Talk-Polywell.org

Is through a globalized economy. Just as I predicted it, China and Taiwan signed a trade deal. It is not a save bet on them coexisting peacefully for all eternity, but it is a first step.
http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/06/tomorr ... duled.html

Strong economic ties make wars very unlikely and they help overcome even the biggest ideological differences.

In the mean time peace through superior firepower.

Is this along the lines of "America believes in peace, so agree with America or she'll blow your frikin' heads off."

In the mean time peace through superior firepower.

It is good to be prepared for the worst, no question about it. But right now, advertising this sort of thinking can make you rather unpopular on the world stage.

Where did I see the quote "Never do your enemy a little hurt"?

I don't think that originates in the US. Probably Chinese, in "The Book of War."

We occasionally practice it. Recent disclosures by an Al Qaeda insider suggest they thought we would respond to the 9/11/2001 attacks by launching a few cruise missiles in their general direction. They were un-prepared for what they unleashed. This suggests to me we had been erring in the wrong direction.

Rome was a superpower. True, they had a huge military machine and were known to practice disproportionate response, but also remember the reason they could afford that huge army, and the real reason for the Pax Romana, was they made thriving international trade possible.

chrismb wrote:Is this along the lines of "America believes in peace, so agree with America or she'll blow your frikin' heads off."

Policemen to not keep order by promising miscreants milk and cookies.

chrismb wrote:Is this along the lines of "America believes in peace, so agree with America or she'll blow your frikin' heads off."

About peace? Yes. For if you disagree about peace, then we are at war, or war is imminent, and under those conditions blowing your freakin head off is the right thing to do.

Now for anyone in this situation, it behooves them to have the ability to "blow your frikin head off". It will, in fact, dissuade people from wanting to breach the peace with you.

That's what the phrase "Peace through superior firepower" means.

By the way, did you happen to see that article I posted about Neil Kinnock selling Britain down the river if his Labour coalition had come to power?

Policemen to not keep order by promising miscreants milk and cookies.

While it has been deemed very practical since WW1 to paint your opponent as a criminal, opposing nations rarely can be compared to criminals on one side and police on the other.

Skipjack wrote:

Policemen to not keep order by promising miscreants milk and cookies.

While it has been deemed very practical since WW1 to paint your opponent as a criminal, opposing nations rarely can be compared to criminals on one side and police on the other.

And of course police and criminals have very similar personalities so it would be bad to give one the power over the other.

Wars are for settling irreconcilable differences between nations. That is where to start. And we might wish to consider if those preaching Islam uber alles (you will pardon the expression) as needing corrective action if they try to implement their vision with violence. Of course they are equally aghast about American culture. So war it is.

MSimon wrote:Policemen to not keep order by promising miscreants milk and cookies.

This is a non-sequitur. Policemen don't keep order, people and society keeps order. Policemen are meant to be there to serve the interests of individuals and to ensure they are free to go about their lawful business.

There is no connection between rates of criminality and the numbers/resources of the police. Modern Police just exist for their own sake in a liberal society because the hearts of liberals bleed if they don't think they are doing something positive towards social order, and in other societies they are an extention of the state. You can figure out whether you are in a liberal society by gauging whether your police are an extention of the government.

The corollary of this is that if American forces are global police, then America views itself as The Global Government, and any country that disagrees is merely an insurgent organisation within it. It is a very Roman view of the world. Pax Americana, so to speak.

And of course police and criminals have very similar personalities

I know a few police men. They are honest and good people. I dont know where you get this sort of idea from, but I regard this as unfair. There may be some black sheep in the police (as everywhere), but what you are doing is an unfair generalization.

There is no connection between rates of criminality and the numbers/resources of the police.

Hmm, so we dont need a police force?
Since you compare the US military to a global police force, does that mean to you that the US does not need a military?
I am confused.

Policemen don't keep order, people and society keeps order.

Semantics.

Policeman are people, and a part of society. In the western world, they are the people tasked by society with enforcing law and order.

bcglorf wrote:Policemen don't keep order, people and society keeps order.

Semantics.

Policeman are people, and a part of society. In the western world, they are the people tasked by society with enforcing law and order.

Theoretically.

That's what the liberals tell themselves.

chrismb wrote:

bcglorf wrote:Policemen don't keep order, people and society keeps order.

Semantics.

Policeman are people, and a part of society. In the western world, they are the people tasked by society with enforcing law and order.

Theoretically.

That's what the liberals tell themselves.

Right, in theory it works. In practice it's best to include the right to bear arms within the law to make sure that practice more closely resembles theory.

The corollary of this is that if American forces are global police, then America views itself as The Global Government, and any country that disagrees is merely an insurgent organization within it. It is a very Roman view of the world. Pax Americana, so to speak.

Well yes. And we inherited it from Pax Britannica thank you very much. And it is just as thankless a job as when you folks had it.

But it needs doing. And so far the world seems more or less satisfied with us. They aren't ganging up on us they way they did on the Axis Powers.

And why is it a good thing? Well people live better if the trade routes are secure:

Decline and Fall

Desolation Row