American Exceptionalism, Today, Tomorrow, Forever

As you might well imagine, we here at Chrome Asylum are pretty fond of the good old U.S. of A.; from cheeseburgers to Harley's, Bay Watch to the second amendment and a bunch of other cool stuff in between, we think America's about the best thing that's happened to this big blue sphere in the last 240 or so years. Period. It's just that obvious, right..........

But no, it seems every damn week (since old K Marx was knee high to the proletariat that is.....go ahead, look it up) we find ourselves subjected to the nihilistic musings of some effete, concave chested, couldn't hold on to his lunch money in grade school, left leaning, ivy school "credentialed" puke, fairly bursting with the "news" that America is slipping........that the long global nightmare of U.S. political, industrial and social leadership is over. A new world order is in the making!..........sorry, I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth.

Armed with uncontained contempt for the great unwashed (that would be you and I my friend, and anyone else without a Che t-shirt and an RSS feed to the Huff Post), these nitwits assail their hapless readers with endless "facts" to back their idiotic assertions. Allow me only to highlight, subjecting you to a more detailed analysis would only serve to make your eyes bleed.

Most "America is soon to be toast" articles start with some sort of quantitative analysis; stuff like number of patents issued, steel exports, super-computers, student test scores, number of political prisoners murdered (oops, my bad on that last one), etc. The premise being, if the U.S. is lagging in terms of these key "indicators" (which amazingly enough it always is.....can you say "stacked deck?") then naturally America is falling behind, which of course means China and India, are leaping ahead to fulfill their rightful role as global leaders. Yeah sure.

First off, as is so often the case with the "best and the brightest" (you know, the very same folks that brought you the financial melt-down, the housing bubble, green jobs, reckless government spending, and endless "bail-outs"......etc.,etc., etc.) and their manic obsession with "the numbers", their analysis totally misses the mark. Unfortunately, vomiting endless streams of data, facts and figures (no matter how tortured the underlying "analysis"), while comforting to those not gifted with the slightest modicum of common sense, rarely leads to insightful conclusions.

In short, these over educated bozo's mistake the manipulation of data (this might be a good point to start chanting "correlation is not causation".....there could be a test), for true wisdom and insight. How do I know this, you mean other than the fact that they completely miss the central point of their own arguments? Easy, American exceptionalism has absolutely nothing to do with economic metrics. It's far simpler than that, which is precisely why the smarties never quite get it.

Here's the deal, simply put America's singular greatness rests entirely on the U.S.'s fundamental underpinnings of individual liberty and the rule of law. The primacy of the individual, and not the state, along with the guarantee of those rights by the constitution is the real engine of the economic miracle that is the United States of America. Without individual liberty; creativity, innovation, and invention are all but impossible. America's "source" of exceptionalism is therefore almost limitless........alas, the same cannot be said of either China or India.

Putting aside for a moment the fact that both China and India have enormous populations, a fact that is sure to be a source of much grief in the not so very distant future (that's a lot of folks that are gonna wake up one day demanding big screens, Lucky jeans, a decent wage and free speech......yikes), how does each country stack up in terms of solid economic/political foundations? Sadly not well at all..........sorry Ameri-haters.

Let's start with China, the world's source of all things cheap, home of the lowest bidder, from steel to Mardi Gras beads, if it can be made for next to nothing, China's slave labor work force will grind it out. Too harsh? You tell me. China's communist; yes I said communist, (lest you forget........these are basically the same folks that brought you the Cultural Revolution, only tens of millions killed in that little social experiment) form of government is a completely morally bankrupt, corrupt, brutal dictatorship.

The average Chinese citizen has no basic human rights as we in the west would recognize them. Freedom of speech? Please. Rule of law? You have to be joking. Freedom of the press? Of course, as long as you're towing the party line......."don't make us turn off the Internet", again. Oh, and how about the right to peaceful assembly and protest? Guess we could ask that student that stood up to the battle tank in Tianamen Square...........if he's still alive. The fact is, China's people live under a brutal totalitarian regime, and if current events have shown us anything, it seems that the relentless tide of human liberty is a bitch..........if you're one of the unfortunates propping up the ruling junta that is. China's days are numbered.......

But what about the Chinese economic "miracle"? Forgetting just for a moment the toll that "miracle" has taken on the very people it should actually be lifting up, most of it is just smoke and mirrors that is eventually doomed to the landfill (biodegradable one only hopes) of history. The currency and capital market is manipulated beyond reality, while stupidly restrictive domestic  tariffs ensure that China doesn't have to compete with the rest of the world. Worse yet, most of China's technical and industrial "innovation" is the result of outright theft of intellectual property and corporate espionage.....encouraged by the government no less!! Remember that whole rule of law thing?

Lastly, of the 1.4 billion or so Chinese, a staggering 650 million live in abject poverty, on less than $5 a day, with little or no hope of changing their current situation. This is not a recipe for long term stability, you can only build so many dams, "ghost cities", and the like before the string runs out on the scam. For almost half the population, there has been no "economic miracle", and worse yet, they know it. China is a house of cards, plain and simple, and in the long run, at least in it's present form, is doomed to failure.

Same holds true for India, but for different reasons...........while it's true that India is a "democracy", the world's biggest don't ya know.........always an impressive stat for our pointy headed ivy leaguers, it suffers from the iron grip of an ancient caste system. They don't like to acknowledge it, but it's there, and in full force as a major roadblock to upward mobility. And let's not forget the almost complete lack of infrastructure virtually everywhere but major population centers (this is equally true for the Peoples Republic.......the delicious irony of that moniker), and the iron grip of grinding poverty that is the luckless fate of most Indian's. Throw in religious unrest, sectarian violence, a neighbor (Pakistan) that would like nothing better than a flimsy excuse to lob over a few nukes, and the prospects for the blossoming of individual liberty and long term economic growth is shaky at best.

Here's the deal, are India and China enjoying massive economic growth? Yes they are, without doubt. But that's not the point. The point is, when arguing that the U.S.'s economy and world influence is in decline, while China and India elbow each other for bragging rights to the top rung of the ladder, the chattering classes miss the fundamental flaw in their analysis. China and India are not free countries, at least not in terms of guaranteeing individual liberty to their citizens so that they can pursue their destiny as they see fit. Whether it's ancient custom or a brutal regime, the good and decent people of these countries are not free to maximise their individual potentials, which in turn limits the ultimate achievement of their respective economic systems.

No question, the U.S. is facing daunting economic, political and social challenges, many of which, if left unresolved could have far reaching consequences.........but we face them as a free people, working within the construct of a system designed to ensure that very freedom. That's an inherent advantage not easily overcome..........and as long as we adhere to our founding principles and ideals, we will continue to be the worlds leader and shining light for all those people that strive for individual liberty. There's never been another nation on earth like the United States, and had that lucky coincidence not occurred, had there been no U.S. of A., I can pretty much guarantee that the world we occupy now would be a much darker place..........

OK, off my box, rant over.........and for those of you that expected the normal dose of motorcycle news, riding tips, Harley-Davidson riding reviews, and cool customs, I apologize.........we'll get back on track, as a matter of fact, we've got another "Sturgis or Die" posting teed up and ready to go, as well as some product reviews.

Marisa Steps Out On The Boys In Milwaukee!

Shocked, that's all I can say, completely shocked.......in a slack jawed, "WTF", Charlie Sheen's been arrested again!? kind of way. But there it was, as big and bold as an Enzyte commercial.........my girl, Harley's girl, cavorting with the Captain, making it with Marc, and practicing her True Religion, the horror! And there were others, many others......but I just couldn't bring myself  to look. Apparently dear Ms. Marisa possesses all the loyalty of a Washington lobbyist at a DC fundraiser.........hussy!!

You'd never find Progressive's "Flo" shilling for Budweiser, and I'm pretty sure that obnoxious kid that pimps E-Trade (yeah, cute my a$$, he's wolf in a Huggies suit........don't fall for it) won't be touting the virtues of Cialis anytime soon. And do you know why? It wouldn't work, that's why, it's Marketing 101 Sparky. Folks would say, "hey isn't that the (fill in the blank) from the blah, blah ad?"....then get confused, and blow the whole thing off. Not a good return on ones ad dollars.

Look, we all know we're way too cool to be influenced by any "spokesperson", no matter how persuasive or how hot. At least that's what we say, in survey after survey and study after study. So the gimmick never works right? Well, not so fast. There's a big difference between what folks say, and what they actually think or do.........come on, tell me the focus group for the Pontiac Aztec wasn't having a huge laugh at GM's expense. Really, look it up. The fact is we are influenced by certain individuals, who we deem for whatever reason; past accomplishments, looks, humor, whatever, to be credible with regard to what they're pitching. The key is credibility.........without it, the strategy is toast; maintain it, and you just might have an ad campaign that moves the goods.

This is America after all, folks should expect to get paid for their efforts. No crime, it's the foundation of who we are, and we don't mind if our spokespeeps are on the corporate dole.....we've all got bills to pay. What we don't like is to be too up front about it.......don't make it obvious that you're throwing it around "just for the money"; that we're not too thrilled about. I mean really, when it comes to our sweet Marisa.....don't we just want her all to ourselves? No sharing pal...........not gonna happen.

Not only do we value credibility and loyalty, we're lazy too. When we see someones mug in an ad, on TV, or in a magazine pimping one product or another, and then we see the same person in yet another ad hawking a completely different brand.......we get have to stop and think, we get confused........and then we blow it off and watch Sports Center. Ad campaign effectiveness? Zero.

Here's what your humble fellow Chromie would have advised the good lads in Milwaukee; "EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT". There, pretty basic, you find the person the fits the bill, sign her up, and put the creative crew to work. Get her visage in print, on the web, and most importantly out among customers......but only your customers! I'll grant the Harley folks, Marisa's one fine example of Amazonian spokesgoddess, but I think the fact that she "stepped out" (before or after signing with Harley Davidson, it doesn't matter) on the Motor Company ultimately diminishes her impact. Better to have gotten an unknown with the same, ah, "qualities" that would for all time (or at least the run of the contract) be associated with Milwaukee iron, and only Milwaukee iron. Harley's the star here, not the talent.

But that's just me, and to be honest, it's not all bad. Think about it, some Motor Company execs got to schmooze a supermodel (a great gig now matter how you get it), ad agencies made their fat fees, and some guy's got signed posters and pics at Sturgis......But maybe, just maybe, when HD had an opportunity to really be "genuine", really original, they chose a cliche' instead. Better luck next time..........

Sarah's My Homegirl

I love "Sarah Palin's Alaska".............there I said it, get over it, move on. I read that its debut was seen by over five million viewers (some even had college educations analysts say, though none thankfully were ivy league), a record for cable, and it's expected to be a major boost to Alaskan tourism. Whatever. Stunning mountain ranges, pristine waterfalls, float planes, and wildlife......this show's got it all. Or so I've been told.............I haven't noticed. You see, Sarah's my homegirl.

 It started at the RNC in 2008 and it's been growing faster than the Obama fueled national debt........my love affair with Mrs. P. Watching that speech I couldn't help but be reminded of that other uber sex symbol of  all things "right"..........Ronald Reagan. The wit, the warmth, the humor, the hair..........it was all right there. OK, maybe she wasn't quite as sexy as the Gipper; but her ability to propel the loonie left, especially their lapdogs in the shamestream media, into fits of apoplectic, spittle producing tantrums, sealed the deal for me. Or maybe it was the photo of my lovely Sarah cradling an AR-15 like she'd been there before..........ah, no matter. My heart was hers.

Oh, I know. She's stupid. After all, haven't the "best and the brightest" from Harvard to Wall Street, to PBS, been beating on that bongo from day one? The same "best and brightest" we might want to remember, responsible for the mortgage meltdown, the financial meltdown, the auto industry takeover, titanically idiotic levels of debit, and my favorite "health care" (whatever the hell that means). Let's ponder for a moment the "she's stupid" argument.........one, I'm ashamed to admit is not limited to the nitwits on the left, a few of my pals on the right that should know better have slammed my girl too. Proving yet again that elitism and sycophantic snobbery is an equal opportunity parlor game.

Stupid. OK. Let's see. Born into an average family, father's a teacher of all things. No wealth or privilege........sorry Kennedy's, no trust fund to be found anywhere. She's an average student, and an above average athlete......basketball I'm told, no cheer leading cliche's here. Damn.

Sarah goes of to college, alright, a couple of colleges if you must know. Unfortunately none of these institutions were of the ivy variety......horrors! You know the rest, marriage, kids, mayor of a small Alaskan town, Governor of the state (I know, Alaska's not a "real" state, so being Governor hardly counts). I could be wrong here, but does this seem the  life trajectory of a moron? As a matter of fact, I would submit that had this resume been that of anyone BUT Sarah Palin it would have been hailed as the American success story of the century.

Doesn't Sarah's success as a mom, small business person, and politician stand as confirmation of the ideals of the woman's movement in particular, and civil rights in general? So why the hate? I'll tell you why (aside from her unforgivable sin of not claiming Pro Choice status), the simple fact is the left has no equivalent narrative.

They have no self-made woman, no true American success stories of their own.........think about it for a minute. Nancy Pelosi, married a powerful man. Dianne Feinstein, married a powerful man. Barbara Boxer, married a powerful man. Hillary Clinton...........well, you get the idea. Seems like behind every darling Dem is.........egad, a man! More to the point, a man with a bankroll. Not exactly a vision of female empowerment.

Is Sarah Palin smart? Was Ronald Reagan smart? What is smart? Unfortunately, that's a question best left to.............ah, smart people I suppose. But what I can say is that Sarah Palin is real, she's authentic and the American people get that. She has a vision that the average person can relate to, and she can articulate that vision with a clarity not seen since..........well, since Reagan. The more the left tries to demonize and trivialize her, the more powerful she becomes. Sarah Palin is "stupid" because liberals are scared spitless, and they have no counter for her force of character.

Sarah's my homegirl not because she'd be the hottest leader in the free world, or that she loves guns and the outdoors (can you see her on a Harley.......oh mama!), or that she could kick the living crap out of any of her left leaning, concave chested, girlie-men detractors. No, Sarah's my homegirl because she's regular folks............and it's regular folks that made this country great. And that ain't stupid........