For the sake of argument....

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Why not start behaving like an empire?  Bring in areas like Guam and Puerto Rico as new states and clamp down on areas like Iraq and Afganistan and make the commonwealths? 

What would be the problem?

all

[Acumen]

Ah, . . . we're not strong enough?

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Only because we have so many rules that we are trying to play by now.  We're not trying to be conquerors, we're trying to grow a state that will eventually stand on it's own. 

all

[Acumen]

Those rules being??

[Thorolf]

I'm not that comfortable with being an "empire" because I think the Founding Fathers did not really want to go there... for a number of reasons... and there are significant logistical and economic problems with empire building and maintaining.

Expansion is one thing, but Empire building?

Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as the US Virgin Islands and North Marianas, are a bit special because they are already territories of the US, and I don't have much of an issue with progressing them toward statehood - but I am not in favor of expanding beyond what we have now...

Besides, can you imagine how many times we would have to change our flag if we kept adding new "States?" Not to mention kids' memorization of states and capitals in elementary school... *whew*

And we thought WE had it rough!

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Those rules being??

The rules regarding "ethical" warfare, of course.

all

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

I'm not that comfortable with being an "empire" because I think the Founding Fathers did not really want to go there... for a number of reasons... and there are significant logistical and economic problems with empire building and maintaining.

Expansion is one thing, but Empire building?

Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as the US Virgin Islands and North Marianas, are a bit special because they are already territories of the US, and I don't have much of an issue with progressing them toward statehood - but I am not in favor of expanding beyond what we have now...

Besides, can you imagine how many times we would have to change our flag if we kept adding new "States?" Not to mention kids' memorization of states and capitals in elementary school... *whew*

And we thought WE had it rough!

I don't think the founding fathers wanted that either, but lets face it, I think there is are a lot of things the founding fathers did not want that is going on today. 

all

[Thorolf]

I'm not that comfortable with being an "empire" because I think the Founding Fathers did not really want to go there... for a number of reasons... and there are significant logistical and economic problems with empire building and maintaining.

Expansion is one thing, but Empire building?

Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as the US Virgin Islands and North Marianas, are a bit special because they are already territories of the US, and I don't have much of an issue with progressing them toward statehood - but I am not in favor of expanding beyond what we have now...

Besides, can you imagine how many times we would have to change our flag if we kept adding new "States?" Not to mention kids' memorization of states and capitals in elementary school... *whew*

And we thought WE had it rough!

I don't think the founding fathers wanted that either, but lets face it, I think there is are a lot of things the founding fathers did not want that is going on today. 

all

Oh, absolutely... but I think it's still germane to try to keep their intentions in mind, and the reasons for those intentions.

Among those, I think, is that empires have historically been difficult or impossible to truly manage. It becomes an issue of either truly winning hearts and minds (good luck with that one), and/or control, in many cases downright Machiavallian, and I don't think any country, not even the US, is in a position, morally, logistically, or economically, to implement or maintain such control.

And I don't think I have ever used so many commas in one sentence before...

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Oh, absolutely... but I think it's still germane to try to keep their intentions in mind, and the reasons for those intentions.

Among those, I think, is that empires have historically been difficult or impossible to truly manage. It becomes an issue of either truly winning hearts and minds (good luck with that one), and/or control, in many cases downright Machiavallian, and I don't think any country, not even the US, is in a position, morally, logistically, or economically, to implement or maintain such control.

And I don't think I have ever used so many in  commas in one sentence before...

You're thinking in the extreme long term.  Sure, every empire before has fallen.  It could be said that they grew to big too quickly.  We'd have to learn from past mistakes.  We'd have to watch our rate of growth, and (and this really is the trick) get them to think that they actually control themselves when in reality they are under our control.  I wouldn't expect such an empire to last for ever in any case.

all