OT (or is it?): American Imperialism

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Sorry... did not try to avoid the filter, was just a typo. Will watch it in the fututre.

The cold war ended. I know. But I still think that IF a WWIII breaks out, someone will *push the button*. Be it the USA (tho unlikely), France (also unlikely), the N-Koreans (more likely), the Iranians (dunno 'bout them), the Pakistanis (dunno 'bout them too), or some Evil Genius (nothing personal) on an island retreat, I believe that at least ONE or SOME nukes WILL BE USED IN WWIII... if WWIII ever happens, that is. Certainly hope it doesn't.

[dogscoff]

If your culture is so superior then just do what we do and market it. Let's see something coming back this way instead.

You can't market culture. That's kind of the point. You might as well try to vacuum pack a live cow. All you end up with is a cheap plastic imitation of culture.

[TheDeadlyShoe]

bear in mind that there is no money to repair decaying soviet nuclear control centers.. this could pose a problem!

During the Cold War, WWIII was already averted by the narrowest of margins when a Soviet commander refused to launch a 'counterattack' despite the fact that their own new warning system showed first one than multiple nuclear missile launches from America.

As for North Korea, it would be limited to 5-6 nukes technologically if arms controls talks had not been screwed up repeatedly by Congressional funding disuptes and the Bush Administration. (The reasons for this are involved, but it involves the availability of fuels for differing types of nuclear weapons). 5-6 nukes are terrible, but not a holocaust.

As for China, they have no real interest in messing with the US; their currency is already artificially manipulated to be favorable vis a vis the Dollar, and they obtain huge benefits from foreign investment and manufacturing. Also, they own large amounts of US government debt; they'd lose a lot of money if the US tanked. Of course, people and governments are not always rational...

I would not say that the US is marketing culture, just business methodologies and, er, marketing. Standardized hotels, despite their soullessness, are a vast improvement on the random trashheaps that came before. Fast food chains really succeed because of distribution, branding, and costs-management... The people that run these things, they're businessmen; not really 'loyal' to a concept of America. A business that is not growing is a business whose stock price is stagnant; a business whose stock price is stagnant is one that will shortly find itself a new CEO. Thus, growth into world markets is not only natural but imperative for businesses that have saturated the US markets. Is Coca Cola cultural imperialism? It doesn't really seem that way. Is McDonalds or Burger King? Not really, although they are viewed as American brands. Maybe they are culture-destroying, but they arn't a culture in and of themselves! Interestingly, Jack Daniels is not viewed as an American brand (specifically; by Europeans) to nearly the extent that Budweiser is. (as specified in the article, "Don't Buy American", by Daniel Gross).

So what is American cultural imperialism? I think this really refers to the destruction of local culture to feed the American consumer market or the profits/stock price of multinational chains.

Well, okay, I will concede that Starbucks is cultural imperialism. None can deny that.

[AMF]

TheDeadlyShoe said:
So what is American cultural imperialism? I think this really refers to the destruction of local culture to feed the American consumer market or the profits/stock price of multinational chains.

The exact same thing happens in local American neighborhoods. Ever seen WalMart? Everywhere you go now in the States, place all look pretty much the same - the lowest common denominator prevails, and that is defined as the most efficient/profitable enterprise...it's not necessarily that American culture is bad, it's that although Capitalism is the most efficient wealth generating system we as humans have ever come up with, it also carries with it some inevitable repercussions - such as a leveling of society and economics to the most profitable, and class, taste, ethics, etc become irrelevant. That which makes money becomes the norm - whether we like it or not. Capitalism is great, free trade is great, I love NAFTA....but I am concerned about the "standardization" of society

Not sure I am making my point well....but...oh well...

[Atrocities]

Walmart is evil and thanks to Bill Clinton, is the downfall of the American way of life. No crap, PBS ran a NOVA show about it.

Clinton, being from the home state of Walmart, agreed to the free trade with China so that Walmart could get cheap goods. This free trade agreement put Rubbermade and many other companies out of business. Hell it was what started the recession in the first place. Before Billy Boy signed that agreement, the company I worked for was doing very well in the semi conductor market. Bill signed the agreement and over night the market collapsed. I kid you not, the bottom fell out within days of them signing that agreement and still has not recovered.

NAFTA hurt us a bit, but not as bad as free trade with China has. The Chinese swamped the world market, and the US with cheap quality low priced crap that no one could compete and voila, went under. They are not kidding when they say that the Chinese controlled Bill Clinton, they did. They paid that tratorous SOB millions and helped to get him re-elected. He ruined our economy because WalMart wanted cheap goods to sell in their stores.

Its ironic now that many Americans have to go to Walmart to buy stuff because they cannot aford to go to other stores. Ironic. (Its like feeding off of your own body, eventually you die.)

[Captain Kwok]

Umm, there is no free trade agreement between the US and China...

[Atrocities]

Captain Kwok said:
Umm, there is no free trade agreement between the US and China...

Yes, yes their is Kwok, and yes situation it has caused is real and not imagined Kwok. Needless to say it functions as Free Trade. Our deficate in trade to chine is huge and growing. If not for the tarrifs placed on Chines high end TV's one or more US Television manufactures would have been run out of business.

Front Line Story

This is indicitive of a lot of businesses. More and more and more and more companies going under because of "free trade" with china.

[Captain Kwok]

China did recently gain status in the WTO, but there isn't a free trade agreement in place with China and the US.

And do you really think that any TVs are still made in the US?

[Atrocities]

... Free Trade are Sinking American Living Standards. In this interview, he explains how recent international trade agreements -- particularly with China -- have

Trade with China complete story.

Another major source of friction between the U.S. and China has been the fairly frequent American charge that Chinese producers are guilty of dumping -- that is, producing exports and selling them in the U.S. below the price in China, or below what it costs to manufacture and ship abroad.

In recent years, U.S. companies in a variety of industrial sectors have brought trade complaints to the International Trade Commission (ITC), an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency in Washington that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. The American companies have accused Chinese companies of dumping everything from shrimp to household goods like brushes and plastic bags, from tissue paper and bedroom furniture to color television sets.

If you can, watch the Front Line story on this. It is very enlightening and will explain much. Not only is the US market being hurt, but so is the Canadian economy. We are in this together whether we like it or not.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Btw, what currency does China use?

(and thnx for taking off some of the pressure in this thread.)