American world supremacy: two roads diverged in a wood...

[rockymountaindem]

Like that philosophical title? I bet it's why you clicked on this thread :)

Anyway, I was posting in this thread last evening: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3197185

Check out my posts to see where I'm coming from in this thread. There seems to be an element among us who actually want to see America collapse and lose all or most of its current power in the world. The idea is that we've somehow brought this on ourselves after 200 years of brutalizing everyone else. Now, I think that America might be in for rough times ahead, but all I was trying to say in that thread is that we will succeed despite these challenges; that we are so powerful right now that even a major blow won't allow others to overtake us.

I think what people have confused here is the meaning of the word "superpower". The US is now the only superpower, this is true. There used to be two superpowers, the US and the Soviets. Before that there were several, the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, and to an extent Italy. The list goes back and back to Roman times. So just admitting, as I did, that other countries may soon achieve superpower status does not necessarily mean that our country will lose our standing. No country has ever been alone at the top for very long. That's the natural way of international relations.

But what bothers me most is the fact that most of the posters in that thread seem to revel in the idea of an American collapse. Why? I think that we might have some setbacks soon, but I'm not looking forward to them! If we get out of the next four years on solid footing, I'll be happy for America, not disappointed that my dire predictions didn't come true. Who would these people rather see with all the power we have now? Russia, China? The EU maybe, but not those others. And furthermore, what is wrong with wanting your own country to be on top or to be powerful. All countries vie for power. If the US has always acted in its own interest, as these people claim, then certainly everyone else has too. Why blame America for leading the way down? This really angers me. There's a difference between being realistic and being anti-patriotic.

This is where our man Kerry comes in. During the campaign the Republicans insinuated that he would somehow cede all our power to other countries or some international body. We Democrats defended him and ourselves against that charge. Yet doing that, or reveling in an American collapse, is exactly what many of those posters suggest. Where were their complaints of American hubris during the Clinton administration? Back then we accomplished a great deal of good. Clearly our power can be used for good or bad, so why should we not just concentrate on using it for good, instead of destroying our power? It just doesn't make sense.

Neither Kerry, Clark, or any of our politicians would willingly lower America's level of power in the world. We shouldn't hope for it either.

I'm going out for a few hours, I'll see ya when I come back.

[Forever Free]

1. I totally agree

Excellent post. Its about time someone stood up and said something. A lot of GD is overrun by an extreme far-left quasi-socialist fringe that is completely out of touch with the VAST majority of Democrats.

I hate how some people think that DU is the place for all radical anarchists, socialists, and revolutionaries. Its not called "The Big Tent Left-Wing Radical Underground". Its the DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND.

And I can say with a virtual degree of certainty that the VAST majority of Democrats don't want to see American stature diminish in the world. I and many others believe that America is a force of good in the world and it shouldn't be punished or "taken down a peg" because of the actions of a single President.

People like this just make it too easy for the Republicans to label ALL OF US as out of the mainstream and completely out of touch with the country.

[rockymountaindem]

4. Its not called "The Big Tent Left-Wing Radical Underground".

Amen. Or as they say in Synagogue, "Aaaa-aaaa-men". I don't know who these types hope to represent besides themselves. Probably the only people in the public eye who agree with them are Nader and Chomsky. I for one am not a masochist. I don't want to see the country I live in, that I love, to suffer. I don't think that's being selfish.

Oh, and another thing I've learned about Canada is that they've been striking up the band to dance on our grave for a long time. Not the government, but the common people seem to have both a certain respect and a dislike for us. A lot of them have a fantasy where the US, broken and helpless, comes crawling to them to ask forgiveness for the War of 1812. Yeah, that's an exaggeration, but I get a lot of bad vibes. The word "America" is usually accompanied with one of these :eyes:

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. I read those last night

Was too tired to post, but you did a superb job. I completely agree. The entire reason I'm on this board - the entire reason I love politics - is because I want to help America acheive its dream, I want to help make it a force for good in the world, a beacon of light. What you said about the founding ideals of this country was spot on and beautifully stated.

I's getting SO sick and tired of these radical anarcho-socialist whatever-the-hells thinking that they represent anything the Democratic party has ever stood for. People like this give the right wingnuts all the ammo they need to paint all liberals with the same broad anti-American brushstroke.

[ginnyinWI]

3. We have our radical fringe, just like the Right does

But just because they squawk the loudest doesn't make them heads of the party. If any one of them was picked up and plopped in the presidency or in Congress, they'd find out in a hurry what it's really like, and how you have to face practical realities sometimes.
It is so easy to postulate theories on DU and second-guess Kerry or other Dems who are just trying to do some good. :eyes:

Well then, let them go and run for office themselves, if they think they could do a better job! I think I'll suggest it to them next time I find one who isn't already on Ignore! I can't believe the conceit of some of these people, trying to act like they know better! :grr:

edit: And as for our guy Kerry, isn't it incredible that he has remained as true to his principles as he has, throughout his long years in D.C.!

[Forever Free]

5. We must fight radicalism and extremism on BOTH sides

The Radical Left is just as dangerous as the Radical Right. You don't fight extremism by going all the way to other side and off the cliff.