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  1. #886
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    I may collapse with laughter...

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  3. #887
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    I figured I'd ruffle yer feathers...

    Ok, so Kunstler is way too extreme for me lately, but I still enjoy his analysis. It is an entertaining take on current events.

    https://kunstler.com/clusterfuck-nat...-and-drifting/

    Rudderless, Leaderless, and Drifting

    While the China-sponsored hologram known as Joe Biden dazzled a sparsely-filled House chamber Wednesday night with a plan to turn the USA into the Big Rock Candy Mountain, events were spinning out of control so fast elsewhere that Rachel Maddow’s head was revolving like the demon-possessed little girl in The Exorcist, spewing a pea soup stream of Woke hysteria at her credulous audience. What’s got her noggin in a twist?

    “Conspiracy Theorists” are auditing the 2020 election ballots in Arizona, causing “grave concern,” she gushed. An army of DC-based Lawfare attorneys attempted to quash the audit earlier in the week on the grounds that the vote had already been certified and that was that. But Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Martin ruled otherwise, that it was the prerogative of the state Senate to authorize it, and the audit continues. Democrats continue trying desperately to hit the pause button on the process. The venue, an old civic arena, is only rented until May 14, so physically disrupting the audit may be their only hope to prevent discovery of massive, widespread election fraud — exactly what the Democrats have aimed their firehose of propaganda against since last November.

    The question is: what actually happens if the auditors come up with clear and conclusive evidence proving that the ballot count was wildly incorrect due to fraud? Might the Arizona legislature have to de-certify the results? One big tamale is the US Senate seat that former astronaut Mark Kelly, Democrat, took from Republican Martha McSally, giving the Dems a 50 plus one (Kamala Harris) vote advantage. Whoops, there goes Ol’ Joe’s agenda, right there. Might Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan have to submit to audits? Will it take lawsuits to prompt the courts in those states to order it? More importantly, does it shift public opinion further in the direction of cynicism and mistrust of the establishment — including their local officials and the news media?

    The numbers are already pretty grim: 70 percent of Republicans and 30 percent of Democrats say they doubt the veracity of the 2020 election. Will the discovery that massive, widespread election fraud actually occurred lead to a constitutional crisis? How will Joe Biden survive in office if a growing percentage of the public sees him as illegitimate? And what might happen if the establishment attempts to blow the whole matter off? Can they still say “nothing to see” when the public has seen so much that they can’t unsee?

    None of that will happen in a vacuum. Plenty of other events are roiling in the background with the potential to go critical. Joe Biden’s proposals to jack the US economy by $5-plus-trillion won’t be very good for the credibility of the US dollar, with other countries already eager to dissociate themselves from dollar-based global trade payment arrangements. But that’s just financial esoterica compared to what’s happening on-the-ground across America, with households running on debt and back payments for rent and mortgages piling up, and landlords and banks taking the hit in the meantime. There’s no Heimlich maneuver for a nation choking on debt. And that plan to become the Big Rock Candy Mountain, where they hung the jerk who invented work, is liable to disappoint even the mesmerists in the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Also, meanwhile, the US continues to stupidly stir the pot in Ukraine, to provoke war over the breakaway Donbass region in order to give NATO a reason to exist. The Russians don’t want or need to take responsibility for what has become a failed state. But Ukraine has been their buffer from European invasions for centuries and they won’t permit it to become a forward base-of-operations for NATO. Does the USA actually have any real interests there — other than to justify the earnings of defense contractors? The Biden family is not even taking any more payments out of there (as far as we know).

    When it comes to real geopolitical friction, look in the other direction, at China. Not only is US weakness vividly obvious to them, they are substantially responsible for it, having successfully launched the bio-weapon Wuhan virus that pushed the disordered US economy over a cliff, and then helped install their errand boy in the oval office. Among other stupidities, the USA allowed most of its advanced microchip manufacturing capacity to relocate in Taiwan. We can’t run anything here from cars and refrigerators to municipal water systems, and probably even our war weaponry, without continuous supply and resupply of these chips. Game this out.

    Then there is the fantastically stupid agitation and provocation on the home-front of the Democratic Party-sponsored Woke Jacobins, who are too dumb to even understand that if you want a police-state, you need police. Rather, they want to live in chaos and anarchy, the Satanic version of the Big Rock Candy Mountain, where the looters play in the stores all day and the jails have gone away. Joe Biden pimped for that hustle Wednesday night, too, declaring the nation systemically racist and “white supremacy” the nation’s greatest domestic menace. Oh really? Not our own DOJ, FBI, and the rest of the Intel Community?

    The FBI raid on Rudy Giuliani was an interesting development on that front. The little imp that is Merrick Garland may have chosen the wrong guy to mess around with. If the bozos in DOJ actually charge him with something, they’ll find themselves in a special hell of discovery — that is, discovery of conclusive evidence that the DOJ has become a criminal operation actively working against the public interest. I daresay the truth is that just about everything the DOJ has done for the past five years involves the covering up of their own crimes, and a case against Mr. Giuliani will be just the wedge to open up public recognition of all that. That’s going to be a little bit of a problem when the people lose all faith that their public officials were elected fairly and honestly.

    There’s a lot to push through and sort out in the months ahead. We’re all on ship, leaderless and rudderless, heading into a summer maelstrom.

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  5. #888
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    I imagine entertainment is Kuntzler's goal these days.

    I found another video by Chris Hedges where he talks about the need for a new party. I haven't listened yet. I want to post it on the forum but I want to listen first. I was thrown off by his apparent participation in blaming the Dems for what the Repubs have become. As if they have no will or desires of their own.

    I realized that he did that in part because he wants to see a new party. That would collapse the old political order.

    There are mountains to overcome in that regard, especially with a Republican party that doesn't even want to play the game anymore, much less follow any rules.

    If the video relates to collapse I'll post it here. Otherwise... Kuntzler can entertain.

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  7. #889
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    It's interesting, how political leanings can warp someone's grasp on reality. I guess politics is the new religion. People seem to view everything through the lens of their chosen political side.

    I find it particularly amusing, how the alt-right thinks the Dems are literally an army of Satan, held together by paedophilia and human sacrifice through abortions. Of course it's only funny until it isn't, and such people start wielding real power. I still go back to the likes of Naturalnews, Hal Turner and Infowars, for the sheer entertainment value. It's better than any episode of the latest star trek series, that's for sure...

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  9. #890
    Administrator Aragorn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Chris View Post
    It's interesting, how political leanings can warp someone's grasp on reality. I guess politics is the new religion. People seem to view everything through the lens of their chosen political side.
    In the USA, yes, absolutely. Not so much in the rest of the world. But then again, the political polarization in the US is spoon-fed into American children as part of the conservative and insular culture of that nation. American children are taught to pledge allegiance to the flag in elementary school. I kid you not.

    Quote Originally posted by Chris View Post
    I find it particularly amusing, how the alt-right thinks the Dems are literally an army of Satan, held together by paedophilia and human sacrifice through abortions.
    That's because the American alt-right heavily blurs (if not erases) the line between church and state. The late Isaac Asimov ─ one of the greatest science-fiction writers ever ─ already spoke up about the culture of anti-intellectualism in the USA back in his own time, and he died in 1992.

    Quote Originally posted by Chris View Post
    Of course it's only funny until it isn't, and such people start wielding real power.
    The thing is that if there are any funny scenes in Star Trek, then they're intentional. The entertainment value of the political shenanigans in the USA can at best only be described as a film noir tragicomedy. It's vicariously embarrassing, and especially so because of the fact that the USA considers itself the leader of the world and superior to any other nation, while at the same time, they are also totally oblivious of anything going on in any of those other nations, or even where those nations are to be found on a map of the world.

    Apparently it also still hasn't sunken into their skulls yet that the rest of the world is using the metric system, and that you cannot be the leader of something you yourself aren't willing to adapt to.
    = DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR =

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  11. #891
    Super Moderator Wind's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    Apparently it also still hasn't sunken into their skulls yet that the rest of the world is using the metric system, and that you cannot be the leader of something you yourself aren't willing to adapt to.
    I think that might be due to assumed superiority.

    USA definitely would need a third party, but I just don't see that happening.

    The systematic corruption is too strong and that's why a revolution must come.

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  13. #892
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    Die Amerikabomber hast spoken...


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  15. #893
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    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    I think that might be due to assumed superiority.

    USA definitely would need a third party, but I just don't see that happening.

    The systematic corruption is too strong and that's why a revolution must come.
    It's an interesting situation, because both parties are right-wing corporatist parties in terms of economic policy. The real difference is cultural, this is where both parties hug the extremes of their side, but if you ask me the Left has gone full Chairman Mao lately...

    That sort of politics works surprisingly well in China as well. They combine extreme right-wing economic policies, with far-left social ones. Although, sometimes I can't tell whether the CCP is actually Communist still, or some version of National Socialist.

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    But then again, the political polarization in the US is spoon-fed into American children as part of the conservative and insular culture of that nation. American children are taught to pledge allegiance to the flag in elementary school. I kid you not.
    It's true, Aragorn.

    I can still say the pledge without even thinking. We had to put our hands on our hearts too.

    I learned as a young adult that we added in the god part in the 50s to show how we were distinct from the 'godless communists'. (no one really talked about the Eastern Orthodox Church that I recall)

    It used to be, "One nation, indivisible, with truth..." Now it's got 'under God' after 'nation'.

    My parents taught me to understand partisan ideas but not to be partisan. Their idea of conservative is dead now in America. I'm glad they're not here now to see the shitshow their team has become.

    I experienced decades of my father telling me I was right and he should have listened. It doesn't really matter beyond the fact that it was both nice and respectful for him to tell me that.

    When people don't listen while the problems are occurring, apologies after the fact don't change what's done or happened.

    We've gone beyond that into denial in the face of fact, science, empirical observation, loss of life, loss of rights, etc. We've lost the plot.

    I still hope we'll work it out rather than collapse.

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  19. #895
    Super Moderator Wind's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Chris View Post
    It's an interesting situation, because both parties are right-wing corporatist parties in terms of economic policy. The real difference is cultural, this is where both parties hug the extremes of their side, but if you ask me the Left has gone full Chairman Mao lately...
    What do you mean by the left, you mean social justice warriors and identity politics? That's just a nonsensical diversion.

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  21. #896
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    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    What do you mean by the left, you mean social justice warriors and identity politics? That's just a nonsensical diversion.
    I wouldn't say so. In the West, the Left (and I realise that both terms amount to gross generalisation, but let's stick with current usage for now) encompasses the entirety of Academia, Emtertainment, Arts and most of the Mainstream Media. It wields immense power and has completely hijacked the political and cultural conversation through post-modernism and cultural Marxism. It's just that most people hadn't noticed how insanely far-Left these institutions have become. This is also decidedly a "Western" disease and is largely absent in most of the rest of the world.

    Just try and work for any of these institutions whilst expressing a moderately right-wing stance on any of the pet peeves of the far left (gender, sexuality, immigration, national and racial identity, religion, gender roles, morality, abortion, etc...) and watch yourself be obliterated from orbit by a barrage of far-left criticism and yes, cancellation.

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  23. #897
    Super Moderator Wind's Avatar
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    Would you like to give some examples? I don't like the cancel culture either, but we have a thread about that here.

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  25. #898
    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    In the USA, yes, absolutely. Not so much in the rest of the world. But then again, the political polarization in the US is spoon-fed into American children as part of the conservative and insular culture of that nation. American children are taught to pledge allegiance to the flag in elementary school. I kid you not.



    That's because the American alt-right heavily blurs (if not erases) the line between church and state. The late Isaac Asimov ─ one of the greatest science-fiction writers ever ─ already spoke up about the culture of anti-intellectualism in the USA back in his own time, and he died in 1992.



    The thing is that if there are any funny scenes in Star Trek, then they're intentional. The entertainment value of the political shenanigans in the USA can at best only be described as a film noir tragicomedy. It's vicariously embarrassing, and especially so because of the fact that the USA considers itself the leader of the world and superior to any other nation, while at the same time, they are also totally oblivious of anything going on in any of those other nations, or even where those nations are to be found on a map of the world.

    Apparently it also still hasn't sunken into their skulls yet that the rest of the world is using the metric system, and that you cannot be the leader of something you yourself aren't willing to adapt to.
    Amen to that, and I freaked when I found out my daughter did the same thing in Texas ... to the Texas flag. She was very young when she told me that so I didn't broach the insanity of that for a few years, by that time she didn't have to hear it from me. They start the indoctrination VERY young in these here parts.

    You guys need to keep up with American politics...

    Things be a-happenin' in the goold Ol' USA.

    My daughter's generation is in favor of either one or no parties. I can't really explain why though.

    Quote Originally posted by Chris View Post
    I wouldn't say so. In the West, the Left (and I realise that both terms amount to gross generalisation, but let's stick with current usage for now) encompasses the entirety of Academia, Emtertainment, Arts and most of the Mainstream Media. It wields immense power and has completely hijacked the political and cultural conversation through post-modernism and cultural Marxism. It's just that most people hadn't noticed how insanely far-Left these institutions have become. This is also decidedly a "Western" disease and is largely absent in most of the rest of the world.

    Just try and work for any of these institutions whilst expressing a moderately right-wing stance on any of the pet peeves of the far left (gender, sexuality, immigration, national and racial identity, religion, gender roles, morality, abortion, etc...) and watch yourself be obliterated from orbit by a barrage of far-left criticism and yes, cancellation.
    Thing is when organized religion abdicated the throne in the U.S. it left a vacuum that had to be filled. As we all know, nature abhors a vacuum.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    Administrator Aragorn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Chris View Post
    It's an interesting situation, because both parties are right-wing corporatist parties in terms of economic policy. The real difference is cultural, this is where both parties hug the extremes of their side, but if you ask me the Left has gone full Chairman Mao lately...

    That sort of politics works surprisingly well in China as well. They combine extreme right-wing economic policies, with far-left social ones. Although, sometimes I can't tell whether the CCP is actually Communist still, or some version of National Socialist.
    When taken to extremes, the twain become one and the same.
    = DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR =

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    Quote Originally posted by Wind View Post
    Would you like to give some examples? I don't like the cancel culture either, but we have a thread about that here.
    Most of them fly under the radar and they either aren't reported by MM or the publications are actually part of the Witch-hunt.

    But there was a recent case that caused a diplomatic incident between Germany and Hungary:

    https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-germ.../31195168.html

    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    When taken to extremes, the twain become one and the same.
    Yes, China and North Korea in particular are a prime example of regimes were you can no longer tell whether they're far left, far right or a combination of both. As I'm fond of saying, it doesn't matter whether you're "cancelled" in a Gulag or a Concentration Camp, you're equally dead and the only real difference is in the naming.

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