Ambassadors to Washington warn that the GOP-Democratic divide is endangering America’s national security.

When I asked the European ambassador to talk to me about America’s deepening partisan divide, I expected a polite brushoff at best. Foreign diplomats are usually loath to discuss domestic U.S. politics.

Instead, the ambassador unloaded for an hour, warning that America’s poisonous politics are hurting its security, its economy, its friends and its standing as a pillar of democracy and global stability.

The U.S. is a “fat buffalo trying to take a nap” as hungry wolves approach, the envoy mused. “I can hear those Champagne bottle corks popping in Moscow — like it’s Christmas every fucking day.”

As voters cast ballots in the Iowa caucuses Monday, many in the United States see this year’s presidential election as a test of American democracy. But, in a series of conversations with a dozen current and former diplomats, I sensed that to many of our friends abroad, the U.S. is already failing that test.

    • Optional@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Yeah it seems like every time a decision on education comes up THIS party is all “more money for education and teachers, better working condi-” and the OTHER party is all “fuck that we want a make-believe jet fighter, and new coal plants - money taken!”

      And I’m not talking about the last ten or twenty or thirty years. I mean the last fifty at the very least.

      This is why the “both sides bad” and “baby Dems big mad @ Biden lolz” is classic russian troll meat. It’s really. that. simple. Democratic supermajorities across the country, we’ll fix this shit. Or, y’know, stay the course.

      • trackcharlie@lemmynsfw.com
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        6 months ago

        There’s a middle ground where we can easily achieve a decent public education, effective healthcare, UBI and investment in military technology.

        This isn’t a situation where it’s one or the other, and it rarely ever is a situation where it’s one or the other.