Puzzle of historical interest....

[Tool-Slinger]

I was watching the "Ten Commandments" yesterday and a thought struck me. Ethiopia was paying a 'tribute' to Egypt. From my reading I know the romans did the same thing, basically took 'tribute' from outlying nations that they did not have actual control over.

Basically, the tribute is protection money. You will not be attacked. That is pretty raw diplomacy, but that is how things have worked for thousands of years.

Today we are giving tribute the other way around. We are giving money to all sorts of nations and many of them are not working in our own interest. What gives? If we are the ones paying tribute, are we not the ones conquered?

[newoldtech]

Interesting way to look at it.

Back in the ancient days alot of those countries lived in fear of being attacked by countries like Egypt and Rome, so they paid. Nowadays we cant attack everyone, oh though it seems at times we'd like to, so instead we try and buy their friendship and support. I dont think it works really well but its probably better than invading the whole world. And by the way the Ten commandments is an old movie things have changed since then. :grin2:

[Space Racer]

Nah...
We're more like Hewlett Packard, giving away free printers so they'll buy our ink.

[coolwhip]

We are paying countries so the pretend to be our friends. Such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, Pakistan and some Northern European countries along the boarder area of Russia.

None are our friends.

[royc]

We are paying countries so the pretend to be our friends. Such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, Pakistan and some Northern European countries along the boarder area of Russia.

None are our friends.

Its called ....Bribery.


Roy

[scrogdog]

Exactly, Roy.

Problem is, we also give our money to the federal government so they can bribe us with that selfsame money... and we think it's ok!

The ability to bribe state governments to follow is one of the things that give them power.

Which they abuse.

With our money.

[Tool-Slinger]

US territories pay taxes to the US but have little to say about the federal governing. Is that close to a 'tribute'? I wonder what a puerto rican would think.

I am not real familiar with territory relations, the thought just occurred to me.

[tunnel_rat]

A gov't w/o money is like a crack head without his fix. If they're not paying someone off, or extorting money from some other bunch, they just don't feel right. They need to be constantly reminded that they are OUR employees, not our frikkin' masters.

[Gib's Son]

A gov't w/o money is like a crack head without his fix.


I like this....mind if I use it?

[Tool-Slinger]

Okay here is another one:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-15/north-korea-s-kim-says-his-regime-can-t-be-blackmailed.html

N Korea, we give them TONS of aid. CLEARLY NOT buying friendship in this case, just buying off trouble.

I have no profound point to be made, I am just puzzled. I am sure there is something here on topic [perhaps pretty big] but I am just not able to put my finger on it. This idea has been bothering me for a while. The current political interactions are out of sync with historically known standards. Something is wrong here, I don't know what it is.

In this example, we are actually paying tribute to a confirmed enemy. China indirect?

I am not diminishing previous points made either, I figure they all add up to something and each case has to be examined individually.

[newoldtech]

Okay here is another one:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-15/north-korea-s-kim-says-his-regime-can-t-be-blackmailed.html

N Korea, we give them TONS of aid. CLEARLY NOT buying friendship in this case, just buying off trouble.

I have no profound point to be made, I am just puzzled. I am sure there is something here on topic [perhaps pretty big] but I am just not able to put my finger on it. This idea has been bothering me for a while. The current political interactions are out of sync with historically known standards. Something is wrong here, I don't know what it is.

In this example, we are actually paying tribute to a confirmed enemy. China indirect?

I am not diminishing previous points made either, I figure they all add up to something and each case has to be examined individually.


Buying friendship or buying off trouble is basically the samething. Few countries if any are really our friends. It just for the most part comes down to common interests most of the time.

If it were the old days, America would truly of dominated the world by now. In the old days you didn't worry about collateral damage, stategic strikes, being politically correct. You just kicked ass when needed. Its not easy to fight for your interests when you do it with one hand tied behind your back. So, with all the complications involved with a physical war, TPTB figure they might be able to just spread a little cash around and maybe get a little cooperation for it. No easy answers and America has definetely been weakened by the whole process IMO.

[tunnel_rat]

I like this....mind if I use it?

Be my guest......:grin2: