The Permanent Militarization of America

I am not sure I follow the unpayable debt -> civil unrest step of the argument.

I think the overall theory is probably a stretch, but I think you're really onto something.

For one thing, the creation of massive federal police a la DHS and TSA is extremely scary to me, and something people should be paying more attention to.

For example, hypothetically, what would signifiy the "tipping point" where those with means to do so, should flee the country? Probably the elimintation of free speech, but what if it's too late by then? Take note that "liberals" are already demanding the beginning of the end of free speech under the guise of "campaign finance reform."

Another thing people should be paying more attention to is figuring out the effect of the debt spiral and continual inflation (presumably quantitative easing will continue indefinitely). At what point should I convert all USD holdings to other things? And should those other things include, say, domestic real estate, or should they be only gold (and bitcoin :) )? The answer to that would depend on the earlier "tipping point" thing.

To those who think this is all a meaningless rant: Protection of individual rights (the Constitution) has been eroding for centuries, which is reaching its culmination, and the US is reapidly becoming a police state. Wake up.

Having just finished Chris Hedges' "War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning", I will also vouch that main-stream US media is largely bereft of this level of unflinching critical discourse. I'm somewhat heartened to see this article appearing on NYTimes.com. The core of the message, for me, is the line 'But no institution — particularly one financed by the taxpayers — should be immune from thoughtful criticism.'

And the author nails the fact that none in the political sphere can proffer these dissensions without facing derision. The whole discourse seems like a ratcheting forward to an escalation of war-mongering. Finding alternative uses for funds and citing the possible security failure of a war mono-culture should indeed provide a viable alternative, but again, prime-time outlets don't trade in that currency. The tired sound bites of 'valor' and 'patriotism' reign ascendant.

The honest resistance against this tide will probably be quiet desperation for some time yet. Hedges came to my attention lately for standing the opposition to section 1021 and 1022 in the US NDAA 2012 in courts. But his work, and that of many others, doesn't make pleasant water-cooler talk. I was born in the waning days of the civil rights movements and often wonder why we don't mobilize for peace as well anymore. I think we've become contented -- fat, dumb, and happy -- but it might also be the gradual swing back towards a police state: useful response necessarily maintains a cautious economy of action.