He who holds the Lightning, survives.....
The Geek with a .45 has a superb essay on the nature of international politics, why big "L" libertarianism fails, and the essence of national survival.
It starts:
So, here’s the Excruciating Truth:
Whether America remains free and prosperous will be determined by whoever controls The Lightning; which is some critical portion of war suitable energy resources.
And it damned well better be us.
More:
Without oil, our ability to conduct warfare is limited to within 20 miles of our largest naval rifles, and wherever we can trudge on foot or animal drawn cart. No oil means we essentially roll ourselves back to war as practiced in 1890 or so, albeit with better guns. Yes, it’s true that in 1890, or 1850, for that matter, we had an effective energy source for manufacturing and other predicates of war, and even trains to get supplies to the staging areas, but trains were not driven into battle. Guns were carried to battle by men on foot, wagon, and horseback.
So, to reiterate: the choice is war as fought with petrochemicals and machines, or horses and carts.
While we’re talking about The Lightning, let’s make another thing absolutely clear: merely possessing The Lightning in no way ensures that America will remain prosperous and free. We can certainly be our own undoing. Possessing The Lightning simply prevents another party from making that decision for us, with or without our consent.
This is simple, inescapable truth: the party who can make war can prevail over the party who cannot at will.
The entire essay will have you thinking. If you disagree with it, (not the Ron Paul/Guiliani thing, the actual ideas...)please comment. There may be a pop quiz soon.
Update: To all Libertarian purists: From the comments at Geekwitha.45 - thebastidge:
Let me say it again: more liberty is inherently better than less liberty, but you must work within the practical constraints of empirical results. To this end, one should strive for liberty, just as one should strive for virtue, accepting that failure to achieve absolute liberty is no more a failure than falling somewhat short of absolute virtue.
It starts:
So, here’s the Excruciating Truth:
Whether America remains free and prosperous will be determined by whoever controls The Lightning; which is some critical portion of war suitable energy resources.
And it damned well better be us.
More:
Without oil, our ability to conduct warfare is limited to within 20 miles of our largest naval rifles, and wherever we can trudge on foot or animal drawn cart. No oil means we essentially roll ourselves back to war as practiced in 1890 or so, albeit with better guns. Yes, it’s true that in 1890, or 1850, for that matter, we had an effective energy source for manufacturing and other predicates of war, and even trains to get supplies to the staging areas, but trains were not driven into battle. Guns were carried to battle by men on foot, wagon, and horseback.
So, to reiterate: the choice is war as fought with petrochemicals and machines, or horses and carts.
While we’re talking about The Lightning, let’s make another thing absolutely clear: merely possessing The Lightning in no way ensures that America will remain prosperous and free. We can certainly be our own undoing. Possessing The Lightning simply prevents another party from making that decision for us, with or without our consent.
This is simple, inescapable truth: the party who can make war can prevail over the party who cannot at will.
The entire essay will have you thinking. If you disagree with it, (not the Ron Paul/Guiliani thing, the actual ideas...)please comment. There may be a pop quiz soon.
Update: To all Libertarian purists: From the comments at Geekwitha.45 - thebastidge:
Let me say it again: more liberty is inherently better than less liberty, but you must work within the practical constraints of empirical results. To this end, one should strive for liberty, just as one should strive for virtue, accepting that failure to achieve absolute liberty is no more a failure than falling somewhat short of absolute virtue.
Labels: energy, international politics, libertarianism, oil, realpolitik, Ron Paul, warfare
posted by Cargosquid at 10:15 PM
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