Americas Greatest Strength

[TinCow]

I think the gov would act quickly to quell a few nutters but if even 1% of the population were fanatically opposed to something it would resonate with millions of others to a disapproval rating high enough that the gov would be forced to quickly fix the issue that caused the uprising.

Everything the gov does is based on approval rating and if people don’t like it the gov will stop doing it. We are not living in some futuristic sci-fi world of oppression… Yet.

That’s why W. has taken little bites of Americans freedom, because a big bite will cause too much opposition, but a little bite every month or so will only be an annoyance.

I agree here. One of the wonderful aspects of most Western-style societies is that the military and police are made up of people who are citizens first and foremost. The militaries in these societies are loyal to the populous first, and the government second. They will certain follow government orders, but only to a limit. If Britain or Germany ordered their soldiers to occupy a city and shoot anyone out after a certain curfew, the military would simply refuse and the government would collapse.

In order to get to a position where that kind of oppression is possible, the society needs to change in such a manner so that the military and police authorities are loyal to the government first and the people second. This is generally done by giving them economic benefits and freedoms that are not available to the rest of the population. As noted by yesdachi, this is radically different from the way most Western societies work today. That doesn't mean it isn't possible for those societies to change in this manner, but their very nature prevents radical changes on this level. In order for these societies to become capable of systematic oppression of a large number of people, there needs to be a gradual erosion of the safeguards which prevent it. It is for this reason that it is simply impossible to imagine the US Army inflicting a brutal crackdown on dissidents today, but it is theoretically plausible to imagine it 100 years from now.

[Viking]

@Viking: now I get it. We read two different things in the question. You: 'what constitutes America's strength?' Whereas I read: 'what is the cause of America's strength?'.
We're talking about different things.

This being the case, I would agree with both you, and surprise, with myself. For your case, one can argue that America historically shared many characteristics with Northwest Europe. In which case, for both areas the same causes led to their rise in the past two centuries. And the overriding cause for the difference in strenght between Norway and the US is sheer size.

And I also agree with myself that size matters not. Brazil has almost the same area and natural resources as the US. And 200 versus 300 million people. Yet, Brazil is not a superpower, and America is.

Hm, well. Since we were discussing America's strenght in particular; I was thinking the US vs. the rest of the Western world.

Brazil lacks the economy and technological standard that the Western World has; and that was among the factors that I listed; and these two are of course, very important. Also, one must be realistic when it comes to how much area that actually is in use and that taken into use without too much trouble; Brazil has much of its land occupied by the Amazon Rainforest. Another interesting country is Japan with a massive popluation and great economy, but with little physcial space.

Why does then Brazil not have the economy and technological standard? I don't know much of Brazil's history, so I'm not fit to answer.

[Ironside]

Why does then Brazil not have the economy and technological standard? I don't know much of Brazil's history, so I'm not fit to answer.

A flaw in the system and WW1. But I don't know enough to know the flaw, only that the South american economy collapsed due to lack of trade with Europe, while rivaling it before.

[TevashSzat]

Everything the gov does is based on approval rating and if people don’t like it the gov will stop doing it. We are not living in some futuristic sci-fi world of oppression… Yet.

Yeah.....when was the last time the president and congress's approval rating have been above 50%?

The only reason Bush isn't taking "big bites" is because if he does, Congress may impeach him, not the citizens of the country.

[yesdachi]

Yeah.....when was the last time the president and congress's approval rating have been above 50%?

The only reason Bush isn't taking "big bites" is because if he does, Congress may impeach him, not the citizens of the country.

Congress represents the people.

[Strike For The South]

Congress represents the people.

At this point a mere formality.

[Mangudai]

The metric system is a great idea.

[Koga No Goshi]

The metric system is a great idea.

Everyone knows the metric system is Socialist.

[Strike For The South]

Everyone knows the metric system is Socialist.

[Koga No Goshi]

How many kilos of bread today, comrade?

[Strike For The South]

How many kilos of bread today, comrade?

Pfft I get all my grain from beer you know that

[Koga No Goshi]

Pfft I get all my grain from beer you know that

VODKA, comrade. Vodka.

[Strike For The South]

VODKA, comrade. Vodka.

I dont usually get angry by whats said on her but those my friend are fighting words!

[Koga No Goshi]

I dont usually get angry by whats said on her but those my friend are fighting words!

I shall meet you in Kamchatka next harvest time. You bring a hammer, I'll bring a sickle. To the death.

[Strike For The South]

I shall meet you in Kamchatka next harvest time. You bring a hammer, I'll bring a sickle. To the death.

aight

[Husar]

Everyone knows the metric system is Socialist.

So you prefer the imperial system because everybody knows it's monarchist?
Very fitting for a country with a president-halfgod.