That Used to Be US

How America Fell Behind in the World it Invented and How We can Come Back

Reviewed by Madeleine Kando

Although it is one of the most depressing books I've read in a long time, as a historical document, 'That Used to be Us' co-authored by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum, is very informative. The first half explains in concise, well-written prose how America, since the end of the Cold War, has made mistake after mistake by misreading global events and reacting to them in the wrong way. This is partly a result of America's tendency to believe that it is the center of the world and that it is better than other countries. This breeds complacency and creates a skewed view of reality.

After the gloom and doom of the first part of the book, one would expect the second half to include some inspiring revelation on how to fix America. Even though things are really bad, 'We can Come Back', right? "Our big challenges today require the kind of national responses that wars have evoked” they write. But all they come up with are lots of examples without a general formula.

The fact is that the authors are part of the problem, not the solution. Friedman and Mandelbaum are part of the American elite, the establishment, and, even though they speak from a liberal platform, which is commendable, their book is addressed to the elite, not the average Joe. Page after page, they urge Americans to 'go the extra mile', to not just be an average assembly-line worker, but an exceptional one. So that we can compete, both as individuals and as a nation. Doing your best is not enough any more. You have to become 'the best of the best' at whatever you do.

But isn't that what brought America down in the first place? Trying to be the best? Why do we have to be number one all the time? Why do we have to be the ones to create a democratic state in the Middle East? Aren't we fleecing our own country in the process? What happened to not being the best but just enjoy being second best?

Why do we have to be what we used to be? Is it healthy for a nation to always have to be the leader, the top dog? Look at many European countries. They have thrived in their position as second fiddlers. It allowed them to accumulate wealth while the top dog was sweating it out, trying to protect the pack. America isn't about to disappear from the world map. It might not be at the front of the pack any more, but maybe that is not such a bad thing.

The authors are so concerned with maintaining America's 'exceptional' status in the world that they don't even realize that that time has come and gone. They mourn what we used to be, a global leader. Their description of how America 'invented' the world is, in one sense, accurate. (The whole world is wearing Levy's and playing rock and roll music). But is that still a viable goal in today's world?

It's hard on the ego to see someone else surpass you in achievements: China now has the fastest bullet train and the fastest computer, not us. The question is: at what price? The Fins have a better educational system. That's true but their system grew organically, it wasn’t' a result of self-denial or trying to be the best of the best.

Countries do what they can to be half-way decent places to live. America is no exception. If Friedman and Mandelbaum want us to be superhumans in order to remain number one, let them ask the same from other countries.

The reality is that our political system, even though it is dysfunctional at the moment, is the only one we have. Friedman's pie in the sky suggestion, that a third-party guru will materialize to create harmony and cooperation, is unrealistic. Let's focus on the mess we are in and try to avoid worse disasters.

I wish the authors were more honest in their intentions with this book. Who are they really talking to? Their message to the politicians, that it is imperative that we fix our infrastructure and our educational system, is the right one. If we don't, we'll not just be number 25 in the world, but we will become a Third World country.

Their message to the rest of us, however, that we should become superhuman to compete, rings hollow. We are already doing a superhuman effort just to survive. leave comment here