ok what did you think

[Dravin]

2)While silly, people's defenses naturally come up due to heavy nationalist feelings.

I don't think it's always nationalism (though that can certainly play a role). Everyone I personally know is American, so if you criticize Americans you end up criticize everyone I know, including myself.

Edited January 28, 2011 by Dravin

[MarginOfError]

I don't think it's always nationalism (though that can certainly play a role). Everyone I personally know is American, so if you criticize Americans you end up criticize everyone I know, including myself.

And what exactly is wrong with criticizing you, Dravin?

[Dravin]

And what exactly is wrong with criticizing you, Dravin?

Knowing where to start?

[bytor2112]

Hi Bytor,

While I won't be providing links, you should be able to do a search on Stanford's website. They did a study on that very thing.

The reason I won't provide links is for two reasons:

1) This is the one thing that angers the rest of the world towards the US, so links will often be coloured by that anger. I did a search on that very thing and was given a plethora of websites. Unfortunately, they could be seen as Anti-American. As someone who has nothing but respect for the American people, I didn't want to post something that linked to Anti-American sentiment.

2) There's a tendency, when speaking about any country, that people will assume that any criticism means that you hate the country in question. While silly, people's defenses naturally come up due to heavy nationalist feelings.

I hear ya.....I think it is a two way street. Does the average smo in Georgia really know what goes on in the U.S.A. compared to the average smo in the U.S.A.? Maybe.

Maybe it's becuase many countries depend on our aid or that our political economic decisions impact their nations so deeply...if that's case, then I would imagine it is in their best interest to be in the know or at least seeking to be in the know. But Europe is so much different that the States. I mean France is just ahop, skip and jump away from Germany...kind of like leaving Florida and driving to Arkansas. (different languages though) Come to think of it....they speak a bit of a different language in Arkansas than in Florida too....and I don't have a clue what goes on in Arkansas.

[rameumptom]

Statistics not required. Nothing ever happens in Canada so naturally, they're fascinated with news from everywhere else. It's just a logical deduction.

The most shameful aspect of the Obama speech is that is is the most plagiarized speech given by any president in US history. They didn't even try to conceal the fact that they were pasting right from Eisenhower, Wilson, Reagan, JFK, and others who gave memorable speeches.

Yeah, I really was suspicious when he said, "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall, and all we have to fear is fear itself." Oh, wait, he didn't say that.

I don't think he quoted anyone. However, he did reflect the ideas of many previous presidents. But what is wrong with that? I much prefer a president who considers the past and how previous presidents have dealt with certain circumstances, rather than paving a new way entirely, as Pres Obama did in his first 2 years.

I just wonder how much was rhetoric, and how much he really meant. After all, he has said before that he would work with the Republicans - before totally ignoring them for 18 months.

[NeuroTypical]

The world pays attention to the US, because we are the world's most powerful country (measured in economic and military terms), and it's only superpower. Some even go so far as to characterize the US as a military empire, what with half a million US military folks stationed in 147 countries and all. It makes perfect sense that folks in other countries who stay abreast of current events, are staying abreast of US current events too.

This isn't bragging. In fact, it scares the willies out of me. Pride going before the fall, and all.

[RipplecutBuddha]

I didn't watch the speech for two reasons

1. There's something about the man that immediately grates against me. Every time he begins to speak, it's like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. I just can't bring myself to listen to anything he says....at all. At this point in time, I also know I can't believe anything he says, which makes it even more difficult to try and hear him speak.

2. I was working at the time, so I had no opportunity. For what it's worth, the television in the lounge of the hotel I work at was tuned to ESPN during the entire speach, according to the guests that were in there, so it seems I'm not alone in this.

[Saintmichaeldefendthem1]

The world pays attention to the US, because we are the world's most powerful country (measured in economic and military terms), and it's only superpower. Some even go so far as to characterize the US as a military empire, what with half a million US military folks stationed in 147 countries and all. It makes perfect sense that folks in other countries who stay abreast of current events, are staying abreast of US current events too.

This isn't bragging. In fact, it scares the willies out of me. Pride going before the fall, and all.

It would seem that if we are looking for places to cut spending, this is a good start. Wouldn't it be sad if historians in the future said, "America the great had fallen because they never faced the fact that the cold war was over"?

[bytor2112]

It would seem that if we are looking for places to cut spending, this is a good start. Wouldn't it be sad if historians in the future said, "America the great had fallen because they never faced the fact that the cold war was over"?

Highly doubtful that the relatively small anount spent on national defense in comparison with the GDP will result in the downfall of the USA. That being said, our U.S service folks likely provide a very nice boost to he economic outlook in the countries where we have men and women deployed.

[Saintmichaeldefendthem1]

Highly doubtful that the relatively small anount spent on national defense in comparison with the GDP will result in the downfall of the USA. That being said, our U.S service folks likely provide a very nice boost to he economic outlook in the countries where we have men and women deployed.

Good. Now that we're agreed that we don't need all these overseas posts to maintain our economic sovereignty, when do we begin bringing them home?

[RipplecutBuddha]

probably as soon as the nations they are stationed in don't want us there anymore. Having a permanent US military presence in another nation is a boost to that nation's security and economy....the soldiers stationed there spend their money there as well. It's what friends do, help each other.

[Saintmichaeldefendthem1]

probably as soon as the nations they are stationed in don't want us there anymore. Having a permanent US military presence in another nation is a boost to that nation's security and economy....the soldiers stationed there spend their money there as well. It's what friends do, help each other.

Really? That should be the signal, when the host nations decide to voluntarily give up an arrangement that benefits them? Should we take a poll to see how many Americans think we need to be helping ourselves and boosting our own economy right now?

[RipplecutBuddha]

Well, yes actually. Iraq does not want a permanent US military presence, so we won't be there. However, we've had a permanent military presence in Germany, Italy, and Japan ever since the end of WWII. Same thing for South Korea and South Vietnam.

What you fail to take into account is that despite all the problems we are facing at home, isolating ourselves from the rest of the world as much as possible will not correct them.

The biggest source of the problems we are facing is lack of accountability on the federal level, uncontrolled spending directly related to the first point, and an unwillingness on the part of the citizens in general to wean themselves from the very federal handouts/programs that are currently crushing our economy.

None of those issues have anything to do with our military activity/expenditures.

[Saintmichaeldefendthem1]

Well, yes actually. Iraq does not want a permanent US military presence, so we won't be there. However, we've had a permanent military presence in Germany, Italy, and Japan ever since the end of WWII. Same thing for South Korea and South Vietnam.

What you fail to take into account is that despite all the problems we are facing at home, isolating ourselves from the rest of the world as much as possible will not correct them.

The biggest source of the problems we are facing is lack of accountability on the federal level, uncontrolled spending directly related to the first point, and an unwillingness on the part of the citizens in general to wean themselves from the very federal handouts/programs that are currently crushing our economy.

None of those issues have anything to do with our military activity/expenditures.

All the more reason that we need to start slashing costs. I served a tour in South Korea so I have an idea of how much it costs to support overseas postings. Everything is shipped over, even groceries, and the cost is subsidized so that merchandise is sold at the same price as at stateside PX's and commissaries.

What entitlement programs are you referring to? Social Security? I would love to see the demise of that program, but it has to be phased out gradually while keeping our promises to current recipients and upcoming baby boomers. That takes money from the treasury since there is no "trust fund" to speak of. The cold war is over and expensive cold war deployments need to be retired so we can focus on more urgent domestic matters.

[rubondfan2]

Well, yes actually. Iraq does not want a permanent US military presence, so we won't be there.

Really? Are you sure about that? Show me a plan to remove every single US soldier and contractor from the region. A statement from Barack that "the war is over" doesn't count as a true exit strategy. There is a big difference between pulling out the majority of combat troops and actually leaving a country entirely. The U.S. simply does not know how to leave a country entirely once we force ourselves onto their soil.

However, we've had a permanent military presence in Germany, Italy, and Japan ever since the end of WWII. Same thing for South Korea and South Vietnam.

What you fail to take into account is that despite all the problems we are facing at home, isolating ourselves from the rest of the world as much as possible will not correct them.

I personally wouldn't call wanting to pull our bases from around the world "isolating ourselves". What purpose is served by our having U.S. military bases all over the world in today's climate? The reason we even HAVE bases around the world resulted from the establishment of a military industrial complex warned about by then President Eisenhower in his final address to the nation as president. We then entered the "Cold War" and supposedly the justification for establishing strategic command posts around the world. I would argue that our high-and-mighty-policemen-to-the-world United States government could be found guilty of the very thing our founding ancestors freaked out and ran from back in the 1600's & 1700's; namely... imperialism. How are we really any different than imperialist England? Not much, in my opinion.

The biggest source of the problems we are facing is lack of accountability on the federal level, uncontrolled spending directly related to the first point, and an unwillingness on the part of the citizens in general to wean themselves from the very federal handouts/programs that are currently crushing our economy.

None of those issues have anything to do with our military activity/expenditures.

I don't disagree with your points, but would further suggest that our sprint toward a socialistic, nanny-state financed with a fiat currency over the past 100 years has contributed mightily to our financial situation.

I propose we require the Federal Goverment to qualify for additional debt under the same program that every one of us grunts has to... the Credit Bureau score. I wonder what the credit score would be for "Uncle Sam"... any takers on guesses... a 250... 300??

Edited February 8, 2011 by rubondfan2