"Why America Failed", from the ExtraEnvironmentalist Podcast

Having only recently discovered the ExtraEnvironmentalist Podcast I have yet to listen to more than a handful of them (if you are spurred to download a bunch be sure to listen to them in order, I started with episode #28 and am progressing through to the latest release) although all highly recommended, I really enjoyed #34, "Why America Failed" as it explores the psycho-social component of the beginnings and perpetuation of the dominant culture, an exploration of which is critical for extricating ourselves from it and creating equitable, sustainable and enjoyable relationships with each other and our broader environment. I agree with most everything Morris Berman touches on, with only one exception: the treatment of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Berman attributes its passing to cultural "blowback" from mounting corporate colonialism and expansionism, when in reality it was engineered from within as an attempt to stave off the collapse of globalization and American geo-strategic primacy in the face of Peak Oil. Berman likely knows the truth but for professional reasons uses the officially sanctioned narrative as making public what is privately known about 9/11 spells career suicide for many authors and social commentators. That small disagreement aside, this and the podcast that preceded it, #33 are the best so far, but again they are all highly recommended.

source: http://www.extraenvironmentalist.com/

Summary

Twilight is on the horizon for American culture. After spreading an ideology of endless economic growth around the world, the definition of modernity has been defined by the United States. American values are now written into the cultural textbook for nations across the globe. Now that America is failing, what does it feel like to look back and what did we achieve? Was the collapse written in the opening chapters? What if our technological legacy comes with a terrible dark side?

In Extraenvironmentalist #34 we speak with author and historian Morris Berman about his recent look back at the history of American values as chronicled in the book Why America Failed. We ask Morris why American culture has dominated the globe despite so many dark aspects within its technology and values. Our discussion covers the ways in which people can seek meaningful lives as part of a counterculture and why our ideologies of technology and infinite growth were born on the landscape of an endless frontier. Is there a way to avoid the culture of hustling by channeling the alternative values that have arisen from those discontented by capitalism? Is it best just to become an expat?

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For more on 9/11 see the information following this blog post.