Many Americans on PARD and elsewhere often come back to the argument that America is defending "democracies", or "free countries". Or that invading a democracy is worse than invading another kind of regime.
For example, invading Iraq is not like invading Ukraine because Ukraine is a "democracy" (according to some).

Such a line of thought is often used behind a veil of political pragmatism and rational strategic calculus.
Other times the same line of thought is employed ideologically, that somehow America is doing "good" by helping "democracies".

Most American posters here have at least some idea about modern history, about how things work in the real world etc...
Most of you know that the American administration, driven by self-interest, has overthrown democracies, and supported brutal repressive regimes. There is no need to get into examples.

My question is, how come the argument for "democracies" is used so often by people who know better?
I can understand the MSM talking points to the masses... but hearing it from the more intellectually literate triggers my bullshitometer.

What is the deal?
Is it a rationalization for the idealists?
Is it a useful lie for the pragmatist that gets repeated as a patriotic initiative?
Am I missing something that hopefully will be pointed out?

I would really like to understand this case of well-informed people repeating something that does not make sense.

This post was edited by Lebanon961 on Mar 11 2022 05:25am

let me quote myself from this post ( https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=92636297&f=119&p=606581624 ):

You "only" have 2 posts and joined yesterday, so I'm not sure you're qualified to assess what "most posters here" think.

I lurk PaRD occasionally and read. While I was never an active poster in this section, I've forgotten the password to my old d2jsp account. It would be great if I was able to recover it.
Apologies if that was presumptuous of me.

Wandavisionwink.gif

Well, I see it like this. American imperialism is a good thing, by default. America is also getting more and more dirty as the years go on. I think we didn’t go hard enough. I’m against proxy wars. Either it’s war or it’s not. Winners and losers or we’re just spending money and blood. Now the Middle East is a violent, poor, area run by essentially gangs. Women are murdered for stuff like, driving, walking outside alone, yknow, basic human rights. Dunno why we stayed dunno why we left. Shoulda leveled the place and started fresh. Either take over or stay out imo. Either let them be dictators or don’t.

Sounds nice to support Ukrainians. Dunno jack about the place. Sounds like America wants it both ways and for that I blame the politicians. Democrats say never let a crisis go to waste. Republicans say, I dunno anymore even, probably something something freedom and liberation. I will also say nothing anyone is doing to Putin matters. After President Biden and his cohorts sent Covid patients to nursing homes which killed a bunch of elderly it’s really hard to stand on a moral high ground. I trust none of em.

Now don’t forget as an American the whole world wants to steal my money over the phone, multiple times per day. At the same time a lot of the world is silently happy that we have nukes to keep the world in check. I would like to believe that most Americans like most people just want to do honest work, pay their bills, maybe have a kid or two and not trample over anyone else to do it. I think in general democratic areas are more receptive to change and less likely to brutalize their own population so we can treat them differently and that makes sense. We should as a country, mind our own business or if we are going to go all the way take over and establish something new. Again I blame the politicians and the companies that pay them. You can always follow the money of coldhearted opportunists to see what real power plays are being done.

Posts: 3
Joined: Mar 10 2022

a lot of people pretend to be American, no idea why though.

America is a great nation, the greatest in fact. And so we want to bring our greatness to other nations. First we invade, then we bring in McDonalds and KFC. I realize we killed you dad in a carpet bombing but try the extra crispy, your tears will change to that of joy once you dip that skin in brown gravy young lad.

The nail that sticks up get hammered.