the worm is turning
There was a debate early on. Jefferson led a faction having a vision to go in a direction far different from that of England: Remain pastoral and decentralized. Hamilton led a faction having Great Power aspirations. As the world was entering the historical phase of industrial development it was a sure bet that the Hamiltonians would win out.
With European technological acumen — and having almost unlimited land and resources — the United States emerged during the nineteenth century as a formidable competitor to England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. After the European powers set themselves back fighting two world wars, the United States became the most dominant imperial power in the history of the world. It had learned a lesson to avoid direct colonialism. Its dominance was effectuated via corporate market-invading battering rams.
Its success at first elicited respect, envy, emulation. American culture was adopted worldwide. But in the long run the domination, mega-wealth, uber-power, and hyper-consumerism were bound to chafe.
Both Trump and Biden pretend they can set policy for the whole world. The rest of the world is sick of it. The US’s best interest is not in the best interest of much of the world. Since the US does not give a damn about anyone else’s opinion, why should anyone else give a damn about the US opinion? One should not make excuses for Putin, but one also needs to admit that US foreign policy played a huge role in fomenting the mess in Ukraine.
The world is sick of leaders like Trump and Biden who both believe they can set sanction policy for the globe. But SWIFT, the dollar routing means to enforce sanctions, is approaching a dead end. The BRICS countries will not challenge the US dollar. Instead, the biggest success of the BRICS will be sanction avoidance. And once central bank digital currencies can get around the SWIFT system, the whole idea of the US dictating global foreign policy via sanctions heads straight to the gutter, frankly where it belongs. If the US minded its own business in the first place, the alleged need for many of these sanctions would never have arisen.
