Present Day USA is Akin to the Weimar Republic

The political spectrum in the US is out of control just like it was in the Weimar Republic . The crack pot racist Birther movement that refuses to accept Obama as the POTUS are no different then those in Germany who refused to accept the newly created Republic . As the political spectrum got out of hand in Germany the battle for the country future came down to a showdown of sorts in the street between the Fascists and the Communists . Now the USA today isn't as extract replica or formula but it is close enough you have a bunch of crack pot right wingers who want No taxes , regulation and think that Gays are the end of the world as is anything short of a form of Christian fascism . Equally nutty left wingers support the masses of illegal aliens coming to the USA , the notion that anything US does overseas is for oil and that Gay marriage must be made legal above all other issues . *

Should anybody question the right wingers you are Communist or a Socialist by default and if you question the need for the US to have open borders you are automatically labelled a racist . Christian fascists feel as threatened by the science of Evolution as the Catholic Church did by the findings of Galileo Galilei , they would be happy to send there country back to the stone ages . California economic plight fore tales what is going to happen to the US due to neither side of fence caring for fiscal sanity .

Then you have the so called Constitutionalists who are split into two crowds the first thinks that solutions to problems form three hundred years ago will work today . Aside from that being untrue such thinking is extremely inflexible . The second crowd really only knows how to site the first , second and tenth amendments . Thanks to human nature no such thing as a genuine Constitutionalist if there was then the following issues would have been addressed the Louisiana Purchase , the fact that the Vice President isn't the loser of a presidential election and so on .

* I have no problem with Gay marriage but just look at how it was or is being debated in the court system all the while California is going bankrupt .

reply to post by xpert11

Sounds like all you need is some frustrated person from the visual arts to form a grand left/right mixture based on goose-stepping, beer, brawling and singing.
Well you've already had a Hollywood actor as a president, and you've illegally invaded countries.
I'm not sure you have hyper-inflation, masses of unemployed war veterans or crippling war repayments.
Wait a minute, perhaps to an extent you do have those things ...
Mmm, food for thought.

I said this when Bush (the shrub) was in office. Back about 4 years ago, McCain was trying to pass an immigration bill that was just a revision of the 1935 Nuremberg Laws with the word Jew stricken and replaced with illegal immigrant.

There are striking similarities that both Bush and Obama seem to embrace.

I was thinking this yesterday too, well have thought about it alot really but yesterday it was strongly on my mind. If we can learn from our past mistakes in humanity we could do so many wonderful things with our planet and our potentials as humans.

Originally posted by halfoldman
[Sounds like all you need is some frustrated person from the visual arts to form a grand left/right mixture based on goose-stepping, beer, brawling and singing.

As a Kiwi the US political scene frustrates me because of the wide spread effects the decisions that country elected leaders can have .

and you've illegally invaded countries.

The issue of the legality of the Iraq war aside you can certainly make the case that the handling of post Saddam Iraq was ideologically driven rather then based upon sound planning .

I'm not sure you have hyper-inflation, masses of unemployed war veterans or crippling war repayments.

Deflation can be economically harmful as well . Either way extremely rough economic times are the wet dream of very extremist whack job .

reply to post by hinky


I don't follow you here . The USA is the only country I know of that fails to police its border as government policy .

I love the USA, at least in theory. But I can really and truly say I am so sick of this place. Its a joke and nothing ever changes. Full of scams and laws and not a single ounce of freedom. My cell phone bill is 40 pages, if I dont wear a seatbelt I have to pay 200 bucks, cops think because they can do an obstacle course they have the right to push you around and you have to take it. These are no where near over-hyped conspiracy theories, this is reality. Is this seriously what we want?? I would hope the answer is no, which I believe it is. So stop jerking around and lets roll. Its only an illusion that we are not in power. We have the power. It just takes a little fortitude and sensibility. Do not submit yourself and your family to these things anymore. If you dont like it, then do something about it. If everyone does something about it, then something will be done. Please lets make this country a great place again, please.

As in any group, we need some leaders. Not visionaries who lead us, because I feel like we know where we need to go. But we need catalysts. We need people to help us break the mold, to free us from our bondage. We need people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of all, we need heroes (other than each and every man, woman, and child who sacrifices their lives in the U.S. Armed Forces).

This is not a rant, I am sensible as can be. I only want this place to be great. And for that to happen we need some help.

reply to post by xpert11


Mr X11, you have my admiration for your insightful diagnosis of the current political dilemma faced by the US of A.

Germany’s Weimar Republic replaced the somewhat democratic German monarchy following its loss of World War One. This change of form of governance was forced on Germany at Versailles by the Allied Powers. The END of the Napoleonic Era!

The modern understanding of the appropriate role for nation-states in finance and industry was just taking shape. Adam Smith’s successor-in-interest John Maynard Keynes had not yet gained wide acceptance. Angry France and jealous England wanted to keep Germany at bay as a commercial and colonial competitor. Both those powers also wanted to shift the War’s financial burden away from their respective countries. Hence Germany was saddled with huge - impossible - amounts of reparations to be paid from an already damaged economy. I don’t think any of the leaders of Weimar, France or the UK recognized the inherent hazard of OVERPRINTING money. Say FIAT money. Aside: I think the “rule of thumb” is that printing money is OK so long as the rate of inflating the currency is kept lower than the rate of increase in national productivity.

When Weimar fell into hyper-inflation, all the savings of the people were wiped out. The whole German population had been impoverished overnight! This underlies the Holocaust conundrum, “Why do good people do bad things?”

Mr X11, you should already know I am regarded by most of my compatriots as a pariah, when I frequently ask them to “define fascism without describing the United States.” Our country has always been, “of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich” to misquote Lincoln. Don’t overlook our No. 1 Founder, George Washington, was one of the 10 richest men in America as was also our Number 2 Founder, Benjamin Franklin in that lofty group. GW got there by his own talent and by marrying well. BF was a rags to riches story.

Andrew Jackson, elected in 1828, was the first American president who was not from the financial and political ELITE of our country. Four of the first six presidents were from Virginia, and 2 from Massachusetts. Jackson was from North Carolina via Tennessee. Note: Western NC became Tennessee as western VA became Kentucky. “Western” used here means ACROSS the Appalachian Mountains. The miracle of the United States is that the oligarches shared so much of the nation’s wealth with the peons. Unlike most other countries of that day or this day.

I don’t mind at all being labeled a “nutty left-winger” because that’s just what I am, but I do object to be described disapprovingly as favoring illegal aliens. I say I am merely being pragmatic. If you should lose your leg in an accident, there is no use denying you are short a leg. Grapple with reality and move on! Just don’t waste your money buying used pole vault equipment!

Besides, America is “growing old” and if old people are going to keep their two great life-savers, social security and medicare, there must be young people at work, happy enough to accept paying the taxes required to pay those old people. Anti-immigrants are jackasses! (And Republicans). And I apologize to that wonderful animal, the jackass.

I know it is a loser with the MORE Religious than THOU crowd, but we must get the Gay-Lesbian issue behind us. Ten percent of any population is homosexual. We cannot afford to ignore their potential for significant contributions. That what I call “Torquamada mentality” to the extreme.

Good post, Mr Xpert11.

Originally posted by xpert11
Now the USA today isn't as extract replica or formula but it is close enough you have a bunch of crack pot right wingers who want No taxes

Then you have the so called Constitutionalists who are split into two crowds the first thinks that solutions to problems form three hundred years ago will work today . Aside from that being untrue such thinking is extremely inflexible . The second crowd really only knows how to site the first , second and tenth amendments . Thanks to human nature no such thing as a genuine Constitutionalist if there was then the following issues would have been addressed the Louisiana Purchase , the fact that the Vice President isn't the loser of a presidential election and so on .

Ok so you are very confused if you think people who support and defend the Constitution are a bunch of crack pot right wingers. The Constitution no longer exists and needs to be reinstated because what you don't understand is the Constitution was written to say what the government can not do in order to protect peoples rights which were given to them by their creator... Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. And if you can honestly say that an income tax is a good thing you are the crack pot. Think about it, because of that income tax about 2.5-3 hours out of every 8 hours worked you are working for zero pay and it is purely slave labor. The government does not need the income tax to survive they sustained them selves just fine with commodity taxes and indirect taxes. Income tax is a pure scam that people have contracted themselves into and also contracted there constitutional rights AWAY with the same contract. Now I'm not trying to say there shouldn't be other laws other than the constitution because obviously society has changed a lot; however that does not mean that the Constitution shouldn't be in place either because it is the single document that protects the people from a tyrannical government. But considering every U.S Citizen has contracted there Constitutional rights away it has allowed our government to turn into a dulocrocy. Dulocrocy is defined from blacks law dictionary as "a society where servants and slave have so much license and privilege that they domineer." The highest amount of treason exists everywhere within our government and our founding fathers and the people who fought and died for this country would be ashamed to see what that country has now turned into.

reply to post by donwhite

Besides, America is “growing old” and if old people are going to keep their two great life-savers, social security and medicare, there must be young people at work, happy enough to accept paying the taxes required to pay those old people. Anti-immigrants are jackasses! (And Republicans). And I apologize to that wonderful animal, the jackass.

Thats the point, Ive bolded it for you. Immigration benefits the country and its social security system ONLY if immigrants pay more into the system than they receive from it. If its the other way around, immigration will actually accelerate the breakdown. Which way is it in the US?

As for the America growing old, the whole developed world is growing old, but considering average working citizen today would, with the assistance of new technologies, produce several times more resources than citizen in the past, I dont consider it such a big problem as many people think. Less children, but each more productive is the same as more children and each less productive. Also, if the average lifespan is rising, the only logical answer is that retiring age must also rise, so the ratio of productive and unproductive part of life stays constant. Trying to ignore this simple law and circumvent it with influx of unqualified workers would not solve anything, and ultimately only worsens the problem.

reply to post by donwhite


Elected leaders in the US refuse to take action that would even look at reducing the flow of illegal aliens to a more manageable trickle . The result of the motive of short slightness and greed is going to result in the creation of an under class and domestic terrorism .

reply to post by xSe7eNx


Not always crack pot right wingers a viable political solution ?
The answer to that point has to be an empathic NO .
Federal Income tax is constitutionally mandated . Your post proves my point better then I could have . Let's get to the truth you only want to obey the aspects of the Constitution that suit yourself and others .
If the US Constitution was to be reinstated as you put it what would do about the people who live and have lived in the area covered by the Louisiana Purchase ?

Now this next bit is more of a general commentary rather directly aimed at any one ATS member . Recently the First amendment has allowed protests at or near dead soldiers funerals and fake veterans to avoid prosecution .

Is it really free speech when someone is unable to respond because they are no longer in the living ?
Is stealing valour really what the Founding Fathers had in mind for the right to free speech ?

reply to post by xpert11


The undercurrent of nastiness and the all pervasive nature of your ABC agencies make the USA today more akin to pre war nazi Germany rather than the Weimar Republic, what with the constant flow of out of control leo's and the phony crony corporate capitalism practiced now.

Let's Get Some Important Items Straight

reply to post by xSe7eNx

Ok so you are very confused if you think people who support and defend the Constitution are a bunch of crack pot right wingers. The Constitution no longer exists and needs to be reinstated because what you don't understand is the Constitution was written to say what the government can not do in order to protect peoples rights which were given to them by their creator... Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE, ANYWAY? US Constitution Article VI Section 2 and 3. “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

WHAT CAN CONGRESS DO, ANYWAY? US Constitution Article I Section 8,
Clause (1) The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

(2) To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

(3) To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;

(4) To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States;

(5) To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

(6) To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States;

(7) To establish post offices and post roads;

(8) To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;

(9) To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;

(10) To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations;

(11) To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;

(12) To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;

(13) To provide and maintain a navy;

(14) To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;

(15) To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;

(16) To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

(17) To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;--And

(18) To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

RE-READ CLAUSE 18, JUST ABOVE. NOW WHAT’S SO HARD ABOUT THIS?

US Constitution Article 1, Section 10. Clause (1) “No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.

(2) No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection laws: and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress.

(3) No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.”

VARIOUS LIMITS ON STATES, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WHOLE LIST OF LIMITS.

The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, Section 1. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

RE-READ THIS FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE “PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES” CLAUSE, THE “DUE PROCESS” CLAUSE AND THE “EQUAL PROTECTION” CLAUSE. THE ESSENCE OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES ALL IN ONE PLACE.

Good Points.

reply to post by Maslo

Immigration benefits the country and its social security system ONLY if immigrants pay more into the system than they receive from it. Which way is it in the US?

My understanding is that “illegal” immigrants can obtain a Employee ID number from the IRS which is required on Form I-9 for each employee. This in turn is the authority for the employer to withhold 7.65% of wages as the FICA tax and if the wages paid are high enough, depending on how many claimed dependents, then the employer also withholds the proper income tax. Illegal immigrants for the most part pay these taxes and as a matter of FACT they who do are EXCLUDED by law from having a social security account even though they pay the tax. So illegals are a PLUS to the old people not a MINUS.

[T]he whole developed world is growing old, but with the assistance of new technologies, produce several times more than citizen in the past . . I don’t consider it such a big problem as many people think . . if the average life span is rising, the only logical answer is that retiring age must also rise . . the ratio of productive and unproductive part of life stays constant.

Good points. We have already raised the full retirement age from 65 to 67. I expect to see it go to 70 AFTER the 2012 election if the Democrats win. (Historically, in 1935 when the SS Act was first adopted and the retirement age set at 65, that was also the “life expectancy” for the US population. If we did that today the retirement age would be 78. See CIA World Factbook.

reply to post by donwhite


Can you have your cake and eat it to ?

Do you think it is possible to have separate branches of the US government controlled by different political party's and still have a functioning government ?

Once the separate branches of government are controlled by different political party's people are inclined complain that a sitting president can't his or her legislative agenda passed into law . The no taxes and government crowd certainly wants to have its cake and eat it to . They don't want to pay any taxes and have any regulations on the books and then they turn around and complain about the governments inability to deal with the likes of the Gulf Oil spill .

Is it not possible to police the USA borders adequately without interfering with the granting of citizenship ?
If not then how do other countries manage such a feat ?

Should parts if not all the Constitution be taken to the letter of the law or just in spirit(SP?) ?

Tough talk on Mugwumps and Scallywags.

reply to post by xpert11

Can you have your cake and eat it too? Do you think it is possible to have separate branches of the US government controlled by different political party's and still have a functioning government?

Yes. Without meaning to boast, America is SO rich, SO powerful, SO large and SO much self-satisfied with itself, that our bureaucracy - like bureaucracies around the world - keeps the “ship of state” on even keel MOST of the time whether or not the Congress or the president are awake. The current RED state BLUE state divide is not new to the US of A.

Once the separate branches of government are controlled by different political party's people are inclined complain that a sitting president can't his or her legislative agenda passed into law. The no taxes and no government crowd certainly wants to have its cake and eat it to. They don't want to pay any taxes and have any regulations on the books and then they turn around and complain about the governments inability to deal with the likes of the Gulf Oil spill.

Right! I liken today’s anti-tax, anti-government radicals to an historical political party up here, of the 1840-1880 era, which was aptly known as the “KNOW NOTHING” Party. Its real name was the American Party and they too were irrationally anti immigrants. And they were anti black, and anti homo as well. An early precursor of today’s Tea Party.

It’s plainly crazy (and fiscally irresponsible) to talk any tax cuts today. Or “smaller” government. We’re a country of 3.6 million square miles, 310 million people, an armed forces engaged in TWO live combat operations at one time, and running out of young people and oil at approximately the same time! Look, we cannot cut expenses so we must RAISE taxes if America is to continue its claims of PRIMACY.

Is it not possible to police the USA borders adequately without interfering with the granting of citizenship? If not then how do other countries manage such a feat?

One word response: DISPARITY of income. The main reason we have this problem is: Mexico and Central America’s 170 million people are 80% impoverished mostly natives and 20% ultra rich exploiters mostly of European extraction. In other words, the president of Mexico looks like US; the millions of border crossers look like THEM. Shorter, round faced, darker skins, black hair brown eyes and etc. (Note, this South of the Rio Grande poverty phenomenon is largely due to the IMF, the WB and 150 years of American colonialism. Say Hello! Monroe Doctrine).

The Great Wall of China (actually 4 walls) did not work. The Berlin Wall did not work. Only xenophobic paranoids think a “Brewer Wall” will work in Arizona. Who the hell wants to live in a country that erects a 20 feet wall around itself? Come Quick Sweet Jesus! (I propose naming the Wall after AZ Governor Jan Brewer as a fitting memorial to her).

Should parts if not all the Constitution be taken to the letter of the law or just in spirit?

That populist phrase, LITERAL INTERPRETATION or ORIGINAL INTENT, is a red herring. A shill game. A diversion. It’s advocated only by the ignorant or the devious. No responsible scholar advocates such an inane approach to the serous business of governance. “Responsible” does not include those CATO or AEI types.

First off, the 1787 framers of the US Constitution made compromise after compromise in order to arrive at a document the majority would (or could) support. Even in 1787, the meaning of much of the Con was mostly in the eye of the beholder. You saw what you were looking for.

Second, "original intent" it is what I call “Jackass Thinking!” Acting in 2010 as if the 1787 Philadelphia convention which drew up an instrument meant to govern 3 million people - including 500,000 slaves - living in 13 Atlantic coast states at a time when it took TWO weeks to travel from Mt.Vernon to New York City. It's absurd. Who give's a dam what the writers in 1787 "intended?" What's that got to do with a $14 trillion economy? I doubt if they - the 1787 folks - could even spell TRILLION. Get off your meth and get real!

Believe me when I tell you that even those on the current Supreme Court who POSE as ORIGINAL INTENT types do not follow that rule. They employ that linguistic device as an explanation for all the ANTI Government rulings they make for which they otherwise cannot offer a logical or rational reason for. It is really just an ideological based imposition on the rest of the population. Such decisions as the most recent campaign finance reform effort they rejected out of hand! Roberts, Scalia, Alito, Thomas and Kennedy said "MONEY IS SPEECH" and under the First Amendment, you cannot regulate it. That’s a/k/a GOVERNMENT FOR SALE! Historical Note: This is the Right Wing revenge for the 1960s Left Wing Warren court saying "flag burning" was a form of "speech" and thereby protected.

reply to post by donwhite


I would make the case that it is possible for a government build upon separate divisions or branches of government can function without a single party in sole control if you like . The hyper partisanship that started under Newt Gingrich and is now practiced by both sides of the fence largely inhibits compromise . Compromise is often required when a party doesn't hold an out right majority in the house of government . Barry Goldwater was resoundingly rejected as a presidential candidate by the American electorate. * Still at least he understand what issue were important and which one's aren't unlike Newt and co who cared about what Clinton did in his personal life . Another examination of how far into the lunacy much of the right of the American has gone would be that both Ford and Nixon would be considered to Liberal for today Republican party . I would also put forward the notion that MacArthur political views were often rightfully maligned but at least he had some clue about the world outside of the USA unlike Palin . *

* Goldwater political views were not necessary sound but at least he was consistent thou out . Compare this to the religious right unofficial motto of do as I say not do as I do .
* After his death MacArthur was proven partially right and wrong in his Asia first view of the world . Many of the worlds top economy's reside in Asia and at the same time roughly 30% of the oil the US and Japan ended up importing came from Saudi Arabia . If one was to be critical , one might say that MacArthur could find the place he wanted to drop the left overs from a Nuclear bomb on . If she wanted to do the same outside of the US Palin could not .

Old Memories Die Slow

reply to post by xpert11

I would also put forward the notion that MacArthur political views were often rightfully maligned but at least he had some clue about the world outside of the USA unlike Palin.*

*After his death MacArthur was proven partially right and wrong in his Asia first view of the world. Many of the world’s top economies reside in Asia. At the same time roughly 30% of the oil the US and Japan ended up importing came from Saudi Arabia.

If one was to be critical, one might say that MacArthur could find the place he wanted to drop the left overs from a Nuclear bomb on. If she wanted to do the same outside of the US Palin could not.

I don’t like MacArthur for a number of reasons. His clumsy and misguided handling of the 1932 Bonus March of the WW1 veterans on W-DC for starters. Yet he never lost his super-ego nor his insatiable appetite for publicity. Note: Mac had gained a considerable amount of early fame in 1918 for his tour as chief of staff to the 42nd Infantry Division nicknamed the Rainbow Division. Called “rainbow” because it was the first division in the American army that was not manned by soldiers primarily from one state. Mixing the lower ranks was not thought a good idea then, but after the 42nd’s good outcome, it became the norm.

The most innovative and successful military action Mac managed in his overlong career was the 1950 Invasion at Inchon, the port city for Seoul. Aside: I do not believe that Pyongyang was in contact with either Beijing or Moscow prior to the June 25 rampage across the 38th parallel border between North and South Korea.

The Soviets had walked out of the UN - a common practice for them in that era - which made it possible for the US to obtain UN authority to repulse the North Koreans. I’m confident that had the USSR been there it would have vetoed any pro-American resolution. Kim Il Sung's bombastic conduct surprised Moscow as much as it did Washington.

Beijing had just finished running the Nationalists off the mainland and onto Formosa now called Taiwan. December, 1949. Mao Zedong's Chi-Coms as we called them back in the “good old days” were in no position to open another front. The Chinese Civil War had begun in the late 1920s but by 1945 it was going full scale. The US 7th Fleet was parked off-shore to guard the Nationalists from possible follow-on invasion by the PLA. People’s Liberation Army. The 7th Fleet is still there today, 2010.

By November, 1950, US and UN forces were making fast approach to the China-Korea border, the Yalu River. China did not want the US, its mortal enemy, on its border. The PRC warned the US two or three times not to come within a certain distance of the Yalu, some say 20 miles, others say 50 kilometers. I subscribe to the latter. About 31 miles.

There is no doubt in my mind that Mac meant to provoke a war with the PRC. He envisioned using atomic bombs to level the playing field. Truman said “No.” As usual Mac turned to the sycophant press to urge his case publicly. Not a good soldierly thing to do. Mac had challenged the wrong man. He was fired and retired from his “American Caesar” post in Japan. Mac was angling for the 1952 GOP nomination but it turned out the GOP preferred Ike. And the rest is history.

There is no need to denigrate Mac’s accomplishments in Japan. Considering the Japanese people’s psyche Mac was the right man at the right time. A perfect personality to replace an emperor. He, through his very excellent staff, wrote the Japan Constitution which limits outlays for war to 1% of GDP. Although it is undeniable that the Japanese deserve at least equal credit for the excellent outcome post War 2, it is also true that Mac had it in his capacity to have steered Japan into other ways.

Like here in America, the conservative Japanese party - purposely misnamed Liberal Democrats to keep naive Americans confused - have “worked” around that 1% limit by calling their armed forces a JDF - Japan Defense Force - and their Supreme Court has upheld that legalistic fabrication.

The US remains rankled by Japan's refusal to allow us to dock ships in Japan’s waters if they have nuclear weapons onboard. We actually have one of our super carriers as its “home port” in Japan. We have a full USMC division on Okinawa which remains a real and almost constant source of irritation.

ENDING. Just as Mac’s famous going-away speech at West Point in which he used the now famous lines, “old soldiers never die, they just fade away” was anti-climatic! He did not end the speech there, but continued to speak, so too were Mac's last days living in a penthouse suite at the Waldorf-Astoria and sitting as Chairman for an over-appreciative IBM.