Deeply divided by nationalism and deprived of its vast colonies by the last century’s catastrophic two world wars, Western Europe has been in decline ever since.
Recently, that decline has become drastic and desperate as Western Europe falls ever further behind — economically, militarily, and politically — today’s two superpowers: the US and China. Mediocre and unpopular leaders reflect Western European decline. They bet and built their careers on accepting junior partner positions vis-à-vis the United States.
But Europe’s decline now threatens to split Europe apart. Inside each nation, rich and powerful minorities use their social positions to sustain their wealth and power while the masses bear most of the burdens of decline offloaded onto them by the rich and powerful.
The problems flowing from these cumulative developments are approaching points of social explosion. Despite the lessons taught by the two world wars, many Western European leaders once again provoke and prepare for a war, this time against Russia, notwithstanding the awful risks of nuclear weapons. One key question to ask: why is this happening?
Continue @ Richard Wolff.
The situation is potentially earth shattering, literally, and one slip means the end of all of us, excluding the upper bourgeois elements who have shelters. Russia has more nuclear arms than any other single country. Is Putin unstable enough to use them if the outcome of his war goes arse up? Probably, rather than lose it is possible. It is also possible Trump, equally unstable, could do something similar on Iran if they continue to take the piss out of him. China's nuclear arsenal is small by comparison to that of Russia and, to a lesser extent, the US. Our hope may rest with the US and Russian military who, if such lunacy became a distinct possibility, could relieve both Trump and Putin of their responsibilities regarding nuclear weapons. These are dangerous times so why not go down the pub, get plastered, and forget.
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