From: Charles Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Thu Dec 12 2002 - 11:02:49 MST
Lee Corbin wrote:
>... Pax Americana complete in most respects.
>
>Q. But that didn't happen. Why?
>
>A. Dunno, exactly.
>
>Lee
>
Hypothesis:
It's because the US is primarily a commercial empire, and only
secondarily a military one. The commercial parts of the US empire have
already begun sweeping in the rest of the world. (See the WTO, etc.
Also McDonalds.)
And there's just not that much money in destroying someone. Especially
when you can buy them, and turn a profit. Also, since this commercial
group is a large oligarchy, foreign firms are welcome to join, provided
they play by the rules. Which can be difficult, as they aren't written
anywhere, but one of them appears to be "squeeze your customers and
employees for every possible dime". The rules don't appear to penalize
fraud by corporations, or extortion by corporation, or ... well, any of
numerous activities provided that 1) it makes money, and 2) the
perpetrator is a corporation.
And, I will admit, that even this is an oversimplification, and that the
actuality is much more complex. But destructive as it is, the corporate
empire doesn't yet come close to a war. Even a "conventional" one.
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