The Dysfunctional States of America…or as CNN put it, the Fractured States of America.
The US is so polarized that it is embarrassing. A country that is supposed to be the bastion of Democracy, that presents itself as the model that other democratic nations should emulate, instead has politicians acting like children, interested mainly in getting back at their political opponents, in focusing on one-upmanship rather than what is good for the country (is the latter such a quaint concept today?).
74 million Americans voting for a charlatan with a sorely limited intellectual capacity, voters who cannot see that they are being made suckers of by an egotist whose sole aim is his personal aggrandizement.
A country which has lost control of its finances, which has been racking up never-before-seen budget deficits with no sign of abatement and, as a result, debts which far outstrip the size of its economy.
A country where hate and fear are prevalent national emotions, where there are more guns in the hands of private individuals than the total national population, where gun ownership is a “sacred right” resulting in the US accounting for 75% of mass shootings in developed countries.
A country which seems to have lost control of the entry of illegal immigrants, spawning all sorts of problems and fears among “White” Americans that they are losing control of their country, in turn fueling the fear and hate that tears communities apart.
The list goes on and on.
The US is in a precarious position today, effectively fighting 2 wars, in Ukraine and in Palestine, and faced with the formidable challenge of China’s military might which is slowly approaching the overextended power of the US. The military strength of the US is being eroded by political bickering among its politicians, which weakens its capability to meet these challenges.
A weakened US will unfortunately affect other nations adversely. For example, approximately 2/3 of Canada’s global trade is with the US. It is estimated that 40% of Canada’s GDP is dependent on its economic relations with the US through trade, investments, and tourism.
The same situation applies to other countries as well, though perhaps not to the extent as Canada. The Philippines, for example, as a former colony of the US, trades extensively with the US but other countries in the region such as China and Japan are major trading partners as well. The same would apply with foreign investors in the Philippines. While US investors have had a long history of presence in the country, China, Japan, Singapore and other nationals also have a significant investment presence in the country.
Given the problems that the US is faced with – externally and internally – it is necessary for economic planners in countries that have extensive links with the US to develop programs to diversify their exposure to the US. The sooner this is done the better, as the US Empire is crumbling before our eyes.