The only thing that gives me hope from the USA are the few people fighting for the remenants of their Constitution which Bush and Obama have trashed.

As far as the Patriot Act,Preventative Dentention, legalised assassination of suspected terrorists and Obama's latest NDAA which gives their military to power to arrest and detain without legal council anyone in the West,we are looking at the raw face of fascism once again.

The popular media is self censoring but our alternate internet media still have some courage and yearning for freedom.

No, Chris Lewis, clearly I was saying no such thing. The world does not need one country to be judge jury and executioner of all other countries - especially one that is a social and financial disaster, propped up fear of bombs, torture and incarceration. However, I am saying that the USA has lost all credibility as a 'land of the free', a 'democracy', an 'upholder of human rights', or a land that treats its own citizens with respect. If you read news and opinion from sites such as ICH and the blogs and writings from which those items are extracted, instead of media censored and selected by mainstream media barons, then you will learn that the USA is none of the above. It has become a quasi police state by undermining the constitution. Worse, they maintain they have the right to torture, maim, kill and bomb anyone anywhere on the planet, including their own citizens, who is deemed a potential threat to the 'interests' of the USA. Assassination squads are not new, the USA 'pacified' the Philippines after they invaded, killing hundreds of thousands through savagery and torture, then established a sophisticated surveillance and control system, using the most advanced technology of the day to ensure obedience. Their secret wars in Laos sicken decent people. Drone strikes in villages in Yemen, Pakistan and elsewhere terrorise and turn people into enemies of the United States and Australia [because we are their obedient serfs]. Obama's global assassination program is designed to induce maximum terror, beside which the puny efforts of religious fundies are insignificant.
The USA only maintains its global hegemony through fear, and forcing the use of their dollar in all oil and other trading. Libya was destroyed because they opted out; Australia will fare no better if we annoy them, There are petitions circulating Washington to annex Australia, as they did to Hawaii not that long ago

I have been raising the alarm about the imperial U.S. and advocating the reading of ICH for months.

Finally, someone has come up with an article, and it's our Reg!

The U.S. is morally bankrupt and may get to be financially bankrupt soon. The sooner the better.

The U.S. is no longer a world leader. It is an imperial pariah.

Australia must wake up. The U.S. is no longer the answer.

And neither is Israel!

Well done Reg. ...and the band played on, Australia followed, through war, economic policy and entertainment.
Tell me Chris Lewis why do you need a world leader? Without one the UN might be a little less disfunctional. Indeed, why not reform and strengthen the UN thus allowing it to function as intended ?

Bruce Haigh

Good question, Bruce Haigh.

Bruce, are you serious?

There are always nations, with certain ideas and leadership qualities, that are deemed more worthy of importance in a world of competitive naitons struggling for resources and the influence of certain ideas. It is called reality.

I merely look to the ones most capable of promoting certain ideas in line with Western principles.

I argue it is wrong to imply all naitons are equal in terms of leadership abilities. They are not.

A world where Western principles are diminished is not the world i am looking forward too.

If China's rise can be tempered in line what most countries will want, then i see no problem. But i have little faith in corrupt and authoritarian states, although i am hoping the Chinese people do force change.