h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK, I have a few things to say. From different postings, I've gathered that people from countries other than the US don't like the fact that the world economy is practically based on the US's. You say that we are supposedly into globalization and free trade, yet we impose tarrifs on certain goods.

Let's ignore all of that for a moment. What would the world be like if the US didn't freely trade with other countries? Do you even dare to think about it? And some people act like they're p****d because we are the center of the economy. We didn't wake up one morning and go, hey, we want to be the center of the economy, and called up foreign leaders and asked them if it was ok. You made it this way. And if for some reason you don't believe that the US is fundamental in the world economy, let's look at what is going on in the world right now. We are threatened with recession. Hey look, now the rest of the world is too! The same countries that are holding anti-American demonstrations are p****d and want us to do something about their economies! When America looks after its own economic interests, we are looking after the rest of the world's too.

Now let's think about non-economic issues. Let's go back to World War II. I don't remember if it was in this forum or not, but some people said if it wasn't for Americans, people in GB might be speaking in Russian or German right now. Then some smart guy goes "why is our the language we speak the center of this issue" Granted this guy was kidding (hopefully), but let's consider this. Would you like it if you were living in a communist state right now because America didn't step in? You might be saying, yeah, well, our airforce was doing an ok job...bull. I'm sure the luftwafta was probably laughing at your rinky airforce. You had to have blackouts so that they didn't have any targets. How soon you forget.

I'm sorry if this is not very coherent, but i'm mad as hell. I don't expect other nations to bow down to the US or anything else as preposterous. What I'd like to know is, what would you do if you could control the US? And mind you, you'd have to live here too. Would you decimate free trade and the free market so that our GDP went down? Would you look after other countries' interests instead of your own?

By the by, was Australia not where British people sent criminals? Am I wrong on this? If you say yes, well, then neither was Georgia.

Maybe one day, since we're the ones with the space technology, we can escape this hellhole of a planet and colonize somewhere else where we can live in peace. Imagine it, America spreading over an entire planet, living in relative peace. More interestingly, what the f$$$ would you people do without us???

Signed,
one p****d off American

I doubt there will ever be a single European state or a single European leader. The fact is the people of Europe simply won't want it. From what I hear, they're pretty hostile towards the single currency as it stands. I very much doubt the UK will ever join the single currency, despite the best efforts of our Big Business leaders and Tony Blair. Denmark has already rejected it. I think the EU should be a loose federation, not a single state. The Euro is not such a bad idea, per se, but people are right about the power that a central European Bank could have over their economies. I don't think they would appreciate a central European government and would ignore a single European leader. If the EU follows the correct example, it could be an example of how a modern collection of smaller states should operate compared to the semi-imperial system of the Russian Federation, China, Indonesia, India et al. Even in the Federated USA, the central government has a great deal of veto over state government

Sorry, a lot of people here have put the American case over intelligently and you've pretty much blown it

I'm pretty sick of hearing certain Americans saying it's "OK" for them to impose their will on other nations. The irritation comes from the fact that we all know that if another nation attempted to do the same to the USA, you'd be up in arms and shouting about your soveringty.

I'm not a blithering anti-american idiot. For your information I support the US war against Bin-Laden and the loathsome Taliban, because I think the people who were responsible for the atrocities of September the 11th should be harshly dealt with. I don't fully support how it's being carried out, but that's another matter. I've also read my history and I'm aware that the US has done a lot of good things for the world, such as the it's being instrumental in the formation of the UN at the end of WWII and the Martial Plan which helped war-torn Europe.

However, I am also aware that the US is a nation run by it's richest and most powerful and has both entered wars and meddled in the politics of other nations in order to protect the interests of these people. That is nothing to be proud of, nor is it ethical.

And regarding the "if it wasn't for us, you'd all be speaking German or Russian right now". I would like to remind you that your "Great Democracy" did not act against Hitler when he marched all over our continent, ignoring it as a "European Problem". You can mock Britain all you like, but at least we stood up to him. And the fight Britain, alone, put up against the might of Germany for a whole year, shames any of the US's wars. When you did enter the war, you did so because you had been attacked by Germany's ally Japan, not because you wanted to help us. Britain, France and Russia fought tooth and nail against the Nazis on and over their home soil. Britain and France lost many thousands of servicemen and civilians, France even found itself occupied. The Russians, the true heroes of the war, despite their loathsome leadership, lost millions of civilians and millions of servicemen. So please don't tell us how you "won the war"

I know there are some idiots who simply attack America in whatever way they can, no matter how hypocritical. If you want to have a go at these people then fine, do so. But don't go throwing abuse at the rest of the world like a mirror image of the anti-americans.

Goens said:



You know, I really really wish you would.

Jude

Loonytunes (BTW, Jimmy asked, how do you do the OO thing in yr name, accent marks? This keyboard doesn't have 'em.. but they're cool)Have you noticed that many, if not most, NZers wannabe American? Kids dial 911 in emergency instead of 111, and Grand Dad's heart attack proceeds apace, a teen once told my brother that he wanted to go live the 'the capital'. My surprised brother told him he already did - we were in Wellington.. The kid said "Oh, I mean THE capital - Washington".
Everybody here uses 'elevators' and 'talks with' instead of toothers.. I could, but won't go on. Sigh.
It's as if the NZers don't feel adult enough, but Yan.. sorry, Americans, are. NZers are annoying 17 year olds, wanting to be old enough to drink, boink (the American term for bonking, I learned from TV) etc., problem is, it'll be being old enough to fight and die - if this goes on! (Just heard Leighton Smith on 1ZB reading out all these statements from pacifists who have recanted, which makes me doubt they ever were pacifists to start with - I've never heard of any of them.)

Oh dear, there goes the Martians oil... and the pollution-free environment.

Goen, don't feel too bad about things, other countries are despised as well. North Korea, Afghnisatan and Iran spring to mind.

Perium, at the risk of stirring you up.. when I hear Dubya say "God bless America" or invoke God in any other way, I think it sounds hypocritical, something said for form's sake. Please note, I did NOT say it *is* hypocritical, just that it *sounds* like that to me. Mealy-mouthed, giving the people what (he assumes) they want. To me it is grossly wrong to invoke God, while promoting war, bloodshed, revenge (even if revenge seems justified) and fear
Of course, I don't expect other believers to see it my way, because few Christians are as extreme pacifists - though in my view that's how Christians should be.

Goens, as a fellow American, I ask you to please shut up. You're making it impossible for Americans who know what they're talking about to be taken seriously.

Della, the American cultural imperialism being spread by brain-dead local media (film, TV, radio, music etc) is a curse plaguing all western countries. It's the modern-day version of 19th century British colonisation.

Hold down the Alt key and type 0211 on the number pad to get the uppercase Ó acute

Goens001- first, "you kiss yo' Momma with that mouth?" I can understand you're a bit worked up, but it is not good to let your fingers do the swearing... Second, "criminals and natives' sorry, but that sounds like you think there's soemthing wrong with being "native".
Third, Canada is okay.. I was engaged to a Canadian once (two of them really, but the first one is a frighteningly long time ago).
Don't get so upset, really, it's notaimed at you.

I apologise, Goens001, for dissing you for swearing.. Reading yr post about world war (1 or 2) you didn't seem sure yrself, make me wants to shout "You stupid ***!" But of course that wouldn't be right. If you were older, you'd know that insulting people who were fighting the Luftwaffe when you Americans were still dancing at the USO, and thinking of war as a way to get your leg over (and you can take that as a political metaphor too, if you like) insulting people such as my father, uncle and cousins is no way to go! I am heartily sick of 50-something NZers spouting the same tripe. They "never heard a door slammed in anger" to quote my father. (NZers, I mean here). I'd sign off with a dove, but sorry, I don't feel very peaceful right now!

Della, haven't you (or your relations) ever heard of Gallipoli or Crete?

There's a "Letter from Crete" posted at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A644889

Not truly, that is, I don't know the details.. I apologise if i upset you, but she hacked me off so much! I was just not calm, that's all. I really would like to know more about Gallipoli- my father's remark was aimed at NZers who sat here in NZ the whole time, not those who served.. (I wonder what he would have made of all this?)

There's a heap of stuff on the Internet about Gallipoli. And just so our American friends don't feel neglected, I've posted a memoir written by a 75-year-old ex-soldier entitled "Guadalcanal, October 1943" at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A644898

Goens,

I think it was quoted once before but it bears repeating:

Better the convicts than the puritans

As for this 'What would the world be like if the US didn't freely trade with other countries?'

The whole point we have been making is that the US doesn't trade freely with others. The example given on numerous occasions has been the tariff placed on Australian lamb (and i presume NZ lamb as well).

However enough of all this, if you wont listen to any of us i will refer you back to posting 588 by one of your compatriats...

Goens i ask in all seriousness because i do not know any more: How big is the current US national debt?

On a lighter note, Sky news TV has just shown some live shots from an Afghanistan v Pakistan cricket match.... which goes to show Pom colonisation wasn't all bad

And i think the US could learn some lessons in Democratic Election from the Aussies, after all, i don't recall the Austrailian Government ever rigging the US electoral result...

It would be nice it all the battles were on the cricket field. Did anyone notice that India launched a new attack on Kashmir this morning? What comes next?

Beth