[marta_morena_25]

"I wish that wasn't the case, but as long as there exist major powers that challenge the United States and our allies the all-domain arms race will never end."

LOL there we go again. The US is the center of the universe. I mean there are actual reasons why you don't want China or Russia dominate the world (well, in times of Trump that is actually questionable what is the bigger evil here), but you have to bring the most ridiculous one: We are the US, and someone is challenging us, can't have that.

[UnFleshedOne]

Isn't that default mode of every government? As long as there exist powers that challenge country's position, the country will work against that.

There is no value judgement if country's position is deserved or justified here.

[082349872349872]

Some of our governments are officially neutral, which means that instead of playing massive multiplayer monkey dance, they get to concentrate on improving quality of life for their own citizens.

[mensetmanusman]

Someone has to lead, and unfortunately authoritarianism is closer to the natural state of human social equilibrium.

[sudosysgen]

That's not true. We don't need the US to lead. The natural state of human social equilibrium in anarchy, and was indeed the mode of social equilibrium in most of human history until the "tragedy" of agriculture.

And indeed, if you take any half decent IR class they will teach you that the state of international relations is anarchy.

[whytaka]

How comforting.

[jessaustin]

Killing lots of innocent people in lots of places for no discernible reason would only be "leadership" if one thereby inspired others to do the same thing. Fortunately that hasn't happened yet...

[082349872349872]

It's not ridiculous if they're Sith: "One to embody power..."