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No, I'm afraid you're wrong. US prosperity is rooted in its overwhelming military might. People dare not take it on for fear of reprisal. Those who occasionally

No, I'm afraid you're wrong. US prosperity is rooted in its overwhelming military might. People dare not take it on for fear of reprisal. Those who occasionally try are quickly reminded through reciprocal action. US companies benefit greatly from secure operations and relatively laissez-faire domestic economic policies to grow into world behemoths. Don't kid yourself for one second into thinking that your safety and security are tied to some "Kumbaya good feeling" that random strangers have towards you. The stick may be silent most of the time, but everyone knows it's there.

rincebrain 2y ago
It's both. The stick being silent only works if people believe you won't randomly start swinging it if they cooperate, and people trusting you not to swing wouldn't matter if you didn't have a stick.
tim333 2y ago
Meh. I think that's backwards. The US has a strong military because of its economic success. Same with China. Get rich first then buy guns.
- glitchc 2y ago
  Making money is just one step. Buying weapons is the second, and making your own is the next major leap. Many countries get to the second step, but a select few get to the third. Buying doesn't guarantee safety, after all the supplier can cut you off from critical ammo and support at any time (that's what's happening right?) It's a conscious choice for a country to specialize in weapons manufacturing, and the US, well it's the best at it. Does it come for free? Definitely not, it comes at a huge cost. We can't have so many other things because we do this. But we do buy freedom with it. Peace-loving Americans have to do some real soul-searching: Would their success and comfort be possible without those weapons? Would they still have their freedoms? The first thing tyrants do is take away weapons from the public, lest their enemies rise up against them in armed insurrection. Which of the two parties is more likely to do so?

rincebrain 2y ago

It's both. The stick being silent only works if people believe you won't randomly start swinging it if they cooperate, and people trusting you not to swing wouldn't matter if you didn't have a stick.

tim333 2y ago

Meh. I think that's backwards. The US has a strong military because of its economic success. Same with China. Get rich first then buy guns.

glitchc 2y ago
Making money is just one step. Buying weapons is the second, and making your own is the next major leap. Many countries get to the second step, but a select few get to the third. Buying doesn't guarantee safety, after all the supplier can cut you off from critical ammo and support at any time (that's what's happening right?) It's a conscious choice for a country to specialize in weapons manufacturing, and the US, well it's the best at it. Does it come for free? Definitely not, it comes at a huge cost. We can't have so many other things because we do this. But we do buy freedom with it. Peace-loving Americans have to do some real soul-searching: Would their success and comfort be possible without those weapons? Would they still have their freedoms? The first thing tyrants do is take away weapons from the public, lest their enemies rise up against them in armed insurrection. Which of the two parties is more likely to do so?