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Dennis T.'s avatar

The turning point for America could be seen in the military complex taking over the spectacle that is NFL football. The Jets fly over, the flags are unfurled while the troops are heralded. No different really than Rome during its age of emperors. It's always nearer the end when support for the industrial military complex is considered a patriotic duty.

I have a niece married to a Marine officer, his goal in life is to enter politics. A few years back, my question as to what purpose the Marines and the rest of our military serve was met with horror by all.

The follow up answer this question: Is the world safer, has our military been an asset or is it a liability?

The canned response followed American intervention saved Europe. I countered, Did America entering WW1 end all wars as promised? Would it have not ended better Europe had fought the war they created until its logical conclusion? Very certainly WW2 would never have happened. Korea 5 years later, followed by Vietnam, and on and on. We'd not have a swamp of bottom feeders in DC, and the dollar would have gold behind it.

We had a great nation, sadly it was lost in 1913, everything after the Fed was created has been an exercise in rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic.

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John P Gallien's avatar

Not much to disagree with here, Bill, but why do you give Putin center stage with him looking down on the follies of the West "losing its bearings" as if he is some sort of defender of individual rights and overseer of an enlightened political system. If you lived in Russia and attacked Putin and his political system like you do the USA, you would be in prison, assuming you were still alive.

The decay you see in the West is not the embodiment of all thought in the West but the personification of the Progressive Fascist Nihilist Left. In the USA, politically this means the Democrat Party. The Republicans, for their part, are a mixed bag with some very articulate defenders of the free market and individual rights and others with a conflicting mixture of ideas - some good, some bad. Their candidate, Trump, is a mixture. Let's at least acknowledge that he is a pro-production, pro-energy, and anti-global warming advocate. But will he slash government spending if he gets elected and balance the budget and run surpluses? I hope so, but I'm skeptical. Is he a buffoon at times? Absolutely. Does he exaggerate - yes, but the Democrats have to fabricate, make things up - that is, outright lies - to make their agenda sound palatable. We may be able to survive four years of a Trump presidency, but doubtful if we can survive a Democrat one if they control Congress as well.

So, here we are with two imperfect choices for President. Everyone knows this. So, why don't you spend some of your writing time advocating for those institutions and individuals that are trying to return us to free markets and individual rights. There are many, but nary a word from you about them.

P.S. RFK Jr. is not one of them - a far-left candidate who happens to have a few good ideas.

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David White's avatar

Sadly John, you look at America through rose coloured glasses. Putin is honest. if he says he is going to deal harshly with you, he does. In America, the leaders make up stuff to deal with their enemies. No better example than the overraction to the 6th January incident. Innocent people languishing in gaol without ever having had their day in court. And we won't mention Guatanimo Bay after 9/11.

When you are prepared to bend any one of your core beliefs in a free and fair society, then you are totally lost.

The absolute classic is Trump being charged and found guilty of a crime that does not exist!!

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John P Gallien's avatar

More sadly than you can ever imagine, David, I never said America was perfect or even remotely insinuated it. Quite the opposite. But I am able to distinguish between the good and the bad - so I point out the bad as well as the good. So, I guess you're saying that you would rather have the so honest Putin and his political system installed in the USA. And, I suppose, you believe Putin's incredible honesty will irradicate the issues that you enumerate above except, of course, the issues you mention above are just a day in the life under Putin.

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An Ol' LSO's avatar

What Bill gets that apparently many do not is that there is NO answer. The "die is cast" and the American Empire will play out as did the ones before (think Rome). Today instead of taking upwards of a millennium or so to exit stage right - today it will be a decade or so for America and the West to fully collapse. The Winds of Change are blowing hard. You can whine and you can groan - as poor ol' Bill does so elegantly - but it matters not. The East (while having its own problems as there is nothing perfect in our human world) will rise again. Hopefully, the West will allow its own destruction to proceed without a nuclear war (did I mention the word "hopefully"). The East understands Sun Tzu when he said "the wise warrior avoids the battle" and "never bother your enemy while he is making a mistake". We will see how it plays out - most likely before my mortality arrives. ¿Quien sabe?

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Neil's avatar

There IS One answer

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rKf's avatar

It is easy to devolve into bitchin’ & moanin’. There isn’t much left to say. And there isn’t much one can do when a tsunami of negativity & idiocy crashes across the land. Perseverance & humor are the calling cards of today. Perhaps that has always been required. Thank God for mortality.

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Alex's avatar

Have you heard this guy Jesse Welles. His songwriting is so in tune with this and most BPR posts. Particularly the song named Dogs. https://youtu.be/GjFsvVZVWV4?si=8X2WlOdi8KUJ45Z2

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Terry Duree's avatar

Great song. The Debate is at least as good as Dogs.

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Ralph   E. Wood's avatar

Bill, you constantly repeat HISTORY, as we know "great prosperity" creates the attitude of

"I don't care", thus leading to the DOWN-FALL. So what is your point to restate the problems

created by MOST political DO-GOODERS, that always tell us-ens, they are making "THINGS"

better. We know the lies. Please get a different subject.

RALPH W.

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C Eti's avatar

Perhaps it's forr the newcomers

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Maybe -

but ad infinitum?

If you're looking for actionable solutions, you won't get them from Mr. Bonner. That's what Dan & Tom are for...

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Neil's avatar

Thank you Ralph E Wood! Bill sports a high IQ, and can be quite eloquent… But to what end? He does a pretty good job with small “t” truth, but seems to have not graduated sixth grade on capital “T” truth

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C Eti's avatar

"But to what end?"

To see your reaction !!

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Kevin Johnson's avatar

"Democracy" resonates with those of the slave mindset.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Bingo! That's why they consistently call themselves the "Democratic" Party, rather than their real name - Democrat Party. Subsequently parroted by their willing prostitutes in today's Main Stream "Media."

That one little fib leads many under-educated/over-indoctrinated sheep astray...

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JD Breen's avatar

Bill, you've once again captured our world of fantasy and fraud. My own attempt a few days ago:

https://jdbreen.substack.com/p/land-of-make-believe

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Clem Devine's avatar

Martin has some great suggestions, just to counter Bill's depressing note today.

"The selection of J.D. Vance as Republican Vice-Presidential candidate to Donald Trump raises the question of what economic agenda a successful Trump/Vance ticket might implement. The two have different backgrounds and intellectual histories, yet there are themes common to both men that suggest an economically sound agenda as set out below might play to both men’s strengths and fulfil their goal of Making America Economically Great Again."

https://www.tbwns.com/2024/07/29/the-bears-lair-an-economic-agenda-for-j-d-vance/

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Egypt Solomon's avatar

In the caves of vortex, the Yen plummets to the abyss. Social disorder gravitates channel precision. The India rattle snake devours the flesh. 8.9 degrees to the East, the makeshift splits equine.

The surprise at dawn embraces the fire reign from the four cardinal points. Global economic stability loses its footing and the red linear wave tumbles beyond 50% eructation. The marine life suffers immense shortage as the Navy signals the whistle of danger with the coming tide.

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John P Gallien's avatar

And while the world plummets into a subterranean despair, thus polluting the groundwater that rejuvenates the cackles of a presidential candidate, only then will the fried peppers of the hellish wastelands of the left coast eradicate the false hopes of the middle. And looking down at this carnage are Putin and Xi, constipated in their delusional subterfuge of death made to seem like life.

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Mackinac's avatar

Exactly Bill.

Interesting that the Olympics, bastion of hard work / success, have been now utilized to promote the WEF agenda, where "future leaders", good luck with your training from the WEF, bozos.

Not surprised that these "leaders" of the Olympics / France think they can massage Christianity into obscurity. Looks more like the Tower of Babel showing exactly who is aligned with sodom and gomorrah.

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Wes T's avatar

Wait a minute! Since when have the Olympics been anything but political?

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Mackinac's avatar

I guess they end up that way. But I competed in Oly trials and there were no politics, just competition at that early stage trying to get in.

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Wes T's avatar

Point well taken. To be fair to the athletes, I’m sure they work their buts off. Even the Olympic competitions are about their own endeavors and tribulations.

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Ed Burns's avatar

But what of the final question?

Are we still able to exercise our vote for the least-worst candidate in an honest election, or is even that act to be rigged?

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Brien's avatar

It is most definitely rigged, now a feature of the fake election process which they will one day scuttle altogether. It cost billions and requires way too much stageplay and acting which has apparently this year exhausted even them. “They” would be the Democratic Party. Most Americans and alas most pundits believe that we still have elections. To anyone paying attention it is patently obvious that we do not. Separating truth from lie is a spiritual discipline and points to the reason we have gotten, as a nation, to where we are. Back to GK Chesterton: “Those who decide that they do not believe in God do not of a sudden believe nothing. They believe anything.”

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Mark S.'s avatar

I dare say it's rigged, no matter what and it doesn't matter, the US is doomed for failure. Kennedy may be the only politician saying anything that needs to be said regarding the financial woes and our over stretching military, and he gets zero press and zero TV media coverage. Not that I like him, I don't but at least he's saying it.

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Trapped In Blue State's avatar

"There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader."

-Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin

One of my all-time favorite quotes.

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Chicago Phil's avatar

All you can do is buy gold and hunker down.

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Paul Murray's avatar

Oh, but it can't happen here. Best always. PM

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