The Crisis of Profligacy

In "The Crisis of Profligacy" from the novel "The Limits to Power" the Author Andrew J Bacevich discusses the need for America and other countries to gain power. In his novel he discusses how peace leads to money coming into the states. He describes how after World War II people were breaking down barriers. He also describes the shrinking gap between higher and second class citizens. He also describes that during the 1960's different groups started to gain more rights such as women, African Americans, the gays etc. Andrew describes that during the 1970's the United States suffered an oil shock in which they were left without oil. This caused for many prices to go up. In the time of 1979 President Carter was supposed to give a speech to the American people them of his plan to stop the economic crisis. If he succeeded in solving the American’s problem he would be re-elected for the presidency. President Carter created a new speech which didn't speak about a solution to the economic problem. But it instead spoke about the American people's need to constantly buy things in which he wasn't elected again. In the novel Bacevich speaks about the power of conservation. He speaks about the need to find a way to conserve energy. He also describes the government's need to discover oil and maintain their power. Bacevich speaks about the power of expansionism and the way that this can help them gain more power and wealth.