Sounds like something a Russian asset would say taps head in american

Joking aside, I agree, the US has rotten bones and that's hard to shake or build upon without the rot spreading. I'd argue, though, there aren't many nations in the world that aren't built on racism and genocide, xenophobic white people really got around a couple hundred plus years ago.

There are people in the US that weren't raised racist, and ones who were but fell far from the tree, just like there are anywhere else. I think the major failing those people (I'd like to say we) have here is a lack of imagination of how we can move to a better tomorrow. The problem is so big and runs so deep its hard to think about its shape much less ways to change it.

Our media pushes us very specific propaganda, our health care is a joke, our education floundering (broken if you live in some places), and our lives demand most of our waking hours to pay for food and shelter. Its no good excuse, but largely Americans aren't evil, just tired, sick, and poor, and they don't have the extra to give until everything around them is crumbling. That looks lazy to people who haven't lived it, but you'll have to trust this lefty on the internet when I say its not lazy, maybe some learned helplessness, but definitely tired. Come to Mississippi (please don't do this and don't read it as a threat) and live for a couple weeks, you'll see it quick.

Shoot we're also talking about a pretty big place. Oregon to Virginia is a long way and there's a pretty big culture gradient in the middle.

I hope our friends around the world block us out, push their leaders to dismantle the crap institutions the US has exported for generations, and really question their own biases before it gets as bad as this. I don't think the US is unique in any significant way, y'all are susceptible to these things too, it'll just be a different flavor and a different time, and I'd like to hope we will have fixed our shit by then in time to have your back, but I'm pessimistic.

I try to differentiate between nations and citizens here, where I can. We aren't our grandparents, but our government literally is and was made by them.

Also trump did get help from Russian organizations to get elected in 2016, so there's clearly ties, and not in the same way to China or Venezuela. Also also he can be both a fundamentally American creation and a Russian asset, that would be very effective as a way to dismantle the post WWII status quo, which seems to be a specific goal of Putin's Russia. FWIW I don't really think he's a direct asset, though there are 100% people around him on the take from whoever will pay, I'm just imagining why someone might believe that.

Sorry I didn’t realize it was my fault.

The decline of American Hegemony helps China as much as Russia, sure. It likely helps them more as they're better positioned to take advantage of it. But his Rhetoric towards Russia has warmed up a lot, whereas China not so much.

He asked Russia to hack his opponent, and they did.

He took the word of Putin over his own intelligence.

He's said he wouldn't support NATO allies if attacked by Russia if they had contributed enough.

Paul Manafort was his campaign manager.

And the action in Venezuela could be seen as a net positive for Russia. It makes them seem like hypocrites for complaining about Russia attacking Ukraine when they don't respect sovereignty either. It suggests that maybe the super powers can do as they like in their own backyard, like Russia attacking Ukraine, or China planning to attack Taiwan.

So it doesn't seem crazy to me. I don't think it's a driving factor anymore, as being a rapist isn't the deal breaker we thought it was, but its possible they had something on him and that it affected policy.

I think it's crazier to suggest that Trump hasn't dramatically shifted policy, and its just a continuation of the same general direction as always. In some ways Trump has gone 'mask off' while continuing on the same as always, but just taking off the mask is a big change in itself. But beyond that, yes, policy has clearly changed and the US has shifted away from Nato im ways that scare western Europe and are celebrated in Russia. So Trump has stopped pretending the US is acting on behalf of justice when it uses its military to advance it's interests, but has also changed those interests in significant ways.

And no it's not like these changes arent being implemented by and supported by Americans in power ($). Some are driven by hate, most of it is just about money though as the billionaires arent rich enough yet. Putin isn't pulling the strings on Trump, but it seems naive to dismiss it entirely. The hate that enables them is homegrown American hate, but its again naive to suggest Russia wouldn't try to steer the US into a downward spiral by supporting politicians more aligned with their interests, just as it would be to dismiss the CIA meddling in other countries to support politicians aligned with them.

But am I am sorry for bringing facism to the US. It was not my intention and im pretty disappointed to hear that I did. Sorry guys