RSS BotUS reputation hits 'depths not seen this century' – and 'may never recover'
Lvxferre [he/him]That comments section is such a shitfest I might as well address some points…
People often prioritize “reputation” over other things, as if it is politically actionable or tangible. […]
Another word for “reputation” in this context is “soft power”. Basically, other states are not willing to play along USA, unless forced to. It’s exactly as “actionable” and “tangible” as the ability to force others to do your bidding (hard power).
As such the news should be read as “USA’s soft power is nowadays used toilet paper”.
The problem is that even if the US elects some nice centrist democrats for the 14 years every country is going to be thinking “What if they elect Trump v2?”
The so-called “centrist” democrats are not a relief from the problem. They are part of the problem. As I mentioned in another thread, Trump is not the cause of USA’s decadence, that idiot is at most a symptom. And perhaps a catalyser, since he’s a bit too stupid to hide what preceding presidents were already doing (such as trying to topple governments because they were defending the local interests instead of the cockroaches’. Cue to Allende).
So even if the population of USA elects those so-called “centrists”, any action they take will be seen as a continuation of the Trump regime. It’s over.
Regarding the democrats, I’m not so sure. I mean, yeah, they absolutely are part of the problem, but real politik-wise, I think the rest of the world wants to get back to “business as usual” as fast as possible. The “long term” reputation will still be stained, sure, but democrats will be treated like sensible people if they manage to get the US back to the negotiating table, for however long that may last.
Two different things, I think.
The United States as a rational actor conducting business as usual? That just requires rational people in charge, even if they’re centrist Dems.
The United States as the “leader of the free world”? That idea is as dead as democracy.
And hell, looking back at the America-led 20th century, Trump is doing the world a favor in the long run.
America is displaying an extreme mental illness epidemic. It isn’t just the nazi party and fanatics either. Americas Liberals are also mentally ill; supporting genocide but can’t achieve universal health care, maternity leave, child care, cheap higher education, etc, etc… all of these things indicate extreme corruption and sociopathy permeating American society and politics.
This isn’t something that the world will forget in 4-8. Even if Democrats were to win in a landslide, and prosecuted thousands of republicans and business leaders for their crimes and corruption — all spending the rest of their lives in prison — the world would keep America at arms length for multiple decades.
ValmondRealpolitik-wise, when a state falls down, the others take turns kicking its teeth. And given Trump shredded any soft power USA had, the democrat in question will have two choices: either keep USA tumbling down into irrelevance, or act like the same Trump and use hard power. Because no, that soft power won’t be coming back, other states are simply too suspicious.
Or at least that’s what I predict, I may be wrong.