| | | American culture is drifting into obnoxiousness for much of the world. Inevitably it should affect our political hegemony also, no? I think in the first decades after WWII the U.S. became the #1 nation without even trying - simply by virtue of letting loose the American virtues - freedom, productivity, inventiveness, common sense.
But, nothing is forever. Since as far as the 60’s, problems started to develop. By now, even without foreign entanglements, we are in a crisis - overregulated, hopelessly in debt, culturally a mess.
Proxy wars have become the trademark of the age. But, ever since Vietnam, we are more careful at picking enemies - countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya - were “missions accomplished” without suffering intolerable losses. But even those ended in a way it’s hard to be proud of.
Back to the “hegemony” thing. We do have challenges - primarily, China. Russia may be a military challenge, but certainly not economically. We have a choice - peacefully compete - or use military means. The latter would mean unwinnable, catastrophic wars.
Let’s imagine that, somehow, our hegemony status continues. That would mean that countries #2, 9, 55 and so on would be at the mercy of people like Biden, AOC, Lindsay whatsisname, and such others. How good would that be? How long can this last? Is this what people like us really want?
Hegemonic Pax Romana was nothing but centuries of endless wars. Is that what we want? Because that’s what we are getting. At least, Rome was able to have a civilizing effect. |
|
