"I predict that you will attempt to counter with misdirection, a response that does not address the issue at hand, or by claiming that I have somehow not addressed the topic." -clousems
"I'm waiting for jonesmh and you to state why you believe taxes are bad."- letgoofmychessego
Impressive. You somehow managed to do all three.
"Regarding your second statement: in order for debate to occur, you have to take a stance."
1. The US stole land from natives.
2. The US stole land from Mexico.
3. The US enslaved people (mainly Africans) and many Americans became wealthy or wealthier from this stolen, free labor.
4. Without all of these freebies, would America have have become wealthy and powerful?
5. The US manufactures the most weapons in the world.
6. The US exports the most weapons in the world.
7. The US spends the most money on militarism in the world.
8. The US has the most military outposts in the world.
9. They say the US has been in conflicts for 97% of its short existence.
10. The US uses the most resources in the world.
11. The US Navy mission is to keep shipping lanes open.
The above points show that much of the US economy was and is based on immoral behavior.
Re #21:
Ha ha. My statement is true. You do what you "predicted" I would do, when I haven't done any of those things.
What country are you from?
Just so we can put your position in some kind of context.
Very strange to see you denigrating American Navy for protecting shipping lanes..that is what every navy in the world ever has done.
All your other points are equally as baffling as to purpose.
Please enlighten me .
Re #24:
US.
Part of keeping shipping lanes open involves resource extraction from other peoples and lands.
Re #24:
The notion that "Everyone else does it" is inaccurate and it doesn't justify immoral behavior.
The ONLY raison d'etre of a navy is to protect merchant shipping. My statement that you highly inacurately quote is in fact not inacurate at all.
What is immoral about protecting your country's commerce against enemy action?
#22)
Ooh, this is fun.
1. Why do the natives get to have the land, and not the Europeans? And lets not forget that much of the land was actually bought. Compare that to what Belgium did to the Congo.
2. No, they didnt. They annexed it in a war. There were legal documents signed and everything.
3. The US didn't actually enslave too many africans, considering that was against US law. Also, you may want to re-read that sentence. A missing comma makes your argument state that slaves got wealthier.
4. That's not even a statement, it's a rhetorical question
5. So weapons are inherently evil now? Aren't they used by police, the National Guard, hunters, sport shooters, etc? Am I immoral for owning a gun?
6. ""
7. I'd like to see the global budget outlays on "militarism." Where can I find those?
8. umm....what? Military bases are immoral?
9. The United states is one of the oldest nations in the world. And does being in conflict mean immoral behavior? Are you saying that we shouldn't have gotten involved in World War 2, or fighting the Barbary Pirates? Because morality?
10. Using stuff is immoral now?
11. Claiming that is immoral might be the dumbest thing I read all day.
Your points do not show that the US economy is based off of immorality.
#23: I literally just used cut and paste. It's quite clear. How, pray tell, did I not address the topic at hand?
You seem to have a deep-seated animosity toward America..hard to comprehend in view of your claim to be American.
Am I missing something here?
Reminder: The guy who insists that the US Navy shouldn't keep shipping lanes open also condemns the US cutting back on trade:
lichess.org/forum/off-topic-discussion/is-trump-finally-going-down-or-do-we-have-to-suffer-much-longer-2?page=60#597