a fair point. I am conscious that we dont have alot of dissenting voices (for a variety of reasons - banned, suspended, throwing toys out of pram etc) so I will step in and say:

Germany is intrinsically linked with the United states, and so are most western countries. There was a video posted a few weeks ago by me relating to Australia's strategic decision to buy Nuclear submarines from America, AUKUS, and the "threat" posed by China. The video put forward the proposition that either Australia would do this (for the US) or it would become the enemy of the US. That ship has effectively sailed, and it sailed a long time ago for Germany. To my mind it would be more correct to state that Western countries (inc Australia here) enjoy far more freedoms and standards of living then non western countries but that there is a cost to this freedom, which unfortunately at this time is coming home to roost.

For all of the railings against the limitations of the forms of democracy that exist in western society there is an argument that it is a better model then the alternatives.

This post was edited by ferdia on Apr 12 2023 10:27am

Yes I agree with all of this, but with regard to the bolded part, the population of a country enjoying more freedoms and standards of living does not mean a country is independent and free.

It is not the case that being a vassal state means you live in some dystopian hell, on the contrary it has many benefits, a country that is a vassal to the dominant power in any era will enjoy a lot of benefits of that dominant power while still maintaining some internal autonomy.

In reply to your edit, it may be a better system than any that have come before it but that doesn't mean it can't be improved and I think it is a trap to think that what we as westerners are the pinnacle of humanity, that there is nowhere left to go from here.

This post was edited by DizzyBusiness on Apr 12 2023 11:17am

yes to that. while the word vassal sounds horrible, you are under an umbrella of protection against the rain.

Until that dominant power decides to go on an offensive with another up and coming supposedly, potentially " dominant " power. When that happens , the said vassal state will be stripped of all benefits in order to satisfy his big brother which include making decisions on trade, culture , military etc etc.
The impact of the vassal's state economical situation and the lives of the citizen are being stripped bare. All political fractions and government have to listen, toe the line or bear the consequence of being interfered with and replace by the opposition.

And this will continue until the superior state says so or deem it fit with no regards to what happens to the client state.
Australia is such a case under the Morrison government. It was rather extreme during that particular period.



You just got pissed on by Eld'ed Storm Shield Hammerdin on another thread. Don't bother with BM PVPers . Nobody like them.

This post was edited by Hamsterbaby on Apr 12 2023 11:23am

100%

That is the very big downside of not being independent



It seems quite harsh but I think it is an accurate term to use, check out Hamsters reply, he breaks down the downsides very well

This post was edited by DizzyBusiness on Apr 12 2023 11:25am

This was an amazing book for everyone interested in politics which described how LKY managed his way around geopolitics and made Singapore what it is today.

Eg story about how they got independent from Malaysia. Struggles within his PAP party. British pulling out west of Suez which made them vulnerable to potentially being taken over by neighbour, etc.

This post was edited by Malopox on Apr 12 2023 12:20pm

I am sure will enjoy this book.

You clearly believe that the US can do whatever they please to protect / further their interests but you cry foul when other countries do the same thing...

Nazi Nato has to stop its invasion and its war crimes right ? Who's a foul now.

Did you even read what I said?? Go follow a fucking English course