In the age of globalization, should the US continue to pursue its own national interest?
601080
Well, there's two ways of looking at it.\nFirstly, as you say, in an increasingly globalized world no nation--no matter how powerful or wealthy--can afford to be selfish or motivated by narrow, self-centered interests. Thus, the USA too must adapt to the new realities and requirements of this age. It must strive to be more friendly and sympathetic towards other nations and generally develop a more positive attitude in its dealings with the rest of the world.\nThe other aspect is, that all nations have their own interests at stake, ultimately. And the USA also has its interests to watch and protect. But even if this is the case, it doesnt mean that it can ride rough-shod over other nations and interfere indiscriminately in their affairs.\n There is a dire need for it to strike the right balance between (a) national self-interest and (b) global needs, concerns and relations.\nIf the US wants to play a greater, more responsible role in world politics, it should do so with legitimacy i.e., by being a part of international organizations and acting in concord with them not by trying to usurp the role of the UN or other, similar agencies.
1164669
Skifaster,\nSerious question and I hope you see this again.  Everything you say is true and Evo could certainly be a concern.  However, do you seriously think the US should overthrow a Democratically-elected leader while spreading democracy in another Hemisphere?  It seems to me that that would even further harm our international image and make it impossible to work further trade deals in our own hemisphere.
697632
That's a loaded question, and I hope you don't mind taking some time to read this answer as it will have to touch on multiple intertwined subjects.\n\nOur foreign policy and world image should hopefully improve once Bush is out of power. The Democratic party has always been more apt for making friends outside of our shores, and for stroking the ego of international support. This in turn not only bolsters homegrown economics through production and trade, it also strengthens relationships nation to nation should another such war erupt.\n\nNational security? In all truthfulness, our security measures as a nation haven't improved one bit....so I don't see a real change in this. \nIf all you're doing is scaring people with this alert and that alert and you're not truly telling them why, people understand after awhile that all you're doing is crying wolf.\nHopefully something there will change, we need to make our nation secure from much more than just terrorists.\n\nSocial Security = The Governments money cookie jar. It'll be gone in five years or less.The only reason it's still there in the first place is because of the billions upon billions of dollars we're borrowed from the Chinese, and also the rape of the Medicare and Medicaid systems.\nIt's always been nothing but a Governmentally sponsored Ponzi scheme. The last two generations have consistantly paid and are paying taxes on a system that they'll never see a single penny of in return.\n\nEconomic policies? Everything needs to change. I could write a book back in response to this, but I'm just to leave it at this : Everything needs to change, starting with the mindset of the American people.\nWe need more entrepeneurs in this nation, we don't need more lazy employees.\n\nHope that helps!
907327
You are absolutely right but unfortunately I don't see it changing anytime soon. History has shown us time and again that as the gap between the haves and the have nots widens, empires crumble. America will ultimately complete its cycle as the dominant world empire and some other empire will rise up to take its place. If our "corporate leaders" were not so focused on short term profit maybe the process can be slowed down somewhat. But in our present economic climate, where worldwide corporations have no allegiance to particular nations, I don't see that happening anytime soon
263645
I am an American, and I as you do not believe that we should be pushing something on countries that do not want it. I think if a majority of the citizens want help then we should help, but if a majority don't then we should back off.
1037257
Hey, do you really think the US is kind old Uncle Sam ??? The US also wants its own Empire.
763808
Foreign National Debt is above 3 trillion at record levels so I say no. Current US fiscal policy is designed to move wealth to the upper class from the middle class. The government does not seem to want to protect the majority of its people but thats what we deserve for voting in these leaders.
59855
when america took over iraq and put its fast food, banks, and other american poisions thats globalization. When countries that dont have phone lines start using cell phone technology instead of any natural progress, thats globalization. When hurricane  or other natural disaster victims recieve relief, thats globalization. When children build foreign products, thats globalization. Basically its not america the melting pot, its now becoming the global melting pot.
722182
USA dictate to the world? can you honestly believe that? since we are the basis for most of the economies in the world you think that we would have a stronger voice but we do not. only time the world wants to hear from us is when we are helping them.
508094
if by 'our' you mean USA, then yes. Quite a while, bye the way.
1099281
Everything is cyclical. The US reached the height of her power and is now in decline. The US is a debtor nation and it is only a matter of time until the US economy collapses to the point the US will be unable to sustain her imperialist policies.\n\nPredicting the future is impossible but the most likely outcome is that the US will become just another minor player on the world stage.\n\nMother nature will take care of herself and if human activity seriously threatens her balance, she will remove enough humans to restore balance. Humans concerning themselves with worrying about mother nature is folly. Mother nature can take care of herself. Of course, humans probably won't like her methods, but that is of no concern to her.\n\nThe world will survive, humans may not.
1133616
No to the theocracy in the US - but, in the same sense, I don't think we should push democracy on countries that will seriously be thrown into chaos as soon as it is introduced (USSR, China, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.). I think it's very arrogant of us Americans to think our way is the best way for everyone - the only way democracy truly works is if it evolves on its own when people get tired of the way things are being run.
635674
All the Nations that wanted our technology and our wealth will want globalisation.  The only people in the US that actually gain from globalisation are the rich folks that have corporations in another country.\n\nEverything we need is here.\nEverything that the world need in here.\n\nWill you share your house with any stranger just because your rich neighbor said it is o.k.?\n\n\nBut once the US is at the bottom of the food chain even the US rich folks will be kick out of India or China like dogs.  When that happen our rich folks will parade us with US flags on all the Wal-Mart trucks again.
529754
Most definitely.  We need to do some cleaning up ourself before we can help others.  The U.N. is a good idea in itself (like Communism is, I mean you can't say the idea of it is a bad thing, it just doesn't work in reality) but so far it's been just a bitch.  I know I'm tired of going through the U.N. I mean just look at the dumping scandal.  No one can really be trusted anymore.\n\nMy only qualm is that if we go back into the Monroe Doctrine phase, we will resort to Isolationism.  We, being a world power and major influence (to some degree), can't afford to go back to being isolated.  It would just be like backing down and letting the world do as it pleases--no Americans, I would think, would want foreign people dictating how we should run our lives (just as noone else would want that, either).  So it's sort of a black and white question with so many gray areas it isn't even funny.
941526
Multilaterialism is great when we can, however an elected governments first obligation is always to serve the best intrest of it's own people first. But name one instance when the US acted unilaterally we have always had at least some support from other countries. Vietnam is probably the closest you can get but even in that case we had some support from the rest of the world and the French basically created the mess.
206880
No, but it is true that the USA produces most of the world's wealth so I think we're entitled to use as much of the world's resources as we want.
29005
There is little chance of true globalization any time soon, with the rapent xenophobia that is striking in so many nations, the borders being gaurded against the fear of terrorism and the hatred of anything "foreign" will shut out the utopic future of a united world.