Is the U.S. of A going places?

[Turrican]

The map I was talking about. Too bad it's an old source (2002-2003).

[Michaelm]

EU is nothing more than an americanized monster. The US have completed their process of influencing the world that gave them birth.

The future is all China and India. We are destined to fall to both.

True, half-true, true !

[JoshF]

I like how the EU purposefully made an unreadable treaty.

[it290]

I love this quote:

"If Europe is a museum of the loot of the periphery -- the United States is a museum of the loot of Europe. That's globalization for you."

-Mckenzie Wark

[Skykid]

It's going down the crapper because many Americans are too concerned with every country but America. They need to take care of their own country first then look to aiding others.

Jesus, that's the most popular mis-conception I've ever heard.

[Twiddle]

It's going down the crapper because many Americans are too concerned with every country but America. They need to take care of their own country first then look to aiding others.

Jesus, that's the most popular mis-conception I've ever heard.

Not really a misconception if you live in the suburbs

[Skykid]

It's going down the crapper because many Americans are too concerned with every country but America. They need to take care of their own country first then look to aiding others.

Jesus, that's the most popular mis-conception I've ever heard.

Not really a misconception if you live in the suburbs

Lol

If China doesn't clean up their act they're going to be just as unpopular as America.

That depends on China cleaning up their act and then cleaning up the countries that make their act look even worse.

[Ed Oscuro]

If China doesn't clean up their act they're going to be just as unpopular as America.

That depends on China cleaning up their act and then cleaning up the countries that make their act look even worse.

Alternatively, China could simply stop sending arms to horrible dictatorships when it's likely they'll be used for retribution. Stuff like that.

[Lordstar]

If China doesn't clean up their act they're going to be just as unpopular as America.

does everyone really hate the US that much? being from the UK I thought that you guys were disliked but not that much

[Skykid]

If China doesn't clean up their act they're going to be just as unpopular as America.

That depends on China cleaning up their act and then cleaning up the countries that make their act look even worse.

Alternatively, China could simply stop sending arms to horrible dictatorships when it's likely they'll be used for retribution. Stuff like that.

It's most likely that any country in the forefront of power will be under scrutiny, and all the blemishes will show up. It depends on what we actually see as opposed to what we actually get shown, however.

I voted 'no change' as I don't expect the influence of the US to change much at all - at least not for many years. Their power has been carefully spread worldwide, and just because they're on the threshold of a recession, their influence won't be seriously affected. Too many fingers in too many home-made pies.

As for shipping arms to horrible dictatorships, it appears the Chinese must be following in the footsteps of America already.

[jpj]

it seems to me that more and more americans (from the beginning of the bush administration, and then amplified by the iraq bizniz) are ashamed or embarassed to be american. even in the off-topic section of this forum, hardly a day goes past when you don't see someone slagging off some core element of the country (ie politics, laws, media, etc). and that attitude rubs off onto non-americans

[Skykid]

The Bush Administration isn't the start of the problems - but will surely go down in history as one of the most corrupt, dishonest and agenda ridden governments in history. They represent a pivotal turning point for the worse where slowly things have become more public and scrutinised than they were meant to. It's not the first time the cracks have started to show (the Nixon administration was another obvious point), but it is the first time they've shown so widely.
Their handling of foreign (and domestic affairs in 9/11) has been nothing but a string of deception and false accusations that have only degraded a nation of genuinely brilliant innovators and businessmen in the eyes of the world.

It's not the American people that are to blame (it never is the people), their patriotism to the movements of the government has been fostered and developed over a century of growth and power. Only the most influential media machine in history could develop such an amazing (and intentional) ignorance of the population.

Thats how I see it, anyhow.

We live in exciting, changing times. I realised that when those planes hit those buildings.

[BulletMagnet]

Having a broken nation doesn't really help our interests in the short or long term.

I agree, but that certainly hasn't stopped our leaders from creating them...heck, even after 9-11, which was partially allowed to develop because of our ill-advised meddling in Afghanistan (and alliance with Saddam) back in the early 80's, we're doing the exact same thing in that exact same country all over again, and also in Iraq to boot.

up to this point we've been footing the bill.

Correction: future generations will be footing the bill. This lot isn't going to pay for squat, nor sacrifice one red cent of their tax cuts.

But to say the whole exercise was started as an excuse for stealing...that underestimates the strength of the neo-con movement.

ANY exercise like this is an excuse to get our hands into the cookie jar - no country, no matter where, ever embarks on an excursion like this unless it has its eye on something tangible for itself. Maybe the loot isn't the sole reason (or at least that's how it's pitched to the people, though Bush was downright cheery in predicting that our newfound oil wealth after the invasion would cover the entire cost of the war ), but it's always a big part of it.

They represent a pivotal turning point for the worse where slowly things have become more public and scrutinised than they were meant to.

Depends on what you're referring to - certain candidates' (but not all - see McCain) personal lives and (supposed) inner motivations and thoughts - sure. The actual, relevant goings-on of government? Not so much, considering that the Bush administration is one of the most secretive administrations in history (EVERYTHING is a "national security risk" if they release it, apparently), and almost no one says boo about it. To go a step further, the press constantly insists that those politicians who do go into detail about their policy proposals and crunch the numbers are "dull," "nerdy," and (most absurdly) "elitist"...but I've commented plenty on the press before on here, that's a whole other topic.

We live in exciting, changing times.

Isn't there an old curse, "May you live in interesting times?"

[Skykid]

I can see the future: McCain will win the next presidential election.

If that turns out to be true, then its a microcosmic statement on the transparency of the US government (and how transparent its become in the eyes of the world.)

The other candidates appear to be far more genuine in terms of their ideas and their drive than McCain, who automatically appears clandestine.

I think the US could use an honest President this time around, although that's a dangerous position. They shot the last one.

[BulletMagnet]

I think the US could use an honest President this time around, although that's a dangerous position. They shot the last one.

If Reagan was honest then I'm a monkey's uncle.

[Skykid]

I think the US could use an honest President this time around, although that's a dangerous position. They shot the last one.

If Reagan was honest then I'm a monkey's uncle.

Good point, and well taken!

[Ed Oscuro]

Skykid, are you turning into my clone? That must be a popular phrase...

[Skykid]

Skykid, are you turning into my clone? That must be a popular phrase...

Uh, I don't think so! I can't remember ever using it before now you mention it .

[Ed Oscuro]

I can't remember ever using it before now you mention it .

See, proof of brain cloning! Or hive mind-ism! The clones don't remember everything when get first get out of the vats, you see...

[Skykid]

SHIT, REALLY?!

[ROBOTRON]

It's going down the crapper because many Americans are too concerned with every country but America. They need to take care of their own country first then look to aiding others.

Quoted for truthfulness.

[Skykid]

It's going down the crapper because many Americans are too concerned with every country but America. They need to take care of their own country first then look to plundering others in the pursuit of money and power.

Quoted for truthfulness, and FIXED.

[The n00b]

It's going down the crapper because many Americans are too concerned with fixing each other's quotes. They need to take care of their own country first then look to hiring skykid some writers.

I'm being crucified by the America media!

FIXED and I am also taking up donations for some writers.

[JoshF]

Didn't the American media just get pwned by Rev. Wright?

[The Coop]

When? The last thing I saw was Wright going loopy at the beginning of the week, and doing his best to hurt Obama's chances at getting elected.

[JoshF]

They invited him to speak to set up a lucrative news day (and the inevitable and predictable "Obama's scorn" sequel) and tried roasting him with bullshit questions but he was the one in their grill and called them out on the soundbite bullshit.

[BulletMagnet]

They invited him to speak to set up a lucrative news day (and the inevitable and predictable "Obama's scorn" sequel) and tried roasting him with bullshit questions but he was the one in their grill and called them out on the soundbite bullshit.

I'm no huge fan of Wright's, but if the media wanted to be fair they'd be following Hagee and everything he's saying or has said as closely as they've been following Wright and his statements. Seriously, if not for their efforts to use him to get some dirt on Obama, would anybody have ever even heard of this small-time pastor, or anything he's ever said or done?

[Twiddle]

Defense contractors give big money to the media, so Hagee is a-ok

[jonny5]

oops didnt actually read anything before i posted....i thought by 'going places' you meant invading....lolz

[jp]

http://www.amazon.com/Uberpower-Imperia ... 593&sr=8-1


Read it.