Two years of Trump have shaken my faith in America

[Zorro]

I have always been a cockeyed optimist about America. That’s due, in part, to my own family story: We came here in 1976 as penniless refugees from the Soviet Union and found a land of freedom and opportunity. It’s also due to my reading of history, which led me to conclude that, for all of its undoubted problems, America has been the greatest force for good in the world over the past century. And it’s due, finally, to my life experience: Having lived long enough to see predictions that America would be overtaken by the Soviet Union, Japan or the European Union proved wrong, I became skeptical of declinism.

But my faith in America has been badly shaken by more than two years of Trumpism. I now fear that the United States’ days as a superpower may be numbered, especially if President Trump wins a second term — as well he might.

I do not doubt that America will continue to be free, wealthy and militarily strong. Although Trump is trying his damnedest to undermine our democracy, our institutions are strong enough to survive his onslaught. Despite his trade wars and fiscal irresponsibility, our economy remains a world-beater. Our gross domestic product is still 1.5 times larger in nominal terms than China’s, and our per-capita GDP is more than three times larger. And, though our relative military advantage is waning, our armed forces remain the most powerful in the world.

But it’s one thing to have great power; it’s another thing to be a great power. After World War II, the United States became an “empire by invitation” whose power projection depended on popular support at home and abroad. Both are now in peril.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/americas-days-as-a-superpower-may-be-numbered--because-of-trump/2019/03/20/ae15c924-4a82-11e9-93d0-64dbcf38ba41_story.html

Max Boot is a sad, sad Republican. He's not happy with the ways things have turned out after consistently attacking Democrats and their policies for years.

[world wide wally]

1. If Trump wins reelection, America is already beyond repair.

[Karadeniz]

2. He seems to just be looking at our global status.

I would've thought a better time to evaluate the GOP...at the very latest...would've been when repugs met on the day of Obama's first inauguration to vow to undermine the Democratic process by refusing to recognize the wishes of the voting majority. They spit on us and democracy. Pity Max didn't publicize at least 10 years ago that his beloved America was lying battered and bruised by the GOP.

[Blue_Tires]

3. kick

[SharonAnn]

4. It has shaken my faith in my fellow citizens, therefore, my faith in America

Where I live it's all about the greed and the racism. It's become pretty ugly. While never perfect, staunchly conservative, there was more than a veneer of civilization. It seems gone now.

[amcgrath]

5. America really hasn't been a force for good

It has possibly been better than a few notable exceptions, but ask the people of Vietnam, the Middle East, Central and South America how good America has been to them. Ask the people of Africa - even ask people in Europe.

Domestically, ask Native Americans, African Americans - the US simply does not have a good history. Even for its blue eyed blonde citizens it is a country that ignores people's need for healthcare, proper consumer protection, protection from predatory banks etc.

Even with its allies it has been a bully and a user. Even under the best administrations it has bullied and threatened partners with consequences for not towing the line.

That said, there was always a level of cooperation, a framework in which other countries could negotiate and work with each other.

That is now gone. In his first weeks in office Trump upset the heads of state of just about every ally. Shouting at prime ministers over the phone and issuing threats about withdrawing from commercial and military agreements. He shared military secrets with Russia - amongst other things, giving them information on Israel. He has torn up trade agreements, imposed tarrifs, demanded extra payments from NATO - cancelled NATO training exercises, you name it, he has broken the carefully considered trust in the US.

Worse, the 'system' has shown a complete lack of control over the situation. He has run unbridled, pushing and breaking your constitutional law with impunity. The 'checks and balances' once regarded as keeping the US to certain standards has proven useless. He has even been through and damaged the FBI, the CIA, stacked courts with shady judges and handed every department to idiots, financial supporters or the industries who oppose those departments mandates.

There is no rhyme or reason, there is no absolute. America cannot be trusted, even by its closest 'allies'. It cannot be trusted on trade, it cannot be trusted as a military partner and it cannot be trusted as part of the western 'intelligence' community.

Economists have stated for years that the strength of countries like China and India will become a determining factor in world trade. And now at a time when those other economic giants are really staring to exert influence and open up trade with other countries, America has come under the thrall of Trump and his acolytes and is demonstrating that it is not a country that is safe to deal with.