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Posted by: Mdiar 1 year, 3 months ago
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Mdiar1 year, 3 months ago
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I used the Czech Republic as an example that democracy is a farce... not on imperialism. Imperialism is a foreign policy, democracy is a form of government. Most "democracies" are really democratic republics and thus, will not truly reflect the will of the people.
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I have my own theory of history... when an empire falls, those who have the ability will seek to make a new empire. In the future the prime contenders for this are China, Russia, the European Union (I'd watch that one closely, if history is an indicator) and India. Just as when the British Empire fell, something has to fill this void and at first it will be civil unrest and war. Then Empire to provide stability.
I believe the best answer to this question is for most democratic republics to become more democratic. Keep the legislatures, but strip them of their most damning powers in the ability to declare war and alter the structure of their government. Allocate these powers, not to the United Nations (which would then just become another legislature), but to the people of the country in question in a direct vote. I think this would quickly evaporate the influence of people who steer countries toward empire for their own gain. Its a simple solution, but one that would be almost impossible to implement.
Eventually I'd also work towards a global state with extremely limited powers. The powers would primarily deal with pollution, international trade and humanitarian issues as well as a variety of civil rights involving freedom of speech primarily as well as the press. The goal would be to not impinge on sovereignty, at least as much as possible, while making life better for many people and tackling serious issues involving the world in total.
I think you may be surprised to learn that most Americans share most of the concerns you do... though they also insist that they aren't on the level Britain was. Most are of a non-interventionist attitude... few true imperialists exist among the general populace. They are a good people and are full of contradictions on just about every single issue. Somehow they manage to be multicultural and provincial at the same time, for example.-
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david_nwpa1 year, 3 months ago
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Mdiar, I agree with most of your points, however, you ignore that some nations, such as China, pay lipservice to certain human rights in much the same way the United States does. For example, China claims to have freedom of religion and speech, but oppresses anyone who actually observes them. In the United States, we claim to have the right to life; however, we have a death row in most states and at the federal and military levels of our justice system.
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Other nations which promote right to life not only disbanded the death penalty, but also provide other social services to people such that they can afford to live. Consider Sweden and Germany's social services for new parents.
Examples of the kind of democracy you have described do exist on the planet. In particular, look at Switzerland. It has a Federal Council which is directly elected by the people. If a need arises which a sufficient number of people deem should be decided by the masses, a petition is gathered and certified by the Federal Council. Once certified, a plebiscite is called, and the people vote on the matter. Elections are held in Switzerland at the national level far more frequently. In older parts of Switzerland, the people gather in town squares and voice their opinions in an open forum. All of the townsfolk then vote up or down on the issues facing them. I realize the scale of Switzerland's size is far smaller than the US or UK. However, they have a "purer" form of democracy at work.
The key to the article is that Russia is not the enemy and is not the evil to which we have ascribed them. They defended break away regions much as we did with Kosovo. In previous conflicts, we brokered deals such that these two autonomous regions could hold their own elections to determine independence. Why are we not working that diplomatic angle once more?-
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Mdiar1 year, 3 months ago
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Whoops, sorry, I actually went off on a tangent in these posts, not really related to the article.
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Switzerland was a bit more of what I had in mind, for the most part.
I think its pretty clear from my post that I'm rather pro-globalism and, in a true global state, the ability to enforce certain human rights would be within the strength of a global community. Of course this requires alot of the world, including the United States, to grow up.
I'm a big fan of social services in most things, including for new parents. I think in some places areas like Sweden have gone to far and in other things not far enough. I see no need to nationalize something like alcohol (which, according to a few Swedish friends of mine, has been nationalized) or things along those lines. However, I'd probably be for better social programs and community work projects for the unemployed in which they are paid a fair sum. I like the idea of internet for everybody and its rather easy to implement. I also think college/university level education should be far more available then it is now.
I rarely actually discuss my true political views because they are very far from mainstream. I'd rather not get into arguments that serve no purpose. These tend to be part of it. Essentially it neuters the government in several key areas while, at the same time, promotes a well educated and healthy society.
I don't really believe any country on this planet is our enemy. I believe that economic interests that exist within a country is the enemy of freedom, as this leads to imperialism in some fashion. My main thrusts were that simply attacking and speaking out against the United States, in general, don't serve the final purpose of addressing what creates this imperialism in the first place. Remove the United States and the other powers of the world battle it out to determine the replacement. However, if we can find a way to effectively neuter the ability of these economic interests to control a nation's ability to go to war, then you perhaps fix the issue. -
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