The fall of the US empire

[harm_less]

Very enlightening interview on Al Jazerra with Professor Richard Wolff on the state of the US 'empire'.

[zqwerty]

Yes, very good.

I wonder if he would be so dismissive of aid for Israel as he is for Ukraine?

[dken31]

In spite of the many faults and failings of the US "empire", is there another you'd rather see take over? Whether you see USA as a genuinely good option, or just a least bad option for being "world police", they are still clearly better than than the alternatives. Because although there being no dominant world power, and all countries instead just co-operating in harmonious peace is obviously the ideal, it is also so obviously never going to happen. If the US "falls", another dominant power WILL fill the void and impose its will on the world.

At the moment, the likely alternative to USA looks to be China. And China's systemic racism, misogyny, horrific human rights violations etc. really do make USA look like a Utopia.

This doesn't mean we can't hope for the US (and western countries in general) to improve, but hoping for their overthrow is, at best, incredibly naive.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

All empires rise and fall. Putin has hopes of a rising by supporting the fall of Trumps America...

Men in suits. The most dangerous creatures the world has ever known.

---

In spite of the many faults and failings of the US "empire", is there another you'd rather see take over?  Whether you see USA as a genuinely good option, or just a least bad option for being "world police", they are still clearly better than than the alternatives.  Because although there being no dominant world power, and all countries instead just co-operating in harmonious peace is obviously the ideal, it is also so obviously never going to happen.  If the US "falls", another dominant power WILL fill the void and impose its will on the world.

At the moment, the likely alternative to USA looks to be China. And China's systemic racism, misogyny, horrific human rights violations etc. really do make USA look like a Utopia. 

This doesn't mean we can't hope for the US (and western countries in general) to improve, but hoping for their overthrow is, at best, incredibly naive.

Well, on the subject of human evils, is there a nation with clean hands?

[Lilith7]

The greed & cruelty of our species may well be our undoing...

[dken31]

Is there a nation with clean hands? No, not at all, however some have far far dirty hands than others. And although others being worse in no way justifies doing bad stuff yourself, which country is least worse is definitely relevant with regard to choosing who you'd like to be the dominant world power.

And with regard to "men in suits", they may have done bad stuff, however they've also done a whole lot of good. Pretty much every material comfort you enjoy (from technology to the modern western social welfare system) was likely either invented or significantly developed/made available to the general public by a "man in a suit". And, to be clear, I'm not justifying the bad stuff, however I am saying that, on balance, "men in suits" have made a net positive contribution to all of our lives.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Lol, actually made available is right. Men in suits are excellent opportunists. But really it is the folk in overalls who come up with the best stuff. First.

They get their hands dirty too!

[joe 90]

Love him or hate him Turups plans of taking no shit from anti US countries determined to see USA fall wil lpay off . Even China now looking at building car plants in USA to avoid trumps big tarriffs on imports win win for USA

[harm_less]

Love  him or hate him  Turups  plans of taking no shit from  anti US countries  determined to  see  USA fall  wil lpay off  .  Even China  now looking at  building  car  plants in USA to avoid trumps  big tarriffs on imports    win  win  for  USA

Trump is making legislation in the manner of a cornered rat and having to backtrack on many of his policies. As the video claims, the US's financial superiority is in a state of decline and the vultures are circling.

Regarding Chinese moving into US based manufacturing it would do you well to check this Netflix movie. The expectations and work ethics of Americans are very different to those expected by Chinese corporations so don't think such enterprises will run smoothly.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Love  him or hate him  Turups  plans of taking no shit from  anti US countries  determined to  see  USA fall  wil lpay off  .  Even China  now looking at  building  car  plants in USA to avoid trumps  big tarriffs on imports    win  win  for  USA

Well, if China opens plants in the US and pays its workers US rates, and complies with US labour laws, their products will cost more on the sales floor than they do now off the container ships.

Can't see it myself. I think they are more likely to sell into markets without tariff loading. As are other US suppliers facing tariff extortion.

The US, via Trump, is convinced of its own primacy in the world. That might be harder to maintain than they imagine, if the current response to the changes in policies and governance continue to undermine the US economy, along with its international reputation and relationships.

[Lilith7]

If we could find a way ro rid our species of greed, we might then do far better. In just about everything.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I was reminded last night, watching the new Canadian PM on tv, of an interview he did with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show a month or so back. Worth looking up if you enjoy hearing intelligent folk in conversation, and especially knowing where Mark Carney has now ended up.

Canada will be in safe hands I think.

[Lilith7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs8St-fF0kE


Oh - a politician with a sense of humour! I'm not so keen on politicans but he's very interesting.

[zqwerty]

Yes Lilith7 he's very good and look at his credentials.

Mark Carney, Canadian economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England.

[Lilith7]

I'd never heard of him till now; interesting times ahead I suspect.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

At least Canada is not going to descend into the Trump world, pity we can't be quite so sure of our lot. Winston in particular seems to be increasingly fond of Trumpisms.

[zqwerty]

Trump, Musk are a good example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing.