General Discussion

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

10. Our values, at their best, are a force for good-the actions of our leaders, mostly not.

Reply to Douglas Carpenter (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2014, 03:51 AM

Mar 2014

The key problem remains that, when faced with a choice between supporting democracy and supporting "market values", even our most liberal leaders(the few who have been liberal)usually give the preference to market values...which means we almost always stand, in practice, with the few against the many.

Phil Ochs put it brilliantly in one of his songs:

"We own half the world, oh say can you see,
and the name for our profits is 'democracy'.

So like it or not, you will have to be 'free'.
'Cause We're The Cops Of The World, boys,
We're the Cops of the World.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

37 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Do you believe the United States of America is currently primarily a force for good in the world or [View all] Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 OP

Options 1 and 2 need to be rephrased. ManiacJoe Mar 2014 #1

I believe the US is primarily a force for good, with the exception of Manhattan Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #2

I could see a case for L.A. being # 2. But, # 1. - Come on... and I have never lived there Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #6

You couldn't pay me enough. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #8

It's a force for extracting profit from the world. Good or bad matter not. eom TransitJohn Mar 2014 #3

This ^ ^ Wounded Bear Mar 2014 #4

Losing ground. moondust Mar 2014 #5

It is primarily a source for corporate greed, regardless of consequence. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #7

some more results Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #9

Our values, at their best, are a force for good-the actions of our leaders, mostly not. Ken Burch Mar 2014 #10

WRONG...WRONG ...WRONG... yuiyoshida Mar 2014 #11

I like that, restaurant diversity as a metric for multiculturalism! joshcryer Mar 2014 #13

I lived inside San Francisco for about 5 years. It is excellent for food that is why I listed it as Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #14

You may be right about having the best Chefs.... yuiyoshida Mar 2014 #15

I will confirm this... AsahinaKimi Mar 2014 #16

have you spent any time in NYC? Again I want to say that I lived in the Bay Area for 9 years/5 Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #22

I have been to NYC yes... yuiyoshida Mar 2014 #26

no, not really I have actually lived in San Francisco - I have a lot of ties to San Francisco Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #34

Actually, wrong, HOUSTON beats San Fran snooper2 Mar 2014 #28

I vote for "good" for one reason, and one reason only. joshcryer Mar 2014 #12

I agree with what you said davidpdx Mar 2014 #18

"still the envy of the world"? mr blur Mar 2014 #23

I never said the US was perfect davidpdx Mar 2014 #37

Whatchu mean "United States," Kemosabe? eridani Mar 2014 #17

I don't know, douglas, but I'm rather glad you asked this question cali Mar 2014 #19

some more votes Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #20

Depends on what the meaning of "good" is Capt. Obvious Mar 2014 #21

This is a Hard one for Me fascisthunter Mar 2014 #24

"Good" and "Bad" in this context are meaningless. closeupready Mar 2014 #25

When we bring diplomatic and economic pressure against violations of international law NuclearDem Mar 2014 #27

The US is a force of economic imperialism n/t taught_me_patience Mar 2014 #29

I used to believe it was a force for good -- Hell Hath No Fury Mar 2014 #30

The government is not transparent, and often lies to us, so how can we even have a clue? Zorra Mar 2014 #31

Good and bad are relative LostOne4Ever Mar 2014 #32

The US just needs to mind its own business. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #33

i believe we do whatever we need to retain power. that goes for any country with power La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2014 #35

one more Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #36