U.S. Insists on Keeping Control of Web

[Useless]

Originally Posted by DJilla

...and who else but the US could you count on to keep it plugged in?

Are you one of those people that thinks everone outside the U.S. lives in small homes of clay and straw and prepares dinner on a flat rock in the yard? Or do you believe that all non-Americans wait in line for hours for basic items like bread and toilet paper? Or perhaps you think we are somehow smarter and better funded than other nations? On all counts, you'd be wrong.

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Are you one of those people that thinks everone outside the U.S. lives in small homes of clay and straw and prepares dinner on a flat rock in the yard? Or do you believe that all non-Americans wait in line for hours for basic items like bread and toilet paper? Or perhaps you think we are somehow smarter and better funded than other nations? On all counts, you'd be wrong.

We are better funded. Just ask the central banks of Japan and China. They'll tell you that we are by far the best borrowing nation in history

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by SirMoby

We are better funded. Just ask the central banks of Japan and China. They'll tell you that we are by far the best borrowing nation in history

Again, most people forget the power of aircraft carriers. That aside, countries fund our debt because it is a safe place to put their money. There is no friendship when it comes to cash and nobody is doing us any favors. China is financing its slave labor economy with depreciated currency that is returning them by some estimates more than 600% profit. Could you spend some of their paper anywhere? Anywhere? You can't even spend it easily in China (and get value) I know this because a near relative manufactures there and has for fifteen years.
Japan...whatever! If we ever slapped them with tariffs forcing open their markets they woud choke, forget about the banking crisis a few years ago as a result of real estate shenanigans that we bailed them out of. Just like we did the Mexicans under Clinton. Saudis... they were saying the same thing about them twenty years ago (ooohhh they are buying all our debt). France, Germany, et al, are they still countries? Aren't they called the EU now? A combined financial instrument called the Euro that has/had its promise but could fall into collapse at any moment (trust me its true) as a result of politics.

Again, my question is WHO or WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO TURN TO. There is a reason we are who we are. Nobody is doing us any favors! Now I hate Bush and all his cronies, but bottom line, PR aside, creeps like him come and go. We are who we are with what we have for reasons. All in all we're pretty good guys (and girls) and for the most part still wear the white hats. Right wing, religous, radical, corporate shills can have their brief moment in the sun. It'll work itself out.
The threat is from Corporate power, world trade, and the breakdown of national soverignty. The International Federalists sound touchy feely and all fuzzy and warm, but power is Machiavellian and brutal. I'd rather it be us that has it than anyone else I can see.

And now please excuse me while I stand an recite the Pledge of Allegience....

Heh, heh, heh

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Are you one of those people that thinks everone outside the U.S. lives in small homes of clay and straw and prepares dinner on a flat rock in the yard? Or do you believe that all non-Americans wait in line for hours for basic items like bread and toilet paper?
Or perhaps you think we are somehow smarter and better funded than other nations? On all counts, you'd be wrong.

"Are you one of those people that thinks everone outside the U.S. lives in small homes of clay and straw... blah blah"
NO! Duh!

"Or perhaps you think we are somehow smarter and better funded than other nations?"
YES! Duh!

"You'd be wrong."
NOT! Duh!

But seriously, please no one stretch this out as a slam of any other country. There are smart people everywhere who make valuable contributions and are essential to a functioning globe, etc. etc.

BUT, first we did invent it, construct it, pay for it, maintain it, and then willingly offered it to the world TO USE not keep. How much more could anybody want? Any American official that even suggested giving it up should be charged with treason or given electroshock therapy and sent back to local politics. Firstly, though the public has gotten used to it, don't imagine for a minute that it isn't the foremost national security jewel we have.

Secondly, my question really was WHO would you give it to to run (UN is OUT of the question ). No one has our infrastructure? No one has our VOLUME of expertise? No one has our committment to spend WHATEVER it takes.
Are you suggesting that we give them all of our mainframes and clean rooms too or do they have to build their own? Aw heck why not turn over NIH or CDC too? Pure silliness.

At minimum no entity could even be considered that didn't have aircraft carriers that could knock on a door and stop someone from monkey business. So who does that leave, two countries, three? IMHO Bah! Humbug!

[Useless]

Originally Posted by DJilla

Any American official that even suggested giving it up should be charged with treason or given electroshock therapy and sent back to local politics.

Um, ok. I see there's no point in even considering your opinions.

Next.

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Um, ok. I see there's no point in even considering your opinions.

I humbly agree. You are quite right. My only talent is exacerbating a situation and driving those around me nuts. I apoligize, I can't help it. I can take either side of an argument, pull out facts and figures and jump back and forth at will. Nothing I say should be taken seriously, because nothing I say is (except my word in a deal). Personally, I could care less about anything except the environment. If we don't cancel all this chitter chatter about nonsense and pay attention to the global state we're so screwed anyways. So nothing is important to me before that. Everything else is entertainment. I mean no harm and if I offend anyone I will quickly apolgize. If I offend anyone too many times, I will willingly keep my mouth shut and go back to lurking. You all are great and cool with me. Allow me to be the jester and perhaps stir things up a little.... or not!

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by DJilla

"Or perhaps you think we are somehow smarter and better funded than other nations?"
YES! Duh!

You haven't been paying attention to the real statistics on literacy and education for the past couple of decades have you?

I do agree with you that there doesn't appear to be any organization that would be a great choice to manage the top level domains but that's it.

It takes money to sail an aircraft carrier and fly the plains. Didn't the USSR go into debt to fight wars based on greed?

China is keeping thier currency pegged to the weak dollar for more the none reason. The rest of the world can buy thier goods even more cheaply then we do and they won't any interuption of those goods.

All debt must be repaid at some time.

[DJilla]

"The real statistics on literacy and education for the past couple of decades"
True, true, kinda sad. But, the ironic thing is they're climbing over thmselves coming here for us to teach them! What's up wit dat?

"Didn't the USSR go into debt to fight wars based on greed?"
Actually they imploded and ceased to exist as a nation! How funny was that? Not for their people of course who are living in riduculous third world conditions.

"The rest of the world can buy their goods even more cheaply then we do"
I wish we could learn or try to learn to stop buying so much damn stuff.

"All debt must be repaid at some time."
Always paid back with inflationary dollars which are worth less than money now.

This is been really lively, I gotta go for now.... thanks!