From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Tue Apr 01 2003 - 18:32:50 MST
Charles writes
> MaxPlumm@aol.com wrote:
>
> > That some people have absolutely nothing positive to say of the United
> > States is deplorable. The freedoms that each and every human enjoys on this
> > planet (those fortunate enough to enjoy some) can all be attributed to some
> > degree to the United States. Yet some insist that merely because the US (or
> > any other country) is powerful and in a dominant world position, than it is
> > bad, or "might makes wrong", in huMania's words. This position too is not
> > acceptable in any form to many on this list, and the record of the United
> > States as compared to other major world powers, most notably the Soviet Union
> > or Nazi Germany, is a necessary part of illustrating why the position of
> > "might makes wrong" is not appropriate in all cases.
>
> And yet... might does make wrong. Monopolies are justly forbidden from
> activities that non-monopolists engage in without (much) censure for
> just that reason.
The whole issue of exactly how undesirable are economic monopolies
is a quite difficult question. Some are very beneficial, it has
seemed. As for monopolies in international *power*, my own guess
is that it doesn't make much difference provided that the monopoly
holders are Western democracies.
> This isn't intended to be understood as an assertion
> that anyone sufficiently strong must be wrong, but
> merely that it is reasonable to require [ask for!]
> extra restraint from them. It is reasonable that
> they be given extra scrutiny.
I agree.
So while I cannot go along with the hypothesized "might makes wrong",
the more intriguing variation on this wordplay is:
Right Makes Might
I can't remember where I've read this recently, but if we think
of "right" as meaning justice for all, and by justice we mean
protection of private property and strong protection of individual
rights, then the logic works like this:
An economy or society that treasures individual and property rights,
as did Great Britain from 1700 to 1870, or the U.S. from its
inception to the present, (relative to other countries, at least),
generates more economic power than do competing countries.
This greatly expanded economic power results in the democracy in
question, even without a militaristic culture, being able to
simply overwhelm its adversaries in time of war. Ever since 1846,
that has been the entire explanation of the success of the armed
forces of the United States. I think that a lot can be said for
the thesis that right makes might.
If Europe were only to cast off the rest of its socialism, the
way that China is starting to do, then I have no doubt that
the U.S.'s role as sole superpower would be short-lived. But
of course, that would mean no more eight-week vacations, no
more social safety nets, no more high absenteeism from work,
and vastly weaker unions. Nah, forget it. The Europeans
will never rise again.
Lee
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