The fall in US influence was visible this week at virtual meetings of world leaders where the main US diplomatic effort was devoted to an abortive attempt to persuade the others to sign a statement referring to the “Wuhan virus”, as part of a campaign to blame China for the coronavirus epidemic.
By Patrick Cockburn
March 30, 2020 “Information Clearing House” – The US may be reaching its “Chernobyl moment” as it fails to lead in combating the coronavirus epidemic. As with the nuclear accident in the Soviet Union in 1986, a cataclysm is exposing systemic failings that have already weakened US hegemony in the world. Whatever the outcome of the pandemic, nobody is today looking to Washington for a solution to the crisis.
The fall in US influence was visible this week at virtual meetings of world leaders where the main US diplomatic effort was devoted to an abortive attempt to persuade the others to sign a statement referring to the “Wuhan virus”, as part of a campaign to blame China for the coronavirus epidemic. Demonising others as a diversion from one’s own shortcomings is a central feature of President Trump’s political tactics. Arkansas Republican senator Tom Cotton took up…
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The Most Revolutionary Act 
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Trump may be, however inadvertently or accidentally, doing the right thing by downplaying the so-called epidemic.
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Indeed, Sha’Tara. The real question will be whether he can survive the resulting economic depression, both heavy levels of unemployment and a breakdown of the the food supply chain. The crisis I envision will be comparable to the collapse of the Soviet Union where average life expectancy dropped 15-20 years.
At least I see good (and sensible) leadership in many of the states. For example I think people in Washington, Oregon, and California will probably survive pretty well.
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For what it’s worth, what I’ve “foreseen” for some decades now is a collapse of the central government/central bank imperial power – Washington/Wall Street with individuals states, either alone or united with other states, redefining that unnamed “Thing” referred to as “America” or the United States of America. There never was any real union, just a convenience or forced unity (like the Soviet Union which you mention) through financial shenanigans and military threat of intervention.
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I should have added, there was a time when it was advantageous for territories to become full fledged members of the “Union” but that is far from the case any longer. Now it means you can be legally despoiled by Uncle Sam.
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Very astute analysis, Sha’Tara. I agree with it.
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