Posted on 11/05/2008 1:36:31 PM PST by Antoninus
Good ideas. Thanks. I was really floored when my brother seemed to say that abortions weren’t killing a child. I really haven’t been able to respond effectively yet. Thanks.
Every time I see that I'm reminded of "Dyslexics Untie!"
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As long as the USA is still the only superpower it has in ways an influence US people might not recognise at first hand. The USA has since WWI exported not only Capitalism as the economic system everybody should adhere to, but also the claimed the moral right to be the world's leader based on it democratic system, law, the ideal that every person can make it in America as long as you work hard - - - - in that way claiming to be the force of Good instead of Evil.
Under Bush that moral right crumbled tremendously:
- the prison Bush used in Cuba to not have to adhere to his own countries laws. That is not an action from the force of Good.
- invading Iraq pretending there where weapon's of mass destruction - which there were not. Helping Iraq getting rid of Saddam was good in itself, but Bush failed in giving it the right cause and fumbled big time afterwards.
- taxcuts for the rich: why? they already “made it”! Why not help the people wanting to make it? How is that in line with the country's ideal?
- Getting rid of the Taliban was good - but the execution afterwards was crippled because of Iraq. Did Bush never learn the lesson's the Russians did overhere?
Bush is now seen by the rest of the world more as Evil than Good. Which means that the USA is lagging on its claims on the moral right to be its leader. Bush gives the impression that the USA should be the world's leader because it is the most powerful. That aggrevates people around the world. Example: the BBC reported on a poll under Pakistan people.
30% or more supported Al Quada - not because of the political system it wants to imprint - but because it is the only group who has the guts to stand up against the USA!
Bush is seen as the “School Bully” and by choosing Obama the USA repairs a lot of that mental damage. It showes the world it is true to its ideals - that also a black man can make it to the very top in the USA.
In his image people can find hope that reason, law and the force of Good is again present in the White House. It will also be difficult for many who target the USA to claim on moral or religious grounds that Obama is the force of Evil. He was educated in a muslim school (and his middle name is muslim), which might be alienating Joe Sixpack, but takes away so much cultural gaps that it will do the USA good in the world.
It will mean that the USA can keep a great deal of its influence in the world, instead of letting it slide away and only able to support it with force. That will have positive effects in many other area's: not only the world's political situation, but also economical, technological and socially. And that will sooner or later reflect on your national situation as well.
It is on the long term so important to the USA and its allies in the Western World that I strongly feel that your nation made the right choice. As we say in Europe: the US people can choose between a conservative capitalist and a liberal capitalist. I don't think you will have to fear the socialist imprint we have seen overhere. Besides - nationalising your Fanny and Freddy was seen as a socialist action - and who did those?
Many of the real negative impacts of the socialists in NL of the 70’s and early 80’s has slowly been changed to better situations. It takes time but all in all it's not bad overhere. I myself would have been in deep poverty given my medical history for example, but for the socialist laws.
Enough for now, I wish you both strength and good luck the coming 4 or maybe even 8 years. Until Palin will rescue you...... :-P
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