Made in the USA

[BlancheNoE]

Louisville Sluggers,

Jelly Bellys

and the armaments that killed somebody's loved ones in Bahrain today.

[SydTheSkeptic]

Not surprising.  In Cairo, the tear gas containers said "Made in USA".

 

 

[lima]

hmm...  I guess knowing how many chem/bio weapons that russia has produced and spread all over the world I don't see a tear gas container made in usa to be that much of a big deal.

 

 

[SydTheSkeptic]

It's more irony than anything else, lima.  The fact that we're so married to these dictators in terms of our own diplomatic stability is sad, indeed.  Here we are, the supposed champions of democracy and we can't even break away from dictators when there's an uprising against them because our economic and diplomatic ties are too deep. 

 

The fact that there are US products that are being used to beat back those who would die for what we aspire to be (a democracy) is a sad and ironic.

[Chig]

We are at best a Republic. (not that there is anything wrong in that.   As republics go, we have one of the most ideal)   The last of the Democracies in America were destroyed under the Manifest Destiny campaigns.

So, in that we do not encourage Democracy elsewhere, that is no surprise.  Can't champion that which you are not, especially as we have a history of killing Democracy under the heels of our republic.

And just remember that which is not written of as revolution, is written of as uprising / protest or civil conflict (war).   And the world is full of protest /uprising and civil conflict.

[SydTheSkeptic]

Chig, the republic aspires to democratic ideals.  There is no perfect democracy but it's a balance we strive for and that's something that CAN be held up as a model for what we're about.  That's not been the case, but I believe it's what everyone hopes for.   Hopes can wrest on the wrong people, indeed, but it's the same hope that creates a healthy tension between extreme forces on either side of the political spectrum.  The scales tip one way or the other but over time, the constant is that it always tips back given the right conditions.

 

This may be a low point from where we're standing in terms of our own ideologies, but I have no doubt it'll change.  Maybe not even in our lifetimes, but it'll change eventually.

[BlancheNoE]

@ Lima- So you're saying that because Russia does it , it's not so bad that we do it ? Wow. I wouldn't try that argument with judge Judy.

@ Syd- Exactly.

@ Chig- I get what what you're saying, but we're bordering on a plutocracy here.

[Chig]

@Blanchie..... I would have picked another Disney Character, like Goofocracy.

@ Syd.... and here I thought Manifest Destiny was a low point.  We need to invent low points for low points.

We are Democracy killers when it is for the good of the Republic.

 

[SydTheSkeptic]

Chig, I believe you're confusing the Republic with multi-national corporatism capitalism.

[Chig]

Cool.  Does that mean I get paid and get to dash the hopes and dreams of freedom for billions?   Amy is right.  Cause the best things in life are free... but you can give them to the birds and bees, just give me MONEY... and power and the blood of innocents longing to be free.  SALUTE.

 

Actually all the sarcasm aside... We are no shining example for the world, other than the dreams we hold dear, but it is not unique to us.... these are the dreams of mankind and go across many borders.   We need to get our own sh!t in order before we can play puppet master with others outside of our borders.   We are a mess in the home front, and everyone here needs to listen to one another before we freaking tear down what we have left of our forefather's dreams.

 

[SydTheSkeptic]

 ...everyone here needs to listen to one another

 

Couldn't agree with you more on that, Chig.