More legislative shenanigans by Al Carlson

[EC8CH]

Well that's kinda his point. Nowhere is perfect. Just off the top of my head, world powers since 1492 have:

Participated in slavery
Tried to colonize Africa
Tried to colonize Asia
Tried to colonize the entire western hemisphere
Invaded each other for the purpose of committing ethnic genocide
Committed religious genocide inside their own countries
Tried taking over the world
Developed weapons capable of obliterating the world 100x over

Everybody carries blame. But I think it's getting better and I think the US has driven a lot of it.

Not that we did it because we're good people, btw. We did it because it made things more profitable

The United States promotion of secular liberal democracy I'd say is a net benefit. But I could be biased. I believe all people should have a voice with protection for the rights of minorities.

[NDSU92]

The United States promotion of secular liberal democracy I'd say is a net benefit. But I could be biased. I believe all people should have a voice with protection for the rights of minorities.

At least until we can get an AI with an IQ high enough to outperform all of humanity to make decisions for us. I think I'm kidding? They've already beaten us at Chess and Go.

I'd argue that the UN is probably the number one most beneficial thing that has been created by man, and that was driven by the US. We would've had WW3 and/or blowed ourselves up already without it, and the benefits it has brought to less wealthy countries are probably impossible to quantify without that big brain AI I just mentioned. Again, the reason we did it wasn't because it was the right thing to do...

[HerdBot]

Depends on your perspective. I could understand certain Native American nations having a different calculus.

Native Americans were fucked over. The government apologized, included then in the civil rights act, gave them their own reservations and the ability to make their own laws or they can live off the reservations. Not much more we can do.

Pretty sure if America had been discovered by anyone else, they would have screwed them over too. People were barbaric back then. Imagine if Genghis Khan, Stalin or Hitler discovered America. Or how about any of the brutal kings back then?

[tony]

Native Americans were fucked over. The government apologized, included then in the civil rights act, gave them their own reservations and the ability to make their own laws or they can live off the reservations. Not much more we can do.

Pretty sure if America had been discovered by anyone else, they would have screwed them over too. People were barbaric back then. Imagine if Genghis Khan, Stalin or Hitler discovered America

Yeah, you're right, but America is supposed to be better than that. We can at least live up to our word on things like the Black Hills treaty - even if is is a process that takes centuries to bring to a just conclusion.

[EC8CH]

Native Americans were fucked over. The government apologized, included then in the civil rights act, gave them their own reservations and the ability to make their own laws or they can live off the reservations. Not much more we can do.

Pretty sure if America had been discovered by anyone else, they would have screwed them over too. People were barbaric back then. Imagine if Genghis Khan, Stalin or Hitler discovered America. Or how about any of the brutal kings back then?

Reservations as compensation for the systematic eradication of their culture... I agree it was likely inevitable by either our country or any other, but it's still the burden of the past that is a part of our country's history.

[56BISON73]

Native Americans were fucked over. The government apologized, included then in the civil rights act, gave them their own reservations and the ability to make their own laws or they can live off the reservations. Not much more we can do.

Pretty sure if America had been discovered by anyone else, they would have screwed them over too. People were barbaric back then. Imagine if Genghis Khan, Stalin or Hitler discovered America. Or how about any of the brutal kings back then?

Do the Italians get all misty eyed over what the Romans did? Law of the conquering nation? Shit happened along time ago that was out of our hands. Its not the responsibility of current generations to pay for the ills of a developing nation. IMO of course.

[EC8CH]

Do the Italians get all misty eyed over what the Romans did? Law of the conquering nation? Shit happened along time ago that was out of our hands. Its not the responsibility of current generations to pay for the ills of a developing nation. IMO of course.

Comparing what our country did under the same system of government 150 years ago to the Italians under an entirely different government and society over 2000 years ago. Pat reasoning.

[Kevin]

Comparing what our country did under the same system of government 150 years ago to the Italians under an entirely different government and society over 2000 years ago. Pat reasoning.

It's not like Pat was alive 150 years ago to vote in those electi.... oh.

[bisonaudit]

Do the Italians get all misty eyed over what the Romans did? Law of the conquering nation? Shit happened along time ago that was out of our hands. Its not the responsibility of current generations to pay for the ills of a developing nation. IMO of course.

It’s not like we’re talking about repetitions here. We’re talking about a more representative government. And we’re not talking about doing it because we fucked certain groups of people in the past. We’re talking about doing it because the current system is screwing people today.

[mtoutfitter]

It’s not like we’re talking about repetitions here. We’re talking about a more representative government. And we’re not talking about doing it because we fucked certain groups of people in the past. We’re talking about doing it because the current system is screwing people today.

What do you mean by a more representative government? Aren't the current reps, senators, govs...etc. elected by voting? Are you saying people should have to vote a certain way or only for certain people? In your opinion who is getting screwed over so bad? Not arguing....just curious here.