Every once in awhile, Slate decides to surprise me with an editorial point that I agree with.
While this piece doesn’t go terribly deeply into things (something I am not surprised to see on Slate, which often entices me with headlines for pieces that don’t deliver), at least it states some obvious points that apparently are not obvious to all my friends out there.
Excerpts from the piece headlined, “Why America’s Critics Will Miss the U.S. Superpower: For all of its faults, no one comes to the world’s aid like the United States:”
American foreign policy isn’t popular at the moment either, especially among our allies. The Germans are angry because we pointlessly tapped Angela Merkel’s telephone. The Saudis are angry because we won’t join the war in Syria. President Obama’s failure to become the world savior that the Norwegian Nobel Committee so fervently expected him to be has caused widespread disappointment.
And yet, when a disaster unfolds and resources have to be rapidly mobilized, it’s as if nothing has changed. One of the largest typhoons on record hit the Philippines last week. The extent of the damage isn’t yet known. But the American response is already larger—by a factor of hundreds—than that of the largest economy in East Asia. The United States is sending an aircraft carrier to the worst-hit regions and has promised $20 million in emergency aid. Millions more will be raised by U.S. charities. The British are sending a warship and $16 million. Even the Vatican has promised $4 million. And the government of China, the new land of opportunity? $100,000….
The Chinese do give development aid, but differently: not in response to tragedies, not to counter disaster, but to facilitate the export of raw materials to China. There is merit to some of China’s efforts, especially in Africa. But the Chinese state is not, for the most part, interested in generosity for its own sake. Nor do many Chinese billionaires believe that new wealth brings new obligations. Several of them refused even to meet Bill Gates a few years ago, apparently because they were afraid he might ask them to give away some of their money.
All of which is not an elaborate excuse for messy America foreign policy, or the still-weak American economy, or the indecisive American president. It’s just a little reminder: U.S. strength may be waning, U.S. status may be fading, and U.S. attraction for talented foreigners may soon taper off. But there will be reasons to be sorry if America isn’t a superpower anymore, perhaps more than America’s critics think.
So, you know, it kinda does matter who the hegemonic superpower is.
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To be fair, Slate had another piece I sort of agreed with today, with the slightly misleading (the text is less in-your-face) headline, “Keep Spying on Foreigners, NSA: They have no right to privacy from U.S. surveillance—and they shouldn’t.”
It may have been uncool diplomatically to spy on Angela Merkel (especially if we were gonna let ourselves get caught). But that’s it. I can accept an argument that we shouldn’t have done it because it was unwise to treat an ally so. I could even be susceptible to the idea that it was a breach of trust, or at least implied trust. But I can’t accept the argument that she had an inalienable RIGHT not to be listened to.
After reading some of the comments on that article on their website, I have to wonder why the people that seemingly hate America so bad don’t just leave and go to one of these more “enlightened” countries that they so often brag about.
There are actually US citizens that walk around blaming America for WW 2 and seemingly every other thing in the world while totally ignoring the messes that other counties create.
There are a lot of idiots in the world.
and don’t forget Brad, all our charity- (and I’m not just talking about our government aid- but all the Americans like many of my middle and lower middle class friends that run to their phone or internet to donate money to the Red Cross or other relief groups in situations like this) won’t get us a dime’s worth of respect by most of the rest of the world.
is the Communist utopia of Cuba rushing hundreds of millions to the Philippines? Do they have military on the ground there assisting regular people, handing out food?
What about Russia? (We know China isn’t – and isn’t even interested really)
What about Iran? Do they care? LOL
“So, you know, it kinda does matter who the hegemonic superpower is.”…Brad
Well, for some, it only matters as long as the hegemonic superpower is not us as some have obliquely referenced on this blog.
China wants to conquer.
You, and Ms. Applebaum, are conflating two separate things.