Is America really isolated?
 

People keep saying that the US is growing isolated, but is that true? America may have a more negative image than in past years, but I don't think anyone can say we are "isolated".

People need to understand that negative image does not translate into isolation. The US maybe isolated on certain issues such as the war in Iraq, but as a whole I don't think we are as isolated as eurosocialist and bcbailey want so desperately to believe.

The US and Europe have cooperated quite a bit on terrorism as well as other less prominent issues, despite the less than friendly atmosphere between the two right now.

Now to be sure there are issues between the "world" and the US. They range from the economic to terrorism related issues to the environment. But I thinkwe should keep in mind that each nation has its' own agenda and they don;t automatically aline themselves with us or with another block of nations.

All this talk about the "world" being against us is pure rubbish. They may not agree with cewrtain elements of our policy and they may not evne like our culture, but that doesn't mean that they are necessarily "against us" or that we are isolated from the rest of the planet. Plenty of countries still regard us in well enough esteem that we can repair the damage done by the BA relatively quickly.

Europe-canada and the Middle East, on the otherhand, are going to be ongoing conflicts. Cultural differences between the US and the those regions are rather large right now.

One quality of democracy is to assure that a democratic country will never be that openly isolated. Anytime, a democratic country can claim a deep connection with humanity and start messing in others' public affairs.

The very question is groundless in democracy. Maybe something like "are the democratic us managing to inspire a legitimate support?" or something like that would be more appropriated.

Your being a tad optimistic there, separating the people from your government, I cant think of any international region where US government is popular. As most Americans seem not to care what non Americans think, I cant see any change anytime soon.

I agree to a certain extent. You cannot really seperate the people with the government in democracies. Because if the people does not agree with the policy of the government there are ways and means to change the direction of the government.

So the differences between American and Europe can get a problem if the image of the US in Europe is constantly bad or worsening, because then it could get politically suicidal for a government to openly support the US policy. You could already see in the last German elections how Schroeder put the anti-US policy into his agenda to win votes, as well as in Spain when Aznar could win a lot of votes because of disagreeing with US foreign policy in Iraq.

So in general I think that the US and Europe need each other and cooperate in large fields. Nevertheless the US makes a huge mistake when she thinks that the image of her created abroad does not make a difference. But it does, it influences the public opinion and that does a lot in democracies.

I agree with you (except for the last part, which doesn't make much sense and was already heavily discussed in that other thread you made). It's not us foreigners, it's Bush who said "you're either with us or against us" http://www.uspoliticsonline.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Since we are the only superpower, and can annihilate all other countries on earth if the allied against us, it is reasonable that they should be jealous and want to isolate us. It is lonely at the top. But then, I don’t like being around whiners anyway.

We don't like your arrogance.

America certainly isn't isolated. "The rest of the world" (such a broad term, but I think you know what I mean) simply doesn't like the current governments and basically refuses to go along with its dumb and counterproductive policies. There's a bit of general obstruction and retaliation involved, but that's the usual stuff. There's a lot of low-level cooperation going on that has become so normal that noone hardly notices, and that didn't stop.
Another government will make a fresh start and most things will be back to normal, more or less. The general perception of the ugly american has been strongly vindicated lately, but a bad image won't kill americans (except in the middle east, of course http://www.uspoliticsonline.net/imag...es/biggrin.gif ) and it virtually doesn't count on person-to-person level anyway.

Ask someone who cares.

We heard the same swill when Reagan was President, and he was proven right, just as Bush will be. You Euros are like our libs, a little slow on the uptick.

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall....", while "the world" gasps in horror.

Precisely the reason your country is detested internationally. Good luck travelling outside your borders. Stay home (or wear a Canadian flag on your backpack).

Reagan was a moron who ate jelly beans and fell asleep during meetings. I think his Alzheimers was in full bloom during his presidency. He had NOTHING to do with the demise of the Soviet Union.

We haven't cared for 3 hundred years.

We aren't hated because we don't care, we are hated simply because we are the nation with all the power.

The weaker nations always gang up on the top nation, it never fails.

No, you are looked down upon because you don't travel well. Like the time I was in Shanghai and I heard an American say "I don't like rice - where's the McDonald's?" They were in $%$^%$^% China!

And you say that like it is something new. That is how it has been since the conception of the nation.

If Americans are hated because of that, should we really care what you guys think? I mean really? You all act like this is some high school popularity contest.

Americans live on a continent with 3 nations, 2 of which are practically the same.

It is a far cry from anywhere else in the world, where there are dozens of nations in the neighborhood.

And what exactly is wrong with not liking rice? It doesn't have any taste. Are Americans just supposed to say "Who cares what I like to eat, I mean this European over here told me to shut up and eat it."? And you make it sound as if there aren't any McDonalds in China.

Name me a region where europe is popular?? I don't think their former colonies will view them very favorable.

The EU is less HATED. But I don't think any powerful state is much liked to be honest with you.

You completely missed my point! When in Rome, as a matter of common courtesy, you should do as the Romans do. Why should the rest of the world change for your country's benefit? That's exactly why people resent the US. You can't even get it right with your neighbours next door. Those things can end up biting you in the end.

Europe is pretty popular in Canada, for starters. The most visited country in the world is France. Sounds pretty popular to me.

Come on, canada is basically the north american version of europe.

As for france and the most visited comment. I believe the US STILL draws the most immigrants out of nation in the world. Doesn't sound too hated to me.

Canada is Canada. It's unique. A survey out today (I'll post a separate thread with the link) found that Canada has the number 1 image amongst the world's population when it comes to its system of governance. US was #11. However, Americans opinions of their own country was that they were better than everyone else in every category. We can see this thinking on this very forum.

You are correct about the US having the highest absolute level of immigration but on a per capita basis, Canada is #1 with three times the US per capita rate. The feds have announced a new immigration target of 1% of our population yearly within the next two years, a 40% increase from current levels.

Finally, most people don't hate the US (me included), we just detest the current federal government and US foreign policy in particular, with its unilateralist, unccoperative approach to world affairs.http://www.uspoliticsonline.net/imag...lies/smile.gif