[Gurgle]

Originally Posted by The Corinthian

The democratic peace theory would argue that democracies don't go to war with each other, ergo it is logical to fear undemocratic countries that may do so.

I don't buy this.
In a 'perfect' free speech democracy, the people who end up running the show are the ones who tell the majority what they want to hear. This is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

Originally Posted by paky

When the worlds supply of oil becomes scarce, countries in the middle east will become increasingly wealthy making them more influencial on the political scene. As the west becomes more dependant on the middle east for oil, the middle east will be in a position where they can dictate to the west how they should live.

I don't think oil will be the civilization killer, that time has passed. Up to the early 90s, the modern world had a worrying dependency on the middle east but now if the supply was cut off we could recover pretty quickly (i.e. a decade or two) with rapid scale up of renewables and nuclear.

Also, the OPEC nations are already very rich but with empire grade separation of rich and poor.

Religion is used as a tool to keep the poor down, just as it was in Europe in previous centuries. The poor are expected to follow the rules of Islam and abhor western decadence, while the rich and powerful live in as much decadence an they can cram into their mansions.

Cheap labour in the east is the lynchpin that allows us to continue to live as we do. As their standard of living improves, the relative cost of the goods and services we source from there goes up proportionally.

The way things are going, all of Asia will be first world within 20 years. South America could potentially beat them to it, depending on politics. Then we're left with Africa to manufacture all the toys we're accustomed to playing with.

[The Corinthian]

Originally Posted by Gurgle

I don't buy this.

This is why I said it is a debatable theory, which in turn is the only reason I can think of why someone might believe that countries that lack freedom of speech may be a threat to our (Western) society. In other words, I was agreeing with you that such a belief is more a product of propaganda than reason.

If I were to suggest a 'rot' in Western society, it's that we've become pretty decadent. When you start hearing social groups arguing that people have a basic human right to the Internet or to a PlayStation, it doesn't take much imagination as to how we'll fare should some catastrophe befall us.

[Gurgle]

Originally Posted by The Corinthian

This is why I said it is a debatable theory

I wasn't arguing with your point, I was adding to it.

Originally Posted by The Corinthian

When you start hearing social groups arguing that people have a basic human right to the Internet or to a PlayStation, it doesn't take much imagination as to how we'll fare should some catastrophe befall us.

At least we can be sure we'll have something to eat... tender, juicy spit-roasted keyboard warrior