The author drones on and on about America's export of 'security'. He could have saved everyone alot of time and mentioned the old cliche that America's chief exports are guns and butter. Okay, grain, oats, rice, etc.
But the author is obviously disrespectful of the chief distinguishing characteristic of America, freedom. He is also unwilling to connect that distinguishing trait with technological innovation and business prosperity.
So what has the United States provided the world in return? Clearly we are a leader in technology and cultural exports, but these are fundamentally private-sector transactions that any advanced economy can provide.
Completely wrong. This statement completely ignores the foundation upon which the American economy is built and which is truly unique in all the world.
America has for better or worse introduced the greatest economic inventions to itself nationwide and to the world attracted to its success. Supermarkets in France, Home Depots in Lithuania, Computers and operating systems in every country, and on and on. The refinement of these innovations and their products may be attributed to other economic cultures, but more often than not refinements are speared by American entrepreneurs and counselors themselves, e.g. Deming in post-WWII Japan.
American sales, promotion techniques and marketing are so pervasive that France must pass laws to outlaw English and Mullahs must brainwash their young that America is evil.
And all of this American success can be attributed causally to the stubborn notion that no government may control absolutely the American citizen. There are illusions of hierarchy and many Americans accept a hierarchical imposition but there are always those that rebel against such structures. And more importantly, the laws of America promote such rebellion.
There is no other country with that kind of culture. You cannot find it anywhere except in America. The only country that exhibits some notion of this rebellious attribute is Russia but it is not yet established there in economic terms.
To be lenient one can say the author makes a nice summary of information already hashed and rehashed. Perhaps he will make himself into a cottage industry of Beltway-ThinkTanking pundit preaching.
Boy did you miss the point about what he says, what questions he is asking, who he is and what he does. You are not even close.
Very well said, and thank you!
You see - you missed his point entirely. It is not about selling or giving away guns. It is about having and using the ability to send several hundred thousand troops 1/2 around the world and use them to overthrow a bad political actor. No one else can do that.
the author is obviously disrespectful of the chief distinguishing characteristic of America, freedom. He is also unwilling to connect that distinguishing trait with technological innovation and business prosperity.
Where do you get that notion? I think you are putting words in his mouth.