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> So people in Taiwan have no say in what happens to them? This is just hiding behind Taiwan unless you're so naive that you think that state actors help othe

> So people in Taiwan have no say in what happens to them? This is just hiding behind Taiwan unless you're so naive that you think that state actors help other states out of the goodness of their hearts. Is it the US calling the shots or not? If so then no, Taiwan clearly doesn't have a say since everything hinges on the US' power.

stickfigure 3y ago
> state actors help other states out of the goodness of their hearts In democracies, politicians have to care about what the public thinks. Americans as a whole are extremely judgmental about moral issues, and any president that stands by and allows 25 million Taiwanese to be crushed under the boot of the CCP will go down in history as the biggest coward since Neville Chamberlain. By and large yes, I do think democracies tend to operate (highly imperfectly) out of the goodness of their hearts (as they perceive it).
- avgcorrection 3y ago
  > In democracies, politicians have to care about what the public thinks. The US is not a democracy for 90% of Americans (Princeton study). > Americans as a whole are extremely judgmental about moral issues, and any president that stands by and allows 25 million Taiwanese to be crushed under the boot of the CCP will go down in history as the biggest coward since Neville Chamberlain. Sure. Except America will support “bad guys” and oppose “good guys” according to what suits them (like natural resources). Like how Saddam Hussein was an ally of the US until he went against their interests. The American people protested Reagan's interference in Latin America. That made them stop doing it. Right? No. They just went clandestine. > By and large yes, I do think democracies tend to operate (highly imperfectly) out of the goodness of their hearts (as they perceive it). Every post-WWII president up to 2003 (at least) could be indicted under the Nuremberg principles if they were upheld.[1] It's easy to have good intentions according to yourself when there are no one else around who can challenge your worldview. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BXtgq0Nhsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BXtgq0Nhsc
cscurmudgeon 3y ago
You would have to be more naive to attribute omnipotence to US and zero agency to Taiwanese citizens.
- avgcorrection 3y ago
  Do use hyperbole to dismiss my point in lieu of making an actual argument. That's fine.

stickfigure 3y ago

> state actors help other states out of the goodness of their hearts In democracies, politicians have to care about what the public thinks. Americans as a whole are extremely judgmental about moral issues, and any president that stands by and allows 25 million Taiwanese to be crushed under the boot of the CCP will go down in history as the biggest coward since Neville Chamberlain. By and large yes, I do think democracies tend to operate (highly imperfectly) out of the goodness of their hearts (as they perceive it).

avgcorrection 3y ago
> In democracies, politicians have to care about what the public thinks. The US is not a democracy for 90% of Americans (Princeton study). > Americans as a whole are extremely judgmental about moral issues, and any president that stands by and allows 25 million Taiwanese to be crushed under the boot of the CCP will go down in history as the biggest coward since Neville Chamberlain. Sure. Except America will support “bad guys” and oppose “good guys” according to what suits them (like natural resources). Like how Saddam Hussein was an ally of the US until he went against their interests. The American people protested Reagan's interference in Latin America. That made them stop doing it. Right? No. They just went clandestine. > By and large yes, I do think democracies tend to operate (highly imperfectly) out of the goodness of their hearts (as they perceive it). Every post-WWII president up to 2003 (at least) could be indicted under the Nuremberg principles if they were upheld.[1] It's easy to have good intentions according to yourself when there are no one else around who can challenge your worldview. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BXtgq0Nhsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BXtgq0Nhsc

cscurmudgeon 3y ago

You would have to be more naive to attribute omnipotence to US and zero agency to Taiwanese citizens.

avgcorrection 3y ago
Do use hyperbole to dismiss my point in lieu of making an actual argument. That's fine.