While Trump mingles in Davos, the Chinese government released a strongly worded editorial from the state’s news agency, Xinhua. The statement said the world needed to choose between “two fundamentally different outlooks” which included the Chinese President’s shared future and Mr. Trump’s America First policy. Mr. Trump’s “self-centered America First policy has led his country away from multiple multinational pacts and infused anxiety into both allies and the broader world.” Tensions between the two countries have been percolating. During his campaign, Trump said the Chinese were responsible for the “greatest trade theft in the history of the world.” International diplomacy is extremely complicated stuff. While I despised much of what Trump spewed during his campaign, his commitment to examine the impact of our trade deals on America’s working class was something I supported. That said, every action has an equal opposite reaction. By stepping away from trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and possibly NAFTA, we potentially open the door for China to waltz in and take our place as the leading economic influence in the world. I don’t know enough about the issue to make a firm judgment on this issue, but it feels like the Chinese are in this for the long run – with a stated goal of becoming the world’s only superpower in 30 years.
Almost everyone, including Democrats, were expecting last Tuesday’s midterm election results to heavily favor Republicans. Many predicted a “red wave” where they would pick up 50-60 seats in the House and 3-4 in the Senate. Joe Rogan said the red wave that is coming will be like the elevator doors opening in the horror film The Shining.