Perhaps it comes down to the realization that way too many diverse factions must have had a hand in the ‚masterplan‘ (if one can call it that), all of them starting off with the firm conviction that this exceptional nation can extract everything from the rest of the world…
- get rich from tariffs (ok, from its own consumers this one) to fund ‚beautiful’ tax cuts
- force others to bring factories and blue collar jobs back into the country
- even cheaper debt funding through 100 year zero coupon bonds and user fees, while
- its supreme leaders basking in worshipping by foreign leaders asking for mercy
… with no one telling them those goals are mutually exclusive for the most part.