What Type of People Have We Become?
To be sure, cruelty, greed and dishonesty didn’t just arrive to the world of government and commerce in 2018. When I got in business in the early 1980s, I recall witnessing certain things and wondering: Was that guy raised by wolves? or Didn’t she learn not to do that in Sunday School?
Now, of course, disgusting behavior is more the rule than the exception; it’s common that, in many ways, it’s ceased to register with us. We’re unaware of it, like fish are unaware of the water in which they swim. And, when the leader of the free world is a professional liar and conman, it’s easy to see how a population can get inured to this garbage in a hell of a hurry.
Here are a couple of memes that speak to this issue. The quote above from the Dalai Lama is so obvious that, to decent people, it needs not even be said. The other is a reminder of the fact that decent people are far harder to find than they once were.
Craig,
Poor old Dalai Lama, exiled from his native land by a cruel, expansionist power. He was forced to flee and watch while his ancient culture and people were destroyed during a never ending nightmare of genocidal occupation.
Tibetan anguish is largely forgotten by nations anxious to do business with the Peoples Republic of China.
Realpolitik dictates little can be done for the plight of Tibet, so it’s pointless to even discuss the issue with the PRC.
During the Obama years the US seemed ready to abandon even the island of Taiwan or at least not protest the PRC’s increasing dominance, yielding to increasingly aggressive pressure from Beijing.
The pressure on President Obama grew intense as many liberals sought the complete abandonment of Taiwan in an effort to appease Beijing. Obama’s Policy became one of weak indifference, allowing events to unfurl as circumstance dictated.
Arms sales to Taiwan occurred spasmodically and only to prevent South Korea replacing the US as a supplier and defending ally.
President trump from the day of his inauguration has bolstered US support for Taiwan. He’s actively supported Taipei and encouraged closer relations. When criticized for accepting phone calls from the President of the ROC, (Taiwan) and upsetting Beijing, he tweeted, American Presidents don’t need anyone’s permission”.”I’ll decide what’s in the best interest of the US, not some guy in Beijing” !
While Obama adhered to a doctrine of “One China”, Trump openly told the PRC his administrations policy is “One China, One Taiwan”, with the US guaranteeing Taipei’s right to self-determination.
Obama’s policy on Taiwan tried to please everyone, and ended pleasing no one
As he explained;
“the current status quo of the Taiwan Strait does not fully satisfy either side, but it it maintains a sort of peace. For China, the Taiwan issue is the most important on its agenda. The concept of ‘One China’ is the central part of its national concept.
If you are to end this concept, you have to think out the aftermath, as China’s attitude to this issue is different from those to other issues, the US must not be perceived as promoting Taipai’s right to self determination “.
Contrast that approach with the current administrations policies. The Trump administration is bolder, but still cautious. Where Obama played a careful, subtle game with the PRC, President Trump is far more overt and obvious send the US fleet and sells Taipei very best US weapons.
Oddly, the PRC government prefers Trump’s candor and pragmatism. With Trump the PRC understands the rules.
China got away with Tibet because of logistical impossibilities. President Trump is working to ensure Taiwan is not the Dragons next victim. Containment of an expanding PRC with not be eazy of without hardship and risk, but it must be resolute if it’s to gain PRC respect.
The issue is that Trump is reckless and does not seem to care about the consequences of his actions! He acts like a 5-year-old who has not yet discovered that playing with fire will get you burned! The way Trump is acting is likely to induce world war III! Trump is starting conflicts with North Korea and China, but if they were to attack us, we would not be able to do anything in time due to their nuclear weapons. One wrong move and it’s over. We can’t just jump in like he is doing, we need to think this through first!
Susan,
Relax ! President Trump will not start World War 3 ! In fact President Trump’s foreign policy is the most measured and careful, yet effective, US policy for several decades.
A world war requires a very unique set of circumstances. The most important dynamic is a set of conflicting, but roughly evenly matched, power blocks. Those conditions ceased to exist with the collapse of the old USSR-Warsaw Pact.
The US still remains supremely powerful, although the buildup of Chinese offensive capacity is very ominous, the PLA is still not the equal of the US.
North Korea is a pygmy rogue state with no real allies. Even the PRC wishes Pyongyang would just go away or disappear.
President Trump is not “starting” conflicts with North Korea. North Korea is like that scary weird little teenager in your neighborhood whose more than a little unbalanced, so far he’s only been a pest, but when you see him trying to get hold of high powered automatic weapons and looking up high school buildings on the internet, well…, maybe it’s time to do a bit more than just ignoring him.
President Trump is doing a great job of ‘containing’ an expansionist Peoples Republic of China. His policies are proving effective because the PRC is still not yet strong enough to risk either economic or military conflict, and because the PRC is prepared to wait until a weaker, more gullible US President is elected. The Dragon is patient and plans in term of generations, not four year terms.
President Trump has both contained and weakened Russian ambitions, while enticing by carrot and stick Russian cooperation in counter balancing Chinese aspirations.
The President saw clearly the Aces Russia holds in Eastern Europe. Russia’s aces are the dependency of Western Europe on Russian energy, coupled with NATO’s apathy and complacency.
By increasing sanctions against Russia while exporting US energy to Russia’s eastern neigbours and Western Europe, President Trump weakens Russia’s position. At the same time Trump has forced America’s European NATO partners to shoulder more of the cost, increase spending and shake off NATO Apathy.
The President also offers Russia a carrot (mostly just diplomatic) in return for Russian assistance. The President needs Russian assistance to prevent a fight between Iran and Israel. Russia can assist by using influence with Iran, will helping the US keep down oil prices (especially in the US) and pushing back Chinese ambitions.
So far his carrot and stick diplomacy has produced remarkable results !
The policies work because the US President isn’t bound by and political/ideological considerations. He’s the first US President for many years respected by foreign leaders.
His “American First” policy, is refreshingly candid and lacks hypocrisy. Dealing with Trump is not complicated, his goals are clear and easily fulfilled. His policies are most effective when he deals with powerful leaders who possess the ability to put into effect any agreements, and understand the benefits of what is offered.
President Trump backs his policies with the certainty that he’s prepared to use the awesome power of the US economy and if necessary, military to accomplish his goals. He’s also prepared to use that same power to reward genuine cooperation.
So far the President is removing the US from conflict, not starting any new wars. His policy on Syria has proved correct and had he been President in 2003, there would have been no war in Iraq.
Trump is first and foremost a businessman. He has no interest in pointless and expensive military adventures.
Don’t believe everything you hear on CNN.