Art Pearl Against the World

The United States has the biggest, the most technically advanced and the most expensive military this world has ever kinown. That much military may be far more than we need to adequately defend against any real or imagined threats, that much military may not only not protect us, it may actually threaten our security. This is how we stack up Rest of the World $500 billion 2004 est. United States       $623 billion FY08 budget China                   $ 65.0 billion 2004 Russia                  $ 50.0 billion France                 $ 45.0 billion 2005 United Kingdom      $ 42.8 billion 2005 est. Japan                   $ 41.75 billion 2007 Germany              $ 35.1 billion 2003 Italy                     $ 28.2 billion 2003 South Korea         $ 21.1 billion 2003 est. Source: Global Security.org other sources differ in detail but not in substance. All agree US spends at least 8 times more than any other country spends There are at least four good reasons wh...

Professor Higgins, sexist as he was, wondered, “Why can’t a women be like a man?” I, great patriot as I am, wonder “Why can’t China be like us.” I fervently believe that the whole world would be very much happier if every country was exactly like the United States of America. Just think how wonderful it would be if everywhere you went it would be just like not leaving home. Imagine a McDonalds there, a Starbucks here (that is one still open for business) a Wal-Mart right around the corner, nothing could be cozier. China does have McDonalds and other good stuff, but that doesn’t make China like us, no siree. You see, with the Olympics just about to commence the Chinese government has issued an order to all foreign owned hotels (private enterprises) that they are to install monitoring devices and spy on their guests or face “severe consequences.” This has got Sam Brownback up in arms. And he would like Congress and the President to do something about it. This is pretty damn serious. If w...