zlacker

All I can say is let us all hope this is merely the American decade of humiliation and not the beginning of the American century of humiliation.

>>meowfa+(OP)
It might be what it takes though, 2nd place (if that), to get the U.S. to stop fucking around.

>>JKCalh+G
Usually the opposite of what happens to a power in decline

>>JKCalh+G
All I have to say is, don’t blame me. I am an American and didn’t vote for this bullsh*t. Leave me out when you enslave the rest of the Americans lol

>>timcob+N1
Quite something to imagine 60 years from now history books (or thought-o-grams) may be written on Gamergate and a microblogging application and a reality TV host ushering in the chain of events that upended the biggest global power.

>>meowfa+(OP)
I hope it’s like what happened to countries like England, France, and Spain. You see your empire collapse but the country itself remains intact.

England “gave up” scientific and technological leadership during the 20th century. (That’s a tongue-in-cheek take on it, don’t read too much into it.)

>>klodol+J3
I think that is the most likely outcome. However, if the decline starts occurring too rapidly, I do think violent far-right (and perhaps far-left) paramilitary action could become a major problem, like in 1920s/1930s Germany. Tons of time spent lurking in far-right extremist communities out of morbid curiosity, and the spread of far-right ethnosupremacist sentiment on basically every social media platform, has me concerned.

>>djaoue+o2
> I am an American and didn’t vote for this bullsh*t.

Isn't the whole principle about democracy and freedom that you all stick together no matter what political party/parties is in power? If you're just throwing your hands up in the air because your party isn't the one in control, what kind of democracy is that? The whole point is working together with opponents for common goals.

Otherwise, may I interest you in an insurrection? Pretty hot and trendy these times.

>>klodol+J3
It worked out well for Europe because the country that took over its position of leadership position post-WW2 (USA) was aligned with it in all ways (politically, culturally, scientifically, economically), and so (western) European countries could still enjoy all the benefits. It will not be the case this time around, because the next generation of innovation and leadership is going to come from China.

>>meowfa+G4
The good news is those people are fundamentally absolute losers.

>>JKCalh+G
To be fair, it was pretty much the entire western world fucking around before. Brexit was the first shock but I don't think the world learned many lessons from that. However a lot of western nations are taking the US as a cautionary tale and will learn from US mistakes. So 2nd place might be lucky at this point (assuming we're comparing large trading blocs rather than just countries).

>>embedd+A7
> The whole point is working together with opponents for common goals.

When your opponent wants you dead, it's a different story! I am just exercising my right to self-defense.

>>klodol+J3
> England “gave up” scientific and technological leadership during the 20th century. (That’s a tongue-in-cheek take on it, don’t read too much into it.)

Was forced to give up, due to the economic devastation of WWII, might be more accurate (though of course there were other factors too).

>>estear+a8
Yes, nearly all of them absolutely are. (I have talked to many of them and they really truly are.) That fact does genuinely assuage my concerns. Still, I do wonder if a future charismatic far-right politician who does not come across as a loser could do far better than previous generations ever could have predicted. The worst possible person at the worst possible time.

>>klodol+J3
Yes but Spain, England, and France all had decade long declines that reversed. Except you know, at the end. When it didn't reverse.

We are witnessing the end of... something. Is it the end of the Roman Republic or is this the end of the Roman Empire?

Two very different situations despite being so politically fraught and full of change.

>>djaoue+G8
- two assassination attempts on Trump - Kirk assassinated - Ella Cook shot and killed last week at Brown

hmmmmm

>>sointe+bK
Right-wingers just are not serious people.

>>djaoue+G8
Is that hyperbole or do you have actual violent threats against you at this very moment? I'm not the US, so can't really tell what's going on on the ground, but compared to other situations (namely middle-east some years ago) where people are being told "Do this or you'll end up in that grave over there", is this what is happening in the US today?

>>sointe+bK
Are you accusing me, a dirt poor schizophrenic, of somehow orchestrating a clandestine war on The Right Wing?

>>sointe+bK
So interesting how you omit democratic representative Hortman and democratic senator Hoffman from your list, and also fail to mention that all shooters (except the last one -- affiliation unknown) were right wing.

hmmm indeed.