Sensible Politics Thread |
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Mar 31 2017, 03:04 PM
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Mertay and Kristofer illustrate my point perfectly.
Regardless of whether it will happen or not (a new war), this is how most of the rest of the world feels they have to deal with us. Scared and wary of us most of the time. The President by himself can't 'declare war'. He must get the consent of congress. He can order a response in the case of an emergency i.e., Pearl Harbor or 911. I don't think right now that either the American people or the congress have the stomach for another conflict. At this point he doesn't really have congress on his side. We're perfectly happy fighting our proxy war against Iran over in Syria and continuing to battle Isis in Iraq. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Mar 31 2017, 05:33 PM
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QUOTE (AK Rich @ Mar 31 2017, 08:29 AM)  Of course the barbarians believe that, so what? Who gives a damn? I sure don't. We know what they are. You could translate your next statement to meaning respected and feared, and some will think poorly of us. That's how it goes when you are the biggest and baddest gorilla on the block, it goes with the territory. I have never been too concerned about what other people think of me because I know that I do right by myself and others and I sleep well at night because of that. I am not going to change anything just to make someone who doesn't agree with me happy. Nor should the USA. If someone doesn't like that , well that's just tough shit. Feared yes, respected ... not so much anymore. Your own slightly aggressive and defensive response is exactly why and again illustrating my point perfectly. So much of the rest of the world, our allies included, see us as constantly just saying "Fuck you" to the rest of the planet all the time. It's one thing to be the strongest kid on the block, it's quite another to be the biggest asshole on the block. Most people around the world like Americans individually and also generally like the 'idea' of America. Part of that 'American ideal' and one that I personally feel is our strongest potential aspect and trait, is that we can be the biggest and baddest w/o having to act like a clumsy, spoiled child. This post has been edited by klasaine: Mar 31 2017, 05:35 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Mar 31 2017, 05:34 PM
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QUOTE (klasaine @ Mar 30 2017, 04:02 PM) Other than flying jets into buildings, the "barbaric" other side thinks and says the exact same things about us. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655 -------------------- Cyber-industrial music and video animations:
https://vimeo.com/channels/thedignitymachine https://vimeo.com/channels/somewheretohide Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodrigoSpacecraft |
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Mar 31 2017, 08:23 PM
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QUOTE (AK Rich @ Mar 31 2017, 11:17 AM) Because a lot the rest of the world seems to think that we owe them something, they seem to think our wealth should be redistributed amongst them even though we give away far more than any other nation, or because we don't embrace a form of Socialism that is a baby step away from a hybrid form of Communism/Fascism. Some want us to abandon Free Market Capitalism and adapt a form of gov like some of their own countries that has their tentacles into everything. No, they don't Rich. In general, they do not, either as individual citizens or as sovereign nations think that we owe them something/anything. In fact the 'perception' - and I want to emphasize perception - is quite the opposite. Their perception, due to the rhetoric of EVERY administration since FDR, is that (in american eyes) they will never ever be able to repay us for saving them from the Axis powers. And by extension that we, the USA has carte blanche over world policy. But we've fucked up a lot since WWII. Korea, Viet Nam, Central America, Iraq - these were not very successful endeavors. I perfectly understand why we involved ourselves. I even agree with a lot of the reasons. But unfortunately, we caused more harm and damage than we helped and fixed. A lot of that damage was/is to ourselves in reputation and honor. Don't get me wrong, I am by no means a sycophantic US apologist. We are a big, diverse, complex, confusing and still to some degree, by necessity, an imperialistic nation. Folks from other countries have a hard time truly understanding this place until they hang out here for a while. Conversely, Americans don't really 'get' the rest of the world until they have to engage with it. Club Med, a cruise or a 2 week trip to the elegant capital cities doesn't count - you're just a tourist spending money. A commodity. This is true from both sides. I'm lucky. I have traveled a lot. For work when I was younger and didn't have a family and now because my wife's entire family lives in Italy. I go every year for more than a month and I hang out with 'the people'. I/we have friends there. I speak the language a bit. I go out drinking with the guys. I'll do a few gigs on some trips. I am not a tourist anymore. I get a whole other perspective. I'm just relating what I know first hand. *In actuality, we, the US, doesn't really factor into their daily life at all. Regardless of what we think and what we think the rest of the world thinks - we are not the center of the world. This post has been edited by klasaine: Mar 31 2017, 09:39 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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