From:	Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Flame re; FASA world view
Date:	Fri, 8 Nov 1996 13:27:21 +1000

> How can you say that America got left with the best vision
> of the future from FASA? Or that it is the only remaining
> superpower in 2057? I was downright pissed to see how the
> US had fragmented, how pitifully inneffectual it had become
> and how much less of a world power it had become.

You know, this is probably going to annoy you greatly, but it gratified
me immensely to see America taken down a peg or two. Pitifully
ineffectual pleases me greatly, and makes a lot of sense Take a look at
any of these examples relating to current world culture and power dominance;

-The USSR at the moment
-Germany immediately after either of the world wars
-Britain for the last one hundred years
-France for the last two hundred years
-Portugal for the last three hundred year
-The Vikings for the last 1000 years
-The Egyptian for the last two millenia

All of these cultures ruled what was considered their world at one time
or another, or at least had a big part in fighting over it. Now they are
bit players in the scheme of things, with the exception of Germany.

There are plenty of other examples I could use, but I'd bore you stupid.
What makes you so god-damned sure that America will still be a world
power in twenty years, let alone sixty?

No culture stay on top of pile for ever, and historically the rate of
turnover of dominance has been increasing (related to population growth
throughout the ages) What happens when China starts to industrialise,
or When India manages to do something about their underclass? God forbid.

Even further in the future, what happens when Africa gets to the top of the
pile? By that time they'll have increased their population relative to
yours by a factor of ten. With that kind of population, they don't even
have to reach the 'top'... Force of numbers will take care of it.

The general egocentricity of believing that America will still be in
command is unbelievable..... I'm not even accounting for the destructive
events in the world timeline. Those kind of global catastrophes tend to
hurt those at the top the most.

You may not know it, but America has quite a bad reputation worldwide,
not the least because you are so righteous about how fantastic your own
country is and how the rest of the world are second class countries.
It's not something you decry loudly, but it shows in your cultures general
arrogance, intolerance and ignorance of other cultures.

(Please do keep in mind that I said your culture, not you personally)

It's a standing joke that if you want to survive as a tourist, you don't
carry an American passport; They make the best hostages, and no-one
cares if you kill one or a dozen.... With the exception of that great holy
avenger America.

My advice regarding the fragmentation of America; Deal with it.

> Basically, FASA has set things up so that no one government
> fits the 1980s description of a superpower, ala USA or USSR.
> The Big 8 megacorps run roughshod over everyone.
> Governments, while many still retain a lot of power and
> influence, are nowhere near what they are in 1996.
>
Which is something that I agree with totally..... the Big Eight won't
stay at the top for ever either, not least of which due to the
reallocation of shares due to Dunzlezahn's death.


Enjoy.

Bleach