Global Affairs
Diana Hochman, September 2016
On the state of the world and a bold vision for a brighter future for all of humankind.
One of the hardest things in life is to accept the things we cannot change, and to change the things we can. Every person must make the choices and changes necessary to become the best version of him or herself for as long as one lives. Growth is not static. The only social arbiter in this world is the law, which is uniquely designed as a safety net for a functioning society, without which, only chaos and disorder will ensue. Thus, deterrents, by way of consequences, are the only effective measure to hold lawless people in check, and to prevent people who are naturally given to acting out their worst human impulses from harming others.
Modern society has devolved to such a point that it is now commonplace for convicted criminals to become presidents, thereby making a mockery of the very notion of law and equal justice for all. Never mind that this sets the worst possible ‘example’ for the notion of exemplary leadership. No serious person will ever respect a lawless convicted criminal as a president of a country. And rightly so. Leaders must lead by example. A very unpresidential convicted criminal shows the world that he will rule by fiat, i.e., shamelessly, lawlessly.
Whenever lawless men rise to power, who are guided by cruelty and incompetence (and this power is unchecked), the society has always collapsed. Decadence is simply not a sustainable business model.
After World War II, America emerged as a superpower due to its economic dominance in the world, as America produced more than half of the world’s GDP at that time. Then, as now, America was misguided by the desire to enslave and marginalize other nations by threatening and coercing them into submission. Tariffs and sanctions became the means by which America bullied the world and waged its imperialist campaigns of uni-polar hegemony. The American Way was to wage economic warfare in order to keep other nations down, weighted by poverty and instability. Of course, pillage and plunder of material resources for added measure (and regime change when beneficial) became the manifesto for global dominance. Times have changed.
In 2024, America’s global GDP was at 12.6%. As America’s global output has decreased, its debt has increased. The inversion of these two economic factors stands in direct proportion to America’s waning imperialist power. Thus, the economic power of other nations has grown significantly, such that the playing field has become increasingly more level over time. However, America (and the West) still operates with a mindset in which America is the king of the world, and the other nations are its subjects. Failing to adapt to the times and read the room, America’s outdated playbook simply no longer fits the realities on the ground.
In order to fulfill the vision of a truly just society, the world has increasingly moved toward a more equitable union that enfranchises nations from around the world. This movement is inevitable. The concept of all people being equal before the law is a true marker of emancipation from the strong arm of oppression. When a nation is led by mentally fossilized leaders there is bound to be a catastrophic outcome. Though, this need not be inevitable. America can change its ways, if it chooses. The U.S. can choose a path of national supremacy versus global supremacy, though national interests must not be at the expense of other nations.
The fascist tenor of the new U.S. administration—reminiscent of Hitler’s Germany—is detrimental to America, first and foremost, in both the short and long-term. Tariffs will tax ordinary people. A shortage of goods will harm American production across every vertical and cause inflation to rise. Ultimately, the insolence and impudence and sheer incompetence of this administration will lead to (global) isolation. Failure to play nice with our friends will lead them straight into the arms of our foes, where new alliances and win-win friendships will form. When this happens, the ‘almighty dollar’ will de facto be devalued by default.
The trajectory of time is such that a multi-polar world is a whole new world that awaits humankind. This is not optional, but rather, it is inevitable. Either we (Americans) jump on the boat or get left behind. Our destiny. Our choice. The world is moving forward. We must be the change we want to see in the world.
