Security On The Never-Never Saves No One At All: Biden, Debt And Defence And Fear of Fiscal Implosion

(This discursive mini-essay does not pretend to be complete. It invites discourse.)

Jackie Kennedy Onassis died on this date in 1994. “If you bungle raising your children,” she said, “I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much.”

Perhaps humankinds most important children are the nations we have created.

“All politics is personal.” said American President Joe Biden, quoting himself, in his first meeting with then new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year.

On the surface? Maybe yes.

But what about the politicians’ essential job of sustainable government. That involves spending the money we do have wisely.

Biden’s personal commitment to Albanese has taken a hit with the cancellation this week of a visit to Australia for a Quad meeting.

Instead Biden needs to deal with the debt ceiling crisis in America.

A lot is at stake:

Almost exactly three years ago my friend, Shelly, who was then in San Diego, wrote for this blog:

“America, like ancient Rome, will be destroyed from within long before the actual enemy invasions begin.

I believe the dissolution of America is inevitable.

Pax Americana will end soon, if it hasn’t already.

The coronavirus reaching U.S. shores was like striking a match in a room packed with gunpowder.

Under most circumstances the amount of damage one spark could do would be limited but these are not normal circumstances.

“How can we turn back time and not strike that match?” is not the right question.

What we need to ask is:

“How did all this gunpowder get to be in the smoking room?”

Security On The Never-Never Saves No One At All (No nation can finance defence long term by accruing more and more debt.)

Since Australia’s great wartime Prime minister, John Curtin said, “Australia looks to America.” on December 27, 1941, Australia has relied on America to feel safe in the world.

But now America in Canberra, represented by JFK’s daughter, Caroline, as ambassador, flies the flags you can see at the top above. What would Caroline’s dad say?

The defence of Australia ………… you get what you pay for ……..

Australia needs a solvent America.

Who is working to reduce debt?

Geoff Fox, 19th May, 2023, Down Under