I have read all those you suggest but I prefer to deal in human nature. There is American bullying, bribery and meddling but that does not translate as real power or influence given human nature. For everything the US thinks it is forcing others to do there are myriad resistance measures put in place.
Why does no other Western nation have the same political system as the US? Because it is a crap system and because the US has little real influence.
And while Pilger, Chomsky, Hedges et al have worthwhile things to say they also have their own agendas and get some things very wrong.
You make no logical sense. There are too many critical thinking errors in your explanation:
(1) How could you have read all those? Noam Chomsky alone has written over a hundred books. From your response, it doesn't seem that you have.
(2) >>"I prefer to deal with human nature"??? It's not about what you prefer, it's about "real" history and facts.
(3) >>"There is American bullying, bribery and meddling but that does not translate as real power or influence given human nature" ??? What does that even mean? All powerful nation states do bullying, bribery, meddling (Ref: John Maersheimer), not just America. We're not talking about individual humans, we're talking about nation states. I suggest reading "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics" and "How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy" for starters. Why are you making a "strawman" argument about bullying, bribery, meddling equals power or influence? Whoever even suggested that?
(4) >>"Why does no other Western nation have the same political system as the US? Because it is a crap system and because the US has little real influence." That is a false dichotomy logical fallacy. So in your mind, the only reason no other Western nation has the same political system as the US is because it is crap? How do you know that that is the reason? There could literally be hundreds of other reasons for other Western nations to have their own political systems and not follow the US one. Also, what does following (or not following) the US political system has to do with influence on other nations? It is a non sequitur and bares no relationship to influence.
(5) >> "And while Pilger, Chomsky, Hedges et al have worthwhile things to say they also have their own agendas and get some things very wrong" ???
So of someone is wrong on one thing (according to you), that means they are wrong on everything? How do you know what they are and are not wrong and right on? They have their own agendas? I guess you don't know much about these personalities.
Not only does it seem that you are bullshitting about reading the authors mentioned (as is apparent from your comment), but you are also unable to think clearly (or logically).
When people resort to abuse and insults they are admitting they cannot mount a coherent rebuttal. We have that clear.
To clarify, there is what Government does in the name of the nation and there are the people. Neither foreign nor national Governments have as much power as you appear to believe to dictate to the people. Yes, there is always a significant group, at times a majority, who can be influenced if not brainwashed, but there is always a significant number who cannot be.
I never said I read all Chomsky or the others wrote but I have read a lot. And neither did I say anyone was wrong on everything. Beyond abuse your habit of misinterpreting and misquoting is a bad one.
Other Western nations do not have the American political system because the US has far less power and influence than it imagines.
??? You're still not making sense. I don't even know the point you are trying to make.
>>"there is what Government does in the name of the nation and there are the people."
Huh? what are you trying to imply or get across?
>>"Neither foreign nor national Governments have as much power as you appear to believe to dictate to the people."
??? Some more problems with your assumptions:
(1) You don't really know what I believe but you think you do
(2) What makes you think you have the (right) answers? (especially since you haven't backed up your statements with any corroborating pieces of information)? That you know the distribution, balance, and characteristics of power dynamics? That power dynamics are same or different in different nations, systems, and across periods of time?
Please read my previous comment. You have not backed up any of your off-handed statements with any logic or facts or evidence other than spewing your own biases (and interpretations) based on non-existing foundations?
I find this to be a very obtuse conversation. Maybe it's possible that it is a language/communication issue - and that is why I am unable to get what you mean? Maybe it is emotions (and not facts or critical thinking) that is the base of your statements? Maybe it has more to do with your biases and prejudices rather than any basis in reality?
You're making the same non-sensical and illogical arguments as before (I guess you did not read my previous comment).
And you are still being abusive and insulting which does not make a case.
My point was, the US does not have the power and influence it believes it does and any influence has been declining for decades. Yes the US has military power but people get sick of thugs and bullies and that just reduces the influence factor even faster.
There is what a nation like the US can do in terms of bullying and bribing other Governments and nations but that does not translate into influencing the people and in fact has the opposite effect.
I do not see how I can be clearer than that. Perhaps the fact I am applying logic, common sense, reason and human realities to the situation creates confusion for you.
I guess you are not too familiar with world history or geopolitics.
You conveniently forget some of the tools/instruments of US power - US Dollar hegemony (the financial system). IMF, WorldBank, WTO, UN, etc. and so many other organizations through which the US exerts its influence.
Only someone that is oblivious to reality (and possesses an inadequate knowledge of world events or the ability to analyze history) can come up with the absurd statements that you make.
I don't think you know what logic is (based on your comments and statements) - and this is not an insult - it is a simple observation and assessment based on your comments. Similarly, I don't think you understand what abuse is either if you think my comments reflect any kind of abuse (maybe you're new to the whole communicating on the internet thing? - or maybe anyone that disagrees with you and points out the flaws in your arguments is considered abusive?)
As an example, the difference between abusive statement and simply a statement.
You said: You have not backed up any of your off-handed statements with any logic or facts or evidence other than spewing your own biases (and interpretations) based on non-existing foundations?
Rewrite to remove insults/abuse.
You have not backed up any of your statements with facts or evidence from what I can see. You appear to be presenting your own interpretations and perhaps bias, from what I perceive as non-existent foundations.
I am well aware of the ability of the US to bribe, bully and manipulate other nations through the use of military or financial power. My point is that influence is limited and it does not change the attitudes or thinking of the population. It simply influences Government decisions for as long as the public allow it to do so.
There is more at work than guns and money.
And any reading of your comments reveals them as abusive. Perhaps reflect and reread. Your opinion is your opinion in regard to what you think I am saying or doing.
The Chinese and Russians have long been allies, albeit mistrustful allies but since the US/Nato proxy war against Russia, using Ukraine, they have become more trusting and more dependent on each other. The Russians know the Americans want to destroy them and the Chinese know they want to do the same with them. My enemy's enemy is my friend.
And yes, interesting article and as I had surmised.
Did you see that in Mexico now that if you kill a tranny you get 70 years in prison instead of 30? They are still spreading global homo all over the world to many different countries. I was happy to see some African countries kicking them out and doing what they wanted, but plenty more are accepting the perversion everywhere..
“Global Homo”?!? You’re complaining about someone getting a longer sentence for killing what you call a tranny? My fucking god. Why are some people so obsessed with singling out anyone in the queer community and particularly people who identify as transgender. Why are you even in this conversation thread saying something divisive and distracting from the focus of the conversation which is Israel’s genocide. Go away.
I have read all those you suggest but I prefer to deal in human nature. There is American bullying, bribery and meddling but that does not translate as real power or influence given human nature. For everything the US thinks it is forcing others to do there are myriad resistance measures put in place.
Why does no other Western nation have the same political system as the US? Because it is a crap system and because the US has little real influence.
And while Pilger, Chomsky, Hedges et al have worthwhile things to say they also have their own agendas and get some things very wrong.
You make no logical sense. There are too many critical thinking errors in your explanation:
(1) How could you have read all those? Noam Chomsky alone has written over a hundred books. From your response, it doesn't seem that you have.
(2) >>"I prefer to deal with human nature"??? It's not about what you prefer, it's about "real" history and facts.
(3) >>"There is American bullying, bribery and meddling but that does not translate as real power or influence given human nature" ??? What does that even mean? All powerful nation states do bullying, bribery, meddling (Ref: John Maersheimer), not just America. We're not talking about individual humans, we're talking about nation states. I suggest reading "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics" and "How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy" for starters. Why are you making a "strawman" argument about bullying, bribery, meddling equals power or influence? Whoever even suggested that?
(4) >>"Why does no other Western nation have the same political system as the US? Because it is a crap system and because the US has little real influence." That is a false dichotomy logical fallacy. So in your mind, the only reason no other Western nation has the same political system as the US is because it is crap? How do you know that that is the reason? There could literally be hundreds of other reasons for other Western nations to have their own political systems and not follow the US one. Also, what does following (or not following) the US political system has to do with influence on other nations? It is a non sequitur and bares no relationship to influence.
(5) >> "And while Pilger, Chomsky, Hedges et al have worthwhile things to say they also have their own agendas and get some things very wrong" ???
So of someone is wrong on one thing (according to you), that means they are wrong on everything? How do you know what they are and are not wrong and right on? They have their own agendas? I guess you don't know much about these personalities.
Not only does it seem that you are bullshitting about reading the authors mentioned (as is apparent from your comment), but you are also unable to think clearly (or logically).
When people resort to abuse and insults they are admitting they cannot mount a coherent rebuttal. We have that clear.
To clarify, there is what Government does in the name of the nation and there are the people. Neither foreign nor national Governments have as much power as you appear to believe to dictate to the people. Yes, there is always a significant group, at times a majority, who can be influenced if not brainwashed, but there is always a significant number who cannot be.
I never said I read all Chomsky or the others wrote but I have read a lot. And neither did I say anyone was wrong on everything. Beyond abuse your habit of misinterpreting and misquoting is a bad one.
Other Western nations do not have the American political system because the US has far less power and influence than it imagines.
??? You're still not making sense. I don't even know the point you are trying to make.
>>"there is what Government does in the name of the nation and there are the people."
Huh? what are you trying to imply or get across?
>>"Neither foreign nor national Governments have as much power as you appear to believe to dictate to the people."
??? Some more problems with your assumptions:
(1) You don't really know what I believe but you think you do
(2) What makes you think you have the (right) answers? (especially since you haven't backed up your statements with any corroborating pieces of information)? That you know the distribution, balance, and characteristics of power dynamics? That power dynamics are same or different in different nations, systems, and across periods of time?
Please read my previous comment. You have not backed up any of your off-handed statements with any logic or facts or evidence other than spewing your own biases (and interpretations) based on non-existing foundations?
I find this to be a very obtuse conversation. Maybe it's possible that it is a language/communication issue - and that is why I am unable to get what you mean? Maybe it is emotions (and not facts or critical thinking) that is the base of your statements? Maybe it has more to do with your biases and prejudices rather than any basis in reality?
You're making the same non-sensical and illogical arguments as before (I guess you did not read my previous comment).
And you are still being abusive and insulting which does not make a case.
My point was, the US does not have the power and influence it believes it does and any influence has been declining for decades. Yes the US has military power but people get sick of thugs and bullies and that just reduces the influence factor even faster.
There is what a nation like the US can do in terms of bullying and bribing other Governments and nations but that does not translate into influencing the people and in fact has the opposite effect.
I do not see how I can be clearer than that. Perhaps the fact I am applying logic, common sense, reason and human realities to the situation creates confusion for you.
I guess you are not too familiar with world history or geopolitics.
You conveniently forget some of the tools/instruments of US power - US Dollar hegemony (the financial system). IMF, WorldBank, WTO, UN, etc. and so many other organizations through which the US exerts its influence.
Only someone that is oblivious to reality (and possesses an inadequate knowledge of world events or the ability to analyze history) can come up with the absurd statements that you make.
Here's something to get you started on your journey to understanding the US Empire: "US Empire & the Deep State series - with historian Aaron Good" (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hNArLl765PXe8tsTKmOciGL)
I don't think you know what logic is (based on your comments and statements) - and this is not an insult - it is a simple observation and assessment based on your comments. Similarly, I don't think you understand what abuse is either if you think my comments reflect any kind of abuse (maybe you're new to the whole communicating on the internet thing? - or maybe anyone that disagrees with you and points out the flaws in your arguments is considered abusive?)
As an example, the difference between abusive statement and simply a statement.
You said: You have not backed up any of your off-handed statements with any logic or facts or evidence other than spewing your own biases (and interpretations) based on non-existing foundations?
Rewrite to remove insults/abuse.
You have not backed up any of your statements with facts or evidence from what I can see. You appear to be presenting your own interpretations and perhaps bias, from what I perceive as non-existent foundations.
See the difference.
I am well aware of the ability of the US to bribe, bully and manipulate other nations through the use of military or financial power. My point is that influence is limited and it does not change the attitudes or thinking of the population. It simply influences Government decisions for as long as the public allow it to do so.
There is more at work than guns and money.
And any reading of your comments reveals them as abusive. Perhaps reflect and reread. Your opinion is your opinion in regard to what you think I am saying or doing.
Hi Athena, I read this interesting post about the strengthening cultural influences between China and Russia. The US is no longer influencing the world via Hollywood either https://lauraruggeri.substack.com/p/china-and-russia-are-taking-cultural
The Chinese and Russians have long been allies, albeit mistrustful allies but since the US/Nato proxy war against Russia, using Ukraine, they have become more trusting and more dependent on each other. The Russians know the Americans want to destroy them and the Chinese know they want to do the same with them. My enemy's enemy is my friend.
And yes, interesting article and as I had surmised.
100%. I think Xi and Putin are actually friends now, not just because of the US.
Did you see that in Mexico now that if you kill a tranny you get 70 years in prison instead of 30? They are still spreading global homo all over the world to many different countries. I was happy to see some African countries kicking them out and doing what they wanted, but plenty more are accepting the perversion everywhere..
“Global Homo”?!? You’re complaining about someone getting a longer sentence for killing what you call a tranny? My fucking god. Why are some people so obsessed with singling out anyone in the queer community and particularly people who identify as transgender. Why are you even in this conversation thread saying something divisive and distracting from the focus of the conversation which is Israel’s genocide. Go away.
Turn yourself in pedophile