sorry i haven't been more active in this one. I've been crushed at work, but to quote a former president "the long national nightmare is over"! I'm loving this book. I can't believe he actually wrote it, in this day of ghostwriters. I guess part of it is because of who he was at the time. ...

funny that you should do that. You don't really mention her writings in your post, but if you look at all the recent corporate bailouts, it's looking like 'Atlas Shrugged' to me. I'm not blaming this all on Bush, but (excluding the last 6 months), the pattern has been there particularly in the last ...

Bush may yet try to pardon himself. Bacevich bring this point up where those with responsibility are seen as immune to responsibility to their actions. This is a must change! It is as though the system is structure so promotion is given until the person reaches a level where they are incompetent an...

I don't think it's possible for anyone to actually be that salesman, at least right now. We are talking about generational type shifts. I remember (and paid attention) to Ford (remember WIN?) and Carter and always turn off the lights. My wife won't turn off a light to save her life. We are on a big ...

Again, I know nothing about economics, and I know this is not the time to do it, but what this country needs is a hefty tax on gasoline. Yes, you heard me right. Knock that price up to $6 or $7/gallon and you'll see a remarkable transformation in America's driving habits and in advancement of fuel-...

GentleReader9, I'm glad you're being cautious about accepting Bacevich's thesis wholesale. I, too, feel just a little reluctant to accept a causal link between Americans' conception of freedom and our foreign policy blunders. He might be right; I'm just not sure yet. I think a key point is that he ...

If I recall correctly, I was one of those laughing at him at the time. My conservative suburbia upbringing did not want to hear what he had said. I was in high school and my civics classes only told me how great America was. I wasn't ready to listen to a 'prophet' telling me that we needed to change...

I think you have pointed out a main theme of the author's point in that things have changed. Before, the government asked you to sacrifice. Perhaps buying war bonds with 10% of your salary is a big or small sacrifice, I'm not sure. But today, the government does NOT ask you to sacrifice. Not at all....

ok, from now on, i'm only voting for short(er) books, i just don't have the time to intelligently read them in the time allotted (ok, i'm whining, but it's true) given the shipping weight of book 1 is 4.8 lbs, it's a non starter. 1 vote for book 2, 2 votes for book 3. I'm in the mood to read some po...

yes, i can make a post....