QOTD -- "The American Age Is Over"

 

"... Understand this: There is no going back.

"If, tomorrow, Donald Trump revoked his entire regime of tariffs, it would not matter. It might temporarily delay some economic pain, but the rest of the world now understands that it must move forward without America.

"If, tomorrow, Donald Trump abandoned his quest to annex Greenland and committed himself to the defense of Ukraine and the perpetuation of NATO, it would not matter. The free world now understands that its long-term security plans must be made with the understanding that America is a potential adversary, not an ally.

"This realization may be painful for Americans. But we should know that the rest of the world understands us more clearly than we understand ourselves.

"Vladimir Putin bet his life that American voters would be weak and decadent enough to return Donald Trump to the presidency. He was right.  [snip]

"We have a deeply stupid government—from our economically illiterate president to our craven and foolish secretary of state, from the freelancing billionaire dilettante who is gutting American soft power to the vaccine-denying health secretary who is firing as much talent as he can. From the senior economics advisor who thinks comic books are good investments, to the senators who voted to confirm this cabinet of hacks, to the representatives who stumble over themselves justifying each new inane MAGA pronouncement.

"But also, we have the government we deserve.

"The American age is over. And it ended because the American people were no longer worthy of it." -- Jonathan Last, in The Bulwark, on "The American Age is Over."  This is a sobering essay worth saving for posterity, as it defines a clear moment in our history when America forever ceased to be the America it was just a few short months ago.  We've said it before, but today it takes on a more encompassing meaning: Sic transit gloria, America.