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Goodbye Uncle Sam, Hello Team Europe

By John Feffer, AlterNet. Posted April 14, 2005.


Not only does the world hate us, a new poll shows that for the first time most countries want us to get the hell out of the driver's seat.

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Over a curry dinner in Geneva, a South Korean friend confessed to being not entirely thrilled with her European experience. Sure, she had a well-paying job for one of the many international organizations that keep Geneva prosperous, bustling, and awash in dull conferences, but it all lacked a certain something. Europeans no longer believe in anything, she complained -- not like the Americans, who have the oomph and the moral clarity to "get the job done."

What "job" was she talking about? We most definitely were not getting the job done in Iraq, I pointed out. In recent years, it's Europe not the United States that's been on the right side of the major foreign policy issues of our time, be it Europe's objections to the Iraq War or its diplomatic approach toward resolving the conflicts with Iran and North Korea -- an approach that is far more likely to succeed than American military oomph. As for taking care of their own people, the social system in Europe -- the kind that ensured the job security, high-quality education, crime-free streets, and comparative lack of poverty that friend so clearly admired in Switzerland -- was clearly superior to anything the average American could hope for.

The truth is that the world would likely be a better place if Team Europe and not Team America were in charge. And more and more people around the world are reaching that conclusion.

A new poll conducted by GlobeScan and the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) reveals that citizens in twenty out of twenty-three countries would like to see Europe become more influential than the United States in world affairs. The survey tested attitudes toward the five permanent members of Security Council and Europe as a whole. The majority of citizens in only six countries (including my friend's South Korea) view the U.S. role in the world as mainly positive -- a dismal popularity rating comparable only to that of Russia. Here's how bad it is: even China rated higher than the United States in popular assessments of its global conduct. The United States also took the top prize as the country most widely viewed as having a negative influence on the world (in 15 countries), with Russia coming a close second (14 countries). And this in a poll that did not include countries in the Middle East, who would have likely put us way ahead of Russia.

Okay, they hate us. So what's new?

At the press conference announcing the poll results, Brookings scholar Philip Gordon offered an anecdote to sum up exactly why this latest piece of data is far more worrisome than previous surveys tracking our plummeting global image. For the past decade, Gordon has asked each new batch of 150 international students who take his international relations course at a French business institute the same two questions. First, how do you feel about U.S. power? Perhaps predictably, they always give the thumbs down to the United States and the thumbs up to multilateralism. But when he follows up with the next question -- what country other than the United States has more responsibly wielded global power in the past, or could do so in the future? -- they invariably come to the same conclusion: better America than anyone else.

But not this year. While the resentment of U.S. power and domination was the same as ever, according to Gordon, the students were no longer willing to give the United States its usual pass for its excesses. What's more, they were only too happy to contemplate the alternatives that Gordon offered. "And they would say, yeah, we'd take China. Germany? Yeah, Germany is fine. France? Yeah, that would be good," he said. "They were looking at me like, well, of course, we'd rather have those countries more powerful than the United States."

The most astonishing fact revealed by the new poll is that 34 percent of Americans agree that Europe should be running the show. Let me repeat this: one-third of Americans want Brussels, not Washington, to be calling the shots on the global arena. This trend is a good bit more significant than the six-fold increase in traffic to the Canadian immigration website immediately after the November elections. It buttresses the findings of previous polls that have shown clear majorities of Americans dissatisfied with U.S. unilateralism (and a much higher rate of disapproval of U.S. foreign policy in other countries).

Taken together, such poll results challenge neo-con Robert Kagan's self-congratulatory thesis that Americans are from Mars and Europeans from Venus. While the current American leadership certainly has a martial disposition, it seems that virtually everyone else -- the majority of Americans included -- is weary of Washington playing globo-cop and would be far happier as citizens of much-maligned Venus.

Never has it been so clear that the world prefers someone else to take the driver's seat.

What's So Special About Europe?

PIPA's director Steven Kull attributes the poll results to different perceptions around the world toward how the United States and Europe go about their global business:


[Europe has] exerted a magnetic attraction on those around them, such that countries are waiting in line to become part of the European Union. It has put pressure on countries, such as Turkey, to improve their human rights records, to raise their standards in terms of corruption, transparency, and their capacity to integrate into the world economy. The way that Europe has done this has been positively viewed.
The secret of Europe's appeal becomes even cleared in a comparison with the United States. As Tony Judt recently pointed out in the New York Review of Books, Americans work more hours, live shorter lives, and are much more likely to be poor than their European counterparts. The American economy is considerably less worker-friendly, more in debt, and increasingly owned by foreigners. The categories where the United States is the undeniable leader ­ military budget, government debt, trade deficit, automobile size ­ are dubious achievements. It's not just Judt, but several popular new books by respected experts, including Jeremy Rifkin and T. R. Reid, that hammer home these unappetizing facts.

The U.S. media may not have noticed it but Europe is looking more and more like the winning team. U.S. outlets barely covered one of the most significant indicators of Europe's expanding power -- the inclusion of ten new members in the EU in 2004. The price of this lack of attention will become clear fifty years from now, when American workers are paid in euros and sales from Doner Kebab Hut surpass that of McDonalds. As Norwegian foreign minister Jan Peterson made clear in a recent speech in Oslo, the future belongs to Europe:

One of eight UN countries is an EU member state. The EU generates about 20 per cent of the world's total GNP. The internal market is the world's largest multinational market. The euro has become the world's strongest currency after gaining 50 per cent in relation to the dollar during the three first years of its existence. There is even a European space agency, which has 200 satellites orbiting the Earth and which is planning to make a European the first human being to reach Mars.
And this from the foreign minister of a non-EU country!

If the Bush administration's policies lead to the decline of U.S. power, it will hardly be the first time in history that an empire bankrupted itself through military overstretch -- even as its more prosperous ally and future rival prospered on the sidelines. The Netherlands profited grandly from the insatiable colonial appetites of Spain and Portugal, and then stood by as the dreams of Iberian glory went down the tubes. Hungary built goulash communism while the Soviet Union found itself bogged down in Afghanistan and eventually laid the seeds of its own demise with its out-of-control military spending.

Even upstart America's rise to global preeminence in the first half of the 20th century was the result of Britain's imperial excess. Once England expended so much life and lucre of its colonial fortunes in two world wars, the global stage was clear for a new leader. Today, having endured the post-World War years of financial dependence on U.S. largesse and decades more of politically subservience to Washington throughout the Cold War, Europe is finally coming into its own.

The Mars Vs. Venus Smackdown

Where Samuel Huntington and his supporters are busy expounding on a clash of civilizations between ethnic and religious rivals in hotspots like the Balkans, South Asia, and the Horn of Africa, the more profound battle over values is taking place right here, at the center of Western civilization.

The Bush administration, after angering much of Europe (the "old" parts) during its first term, has recently tried to play nice with its traditional allies (mostly at the request of British prime minister Tony Blair, who has gambled his political reputation on good transatlantic relations). On their recent visits, both Condoleezza Rice and President Bush tried to emphasize the future, not the past. "New achievements," Rice recommended, not "old disagreements." Bush tried to erase ugly memories of Iraq by endorsing Europe's incentive-based approach to Iran (for the time being at least). However, these conciliatory gestures do little to paper over serious transatlantic disagreements over important issues.

Some of these disputes can be attributed to the normal friction between two powerful international powers. For example, the European Union's proposal -- now delayed -- to lift its arms embargo against China is not about principle but market share. China promises to be one of the largest arms purchasers over the next couple decades. While the United States has traditionally had a lock on the post-Cold War arms export market, the Russians (on the low end) and the Europeans (on the high end) are now emerging as fierce competitors. It's no surprise then that Europe wants in and the United States is squawking in disapproval.

Other transatlantic disputes, however, represent fundamental differences in core values. Take the case of food.

In 1989, the European Union banned imports of hormone-laden beef. Ten years later, when it lost the case at the WTO, the EU chose to pay the penalty of approximately $100 million to the United States and Canada over lost revenue rather than reverse its ban. Last November, however, the EU decided it was tired of paying through the teeth for its policies. Armed with new scientific evidence of the risks that such hormones pose for humans, its officials counter-challenged the North Americans at the WTO.

They don't want our beef or any other type of U.S.-engineered techno-food. The United States has now gone to the WTO to claim compensation for five years of losses connected to the EU moratorium on new varieties of genetically modified organisms (GMO). The U.S. corporate food lobby is also pressing the Bush administration to launch yet another WTO suit to challenge the EU's labeling and traceability law, which is designed to give consumers more control over what they eat. At issue here is a very different approach to the application of technology to the food system. Where Europeans are cautious and more concerned about its effects on human life, the American philosophy is all about the corporate bottom line.

A potentially more divisive transatlantic conflict is shaping up over military issues. Throughout the Cold War, European countries, for the most part, subordinated their military ambitions to the needs of NATO. Today, as part of its post-Sept. 11 reorientation of U.S. foreign policy, the United States has virtually sidelined NATO, primarily because it is wedded to old-fashioned collective decision-making. As part of its shifting priorities, the administration has announced significant troop cuts in the European theater, including 30,000 from Germany. But it's not just Uncle Sam that's growing less enchanted with NATO. With the Cold War rapidly turning into a relic of the past, Europe is looking to become more self-sufficient.

What looks like streamlining and burden-sharing on one side of the Atlantic is perceived as a spur to create an independent military force on the other. Contrary to Kagan's Venusian allegations, Europe is not exactly a wine-sipping pacifist -- at least, not all the time. The sight of all that money from global weapons sales going into American coffers has Europeans green with envy. It's why the European Defence Agency, established in July 2004, now plans to acquire a range of new hardware -- from unmanned drones to the latest communication systems -- in the hope that the consequent boost in R & D will make European exports more competitive in the global arms bazaar.

The move to expand military capability is not just about economics. The failure to stop Yugoslavia from descending into a brutal series of wars in the 1990s has become a cautionary tale for Europeans. In 2000, the EU proposed the creation of a 60,000-member Rapid Reaction Force, armed and manned by member states, and ready to intervene early and decisively in any crisis. The EU has already conducted joint military exercises in Macedonia, Bosnia, and Congo.

The difference between the Bush administration's military plans and that of the EU: Europeans want to use military force to avert catastrophe, rather than precipitate regime change. It's about peacekeeping not imperial expansion. This isn't to say that European governments are anywhere close to angelic. The French refusal to intervene to prevent the Rwandan genocide, British arms deals with repressive African states, and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's chest-thumping remind us of that Europe has its own share of warts. But on balance, the Europeans do offer a distinct alternative to the United States' current slash-and-burn model of foreign policy.

It is conceivable that, in another four years, Hillary Clinton or some other vaguely palatable Democrat will paint the White House blue and put the French back into French fries. But it will take a long time to undo the damage the neo-cons have done to the United States' standing in the world -- and the damage America has done to the world. By all means hang in there for Hillary. As for me, I'm with the 34 percent of Americans rooting for Team Europe.

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John Feffer is working on a book about food and politics.

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We don't hate Americans
Posted by: Poederbach on Apr 14, 2005 3:27 AM   
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We Europeans don't hate Americans, we just dislike/don't agree with your government and the 50% of the American electorate that elected that government.

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» RE: We don't hate Americans Posted by: indygreen
» RE: We don't hate Americans Posted by: ALANHESTER
» RE: We don't hate Americans Posted by: kellyc
» RE: We don't hate Americans Posted by: indygreen
Barbara
Posted by: Barbara on Apr 14, 2005 3:59 AM   
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I live in Australia, with European parents and growing up in a very European community. I wonder how many Australians would vote for Europe, over the USA. A percentage higher than 35%, I would guess.

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» RE: Barbara Posted by: warpig
Expat in Sweden
Posted by: jrculshaw on Apr 14, 2005 5:18 AM   
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I have been living in Sweden for the past seven years. The sentiment here is echoed by the entry above. I feel the author has nailed America's reputation problem right on the head. Life here, in Europe, is more "sane" and feels a bit more holistic -- even though with each passing year here the mentality of U.S.-bred mindless consumerism becomes more prevelant, the Europeans are just smarter at identifying long term ill-effects of such a mindset and are much more adaptable at trying to rid itself of the ill-effects -- even if the bottom-line suffers. That willingness to put human needs before profits is what makes me admire the Swedes, and the E.U. in general.

Since the Author is writing a book on food/economics, I would like to relate a revelation that I came upon on a recent trip back "home" in the U.S. There is one very prominent difference between grocery shopping here, in Europe, and in the U.S. and that is it is incredibly difficult to cook from "scratch". Markets here offer more raw, basic ingredients to meals whereas in the States, it is almost impossible to find something that is *not* already, pre-processed, or half-made for you. That, and the aisles upon aisles of shit that Americans put in their mouths.

I am saddend by what my country has become and I dream of a day when American wakes up and realizes that chasing that bottom-line is going to decrease the quality of life not only in the U.S., but the whole world.

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Canadian Fears
Posted by: Graham on Apr 14, 2005 5:22 AM   
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I can't say I'm surprised... I'm in Canada, and I don't think it's a secret that a lot of Canadians fear the United States. Not the people or the place, but the politics and the power. If i weren't so committed to this place, I'd move to the EU in a heartbeat. ...maybe we can just move all of Canada. Stick it on the edge of portugal or something. At any rate, i'd much rather have a few Euros in my pocket than some US$, which may be the case eventually if Canada's resources vs. sovereignty looks appetizing enough to enterprising followers of the Munroe Doctrine.

We may sound snooty and clever in how we bash America here, but I'd say it's just to hide the real fears of being annexed culturally, economically, and politically. We're not just dissatisfied with American leadership, we're scared of it.

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OSCAR59
Posted by: oscar59 on Apr 14, 2005 5:40 AM   
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People around the world have to realize that we have a deeply divided U.S. and that the policies of the Bush Administration are not meant to create bipartisanship and multilateralism, but conflict, isolation, and controversy. The good thing about the American system is that the damage can be undone by just one good administration. If the EU has earned the right to lead on the international stage, and I believe they have, they have to express their views strongly, stand up for their views, and not waver under American pressure.

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It's the truth
Posted by: tikicat on Apr 14, 2005 6:42 AM   
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I'm not surprised at all by this survey. I'm an American and even I'm getting sick and tired of the currrent government and how it runs foregin policy. May the European countries come together and become a force to be reckoned with.

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» RE: It's the truth Posted by: johndoe63
Reversing the Enlightenment
Posted by: spaghetti happens on Apr 14, 2005 6:51 AM   
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I think we could add to Mr. Feffer's list of America's failures the current trend away from our universally respected liberal democratic ideals toward the kind of theocracy abjured by European nations, who learned their lesson the hard way back in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Our Constitution guarantees one kind of religion--the civic kind--but movements like Christian Reconstructionism and its variants threaten to replace 200 years of enlightened democratic governance with a Bible-based political system that would be a lot more John Calvin than John Locke.

Instead of learning from the tragedies of our European forebears, we insist on repeating them. Our cousins across the pond must be shaking their heads in disbelief, along with our own Founders, who must be spinning in their graves.

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» RE: eversing the Enlightenment Posted by: MausMasher
Try being stuck as a blue-state American
Posted by: cyclone2525 on Apr 14, 2005 6:54 AM   
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Unfortunately, I'm not in the financial or family position to move to a new country, although as a proud blue-state Minnesotan, Canada is only a few hours away and oh so tempting. Please remember, all of you non-Americans, half of our citizens dislike our government way more than any of you ever will as we're the ones who directly have to live with the negative consequences of the decisions half of our citizens made. We suffer every day thanks to the wonderful (sarcasm) policies that our government has instituted since 2000. As someone working in the environmental field, I spend every time wondering if I'm wasting my time trying to conserve resources that our gov't is trying to destroy at record paces. Please don't give up on America, remember those of us who struggle for better living conditions here.

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Blue and red hate each other
Posted by: lamar on Apr 14, 2005 7:12 AM   
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I'm not surprised that many Europeans hate us. A large percentage of the United States hates us! The Christian right has caused this country to split into entrenched camps and there is very little tolerance anywhere.

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» RE: Blue and red hate each other Posted by: MausMasher
» The Bible Posted by: pckurp
olliesmom
Posted by: olliesmom on Apr 14, 2005 7:28 AM   
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I am not surprised at the statistics. I was part of the 49% fighting to keep GW and his cronies from another four years of destroying America. I was shocked back in November that voters chose to let him continue making us look like idiots in the eyes of sane people everywhere. I am embarrassed and sad that my grandsons will never know the peace, prosperity and pride in our country that I grew up with. It is time for a regime change, certainly at home, and inevitably as we lose face in the world.

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Is there more to the Beef story?
Posted by: MsCasey on Apr 14, 2005 7:45 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Current news on MSN is that USDA (Dept of Agriculture) has been making sure that testing did not find evidence of mad-cow disease in US beef. A veterinarian with a conscience is finally speaking out. How will this factor into the EU - US fight at WTO over exports of US beef? It certainly won't improve the world opinion or trust of the USA. Another recent global almost-catastrophe is the shipping of mis-labelled flu virus. Apart from the use of global military power, there are many reasons why US has fallen off the pedestal.

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America doesn't want Bush either!
Posted by: mendomama on Apr 14, 2005 7:50 AM   
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First of all, if Hillary ends up in the White House, then I am out of here. She's about as much a democrat as I am a republican! I don't blame Europe and the rest of the world for their opinions - I share them. I'm disgusted by this government. I'm disgusted with this self-righteous, bible toting, holier than thou attitude that is the center of this administration. Seperation of church and state, my ass! If another politician quotes the bible in order to support their hideous agenda, my head will explode!

Meanwhile, though 50% of Americans voted for Bush, his approval rating is far lower than the percentage that (supposedly) voted for him. Just the damage he's causing in our own country ought to be enough to impeach the jerk, unfortunately, it seems the ones in the position to point this out have somehow misplaced their spine. Hillary included.

Once you add what has been shoved on to the rest of the world, the punishment should go beyond impeachment, I want to see jail time. Depraved indifference. That's what he should be charged with. He's followed his own agenda with no concern for the citizens he represents, nor the ones he imposes on. Countless lives have been lost by his irresponsibility. He's not the only one in the administration that deserves to be punished - he's just at the top of the list.

I'm mortified at the thought that people around the world might think that we, as Americans, support this evil doer (as he so loosely describes anyone who has something he wants). If war is hell, then Bush is Satan.

Whoever is in charge next time around, I hope they look to Europe as a model of what we should be striving for. They are standing up for the well being of their citizens. While the U.S. government is shamefully jamming their pockets with money from corporations, that have been made rich at the expense of our health, our environment, and OUR HARD WORK! Meanwhile, more and more jobs leave our country, more and more young soldiers leave our country, soon, the citizens will follow.

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» RE: America doesn't want Bush either! Posted by: Violetflame11
» RE: America doesn't want Bush either! Posted by: Ratmonster Spook
America doesn't want Bush either! PT. 2
Posted by: mendomama on Apr 14, 2005 7:50 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
No president has a right to run a country into the ground for his own personal gain. But, that's what's happening. I've signed more impeachment petitions than I can count. I've signed petitions to obtain the ACTUAL results of the elections Bush didn't win. Nothing! I've been to protests, protests against the war, against Bush, for the environment. And I know I'm not the only one, so why is it that there isn't just a constant stream of dissent and ridicule, so loud that it could be heard in space? Why is it that he is still in power? Getting a blow job by ONE PERSON is an impeachable offense, but screwing EVERYONE in the ass isn't?

Now, people are afraid. Afraid to speak out. Who's listening? How many people are being held, without due process, as supposed terrorists? A word that's definition has begun to include anyone who doesn't support the WAR ON TERROR! I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again, Bush is the biggest terrorist of them all!

He's butchered our Constitution and Bill of Rights, using the Patriot Act to slaughter the rights of the citizens he's paid to protect. We're a country of the people, for the people, and by the people - so, COME ON PEOPLE! Assert your rights, before you lose them.

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U.S. Foreign Policy
Posted by: josephefahy on Apr 14, 2005 8:18 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The foreign policy of the U.S. , the real reason the rest of the world fears/hates us, is independent of the two political parties that pretend to be different.

Examine Appendix II of William Blum's "Killing Hope U.S. Military and C.I.A. Interventions Since World War II, " pages 454-462; from 1831 to 1945 the Democrats have used the U.S. Armed Forces abroad 75 times, the Republicans 67 times.

Examine Appendix III "U.S. Government Assassination Plots",pages 463-464; the number of plots under Democrats had 20 and the GOP 25.

There is no substantial difference. Corporate governance of the U.S. would not allow that.

William Engdahl's book "Century of War", cuts to the heart of what drives this nonsense, Money and the confused notion of the ruled that the rulers are just like us. They rulers are not just like us, they never have been and never will. We are just the means to their ends.

Above when I use Democrat or Republican, I am referring to the party controlling the Executive branch. I plan on mapping the majority Legislative party on the data.

Have a nice day
Joe Fahy

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» RE: U.S. Foreign Policy Posted by: elmysterio
» RE: U.S. Foreign Policy Posted by: nakis
» RE: U.S. Foreign Policy Posted by: nakis
» RE: U.S. Foreign Policy Posted by: xs10shal
UNBALLANCED GOVT. ITS TIME TO STOP, BUSH PLEASE LISTEN!!!
Posted by: WONDERWALEYE on Apr 14, 2005 8:29 AM   
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Congress is not ballanced so therefore we no longer have the check and ballance that is needed to protect our way of life. That is why the president is able to get away with anything he wants as he also belongs to the strongest side.
We did'nt really have any choice in the last election as it was a vote for the lessor of the two evils. Bush was a failure in the oil business and he carries the same to his position as pres. Don't get me wrong, I voted for Bush each time. The BIBLE SAYS: That the leaders reflect the folks of the country!! It was a hope that he might bring some moral's to gov. but that does'nt seem to have happened. This is now a real scarry world and our countries security is getting worse by the day. If we where really attacked, who would come to our aid?? Mexico on one side and Canada on the other. Canada has stated that they think our pres. is crazy!! We must PRAY TO GOD that HE sends us a leader that will restore our gov. We don't belong in Iraq's politics or it's evil muslum religion!! We can no longer concure and rule!! So what are we doing there, unless to keep the terroists busy so that they don't spread out!! If we really want security we will work on goodwill and not as a bully!! MAY THE LOVE OF JESUS BE WITH YOU!! [this has two meanings]

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» READ ABOVE!!! Posted by: WONDERWALEYE
» RE: AD ABOVE!!! Posted by: elmysterio
» READ ABOVE!!! Posted by: WONDERWALEYE
» RE: AD ABOVE!!! Posted by: mendomama
Food politics as well.
Posted by: Turtle1397 on Apr 14, 2005 9:06 AM   
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This article really hits the nail on the head. I find that more and more people I know that actually have a political conscience look towards Europe as a positive example. The article mentions the GMO Beef, but what about food labeling and ingredients like partially hydrogenated soybean oil? In Europe they did studies that found this ingredient dangerous, and so now they don't use it in their food. In the US they did studies and hired Public Relations firms and lawyers. Again one can see the trend of America being corporate and industry friendly, while Europe actually seems to care about their people.

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Why do people insist on making it about religion?
Posted by: mendomama on Apr 14, 2005 9:30 AM   
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Religion, in and of itself, is not evil. People using God, in whatever form, as a way to portray themselves as more righteous than another, sickens me. It gives God a bad name. I'm not affiliated with any religion, but have respect for all. Not all religious people are good, and not all good people are religious. In a country supposedly not affiliated with any specific religion, and in Christianity, supposedly a religion that leaves the judging to God, people sure seem to have things ass-backwards. This isn't about religion, it's about one group of people trying to push their version of morality on the rest of us. So, why do people insist on making it about religion?

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A New Direction
Posted by: Wacre on Apr 14, 2005 9:39 AM   
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I don't by any means think that European leadership, as opposed to American leadership, is a panacea by any means to the problems of the world.

But at the same time, the current madness of the Bush Administration makes my ache for a bipolar world; some other power to counter-balance American tendencies toward aggression and violence.

With the Soviet Union dissolved and in disarray, a counterbalance is needed. Luckily we have India, China and the European Union on the horizon.

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Europe isn't really an alternative to the United States
Posted by: Michelle on Apr 14, 2005 11:13 AM   
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Okay, let's try to remember something: The United States is the child of Europe. Europe is the source of widespread imperialism both directly and indirectly.

European control/power is not a real alternative to U.S. control/power. It is substituting one messed-up thing for another. If the changes ahead merely yield more global power for Europe, the evil is alive and kicking.

I just mentioned this bulls** illusion of Europe as a real alternative to U.S. power last night in a conversation, and then I check alternet and here it is.

Please, please, no. The need is to stop the Euro-white people from having what we define as power in relation to other nations. Transferring from one kind of arrogant evil imperialism to another .... I have such a sinking feeling.

Please, let that not be the outcome of the change. We white people are like some sort of persistent cancer. Please, we need to let it go and admit that our life ways don't work, they never worked for human well-being, and insiders within the Euro-white cultural system are not culturally competent to have any power on a global scale. Please.

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Pax Europa???
Posted by: BLULIFE on Apr 14, 2005 11:16 AM   
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I don't know how to feel in terms of our demise as a great power. The historical arguements made by the other posts are truly valid. I feel that our young people and those unborn will pay the highest price for this administration's mistakes. Here in my red state of Georgia, they argue about evolution. I wonder do school children in Russia, China, Japan, EU, and India spend so much time debating the obvious. I believe in both evolution and God. But as a country we've ventured off the path of what is important. I think the other great powers must be laughing as we spend billions on these wars that really aren't changing anything, but rather making things worse. The EU and others can invest their money into their infrastructure, R&D, etc. I think America is devolving and not focussing on the things that matter and would make us competitive.

It is no suprise that the EU is on the rise and ready to take the lead. America has faltered and decided to chase non-secular notions that has historically always made us strong. I feel Bush should go and our foriegn policy is a mess. Our government is scary and is run by religious nuts that are hypocritical and uncaring about the outside world.

Clark - Publisher of BLULIFE.COM

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» RE: Pax Europa??? Posted by: Michelle
» RE: Pax Europa??? Posted by: elmysterio
Not my Amerika
Posted by: jwg on Apr 14, 2005 11:40 AM   
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Lately I have been really depressed about the state of affairs in America. But just seeing the comments of my fellow citizens gives me some hope. After 60 years of life and seeing all the changes both good and bad I am reminded that politics is a pendulum and the majority of Americans are centrists and fear either end of the spectrum. This too will pass.
The entire world needs to visulize this blue marble from space, tolerance of others is a necessity. I really would like to return to the days when my father told me to remember that 'my rights end before your nose begins'.

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» RE: Not my Amerika Posted by: nakis
» RE: Not my Amerika Posted by: elmysterio
European Problems
Posted by: Campesino on Apr 14, 2005 11:41 AM   
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Interesting that this article on European triumphalism makes absolutely no mention of the demographic collapse in most of the EU nations. Their populations are not replacing themselves and the only source of new labor appears to be immigrants from Muslim countries. Or that these immigrants are not being assimilated into the local cultures. In France, for example, most of them are segregated into industrial suburbs that are hotbeds of gang violence and radical violent Islamist activities. Google some news about the mass demonstrations and strife in France over whether Muslim girls can wear headscarves in school.

Some projections have a majority Muslim population in Europe within 50 years. Given the history of government in the countries these people came from and the current climate of radical Islamism in the European Muslim population, what do you really think the EU governments will look and act like under those circumstances. Sorry, but the people cited as experts in the lead article are only seeing what they want to see.

And one last point to make, in the greatest European security issue to emerge since the end of the Cold War, the breakup of Yugoslavia and war and genocide in the Balkans, the EU totally punted. It took US intervention (without UN sanction, I might add) to force the issue and stop the wars. The rest of NATO came along but we had to drag them. That never made it into the lead article either.

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» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: Campesino
» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: murt
» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: Campesino
» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: electricgrendel
» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: Campesino
» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: Campesino
» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: MausMasher
» RE: uropean Problems Posted by: xs10shal
How about a "Pax Humana"?
Posted by: elmysterio on Apr 14, 2005 11:44 AM   
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How about instead of one region having all the power... how about we all start working TOGETHER for the betterment of MANKIND? I know... wishful thinking. People are too greedy for that... And that would require sacrifice and compromise... but until people get over this "nationalistic" notion, we're doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. What I do see though is that the voice of reason and compromise tends to come from the Europeans far more often than the Americans... so if there's one group of people to usher in a better age, it'll be the Europeans.

Now I know, Europe has a dark history of Imperialism, but as long as we don't forget history and learn from the mistakes of the past, we can move beyond it into something better. I don't claim to have all the answers, but the one thing that really stands out to me is that the Americans are NOT working for the betterment of mankind, only the enrichment of the American elite.

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» RE: How about a "Pax Humana"? Posted by: mendomama
» RE: How about a "Pax Humana"? Posted by: elmysterio
» RE: How about a "Pax Humana"? Posted by: mendomama
» RE: How about a "Pax Humana"? Posted by: MausMasher
» RE: How about a "Pax Humana"? Posted by: Michelle
» RE: How about a "Pax Humana"? Posted by: elmysterio
» RE: How about a "Pax Humana"? Posted by: elmysterio
jmurt
Posted by: murt on Apr 14, 2005 12:05 PM   
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George Bush and the neocons with their fundamentalist shift away from virtually any Christian behavior reminds me of the milk commercial: "Got Fear?"

You can't lead the world with fear. Eventually, even the most powerful people's propaganda cannot be supported.

God bless the Dixie Chicks.

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"Europe leaves the U.S. behind"
Posted by: shill@fairvote.org on Apr 14, 2005 12:13 PM   
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Europe leaves U.S. behind
By Steven Hill
Senior Fellow
New America Foundation
www.FixingElections.com

Why are Europeans outpacing Americans on so many social, political and economic fronts? The answers are complex but boil down to the fact that for the last 60 years Europeans have been incubating markedly different "fulcrum institutions" -- the key institutions and practices on which everything else pivots. In particular, three fulcrum institutions are fundamental -- the political, economic, and communications institutions. These three play an Archimedean role in deciding policies that affect people's lives.

In the political realm, Europe utilizes full representation electoral systems that give representation to voters across the political spectrum, public financing of elections that fosters debate, universal voter registration, voting on a weekend or on a holiday, and national electoral commissions that establish nationwide standards. Women and third parties have far greater representation. In the U.S., we are still stuck with our 18th-century winner-take-all system, privately financed elections, poor voter participation, poll-tested sound bites aimed at undecided swing voters, voting on a busy work day, and decentralized election administration left to over 3000 counties .

In the communications realm, Europe boasts a robust public broadcasting sector (radio and TV) and subsidized daily newspapers, leading to more media pluralism, a better-informed citizenry, more people reading newspapers, and a higher level of what political scientist Henry Milner calls "civic literacy." In the U.S., we are still stuck with corporate media gatekeepers, media monopolies, an astonishing loss of political ideas and a poorly informed citizenry.

In the economic realm, Europeans have developed practices such as "codetermination," which provides meaningful worker representation on corporate boards of directors, and powerful works councils in the workplaces. There is more of a legal balance of stockholder and stakeholder rights, forcing corporations to confer more extensively with workers and labor unions. There also are continent wide minimum labor and environmental standards, including more union-friendly laws.

Taken together, these fulcrum institutions work to form the basis of a “European Way” that is distinctly different from the “American Way.”

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THE VIEW...
Posted by: susan9390 on Apr 14, 2005 2:38 PM   
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... is often clearer from the back seat! Kudos to all of you for taking the time to THINK. I've maintained all along that the US should stop playing universal watchdog and get its priorities straight. Thanks to the author for spreading the good news.

The main priority right now is to save our fragile planet. To do that requires much money. To get more money, we need to cut military spending significantly.

Toward that end, please support the Kucinich bill to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace. Find out more at www.kucinich.us. Also, please participate in the Mother's Day Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie effort. Find out more at www.thepeacealliance.org.

We can only do so much. Humanity is facing so many crises right now that those of us with our eyes open find it difficult to know where to turn. This can be disheartening. But we have to start somewhere, and freeing almost half of our annual budget from the war effort seems like a good place to start.

Today's Christian right doesn't seem to know much about Jesus or his teachings. Please remember that Jesus was a radical; he preached tolerance of differences and compassion for transgressors.

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» RE: THE VIEW... Posted by: LLHappiness
Do something about it? Buy Euros!
Posted by: Kato on Apr 14, 2005 4:45 PM   
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Right on the button! But what are we to do about it? Open a Euro bank account and shun the US dollar. It not only makes great economic sense (50% profit in just a few years, and the dollar rate is still going down) but also political sense. Getting rid of dollars is the best way to castrate the US bully.

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launatics
Posted by: eatherfor on Apr 14, 2005 5:11 PM   
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The crazies have finally been let out of the basement, as GHW bush called them, (problem is, he's probably the one who let them out). This administration has hurt American credibility world wide. They have also hurt their credibility here at home as well. Please bear with us until we can finally rid ourselves of this threat to our constitution and civil liberties, and start on a saner path for foreign policy. The neo-conservatives agenda for world wide domination (both militarily, and through fiat dollar currency hegemony does not reflect how Americans wish to be viewed by the rest of the world.

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Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Posted by: phoman on Apr 14, 2005 5:45 PM   
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LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY

"Freedom and equality are thoughts which would never have been thought had the idea of brotherhood not provided fertile soil. But once they are there, they can forget their origin and take on lives of their own. Europe [the Middle] embraced the holy, threefold motto: liberty, equality, fraternity. The West [America] chose freedom. The East [The Soviet Union] chose equality. But freedom without brotherhood is the economic and social law of the jungle. Without brotherhood freedom becomes divorced from equality.

And in the East: Equality without brotherhood becomes equality without freedom. The three concepts are inextricably interwoven.

It is strange - yes, more than strange - that the "atheistic" French Revolution chose a slogan which is a direct paraphrase of Christendom's concept of the Trinity (Before the Father we are equal, before the Spirit we are free, and before the Son we are brothers.)....

Quoted from...

Jens Bjørneboe
The Fear of America Within Us
(Excerpts)
Translated by Esther Greenleaf Mürer
Jens Bjørneboe, "Frykten for Amerika i Oss". Originally published in Spektrum, 1952. Norge, mitt Norge (Oslo: Pax, 1968); Samlede Essays: Politikk (Oslo, Pax, 1996), 12-21. ©1968, 1996 by Pax Forlag A/S. English translation ©1999 by Esther Greenleaf Mürer.

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» RE: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Posted by: elmysterio
» RE: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Posted by: Zarathrustra
Home of the brave???
Posted by: fuquandyomama on Apr 14, 2005 7:24 PM   
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It's not so much that the rest of the world hates the Amerikkkans, just that we hate everything they stand for:
Excess, greed, power-hungry lust, Hollywood, environmental inconsideration, and foreign policy, to name but a few.
Might does not automatically make you right!

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Unrelated Question
Posted by: sethpjohnson on Apr 14, 2005 7:42 PM   
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I just wrote a huge long comment and it had an "f-word"
in it. Then when I clicked "Preview" the whole comment
was deleted.

I guess it was "inappropriate".

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» RE: Unrelated Question Posted by: elmysterio
STOP THE RISING PRICE OF OIL
Posted by: pattiz1122 on Apr 14, 2005 9:17 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
CALL TO ACTION
"MONDAY'S ARE ENERGY SAVINGS DAY"
(Beginning Monday April 18th, 2005)
Sunday, April 17, 2005 is Earth Day
This is a topic familiar to all peoples around the world, and I would say that MOST are as angry as I am, so I'm

asking anyone who wants to help me in sending a world wide message regarding the PRICE of OIL, (which by

the way RAISES THE PRICE of ALL Consumer GOODS and SERVICES across the board . I'm calling for a

WORLD WIDE WORK STOPPAGE, DO NOT BUY GAS ON MONDAY'S, DON'T DRIVE, I've named it

"ENERGY DAY". Maybe then the PRICE of GAS will go down. As long as we continue to PAY these

outrageous prices the PRICE OF OIL will continue to RISE. Who benefits from these rising prices? I'll take a guess.

Could it be the Bush Family and their multinational "oil" buddies, the Bin Ladens and the Saudis? Did your

WAGES increase by 25% over the past two weeks? Well neither did mine, but the OIL companies DID. The

price of oil has risen almost 70% in the past year, their profits continue to rise while "OUR" expendable income shrinks.


FELLOW AMERICANS AND OUR GLOBAL NEIGHBORS

AROUND THE WORLD.

SAY NO TO THE PRICE OF OIL.

SUNDAY IS EARTH DAY APRIL 17, 2005

MONDAY IS "ENERGY SAVINGS DAY'

MONDAY'S OF EVERY WEEK beginning MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2005, IS SET FORTH AS "ENERGY DAY".
DON'T GO TO WORK, DON'T DRIVE AND DON'T BUY GAS ON MONDAY'S, until the PRICE of OIL is cut back worldwide.

SHIP GOODS TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY

CANCEL SUMMER VACATION PLANS NOW

CANCEL AIRLINE TICKETS

CANCEL HOTEL & CAR RENTAL RESERVATIONS

JUST SAY NO!!!

WE ARE ALL BEING SCREWED by the Bush Administration and the MULTINATIONAL OIL CORPORATIONS. UNLESS WE STAND

UP TOGETHER AND SAY, "I'M MAD AS HELL AND I WON'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

I CAN'T DO IT ALONE SO PLEASE JOIN ME AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER
WE OUTNUMBER THEM (we all know who they are)
There are approximately 99% of US and only 1% of THEM

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» RE: STOP THE RISING PRICE OF OIL Posted by: Zarathrustra
China must never run the show
Posted by: davinci on Apr 15, 2005 10:24 AM   
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Although I agree with the article I hope people will never place China in charge. Look at the way they treat their workers. Look at how they pollute their land. Medical care, even worse. All worse than America. Better the European model.

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» RE: China must never run the show Posted by: elmysterio
Does their opinion really matter?
Posted by: therob on Apr 15, 2005 11:54 AM   
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The EU is pathetic. What help have they offered us through history? Very little.

What about the help we have offered? Do I really need to mention it? I doubt it, because you don't care. You are such pessimists, and it is always someone else's fault for everything.

What is it this time? Big business? The CIA? The Police? Capitalism? White People? Religion? The Government?

When something goes wrong, left wingers are always so willing to point at the person or group that is in power, or is the easiest to blame. Hey, guess what, the United States doesn't belong in the drivers seat! What a surprise comment.

Oh, and I love how Spain handled their own 9/11. Back down, and run away with their tail between their legs. You know what that's called? A completely successful terrorist attack. That's pathetic. They allowed them to complete their agenda. Kill people, and force them to agree with their views. Good job, EU. That's who we need in the driver's seat, right?

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Hate America !?
Posted by: alhamdan on Apr 15, 2005 12:25 PM   
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I am responding from Saud Arabia.I have reason to believe that my comments reflect the feelings of the common citizen in this country . I do not hate America . I certainly do not hate the American people .I certainly do not like the American government and its arrogance .

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Hate America !?
Posted by: alhamdan on Apr 15, 2005 12:26 PM   
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I am responding from Saud Arabia.I have reason to believe that my comments reflect the feelings of the common citizen in this country . I do not hate America . I certainly do not hate the American people .I certainly do not like the American government and its arrogance .

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» RE: Hate America !? Posted by: IanMacLeod
» RE: Hate America !? Posted by: Riverside
» RE: Hate America !? Posted by: Jordon
watcher
Posted by: watcher on Apr 15, 2005 4:55 PM   
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I agree to a point that we likely have more prepared foods in the U.S. The fact is, at least where I shop, is that there's a decent selection of fresh foods and recently added were a large number of items of different nationalities. I am happy to see the EU standing up and rejecting 'doctored' foods. The U.S. food industry seems to be insulted that anyone would not leap at the chance to have their strangely altered products.

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» RE: watcher Posted by: xs10shal
Graham
Posted by: gwilkins on Apr 15, 2005 5:29 PM   
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I am a 4th generation Anglo-Celt who lived through events such as the Vietnam war with Americans as allies. But I believe that progressively, American foreign policy has gone to far, particually with Bush at the helm.
I would support the concept of a more powerful European influence in the world.

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The best government money can buy.
Posted by: Jersey Devil on Apr 15, 2005 5:57 PM   
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We are now blessed with government by the rich, of the rich, and for the rich. They get tax cuts that create hugh deficits while we get budget cuts to make up for the rich not paying any taxes. When it gets bad enough, when 40+% cannot afford medical care, when middle-class taxes go through the roof, when gasoline costs $5.00 a gallon - the the "red" Americans will wake up and through the Republican bums out of the White House and the Congress.
Till then it is our responsiblity as "blue" Americans to preserve what made America great in the past and will make America in the future.

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Euro humanism?
Posted by: jimburp on Apr 15, 2005 8:15 PM   
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It seems a bit odd that the article flouts Euro concerns about quality of life while also focusing on its desire for arms exports. Remember East Timor? Fine British steel at work, that. Maybe dubya is just more blatant.

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Europe VS America & The New Internationalism
Posted by: mikelogan on Apr 16, 2005 11:22 AM   
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Though likely we - and by we I mean all of Earth - is headed for a disasterous war over energy and politics, it should be noted that a new internationalism is taking root in the minds of the global village.

Unilateral policies, nationalism, and politics as usual are no longer practical. Governments around the globe - China, US, and even BC's provincial government in Canada - are exploiting natural resources and continuing the trend of coporate handouts. This formula just doesn't work for a majority of mankind. So....

The new internationalism is born. People jaunt from country to country, gathering a patchwork of ideals and ideologies that will help shape the political climate of the globe in the coming century.

Now is the time for direct action, and for leaving loyalties behind. If we're lucky, the EU will quickly be modeled by Africa, Asia, SouthPacific, MiddleEast & Latin America. Then, when one of the last vestiges of 'independence' (read: unilateral barbarism) is the US, we might finally get the clue that globalism - NOT global free trade - is the real currency of the future.

Without it, there is no future.

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Regime change/consolidation
Posted by: LLHappiness on Apr 17, 2005 1:07 PM   
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Feffer has it right that Bush's foreign policy focus has been regime change -- especailly one, Saddam. He was obsessed with finishing his dad's unfinished business. Elite families take interfamily feuds seriously. History is full of them. His "mission accomplished," the tragic consequences of the Iraq war on American and Iraqi families and societies, or United States' standing in the world after his term, are not that important for Bush any more. He has since gone on to another obsession, this time at home: Social Security, something he's had his eyes on since his failed bid for a Congressional seat in the '70s.

Political candidates and parties perpetually accuse one another of representing "special interest groups." In Bush's case, it has been mainly "personal and clan" interests: regime change in the first term, social security in the second; the first bolstered by the neocons of the military-industrial complex, the second yet to be seen despite support from corporate America. Faith and the religious right are in fact peripheral, though crucial, in Bush's political agenda. They are crucial because they are his political underwriters. Proof? Remmeber the same-sex marriage scare last November?

In short, Bush's presidency has been driven by regime change abroad and regime consolidation at home.

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» RE: egime change/consolidation Posted by: xs10shal
Okay, so you've got a little array of facts: why not completely misinterpret it.
Posted by: Zarathrustra on Apr 17, 2005 1:56 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'd just like to say that I am Canadian. I've lived in both Canada and the States as well as Cuba. I've traveled much of the world and corresponded with people in most of the places I haven't traveled. I'll be spending my winter doing environmental work in Kenya. So understand that I have an international perspective on how America is viewed in the world.

My family comes from Michigan and traveling across America (I live on the West Coast) this past summer, I came face to face with the Great Divide that developed. My biggest surprise was that many Americans were caring so much about what other people around the world thought of them --- while those same people seemed to have little perspective to pit those qualms against.

So let's get down to the facts everybody has:
- America is the most powerful country in the world (the economic realities of which ignore factors like the sheer size of developing countries like China and India, which are to say the least, pretty screwed up)
- Most people in the world resent that.

Now for the two important Socratic questions:
- Is it unusual for lesser countries to resent the power of another countries? Coming from Canada, I can assure you that smaller countries always resent larger countries. It makes for lively post-dinner conversations.
- Is the grass greener on the other side?

1/3rd of Americans think America shouldn't be the world leader. Well I bet that not one of them is a Republican. The rest don't like what's happening in America right now; mainly because they aren't in power. They feel that "the grass is greener on the other side."

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» Continuation Posted by: Zarathrustra
» Further Continuation Posted by: Zarathrustra
» Even Further Continuation Posted by: Zarathrustra
» RE: ven Further Continuation Posted by: LLHappiness
» RE: ven Further Continuation Posted by: Zarathrustra
» Brief correction. Posted by: Zarathrustra
» RE: ven Further Continuation Posted by: imPLoDeR
» RE: ven Further Continuation Posted by: xs10shal
» RE: ven Further Continuation Posted by: xs10shal
» RE: ven Further Continuation Posted by: elmysterio
Our Taxes Their War
Posted by: b253@yahoo.com on Apr 18, 2005 4:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am an American who lives or rather visits Europe as much as possible. I would leave permanently at the drop of a hat but have no way to stay - no work permit, no residency. What most don't understand is that it is incredibly difficult to get permission to move to another country. I believe the Europeans have a more holistic, balanced lifestyle too. I also would prefer to not have my tax dollars funding the world's largest war machine. I am pragmatice, I do recognize the need for some defence but we are becoming more and more militarized. Even our police forces look and act more and more militaristic.

I think it would be interesing for some of the European governments to offer residency and work permission (perhaps without benefits for the first 5 years) to Americans who would like to vote with their feet. It might make a real impact politically.

Now I suppose some will say I should stay and fight the religious right theocracy but I have been involved in trying to change a corporate culture and that is hard enough. To change the US culture will not happen in my lifetime. I would rather just leave.

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» RE: Our Taxes Their War Posted by: IanMacLeod
public life
Posted by: public life on Apr 18, 2005 7:47 AM   
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What has happened is that the politicians in the US have lost site of how we got to this point today. I find that europeans seem to live in their own little word. They tend to be self centered. France was making a profit in Iraq while the preople suffered. Is making a profit at the expense of the people while they suffer a nobeler cause. No one can deny that Europe is finally becoming a political power house but not without its own troubles. Whether I have fresh vegatables in the store or buy them in a can is not relevant to how one lives their life. The Europeans have a different way of life and are more laid back, while the Americans are more industrious and capitalistic. But, our country is more screwed up. We have Bush. Sad but true and maybe we should bury our heads in the sand and let the rest of the world go by and when someone wants help, just say, "no".

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public life
Posted by: public life on Apr 18, 2005 7:47 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What has happened is that the politicians in the US have lost site of how we got to this point today. I find that europeans seem to live in their own little word. They tend to be self centered. France was making a profit in Iraq while the preople suffered. Is making a profit at the expense of the people while they suffer a nobeler cause. No one can deny that Europe is finally becoming a political power house but not without its own troubles. Whether I have fresh vegatables in the store or buy them in a can is not relevant to how one lives their life. The Europeans have a different way of life and are more laid back, while the Americans are more industrious and capitalistic. But, our country is more screwed up. We have Bush. Sad but true and maybe we should bury our heads in the sand and let the rest of the world go by and when someone wants help, just say, "no".

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» RE: public life Posted by: Falang
What the US Gov't is up to...
Posted by: elmysterio on Apr 18, 2005 11:38 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is a little off topic but if you want to see what the Gov't is up to these days and just how messed up things really are... check this out... it was kinda eye opening to me.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_109_1.htm

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some things no one has mentioned
Posted by: mwildfire on Apr 18, 2005 4:59 PM   
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Okay, first of all I think only one person mentioned that the evidence is pretty strong that the Republicans won the elections by controlling the vote count, and changed something like3 to 5%. In other words, more than half of those who bothered to vote actually picked Kerry---as weak a choice as he was. Since there is so little talk about this, we can assume that Republicans will control vote-counting machines in even more precincts next time---therefore Hillary's candidacy is irrelevant---she can't win.
Second, why assume the center of resistance to the imperial agenda will come from Europe when several South American countries have shown so much more progressive movement? How about an alliance between Europe and South America?
And last, read The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies by Richard Heinberg. Then you will understand the naivite of most of these responses. Clearly the US government is aware of the facts and has decided to seize the remaining oil; probably they have also concluded that a drastic drop in world population is necessary, and they're working on engineering germs to arrange just which billions will die. Probably other governments are equally aware of these ugly realities, and THIS is what the jockeying is really about.

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Book of interest
Posted by: dombag on Apr 19, 2005 2:41 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Readers of this page may be interested in a recent book, not cited by the author. It's provocatively titled 'Why Europe will run the 21st Century' by a British author called Mark Leonard. It's politically rather interesting because it is largely aimed at a UK audience (though of interest to others) and intended to combat the prevailing Euro-scepticism / talking down of things European, in that country.

You may also be interested to look up the US academic, Joseph Nye's writings on 'hard' and 'soft' power - how US foreign policy prioritises the first and Europe the second, arguably with better prospects for long-term success.

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Don
Posted by: Donald on Apr 19, 2005 8:59 AM   
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Were I able to go to Europe for a visit, I would feel so ashamed of this Regime that I would feel compeled to go about with a bag over my head. I would do all possible to NOT identify myself as an American, not because I'd be afraid of the people, but because of my shame. I cannot comprehend the blinders many of my fellow Americans wear when it comes to looking at the world around them. Their fear-driven short-sightedness will one day make their children's lives extremely difficult. It is such a shame, since it's so needless. I used to think that the US had much to offer the world. I no longer believe that, and I hope we will quit meddling and bossing and policing everyone else, and get our own act straight very soon. Don Balya, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania

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In Search of a Normal Country
Posted by: bmayer on Apr 26, 2005 10:00 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yes, no more Elect Nations with Grand Historical Missions, please.

The struggle now is to make the USA a normal country.

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Team Unemployment, er, europe?
Posted by: commonsense on May 2, 2005 5:54 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Well first, you'd have to ask how unified the EU really is, and
whether they can clean their own back yard effectively before looking at anyone elses'. Germany by itself has HUGE unemployment numbers, with france not far behind, and to add insult to injury they've got 'america-itis', refusing to work for the lower wages that the polish immigrants are snapping up left and right. America's far from being the only country in the world facing huge debts, and to remain viable long-term, europe has to clean up its' act and get rid of quaint altruisms like a 35-hour work week.

Sure, the european nations have a lot of potential, but so do most high-school dropouts. The difference is and always has been the capacity to capitalize on that potential by going places and doing things with it. Only time will tell whether
the EU sees fit to fix its' problems and make a good-faith
effort toward global leadership, instead of adding insult
to injury as happened with Iraq. The starving, teeming muslim hordes can make short work of complacent europeans
and their rose-colored stance toward overpriced products they'll have perpetual trouble trying to export, an area where the high euro will work against, not for them. Sure, a Mercedes is a nice car, but is it 60 thousand dollars nice?
Uh, 'no'.

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Statements....
Posted by: angelang on May 11, 2005 9:20 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is my first post...I normally just sit back and read. The posts are from all over, which is good because we all have opinions. I dont know if you all heard that opinions are like as$holes...we all have one! First I would like to say I like what our government is doing. We are the only country trying to help these helpless people in other countries. We send how much to other countries trying to held their starving children and poor communities but how much is spent helping our own children and communities. I commend them for helping others just as I would do if I could. What do you think would happen if we just let them kill eachother in Iraq and Afghanistan?? What do you think OBL and Saddam would be doing now? Their own people didnt like them. So what is so wrong with us helping them?? My brother and cousins are and were over there. They volunteered to go over. They wanted to be part of the repairing process. What are your countries doing to help others? If you dont like living in America then get the hell out of here!! If you dont want to be part of America then dont come to our country. When a foreigner comes to America they are tax exempt, get a business, a home, education and freedom. Why do you think they came here. If I went to their country what do you think they would give me?? I wont go off about the govt in other countries because imagine you were sitting there in the hot seat...think about how you would handle each and every situation that was thrown at you.

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Australia's Involvement in Iraq:School Assignment..Help Needed!!
Posted by: Scarlette87 on May 11, 2005 5:11 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My name is Kate and I'm doing an assignment for year 12 and, of course would love to get the best results possible. I have been asked to conduct a survey asking questions about Australia's Involvement in Iraq. I thought that the best way to get as many different people's opinions as i could, would be to post my survey on a discussion board. I would really love to hear your answers, any help would be greatly appreciate :) Although the survey is only "Yes or No" questions i would like to hear your personal opinions.
Thanks,
Kate

1. Should Australia be involved with America in the fight against terror? (Yes/No)
2. Do you think John Howard is doing a good job as Prime Minister of Australia? (Yes/No)
3. Did you vote in the last election? (Yes/No)
4. Did Australia act on valid information in reguard to weapons of mass destruction? (Yes/No)
5. Should Australia pull their troops out of Iraq? (Yes/No)
6. Do you think the Iraqi people wanted to go to war? (Yes/No)

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Goodbye America Hello Eurasia, EU and Africa
Posted by: Riverside on May 13, 2005 7:59 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The strongest and most competitive alliance will more likely come from Eurasia which I define as a mix that includes much of the Middle East, Russia, China, India and some of the Southeast Asian countries. Now this link-up has not completely occurred, but the Bush Administration is working hard to make it happen. Yes, we are buying into India, but that is just giving India its first real economic strength. They will quickly begin to use it independently.

As for Central Europe, they will represent another block as the EU grows and grows. Even the UKs shyness will fold as it sees its real strength is with the EU not the USA.

Africa, well the day is coming when it comes into to its own. Yes, they are chopping at each other right now, but they are also beginning to come together peaceably and that will unite the most resource powerful continent on this planet. I suggest we all get busy learning both Swahili and Afrikaans. Africa could well opt into the Eurasian power grid.

It is going to be so lonely here. Why on earth did we do this to ourselves?

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