Since the end of WW2, US influence throughout the world has been pervasive, accepted, and even entreated. Various world events now are piling that into a coffin and Trump is nailing it shut. In the past, our influence was due not only to our strength, but also to our morals. Prior to this administration, we led, we were faithful, and we gave. And when sometimes our generosity was exploited, we continued giving, knowing we were doing the right thing and because we could afford to. We took the high road. Now we bluster our strength, abandon friends, and ask, “what’s in it for me?” Ironically, we are playing right into the hand of the perceived (and likely real) biggest threat to our hegemony – China. Example: during the current pandemic, the US is closing its borders, blocking the export of aid equipment (e.g., facemasks), defunding WHO, and making no effort whatsoever to lead or even participate in a world cooperative effort to address this world crisis. On the other hand, China is exporting aid equipment and services to countries around the world. Who will be remembered more fondly?
The US now goes back on its word and abandons its allies. Signing a treaty used to mean something; no longer for us. Fighting evil side-by-side used to imply a bond of mutual protection; no longer for us. We publicly disparage our allies and compliment bully dictators. The “land of opportunity” now is for Americans only while we tell the world to keep out. Worse, we withhold aid to the countries that need it the most to reduce the crime and poverty that produces the immigrants we don’t want arguing, “what have they done for us?” (a regressive policy if there ever was one). We shun all efforts for any kind of world cooperation. Why should anyone in the world trust us, like us, emulate us? Recent polls show Europeans favor China over the US as a shoulder to lean on.
For those who might not care what the world thinks of us so long as the US gets a fair deal, what does a “fair deal” mean when all your friends try to ignore you and are ready to cozy up to your nemesis? The US is becoming like a rich old tycoon, proud of his many good deals, but isolated and disliked with nothing more productive to do but rattle around in his decaying gilded estate. Dying with no friends.
Where will this go? China argues for the superiority of one-party rule and demonstrates this by offering widespread lending and development to the Third World and (apparent) effective crisis management of the current pandemic. The world looks at that behavior favorably while holding its nose at the US who tells them all to keep out, praises abusive bullies, insults allies, bullies dependents, tightens its purse strings, foments racism, tolerates internal violence and greed, and publicly bumbles its own governance. Although China’s one-party system facilitates a terrible internal oppression, the US two-party system has become so paralyzed and bitterly divisive that it no longer offers obvious benefit. Millennials are disillusioned with it, the Base just pumps unhelpful vitriol, and the Boomers who believed in it are dying off. The Electoral College design, Citizens United, big money lobbying, and a politicized Judicial branch have made a sham of representative democracy. No wonder voter turnout is pathetic, and the world is turning elsewhere. We have lost our moral compass and our institutions are crumbling. As the world and even some of the US ponder better forms of government, it has now become legitimate to ask, “what will the US be in 20 years?”