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Letter to my American relatives and friends [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-03-26

This is a letter I just wrote to my American relatives and friends. I am a retired American living in Germany since 24 years.

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I haven't been writing much lately. Likely you didn't notice. Anyway, this is a report about Rosi and me, and our shared view of the world. This may be the last I write about politics for a long time, for reasons explained later.

We are in reasonable shape for our ages (81/82). Rosi can no longer walk long distances or do other 'strenuous' activities. I am still good for several km walking. We hope to keep our present lifestyle a few more years. We are planning a small trip this summer: the Glacier Express railroad route in Switzerland, and then a few days visiting Rosi's relatives near Bern.

I am still working on my photo editor and other Linux apps, at a reduced energy level. I read several hours per day, mostly about politics or history. The Trump catastrophe has demoralized both of us, so I write less often and keep more to myself. I am also worried about making myself a target, i.e. with my writings in Substack and Daily Kos. Likely I am too small to be noticed, but I can imagine a computer AI agent that searches for disloyal persons and deletes their Social Security accounts. Musk would do something like that, and then congratulate himself.

Speaking of Musk, Tesla sales in Germany are down 76% in an EV market that is up 31% overall (Feb. data). In some supermarkets, goods from American companies are put upside-down on the shelves to signal shoppers to avoid them. "Influencers" are recommending that travel to the USA be avoided. I wonder if this movement will be significant or blow over in a few months.

The worst aspect of Trump is that he is only a symptom of a bigger problem: Americans. It seems about 50% support Trump and are happy that he is harming their perceived enemies: minorities, immigrants, university elites, and the 'deep state' controlled by 'woke libs'. Of course these are enemies only because Trump says they are. Some European countries, including Germany, have started programs to hire US scientists who no longer have funding, or simply want to leave the USA because of Trump and what his dominance says about American values. I fear that America has lost all respect - no longer the shining city on the hill attracting the best and brightest from all over the world.

Regarding the threat from Russia, Europe is trying to find it's way into a future without the USA. There are lots of courageous words and fewer real actions, and I wonder if the EU politicians will ever pull together in a significant way. The EU has just allocated €800 billion for the military and armaments, and Germany has allocated €500 billion (€1.00 = $1.08). That is serious money. I am waiting to see how real this is - there is widespread doubt that European nations will abandon domestic politics for the sake of a stronger Europe. Already I hear about the French not wanting to invest in weapons made outside of France.

One interesting aspect: the Europeans do not want to invest in US weapons, e.g. F-35 fighter aircraft, because they do not trust the USA to be a reliable supplier. There is talk that F-35s have a "kill switch" in the software that allows the USA to make them useless on command. Even if this is not true, a replacement parts cut-off would do the same. Cancelling existing contracts for F-35s is under discussion. Rejection of US weapons may have an interesting side-effect from the influence of US arms makers on US politics.

At present, only the USA can produce the most advanced weapons. Europe will need many years to catch up, even if the political will is there. German leaders are debating the acquisition of nuclear weapons, because they do not trust the US for protection against Russia. Most Germans agree with the need to increase military spending, for fear of Russia, but many (25%?) fear war so greatly that they are willing to give Putin whatever he wants. Some believe that Putin has no ambitions beyond Ukraine, which could be sacrificed with little risk. This will be the main political discourse for years to come.

Of course Trump, Musk, and the whole US administration are regarded as ignorant fools at best, fascist criminals at worst, or both. Trump thinks that Putin is his friend, while Putin thinks of Trump as a useful idiot. The EU leaders are rushing to flatter and appease Trump, in hopes he can be kept from doing something really stupid, like withdrawing US forces from Europe.

The stalemate in Ukraine continues. The EU is working to supply weapons, anticipating a possible US withdrawal of support. The outgoing German Chancellor has refused to deliver long-range missiles (for fear of Putin), but the incoming Chancellor has pledged to do exactly that. Ukraine is now the leading arms maker in Europe, and giving them money instead of weapons could be more effective. Putin believes he only needs to wait for Europe to give up or disintegrate into squabbling children. He may be right.

[END]
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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/26/2312735/-Letter-to-my-American-relatives-and-friends?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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