International, National & Minesota Report
Donald J Trump’s (R) bilateral negotiations with Russia means a structural deficit for our country as a world power and ultimately a loss of American exceptionalism. The invitation for Russia back to the world stage as an essential actor only enables Vladimir Putin and only satiates his desires and like a child who has thrown a temper tantrum, rewards his bad behavior. But this is of no surprise since its just two toddlers having a play date.
In his book, The World is Flat, pg 51, (2005), New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, a Minnesotan, writes a weighty assessment, “The fall of the Berlin Wall on 11/9/89 unleashed forces that ultimately liberated all of the captive peoples of the Soviet Empire. But it actually did so much more. It tipped the balance of power across the world toward those advocating democratic, consensual, free-market-oriented governance, and away from those advocating authoritarian rule with central planned economies. The Cold War had been a struggle between two economic systems—capitalism and communism—and with the fall of the wall, there was only one system left and people had to orient himself or herself to to it one way or another. Henceforth, more and more economies would be governed from the ground up, by interests, demands, and aspirations of the people, rather than from the top down, by interests of the narrow ruling clique.”
The collapse of the wall both literally and figuratively brought about the downfall of the Soviet Union, and an end to the Cold War, but not the loss of authoritarian or Cold War mentality. It unleashed many other adverse aspects in the geopolitical world. The rise of radical Islamist elements like the Taliban, ISIS and other fascist elements were no longer bridled by the bipolar system. America and NATO prevailed both political and economically for a significant period of time, but now with Trump’s desire to emulate authoritarian regimes and authoritarians like Putin, Belarus President Victor Orban, and North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un, its his need for constant ego stroking, fealty, and elevated which creates our greatest peril, and threat to our democractic system.