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Page added on February 29, 2016
Kunstler: Going Full Whig
Hillary’s dumb riposte to Trump’s dumb slogan — make America great again! — was “…America never stopped being great.” I guess she’s been traveling around the strip-mall wastelands of Carolina failing to notice the carnage that lays upon this land like a mortal scrofula. America has been committing suicide by bad choices for decades.
We took the collateral winnings of World War II and poured it into a suburban sprawl alt-universe so depressing that our citizens are the most over-medicated people in the world. That alone might help to explain how Hillary and Trump lumber inevitably toward their respective nominations. The cheering “folks” marshaled out in the Piggly Wiggly parking lots are so buzzed on Klonopin and Zoloft that they can’t tell how these two odious celebrities epitomize the very forces behind their pharmaceutically-masked despair.
A nation sunk in such falsity is sure to suffer life-threatening blowback and it looks like the first thing to go will be the life of the political parties. Both Democrats and Republicans have gone full Whig, riding into the 2016 election on the garbage barge of history. Hillary went on hyper-gloat after last week’s South Carolina primary, where she stuffed her pander-bag with black votes reaped on empty promises to re-boot the Civil Rights era. It was painful to watch that get-me-outa-here smile stretched across her face as she hugged the last selfie-snapper and slouched toward the ordeal of Super-Tuesday.
I don’t care how many primary victories Trump racks up, the GOP poobahs will not support him going into the convention. They will crack the party up into warring factions before they let him hoist the gonfalon of Lincoln and the Gipper. Be warned: plans are already afoot to shove Trump aside, to derail him with some scandal easily excavated from a life spent greasing other pols and playing ball with the mob-riddled construction industry in New York, Jersey, and Nevada. Failing that, they’ll leave him with a gutted shell of the party apparatus and by-hook-or-crook get some other figure to make a well-funded run under a slightly altered banner: Paul Ryan, Bloomberg, Romney, just maybe Kasich. The Koch brothers will organize the money mojo. Failing that, there is always the mysterious magic of the Deep State for winning friends and influencing history.
This is not to endorse the old Republican establishment, just saying that they are increasingly desperate to derail this monster of their own creation, and will go to institutionally suicidal lengths to get it done. It will be more than another election cycle, if ever, before the right-of-center portion of the US political spectrum can realign itself into something resembling a party.
Or perhaps this is America’s true imperial moment, when all party politics surrenders to the pre-tsunami undertow of events. None of the idiot network commentators or Wash-Po or NY Times
columnists seem to notice that the global economy is sinking into a coma, and in so doing is igniting cluster-bombs of default through the financial system. That so far insidious destruction should effloresce exactly around the time of the nominating conventions. The tide will have visibly gone miles out just as Hillary mounts the podium like some bad joke of a national mommy and Trump sits fretting in his Cleveland hotel room wondering how his rococo dreams of glory turned into a shit sandwich from room service. Yeats’s widening gyre is upon us. The biggest surprise of all yet-to-come is that television will fail to explain it. The second coming will not be the reappearance of the celebrity known as Jesus Christ, but rather of the event called the American Civil War.
44 Comments on "Kunstler: Going Full Whig"
Pennsyguy on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 5:19 pm
For the last two Sundays, the local op-ed pages featured essays on why America’s best days are ahead. The last was by Warren Buffet. I’ll bet a check of Russian newspapers in 1917 or German ones in 1944 oozed optimism too.
Apneaman on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 5:47 pm
Through no fault of my own, I was forced to watch some of the fake debate the other day. What a complete clown show. CNN has just copied a typical football broadcast – over the top graphics, players/candidates pictures in boxes side by each, all their meaningless stats and a non stop stream of retard prognosticators and self proclaimed experts desperately pretending that everything down to the fragrance of each candidate’s farts is all important and meaningful. Truly Orwellian theater. They even sang the national Anthem for fucks sake. Lost cause.
Nice Fred graphs here.
Get used to an America where owning a home is not part of the dream: You cannot afford a home on that income!
“Well congratulations America. Signs of another housing bubble are as clear as day. Loans with nothing down are back in the market. Incomes are stagnant so creative financing is necessary to buy more expensive homes. And homes are more expensive. The current home price data shows that across the country we have now surpassed the last bubble peak. Yet incomes are not keeping up with wild movements in prices. The end result is that the homeownership rate has collapsed yet somehow home prices went up. How can prices go up with fewer families buying homes? Easy, since the bailout funds allowed banks, hedge funds, and investors to pickup foreclosed homes from families and then turned them into rentals. Now we have many more people living in rental homes accumulating no equity and barely scraping by. Yet somehow with housing prices soaring, college tuition at crazy levels, and stagnant incomes we are led to believe that somehow we have no inflation. The current model of the American Dream involves no homeownership for the already shrinking middle class.”
http://www.mybudget360.com/american-dream-with-no-homeownership-income-to-afford-home/
IFuckYou Over on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 6:19 pm
This is more or less what I was expecting once the net available energy decreases to the point where we can barely extract and process natural resources such as copper, iron ore, oil, potash. This is why the price of natural resources are low, because we don’t have the energy to extract them.
American people are frighten and are looking for a savior.
Europeans people are frighten and feel that their political leaders don’t care about them. So they form vigilante group to keep and control the last available resources.
Arab people are frighten too and are moving toward the last geographical ares where the last natural resources are available.
If you are a doomer and you are surprised by what is happening, you are not really a doomer.
IFuckYou Over on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 6:29 pm
Talking about frighten Europeans people.
Clashes erupt as French police start clearing migrant camp
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/clashes-erupt-as-french-police-start-clearing-migrant-camp-2016-02-29?link=MW_home_latest_news
theedrich on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 6:37 pm
The bribe-ocracy known loosely as “the establishment” has broken out of its strait jacket and is now in full raving mad meltdown mode. What to do when you are threatened with losing your power to corrupt the government? Superpacs of every size and description are disgorging supertankers full of money on ads against Trump, but having limited effect. Gen. Michael Hayden, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, has threatened that the military should disobey a President Trump. The controlled media gleefully broadcast this appeal to mutiny, hoping to subtract votes from the candidate. The list goes on, as the popular disgust with the bi-party establishment grows ever more intense.
One thing that the current onslaught has made visible is the menagerie of actors who are really controlling the country: not just the Demonic Party and its Repub toady, but deeply entrenched bureaucrats everywhere, the Department of “Justice,” all of the big-money lobbies for innumerable subcontractors, the money-laundering big banks shelling out money to Hotflash, and now trolls with hooks inside of the CIA and Defense departments.
Given this array of animals fighting to keep their feeding troughs by electing Hillary, it looks like we are in for another eight years of vampirism using White Guilt as a flame thrower to deflect all attacks against them.
A final note: among other subversions, the Demonic Party has been bought and paid for by Hungarian Jew Georg Sörös, his offspring and his many front orgs. The general strategy is to lower the national IQ by importing the entire Third World, as well as by condoning and stealthily promoting IQ-lowering marijuana (which also sterilizes males) throughout the land. The plan is working very well, and all indications are that Hotflash will be the next Prez and America will soon be a politically correct, one-party state. Stalin would love it.
makati1 on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 6:57 pm
JHK said it all. And it couldn’t happen to a more deserving people. “Let someone else do it” is coming back to haunt them. The sooner the Us slides into oblivion, the better for the rest of the world … as long as the finger stays off of the nuclear button. We shall see.
“Reports of Zika Cases Growing Quickly in U.S.”
“Snyder’s Advisers Knew Flint Water Was Toxic”
“The new mind control”
“10% of America’s bridges are “structurally deficient”
“Dreams of Living Well in Retirement Dim for Americans”
“Get used to an America where owning a home is not part of the dream: You cannot afford a home on that income!”
All on today’s Rice Farmer. http://ricefarmer.blogspot.fr/
Davy on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 7:46 pm
The inconvient reality for all the anti-Merikans is the US is still standing. It may be a mess and coming apart but less then the rest. The Brics are so far in a whole as to be subterainian. Russia is pissing away its little fortune on a Mideast conflict that will never end. China is imploding and glowing various colors from toxic wastes. The whole world is one big mess. The anti-Merikans will be crowing its failure while they are rotting in their dumbass country that has already failed. LMFuckingAO.
Apneaman on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 8:01 pm
Never in the history of mankind has a country once so powerful and wealthy fallen so far so fast.
LMFuckingAO.
Apneaman on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 8:18 pm
Their water systems crumbling, Minnesota cities seek state help
http://www.twincities.com/2016/02/29/small-minnesota-towns-funding-water-projects-legislature/
St. Louis’ stubborn lead poisoning problem
“In St. Louis, 9.2 percent, or 1,123 children tested in 2014, had a lead level above 5 micrograms per deciliter of blood, the federal threshold for intervention. There is no safe level of lead in the body. State records show an additional 2,189 children in the city have lead levels between 3 and 5, which can cause developmental delays and a permanent drop in IQ.”
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/health/st-louis-stubborn-lead-poisoning-problem/article_5783af6a-06fc-5a6d-8b82-7202a16739b3.html
It’s not just Flint; lead-poisoning is a national crisis: Jarvis DeBerry
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2016/02/lead_poisoning_flint.html
Anonymous on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 10:00 pm
Is is a sign of america’s ‘greatness’ that its turning to sheeit a little slower(supposedly) than all those un-named dumbass countries? For anyone keeping score, the ‘homeland’ has a pretty toxic glow that could give China a run for its money. Russia wont go bankrupt defeating the USlamic state, if that is the hope. If anything, Syria would have been largely liberated by now with Russia’s help, if not for the fact that the amero-zionists simply wont surrender(their ISIS legions that is). If anything, the balance of payments is if Russia’s favor there as well. For every dollar Russia spends battling the uS’s ‘ISIS’ terrorists in Syria, you guys have spent what? 5x? 10x? 20x? No one knows for certain, but the uS has poured far, far more money into the war to change the gov’t than Russia ever could.
I assume ‘dumbass country’ refers to *all* of them? Like the other 96% of humanity that live in failed dumbass countries?
Apneaman on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 10:01 pm
Morris Berman: The American Way of Life, The Mexican Way of Life
“Published on Feb 18, 2016
Morris Berman fields questions from Mexican university students. What used to be the American way of life? What is the “hustler” mentality? How will the American Empire transition? What does he think of people who deny the decline of American Empire? Why is the American Dream elusive or a lie? How should American leaders handle the decline of empire? Why is Donald Trump so popular? Why does he think Hillary Clinton will win the election? How does Dr. Berman define traditional Mexican culture? What happens to Mexicans who go to the USA? Where is US influence felt most in Mexican society? How can people engage in making change and fighting injustice?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEoM7u79lDw
Apneaman on Mon, 29th Feb 2016 10:02 pm
Move To Canada?
http://www.declineoftheempire.com/2016/02/move-to-canada.html
Davy on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 4:13 am
Canada is leading the pack of dumbass going down the drain. Talk about a fall from grace. Just another small resource republic without a future. I find it hilarious how some Canadian’s intellectual identity is based on anti-Merikanism. Talk about a high and mighty attitude about “nottin”.
Davy on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 4:27 am
A good way to destroy a city’s social balance.
“This Is Pretty Freaking Nuts”: Vancouver Home Sells For $735,000 Above Asking Price
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-29/pretty-freaking-nuts-vancouver-home-sells-735000-above-asking-price
“As a proposition for someone who’s going to live in that house and what you’re getting for four million plus – that is a ridiculous joke and that is not something that’s going to work for people who just make a living in Vancouver,” Davidoff says. “
“Sorry Thomas, but you’re going to have to get used to it, because as long as the market expects a 30% yuan deval, Vancouver real estate is going to keep getting more “attractive”. Or, in other words, the Canadian real estate market is going to continue to be one of the world’s most attractive money laundering vehicles.”
makati1 on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 8:13 am
“We took the collateral winnings of World War II and poured it into a suburban sprawl alt-universe so depressing that our citizens are the most over-medicated people in the world. That alone might help to explain how Hillary and Trump lumber inevitably toward their respective nominations. The cheering “folks” marshaled out in the Piggly Wiggly parking lots are so buzzed on Klonopin and Zoloft that they can’t tell how these two odious celebrities epitomize the very forces behind their pharmaceutically-masked despair.”
PERFECT!
Revi on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 10:57 am
Kunstler and I feel exactly the same about this election. I thought I was the only one, but I guess not.
Dubya on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 11:09 am
I suspect the mark of sucess in the next few years will be: can you grow enough to feed your population?
This equation will change if there is still fossil fuel & machinery available, and how far food can be shipped.
The USA will probably scrape up the fuel, Russia is used to suffering & has an electric rail system. Canada is lightly populated so if all the young video game programmers pick up hoes they might survive.
On the other end are Britain & Japan, in deep trouble. In the middle all the desperately poor will just push up the death rates in China, Africa & SE Asia so things will look pretty similar to today.
But this collection of buffoons in politics is likely to push the climate over the edge or solve the issue by the economic expedient of a nuclear exchange.
I think I will plant my spinach tomorrow, a month early, the weather is so pleasant from this year’s lovely methane fuelled El Niño.
Oh man, we are so fucked.
paulo1 on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 12:26 pm
Davy,
You should try it up here, Buddy. Trust me, it seems quite normal and peaceful. We’ll do just fine in the great unwind. It might be hard in Toronto and Vancouver if you bought overpriced RE the last few years, but out in the hinterland life is sweet.
My new batch of layers are on the way next Monday, broilers in April (chicken for the entire year), filling the freezers with Sockeye and Spring this summer, the root cellar with spuds, squash, and garlic. Hopefully onions will do well, as well as two freezers full of beans and tomatoes.
Where I live there are jobs, no meth heads, no pollution, and no race issues. No Donald, either. No Hillary. We’ll do okay. Parliamentary system works great. We have a boy wonder for PM, but who cares…we’ll survive him just fine. If we survived Harper we can survive another Trudeau. We have water, space, energy, and all manner of resources. We are net exporters of food and energy in Canada.
Yesterday, we dropped two trees by my house which will net my buddy 5 cords of wood. Not face cords, but real cords… 128 cubic feet cords. 5-6 cords in just two trees!! I have 7 acres in woodlot for our future needs. I just got a line on a used woodmizer bandsaw mill. I think I can get it cheap.
Don’t rise to the bait when baited. The average workingman is the same the world over, certainly very much the same across our border. We have more in common than what we disagree over. If we lose our manners and civility, we have lost the war, imho. That is why I try to never respond to Marm or Nony. Don’t respond to the baiters. I have absolutely no idea why they stir the pot on this forum. It doesn’t belong here and is driving posters away.
Fuck ’em, as they say. And damnit, it won’t quit snowing this morning. It is supposed to be a warm rain and now my yard is getting white with snowflakes the size of fried eggs. Back to the shop!!!
regards
onlooker on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 12:29 pm
Oh man, we are so fucked.
That says it all, to argue who is most fucked is like arguing who is most dead.
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 1:11 pm
The U.S. ranks 1st in prisoners
“According to the International Centre for Prison Studies, there are 2,228,424 prisoners in the United States. That is enough to make the United States rank first in that category. The second highest number of prisoners is in China, at 1,701,344.”
https://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/2015/01/31/the-u-s-ranks-1st-in-prisoners-2/
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 1:15 pm
The U.S. ranks 2nd in ignorance
https://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/the-u-s-ranks-2nd-in-ignorance/
2 years old. Probably #1 now with Trump and all that.
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 1:18 pm
The U.S. ranks 46th in freedom of the press
https://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/the-u-s-ranks-46th-in-freedom-of-the-press/
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 1:38 pm
Progress!
West Virginia Votes To Block Science Standards Because They Teach Global Warming
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/02/29/3754731/west-virginia-house-halts-science-standards-over-climate/
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 1:47 pm
Mo money mo money mo money.
Warren Buffett Delivers Cold-Blooded View of Global Warming to Shareholders
Billionaire investor tells Berkshire Hathaway shareholders that climate change will not be all bad for business.
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/29022016/warren-buffett-tells-shareholders-climate-change-not-entirely-bad-business-berkshire-hathaway-insurance
peakyeast on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 3:27 pm
Actually I dont believe its the surburban sprawl that is depressing.
I find its the lack of a power balance between the ordinary employees and the companies.
I have had several friends going for engineering employment in the US – all came home with horror stories of how ALL abusive the employers were.
There seems to be little recognition that people that employees also are humans. IMO Its more like a slave market ruled by the mentally insane, but well off managers and owners.
The government doesnt make it any better at all.
bug on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 5:26 pm
Peaky, your friend has not even seen the tip of the iceberg.
Davy on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 6:14 pm
You have to wonder what is wrong with the Canadian culture that so many find their identity with hate and resentment as the platform.
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 6:27 pm
So many? How many Davy? Like 3 or 4 out of 33 million ya fucking retard.
BTW, I don’t brag up Canada, just pointing out how the country that could not shut up (still can’t) with their incessant bragging and bulling and murdering is a big fucking phoney. Rubbing your noses in it? You betcha bitch.
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 7:09 pm
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Donald Trump (HBO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO_RTSNmQ
makati1 on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 7:20 pm
If anyone needs proof that the Empire is dying, follow the adventures of Hilary and Donald on their campaign trail. I cannot remember when there was ever two candidates so obviously mentally insane, running for the job of prompter reader in the Fascist States of America.
GregT on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 10:02 pm
“You have to wonder what is wrong with the Canadian culture”
What culture? If it wasn’t for the Asians, the East Indians, and the Quebecois, Canada would be nearly as devoid of culture as the US is.
Apneaman on Tue, 1st Mar 2016 11:39 pm
White Canadian culture – Corporate NHL, corporate NFL, corporate Tim Hortons, corporate A&W, corporate HollyWood, corporate X-mass.
onlooker on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 2:40 am
Sounds familiar ala US.
makati1 on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 8:46 am
In case you missed it:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-03-01/terminal-american-apathy-population-perfectly-ripened-authoritarian-control
“Thanks to American-inspired global franchising, people throughout the world are also getting fatter on the same brand-names of poison as their American counterparts. The World Health Organization refers to the epidemic as “globesity.” Yet nowhere is the trend as pronounced as it is in the United States, where per-capita calorie consumption of the worst food on the planet rose from 2,109 calories a day in 1970 to 2,568 calories in 2010, according to the Department of Agriculture. The average man today weighs thirty pounds more than in 1960, which equals seventy-eight million people considered obese in 2012.
Americans habitually eat a lot of junk food. School children and their developing minds are affected from birth. Economically bankrupt America has created families where both Mom and Dad, by necessity are working, with the kids in daycare and the home-cooked family meal a relic of the American Dream long gone. Corporate America preys on this with a replacement of cheap, fast and processed food offerings substituted as breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. Plus snacks. The ongoing degradation of the American mind it seems, applied to Dr. Blaisdell’s laboratory rats and the UK, Russian and Australian studies, shows that growing American mental apathy is directly proportional to their extraordinarily high consumption of a very poor-quality diet.
Result: a failing American mind. Combined with an ever-failing educational system, this produces a population perfectly ripened for ongoing authoritarian control.”
J-Gav on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 12:54 pm
Get ready for Hillary folks.
twocats on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 1:39 pm
I think its bullshit that Super Tuesday is mostly Southern States, with Texas being dominant.
I’ve lived in four states, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, and California. Pretty large populations. Ohio (or Florida) usually determine who wins the presidency. Impact on primaries? Zero!!
Statistically she’s only 22% of the way there (compared to 15% for Bernie). Of course, they are going to spin it that Hillary is a shoe-in.
I will agree that if Bernie can’t come away stronger in the next set: Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Maine, then politically it’s over…
J-Gav on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 2:20 pm
Twocats – I’ve lived in 6: California, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, New York and Michigan.
Correct, no shoo-in is ever guaranteed.
But looking at how the delegates are lined up (that would be the DNC’s Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’ work! strictly on behalf of Hillary), as much as I might like to say something else, Bernie’s chances seem very slim.
And again, even if he were to squeak in, according to his own now-famous speech, ‘alone’ he could do nothing to reverse present trends. Thus his call for a massive, unified grass-roots movement behind him. Can’t say I know the precise statistical chances of that happening, but I think it’s safe to say it would be nowhere near 50%.
twocats on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 3:05 pm
So true J-Gav.
One other thing to consider. Given the peak oil realities that are bearing down on the planet… I mean, it’s not looking good in terms of (the post 2009) BAU 2.0 surviving to 2020… I don’t know as I would want Bernie in power when that happens – too easy to be scapegoated.
Apneaman on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 4:21 pm
‘How to move to Canada’ searches up 1000% in the US after Trump Super Tuesday win
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/03/02/how-to-move-to-canada-searches-up-1000-after-trump-super-tuesday/
LET’S GO HITLERLY LET’S GO CLAP! CLAP!
bug on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 5:02 pm
Mak, ” I can not remember when to candidates so obviously mentally insane”.
Pres. Adams said “when the heads of govt are worthless (or insane), that means the body and the tail are similarly as worthless (insane).
That is us.
Apnea, I like Canada, but I will stay in the state where I live no matter who wins the booby prize.
Apneaman on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 6:17 pm
Bug, it’s safer that way, Canadians is some Evil bastards.
Canadian banned from owning turtles after smuggling 38 in pants
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-crime-turtles-idUSKCN0VY2RF
makati1 on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 6:17 pm
I see a close run and the possibility that Trump will be in the White House in 2017. I actually prefer him to the lying bitch, Hilary. She will take us directly to a hot war and not blink an eye. Insanity in a size XXL pantsuit.
The others don’t have a chance unless Trump is bumped off by the Party before the “elections” in November. A Trump/Cruz ticket?
sidzepp on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 6:51 pm
Down here in the Klanhandle of Florida Drumpf is running strong. Listening only, because serious discussion is not allowed, the following has been learned.
1) White conservative males are freaking out after eight years of Obama and Donnie speaks their language. He attacks immigrants, trade and Muslims, all which play nicely to the lily white audiences that pack his rallies.
2) He is not part of the establishment, rather he is an outsider and successful businessman. (Of course he is part of the global economy and made his fortune stepping on the backs of the down trodden.)
3) He has no philosophy but speaks in simple vague language that appeals to his supporters who do not want to think.
4) Their image of their great white-bad hair-hope is learned from the “Apprentice.”
5) They don’t give a damn about the environment, education, health care (of course the country will be better if the Affordable Care Act is repealed), or for that matter any other issue that has serious implications on the world.
6) They think nukes are great and should be used.
7) They think the ground is full of oil just waiting to be tapped so they can fill up their full sized pick-ups.
If the Donald is elected, however, they will probably wonder why they were so easily duped.
bug on Wed, 2nd Mar 2016 6:58 pm
Sidzepp, easily duped is the same as
“A fool and his money are soon parted”.