When I try to explain the value of our Pax Americana era and why we shouldn't burn down our reputation, I say that through a series of events America sort of stumbled into a unique and unnatural position as the hyperpower upon which the world order stands. It isn't normal. Perhaps at the end of WW2 and the start of the Cold War it was necessary, but at some point it became questionable whether Europe, Asia, or any other part of the world should all be so reliant on the US for their security. Despite that open question, we managed to keep everyone complacent and compliant enough to maintain our overwhelming and anomalous advantage with which we became the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world. Unfortunately, for millions of Americans, they're about to learn the hard way: You don't know what you have until it's gone.
What Trump has done has forced everyone to look at the elephant in the room, to shine a light on it and dare the world to look away at their peril. As you said, even if we could get rid of MAGA, no sane, self-respecting nation would dare forget, even if they ultimately choose to forgive. What we had shouldn't have existed, yet somehow we found ourselves in the prosperous and precarious position as the world's sole hyperpower, in which dozens of nations voluntarily(-ish?) followed our lead and interests. Now that the world has seen the reality, that they were *always* at the mercy of America's dedication to its role, no matter how this all ends and who America decides to become, we will never be the USA as we've known our entire lives or read about in the history of the past century. In the end, the Pax Americana bubble had to burst, I think. It's just tragic that *this* is how.
The dumbest part is, it was never about Noble American Self-sacrifice in service of an Ungrateful World (sorry, channeling Agent Orange with the random capitalization), but the Pax Americana was EXPLICITLY in America's self-interest! It made the US vaaaast amount of wealth. It caused dozens of other countries to stop trying to compete with the US militarily. It shaped the world along the lines most beneficial to America.
What kind of moron looks at hundreds of air-, army- and navy-bases lodged happily in friendly countries around the globe and think "Man! What a shitty deal for America!"? Economic and military alliances are NOTORIOUSLY difficult to forge and maintain. And, it turns out, shockingly easy to destroy.
Canadians might be "nice" (outside of wartime [look it up]), but we hold a grudge. It will take generations to get us to lower our guard and trust America again, if it happens at all. I can't imagine things are better elsewhere in the empire.
Good job, America. You shot your own power and prestige in the foot.
You've articulated this beautifully. As much as some might cling to the idea of the Pax Americana, it's clear that we’re at a turning point—one that was long coming but is now here in a way that we can no longer ignore. It’s a painful reality, but the silver lining might be that the world can start to reshape itself on its own terms, outside of our shadow.
As always, I really appreciate your insights and the depth you bring to these conversations. Your perspective is always so insightful. Thank you for being you.
When I try to explain the value of our Pax Americana era and why we shouldn't burn down our reputation, I say that through a series of events America sort of stumbled into a unique and unnatural position as the hyperpower upon which the world order stands. It isn't normal. Perhaps at the end of WW2 and the start of the Cold War it was necessary, but at some point it became questionable whether Europe, Asia, or any other part of the world should all be so reliant on the US for their security. Despite that open question, we managed to keep everyone complacent and compliant enough to maintain our overwhelming and anomalous advantage with which we became the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world. Unfortunately, for millions of Americans, they're about to learn the hard way: You don't know what you have until it's gone.
What Trump has done has forced everyone to look at the elephant in the room, to shine a light on it and dare the world to look away at their peril. As you said, even if we could get rid of MAGA, no sane, self-respecting nation would dare forget, even if they ultimately choose to forgive. What we had shouldn't have existed, yet somehow we found ourselves in the prosperous and precarious position as the world's sole hyperpower, in which dozens of nations voluntarily(-ish?) followed our lead and interests. Now that the world has seen the reality, that they were *always* at the mercy of America's dedication to its role, no matter how this all ends and who America decides to become, we will never be the USA as we've known our entire lives or read about in the history of the past century. In the end, the Pax Americana bubble had to burst, I think. It's just tragic that *this* is how.
The dumbest part is, it was never about Noble American Self-sacrifice in service of an Ungrateful World (sorry, channeling Agent Orange with the random capitalization), but the Pax Americana was EXPLICITLY in America's self-interest! It made the US vaaaast amount of wealth. It caused dozens of other countries to stop trying to compete with the US militarily. It shaped the world along the lines most beneficial to America.
What kind of moron looks at hundreds of air-, army- and navy-bases lodged happily in friendly countries around the globe and think "Man! What a shitty deal for America!"? Economic and military alliances are NOTORIOUSLY difficult to forge and maintain. And, it turns out, shockingly easy to destroy.
Canadians might be "nice" (outside of wartime [look it up]), but we hold a grudge. It will take generations to get us to lower our guard and trust America again, if it happens at all. I can't imagine things are better elsewhere in the empire.
Good job, America. You shot your own power and prestige in the foot.
😡🇨🇦
You've articulated this beautifully. As much as some might cling to the idea of the Pax Americana, it's clear that we’re at a turning point—one that was long coming but is now here in a way that we can no longer ignore. It’s a painful reality, but the silver lining might be that the world can start to reshape itself on its own terms, outside of our shadow.
As always, I really appreciate your insights and the depth you bring to these conversations. Your perspective is always so insightful. Thank you for being you.