What do you think?
Rate this book
Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?
America is disintegrating. The "one Nation under God, indivisible" of the Pledge of Allegiance is passing away. In a few decades, that America will be gone forever. In its place will arise a country unrecognizable to our parents. This is the thrust of Pat Buchanan's Suicide of a Superpower , his most controversial and thought-provoking book to date. Buchanan traces the disintegration to three historic America's loss of her cradle faith, Christianity; the moral, social, and cultural collapse that have followed from that loss; and the slow death of the people who created and ruled the nation. And as our nation disintegrates, our government is failing in its fundamental duties, unable to defend our borders, balance our budgets, or win our wars. How Americans are killing the country they profess to love, and the fate that awaits us if we do not turn around, is what Suicide of a Superpower is all about.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2011
138 people are currently reading
1342 people want to read
About the author
Patrick J. Buchanan
22 books396 followersOne of America's best known paleoconservatives, Buchanan served as a senior advisor to Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. He ran for president in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Buchanan is an isolationist on the subject of American foreign policy and believes in a restrictive immigration policy.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
September 6, 2012
I think this one is going to keep that five-star rating to the very end. America needs to wake up and listen to Mr. Buchanan. Unfortunately, that would mean stopping immigration for a while. But the more difficult task is that we need to declare ourselves a Christian nation again and re-think our "tolerance" and multinationalism. Mr. Buchanan speaks from good common sense - a nation is built (and remains strong) when it shares common religion, culture, and morals. When a nation embraces diversity and multiculturalism, then you are seeing the beginning of the end. The problem is that his thinking is not politically correct. But be forewarened, Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers of America, your political correctness is letahl. When that day comes, the rest of us will try not to say "I told you so".
December 15, 2011
I admire Buchanan much more now, after having read this book. I've read a couple of his books, but he's never exhibited the kind of Christian wisdom he showed in this book. He recognizes the spiritual decline in America is responsible for the cultural and political decline we are experiencing now.
He takes direct aim at multiculturalists in this book, with even greater precision and force than in "Day of Reckoning." He argues that the flood of third-world immigration into the Western nations is one of the greatest forces for destruction in the modern world. Of course, the doors were only opened to such peoples through the policies of their governments.
The race conflicts that have resulted have wrought amazing damage to the West, and undermined the values the West cherished in becoming ascendant. Many will charge Buchanan with racism, but the careful reader will realize that Buchanan sees these forces at work in every culture and every nation on earth. Diversity cannot possibly be a source of strength, as everywhere there is diversity, there is conflict. Perhaps the most insightful argument he makes is demonstrating that God confused the people at Babel by diversifying their language. If diversity is a weapon of God's judgment--how can it be a source of strength for any culture?
Beyond multiculturalism, Buchanan shows how our military is overstretched and our foreign policy is insolvent--meaning that should an unforeseen catastrophe arise, our military would be exposed as incapable of fighting on another front. He shows how the government debts in the West have weakened and further threaten the stability and ambitions of each nation.
The book has flaws, and I'm still unpersuaded by his arguments against free trade, but this is an excellent book and very accessible for a wide audience. It is remarkably depressing, but a realistic look at the state of the West.
He takes direct aim at multiculturalists in this book, with even greater precision and force than in "Day of Reckoning." He argues that the flood of third-world immigration into the Western nations is one of the greatest forces for destruction in the modern world. Of course, the doors were only opened to such peoples through the policies of their governments.
The race conflicts that have resulted have wrought amazing damage to the West, and undermined the values the West cherished in becoming ascendant. Many will charge Buchanan with racism, but the careful reader will realize that Buchanan sees these forces at work in every culture and every nation on earth. Diversity cannot possibly be a source of strength, as everywhere there is diversity, there is conflict. Perhaps the most insightful argument he makes is demonstrating that God confused the people at Babel by diversifying their language. If diversity is a weapon of God's judgment--how can it be a source of strength for any culture?
Beyond multiculturalism, Buchanan shows how our military is overstretched and our foreign policy is insolvent--meaning that should an unforeseen catastrophe arise, our military would be exposed as incapable of fighting on another front. He shows how the government debts in the West have weakened and further threaten the stability and ambitions of each nation.
The book has flaws, and I'm still unpersuaded by his arguments against free trade, but this is an excellent book and very accessible for a wide audience. It is remarkably depressing, but a realistic look at the state of the West.
November 2, 2011
Lacking the humor of Mark Steyn's "After America", this title has the subtlety of a kick in the teeth. Once upon a time we lived by "common sense" but that was replaced by political correctness, moral equivalency and the fantastical pursuit of an egalatarian utopia. Truthfully, turning away from this new reality in my opinion is an even greater fantasy. It's not going to happen. Buchanan eloquently explains how we've gotten to this point and where it's leading us. He offers suggestions on how to turn things around but I have little hope of that happening. His tendency to lead the reader back to the republican party was one complaint I had. That party and the democrats are bereft of leadership and legitmacy. He also touches on race issues that can make you squirm a bit but at the same time why can't someone have a sense of pride or protectiveness of their own race without being labeled a racist?
October 15, 2011
Pat, Pat, Pat... I worked for Pat in 1992 and will always remember him as a nice, funny, and ridiculously smart person. In his defense, and to his discredit, he has not changed at all. This book should have been subtitled, "How the country I grew up in was ruined by all of these brown people." While Pat is a great writer and therefore fun to read, he offers nothing new in this book. Day of Reckoning, State of Emergency, and now Suicide. I suppose the next book will be called, "I am not kidding, guys, we're totally screwed." Sigh.
January 13, 2012
I read yesterday that MSNBC is considering banishing Buchanan, again, for publishing this book. Interesting tactic for a "news" outlet. The idea that certain ideas "approved" by the left cannot be suppressed, while other, disfavored ideas, cannot be permitted, is one of the points Buchanan quite eloquently makes in this exhaustively researched and exceedingly well written tome.
January 14, 2012
America is losing its status as a superpower. National debt as a percent of gross domestic product is increasing, the federal payroll is growing larger, more people are receiving handouts, the religious and moral values of the country are being lost, and the Democratic party is buying votes to stay in power with its giveaway programs. Even if you don't agree with the aauthor, this work should give you food for thought.
September 6, 2025
Written in 2012, building off his book Death of the West written in 2003, I believe, this book was quite prophetic. Pat Buchanan was right about a lot of things. Whether you agree with them or not, it would be nice if our presidential candidates were actually students of history and they both read and wrote books. Feels like those days are long gone. Had we voted differently at pivotal moments in recent history — between presidential candidates like Ron Paul and Pat Buchanan — the trajectory of our declining empire might have been dramatically altered.
November 6, 2021
Very prophetic book by one of the greatest presidents we never had
September 28, 2025
Vaguely racist.
November 6, 2011
This is Pat Buchanan's eloquent call to arms and guidebook on how to save this country as she is in death's grasp. Every white person needs to read this book and understand that they are being exterminated through low birth rates and mass immigration, how our financial woes came to be and the idiocy of our public "leaders". Pat Buchanan is easily the most brilliant mind in America today. The Republican party also needs to wake up and listen to him, as they are currently defunct thanks to their ridiculous catering to illegals. I am one of those conservatives who didn't vote for McCain because of his amnesty agenda and his smugness about it. I voted third party and will continue to do so until a candidate puts me, my country and my people first. Pat clearly outlines all the ways modern government went wrong, what the fathers of this country actually believed and how we can still take our country back if we just get up off the couch and care enough about ourselves instead of being brainwashed by the ethnomasochists & sushiologists. (great words!) ;) America first and America for Americans!
May 24, 2012
As expected, this was a hate-filled diatribe by the person who pushed my spouse out of the Republican party via his culture war speech at the 1992 Republican convention. Buchanan's attempts to use statistics to support his views are entertaining. His view tends to remind one of immigrant whites trying to hold onto large black-majority African nations (such as South Africa) in the 20th century.
February 1, 2012
I can't say I agreed with a lot of what Pat Buchanan offered, but I did like the fact that he's a man of his beliefs, and states his case clearly and without apology. The theme I get from reading the book is that he really misses the good old days when "his" America was a society of white, Christian men, and he laments the fact that the Country is evolving toward a more secular, multi-ethnic society.
It quickly becomes clear that Pat Buchanan isn't for affirmative action in this Country, and tells you why. And he certainly isn't for free markets, and he tells you why. And he certainly isn't for immigration, and he tells you why.
In Buchanan's view, the more ethnically and religously similar a society is, the better off that society is. He makes the point that treating all "equally", in the Jeffersonian sense of "all men are created equal", is both impossible and wrong. To treat all equally, he explains, means a loss of liberty for society.
Buchanan ends with some recommendations for the Country, including ending free markets and imposing tariffs on foreign goods. Free market economists of today will explain in detail why those tariffs Buchanan would like, in order to bolster domestic manufacturing, are a bad and impractical idea. But without letting economic theories get in the way, Buchanan tells us, from his perspective, why this is one of the steps the Country should take to return prosperity to America.
Some people will agree with everything Buchanan offers, others may agree with only a few of the things he discusses, but all will have a clear understanding of his beliefs and outlook on the Country by the time you finish the book.
It quickly becomes clear that Pat Buchanan isn't for affirmative action in this Country, and tells you why. And he certainly isn't for free markets, and he tells you why. And he certainly isn't for immigration, and he tells you why.
In Buchanan's view, the more ethnically and religously similar a society is, the better off that society is. He makes the point that treating all "equally", in the Jeffersonian sense of "all men are created equal", is both impossible and wrong. To treat all equally, he explains, means a loss of liberty for society.
Buchanan ends with some recommendations for the Country, including ending free markets and imposing tariffs on foreign goods. Free market economists of today will explain in detail why those tariffs Buchanan would like, in order to bolster domestic manufacturing, are a bad and impractical idea. But without letting economic theories get in the way, Buchanan tells us, from his perspective, why this is one of the steps the Country should take to return prosperity to America.
Some people will agree with everything Buchanan offers, others may agree with only a few of the things he discusses, but all will have a clear understanding of his beliefs and outlook on the Country by the time you finish the book.
December 23, 2020
To answer the titles question, as of 2020 it is not looking good.
July 17, 2025
"Suicide of a Superpower" reads much like the sequel to "The Death of the West,”. Buchanan picks up where he left off a decade before, examining the religious decline and demographic changes which threaten the American nation.
Buchanan’s diagnosis is that America's retreat from Christianity has created an existential crisis for the republic. The founders were clear that only a moral citizenry built on mutual trust would have tools necessary to sustain effective democratic rule. Without the Christianity that originally bound all Americans together, the nation cannot sustain itself.
Furthermore, he confronts the demographic reality and its consequences on the next generation. White America's dwindling majority is fundamentally reshaping society, and decades of attacks have stripped white Americans of racial solidarity while other groups maintain strong ethnic identities. He predicts how changing demographics will force white Americans to pursue racial solidarity or face oppression from an increasingly hostile third-world population.
The main culprit in pushing this agenda is largely omitted by name, although I have no doubt Pat recognizes the glaring number of elite intellectuals who have effectively disenfranchised ordinary Americans from decisions about their nation's future, who happen to have jewish last names. Many of them being at the forefront for normalizing homosexuality, feminism, and abortion as majority positions, as well as undermining traditional American values.
On foreign policy, Buchanan demolishes globalism as an utter failure. He advocates for nationalism as the way forward, noting that nations worldwide are putting their own interests first. No one will fight for some vague new world order. America must abandon globalist ideology and start looking out for itself again to sustain its current position.
Buchanan's writing is forceful and direct, synthesizing diverse trends into a coherent narrative of decline. His willingness to address demographic and cultural changes that most commentators avoid gives the book its power. He raises uncomfortable but essential questions about national identity, cultural cohesion, and democratic governance.
The book succeeds as provocative political commentary that forces readers to confront America's trajectory. His arguments about Christianity, demographics, elite betrayal, and the failure of globalism deserve serious engagement from anyone concerned about America's future.
Buchanan’s diagnosis is that America's retreat from Christianity has created an existential crisis for the republic. The founders were clear that only a moral citizenry built on mutual trust would have tools necessary to sustain effective democratic rule. Without the Christianity that originally bound all Americans together, the nation cannot sustain itself.
Furthermore, he confronts the demographic reality and its consequences on the next generation. White America's dwindling majority is fundamentally reshaping society, and decades of attacks have stripped white Americans of racial solidarity while other groups maintain strong ethnic identities. He predicts how changing demographics will force white Americans to pursue racial solidarity or face oppression from an increasingly hostile third-world population.
The main culprit in pushing this agenda is largely omitted by name, although I have no doubt Pat recognizes the glaring number of elite intellectuals who have effectively disenfranchised ordinary Americans from decisions about their nation's future, who happen to have jewish last names. Many of them being at the forefront for normalizing homosexuality, feminism, and abortion as majority positions, as well as undermining traditional American values.
On foreign policy, Buchanan demolishes globalism as an utter failure. He advocates for nationalism as the way forward, noting that nations worldwide are putting their own interests first. No one will fight for some vague new world order. America must abandon globalist ideology and start looking out for itself again to sustain its current position.
Buchanan's writing is forceful and direct, synthesizing diverse trends into a coherent narrative of decline. His willingness to address demographic and cultural changes that most commentators avoid gives the book its power. He raises uncomfortable but essential questions about national identity, cultural cohesion, and democratic governance.
The book succeeds as provocative political commentary that forces readers to confront America's trajectory. His arguments about Christianity, demographics, elite betrayal, and the failure of globalism deserve serious engagement from anyone concerned about America's future.
June 23, 2016
Suicide of a Superpower – Pat Buchanan
I decided to read five books this year written by people I would disagree with on a number of issues. This is one of those five. Suicide of a Superpower was a very interesting and well researched book. It is clear that Pat Buchanan is quite knowledgeable when it comes to understanding and explaining history. I agree with him completely when it comes to our nation’s foreign policy. The U.S. should get out of the business of nation building and fighting other peoples wars as well as bringing our troops home from all over the world. Our interventionist practices have only pushed us deeper into debt and created even more enemies worldwide. I also concur with his frustration regarding the jeopardy that our “free trade” deals and policies have put us in, exporting over 6 million jobs and closing down 50,000 factories over the past 25 years. When it comes to those two issues, I wholeheartedly stand by him and anyone else in our nation that holds a firm stance on these two issues.
There is also quite a bit I disagree with Buchanan on. His stance on immigration is quite frightening. Buchanan does not shy from believing that America should be a majority population of White European Christians. He makes the case for this over several chapters titling one of them, “The End of White America.” Pat does not hold back from stating that over the next several decades, white people will be the minority in the United States. That may end up being the case but it is up to us as individuals and communities to understand the constitution and our nation’s rocky but fascinating history and to teach them to our future generations both immigrants and nonimmigrant’s alike. That is where and how we will coexist and find our national identity as a people despite our differences.
I emigrated as a young child to the U.S. from Southeastern Europe in 1991 after the Soviet Union collapsed. For my family and I, there were many unknowns ahead of us. My family moved to the states, legally, to seek and find a better life in the midst of the world chaos and economic uncertainties. I ended up living in New York City for 20 years of my life before moving to the west coast. We all worked really hard and tried our best to succeed and provide for ourselves. I was grateful that there were social safety nets that were in place to give us a head start because we could not survive solely on private charitable giving. I echo this because as a fiscal conservative, I believe safety nets are important and necessary. If we actually invested in our nation and its people instead of engaging in corporate welfare and wasting billions on fruitless expenditures overseas and allowing lobbyists to control our legislative process, we would not have anywhere near as many people relying on government assistance. Not everyone has a supportive family like I did to keep us motivated. At times, people need help to get by and should not be denied that help or looked down upon.
Life was difficult and harsh but we made the best of it. Knowing the obstacles that my family and I had endured motivated me to do my best and excel in school and college. I joined the armed forces when I was 18 and by the age of 22 received a commission. I joined the service for several reasons: 1) Experiencing the tragedy of 9/11 first hand I wanted to protect my nation and fellow countrymen 2) I wanted to give back for the programs that were afforded to my family and I 3) I wanted to honor the tradition of military service after my father and grandfather 4) I wanted a challenging opportunity where I could learn skills and obtain experiences that would help me succeed in any environment.
I would like Pat Buchanan to please understand that not all immigrants are blood sucking vermin who drain our countries resources and disregard the American way of life. As a matter of fact most of us are not. I grew up with them. We want to be just as American as you. I have been in parts of “White America” and I am disturbed by how shallow and uneducated some “White Americans” can be. As someone who swore an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States, I still to this day take that oath very seriously. For me as an immigrant to be labeled as practically second class citizen because I don’t fit Buchanan’s mold of “American” is disturbing and pathetic. I care about America more than most people I’ve met throughout my life.
Buchanan also attacked progressives as those to blame for failed economic and social policies. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and acknowledge that both parties have torn this country apart from every angle in the name of party affiliation instead of standing for principle.
I agree that we have way too many people working in the public sector and not enough real private sector jobs. The government cannot create jobs. All it can do is take away from one and give to another. That being said, I do believe the government has a role to protect its people without jeopardizing due process.
I also tend to disagree with Buchanan that Nationalism is a better and more natural course of action because from a sociological stand point, people tend to identify with their own kind. Buchanan does use superb evidence pointing to the chaos that led to World War I. However, Nationalism can be very dangerous as Nazi Germany, The Soviet Union, and many other nations have demonstrated throughout history. I consider myself a man of faith and choose to look at people as my fellow man created in the image of God. I am not trying to be idealistic when I say that we can overcome some of our ethnic and religious differences in hopes of living together in relative peace. I strongly believe that the United States is a prime opportunity to achieve that and show the world that peace and cooperation is indeed possible.
Regardless of some of my major disagreements with Pat Buchanan, I can say that when it comes to putting America first and investing in our country and people, I will stand with anyone who supports that idea even Pat Buchanan. I choose to put our differences aside and focus on what we agree on to accomplish a better way of life for ourselves and our future generations. I thank you, Pat Buchanan for taking the time to research the issues and write this book.
I decided to read five books this year written by people I would disagree with on a number of issues. This is one of those five. Suicide of a Superpower was a very interesting and well researched book. It is clear that Pat Buchanan is quite knowledgeable when it comes to understanding and explaining history. I agree with him completely when it comes to our nation’s foreign policy. The U.S. should get out of the business of nation building and fighting other peoples wars as well as bringing our troops home from all over the world. Our interventionist practices have only pushed us deeper into debt and created even more enemies worldwide. I also concur with his frustration regarding the jeopardy that our “free trade” deals and policies have put us in, exporting over 6 million jobs and closing down 50,000 factories over the past 25 years. When it comes to those two issues, I wholeheartedly stand by him and anyone else in our nation that holds a firm stance on these two issues.
There is also quite a bit I disagree with Buchanan on. His stance on immigration is quite frightening. Buchanan does not shy from believing that America should be a majority population of White European Christians. He makes the case for this over several chapters titling one of them, “The End of White America.” Pat does not hold back from stating that over the next several decades, white people will be the minority in the United States. That may end up being the case but it is up to us as individuals and communities to understand the constitution and our nation’s rocky but fascinating history and to teach them to our future generations both immigrants and nonimmigrant’s alike. That is where and how we will coexist and find our national identity as a people despite our differences.
I emigrated as a young child to the U.S. from Southeastern Europe in 1991 after the Soviet Union collapsed. For my family and I, there were many unknowns ahead of us. My family moved to the states, legally, to seek and find a better life in the midst of the world chaos and economic uncertainties. I ended up living in New York City for 20 years of my life before moving to the west coast. We all worked really hard and tried our best to succeed and provide for ourselves. I was grateful that there were social safety nets that were in place to give us a head start because we could not survive solely on private charitable giving. I echo this because as a fiscal conservative, I believe safety nets are important and necessary. If we actually invested in our nation and its people instead of engaging in corporate welfare and wasting billions on fruitless expenditures overseas and allowing lobbyists to control our legislative process, we would not have anywhere near as many people relying on government assistance. Not everyone has a supportive family like I did to keep us motivated. At times, people need help to get by and should not be denied that help or looked down upon.
Life was difficult and harsh but we made the best of it. Knowing the obstacles that my family and I had endured motivated me to do my best and excel in school and college. I joined the armed forces when I was 18 and by the age of 22 received a commission. I joined the service for several reasons: 1) Experiencing the tragedy of 9/11 first hand I wanted to protect my nation and fellow countrymen 2) I wanted to give back for the programs that were afforded to my family and I 3) I wanted to honor the tradition of military service after my father and grandfather 4) I wanted a challenging opportunity where I could learn skills and obtain experiences that would help me succeed in any environment.
I would like Pat Buchanan to please understand that not all immigrants are blood sucking vermin who drain our countries resources and disregard the American way of life. As a matter of fact most of us are not. I grew up with them. We want to be just as American as you. I have been in parts of “White America” and I am disturbed by how shallow and uneducated some “White Americans” can be. As someone who swore an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the United States, I still to this day take that oath very seriously. For me as an immigrant to be labeled as practically second class citizen because I don’t fit Buchanan’s mold of “American” is disturbing and pathetic. I care about America more than most people I’ve met throughout my life.
Buchanan also attacked progressives as those to blame for failed economic and social policies. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and acknowledge that both parties have torn this country apart from every angle in the name of party affiliation instead of standing for principle.
I agree that we have way too many people working in the public sector and not enough real private sector jobs. The government cannot create jobs. All it can do is take away from one and give to another. That being said, I do believe the government has a role to protect its people without jeopardizing due process.
I also tend to disagree with Buchanan that Nationalism is a better and more natural course of action because from a sociological stand point, people tend to identify with their own kind. Buchanan does use superb evidence pointing to the chaos that led to World War I. However, Nationalism can be very dangerous as Nazi Germany, The Soviet Union, and many other nations have demonstrated throughout history. I consider myself a man of faith and choose to look at people as my fellow man created in the image of God. I am not trying to be idealistic when I say that we can overcome some of our ethnic and religious differences in hopes of living together in relative peace. I strongly believe that the United States is a prime opportunity to achieve that and show the world that peace and cooperation is indeed possible.
Regardless of some of my major disagreements with Pat Buchanan, I can say that when it comes to putting America first and investing in our country and people, I will stand with anyone who supports that idea even Pat Buchanan. I choose to put our differences aside and focus on what we agree on to accomplish a better way of life for ourselves and our future generations. I thank you, Pat Buchanan for taking the time to research the issues and write this book.
July 1, 2025
Well written book from about 2010. Raising a great many issues about the American Superpower and it's decline in power, or our slow and purposeful suicide of our power. Numerous unnecessary wars, wasteful uses of our power, the denigration of our abilities, and the lack of respect for our abilities. Every known republic to mankind has been known to reach its pinnacle and begin its decline 9if not its demise) by the end of 250 years of its existence. Between wasteful spending, becoming militarily stretched too thin, or the producing more and more debt which devalues the dollar and the hyperinflation which is always soon to follow...our demise is certain to follow!
November 14, 2017
Pat Buchanan is a talented writer and for the most part a skilled historian. He is an interesting man who has lead a very privileged and distinct life.
While I do enjoy hearing and reading Buchanan, whether I agree or not, I find that when he addresses subjects like this he does so from a very self orientated perspective.
As an outsider I have a very unique perspective of what it means to be American and what the supposed American ideals are. I have read a great deal on the subject and have been romanced by much of the history and potential of the great nation. Great, not good. The romantic illusions and nostalgic recollections are often limited, uniquely picked and overlook the tragedy experienced by a great many. Buried beneath the American tree seems to be the bones of so many forgotten victims which did not fit into the illusions so guarded today.
Buchanan has his set of values and perspectives, this bias is blatant. He comes from a perspective of thinking which believes that to be an American means one must be like 'them'. That only Christian American virtues of a certain Right perspective are truly American and any other influence or culture serve to threaten these values. Atheism to 'Islamism' are corrupting dangerous influences which seek to deride the truly American virtues and sets of values.
What these virtues and values are seem confused when contrasted by the historical realities against the many works by men like Buchanan who depict a republic of illuminating virtue and with God's grace an exceptionalism for benevolence.
Now for me, this outsider, if I was ever to truly cherish Americanism as an ideal. It would be that INDIVIDUALS of varying races, cultures, beliefs and ideals can come together in one free melting pot. Merging together as closely as they liked or staying isolated as distant as they pleased. All FREE to express and impress as they would their own distinctiveness, so long as they did not aggressively harm others in action. And yet apparently to many, not just Buchanan this can not true. Because it is the outsiders, the corrupter s of the puritan beauty that is America who continue to usurp this vision.
It seems that Christian values are embedded deep within the American set of values. Despite the cherished founding fathers, nearly entirely being theists at best, America according to Pat Buchanan needs to rediscover its theological spiritual heart. Here is Catholic insights and romance for morality etch through in his writings.
Buchanan's America needs to tighten its borders, enhance protectionist economic policies, fand pray all that bit harder. Other wise it faces being eaten from within by unAmericanism. To Buchanan's credit, he opposes the imperial hubris that has defined America to much of the World. Buchanan envisions an America that does not intervene or occupy foreign soil, instead trades and safeguards its own borders and interests at home.
This unconventional perspective is welcome, though many of his critics use clumsy terms like "isoloationist" and conjure up the Chamberlain mythos should such a peaceful America exist. This America in conjunction with protectionist trade policies and a grand christian nation most likely can never and would never exist.
Instead domestically while many voices squeal at one another over internal morality and political correctness versus conservative values most Americans are united on the need to flex military might against others abroad. Buchanan argues for the reverse of this.
It is precisely because of what, I imagine, to be real American virtues that Pat can say all of this freely. He can express this wholeheartedly and the reader can determine their own opinion on the matter. And if such true freedom is what will lead to the suicide of a super power then perhaps it should be euthanised now. Because while it may upset many red blooded God fearing Americans, it may just save the rest of us outside in the real world.
40 %
While I do enjoy hearing and reading Buchanan, whether I agree or not, I find that when he addresses subjects like this he does so from a very self orientated perspective.
As an outsider I have a very unique perspective of what it means to be American and what the supposed American ideals are. I have read a great deal on the subject and have been romanced by much of the history and potential of the great nation. Great, not good. The romantic illusions and nostalgic recollections are often limited, uniquely picked and overlook the tragedy experienced by a great many. Buried beneath the American tree seems to be the bones of so many forgotten victims which did not fit into the illusions so guarded today.
Buchanan has his set of values and perspectives, this bias is blatant. He comes from a perspective of thinking which believes that to be an American means one must be like 'them'. That only Christian American virtues of a certain Right perspective are truly American and any other influence or culture serve to threaten these values. Atheism to 'Islamism' are corrupting dangerous influences which seek to deride the truly American virtues and sets of values.
What these virtues and values are seem confused when contrasted by the historical realities against the many works by men like Buchanan who depict a republic of illuminating virtue and with God's grace an exceptionalism for benevolence.
Now for me, this outsider, if I was ever to truly cherish Americanism as an ideal. It would be that INDIVIDUALS of varying races, cultures, beliefs and ideals can come together in one free melting pot. Merging together as closely as they liked or staying isolated as distant as they pleased. All FREE to express and impress as they would their own distinctiveness, so long as they did not aggressively harm others in action. And yet apparently to many, not just Buchanan this can not true. Because it is the outsiders, the corrupter s of the puritan beauty that is America who continue to usurp this vision.
It seems that Christian values are embedded deep within the American set of values. Despite the cherished founding fathers, nearly entirely being theists at best, America according to Pat Buchanan needs to rediscover its theological spiritual heart. Here is Catholic insights and romance for morality etch through in his writings.
Buchanan's America needs to tighten its borders, enhance protectionist economic policies, fand pray all that bit harder. Other wise it faces being eaten from within by unAmericanism. To Buchanan's credit, he opposes the imperial hubris that has defined America to much of the World. Buchanan envisions an America that does not intervene or occupy foreign soil, instead trades and safeguards its own borders and interests at home.
This unconventional perspective is welcome, though many of his critics use clumsy terms like "isoloationist" and conjure up the Chamberlain mythos should such a peaceful America exist. This America in conjunction with protectionist trade policies and a grand christian nation most likely can never and would never exist.
Instead domestically while many voices squeal at one another over internal morality and political correctness versus conservative values most Americans are united on the need to flex military might against others abroad. Buchanan argues for the reverse of this.
It is precisely because of what, I imagine, to be real American virtues that Pat can say all of this freely. He can express this wholeheartedly and the reader can determine their own opinion on the matter. And if such true freedom is what will lead to the suicide of a super power then perhaps it should be euthanised now. Because while it may upset many red blooded God fearing Americans, it may just save the rest of us outside in the real world.
40 %
January 31, 2012
Though this book seems to jump all over the place, many of Buchanan's points are right on the money. Funny that he's getting all this flack in the media because his chapters that come out against multiculturalism are perceived as racist. He may be racist, I don't know, but his point that as a general rule, people like to hang out with people who are like each other--well basically, that is valid, Latinos hang with Latinos, Blacks with Blacks, Whites with Whites, Mormons hang with other Mormons, Evangelicals with other Evangelicals, and that the recent trend toward multiculturalism has fragmented and weakened the U.S., not strengthened it. Remember, that's a general rule--of course there's a lot of crossover. His chapters on U.S. involvement in other nations of the world ring true, as does the part about how America needs to fix the economy with drastic cuts in favorite programs. Sadly, I'm thinking that whoever is president, and the Congress that comes with him, won't have the guts or the support of the people and for re-election's sake, will not do what needs to be done to stave off disaster. I for one, prefer America as a superpower, simply because it's values of liberty and basic goodness make it the best country to be the strongest in the world--not to be the world's policeman, but to be a deterrent. I think the U.S. should go back to being a sleeping giant, walking softly, but carrying a big stick. I think Buchanan would agree with me. BTW, this book is listed at 320 words, but the actual page count (not including bibliography etc.) is 428.
March 31, 2023
"Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?" is a book written by conservative political commentator and former presidential candidate Patrick J. Buchanan, published in 2011.
The book examines what Buchanan sees as the decline and potential collapse of American society and culture, due to factors such as demographic changes, economic decline, and cultural fragmentation. Buchanan argues that the United States is becoming a "Third World" nation and that its global dominance is at risk.
Buchanan also critiques what he sees as the failures of both major political parties and argues for a return to a more traditional and conservative way of life, including a focus on family values and limited government.
The book generated controversy for its controversial views on race, immigration, and multiculturalism. Some critics accused Buchanan of promoting white nationalism, while others praised the book for its frank discussion of important issues facing American society.
Overall, "Suicide of a Superpower" is a provocative and polarizing book that continues to generate debate and discussion.
GPT
The book examines what Buchanan sees as the decline and potential collapse of American society and culture, due to factors such as demographic changes, economic decline, and cultural fragmentation. Buchanan argues that the United States is becoming a "Third World" nation and that its global dominance is at risk.
Buchanan also critiques what he sees as the failures of both major political parties and argues for a return to a more traditional and conservative way of life, including a focus on family values and limited government.
The book generated controversy for its controversial views on race, immigration, and multiculturalism. Some critics accused Buchanan of promoting white nationalism, while others praised the book for its frank discussion of important issues facing American society.
Overall, "Suicide of a Superpower" is a provocative and polarizing book that continues to generate debate and discussion.
GPT
March 26, 2013
Buchanan is always an interesting read, though he doesn't quite have the knobs in all the right places.
February 12, 2012
"Will America survive to 2025?"
Are you serious? What kind of sentence is that? I can't stand this book.
Are you serious? What kind of sentence is that? I can't stand this book.
January 12, 2013
Well, that is the most thought provoking book I have read in a very long time. I don't agree with him on some things (the racist undercurrents make me very uncomfortable), and there is quite a bit that I don't know if he is right or not. However, it definitely gave me a lot to think about.
DISCLAIMER -The author does not provide solutions (Oh, wait, he does directly suggest some overall solutions at the end of the last chapter). He just states the problems, the perceived causes and where these problems will lead. Any solutions are made up by me based (sometimes) on his assessment of the causes of the problem. So they will range from the ridiculous to the improbable; and neither Mr. Buchanan nor myself may agree with them. (Look at the last chapter for his overall solutions.)
Chapter 1 - The Passing of a Superpower
Problem - America is in a very very very deep financial hole, and digging rapidly. Solution - Balance the budget. Pay down the national debt. Raise taxes. Make the government smaller. Stop fighting wars all over the globe. Stop the trade imbalance. Prognosis - Financial meltdown; the American people and leaders are oblivious, busy arguing about how deep the hole is and don't have the willpower to endure the suffering the remedies would require.
Chapter 2 - The Death of Christian America
Problem - A set of shared morals and religion provide the foundation for every society/culture. If the people lose their faith and stop believing in their religion then inevitably the society/culture which is built on that religion will self destruct. Christianity in America and Europe is rapidly dying. Solution - Maybe convert people to Christianity at gunpoint and institute laws legislating moral behavior. Christians should have a bunch more children. Stop immigration by non-Christians. Drop a nuclear bomb on Hollywood (figuratively speaking; lets talk censorship). More unity among Christians. More zealous and violent defense against cultural attack. (I'm afraid that the end result of some of these measures would cause America to resemble Europe of the Dark Ages more than the America of the last century.) Prognosis - The self destruction of western culture/society.
I'm guessing that Patrick Buchanan is Roman Catholic; he lays some of the blame on Protestants for rebelling against the "Mother Church" and starting a process of splintering Christendom into smaller and smaller factions.
Essentially he is pointing out the weakness of being a specific kind of democracy. The only way to be a Christian democracy is for the majority of the people living in the country to vote Christian values. As soon as you have a majority voting say Hindu values, you have a Hindu democracy, etc.
Chapter 3 - The Crisis of Catholicism
Problem - The Catholic church is on the decline in America and Europe. Solution - ???? Prognosis - Catholicism will be pushed out of the Middle East and marginalized in the industrial/post industrial nations.
Some of the persecution cited was against Christians in general, and not just against Catholics.
Chapter 4 - The End of White America
Problem - By 2041 white Americans will be a minority. The human mind seems to be wired up to be more loyal to its racial identity than to its national identity. The immigrants replacing white Americans as the majority not only don't have the best interests of white Americans in mind, but in some cases carry an active racial hatred and jealousy of white Americans. Also, the majority of immigrants have lower education and economic levels, and thus tend more to drain than contribute to resources. Solution - White Americans should all have huge families. America should be more selective of those it lets into its borders. Rather than asking for "your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free; The wretched refuse of your teeming shore," it should be asking for your energetic, your rich, the best of your people, and they should of course be white like me. Embrace tribalism; shoot everyone who is not part of your tribe. Reject tribalism; make it socially unacceptable or illegal to marry/have children with someone of your own race, culture, language, religion. Prognosis - A time is coming when white Americans will not feel welcome or comfortable in America.
Chapter 5 - Demographic Winter
Problem - Under the "religion of democracy," the people who have the most children win. The industrialized nations of the world (North America, Eastern Europe, Russia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and even China) all have negative population growth. The third world countries that subsist on handouts from the richer nations have exponential population growth. Solution - Bigger families. Prognosis - As the aging populations of the industrial nations pass, the peoples of the third world nations will inherit the earth.
Seems like this chapter just said that there are other countries that have the same demographic problem as the U.S.A. It didn't really deal with a new problem for the U.S.A.
Chapter 6 - Equality or Freedom?
Problem - Equality of outcomes has come to be the prized above freedom by many Americans and the politicians are happy to try and provide it. Freedom and equality of outcomes are mutually exclusive in many aspects of life. So for example, if you give people freedom in occupation, personal finances, academics, sports, etc. they will not all choose the most lucrative occupation, have the same standard of living, choose to apply themselves the same academically, make the same grades, be able to develop an equal level of skill in athletics, etc. If the goal is to make all outcomes equal, you must make the compensation for all jobs equal (same pay for janitor, burger flipper, CEO or Doctor), or just take all income and redistribute it equally, give everyone in the class the same grade based on the class average, give them a diploma/degree whether they have mastered the material or not, give all athletes a gold medal at the Olympics, and make sure that all the NFL teams win the Superbowl. Solution - Get someone other than the rabid ideologues working on the problem of how to keep freedom, yet provide more equal outcomes where possible. Prognosis America will continue to sacrifice individual freedoms to ensure equal outcomes in all areas of life until we more closely resemble the society in Kurt Vonnegut's short story Harrison Bergeron, than the America of the past 200 years.
Chapter 7 - The Diversity Cult
Diversity, common usage, lots of differences, food, language, religion, occupation, music, etc.
Diversity, political buzzword, Divides us up on the basis of social categories of race, culture, sex and sexual orientation, and demands that some of these deserve preferential treatment and compensation for past oppression by the rich, the white, and the Christian.
Problem - Rather than pulling all Americans together with common goals, identity, national pride, there seems to be an active desire by policymakers to celebrate and accentuate the differences. I think the hope is that celebrating diversity will make us more broad minded and stronger. The actual effects of accentuating our differences is to increase people's sense of tribalism, fosters an us vs. them mindset, hatred and distrust of those who are different and a retreat to our own race, culture, clique, gang, lifestyle, etc. This splitting and dividing into diverse warring tribes weakens us as a nation. Solution - Emphasize the things we have in common. Identify, promote, celebrate values that build up society and bring us together. Deemphasize the differences. Prognosis - Americans will separate along the lines of race, culture, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, political ideology, etc., and tear itself to pieces from internal strife.
Chapter 8 - The Triumph of Tribalism
Problem - Tribalism, Ethnic Nationalism, is a powerful drive of humans to band together based on ethnicity, culture, language and faith, and exclude or even kill those who are different. This drive has led to massive political upheaval, war and genocide in the last century. America, completely oblivious to basic human nature, is busy promoting tribalism among its citizens. Solution - Stop emphasizing differences. Start promoting patriotism and a strong national pride. Insist that immigrants learn the language and become Americans. Prognosis - As more and more people in the United States value their tribal identity above their identity as United States citizens, hate crimes, riots, even civil war and secessionist movements will become more and more frequent.
This was closely related to the last chapter, showing some very powerful and sobering pictures of what tribalism has done and is doing to the world outside of the United States.
Chapter 9 - The White Party
Problem - The American political party that has traditionally championed the issues of whites, Christians, the middle class and social conservatives is not doing a very good job. The Republican party has decided to alienate its core constituency and court some of the minority demographic who will never vote for them, and even if they did it wouldn't be enough to offset the core constituents they have driven away. Solution - Buchanan for RNC chairman. A return to a conservative stance on social issues. Embrace your whiteness; be the champions of the white tribe. Prognosis - The Republican party is headed for the sidelines of obscurity.
Problem 2 - The demographic changes in America have lowered the percentage of whites, of Christians, of the rest of the Republican party base to the point where they may not be numerous enough to ever win another election. Solution - All whites should vote with the white party. Get a handle on immigration. Redouble efforts in the culture war. Prognosis - The Republican party base will continue to diminish.
Chapter 10 - The Long Retreat
Problem - America's compulsive interventionism in the affairs of other nations and her arrogant dabbling in imperialism have brought her to the brink of financial ruin, and bought massive amounts of ill will and hatred from the rest of the world. Solution - Stop meddling in the affairs of other nations. Use those resources to put the domestic situation in order. Prognosis - America will bankrupt herself and be forced to abandon empire in defeated humiliation.
Chapter 11 - The Last Chance
Problem - Ignoring the realities of human nature, the secular elite are engaged in transforming America into a God free, multicultural, democratic, liberated, responsibility free, humanistic utopia where all races, sexes, lifestyles, morals and social structures are of equal value. The attempt is doomed to failure and will likely destroy the country in the process. Solution - The silent majority who think this country, led by the secular elite, has lost its mind, should wake up to the fact that this is a real civil war and vote to restore traditional values. - We will get to witness the Suicide of a Superpower.
Overall Solutions
Demand that the country fix its financial problem. Make that the number one priority.
* Cut entitlement programs.
* Stop dabbling in empire; most of that stuff is not a security concern to us.
* Stop the foreign aid that has nothing to do with national security until we get our own finances in order.
* Renegotiate the treaties that, for example, have America borrow money from Europe to defend Europe, borrow money from Japan to defend Japan, etc.
* Every government agency must downsize.
* Certain targeted tax increases.
* The concept of a worldwide free market is nonsense. Other countries routinely subsidize their businesses so that American businesses will fail, unable to compete. Level the playing field with tariffs so manufacturers must manufacture cars, clothes, electronics, etc. here in America.
* Immigration law reform that includes:
1. A moratorium on immigration when the unemployment rate is over 6 %.
2. A preference for white, Christian, educated, English speaking, tax paying rather than tax consuming immigrants.
3. Stop illegal immigration.
4. deport illegals, especially criminals.
5. Being born here should not be the only qualification for citizenship.
6. Punish businesses that hire illegals.
7. Make English the official language of the U.S.
* Re-empower congress, reign in the liberal courts and judges, fight the cultural revolution and roll it back.
DISCLAIMER -
Chapter 1 - The Passing of a Superpower
Problem - America is in a very very very deep financial hole, and digging rapidly. Solution - Balance the budget. Pay down the national debt. Raise taxes. Make the government smaller. Stop fighting wars all over the globe. Stop the trade imbalance. Prognosis - Financial meltdown; the American people and leaders are oblivious, busy arguing about how deep the hole is and don't have the willpower to endure the suffering the remedies would require.
Chapter 2 - The Death of Christian America
Problem - A set of shared morals and religion provide the foundation for every society/culture. If the people lose their faith and stop believing in their religion then inevitably the society/culture which is built on that religion will self destruct. Christianity in America and Europe is rapidly dying. Solution - Maybe convert people to Christianity at gunpoint and institute laws legislating moral behavior. Christians should have a bunch more children. Stop immigration by non-Christians. Drop a nuclear bomb on Hollywood (figuratively speaking; lets talk censorship). More unity among Christians. More zealous and violent defense against cultural attack. (I'm afraid that the end result of some of these measures would cause America to resemble Europe of the Dark Ages more than the America of the last century.) Prognosis - The self destruction of western culture/society.
I'm guessing that Patrick Buchanan is Roman Catholic; he lays some of the blame on Protestants for rebelling against the "Mother Church" and starting a process of splintering Christendom into smaller and smaller factions.
Essentially he is pointing out the weakness of being a specific kind of democracy. The only way to be a Christian democracy is for the majority of the people living in the country to vote Christian values. As soon as you have a majority voting say Hindu values, you have a Hindu democracy, etc.
Chapter 3 - The Crisis of Catholicism
Problem - The Catholic church is on the decline in America and Europe. Solution - ???? Prognosis - Catholicism will be pushed out of the Middle East and marginalized in the industrial/post industrial nations.
Some of the persecution cited was against Christians in general, and not just against Catholics.
Chapter 4 - The End of White America
Problem - By 2041 white Americans will be a minority. The human mind seems to be wired up to be more loyal to its racial identity than to its national identity. The immigrants replacing white Americans as the majority not only don't have the best interests of white Americans in mind, but in some cases carry an active racial hatred and jealousy of white Americans. Also, the majority of immigrants have lower education and economic levels, and thus tend more to drain than contribute to resources. Solution - White Americans should all have huge families. America should be more selective of those it lets into its borders. Rather than asking for "your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free; The wretched refuse of your teeming shore," it should be asking for your energetic, your rich, the best of your people, and they should of course be white like me. Embrace tribalism; shoot everyone who is not part of your tribe. Reject tribalism; make it socially unacceptable or illegal to marry/have children with someone of your own race, culture, language, religion. Prognosis - A time is coming when white Americans will not feel welcome or comfortable in America.
Chapter 5 - Demographic Winter
Problem - Under the "religion of democracy," the people who have the most children win. The industrialized nations of the world (North America, Eastern Europe, Russia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and even China) all have negative population growth. The third world countries that subsist on handouts from the richer nations have exponential population growth. Solution - Bigger families. Prognosis - As the aging populations of the industrial nations pass, the peoples of the third world nations will inherit the earth.
Seems like this chapter just said that there are other countries that have the same demographic problem as the U.S.A. It didn't really deal with a new problem for the U.S.A.
Chapter 6 - Equality or Freedom?
Problem - Equality of outcomes has come to be the prized above freedom by many Americans and the politicians are happy to try and provide it. Freedom and equality of outcomes are mutually exclusive in many aspects of life. So for example, if you give people freedom in occupation, personal finances, academics, sports, etc. they will not all choose the most lucrative occupation, have the same standard of living, choose to apply themselves the same academically, make the same grades, be able to develop an equal level of skill in athletics, etc. If the goal is to make all outcomes equal, you must make the compensation for all jobs equal (same pay for janitor, burger flipper, CEO or Doctor), or just take all income and redistribute it equally, give everyone in the class the same grade based on the class average, give them a diploma/degree whether they have mastered the material or not, give all athletes a gold medal at the Olympics, and make sure that all the NFL teams win the Superbowl. Solution - Get someone other than the rabid ideologues working on the problem of how to keep freedom, yet provide more equal outcomes where possible. Prognosis America will continue to sacrifice individual freedoms to ensure equal outcomes in all areas of life until we more closely resemble the society in Kurt Vonnegut's short story Harrison Bergeron, than the America of the past 200 years.
Chapter 7 - The Diversity Cult
Diversity, common usage, lots of differences, food, language, religion, occupation, music, etc.
Diversity, political buzzword, Divides us up on the basis of social categories of race, culture, sex and sexual orientation, and demands that some of these deserve preferential treatment and compensation for past oppression by the rich, the white, and the Christian.
Problem - Rather than pulling all Americans together with common goals, identity, national pride, there seems to be an active desire by policymakers to celebrate and accentuate the differences. I think the hope is that celebrating diversity will make us more broad minded and stronger. The actual effects of accentuating our differences is to increase people's sense of tribalism, fosters an us vs. them mindset, hatred and distrust of those who are different and a retreat to our own race, culture, clique, gang, lifestyle, etc. This splitting and dividing into diverse warring tribes weakens us as a nation. Solution - Emphasize the things we have in common. Identify, promote, celebrate values that build up society and bring us together. Deemphasize the differences. Prognosis - Americans will separate along the lines of race, culture, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, political ideology, etc., and tear itself to pieces from internal strife.
Chapter 8 - The Triumph of Tribalism
Problem - Tribalism, Ethnic Nationalism, is a powerful drive of humans to band together based on ethnicity, culture, language and faith, and exclude or even kill those who are different. This drive has led to massive political upheaval, war and genocide in the last century. America, completely oblivious to basic human nature, is busy promoting tribalism among its citizens. Solution - Stop emphasizing differences. Start promoting patriotism and a strong national pride. Insist that immigrants learn the language and become Americans. Prognosis - As more and more people in the United States value their tribal identity above their identity as United States citizens, hate crimes, riots, even civil war and secessionist movements will become more and more frequent.
This was closely related to the last chapter, showing some very powerful and sobering pictures of what tribalism has done and is doing to the world outside of the United States.
Chapter 9 - The White Party
Problem - The American political party that has traditionally championed the issues of whites, Christians, the middle class and social conservatives is not doing a very good job. The Republican party has decided to alienate its core constituency and court some of the minority demographic who will never vote for them, and even if they did it wouldn't be enough to offset the core constituents they have driven away. Solution - Buchanan for RNC chairman. A return to a conservative stance on social issues. Embrace your whiteness; be the champions of the white tribe. Prognosis - The Republican party is headed for the sidelines of obscurity.
Problem 2 - The demographic changes in America have lowered the percentage of whites, of Christians, of the rest of the Republican party base to the point where they may not be numerous enough to ever win another election. Solution - All whites should vote with the white party. Get a handle on immigration. Redouble efforts in the culture war. Prognosis - The Republican party base will continue to diminish.
Chapter 10 - The Long Retreat
Problem - America's compulsive interventionism in the affairs of other nations and her arrogant dabbling in imperialism have brought her to the brink of financial ruin, and bought massive amounts of ill will and hatred from the rest of the world. Solution - Stop meddling in the affairs of other nations. Use those resources to put the domestic situation in order. Prognosis - America will bankrupt herself and be forced to abandon empire in defeated humiliation.
Chapter 11 - The Last Chance
Problem - Ignoring the realities of human nature, the secular elite are engaged in transforming America into a God free, multicultural, democratic, liberated, responsibility free, humanistic utopia where all races, sexes, lifestyles, morals and social structures are of equal value. The attempt is doomed to failure and will likely destroy the country in the process. Solution - The silent majority who think this country, led by the secular elite, has lost its mind, should wake up to the fact that this is a real civil war and vote to restore traditional values. - We will get to witness the Suicide of a Superpower.
Overall Solutions
Demand that the country fix its financial problem. Make that the number one priority.
* Cut entitlement programs.
* Stop dabbling in empire; most of that stuff is not a security concern to us.
* Stop the foreign aid that has nothing to do with national security until we get our own finances in order.
* Renegotiate the treaties that, for example, have America borrow money from Europe to defend Europe, borrow money from Japan to defend Japan, etc.
* Every government agency must downsize.
* Certain targeted tax increases.
* The concept of a worldwide free market is nonsense. Other countries routinely subsidize their businesses so that American businesses will fail, unable to compete. Level the playing field with tariffs so manufacturers must manufacture cars, clothes, electronics, etc. here in America.
* Immigration law reform that includes:
1. A moratorium on immigration when the unemployment rate is over 6 %.
2. A preference for white, Christian, educated, English speaking, tax paying rather than tax consuming immigrants.
3. Stop illegal immigration.
4. deport illegals, especially criminals.
5. Being born here should not be the only qualification for citizenship.
6. Punish businesses that hire illegals.
7. Make English the official language of the U.S.
* Re-empower congress, reign in the liberal courts and judges, fight the cultural revolution and roll it back.
November 27, 2023
Definitely brash, but much of what he has predicted has come to pass.
November 4, 2024
Buchanan was correct on most issues, but this work is more of a pamphlet intended to be written shortly after publication, making it a work that holds little interest for most readers of today.
August 6, 2024
If you want to understand how the world works, don't read Noam Chomsky. Instead, go read the right-wing writers. With all their biases, usually they are more strategic and far-sighted.
Buchanan is a right-wing political commentator and consultant to US Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. He used to be a regular in mainstream media but disappeared around the early Obama years due to his anti-DEI comments. The American political scene has gotten so polarized that even a guy like Buchanan is now labelled as far-right. This book was published in 2011, and it paints a depressing picture of American politics, which he claims is on a decline from its glory days during the Eisenhower and Kennedy years. While the title is laughable, I think he's made a powerful case here and I learned a lot. Some of the key ideas:
- America promotes globalization at the expense of America. It promotes free trade while its neighbours are erecting tarrifs. As manufacturing companies move overseas, America loses jobs and its independence in key products. It has an unsustainable 200+ billion USD yearly trade deficit with China and this policy will only make it worse.
- America is losing its Christian identity as cultural Marxism, secularism, and post-colonial philosophies are on the rise. History has shown that once a society loses its core religious values and was more liberal in its sexual values (eg. gender fluidity, legalization of homosexuality, none of which are new), that society is on a path of steady decline which might take a few generations. As people become more pleasure-seeking and selfish, they abhor traditional values like having kids or building a family. With social problems on the rise such as 40+% of American kids born out of wedlock and declining birth rate pass replacement rate, this brings a host of social problems such rising crime, declining tax revenue, and so on.
- Open border policies which presents great challenges to integration, welfare and unemployment benefit spending, rising crime, changing demographics, and so on. He argues that many ethnically diverse empires/countries experience great tension and eventually collapse after crises, such as Rome, Soviet Union, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman, Czech Republic in the 1930s.
- Proliferation of DEI, Wokeism, and affirmative action, which openly discriminates against the White and the East Asians, while lowering the capabilities of recruits in schools, companies, army, etc. Buchanan brings up the topic of IQ differences across race, which he credits to environment during upbringing, individual aptitude, and heredity. This is controversial, but he argues that White, Jewish, and East Asian races on average have higher IQs and test score in SAT compared to Black and Hispanics, and no amount of government spending on teacher training or school asset is going to change that. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it's a topic worth exploring.
- America's fiscal policy is unsustainable due to decades of low tax, lavish welfare state policies (Eg. Obamacare, food stamps), intervensionist foreign policy, large foreign aid, globalization/free trade policies. Total federal debt has gone up to 123% of GDP as per 2024. Higher % of tax revenue is going to be spent on paying debts. The productive and the rich are going to pay for the welfare of the unproductive.
Buchanan said it is still reversible, but I am skeptical. With China on the rise, the world will see a change in geopolitics not seen in the last 100 years. Barring large scale U-turn such as religious revival, I think Buchanan will be proven correct. America remains powerful in 2025 but the cracks are coming out. It has lost its soul. What we all see are symptoms of a decaying empire. Whether it will collapse, replaced by a new entity, or resurrect itself like a phoenix remains to be seen. Cassandra has spoken and everybody hates it.
Buchanan is a right-wing political commentator and consultant to US Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. He used to be a regular in mainstream media but disappeared around the early Obama years due to his anti-DEI comments. The American political scene has gotten so polarized that even a guy like Buchanan is now labelled as far-right. This book was published in 2011, and it paints a depressing picture of American politics, which he claims is on a decline from its glory days during the Eisenhower and Kennedy years. While the title is laughable, I think he's made a powerful case here and I learned a lot. Some of the key ideas:
- America promotes globalization at the expense of America. It promotes free trade while its neighbours are erecting tarrifs. As manufacturing companies move overseas, America loses jobs and its independence in key products. It has an unsustainable 200+ billion USD yearly trade deficit with China and this policy will only make it worse.
- America is losing its Christian identity as cultural Marxism, secularism, and post-colonial philosophies are on the rise. History has shown that once a society loses its core religious values and was more liberal in its sexual values (eg. gender fluidity, legalization of homosexuality, none of which are new), that society is on a path of steady decline which might take a few generations. As people become more pleasure-seeking and selfish, they abhor traditional values like having kids or building a family. With social problems on the rise such as 40+% of American kids born out of wedlock and declining birth rate pass replacement rate, this brings a host of social problems such rising crime, declining tax revenue, and so on.
- Open border policies which presents great challenges to integration, welfare and unemployment benefit spending, rising crime, changing demographics, and so on. He argues that many ethnically diverse empires/countries experience great tension and eventually collapse after crises, such as Rome, Soviet Union, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman, Czech Republic in the 1930s.
- Proliferation of DEI, Wokeism, and affirmative action, which openly discriminates against the White and the East Asians, while lowering the capabilities of recruits in schools, companies, army, etc. Buchanan brings up the topic of IQ differences across race, which he credits to environment during upbringing, individual aptitude, and heredity. This is controversial, but he argues that White, Jewish, and East Asian races on average have higher IQs and test score in SAT compared to Black and Hispanics, and no amount of government spending on teacher training or school asset is going to change that. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it's a topic worth exploring.
- America's fiscal policy is unsustainable due to decades of low tax, lavish welfare state policies (Eg. Obamacare, food stamps), intervensionist foreign policy, large foreign aid, globalization/free trade policies. Total federal debt has gone up to 123% of GDP as per 2024. Higher % of tax revenue is going to be spent on paying debts. The productive and the rich are going to pay for the welfare of the unproductive.
Buchanan said it is still reversible, but I am skeptical. With China on the rise, the world will see a change in geopolitics not seen in the last 100 years. Barring large scale U-turn such as religious revival, I think Buchanan will be proven correct. America remains powerful in 2025 but the cracks are coming out. It has lost its soul. What we all see are symptoms of a decaying empire. Whether it will collapse, replaced by a new entity, or resurrect itself like a phoenix remains to be seen. Cassandra has spoken and everybody hates it.
June 16, 2019
In his book, Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025, author Patrick J. Buchanan describes changes that are happening to American society that in a matter of one or two generations will have sown the seeds of our eventual destruction. It is, of course, very thought-provoking and some would say controversial in that he states that within a few decades the America we grew up in will become unrecognizable to our parents. The beauty of America has always been the willingness and fervent desire of immigrants to BE American, to learn English, work hard, assimilate, and pursue that better life for themselves and their children. But recently the increases in illegal immigration, the draining of our resources and social programs, and the lack of desire to learn our customs and language and assimilate have put the US government in a downward spiral and our representatives in Washington, DC seem to have no desire to fix the problems, playing politics for votes instead. As I read somewhere, we are no longer a melting pot where new arrivals blend in but rather more like a tossed salad where they instead retain the languages and customs of the countries from which they fled. Worse yet, they seem to be determined to make America into what they left behind and take the rest of our society down with them. We need to wake up and demand that our politicians stop ignoring the dangers and fix these problems. Anyone who really cares about America and its traditions of individuality, self determination, entrepreneurship, and a solid work ethic should read this book.
October 13, 2012
This book brought to light, for me, a number of things I have seen happening in the USA over the years. Now things seem to be coming together. I have seen the Christian religion mocked, crosses removed because they offend someone, not saying Christmas because of the word Christ and the push to remove any reference to God in our schools. We has also seen the rise of the concept "Social Justice" and the call for redistribution of wealth. Yet we are call racist or Islamophobe if we speak out against radical Muslim terrorists or any reference to not approving the policies of our president.
Do we want "equality" or "freedom? Do we want to be able to work to achieve our "American Dream"? Do we want Sheri a Law in the USA? Is the Muslim Brotherhood really the peaceful, secular group that the current administration would have us believe?
It's time for us to look for the truth. This book will aid you in finding it.
Do we want "equality" or "freedom? Do we want to be able to work to achieve our "American Dream"? Do we want Sheri a Law in the USA? Is the Muslim Brotherhood really the peaceful, secular group that the current administration would have us believe?
It's time for us to look for the truth. This book will aid you in finding it.
January 6, 2012
A definite book to read if you love America. Pat Buchanan lays out the problems with our country and the road we must take if we are to save our country and keep it what our forefathers planned it to be. Current powers in charge are slowly destroying all we once had, and must be stopped before we lose all our freedoms.
July 8, 2020
A Prophecy of 2020.
Pat Buchanan proves to be possibly the most wise of the politicians of the late 20th century. Anyone living in 2020 and wondering what caused this mayhem can find their answer in this great work. Should be mandatory reading in public schools.
Pat Buchanan proves to be possibly the most wise of the politicians of the late 20th century. Anyone living in 2020 and wondering what caused this mayhem can find their answer in this great work. Should be mandatory reading in public schools.
December 11, 2011
A book everyone should read if they want to understand what is really happening to their Nation. A concise look at how America is destroying itself in ways that no foreign enemy could accomplish
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews