'Occupy' Protests

[BZROM]

Are you guys geting off topic or what?

[Sno]

When do we ever stay on topic?

[hitchcockgreen]

Totally off-topic.

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-9th-circuit/1332957.html

There, back on topic.

Now to go back off topic...

Non-interventionalism is not getting involved in foreign affairs if it doesn't affect you, or an ally

I agree with the overseas base thing. I mean, you guys have A LOT of them. That's gotta cost a great deal of coin. The foreign affairs thing gets iffy. Even if you were going to go the Ron Paul route, would you withdraw from NATO or NORAD?
And it doesn't just stop with interfering directly in non-ally countries, it also means strict enforcement against American arms manufacturers that sell weapons to non-ally countries. As it stands now I don't think there is any of that going on, and if there is, then whatever measures that might be in place are failing miserably.

How come the US doesn't allow foreign allies to establish bases in the US? I highly doubt it's a security threat if an ally like Canada requests to build a base in a place like South Dakota.

Not for a lack of trying. There was a deal struck earlier this year allowing American troops to basically mess around within Canada's borders and vice versa within a set km limit.

the reason the US is frequently labeled as an aggressor by other countries. It is because the US has the capability to stop tyrants and nefarious mischief throughout the world.

That might be true to a degree, but certainly isn't the only case. Besides the previously mentioned instances of Afghanistan and Iraq, we are now looking at the same thing happening with Iran (which has had tumultuous political results from American meddling), South America, Central America, the South Pacific, Africa... There are plenty of examples.
Don't get me wrong, it's not Americans that are the villains. You're the victims of electing lying, greedy bastards just like the rest of the world. However, when you elect a leader, they've got one of the biggest sticks in the playground.

When do we ever stay on topic?

Stay on topic?!?! What, you think this is like that other forum where everything has to be neat and tidy and well organized and compartmentalized?

[BZROM]

(When in Rome....)

the US may find itself as one of a number of important actors on the world stage, albeit still the most powerful one. Even in the military realm, where the US will continue to possess considerable advantages through, advances by others in science and technology, expanded adoption of irregular warfare tactics by both state and nonstate actors, proliferation of long-range precision weapons, and growing use of cyber warfare attacks increasingly will constrict US freedom of action.

The US interest and willingness to play a leadership role also may be more constrained as the economic, military, and opportunity costs of being the world’s leader are reassessed by American voters.It follows that, economic and opportunity costs in particular may cause the US public to favor new tradeoffs.

[hitchcockgreen]

Just saw a poll this morning that said nearly 50% of voters support military action against Iran if sanctions fail.

I really hope that's a flawed poll.

[Dx.]

Soo... when totally broke there's always money for war.

[FirBirGir]

War, research, new roads, global travel, State dinners, staffers, you name it. We have no concept of being broke, we have the world's largest credit card that apparantly has no limit.

[BZROM]

War, research, new roads, global travel, State dinners, staffers, you name it. We have no concept of being broke, we have the world's largest credit card that apparantly has no limit.

Yeah, sitting in Chinas back pocket.

[hitchcockgreen]

Heh a relatively small chunk of America's debt, really. But China is having an economic crisis of their own. With Europe and the US in deep recessions purchases of China's exports are way down.

America doesn't rely on Chinese imports all THAT much. America still produces a lot of goods internally. You'd be surprised at the wide range of products that are made by inmates in America.

[FirBirGir]

If you count indirect dependencies like parts used in American made products, we are vastly dependent on China and other Asian countries. We *could* tool up and become more independent if we wanted to or had to but China will always beat us on cost.

[BZROM]

Let's face it, The two main exports America has going are arms & entertainment.
America sells more arms than the rest of the world combined. On top of that,
we have officially passed 15 trillion dollars in debt.....we've all but paid for Chinas new aircraft carrier.

[hitchcockgreen]

If you count indirect dependencies like parts used in American made products, we are vastly dependent on China and other Asian countries. We *could* tool up and become more independent if we wanted to or had to but China will always beat us on cost.

True. One Chinese manufacturer makes a hell of a lot of parts. But don't discount S. Korea or Taiwan. Samsung has their hands in EVERYTHING.
And remember: inmates are the new slave labour. You could use them to make cell phones if you wanted to.

[FirBirGir]

Like I said, we could gear up and be more independent if we want to. Canada could start manufacturing and we can import from you

Eddy

[hitchcockgreen]

We already do to some extent but not nearly enough. We ought to though.

uplink from the tundra

[hitchcockgreen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaH-lGafwtE

[hitchcockgreen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... y7J8-1vubk

LMAO

[Ded10c]

Saw this and thought of you, Hitch

[FirBirGir]

I thought this was interesting

http://bigjournalism.com/jsexton/2011/1 ... fferently/

Hitch, does the press in Canada refer to OWS as anti-capitalist protestors?

[hitchcockgreen]

Probably only the right-wing media.

It doesn't get the coverage here that it does down there, nor in Europe, I imagine, because our protests have been relatively low key.

Of course, it isn't capitalism that is the problem per se. But corruption in general, and in the beginning, particularly in regards to the financial corporations and buying of politicians.

However, every protest location addressed issues that were relevant to them.

Now if this isn't something that gets everyone up in arms, I don't know what will:

http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-secur ... -detention

[hitchcockgreen]

Saw this and thought of you, Hitch

Heh. I've seen variations of that over the past couple of months.

If only it were like that.