How long do they owe us?

[anti_shrub]

I heard the wingnut sitting in for O'Reilly's radio show rant about how we're so hated in the world, and how its all because the rest of the world are big jealous meanies. He played the card with Germany that they wouldn't exist (they'd have been run over by the Soviets) if it wasn't for the US.

That may be true (which I'm not saying it is), but how long can we hold this club over the head of other countries saying they wouldn't exist without us? Surely there's some statute of limitations on this.

It really amused me when they were saying it about France, considering there probably wouldn't be an America if the French hadn't helped at Yorktown. But hey, we saved 'em in WWII so they should be our bitches for life, according to the right wing.

[DarkPhenyx]

1. About 20 years less than we have already.

I lived in Germany for four years. It really pisses em off when you come out with that attitude. Britons and French aren't any more tolerant of it.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[anti_shrub]

3. I would think our ego gives them reason to bad mouth US

We act like the world's equivalent to Tony Soprano and then act shocked when someone tells us to fuck off.

[bleedingedge]

4. This is the heart of conservative ideology

I think this is a really excellent question that, to me, defines the whole of con ideology.

Rather than view the fact that we're all in this together, cons view the world as a tit-for-tat situation in which if I do you a favor, you then owe me some kind of fealty or continuing oath or perpetual charity in return. They're like Hannibal Lecter with a fiscal policy.

The reality is that we also helped ourselves. By staving off Hitler's war machine, who knows what benefits we reaped, whether you think Europe would have fallen to the nazis or the Soviets.

So when cons argue about how grateful everybody else should be, remind them that had we not gotten involved *we'd* have a lot to regret.

"If you don't believe you're a citizen of the world, why are you so worried about SARS?"

Phalange

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. Welcome to DU, bleedingedge!

"They're like Hannibal Lecter with a fiscal policy." LOL! That's the best description of neo-cons I've ever seen! I hope you mind if I borrow that.

:thumbsup: