Dan wrote:
I think its arguable that many of the mentioned countries, the the Philippians frex as well as many others (such as Iran) were able to move away from their dictatorial governments _despite_ the U.S., not becauseof its influence.
If this were true, then one should look at countries with less US influence and find a greater percentage of working democracies for longer periods of time than those with greater US influence.
Allow me to rephrase a little because I don't really think our influence is a simple matter. I believe our influence via military/industrial channels was negative but that our cultural influence was positive and one the people of many countries wish to emulate. Military/industrial people want control and large profits at the expense of the native people. A people that elects a government that wants to distribute the wealth of their country fairly among the people is much less profitable than a dictator that takes his cut and allows the multinationals to do as they will.
But these people were also exposed to our culture and the opportunity that it used to provide to its members. I think this is why you see the dichotomy when the people of the world are asked their opinion of (US)America (overwhelmingly negative) vs their opinion of (US)Americans (somewhat positive).
Oh, and I said used to provide because I believe that Brin is correct in pointing out that Bush is attempting to squash the diamond back into a pyramid. Because of this and the growing prominence of religious fanaticism in our country, our society is no longer as attractive to the world as it once was.
All IMO, of course.
-- Doug _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
