How can we as America repair the damage to our credibility, as once being a respected world leader, in the face of our own corruption?

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 04:47:30 -0500

In the past decades of presidential administrations, regardless of the political environnent, the world events, our stand and involvement in crises, America was able to rebound and maintain the respect of the world. But we are in serious misalignment with the world and instead of thinking about this dilemma, we seem to still be spiraling out of control and losing integrity and grace, at the speed of light.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Dec 29 at 2020 6:03 AM

CSM Chuck Stafford — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:03:09 -0500

I think in the past, most everyone agreed that the president, regardless of our personal affiliations, should succeed. The current administration has experienced an unprecedented negativeness and a lot of people wanted to see him fail - damn the country. The shared commonalities that used to bind Americans have been relegated to the second tier -- but you really can't have an individualism first mindset if you don't recognize that the common American values allow for that individualism in the first place -- great question

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Dec 29 at 2020 6:08 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:08:53 -0500

I love the question. Just not at all sure of the answer. However, I think it will take a generation to repair...we need to start with the kids in school and take back the education system

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Dec 29 at 2020 6:25 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:25:25 -0500

The world is not in dis-alignment with the country, the country’s leaders chose different paths than were traditional, this is not the first time in modern history that the US broke ranks, so to speak. The bottom line is that each presidency goes down there path, not every alliance is as they appear at the surface. There are often underlying riffs between country’s and amongst major groups, like the 8, the European Union, etc. there has never been anything irrevocable in history, save war, and even then many western country’s vote against the US. We will be fine. The incoming President will reinstate some alliances, hopefully not all, he will pull together new ones and the world will press on. The best example in modern history is Britain with the Brexit from the EU. The other is NATO, country’s finally paying their fare share to play a roll in global security. Anyway, have no fear the US will do fine.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 29 at 2020 6:34 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:34:07 -0500

Time and perseverance!

Response by Maj John Bell made Dec 29 at 2020 6:54 AM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:54:37 -0500

I'm not sure that I either fully understand the premise of your question, or that if I do, I agree with it. If you believe the current administration has damaged our credibility internationally, what makes you believe so? And if you believe the world's view of what is deserving of respect is correct, where is the Trump administration out of line with respectable conduct?

At a national level, I believe we have arrived at a state where the politician's priorities are out of alignment. I believe that self-interest is first and foremost to them, and once they become incumbents; party loyalty seems the path of least resistance. How often do we hear of the party leadership in Congress trying to get the mavericks back in line. The failure to get back in line comes with costs. Will the party of choice provide funding for their re-election bid? Will the party leadership reward them with the plum committee memberships? Sadly this puts national interest a sorry third. If your premise that "we are in serious misalignment with the world" is true, perhaps from the rest of the world sees what we do not. That isn't to say the goals of either party is wrong, but each is so concerned that the other party not be seen in a positive light that their only game is a "prevent defense." Reasoned compromise is no longer a virtue in the halls of power.

Right here on RallyPoint we see a representative model of the National disease. Political opponents abandon the difficult task of persuasion of the merits of their position and instead take the easy road of personal attack, demonization, and insult.

"Heresies in either [Religion or Politics] can rarely be cured by persecution." Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Number 1.

But I'm not sure that a serious misalignment with the rest of the world is an inherently bad thing. The majority of world governments are not "of the people, by the people, and for the people." And the majority of world governments fail to provide peace and prosperity for the general population, instead they concentrate it in the hands of the politically elite, and those that enable the politically elite. I'd have to know the specifics of the misalignment of which you speak to give a better answer. What makes you think our international credibility is damaged?

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 7:05 AM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 07:05:48 -0500

How do you gauge the damage to our credibility? Does China lose any credibility for their human rights violations or their corporate espionage over the last 30 years? Does Russia lose any points for annexing Crimea while the world - including the U.S. did nothing? Or when they hacked our systems this past year and did yet unmeasured damage. Or do EU countries lose any credibility for standing by while all of this happens? When we were caught spying on our closest allies under the Obama administration as revealed by Edward Snowden - was any national credibility lost then? The fact is, yes we are flawed. But read a history book and learn how flawed everyone else is as well. The world will still continue to lean on America for leadership, technology, and military support regardless of our political leadership.

Response by 1SG Steven Imerman made Dec 29 at 2020 7:37 AM

1SG Steven Imerman — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 07:37:54 -0500

I think there were two watershed moments-
1. We abandon South Vietnam after our troop withdrawal, refusing to even sell them ammunition for the weapons we sold them. The world saw that America would throw anybody under the bus if a different party took over in Washington.
2. Despite dozens of treaties and vows, we sat on our hands as the Rwandan genocide went down. The world realized at that point there were no moral imperatives in American government, and that everything, up to and including genocide, was subordinate to internal politics. That genocide's aftermath were the Congo Civil Wars I and II. The total dead in Rwanda and the Congo came to 6 million people or more, and we have pointedly ignored the whole mess. We were bound by treaties and the UN Charter to intervene as soon as the Rwandan mess was identified as genocide, but we blew it off.

Our loss of international prestige is not a recent thing, it has been gone for a long while now.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Dec 29 at 2020 8:06 AM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 08:06:42 -0500

Not for sure the genesis of your question or what answers you are looking for. One of Our problems right now is the power hungry democrats trying to lock us in our homes.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 9:15 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 09:15:48 -0500

Just be good stewards of the Constitution and Country, starting with Govt. down to each citizen.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 29 at 2020 9:27 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 09:27:41 -0500

We HAVE to improve our educational system first. We can't make any other improvements if our citizens are too uneducated to make informed, intelligent decisions. Science illiteracy, an inability to research and a lack of critical thinking skills are killing us as a nation.
Fixing education is a prerequisite to fixing anything else.
The other, secondary priority is military spending. Right now, we're a 3rd world country propped up by a 1st world military. We have to keep spending on our military because it's the only thing keeping us relevant on the global stage. Hopefully we can taper it back in time as we make improvements to education, and then subsequently economy, infrastructure, etc...

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Dec 29 at 2020 9:30 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 09:30:34 -0500

PO3 Phyllis Maynard I think the last four years of disrespect for the office of the President and the lack of Congress (all of Congress) actually doing their job (for the people) and not themselves has left a permanent stain on this country.. It has for me personally - I'm very disappointed in all facets of our government and how representation has become nothing but support for special interest groups that supply all the money for re-elections and power for a few. The normal man or women in this country with a great background could never be President of this country without million of dollars; and we showed are true colors with a billionaire businessman that didn't follow the Washington political machine as normal and the office was disrepected daily for four years, yet he still got some things done, can't say that about Congress. This is my personal belief and opinion... I'm sure others have their own and I respect that, just don't dog my opinion...

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 9:36 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 09:36:53 -0500

That's an easy question to answer. Have a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate and get Trump to win in 2024.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 9:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 09:54:52 -0500

I would propose a couple of things to bring sanity to our own house.
1. Term limits for Congress. This would fix a number of things.
2. Balanced Budget Amendment. Let's just say that things like shrimp on treadmills might not be funded anymore.
3. Law enforcement holds organizations accountable to police themselves. If BLM, White Supremacists, or someone else holds an event and members commit criminal acts, fine the organizer and bill them for the property loss and watch the magic happen.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 10:25 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:25:50 -0500

Did you know playing MMO games (World of Warcraft, Eve Online, et al) comes with guilds and corporations made up of people around the world? When Discord became common to the player guilds, conversations started happening. I belong to a Corporation in one MMO that is about 500 strong, and is maybe 50% US, 45% European and 5% Asian & Australian. The reason I mention this are the conversations that have bloomed from Covid, the lock downs across the world, and how everyone views the pandemic *AND* the politics surrounding it.

The biggest "complaint" is the US does not always do what the rest of Europe does and they view us as renegades that need to get on the compliance bus. These Discord channels are a place I do not talk much about politics as my views are what they call out as radical yet complain that they do not have. Obeying their government is important to them, the social safety nets are important to them, universal healthcare are important to them - yet at the same time they have their gripes about it and are shocked when the US takes a different path. Global harmony you know!

If you at all mention personal responsibility at more than the household level - you are radically different then they are.

If you at all mention health care choices - you are radically different then they are.

If you at all mention poor "leadership" in Congress and even point out that they are representatives and not our leaders - you are radically different then they are.

So many in the world are towards the left side of the political spectrum. Not radical, just in favor of government run programs for the masses. The exact opposite of what the US used to stand for. We have too many of our rich and famous in love with Europe who have never LIVED there. We have the MSMs who have shifted the lens of news reporting to focus on government control instead of personal responsibility. And this is not a sudden shift either. I remember my grand father (born in 1886) talk about it when I was young. The names of the politicians were different - the problems he talked about were the same but not anywhere as hyper-intensive as they are now 40+ years later.

As has been pointed out by several others on this thread, it is not so much individuals in Congress or the Presidential administration as it is a whole dynamic of insider group think that is the cause. And, inside this group are sub groups we identify as the left, right and independents. If I were to say who were the worst of these sub groups, the left would probably score a 8 or 8.5 out of 10. But, but, but! The right is bad too! And I agree. I would score them 7.9 or 8.4 out of 10. The independents are a wash as they don't have a majority in anything and tend to support the right or left agenda as benefits themselves. But the worst part of it all is the public face vs the internal face each and every politician has.

Until we slap these guys hard enough our so called leadership is driving this boat aground - hard.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 11:10 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:10:01 -0500

Americans past credibility and respect was almost always built on what America could do for other Countries and the World. In many cases, it was either cash earmarked for other countries/UN/NATO/Special Projects, our military support (saves the individual countries from having to spend as much on their own defense), favorable trade agreements, etc.
All America has to do to "regain" this special trust is to return to the policies of giving money, services, and aid to other countries/organizations at the expense of US citizens.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Dec 29 at 2020 11:44 AM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:44:36 -0500

I think consistent words and actions will go a long way towards repairing the damage done by the last two administrations.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 12:00 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 12:00:22 -0500

The pattern is obvious and we were warned, but instead of getting rid of the career politicians and dynasties, we doubled down by reelecting the same corrupt politicians and dynasties who created this two party clusterfork to remain in power.

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty." - George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796

"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader." - Samuel Adams to James Warren, February 12, 1779

Response by PO2 Harold Ashton made Dec 29 at 2020 12:21 PM

PO2 Harold Ashton — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 12:21:59 -0500

This would be a good place to start.

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Dec 29 at 2020 1:13 PM

SSG Steven Mangus — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 13:13:39 -0500

Simple, have accountability and responsibility for our elected officials. Place your nedds above the country and people, there should be consequences, very public consequences. Ironically, shooting a hostage brings the rest into line..metaphorically of course...

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 29 at 2020 1:16 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 13:16:03 -0500

When has America ever been in step with the rest of the world? Political corruption is not our exclusive domain. It exists everywhere ("power corrupts..."). Indeed, the greater part of our present conflict is between those who seek to adopt European ways (progressive Leftists) and those who value their individualism. Thus, I prefer to wait for the rest of the world to gain some credibility (which they have never had in my estimation) while we fight our own battles...

Response by LTC Raymond Buenteo made Dec 29 at 2020 1:27 PM

LTC Raymond Buenteo — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 13:27:18 -0500

For one quit profiling people based on their race. No one should be held responsible for the past.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Dec 29 at 2020 5:50 PM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:50:44 -0500

The strong right of Trump supporters do not want relationships with other nations, unless we can make money from it. When Trump took office, we gave up Regan's "shining city on the hill" and sunk into a morass of hate.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Dec 29 at 2020 5:52 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:52:09 -0500

This is a great question and there is no simple answer. You really need to understand the thinking of other countries as opposed to thinking like an American in order to come up with an answer. I go back to a conversation I had with my counterpart in the Turkish Air Force when I was a commander at a MUNSS. Over some Raki, we got on the subject of the Greek - Turkish relations and what he told me hit home. Essentially he told me that the Turks have a long memory, remember their friends and know who has stood by them for decades and who has not been faithful to relationships. Essentially the Greeks forgot their relationship with the Turks and there is no coming back from that in the Turkish mindset. Now back to the original question, thinking of people's who have a mindset like the Turks, and there are many around the world, we have a tough road to gain back our credibility IMO.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Dec 29 at 2020 8:04 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 20:04:52 -0500

Who cares what foreign country respects us. I want other countries to fear us.

Response by Cpl Gerald Tucker made Dec 29 at 2020 9:58 PM

Cpl Gerald Tucker — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:58:01 -0500

Both Parties are Corrupt! Time to do away the Electoral College! Create Term Limits! Two terms and Out! They are guaranteed a lifetime 100% retirement anyway. Why stay in Congress 40 to 50 years? Greed! At this point “All Congressmen & Senators must Go!”

Response by LTC Raymond Buenteo made Dec 30 at 2020 9:54 AM

LTC Raymond Buenteo — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 09:54:10 -0500

I believe it starts by holding our elected leaders and representatives to a higher standard and publicly enforcing those standards. You can be fired for creating a hostile work environment but our leaders and representatives are rewarded for doing so.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 30 at 2020 3:50 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:50:01 -0500

Well my friend and sister-in-Christ PO3 Phyllis Maynard perception by us humans is usually off :-)
1. God is in complete control of every aspect of creation. Far too many assume this is the very end of time since they can't imagine worse. In the 14th century when 70% of Europe was killed by the Black Death [coming from China] with corresponding deaths in Eurasia they through it couldn't get worse and assumed Christ would return.
2. The reputation of the USA is solid in the Middle East based on the alignment of Israel with many Muslim majority nations.
3 The strong stand of the Trump administration against Communist China and Iran is welcomed in many nations
4. All grace comes from God. HE admonishes us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem has done much in stabilization in the region.
5. The border wall has improved relations with Mexico immensely.

I concur with my friend COL Mikel J. Burroughs response 'I think the last four years of disrespect for the office of the President and the lack of Congress (all of Congress) actually doing their job (for the people) and not themselves has left a permanent stain on this country.'
I also concur with my friends CSM Chuck Stafford, SCPO Morris Ramsey and SSG Stephen Rogerson responses.

FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SMSgt David A Asbury SPC Michael Terrell SPC Nancy Greene TSgt David L. LTC Private RallyPoint Member Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. PO2 Private RallyPoint Member LTC Private RallyPoint Member Maj Marty Hogan TSgt Joe C.