Sachs on Trump and the Rules Based Order

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpPRkyXrBd0

Jeffrey Sachs is something of a rising star when it comes to commentary on Trumpian economics but in particular the question of Russia and American foreign policy. Since the death of Stephen Cohen, Sachs is one of the few voices in academia that commands respect even while positing a counter-Establishment view.

There are many comments in this video worth considering, but I was particularly interested in his statements around the 10-minute mark regarding the rules based order. He rightly suggests the whole concept is a fraud and that Trump has just turned up the pressure a few notches and is refusing to keep up the facade.

This is interesting because a lot of the coverage surrounding Trump and the harm he's doing to US international standing is connected to these questions of the larger order created by Washington in the aftermath of 1945. There's some truth to the notion that Trump is dismantling it. But at the same time, it's always been a farce, a stage play, a veneer for America's raw exercise of power. The US puts on a mask for public consumption. The great summits and international meetings are theatre. Everyone plays along and many are happy to because they profit immensely from the relationship and by doing America's bidding. But at the same time they know what America is and are aware of its hypocrisy.

Trump, the moron and buffoon that he is doesn't play along. He doesn't even understand how any of it works, nor does he care to learn. He doesn't know that you have to take care of your underlings, your vassals, your lieutenants - and in addition to letting them wet their beaks, you have to let them save face among their underlings. Trump wants to cut out middlemen and wants direct power, control, and worship. And I mean that literally.

This is the crisis because unmasked, suddenly everyone can see how ugly the US Empire is and yet many can also see that it's not as strong as everyone thought and in some respects it is now like the emperor with no clothes. There are other options in the world of the 2020's and many nations are starting to weigh these options. As Trump grasps for power, it's slipping through his fingers. His childish bluster is destroying markets and profits and many are starting to realize he's just a phony - as the emerging TACO acronym testifies. Indeed, Trump does 'chicken out' and while that frustrates those who want to see his policies followed through, for others it's generating contempt.

Sachs is helpful because he understands how things work. He's of an academic type that hardly exists any more and his commentary is erudite and refreshing. You don't even have to agree with him on everything. Nevertheless, his compelling arguments demand consideration.