Chinese Entrepeneurs in Egypt

Originally posted by no1marauder
Our rich folks want unfettered access to the wealth and resources of other people's lands. Can't do that without hired guns. It's cheaper for them to spread the cost around to the People rather than hire mercenaries.

I'm not so sure that it can be blamed on rich folks. The political class of both parties love all the military toys, and seem to take advantage of every chance to use them.

The rich folks are referred to as the 1%. How do they hold the political clout to overrule the other 99%?

Originally posted by normbenign
That may be true of every world power in history. What ever happened to keeping out of foreign entanglements. Why can't we just mind our own business?

American prosperity in the postwar era has surely been substantially dependent on its being at the heart of an international economic system premised on (relatively) free trade - including the dollar's role as the world's reserve currency. Isn't there a contradiction between a belief in free trade and a belief in isolationism? Isolationism means, surely, autarky.

Originally posted by normbenign
I'm not so sure that it can be blamed on rich folks. The political class of both parties love all the military toys, and seem to take advantage of every chance to use them.

The rich folks are referred to as the 1%. How do they hold the political clout to overrule the other 99%?

Don't have to overrule them; just rule them.

Originally posted by Teinosuke
American prosperity in the postwar era has surely been substantially dependent on its being at the heart of an international economic system premised on (relatively) free trade - including the dollar's role as the world's reserve currency. Isn't there a contradiction between a belief in free trade and a belief in isolationism? Isolationism means, surely, autarky.

Why does a belief in free trade automatically include a belief in foreign military adventures?

Originally posted by no1marauder
Why does a belief in free trade automatically include a belief in foreign military adventures?

It doesn't automatically do so; but when a nation's prosperity is dependent on a complex international system, it may make foreign military adventures more likely. If events abroad threaten to undermine that system, action is likely to be taken.

Originally posted by no1marauder
Why does a belief in free trade automatically include a belief in foreign military adventures?

You tell me. Why does it always prove to do so? Theoretically, it doesn't have to... but it invariably turns out that way.

Originally posted by no1marauder
Why does a belief in free trade automatically include a belief in foreign military adventures?

Contracts need to be enforced