Which is most important to America? Spreading Democracy to the rest of the world or Spreading Capitalism? Do you feel a Democracy and exist in a Communistic Economic Structure? Rocket River I'm Curious . . .
If we are going to begin spreading Capitalism and/or Democracy, we should start with the United States.
As far as democracy goes, i dont think you can really "spread" it. we can force it on others but in reality, it will only stick if the people recieving it choose to accept it by their own volition. capitalism is a far more natural phenomenon. i think it already occurs due to human nature.
The Reality is . . IMO . . .we have little to no interest in spreading Democracy. I think the primary reason to 'bring' democracy to various locales are more Capitalistic in Nature whether they have assets we desire or they are simply a new market to exploit Capitalism is the overriding driving force in America and among Americans Rocket River
when people find out they can get more nice stuff and have a higher standard of living, they're gonna demand more freedoms anyway.
That's been largely true throughout American history. Seeking new markets, and securing those markets for American goods, has been perhaps the most enduring fixture of American foreign policy over the past century. "Free Trade" was and most likely still is the overriding theme of American foreign policy. "Spreading democracy" in the past usually meant spreading free market democracy, which is why the U.S. is often referred to by historians as the 'liberal empire' -- distinguishes it from the more traditional imperial structure associated with the major European powers in the 19th/early 20th centuries. On a somewhat related note, I recently came across a very good book by Amy Chua, it's called "World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability." It's an interesting read...
Well we certainly weren't trying to spread Democracy in Vietnam. We supported a brutal and corrupt dictator there which was part of the problem.
Live and let live. Don't make a conscious effort to spread anything. In cases where help is requested, let the moral compass be the guide.
CUBA: The U.S. assisted Cuba in its liberation from Spain in 1902, yet frequently intervened in Cuban political affairs. There was substantial U.S. investment in Cuban production of sugar and tobacco for export, and in tourism, as well as preferential access for Cuban exports to the United States. By 1926 U.S companies owned 60% of the Cuban sugar industry and imported 95% of the total Cuban crop.[2] The Cuban Revolution of 1959 saw the overthrow of General Fulgencio Batista and the rise to power of Fidel Castro. The U.S. government formally recognized the new Cuban administration, but relations were to deteriorate rapidly as the Cuban government passed the first Agrarian Reform Law, allowing for the expropriation of large-scale (largely American-owned) land holdings. The compensation offered (based on 20-year bonds at 4.5% interest for the tax-declared value) was seen as inadequate, and was rejected by American interests. [From Wikipedia - Judge the accuracy for what you will] Iran - OIL OIL OIL [See Iraq] Democracy is a secondary thing Rocket River
people tend to demand more freedoms, regardless of standard of living. the more affluent you get though, the more willing you are to compromise some of those demands, especially if it threatens what you already have.
Spreading capitalism, democracy, Christianity, communism - in an international context - is almost always code for 'domination'. One nation/area declares its value-system as the best - usually by arguing that it's the most humane or that it provides the most "freedom" and then uses this as a justification for invading/exploiting areas outside of its own territory. When Spain started dumping its Conquistadors in "The New World" the ostentatious reasoning offered as self-justification and, condescendingly, offered to those who were being exploited was in spreading the truth, i.e. Catholicism. A couple centuries later, at least a few English colonial ventures secured their right to settle in "The New World" by including their intent to missionize in their charters/grant requests. It's not just compromise, and not just affluence. People have varying degrees of needing "security," and if they live a life they're comfortable with (some get comfortable in very deprived lives, simply because of the fear that change will actually make their situation worse), it becomes far more likely that they'll not only compromise, but will actively support the system they credit with giving them that security - even to the point of (whether consciously or not) ignoring the injustices and irrationalities of that system, and vociferously denouncing any position they see as an "attack" on that system.
America has always wanted to spread capitalism because there was a time when "free trade" meant major dividends for the countries participating. That was great for America when we were one of the few but now many do have "free trade" in some degree so its not as profitable for America. Our only other option of making money is to perpetuate war which boosts the economy. Its a fact that us Americans enjoy our luxurious lifestyles because of a plethora of injustice and lies. I don't know how mad i am about that. Where would we be without it.
