CommentsONE MAN’S OPINION-Since few of us recall pre-World War II America, we know of no time when America was not the leader of the Free World.
Thus, it’s hard to recognize that we no longer lead the Free World or that the concept of the Free World, as we once understood it, no longer exists. We are not certain what replaced the Free World or our place in the new order.
How Does America Function in a Non-Dichotomized World?
From the outset, Americans built their society upon a dichotomized Weltanschauungen – Great Britain vs. Colonies, Saved vs. Damned, Good vs. Evil, North vs. South, West vs. East, Free vs. Communist, Communism vs. Capitalism, Gay vs. Straight, Black vs. White, but now this simplistic “Us vs. Them” approach is worthless. Rather, we’re in a multifaceted, dog-eat-dog world which has no use for facts, integrity and good will.
Trump’s Forfeiture of America’s Leadership Role
Although the Orange One’s slogan “Make America Great Again” sounded as if he planned for America to assume a leadership position, when we look at his behavior and analyze events, we realize that Trump shed America’s leadership role. For one thing, a coalition’s leader does not announce that it’s all about Him and his country becoming “Great.” Such an approach implies that it’s “America First,” which is another Trumpian slogan. “America First” tells our former friends and allies “screw you.”
Trump’s approach signals that whatever aggrandizes himself is wonderful. If Trump’s America destroys international alliances that it took decades to construct, so what? There’s no treaty he will not repudiate in place of a deal (a great deal, a beautiful deal, the best deal) where it’s Trump and another country.
Let’s Be Clear about Trump’s Deal Making
Trump is not making deals on behalf of America but on behalf of Trump. Everything is about him 24/7/365 and that’s it, end of story, hay no más. Trump uses “America” as another brand name to promote himself, and the GOP is fine with that. Just listen to Congressional Republicans. They refuse to pass any gun control legislation unless Trump gives them prior approval. Without an independent legislative branch, the Republic is dead. In the midst of the #MeToo Movement, we put a sexual predator on the Supreme Court. For the GOP, it’s whatever the Grand Leader wants. The brand of America has become a shill for Trumplandia.
Reality May be on Trump’s Side
Look at Russia aka Putistan or Xi Jinping’s China. Countries seem to be less a product of some national consensus than the will of some leader. Authoritarian states like Iran have dealt themselves into this game and even North Korea is now a player. There is no Western consensus on either Iran or North Korea, but anti-Semitism is on the rise both domestically and abroad. The passion for a scapegoat never bodes well.
Where Does America Fit into the New Order?
Our health care sucks, and our educational system has devolved into one of the worst in the industrialized world. Turn around and look and see who’s following us. No one. Is any country telling its people to revamp its educational system to be like America’s? Does Sweden propose adopting American health care?
The 2020 Elections Have No Coherent Theme
The Democrats are a gaggle of confused wannabees looking for a rationale to govern. We have Kamala Harris, champion of lying jailhouse informants, pretending to care about the high incarceration of rate of minorities. Biden’s claim is that he is not a wretched person like Trump but isn’t that setting the bar a little low? “Vote for Joe, He’s decent.” Bernie is stuck in 1936. The only candidate who seems to grasp the new world situation both domestically and internationally is Elizabeth Warren. She understands that power tends to corrupt and that the power of Wall Street has corrupted America and much of the world. She may have enough sechel, i.e., common sense, to navigate in the new world where America is no longer the leader.
Americans Do Not Value Smart
If Americans cared about intelligence, knowledge, or wisdom, the Democrat race would be between Warren and Buttigieg or we’d already have a Warren-Butti ticket. The GOP would have dumped Trump for anyone who was not mentally ill. Since Americans have no use for smart people and certainly do not even comprehend the need for wisdom, it’s probably best for the world that we no longer lead the Free World.
(Richard Lee Abrams is a Los Angeles attorney and a CityWatch contributor. He can be reached at: [email protected]. Abrams views are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CityWatch) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.