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When I think about this kind of thing I always think about how for the first couple generations, the overwhelming majority of people who lived in the Roman Empi

by User23 3y ago

When I think about this kind of thing I always think about how for the first couple generations, the overwhelming majority of people who lived in the Roman Empire weren’t even aware there was an empire. They still believed that they lived in a republic. Europe is de facto a military protectorate of the USA. They are imperial clients in all but name. And they know it. We see this overt control (not influence!) from time to time, for example how for some reason US policy makers control ASML’s exports.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> for the first couple generations, the overwhelming majority of people who lived in the Roman Empire weren’t even aware there was an empire Source? Even at the peak of the Republic, Rome was an imperial power: economic gains came principally from new conquests. Caesar had to enact land reforms in part because the Romans were half crap at maintaining the agricultural productivity of the Italian peninsula. > Europe is de facto a military protectorate of the USA. They are imperial clients in all but name The article provides evidence directly undermining this claim.
- jcranmer 3y ago
  Don't forget that the rules of Roman Republic required the assembly to vote to declare war, without any "special military action" escape clause. Which the assembly did basically every single year for a few centuries.
reducesuffering 3y ago
Most of Europe wants more US military protection, while the US would prefer to wind it down and Europe to contribute more. Whether you're Germany, Italy, or Spain, with severe deficiency in the NATO ask of 2% GDP to defense, or Poland who contributes far more than their required share and still prefers more US defense. Lest we not forget that 5 years ago, the US moved significant troops from Germany to Poland, because of Germany's continued unwillingness to spend on their defense. This caused uproar in Germany and applause in Poland.

by User23 3y ago

JumpCrisscross 3y ago

> for the first couple generations, the overwhelming majority of people who lived in the Roman Empire weren’t even aware there was an empire Source? Even at the peak of the Republic, Rome was an imperial power: economic gains came principally from new conquests. Caesar had to enact land reforms in part because the Romans were half crap at maintaining the agricultural productivity of the Italian peninsula. > Europe is de facto a military protectorate of the USA. They are imperial clients in all but name The article provides evidence directly undermining this claim.

jcranmer 3y ago
Don't forget that the rules of Roman Republic required the assembly to vote to declare war, without any "special military action" escape clause. Which the assembly did basically every single year for a few centuries.

reducesuffering 3y ago

Most of Europe wants more US military protection, while the US would prefer to wind it down and Europe to contribute more. Whether you're Germany, Italy, or Spain, with severe deficiency in the NATO ask of 2% GDP to defense, or Poland who contributes far more than their required share and still prefers more US defense. Lest we not forget that 5 years ago, the US moved significant troops from Germany to Poland, because of Germany's continued unwillingness to spend on their defense. This caused uproar in Germany and applause in Poland.