NewSocialWhoDis

@NewSocialWhoDis@lemmy.zip

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Why isn't the rest of the world doing anything about the USA?⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  As a Trump-hating American working in defense, I always tried to tell people that our economic dominance was enforced with the barrel of a gun. Friends working in international relations would also reference books like “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” that also pointed to usage of the CIA and international lending terms to enrich ourselves at the expanse of the 3rd world, especially Latin America. I completely agree that a capricious, bi-polar US is an untenable world leader.

  But in general, it’s very hard to get most Americans to care about our relationships and interactions with the rest of the world, much less acknowledge the ways we are dependent on it. There is some US-centric vanity involved, as well as some stubborn ignorance due to never interacting with the rest of the world at all. But I think in part it’s also due to the hyper competitive nature of simply trying to live in the US, such that there is no brainspace for anything not directly affecting you. Stressors include corporate expectations that everyone should live to work, so many people a few paychecks away from losing their homes and lifestyle with no social safety net, the struggle to afford to live in areas with good schools for your kids, etc etc. In some ways, I’m hopeful that losing global pre-eminence could make life easier for us, especially if it being about government reform.

  China, the obvious successor to American influence, assuming a more commanding role on the world stage is a mixed bag. On one hand, they certainly prize stability above almost everything, and an authoritarian state run by technocrats indeed seems more effective at addressing climate change than a Corporatocracy that profits from destroying the planet. On the other, there’s not even acknowledgement of unethical practices (e.g.: labor conditions in Chinese companies in DRC, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) when there is no free press. As the US spread it’s influence and democracy after WWII, I kind of worry that the entire world may be forced to get in line.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Why isn't the rest of the world doing anything about the USA?⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Look, as an American, all I’m asking for is a little extrajudicial redition of Musk and Thiel by South Africa. If we could just get rid of some of the malevolent billionaires that have made the pilgrimage to the land of greed, we might stand a chance of holding on to some of our civil liberties.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Why isn't the rest of the world doing anything about the USA?⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Don’t you worry. Civil War is still on the horizon. Gotta see how 2026 goes.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨School pickup lines are wild⁩ ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  As if he’d ever see a kid walking in front of that thing.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨necessary read⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Sure, but whether you’re talking about military might or economic might, more people is more leverage. That was my point.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨necessary read⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  I think the argument to make space for them is more practical that compassionate. WTF are we going to do if we just refuse to speak to or have any dealings with 1/3 of the working age population. Are we relocating all Trump voters South of Virginia and splitting the Union here?

  Setting aside our own authoritarian problems for a second, if you want to have a wealthy country that can oppose authoritarian regimes (like China and Russia), you need all 350 million of us. (And you need Europe, India, and democratic Asia on board, perhaps even some middle eastern countries, all people you may have philosophical differences with that you have to learn to work with).

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨necessary read⁩ ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  The US has needed rank choice voting since Nixon at least.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Slightly Unfair⁩ ⁨⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩:

  Damn, I was excited about a real life Hermione.