Posted by
Wil on Saturday, April 05, 2008 3:06:06 PM
I recently read the book America Alone by Mark Steyn. I had heard good things about it from many sources, including Hugh Hewitt and my mom, and when we recently visited she gave me the book. I would assume many conservatives have read it, but I am going to summarize it as if you have not.
The book begins talking about demographics. This both confused and bored me, since the topic was supposed to be how America is left alone to face the threat of Islamists, but it came to make sense. In the 60's and 70's, the enlightened left wrote books like "The Population Bomb" and said things like "By the year 2000, we will run out of fossil fuels", and "By the year 2020, we will be unable to feed the Billions of people on the planet." Because of this Earth First theology, because of growing immaturity that extends "youth" into ones 30's or 40's, and makes a child inconvenient to pleasure seeking, because of a dearth of Religious structure and family structure remaining in much of Europe, replaced by State Paternalism in which the big decisions are taken care of for you, kids and the elderly are an inconvenience also taken care of largely by the state, and the deep and passionate choices are where to vacation and what to wear, and finally because of an apathetic depression that sets in when you have no hope beyond todays entertainment, "17 European nations are at what Demographers call the lowest low fertility rate, 1.3 births per woman. These countries will find their populations halving every 35 years or so."
His argument is that this is endemic of the vacuum of both religion based morality and self starting drive to succeed that exists in much of the "Developed World". He further argues that this leads to two things: First a tendency to, in liberal political fashion, legislate the tiniest details of life to avoid facing serious issues, and second, a need for immigration to fill the workers rolls and pay for the cradle to grave paternalism that the native Europeans depend on.
And so, as Europe grows older and more Muslim, it becomes less and less likely to be an ally in our fight against a terrorism that wishes to impose worldwide Sharia. Much as large swathes of Europe did in the 1930's, he sees a Europe that will capitulate to its Muslim "Youths" to avoid unpleasantness, and because many Europeans find American "red-neckism" more distasteful than Muslim extremists blowing up Jews or rioting in Paris for more welfare. He sees that much of the decline of the west is nearly irreversible because of negative population growth and a narcissistic apathy among the people of Europe and a hatred of America among Europes elites that far outstrips their hatred of Jihad wielding Muslims.
He then goes on to point out that much of the blame for the apathy comes from a paternalistic state model that is going broke, that stifles creativity and innovation for the narcotic of comfort and security, and promotes absorption in the here and now. Since this model is what the American Left looks to as its ideal, there is concern that this country could easily drift in that direction.
His larger point is that to rely on the permission, the support, the encouragement, and most of all the derived legitimacy for American foreign policy from international institutions populated by enemies, apathetic haters growing into enemies, despots, and very few friends, we could hasten the existence of a world where America is truly alone, against an angry volatile world. 100 years ago, Fortress America with 2 solid oceanic walls was a pipe dream, now with dirty bombs, 5000+ miles of porous borders and coastlines, suicide bombers, and interstate terrorism, it is a true nightmare. We could easily become a giant version of Israel in a sea of enemies.
"The danger we face is not a Chinese Superpower or an Islamist Superpower, if there is a new boss, you learn the new rules and adjust as best you can. The greater likelihood is a world with no superpower at all...a world where pipsqueak thug states who can feed their own people globalize their own psychoses."
The most dangerous time in recent history was the 1920's and 30's when the colonial system was beginning to crumble, and in the power vacuum that followed, first Fascism, then Communism rose up to restore a particular version of order. In the more distant past, the most miserable time to be a poor person was the time when the Roman Empire was crumbling and no power structure had risen up to replace it until the nation states of the 17th and 18th century. This was called the dark ages for a reason, and according to Mark Steyn, whenever there is a power vacuum, the darkness is hovering on the horizon threatening to overrun us all.
This is not a cheery book, it outlines a very real, very threatening possibility if we as Americans do not get a grip and realize we are an exceptional nation. He makes the point that 16 of the top 20 economies in the world were once British Colonies, and that most former colonies of the British Empire when freed tried to emulate the British Parlimentary system, but not one of the nations that have come to independance since 1945 have attempted to emulate Americas Federalist Governmental system.
"Americans are deeply suspicious of the notion you can swan around the world giving freedom to people. They have to want it like the first Americans did -- as we say in New Hampshire, live free or die. If Iraqis want a free society bad enough, they'll stick with it; if they don't and they take the easy option of falling for some puffed up strongman, that's their problem, not America's. While this might be philosophically admirable, the practical drawback is that power abhors a vacuum. If America won't export its values-self reliance, decentralization- others will export theirs.....The danger right now is not imperial overstretch, its imperial understretch- of a hyperpower reluctant to sell its indisputably successful inheritance to the rest of the world."
He goes on to point out the "shared values" that Bush, McCain and other conservatives state exist between us and the rest of the world in fact do not. That most of the worlds vision of the brash arrogant ugly American is an inversion, there has never been a superpower as self effacing as America is. He feels that to the liberal part of America, we are not as cultured or mature as statist Europe, and to much of Conservative America, if they don't like us, we'll take our ball and go home, sit behind our walls and ignore the rest of the world. His book ends with some practical things we should be doing: 10 suggestions that are a bit long to post here.
The sad thing, is that all three of our candidates look far too much to European approval to legitimize our nation, when Europe is further down the road to destruction than we are. This drive to moderate ourpower, to abdicate our power to cynical has beens, is a recipe for disaster, and all three candidates for President currently advocate it on some level or another.
This book contains a powerful and compelling message and should be required reading for every senator, presidential candidate, and house member. It is delivered with the somewhat dry humor of the late British author Douglas Adams or British actor John Cleese, cheesy British understatement delivering troubling but important truths. I have not captured even a fraction of it here.