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Re:Millions are visiting the European Alternatives site––wha... by lompad on Monday March 24, 2025 @11:50AM (#43462424)
This is not altruism. This strange american "look how we suffer for you"-thing is just utterly weird.

Why do you think the US has global power projection capabilities? Why do you think they can control world trade? Why is the dollar still the reserve currency?

The military "altruistic" peacekeeping is a major benefit, from better access to trade agreements to bases everywhere and military support from dozens of countries.

Nothing of that would be possible otherwise. Ending the US' protection also means taking away a massive piece of global influence the US had and turning into a "normal" country, not one the world seems to revolve around.

That's the trade-off. You can't keep the soft power without having partners who rely on you and are going to have a much, much harder stand in future negotiations.

Also, US military spending goes directly back into the US economy. This is absolutely not the same as paying other countries, it's a hidden, long-running stimulus for the MIC.

Re:Millions are visiting the European Alternatives site––wha... by nodoll on Monday March 24, 2025 @01:38PM (#43463501)
>The military "altruistic" peacekeeping is a major benefit

Sure, but I think they are waking up to the fact that they cannot afford it, at least for now.

>much harder stand in future negotiations.

Well, from what Trump is saying, it seems that US didn't get the better end of a lot of deals, so it seems that it is spending resources for this peacekeeping but not getting any of the benefits in return..

Re:Millions are visiting the European Alternatives site––wha... by piva00 on Tuesday March 25, 2025 @05:57AM (#43469547)
> Well, from what Trump is saying, it seems that US didn't get the better end of a lot of deals

It's funny how you are believing in a known liar to derive any argument from.

Re:Millions are visiting the European Alternatives site––wha... by 0xDEAFBEAD on Monday March 24, 2025 @04:19PM (#43465010)
I don't want to project power globally. I don't want to control world trade. I don't want to have bases everywhere. I don't want to influence everywhere. I'm tired of this empire stuff. We aren't good at being an empire. We suck at it. I want to be a normal country, thanks. I'm tired of foreigners obsessively following our politics, offering their commentary, and resenting us no matter what we do. I want to be normal.

Switzerland is very wealthy without being a global empire. They are well-regarded and have more soft power than the US. Their currency is trusted. No one is telling them they have an obligation to support Ukraine. They have better relations with the EU. Their military is focused on self-defense. We should be more like Switzerland.

>Also, US military spending goes directly back into the US economy. This is absolutely not the same as paying other countries, it's a hidden, long-running stimulus for the MIC.

We could easily spend in a better way which also goes back into the economy -- for example, government healthcare, like Europeans are always bragging they have. Also, I don't want a massive military-industrial complex either. I favor peace.

Re:Millions are visiting the European Alternatives site––wha... by naijaboiler on Tuesday March 25, 2025 @07:13AM (#43469906)
Be careful what you wish for. If US exits that role, it doesn't make that role disappear. Something else will step into it. And we will all have to live in that world. Good luck to us all.
Re:Millions are visiting the European Alternatives site––wha... by 0xDEAFBEAD on Tuesday March 25, 2025 @07:44PM (#43477297)
A unipolar world is not inevitable. We could have a multipolar world with various regional power blocs. If that leads to less war, it's a good thing.