Which advisors? Please provide a link to these reports, written by these advsiors, which support what you're saying...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

You are missing the point. the civilians do not want you, the governments of these nations do for various selfish reasons. The only way they could pay you the imperial tax is by taxing their citizens for it. This would lead to protests and instability. And then America would feel the pressure to leave, and they would not reap the benefits of why they are their in the first place.

Don't you understand how an empire works?

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Agreed.

Why do you guys think you are doing the world an altruistic service?

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Because we don't all share your "America Sucks" viewpoint.



Not everything the US does is altruistic. Conversely, not everything the US does is evil, horrible and awful.

The truth lies in between.

Matt

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

We aren't and we don't pretend to be altruistic. Altruism doesn't exist. Humans always act in a way that is consistent with their own perceived self interest.

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I think at this point there needs to be a focus on an immediate increase in spending and I think this is a time when deficit fear has to take a second seat . . . I believe later on there should be tax increases. Speaking personally, I think there are a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax at a point down the road and recover some of the money."
-- Barney Frank, October 20, 2008

But you want foreign citizens to pay for your military presence as if it is altruistic. It seems to me you are trying to make a case that american interests have nothing to do with your global bases, and that it makes no difference to america whether those bases exist or not. You seem to have this image of america the unpaid bodyguard grudgingly protecting the downtrodden who are begging for your protection.... the fact is only a very few elite interests benefit from these bases, mostly american interests.


Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

The US defense budget already exceeds the total spent by all other countries in the world added together. We spend twenty times more than the entire "axis of evil" and six times Russia and China's combined military spending. No matter how much you like to blow shit up that's just insane.

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A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed to the utmost extremes of injustice and oppression.
Edward Gibbon

I don't share the 'everything america does is for the benefit of other people' viewpoint that is necessarily bound up in the notion that foreigners should pay for your military bases....

The notion that people around the world should pay an imperial tax for american protection is nothing less than extortion of the organized crime variety.

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Of course, nobody but you is going on about an "imperial tax"......

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

That's it bang on... On top of that how does it cost so much for these planes... It's maddness... It is easier to bribe than bomb... Just pay these guys off and if they don't comply then a sniper is a cheaper route...

Iraq is the greatest example... The USAF spent a month bombing it and 6 years trying to rebuild it... Would have not bombing Power stations, Water plants, hospitals...

The new type of warfare has passed most of these weapons by...



At the end of the day the US should take from the Irish Defense mantra...

"Don't piss off anyone in the first place..."

Untrue. There are nearly endless examples of humanity acting against their own self-interest to help others.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

That would not be the generally held view of the vast majority of the American media. It would also not be the main concern (to put it mildly) of the Democrats you support so strongly, and at this point it would not even be that important for many conservaitves.

I have been saying for a while that we will be moving towards isolationism. It will not be the strict isolationism of the 1930s, but it will certainly mean pulling up the drawbridge and looking inward.

Remember, we have had several years of the world clucking, fussing, fuming, lecturing and at times raging at Americans in regards to our involvement in the world. The world will now receive what it has been demanding: an American retreat from the world stage. That will certainly involve a general scaling down of the military and a pullback of forces. Remember - the warm, cuddly, love-stuffed and syrupy-sweet America portrayed by Obama and Clinton has no place for a military - let alone a strong military.

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"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

So how would it be any different from the taxes paid by roman protectorates?

Andrew

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Ethanol is a fabulous solution to our energy dilemma because it will provide more fuel for us to drive around and look for food.

-- Unknown

Sorry, not at all interested in playing silly games, Andrew.

Thanks anyway.

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum