[Dialogue] Call a spade a spade

Thu Oct 11 11:31:22 EDT 2007

So, this thread is working on a revision of the Nation and World course to build the capacity of "average Joe's" to be able to see and respond responsively to what is going on in the world . . . ??

Adelbert Batica <abatica at hotmail.com> wrote:      .hmmessage P  {  margin:0px;  padding:0px  }  body.hmmessage  {  FONT-SIZE: 10pt;  FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma  }    
No, no, no, Randy!  It's not "empire building", because "America" has never been imperialistic.  (Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, ho!)  If you don't believe me, my friend, just try talking about "U.S. imperialism" in "polite" circles, and see how many feathers you get ruffled.  I know, I've been in such situations (and every now and then, I get ripped verbally, even by some liberals).  Imperialism?  "We're no imperialists!"

To get the average Joe to understand/accept that s/he is a citizen of the #1 imperialist nation on Mother Earth, is almost like begging an oak tree to grow apples or pears.  Funny, the U.S. talks like an imperialist, bombs and occupies and subdues other countries (as any imperialist would), and yet...will always deny that it's an imperialist nation.  Never mind that it's owned countries like the Philippines lock, stock and barrel, and almost bombed Vietnam to "adveniat regnum tuum".

It's not just a "spade", but a pickaxe, but many countries - from the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico and others - have felt its blunt blows.  But no, really, the U.S. is "not" imperialist.  Heh, heh, heh.  "No, the sun rises in the West".

Addi Batica

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  Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 07:15:28 -0700
From: rcwmbw at yahoo.com
To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Call a spade a spade

....and empire building.

Jim Rippey <jimripsr at qwest.net> wrote:             .ExternalClass EC_p.MsoNormal, .ExternalClass EC_li.MsoNormal, .ExternalClass EC_div.MsoNormal  {margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New   Roman';}  .ExternalClass a:link, .ExternalClass EC_span.MsoHyperlink  {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;}  .ExternalClass a:visited, .ExternalClass EC_span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed  {color:purple;text-decoration:underline;}  .ExternalClass EC_span.EmailStyle17  {font-family:Arial;color:windowtext;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none none;}  .ExternalClass EC_span.EmailStyle18  {font-family:Arial;color:red;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none none;}  @page Section1  {size:8.5in 11.0in;}  .ExternalClass EC_div.Section1  {page:Section1;}          One last attempt to get back on track.

  Early yesterday, Adelbert Batica posted this:  ‘It's never about "Democracy’, but ‘Free Enterprise’"

  I replied with this:  

  “A small but important distinction.  Raw, unfettered capitalism is the problem. Not Free Enterprise.  My dictionary defines Free Enterprise this way:  “ freedom of private business to organize and operate for profit in a competitive system without interference by government  beyond regulation necessary to protect the public interest and to keep the national economy  in balance. “  (Emphasis added.)

  And pretty soon, Karl Hess chimed in with a message that included these statements”

  “I don't know when 'free trade' was used in public general speech to mean what the dictionary says, but if you listen to any politician in the last 25 or so years, it means some idealized market where the buyer and seller have equal knowledge and power
.

  “‘Free trade’ is the banner of all those who want to continue shattering the remaining safety net, to the extent of letting children die without medical care that their parents cannot afford.  What the dictionary says doesn't seem to make any difference.”

  OK, let’s sum it up:  I simply affirm that what the dictionary says may not make much difference anymore.  But what WE say CAN possibly make a difference.  What we are doing around the world is practicing predatory, exploitive capitalism.  That’s what we’re doing in Iraq when we try to pressure their parliament into passing a law that gives oil companies a long-term bargain deal on Iraq’s oil resources.  

  That’s what we’re doing if we don’t bring pressure to bear in "Myanmar" (Burma).  So
. Steve Rhea was right on when he posted this: 

  “ When I heard Bush's "condemnation" of the junta in Burma I had to laugh.  The US government will never lift a finger against this regime as long as the major oil companies are dependent on it.”

  Of course the big business/administration spin masters want to make it sound nicer, so they will call it “Free Enterprise.”  

  I happen to believe strongly in Free Enterprise, even when it’s scarce.   Therefore, I just want those of us who care to call what we’re doing around the world by its right name:  It’s predatory, exploitive capitalism.   And lots of people are getting killed or being impoverished because of it.

  Jim Rippey  

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