Will the World Like the US Better Under Obama?

[Ravi]

I have never once been resentful of US wealth or success. That goes for any country. What I am resentful of is others interferring in the political process of other countries - moreso when there is a democracy in place already.

So if I invest in a US company, and your Congress passes a bill that is not to my liking I should ferment sedition (either openly or covertly) just to get my way? As I said, you have no concept of the term freedom...

Don't you mean foment? Fermented sedition, yummy.

 

[jillian]

Don't you mean foment? Fermented sedition, yummy.

Everyone knows sedition has to age like fine wine.

 

[Chris]

Obama is popular with our ENEMIES because they know that with him as president we will be VULNERABLE.

It is not important that we "lead" countries which hate us and want us dead. It is important that we are invulnerable to them, and refuse to tolerate their crap.

Our enemies? What enemies? Oh, yea, those three guys hiding in a cave in Pakistan that you are so frightened of.

No, we need to lead our allies, not turn them away. The West needs leadership from us, not stupidity. Check out the link below.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/04/AR2008060402360.html

 

[Gunny]

Because LEADERSHIP is the ability to gain support for your cause from other countries in the world. The go-it-alone, John Wayne approach of George the Lesser has been a disaster. Let's look at the Gulf War vs the Iraq War. George Bush Sr. got on the phone and won the support of many nations to back the first Gulf War. As a result the first Gulf War cost us only a few billion dollars because nations as diverse as Japan kicked in money to pay for it. Bush Jr. could not gain any support for the Iraq War worldwide, and so that war cost us $700 billion dollars. That is a failure of LEADERSHIP.

Obama is already extremely popular worldwide and will be much better at selling the American cause overseas. We must be able to lead in such a way that others will follow.

You need to look up leadership in the dictionary. The definition you provide is called politicking and diplomacy, not leading.

The First Gulf War is in no way comparable to the Iraq War. Two completely different types of engagement. The First Gulf War was a limited military action with a specific goal: remove Saddam's forces from Kuwait. The Iraq War was a full-scale military action to defeat the army and oust the government of a nation, and rebuild the nation with a democratic government.

Obama may or may not be popular worldwide already but why wouldn't he be when he's promising to kiss the world's ass? THAT is failure of leadership. Matter of fact, it's called cowtowing by pussies. I guess that's okay with those that are though.

 

[Chris]

You need to look up leadership in the dictionary. The definition you provide is called politicking and diplomacy, not leading.

The First Gulf War is in no way comparable to the Iraq War. Two completely different types of engagement. The First Gulf War was a limited military action with a specific goal: remove Saddam's forces from Kuwait. The Iraq War was a full-scale military action to defeat the army and oust the government of a nation, and rebuild the nation with a democratic government.

Obama may or may not be popular worldwide already but why wouldn't he be when he's promising to kiss the world's ass? THAT is failure of leadership. Matter of fact, it's called cowtowing by pussies. I guess that's okay with those that are though.

So all our allies are "pussies?" That is ridiculous.

We cannot control the world. Our resources are limited. We can barely occupy two small Mideast countries, and now our resources are being drained by the Iraq War and our lack of a policy for American Energy Independence.

How's Iraq's Shia democracy going? Is it allied with Iran yet?

 

[editec]

If fundamentals mean nothing and the rules are broken… then what you're really saying is we just have one big casino…

Ah, no, I'm not saying that. This looks to me like a classic economic bubble, that's all.

No rules have to be broken for that to happen.

why build a real business anymore… and aside from all those congressmen et al out for the gravy…who are the big players?… are the motives solely greed or has the game become more dangerous?

It's waaaay more complex than that.

Usually the markets serve the public well. SOMETIMES, and I think the price in oil is one of these, the market becomes a casino.

You are familiar with the concept of the tragedy of the commons?

I suspect that is what is going on right now with this oil bubble.

If the movers and shakers are deliberately playing games with our real estate market….our oil market…. our food market….one market after another...creating high costs where no shortages actually exist…..what happens after they've fleeced everyone...if not depression?

You have to understand that no conspiracy is needed for a bubble to take place, right?

While each indisvidual investor is merely doing what is right for them, and they cannot be faulted for doing what they think is in their personal interests, the collective outcome of many people doing what is right for them, can have terrible consequences on the society as whole.

(…and perhaps a whole new world order…)

More than an old world order, actually.

One where there is a rather small elite which has most of the power and control over resources; one where there is practically no middle class, and a huge class of people who are virtually peasants.

Yes, that is the inevitably outcome of a long period where income distributions highly inequitable.

Are we moving in that direction right now?

Looks to me like we are.

That is precisely why the American middle class is having a hard time.

Their real incomes are dropping in comparison to the elite incomes.

 

[ScreamingEagle]

I have never once been resentful of US wealth or success. That goes for any country. What I am resentful of is others interferring in the political process of other countries - moreso when there is a democracy in place already.

So if I invest in a US company, and your Congress passes a bill that is not to my liking I should ferment sedition (either openly or covertly) just to get my way? As I said, you have no concept of the term freedom...

You mean the freedom to steal American companies working in foreign countries…

News flash….you would not have your company taken from you in the US (at least formerly true)…..unless you were a national threat…. or for eminent domain purposes….and you received just compensation.

 

[ScreamingEagle]

Ah, no, I'm not saying that. This looks to me like a classic economic bubble, that's all.

No rules have to be broken for that to happen.



It's waaaay more complex than that.

Usually the markets serve the public well. SOMETIMES, and I think the price in oil is one of these, the market becomes a casino.

You are familiar with the concept of the tragedy of the commons?

I suspect that is what is going on right now with this oil bubble.



You have to understand that no conspiracy is needed for a bubble to take place, right?

While each indisvidual investor is merely doing what is right for them, and they cannot be faulted for doing what they think is in their personal interests, the collective outcome of many people doing what is right for them, can have terrible consequences on the society as whole.


More than an old world order, actually.

One where there is a rather small elite which has most of the power and control over resources; one where there is practically no middle class, and a huge class of people who are virtually peasants.

Yes, that is the inevitably outcome of a long period where income distributions highly inequitable.

Are we moving in that direction right now?

Looks to me like we are.

That is precisely why the American middle class is having a hard time.

Their real incomes are dropping in comparison to the elite incomes.

Aren't the heavyweight investors mainly institutional traders (clients of the big brokerage firms) which are causing the imbalance? Pension funds and the like? They represent millions of people, not just a small group of elites.

 

[Dr Grump]

You mean the freedom to steal American companies working in foreign countries…

News flash….you would not have your company taken from you in the US (at least formerly true)…..unless you were a national threat…. or for eminent domain purposes….and you received just compensation.

No it doesn't mean that at all. Some countries do nationalise companies, but that happens rarely and is in the best interests of the country itself.

As for eminent domain, thanks for making my point for me - although some don't receive just compensation...

 

[ScreamingEagle]

No it doesn't mean that at all. Some countries do nationalise companies, but that happens rarely and is in the best interests of the country itself.

As for eminent domain, thanks for making my point for me - although some don't receive just compensation...

You lost me...you must be talking to those voices in your head...

 

[AllieBaba]

Ah, no, I'm not saying that. This looks to me like a classic economic bubble, that's all.

No rules have to be broken for that to happen.



It's waaaay more complex than that.

Usually the markets serve the public well. SOMETIMES, and I think the price in oil is one of these, the market becomes a casino.

You are familiar with the concept of the tragedy of the commons?

I suspect that is what is going on right now with this oil bubble.



You have to understand that no conspiracy is needed for a bubble to take place, right?

While each indisvidual investor is merely doing what is right for them, and they cannot be faulted for doing what they think is in their personal interests, the collective outcome of many people doing what is right for them, can have terrible consequences on the society as whole.



More than an old world order, actually.

One where there is a rather small elite which has most of the power and control over resources; one where there is practically no middle class, and a huge class of people who are virtually peasants.

Yes, that is the inevitably outcome of a long period where income distributions highly inequitable.

Are we moving in that direction right now?

Looks to me like we are.

That is precisely why the American middle class is having a hard time.

Their real incomes are dropping in comparison to the elite incomes.

Which is happening because the socialists want to tax the shit out of anyone who tries to make it....while at the same time eliminating their entrepreneurial (is that a word?) options.

 

[editec]

Which is happening because the socialists want to tax the shit out of anyone who tries to make it....while at the same time eliminating their entrepreneurial (is that a word?) options.

Taxes on the working class are ridiculously high, I agree.. given what they make

Taxes on the superwealthy are absurdly low... given what they make.

Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor, sport.

I have THE solution for that problem, but I'll bet you wouldn't approve.

 

[AllieBaba]

Does it involve a rubber ducky?

 

[Yurt]

You guys continue to run around with the wool over your eyes. Nobody likes conservative America. They are from a time long gone past. The rest of the world has moved on. And to be honest, most of us non-Americans wouldn't give two hoots if your arses wanted to stay conservative, as long as it didn't affect the rest of us. Unfortuntely, that isn't the case.

Gunny, we bitch and moan about the US for good reason (mostly). Doing good in the past, doesn't give you guys the right to act like the rest of us owe you and we should do your bidding. You guys hate it when the likes of Chavez and Castro stamp their feet making demands, what makes you thing the rest of us want to kowtow to you guys?

Obama will heal rifts...you wait and see...

are you simple? most muslims are conservatives.... but you support them and bash americans

 

[Dr Grump]

are you simple? most muslims are conservatives.... but you support them and bash americans

1) Not as simple as you
2) Conservative Muslims have no impact on my life
3) I don't support any religion
4) I bash neocon, right-wing religious nut job Yanks like you, which thankfully, are in the vast minority...:O)

 

[Zoomie1980]

You guys continue to run around with the wool over your eyes. Nobody likes conservative America. They are from a time long gone past. The rest of the world has moved on. And to be honest, most of us non-Americans wouldn't give two hoots if your arses wanted to stay conservative, as long as it didn't affect the rest of us. Unfortuntely, that isn't the case.

Gunny, we bitch and moan about the US for good reason (mostly). Doing good in the past, doesn't give you guys the right to act like the rest of us owe you and we should do your bidding. You guys hate it when the likes of Chavez and Castro stamp their feet making demands, what makes you thing the rest of us want to kowtow to you guys?

Obama will heal rifts...you wait and see...

Actually, you all DO owe us for your very lives. Without the US you today you are speaking German and killing every Jew and Slav you can find. Lend Lease bailed your ass out in WWII without which you would have fallen under Hitler's Jack Boot. Same for Russia, without US shipment to Murmansk and Archangelsk in 1941, Moscow and the Soviet Union would have been a German province.

Without the massive US presense in Europe after WWII, Britain and ALL of western Europe would be a simple Soviet State.

So yes, you owe us for ALL ETERNITY you slack ass brit. So stop whining and pay up. Do as your told!

 

[Zoomie1980]

Almost can't be bothered answering this because you are beyond dense. Wouldn't it be better for the US to have a president who has a lot of international friends to call on when the going gets tough, instead of the Coalition of the Willing types such as Albania and Estonia??

We have over 80% of the world operational nuclear weapons that still has the capacity to deliver with 100% effectiveness coupled with the ability to shoot down almost all the rest of the few that can reach us.

So time will never be really "tough" for us. The world should be thankful a nation as honorable and decent as the US has this power today to essentially wipe the planet out at it's whim without any serious risk to itself. Imagine your butt-buddies Chavez, and Putin having this power....

 

[manu1959]

i have always wondered ..... who do you all want to like the us that does not.....

 

[Zoomie1980]

i have always wondered ..... who do you all want to like the us that does not.....

I don't really care if anyone likes us. We are the most powerful nation/empire this planet has ever seen to date. We could utterly destroy the world with very little risk to ourselves if we had a Hitler mentality. The world should be ever thankful and grateful that we are as nice a people as we are. We saved the world for two Armageddons in the 20th century, Fascism and Communism, and what thanks do we get? Some left wing loser Brit poster to this forum who has his head up his left wing ass?

If we want to take out the junta in Burma tomorrow, we will, we don';t need ask the UN's permission. If we want to nuke Iran tomorrow, we will, we don't need Europe's permission. If we want to shut Putin's mouth ffor his puppet follow-on prime minister tomorrow, we will we don't have to ask France's permission. If we want to invade Venezuela tomorrow and shove a barrel of oil up Chavez's ass, we will and we don't need China's permission to do so. If we want to finally finish off Cuba next week, we will, we need no one's permission.

As for all the rest of you? You DEFINITELY need OUR permission. Why? Because we have ALL the big sticks...

 

[manu1959]

I don't really care if anyone likes us. We are the most powerful nation/empire this planet has ever seen to date. We could utterly destroy the world with very little risk to ourselves if we had a Hitler mentality. The world should be ever thankful and grateful that we are as nice a people as we are. We saved the world for two Armageddons in the 20th century, Fascism and Communism, and what thanks do we get? Some left wing loser Brit poster to this forum who has his head up his left wing ass?

If we want to take out the junta in Burma tomorrow, we will, we don';t need ask the UN's permission. If we want to nuke Iran tomorrow, we will, we don't need Europe's permission. If we want to shut Putin's mouth ffor his puppet follow-on prime minister tomorrow, we will we don't have to ask France's permission. If we want to invade Venezuela tomorrow and shove a barrel of oil up Chavez's ass, we will and we don't need China's permission to do so. If we want to finally finish off Cuba next week, we will, we need no one's permission.

As for all the rest of you? You DEFINITELY need OUR permission. Why? Because we have ALL the big sticks...

well you cetainely have proven why some folks don't like the us.....