From: dleblanc@kub.nl (David Leblanc)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa,soc.culture.canada
Subject: Re: Canada and the U.S.
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:56:08 GMT
Organization: Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

In article <1992Apr14.145443.636@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> cthorne@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Charles E Thorne) writes:
#In article <anne.703194796@menaik> anne@cs.UAlberta.CA (Anne J.R. Nield) writes:
#>If the US consistently defended "freedom" and "democracy" one could
#>be a little more sympathetic to the Not-so New-World-Order.
#>Unfortunately, they have a nasty habit of supporting whoever and
#>whatever appears to be of use to them at the moment -- with 
#>a convenient disregard for the fact that many of these people/
#>governments qualify as repressive, dictatorial, fascist, and a
#>number of other not so worthy descriptions.  
#
#Although we do support some government's which we really don't approve
#of, in many instances the other extreme might be even worse.  Exactly
#who are you comparing the U.S. to--the former Soviet Union, PRC, the
#British Empire?

The "we only support dictators who would be better than other
dictators" line sounds great, but is not true in the history of the
US. The support of Samoza and Marcos was definately supporting the
worst of the options available (two recent examples). Then there's the
overthrowing of democratically elected governments in favour of
US-backed dictators, as in Iran and Chile (again, two recent
examples). The only consistent factor one can find in US support and
intervention in other countries is that the US supports any government
which aligns itself with US strategic interest (corporate or
military), regardless of their commitment to democracy and human
rights (or lack thereof). 

#>And watching the tirades of anti-Japan bashing shown on shows
#>like "60 Minutes" is NOT encouraging; not the sort of behavior one
#>relishes in "friends".
#
#Although I don't agree with Japanese bashing, we have allowed Japan to
#trade freely in the U.S. for the last 40 years with no reciprocity.  Now
#that our deficits are running in the 100's of billions per year (for the
#last 10 years, we need to get some trade concessions with other countries.

I just can't figure out this idea everyone has that if Japan would
just open its borders to imports all the trade problems would be
solved. I mean, come on, how in the world do you expect Japan to
consume as many US products as the US does Japanese - the country is a
fraction of the size of the US. There's simply no way that free trade
between the two countries would help the trade deficit - it would
probably increase it as the Japanese would not be bound by the export
restrictions they impose on themselves (for fear of provoking
protectionist sentiment). This fact seems to be clearly expressed by
the US auto manufacturers - they're fighting for import restrictions
on Japanese cars. Yeah, they pay lip-service to the free-trade
concept, but ask any of them what they've done to try and penetrate
the Japanese market. Hell, they're so disinterested in that market
that they won't even put the steering wheel on the correct side of the
car in an effort to increase sales.

#After all, we're more open than either Japan or Western Europe WRT to
#immigrants.  

True. Has little to do with the discussion, but true. Of course, this
is a result of the US having a hell of a lot more room than the
Europeans or the Japanese.

#Presently the U.S. population is over 1/3 non-white (African, Asian and
#Hispanic) and unlike Japan, who don't permit other Asian immigrants to vote,
#most of our immigrants do eventually choose to become citizens

Yup, Japan's treatment of Koreans (and other immigrants in general) is
pretty shabby. But, where in the UN human-rights convention does it
state the inalianable right to immigrate?

#Western Europe as well doesn't allow their former workers to become citizens
#unless they're European by birth.

Totally false. Germany has a bad rap for giving Turks temporary work
permits and then booting them out of the country before they qualify
for citizenship, but this is the exception. Every European country I
know (admittedly not all of them) has a set time one must live and  
work in the country before getting citizenship. After that, it's 
mainly a formality

As for not allowing former colonials in (which you raised in another
post), well, again, there's no such thing as a right to immigrate. And
I wouldn't throw too many stones in this area if I were you - the US
doesn't have an open-door policy with regards to the Phillipines or
many central american countries that were formally US colonies.

David LeBlanc

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa