It is clear that communism is not an appropriate economic/social system and neither is capitalism. Capitalism leads to exploitation, greed and financial inequality (and the spectre of endless war) while Communism fails because it relies on mass subservience and belief in a selfless ideology.

But there are aspects of both extreme systems that, if cobbled together and subjected to strong control, could provide an answer that would lead to peace.

A strong, no-exceptions, punitive tax system would help to control the insatiable greed which appears to be part of human nature. That could be combined with developing a human mindset that we are all responsible for our brothers and sisters across the world and, if poverty exists, we are all responsible and we must deal with it.

Of course, war needs to be condemned and nations armed to the teeth must be deprived of their weapons and the Corporations that make them, closed down.

Share markets must also be destroyed along with Banks and Billionaires. Being rich must be shown for what it is: a crime against humanity because, in our world today, for every rich person there are thousands of people living in poverty! Where is the justice in that?

Imperialism must be stopped but if humans can be shown another way, it would stop of its own accord.

Imagine if you can a world where peace reigned. It has been dreamed about for 10,000 years but our primitive, barbaric nature has prevailed.

If we don't change ourselves we will soon be extinct.

Is that what you want?

P.S. Instead of knocking me and my suggestions, why don't you think about what I am proposing. It sure beats being vaporized in a nuclear holocaust!

Wow, that's such a high horse, David :)

I'm suggesting that all parties pull back and seek to negotiate, preferably through some recognised international body.

There is some space between that approach and 'being vaporized in a nuclear holocaust', wouldn't you say ? But keep pushing your argumentum in extremis, it must be great fun, even if it dodges the issues.

Joe

Joe, I didn't associate you with the Cavemen or the Flat Earthers.

Throwing in a few pretentious Latin words doesn't remove the reality of a fast-approaching nuclear holocaust, doesn't sweep it away.

The U.S. is already positioning itself to take on China while it only has one aircraft carrier. Yeah, a combo of Japan, South Korea, perhaps the Philippines plus Britain and Australia will form and begin to restrict exports to China especially minerals that could make weapons. That will prove costly to us, but then, Australia worships the U.S. and, if pressed, will do whatever it is told.

China will try to fight back but it is not ready to fight although if RUSSIA and INDIA joined it, that might prove interesting.

Joe, the U.S. is determined to gain global control. Its fanaticism and nationalistic delusions resembles that of Israel. The U.S. will use nukes if it thinks that it will achieve its purposes just as it would've over Cuba.

BBBBAAAAAAAAAMMMMMM!

Latin phrases don't stand a chance! And neither will most Australians because our beautiful land may well be where the war is fought given that we are a craven pawn of the U.S. already.

I don't imagine that those who live on the mainland of U.S. or China want to become involved to that extent.

David, the easiest way not to have a war is not to start one. China has to pull back, not provoke the other countries, and let the matters be decided in international courts.

Sorry, mate, your warmongering friends are not going to get it all their own way.

Better to jaw-jaw than to war-war, someone said.

Joe

Problem is that America doesn't recognize International Courts or Institutions, Joe, doesn't count civilian casualties, and, in general, throws its weight around like it already owns the world.

Like Israel, it has put itself above all nations and institutions and now thinks its ordure doesn't stink!

Hard to discuss peace with a greedy amoral nation that is in love with itself and with war, Joe, that makes money from war, gains resources from war, and doesn't care how many millions of innocent people it kills as it seeks total power!

Is it doing so in this situation, David ? Who is throwing their weight around in this situation ? Who is acting like they think they own that part of the world ? And what 'millions' are you talking about these days, or are you just using the word to scare small children ?

Imagine a similar, but hypothetical situation: a coral atoll near the Solomons was visited by a ship from Australia in about 1824, therefore that atoll is really Australian territory. The Solomons doesn't think so, and has administered that unpopulated atoll since Independence. But Australians know that that atoll is really an unalienable and beloved part of our ancestral territory, and we long to bring it back into our national bosom. The Solomons, most unreasonably, refuse to recognise Australia's claim to it, our beloved island home, so Australia declares a 200-mile flight-exclusion zone around it, as part of our national territory, and demands that flights to and from the Solomons, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and some to New Zealand, must seek and gain Australian permission.

Let's take it one more step: an Air New Zealand plane flies into Australia's exclusion zone and is shot down. New Zealand, quite unreasonably, calls in our High Commissioner, and expels Australia's entire diplomatic mission. In justified retaliation, Australia bombs Auckland and sinks half of its Navy in Auckland Harbor.

I hope the Chinese aren't stupid enough to go that far, but who knows ? Imperial powers are not known for their acuity.

Does this sound remotely familiar, David ?

Joe