International law was never about restraining power, it was about managing perception and optics. Multipolarity is dispelling illusions and the result, while more unstable, is at least more honest.
On the smaller stage of US politics, a similar process plays out as well.
When you are in power, push and break all the rules you want and then when you are out of power, demand the other party follow the rules.
Look at the redistricting kerfuffle. They are just complaining because the gerrymandering that they have created for years is getting redrawn to someone else's advantage.
They have been decrying Trump as a dictator for actually enforcing the immigration laws that they themselves put in place and then ignored for decades. Look back at Trump's first term where they all went to wail at the "Trump's cruelty" for the "concentration camp" detention centers that Obama built that they were fine with for the previous 16 years.
The Democrats are terrified that the Republicans will do away with the current veto system that they tried and failed to do away with when they were in power.
Sign me up for transactional relationships. America has been seen as a zombie nation for smaller countries to pillage and abuse, feeding on the carcass. Giving the exact same power to a country that is 210th in GDP as America invites coalitions of the poor to form and bully the wealthiest. If you are in a small country, that probably feels good. But America is tired of carrying the world, paying for everyone else, including sponsoring the UN which most often opposes and undermines its host country. Same for trade pacts that give special consideration to under-developed countries and then allows China to continue claiming that status as it rises to #2 in global GDP. Enough of the diplomacy! Get rid of alliances and we can go back to one on one national negotiations, which are at least honest
It seems regardless of the opinion on the matter we all agree it’s hypocrisy. When is someone gonna finally do something about that?
There Has NEVER been a Doctor as head of WHO ,,,,Only VETs
Clarity is absolutely more preferable. Lovely substack, and ooooooh, new book :) Congratulations
Great analogy between the hypocrisy of governments and anesthesia. So much of government's public-facing side is euphemisms to "numb" people.
On the smaller stage of US politics, a similar process plays out as well.
When you are in power, push and break all the rules you want and then when you are out of power, demand the other party follow the rules.
Look at the redistricting kerfuffle. They are just complaining because the gerrymandering that they have created for years is getting redrawn to someone else's advantage.
They have been decrying Trump as a dictator for actually enforcing the immigration laws that they themselves put in place and then ignored for decades. Look back at Trump's first term where they all went to wail at the "Trump's cruelty" for the "concentration camp" detention centers that Obama built that they were fine with for the previous 16 years.
The Democrats are terrified that the Republicans will do away with the current veto system that they tried and failed to do away with when they were in power.
Sign me up for transactional relationships. America has been seen as a zombie nation for smaller countries to pillage and abuse, feeding on the carcass. Giving the exact same power to a country that is 210th in GDP as America invites coalitions of the poor to form and bully the wealthiest. If you are in a small country, that probably feels good. But America is tired of carrying the world, paying for everyone else, including sponsoring the UN which most often opposes and undermines its host country. Same for trade pacts that give special consideration to under-developed countries and then allows China to continue claiming that status as it rises to #2 in global GDP. Enough of the diplomacy! Get rid of alliances and we can go back to one on one national negotiations, which are at least honest