Remember when everyone thought 2020 was the “worst year ever”? Little did we know that 2020 was just the beginning, and would usher in the worst decade In living memory. And this is especially true in the United States, the former “shining city on a hill” and “land of the free.”
Nowadays, the United States would be more accurately labeled “The land of the free is oppressed, gaslighted, and bullied” We Americans are now “free” to be confused, lied to, confused, bought, discarded or even “disappeared”.
Fear and confusion rule. All around, former “citizens” kneel under tyranny. Many individuals, families and even entire states, huge corporations and major law firms have acquiesced and forced themselves into submission to effective dictatorships.
Worse, many so-called “citizens” and most red states did it intentionally chosen Embracing despotism and authoritarianism (yet they call it “freedom”). One way or another, millions of Americans surrendered their autonomy and abandoned true democracy. Instead, they humbly – or sometimes proudly – “kiss the ring” of our resident lunatic-dictator, Donald Trump.
It was not supposed to happen like this. this no How the vaunted “American test” was supposed to launch. The American Revolution was fought to ensure that “we the people” could govern ourselves and would never again be ruled by an unaccountable king or tyrant.
Yet, here we are – back in the same horrible trap we supposedly escaped 250 years ago.
We blew it, people. badly
A sad, familiar story
What happened? How did we get so badly drunk? If the United States still exists, in some form, by 2030, historians and sociologists will be furiously pursuing these questions and rushing to provide semi-comforting “answers.”
But what I am doing or not trying, here and now. That will come later. I just want to chronicle which we are losing – and what we’re settling for in return. It’s a sad, familiar story: We’ve surrendered our birthright and potential greatness “for a mess.” We have left the lowest, greediest and most despicable among us victory
Nowhere was this clearer than in the recent turmoil and fallout from the World Economic Forum in Davos. There, Dictator Trump revels in trashing and insulting our allies. He arrogantly scolded them, insisting “it’s my way or the highway.” There was no sense of cooperation or effective diplomacy. It was the stuff of pure, brutal despotism.
Our long-term European and Canadian allies were not pleased. Rather, they were upset and angry – but more than that, they were (and are) is) disappointed and terrified. They are worried about what the US is doing to the world order and the “rule of law”.
Goodbye, rules-based international order
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it best, voicing out loud what everyone there was thinking and fear. He is Dr (edited),
I recommend reading the entire speech. it is that Well, and that’s significant.
It may also be titled “A Plea for a Rules-Based World Order.”
Betrayal, chaos and destruction
How is his statement relevant to the decline and fall of the United States? It’s simple: his entire speech revolved around the collapse of the US and the Western world’s “rules-based order” and the way the US has both bullied and treachery Our former allies.
Yes, under Dictator Trump, we have actively and willfully betrayed our friends and allies, attacked NATO, and undermined the post-World War II order that the United States was instrumental in creating! To put it bluntly, the US has done a major “about face” and pulled the rug out from under the international order (while warming up to Russia and Israel). And imperfect as it was, the rules-based international system was far better than the alternative the United States was adopting—namely, national hegemony through tyranny, coercive pressure, and brute force.
Strangely, unbelievably, the US – at least, the arrogant right-wing now holds absolute power in Washington – has resorted to the same delusion. way to work That Trump has long employed to get his way. (See the film “The Apprentice” to get a clear, terrifying picture of how MO always ensuring his ‘victory’.) his Totally unethical Emerge to “play by the rules”: Always claim victory. Never admit a problem or injustice. Deny everything. No accountability is delayed. will do something necessary To conquer and always: “Attack, attack, attack!”
Trump embodies this perfectly MODecade after decade. Because of his and MAGA’s damaging influence, however, the US government, the GOP and US society have increasingly capitulated and Also These unethical ‘rules’ are accepted.
And that one fact, marked Mt disaster For both the United States and the Western world. The West now faces a more intense disaster initially by the United States—which was the exact inspiration for Carney’s powerful, unprecedented speech.
The United States is now an international agent of chaos and destruction.
Losing civilization, losing hope
What do we do when the US abandons the rules-based order? to lose? It’s too easy to just shrug and try to ‘move on’. This is a change Big, big deal This indicates that the essential qualities we used to call “civilized” are no longer held in high esteem. Positive human qualities such as empathy, compassion, cooperation and sharing are now seen as “weak”, impractical or foolish, while brute force, bullying and overt coercion are praised and supported.
We’ve all witnessed this ugly pattern over and over again during Trump’s rise and cultural “reign” in the United States over the past decade. And many red-state governors and politicians are busy imitating him. Now, we’re at a point where masked thugs are roaming Democrat-led cities, terrorizing and “disappearing” people, even killing American citizens.
The horrors and dangers we are exposed to, however, are barely recognized—yet!—by most Americans However, our allies see them clearly and are scared to death.
Here’s what they see: a formerly great and (somewhat) civilized nation descending into dark chaos, corruption, and decline. They see a divided, angry nation full of frustrated, angry people, collectively slipping away. quickly Mass violence and darkness are a slippery, destructive slope toward UN-civilization.
So, what are we? to lose In the United States? We are losing any sense of stability … or cooperation … or fairness … or racial solidarity … or openness … or religious tolerance … or trust in science … or integrity … or even a shared, realistic “reality”. Greedy individualism and ruthless competition/dominance hold sway, while community, cooperation and democracy are being crushed – completely. Decimated.
America’s last chance for redemption and resurrection
Here’s my dire prediction for the United States: If we Americans turn this dark evolution, our accelerating downward spiral, around — and quickly – The United States is heading straight for a rapid and massive decline. If things continue as they are, we are only dooming ourselves to massive chaos, suffering and destruction.
There is no longer any doubt in my (or Europe’s, or Canada’s) mind: this year, 2026, marks America’s last chance for redemption and resurgence. This is our make-or-break year.
It’s totally up to us, people. Will 2026 be the year that Americans finally “wake up” and take back our country — or will it be the year that the United States goes up in flames, taking much of the Western world with it?
Will 2026 turn out to be a proud-yet-humbling 250th anniversary, filled with resurgent hope and democracy-honoring cooperation — or will it mark the ultimate decline of the United States and the fulfillment of Trump and Maga’s dark dreams of conquest and tyranny?
So far, it looks like their “dark dreams of conquest and tyranny” are winning, big time — when the U.S. loses in a big way and suffers the ultimate loss: civilizational collapse.
. . .
** No king! ** There will be rallies again on March 28 — and these protests will be massive. the biggest ever If you want to help create a better, healthier, more compassionate nation, be there!
–
This post was Previously published on the Bouncein’ and Behavin’ blogs.
***
You might also like this from The Good Men Project
If you believe in the work we’re doing at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.
All premium members can watch The Good Men Project without any ads.
Need more information? A full list of benefits is here.
Photo credit: iStock
