Hi Farmboy, you got me thinking on that. Food for thought. Back in the day, there was a big “union of gov’ts” created. The USA, and every president since, got respect, because all the other leaders and or all other countries were constantly getting something for free from the USA.
You name it. Help during THEIR wars, rebuilding after their wars, absorbing some of their excess population, foreign aid, manufacturing businesses etc. It was all made possible with a strong dollar policy, ridiculous environmental laws and tax incentives for US businesses to move off shore.
After that meltdown, a major reversal in the global economy had to be started, via a LOWER dollar. (lower actually started after 2001, but 9/11 fouled them up) The MEANING or purpose of which was, it was “pay back time” for good ole USA. They all need to import from us.
I can’t put everything going on in a few paragraphs, but the bottom line is, China Japan Germany Europe etc liked everything the way it WAS. They didn’t want to go backwards. Many of them manipulated their currencies lower, to over ride a lower “pay back USA” dollar.
Many populous independent domestic movements in various countries have started in response to “pain” from that late ’08 meltdown. Being respectful to the representative of the global powers, that spread US wealth around the globe, and now needs “foreign aid” FROM them for a change does not fit.