Poll: Does the USA Overly Abuse the Power it has?

[Thanatos34]

I *espect* perfection! At all times!

But I'm not sure what you mean then, by saying China has the wealth.

Further proof the universe runs on irony.

Err... what? You do realize that was an intentional misspelling, right?

 

[Mozared]

America seems to see themselves as the "guardians of democracy" without often realizing democracy isn't as good of a system it sounds. That and the fact that they'll ram the American flag down your throath if you happen to not like it and they can lead me to say it abuses the power it has.

Name a better system for a large country.

Anything that lets the people who actually know what the hell they're talking about choose the country's leaders?

The problem with democracy is that 'the people' have the power (in theory), and that as a result of this the most popular leader is always elected - rather than the one who actually has the most insight on the problems a country has. The fact that "being in politics" is actually more or less a fulltime job these days only confirms that. Democracies nowadays are all about obtaining leadership and haven't got much to do with picking the 'best' leader for the country anymore.

 

[Thanatos34]

America seems to see themselves as the "guardians of democracy" without often realizing democracy isn't as good of a system it sounds. That and the fact that they'll ram the American flag down your throath if you happen to not like it and they can lead me to say it abuses the power it has.

Name a better system for a large country.

Anything that lets the people who actually know what the hell they're talking about choose the country's leaders?

The problem with democracy is that 'the people' have the power (in theory), and that as a result of this the most popular leader is always elected - rather than the one who actually has the most insight on the problems a country has. The fact that "being in politics" is actually more or less a fulltime job these days only confirms that. Democracies nowadays are all about obtaining leadership and haven't got much to do with picking the 'best' leader for the country anymore.

Oh hell, I agree with you there, an aristocracy is the way to go. But that's an impractical dream, as it will never happen, not in today's climate.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

Eh, it does what any country would do if it had the power and influence America has. America seeks to protect its own interests, and often, given how far-reaching those interests are, this leads to conflict with other nations.

Yes, America oversteps its bounds at times (Iraq comes to mind), but I think it's primarily due to a zealous sense of superiority, rather than an intentionally arrogant or aggressive demeanor.

Fix't.

I quite disagree, as a matter of fact. As an American, I do not see myself as inherently superior to any other person of any other nationality, nor do I see my country as inherently superior. It simply happens to be the most powerful at the present time in history.

Exactly.

Wait, isnt that China? Arent they funding your wars? Dont you owe shit-loads of money to them?
Point being, what does POWER mean when we are trying to achieve peace?

No, China is not the most powerful nation on earth. The US is. At least at the moment.

Ah Thanatos, we meet again... Hmm, I dont know if I believe that. China has the massive population, the currency, a large military (currently not involved in 2 wars)...

China has 180 nukes. U.S has over 4,000 nukes.

No one will ever fuck with the u.s at its doorsteps.

Really? I vaguely remember that Al Qaida did not so long ago. Also, no one is ever going to launch a nuke at someone now... Unless they had the intention of ending the world, that is. If someone did wage war on America you really think the first thing you are going to resort to is "No! NOOOO! We are America and people dont invade us! SCREW YOU WORLD!"? I think you will find that nobody invades anyone anymore in the civilized world, you cant just walk in a take over anymore without global intervention.

Do you want to know how many people have died in retaliation to simply crashing a huge building? Vs american lives? That is why. The U.S goes for shock an awe.

Ah Thanatos, we meet again... Hmm, I dont know if I believe that. China has the massive population, the currency, a large military (currently not involved in 2 wars)...

China has 180 nukes. U.S has over 4,000 nukes.

No one will ever fuck with the u.s at its doorsteps.

Really? I vaguely remember that Al Qaida did not so long ago. Also, no one is ever going to launch a nuke at someone now... Unless they had the intention of ending the world, that is. If someone did wage war on America you really think the first thing you are going to resort to is "No! NOOOO! We are America and people dont invade us! SCREW YOU WORLD!"? I think you will find that nobody invades anyone anymore in the civilized world, you cant just walk in a take over anymore without global intervention.

If China wanted to bring the US to its knees, they wouldn't use nuclear weapons. They would simply tighten the pursestrings. Like Jak said, people don't invade each other like they used to.

That is why they can't tighten the purse strings. 'Cause if they did all hell would break loose.

 

[Ripshot]

eh, not so much nowadays

Yes, it does, greatly. The thing is, America is arrogant. I'm sorry, but it always has been and always will be.

that lack of openness to new ideas puts you at the same level of the airheads like Limbaugh, I think you should take a class in history, and learn that things change, just look at the history of the UK

It is a fact that most Americans think their country is better than any other, they take patriotism to new levels.

no, that's a fabrication and a a belief held only by a small (albeit loud) portion of the population
also, generalizing about an entire country puts your words on no higher plane than any ism you want to use (racism, sexism for example)

and besides, you do know President Obama went to Europe and asked for them to cut the anti-USA jokes right, he's trying to change things (and yes, I support him)

 

[Christemo]

bush abused it more than a alcoholic abuses alcohol. he did the classic "give us what we want, or ill dump a few nukes on your face". USA has way too much power.

 

[Kinguendo]

Eh, it does what any country would do if it had the power and influence America has. America seeks to protect its own interests, and often, given how far-reaching those interests are, this leads to conflict with other nations.

Yes, America oversteps its bounds at times (Iraq comes to mind), but I think it's primarily due to a zealous sense of superiority, rather than an intentionally arrogant or aggressive demeanor.

Fix't.

I quite disagree, as a matter of fact. As an American, I do not see myself as inherently superior to any other person of any other nationality, nor do I see my country as inherently superior. It simply happens to be the most powerful at the present time in history.

Exactly.

Wait, isnt that China? Arent they funding your wars? Dont you owe shit-loads of money to them?
Point being, what does POWER mean when we are trying to achieve peace?

No, China is not the most powerful nation on earth. The US is. At least at the moment.

Ah Thanatos, we meet again... Hmm, I dont know if I believe that. China has the massive population, the currency, a large military (currently not involved in 2 wars)...

I certainly wouldn't want to enter a war against them, true. Not because I think we would lose, but because it would be a War that would make WW2 look like a schoolyard brawl.

1 Chinese yuan = 0.14657 U.S. dollars

How much is 1 yuan? Is that the same as the Japanese yen? I don't think it could be, because then 1 Chinese "dollar" would be 14.657 US dollars, and the US is still pretty far up there in terms of currency, I think.

Sorry, I meant "their wealth"... People make mistakes and I was tired, what do you espect?

I *espect* perfection! At all times!

But I'm not sure what you mean then, by saying China has the wealth.

China... very wealthy... America owes them like a TRILLION dollars... they are keeping America running as smooth as possible... and not even a thank you card?

 

[Simalacrum]

yes, but maybe Obama will change that.

 

[Kinguendo]

Eh, it does what any country would do if it had the power and influence America has. America seeks to protect its own interests, and often, given how far-reaching those interests are, this leads to conflict with other nations.

Yes, America oversteps its bounds at times (Iraq comes to mind), but I think it's primarily due to a zealous sense of superiority, rather than an intentionally arrogant or aggressive demeanor.

Fix't.

I quite disagree, as a matter of fact. As an American, I do not see myself as inherently superior to any other person of any other nationality, nor do I see my country as inherently superior. It simply happens to be the most powerful at the present time in history.

Exactly.

Wait, isnt that China? Arent they funding your wars? Dont you owe shit-loads of money to them?
Point being, what does POWER mean when we are trying to achieve peace?

No, China is not the most powerful nation on earth. The US is. At least at the moment.

Ah Thanatos, we meet again... Hmm, I dont know if I believe that. China has the massive population, the currency, a large military (currently not involved in 2 wars)...

China has 180 nukes. U.S has over 4,000 nukes.

No one will ever fuck with the u.s at its doorsteps.

Really? I vaguely remember that Al Qaida did not so long ago. Also, no one is ever going to launch a nuke at someone now... Unless they had the intention of ending the world, that is. If someone did wage war on America you really think the first thing you are going to resort to is "No! NOOOO! We are America and people dont invade us! SCREW YOU WORLD!"? I think you will find that nobody invades anyone anymore in the civilized world, you cant just walk in a take over anymore without global intervention.

Do you want to know how many people have died in retaliation to simply crashing a huge building? Vs american lives? That is why. The U.S goes for shock an awe.

Ah Thanatos, we meet again... Hmm, I dont know if I believe that. China has the massive population, the currency, a large military (currently not involved in 2 wars)...

China has 180 nukes. U.S has over 4,000 nukes.

No one will ever fuck with the u.s at its doorsteps.

Really? I vaguely remember that Al Qaida did not so long ago. Also, no one is ever going to launch a nuke at someone now... Unless they had the intention of ending the world, that is. If someone did wage war on America you really think the first thing you are going to resort to is "No! NOOOO! We are America and people dont invade us! SCREW YOU WORLD!"? I think you will find that nobody invades anyone anymore in the civilized world, you cant just walk in a take over anymore without global intervention.

If China wanted to bring the US to its knees, they wouldn't use nuclear weapons. They would simply tighten the pursestrings. Like Jak said, people don't invade each other like they used to.

That is why they can't tighten the purse strings. 'Cause if they did all hell would break loose.

What? Hell breaking loose means America starts yelling "Hey, give us back the money that you are loaning us!" now? Seriously, all that would happen is China stops the money, and thats about as far as you get... what are you gonna walk to China? You dont have money so how are you gonna get their? What you gonna do? Huh? Whats hell breaking loose? Tell us, we are SO intrigued.

 

[Nuke_em_05]

Snip

You missed the part during the beginning of WWI where the United States decided, "Hey, lets become industrial and sell guns to both sides of this fight!" It worked rather well.

Not so much missed as unaware. Again, could be biased United States history classes, but I can't seem to find anything to validate that statement. From what I understand, the U.S. government under Wilson was a very strong advocate for peace in Europe up until the Zimmerman Telegram. That doesn't mean private U.S.-based industries couldn't have, but again, I've found nothing to indicate such, and even then you are blurring the lines between U.S. government and U.S. citizens (Defense contractors are private companies in the U.S.)

 

[munkyforce]

What? Hell breaking loose means America starts yelling "Hey, give us back the money that you are loaning us!" now? Seriously, all that would happen is China stops the money, and thats about as far as you get... what are you gonna walk to China? You dont have money so how are you gonna get their? What you gonna do? Huh? Whats hell breaking loose? Tell us, we are SO intrigued.

I think the point is that China's amazing economic growth is based on export of consumption goods and foreign investment. If China withdrew its funds the monetary contraction in the west would worsen, deepening the recessions and further reducing global demand for Chinese goods and reduce the amount of foreign investment. This would result in a large slowdown and maybe even recession in China. It simply isn't in China's interest to tighten the pursestrings.

 

[Kinguendo]

What? Hell breaking loose means America starts yelling "Hey, give us back the money that you are loaning us!" now? Seriously, all that would happen is China stops the money, and thats about as far as you get... what are you gonna walk to China? You dont have money so how are you gonna get their? What you gonna do? Huh? Whats hell breaking loose? Tell us, we are SO intrigued.

I think the point is that China's amazing economic growth is based on export of consumption goods and foreign investment. If China withdrew its funds the monetary contraction in the west would worsen, deepening the recessions and further reducing global demand for Chinese goods and reduce the amount of foreign investment. This would result in a large slowdown and maybe even recession in China. It simply isn't in China's interest to tighten the pursestrings.

Yes, it would be bad. Of course it would be, but the point was about power and if America tries its (recently) usual crap with China you think they are gonna keep paying them?

 

[Lazzi]

Yes, yes we do.

But it what any country would do if they had said power.

That doesnt make it right, it just point out that every one would do it.

 

[Vjam]

Does the USA abuse the power it has? Allow me to reply in a manner any politician would.

Uh, well... ahem, i can not confirm nor deny the maybe fact or fiction that the USA has any great power that you need worry about, but if the USA did have any such supposed "Power" the USA would not abuse any such power.

Lol so true

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Eh, it does what any country would do if it had the power and influence America has. America seeks to protect its own interests, and often, given how far-reaching those interests are, this leads to conflict with other nations.

Yes, America oversteps its bounds at times (Iraq comes to mind), but I think it's primarily due to a zealous sense of superiority, rather than an intentionally arrogant or aggressive demeanor.

Fix't.

I quite disagree, as a matter of fact. As an American, I do not see myself as inherently superior to any other person of any other nationality, nor do I see my country as inherently superior. It simply happens to be the most powerful at the present time in history.

I have to disagree with your disagreement of my fixing of the previous poster's post. Matter of fact, as an American, I can say that this country sees itself as divinely endowed with a transcendence over any other country or people in the world today. And as outlandish as my claim was, my observation would be as valid as yours. It's a matter of which collective has the louder voice, and that voice tends to be the kind that gathers around city plazas bearing signs announcing that our own president is a godless, dirty Muslim. And that Muslims are godless and dirty. But I love you guys, go base-8 numeric systems and all that.

Yeah, I suppose you've got a point there. There is a very large, very loud segment of the population which proclaims that America is inherently superior.

Rather embarrassing, really.

Honestly I want to shoot myself around those people, lets have Bill Mahr sum it up:
"America needs to stop thinking it's the greatest nation on earth, and started acting like it."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcz_NHAFGS0

 

[Ashbax]

They dont abuse their power, and no countries Have to do what they say.

 

[God's Clown]

Well, I rather have my country abuse it's power to a degree and keep people from destroying the whole damn world over stupid religious and over zealous bullshit. What's would you rather have, The U.S.A poking its nose into business best left out of, or N.Korea launching nukes at Japan and South Korea?

 

[Pimppeter2]

In short, the United States became the world police, mostly because the world asked for it. The problem is, the United States became dependent on it, and of late doesn't know what to do about it.

THIS

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

The US should stand back and watch sometimes. Its not wise to poke your nose in everybodys business.