May 7, 2024

Kevin Duffy on American foreign policy

Perhaps the greatest delusion the American people suffer from is our government's foreign policy.  The good news is that all bubbles eventually burst. After 9/11, 80% of Americans wanted revenge and went along with invading Iraq and Afghanistan. I guarantee you many of those people today will admit it was a costly mistake, even though they won't admit going along with it.  Today, there is little popular support of the war in Ukraine on the right, while there is little support for the war in Gaza on the left. China baffles me because there seems to be bipartisan support for at least an economic war (which hurts us economically).  I think a shooting war would be a different matter.  Young people here have no interest in dying in foreign wars. 

Economically, our government is broke.  They're spending money they don't have mainly because that's all they know how to do.  Higher interest rates guarantee that spending cuts are coming or inflation's coming or both.  With the baby boomers retiring in droves, we as a country will have to choose between military spending or social security checks.  I suspect the latter will ultimately win out. 

I look forward to the day the U.S. government dismantles its empire and we can all get along.  That day is coming.  I just don't know the exact date.

~ Kevin Duffy, note to a friend, May 7, 2024



No comments: