were fighting for Allah against the god of invading crusaders.

America left Iraq with its tail deep between its legs and the Taliban are now calling the shots as we try to save face preparing to exit Afghanistan. It must surely be clear to America’s military leaders that a plenitude of the most sophisticated weaponry will not defeat indigenous tribal armies engaging in a guerilla war against the enemies of their religion and their traditions.

The United States should return to the advanced diplomacy that was so successful in establishing the glory years of Pax Americana. Hundreds of billions of dollars spent on the insatiable demands of the Defense Department are badly needed at home for infrastructure development and social programs.

Over the last fifty years the economic benefits of vastly improved technology have accrued mostly to senior executives and company  shareholders. The top 1% of Americans now own 90% of the wealth and CEOs are paid around 350 times the average shop floor worker’s salary.

A selfish capitalism driven by powerful right-wing forces dominates American business and government. Republican administrations going back to Ronald Reagan preach the Trickle-Down Theory of Economics as providing the best hope for the workers and families at the bottom. However, in reality, when the rich get richer, the poor get poorer because the down trickle is entirely imaginary. Pope Francis has scoffed at the inanity and absurdity of this economic philosophy whose sole purpose is attempting to provide some justification for a spurious budgetary policy, favoring the rich.

Angela Merkel, the long-serving German chancellor said recently that the corona virus epidemic changes everything. There is no chance of going back to the old ways. Serious leaders in both parties in Washington agree that post-virus planning will be an immense challenge, dwarfing anything since FDR led the country out of the Great Depression.

 The acknowledged heroes in this crisis in every country are rightly identified as doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, and just as importantly, the hospital cleaning staff, the shelf-fillers in grocery stores, the firemen and bus drivers. The millionaires are depending every day on workers putting their lives on the line some of whom are earning as low as $15 an hour.

Some of those low-paid workers are so marginalized right now that they don’t even have health insurance. That day is over. The people in their fear and anger dealing with a raging virus realize now who the crucial people in the community are.

The economic and political philosophy that glorifies riches and panders to millionaires will no longer have credibility when the corona scourge recedes, with the likelihood of a second and maybe a third return visit during the next few years.

A sense of community and fair play will assert itself. We are all shook up and will reject the old shibboleths about the correlation between affluence and importance. The times are really serious now. The biblical kairos era, a period of major spiritual change, is certainly upon us.

A good chance that we will end up saner, safer and with a strong sense of the importance of all members of our community.

Gerry OShea blogs at  wemustbetalking.com