Comments by "Mat Broomfield" (@matbroomfield) on "Tommy Thompson: America's Place in the World" video.

  1. What a total fiction. You can't even provide affordable healthcare for YOUR OWN population, yet you think that spreading medical aid around the world will convince the Arab world to forget your continued support of Israel, or the rest of the world's concern about the way that you throw your weight around wherever the whim takes you? You're dreaming. America has FAR greater problems in global perception than can be fixed with a bit of free healthcare. It's like the Catholic church in that regard.
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  2. Yes, we already established that. But trying to help in the wrong way is worse than not trying at all.
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  3. Well for starters the fact that both religions incorporate entreats within theor most holy books to spread the word; and that Islam is commited to the spread of the religion by stealth, or force if possible. There's plenty about Islam that is utterly incomptible with democracy. The fact that women are traeted as 2nd class citizens; the fact that those who speak out against Islam are persecuted or killed. That's not democratic.
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  4. Hmmm, I would hope for a more well reasoned and balanced set of policies. I would say that America is more despised across the globe now than at any time since its independence, and not just by its enemies. The government needs to take a deep look at its policies at home and abroad to see if it can find a new way of interacting with the globe. The US is on the way out as the dominant superpower, the only question is, can it save itself, and will it still have any friends if it does go.
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  5. Substituting one thing that doesn't work for another that doesn't work is no basis for foreign policy. I agree that spreading a bit of good is a positive thing provided the US is mindful of the way it behaes in other regards, otherwise it's like blowing holes in a ship with a torpedo, then putting a plaster over the gaping hole. You need to be consistent.
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  6. See this is EXACTLY why America is so unpopular - not only does it see itself as the hero that keeps saving the rest of the world, but it sees itself as having the right to decide what and when. Given the fallout of many of your "rescues", to say nothing of your out-of-control debt, plumetting civil liberties, and the fact that you imprison more of your own people than any other country, I really would hope that you would pay attention to your own affairs a bit more closely.
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  7. I agree that CURRENTLY Christianity has a greater negative impact on western society, but to compare Christianity's expansionist methodology or enforcement, anywhere in the world, to that of Islam is wildly off-kilter. Modern Islam is something akin to Christianity 500-1000 years ago. The problem is, mixing religion with politics. When church and state are one, then there's a problem, and simply because people get a vote doesn't mean it's a democracy.
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  8. Lol. Very good, very good! :-)
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  9. And for the record, I still LOVE what America claims to represent - freedom and opportunity. I still LOVE most American people - individually. But what I personally despise, is not the people, but the government, politics and the financial interests that run the country. And when you guys get together and start this jingoistic nationalistic, religious right bullshit, it's very scary to see.
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  10. Actually, I'm a Brit of American origin. But it's interesting how you assume that I might be of Middle Eastern origin, implicitly acknowledging that if I was, I would hate America, thus denying your own argument. As for France, didn't they try to veto your actions in Iraq? The fact is, America is widely regarded, and not just in the Arab world, as being a heavy handed bully boy on the global stage, who doesn't even obey its own rule of law. And that from someone who used to love your country.
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  11. 1. Health insurance is not an option for those millions on low incomes. 2. No, I don't want Israel destroyed, but they should show MUCH MUCH more respect to the Palestinians. 3. So we we chalk everything up to mistakes and forget about it? 4, Yes, agree totally. As the 1st step of a global attitude of responsibility and cooperation instead of might is right, it's a great idea. But the other attitude needs to be changed FIRST or the healthcare is just hypocricy.
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  12. It's not like breaking a law - it's just so hard to support in face of the evidence. 25 years ago I could have reeled off a list of America's good points uninterrupted for 15 minutes. Nowadays, I have trouble even getting started without having to add caveats to everything I come up with.
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  13. I'm hardly going to be polling the opinion of migrants, most of whom are travelling from second and third world nations in determining the US's value on the world stage. With much power comes much responsibility, and the fact is, America is using it's power IRRESPONSIBLY in situation after situation. Libya is a disaster in the making, Afghanistan is likely to fall into chaos the second you leave, Iraq is a slow motion explosion that is already going off. Policies of ill cponsidered intereference
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  14. I undestand what he's saying, but even if America did EVERYTHING right, and treated the whole world with dignity and impartiality, and did not impose itself into the affairs of other nations, sadly, it still would not lead to peace because their are insurmountable theological differences between christianity and islam; democracy and what they have. But you're right - better to do something than nothing.
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  15. :-)
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  16. You're correct on both counts, but the big difference between Christianity (which I detest), and Islam which I detest and fear, is that Islam still actively promotes and enforces those ancient values.
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