A German Journalist´s View: The Depressed Superpower

[Angela Shelley]

Here is a link for the German magazine called "Der Spiegel".

The article is called "The Depressed Superpower".


The Depressed Superpower
By Gabor Steingart in Washington

As frustration takes hold in the land of optimism, Americans are beginning to resemble Germans. They are collectively depressed over the Iraq War, the weak dollar and the aging of the baby boomers. Presidential candidates are left to preach change to an electorate that is afraid of it.

...

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,519890,00.html

[Selatius]

1. They're depressed? We're losing our freedom over here in America.

They should be depressed at the prospect of America degenerating into a proto-fascist hellhole with a million-man army and 10,000 nukes and a nasty attitude that says, "God bless America and everybody else can burn in hell!"

America is suffering from cancer, and it's eating up the body.

[SoCalDem]

2. der Spiegel says WE are depressed..and they are right.. n/t

[Angela Shelley]

4. Unfortunately, the effects of this cancer are global.

[Cha]

3. "Doubt our own greatness"..

All we have do is let bushites get in for 7 years and we can kiss our fooking "greatness" Goodbye.

Thanks for the article, Angela..I have to get going now but I'll read the rest later.

[twiceshy]

5. We're swirling down the drain, but I hardly think the Germans...

...are the best ones to give advice. With their chronic unemployment and demographic suicide looming, I think they are projecting their own insecurities. Our country has a history of the right person stepping forward to lead when all looks bleak.

[Angela Shelley]

9. Very interesting comment ...

and which "right person" will step forward this time?

[The Straight Story]

6. Well, look at what Germany has done over the years....

They had a 'final solution' to their problems, how well did that work out?

[Angela Shelley]

10. Maybe we can learn

from other´s experiences?

[KansDem]

7. Excellent article!

I've wondered if the time has come for reconciliation, just like what is suggested in this article. This part offers that:

Democrats Fondly Evoke Reagan

Westen, one of the two Democrats, said he had fond memories of Ronald Reagan and his legendary campaign ad titled, "It's morning again in America." The ad tells the story of a country in which inflation is down and marriages are up, a country that is "prouder and stronger and better" than it was before. The rich voice of the announcer tells Americans that they can "look forward with confidence to the future. It's morning again in America."

Westen insisted on playing the ad for the 500 people in the audience. The effect was dramatic, as if someone had suddenly declared a cease-fire in an era marked by political conflict.

The three experts on the stage were also visibly moved. Luntz, the Republican, was the first to speak, and his words were in the language of reconciliation: "Can't we understand each other again? Can't we come together again? Can't we all regain hope again?"

His words were met with thundering applause.

However, I might remind Mr. Luntz, the Republican, that it was his party that started the rabid anti-anything-not-Republican policy. Perhaps Mr. Luntz would do well to remember St Ronnie's campaign to make "liberal" a dirty word, and how the Republicans adopted a "take-no-prisoners" attitude since 1994 that is alive and well today. Such a mindset stifles debate and compromise (oh, yeah, Mr. Luntz, speaking of "compromise," the foundation of a democracy, who was it that said "we will cooperate but we won't compromise?"*). Sure, Mr. Luntz; we can get all touchy-feely here and pine for the good-old-days of American optimism, but just understand: I trust you and your fellow Republicans about as far as I can throw a Steinway. In the words of you own St. Ronnie: "Trust, but verify."

As my late-uncle used to say: "When someone pats you on the back, they could be looking for a good place to stick the knife."

________
*Newt Gingrich, after taking Congress in 1994.

[ProgressiveFool]

8. While I don't entirely disagree with the premise, that is a horribly condescending article...

And filled with all sorts of BS statements, such as that aging causes a decrease in courage, trying to argue that the arrival of the geriatric years for the baby boomers is turning us into pussies.

And really, I don't think "depressed" is anywhere close to the right word to describe our national mood. "Pissed off" seems to fit us all much better. But then, Germans don't get "pissed off" anymore, they just whine and take it. (speaking as a half-German who's lived there for 3 or 4 years total)

[Angela Shelley]

11. Is there really a difference

between "being pissed off" and "whining".

We say we are "pissed off" but it hasn´t changed a thing.

[ProgressiveFool]

12. Good point, and it remains to be seen.

I like to think that the November elections were a clear expression of what we do when we're pissed off. However, since the group of people we're pissed off at now includes Congressional Democrats, I have no idea how it will turn out. I just hope we don't do go and do something stupid in next year's elections.