[RPKESQ]

I will attempt to increase the understanding of the situation before, during and after WWII. To more look closer at this problem let us sharply define our period of interest, let’s say from 1937 to 1950. For America pre-war will be 1937 to almost the very end of 1941, the war years were 1942 to August 1945, and the post war years 1946 to 1950.

America Pre-war, The vast majority of Americans did not want to be involved with world politics. We did not really care about the Japanese and their war of aggression in China. Our greatest hero, Charles Lindbergh, was the anti-semetic spokesman for the American First (Isolationist) Party. We were not interested in Germany, the Jews or England’s survival. We wanted to keep America out of the war at all costs. Europe’s interests did not coincide with our own interests. We were just barely recovering from the worst depression our County had ever seen.

America during the War Years, Contrarily to popular belief, there still was dissension within America. Although now the vast majority of Americans were pro-war, most of them were pro-war against the Japanese not the Germans. When asked why they enlisted after Pearl Harbor over 97% declared they did it to fight the Japanese and to avenge Pearl Harbor. Few had any concern for the war in Europe. After a unprecedented propaganda champagne, with a lot of political infighting mixed with some military thinking, America came up with the idea to first fight Germany and then Japan (in priority). Rationing was wildly hated and like income taxes, cheating was common place. The community spriit that America exhibited depended on the hatred fostered towards our enimies, not from some inherent good we had. To prevent any major disruption with our war effort, America suspended our Constitution. So for the duration, a US citizen had no constitutional rights. Industry prospered, with millions made in manufacturing. America suffered very little during the war compared to our allies and other countries. Our interest in Europe grew to dominate our political thinking for the first time in our history.

Post-War, America is the strongest superpower, both militarily and economically. After the war ended we rapidly reversed any and all wartime restrictions and thinking. We ended the war richer, the only global power and with intact high technology production capacity. We wasted no time in helping our allies (most notable exception: England) and our conquered foes in rebuilding and development. We ran the world according to our designs, with the only two sore spots being the USSR and Communist China. Our thoughts were turned inward again, building the “American Dream”. This fantasy concept did not exist before the end of the war. By 1950 it is clear that we will not be alone in the world superpower arena and we increasingly become more polarized in the internal and external political debates. This was the end of the any cooperation between the political parties in the US for the common good. From now on it was partisan politics on an increasing scale. Also the rise of religion in American politics grew at a rate unknown in the previous 150+ years. References to god were incorporated in money, the pledge of allegiance, in court houses, city halls, etc. The new battle against the rise of communism was defined by religion and freedom (two of histories most strange bedfellows).

America has no more of a history of being able and willing to stand united than many other countries and less than some. The true abilities of any country lie in its leaders or lack thereof. The successes of the past in times of crisis are really due to the leaders that emerged. The population is swayed only by emotion and can be lead in good or bad directions like an obedient cow. Leadership is what counts the most. Until America produces a leader in the vein of Roosevelt or Churchill, we will flounder. As we are doing on the world stage over and over again. Short term unifications (like after 9/11) are thrown away and wasted by poor leadership. We sure need to do better!

No, its not all doom and gloom, but it is pretty sad in many respects today.