Episode 1: American Global Leadership And The Situation At Standing Rock

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Segment 1: American Global Leadership

Assertion: America has been the defacto “leader” (superpower) in the world since 1945 and Trump looks to bring that era to an end.

How We Got To Now:

• Post WWII almost everywhere in the world was either not industrialized or totally blown to shit, leaving the U.S. with 50% of world’s GDP.
• Because of above, and unique geographic conditions the U.S. was in a singular position to act as world leader
• Post WWII U.S. spearheaded institutions like the U.N., the IMF, and the World Bank to act as scaffolding for a liberal global order (reinforced by the Fall of the USSR)

Now:

• Isolationism is on the rise in the U.S. - response to failed interventions and pressing needs at home
• Trump - looks to reorienting the U.S. differently in two respects:
  • Toward traditional adversaries, like Russia
  • More Isolationist, relevant to the norm of the Post WWII U.S. order → Kennedy “Bear any burden”

Questions to Explore:

1. Are we all on the same page with the history above?
2. Has global U.S. leadership been “good” or “bad”? What the hell does that even mean?
3. What do we think of today’s current conditions?
4. Where do we go from here?

Segment #2: ACTION - Standing Rock 

How we got to now:

• Energy Transfer Partners is building a pipeline from the Bakken oil field in North Dakota to Patoka, IL
• Pipeline route goes just upstream from The Standing Rock Indian Reservation resulting in major concerns about oil spill implications for the drinking water
  • Also, Pipeline goes through recently discovered sacred/burial ground

Now:

• There have been protests for several months, several which turned violent
• Lawsuit to end halt the pipeline filed by the tribe is currently winding its way through the courts.
  • DC court denied injunction but Obama stepped in saying Army Corps of Engineers is looking at alternative routes
• Energy Transfer Partners CEO donated $100,000 to the Trump campaign and company said they expect Trump to approve pipeline in Jan.

What you can do about it:

1. Immediately
   1. Donate money
   2. Some debate about physically going to the camp
   3. Talk with friends and family about the issue - seems small ball but has been proven to be wicked effective
   4. Volunteer with organizations support native rights or environmental causes
2. Long-term
   1. Climate activism

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