Posted by Bob-CH on July 28, 2000 at 15:36:40:
In Reply to: I disagree..... posted by Jim on July 26, 2000 at 17:57:37:
Here goes:
I heard from an american high-school teacher that the Revolution was started because a few rich people didn't want to pay taxes to someone else.
Every centralised government takes money from one place and (also) uses it in other places.
This can often be a bone of contention and the cause of wars (eg. Nothern Irland as well).
"Self government" is only a matter of size.
The phrase "all men are created equal" took a long time to approach reality!
Even your civil war didn't produce miracles here.
Lincoln was a slave holder until he saw that he could win political points by changing.
This war was also started because the southern Farmers objected to financing the industrial north, as far as I know.
The British supported the north with a naval blockade and the french supported the south, so it was still a sort of european war!!!!!
Are the "Blacks" really allowed to be equal?
It hasn't worked yet over here! On paper, of course, they are.
The fact is - the richer you are, the more equal you are.
About stopping the Nazis: I agree that what I know about them is terrible and it's good that they were stopped, BUT:
England had anti Jewish laws until the Nazis became a danger.
The British tried to kill off many Races in the last couple of hundred years - Israeli, various Arab tribes, any opposition in the "Empire" etc.
USA with the native Americans - do they have equal rights? What exactly are the reservations? How many times has the USA tried to impose their form of society on other people and wasn't the main reason financial?
The Russians - Stalin did enough, we can almost ignore the rest!
The british Soldiers in then Palestine used to make a game of driving over Arabs who were walking along the road.
Why do people say the Nazis were worse? Because "we" won?
Your statement that it's the people who decide to start wars may be true, but what information do they have to decide?
Only the newest propaganda!
The european military systems are also under this sort of control, but war still happens.
What percentage of the USA population can be classed as "poor"? Like - on the hunger line, having to work more than 10 hours a day just for food and shelter?
The USA is not worse or better than the rest of us.
Even in "squeeky-clean" Switzerland, about 5% of the population have problems.
If you have enough information to be honest: what caused the wars that you say are a good track record?
Also my opinion and I don't profess to know all details that I need for this opinion either.
I would like to continue this discussion over a beer or so, but there is a little problem called the atlantic in the way!!
KTRSD as well
Bob