Barfenzie “America really only became outwardly aggressive on the instigation of Winston Churchill,”

Which part of the American–Spanish Wars were at Winston Churchill’s Instigation?

“The USSR dissolved in a bloodless revolution predictably by bankrupting itself through the heavy investment in the machinery of war to the exclusion of the people's needs.
The USA is on a similar trajectory, they just have a little more money to buy time.”

The reason USSR collapsed was because their ideology lacked the resilience of the Western Powers, as well as being financially and morally bankrupt.

It was the US “Trajectory” which bankrupted the USSR. It is completely unrealistic to pretend USA is going the same way as USSR or likely to anytime in the future whilst it remains a liberal democracy.

As for “but they get excited about money and forget there are more important things, like health, and love, and art, and science, and nature.”

New York is the venue of as much “Art” and a magnet for artistic creativity as anywhere in Australia.
Vast sums of American wealth is spent on health research, philanthropy, scientific and natural science, far more an amount than was ever spent in USSR or the combined states of Europe or Australia.

Obviously, you are viewing Americans from afar. A profound lack of knowledge of a people is no basis for casting judgment on them all.

As for “that's because they a have relatively little democracy,”

Strange, I thought the US President was head of state, Australia does not elect a head of state (not that I am necessarily recommending it as a good thing but it is more “democratic”).

America also holds public elections for its principal local government officials like sheriffs, magistrates and some judges. Something which is not available to Australians where our police commissioners and judges are all “appointed” and not elected through any "democratic" process at all.

It seems your ability to pronounce accurate instant judgments is hindered by what is commonly referred to as “pig ignorance”.

"Democracy" is alive and well in USA. That you dislike its outcome is your problem.

"It [the United States] is not a "natural" nation as such, based in some ethno-cultural history..."

Neither is Australia.

Can we survive?

Should we return to the White Australia policy to ensure all immigrants share a common "ethno-cultural history?"

Can Europe survive a Muslim influx? Muslim migrants do not share an "ethno-cultural history" with native Europeans.

Should Europeans bar Muslim migrants to ensure their survival?

McMahon's scenario is possible if you assume that the United States is swarming with gun-toting far-right fanatics willing to carry out a violent revolution if the Democrats win. But is this correct?

Most Americans – including most Evangelical Christians – are quite moderate, pragmatic people. The America that survived the Civil War, the depression and Vietnam is likely to survive Bush and Iraq.

Nothing is impossible of course but McMahon's piece seems to be an exercise in wishful thinking.

On the other hand I think McMahon has the outline of a great political thriller here. Maybe he should abandon journalism for fiction. It's something he seems more suited to.

The collapse of the USSR was predetermined with all run of a Russian-style colonial history where local nationalist forces grabbed both financial and political powers since independence from Moscow. Is some difference from the US situation traced already?

Arrogance, xenophobia and rejecting the outside intelligence are inevitable reasons for decay and collapse of Anglo-commonwealth that is an Anglo-sphere outside multinational pot-style presidential USA, based on still-around English crown well-underpinned with the USA force and resources.

Therefore, a question is what AUSTRALIA to be if the USA collapsed rather than playing English while discussing European possibilities and Islam’s peaceful invading.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

" ... To paraphrase LBJ : The Americans may be sons of bitches , but they are our sons of bitches! ... "

That's what a head of the c.i.a. said about *Saddam Hussein*

...

JA'Lobo:
"Only SandPeople Children are they *Anakin?*

ANAKIN g.w.bush Turkey:
" .. If you're not with me, then you're my enemy! ... "

OBI-WAN:
" ... Only a *Sith* deals in absolutes. ... "

I like the quotes! The Americans (or the Bushes?) falling out with Saddam is something they are paying for now.

Maybe a case of "Better the Devil you know" ?

For our own good, reckon we need America for us to survive. But believe it or not, reckon smart-ar-ed Americana does need advice from her Anglophile allies. Not so much from John Howard and Tony Blair, who so far have followed Bush like a couple of purring kittens, but real strong gutsy advice, which does often happen with successful families.

In fact, I really feel that Peter also believes we still need America. So keep up the pressure for beneficial political change, guys and gals, even for the Democrats. Reckon it's up to us onliners. So follow Peter and keep up the pressure for some plain common sense - while others of us might prefer to pray for wisdom and understanding.

But please don't pull the punches, for unfortunately it will not be a time of pleasantries