>d.brin wrote: > > > Moreover, I am all in favor of Pax Americana, which has led to vastly > > more human opportunity and happiness than any other 'pax', and which > > may lead to a world of Justice and Law. > >This may indeed be the case. However, I cannot for the life of me understand >how so many Merkins expect the rest of the world to be happy with this >state of affairs. It goes against what seems to be one of their own most >cherished beliefs that there needs to be a system of checks and balances. I >keep hearing about the need to protect people from oppression by their own >government, yet these very same people think that the rest of the world >should blithely accept whatever the US decides is right.
I totally agree with this. Indeed, anyone who peers forward 100 years and foresees this as stable is crazy. Pax Americana can only be a transition state... like all other Paxii. Transition either to an acceptable world government, one that's loose and accountable and conducive to freedom, or an oppressive worldgov, or death. The world seems willing to make this transition slowly. (The Eu is setting precedents on how to federalize.) Meanwhile, somebody has to be the policeman and firefighter. Merkins have walked away from pwoer several times. I doubt anyone else would be trusted with those jobs. >There was so much goodwill towards the US after 9/11, but somehow it has >been squandered. It's tragic. Just tragic. How can we ask others to follow us in some coming emergency if we piss away their esteem without even listening to their complaints? Yes, Euros bitch and whine - as they did in Yugoslavia. But they WILL follow decent leadership when it is patient and strong and - above all - mature. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
