NNS we differ, everything I know/think,warns me America,maybe the western world,is in very real danger
Trump is unfit, in my view,to lead anyone
Divisive us against them, will do great harm I can only hope a better leader with new directions arrives next year

Dear NNS,

You write;

“As for the US. I've been growing up in a culture that has been trying to shame and undercut the nation from within the nation. Take a lesson from me and try to encourage the youth of Australia with things to be proud of their nation and their culture. Hopefully you guys can curb this in your own nation instead of having a generation no longer feel pride of being part of it or are emberresed by part of it. That negitive narrative likely caused many issues that could be part of what you're seeing in the US today.”

Have no fear of that mate, we are quickly learning to march in step with the American drum. My father's generation had little time for the flag waving jingoism of the 'Yanks'. There was a general distrust of authority and politicians were no able to get away the the crap they do now.

I always considered that approach as pretty healthy, but now our own jingoism is abounding everywhere and we vacuum up spin like it is going out of fashion. We are allowing a constant attack on the values of collectivism which held this nation together without the deep divisions and need for a civil war. We are chasing the kind of wealth inequality which exists in your country and seeing the constant erosion of gun laws which are designed to keep us from harm.

Our two parties are an embarrassment, certainly not to the degree of Trump and his cronies, but you seem to want this embarrassment not to be called out. I think North Korea is the ultimate example of that.

Whether one thinks a president is good or bad depends on one’s views.

To me some key issues are the environment, global warming, healthcare, the uneven concentration of wealth, militarism and the rise of authoritarian rulers. I think Obama was a good president because those are important issues to me, and most of them seemed concerns of Obama. I think it was good that he put obstacles in the way of the frackers. Others think it was bad to do so. I think his speech at Cairo admitting past misdeeds of the US was great. It was a relief from the bragging jingoism so many US politicians indulge in. I think Obamacare was a step to universal healthcare. Trump wants to get rid of Obamacare, but he has no plan to replace it. Obama’s environment regulations that Trump is dismantling I thought were good. Many species are becoming extinct in the world today because of human action.

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/

That is not a concern of Trump.

Nixon was conscious of environmental degradation and instituted the Environmental Protection agency which Trump has put the EPA in the hands of the polluters.

Another key issue to me is the curbing of militarism. All presidents, both Republican and Democratic, have supported the warfare state. However, Trump is excessive in his support. He increases military expenditure and decreases funds for the state department. Eisenhower, a Republican President, warned against the dangers of the military-industry complex. However, his warning is largely unheeded.

That is not a concern of Trump.

He has expressed his admiration for dictators and authoritarian rulers such as Putin and Duterte. Trump is putting industry lobbyists in charge of governments that are supposed to be watchdogs over industry. To me he is a great stench.

I hope the US can recover from the stench and get a new president as good as Obama.

Why should we in Oz be worried?

Big T unilaterally moves US embassy to Jerusalem and 'declares' Jerusalem to be Israel's capital (to much international consternation), indicates support for Netanyahu's promise to make the Golan Heights 'Sovereign Territory', says nix to Big N's support for the destruction of Palestinian villages and their replacement by 'illegal' (but nonetheless sanctioned) 'new settlements', gives NATO the kiss goodbye, poo-hoos Paris and Kyoto, pees on the Iran Agreement, pees-off Kim at last meeting, installs tariffs on Canada and Mexico, mixes punches with Chi and the EU, stands up against any easing of the 'ye-ye' US gun culture, throws EPA to the dogs, gives open slather to Fracking (in spite of clear evidence of groundwater pollution resultants), unilaterally throws out nuclear limitation agreement with Russia, bolsters the arms trade with the Saudis, plans the rescinding of Obamacare, blocks the availability of essential migrant workers and plans to rescind visa protection for thousands of long term migrants from strife-torn Central America and at the same time blocks aid to these same countries through some deluded idea that this could act to REDUCE the immigration caravans?

So much for World Peace, and particularly in the Middle East or in Central America?
Offers humanitarian aid to Venezuela - but really with a view to gaining control of Venezuela's oil?

Oz got pulled into Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Where next?

Our greatest Allie?
One should be wary of such 'friends'.

I would hasten to add that I am not anti-America or anti-American, but I'm sure I'm not alone with my concerns for the direction that America is taking under its current leadership.

As the late Senator John McCain said "America is better than this; Americans are better than this."

Alternatively, as Cassius is purported to have said "Give me men about me who are fat, sleek headed men, and men as sleep o' nights".
Has Big T asked for or demanded less?

The world needs leaders who are truly ethical, visionary and just; who personify integrity, honesty and virtue, who maintain and demand the highest levels of morality, tolerance, empathy and justice.

Does T rate against such a scale?

Oz is like a pimple on a pumpkin; a world away from its age-old friends and allies, endeavouring to maintain good relations with some neighbours who might covet our territory and resources, and having to be mindful of some others investing within Oz and in surrounding territories, possibly to gain influence and strategic dominance.

We need America, the EU and the Commonwealth to be on our side, if we are to survive as an independent sovereign nation.
Thus, we need those friendly nations to have and to maintain reliable, trustworthy and honourable leadership.
Of course we also need our leadership to be strong and ethical (and committed to more low-cost good quality public housing).

A better world, a more tolerant and cooperative world, and to hell with tyrants and potential dictators.

To Saltpetre.

Thankyou for answering my question regarding why Trump is the focus and other world leaders are ignored. It's because you need to rely on the US and other allies?

That makes a bit more sense. But it doesn't settle with me very well. The US is becoming more and more the police of the nations. Not just because it's the role we've taken on, but also because it's the role handed to us. We spend a lot on our military and our services world wide are both complained about and taken for granted. If NATO and other nations built up their own military and defenses to have more support for all the places the US is patrolling then the burden would be better, and the US wouldn't have to have their flags at half staff every other day in different states across the country to honor the soldiers who've lost their lives in combatant areas.

Do you think it's cheep for us to do this? The cost in manpower, the struggle to be at top grade in tactics, intelligence, weapons, and personal are a heavy burden to carry. That's not including the sacrifice soldiers face or survive with. It's also not uncommon for one promise given for joining the military being denied later on because of budget issues or it just being a cop out lie.

(Continued)