Yet again superb analysis based on real information not assumption as so many opinions are. I, despite my international relations background, had not thought of the a la carte foreign policy option, it will be interesting to see how this era plays out. I agree we must not abandon our values whatever happens
I am deeply saddened because I think the liberal democratic project has died. This project needs, at least to some degree, to be based on debate, ideas, reason, and evidence... and these no longer seem valuable or even accessible. While in the past the media had undue control because there were few places where one could access info, it may have been based on certain perspectives but it was to some degree true-ish. Now it seems falsehoods abound ...
On the more reflecting side, I also think we need to consider that this has happened because we have failed, liberal democracies have failed to make life consistently better and to inculcate values into their societies and communities. In some ways these very values seem to undermine themselves.
Inequality is incompatible with democracy. The early French Revolutionaries recognised that fact, but the UK at the time, and until the end of the Second World War, rejected it. We had a few decades before Thatcher came along with her great ‘let’s make Britain unequal again’ project, which created adepts all over Europe.
I think inequality is troublesome, but the real issue is the degree to which it is allowed to exist. One could also argue that there is nominal inequality and practical inequality. The latter may have to do with access to goods, services, and other stuff -- that is the richest person and maybe the average person worldwide both have access to smart phones, travel, roads.. whereas a few hundred years ago only the super rich had access to the "top" goods/services. I think there are different ways to think about inequality, but you are quite right that currently some really wealthy people are acting as oligarchs and wielding power beyond what is reasonable or perhaps compatible with liberal democracy.
Since I've been on the planet for a while, I've observed time and again that the pendulum swings back one day. Therefore, I assume that after the swing to the right and the well of egocentrism, we will see a hungover world waking up, which will then experience a swing to the left. The only questions are how long it will take and who will be charismatic and strong enough to lead this new world once the US has lost the trust of the rest of the world.
Monday was a very sad day when this idiot was put back in office and put there by people who are last on his list. Melania looked ridiculous and self-grandiose and Trump full of bluster. I hope he gets impeached at every turn. And to all those tech billionaires believe me he will turn on you so fast it will make your head spin. How can any rational person believe him?
So a poll taken shortly after the US election doesn't seem to appreciate President Trump. In reality, the overall attitudes toward the US are very little changed from the previous poll nearly two years prior. That is, it is hardly a reflection on Trump and Trump's election had very little influence, if any. This was also close to the fall of both the French and German governments.
During his first term, Trump greatly enhanced the power of NATO despite what reality-denying naysayers claim: Jens Stoltneberg praised Trump for restoring NATO.
It was Trump who stood up to Putin and supplied military assistance to Ukraine, something both Obama and Biden blocked. Trump's policies favoring energy development cost Putin scores of billions in hard currency; Biden's reckless crippling of American resources pumped those billions right back to Putin. Joe Biden is the second cause of the war, right behind Putin.
Outstanding summary, with accuracy TBD.
Yet again superb analysis based on real information not assumption as so many opinions are. I, despite my international relations background, had not thought of the a la carte foreign policy option, it will be interesting to see how this era plays out. I agree we must not abandon our values whatever happens
I am deeply saddened because I think the liberal democratic project has died. This project needs, at least to some degree, to be based on debate, ideas, reason, and evidence... and these no longer seem valuable or even accessible. While in the past the media had undue control because there were few places where one could access info, it may have been based on certain perspectives but it was to some degree true-ish. Now it seems falsehoods abound ...
On the more reflecting side, I also think we need to consider that this has happened because we have failed, liberal democracies have failed to make life consistently better and to inculcate values into their societies and communities. In some ways these very values seem to undermine themselves.
Inequality is incompatible with democracy. The early French Revolutionaries recognised that fact, but the UK at the time, and until the end of the Second World War, rejected it. We had a few decades before Thatcher came along with her great ‘let’s make Britain unequal again’ project, which created adepts all over Europe.
I think inequality is troublesome, but the real issue is the degree to which it is allowed to exist. One could also argue that there is nominal inequality and practical inequality. The latter may have to do with access to goods, services, and other stuff -- that is the richest person and maybe the average person worldwide both have access to smart phones, travel, roads.. whereas a few hundred years ago only the super rich had access to the "top" goods/services. I think there are different ways to think about inequality, but you are quite right that currently some really wealthy people are acting as oligarchs and wielding power beyond what is reasonable or perhaps compatible with liberal democracy.
Since I've been on the planet for a while, I've observed time and again that the pendulum swings back one day. Therefore, I assume that after the swing to the right and the well of egocentrism, we will see a hungover world waking up, which will then experience a swing to the left. The only questions are how long it will take and who will be charismatic and strong enough to lead this new world once the US has lost the trust of the rest of the world.
In short, there are many efforts underway, but things are not looking good. This publication may help to answer this question:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-58144-1
Will the planet still be liveable for humans and most living species?
Monday was a very sad day when this idiot was put back in office and put there by people who are last on his list. Melania looked ridiculous and self-grandiose and Trump full of bluster. I hope he gets impeached at every turn. And to all those tech billionaires believe me he will turn on you so fast it will make your head spin. How can any rational person believe him?
So a poll taken shortly after the US election doesn't seem to appreciate President Trump. In reality, the overall attitudes toward the US are very little changed from the previous poll nearly two years prior. That is, it is hardly a reflection on Trump and Trump's election had very little influence, if any. This was also close to the fall of both the French and German governments.
During his first term, Trump greatly enhanced the power of NATO despite what reality-denying naysayers claim: Jens Stoltneberg praised Trump for restoring NATO.
It was Trump who stood up to Putin and supplied military assistance to Ukraine, something both Obama and Biden blocked. Trump's policies favoring energy development cost Putin scores of billions in hard currency; Biden's reckless crippling of American resources pumped those billions right back to Putin. Joe Biden is the second cause of the war, right behind Putin.
Here is the kind of analysis we need as much of the main stream media seems prepared to bend the knee to the new dispensation in Washington.
Excellent summary. Well written, too.