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Originally posted by Yorick:
Another point is this.
War is not the only way a nation is aggressive or "mean". Are not Multinationals the new empires? Complete with coups, takeovers, provinces and even dynasties? (think Rupert and Lachie Murdoch) Aslo when nations dump wheat in the ocean, or pay farmers not to grow food - so the status quo is maintained though people are starving - is not this a hidious and destructive evil? (Imagine if some starving bloke was in front of you and you burnt some bread rather than giving it to him.)
Just as an individual has darkness and flaws that need to be self examined from time to time, so to do nations. I would hope that citizens of certain nations would acknowledge that despite the good a nation is capable of, it is also capable of evil - just as it is in an individual. Ignoring that evil lets it grow like a cancer.
Finally this is my last point.
All this talk of wars and who will win..... There is no winner with war. It is a curse upon humanity.
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This was in the China Crisis thread but it brought up a point i've been discussing for a couple of years and i'm interested to here everyone's thoughts.
Take this scenario - Say Microscoff, Choke a Cola, Spamdonalds and other Multis have massive (talking U.S.A. size) operations running in China.
Then the spyplane goes down, everything degenerates and U.S. wants to go to war with China...
What happens now? The Multis put extreme pressure on Bush etc. to keep it peaceful - regardless. Does U.S. still invade? Do they risk not only the possibility of destroying U.S. based Multis operations in China, but facing ramifications at home?
If they don't go to war because of this - how powerful are they? Who is really in control?
This scenario is also possible between two smaller countries who are aggressive to each other but rely on international investment to survive. If one or some Multis say "no you guys can't go to war or we will withdraw our investments", are they going to continue?
Now apply this to other areas - policy, alliance, aid - medicine, food, services or military(think Gulf War) etc...
Do other people think that we are no longer governed by government but by corporation? (i don't fully think this but to a large extent i do)
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Gonna run through the jungle!
[This message has been edited by Leonis (edited 04-09-2001).]