In Foreign policy and Soft-Power message, America is Donald J. Trump

Donald Trump is embarrassing to US, this election cycle.  But some American commentators have even remarked, (as I have previously quoted), to paraphrase Joseph de Maistre,

“In a Democracy, the People don’t get the government they want, they get the government they deserve.”

Because, America, you are Donald J. Trump in the world.

It’s not just you the voters.  It’s not that many of you fail basic US Civics.  It’s not that many of you find stereotypes and “politically incorrectness” funny.  It’s not that you want smaller government, lower taxes, bigger guns, and yet expect bread and circuses.

It’s basic American Exceptionalism finally catching up to you.

Trump, with all of his failings, is the success story of American Exceptionalism.

Let’s face it, he played hard and fast with the rules, and he played them well.  Yet, he has no respect for the rules, and thinks that the rules don’t apply to him.  In that, Trump is no different than most of the 1%-ers with their own personal Wall of Lawyers chasing after every “winning” and refusing to pay for any loses.

This was Trump’s secret of success.  He’s not lucky or smart or hard working.  As long as he can take risks with other people’s money, he loses very little, and he gets to keep most of the winnings.  As long as Trump’s lawyers keep winning most of the court cases, Trump can continue to cheat people out of their money.

You can call it changing the rules to favor oneself, but it is basic Exceptionalism, that you never admit that you are ever wrong.

If you really want to see the bigger picture, America, that’s how you are in the World, in foreign policies and in soft power.  (It is great PR, just like Trump rallies.  And a lot of suckers will buy into it.  But like I said, sooner or later, you get what you deserve.)

For example, in South China Sea, US navy is exercising its “freedom of navigation”, by essentially hot dogging ships near Chinese outposts, and encouraging Vietnam and Philippines to buy buy buy US weapons.

US is messaging to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Philippines, “join us, make America great again.”  (to paraphrase Trump).

Like Trump, America directs its failings at China.  China is taking America’s influence in Asia and running a muck.  Again, it is great PR.

And like Trump, America has a plan.  To build a Wall, of allies, by an Asian pivot, around China.  Keep the Chinese out of America’s backyard of geopolitics.  Who’s going to pay for that Wall of Allies?  America didn’t say, but it’s going to be undoubtedly on the poor people in this alliance.

Perhaps the Philippines will pay for it.  Certainly Japanese farmers got shafted in that deal.  Like Trump, US will not pay for this Wall.

Oddly enough, Trump didn’t unnerve that many in Asia, except when he directly accused Japan of currency manipulation.  Why?  No doubt Vietnam and Philippines got used to that same message of Exceptionalism PR from US’s pivot.

Then America, Congrats on your Trump Exceptionalism, in all its ridiculous glory, tainted by racism and penis jokes.  This is what you deserved, because this is who you are.