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2515chris t1_j2k4zkg wrote

We can love the people but find their governments repugnant. Hell I hate my government too.

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paceminterris t1_j2lq4t8 wrote

This is just your excuse to persuade yourself into a war while still feeling that you're not racist or dehumanizing anyone.

The fact of the matter is, many Chinese and Russian people aren't simply "Americans on the inside, waiting to be freed from oppressive government." They rightfully appreciate the things that work about their governments, and the plurality of people in those countries aren't overly opposed to the government, otherwise there would already have been revolutions.

For you to think that those people somehow need to be "rescued" into the arms of the American-dominated liberal international (really, just imperial) order is the height of chauvanism.

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Freschledditor t1_j2lueb0 wrote

Funny, I agree with your assessment of russians and chinese people, but not with your conclusion of blaming the West. The reality is, russians are broadly fascist imperialists, which is why they're fine with living in a dictatorship. Chinese people as well, but less so, since they're more interested in actual prosperity, while russians want to play war games and take lands.

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fanghornegghorn t1_j2mh62s wrote

You either believe that people deserve democracy and human rights or you don't. Most Americans do.

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oldar4 t1_j2k5yl9 wrote

People are what make up governments. The problem is any position of power corrupts most people. Like crazy HOA members. Or cops. Or politicians. Anyone who gets an ounce of power has a strong chance of corruption.

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giomar420 t1_j2knaxv wrote

People is what makes government, but people are not the government. You can have friendly relations with people but a non existent relation with those people government. As example see many nations that share borders and political conflicts too.

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shanghaidry t1_j2ltcnr wrote

I used to live in China. I was not impressed with the average person. The government there acts like any other individual or organization — if you have power, you don’t share. If they had elections with their same culture and institutions, it would be something between what they have now and a disaster.

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