Does America wonder WHY?

[Vic]

I formulated my opinion on this quite some time ago. America is the New Rome. We are the on the brink of being able to control the entire world for centuries to come, with little to no opposition. Naturally there are people and other countries out there who are not exactly thrilled by that idea.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: PSYWVic
I formulated my opinion on this quite some time ago. America is the New Rome. We are the on the brink of being able to control the entire world for centuries to come, with little to no opposition. Naturally there are people and other countries out there who are not exactly thrilled by that idea.

Centuries? Riiiiight. China has 1.3 billion people and their economy averaged over 8% growth in the 90's. As for controlling the world, I don't see how? The EU isn't exactly a weak organisation and the US seems to have little influence in Europe. And China will never allow for the United States to become too much of an influence in their own country.

China will be a superpower by the end of next decade, and the #1 power by 2100. Don't think I relish that thought.

 

[JellyBaby]

StinkyPinky, you're thinking early 20th century. Today's War isn't always waged by force of arm. No, it's an economic War, benefiting a select few immensely but also benefiting others indirectly. And, of course, causing a great deal of harm to others.

It's not about conquering, pillaging and dominating Arab lands. It's about conquering, pillaging and dominating their resources, economies and cultures. It sounds extreme but my eyes are opening to this. If you study the West's interventionalism over the centuries, especially the last 100 years, you see a dangerous picture forming.

There is a root cause for modern day terrorism and it starts after WW II coinciding with the US and its Allies taking grand priviledge in the Spoils of War.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: JellyBaby
StinkyPinky, you're thinking early 20th century. Today's War isn't always waged by force of arm. No, it's an economic War, benefiting a select few immensely but also benefiting others indirectly. And, of course, causing a great deal of harm to others.

It's not about conquering, pillaging and dominating Arab lands. It's about conquering, pillaging and dominating their resources, economies and cultures. It sounds extreme but my eyes are opening to this. If you study the West's interventionalism over the centuries, especially the last 100 years, you see a dangerous picture forming.

There is a root cause for modern day terrorism and it starts after WW II coinciding with the US and its Allies taking grand priviledge in the Spoils of War.

Elaborate.

 

[Moonbeam]

I agree. Very elaborate and well put.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: JellyBaby
StinkyPinky, you're thinking early 20th century. Today's War isn't always waged by force of arm. No, it's an economic War, benefiting a select few immensely but also benefiting others indirectly. And, of course, causing a great deal of harm to others.

It's not about conquering, pillaging and dominating Arab lands. It's about conquering, pillaging and dominating their resources, economies and cultures. It sounds extreme but my eyes are opening to this. If you study the West's interventionalism over the centuries, especially the last 100 years, you see a dangerous picture forming.

There is a root cause for modern day terrorism and it starts after WW II coinciding with the US and its Allies taking grand priviledge in the Spoils of War.

Okay, maybe I've smoked too much of the good stuff. No, scratch that. I have smoked too much of the good stuff. But I don't see how this is relevant to what I said?? My point was that the US will struggle to maintain #1 spot going into the 22nd century. I hope I'm wrong. Despite what you may think, I would prefer a Western superpower over China anyday of the week. If you seriously think China will be more humane than the US and the West, you are mistaken. They will bring a whole new meaning to the word 'exploitation'.

As for what you were saying about WW2...what do you mean? Why shouldn't the allies take the spoils of war? We didn't start it, and therefore deserve compensation.

 

[popok]

Originally posted by: JellyBaby

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Nice map, popok About sums it up. LOL

Well I hope it's not that bad but it does point out how others on this planet we share view us, if only in parody.

I have another parody but this one is a french video. It's an extract from a daily show with puppets wich comment events of the day. The authors are not very friendly with USA.
In this video, there is the puppet of Bush (I think you'll recognize him). Other puppets represent typical members of US government and companies.
Speeches are in english, subtitled in french, but I don't know if it's a very good english. If you don't understand, I can translate text.

It shows what a lot of people (in Europe, Asia and Africa) think about US policies concerning environment.

video

 

[PlatinumGold]

it starts after WW II coinciding with the US and its Allies taking grand priviledge in the Spoils of War.

Are we thinking of the same war?? the war after which the US rebuilt the economies of BOTH germany and Japan to the point that they are the #2 and #3 economies in the World?? spoils of war??

 

[smp]

I've known a lot of rich people, and somewhere along the line they stepped on people's backs to get where they are, the US is no different. You are only successful, powerful and rich because of your foreign affairs and international business practices, which many people throughout the world deem highly militaristic and underhanded. Take for example the soft wood trade dispute between Canada and the States .... the US was pushing for free trade in the 80's, they got it, and the Canadian soft wood started to roll in .. US lumber couldn't compete with the cheap Canadian lumber so the States put tarrifs on the Canadian stuff .... uh, wasn't there a deal signed? Who cares?! We're rich and powerful, screw you, what are you gonna do? And that, is the attitude that so many throughout the world think of when they think of America.
A very similar attitude is expressed in ATOT day in and day out.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky

Originally posted by: PSYWVic
I formulated my opinion on this quite some time ago. America is the New Rome. We are the on the brink of being able to control the entire world for centuries to come, with little to no opposition. Naturally there are people and other countries out there who are not exactly thrilled by that idea.

Centuries? Riiiiight. China has 1.3 billion people and their economy averaged over 8% growth in the 90's. As for controlling the world, I don't see how? The EU isn't exactly a weak organisation and the US seems to have little influence in Europe. And China will never allow for the United States to become too much of an influence in their own country.

China will be a superpower by the end of next decade, and the #1 power by 2100. Don't think I relish that thought.

China's economy is only growing right now because of the expansion of American industries into their country. "China will never allow"... ? They already have allowed, they got 1.3 billion mouths to feed.
The EU exists only because the US rebuilt them after WWII. And they are little match for the combined economic powerhouse of the North America (which is why NAFTA exists in the first place).
As for only economic battles in the future? Don't delude yourself. Military might is just as important as ever, and the US spends more on its military than the rest of the world combined. Does the EU have permanent military installations in the US? Hell no, but the US does in the EU. Someone has to maintain the peace so everyone else can do business and that someone is US.
Welcome to the Pax Americana.

 

[JellyBaby]

Zakath15, PlatinumGold, StinkyPinky: I'm still studying the idea as I get free time but in short, the West asserted dominance in key places throughout the world after WW1 and WW2. Allied countries were given "mandates" over terrorities for various reasons. For instance, Britain "earned" a mandate over Iraq early in the 20th century.

These mandates allowed said countries to manipulate and shape the dominated countries. It's no wonder why much of the world quite literally hates us. Governments and certain corporations have meddled and continue to do so for political and economic advantage, often at the expense of the exploited. By what right?

 

[StinkyPinky]

China's economy is only growing right now because of the expansion of American industries into their country. "China will never allow"... ? They already have allowed, they got 1.3 billion mouths to feed.

Sorry, but China is mostly fuelled by massive internal demand from a huge domestic market. Have you actually been to China? I've been twice. Once in 1994 and another time in 2000. The difference between those six years was amazing. China is changing at a rate no westerner can fathom. Already the balance of power in Asia is shifting from Tokyo to Beijing.

The EU exists only because the US rebuilt them after WWII. And they are little match for the combined economic powerhouse of the North America (which is why NAFTA exists in the first place).

WW2 is old news, and irrelevant now anyway. Rubbing WW2 into Europeans' faces every five minutes gets old, really really fast. And the EU wields considerable clout. Maybe not as much as North America, but that wasn't my point.

Look, I'm not here to wage some EU vs USA vs China debate. I don't give a fsck about petty crap like that. That's for little boys. I was just disputing your point about the US being an unopposed superpower for "centuries". You underestimate the human spirit my friend. Just as the British did before.

 

[mboy]

BennyD is just made that he is English and not German like he would have been if it weren't for The US!