This column, in fact the whole premise of NineShift, has nothing to do with politics.
With this caveat, we approach the whole historical parallel (or not) between the decline of the British Empire 100 years ago, and the troubling warning signs that America is repeating it today.
On our trip to England earlier this year, one of my acquired treasures was E.J. Hobsbawn's classic book on "The Age of Empire: 1876 - 1914." Following World War I, the British Empire effectively disappeared, if slowly. It took until 1950 for the Brits themselves to realize it was all over. But it ended in 1914.
By 1914 the Germans had invented the auto, and created Mercedes, etc. The French had invented motion pictures and were dominant. And the Brits ruled the world. All three countries, but especially the Brits - - who actually "won" WWI - - lost their world dominance after WWI to the U.S. They had invested (wasted) so much in WWI they simply could not recover.
SO, it was interesting that in a recent issue of The New Yorker Magazine, David Remnick, in a column about Lebanon-Palestine-Iraq-Afganistan-Iran (let's leave out Venezuela-Cuba-Bolivia for a moment) wrote, "Some observers speak forebodingly of 1914....."
There's no question we are repeating the history of 100 years ago. The question is, which history - - that of the US in the 20th century (ultimate success) or England (decline of world dominance)? Your thoughts welcome (or come over for tea at 4 pm): :