by Immanuel Wallerstein
We are getting accustomed to all sorts of breakdowns of taboos. The world press is full of discussion about whether it would be a good idea to "nationalize" banks. None other than Alan Greenspan, disciple of the superlibertarian prophet of pure market capitalism, Ayn Rand, has recently said that we have to nationalize banks once every hundred years, and this may be that moment. Conservative Republican Senator Lindsay Graham agreed with him. Left Keynesian Alan Blinder discussed the pros and cons of this idea. And while he thinks the cons are a bit bigger than the pros, he was willing to spend public intellectual energy writing about this in the New York Times.
Well, after hearing nationalization proposals by arch-conservative notables, we are now hearing serious discussions about the possibilities of civil war in the United States. Zbigniew Brzezinski, apostle of anti-Communist ideology and President Carter's National Security Advisor, appeared on a morning television talk show on February 17, and was asked to discuss his previous mention of the possibility of class conflict in the United States in the wake of the worldwide economic collapse.
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[Copyright by Immanuel Wallerstein, distributed by Agence Global. For rights and permissions, including translations and posting to non-commercial sites, and contact: rights@agenceglobal.com, 1.336.686.9002 or 1.336.286.6606. Permission is granted to download, forward electronically, or e-mail to others, provided the essay remains intact and the copyright note is displayed. To contact author, write: immanuel.wallerstein@yale.edu.
These commentaries, published twice monthly, are intended to be reflections on the contemporary world scene, as seen from the perspective not of the immediate headlines but of the long term.]
Peacenik says...Look whose name pops up in this commentary above...Ann Rand. Peacenik thinks it is time to stamp out Randism. Back not too long ago Peacenik thought the world, and North America was civilized. Peacenik thought North America was beyond the type of violence that exists in Africa, or in the Middle East, or in the old Soviet Union. But now major mainstream pundits/players are acknowledging that it is possible. In just a few short years Canada has gone from a country that was proud of its record for peacekeeping to a country that is inundated with militarist advertising to join the military and FIGHT. In Canada now one has to be careful when they say "bring the troops home now!!" The U.S. is already fighting a cultural civil war throughout the country. Will the U.S. devolve into a fighting civil war? Could Canada? Peacenik wants to go on a peace march. But Peacenik may have to start Peacenik's own militia.
We are getting accustomed to all sorts of breakdowns of taboos. The world press is full of discussion about whether it would be a good idea to "nationalize" banks. None other than Alan Greenspan, disciple of the superlibertarian prophet of pure market capitalism, Ayn Rand, has recently said that we have to nationalize banks once every hundred years, and this may be that moment. Conservative Republican Senator Lindsay Graham agreed with him. Left Keynesian Alan Blinder discussed the pros and cons of this idea. And while he thinks the cons are a bit bigger than the pros, he was willing to spend public intellectual energy writing about this in the New York Times.
Well, after hearing nationalization proposals by arch-conservative notables, we are now hearing serious discussions about the possibilities of civil war in the United States. Zbigniew Brzezinski, apostle of anti-Communist ideology and President Carter's National Security Advisor, appeared on a morning television talk show on February 17, and was asked to discuss his previous mention of the possibility of class conflict in the United States in the wake of the worldwide economic collapse.
Keep Reading...
[Copyright by Immanuel Wallerstein, distributed by Agence Global. For rights and permissions, including translations and posting to non-commercial sites, and contact: rights@agenceglobal.com, 1.336.686.9002 or 1.336.286.6606. Permission is granted to download, forward electronically, or e-mail to others, provided the essay remains intact and the copyright note is displayed. To contact author, write: immanuel.wallerstein@yale.edu.
These commentaries, published twice monthly, are intended to be reflections on the contemporary world scene, as seen from the perspective not of the immediate headlines but of the long term.]
Peacenik says...Look whose name pops up in this commentary above...Ann Rand. Peacenik thinks it is time to stamp out Randism. Back not too long ago Peacenik thought the world, and North America was civilized. Peacenik thought North America was beyond the type of violence that exists in Africa, or in the Middle East, or in the old Soviet Union. But now major mainstream pundits/players are acknowledging that it is possible. In just a few short years Canada has gone from a country that was proud of its record for peacekeeping to a country that is inundated with militarist advertising to join the military and FIGHT. In Canada now one has to be careful when they say "bring the troops home now!!" The U.S. is already fighting a cultural civil war throughout the country. Will the U.S. devolve into a fighting civil war? Could Canada? Peacenik wants to go on a peace march. But Peacenik may have to start Peacenik's own militia.
