this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2024
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politics

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Ambassadors to Washington warn that the GOP-Democratic divide is endangering America’s national security.

When I asked the European ambassador to talk to me about America’s deepening partisan divide, I expected a polite brushoff at best. Foreign diplomats are usually loath to discuss domestic U.S. politics.

Instead, the ambassador unloaded for an hour, warning that America’s poisonous politics are hurting its security, its economy, its friends and its standing as a pillar of democracy and global stability.

The U.S. is a “fat buffalo trying to take a nap” as hungry wolves approach, the envoy mused. “I can hear those Champagne bottle corks popping in Moscow — like it’s Christmas every fucking day.”

As voters cast ballots in the Iowa caucuses Monday, many in the United States see this year’s presidential election as a test of American democracy. But, in a series of conversations with a dozen current and former diplomats, I sensed that to many of our friends abroad, the U.S. is already failing that test.

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[–] agitatedpotato 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

The past decade of American politics has convinced the world there is merit in reducing reliance on the US and the next decade will reinforce that. The US economy is nothing if it cannot remain a competitive investment option for foreign dollars. Id wager the majority of the reason the fed jacked rates was to keep the dollar as a great investment for those foreign investors. The unemployment boost they said they were looking for didn't happen but they say they're done raising rates, so they did get something they wanted it seems.

And since American loves to import necessities, should those foreign investments halt and stop helping to keep the dollar competitive internationally, America will go from a third world country with shiny commodites, to a third world country with nothing but the largest military on earth.

Conditions like that give rise to even more authoritarian right wing populists who would end up assuming control of a country with a poor economy but immense military might. What do you think is going to happen? Because my guess is exactly what Russia is doing now. That is what is at risk for the future of a US that doesn't get it's shit together. If you think stopping Russias military is hard, Imagine the USA decides it's time to leverage military might for economic gain.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Imagine the USA decides it’s time to leverage military might for economic gain.

I see what you mean in general, but it's a bit funny to assume the US hasn't been leveraging its military for economic gain (see: the whole Mmiddle East).

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago

A less controversial example is that the USA provides security for many shipping lanes. Few countries are in a position to do that currently.

[–] agitatedpotato 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Fair enough, but as it stands the US is tolerable as a security guarantor because they use that force "fairly" enough to other powerful states. Without other states invested in the US econ theres much less to lose and instead of protecting them, the US could easily use their existing global reach to extort anyone who needs that security, pay up or you're on your own. And that money would go right to the presumably despotic government, not even routed through multinationals that buy the government representatives. Neither is preferable, but if the government becomes nothing but a military, more money directly to them would likely cause more bad things.

[–] Delta_V 1 points 9 months ago

fed jacked rates ... they did get something they wanted

Fewer loans issued by member banks means less new money entering the economy via private spending, which means the federal government can spend that much more money without impacting inflation. And there is plenty that needs to be bought, from pandemic related expenses, to scaling up weapons production in anticipation of WWIII, infrastructure modernization and other measures to encourage manufacturing to return from China to the American continent, and social programs to treat the worst mass poverty seen since the Great Depression.