Comments on: All things must pass http://www.deeshaa.org/2004/06/01/all-things-must-pass/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:33:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kirthi Ramakrishnan http://www.deeshaa.org/2004/06/01/all-things-must-pass/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Kirthi Ramakrishnan Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2004/06/01/133#comment-215 Throughout history, military power has largely determined hegemony, and the US is no exception. It has managed to extort the rest of the world to put up protection money by way of deficit financing for the last 30+ years, using its position as large debtor actually to its advantage. Control of IMF, World Bank, making tthe dollar the world currency and hence borrowing in its own currency etc come with this package. When American military power becomes less effective, its hegemony will wane. This will take place if one of two things happen, a) military power in general will have to be less effective as a persuasive tool turning military strength into an unproductive disadvantage b) competitive power blocs (financial and military) like the EU, China, India(??) have to emerge to challenge US domination For obvious reasons, the first option is more desirable. It will be a marked turn for the better in human civilization. It is very optimistic but the spontanaeity and volume of protests world wide even before the Iraq invasion says something. Throughout history, military power has largely determined hegemony, and the US is no exception. It has managed to extort the rest of the world to put up protection money by way of deficit financing for the last 30+ years, using its position as large debtor actually to its advantage. Control of IMF, World Bank, making tthe dollar the world currency and hence borrowing in its own currency etc come with this package. When American military power becomes less effective, its hegemony will wane. This will take place if one of two things happen,

a) military power in general will have to be less effective as a persuasive tool turning military strength into an unproductive disadvantage

b) competitive power blocs (financial and military) like the EU, China, India(??) have to emerge to challenge US domination

For obvious reasons, the first option is more desirable. It will be a marked turn for the better in human civilization. It is very optimistic but the spontanaeity and volume of protests world wide even before the Iraq invasion says something.

]]> By: Amit Kulkarni http://www.deeshaa.org/2004/06/01/all-things-must-pass/comment-page-1/#comment-216 Amit Kulkarni Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2004/06/01/133#comment-216 Kirthi: I didn't think about the deficit financing thing, very interesting... I personally think that your latter option is short term, and the first option will happen long term. Methinks that both will happen, after watching BRIC, ASEAN etc. I think FTA's (free trade agreements); avoidance of double taxation will drive the global economic integration. When there are several blocs around in a couple of decades or so, someone will lead the march towards the one single bloc. Maybe US, maybe EU, maybe China... No one country can afford such a big military budget. I think that the US is no different than India in the defense deals, a la Tehelka. If the American defense contractors were more honest, they can easily shave their own military bill at the very least 20%, [maybe as high as 70% if they outsource :-)] I don't have the patience to do real research to justify the claim, but I am sure it can be done. I think most of the wars which have been fought by the USA, post WW II are for either of financial/economic/hegemonistic reasons. I have read some accounts of the WW I/II, stating that America entered them for pure financial and economic reasons. The defense lobby though minuscule is very influential, most common Americans don't care what happens outside, maybe they derive some minor satisfaction, but I think that is the extent of their thinking. It is the same old truth, maybe 1-5 % of the population lust after some ephemeral glory and make the others suffer. Right now these guys are also destroying the environment by their actions, and I shiver to think what will happen if humanity as a whole doesn't take action by 2050 or so. Will the deserts swamp huge land areas? Will the oceans drown the coastal areas which are home to a major chunk of humanity? Will the climate variations affect rains/drought? Will we be fully able to solve pollution problems? Kirthi:

I didn’t think about the deficit financing thing, very interesting…

I personally think that your latter option is short term, and the first option will happen long term. Methinks that both will happen, after watching BRIC, ASEAN etc. I think FTA’s (free trade agreements); avoidance of double taxation will drive the global economic integration. When there are several blocs around in a couple of decades or so, someone will lead the march towards the one single bloc. Maybe US, maybe EU, maybe China…

No one country can afford such a big military budget. I think that the US is no different than India in the defense deals, a la Tehelka. If the American defense contractors were more honest, they can easily shave their own military bill at the very least 20%, [maybe as high as 70% if they outsource :-) ] I don’t have the patience to do real research to justify the claim, but I am sure it can be done.

I think most of the wars which have been fought by the USA, post WW II are for either of financial/economic/hegemonistic reasons. I have read some accounts of the WW I/II, stating that America entered them for pure financial and economic reasons. The defense lobby though minuscule is very influential, most common Americans don’t care what happens outside, maybe they derive some minor satisfaction, but I think that is the extent of their thinking. It is the same old truth, maybe 1-5 % of the population lust after some ephemeral glory and make the others suffer. Right now these guys are also destroying the environment by their actions, and I shiver to think what will happen if humanity as a whole doesn’t take action by 2050 or so. Will the deserts swamp huge land areas? Will the oceans drown the coastal areas which are home to a major chunk of humanity? Will the climate variations affect rains/drought? Will we be fully able to solve pollution problems?

]]> By: Jyoti Iyer http://www.deeshaa.org/2004/06/01/all-things-must-pass/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Jyoti Iyer Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://home.blogstreet.com/2004/06/01/133#comment-217 Hi Atanu, I have always wondered, why is prosperity unsustainable, like Ch'ien-Lung's rule? Even India which was prosperous under Emperor Ashoka's rule collapsed at some point. Why is it that people are not able to create great leaders to continue on the road to progress. Surely there must be a way to do so. Hi Atanu,

I have always wondered, why is prosperity unsustainable, like Ch’ien-Lung’s rule? Even India which was prosperous under Emperor Ashoka’s rule collapsed at some point. Why is it that people are not able to create great leaders to continue on the road to progress. Surely there must be a way to do so.

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