During my time in the military serving in peace and war around the world, I came to the singular conclusion that trust - not transaction - is the true coin of the realm in international relations.
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I’ve been very fond of the US my whole life; but as a Canadian, this whole episode has caused great anxiety and mistrust. The checks and balances seem to have been discarded, and civil society is mia. Send out a search party.
As you should ... Trump has undermined what was once a strong, robust, mutual cooperative relationship, into one that is transactional, weak, & untrustworthy, based purely on obscure motivations.
He has caused considerable harm to the stability of the Canada/US partnership.
Mark, we need to hear much more from military veterans and experts as the armed forces are prepped for new, unfamiliar, and at times unconscionable actions.
Well. My work here is finished for the day. @markhertling.bsky.social agreed with me, and I will take that as a compliment, particularly coming from a CBC guy to a SLUH guy.
This is true but it's also over. The damage Trump and the MAGA-GOP have done will take at least a generation to repair if it ever can be done. Trump is extorting allies like a sleazy Long Island racketeer and the GOP, including self-styled "Reaganites" and "Atlanticists" are willing accomplices.
I don't think so. I think it will have to be new leadership - not any of the people who confirmed Marco Rubio , for example. But I think that Trump is an anomaly and the world sees it. To earn the respect and trust we, the citizens, need to stand up against this tyranny.
And most of us learned these skills in kindergarten. Too bad what’s passing for leadership in the current state, wasn’t afforded a quality public education.
And now that trust is gone and nobody can trust the USA anymore. And it's not coming back when Trump leaves, because this isn't just a one man show. The GOP is going along. Soft power, goodwill and alliances gone.
Any relation really. I am in the world of sales and four years ago I literally turned down a contract as I knew it wouldn't work. My competitors weren't so fussy. Turns out my assessment was correct. Last year, the client rang me to upgrade the rest of his facilities. He accepted my quote on trust.
Yep! But we don't have that anymore and I truly don't think we will ever get it back. How is the rest of the world ever supposed to have trust in us again?
And it’s gonna take a long time to regain the trust Trump has lost us. IF we were at the top of the mountain, Trump is doing his best to swan dive us off of it.
We need election victories from the ground up! They are happening all around the country.
They got over the line by cheating, small ways, big ways, multiple times, levels and locations. All with an evil master plan at the back and useful idiots no one could believe would follow through at the front.
You don't have a democracy or a functional society anymore.
I completely agree. I was fortunate to work on multiple DoD State Partnerships Program missions with our Allies from Bangladesh, Mongolia, Romania, Vietnam and Canada. Building trust and shared values was crucial to bringing common goals and shared values.
I'd say also that trust is a quality which distinguishes a healthy society from an ailing society. Low trust inevitably slows economic growth and diminishes civic cooperation. The populist assault on trust - of institutions, of experts, of allies - harms us both internationally and domestically.
...and just like that, Trump shattered decades of trust.
It's sad, Mark...so, so sad.
From my European perspective, watching Trump's and Musk’s attacks, it’s clear: restoring trust will take MANY years. But if the U.S. stays on this billionaire tech-bro-powered dystopia path, it may never happen.
Yes, and trust between North American neighbors has just been destroyed by a stroke of the pen, regardless of whether the tariffs are lifted or not. That trust may take decades to rebuild.
Amen. I am German and the US did an awful lot for my country in the past. It is clear that Germany and for that matter all NATO partners are the junior partner in the relationship with the US. This is normally not a problem when both sides treat each other with respect 1/2
and that is in my opinion the second pillar in these relationships. Once that is gone, once you bully the less powerful, they are a lot less inclined to work with you. 2/2
They (the magats)may see short term adjustments and agreements with Tang as a win. It is only a win in small skirmish, they have not won a war.
Once trust is eroded it takes much more to earn back. Memory does not fade. Our allies are working on new trade and will cut us loose when they can.
As a US citizen, please know that the current administration is an utter embarrassment to many of us. We respect our allies and are incredibly sad to lose those relationships.
I think it’s time to gather all your friends and patriots to help get rid of this Trump administration! They have now violated the law and constitution and it needs a reverse coup so to speak!
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Counterparty. The US
Is proving itself to be
Totally unreliable.
He has caused considerable harm to the stability of the Canada/US partnership.
if ever.
We need election victories from the ground up! They are happening all around the country.
https://youtu.be/bE7o00FZUjU?si=7qYnRFfP5dEmkHCz
States run their own elections and Musk can’t be everywhere. They don’t have total control of everything.
Newsome in California is able to push back with his state by himself.
That’s why we need strong state representation when that time comes!
States don’t have to go down just because the federal government does.
He may have control of the federal, but the Dems states do all the funding of the country.
Make them strong.
You don't have a democracy or a functional society anymore.
https://x.com/JustinFishelABC/status/1887605955031900405
It's sad, Mark...so, so sad.
From my European perspective, watching Trump's and Musk’s attacks, it’s clear: restoring trust will take MANY years. But if the U.S. stays on this billionaire tech-bro-powered dystopia path, it may never happen.
Why is trump so Nice to putin?????
Once trust is eroded it takes much more to earn back. Memory does not fade. Our allies are working on new trade and will cut us loose when they can.
And that’s on the U.S., not anyone else.