Comments on: Demographics And Foreign Policy http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/04/29/demographics-and-foreign-policy/ n. the principle of good order<br /><br /> "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:58:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ottovbvs http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/04/29/demographics-and-foreign-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-31772 ottovbvs Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:37:05 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9324#comment-31772 The events of the past eight years have severely shaken the widespread belief in American exceptionalism. I'm not sure this has a lot to do with more ingredients being added to the melting pot. A wired world of instant and graphic communiction; factual information available at a keystroke; and the dire consequences of on the ground have had a lot more to do with it in my opinion. Even during the Vietnam war which was a sizeable blow to America's sense of self worth most news was filtered through traditional media and most people for a very long time took at face value the assurances of the military and admin. Despite rigorous attempts to manage the news and a totallly compliant media the scale of the fu rapidly became apparent for all to see. The disparagement of us by traditional allies was also corrosive. Americans like to be liked and when they saw millions marching in Europe it caused some second thoughts. There's always been a strain of isolationism in the US, usually on the right, but paradoxically because all this mayhem was initiated by a Republican president they got boxed into defending all kinds of things that were traditionally anathema. The right is now the promoter of pre-emptive wars, saber rattling and torture....not a position that is going to play to their long term advantage. As we go forward it's impossible to avoid large scale global involvement because the nature of globalisation and our own continuing pre-eminence. There's going to be a major change in tone and the undertaking of committments but it doesn't have much to do with domestic demographics. The events of the past eight years have severely shaken the widespread belief in American exceptionalism. I’m not sure this has a lot to do with more ingredients being added to the melting pot. A wired world of instant and graphic communiction; factual information available at a keystroke; and the dire consequences of on the ground have had a lot more to do with it in my opinion. Even during the Vietnam war which was a sizeable blow to America’s sense of self worth most news was filtered through traditional media and most people for a very long time took at face value the assurances of the military and admin. Despite rigorous attempts to manage the news and a totallly compliant media the scale of the fu rapidly became apparent for all to see. The disparagement of us by traditional allies was also corrosive. Americans like to be liked and when they saw millions marching in Europe it caused some second thoughts. There’s always been a strain of isolationism in the US, usually on the right, but paradoxically because all this mayhem was initiated by a Republican president they got boxed into defending all kinds of things that were traditionally anathema. The right is now the promoter of pre-emptive wars, saber rattling and torture….not a position that is going to play to their long term advantage. As we go forward it’s impossible to avoid large scale global involvement because the nature of globalisation and our own continuing pre-eminence. There’s going to be a major change in tone and the undertaking of committments but it doesn’t have much to do with domestic demographics.

]]> By: BarryD http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/04/29/demographics-and-foreign-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-31767 BarryD Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:55:23 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9324#comment-31767 I'm beginning to think that the most common foreign policy article is the one which breathlessly warns of the Peril of Impending Non-Interventionitis I’m beginning to think that the most common foreign policy article is the one which breathlessly warns of the Peril of Impending Non-Interventionitis

]]> By: Adam01 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/04/29/demographics-and-foreign-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-31764 Adam01 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:35:04 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9324#comment-31764 " these instincts were most concentrated among the poor, less educated and non-whites." But you don't necessarily see those instincts reflected in the elite of any American ethnic group, regardless of ethnicity. American mass culture (particurally our institutions of higher education) are very adept at taking people from all walks of life, ethnicities, races, etc. and turning them into a diverse rainbow of bots that think, sound, and act exactly alike. McConnell rather overestimates how much influence ordinary people have over the conduct of foreign policy. ” these instincts were most concentrated among the poor, less educated and non-whites.”

But you don’t necessarily see those instincts reflected in the elite of any American ethnic group, regardless of ethnicity. American mass culture (particurally our institutions of higher education) are very adept at taking people from all walks of life, ethnicities, races, etc. and turning them into a diverse rainbow of bots that think, sound, and act exactly alike. McConnell rather overestimates how much influence ordinary people have over the conduct of foreign policy.

]]> By: Derek Copold http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2009/04/29/demographics-and-foreign-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-31762 Derek Copold Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:31:45 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=9324#comment-31762 Not only has our intervention rate increased with multiculturalism, the amount of intervention in <i>our</i> affairs has increased as well. The future McConnell describes is far more likely to sign onto meddlesome international conventions that will give foreigners more and more say over our laws and people. Not only has our intervention rate increased with multiculturalism, the amount of intervention in our affairs has increased as well. The future McConnell describes is far more likely to sign onto meddlesome international conventions that will give foreigners more and more say over our laws and people.

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