Two References to the US as a Possible "Failed State" in 24 Hours

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, within the last 24 hours, I've seen two--count them, two--different references to the US either being or questioning whether we are just that, a failed state. Here's the first one I saw yesterday from the website AlterNet.

The US is in free fall — 

and at risk of becoming a failed state

And here is the 2nd reference I've seen to this within 24 hours and my you, I'm not searching this out.

Tomgram: Rebecca Gordon, 

The Sudden Descent of the United States

And truth be told, the 2nd article at TomDispatch is an expansion on the first article which was  written by Rebecca Gordon. Still, it expands on the idea, question and theme. I thought this part important.

"What Is a Failed State?

People use this expression to indicate a political entity whose government has ceased to perform most or all of its basic functions. Such a condition can result from civil war, untrammeled corruption, natural disaster, or some combination of those and more. The Fund for Peace, which has been working on such issues for more than 70 years, lists four criteria to identify such a country:

--Loss of control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force therein
--Erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions
--Inability to provide public services
--Inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community'”

3 out of four, presently? Or all four, already?

The fact is, we, the United States, 

--have more cases of and deaths from this killing international coronavirus pandemic than any other nation

--have a President that has completely, totally ignored a bounty put on American soldiers in the field in Afghanistan by Russia to the Taliban to kill American soldiers

Trump decries Russian bounty reports as ‘fake news’ as his national security adviser says response options were prepared

--have a President that is going forward with his plan to take 9500 American troops out of Gernany shortly

--have no universal health care---the "richest nation in the world", or so we tell ourselves

--have millions of Americans out of work due to the pandemic and so, with no health care whatever

--have amassed a huge national debt--partly due to gross overspending on military which actually weakens us but also due to tax giveaways by the Republicans to the already-wealthy and corporations and then, again, this pandemic and

--have a President who has pulled us out of nearly all, if not all international cooperation agreements like the World Heatlh Organization, etc.

Oh and this broke this morning.

The Trump administration just lent $700 million to a trucking company only worth $70 million

And that's just a short list, a very short list of some of our worst current predicaments.

Meanwhile, a Senator is working to have us buy Russian made weapons, unbelievable.

GOP Senator Seeks Amendment Allowing the U.S. to Buy Russian Defense System

The U.S. could be permitted to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system from Turkey under a Senate amendment proposed last week.

Under the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 proposed by Senate Majority Whip John Thune, the U.S. Army would be able to purchase the S-400 missile defense system from Turkey, provided the country certified that money from the purchase would not be used to buy equipment deemed "incompatible" with the NATO alliance.

We're the largest manufacturer and seller of weapons in the world---and we need to buy yet more, these Russian and from Turkey?  Really?

And then finally today, this.

Senate strips provision from intelligence bill requiring campaigns to report foreign election help

(CNN)  The Senate will incorporate the annual intelligence policy legislation into the National Defense Authorization Act -- but only after stripping language from the intelligence bill that would have required presidential campaigns to report offers of foreign election help.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday that Senate Republicans forced the removal of the election reporting provision as a condition to include the intelligence bill on the must-pass defense policy legislation.

So our government officials CAN, if this passes, not only accept money from foreigners or from foreign nations, which by itself would be bad enough, but they would also NOT HAVE TO REPORT IT.

Isn't that terrific?

Thanks, Republicans!

Failed state?  Failing state?

How much farther down are we going to let or have this President and his political party drag us, America?

Excellent, Timely, Probably Even Important Question of the Day

Before the quote, however, first, an article, a headline, a fact.

Amid Global Pandemic—With Nearly 363,000 Dead—Trump Terminates US Ties With the World Health Organization

Now, then, the question:

"When every single country in the world is able to work with the WHO, except for one whose president advocates treating coronavirus with bleach and UV light, who do you think is at fault?"

And sadly, even tragically, we know the answer.

God help us. 

God help America.

Huge New Unbelievabilities From This President

Breaking this afternoon...

Unbelievable.

If it were anyone else but Donald J Trump, it would be unbelievable.

Trump Says He Will Halt WHO Funding

Just this afternoon, first, is this:  Republican Party President Donald J Trump declared that WE ARE CUTTING OFF ALL AID to the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, the WHO.

During a pandemic.

During the largest, most killing, deadly international pandemic of the last 100 years.

And he's cutting aid to them.

President Trump said the U.S. will stop funding to the World Health Organization while his administration reviews its role in “mismanaging” the coronavirus.

He said the U.S. contributes up to $400 million while superpowers like China, where the outbreak began, contribute closer to $40 million.

“The United States has a duty to insist on full accountability,” Mr. Trump said.
And wait.

It gets worse.

Naturally.

He calls for this because

Second, he says they mislead on the pandemic

He cited the WHO’s lack of pushback to Beijing’s foggy reporting on the virus in the early going, saying it cost the rest of the world valuable time.

THEY mislead? He's claiming SOMEONE ELSE MISLEAD on this pandemic?

Where do we even start, Mr. "It's a Democratic Hoax"?

Then, because he can't be done there, no, no. Not this man, not this President.

Finally, he said  they, the WHO handled this pandemic badly.

He also blasted the WHO’s opposition to bans on travel from China, accusing it of putting “political correctness above life-saving measures.”

Staggering.

What did he do if not handle this pandemic badly?  Extremely badly, in fact. Documentedly so.

Again, "The Onion" can't write stuff this bizarre.

He's accusing the WHO of the very things he did.

Once again, thanks, Republicans!!

Link:

'Appalling Betrayal of Global Solidarity': Trump Condemned for Halting US Funding to World Health Organization Amid Pandemic

Yet More Unbelievability From This President

Trump to Freeze WHO Funding

"Trump on Wednesday said the administration will freeze $452 million in appropriations to support public health efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) while investigating its stance with China and the pandemic."

Freezing aid.

To the World Health Organization. 

During the worst, most killing, deadly international pandemic in the last 100 years.

Thanks, Mr. President!

Thanks, Republicans!

Links:

Ocasio-Cortez Decries Trump Halt to Federal Funding of Coronavirus Testing as 'Completely Irresponsible' Amid Pandemic

Trump's self-interest is at odds with safe coronavirus policy

The World Has Gone Mad

Yes, the world has gone mad.

And it keeps going madder and madder.

First this:

'Moronic But Consistent': Outrage Over Trump Admin Giving PPE to Private Companies, Not States

Then this:

Competition among state, local governments creates bidding war for medical equipment

And actually, on this last one, I understand it's even worse than this. I've seen where state and local government are bidding against each other, sure, but that they're also having to bid against our own Federal Government, too, driving prices up even more.

Not done there, then this:

Trump removes inspector general overseeing $2 trillion coronavirus relief package 

days after he was appointed

Swamp?   Drain the swamp?  What's that you say?

And then this, now, today.  Because that's just not enough insanity and stupidity for one day.

Trump threatens World Health Organization funding

He's attacking the World Health Organization. I assume they weren't toady enough for him.

During the worst international pandemic in the last 100 years, let's cut funding to one of the organizations out there in the world who can help fight it. Brilliant. As the British say, bloody brilliant. No pun intended.

Next up, this:

White House Press Secretary, Who Never Gave a News Conference, Replaced

"Stephanie Grisham is being replaced as White House press secretary after a rocky nine-month tenure that did not include a single on-the-record appearance in the White House briefing room."

She was this President's third Press Secretary.

Finally, there is this, lest anyone think I believe all insanity is singularly attributable to this President.

Conspiracy theorists claim 5G to blame for Coronavirus

Not bad enough there, some think they have to take action on it.

5G coronavirus conspiracists burning cell phone towers

Keep in mind, too. The above is just a short list. These are things that are happening today. I'm not going back the last, say, 3 months to post more insanity from this President and his administration. I'm taking it easy on you, on us all. Heck, I'm sparing myself.

I never, ever thought it would be possible to actually miss Richard Milhouse "Tricky Dick" Nixon.

This administration makes my head spin. I can't keep up.

Thanks, Republicans!

Link to yet more insanity:

Germany confirms that Trump tried to buy firm working on coronavirus vaccine