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The Trump administration seems eager to pit America against the rest of the world's nations, which altogether comprise 8 billion people. The USA has a populati

The Trump administration seems eager to pit America against the rest of the world's nations, which altogether comprise 8 billion people. The USA has a population of around 0.4 billion. Until a future administration corrects course, the future will be one demoralizing failure after another.

swagmoney69 10mo ago
[dead]
thomassmith65 10mo ago
I wrote "pit America against the rest of the world's nations" not based on this news alone, but on the totality of the past six months. For example: https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-Natio... It's hard to think of a plausible scenario in which America carries on like this using hard power alone.
OGEnthusiast 10mo ago
[flagged]
- ehnto 10mo ago
  On plumbing just because that was such a funny point to base the strength of a country on, the US didn't even exist when other countries already had plumbing.
  - OGEnthusiast 10mo ago
    So if the US not having plumbing in 1776 is evidence of weakness, then countries in 2025 that don't have indoor plumbing must be weak beyond comprehension to even take seriously, right?
    - ehnto 10mo ago
      If said countries were part of the conversation at all you might consider that a weakness, but looking at actual markers for geopolitical power you might not stress too much about plumbing, with or without it, in your analysis. Given the actual powers involved I do think you're underestimating the situation for the sake of talking down to a select few countries that don't really sway the needle much. There are absolutely countries worth worrying about on the global stage, plumbing not-withstanding.
- defrost 10mo ago
  The US only got clean water and indoor plumbing a few decades ago ?!? First century Rome had that and underfloor heating in the provinces. Hmm, not that clean though: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/31/americas-tap-water-samples-forever-chemicals https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/31/americas-tap...
- zingerlio 10mo ago
  That’s just describing wealth.
  - OGEnthusiast 10mo ago
    Yup, which is why I have more faith in the US than the rest of the world.
- platevoltage 10mo ago
  Is Flint, Michigan still living off of bottled water or did the USA finally fix that?
  - burnt-resistor 10mo ago
    Still bottled water. The lede was buried in that it was a confirmed Legionella outbreak that killed an excess 150-200 on top of the lead poisoning of 100k sacrificial brown and poor people that the sociopathic governor and emergency manager poisoned because of their incompetency, recklessness, and egotism.
    - nebula8804 9mo ago
      A quick Google seems to say the opposite? That all the pipes have been replaced but trust remains low despite 9 straight years of testing showing low lead levels. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/hard-fought-milestone-flints-water-uncertainty-ahead/ https://bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/hard-fought-...
- g-b-r 10mo ago
  Despite those billions of people not ending up electing Trump?
- venturecruelty 10mo ago
  [flagged]
- thomassmith65 10mo ago
  I stand corrected: everyone else on Earth sucks. /s
23434dsf 10mo ago
I am sorry, but the damage is already done. It cannot be repaired. NEVER!
- hulitu 10mo ago
  With a little bread and circus, the voters and "the allies" will forget everything. Happenes all the time.
  - crises-luff-6b 9mo ago
    [dead]
- nozzlegear 10mo ago
  > I am sorry, but the damage is already done. It cannot be repaired. NEVER! I hate to invoke Godwin's law, but Germany was once the most reviled country in the world and is now, arguably, the most influential country in the European Union. Clearly, damage much worse than what the US has done over Trump's two terms can be repaired over time.
  - doom2 10mo ago
    Unfortunately, that path back for Germany required holding those responsible accountable, in some cases fatally so. I don't see that happening here. Nothing will prevent or dissuade Trump's political allies from continuing his movement. Yes they may lose an election here or there, but I don't see any indication that MAGA is anywhere close to becoming politically toxic. Until a post-WWII style reckoning can be had, I am not optimistic that reputational repair can happen.
    - nozzlegear 9mo ago
      > Yes they may lose an election here or there, but I don't see any indication that MAGA is anywhere close to becoming politically toxic. I think we're on the cusp of it right now. The ICE murders make it more and more untenable and indefensible for the average American to defend without sounding crazy. But even if this doesn't do it, or an invasion of Greenland somehow doesn't do it, the big question will be: can MAGA even survive as a movement without Trump? > Until a post-WWII style reckoning can be had, I am not optimistic that reputational repair can happen. I fully agree. A third Reconstruction is needed in this country.

swagmoney69 10mo ago

[dead]

thomassmith65 10mo ago

I wrote "pit America against the rest of the world's nations" not based on this news alone, but on the totality of the past six months. For example: https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf https://whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-Natio... It's hard to think of a plausible scenario in which America carries on like this using hard power alone.

OGEnthusiast 10mo ago

[flagged]

ehnto 10mo ago
On plumbing just because that was such a funny point to base the strength of a country on, the US didn't even exist when other countries already had plumbing.
- OGEnthusiast 10mo ago
  So if the US not having plumbing in 1776 is evidence of weakness, then countries in 2025 that don't have indoor plumbing must be weak beyond comprehension to even take seriously, right?
  - ehnto 10mo ago
    If said countries were part of the conversation at all you might consider that a weakness, but looking at actual markers for geopolitical power you might not stress too much about plumbing, with or without it, in your analysis. Given the actual powers involved I do think you're underestimating the situation for the sake of talking down to a select few countries that don't really sway the needle much. There are absolutely countries worth worrying about on the global stage, plumbing not-withstanding.
defrost 10mo ago
The US only got clean water and indoor plumbing a few decades ago ?!? First century Rome had that and underfloor heating in the provinces. Hmm, not that clean though: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/31/americas-tap-water-samples-forever-chemicals https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/31/americas-tap...
zingerlio 10mo ago
That’s just describing wealth.
- OGEnthusiast 10mo ago
  Yup, which is why I have more faith in the US than the rest of the world.
platevoltage 10mo ago
Is Flint, Michigan still living off of bottled water or did the USA finally fix that?
- burnt-resistor 10mo ago
  Still bottled water. The lede was buried in that it was a confirmed Legionella outbreak that killed an excess 150-200 on top of the lead poisoning of 100k sacrificial brown and poor people that the sociopathic governor and emergency manager poisoned because of their incompetency, recklessness, and egotism.
  - nebula8804 9mo ago
    A quick Google seems to say the opposite? That all the pipes have been replaced but trust remains low despite 9 straight years of testing showing low lead levels. https://bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/hard-fought-milestone-flints-water-uncertainty-ahead/ https://bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/hard-fought-...
g-b-r 10mo ago
Despite those billions of people not ending up electing Trump?
venturecruelty 10mo ago
[flagged]
thomassmith65 10mo ago
I stand corrected: everyone else on Earth sucks. /s

23434dsf 10mo ago

I am sorry, but the damage is already done. It cannot be repaired. NEVER!

hulitu 10mo ago
With a little bread and circus, the voters and "the allies" will forget everything. Happenes all the time.
- crises-luff-6b 9mo ago
  [dead]
nozzlegear 10mo ago
> I am sorry, but the damage is already done. It cannot be repaired. NEVER! I hate to invoke Godwin's law, but Germany was once the most reviled country in the world and is now, arguably, the most influential country in the European Union. Clearly, damage much worse than what the US has done over Trump's two terms can be repaired over time.
- doom2 10mo ago
  Unfortunately, that path back for Germany required holding those responsible accountable, in some cases fatally so. I don't see that happening here. Nothing will prevent or dissuade Trump's political allies from continuing his movement. Yes they may lose an election here or there, but I don't see any indication that MAGA is anywhere close to becoming politically toxic. Until a post-WWII style reckoning can be had, I am not optimistic that reputational repair can happen.
  - nozzlegear 9mo ago
    > Yes they may lose an election here or there, but I don't see any indication that MAGA is anywhere close to becoming politically toxic. I think we're on the cusp of it right now. The ICE murders make it more and more untenable and indefensible for the average American to defend without sounding crazy. But even if this doesn't do it, or an invasion of Greenland somehow doesn't do it, the big question will be: can MAGA even survive as a movement without Trump? > Until a post-WWII style reckoning can be had, I am not optimistic that reputational repair can happen. I fully agree. A third Reconstruction is needed in this country.