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What's our greatest threat?

Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 2 months ago to Ask the Gulch
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Imagine two guys at a 4th of July picnic, after imbibing a bit too much, and laughing too much, the conversation gets serious. The guys names are Hector and Dewey, and here's an edited version of their conversation:
Hector asks, "What is the greatest threat facing the United States today? Dewey replies, "As I see it, there are three. One radical Islam, two the Chinese, three those knuckleheads in congress." Hector says, "Wrong, not even close. Here's the answer. The gravest threat facing the United States comes from within, when our best people refuse to get involved. When the men and women we need to fight those threats you mentioned -- radical Islam -- China, stay on the sidelines. That's our greatest threat."
Excerpted from "The Refuge" by Ben Coes.
So...what does the Gulch think? What is the U.S.'s greatest threat?

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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Patriotism can be a two bladed sword. In Germany, they were still suffering the humiliation and hard times after losing WW1. Adolph appealed to their egos and used the Jews as a scapegoat so that the blame wasn't their fault but were manipulated by the eeevil Jews. An evil person's personal ambitions disguised by patriotism and an installation of superiority.

    Rand showed that the two most corrosive types can be represented by the mystic and the Hun. Hitler did it through the Hun as they rolled out the drums of war. The radical Islamists have both. They act as Huns and justify it through their religion (mystic).
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  • Posted by term2 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Maybe the answer is to get FEWER people elected in a smaller government which cant take from one and give to another.
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  • Posted by term2 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Very interesting thought. It does seem that evil takes hold faster and harder than good. Perhaps that is because a good leader encourages the people to better them selves through work, whereas the evil leader promises to do that (to at least his followers) without any work on the part of the supporters.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Tell me about it. I've never been more at peace as I get really old. Perhaps it's from staring Mr. Death in the face every day.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I don't think any one individual can stir the people in a certain direction. History has proved me wrong when I look at the rise of dictators from Napoleon to Hitler and beyond. However, it does seem that only evil people can turn a nation into a unified force.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    That's certainly right. If it's not the greatest threat (and it might be) it is right up there.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    The creating of research that becomes institutionalized without ever finding a cure -- such as cancer research. If a cure was ever found, half the research grants would disappear. This nation has become a "Ship of Fools."
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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Cannot disagree. I think that in the final result, it all boils down to just that. If I could, I'd give all the points to you.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I did not know.
    In my wide and varied career, I was a publisher and a sometimes writer. We published a line of biographical comic books and graphic bios of rock groups, sports stars and notables. It did very well because we were unauthorized, we were able to tell the truth without being told what not to write by the subjects. Got sued, by the managing companies but won in federal court.
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  • Posted by SantomR 10 years, 1 month ago
    I have to make a slight correction to my earlier post. The greatest threat is someoe who is a greedy and power hungry idealist AND is also one who seeks to solve every problem known to man. Barack Obama fits that profile perfectly. In his speech last night about the shooting in Oregon he referred to himself 28 times in that 12 minute appearance. That is 3X per minute.

    https://grabien.com/story.php?id=3818...
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  • Posted by SantomR 10 years, 1 month ago
    The greatest threat to the US is idealism. A greedy and power mad idealist is the worst. Some say that 50% of Americans are now greedy power mad idealists. This idealism is based on hatred of anyone who has a better position on the economic ladder due through his or her own success. There are other types of idealists, those who want to solve every problem in the universe - immediately - and do not care what the cost is. These are also dangerous but not nearly as much a threat to us as the greedy power hungry idealist.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I've found a great deal of energy and solace in my advancing years. Not much they can do to me. So As for government control how do you spell Bronx Cheer? Raspberry.
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  • Posted by term2 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Putin would never give up his position as the savior of Russian fatherland. I was just noting that Putin sticks up for Russia, and Obama doesnt stick up for USA.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Personally I hope reining in the reign of terror in the judicial system is high on the list. Le them reign on someone else's parade.
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  • Posted by term2 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I try not to focus on these threats that I can do little to prevent, however.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Does the use of a Constitutional Convention really hold the dangers suppose. So what if changes are made Like that isn't and hasn't already happened? Couldn't do any worse and they might follow the old Constitution which is more than you can say about present government.l it's not a Republic with only one party it's a dictatorshipl.

    ....After being officially proposed, either by Congress or a national convention of the states, a constitutional amendment must then be ratified by the legislatures of, or by ratifying conventions, in at least three-fourths of the states. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution that have been ratified....,

    That is certainly preferable as compared to one judge dictating national policy. What is so great about the present one party system of government?

    Answer.

    Nothing.

    3/4ths or 38 states is infinitely preferable and I don't care what subjects they pursue or discuss.
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  • Posted by term2 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I am definitely not a Galt. I have way too many flaws. I am admitting defeat in that I realize that with my abilities and resources I cannot hope to convince enough people to actually get this country back on track in the time I have left. For my self interest, I want to slow the drift into socialism and cultural destruction in the USA so I have the rest of MY life before the country implodes. That means try to get the least bad people into positions of power.
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  • Posted by NealS 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    My frustration is getting the best of me anymore. I guess what I was really trying to say is what Prime Minister Netanyahu said today (10/01/2015) at the United Nations. I was in practically in tears after his speech. Our greatest threat is to do nothing.
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  • Posted by term2 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Its never going to happen, so its not a matter of actually voting in Putin. Obama is guilty for pursuing expansionist plans also, and killing thousands of people too. Look at his attack on Snowden- you can tell that he would have put Snowden in a deep dark cell for the rest of his life. Obama is a bad person interested in power only, just like Putin actually.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 10 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    To sum it up. Putin did Obama's job for him. Once again absenteeism. Given the leftist stance of the government with it's single party system why not invite Putin to run for office? Not born here? Big Deal that's the old Constitution. What does that have to do with reality?
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