"Oh boy, I bet he's got some party-line idea for how to make those nasty Islamo-fascist terrorists all start to love the USA again. Well, isn't that just precious." - I can't blame you if those were your thoughts upon reading my headline. I would think the same thing. I think I might be onto something here, so bear with me.
The answer to Terrorism is Transportation.
We are NOT fighting a war. Any deployment of military efforts - unless with the most exacting intelligence and singularity of purpose - will NOT advance our cause in this "war on terror." We are suffering through a depression. A depression of our economic capacity, of our global responsibility, of our individual satisfaction. As Tyler Durden put it,
Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.
Now, I hate dwelling on who is to blame for this fiasco of a war, the scandals that demoralize millions, the economy that is being shipped due East, the policies that enforce poverty and segregate
our society, the profiteers of political failure. What we are dealing with is called by us planners a "wicked problem," it has no agreed upon cause or solution. Tony Soprano would call it "fucked". N. Gregory Mankiw says "rational people think at the margin". Bull. In a world filled with wicked problems there is no margin, critical issues multiply and inflame one another, dealing with "margins" is incomprehensible and inappropriate. In this case, rational people think at the system level. People who believe that marginal improvements will eventually lead to a better society are in denial. At this point in our technological development and definitions for "just, free, and equitable" society, we must reconsider the ways we solve problems.
A new approach is needed. Not a theory but a solution, not an ideology but an escape route.
We need to learn from a past solution to this vast sensation of depression, fear, anxiety and hostility. The New Deal was largely an economic fix that also had social impacts. People who believe their work is serving some greater purpose are not so easily terrified by thoughts of the future. Without meaningful work people believe there is no hope, no future, no reason to fight. If we are fighting in a world without a future why should we care about issues like torture in prisons, or the Geneva Conventions. So, what I think we need is something akin to FDR's policy to work us out of our depression.
Why Transportation and what does that mean.
Two recent terrorist attacks: one on a rail line, one using an air line. Our methods of transportation are still largely vulnerable in spite of increased security. The use of non-renewable resources to power all but the simplest methods [walking, cycling] leaves us open to the threats of high prices, shortages, and potential resource exhaustion. So, how can we arrange our vast intelligence, mighty economy, skilled labor forces, and national agenda in a way that will positively encourage Americans [and restore international respect] and not increase our vulnerabilities. [Here's a hint: it has nothing to do with 'Staying the Course'.]
We need comprehensive transportation reform. We must be ready for the double-trouble problems of security and resource availability. We need solutions for urban areas [especially those which rely on autos and busses] and rural areas; plus we need solutions for our intra-urban and cross-country connections. In the last 100 years our national transportation policy has had its focus on one instrument of transit, the automobile. While the car is economically efficient, the policy focus on it has lowered the priority of improving and securing our "mass" transit methods. [Mass is in quotes because the label has become synomous with danger and delays in spite of all research.] In addition to improving our policy, a new system means new infrastructure, new building means new jobs, jobs mean hope, meaningful jobs lead to a better future. In addition, given our national strengths we can find some way to make these reforms sustainable in terms of resource usage and environmental impacts. Without that, any benefits from transportation reform would be short-term, they would not compel us to the lofty goals of such a program.
You might be asking, now...
does he actually believe he can title his post 'How to win the war on Terrorism' without mentioning the capture of Osama, our policy in Iraq and our military issues. The answer: Yes. To understand the war on terrorism, as it's inappropriately called, we musk realize that this is a war that takes place inside your mind. This war is all about perception, not about military presence. Sure, we'll have to deal with Iraq, but we can't change the past, we're already there and we will probably be there for a while. The thing about wars is they are notorious for unpredictable results. For instance, Eisenhower learned the durability of highways from Nazi Germany's Autobahn [
link]. Maybe history repeats itself and we'll learn something from Iraq. Who knows.
[Before I started writing this I was reading this story on the
BBC webpage. This is exactly why our nation needs to continue to be a beacon of hope to the world.]
