With Apologies to My American Friends

[ladymirth]

Found on a post on LnCMBs:

Since the United States is the world's only real superpower, whose military arsenal is many times greater than the rest of the world's put together, the President of the United States becomes, in some ways, the President of the whole world. The General Secretary of the United Nations is nothing in comparison with the President of the United States.

So when the people of the United States elect their President, the rest of the world gets that President too, only we didn't get the chance to vote for him (or her?). - TOC

Um, what? 

The President of the United States becomes the President of the whole world? The General Secretary of the United Nations is nothing compared to the President of the United States? 

What drivel. The U.S has always had a tremendous cultural and economic impact on the world, but this is nonsense. It's the sort of self-congratulatory, hyperbolic egocentricsm that led the Bush Administration to believe that they could ride rough-shod over the U.N if they so pleased and invade Iraq without any sort of international backlash. 

As far as I know, Clinton was all talk and little action during his term, but Bush was a rank idiot who made his entire country into a laughing stock, and his administration is a by-word in terms of corruption and isolationism for the internationational public at large, whatever the sentiments of his own electorate. As a citizen of a country who has also been electing equally rank idiots for quite some time now, I sympathise with the people who never wanted another Bush in the White House after the Gulf War. I am rather satisfied with the President we have now, and I can only hope that the U.S also elects a President better qualified to represent its best interests and repair its image. 

But if the American President is indeed the single most influential person in the world, and if history does indeed repeat itself, it should mean either or both of the following:

a) there is a serious flaw in world politics that means the United Nations has failed worse than it's predecessor The League of Nations, and should be dissolved immediately in favour of a better balanced system.

b)We're looking at World War III on the horizon. 

The day I accept this sort of colonial mindset wherein I'm supposed to let someone who represents less than 300 million people out of six billion, and who I never had the choice to vote for in the first place, declare his prominence over the leaders of 185 other countries, is when I personally vote to re-elect our stooge ex-Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe as President. As in, never. 

Btw, the world's most efficient military belongs to Switzerland, the world's most populous country and fastest-growing economy is China, the most technologically advanced is Japan, the one that enjoys the best standard of living is Iceland, and the richest in terms of per capita is probably Saudi Arabia (must check). The country which has contributes the most manpower to the International Peace Corps is Canada. 

Just saying, is all.
 
P.S: I trust the Americans on my flist will not be offended by this particular rant, unless they are gunning for world domination. Which I doubt. ;-) 

ETA: elluxioninforms me that India has narrowly beaten China as the current fastest-growing economy.

Comments

[cyad.livejournal.com]

WTF?8

as irata as you are, here!

Now, that's why I kinda like that EU's presidency changes and goes to leaders of country members every year, if 5 recall right. Seems fairer and much richer, cultural wise, IMHO.

http://www.eu2006.fi/en_GB/

PLus, if I had to choose on intelligence and acts basis, I wouldn't pick US. Second "plus": great minds don't mind sharing a crown...

[twistedlillstar.livejournal.com]

You mean there are people on LJ not aiming for world domination?

Also, *agrees*

[laramoon.livejournal.com]

I guess we have to count ourselves lucky that we don't live in comic book world, cause we'd be looking at having Lex Luthor as president of the US...

[un-sedentary.livejournal.com]

To be fair I see her point. She's not being self-congratulatory or anything, if anything it's the opposite since she's European. And even though I wouldn't go as far as to say tha the president of the USA is also the president of the world (o_0), his actions and decisions do affect the rest of the world in some ways.

For example, when the prez decides to stir shit up in the Middle East and then just never leave.

But I also agree that she's way overexaggerated that. It strikes me that Ann has a knack for sounding intelligent without doing any sort of research, and also a habit of posting essays without anything to back them up. Every time she does this, someone proves her wrong with actual facts.

Also: haha, you win, you should totally post those stats for her. There are better places to live in the world (coughCanadacouch ;)).

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

I never disagreed that the US was a world power that should be reckoned with, Julie. What I say is, the US is not the only world power, and even if it was, the President isn't exactly the Emperor of the World, or even of the US itself, if Congress is doing its job right.

I know she's European, which is why it shocks me that any self-respecting Swede would concede to such an idea. I've seen this kind of hyperbole mostly from Americans and Hollywood (remember in LnC where Lois says that Tempus "is about to become the most powerful man int he world?" Piffle.) rather than anybody else, which is why I classify it chiefly as "self-congratulation".

To tell you the truth, if I'm going to migrate anywhere, it would be Canada.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad we don't live in the comic book world, period. And in terms of self-serving corruption, I think we can think of a few Lex Luthors in government right now... (coughDickCheneycough)

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

No darling, those are the Facebookers. The LJ ppl out for World Domination merely end up on Fandom Wank.

Also, am totally snagging that icon. It is Pterry, no?

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

Yes, the EU is working much better than even the UN. although it is a more trade-based organization. Although, the EU has its own isolationist implications I am wary of.

Yes, I know. I detest isolationism worse than anything else. It is worse than communism and a lot more insiduous an evil.

[cyad.livejournal.com]

well, don't worry, I've got criticisms gaints EU too. esdpecially since my cousin works in a EU organisation. No better that othes when power ans politics are concerned. ANd I guess that goes for every world countries.

Here,w e have a saying: "politics? all not worth it!"

Me? I think world today is more about the rest of the world that US or UE. I think in the future, they'll be: Asia, India, Africa, Latin, UE, US on the same level. but, it's just a POV.

And it's always more complicated than you think...politics...

[muses-circle.livejournal.com]

Since the United States is the world's only real superpower, whose military arsenal is many times greater than the rest of the world's put together, the President of the United States becomes, in some ways, the President of the whole world. The General Secretary of the United Nations is nothing in comparison with the President of the United States.

So when the people of the United States elect their President, the rest of the world gets that President too, only we didn't get the chance to vote for him (or her?). - TOC


Errrr.... who the hell said that? Because 99.9% of the US population does NOT think this way. In fact, the only people who might honestly believe this are the damn people in power (and I am all for bombing Washington DC and starting the hell over again). *ahem*

Just saying.

That's insane troll logic, and I find that insulting, frankly. (Not because you said it or posted it, but because someone actually believes that drivel.) Clinton did zip for the U.S. and Bush? Well, I'm not going into that rant. Ugh. And the elections this year? Well, let's hope for the best and get the lesser of the multiple evils that are running. Basically, anyone but Hillary. Because as little as Bill did, she'll do even less, IMO. Take that for what it's worth.

The United States at one time might have been A superpower, but we are quickly imploding into something messy and chaotic.

[pgwfolc.livejournal.com]

Consider the source. She is

NOT AMERICAN

and also generally considered to be

[adverb of your choice] crazy.

I saw that post and felt the same way you do. But I figured it was best just to leave it alone. Much safer and more productive. And people are free to make up their own minds on the situation. Arguing with her hasn't gotten anyone anywhere good that I've seen.

And I know, too, that a lot of americans are against exactly this sort of thing. We hate the self-righteous imperialism which has infected our right-wing government. But, with any luck, the voters in 08 will have finally seen the light and will manage to elect someone with some intelligence and sense. (I'd keep my fingers crossed, but (a) I'm Jewish and (b) it'd be awfully hard to type that way.)

[elluxion.livejournal.com]

Actually, the fastest-growing economy is India [at 11% while China was at like 9-point-something%..I think?] but that's beside the point.

There are idiots in this world and they're here for one purpose: to act like idiots and provide entertainment for us folks who are not idiots and thereby allow us to exercise the right to point and laugh at them for their ignorance.

my grammar fails, btw. and you are so educated, it's painful. *smile*

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

I'm quite glad that many right-thinking Americans do not believe this kind of thing, regardless of Hollywood and Jack Bauer. *g* The thing is, I've been running across a lot of people who do believe it (more and more since Bush came to power) so this sort of thing really gets my goat. What really bugged me was that the person who posted this was Swedish and one I had formerly believed to be well-informed about world affairs. Shall not make that mistake again.

I'd love it if America had a woman in the White House for the first time, but you're right, I can't stand Hillary either. Still, better her than somebody like say, Fred Thompson. *facepalm*

It's shame really. The only thing wrong with the United States is this "Us vs the Rest of the World" mentality. At least that was something we didn't get to see much of during the Clinton administration. It's the same reason why the Middle East can't live up to its political potential - severe isolationism.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

I know she's crazy, but I took it to mean that Ann hath spoken for the moronic suck-ups of the world. Anyway, she's a Swede, and no self-respecting European would have said that in a public forum. I could have excused it in an American (there are a couple of rather right-wing ones on the boards at whom I've had occasion to roll my eyes) as a case of fanatical patriotism but in anybody else it's nothing less than shameless sucking up.

I'm Buddhist, but I'll cross my fingers for the same sentiments (once I finish typing). *g*

[muses-circle.livejournal.com]

The American media and Hollywood paints very convoluted pictures of the American way of life. It's SO not like the movies, I can promise you that. I think what it boils down to is doing your homework and coming to your own conclusions. This is something I deal with pretty constantly myself. ;)

I'd rather not have a woman as President at the moment, no matter who it was. With things in the Middle East being as they are, I don't know that they'd recognize any kind of female authority. I know when the Secretary of State has made visits there, it's been kinda difficult for her. I just don't know.

The US has always had an isolationist mentality. I have no idea why, nor do I know where it came from. Shame, really, considering the world has gotten much smaller since the Internet came into being.

*hugs you*

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

Thus spake the SCUSA delegate. =) I shall take note and amend that fact.

There are idiots in this world and they're here for one purpose: to act like idiots and provide entertainment for us folks who are not idiots and thereby allow us to exercise the right to point and laugh at them for their ignorance.

In a word = WANKERY. The life-blood of politics and the meta-fandom.

Moi? Educated? Not at all. I simply spout off random facts in the hope that they turn out to be true and I shall look more knowledgeable than I actually am. *g*

[(Anonymous)]

here here to that! it's personally hard for me to view the situation passively as i have hated the high handed way Bush keeps dealing with his problems. it's because of this mentality of the higher ups that they are Gods gift to the world at large that he thinks he can override opposing factors.(make that any. opposing factor) it just gets my goat. Ever since the day Bush administration came into power they have been acting like a nosy, petulant, bully of a big brother that has a penchant to poke a finger in any pie that's lying around.

i'm a SLan. what irritated me the most was the fact that he had the audacity to say that we should try peace talks with a terrorist group and treat them like equals! WTF?! and this was when he was aimlessly throwing heavy arsenal at Iraq hoping it would hit something halfway relevant, mind you.

it will be a sad day for the entire world indeed when people start believing that bunglers like Bush are actually qualified to run the world.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

I can say nothing save a very big WORD to everything you just said. That is exactly where my problem with Bush lies too. He didn't give a rat's ass about the Tigers in his so-called war on terror. Maybe he'd have been a bit more enthusiastic in helping us get rid of them if we had things like, you know, oil to interest him.

I tell you, the Sri Lankans were the first people ever to be clued into exactly what kind of big fat fraud he really is.

Can I know who you are mousie? I'd like to give you a very big cheese. Are you on my friends list?

[cyad.livejournal.com]

sorry to chime in but, since I'm always in for a good laugh, I compared W's IQ rating looking for what it usually means and found this:

Between 75 and 105 - Generally cannot complete a college prep course in high school.

I'd say, sometimes words speak for themselves.

[twistedlillstar.livejournal.com]

And Neil Gaiman, yes. Good Omens FTW! :D

[shortbutfast.livejournal.com]

hey, i've added your journal to my reading list. i hope that's ok. :]

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

Good Omens! How could I have failed to recognize a Good Omens quote?! I FAIL, Ingrid! *facepalms and sobs*

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

It's more than okay! Am flattered. Always glad to have new friends. I'll add you back.

I see that we don't have any mutual friends. I'm a tiny bit curious as to how you found me. =D

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

But...who is W? *is confoozled*

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

Sadhini, you twerp. How come you sound so sane and use only a legit number of exclamation points when you're high on chocolate?!

*hugs you*

Remember what I said about the weekend. I.shall.drag.your.arse.

[cyad.livejournal.com]

w as in "george w b..." and, speaking of, Pink wrote a great song about it:

[shortbutfast.livejournal.com]

oh dear.. i believe there was a post somewhere on my community list? i come here and start clicking links. your journal is interesting so i stayed for a while. :]

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

suds here. well yes,it's either the chocolate or just throw a power hungry moron who doesn't have the brains to pass grade school at me and witness how the sarcasm just blows the top. hehe.

got the cheese girl. now i'm just going to keep it until fungus grows on it, make a "have a nice day in bimbo land" card and post it to the White House,with compliments.:)

we should get into parliament. i gurantee teenagers would have a better perspective of how a country should be run than most of the sorry excuses for human beings that are in there now.

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

That comment did not come from me, it came from my insane friend Suds who replied to it when she visited my house today while she was logged in under my username. Yes, she is qualified to run the White House. To the ground, even. *g*