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Strategies & Market Trends : Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Crimson Ghost who wrote (107870)	2/4/2010 9:13:40 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 116555

The problem with the military budget is that much or perhaps most of it is directed at maintaining a global empire rather than defense of the nation. Where is this empire you speak about? I don't see it, except in the form of collective defense and economic treaties we've established, as well as the framework for an international rule of law. We've encouraged, despite our obvious past missteps and diversions, democratization of dozens of countries who now have government more accountable than at any previous time in history to the needs of their people. en.wikipedia.org If that's the tactic of an empire then it certainly is a benevolent one in comparison to empires that have existed over the previous thousands of years of historical evidence. However, I guess if you're in favor of totalitarianism, or are one of the "power elite" that seeks to dictate and control masses of humanity for your own Empire building agenda, I could see why you'd be so adverse to unleashing democracy around the world. Never have understood why you people are so hell-bent upon preventing democratic, and accountable, governments for the people of this planet. Do you think that "just happens"? This country has had a policy of "forward defense" for well over a century. We send our military to foreign lands because we recognize that it's insane to sit here idly watching as our enemies consolidate their strength, resources, and territory, until such a point where we're forced to defend ourselves. The best defense this country has is to encourage democratization around the planet. That doesn't mean we go on some kind of crusade to force this change. But when we're in a situation where one of these totalitarian powers "goes rogue" , that opens up the opportunity, AS WELL AS THE RIGHT, to demand democratic reform towards fostering the economic and political change that prevents aggression in the future. Bottom line.. if you're a tyrant and you launch an war of conquest and annexation against another country, you lose the right to rule. People have a RIGHT to have accountable governments. They also have the right to elect bad government (eg: Palestinians and Hamas). And if you STILL doubt the efficacy of advancing democratic reform around the world, consider this fact. Democracies (true democracies) have seldom waged war against one another. At the very least, if those democracies DO WAR, then it's with the consent of the responsible electorate, making them accountable for the consequences. This provides serious evidence that democratic reform will make this world safer and more peaceful. Then I truly HOPE AND PRAY that I can finally agree with Mish and see our military expenditures cut by 85% and refocused on advancing a vision of hope and prosperity for this planet: peacemagazine.org jcr.sagepub.com Those people who believe the US should not represent the advancement of democratic reform, where possible, around the world have a lot to answer for. Hawk