[irishcule]

Calling European countries "freeloaders" is such a one dimensional way of looking at this. Europe "outsourced" most of its defense to the US because the US wanted it that way, for soft power, influence, access to military bases and probably many other reasons.

This will become undeniably obvious when Europe stops being "freeloaders" and the US will complain about that too.

[terminalshort]

When you outsource you make a payment for services. I would have no problem with such an arrangement, but in this case, no payment is made, which is why I say "freeloaders."

[twixfel]

The payment is that the USA got to make the rules for the whole world, most importantly regarding trade, and we follow them. Now you have decided to elect someone who is destroying the very world order you built that you specifically designed to benefit you! It certainly wasn't out the kindness of your own hearts that you had such a disproportionately strong military, that must be clear to you.

I guess I feel sorry for you because the British Empire had to fight two extremely destructive world wars against militarism and fascism in order to lose its role as superpower. The USA on the other hand has decided to lose its role as global hegemon because, why exactly, trans people and abortion??? Quite pathetic! In the long list of empires the American one will be remembered as having the most pathetic and stupid collapse of all, and that's very sad!

[terminalshort]

I agree with you as far as trade goes, but that's completely irrelevant to anything I said above.

[twixfel]

No, you are the hegemon, and that costs money. It was the same when the British Empire ruled 1/4 of the Earth. You don't blame your colonies for costing you money or "freeloading", nobody is forcing to be the global superpower. Just retreat from the world into your small little world of domestic politics, which is admittedly what you're doing, but don't blame us for it.