Old Hippie Posted October 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Well yea, I agree, not US bashing at all, I am just trying to stimulate an untellectual conversation (nose in the air! ). But the question was asked, "what is the US Gov doing about it all?" So My point is, it should not just be the US Gov sticking its nose inalone, in Burma or anywhere for that matter... Should be a world effort... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 No one shuld stick their nose into Burma. Let them tend to their own affairs. If US is so free, why can't I travel to Cuba, Libya and have restrictions to other places? US has a lot in common with Burma. The one party system: Republican. There is Republican Congress, Executive and Judicial branches. What a mess the first Bush election was. Bush was installed by the Supreme Court, not the people. The majority voted for Gore. Kerry lost because he ws sandbagged by hate radio, which is brainwashing Millions, with Republican talking points, supported by corporate organizations. The Democrats have a small chance, as time goes on. What about having a viable Liberal, Socialist, Communist, Labor, Conservative party, etc? They can't exist under our Constitution. A third party has never won a Presidential election since Lincoln. And look what happened to him. It is statistically impossible for a 3d party to win, with the ridiculus Electoral college, who can install whoever they want. There's no other country on earth with a Supreme Court, all unelected, can change and make laws JFK, Robert Kennedy Martin Luther King were assasinated. By some coincidence, JFK Jr. and Paul Wellstone died in small plane crashes. So let's not brag about freedom in US. Yangon is bright and clean and green with no air pollution. They have a mass transit system. Buses. They can take folks into the suburbs and around town. Very little traffic jams or innumerable cars belching out exhaust.. They used to have real old funky buses but now have a lot of used Japanese models. The Chinese are completing a new bridge over a major route. I walked around some dark streets and felt safe. Mandalay has new apartment buildings, on the east side, near the train station. There's a brand new airport. Overall the country is progressing into a modern age. The people look happier than the ones I see in US. They probably aren't in the credit crunch, up to their eyeballs. Meanwhile, despite Bush & Co trying to discourage travel to Burma, the new terminal is jammed with tourists, There's more flights than ever to Burma and hotels should be booked in advance. The hotel I stayed last time was booked solid. You must book domestic flights early. There's as much freedom in Burma as most up and coming third world nations. I like it there and will go back with my greenbacks. Bush can kiss my ass in Times Square. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted October 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 "...Meanwhile, despite Bush & Co trying to discourage travel to Burma..." Means I have to book a trip, been to Cuba BTW...er ah I mean...I hear Cuba is nice... "...Bush can kiss my ass in Times Square..." He probably would he has no shame... I have to agree about the electorial collage and the supreame court...sucky system...common sense would have said "this is what/who the people want...so he's in..." Frankly, I can't see this shit head party being "re elected" again, but well we will have to see... I agree, hands off Burma. And the rest of the world as well...time to fix what's broken at home first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 jessejames said: If US is so free, why can't I travel to Cuba, Libya and have restrictions to other places? One of my university profs would sometimes go on about this very thing. He would say that the government could tell you that if you went to certain countries against their advice, then you were on your own. If you got into trouble, tough titty. But the government had no business telling people they could not go to a country! p.s. He was a brilliant prof ... an Austrian Jew who had fled his own homeland with his parents when the Nazis marched in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 The main thing is, nobody gives a rat's ass about the burmese people. Seemed they did for south african blacks (1) (which means that sanctions and pressure do work, as long as neigbouring countries join the dance), so it's pick and choose, not every human life is equal to another, is what it all means. We knew that :: BTW, Bush did not start the no-trade, Clinton did. No matter as imperfect it was implemented, it was important as a sign of recognition of the dire political ansd human situation of this country. About the chinese, whatever would have happened, Burma would still be in their garden, so to speak. The chinese can deal equally with the junta, or a less dictatorial regime, to their advantage. No one can ignore them. Trade and exchanges that would have gone thru the hands of the junta, would have done little to improving the situation of the people. Proof is, they did happen, and any change in Burma did not come thru that trade. But since the border territories have been making deals with the junta, and stopped warring, save one faction/ethny I believe (karens?), international aid, local money (a lot from drug trade) and commerce from China trickles directly into it. That's how the new road from mae sai to kentgung was built, money did not pass by Yangoon. Anyone visiting Mandalay can see private business is going exponential, cash is flowing, except that the infrastructure is still in the decisional hands of the junta, Mandalay being clearly a non-tribal area, and controlled by yangoon. and they won't put any money into roads and communication network. Talk to the burmese, they will tell you that very little improvement has been done by the generals, but mostly thru international aid and foreign interests. (1) Bishop Tutu had a line about this: "Burma is the South Africa of the 90's". And a bit longer..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickfarang Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 The U.S. will not create a great problem for Burma because there is no oil there. The C. Rice (whom I once respected) will, however, lean on them to bend toward democracy because (I believe) Bush received a devine mandate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya127 Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 well, there is no oil in Israel, not much from South-A either, Ukraine or Kosovo, to name a few. I mean, Reasons are a bit more lobby and geo-politics related than just oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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