Head in the sand

No I am not going to launch into a tirade about the ostrich-like west, America in particular, and the political, intelligence and preparedness failures with regards to the decade-long (or longer) war against us by terrorists of all stripes (not just Wahabi fascists.)

Rather I am asking the rhetorical question "where have the great thinkers gone when it comes to the economic war being waged on North America?"

Consecutive corpulent, sleeping legislative and executive branches of the US government have not only not risen to the challenge, they have studiously ignored it.

Now Chrysler, GM and Ford stand on the brink of collapse and if they collapse, look out. The mayhem will sweep across the continent, sparing few businesses associated with Motor City's big three.

It is never too late to respond but indeed it is very late and the UAW and CAW have to play a central part in the strategy of dealing with the "Asian" (originally just Japanese) economic threat. But will they? No sign of it yet. Their leaders are as much to blame as the clueless corporate royalty steering the Big Three towards the economic rocks as the politicians who deny, drift and dream.

Now the threat has expanded to the massive Peoples Republic of China (and their aggressive policies both economically, politically and militarily). Will the 21st century belong to Communist China? That is their design. It is effectively a "war economy" incorporating the most aggressive aspects of Communism and viral capitalism.

Sensible Asian economic experts and corporate types should recognize serious damage to the North American economy will kill the golden goose and their fat US-Canadian market may wither. Where would that leave them then? We can "do business" with Japan, South Korea et al but are the Chinese interested in economic detente or an economic scorched earth policy? (The answer is in the January satellite killer test.)

Traditionally the west has not responded until it is very late in the game and this long decline cannot be turned around overnight. A strategy cannot even begin to address the problem until the problem is acknowledged.

Until the "sleeping giant" of the American voters is awakened - likely by a single presidential candidate - nothing constructive can be done re: the protectionist trading practices of the Asian countries. With the distraction of foreign intrigue, terrorism and war, can any candidate (or party) bring a focus to the economic threat to the US?

The failed presidency of George W. Bush should have shown the US that a full campaign coffer and heavyweight lobbyist friends cannot replace ideas or policies and a proactive policy-driven President (and Congress) is what the country needs. But without campaign finance reform and without a voter-driven debate on economic policy the drift and decline will accelerate.

Can Rudy Giuliani be the populist solution to the challenges ahead? Does he acknowledge there is a challenge? Does anyone on the political scene other than CNN's Lou Dobbs and a few right-populist media commentators recognize the peril we face?