# The United States needs to stick to its own business **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854 "2003-12-09T03:53:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/21 "2003-12-09T06:32:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*What does Taiwan-China have to do with the U.S.? Dude, look at the “Made in…” labels on just about anything, and I guarantee you 90% of it will be Taiwan or China. We have billions of dollars worth of imports coming from each of them. > > I think it’s a nice idea you have and in a perfect world, I’d agree with you. The problem is so much of our capability, especially in manufacturing, has been pushed overseas in pursuit of cheap labor that isolationism just isn’t an option. I think there’s stuff that’s _just not made_ in the U.S. anymore, because it’s cheaper to import. \*\* American soldiers should die so you can save $10 on your next TV? Is that now the value of human life? Sounds rather bad for the United States. Its sodiers should ensure the safety of importers so there will be no jobs when they leave the military. Makes the whole “No War for Oil” argument pale in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/22 "2003-12-09T06:35:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > \*\*Have you read this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227993)? It is claimed that the United States let million of Jews died, came into WWII at the end and was lucky enough to have Canada and Australia help us out. \*\*Dude, there are threads where people claim all kinds of stuff. You gonna believe all of 'em? The guy is nuts, as his fellow Canadians have told him. > [@](#): > > How does having 100,000 troops in Europe and 100,000 troops in Asia keep us from being in a depression? Does fighting in Iraq keep us from slipping into a depression? … > Wait, let me see, maybe you are claiming that American troops should be used to make sure we keep getting cheap imports. Is that what our troops are being used for, to put Americans out of work? It’s called “trade.” They sell us crap, we sell them crap, and actually both benefit from it. The more people you have to buy and sell with the better. \*\* > [@](#): > > A perfect example. What does this have to do with the United States? Let them fight it out. Taiwan would probably lose in a week.\*\* [Learn something.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=227235) Half the motherboards on the planet are made in Taiwan, as well as large amounts of all other computer components. They get sent here and assembled into Dells and HPs, which we then send back overseas. We export tons of stuff to China and Japan and Korea. But, naw, the whole area can go to hell for all we care. Same with Europe. Oil is the friggin’ lifeblood of our economy, but it won’t bother us if the Middle East goes to hell. We’ll use dogsleds instead of cars … And you might want to dial down the rhetoric. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/23 "2003-12-09T06:39:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furt \* > \*\*And you might want to dial down the rhetoric. \*\* Why? ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/24 "2003-12-09T06:40:26Z")
> [@](#): > > How many jobs is the life of one soldier worth? Um, Three? Ya know, the world is waaaayyy more complicated than your tiny brain could ever comprehend. Dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/25 "2003-12-09T06:45:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mac Guffin \* > \*\*Um, Three? > > Ya know, the world is waaaayyy more complicated than your tiny brain could ever comprehend. > > Dumbass. \*\* Well, you should go to a few funerals and help to cheer up the families. Mac Guffin: “Listen, I know you are sad and upset but your family member’s death has provided three Americans with jobs!!! You should be very proud.” I’d rather be a dumbass than an a person who wants United States soldiers to die so people can have jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/26 "2003-12-09T06:52:54Z")
As a former member of the United States military, I knew the risks I was taking for the good of my country. The people dying now knew that they might be called apon to do so. Now I admit that we should have never invaded Iraq. But we’re there now, and have to clean up what we screwed up. We have commitments and treaties with other countries to help protect them. (See Taiwan.) We must live up to those commitments. Like it or not, Dumbass, we are part of the world. Anything that happens in it effects us in some way. We cannot withdraw from it. The world needs some stability. Hopefully, we can help provide it someday again. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/27 "2003-12-09T07:03:19Z")
We [terminated](http://www.taiwandocuments.org/mutual01.htm) our treaty with Taiwan. We have no resason to defend Taiwan beyond you wanting American soldiers to die for cheap imports. Why are you saying we should not have invaded Iraq? Since [446](http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/) Americans have died, that equals 1,338 jobs based on what you said. Hell, the war is leading us into the glorious promised land of zero unemployment. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/28 "2003-12-09T07:09:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > \*\*Why? \*\* Because even in the pit , “Chew on that bitch” is a little harsh. If you seriously want to understanad the way the Global economy works, I suggest a GD thread. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/29 "2003-12-09T07:12:40Z")
“Chew on that bitch” in response to “dumbass” sounds like fair game. Who are you, the fucking hall monitor? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/30 "2003-12-09T07:42:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > \*\*the fucking hall monitor? \*\* It was funnier when Manhattan said it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/31 "2003-12-09T07:49:01Z")
Why should I care about the welfare of Americans more than the welfare of foreigners? We should have troops in Taiwan because nobody deserves to live under a brutal dictatorship. We should have troops in South Korea to keep North Korea from starting another war. We should have troops in Europe so that we never have another world war again. People are people. I don’t stop caring about them just because they’re on the other side of some invisible line. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/32 "2003-12-09T07:52:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > \*\*Have you read this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227993)? It is claimed that the United States let million of Jews died, came into WWII at the end and was lucky enough to have Canada and Australia help us out. > \*\* Ummmm… I call “flagrant misrepresentation of the truth”. I went and read that thread, and in that thread, only one person from Australia made a contribution - and they made only one post. You **Long Road** then proceeded to wilfully reinterpret that post with words of your own choosing, and now, are maintaining that YOUR interpretation of the original post is what was said - and in actuality nothing could be further from the truth. Most readers on this board will know that I’m a fairly magnanimous Australian in regards the benefits we Aussies have derived from our warm ties with North America. And in my experience, most of my fellow Australians on this board tend to post similar sentiments. Occasionally you get a loud mouth Aussie know-it-all who thinks he knows everything who actually is pretty wet behind the ears - but they’re pretty rare. That being said, it’s my considered opinion **Long Road** that you’re cursed with some epic preconceived prejudices - and they’re manifesting themselves here. Very uncool. Most importantly? Very ignorant of the real world. The USA needs foreign investment at the moment more than any other economy - and the reality is that it’s dropping off, and the US dollar is sinking in relative value. To go back to pre WWII levels of isolationism would mean economic disaster for the US. Inflation would skyrocket. But I’ll gladly concede that the simpletons of this world find the idea easily digestible. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/33 "2003-12-09T08:13:06Z")
Hey, lets take this a few steps further. Why should each STATE have anything to do with each other. Close the borders! Or even each town? Why not lets each just lock ourselves in darkened rooms and not have anything to do with the outside world at all? In fact, why don’t you lead us in this, **Roady**? Cut all ties with the outside world. Starting with your modem. Dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/34 "2003-12-09T08:23:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*It was funnier when Manhattan said it. \*\* I think you’ve got that a bit mixed up. **The Long Road** ’s “Who are you, the fucking hall monitor?” is almost an exact duplicate of: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Cleverman_ > **sailor, Hail Ants, I wasn’t talking to you. What are you, the fucking hall monitors?** which in turn prompted **manhattan** ’s response: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by manhattan_ > **As it happens, _I_ am the fucking hall monitor.** and **Cleverman** ’s banning. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/35 "2003-12-09T08:49:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mac Guffin \* > \*\*Hey, lets take this a few steps further. Why should each STATE have anything to do with each other. Close the borders! Or even each town? Why not lets each just lock ourselves in darkened rooms and not have anything to do with the outside world at all? In fact, why don’t you lead us in this, **Roady**? Cut all ties with the outside world. > > Starting with your modem. > > Dumbass. \*\* So you are arguing for the dissolution of the United States? I knew you wanted American soldiers to die but do you have such hatred for America that you want to destroy it? Are you a terrorist? From killing soldiers for jobs to destroying the United States, your hatred is obvious. I’d reply to the other nonsense about someone named Manhatten posting something but it’s too boring. **Boo Boo Foo** , I love Australia. You have two crocodile guys and some other nice things I’m sure. What’s not too like? Hell, it’s one of the only three real allies we have. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/36 "2003-12-09T09:04:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*Why should I care about the welfare of Americans more than the welfare of foreigners? \*\* That is for every person to decide. If you feel Americans should die fighting other peoples wars, then you have that right. I feel differently about how our foreign affairs should be handled. I do not believe that our money and military should be helping people that hate us and bitch about everything we do. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*We should have troops in Taiwan because nobody deserves to live under a brutal dictatorship. \*\* We don’t have troops in Taiwan and if no one deserves to live under a brutal dictatorship, we need to rethink our trade policy since China is one of our largest trading partners(but [maybe not for long](http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BA0402FBE-C10D-4ECF-83FF-1B2503DC515A%7D&siteid=google&dist=google)) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\* We should have troops in South Korea to keep North Korea from starting another war. \*\* Right, that helped prevent the last one so well. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*We should have troops in Europe so that we never have another world war again. \*\* So Europe is really like a group of children and we are the parent making sure they play nice? QUOTE]\*Originally posted by Miller \* \*\* People are people. I don’t stop caring about them just because they’re on the other side of some invisible line. \*\* [/QUOTE] Hey, I care, really, my heart bleeds for them all. I just don’t want to see American troops dying for lost causes and our money being given to people who hate us. It’s a free country and everyone is free to donate whatever they want to charity. People fuck up their country such as Yugoslavia and when Europe can’t fix it, we end up having to send troops there. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/37 "2003-12-09T09:28:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > **Man, the US gets knocked for not being able to stop genocides in Rwanda and the Balkans, but when they do go out and try to do good, they’re totally dissed.** That’s being a little bit country-centric. The whole of the industrialised world bears collective guilt for those fiascos. Europe and the UN are _just_ as guilty as the US for not intervening sooner or at all. I’ve personally never heard the US singled out for criticism in this regard. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/38 "2003-12-09T10:49:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Let’s follow a policy of America for Americans damnit! Indeed! Give all the land back to the Native nations and go home! ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/39 "2003-12-09T10:49:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > **Europe and the UN are _just_ as guilty as the US for not intervening sooner or at all.** whoa! whoa! Hold your horses there mister! I’m European, I don’t want to be held accountable or guilty for anything. Rwanda? The Americans’ fault definitely. Balkans? The yanks. The holocaust? Yup, the US. Iraqi genocide? Americans! Oil prices and high crime. Damn US’ers. Bad weather and rain in July? The cowboys. Bad hair day? That’d be the Americans fault. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, my mother in law? Yeah, she’s American! You never go wrong if you blame the Americans, that’s what I say. - Rune ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854/40 "2003-12-09T10:53:34Z")
Actually, ignore that. It made sense when I was typing it in a Native American Nations sense, but after posting I realise it implies something different in an international sense. Perhaps I can just shake my fist at the screen instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-needs-to-stick-to-its-own-business/217854.md?page=3)