Lesson1

AnswerstotheQuestions

1.D2.B3.A4.B5.D

VI.

ThethreebigmilestonesforAmerica'spopulationarethefollowing:1915whenAmerica'spopulationgrewto100million,1967whenAmerica'spopulationincreasedto200millionand2006whenAmerica'spopulationreached300million.

America'srecentpopulationgrowthhasbeenextraordinary.Since2000alone,Americahasadded20millionpeople.InsharpcontrastwithAmerica'spopulationincrease,Europe'sbirthrateshavebeenplungingandJapan'spopulationhasbeenshrinking.

Therearethefollowingthreetrends:migrationtothewestandthesouth,sharpincreaseofimmigrantsandfastincreaseoftheover-65population.

ThefastgrowthoftheSouthandtheWesthasbeenbuoyedbyimmigration,lowercosts,andrecreationalopportunities.

Themajorfactorinthepopulationgrowthisimmigration.Since2000alone,therehasbeena16percentriseinthenumberofimmigrantslivinginAmericanhouseholds.

Themoststrikingdifferenceisthechangeofthemainsource.Before1967,themainsourceofimmigrantswasWesternEurope.However,afterPresidentJohnsonsignedtheImmigrationandNaturalizationActin1965tostopracialandethnicquotasfornewimmigrants,andoncetheMexicaneconomytankedinthe1970s,immigrantsfromMexicosharplyincreased.InFortWayne,nearly80percentofHispanicsareMexican.Anestimated12millionundocumentedimmigrantsnowliveinAmerica.

Accordingtothearticle,theinfluxofnewimmigrantshascausedtheproblemofracialtensions.

Backin1990,themedianageinAmericawas22.9years.Butwithpeoplehavingfewerbabies,thatnumberstartedtoclimb.Lowerfertilityratesmeanolderpopulations.Thebabyboomcausedabriefpauseinthismovementduringthe1950sand1960s,buttheagingtrendhassinceresumed.Themedianageisupto36.5andisexpectedtoriseto39by2030beforelevelingoff.

PeoplelikeMayorBillSaffoconsidertheseniorcitizensasarealassetbecausetheyareactiveinthecommunity,andtheyworkpart-timeandcreatebusinesses.

Itsmainattractionsareitsgreatbeaches,lowcostoflivingandabundantgolfcourses.

TheenlargedseniorpopulationwilloverburdenSocialSecurityandMedicare,thetwolargestentitlementprograms.

Outline

GrowthofAmerica'spopulation

(1—2)

Populationgrowthto300millioninOctober,2006

Extraordinaryrecentgrowthcomparedwithothercountries

America'spopulationtrendsandtheirimpacts

(3—4)

Threebroadtrends

Migrationtothewestandthesouth

Sharpincreaseofimmigrants

Baby-boomers'gettingclosetoretirementage

GreatimpactsofthetrendsonAmerica'sculture,politicsandeconomy

Thenewmigration:casestudyofBoise

(5—13)

Boise'sfastdevelopment

Challengeforcityplanners

Four-decademigrationpattern

Factorsinthefastgrowth

SourcesofnewresidentsinBoise

Developers'purchaseoflandatafeverishpace

Economicplanners'efforttoattractsolidjobs

Bigwaveofimmigrants(14—19)

IncreaseofethnicdiversityatNorthwoodMiddleSchool

FortWayne'spopulationcompositionchange

FastgrowthofHispanics

ExampleofFortWayne

ExampleofGoshen

TensionscausedbytheinfluxofHispanics

GrayingofAmericaanditsimpacts(20—26)

Onslaughtof77millionagingboomers

GrowthofAmerica'smedianage

Impactsofseniorpeople'sincreaseontheeconomy:casestudyofWilmington

Attractionsfortheseniorpeople

SpecificexamplesofBillandBryden

Seniorpeople'scontributiontothelocaleconomy

ProspectsofAmerica'spopulationchange(27-31)

Furtheraccelerationofpopulationgrowth

IncreaseofpopulationproportionoftheSouthandtheWest

Greaterimpactsofbirthsbynewimmigrants

Doublingoftheover-65populationandtheheavyloadsonSocialSecurityandMedicare

Lesson2

AnswerstotheQuestions

V.1.B2.A3.A4.A5.D

VI.

Becausetheyarepragmaticandresourcefulinmoneymatters.Theynotonlyworkhardtoearnmoremoney,butalsosaveforretirement,makeinvestmentandhedgeagainsttheunexpected.

Thefirstgrimrealityisthatinabout30years,justasthefirstofthisagegroupstepintoretirement,thetraditionalSocietySecuritySystemwon'tbeabletosupportthem.Thesecondoneisthedecreasedjobsecuritytoday.Thethirdoneisthattheycarrymoredebtattheiragethananyothergenerationhad.Allthesefactorsforcethemtopaymoreattentiontomoneymatters.

Maturesare“savers”whereasXersare“hedgers”.Maturessavedwhattheycouldsothattheirchildrenmighthavemorecomfortablelives.ButXersdonothavesuchanexpectation.Theirdifferentattitudestowardmoneywereshapedbythecircumstancessurroundingtheyouth.

AftereffectsoftheDepressionandWorldWarIIforcedtheMaturestobeself-sacrificingandfrugal.Xersexperiencedmanyuncertaintiesandcrises:thesavings-and-loandebacleofthe‘80s,recessionoftheearly‘90sandparents'divorce.Alltheseexperienceshavehelpedthemtodeveloppragmatismandthehabitofprotectingagainsttheexpected.

Becausethisgenerationismoreinterestedandbetterversedininvestment.AstudybyAmexshowsthattheytakemorerisksontechnologystocks.

Theyaremoreeagertoearnmoneythroughhardworkandmoreinterestedinstartinguptheirownbusinessesforprofits.

No.theyarespendingmoneytomakethetimebeforeretirementapleasure.TheyspendmoremoneythanBoomersdidinthesamespanonstereos,cellphones,beepers,allnewVWJettasandGMCSunfires.

Outline

NewsLead:generaldescriptionofGen-X

(1—2)

Definition:agespan;totalnumber;focusonmoney;buyingpower

ReasonsforXers'focusonmoney

(3—7)

Survivalinstinct

Earlyawarenessoftheunsafecoverofthesocialsecuritysystem

Facedwithdecreasedjobsecurity

Burdenedwithheavydebt

Measurestakentoprepareforthefuture

(8—24)

Savingforretirement

Hedgingagainsttheunexpected

Investinginstocks

Takingmorerisksontechnologystocks

Drawingmoreattentionfrominvestmentfirms

Showingmoreinterestinformingclubs

Money-firstworkethic

Morewillingtoworkhard,takemorejoboffers

Moreinterestedinstartinguptheirownbusinesses

Morepreoccupiedwithmoney-making

Xers'purchasingpower(25—26)

Xers'consumptionpattern

Reasonfortheconsumptionpattern

Lesson3

AnswerstotheQuestions

1.B2.A3.C4.B5.D

VI.

TheyfoundthoseKorean-Americansisolatedandhelpless,andrecognizedtheattacksasathreattoAsiansasawhole.FormanyAsian-Americans,theriotsrepresentedasanassaultontheirfaithinAmerica.

ThetotalpopulationofAsian-Americansisabout7.3million.Nearly2.5millionarrivedduringthe1980s.ThefastestincreasinggroupsareKoreansandVietnamese.AbouthalfofAsianimmigrantssettleonthePacificcoastwhilehundredsofthousandsmoveontoNewYorkanddozensofcitiesinbetween.

TheywerebroughttotheUnitedStatesinthe1860stoworkoncontinentalrailroadsascoolies.Theywereill-treatedandvilifiedasa“populationbefouledwithallthesocialvices”.In1887,thereoccurredtheSnakeRiverMassacreinOregon,inwhich31Chinesewererobbedandmurdered.

Asianfamiliesearnanaverageof$35,900peryear,morethantheaverageforwhitefamilies.However,astheAsianfamilyislarger,theirpercapitaincomeisactuallylessthanthatofwhitepeople.

Theyarecalledthe“modelminority”becauseoftheirsuperioritytootherracesinhabitsofstudyandwork.TheyaresaidtoembodytheAmericanDreamofhardwork,thriftandsuccess.Asians,however,rebelagainstthemodel-minoritylabelasanotherinsidiousstereotype.TheythinkthatitisasubtlyracistexcusenottohelpunderprivilegedAsiansandtoholdbackevenaverageAsiansonthegroundthattheyalreadyhave“natural”advantages.

6.BecausetheybelievethatAsian-Americanshaveacceptedthewhitemainstreamcultureandwhitepeoplelovethemforeverythingtheblacksarenot.

TheyaremakinggreateffortstopreserveandacquiretheAsianculturebyimprovingtheiroriginallanguageproficiency,attackingthemodelminorityimageandAsianswhoforgettheiroriginalculture.

ThemainobstaclesareskincolorandlackofEnglishproficiency.

TheIndo-Chinesegroupismostnotedforstreetgangactivities.Themaincauseisunemployment.

ThetieswithineachsmallAsiangrouparecloseandfamilyconnectionsarestrong.Akeylinkinthesystemisrotatingcreditassociation.However,manyAsianslackalargersenseofunityandbringancientrivalriesfromnativecountries.MostAsiansupportgroupsarebasedonnationalityorevensmallerunits.

Outline

ImpactoftheLosAngelesriots

(1—2)

Koreansufferingsandhelplessstate

AssaultonAsian-Americans'faithinAmerica

RacialbiasagainstAsian-Americans

(3—7)

Asianimmigrants'uglifiedimageinthepast

Presentmodel-minoritylabelanditsharmfuleffects

ResentmentagainstAsiansfortheirsuccessandbehavior

Asians'isolationfromtherestofthesociety

BoycottsandassaultsonAsianbusinesses

Americanculture'sinfluence

(8—⑵

FastincreaseofAsianimmigrantswishingtorealizetheAmericanDream

Secondgeneration'stendencytoabandonAsianvalues

Identitycrisisresultingfromtwocultures'pull

Youngpeople'seffortstopreservetheoriginalculture

Theleastassimilatedgroup:Chinatownresidents

DiscriminationagainstAsians

(13—17)

Hurdlesforassimilation

Glassceiling

Unemployment

SimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenAsiansandBlacks

(18—21)

Similarsufferings

Similarspiritualities

Asian-Americans'lessdifficultyinshruggingoffthelegacyofdiscrimination

First-generationAsianimmigrants'incrediblyhardworkingandthriftycharacter

Asians'tiesandpoliticalstatus

(22—24)

Closecommunityties

Lackofalargersenseofunity

Underrepresentationatallgovernmentlevels

Author'sviewconcerningthedevelopmentofAsians'sentiment

(25)Unlikelytobecomeawiderpoliticalmovement

Lesson4

AnswerstotheQuestions

V.1.C2.A3.A4.D5.C

VI.

TheauthorthinkssobecauseNewHampshireisapoliticallyactivestate.Fromtheinterplayofcandidatesandthepresstothefreneticenergyofcampaignvolunteers,nootherstateprovidesasmanyopportunitiestoseepoliticsinaction.

Theaimofthecoursewastoseeandlearnaboutasmanypoliticalcandidatesaspossibleandobservetheirrelationshipswithmediaandpotentialvoters.

Politicsandmediaareclearlyintertwinedinshapingthenationalpoliticalagenda.Whatmakestherelationshipevenmorecomplexisagreaterpublicvoiceutilizingvariousmeanstoengagecitizenparticipantsintheunfoldingstory.

Asthemultitudeofchannelsthatbombardusonadailybasisandinundatethemwithmessagesfromalldirections,theimpactofanysinglemessageisoftendiffusedasaudiencesselectivelytuneinandpayattentiontoonlycertainmessages.

Accordingtoearlydeterministictheories,mediawereall-powerfulandcapableofshapinghumanbehaviorinsignificantways.

Majorcorporations'controlofthemediahasthefollowingtwoimpacts.First,itunderscoresthefactthatmostmediaoutletsareprofit-generatingenterprisesandmaintainstockholders.Therefore,creatingnewscoveragethatcanenhanceratingsandincreaseviewershipisalwaysthefirstgoal.Furthermore,theseprofit-makinggoalsoftendirectlycontrastwiththerequirementsofresponsible,objectivejournalism.Asecondimpactisthelackofdiversity.Ascorporationownershipnarrows,powerliesinthehandsofafew,makingitdifficultfordiversevoicestobeheard.Thesemonopoliestendtocreateamainstreammentalitythatmakesitespeciallydifficultformarginalizedvoicestogainpublicity.

Thebloggersareoftencalled“theSixthEstate”becausetheyexertgreatinfluenceonpolitics.Theycanprovideanaddedleveloftransparencytotheprocessandtransformhowthepublicaccessandabsorbpoliticalnews.Throughcarefulfact-checking,scathingcritiques,anddialogue,thesewebjournalswrittenbyjournalists,professors,andaveragecitizensprovideanotherlayerofinfluenceastheyattempttoensurethatpoliticalclaimsaresubstantiatedandwell-developed.

Throughemailandwebsites,candidatescanoftenbypasstraditionalmediaanddirectlyinteractwiththepublicinanelectronicformofdirectmailthatisrelativelyinexpensiveandfarmoreexpedient.Candidatesandtheirsurrogatessenddailye-mailmessagestosupportersandpotentialvoters,keepingthemapprisedofcriticalmoments,popularitysurges,andtheneedtosendmoremoneytomaintainmomentum.Websitesgeneratearmiesofpoliticalsupporterswillingtogivemoneyandworklocallyfortheircandidates.Electronicbulletinboardskeepvotersinformedaboutcandidatesightingsandotherpoliticalevents.Thesetechnologicaldevelopmentsandcandidates'abilitytoembracethenewtechnologieswillhelpthepublictobecomemoreinterestedinelections.

Accordingtotheauthor,thevictoryposeofthetwoleadersillustratestherolevisualpowerhasinestablishingauthorityandcredibilityfortheincomingpresident.TheuncriticalcoverageofMedvedevangeredmanybloggersastheyattemptedtoidentifythecharacteristicsofMedvedevandhisrelationshipwithPutin,whilealsopointingoutthemeritsofotherpoliticalcandidates.

Kenya'sbloggingcommunityhasbeenplayingahighlyvibrantroleinthecountry'spolitics.Over60blogsitesdevotedspecificallytotheKenyanelectionprocessdiscusstheviolenceandunrestthathasresultedfromperceivedfraudulentactivities,involvingvotetabulationsthatputincumbentpresidentMwaiKabakibackinpower.Whenthegovernmentinstitutedamediablackout,blogswerecriticalinspreadingthelatestnews.Evenaftertheblackoutwaslifted,bloggerswerefasterandmoredetailedintheirreportingaboutthelatestclashesthanwereothernewssources.BlogsareattemptingtotellthestoryinwaysthatreflectthepainandstruggleoftheKenyanpeople.

Consideringthenewrealities,mediaoutletsmustfindmultiplewaystofeedconsumersandnewwaystomaintainviability.

Thepubliccanincreasetheirpoliticalliteracybybecomingmoreawareoftheseintegratedsystems.Theycanlearnhowtoanalyzethewayscandidatesshapemessagestoacquiremediaattentionandhowmediaoutletssupportmuchofthisshaping.

Outline

NewHampshireasanidealplaceforthestudyofU.S.politics

(1-2)

StrongprimaryelectionatmosphereinManchester,NewHampshire

NewHampshire'sbetterconditionsforthestudyofmedia,politicsandcitizenparticipation

a.ProvidingmoreopportunitiesfortheobservationofU.S.politicsinaction

b.Providinganearlyviewofsomethingprofoundhappening

Relationshipbetweenmedia,politicsandcitizenparticipation

(3-6)

Inextricablelinkbetweenpoliticsandmedia

InfluenceofcitizenparticipationthroughInternetsocialnetworksandbloggingsites

Changesinthewaysofmedia'sinfluenceonpolitics

Natureofmediainfluence

Mediaplurality'simpactonpolitics

(7-8)

Diffusionofmediamessages'impact

Difficultyingaugingmedia'sinfluenceonpolitics

Mediaownershipchangesandtheirimpacts

(9-10)

Majorcorporations'controlofthemedia

Impactsofmajorcorporations'control

a.Moreemphasisonprofits

b.Reductionofdiversityinviews

Technologicaldevelopmentanditsimpactsonpolitics

(11-12)

Interactivetechnologyandnewwayofcivicengagementinpolitics

Personalizationofelectronicmessagesbetweenthecandidateandpotentialvoters

Shiftinginfluencesinmediaandincreasedcitizens'politicalparticipationintheinternationalarena(13-17)

Politicians'learningwaystostagepoliticalinfluence

CaseofRussia'selection

a.Government'suseofthevictoryposeforpoliticalinfluence

b.Challengeposedbybloggers'reporting

Government'sconsiderationoflegislationtocontrolblogging

CaseofthePakistan'selection

a.Websites'reflectionofcitizens'angeroverU.S.involvement

b.Moreengagedcitizenry

CaseofKenya'selection

Bloggers'effortstoexposethefraudulentactivitiesintheelection

Internet'stremendouspotentialinshapingfuturecampaignandelections

Predictionabouttheevolutionofpolitics,mediaandcivilparticipationinthefuture(18-21)

Furtherdevelopmentofonlinenetworksandgrowthoftheirinfluence

Needforpoliticalliteracyandthewaytoincreaseliteracy

Positiveeffectofcreatingamorecivildiscourse

Politicians'continuoususeoftheartofpersuasion

Lesson5

AnswerstotheQuestions

V.1.B2.B3.B4.C5.D

VI.

BecausetheyregardFirstAmendmentfreedomasessentialAmericanrightsandwillnotallowanyrestrictiononit.

Becauseitholdstheviewthatthereformwillplacerestrictiononindividualrightsandthereforeshouldbefiercelyresisted.

Becausethesituationisnotthesameasbefore.Inthe1950s,McCarthyandhisinquisitorstrampledthefreeexpressionofleft-wingview;andsoforthenexttwodecadesorsoitwasessentialtodefendtheprincipleoffreespeechateveryopportunity.Nowthefreespeechisnotinjeopardy,itshouldnotberigidlydefended.

Mr.Neuborneholdsthatinmodernpoliticalcampaignrichcandidatesfloodvoterswithcommercialsandpropagandaofeverykind,sothatothershavenochanceofattractingattention.Poorcandidatesmayenjoytherighttospeak,butnotthehopethateveryonewillhearwhattheyhavetosay.Togivethemahearing,hesuggeststhatthespeechofrichcandidatesbelimited.

Theauthorsmeanthatthesituationnowisdifferentfromthatofthe1960s.Americansshouldnotabidebythesameprincipleinspiteofthechangeoftime.Inthe1960sheyday,theACLUwasabsolutelycorrectinupholdingcitizens'rightsagainstthepoliceandotherauthorities.ThiswasbecausetheydidnotreflecttheinterestsofAmerica'sblackminority.However,allthathasnowchanged:manypolicemen,andpolicechiefs,areblack,asaremanymayors.Iftheseleaders,reflectingthewishesoftheirconstituencies,choosetoadopttoughmeasurestofightcrime,theACLUshouldnotpresumetosecond-guessthem.It'stimetoadoptadifferentattitude.

TheACLU'srigiddefenceofrightsendsupfavoringthestrongmorethantheweak.

HethinksthatAmerica'sfreespeechhasaprice.ThoughAmericahasbeenoneofthefreestcountriesintheworld,itisoneofthoseinwhichthegapbetweentherichandpooristhestarkest.

Outline

Theburialofthecampaignfinancereformanditsimplications

(1)

Twosides'viewsonthereform

⑵

Opponents'view

Majority'sview

Americanpublic'squalifiedsupportforfreespeech

(3—5)

Firmbeliefinthefirstamendment

Strongsupportforthecampaignfinancereform

DeepsplitwithintheACLUoverthecampaignfinance

CriticismoftheACLU'srigiddefenceofrights

(6—11)

BurtNeuborne'sviewontheACLU'slineoncampaignspending

TraceyMearesandDanKahan'scriticismoftheACLU'sotherissues

Authofscomment

(12)Libertyhasaprice.

Lesson6

AnswerstotheQuestions

1.D2.C3.D4.D5.B

VI.

ItindicatesthatMicrosoftcorp.hastightcontroloverthesoftwarebusiness.

Thepresenthoneymoonwillnotlastlong.Theindustrydoesnotspeakwithonevoice.Atthesametime,theirsuccesshasgreatlydamagedtheinterestsofotherindustries.Sotherewillbetroublesahead.Besidesthis,there'salsopotentialforahugecultureclash.AlotofSiliconValleytypesdon'trealizetheimportanceofpoliticsandhavedisdainforgovernment.

PresidentClintonpromisedtokeeptheInternettax-freefornowandHewlettPackardCo.wonapprovaltoexportsophisticatedcryptographychips.The1986semiconductortradeagreementwassignedtostopthedumpingofJapanesechipsintheUSandsetmarket-sharegoalsforUSchipsinJapan.

Theindustrybelievesthatgovernmentshoulddowhatitneedstodobutleavethemalone.Thesoftwaretycoonshavelittlepatienceforbureaucraticoversightandtendtobeuncompromising.Thehardwaretycoonsarewillingtolookforcompromise.

Theyare:easingimmigrationrestriction;securities-litigationreformandendingexportlimitofencryptiontechnology.

TheInternetandelectroniccommercehavebeenrearrangingthebusinesslandscape一changinghowAmericansbuyeverything.Theyarespreadingintoallsortsofdigitalservices,fromentertainmenttoonlinebankingtotelephony.

Becausehigh-techleadershaverealizedthattheindustry'sfutureislessabouttechnologyandmoreaboutpolicy.

Outline

ClosecontactbetweenhightechindustryandWashingtonpoliticians

(1—2)

Specificexample:BillGatesandScottG.McNealy'sattendanceattheMarch3hearingoftheSenateJudiciaryCommittee

IncreasingcontactbetweenhightechindustryandWashingtonpolicymakers

Reasonsforthecloserelationship

(3—6)

Hightechindustry'sfastexpansionandtheappearanceofmoreissues

Politicians'stronginterestinthejobgrowthindustry

Increasingconflictsbetweenhightechindustryandotherindustries

Hightechindustry'surgentneedforsolutiontomanyproblems

Relationshipbetweenhightechindustryandgovernment

(7—11)

Goodrelationshipatpresent

Difficultiesinmaintainingthehoneymoon

Needforhightechnewexecutivestolearnlobbying

Effortsmadebyhightechcompaniesatlobbying

(12—14)

Computercompanies'fightforahigh-definitionTVformat

TheestablishmentofWashingtonoffices

CrusadetofightallegedJapanesedumpingofcomputerchips

Problemswiththehightechindustry

(15—16)

Lackofunity

Littlepatienceforbureaucraticoversight

Objectivesofthehightechexecutives

(17—18)

Easingimmigrationrestrictionandsecuritieslitigationreform

Endinglimitontheexportencryptiontechnology

Prospects

(19)HightechexecutiveswillquicklylearnhowtoplaytheWashingtonpoliticalgame

Lesson7

AnswerstotheQuestions

V1.A2.D3.D4.A5.D

VI.

TheU.S.facesaviolentcontradictionbetweenitslongrepublicantraditionanditsmorerecentimperialambitions.Thecontradictionwillberesolvedinoneoftwoways.Romeattemptedtokeepitsempireandlostitsdemocracy.Britainchosetoremaindemocraticandintheprocessletgoitsempire.TheU.S.iswellembarkedonthecourseofnon-democraticempire.

DuringtheDepressionthatprecededWWII,theEnglisheconomistJohnKeynes,aliberalcapitalist,proposedaformofgovernancethatwouldmitigatetheboom-and-bustcyclesinherentincapitalisteconomies.Topreventtheeconomyfromcontracting,Keynessuggestedthatthegovernmentshouldtakeondebtinordertoputpeoplebacktowork.Hewasnotaversetocreatingmake-worktasksifnecessary.Duringperiodsofprosperity,thegovernmentwouldcutspendingandrebuildthetreasury.

Upontakingofficein1933,FranklinRooseveltputseveralKeynesianmeasuresintoeffect,includingsocializedretirementplans,minimumwagesforallworkers,andgovernment-financedjobsonmassiveprojects,includingtheTriboroughBridgeinNewYorkCity,theGrandCouleeDaminWashington,andtheTennesseeValleyAuthority,aflood-controlandelectric-power-generationcomplexcoveringsevenstates.

Between1940and1996,theU.S.spentnearly$4.5trilliononthedevelopment,testing,andconstructionofnuclearweapons.By1967,theU.S.possessedsome32,000deliverablebombs.Noneofthemwaseverused.TheauthorbelievesthatthisillustratesperfectlyKeynes'sobservationthatinordertocreatejobs,thegovernmentmightaswelldecidetoburymoneyinoldminesand“l(fā)eavethemtoprivateenterpriseonthewell-triedprinciplesoflaissezfairetodigthemupagain."HisviewisthatthosenuclearbombswerenotjustAmerica'ssecretweaponbutalsoasecreteconomicweaponbecausesuchspendinghelpedcreateeconomicgrowth.

WhenevaluatingtherealweightofmilitaryKeynesianismintheAmericaneconomytoday,onemustapproachofficialdefensestatisticswithgreatcare.The“defense"budgetdoesnotinclude:theDepartmentofEnergy'sspendingonnuclearweapons,theDepartmentofHomelandSecurity'soutlaysfortheactual“defense"oftheUS,theDepartmentofVeteransAffairs'responsibilitiesforthelifetimecareoftheseriouslywoundedorthebillionsofdollarstheDepartmentofStatespendseachyeartofinanceforeignarmssalesandmilitarilyrelateddevelopmentorpaymentsofpensionstomilitaryretireesandwidowsandtheirfamilies.StilltobeaddedareinterestpaymentsbytheTreasurytocoverpastdebt-financeddefenseoutlays.

Bytheterm“feedbackloop”,theauthormeansthatAmericanpresidentsknowthatmilitaryKeynesianismtendstoconcentratepowerintheexecutivebranch,andsopresidentswhoseekgreaterpowerhaveanaturalinducementtoencouragefurthergrowthofthemilitary-industrialcomplex.Sothephenomenafeedoneachother,basednotonthedemandfordefensebutratherontheavailablesupplyofmoney.

Inpursuitofmorepower,BushandCheneyhaveunilaterallyauthorizedpreventivewaragainstnationstheydesignateasneeding“regimechange”,directedAmericansolderstotorturepersonstheyhaveseizedandimprisonedinvariouscountries,orderedtheNationalSecurityAgencytocarryoutillegal“datamining”surveillanceoftheAmericanpeople,anddoneeverythingtheycouldtopreventCongressfromoutlawing“cruel,inhumane,ordegrading”treatmentofpeopledetainedbytheUS.

TheWarPowerActrequiresthatthepresidentobtaincongressionalapprovalwithin90daysoforderingtroopsintocombat.No,nopresidenthaseveracknowledgedthelegitimacyoftheWarPowersAct,andtheseso-calledlimitationsonpresidentialpowershadbeengutted,ignoredlongbeforeCheneybecameVicePresident.

AccordingtoJohnYoo,inpeacetime,Congressenactslaws,thePresidentenforcesthem,andthecourtsinterpretthem.Butinwartime,thegravityshiftstotheexecutivebranch.

No,thejudicialisnoteffectiveinrestrainingpresidentialambition.TheSupremeCourtwasactiveintheinstallationofthecurrentpresident,andthelowercourtsincreasinglyarepackedwithjudgeswhobelievetheyshoulddefertohiswishes.

Accordingtotheauthor,economicbankruptcywouldmeanadrasticloweringofthecurrentAmericanstandardofliving,alossofcontroloverinternationalaffairs,aprocessofadjustingtotheriseofotherpowers.

Outline

Keyjudgements

(1-3)

Contradictionbetweentherepublicantraditionandimperialambitions

Unsustainableconflictbetweentherepublicantraditionandimperialambnitions

Economicandpoliticalcollapseasthemostlikelyending

II.GrowthofmilitaryKeynesianism

(4-8)

America'shegemonicpolicyastheinevitableresult