Thursday, September 12, 2013
Deus vs machina
Thinking about Putin's sudden creative offer, 'deus ex machina' is an irresistible phrase. Thinking a bit more, a different preposition emerges.
Since 1989 the leaders in DC have been the Soviets of the world, rigidly locked into a drearily mechanical pattern. No matter what happens, you can instantly predict what the current occupant of the White House will do.
Internal problem? Just ask which course will maximize Goldman's profit and you know what the White House will do. In practice this always comes down to infinite spending and zero taxes.
External problem? Just ask which action will serve Israel's interests and you know what the White House will do. In practice this always comes down to infinite chaos in some foreign country.
Since 1989 the Russians have been the unpredictable and innovative element, serving their OWN interests and advancing civilization and religion when possible.
To see the reversal, go back a few years before 1989 when Gorbachev and Reagan were mindlessly cranking through the standard puppet show of negotiations. Gorbachev said "You must disarm and we must keep all our bombs." Reagan was supposed to say "No, you must disarm and we must keep all our bombs" like all previous Presidents, to maintain the rigid static order. Instead, Reagan went off-script and said "Let's both disarm." After that, the machine started to turn for the first time in many years.
Reagan was the deus to Gorby's machina. Now Putin is the deus to Obama's machina.
¶ 5:38 AM 
