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Debate Info

24
34
No, it keepin the world safe Yes, leave everyone alone
Debate Score:58
Arguments:22
Total Votes:63
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Argument Ratio

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 No, it keepin the world safe (10)
 
 Yes, leave everyone alone (14)

Debate Creator

Tugman(749) pic



Is the United States of America abusing its power?

Should the US stop policing the world and leave other countries alone? Or is it just keeping the world safe

 

I am curious as to what the people on this site think.

No, it keepin the world safe

Side Score: 24
VS.

Yes, leave everyone alone

Side Score: 34
6 points

This is the only subject where I have a lot of strong opinions, without very much fact. So keep in mind this is my opinion, and not based on research or much unbiased fact.

There is a great deal of responsibility that comes with being a developed nation. We have a duty to help others, and I would never advocate that we stand by and let genocides, coups, tyranny and the like ensue all around us. It is in our best interest as a country and is our duty as human beings to help others when we can.

But it is also the government's responsibility to know when they are needed, or even welcome. On that note I would like to remind you that we did enter into war with Iraq under false pretenses, and that was a mistake. I believe, that if we had simply done our best to help them develop a working education system, the war would be over.

Educated Muslums are tolerant of other nations, faiths and even Women's rights. If we had educated the people of the middle east to begin with, they would be more tolerant by now. The 20 somethings fighting the war against us are only being filled with more hate for us, instead of a respect. We now owe them a new country, because we let theirs fall apart.

We also need to help Ethiopia build a Government for Somalia, and help out with many of Africa's other issues. We need to help China, as a developing nation, reduce it's global footprint. We need to help India. we need to help Mexico. We need to work together, as a nation, here so that we can work for everyone else.

Side: No, it keepin the world safe
4 points

I don't agree that a developed nation has the responsibility to help undeveloped nations. It has the responsibility to support itself and not destroy other nations, and that's about it. I think when you start looking at issues like education it's all subjective and ultimately political what you teach. May be the Muslims feel that a liberal education is evil, they have to come to that on their own. I think the best thing to do is to keep trade open so that they can develop their economies naturally.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
3 points

But they don't. They want to be educated. Education is not just the American dream, it's a human dream. And I believe everyone has a right to an education, if they want it.

Side: No, it keepin the world safe
Kinda(1649) Disputed
1 point

I disagree with a few things but understand your overall picture and in general respect it.

Firstly the part about educating muslims. Everybody wants to be educated but they don't want American education. That is the difference. The reason why it would be so difficult to 'educate middle easterns' of whom a vast number are educated is because of the line between education and brainwashing - and I feel you're leaning more towards 'bainwashing' people into thinking like Americans.

I also don't think you have the responsibility of helping China and India in reducing it's carbon footprints. Firstly there's much more work needed in America first and secondly it's their choice to accept help - neither of which the two nations seem to want. However if they ask for help then America can choose whether or not they should.

I do agree with helping or preventing genocides and natural disasters and coups etc.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
Pineapple(1449) Disputed
2 points

I'm not talking about brainwashing, I'm talking about educating.

It is my experience that educated people in general are more accepting of other cultures and more open to at least hearing out others opinions. I've not had a hand in any of these people's educations, I have only had the pleasure of meeting them.

And of course it is our responsibility to help China and India and all* third world country's reduce their footprints! Why? Because we all breath the same air and drink the same water. Developing countries are some of, if not, the most polluting countries. It is our duty to help them reduce their emissions, not just to save them, but to save ourselves.

Side: No, it keepin the world safe

Funny that this debate is up. Just this morning I was thinking, why doesn't the U.S. just establish a world government? The planet seems to want/need a world government so if a world government is going to happen, we might as well be in control of it ;)

Side: No, it keepin the world safe
1 point

I think fighting terrorists would be considered keeping the world safe.

The United States is a super power. If we didn't help those in need, we would be blamed for their misfortunes. When we do help those in need, we are blamed for everything that happens afterward. We cannot win.

Side: No, it keepin the world safe

the use of the un is to protect the world and keep peace and who do you think the PK soldiers are? thats right american besides as a powerful nation we should help others

Side: No, it keepin the world safe
garry77777(1796) Disputed
1 point

"thats right american besides as a powerful nation we should help others"

I can assure you my friend that america has done very very little to help others and a whole lot that has hurt others, for instance, 1.2million Iraqis have been killed in combat operations since the US illegally invaded in 2004.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
0 points

the only reason i choose this is because americas keeping the markets up (before the ressicion) because if america gos under so does the world and i dislike most americans i meeet (not all) because all ive every got off them is abuse and if you want to have a go at me fine but at the end of the day it will just make it worse, and dont go on about all the world war 2 rubbish yes you helped but it was a team effort from all countrys.

Side: No, it keepin the world safe
9 points

I think the intentions of the American government are very different from those of the American people.

What I love about most American people is that they are very earnest, they usually want to help in all sincerity. The government however, hides all its true intentions and motives behind that mask. Lately, the people are clicking onto the fact that their government is not acting in all honesty :o)

Whatever the case however, I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the way they intervene.

Let me give you an example/parallel. Have you seen a show called "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"? This show basically picks a family, usually one with a tragic/dramatic story, sends it away to Disneyland for a week, and in that time the show demolishes their house and builds them a new 10 times bigger kick ass super duper house with a room the size of a football pitch for every member. The family comes back and everybody sheds tears of happiness and joy because they are overwhelmed by the gift. As the show leaves them, the family waves us goodbye as they live happily ever after. :o)

On the face of it, this is great. But is that how life works? Has the family really earned it? Wouldn't it be better if the parents got help with their qualifications, more information on how to get a better job, more education on how money works, and thus allow the family to slowly earn the money needed for the bigger house? Wouldn't that be better? Not only would they have the bigger house, they would be able to sustain it better, or even build it again if it got ruined, cause they posses the power and knowledge to do it.

You cannot resolve someone's problems by going there and sorting things out for them. The rest of the world had to spill blood to earn their democracy, which is why they value it so much. Why should these developing countries have it easier? Why should we give it to them on a plate? Why kill their dictators for them? Let them kill them themselves, that way they won't ever allow it to happen again.

The only responsibility the developed world has towards the underdeveloped world is the sharing of resources, and information.

Otherwise, there are many poor and underprivileged people in the "developed" world that could use the billions spent overseas...

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
4 points

I think this is an interesting argument that has a lot of merit. For one thing if we try and help and we botch it up then we are the bad guys. The founders warned about foreign entanglements.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
sirius(367) Disputed
1 point

"Wouldn't it be better if the parents got help with their qualifications, more information on how to get a better job, more education on how money works, and thus allow the family to slowly earn the money needed for the bigger house?"- not only do those houses probably cost over a million dollars each, but it would take the family decades to earn enough money to build it. Even if they do get a steady job, do you really think that they would be lucky enough to actually get a job that pays enough to earn the money they need for the house? Most people can't afford the houses they build, the chances of those people getting jobs that could pay for that house are almost nothing.

"The rest of the world had to spill blood to earn their democracy, which is why they value it so much. Why should these developing countries have it easier? Why should we give it to them on a plate? Why kill their dictators for them? Let them kill them themselves, that way they won't ever allow it to happen again."- okay, so lets just leave the developing countries of north africa to fend for themselves and see what happens. Some of them have been constantly killing each other in coup d'etats and it has brought them nowhere. Also, canada didn't have to spill its blood for democracy.

I don't see how we are abusing our power by killing terrorists....

Side: No, it keepin the world safe

I cannot go so far as to say "Leave everyone alone" but I can agree that the USA has its nose in too many affairs of other countries. I understand that to the Government a Democratic state of affairs is the way to go but why should others have to do that if they wish not to? Let them live the way they wish to and let it be! Try and have a bit more understanding for other ways of life and not try to change them.

If we are threatened, that's another story but the good old U.S.A. has it's long nose where it doesn't belong many times over again. They mean to give off a We're Protecting the World look but it really comes down to they're protecting no one's interests but their own. I think that's pretty sad and anyone who cannot see past the facade is a bit sad too.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
2 points

I'd like to see the US just focus on itself for a little bit. The world does not want our help, and I mean that sincerely. It may be that they find us not being there a terrible thing, and they might want us to come back and help out later, but it is also a possibility that other countries needing to fend for themselves will strengthen them and also strengthen any changes or victories accomplished, because the countries have done it themselves, not with the aid of the global superpower world police.

This could give the United States a chance to fix its own problems and spend tax dollars on the people that paid them. Let the world deal with its own problems or let someone else be hated for stepping in.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
1 point

We have enough problems in our own country. Why would we want to start new ones in others.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
1 point

There is no such thing as altruism in the international stage. Every action we take is ultimately for self-interest. Read up on history. And no, not the books assigned in your STATE-CONTROLLED "education."

Noam Chomsky- Hegemony or Survival : America's Quest for Global Dominance

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone

They are today, and have been for decades. That's all there is to it.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
1 point

Yes, we are the most powerful country on the planet, but we are overextending ourselves. We should keep to ourselves and become even more powerful!

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone

After WWI, Americans travelled the world acting as though they owned everything. I think they liked that feeling of superiority, even though they say that all men are created equal. What gives them the right to meddle in everybody else's affairs? If they are attacked, let them attack. If they are trying to intimidate people who are of no threat to them, then they are, indeed abusing power.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone
1 point

it had been abusing its power ever since world war 2. if it didnt abuse power, it simply wouldnt be america. i was watching the news today, and there was a sick baby who needed an operation that could only be done overseas, and the baby was not allowed to leave haiti because the u.s. military wouldnt allow it. the u.s military said that the baby could not leave haiti because it had "no papers". i dont even know why the u.s. is in haiti saying who can leave and stay. it is not their country, and they should not have a say.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone

In a non biased way, yes the Government is abusing its power. Based upon all other arguments for this side of the discussion the Government is acting for its own purposes under the veil of another. It would seem the people of America actually want to help though when the Government helps they change the intentions to fit their own.

Side: Yes, leave everyone alone