# Would it really be that bad if America wasn't #1?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-really-be-that-bad-if-america-wasnt-1/592523>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 13, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-really-be-that-bad-if-america-wasnt-1/592523 "2011-08-13T00:00:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-really-be-that-bad-if-america-wasnt-1/592523/121 "2011-08-17T12:17:32Z")

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> [@Uzi](#):
>
> Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I?

Because then you’d be talking about the actual dictators I was speaking of.

> [@Uzi](#):
>
> Add Iran to that list if you want. No one forced a theocracy on them. They did it all themselves.

Nonsense. We overthrew their democracy and imposed the Shah.

> [@Uzi](#):
>
> You just said it is. Dictators are only assholes because the US makes them. You ignored evidence that dictators can be assholes all on their own.

:rolleyes: I did no such thing. That’s just you trying to project your black and white view onto me, that America is either responsible for all evil in the world or none.

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**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-really-be-that-bad-if-america-wasnt-1/592523/122 "2011-08-17T14:43:38Z")

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> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Because then you’d be talking about the actual dictators I was speaking of.

The dictators you were speaking of are acting of their own free will in how they treat their people. They could institute democratic reforms, they could increase the freedom of their people and it isn’t likely anyone in the US would complain other than to say they weren’t doing enough.

> [@](#):
>
> Nonsense. We overthrew their democracy and imposed the Shah.

You do realize the Shah was already there, don’t you?

But then the people of Iran overthrew him and instituted a theocracy. All on their own. Alternatively, they could have re-instituted that same democracy they had before the US interference. They didn’t.

> [@](#):
>
> I did no such thing. That’s just you trying to project your black and white view onto me, that America is either responsible for all evil in the world or none.

It is kind of rich you accusing anyone else about black and white views. Yet, I never said that the US was squeaky clean. Not at all. Never did, never will. Yet, I can see that the alternatives could be a lot worse which I don’t think you can.

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