The American Politics Thread

Edited by npjnpj - January 06 2019 at 11:09

Edited by npjnpj - January 06 2019 at 11:40

npjnpj wrote: Oh I don’t know, the USA seems to be the mainly affected country while the rest of the world is rallying around new economic and strategic alliances fast. Not on anyone’s wishlist, for sure, but adapting quite nicely. The international community is reacting to the fact that the US has become an unreliable partner in any and all matters military and non-military, and will become even less (or more?) so in the forseeable future, so alternative alliances are being sought and confirmed at this very moment.

npjnpj wrote: Oh I don’t know, the USA seems to be the mainly affected country while the rest of the world is rallying around new economic and strategic alliances fast. Not on anyone’s wishlist, for sure, but adapting quite nicely.

npjnpj wrote: You need a certain level of education combined with an installed sense of morality and empathy to ensure that people can vote responsibly. Without these factors it seems that democracy does not function as intended.

npjnpj wrote: Oh I don’t know, the USA seems to be the mainly affected country while the rest of the world is rallying around new economic and strategic alliances fast. Not on anyone’s wishlist, for sure, but adapting quite nicely. The international community is reacting to the fact that the US has become an unreliable partner in any and all matters military and non-military, and will become even less (or more?) so in the forseeable future, so alternative alliances are being sought and confirmed at this very moment. Add to that the fact that the USA are slowly imploding from within with tariffs and connected import- and export problems, a semi-permanent government shutdown and a sensational national debt, it’s already half way to being a global non-player. In a way it’s a bit like looking at the collapse of the Soviet Union not very so long ago. Nobody really thought at the time that that would happen either. Interesting. Apart from the possible nuclear oopsie you mentioned, it doesn’t look like the rest of the world has a lot to worry about. In fact I think it's a distinct possibility that if Trump should try a nuclear stunt, the other nations with nuclear capabilities could unite and retaliate. The US is not a very popular nation any more.

USA is the largest economy by far, the strongest military power and almost all but a few embargoed nations trade with the US. Any move to a non US led hegemony is going to be messy. Doubly so if it involves a China led by Jinping. If you thought Trump was authoritarian, you ain't seen nothing yet. I am NOT American by the way. Heaven knows I have dissed America for the Iraq War a million times. But they are still the least worst superpower the world has had. A US collapse will be nothing like that of the Soviet.

A friend of mine was visiting New York for a week over new years and he was quite stunned at the consequences of the government shutdown. Trash piling up on the street, police everywhere, tense atmosphere; what else is going on because of this? (btw, in his own words, he is planning to never go to the US again after this holiday experience, make of that what you will)

npjnpj wrote: @ dr wu23: A very interesting point. If you demand professional expertise to express an opinion on a subject, that disqualifies almost everyone from discussing almost anything, wouldn't you say? So which professions would you be prepared to accept as qualified to post in this thread?