Nation building is an abject failure as shown in Iran and Iraq, and democracy in our own country is failing. And why would anyone want anyone want Americans to bring gay marriage, unisex bathrooms, Christian intolerance, political correctness, open borders, massive obesity, tattoos and body piercing to their country?

I hate modern American culture and don’t wish it on anyone in the world.

They can’t afford to import billions upon billions of dollars — AND spend large on their militaries.

It’s THAT simple.

The only nation that does not fit this pattern is Israel — which is famously given about $3,000,0000,000 most years by treaty.

&&&&&

Based on centuries of history, does anyone seriously WANT Europeans making the Big Decisions on military events ?

The universal answer is no.

They can’t afford to import billions upon billions of dollars — AND spend large on their militaries.

It’s THAT simple.

The establishment of the US dollar as the global universal currency, which at that time was literally as good as gold… is entirely separate from disconnecting the US dollar from an actual physical standard (Gold). That is what allowed us to generate billions of worthless currency.

Nor is that the reason why our European allies have not created a military commensurate with their needs. They haven’t done so because they can’t pay for their defense AND have a welfare State.

It’s that simple.

Nor have we done so simply to pay for the Pax Americana. We’ve done so in order to live beyond our means. Pumping worthless currency into the economy, both domestic and global results in currency devaluation, which ultimately results in both the need for two earner households and the loss of manufacturing jobs.

The rich get richer with artificial wealth, the poor get “bread and circuses” and it’s all paid for off the backs of the middle class… until it all collapses.

Look at what a dollar buys today in food and what it once did, then look at our 17 trillion in official debt and its near perfect correlation with the 17 trillion we’ve paid in the “War on Poverty” welfare programs.

It’s really that simple.

Europe has long had an aging population, low birth rates and to pay for their socialism, imported low wage workers from the ME, while ‘letting’ America ‘pay’ (greater indebtedness) for protection from the Soviet threat.

It’s really that simple.

“By April 2–the day Lokey left Zero Hedge–their relationship had deteriorated significantly, according to the messages provided by Ivandjiiski.

“I can’t be a 24-hour cheerleader for Hezbollah, Moscow, Tehran, Beijing, and Trump anymore. It’ s wrong. Period. I know it gets you views now, but it will kill your brand over the long run,” Lokey texted Ivandjiiski. “This isn’t a revolution. It’s a joke.”

Chances that ZeroHedge is getting kickbacks from Moscow = 100%.

“We’ll NEVER get them to agree to start to pay their fair share for their defense, if we don’t convince them that the alternative to not paying their fair share is to have no defense. That applies much more to Europe than Asia. They fully recognize the Chicom threat.

%%

The simplistic idea that our allies are not paying their fair share for the collective defense is entirely false.

Due to the very structure of Pax Americana, the rest of the planet ends up paying for the United States Department of Defense.

The mechanism is Bretton Woods and its establishment of the US dollar as the global universal currency — at the time — literally as good as gold.

We generate billions of dollars every year — at the cost of a digital keystroke — not printing press — and ‘export’ them to the rest of the planet. ( The massive float of US currency — overseas — is but the tail end of this export flood. )

It astounds all, but the net export of US dollars — since WWII mates up VERY close to the US DoD budget — cumulative — since Bretton Woods.

THAT’S how our allies find it so impossible to spend large on their own militaries. They’re compelled to IMPORT digital dollars at a phenomenal tempo.

This convoluted mechanism is well understood in Moscow and Beijing — to their fury. Even our rivals// enemies find themselves funding the US DoD via this mechanism. (!!!)

Which is why ZeroHedge, Moscow’s propaganda–finance arm is constantly harping on the need to dethrone the US dollar and end the Bretton Woods currency regime.

&&&&&

Next, whenever the Europeans actually do spend large on their self-defense they produce a dud — usually — as they mimic the American practice of spreading the production action across every nation.

In every case, this means design compromises — and a very lengthy prototyping tempo.

Since such European assets are useless outside of Europe – which is where all of the fighting occurs — exception for Balkans –European self-manufacture is even more futile.

&&&&&

This tit-for-tat financial — military — arrangement occurred under the British Empire.

When London (Atlee) wound down the Royal Navy so as to fund his socialism crusade… he found that all of the previous debt that Britain had exported was coming back as a flood.

The outer world was cashing in British ‘gilts’ — to purchase US Treasuries.

No navy — no debt exports.

It really is that simple.

He, Atlee, had not the wit to realize that the Royal Navy was his export powerhouse.

Note the irony. The Royal Navy was the ultimate in socialist enterprise — always being state owned and operated — and he was shutting it down.

The sole and only reason for America’s outstanding financial situation is Bretton Woods and the legacy structure — which is still humming along.

Witness KSA’s mass liquidation of US assets — and nary a bleep on Wall Street — or in the bond market.

“His ideas about NATO and our Asian alliances are just blind to the fact that both Russia and China are still adversaries.”

Agreed.

“look at what both have done in the way of overt aggression since Obama has been in office.”

When the sheep have no sheepdog, wolves gather.

“Maybe the Donald can find a way to calm the expansive ambitions of both nations.”

Reagan showed the way. As did Cicero, “If you would have peace, prepare for war”

“Withdrawing from NATO and the Asian treaties is certainly not going to make that easier.”

We’ll NEVER get them to agree to start to pay their fair share for their defense, if we don’t convince them that the alternative to not paying their fair share is to have no defense. That applies much more to Europe than Asia. They fully recognize the Chicom threat.

Trump is obviously unable to skillfully articulate any of this but it is equally obvious that in his gut he gets it.

Yes! I have watched a few of the videos of Trump and Vince McMahon from his WrestleMania days. Their shtick worked well on the Wrestlemania fans. Trump seems to think, “Well, it worked there, why not in politics?” IMO, it shows in what low regard he holds the average citizen.

I thought Trump’s Ameica First, no foreign entanglements foreign policy speech could have been delivered by Rand Paul. Except for the part where he wants to increase our military strength.

His ideas about NATO and our Asian alliances are just blind to the fact that both Russia and China are still adversaries. We might not want them to be, but look at what both have done in the way of overt aggression since Obama has been in office. Maybe the Donald can find a way to calm the expansive ambitions of both nations. Withdrawing from NATO and the Asian treaties is certainly not going to make that easier.

He doesn’t want to get involved in the ME, but then brags that ISIS will be crushed and quickly. Okay, I agree that that can be done. But what’s the plan after that?

I like the idea of putting America’s interests first when making policy. Surely, securing our borders and controlling illegal immigration is a great America first policy. But getting into trade wars through punitive tariffs is not necessarily putting America first. Putting America first is making the environment here so welcoming for businesses that they all want to come here or stay here.

He seems to be saying, although in not any specific words, that he will try to follow a policy of making America a country that others look at as no better friend, if they are our friends, and no worse enemy, if they chose to be our enemies.
I hope that’s what he’s driving at.

Trump is about my 17th choice to be the Republican nominee. I liked all of the other candidates better than him. That said, if he is the nominee, I will hold my nose and vote for him as being superior to Hillary, the crony capitalist crook, who will assuredly appoint liberal Supreme Court Justices and continue to make the same kinds of policy decisions as Obama – all very bad for the country.

y81 — As you obviously know, Trump is a real-estate guy. That was just his opening offer.