An End to the World as We Know It?

[Gdjjr]

Congress and the White House compete in year-end stupidity sweepstakes

At the end of the nineteenth century, Lord Palmerston stated what he thought was obvious, that “England has no eternal friends, England has no perpetual enemies, England has only eternal and perpetual interests.” Palmerston was saying that national interests should drive the relationships with foreigners. A nation will have amicable relations most of the time with some countries and difficult relations with some others, but the bottom line should always be what is beneficial for one’s own country and people.

If Palmerston were alive today and observing the relationship of the United States of America with the rest of the world, he might well find Washington to be an exception to his rule. The U.S., to be sure, has been adept at turning adversaries into enemies and disappointing friends, and it is all done with a glib assurance that doing so will somehow bring democracy and freedom to all. Indeed, either neoliberal democracy promotion or the neoconservative version of the same have been seen as an overriding and compelling interest during the past twenty years even though the policies themselves have been disastrous and have only damaged the real interests of the American people.

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

The United States' global diplomatic balancing act of the last 70 years was done in the belief that if we bring all the world up to our level, ala Kissinger selling the farm to China, they will like us and peace will guide the planets and all that rubbish. All it has accomplished is to drain our cashbox and prove the axiom "charity breeds contempt".

The now suddenly popular phrase "quid pro quo" should be weaponized and used as a starting basis for any discussion of cooperation.

In terms of adversaries and friends, perhaps these should be completely reevaluated.

 

[Gdjjr]

In terms of adversaries and friends, perhaps these should be completely reevaluated.

How about we follow Washington and Jefferson's advice, at least once, and trade with all, ally with none- nah, war mongers can't profit from that.
Yet, here we are- the rank and file arguing about which brick wall is the best- the one you hit at 99mph or the one you hit at 100mph- dead is dead-

The end of the world as we know it- LOL- it's never been as we know it- so yeah, it's the end of the world as we know it but thanks to the internet people educating themselves- things change- that's life. One door closing is another opening, but, being subservient from ignorance and choosing to be willfully blind with acolyte behavior closes more doors than there are to open- most of us won't be around to witness the future, but, there will be a future. Would we like it? hard to say- it's kinda like climate change- adapt or die- like Washington said; the tree of liberty once rooted spreads rapidly-

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

In terms of adversaries and friends, perhaps these should be completely reevaluated.

How about we follow Washington and Jefferson's advice, at least once, and trade with all, ally with none- nah, war mongers can't profit from that.
Yet, here we are- the rank and file arguing about which brick wall is the best- the one you hit at 99mph or the one you hit at 100mph- dead is dead-

The end of the world as we know it- LOL- it's never been as we know it- so yeah, it's the end of the world as we know it but thanks to the internet people educating themselves- things change- that's life. One door closing is another opening, but, being subservient from ignorance and choosing to be willfully blind with acolyte behavior closes more doors than there are to open- most of us won't be around to witness the future, but, there will be a future. Would we like it? hard to say- it's kinda like climate change- adapt or die- like Washington said; the tree of liberty once rooted spreads rapidly-

"Avoid foreign entanglements" was good advice. Unfortunately we are now so entangled it will take a century to undo it all.

 

[Gdjjr]

Unfortunately we are now so entangled it will take a century to undo it all.

The longest journey begins with the first step.