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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSome worthy comments from an Australian:
From FaceBook:This is for all of you in America...this is on you...every one of you...no exceptions...
Susan Sloan
Alright, Im saying this as an Australian who is absolutely sick to death of watching the world hold its breath every time this blabbering blubbering blithering blustering baffoon opens his grotesque mouth.
You see folks, as far as I can tell, from the outside, this is what it looks like: America has elected a man who talks and behaves like a megalomaniac, and the rest of the planet is supposed to just trust that he wont completely lose his grip on reality and drag us all into catastrophe.
You want to steal Greenland.
You want Cuba to make a deal before its too late.
You talk about bombing or invading Mexico.
You kidnap a President and knock off the peoples oil in Venezuela.
You joke about annexing Canada like it should be a shopping centre car park you can just claim because you feel like it.
Do you have any idea how insane that sounds to the rest of us?
This isnt tough talk. This isnt strategy. This is a deeply unstable old man threatening sovereign nations like hes flipping over a Monopoly board because hes losing. This is not normal behaviour. This is not leadership. This is not strength. This is a walking, talking international crisis.
And Americans, this is where it comes back to you. Not just MAGA, not just the people who voted for him, all of you. Because when the President of the United States starts talking about kidnapping leaders, annexing countries, and issuing ultimatums like a mob boss, the rest of the world doesnt get a vote. We just get the consequences.
You dont get to shrug and say, Well I didnt vote for him. That might fly at a dinner party, but it doesnt fly when nuclear powers are watching this circus and recalculating their own red lines. This is your system. Your presidency. Your responsibility.
From the outside, it looks like America lit the fuse and then wandered off while everyone else stands around the bomb wondering whos going to cut the wire.
And lets be brutally honest. This man is nearly 80. Hes frail. Hes clearly deteriorating. He is not some long term visionary playing chess. Hes at the end of his lifespan and acting like nothing matters after him. That is the most dangerous type of leader there is. A man with nothing to lose and an ego that demands constant feeding.
Why should the rest of the world pay for that?
Why should families in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, anywhere, have to worry about war, trade collapse, energy shocks, or global instability because America couldnt get its own house in order?
This is not about left or right anymore. This is about basic sanity. This is about stopping a psychopath before he does something irreversible. Because once a war starts, once a country gets invaded, once alliances fracture beyond repair, you dont get a reset button.
So yes, this falls on Americans. You got the world into this mess, and you damn well better roll your sleeves up and get us out of it. Impeach him. Remove him. Contain him. Do whatever your system allows, but do it fast.
Because the rest of us just want to live our lives, raise our families, pay our bills, and not wake up one morning to find out World War Three started because an unhinged old man wanted to feel powerful one last time.
This isnt funny anymore.
It isnt theatrical.
It isnt tolerable.
Get this lunatic under wraps before he ruins it for everyone.
Blues Heron
(8,999 posts)Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)SergeStorms
(20,788 posts)I dislike Australians who paint with such broad strokes.
Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)The collective us.
Bev54
(13,507 posts)Not just this war but his world wide tariffs and threats, causing instability. Suck it up this is on the US, you put this ass in power and as the rest of the world watches everything burn and we see nothing being done about it.
Blues Heron
(8,999 posts)Irish_Dem
(82,144 posts)Who have given away their power or even worse, align with the evil American empire.
kentuck
(115,552 posts)There was not enough resistance?
Irish_Dem
(82,144 posts)And we way underestimated the power of the enemy.
BattleRow
(2,656 posts)malaise
(297,658 posts)Rec
kentuck
(115,552 posts)Three or four from each Party?
That can see the danger and come to an agreement about how to handle it?
But never the twain shall meet...
Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)canetoad
(20,949 posts)Nice deflection upthread with Murdoch. As if it was comparable.
Great comments, thanks for posting Kentuck.
Disaffected
(6,537 posts)and his retched supporters but, it is not "..for all of you in America...this is on you...every one of you...no exceptions..."
At least 1/2 the country I'm guessing opposes these destroyers and criminals so don't blame everyone.
PatSeg
(53,443 posts)I don't think we can blame "all of you in America". Anyone paying attention would realize that a sizable portion of the U.S. has been actively opposing Trump for the past ten years and GW Bush before him.
There are other elements involved and they include the very wealthy and powerful who helped to buy and promote such authoritarian leaders.
Perhaps if critical Australians could actually see what is going on here firsthand, they might understand that there is an ongoing battle against this man and his cronies. Sanity still exists here, but you aren't bound to see that in the mainstream media that is primarily owned and operated by the authoritarians....i.e. Rupert Murdoch for one, the Australian gift that keeps on giving, BUT I don't blame everyone in Australia for him.
Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)highplainsdem
(62,923 posts)kentuck
(115,552 posts)Not a Democrat or Republican problem.
It is on all of America.
misanthrope
(9,597 posts)The facade is gone now.
Trust_Reality
(2,294 posts)1. Republicans.
2. Our badly weakened, vulnerable, and corrupted system, especially the Supreme Court.
3. Greedy profiteers, whether or not they were born in this country.
4. Religious aggression by those who live in some sort of other world fantasy land.
5. Lazy citizens who prefer entertainment and ignorance to the relatively easy work of being responsible informed citizens.
6. Those who are foolish enough to favor forgive and forget unity over the consequences by which people actually learn not to do bad things.
7. Politicians and profiteers with no integrity. (That would be Republicans mostly.)
8. Amoral and unethical corporations that exist for one reason - profit.
9. Racists.
10. Southern Baptists and other fundamentalist groups.
11. AIPAC.
12. Heritage Foundation.
13. Russia - as a nation.
popsdenver
(2,549 posts)The perfect title for a book about the past 46+ years would be: WHILE THE NATION SLEPT
Any day now, I fully expect the Republicans to change the name of our country to: THE UNITED CORPORATIONS OF AMERICA
sop
(19,175 posts)roamer65
(37,970 posts)Run the blockade. Dont put up with Dumps crap.
Our allies need to STOP being our allies.
Trust_Reality
(2,294 posts)mr715
(4,060 posts)She is spot on about Trump.
If only it were that easy to hold snap elections. I get it, feel feel it too. It ain't great being in the minority when the majority is slavering at blood.
I'd rather my brothers and sisters around the world speak to uplift those of us on the left, that are really taking a beating. Or those on the middle, that need to vote their best interests.
So, my two cents, this kinda brings me down. I know we are a mess as a nation, but the post collapse WW2 order enabled this. We are a global hegemon with a dysfunctional legislative branch. That is an extraordinary problem for world peace.
Response to mr715 (Reply #12)
Bev54 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Bev54
(13,507 posts)What is your purpose of saying that? Every country has their problems, nobody is claiming to be perfect, but the problems other countries have is not affecting the entire world. Australians are not threatening to invade or annex other countries, starting wars to cause world wide shortages and high inflation. That is on the US and it is time for a big wake up call. We, the rest of the world, are watching the US democracy burn and don't see anybody willing to do anything about it. It is the US as a whole, not republican or democrat, that brought this on, and not Rupert Murdoch either as one poster tried to blame. A large portion of your electorate are uneducated and 1/3 don't even bother to vote. We, the world, are not here to pick you up, that is all up to you. The US is now the evil axis of the world and we are all turning away, not likely to come back any time soon because it is quite likely this could happen again.
It is up to the US to stand up and fight and make the changes to ensure this shit never happens again, which means changing your constitution along with so much more, but we don't see that ever happening, when people can't even bother to vote, let alone get involved. If you are expecting us to sooth you and lift you up, we will when you help yourselves.
mr715
(4,060 posts)Get real.
The people on this forum are the very people trying to make this horror show stop.
We don't need to hear from an observer literally on the other side of the world telling us how bad it is. We know.
Perhaps the author should address the minority of voters that empowered Trump.
Or perhaps advocate for Australia to suspend relations with the US and stop buying our submarines if they wanted to do something other than punch down and scold.
Bev54
(13,507 posts)and unfortunately there are still members here that need to hear the truth and while there are activists many are just posters.
You want the rest of the world to sooth you and feel sorry for you because of the condition of your country when it should be exactly the opposite, your country should be apologizing to the rest of the world and address your own issues.
You don't want to hear from us to tell you how bad it is, but you want us to feel sorry for you, it is not up to us to address the voters that empowered Trump, it is up to you!
In case you do not know the rest of the world has already turned away from the US in buying airplanes, submarines and military equipment along with so much more, including digital services. Some are committed to already signed contracts. If you look around you, the world is not visiting.
Time for the US to fix their problems within, nobody is coming to the rescue.
mr715
(4,060 posts)Sure seems like our allies in Australia still like our military tech.
Bev54
(13,507 posts)mr715
(4,060 posts)Perhaps they might want to consider stepping away from the deal, since the US is (and is) so toxic.
Point being - it ain't Democrats empowering the agenda. And the scolding won't help.
Blues Heron
(8,999 posts)multigraincracker
(37,976 posts)to change things. That is my promise. I will continue to vote for our other side. I have and will continue to donate more than I ever have and promise to do as much as I can to get out the vote. If it takes more, Im in.
misanthrope
(9,597 posts)It isn't just "a deeply unstable old man." He is the avatar through which equally malevolent actors channel their evil desires. All the people both beside and behind him are what make his damage possible. That includes donors, administration officials, federal legislators, state level politicos and so on.
The U.S. is currently in the hands of anti-democratic activists and power brokers who are "inside the wire."
Martin Eden
(15,846 posts)Last edited Sat May 9, 2026, 01:49 PM - Edit history (1)
Are now being removed, section by section.
American democracy has always had some dysfunction, but now it is heading off the rails.
Who is to blame?
I don't believe in broad brush collective blame. Many fine Americans have devoted their lives, some with great sacrifice, to make America a more perfect union that lives up to its highest ideals. Tens of millions see the problems and turn out to vote for progress.
And yet, it is the American voter who has made this current nightmare possible. In 2024, more voted for it than against it. They may have been fooled by Fox News and talk radio and online influencers and their local pastor, but they are adults responsible for their own actions.
And outside our borders, others will blame the American people for allowing this to happen. The consequences will fall on all of us, in what is ostensibly the world's leading democracy.
Donald Trump is a symptom of a more systemic disease, for which there is no easy prescription. Ultimately, it is human nature. Greed, bigotry, willful ignorance, self indulgence, lack of empathy, the collective "we" have it.
Are we beset by inevitable fate, or can our plight be changed?
Dan
(5,277 posts)But I am not sure how we can get this Lunatic under wraps given our system of government.
Even then, one-third of the country supports this insanity; one-third doesn't care and the final third is screaming;
How can we fix? Well probably one-third of the country doesn't want to hurt the feelings of the other third; one-third doesn't care along as nothing bad happens to them; and one-third is probably wishing for the rapture.
I also agree that the Lunatic is on his last legs and would probably find it funny to blow up the world on his way out - he is insane. But then one-half of the government supports his insanity because they are afraid of losing a seat at the table of crazy; one-quarter can only respond with strong letters of disapproval; and the last quarter is screaming from the rooftops;
Two-third of our SCOTUS is actively working to support the Lunatics dismantling of our democracy; two-thirds would bring back everything bad in our history is they could; and one-third can only write strong words of dissent.
I sometimes wish that we could just split - and that might be for the best. Not two separate countries (which we already are - one-half is reality based and one-half insanity supporting) but two-to-six different nations because that seems more realistic. Because as it is today the insane are running this country.
I just don't know what is going to happen but I suspect by the end it won't be pretty.
FadedMullet
(1,003 posts)......than we have. The loyal opposition and folks in general are saying and doing too little, unless you count hand-wringing and waiting for the midterm elections.
lastlib
(28,537 posts)If we don't soon get him into a white strait-jacket and locked in a padded room, the world is going to go to shit rapidly. It's no longer about which political party has power, it's about SURVIVAL.
FakeNoose
(42,229 posts)This isn't how I planned to spend my retirement years. But this is how it turned out, you know? The crazy MAGAs and the Supreme Court have ruined it for everyone. The BILLIONAIRES - including Rupert Murdoch - have ruined it for all of us.
GiqueCee
(4,630 posts)... but we seem to have become inured to the severity of the situation. The relentless onslaught of one jaw-dropping travesty after another and that's before lunch is more than the average mind can absorb before it suffers an aneurysm.
This is NOT politics as usual; this is monstrous evil of astronomical proportions, and even a cursory examination of recent history 'recent' being the past 80 or 90 years will tell us that WE WERE WARNED! Republicans are malicious, mendacious, and underhanded people obsessed with total dominion over the lives of others, more commonly referred to as POWER. Christ, there's even a shadowy pseudo-religious movement called Dominionists whose sole purpose in life is to impose their beliefs on ALL of us, whether we like it or not. That also includes a rigid and ruthless political element. The separation of church and state is anathema to them, and summary execution for even minor infractions is not just a supposition, it is very probably an essential element of enforcement. Imagine ICE, but with big, brass crucifixes to justify their murderous depravity. Christian Nationalists are carved out of the same turd, and we dismiss them at our peril.
The late Neville Chamberlain's influence is still alive and well in certain corners of our own beloved party, and acquiescence in advance just to maintain an illusory status quo, or Peace In Our Time, as Chamberlain's fevered mind envisioned it, will be the death of America, and there will be no resurrection. We can't count on an American Winston Churchill to pull us back from the brink.
The new Republican Party is a malignant cancer and must be dealt with accordingly.
I need a glass of wine.
AlexSFCA
(6,321 posts)the fact that the elected dems didnt proactively fight all this is on us too. We are smarter now and only vote for the true fighters.
popsdenver
(2,549 posts)who have a D after their name, but in all reality are, in fact, pro corporations..........DINO's
sheshe2
(98,260 posts)This statement, posted on FB that just so happens to be run by a billionaire, sure sounds like victim blaming to me.
Sue stated "no exceptions"! She blames every man woman and child in this country, NO EXCEPTIONS! None.
Oh, and her 'You' paragraph, nice touch...not.
You want
You want
You talk
You kidnap
You joke
You claim
Sorry, I will take a pass on agreeing with her.
Just Jerome
(540 posts)Trying to keep up, calling, preaching, educating, voting, protesting. Doing what I can here, as are so many others. Perhaps I'll care enough some day to talk to her over a Foster's.
Whatevs.
mr715
(4,060 posts)sheshe2
(98,260 posts)It was upsetting to read.
mr715
(4,060 posts)It was, as your say, upsetting to read I couldn't quite articulate why. Dissonant. After reading your characterization, I think it is because it forces me into the always uncomfortable position as identity "victim". I don't want to be a victim. I don't want that to be part of who I am, but it is something gross that the President and Congress have enforced on me.
I understand the sentiment of the writer, but it is a consequence of American power internationally. It is a historical product of empire and changes to culture and language and ethics.
Humanity is a beautiful thing. We are capable of such glorious acts of benevolence. We, those that are fighting back, and those that are having our beloved rights infringed do not carry the blame for the failure of the (GOP) majority to govern. It isn't our show.
It is a subtle aspect of our system that our minority has no mandate to govern. You and I might even have disagreed on this feature in terms of political tactics. But it might be a subtle point lost on Commonwealth countries operating according to Westminster rules.
We have no King to take the middle way and "be" the American. In our system, the whore of Babylon Donald Trump serves in that capacity. While simultaneously enacting a governing agenda with real consequences.
We are likely the only nation truly able to end the world. Perhaps Russia, but I suspect that aren't the nuclear powerhouse they claim.
We DO have an obligation to be stewards of peace and liberalism (classical and modern, simultaneously).
When Sec. Clinton lost, I realized we were not the nation I was raised to believe we were, so it stings when people remind me. Especially from countries whose own racism is through the roof.
I appreciate you, sheshe, as I appreciate all the thoughtful Democrats on this forum.
We have endured a lot and we will endure more. But we will win in the end because the good guys always win and I unwilling to accept that existence isn't a classical comedy.
And yet, there is no balm for the harm done to the innocent and I hope we, as a government, can repair the damage that one generation has wrought.
I'm not willing to give up yet. But I don't want to be scolded for an acute pain I feel in my heart over the loss of my country. It is a canker sore I poke every day because Trump just won't go away.
You are appreciated. You are valued. Thank you for giving words to the amorphous unease this OP gave me.
Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)I agree with you on this this is all bullshit.. I did not vote for him or any other republican,the ones that did are the ones to blame for this.. Every repug in office today shares the blame for allowing him to continue. They are the ones wit the power to stop all of it immediately
debsy
(1,024 posts)Most of us do not support the lunatic but are open to your suggestions for how we can get him under control when he is funded by billionaire oligarchs, has the US military and all its weapons at his disposal, and has the support of so many wealthy, nefarious foreign autocrats as well. They cheat to win elections, use our tax payer dollars to support themselves so they dont have to spend their own money, and strip us of all our rights. Please, tell us what we should do. We are all ears!
kentuck
(115,552 posts)...she is probably the majority in every nation on earth, except the US? They do not divide our country into Democrats and Republicans. They see us as one. Just as the world saw Germany as one in the 1930's. We don't accept their blame but they blame us anyway.
nilram
(3,562 posts)and understand that political systems are different around the world.
sheshe2
(98,260 posts)As of August 2025, Mark Zuckerbergs net worth is estimated at $270 billion, primarily derived from his equity in Meta Platforms, where he controls roughly 13.5% of the companys shares, valued at $783.39 per share at that time (Benzinga). This places him among the top three richest people in the world, just behind Larry Ellison and Elon Musk
https://www.bing.com/search?q=mark+zuckerberg%e2%80%99s+net+worth+in+billions&qs=GS&pq=mark+zuckerberg%e2%80%99s+net+worth&sk=GS1&sc=12-27&cvid=F5FC2CDE3937455DA27DC897C6ECB1B1&FORM=QBRE&sp=2&ghc=1&lq=0
........................................................
Perhaps Sue should get off FB and stop supporting a man that has skin in tsf's game. Zuck is part of the problem.
Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)meadowlander
(5,151 posts)Her point is that America is a body politic and there's no pretending you're not a part of it. Trump is the head of the most obvious giant festering pustule but he's not the beginning, the end or even the largest part of the problem.
The problem is that 69% of your body politic is too stupid to see what he is or too selfish to care. That's the percentage of voting age Americans that didn't vote for Kamala Harris. Some of those people are your family members, your neighbours, your coworkers, the people you go to church with or volunteer with or do sports or hobbies with or share an old college network group chat with. Talk to those people. Work on them. Don't let bullshit or intellectual laziness go unchallenged. You might not convince that person, but you might persuade other people listening. If you can't win over racist Uncle Joe, win over his kids and his wife. If you can't get him to vote for a Democrat, get him to give up on voting or at least shut up in public.
Reclaim every public space you enter. Do not tolerate cruelty, stupidity, bigotry or willful ignorance to get along with people. Do not throw your hands up and say "those people are impossible, I give up". Those people are your responsibility to manage. Make sure they are exposed to the truth and don't let them walk away from it. The right-wing propaganda machine runs on "62,400 repetitions make one truth". So it's boring and tedious but it's your responsibility that the people in your life are hearing the actual truth 62,401 times. The point of a society is to encourage its citizens into virtue. The right has spent decades corroding that. You have to be the opposite force. You can't wait for your elected representatives to do it for you.
What else can you do? Make sure the young people in your life are educated, can think critically, and can contextualise what they are being fed on social media. Be a good role-model. Support independent liberal media and amplify their voices everywhere you can. Boycott companies that are capitulating to or enabling Trump. Contribute to campaigns of politicians doing it right. Shut down anti-intellectual talking points and lazy attacks on social institutions from people who don't understand what they do.
Be shameless and brave. Get out of your comfort zone. Be inconvenienced. Expect the same from your representatives. They need to be out there every second of every day with a compelling counter-narrative and a plan to get back on track. Vocally support the actual solution to the actual problem - the need to tax the wealthy to support a functioning society.
You can't do anything about Trump? Really? Where are the general strikes? Where are the daily overwhelming protests that gum up the economy and demand attention right now? Not one big one every couple months where we dance around in silly costumes and then pat ourselves on the back and treat ourselves to Starbucks on the way home. Every single day. Where are the signs and the picketers on every single street corner saying this is not OK? He is a global four alarm fire and all the rest of the world is seeing from the American resistance is a couple mid- to low- tier Democratic reps or senators and some brave individuals in Minnesota running and throwing buckets of water at the edges.
There's a groundswell of resistance but it needs to be more visible, undeniable, relentless and absolute in its repudiation of the right wing anti-Democratic project in America. Figure out your part in making that happen instead of fighting with random Australians claiming you're just a victim in all this too. Because I guarantee you do have a role and so do most of the people you know. You may already be doing a lot of those things but ask yourself if it's really everything you could do? If you honestly do have more to give, then now is the time to be giving it.
summer_in_TX
(4,246 posts)Just before Nixon resigned, he was drinking heavily and talking to portraits on the wall of the White House. Lincoln was his favorite. His daughter and staff were terrified. James Schlesinger was afraid Nixon was in such an irrational state that he could start WWIII. So he quietly ordered those who could receive such an order from the president could only do so if he, Schlesinger, personally cleared it.
He called it pulling a Schlesinger.
As of this writing, not a single mainstream reporter has touched it. The Times has not. The Post has not. 60 Minutes has not called. The MSM has done the math. They looked at what happened to the law firms, the universities, and Jimmy Kimmel and politely said, Not my rodeo.
Carlyn Beccia doesn't come right out and say it, but apparently they are now on record as warning Congress that Trump is unfit for office. She expects it to trigger consequences. I'm not so sure, but a girl can hope.
Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)We need a country wide boycott and work stoppage. A day when it all shuts down, with the exception of emergency personnel.
SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY. STAND IN THE STREETS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND SAY, 'IMPEACH DONALD NOW. NOT TOMORROW. NOW. THIS MINUTE.' And stay in the streets until they impeach this monstrous fascist pig.
Blues Heron
(8,999 posts)Joinfortmill
(21,577 posts)Hope it's not senility setting in.
Ray Bruns
(6,652 posts)Unfortunately, yes we do.
Blues Heron
(8,999 posts)mr715
(4,060 posts)GoodRaisin
(11,017 posts)Congressional Republicans. They are responsible for removing criminal presidents in our check and balance system and they did not do their job. The fix here is clear. They need to be removed from their job and replaced with representatives that will take the 80 year old fool out of the White House. If that doesnt happen after the mid term elections then the next line of responsibility is all the stupid people who keep on voting for Republicans. That does not include me, sorry, but it just doesnt.
roamer65
(37,970 posts)
and our allies are talking with him.
chouchou
(3,268 posts)Dance for them and dance some more.