As I have mentioned here before, I think that Fareed Zakaria is one of the most capable analysts of our world, and certainly one of the most well-spoken.

Zakaria’s most recent book is 'The Post-American World'. There’s an excerpt available here on the Newsweek site.

Zakaria argues that while the United States' dominance is unquestionably fading is some areas, mainly economic growth, this country’s traditions of freedom, tolerance and innovation will serve us well in the coming "post-American” world.

He sites specifically four factors that insure a progressive and economically secure future for our unique nation.

The first is adaptability. Because we do not fear change, and have a constant drive to innovate, we will make adjustments to our economy and our society, individually and collectively, to optimize our own self-interests.

Secondly, we have used this curiosity and innovation to assume global leadership in industries of the future: biotechnology, nanotechnology and others that are based on information.

Thirdly, we have a the world’s best network of institutions of higher education. Thirty-eight of top 50 universities in the world are American. Our students represent the smartest people in the world.

Finally, immigration. The flood of immigrants to the U.S. represent a resource of incalculable value. The best educated and the least, all share two common characteristics; they are young and they are ambitious. These people bring new ways of looking at all of our problems, and an overwhelming desire to be successful in solving them.

I would add this to Zakaria’s optimistic assessment of America’s future. Many Americans recognize that the failure of our current militaristic, neo-conservative policies requires a new way of thinking about ourselves and the world.

Military might, threats and intimidation are no longer effective. Diplomacy and reason are the most powerful tools we have for effecting change in the world.

The massive new numbers of registered voters; young, tolerant, and innovative, have finally understood that they can change their world, and make it a better, more just place.

Now, if the rest of us will be smart enough to get out of their way, we will all be better off for the change that is coming.

 

President Bush had to admit today that his policies have driven the U.S. economy straight into the toilet, threatening to take the entire global economy along for the swirly ride.

Oh, sorry!

This just in - He blamed the Congress.

You know, Congress with a one vote Democratic majority in the Senate for the last five months, for the continuing downward spiral of Americans’ standard of living, the plummet of the U.S. dollar, closure of stores and auto plants, the bankruptcy of several airlines, skyrocketing energy and food costs, the growing specter of inflation, and the unusually cold weather (what global warming?) on the Democrats.

If you are fortunate enough to reside here in beautiful Lake Country, the personal damage is likely limited to the significant drop in the value of your home. I’m sure there are McMansions around here that have been foreclosed, but all in all, we’re still doing pretty well out here.

I have family in Michigan and they are bitter. They are thankful to have jobs, but fearful, as so many of their unemployed neighbors have lost hope and pulled out, like the Okies heading out across the dustbowl, hoping for work in the farm fields of California.

As I left work downtown this afternoon, I saw the man standing on the corner with the hand-lettered sign “I’m Homeless and Hungry. Can you help?”

I avoided looking at his eyes.

 

Senator McCain’s proposal for a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax is not only a terrible idea, but shows the frightening lack of depth of his analysis of the economy.

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues," McCain told the Wall Street Journal in 2005. "I still need to be educated."  Apparently.

Senator Clinton’s endorsement of this ridiculous scheme is further proof that she will say anything that might gain her two or three votes.

Economically, the Gas Tax Holiday would be likely to have little effect at all on prices at the pump, which are determined by the fact that demand is running ahead of increases in production. So, any savings realized by you and me would be barely noticeable, if at all.

The loss of revenue to the federal government would be $10 Billion. Gas tax revenue is dedicated to maintaining the federal highway system, including the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota recently. Does that seem like a good idea?

I have not seen an estimate of the cost of administering this off and on again tax, but it would obviously cost millions.

And the bottom line, any temporary reduction in prices would only encourage consumption, which is our real problem.

The supply side of the equation can never keep up with the ballooning demand for fuel, even if we let the oil companies run the federal government. (Oh, yeah.)

The solution to our petroleum dependency, which affects all our economic well being, our foreign policies (Iraq does have a drop or two), our national security (maybe some of “them” hate us because they think we’re stealing their oil) and the looming problem of climate change is to RAISE the gas tax.

Tell me what you think of this idea. The tax at the pump would increase a penny for each 1/10th of a gallon pumped. We’d tax the first 1/10th at about .50 higher than the current level. The next tenth at .51/gallon, and so on.

This would be displayed in such a way that as you filled your tank you could feel the pain.

We need to DISCOURAGE consumption of gasoline if we are ever going to reduce its toxic effects on our lives. We waste millions of gallons of it by driving vehicles that are grossly overweight, by driving too fast, by failing to build mass transit systems. We could use the taxes to alleviate all of these problems, and actually begin to reduce the rate of consumption.

You may remember that during the gas crisis back in the seventies, a few visionary Democrats actually proposed raising gasoline taxes to discourage consumption. I wonder how much more efficient our cars would be, how much money we would NOT have sent to Saudi Arabia, how much cleaner our air would be, how much grain would now be available for feeding the world’s poorest, if we had taken our medicine back then. We should open up and swallow now. Our grandchildrens' future depends on it.

And please, I am serious; can you at least shut your engine off while you are in the coffee shop getting your morning cup? Let’s not be arrogant as well as foolish.

 

A range of factors, including the ongoing waste of everything by you and me, global warming causing droughts, and political instability as a result of centuries of imperialist policies by the “major powers” have resulted in the current run on commodities.

Everything from corn to gold is inflating in price at unprecedented rates. (Water is next.)

The speculators and even ordinary investors like you and me, via the mutual funds in our 401ks, are sucking up commodities like there was no tomorrow.

For many of our fellow humans, there may not be.

While you and I are sending our money to those who, on our behalf, are hoarding metals, oil and, most importantly, grain, millions of people around the world are facing starvation due to our “investments”.

These people will do whatever they have to in order to eat. How this will affect you is that they will hold us accountable for their children’s hunger. They will be “patriotic” to whoever distributes food to them. This is how Hammas, Iraqi militias, and al Queda gain recruits, including those anxious to become “martyrs”.

It is pathetic, but there is an obvious tendency for certain people here in the U.S. (Waukesha County) to grab what they can while it’s still available. How else to explain the gas-sucking pickups and SUVs flying down the freeway at 80 MPH? Towing four wheelers or a giant boat. One can only conclude that these individuals are determined to burn as much petroleum as they can while it’s still “affordable”.

So, get ready for the next bubble to burst. Commodity prices may continue to rise for a decade or more, as did housing prices. You and I make even make a lot of money. But the bubble will burst, just as it did in real estate.

You and I will lose money in the markets.

They will starve.

Is it too much to ask all you “Conservatives” to conserve? Just a bit?

 

A variety of conditions, but particularly the price of petroleum and the increasing devotion of farmland to biofuel substitutes, are driving up the cost of eating all over the world.

I’m not talking about the price of a fish fry and a couple of beers at your favorite local establishment. If you can afford eat in a restaurant, please do count your blessings.

You may have noticed (or not) that the basics – bread and milk – at Sentry or Pick ‘n Save are costing a heck of a lot more than they did a year ago.

I am talking about people so hungry that they are willing to charge a line of armed soldiers in the hope of securing something – anything - to eat. Food riots are a daily occurrence in cities around the world.

Because of our insatiable, and shameful, thirst for fuel for our vehicles, a massive amount of land that formerly was used to raise basic food grains to nourish people is now being used to grow corn and soy for fueling our cars and trucks and SUVs.

On every continent people trying to survive on $2 a day are desperately hungry, because your car is, literally, burning up their food.

Do you think you could at least slow down a little bit, and turn off your engine when you're getting your coffee at Kwik Trip?