2012-10-02, 18:07 | Link #865 | |
Love Yourself
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Northeast USA
Age: 38
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I can see where that type of thinking would come from. It isn't wrong, either. The more involved we are, the more we have some sort of say in. If we're not there, then other countries may be having a say without us or that doesn't even involve us. Valid concern. The problem with this type of thinking is that it's not particularly insightful. Would we like it if some other country were all over the place? Don't choose a country that we're strong friends with, like Britain or Israel; choose countries where people are ambivalent or even hostile, like Russia, China, Iran, maybe even Pakistan. Most people would hate it. They'd become incredibly resentful, and probably fearful. I think that's universal among all people. It's also short-sighted in that we might be getting ourselves out there and involved, but we're generating a lot of ill will toward ourselves in the process. That's bad enough on its own, but we also have to remember that this involvement costs us a lot of money. Can we sustain it? Are we setting ourselves up for foreign relations problems in the future? But maybe at the crux of it is many Americans' desire to be #1. Even though we're behind many other countries in many metrics, many Americans still cling to this idea that America is the best country on Earth in nearly every measurable area. Where would we be if we reduced our military spending a bit and got out of everyone else's business? China is close to overtaking us as the world's #1 economic power; if we're not out there "fighting evil" and making it known that we're the most important, what will distinguish us from all of the other countries? And if we're just like the rest of them, then what will prevent us from ensuring that we get our way no matter what? Valid concerns. I happen to think that we've been overstepping our bounds quite badly and that the more civilized thing to do would be to act at the same level as the other world nations, instead of throwing our power around. My guess is that many on "the right" would argue that such a view is stupid, and that since we have the power and we're currently in a position to push other countries around, we should do everything that we can to maintain it. "Might makes right" and all.
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2012-10-02, 18:47 | Link #867 | |
Love Yourself
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Northeast USA
Age: 38
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Quote:
Sounds like neither camp wants them, and they both try to demonize the other party by claiming that the other party is affiliated with them.
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2012-10-02, 18:59 | Link #868 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 47
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There are different kinds of elite rich. Who they support depends on what party's policies do for their corperation/industry/investments. Those that suggest something that will hurt their pocketbook get the boot or the elite changes to th other party who might have a better policy for their needs.
This can hingle on a party's stance on foreign investment verses domestic investment. It could be on foreign policy (in the areas that might effect commerse or the supply sources). Or regulation policies. Or worker relations (Unions). Or even immigration policy.
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2012-10-02, 19:00 | Link #869 | |
Knight Errant
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 36
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Facilitating democratic movements, on the other hand, is. Also, if we look at how America can really spread it's ideals, the best way is to open up. Bring Foreigners to America for an education, let them see how we do things in the west, and why it's so great, and then let them bring those ideas back home. Likewise, we need to get our own people out into the world too. To bring beneficial foreign ideas back here. Furthermore, if more people have experience of being in a foreign country, they'll have a much better grasp of issues in other countries. For instance, I spent a year on exchange in the US, and it had a big impact on how I thought about things. It confirmed some of my views (gun laws) and changed others (ideas on limited government, now I'm largely in favour, though I favour a less limited government then many americans...), but overall it was highly enlightening. I think this sort of thing should be done more. In fact, I think it should become like a rite of passage. A bit like Apprentices becoming Journeymen and wandering around. People need to see more of the world to get a better understanding. A big problem with America is that most Americans have never been outside America. If they're lucky they've seen Mexico (Canada doesn't count ). |
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2012-10-02, 19:30 | Link #870 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 47
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What I see are the ones that want America to be self sufficient. They remember when the US was the manufacturing and agricultural leader on the planet. They want that back. Their foreign policy seems to be to give the world the middle finger outside of have them "Buy USA Products". Basically they want to ignore the rest of the world. Isolationists.
They believe that the only reason the other countries are gaining us is because we gave our stuff away, be in manufactuing to China, or money and debt relief to Europe and Japan. They want the US that existed at the end of World War II. The one that was king of the mountain.
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2012-10-02, 20:25 | Link #872 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
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The problem is there isn't just one "they" ... the "they" outsourcing are "transnationals" ... they may be American by birth but they're exploiting the entire planet and I'm not even sure they self-identify as American other than its a nice place to be a corporation lately.
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2012-10-03, 05:47 | Link #874 | |
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
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Analysis: How opponents held back the voter ID tide
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8911CQ20121002 Quote:
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2012-10-03, 13:57 | Link #875 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
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If it costs money, its a poll tax - long held illegal. Identification cards should be paid out of the general budget (tax revenues). They should be easily and quickly obtained or its an obstruction to legal voting, the states have failed on that one too - which is hilarious because vote suppressors are the same people who don't want to fund government activities.
Taking someone OFF the roll and then requiring them to prove they are legit? -- pretty good case for that violating the "innocent til proven guilty" parts of the Constitution. Most of the casesa are turning out quite embarrassing for the suppressors (veterans, long time residents, public figures, etc) Actual evidence of vote fraud by voters -- almost zero, none, nada. Evidence of *incompetent* voter roll maintenance? -- a lot, because the conservatives don't want to pay what it costs to do that. Evidence of vote COUNT fraud at the county level by election commision staff -- substantial in key flippable states, but o look it was the GOP supporters doing that. Oh snap. Vote suppression is a historically documented tactic used almost exclusively by the conservative "power class" to keep the "rabble" from voting.
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2012-10-03, 17:14 | Link #878 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Quote:
It's an interesting group Romney has gathered, but fairly skewed towards free-market hardliners. |
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2012-10-03, 17:22 | Link #879 |
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
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Akin's Campaign Stands By Claim Of Abortions On Women Who "Are Not Actually Pregnant"
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rebeccaberg/...bortions-on-wo At least it look like than this moron will not be elected: Two polls have McCaskill up 6 points over Akin http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/...nts-over-akin/
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2012-10-03, 17:23 | Link #880 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 47
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Those sorts of groups with be more in line for informing one what it possible or not possible if a President had any intension of starting federal public works, funding for industry to return to US soil, or wanted to advance specific technology fields with federal dollars (like NASA projects). Many of those are long term goal related items. The economy is down now and they political types and their backers are interested in money now an dto continue to have money later. Not much else, save maybe having a country later so they can keep having money.
Because if they break the US, then it is possible they will break their own money sources.
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