Unfairness of Not Being American

[Seeker]

It's quite unfair not to be an American.

I don't mean living in their cities. Or working at one of their jobs. Or participating in their society and culture. Those are all things most people from non-third world countries could do without.

What I'm talking about is not being able to have any say over where they point their guns and who they decide to go bomb.

That is really the most important immediate issue affecting the people of the world these days. It used to be an illusion of mine that 'don't invade us we won't invade you' was a pretty good international policy for most countries, but to misquote Hamlet 'What Needs They Fear When None Can Call their Power to Account?'.

There are decisions being made in-front-of and behind the cameras these days that will affect the lives of everyone living in the modern age and yet it seems that a minority of pollsters, 'media personalities', corporate opinion makers, and assorted nutballs have an inordinate influence over the trigger fingers of the strongest military force.

EDIT: Oh, and to head off the inevitable comment, I am over five years old and realize that life isn't fair.

[Japher]

So, really what you are saying is that it is unfair that the US has such a large military force and that the UN is a bunch idiots?

I agree.

I agree in general, that too few people hold way too much of the power, and that when that powere isn't used correctly it really sticks out, and that more times than naught it is because the one with the power is a nutjob.

Regardless, if you give a majority of the power to the whole of the people nothing will gone due to lack of consesus.

[DinoDoc]

Don't worry, Seeker. We'll get back to a Cold War soon enough.

[Seeker]

YAY! That means the Russians will be able to field a respectable hockey team again....

Or were you talking about the Silly Sub thing and the Big Bad Dollar Threat? (China)

As long as the balancing power isn't India. That would suck. I've been reading up on the Partition conflict, and believe me you do NOT want 'the world's largest democracy' in charge of world affairs. They'd make us all read the Mahayana and ride elephants!! Have you ever stood next to an elephant? They stink!!

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Seeker
YAY! That means the Russians will be able to field a respectable hockey team again....

No, there's no danger of Russia being a threat again beyond giving nuclear weapons to crazy Islamic countries.

[DinoDoc]

Oh and this thread is crying out for this:

[Lorizael]

Re: Unfairness of Not Being American

Originally posted by Seeker
...a minority of pollsters, 'media personalities', corporate opinion makers, and assorted nutballs have an inordinate influence over the trigger fingers of the strongest military force.

While our government is, by and large, controlled by a small and unelected elite, this ain't it.

[MarkG]

Re: Unfairness of Not Being American

Originally posted by Seeker
What I'm talking about is not being able to have any say over where they point their guns and who they decide to go bomb.

are you sure the american people decide this stuff?

[Krill]

Still, beter than NK.

[Seeker]

Who is it then and where do they live?

Is it the Cthulhu Cult? Masons? Vermont? The League of Jewish Clowns? Stan Lee?

[Lorizael]

Uh, it's just rich people, dude.

[Krill]

Re: Re: Unfairness of Not Being American

Originally posted by MarkG [q=Seeker]What I'm talking about is not being able to have any say over where they point their guns and who they decide to go bomb.[/q]

are you sure the american people decide this stuff?

I hope not. the majority of USians (liek the majority of people...) aren't smart enough to think through all of hte consequences affecting their country...

[Seeker]

Why 'rich people'?

Don't they have the same kind of sentimental connection to their tribe/homeland/people/whatever that regular people do, you know the sane people you meet on the street everyday who generally are against war, torture, massacre, and mindless destruction*?

I think even 'rich people' and their desires are an unconscious product of 99% unconscious corporate mediate opinion making and 'culturesmithing'.

In other words I don't buy the straight Marxist idea, although I'll agree that 'Them as has, gits' is generally true.

EDIT: * not that I'm totally opposed to a LITTLE mindless, insane, sadistic destruction. I mean, I was a boy at one point...

[DanS]

I don't know why it's bothering you. The US has much less impact on other people's lives than you might imagine. No need for jealousy about directing this overstated impact.

[Lorizael]

You have an interesting theory, but I don't buy it. Who do you think decides what the media talks about?