Rice Asks for $75 Million to "Promote Democracy"

Do y' think that $50 million could turn fox news or cnn into a 24x7
broadcast into this country, advocating "slow down! back off!
save gas!" and giving hints on how to drive efficiently, invest in
better vehicles and energy infrastructure, and be a little less
type A in general? That would be a much more effective weapon
in the long run. No more money poured into the mideast.
.
_H*

 

Are you serious? You think if we give up our cars, it makes an Iranian Atom Bomb less deadly?

 

Try looking up "representative democracy". Even the Wikipedia got this nearly correct (ignore the Iroquois example; its pretty controversial). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representative_democracy

 

History taught us that when we try to steer a country a certain way they come to be our closest allies and great economic powers among the various types of democracies in the world. Japan, for example, was a historic enemy and a militaristic monarchy, but after just 7 years of occupation, they emerged as a free nation. And we did the same thing in Germany, even after a three year period of insurgency by the "werewolves", nationalist Germans and former SS members, who engaged in sabotage and attacked both coalition forces and those locals cooperating with them.

History has many lessons, but the trick is in seeing which situation actually fits the facts.

 

Not that this has anything to do will real life, but, this discussion reminded me of a funny movie. The Mouse That Roared (1959) is a cold-war satire in which Peter Sellers plays several characters. As the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, the world's smallest country, he decides that the only way to get out of their economic woes is to declare war on the United States. . . hoping to lose . . . then reap the benefits when billions of US foreign aid dollars flow into the country. Things don't go quite as planned. The plot pokes fun at international politics, nuclear arms proliferation and all the major players in the cold war.

I give it three thumbs up. :lol:

 

I'm sorry but I don't think the U.S. should be the world's "Democracy Fairy". I think we can find something much better here at home to spend $75 million dollars on. Especially when they're cutting medicare, medicaid and education and Katrina survivors are being evicted.

 

It's part of the President's "No Barrel Left Behind" initiative.

 

Have you been visiting Japan and Germany lately? Have you spoken to anyone how they feel and what they actually think of US foreign policies?

Do you know how many Japanese are so displeased with presence of our bases for which they pay 75% of the costs?

Besides why are you speaking on their behalf, bring some Germans and Japanese to this discussion with plethora of opnions to solidify it. Germans certianly opposing us on Iraq and hugly on Guantanamo issue.

Allies come and go...

 

I totally agree. Issues on the home front need urgent attention.

 

Allies often have policy disagreements. But Japan and Germany are still very good allies and friends of the USA. As is France.

 

again, you fail to bring any of those people to the conversation. You speak on their behalf. Because they are allies on paper doesn't mean they are very fond of us.