Viewing U.S. in Fear and Dismay

[DonViejo]

MEXICO CITY — The word many Mexicans now use to describe Washington reflects a familiar mix of outrage and exasperation: berrinche. Technically defined as a tantrum, berrinches are also spoiled little rich kids, blind to their privilege and the effects of their misbehavior.

“It’s a display of American arrogance,” said Raúl Silva, 40, an entrepreneur grabbing coffee at an upscale cafe here. “It’s a problem, and it’s going to affect us.”

Faced with Washington’s march toward a default, the world has reacted mostly with disbelief that the reigning superpower could fall into such dysfunction, worry over global suffering to come and frustration that American lawmakers could let the problem reach this point.

A common question crossing continents remains quite simple: The Americans aren’t really that unreasonable and self-destructive, are they?

“It just goes to show that it’s not only Greece that has irresponsible and shortsighted politicians,” said Ioanna Kalavryti, 34, a teacher in Athens. “We’ve been held hostage by our reckless politicians, and the interests they serve, for more than three years now. I guess our American friends are getting a taste of the same medicine.”

full article
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/world/viewing-us-in-fear-and-dismay.html

[chervilant]

1. How apropos.

Berrinches -- spoiled little rich kids, blind to their privilege and the effects of their misbehavior. Sounds like Boehner and his ilk, stomping their widdle feets.

[Laelth]

2. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[ehcross]

3. Viewing U.S. in Fear and Dismay

It is indeed of great concern to hear talk of a U.S. on a march to default. The world has assigned the United States the title of the most stable state in the world. But it was forced to shut itself down!

But as of lately, we have watched in disbelief how U.S. instability is now threatening the whole world with chaos. The U.S. seems to be dedicated to fix one issue, only to arrive at another, more serious issue, and with a growing sense of incapacity. The U.S. economy is not only not strong anymore, it is weak, unstable and very much unsustainable. It really seems that the U.S. is leading the pack into the abiss.

When you go driving your car, look around you, notice the state of the roads, you will see how they are not being repaired often enough. And this is the same picture everywhere.