hope sincerely that this initialey isolasionist government can get a grip on its true responsibilities. You (the US) CANNOT exist alone. You must work with us all.
The United States
can in fact exist alone, and if it suited us we wouldn't work with the rest of the world at all. American history is replete with examples of us attempting to retreat back into isolation, only to be roused again and again by turmoil on the continent across the pond. I believe a retreat into isolationism was precisely what Pres. Bush had in mind before the events of Sept. 11 caused him to rethink that plan.
Image i'm afraid is everything.
Image is everything? Well, image is not everything but unfortunately it
is quite important. It has become so important over the past few years that a President who accomplished so little of any lasting value, really hardly anything at all, is still considered by many a great american leader. What's more, he is held in higher esteem globally than he is here, which would lead me to believe that image is even more important abroad than it is here. What can be done to rectify this obvious (and likely inherent) flaw in our democratic processes? For starters, I would suggest you examine Pres. Bush's accomplishments and failures before you criticize his 'image'.
As far as the President failing to "project an image" in your opinion in this election year, I'm sure he's quite content letting the democrats maul one another without his assistance. Once the democrats have selected their man, you can be sure the
heavily funded juggernaut of Bush's re-election campaign will go into full effect.
The lowest common denominator choses the president
Considering that less than half of our eligible voters traditionally participate in presidential elections, it is safe to assume that these people are, if only slighlty, more informed than the average american. Having said that, it is true that many who do vote are sadly ignorant of a great deal of pertinent information.
I hope he follows in the footsteps of his single term father.
I hope not. I didn't vote for him the first time, but I likely will be voting for him this time. He's shown me one thing for certain, and that is his ability to lead. Previous administrations have attempted to lead
and be loved by all. This is impossible, as the two are mutually exclusive.
I hope sincerely that this initialey isolasionist government can get a grip on its true responsibilities
And what, precisely, constitutes our "true responsibilities"? Policeman of the World? Understand this, most americans don't want anything to do with the rest of the world.
We don't want our jobs being sent abroad, and we don't want our products being undersold by foreigners. Unfortunately these are the attendant evils with trying to spread the benefits of a market economy to the world. Ultimately we do this for purely selfish reasons. We feel wealthy nations produce content citizens who are less likely to attack us or each other, and because the majority of americans believe capitalism and competition raises the standard of living for all people. Many americans believe we are the best hope for humanity.
We don't want foreigners attacking our country, physically or verbally, and we don't want to send our children around the world risking their lives to drop bombs on other people and kill foreigners. Unfortunately the former continually requires us to do the latter. Although there are those in our country who still believe in the failed theories of Appeasement, eventually we do get around to doing the right thing, however long it may take and whatever resistance, international or domestic, we may face.
Our interaction with you, i.e. the rest of the world, is purely out of intelligent, long-term, self-interest.
Originally posted by Wonderwench
Considering the sick and destructive values of many cultures in the world, the fact that we piss them off is a good thing.
It certainly is, in my mind, an indication that we're doing the right thing. Considering the moral wasteland that is the UN, I dread the day they start praising the US.
EDIT: I later realized I forgot to address the comment that initially prompted me to respond.
I wonder if it is not this single fact, combined with diplomatic inability that has not caused the anti-american sentiment around the world.
The 'anti-american sentiment around the world', which itself is a biased generalization, existed long before the current administration came to power in our country. The obsequious nature of our previous President served to mask the underlying disdain with which many foreign administrations held for our country. His constant apologizing and pandering served to inflate their ego's while simulataneously increasing their contempt for our country. Upon the ascent to the position of President, previously held by a fawning weakling, of a dynamic leader unwilling to bend to their desires their ill-will promptly resurfaced.
) of some of Aristotle's mental meanderings and we seemed to agree. 
