Dear Belly,

«for me at least America no longer is a country we should follow mimic or rely on.»

Wonderful! I am glad that you arrived at this conclusion - for me America never was and why indeed would it?

I just hope that you do not change your mind again once the American democrats regain power.

Australia should become self-reliant - it is long overdue.

Foxy even if you do accept your view on the impacts of Trumps programs (I'm not a big fan but not nearly as negative about them as you) any "fix" relies on the Democrats actually paying some attention and fixing the kind of internal issues that made Trump a better option for many than their offering.

That does not appear to be the case at the moment. The entrenched powers have stayed in power within the party and if anything dug in even harder. They are isolating the actual liberals who should be expected to be their support base and not offering a viable alternative.

There is from what I see a move in the US to reform things but those driving it tend to find themselves on the outer. Often on the opposite side of politics to me but I like Jimmy Dore for his perspectives https://www.youtube.com/user/TYTComedy

Also a lot of time for Dave Rubin although in my view he has shifted camp so is not really a voice from "the other side".

R0bert

If I can be excused for using a pun, the whole world is "belly" up...:-)

Belly like Australia, the US has tried to absorb too many of the worlds poor and suffering, too much of it undeserving riff raff, that wanted only what they could grab for themselves, offering nothing to the country that took them in. We have done the same thing now for many years, & neither country is as strong, or generous as they once were. You can only be ripped off for so long, before you wake up & shut down the handouts.

The US is being saved right now, & this is probably the last chance for the US & the rest of the western world. If Trump doesn't have enough time to cut out the rot like the Clintons & Obama, it will collapse, & we will go with it.

I was looking at a site frequented by mostly pensioners today, & it is disgusting. Dozens carping that the pension is not enough for them to have the life they think they deserve. Demanding that young families, struggling themselves, pay more tax, so the pensioners can afford a holiday, & a little flutter on the horses on Saturday.

I doubt that even Trump is enough to drag a society now full of these ingrates out of the entitlement swamp that they have sunk into, he'll need a lot of help, but with the other lot trying to buy voters by even more handouts it is unlikely.

My post there that I find the pension very adequate even generous was attacked from every direction. I doubt we can now be saved, & if Trump doesn't manage it, no one ever will.

Hi Belly,
"Democrats contributed to the Trump victory by running an insider few wanted in Hilary".
That's not exactly what happened, Hillary bought control of the DNC when Obama left it in debt.

Can America be unified / saved?

No.

Individual: Can Australia be saved?

No.

There's too many reasons why I've come to this conclusion to explain easily right now.
Maybe tomorrow I'll try.

The question of can America (& Australia) be saved must of course be answered by the question from what ?
The obvious answer to that is, from it's own people & that answer in turn begs the question, are they really interested in saving the country when all they seem to be doing is running it into the ground. If they were really concerned why do they do what they do ?
If a car starts slowing down up a hill one obviously has to put the accelerator down to keep rolling & when it goes downhill & starts to speed up you put your foot on the brake to prevent a catstrophy.
What most 'progressives' seem to be doing is exactly the opposite. With that going on the answer to the original question is a resounding NO !