2 pointsby bwood3 hours ago2 comments
  • rbanffy2 hours ago
    Considering I'm not that fond of what currently is, I'm ok with checking what comes next.
    • ThrowawayR2an hour ago
      Things can always be worse. The power vacuum left by the United States will be gigantic and the jockeying to fill it is likely to mean costly rearmament worldwide (already happening) and wars.

      I doubt anyone cheering on the notion is going to enjoy that process or survive long enough before old age claims them to see the other side.

    • ericmay2 hours ago
      Always fun to say, always dangerous to live through the actual repercussions of what may "come after" - though this article wasn't really talking about a post-America.

      As "bad" as America is (and it's not at all, the hyperbole is anti-intellectual) you aren't guaranteed better future circumstances and history shows that it is much more difficult and time consuming to rebuild institutions, whether that's international law backed by the United States, or the FDA or Department of Education that MAGA want to dismantle, and doing so is a very dangerous gambit without a clear replacement structure.

      In fact, I'd argue that the increase in war we've seen over the last 6 years is precisely because of a decline in US relative power and control. Do you want more of that? Because that's what being OK with checking what next seems to imply today.

      Additionally problem nations, whether that is Russia, Iran, China, Cuba, or others don't just like go away or become peaceful democracy-loving countries where, but, if only the US were to go away everyone would be happy. In the "what's next" you are looking at an American withdrawal from NATO and subsequent further aggression by Russia, Iran further dismantling and destroying the Middle East's stability and proceeding to build nuclear weapons, China invading Taiwan with impunity and pushing Japan and South Korea closer to an authoritarian communist led order, and you have countries such as Cuba or Venezuela where economies are in ruins, mass migration throughout Latin America occurs along with increases in violence and other destabilizing factors.

      None of that excuses American behavior toward Canada recently, but burning everything down because Trump mean tweet seems like an outrageously bad idea. On the other hand, it'll save us quite a lot of money in the short term.

      • verdverman hour ago
        Cuba entering the short list of problem nations is certainly the effect of US propaganda efforts to shift the hyperbole window

        Generally agree with your propositions and I suspect non-Americans would put America on that list before Cuba

        • ericmay33 minutes ago
          I used to believe that too but with more revelations coming out about partnerships with Russia and China, work to support and prop up Venezuela’s dictatorship and the negative effects caused by that (mass migration, economic catastrophe, &c.) I’ve changed my tune quite a bit.

          > I suspect non-Americans would put America on that list before Cuba

          Yes perhaps. That goes to show how effective anti-western and anti-democracy propaganda is. Most people around the world no very little of Cuba and just think it’s like this little harmless nation that just wants to be peaceful and whatever and that’s true of the population but not true of the authoritarian, communist government that seized power.

          • verdverm31 minutes ago
            I think the reason people most cite for putting America on the list with Russia is that we started a war that affects the entire world. America is destroying boats in the western hemisphere with missiles instead of interdicting and following international law. The list goes on...

            There are other places that ought be on that list before Cuba, like Yemen, where missiles are actually flying from and disrupting a second straight. It is also likely you are overestimating the support from Russia and China. Russia has been unable to support its allies anywhere near where they promised or we perceived. China doesn't find Cuba of strategic importance, Iran is a far more effective avenue for them against America. Recent secondary sanctions have cut off many of the non-adversarial countries that were doing business in Cuba.

            • ericmay24 minutes ago
              When I mentioned Iran in my mind I was including all of their terrorist proxies (Hamas/Palestine, Hezbollah, Yemen, &c.). I didn't intend to rank order here. I should have been more clear - my fault.

              > America is destroying boats in the western hemisphere with missiles instead of interdicting and following international law. The list goes on...

              Yea but that's a misunderstanding on the part of those who look at these activities and then think they know what's going on.

              > It is also likely you are overestimating the support from Russia and China.

              Well now that the US is becoming much more assertive we've been able to diminish that support and show, as you can I think see as well, how ineffective both Russian and Chinese support for 3rd party countries is. That includes not just Venezuela but Iran as well. The point though is less so to do with the specific level of support, and more of the general anti-democratic alignment that these nations find themselves supporting.

              • verdverm18 minutes ago
                I find it hard to debate when you cannot acknowledge our own (american) propaganda and the effect it has on our people. Watching international news will show you things you cannot find from domestic sources. France24 is my primary. Another thing you will see is far more decorum in reporting.
  • beardywan hour ago
    Well, it sometimes happens that neighborhoods go down hill. If Canada felt like moving, I think it would get on well in Europe if we can find room for it.