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Please explain how that'd advantage the US? The US spent hundreds of billions of dollars to restart the German economy and rebuild Europe post-WW2 as part of t
by tristor 7y ago
Please explain how that'd advantage the US? The US spent hundreds of billions of dollars to restart the German economy and rebuild Europe post-WW2 as part of the Marshall Plan. Modern Europe nearly owes its existence to the herculean efforts of Americans. There is absolutely no reason we'd try to stifle or damage Europe now. We are allies.
- foepys 7y agoI think Europeans don't trust this bond anymore since Make America Great Again and America First became the slogans of the US administration.
- NotSammyHagar 7y agoBut it will pass. It might take 4 more years the worst, but the us isn't becoming a nationalist authoritarian country. I hope. Sadly, I don't joke.
- whateveracct 7y agoYou realize the person in charge doesn't know what the Marshall Plan is and only know "the art of the deal."
- captain_price7 7y agoGood point on Marshall Plan. But "Modern Europe nearly owes its existence to the herculean efforts of Americans" - really? If you're talking about ww2, Soviet union had a far more important role to play. https://www.vox.com/2014/6/16/5814270/the-successful-70-year-campaign-to-convince-people-the-usa-and-not https://www.vox.com/2014/6/16/5814270/the-successful-70-year...
- KingOfCoders 7y agoWhen does this myth die? 70 years, is this version still taught where you went to school (US?)? "hundreds of billions of dollars" Germany received $14B (in 2020 $). Most of the money was loans and Germany made the last debt payment in 1971. The Marshall plan had three goals: 1.) Start the US peace time economy and help transition companies from wartime production to consumer goods 2.) Prevent communist influence in Europe by preventing starving Europeans 3.) Open European markets to US companies by reducing barriers and regulations. "The Marshall Plan aid was mostly used for the purchase of goods from the United States." --Wikipedia "Its role in the rapid recovery has been debated. The Marshall Plan's accounting reflects that aid accounted for about 3% of the combined national income of the recipient countries between 1948 and 1951, which means an increase in GDP growth of less than half a percent." --Wikipedia
- KingOfCoders 7y agoThat aside grateful to every US soldier who risked his life or lost his life to free Europe, especially those that gave chocolates to my starving parents. They can always have a free lunch here.
- dathinab 7y agoA common forgotten point is that they spend that money partially because they had to it else they could not have guaranteed that Europe would not align with communism. At the same time doing so saved the USA from a economical crash caused by overproduction. Lastly it allowed them to gain deep tried economical influence. While the USA might sometimes to present it as a selfless act it wasn't selfless at all. It was what allowed them to become the most powerful country in the word, at least for a view years. Lastly Trump didn't just want to buy right on the potential vaccines he wanted to get exclusive rights. It was never even a question before that if the EU finds a vaccine then the USA will get it, too. But now he did an action which completely destroy the trust between the EU and the USA when it comes to fighting this pandemic together.