Isolationism is a policy that may initially seem appealing to those who view it as a safeguard for domestic industries. However, the long-term effects of isolationism are far more damaging than its short-term gains. As the US faces increasing global competition, especially from countries like China, embracing isolationism is a surefire way to undermine its own economic strength and global influence. In fact, what some perceive as "decoupling" from the rest of the world, particularly from China, risks not only harming American businesses but also eroding the country's leadership in key industries.

In recent years, an unsettling trend has emerged in the US: Lawmakers seem more preoccupied with crafting proposals, legislation and bills aimed at countering China than addressing the pressing issues facing their own constituents. This phenomenon is not only evident but increasingly alarming. It underscores a troubling reality that for many US politicians, the pursuit of political interests and competition trumps the welfare of the American people. This commentary seeks to unpack why this is happening, why "People First" never seems to cross the minds of US politicians, and how this neglect will ultimately seriously impact the country.

As the global community grapples with human rights issues, the treatment of unhoused individuals in the US raises significant concerns. An increasing number of homeless people are losing access to outdoor spaces as states and municipalities enact anti-vagrancy laws aimed at clearing out homeless populations. This punitive approach exacerbates the hardships faced by those already struggling, highlighting a severe lack of emphasis on human rights.

Growing political polarization within the US is increasingly serving as a potent catalyst propelling the burgeoning "prepper" movement forward, reflecting a broader societal disquietude regarding the nation's political and economic trajectory.

The economic strain felt by average working individuals in the Western world, particularly in the US, has reached a critical juncture, compelling many to reassess fundamental aspects of their lives, including decisions about family and pets. As inflation continues to surge, the financial burden on households has become increasingly untenable, leading to difficult choices and heartbreaking consequences.

The US military is fundamentally unwelcome in the Middle East, and if the US government truly “does not seek conflict” as it claims, it should withdraw its troops from the Middle East.

The West should acknowledge China's accomplishments and work earnestly with Beijing for the common good.

Libya flood is described as a humanitarian tragedy. But there's another element to this that's not being discussed, namely the role of NATO during its invasion 12 years ago.

It would be extraordinarily naive to believe that defense contractors and the people they fund have incentives that supersede the profit motive.

The US possesses the most advanced and abundant disaster response and warning system, yet the rescue efforts for the Hawaii wildfires did not reflect a level that matches US national capabilities, resulting in an escalation of casualties.

The situation in Beijing serves as a microcosm of why China is considered a model for the world. This is not only due to its ambitious climate goals and pioneering green sector but also because of the significant efforts and changes the country has made.

Under numerous banners – ranging from democracy to human rights and anti-terrorism – the US has launched numerous wars. The terrible crimes the US committed in the wars show just how evil the country's foreign policy is.

The age of unilateral regime change operations must come to a hard end as we enter a decade past the heroic efforts of Edward Snowden. It's high time that the international community says no to Washington's unending global surveillance.

We must be brave enough to call it as we see it. No one should be above the law, not even the people we care about or idealize the most.

China is not a wasteland of destitution that lacks opportunity; China is growing at break-neck speed, and with it too is the standard of living of the population.

China's cooperation with both sides actually makes it even more dependable in terms of brokering a compromise, and that was fully demonstrated in the recent diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

It's not just Treasury bonds that are faulty either, with the US real estate market presenting a major unrealized challenge.

The entire issue surrounding the Ohio train derailment appears to be a massive corruption scandal, whereby corporations are dictating policies that impact the lives of millions of people – and put them at significant risk.

Chinese New Year has arrived, kicking off the weeklong Spring Festival holidays in China. Unfortunately, well wishes from the West have been hard to come by. Western media has even suggested that holiday travel in China, now with the lifting of most COVID-related restrictions, could cause a tsunami of cases and even deaths.

There's a new viewpoint that's emerging in recent days that the US and its Western allies are uneasy about the prospects of a multipolar world. In fact, the US hardly recognizes this unavoidable fact while, at times, its European allies do pay some lip service to it. The US only has one viable option to combat this trend, with military force, which will inevitably weaken the US in every other sphere: economically, diplomatically, politically and in trade relations.

Without a speaker, the third-highest constitutional officer in the US, the House of Representatives is not essentially useless – it is completely useless.

No matter how China relaxes its controls, it is safe to say that this has been conducted much more thoroughly and objectively than the outright disregard for human life demonstrated by countries like the United States.

It is hard to square this reality with the general attitude emanating from the White House, that somehow Democrats actually won anything. They outperformed expectations relative to the most recent polls that came out prior to the election but they still lost the House. This does not legitimize the president or his agenda but indicates sufficient disagreement with it to change the power dynamic in Congress.

The way the so-called democratic system is currently conceived in the US leaves much to be desired, to say the least. What is clear-as-day corruption in most comparable Western countries is the standard working order in Washington.

Educational outcomes and public health are not either/or; they are, in fact, inexplicably tied.

China's success and prosperity will be brought about without plundering other nations. It will be brought about because of peaceful development. It is no exaggeration to say that the Chinese people's success and prosperity mean the same for people around the world.

Are Russia and China destined for competition as Moscow pivots East? Russia is welcome to turn to the entire Global South – not just Asia – for economic opportunities in the future. The growth potential in South-South cooperation is so lucrative.

US life expectancy continued its decline for the second straight year. Without a serious reversal of failed US policy to a more human-centered direction, we can expect to see continual drops in life expectancy and compounding years of life lost.

People from all over the world who have witnessed countless American war crimes, lies and irresponsible management of its great power are fed up. As a power that draws from its global image, this can only harm US' interests.

That Congress can have such an outsized influence on foreign policy undermines established political norms within the US.

The Group of Seven (G7) summit kicked off this week in Germany and already the format has revealed itself to be an exclusive club of rich countries, not only because of the fact that it literally used to be the G8, having excluded Russia in 2014, but because of the toxic and fundamentally out-of-touch policies.

The past few weeks have seen America rocked by multiple mass shootings, including a horrific attack on Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children.

The fact that motherhood is so difficult and that Americans lack the social programs necessary to sustain biological reproduction demonstrates without a doubt that American society is in terminal decline.

Editors Note: May 4 marks the Youth Day in China. Year 2022 also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Youth League of China. This generation of Chinese youth not only have more opportunities than their predecessors, but have interacted more with their peers elsewhere across the world.

The fact that mass shootings are such a daily occurrence in US despite the country's go-to tactic of jailing offenders, disproportionately black people and people of lower-income, dispels the notion that more people in jail meant more safety.

Young Americans are becoming worse off than their parents and they know it. The promise of the American Dream is proving to be unattainable – and that is a depressing prospect for teenagers and young adults.

There is certainly a story out there somewhere about some monetary wizardry by Russia's central bank but the important piece of why the ruble has stabilized is that de-globalization has been proven to be impossible. It is a permanent feature of the global economy.

It feels like Europe has learned nothing from its long bouts with nationalism and that we could be heading for a more dangerous outcome if these nationalistic tempers aren't cooled.

Just as the international community rejected the politicization of the Olympics this year, so too should the international community reject the politicization of the pandemic.

As US global hegemony continues its inevitable decline, this is naturally leading to the expansion of political rights across the Global South. It means that US influence has been the thing actually holding back democracy for the majority of the global population.

Washington, still not satisfied with the dystopian kidnapping ring it's firmly established among its vassals, is intent on taking personal action against Assange in order to make an example of him.