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I think you overstate the case when you say that the US's leadership position has been destroyed. It has certainly been damaged, but the US is still one of the

by harryh 9y ago

I think you overstate the case when you say that the US's leadership position has been destroyed. It has certainly been damaged, but the US is still one of the largest, most populous and richest countries in the world. It will have a big seat at the world negotiating table for quite some time no matter what.

mywittyname 9y ago
The USA will certainly have a seat at the table, just not at the head of the table. This loss of influence isn't going to be readily apparent, it's precipitation will be subtle and over the long term. It may start as a preference for German or Chinese military equipment, then slowly it preference will begin to shift in areas of finance, agricultural products, energy, etc. If the USA is no longer able to negotiate favorable trade deals, because of their mercurial nature, then we'll probably see corporations move to foreign countries of influence.
- harryh 9y ago
  Yes, I agree with "subtle and over the long term" as opposed to "destroyed it in a mere four months."
  - groby_b 9y ago
    The effects are subtle and long term. The destruction happened already. The US has made it very clear that its populace is willing to elect an uneducated populist buffoon, who is happy to break any and all international commitments if it appeals to his base. Any politician outside the US, from this point onwards, will assume that the US is not a country that can be trusted with any long term plans. (Or, as far as our allies are concerned, with intelligence materials either). It will likely take decades to repair that reputation hit, if it isn't irreparable. We're not feeling the consequences of it yet, but we will. That's inevitable. You don't suddenly walk into a ballroom, shit on a table, and hope everybody forgets it next week.
- agumonkey 9y ago
  isn't it ironic that the power balance is shifting pretty much like climate change ?
ajross 9y ago
The point is that if we elected Trump once, we might do it again. No one is going to trust us on this stuff in the future. China has a "big seat" at the negotiating table too because of their size, but they're not a leader because we don't trust them.
huhtenberg 9y ago
> ... and richest countries That's considering $18 trillion of its debt?
- neaden 9y ago
  Yes. Countries debt is an asset, it's not like household debt. US Treasury Bonds are a bedrock of the global financial system.
  - blibble 9y ago
    it is an asset to who holds it, to the US government it is a liability
- jandrewrogers 9y ago
  The net worth of the US is around $124 trillion. That is after subtracting all debts and other liabilities (which are significantly larger than $18T).

by harryh 9y ago

mywittyname 9y ago

The USA will certainly have a seat at the table, just not at the head of the table. This loss of influence isn't going to be readily apparent, it's precipitation will be subtle and over the long term. It may start as a preference for German or Chinese military equipment, then slowly it preference will begin to shift in areas of finance, agricultural products, energy, etc. If the USA is no longer able to negotiate favorable trade deals, because of their mercurial nature, then we'll probably see corporations move to foreign countries of influence.

harryh 9y ago
Yes, I agree with "subtle and over the long term" as opposed to "destroyed it in a mere four months."
- groby_b 9y ago
  The effects are subtle and long term. The destruction happened already. The US has made it very clear that its populace is willing to elect an uneducated populist buffoon, who is happy to break any and all international commitments if it appeals to his base. Any politician outside the US, from this point onwards, will assume that the US is not a country that can be trusted with any long term plans. (Or, as far as our allies are concerned, with intelligence materials either). It will likely take decades to repair that reputation hit, if it isn't irreparable. We're not feeling the consequences of it yet, but we will. That's inevitable. You don't suddenly walk into a ballroom, shit on a table, and hope everybody forgets it next week.
agumonkey 9y ago
isn't it ironic that the power balance is shifting pretty much like climate change ?

ajross 9y ago

The point is that if we elected Trump once, we might do it again. No one is going to trust us on this stuff in the future. China has a "big seat" at the negotiating table too because of their size, but they're not a leader because we don't trust them.

huhtenberg 9y ago

> ... and richest countries That's considering $18 trillion of its debt?

neaden 9y ago
Yes. Countries debt is an asset, it's not like household debt. US Treasury Bonds are a bedrock of the global financial system.
- blibble 9y ago
  it is an asset to who holds it, to the US government it is a liability
jandrewrogers 9y ago
The net worth of the US is around $124 trillion. That is after subtracting all debts and other liabilities (which are significantly larger than $18T).