The world is changing fast.
Whatever happens in the US is a matter for the US citizens, the rule of law, and the political opposition.
I am sure many will have their thoughts about Europe and the EU, but that equally is a matter for the European citizens, rule of law, and political oppositions within the countries.
Through his speech in Munich, JD Vance attacked Europe and tried to lecture Europe on democracy and free speech.
But I think Europe knows quite well how democracy works; after all, they invented it.
Moreover, how the EU is set up with every member state having an equal voice and veto—despite country size and/or GDP—in the European Council is a good display of democracy.
It means that whatever treaty the EU has and creates through negotiation in the European Council—which consists of all PMs of member states—is one that comes about through a unanimous consensus.
People might fail to see and not know how the role of Ursula Von Der Leyen is very different from that of a US president.
The real power in the EU lies with the member states who, through the European Council, come up with a unified voice and decision.
Ursula von der Leyen is president of the European Commission, and the unified decision coming from the European Council is a task for the European Commission, which they have to create into a treaty.
When the treaty is created, it will be voted on in the EU parliament, reviewed by all member states, and if everything is ok, it will be implemented and become law.
The other task for the European Commission is to see to it that member states abide by those laws.
Quite democratic, if you ask me.
Another example is Brexit; every EU member state has the democratic and sovereign right to self-determination.
The US is very different; if a state wants to leave, it is not going to be possible without an amendment in the constitution, which requires the approval of the majority of the states.
The power lies with the president, and certainly Donald Trump has gained a lot of power.
Whether member states like it or not, whatever the Trump administration decides, they will have to adhere to it.
When it comes to free speech, in Europe they can criticize leaders and kings, they can name the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of Mexico, and they do not have to fear lawsuits when they publish unwanted articles or polls.
In Europe they also know how the notion of free speech can be weaponized by removing the ban on hate speech and eliminating fact-checking.
That is why the role of qualified and unbiased media is so important.
Something that is scarce in modern times because big money rules.
Facts, not Fox!
Books banned, words banned, scientific research on viruses like COVID banned.
How is that free speech? Yet Trump signed an E.O. to have free speech, and that is, of course, without the above, the banned books and words, and without education on gender, Black history in the US, and the equivalence of all people, no matter the race, nationality, belief, or color.
Free speech is, in reality, a tool to spread hate and misinformation, to divide, and to control.
For social media like Twitter, Facebook, and others, it would be easy—certainly with AI—to implement fact-checking as a means to combat the enormous spreading of misinformation and lies.
But oligarchs are, of course, not interested in factually informed and educated people.
For the rest of the world, it would be better if they seek homegrown alternatives.
No, JD Vance, his speech was a poor lecture, but he certainly has opened eyes all over the world because one thing is clear: the US, as we knew it, is no more.
It cannot be trusted anymore, is not an ally, and has slid into fascism.