We got into our present economic and moral mess in the same way most nations in history have: Corrupt leaders (political and financial) using war, fake money, and debt to enhance their power. In order to get more re-election votes, campaign donations, wealth, and power, it has become 'normal' for our leaders and Congresspersons to support; a. Expensive, unconstitutional, programs, b. Counterproductive distortions of the free-market, and c. Non-defense wars for Empire based on lies. Many of their votes in Congress are to serve their friends and campaign donors, not 'We The People'. Our Federal government, and most States, have gone far astray and need to be restored to their proper roles in compliance with their constitutions. States Rights have withered as power, control and funding move to DC, where the (fake) money is. We have all the traits of a failing empire (see Part 5 in the left margin), as briefly stated in the three points below, and in detail on this site.

1. Economics: Our once productive economy has been weakened by fake money (Federal Reserve 'notes' made from thin air, not redeemable in a commodity, such as gold, with market value). See Parts 1 and 2 in left margin for the text of my 'Monetary Revolution' book that describes our monetary system problems, and shows how to convert our present monetary sytem to Gold as Money! The current Fed Notes can be made for just the cost of paper or computer digits, which allows us to spend to excess on wars and welfare, and import most of the goods we once made (and thus jobs are exported) so we have become a 'consumer economy' using debt for our high life style. Politicians and Banksters love it, but the party is over when the money drops in value (as the Dollar has, and continues to). This spending is only possible because the US Dollar is the primary world's reserve currency (nations and firms buy and sell with it worldwide), and anybody will accept and keep it as we create more (monetary inflation). However, it is losing value as we expand the money supply to pay our bills and debts (and 'stimulate' the economy with QE1, 2, etc.), and will crash within 2 to 5 years unless we reduce spending and debt! Crony-Capitalism and corporate subsidies have replaced free-enterprise and competition. Corruption is routine and rampant. 

2. Personal Rights: Our civil rights are being voided and abused as government (especially the Feds, who have all the money) and the police act like our boss, rather than our servant as defined by the Constitution. Warrantless wire-tapping, FISA, TSA, absence of habeas corpus, and SWAT teams restricting our right to assemble, are but a few examples. We are becoming a Police State!

3. Morals: Our leading faults are; a) The death, maiming and displacement of people, and damage to their land, caused by our wars for Empire (oil, etc., not defense), and b) Our income tax system that is based on gang-theft-by-vote (group A votes to take money from Group B, 'the rich, etc.', to give to Group C, 'schools, the poor, farmers, pals, etc.'). Once the majority of a nation's voters accept this form of taxing (often using the excuses 'we all benefit', or make the rich pay their 'fair share', etc.), the door to excess taxation and spending is open, and the government grows like a cancer. Use of 'progressive' rates to increase the percent tax on higher incomes (a penalty on success) adds to the offense. The government is soon viewed as a 'money pot' to do anything 'nice' or 'needed' (the Constitution is ignored), and most people strive for a part of it. Some say 'we need taxes in order to adequately fund our social welfare projects'. I say if you want to help someone, voluntary charity is the best way. It's more work to seek voluntary donations, but moral, and less is needed in a prosperous, work-oriented society. No fair using immoral funding methods to support your projects.

Reduce Government Spending by 50% or More

To help solve both the economic and moral issues above, we need at least a 50% reduction in government spending, and more use of fully compensatory 'user fees' (school tuition, parks, libraries, buses, etc.), would be a good start to needing less tax revenue, and end of the invasive and damaging IRS. See my article at Part 8-A-1-g in the left margin. This would bring a form of free-market pricing (voluntary purchases; no subsidies) to government services: 'If people won't pay the full cost (not worth it), don't provide  it!' If people really want a service or product, the free-market will always provide it (if allowed by the government !), and history shows the cost to create, operate, and maintain it will be far below what the government cost would be. 'Rapid rail transit' is a good example. Contractors love to build them (and donate to the legislators who approved them), but ALL of them require subsidies to attract customers, and even so often have low usage. Buses are cheaper and allow more flexible (and adjustable) routing, but don't help politicians get elected! There are a million examples, and they are all dragging us down!

End Empire-USA, and Its Wars

Many of our problems relate to building and operating 'Empire-USA'.  We don't own many colonies ('territories'), but we have a lot of control over other nations, and have over 800 bases worldwide to 'assure compliance'. This is called an 'interventionist foreign policy' at best; some would say 'boss and bully'. The secret Grand Plan for our wars in Afghan (access for a pipeline to Turkmenistan), Iraq (oil and defense of Israel), and Libya (oil and evict China) is about getting their oil, and land for bases to control all oil and gas in the greater mid east , from the east of Caspian 'xxstans' to North Africa (Iran and Syria next?). We want it all, and want to exclude China, Russia, and India. All the Bush and Obama reasons for these wars (and the entire 'War on Terror'), such as the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, WMD and nation-building, are lies! They 'used' 911 as an excuse to bully the world and US citizens. See the 'True Reasons for War' essay at part 8-B-1 in the left margin. These wars, and our worldwide Empire projects, are illegal, immoral, unconstitutional, expensive, and counterproductive, and must be stopped promptly!

The Imperial Presidency

The power of our Executive branch of the federal government has continued to grow since the Spanish-American War in 1898 (our first war of aggression for lands abroad) because of its accepted role in leading foreign affairs. The fake 'Gulf of Tonkin' incident led to the Vietnam War and LBJ's massive 'Guns and Butter' spending.Then Nixon abrogated our last monetary connection to gold in 1971, and spending took off even more!. (see  #1 'Fake Money', and #2 New Money, in the left margin)

A big increase in executive power was forced by Bush and Cheney, who were the most aggressive in creating an 'Imperial Presidency', assisted by a meek, self-serving Congress. Long 'Signing Statements' changed laws already passed by Congress! Existing laws and the Constitution were ignored. After their election mandate in 2004, the Democrats took reform 'off the table', hoping to use the new powers later for themselves (and Obama is!). The Bush-Cheney plan was to rule the USA and the world from DC, with a focus on controlling access to cheap oil. Pre-emptive wars for economic and political goals (for oil and Israel, not homeland defense), bribes to foreign rulers, domestic pork and welfare, intimidation, assassinations, torture, and sponsored insurrections were their primary tools. The problem with such Imperialistic plans is that they are not only illegal and immoral, but they never work. Expenses, corruption, and backlash/blowback grow faster than the 'benefits'. Death, and destruction abroad, and a depression, loss of rights, and crushing debt at home, are the results we see around us today.Thus, the USA has declined from its peak of military and economic strength in the 1950 to 1970 period, and now faces serious problems. All empires fail in a similar way; a. Corruption, and b. Excess spending at home and abroad.

Since history, and our own experience, shows that empires eventually do more harm than good to their homeland, it is obviously smart to not be one. England, France, Spain, and Russia had sense enough to back-off, and give up their colonies, when they faced going broke. The USA should do the same, and emerge as a good customer (with a strong negotiating position) as it enjoys peaceful trade worldwide. This is not a weak or 'peacenik' approach, it is the smart way to avoid economic and political failure. Fortunately, I have a plan to minimize the decline, and recover our strength.

If you agree with my views, which are all based on the principles and ethics discussed on this web site and in my books, then please support the Forward-USA project with a donation (click the button above to use a credit card, or go to Part 7 in the left margin to mail a check).

Thanks for your interest and support. If you have questions or suggestions, contact me at;

Dave@Forward-USA.org , or RedickD@aol.com .  

Best regards,  Dave