EVO MORALES SAVED BY AMLO. ANYONE SURPRISED? 

Evo Morales, the King of Coca. Yet another socialist who determined the best way to "serve" the people required him staying in officer/power/ forever. But, it seems the people of bolivia weren't ready for a lifelong Dictator. Oh, I'm sorry, did I call the King of Coca a, "Dictator"? Just when it seemed the walls were closing in on Mr. Coca, who should come to his rescue? Yep; yet another true socialist revolutionary, you know the President of Mexico, the US's number one trading partner. My oh my, how interesting this whole story just became. 

What's old is new again:

The memories of Daniel Ortega................ the FPN.......the FSLN and the Sandinista Revolution. Don't know what I'm talking about? Look it up, folks. I am not one of those folks who put a lot of filler into my post just so some editor, overload, can tell me I met the word count requirement. Keep up or move on! Daniel and Evo. Part of a particular era for Central America and the US. Oh, the days of Oliver North and the dreaded CIA. Evo, and Daniel. Two of the guys who drove the US absolutely crazy. By the way, did you know the only reason Bolivia grows coca is because it's a heritage issue along with its use for altitude sickness? Wow.What a guy King Coca is. Looking out for the little people just like a real socialist. The Sandinista Revolution, those were the days! 

Who was on the revolution team, back in the day? Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Bolivia, and a few others. Yep. Central America was a mess, even worse than it is today. Did that mess have help? You bet it did. You see, there was this support unit that went by the name of the KGB. I know, here we go, blaming the Communist back then for everything that went wrong in the world. I admit it's not like the US had a clear vision of what needed to take place in its own backyard, but the idea the US's absolute enemy, the USSR, would have not attempted to interfere and disrupt the US's backyard, well, that's absurd. The King of coca and his comrades drove the US crazy, and guess what, nobody in DC really forgot that fact. Side Note: Where is good old comrade Ortega today? Look it up! 

LifeLine from like-minded "friends": 

The King of coca is on the outs, pushed out by a coup, to hear him tell the story. He left so there would be no more violence, right? Wrong. He left before his military had him sleeping with the fishes, a practice in that part of the world. Now, he had his choices of where to go. Venezuela, Nicaragua, even Cuba, but to hear the story, it seems someone reached out to him first. Someone offered him a lifeline just before him, stating he needed one. Enter Mr. AMLO! 

Is the President of Mexico another campion of "Indigenous People" part of the 80's rhythm?  A devout socialist? Yes. Someone who plays the "Indigenous" card? Yes. A guy who has never had a warm fuzzy for the Gringos in the US? Yes. Oh, by the way, Mr. I love Indigenous people's Grandfather was an exile from Spain. Don't you just love history and the mix of irony? As a Professor in the mid-70s, I would be willing to bet his political views were just about in lockstep with the pending Sandinista Revolutionary movement.  I also heard he is found of baseball.

No wonder he and Hugo Chavez were buds. You know Hugo, the guy that put Venezuela on the road to kids eating from trashcans? On the topic of likeminded people. Back in 2006, AMLO decided he had been cheated out of the presidency of Mexico, no, not hanging chads. Well, he attempted to set up his own government, but unlike the Sandinista Revolution, AMLO just didn't have the backing he needed to pull it off. Where was the KGB when he needed them? He may have not won then, but when he did, he knew to invite to the party. Who was on the invite list? Yep, good old Daniel Ortega, he was a no-show, by the way, Mr. Maduro, you know his name by now I hope and one that really caught my eye; a FARC Commander. He also decided he couldn't make it. Whoops, I forgot, Evo was on the list as well. So, there you had it, the who's who of, " We hate the US." North Korea. I forgot the Little Fat Guy. 

When the invite to Evo was made public, the life-line had already been arranged. Why? They are Likeminded people, that's why! Stop. Here is where I inject one of my most consistent comments. Mexico is the  US's number one trading partner! I just thought I would drop that in there:). 

Where is this going:

Why did AMLO reach out to the King of Coca? Did the terrorist drug cartel Bosses tell him to? That would fit some people's agenda, but that's not what took place here. AMLO is what he is; a die in the wool social revolutionary. His dream of being the leader of Mexico's 4th revolution is not just a fantasy. The idea of a Bolivarian style revolution for the region may just be his quest. When he looks in the mirror, does he see Simon Bolivar? That would be comical, given his Grandfather was from Spain. AMLO may very well see himself as something more significant than just the President of Mexico. Like so many before him, even in the 80s, his hallucination might just have him thinking he is the sparkplug of a real revolt against the Gringos in DC for all of Central and South America. Providing a place to regroup from an opportunity to counter the so-called coup, that might be the logic behind AMLO's move. Even if you think my statements are the equivalent of tealeaf reading, one fact stands true. AMLO holds the socialist revolutionary spirit of those who think like him in high regard. It may not be the 80s all over again, but I think I do hear Disco music! 

INSTABILITY IN THE US. 

A FOLLOW ON DISCUSSION.

A few days ago, I attempted to paint a picture of how the US might divide along the lines of "flyover country" and the major cities.  http://coldansviewpoint.blogspot.com/2019/05/thedrug-cartels.html?m=1

  Perceptions:

My opinion of how the collapse of US societal balance would take place was based on the current drama in DC. Is that soap opera the only scenario that might trigger such a crisis? Of course not. The growing divide inside the US is more complicated than just the political struggle over those who hate President Trump. As I have stated in the past, the systemic issue of social imbalance has been brewing for decades now. Some might say, the path the US is heading down was almost predictable. What's that cycle some talk about? The brave create the lazy, entitled, and the lazy, entitled create issues where the brave must sacrifice again. I know it's not close, but you get my point. The US has been safe for decades now, since the end of the Cold War, at least safer than in the recent past. What's the outcome of that "safe" period? Lazy.....Entitled? If you want my opinion, that's exactly what has taken place. 

Is the US truly dividing down the lines of those that pay the bills and those who live off of entitlements?  To hear "flyover country tell the story, that is exactly what is taking place. Is it true? Does it matter? How often have I said, perception is reality in the 21st Century? In my opinion, enough of the country believes the perception to be accurate, and resentment continues to grow at an alarming rate. Now, here is where that picture gets really dangerous.  

The Other Perception: 

" I don't get my fair share...... The Government needs to pay my college debt..... I should get paid 15 dollars an hour to make hamburgers..... White Men are the cause of all of my problems.....Republicans / White Males/ hate all races, and the list goes on and on and on, right? Does it become difficult to distinguish between potential valid issues and the constant crying of the "lazy/ Entitled"? You bet it does. Does the segment of the US that pays most of the bills get tired of hearing all this complaining? I think all you need to do is ask a few folks in "flyover country" and you will have your answer. 

Just how much is enough? Is there a limit to providing entitlements? What would make the entitled say, " I don't need any more; thank you"?  Can the US just continue down the path it's heading? In the history of modern societies, has any nation survived a neverending flow of gifts, gifts provided by one side of a two-party political system? Look, the real question is one the US better start thinking about. How much longer can this go on? 

Out of Schlitz

Now, a lot of you may not remember or even know what that statement means, but that's where the US is heading. The scenario I painted in the linked website addressed the possible course of events if President Trump is Impeached or not Impeached, but the environment for such an event is already there. It's been there for several years, and something is going to trigger a real divide. It's illogical to believe a society where one side complains of not being heard, and paying too much is countered by another party that claims they aren't getting their "fair share." Did I mention, social norms and beliefs and how those are separating at an alarming rate? That's probably going to be my follow on post. This analysis of stability is time-consuming stuff. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go have a Schlitz before they are all gone!   

THE SLAUGHTER IN MEXICO.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? 

Mexico is run by a fool. A man who realizes he cannot solve the issue of the terrorist cartels, so he chooses to ignore them or, worse, blame their existence on some other social issue. The fact that people are poor in Mexico is the reason the terrorist cartels exist? That's the opinion of AMLO, at least when the camera lights are on. Yesterday, I addressed how this man compared himself to the man who brought about the last Mexican Revolution, Francisco Madero. Why? Why does he liken himself to this man? I somewhat beat around the bush on the topic yesterday, but after the events of today, let me call it like it truly is.

AMLO is more concerned about pushing Mexico into its next revolution than he is about the stability of the nation he was elected to represent. The terrorist cartels? Well, they are the tool he will use to bring about this revolution. By the way, who decided to not make a statement over the events in Venezuela? Yep. You know who. AMLO sees himself as the next revolutionary leader in Mexico, and he even brags on the topic. So, today, when children were shot in the back while running away, while babies are reported to have been burned alive in their car seats, what does AMLO tell the US / President Trump?

" Going to war with the cartels is not the answer." Okay. I get it. I understand, and I understood his answer, his stance. So, now what? What needs to happen? What is going to happen if this trend continues, and it will? What options do the people of Mexico have? What options does the US have? By the way, if you fall into that camp, "it's not our business. We just need to stop interfering in the actions of other nations", then you are a fool, and you should be forced to move to the US southern border. Let me break these questions down and let you decide the right answers.

What options do the people of Mexico have: 

If you have paid attention to any of my posts on Mexico in the past month, you know what I consider the glue of Mexico. It's the same glue that holds the US together. The Middle Class. What does the glue of Mexico do? They have a President they most likely didn't vote for. They have a leader who openly ignores the violence and control of the terrorist cartels. They have witnessed the slaughter of 13 police officers all at one event. They have watched in horror as a city of over 800K is given up by the Mexican government to the terrorist cartels. They see their President respond by blaming his military, a military he doesn't support, at least from the perspective of the members of that military. The glue reads of a respected General address addressing the rest of the General Officer ranks and more or less blame AMLO for placing the Mexican people in danger as well as destroying the morale of the military. And finally, the glue realizes their nation's judicial system, to include law enforcement is just as corrupt as their political leaders. Place all these issues on the table of the US's glue, and what do you think the reaction would be? Mexico swung way too far left after the corruption of the Right / PAN / PRI. What did this radical swing to the left get them? Where is the Mexican Middle-Class today compared to three years ago? 

If you know the history of destabilized nations, you know what the next step most likely is in Mexico. If the pendulum swings widely in one direction, where does it go next? Who understands this? I will tell you who, the glue class and AMLO. The problem becomes, the glue has few options than to continue to attempt to ride out the storm. They have bills to pay. They have to get up in the morning and go to work. They have to keep Mexico going. What about AMLO? What about the man who calls himself the leader of the 4th Revolution in Mexico? To him, there is no turning back. He can't let the pendulum swing back hard right. He can't let the actions taking place in Mexico disrupt his goal, a Bolivian style revolution. Short answer, and it's a very dark answer for Mexico's glue. AMLO is more than willing to let the issues get worse, much.....much worse. 

What options for the US: 

Mexico is the US's number ONE trading partner. Let me remind you right upfront of that reality because it's going to impact everything I am about to tell you. Can the US invade Mexico? Yes, I've heard that insane statement made a dozen times today. The answer is no, at least not right now. Go back and read a post I did a few months ago on the topic of a Buffer Zone in Mexico. Okay, the US is not going to invade it's number one trade partner over an event the MSM will press hard to kill simply because it may distract from the Impeachment Coup process. Did you notice how many times the MSM made the comment, " this may have been a case of mistaken identity"! Really? How do you misidentify a small child with blond hair running away from you to the point you shoot them in the back? This " mistaken identity" story collapsed after several hours, and you can bet that upset the MSM. " These Mormon kids can't get in the way of operation 'get Trump,' we need to minimize the issue." Well, it didn't work. Having said that, what options can the US truly consider; yes, invasion is out!  

1. Clear and Present Danger 

If there is one thing President Trump is good at, it's cutting to the chase. The story goes, Trump and AMLO already spoke today, and in that conversation, AMLO made a big deal in the Mexican media of how he told the US President, " we don't need your help." Here is my bet. I'm betting that stance didn't go over well with The Donald! Have you ever seen the movie " Clear and Present Danger"? Oh ya, I wrote about this option a few months ago as well. Look it up. Great read:). "Variable, this is Knife"! This was a horrific event in Mexico, and it was a horrific event in Clear and Present Danger that started the clandestine missions. What's that old saying; " Art imitates Life"? Would President Trump, take the gloves off? Would he send in the real killers to hunt down the terrorist cartel networks? Yes. Would he let AMLO know such a mission had been authorized? Why would he? Here is the sad kicker. Would the US let the Mexican Militar know? Absolutely not. Why? You know why. Corruption and infiltration, that's why. "But why not just send in the drones"? Simple, drones leave huge smoking holes. Holes that force the Mexican President and even it's military to resist such actions. Short answer, drones make the issue worse, not better. Clear and Present Danger. That's the mission NORTHCOM has most likely already drafted with SOCOM. 

2. " Somebody needs to go"! 

One of my favorite shows of all time, "The Sopranos."  Just yesterday, I posted about a man by the name of General Gaytan Ochoa and his comments towards AMLO. Is it a bad sign when a nation's military leadership starts to openly question their superiors? In Central and South America, it's as good as the kiss of death! So, is that it? Is the option to have AMLO sleep with the fishes? Well, the US has a history of such unfortunate events. Read yesterday's post. Good old President Francisco Madero and Mr. Wilson. Oh ya, there is an excellent story about an elected President in Chile as well. 

Just how bad could Mexico get? Just how desperate could the US get? At the moment, the flavor of the day in DC continues to be, "Mexico????? What about it"? Now, babies burned alive, that has distracted DC, but for how long? A bunch of politicians rush to the podium, give an unusually fiery speech and then run back to the business at hand. Who really has to deal with the bad news in this nation? The President, that's who. What does the President typically look for when bad news comes from other locations? A little help from that nation or those that influence said nation. What did AMLO provide? Nothing, at least publicly. Would he turn his head to Variable this is Knife" operations? As long as he could deny he had any knowledge, he just might. But what happens if he doesn't agree? Well then, President Trump has to find someone that will, you know, see things his way. Interesting concept? Not really. It's been going on for a few thousand years.

AMLO won't "play." If it becomes the perception of Team Trump, AMLO's refusal to play is based upon a vision of Mexico the US cannot accept, then guess what? The Sopranos. What a great series! Now, in the Sopranos, if "Somebody needs to go," becomes the course of action taken, then what does that require? By the way, if you think I'm advocating something here, remember, I intended to show you how this decision process would take place and then let you decide what should happen. What are you thinking? Answer to, what does it require? Two things, muscle, a mob term. Secondly, someone that is willing to play when it's all over. Where might this "muscle" come from? Let me ask you something. What's the history of the region? Did you answer the military? Bingo!  Who is General Gaytan Ochoa, and who was he speaking to? Is there a chance someone or group such as the PAN or the PRI that might provide the muscle? Who did AMLO accuse Ochoa of being a strongman for? Who put the Mexican Military on the streets of Mexico? Do you recall President Calderon? 

Look. Don't wig out, but the concept of "replacing" leaders is an issue that is as old as any ancient civilization. At the end of the day, what option would you rather see the US take? Invasion, Clear and Present Danger or Somebody needs to go? By the way, if you vote for, leave the whole thing alone, then you should run for congress. 

What's the future hold:

Are events in Mexico going to get worse? Yes. Is AMLO finally going to do something about it? No. Is that an answer the US can live with? No. Can the events get so bad the slaughter of innocent people can take place on US land? It's only a matter of time, and if you look at the drug crisis in the US, it's already taking place. These terrorist animals butchered mothers with their children. They didn't get in a firefight with the men of the family. They ambushed mothers and children. You tell me when enough is enough?  Some of us have been addressing the issue of these terrorists for years now. They openly lay claim to large sections of Mexico. They force the AMLO administration to give up a city of 800k people. They control the majority of the Mexican Criminal Justice System. They brag about the number of political leaders they "own." Hint, some of that 60 BILLION dollars they make is spent in DC. How else do you keep the US response so pathetic? I am not an interventionist in many parts of the world, but this is not some other part of the world. This is the backyard of the United States. This is a nation that is held together by a frightened Middle Class. A silent group in Mexico, nobody, seems to listen to or care about. Let that glue lose hope. Let that glue decide it is time to leave the land they love, and you will see a wave on the US border, unlike anything in the past. You will see millions of people who genuinely fear for their lives.  Some decisions are not easy. Deciding to risk the lives of our warriors must be a process the Amerian people must support. Killing children that are running away, shooting them in the back. Burning children alive, these are the acts of animals, subhuman air-breathing beast. These terrorists are a blight on the human race. It is time. It is time to show the glue of Mexico and all the other nations in the Americas, the US will not stand for butchery. Some decisions are hard, but some must be made. Thank God we have a President that seems to make hard decisions. Now, let's see if he is a man of his word. By the way, the hell with Congress and the cries we will hear of, "He didn't ask us." Ask the American people, Mr. President. You can listen to their words without the media. Listen to what the nation is saying and then act! 

AMLO'S RUMOR OF COUPS AND MURDERS

Is it easy for the US to turn its heads on trouble in Mexico? For over 100 years, the answer would be yes! If that trouble was based upon the collapse of the Mexican economy and then social order, would DC pay attention? Realistically, the economic side of the question is the only part DC cares about. Is that a recipe for disaster? Absolutely. How many times have I addressed this fact? Too many times to count. So, why am I back on this topic? I'll tell you why; there's been an event, actually, several events. 

AMLO and President Madero:

What does AMLO and Francisco Madero have in common? AMLO sees himself as the leader of the fourth revolution in Mexico. You know, that's one of those statements that just seems to be overlooked. Francisco Madero was the catalyst of the Mexican revolution that gave the US, Pancho Villa. Francisco Madero was taking Mexico in a direction the US didn't approve of, and before I make my next comment, no, the Clintons were not around then. So, what became of Mr. Madero, you may ask? Why......... he ended up dead! Yep, President in 1911; dead in 1913. Do you question the US's involvement in that event? Lookup a guy by the name of Henry Lane Wilson. AMLO and President Madero. Does the current President fear the same future as Madero? Ah, this is where the story gets really.......really interesting. 

General Gayton Ochoa: 

If you don't know the name, no worries. Almost everyone in the US has no idea who this guy is, at least until he gave a speech a few weeks ago. General Ochoa, a guy with a family history of military service. A guy who played a crucial part in the early days of the Mexican Military's assault on the terrorist drug cartels. Without going into a lot of detail, let me describe this guy the way I understood him. Ocha was a real Bad Ass! A guy who saw the battle with the terrorist drug cartels as something of a "Crusade."  I guy who understood and probably still understands and believes, civilians casualties is just part of the price that Mexico must pay to rid the nation of the terrorist. 

If you have come to the conclusion Ochoa and AMLO represent opposite ends of the social perspective, you get a gold star. AMLO sees people like Ochoa as part of the problem, not part of the solution. Does that create a problem? Oh, you bet it does! Is there evidence this disagreement on how to deal with the terrorist in Mexico is impacting the future of Mexico? The answer to that question is precisely why I am writing this post. 

Messages inside of Speeches: 

A few weeks ago, General Ochoa was attending a meeting between a large percentage of the senior leadership of the Mexican Military. At that meeting, General Ochoa made a few comments that seemed to catch people's attention, it really caught the attention of AMLO. What did he say? You can look up the story of the speech, but let me summarize. AMLO is too far left. He is weak on terrorist and crime. He brought shame to Mexico and the military with the events of Culiacan. Remember Culiacan? Remember when I posted that action was going to play large in Mexico's stability? No? Go look up my post on this blog site, you will find my analysis. Long story short, General Ochoa painted a picture of AMLO in a very negative light.  It was a speech scripted with carefully placed loyalties to Mexico, not it's President. It was a speech saying the Generals in the room needed to stay loyal to General Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval and NOT the Supreme head of the armed forces. " So, what did AMLO say"? Great question. 

AMLO reacts: 

Now, I could draw out what AMLO said, but for the sake of brevity, let me once again summarize. Imagine the President of the US, calling into question the past history of the nation's military? Imagine the President of the US making a comment along the lines of, ' the military has a dark history of abusing the people of the US". Imagine this comment being made on the heels of a senior, respected General Officer in the US military, making a statement casting doubt on his Commander in Chief? Imagine the so-called leadership in DC not paying attention to what took place in Mexico. Words from a patsy business partner can't interfere with an ongoing Coup. Why those attempting to toss the US President out can't be bothered with the events in that pesky little nation called Mexico. 

Yes, AMLO seems to be in the early stages of a real rift with his own military. If that is true, what is taking place, just how dangerous could that issue become? Just how worried was AMLO over this whole event? What made him give a follow on speech whereby he compared himself to a Mexican President, who was a Revolutionary that was murdered? What made him say, " I will not go the way of President Madero"? Yes, AMLO is worried, and when the seeds of doubt and mistrust are successfully planted, it becomes nearly impossible to dig them up. 

Never Fear:

 Could this whole episode be just another sign of Mexico's instability? How could it not be seen as such? Should the hard-working, everyday people of Mexico be concerned over this event? That's up to them, but if they were to ask me, I would tell them to start thinking about their futures. Those in Mexico who are genuinely becoming worried, after events like Culiacan and now this speech, should realize one disturbing fact. DC is not going to pay attention, at least not until it's most likely too late. You see, the political soap opera in the US is just as distracting as the one taking place in Mexico. Although not as dangerous, at least not yet, the telenovela in DC is simply the only issue that counts right now.  If a Coup was to take place in Mexico, a Coup where the military placed a General or a supported civilian in power until new elections could be held, who would speak up? Who would demand a return of "normality," whatever that is in Mexico? Would some US political figures rush to the podium and give whatever speech his or her staff assured them would gain Hispanic votes? You know they would.  After that, it would be back to the circus of DC. Would anything really change? 

Here is the way you should answer that question. If such an event were to take place, it would only come after information and intentions where exchanged between those planing the Coup in Mexico and those in the US that would set the conditions of accepting such an event. Don't think the US works that way? Remember when I told you to read about Mr. Wilson? Ya, that's my point. If the Mexcian economy is only temporarily impacted if there is not Human Wave marching towards the US border seeking political asylum, then the US can most likely live with the outcome. After all, AMLO professes to be a Revolutionary, and we all know how the US feels about those kinds of people, especially in Central and South America. 

To the hardworking people of Mexico, the ones that hold the nation together. You must decide what side of this divide you will be on, for it is your weight that will tip the scales. For the people of the US, the ones that would be impacted by millions of asylum seekers swarming the Southern border, you will have to demand that DC pay attention to Mexico. 

For three days last week, I addressed the issue of the US's stability and what might drive that stability into an uncontrollable crisis. Let Mexico fall apart and watch what happens in the US. It's time to pay attention. It's time to devote the efforts to our neighbor right next door and not worry about anything other than significant enemies far away. " Never Fear," we are aware of what is taking place." Those are the words from DC that always makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. 

THE UNITED STATES:

A NATION DIVIDED CANNOT STAND.

PART THREE:

WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE.

For the last two posts, I've have tried to paint a picture of why the US is heading into uncharted waters. These are waters that could challenge the very future of the nation. So, now it's time to address the two primary scenarios that could send the US into these waters. As a reminder, this discussion is based upon my opinions and at the end of the day, I could be dead wrong. I doubt I am, but no one I know has a real crystal ball. As I said, two scenarios worry me, and both can lead to the same results. With that, here we go! 

The fall of Cities: 

How fragile as modern-day cities?  Major cities of 2019 are very different than that history is based upon. How many times have you heard some version of the statement, "technology is both a curse and a blessing"?  Could a large city 100 years ago survive without the support of the countryside? No. Can a city, just about any size, now days survive without the countryside? Nope! Did the people in those cities 100 years ago realize this fact? Most likely? Do the city dwellers of today realize their dependency? I bet not, and that folks, it the scene setter I intend to provide you. 

What happens if those who hate the President hear the coup attempt, Impeachment, has failed? Then, after it becomes clear any chance of pushing the President out of the White House, that same segment of the US, reported being at least half the nation, if you believe the MSM, wakes up to the reality the man they despise has won reelection? Would that segment of the nation rise up? It seems some are almost planning to make that event happen. Let's just assume the, "We hate Trump" movement decides to turn violent. Sound unrealistic? With the rhythm of protest in the rest of the world and those who would love to stoke that fire, I'm not very confident you can place this scenario in the unrealistic category. So, for the sake of argument, let's push with the idea of the, "We hate Trump" movement taking to the streets. 

Where do the, " We hate Trump" people predominantly live? Yep, in the cities, and yes, the suburbs of the large cities. If this segment of the US society turned violent, how bad would it get and how long might the violence last? Two great questions that are very, very difficult to predict but, once again, this post is all about my opinion, an opinion based on a continuous analysis of where the US stands. Here is how you break down the items that help you come to a conclusion on both questions. 

1. What percentage of a movement needs to turn violent in order for social media and the MSM to give the people in the US and the world the perception of a real crisis? Remember my comments about the Arab Spring; the events in Egypt and Syria? My point. A very small segment of society can drive a nation, even the US, into a full-blown panic. By the way, what happens to the stock market during events like this? Yep, you and I both know the answer to that question. How long could such a violent incident last? How long would it need to last if small, organized groups, supercharged larger groups of emotional believers? It's a formula that has proven effective over and over again. Truthfully, the numbers are not as important as the planning and the response. Response. Overreact or under-react, these are sensitive parts of the formula. Bottomline. The size is not that important. The planning, persistence, media coverage, amplified by coverage area, that dictates the answers to, "how long would it last and how violent would it get"? 

Some of you who read this post will remember the 60s. If not, you've most likely heard the stories of protest that were violent and prolonged. What was the issue that brought this crisis to the US? Was it the war in Vietnam? Yes. Was it the Civil Rights movement? Yes. Where their nation-states involved in making this time period even more dangerous than it was on its own? yes. How long did it last? Here is the scary answer; years! Did the 60s nearly bring the US to the edge of collapse? The real answer is far more frightening than you might think. As bad as the 60s were, that point in US history didn't have a critical ingredient that now exists, Social Media. If that fact is not enough to worry you, let me add one more. The level of entitlements in the 60s compared to today, well, it's not even close. What was the percentage of the federal budget allocated to entitlements in the 60s compared to 2019? Look it up and you will see my point. The 60s were dangerous for the US and the US knew it. The 60s shook the foundations of the US and the enemies of the US did everything in their power to make that fact as dangerous as possible. Does history repeat itself? You bet it does. Where did the riots and protest of the 60s take place? In the cities, the large cities, with the exception of some of the Civil Rights protests. Did the people of Wentzville Missouri suffer from the anti-war riots? No. Did the people of Dodge City Kansas suffer? No. I could literally list thousands upon thousands of additional small towns and cities in the US, but I think you get my point. The The 60s. An example of where the US may be heading, but this time, pulling out of the dive may be much more difficult. 

The " We hate Trump" movement takes to the streets in November of 2020. What streets? You know the answer. Do the people in Wentzville Missouri really care if riots lead to the major cities becoming scenes reminiscent of Syria or Egypt? Not really. Yes, it would upset them given the coverage such events would be given, but at the end of the day, would the people of smalltown America drive on with their lives? Yes, to the greatest extent possible. 

If the " We hate Trump" movement was able to keep this crisis boiling for months, would the people in smalltown America stop producing the food that feeds the nation? No. Would the protestors still need to eat? Unless they turn into Zombies, that answer is obvious. Would these prolonged riots and protests impact the economy? Yes. Could they impact the economy in a dramatic fashion? That would depend on the perceptions of those who control the economic strings, but the simple answer is yes. Would such an economic crisis impact smalltown America? Yes. Would it impact the world? Yes. Would smalltown America come to a standstill? No. would the world? No. Adjustments, that's what would take place, adjustments. It's the natural order in this world. We all adjust. All nations, adjust! If the right ingredients, ingredients I covered over the past two days, come together at the right moment in time, with the wrong response, whatever that might be, then the US may find itself in a spiraling decline like I said, a dive the country may not pull out of. In the end, the actions of the, " We hate Trump" movement can damage the nation beyond repair. Then, a new normal is achieved. The Nation, would, adjust! 

Flyover country: 

Last night, I mentioned the theory of, " enough is enough". What did I really mean? Was I referring to the, " We hate Trump" movement? No, although it could apply. My intention, if I was successful, was to begin the process of producing a warning. Not a warning about the, " We hate Trump" movement, but a warning about the actions of flyover country. 

It's March of 2020 and the MSM is gitty over the live announcement that enough so-called Republicans in the US Senate voted for Impeachment that the President was going to be removed from office. Sound impossible? How well do you know the Republican members of the Senate? Recall my first post in this three-part series. Recall my comments about what really matters to the political leaders in the US. Power and staying in power. If voting to remove the President relieves the threat to just enough of the Republicans of losing their seats, then you better think twice about what you believe about the Senate. In order to paint my scenario, let me assume this vote takes place, by the way, I think there is a real chance it might happen. The " We hate Trump" movement is once again wild in the streets, a great movie by the way, and the cities become the target.

 Here is the difference in this scenario, and it's a dramatic difference. Flyover country. That part of America where the support for the President is alive and well. Not only is the support alive, it's angry, really angry, angrier than it's been in decades. President Trump, the man who was not supposed to win. the man who was legally elected. The man who said he would go to DC, the most unpopular section of the US, and, "Drain the Swamp". That man has been torn from office. That President who has been removed in a process that has the perception of a Coup! The man flyover country supports, yes, not all of it, but the majority of it, has been removed from office by a movement that stands for nothing flyover country believes in. Full-Term Abortions, No control of illegal immigration, greater taxes in order to increase the entitlements that secure the needed votes. The divide within the nation now has become a crack so wide, so deep, the foundation of the US is in doubt. Flyover country announces to the government and the world, "enough is enough"! 

In the scenario about the collapse of the US's major cities, the primary area of concern were the major cities themselves. In the "enough is enough" scenario, the impacted area is very different. Will the people of "enough is enough" march on the major cities of the US? probably not. Why would they? Why would they drive into enemy territory? Would they march on DC? Perhaps in the beginning, but that tactic would only be a scene setter to a much more impactful series of events.  Would it have an impact on the nation if Wentzville Missouri held a protest march? No. Would the world watch? No. Would the enemies of the US watch? Yes. Stange answer? Think about it. What would be the reaction of the, "enough is enough" movement? How would the flyover country respond to the President being removed in what they believed was a coup? Let me take a shot at giving you a few options to ponder. 

1. Flyover country simply goes back to work. You see, that is what they do, they work. That's all they know and the entitlements, well, they go somewhere else, they go to the Pen locations. Okay, farm subsidies, I get it but do the math. What percentage of the federal budget are we talking about? Okay, let's move on. How likely is this option to happen? To be honest, that depends on what happens after the successful coup event. If in November of 2020, flyover country / " Enough is Enough" country wakes up to the new Socialist / Democratic Party, taking over the WhiteHouse, I think this option has little to no chance of coming true. 

2. Flyover country decides to protest but to do so in a way that makes the government panic. Can Cities produce food? Rember this conversation? Do cities produce power? Where are most power plants located? What large city wants to look at something as ugly as a powerplant. " Put those things out of sight"! No food and now power, what does a large city do? They demand the government do something, that's what cities do, they "demand". Remember, everyone in those large cities is entitled to food and power. If the loony left assumes control after a coup, the flyover people are expected to do what they are told, provide for population centers, the large cities. But what if that food and power don't come? What if the people who make those two things happen simply decide to sit on their collective hands? Now what? Does the new government warn the flyover people? How do they do that? Do they warn the governors? Does anyone think the people who would be upset listen to Governors? Drive out to Burnet county Texas and tell the people who live there, " The Governor orders you to send meat to the stores so the cities can eat". Does that sound crazy? Just how upset do you think these people would be if they truly believed a coup had taken place against the President they supported? Here is one better for ya. Would the Governors of Flyover country listen to such a demand from the new federal government? If not, then what? Does the new government have enough members of Homeland Security, don't get me going on that organization, or the FBI to enforce the demands on flyover country. Side Note: Don't forget my statements about percentages of people. Does everyone in the flyover country have to go along with the resistance/protest? Think about it. 

After a week or less, it becomes clear most of the stores in the US, stores that operate on Just in Time Vending, have little to offer. Again, think I am being melodramatic? I've worked pre and post-crisis events such as Hurricanes. Have you ever seen a store when even the rumor of a Hurricane is about to make landfall? Now, what does this new government do? By the way, the Vice President is being painted into this Coup attempt on the President so his future is in doubt as well. Besides, once enough so-called Republicans lose their spine, who is really running the country anyway? 

No food is being distributed and nobody is working at the powerplants. Who works in those food processing plants and where are they located? Yep. You know the answer. It's the end of week one of the flyover part of the nation sitting on their hands and instead of having one major city without food or power, after an issue like a Hurricane, the nation has hundreds. Now what? 

The federal government calls in the National Gaurd. Wait. Who does the National Gaurd work for? I get it, your answer is going to be, " the government would nationalize the Guard". Let's talk about that for a minute and believe me, I've had this conversation on many occasion and at the highest level, you can think of. 

Where does the majority of the US military come from? Do they come from major cities? No. Do they come from flyover country? For the most part, yes, that's exactly where they come from. Does that statement hold true for the National Gaurd, the National Guard of the flyover states? Yep. What orders would the military or the Nationalized Nation Guard be given? Round up the cows and chickens? process the dairy and grains? What would they do, make the people who push the food to the rest of the nation do so at gunpoint? What's that part of the oath about, "lawful orders"? Who interprets that concept? The Generals in DC? Who are they if the rank and file members of the military don't agree? I once made a comment back in the 90s, at a place far from the US. " A general with troops who will not follow him is a man dressed like a movie star". Does anyone in DC, the Swamp, think for a minute the US military would consider it a lawful order to force those that produce food and other items to start doing so again? Does DC believe the tactics of FDR in the 30s would really work? Ah, that thing called Social Media. What a difference it has made. 

Okay, at the start of week two, most likely sooner, the nation is in a full-blown crisis. Entitlements can't produce what the political leaders don't control. The major cities in the US, the ones that were full of the, "We hate Trump" folks dancing in the streets are now back to the first scenario. Riots are the order of the day. The economy? Well, Wall Street is so bad off, the markets are closed for the foreseeable future. What of the rest of the world you ask? Good question. What does the rest of the world look like when the US is truly on its knees? Just how far and wide does the death spiral travel? It's the end of week two, and flyover country is providing meals for those around them. The, "enough is enough" gang, well, they know one thing. They know how to adjust! What becomes the new normal? That's a good question, but I will guarantee you one thing, the "adjustment" will be made by those that no how to survive. By the way. I just moved to flyover country:)! 

My last comment:

Several years ago, one of my Majors, a strategic planner, came to me and said, "Sir, you have to see this. DHS is actually holding an exercise over a Zombie Apocalypse". I have to admit, when I started to watch the video, I couldn't believe my eyes, then I noticed something. The roleplayers in the video didn't look like zombies. they seemed to be just people wandering aimlessly. By the time we figured out what was actually taking place, the answer was even more concerning. DHS was practicing for a post-apocalyptic event where large roaming masses of people needed to be controlled. The attempt at comedy came from the fact someone had forwarded video from the exercise with the title of, "Zombie Apocalypse".  Think none of what I have stated here today can't happen? Try convincing DHS? 

I'm going to post a podcast tomorrow as I attempt to wrap all three blog posts on the topic of the stability of the US into one narrative. 

Coldansviewpoint. That's where you will find the post on Itunes.  

THE UNITED STATES:

A NATION DIVIDED CANNOT STAND. 

PART TWO: 

CAN IT REALLY HAPPEN? 

Yesterday, I spelled out what I believe are the three main ingredients for a destabilizing environment to take hold. 

1. Poor political leadership, no, not Trump.

 2. The age of information overload.

 3. A population that is "spoiled."  

So, today, let me attempt to show you the ingredients for the destabilization to actually get underway. As you will see, one topic shows up in both conversations. 

The State of Politics:  

My rant on the state of US politics yesterday was based upon my own experiences and my own observations. Today, my comments on political leadership takes on a much broader view. Yes, it's a more expansive view based on my opinions, but that's the purpose of these post right; my opinions? 

What is the most critical issue in US politics, especially at the national level? Did you guess reelection? If you did, then you and I are in agreement. "Get there and stay there." It's an objective that only occasionally is overcome by the desire to "move up"; you know, gain more power. It's not a new phenomenon, but it's one the people in the US are witnessing 24/7/365. Again, the issue of social media and the internet brought about this change. When someone in the US turns on the cable news, all they are going to hear is the bickering between the two political parties. This bickering is amplified by a media network that has become little more than political tools, weapons for both sides. Have you heard anyone say anything good about the Main Stream Media / MSM/ in the past several years? Politics and the media, an out of balance duo that drives the people of the US deeper and deeper into a civil divide.  

Dependency: 

About two months ago, I wrote a post on the status of US cities and the decaying relationship with "flyover country." Here's the link, and if you want more detail on what I am about to say, then I would suggest you read that post. 

http://coldansviewpoint.blogspot.com/2019/08/cities.html?m=1

Modern-day, US major cities. What are they, I mean to the politicians, at least one party of the US  political system? Voting cattle pens. That's what major US cities have become. Places where one party has rounded up votes and kept them alive until they are needed. Voters in these pens/cities/ are feed, provided shelter, and even given medical care. They are expected to accomplish absolutely nothing until the time comes for them to fulfill their usefulness. Does this analogy upset you? Remember, this is all just my opinion, but I bet most of you agree with me, especially after you read my analogy. 

Cities, the largest concentration of voters in the US. The major cities are controlled by one political party in the US, and that is precisely how that party intends to keep it. Independence, that's a concept that one party must keep from spreading in these major cities. The last thing they want is to have the cattle escape into open range!  

What's has been the most effective way for this one particular party to keep their voter base loyal, I mean besides keeping them inside the major cities? Fear! Scare everyone loyal to you that if you lose power, evil will descend upon the world. Before I go further, fear is a tactic of both political parties in the US, but the reality is, one party is far better at the tactic than the other. So, at the end of the day, fear is the primary tool of politics in the US. Whatever happened to patriotism, honor, the gratification of hard work? On the topic of patriotism, I will get back to that issue in this post.   

What percentage of the current US budget is tied up with entitlements? If I told you it was over 70 percent, would you be shocked? Is the word "entitlement" a bad word? No. Are certain people in the US, "entitled" to some level of government funding? Now there is a topic that causes a great deal of heated discussion. In my opinion, yes, some are "entitled," but many may not like my very... concise list of who makes up that group. I don't want to get bogged down on this topic, so let me drive on to the critical issue of entitlement. 

For one party in the US, the concept of entitlement has become a vote capturing bonanza. Now, here is the brilliant part. That same party has learned how to link that political weapon with the other one I mentioned; fear. Combined Arms. It seems one party has mastered the political version of this military concept of warfare. Promise every level of entitlement you can think of and then use the fear booster to make your voter base believe those entitlements would go away if you lose power. In 2019 the issue of entitlements is the gift that just keeps on giving. Santa Glaus is the disguise of one party in the US, a disguise worn by the Cattle Barons! 

What's the issue with the US budget being over seventy percent entitlements? If you guessed funding, you are really with it today. If you have a party that states to its voter base, " I will give you everything you need, deserve, and I will take it from those that have, "too much," whatever that means, what becomes the endstate problem? Yep. You bleed the, "too much" donor to death. Okay, now, when someone believes they are being abused to the point, they may no longer have the ability to live the life they have built, what happens? One of two things takes place. 1. the Donors rise up! Pay attention. This is where this post really gets going. 2. The donors, leave! If one level of donors departs, what does that force the entitlement party to do? Yep, bleed the next level. By the way, every time I hear the expression, " The Rich," I have to ask myself, who does that truly address? I was in a particular hellhole on the other side of the world once, and someone who actually owned a car was considered "evil" because they were "rich." "Rich," it's a relative term! When I was young, I thought someone who owned new care was "rich." Okay, back on track here. If entitlements have become the norm for securing votes in the US, at least for one party, then how does that party control expectations? If I tell you,  I will pay for a place for you to live. I will pay for your healthcare, and I will pay for your meals, then why would you not start expecting more? What's the battle cry now of the spoiled? Pay for my college. More.....more.....more! What happens when the party that promises everything, simply runs out of the ability to provide for that growing list of demands? I'll tell you what happens, it has two choices. 1. Blame someone or some group for the failed increased entitlements. 2, as is the case with the US federal political leaders, simply print more money. Option one doesn't stop the demands of those that party depends on for votes. Even if the fear weapon is used, it still doesn't provide the answer to increased demands. Option two is far less painful and actually becomes the tool of the so-called "compromise" between parties. Here is another ugly reality. Both parties have a common goal at the individual member level. Stay in power! Compromise. It's the word both parties brag about, but at the end of the day, what it really comes down to is a dept that just grows and grows and grows. By the way, who owns a big slice of that debt? Boy, that's a whole different conversation, perhaps down the road someday. What's the glue that holds the US together? It's the same glue that holds any modern nation together. 

The Economy: 

DC is out there, just spinning in its own atmosphere. The soap opera of trying to take out the one true, "outsider," Trump, is the mission now of both parties. The "Swamp." Most people have a mental picture of a small body of water that is often avoided and, thus, ignored. What The Donald never understood was the reality, the "swamp" of DC was more like the Pacific Ocean; you can't get from one place to the other without dealing with the ocean. Did Trump underestimate the size and depth of the "Swamp"? Absolutely. Did he misinterpret who was part of the "Swamp"? That's the issue that has him on his heels. The party of entitlements and the other nation called, DC, is after the one guy who wasn't supposed to be there. Think that statement is exclusive to the Conservatives in the US? Think again. I can tell you, many people in this world quietly see what is taking place in DC as nothing short of a coup. The problem is many support that coup attempt. Does all of this bother the cattle inside the major cities? Only because most perceive The Donald as representing the segment of society that refuses to pay for more entitlements. "They won't give me my fair share." One person's coup is another person's struggle for what they are entitled to. By the way, here is an alarming fact. The party of Cattle Barons is losing power to an internal struggle. Yep, the Cattle Barons are under attack by the free rangers. No borders, no rules,  no authorities; well, with the exception of those who believe in this new, radical slice of the Cattle Baron's party. They will be in charge of the "new order." Remember my comment about entitlements, " where does it all end"? Who is in charge of the nation when anarchy rules? Thank God we are a Republic. Okay, back on track. 

With everything going on in DC, with all the talk of a coup attempt, where is the focus of the typical US citizen? When you flip a switch, the lights come on. When you go to the store, the shelves are full. When you turn on your water, it works. When you use your debit card, the bank responds. Why does all of this happen? How could things appear so horrible, so bleak, yet everything seems to work? I will tell you why it's because of those who get up in the morning and go to work. It's because of those who put on a uniform, military, and civilian and give everything they have. It's because of those who pay the bills/taxes. It's because of those who listen to the childish statements from DC and still do what is expected of them. In other words, it's because those who dream of a better nation, a nation still based on hard work, those who are patriotic enough to keep the nation alive. That's why the nation keeps going forward.........................for now! 

Enough is enough: 

When does that statement become a reality?  What event or events set in motion the wheels coming off the nation? The US has endured a great deal of hardship, but to be honest with you, the difficulties of this nation pale in comparison to other nations. Remember my statement about lights coming on and water running? That's the part of the world I have worked in. Do we have it good here? You bet we do.................for now! 

So, again, what would need to happen to change the stability of the US? Now, that' a serious question given the US's enemies look for that same answers. Is it the economy? Yes. Is it a complete loss of faith in governance? Yes. Could it be the geographics of the US no longer having enough in common to keep the nation together? Remember my statement about the US being a Republic. With all the talk of division in the US, could the nation truly slide into a crisis? Here is the answer this whole blog post is based upon. Yes. Yes, the US can slip into a crisis unlike any it's it's past. Any? Does my opinion include the events of the US's Civil War? Yes. Does that scare you? It should. 

What percentage of the population of the US truly believes one party is attempting a coup against the duly elected President? That's not the way to look at the issue. I just wanted to shape the question that way to let you see the difference. The real question becomes, what percentage of the nation needs to feel as if the country they believe in, the nation they work hard for every day, is in real jeopardy? Let me give you a little history lesson for analysis. 200k people marched on the capital of Egypt and did so for a little over a week before the government fell. In Syria, two cities protested what they believed to be a need for a better life. Look, I could go on and on, but here is my point. The concept of a segment of society standing up against a government they no longer can live with is nothing new. What is new is how the real number of who stands up can be manipulated by a world consumed with mass communications. 

If one segment of the US believes President Trump must go and he doesn't, then what? What if The Donald is not only not Impeached, but reelected? "Pay my College Bills" take to the streets, right? Those that live off of entitlements work on their spelling and hold up a group of posters that show they are upset. Where does this all take place? Yep, in the major cities! Yes, the Cattle begin to riot inside the pens. Who is there to stoke the flames? The US's enemies, that's who. Think about Hong Kong. If the President survives the coup attempt, then what does that hold for the nation's future? Just how violent will things get? Think that's a worrisome scenario? Let me give you one much, much worse. 

What if the people who truly make the nation work, the ones who pay the bills and don't live in the pens, what if they say, "enough"! What percentage of the US population are we talking about? Remember, what percentage does it take? If the cattle inside the political pens rise up, what is impacted? The larger cities? Does anyone remember the Watts Riots? Who paid the price for the destruction? The poor did. The people who live in the pens! What happens when the folks who produce the food, make the products used inside the cities decide, "enough is enough"? What happens when "fly over county" hears the duly elected President, the one true "outsider" is Impeached and removed from power? Don't think it can happen? If so, you have a great deal more confidence in the weak-kneed, survivalist Republicans in the Senate than I do. Oh, did I mention those weak-kneed Senators are part of the "Swamp"?  Do you still think it can't happen? 

Part 3 of this story comes tomorrow, and I've decided to change the name of part 3. I'm now going to call this segment, "What it could look like." I apologize if these first two installments seem a little dark. The bad news is, part 3 is going to make parts 1 and 2 look like Christmas Stories. 

THE UNITED STATES:

 A NATION DIVIDED CANNOT STAND. 

PART ONE:  

HOW DID IT COME TO THIS?

This is Hard: 

This is hard. This is hard for me. In my head, I've started this discussion over and over again. I made the statement I was going to finally dive into the issue of the US's stability, and that started my mind racing. I've always told people, my intent was and is to inform. I desire to talk to people about the issues that might threaten their day to day lives, their quality of life. I've worked to watch the globe asymmetrically; to look for the issues worthy of explanation. My career was based upon reacting to and mitigating those events that would threaten the nation that I served. In the early years, I never challenged why my government tasked us to do. As the years went by, it became almost impossible not to question some of the events we were involved in, but I was a professional. I was a professional NCO and I was a professional officer. At the end of the day, my duty was to follow orders, accomplish the task given me. 

I came home in 2002 and stepped from the world of command into the world of strategic operations. What I did and where it took place is not important to this topic. Over the course of the next few years, my understanding of how the nation truly worked grew and grew immensely. From the world of Defense Support to Civilian Authority / DSCA as it was known then, to Continuity of Government, COG, my reality began to change, and by realty, I probably mean my perception. My job had me interacting with a segment of society I virtually knew nothing about; politicians. You see, I avoided rotations to DC for 25 yrs. When I was told I was, "damaging" my career, I politely agreed as I went back to what I loved; command. That changed in 2002/ 3. My life became a daily journey into the world of local, state and federal "politics". How could the military support civilian events? How could the military / Department of Defense, leverage the resources of the largest federal agency in the nation, without stepping on the law of the land and more importantly, upsetting politicians? Terrorism, hurricanes, borders, pandemics, floods, fires, earthquakes, it seemed I was tossed into every scenario possible. What could "we" do and what could "we" not do? Everyone, at every level of government, had their own perception of DSCA. Just when I thought I had seen it all, the largest, eye-opening concept of all pulled me in. COG! To say I was ignorant of what the COG was truly all about was an understatement. Continuity of Government, the US government. How does that work? Think you know? Have you read about issues like, " National Essential Functions, FEFs? Have you heard of a place called, " Mount Weather"? Hollywood and conspiracy nuts. They aren't even close. In 2005, my career and my world changed, and with that, I will move onto a more important discussion. 

My exposure to the politics of the nation was both educational and alarming. My career was built around sacrifice, honor, and duty. These were not the categories I found myself working within. I am and was a quick learner, and learning was just what I did. How to "they" do their business? How do "they" approach events that might lead to a crisis? Can "they" ever, effectively work together? Do they even want to? After about a year of "supporting" them, I came to my first hard reality. Their sense of duty, honor, loyalty was very different than mine. Some operated with good intentions, but it became clear, the ultimate goal was reelection, moving up, gaining power, looking better, smatter than the competition or even your friends. Yes, after the first year of my journey into DSCA, I was convinced. The leadership I was dealing with had very different goals and just about the time I was truly becoming disenfranchised, I was pulled into COG. Someone was looking out for me. Someone had been watching me. I was good at what I did, but those I did it with, well, it was a very different world than mine.

COG showed me one thing. If it all went wrong, terribly wrong, the nation had a "plan". To most people, even the ones in uniform, COG was a relic of the Cold War. It was a process based upon the doomsday issue of nuclear war. Let me keep this part of the story simple. COG is much more than just preparation for a nuclear war. ( By the way. I dove into this COG issue when I decided to write my book on the events of the next World War).  Long story short, COG restored my faith that someone inside the federal government was actually focused on what was good for the nation. Yes, COG and the task that process handed me, saved my desire to stay in the service. 

So, there you have it. That is the scene setter I had to provide. That's the story of how I began to pay attention to what was taking place in the nation. My efforts were moved from overseas warfighter to, figuring out how to keep political leaders from failing in a time of crisis, even when they seemed focused on something other than the security of the nation, state, community. Side Note: One point I have to make. The order of focus was simple to see. Locals typically, not always, but typically, worried about their community. States worried about the state of the State. I guess that's why we are a Republic fist! Lastly, federal figures seemed consumed with how events may impact them individually. My opinion? Yes, but the data I have to back that up would fill this blog site for months to come. 

History: 

I've painted a picture of leadership that seems out of touch. So-called, leaders who place their careers and party first. It was alien to me and I am the first one to admit I may have seen these leaders through my own glasses. Has the US seen a time when leadership was not all about themselves? Honestly, my bias showing again, has the US ever not seen such a period? FDR. A hero to the Democratic party. A man who openly challenged the authority of the US Supreme Court. A man who realized his vision for the nation was more important than the nation's legal system. Look, the truth is, US history is stuffed with examples just like FDR and that plays right into where I am heading. 

For the sake of argument, let's assume my opinion of political leadership is valid. If history tells us it's always been this way, then why am I taking the time to talk about something I truly didn't wish to address? My answer is this. History is exactly what its name indicates, it's "history". Yes, yes, I know the old saying, "if we don't learn from history, we are bound to repeat it", or something like that. To me, it seems like we have been repeating ourselves for well over 150 years. Has the public grown accustom to the hollow words of political leaders? Where do they rank on a national survey of jobs people admire? I bet you know the answer. Nothing to worry about here right? Wrong! 

Times change. Beliefs and opinions change. Perceptions change. What was once considered just another example of the same old thing, could be transforming into a very.....very dangerous event. How many times, if you read my blog, have you heard me address the issue of Social Media? How often have I made reference to a world of billions of people able to communicate without government filters like the media, and do so in the time frame of seconds, not weeks or days? Has the concept of social awareness taken on a dramatic change? More importantly, has the concept of constant communications become a weapon? Can a society slip into a state of near madness simply because of nonstop information? the world has changed and those changes are not based on old "history". people are drowning in information, information that is almost always useless to their daily lives. If I am correct, and I say I am, then just how destabilizing can this change become? Before you contemplate that answer, let me give you one more ingredient. Let me make my last point in this post. 

Spoiled: 

Just how spoiled are most of the people in the US? How is it possible to protest over being poor when you are 100 lbs overweight? How many people in the US have worked in a land where 300 calories a day was a feast, a feast you only received perhaps every other day? Have you ever seen children sleeping in a massive pile just to keep warm? A pile that is visible because it's on the sidewalk of a major street in a major city? I have. Who in this country, that likes to bitch...pardon my language, but this topic gets me going, has witnessed dead bodies in the open with people just walking by? I could go on and on, but let me make a more profound statement. The world has over 7 BILLION people and over 3 BILLION of them are trying to stay alive, trying to find a meal, trying to sleep without fearing they may be murdered. When was the last time anyone in the US had to navigate the rubble of a city completely destroyed knowing there was absolutely no one coming to help? By the way, if you bring up 9-11, you have no idea what I am talking about. Intitled, demanding and uninformed; the typical US citizen who feels compelled to toss trashcans in front of intersections because they are outraged. Massive communications with people who truly are suffering and a spoiled percentage of the population, that my friends is a recipe for disaster. Oh, wait. I forgot, poor to nonexistent leadership. You have to add that to the formula. 

Okay. Part One. " How did we get here"? This has been my scene setter. Over the next two days, I will post my followups. 

Part Two:  Can it really happen? Can the US fall into a real crisis? 

Part Three: What does the crisis look like? 

Not a pleasant topic. I know, and it's one I truly didn't want to address. The problem is, I am more and more convinced that repeating history is not going to lead to the same old results. The US is reaching a dangerous level of instability, social divide. It's time to address the structure of this pending crisis and what needs to happen. More to come.