What is Digg?315 Comments
- Gabnoj, on 10/11/2007, -19/+92Only 32%? I expected the actual figure to be closer to 92% with the current government...
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -16/+53Neither North Korea, Iran or Russia have illegally invaded another country for no good reason. The USA has.
- DrDragun, on 10/11/2007, -2/+27Blame it on the neo-conservative movement. I am a republican, and the classic republican values (minimal government, true capitalism) have been heavily contaminated in the party in the past 20 years with the neo-conservative agenda (interventionist foreign policy, attempt to integrate church and state, bigoted views against any practices deviant from "traditional family values").
My desire for a true capitalist society and minimum federal government makes me tolerant of such things to a certain point because I do not support a welfare state... however my tolerance is at its end. I think the Bush Administration is the Swan's Song of the Neo-Cons, and a new conservative movement will soon emerge or else myself and the vast majority of the non-bible-belt Republicans will break with the party IMHO. The core Republican beliefs are a Federal Government of minimal responsibility (defense, civil infrastructure, possibly education, and some basic humanitarian laws). However the Neo-Cons which to combine Church and State, breaking the most basic seperation of powers that we have. Someone who can compel you with laws and religeon at the same time is a truly scary power. - evilish, on 10/11/2007, -17/+40Hmm,
Has the American administration done anything to actually improve global security recently?
- Evilish - KMye, on 10/11/2007, -9/+32I imagine if they'd polled in some more eastern countries like Poland, Russia might have a stronger showing...
- casey24601, on 10/11/2007, -18/+41"Even in the U.S. itself, 35% of Americans 16- to 24-years-old identify America as the chief danger to stability."
35% of 16 - 24 year olds most likely own the new Justin Timberlake CD, saw Shrek III the weekend it came out, and do not keep up to date on current events. So what? - Chopper3, on 10/11/2007, -7/+30I'm sorry but that is simply a fallacy. Hitler gave up on plans to invade Britain long before the US came late to the game and far far few US servicemen died in Europe than did from any other force fighting in that theatre. It was Russia and their willingness to throw man after man at the Eastern Front that defeated Germany. It's not that Europe didn't appreciate the help that the US put into the European campaign, it very much was, but US involvement was not decisive in overall victory as many Americans like to think and very specifically we wouldn't all be speaking German now if it wasn't for them. Also of note is the fact that the US government, quite rightly, charged the UK and some other European nations for their help, in fact a number of countries still pay the US tens of millions of dollars a year for the assistance, the UK only finished paying this a year or so ago. So as I say, thank you USA but please keep your opinions in context.
- mandarin, on 10/11/2007, -2/+24Thats exactly the kind of thinking they are expecting...
- EarlOfLade, on 10/11/2007, -4/+23ROFLMAO... Like "true capitalism and minimal government" is resulting in anything but worse conditions for everyone/ It's probably the worst thing you can unleash upon the world.
What you need, is social democracy, a mix between capitalism and socialism were you take the best from each. Look to the Scandinavian countries for the solution, don't always assume that you and you alone (eg USA) has all the answers, because it's not the case. USA looks more and more like a 3rd world country except for in 2 areas, military and economy. Socially, this country IS a 3rd world country.
Why are you so afraid of government? If your system is not working (and I do agree it sucks like a Hoover), change the damn system. Look outside you own sandbox, see how it's done in other countries were it works much better and were the government is "from the people, for the people" and not a bunch of corrupt hypocrites in the pocket of big corporations and who don't give a ***** about people. And your ideas is just more of the same *****.
Unless there is a total revolt in USA and a change to the political system, USA will end up on all statistics around 50-60 in the world, with more people living in poverty or working slave type jobs for ***** payments and without any form of health care, an education system that is great for the rich and crap for the poor, resulting in poor people never being able to get out of poverty. The corporative rule of USA will increase and a few big corporations will run USA through their puppets, the politicians. and the average American will still thump his chest and declare :"USA - #1!!! while the rest of the world is rolling on the floor laughing. - Fieri, on 10/11/2007, -2/+20Any good the past ones have done in the last 50 years is counterbalanced by the CIA's work in keeping the third world in turmoil.
- tomboy501, on 10/11/2007, -9/+27...and going wildly overboard creates new terrorist breeding grounds, like the one we gave birth to and nurture every day in Iraq
- incandescent, on 10/11/2007, -2/+19The US provides stability across the globe? Try telling that to the relatives of the 1200 people murdered in Iraq in the last month.
- rationalist, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18I wish you well. Unfortunately, statistically speaking, those who share your views are in a distinct minority among the party rank and file, and an even smaller minority in the party machine. There simply are not enough libertarian Republicans to make a difference. You'd be better off working with civil libertarians on the Democratic side. We have far more in common than divides us, and it is going to take all our efforts to prevent American becoming a theocracy - the religious left will just sit back paralyzed by their inability to squarely face the limitations and flaws inherent in organized religion. They will turn the other cheek as we lose all our freedoms.
Despite the propaganda you may have been fed, most Democrats do not support a welfare state and are capitalists to the core. Yes, we believe in government as a resource of last resort for the powerless and unfortunate, but by and large the party of John F Kennedy and Bill Clinton is not a socialist party.
We could use your help countering the stridency of the radical left, but, let's face it - our radical fringe is marginalized and has little power, while your radical fringe has taken over and owns the table you can't even get a seat at.
Like I said, I wish you luck, but I think you are whistling in the dark if you think that Republicans are turning away from the Religious Right; on the contrary, their hold has never been so complete, in all branches of government and at all levels - national, state, local - of the GOP. Fully 80% of state legislatures in the country are controlled by theocrats and a similar percent of local governments. It's not just the Bible Belt, it is everywhere, from New England to the West Coast.
Wake up and smell the theocracy, and join together with reasonable people across the spectrum to fight for our common freedoms! - kazamx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17I don't think your in Europe for our benefit. American troops are still in Europe as part of a glabal strategy to keep troops scattered all around the world. This means that America can deploy troops and equipment anywhere easily.
If the US left Europe the only thing that would happen, is alot of protest groups could go home and the local economy would take a bit of a hit as the US soldiers stop spending cash locally. To be honest the economic impact would be small as most American troops spend most of their money in the base on goods shipped from America. - incandescent, on 10/11/2007, -3/+19Congratulations for reinforcing the stereotype of Americans as ignorant idiots. FWIW, less than 3% of the UK population is Muslim and we have been busy tried to tidy up after failed American military interventions for decades.
- codmate, on 10/11/2007, -3/+19Well done USA - you've finally inherited our old British mantle of being the most hated and feared country in the world!
Enjoy! - incandescent, on 10/11/2007, -4/+19I'm afraid Russia's genocidal campaign in Chechnya, it's invasion of Afghanistan and its constant meddling in former Soviet states says otherwise...
- jdubhub, on 10/11/2007, -2/+16"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter."--Winston Churchill
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1416-24 year olds is the primary demographic here on digg.
- Chopper3, on 10/11/2007, -4/+16That's no what I'm saying, you said "The only reason europe is what it is today was because our grandfathers shot nazis", I'm stated, I thought clearly enough for most, that although US involvement was extremely useful it was not decisive in the overall outcome, i.e. it helped to save lives but would not have affected the fact that German lost the war - that was Russia's involvement.
- repins, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13do not forget China's tacit approval of the genocide in Darfur, since China has blocked every resolution to do anything about it.
- agarwaengrc, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13Ofcourse they 'd better withdraw the troops!!! You do understand that almost noone wants US troops stationed in europe and the US goverment actually *pressures* or *bribes* local goverments to keep them here don't you? I've read many times in this thread that the Europeans (or anyone for that matter) actually "cry to the US for help" as someone put it whenever something goes wrong... I mean, what ***** do they feed you people?? That you are the liberators, that the rest of the world actually wants the US to intervene in their local politics, that the world expects something from you... how can you believe this *****? Everybody, be it in their bests interests or not, just wants to be left alone !I mean, just switch your position with that of eg Italy or whatever, and then think about it... the only event where countries would actually want help from one another would be a catastrophic event like WWIII.
- codmate, on 10/11/2007, -2/+14We wrote coherent sentences?
- walkingdogs, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13Your attitude is one of the problems in this country today. Heaven for bid some of us should have higher expectations for a country that holds itself in such high esteem. We have turned into a pompous ass of do as I say not as I do which is why we have become the target of so much hate and terrorism plots. We feel we have carte blanch to do whatever we feel we want and call it preemptive, but as soon as someone else tries the same tactics, or what ever tactic they choose, we cry foul call it terrorism and try to stop it with force instead of examining the actions and trying to understand what angle they are coming from and trying to deal with it diplomatically. As for us who actually have respect for the rest of the world, we should not be threatened with if you don't like it get out. Differing opinions working together and making compromises is what this country was founded and built on and if you are too close minded to know and accept that go live in North Korea and enjoy conforming.
- fancypantscz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12And the fact that the Democrats in congress did so little to stop the rise of the Neo-Cons has alienated me from my former party as well. I don't like limitations on free speech or the right to choose, I have no fear of immigrants in fact i think they stimulate the economy, I could care less about what language people speak, I also think strong government regulation and a big welfare states are absurd. However, I can see the rise of the Neo-Con / Military industrial Complex and their visions of a long war with Islam as the greatest threat to American liberties. Kucinch and Gravel are the only Democrats willing to address this concern. Sadly I fear they will be effectively sidelined in the primary. Perhaps if people like you and I vote our conscious, Ron Paul might actually have a chance at becoming the republican nominee. I will vote for him in the primaries and again for him in the general if he makes it.
- Sigurdhsson, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12Increase security, no.
Increase pointless big-brotherish "security" controls, yes. - jamison18, on 10/11/2007, -7/+18This fact doesn't necessarily mean anything significant. Just last week I was talking with an educated Russian man in Moscow who was upset his country was accepting US foriegn aid becasue he was afraid we would call back the debt and take Moscow and St Petersburg as the 51st and 52nd states. The US is a handy tool for other governemnts to use as a fear factor to keep their people in line with- and you wouldn't beleive how many people bite the propoganda.
- jdubhub, on 10/11/2007, -3/+14When did the definition of "patriot" get changed to mean blind obedience to tyranny? It is possible to love your country, but still take issue with the way the government is being run. Those who take issue with that would be well served to examine Mark Twain's later years.
- fancypantscz, on 10/11/2007, -5/+16In more important news America is the dumbest, fattest, most debt ridden post industrial country in the world. But at least we make up for it with belligerent aggression.
The new American motto should be: IT MAY SUCK BUT AT LEAST ITS HUGE! - ClayDragon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11Reminds me of a joke from Germany's late night show star Harald Schmidt: "Without the Americans, Germany would be a Socialist Soviet Republic today. But without the Europeans, Americans would be Indians (the native American people, that is)."
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13"The US military provides stability and defense across the globe"
Wow. It's hard to believe anyone actually believes that. - Murdats, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12are you sure they have improved the saftey of air travel, or just increased the inconvinience?
- liveinabin, on 10/11/2007, -6/+17Well, the US does tend to just go around beating hornet's nests. I think this is actually quite a conservative estimate.
I mean, heck I know we were technically in a war, but there's only one nation on earth that's actually USED nuclear weapons....twice. That kinda sticks. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11A large portion of Europeans have been demanding we withdraw from there for decades. I agree. We need to stop occupying Europe, Japan, Korea, Central America, the Middle East, Africa.... basically our troops have no business outside of the USA.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10Much more responsible, too. If you're gonna kill people, kill your own, don't go bothering other countries who weren't doing anything to you. Yup, we sure liberated the hell out of those Iraqis.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11How is a nation occupied by foreign troops "liberated" exactly?
- duniyadnd, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11Whoops, didn't mean to digg you down.. wished they put a feature to undo that.
- DangerCollie, on 10/11/2007, -4/+13"you wouldn't beleive how many people bite the propoganda."
You mean like 60% of those getting their news from Fox still believing that Iraq was involved with 9-11? Is that the propaganda you're talking about?
We lost the right to snuff at anyone else about propaganda. - sodade, on 10/11/2007, -1/+109/10 - awesome post sir. (-1 for lack of paragraphs)
"Wake up and smell the theocracy" - I am going to borrow that one for sure... - Murdats, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10at least the european smugness is better then the american arrogance.
see, I can use stereotypes aswell - ChayD, on 10/11/2007, -6/+15Well, it seems that the US' plan to alienate itself from the rest of the planet seems to be working, then.
- Blairisloser, on 10/11/2007, -6/+14not really. in fact thats a total lie. loser.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11RTFA
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -4/+12Seriously, its a LOT higher than only 32%
Perhaps only 32% think the US is NOT a threat, that might be more believable! - duniyadnd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8You mean they're more biased than Bill O'Reilly?? WOW!!!!
- vertinox, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11Doing nothing? By doing nothing do you mean overthrowing legally elected leaders (operation Ajax), supporting Brutal dictators, arming and training religious fanatics to fight our enemy's for us, and then keeping military bases on foreign soil long after we needed to be there as doing nothing?
I don't agree that Al Queda reasons for attacking us, but they didn't just wake up one morning and go "Oh let's fly some plane's into a building for no good reason other than we hate freedom!" They did it because of our foreign policy and not because they hate our freedoms. They even said so and even the 9/11 commission said so.
Wake up... We have been messing around over there for the past 50 years.
The Irony is that if Iran had been left socialist and Afghan left to the Communists we would have never be dealing with the crap we face today. No theocratic Iran with nukes... No 9/11... - rauz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8What college bills?
- Murdats, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9yes but where would he move to?
america is screwing up the world, its a bit hard to move out of the world - kazamx, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9No Digg = not full of morons who believe everything Fox says
- rationalist, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7From the beginning of FDR until the start of Reagan, the US was, essentially a social democracy. Now we have reverted to a McKinley style, turn-of-the-century robber-baronocracy, and, worse, it comes cloaked in the self-righteous garb of theocracy.
When greed is sacramentalized, look out. -
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