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I have to say, this is how it looks from my (UK) point of view. The recent Rolling Stone piece [https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/covid

by dmje 6y ago

I have to say, this is how it looks from my (UK) point of view. The recent Rolling Stone piece [https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/covid-19-end-of-american-era-wade-davis-1038206/ https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/c...] was along similar lines. We watched a documentary [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00095p0 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00095p0] recently - pre Trump, pre Covid - but again the picture being painted is one where the US was becoming this wholly divided nation, although this time the division was about financial equality: on the one hand the mega-rich, on the other the super-poor, subsisting at almost 3rd world levels of poverty. Here's the various impressions: would love to hear viewpoints from anyone who lives there: - nationwide severe issues with health, particularly around heart disease and obesity but also huge problems with depression and prescription drugs - an almost unsolveable political split with neither side willing to take on board any kind of compromise with the other - draconian drug and alcohol laws which are causing way more harm than good - an out of control gun culture - a crumbling infrastructure which was last properly invested in in the 60's as there is such widespread dislike of anything that looks like "state control" - an almost comedically stupid president who stands at least a reasonable chance of getting voted back in in November. Even the suggestion that he might not honour the vote is enough to make one pause and check whether we're talking about the "greatest super power on the planet" or some war-torn 3rd world dictatorship... - a totally out of control approach to Covid19 which has cause immense numbers of deaths - an out of balance work/life culture I should add that I'm no great fan of the UK right now, so I'm not exactly putting us on a pedestal of virtue. The Conservatives are arsehats of the first order; Johnson is a buffoon so obviously out of his depth (and has handled CV19 with similar - but not quite as extreme - levels of stupidity as Trump); we voted for Brexit on the back of a totally skewed and misrepresented lie (and all the evidence is this is going to come back and bite us if - as is likely - we crash out); etc etc - but still, it doesn't look as grim as it does over the pond. Tell me if I'm wrong!

cblconfederate 6y ago
What if, none of this matters? Until the US army starts to fail, i don't think american projection of power has been lowered. Yes, they seem broken on the outside, but it seems like their middle class is richer and has it better than other societies. But it's the military power, the safety that NATO provides to other countries that keeps the dollar on a pedestal and their stock bubble growing. There is a certain "lack of competition" in the superpower market today, as the competitors are just not there yet. This leads to complacency and inferior product.
- simonblack 6y ago
  Until the US army starts to fail The US Army has been failing for decades. It's just that this hasn't greatly mattered because the adversaries were small, powerless countries that didn't have the capability to hit back, only to resist. Sooner or later, the US will be in conflict with an adversary that does have the capability to hit back as well as to resist, and it won't be pretty. The analogy is Germany attacking the Soviets. Everybody expected to Soviets to last a mere six to ten weeks. Instead they lasted just under four years and overran Berlin.

by dmje 6y ago

cblconfederate 6y ago

What if, none of this matters? Until the US army starts to fail, i don't think american projection of power has been lowered. Yes, they seem broken on the outside, but it seems like their middle class is richer and has it better than other societies. But it's the military power, the safety that NATO provides to other countries that keeps the dollar on a pedestal and their stock bubble growing. There is a certain "lack of competition" in the superpower market today, as the competitors are just not there yet. This leads to complacency and inferior product.

simonblack 6y ago
Until the US army starts to fail The US Army has been failing for decades. It's just that this hasn't greatly mattered because the adversaries were small, powerless countries that didn't have the capability to hit back, only to resist. Sooner or later, the US will be in conflict with an adversary that does have the capability to hit back as well as to resist, and it won't be pretty. The analogy is Germany attacking the Soviets. Everybody expected to Soviets to last a mere six to ten weeks. Instead they lasted just under four years and overran Berlin.