I found this on Facebook.
--Kim
from Pallas:
Read this. A Nordic view. It's a tonic.
My reply to the author is in a comment below.
To my dear American friends,
When I talk with you, it feels like you haven't fully grasped what has just happened—and what is happening. I completely understand that many of you feel like you've been punched in the gut; with everything going on at such a rapid pace, it's difficult to keep up. Dazed and confused. Conflicted. Struggling to see things clearly. I get it.
On the other side of the Atlantic, however—and across your northern border—more and more of us have moved on. Because we have to. People are facing the hard, sad facts and are taking action. We still love you, on some level, but we can't get dragged down by your erratic and irresponsible behavior. We're in the middle of the worst security crisis of this century and simply cannot afford to waste more time on your issues. It's great if you show up at the last moment (always late when there's a world war, eh?), but we're no longer relying on you to do so. And even if you choose a more sane and responsible administration at the next election, there's no guarantee you won't flip 180 degrees at the one after next. The US has become far too unstable to remain the leader of the free world. It's painful, but we have to say goodbye. The damage has been done, the trust has been broken, and there's no going back now.
It's very similar to a family crisis in which an unstable member has repeatedly let everyone down, causing lots of damage and heartbreak—and finally, most of the family has had enough and felt compelled to cut them off because they no longer trust them. In many ways, the US is like this bipolar person (with some megalomania and paranoid schizophrenia to top it off)—a lovely person in their good periods, but whose bad ones just seem to get worse and worse. And now, your loyal wife—who's a strong, independent woman—has left you.
For many years, you've taken your northern neighbor for granted. You haven't realized how attractive she is and that she has many charming suitors around the world. She's currently having a love affair with Paris and Berlin (you're probably too blind to see it), and Brussels is offering her a safe place to stay until she's made up her mind. The verbal abuse and controlling behavior have been going on for far too long (alas, you used to get along so well), and the rest of the family is afraid you'll turn violent one day. And what's the deal with your unveiled threats against your old, trusted buddy Denmark!? They were there for you after 9/11 and fought and bled with you in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, Denmark no longer considers you a friend (and the next time you refuse to leave their stuff alone, they're calling the cops). You do realize that if you don't get your act together soon, you're going to lose all of us? And no, Russia—the old wife-beater down the road, who just lost their entire family due to serious domestic violence issues—isn't going to be your friend. Not a real one. If you had a little more awareness about the situation in our neighborhood, you would know what they're saying about you behind your back.
Anyway, the situation has gone on for far too long, and the rest of the family has kind of given up on you. Don't get me wrong, we'll all be delighted if you show up at the next family reunion in good spirits with a bowl of coleslaw and an expensive bottle of champagne, but we're all prepared for you to turn up in a bad mood, get super drunk again, and pick fights with everyone—or not show up at all.
The stock market has also moved on. Again, you're like that person in the family who has a super high income but repeatedly fails to manage their finances—and blames everyone else for their problems. This time, however, you're not going to take the rest of us down with you as you did back in 1929 and 2008. The US used to be a safe harbor in times of crisis, especially with a war in Europe; now, with the reckless and unpredictable behavior of your government, investors are looking for better opportunities in Europe. This is not 1929 or 2008. This time, your loss will be others' gain. You don't have the cards to win a global trade war.
If the US isn't interested in trading with the Canadians, the Europeans certainly will. Canada's got everything Europe needs (energy and raw materials), and Europe has exactly what the Canadians need (a giant market, lots of people, hi-tech products). Sure, it would be easier to transport all those goodies across the land border, but we've got boats. All the best boats.
Sadly, one of the reasons investors are looking toward Europe now is because the continent is getting ready for war. It is what it is. But at least the Europeans seem to have their act together and are trying to make the best of the situation. Producing tanks instead of cars isn't exactly going to increase the standard of living in Europe, but it will create jobs for working-class people and thus stabilize the continent somewhat (phew, Germany dodged a bullet there). Now that Europe no longer expects the US to honor their alliances—and ever since Elon bragged about how he could turn off the Ukrainian army's internet (and said "be quiet, small man" to the Polish foreign minister when he kindly noted that Poland is paying Ukraine's Starlink bill)—the continent has begun to invest heavily in its own military industries, and buying American has simply become too risky (dependence on the US government for spare parts and software updates? No thanks).
The US military-industrial complex isn't the only part of America's economy to suffer. Silicon Valley also relies on its global appeal. With a corrupt and increasingly authoritarian government in the White House, individuals, companies, and governments around the world are seriously considering the risks of having their data on American servers—which could potentially be seized and weaponized by the US government. The stock markets are responding accordingly. This is bad news for America, but an excellent opportunity for Europe and the rest of the world to develop alternatives to the platforms owned by the techno-feudal oligarchy in your country.
The rest of the world is also happy to welcome the ongoing brain drain from your shores. All those liberal tree-huggers, creative folks with big hearts and wild ideas. You hate them? We love them. And if they can't stand living in an increasingly authoritarian and dysfunctional society, we'll welcome them with open arms. And I'm sure they would be thrilled to set up new Silicon Valleys around the world.
When I talk to many of my friends on my side of the Atlantic, most have already given up on the US and are more interested in ensuring something similar won't happen over here. Personally, however, I simply can't give up on you. Not yet. It just pains me too much to see a good old friend I used to look up to—a close and formerly trusted member of the family—go crazy and destroy their life.
America, you need help. There is no shame in admitting it. I know you'd rather invade Greenland than go to therapy, but I'd still offer you my help and compassion if you'd accept it. Hopefully, you'll enter one of your good periods soon, and then we can have a long and heartfelt conversation. My door remains open. But please, leave my stuff alone.
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Pallas Stanford
Emil Ejner Friis This is why I love you. Thanks so much for this much needed account. I will share it with all my friends who, despite recent serious reassessment by some in my favor, still wonder if I am crazy.
In my younger years, I spent a notable amount of time wondering how I could announce to the world that no one should come here to the US hoping to find justice for all. I wanted the world to see the big lie and know that the bullies were in charge on these shores. Capitalism and a shared political theory rigged out of imperialism and private property relations were hyperobjects, not widely seen. Now I'm nearing 70 and focused on saying what I see and trusting those who have ears to hear.
I have taken great comfort in seeing world leaders step up as so many of them have. I'm super relieved to know they were as prepared as they could be for this grievousness. I know that at least some of them understand that the US is being gambled/sacrificed in the game of thrones being played by the world's oligarchs. I think, like you, they would like to see us pull out of it. Our best chance is if Europe unites in some clarity about whether the oligarchs and their fascist friends can be contained by a social democracy that runs on capitalism. I worry all they ultimately have is apologisms and appeasement. I hope I'm wrong. And, I hope by some miracle we do succeed here in the non-violent overthrow of wealth supremacism and get the chance to win back an admiration to match Europe's affection. 
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