Geoff > Status Update

Never heard that song before, but we are leaving the mainland of U.S. and going to Puerto Rico for 10 days and A;; A;PMG wondering what we will be coming back TO.

When Trump won I put my head in the book "Wilderness" by Lance Weller. You would like it. Then I went to "Blood Meridian," and now I am having a hard time concentrating with this Korean thing, so I read nature books and weed in my garden.

Jessaka wrote: "Never heard that song before, but we are leaving the mainland of U.S. and going to Puerto Rico for 10 days and A;; A;PMG wondering what we will be coming back TO.

When Trump won I put my head in ..."

Safe travels. You'll be fine. If I survive Disneyland, Puerto Rico should be a cakewalk!
As far as reading: I've dedicated myself to reading the complete fictive works of Nabokov. Whatever gets us though the night.
Oh, the song is by Randy Newman.

I think I would rather stay in Puerto Rico and save the turtles. Even that sounds depressing, as we are busy saving animals and the planet, while others are busy destroying it all. Well, time to get my nose out of the news.

So to get this thread a little back on track, let's not forget that Trump recently called and congratulated Erdogan for eliminating parliament, drastically consolidating power, and further degrading any hope Turkey had of remaining a democracy. I guess Erdogan did "win", which seems to be Trump's favorite thing that people do. Whee!

Geoff wrote: "So to get this thread a little back on track, let's not forget that Trump recently called and congratulated Erdogan for eliminating parliament, drastically consolidating power, and further degradin..."

And one hears (even on NPR of course) that Trump is not ideological. Ideological to the bone. He is nothing but driveling=sniveling ideology. He just doesn't believe in anything. Give me someone who believes in something any day of the week.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Give me someone who believes in something any day of the week. ."

Muslims, for example. Give me Muslims.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Give me someone who believes in something any day of the week. ."

Muslims, for example. Give me Muslims."

Exactly. Give me someone that has beliefs founded in reflection and contemplation. Trump is incapable of self-reflection.

Geoff wrote: "Exactly. Give me someone that has beliefs founded in reflection and contemplation. Trump is incapable of self-reflection. "

Is Rump then a parody of 'blind religious faith'? Instead of blinding* following something, he's blindly following nothing.


* although I certainly quibble with the 'blindly'. Even the average religious fundamentalist repeatedly asks whether they are correctly following what they're supposed to be following ; whether they are true to it. They're usually wrong (about what they're trying to be true to), but they at least ask something of themselves, ask that they be true to something.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Geoff wrote: "Exactly. Give me someone that has beliefs founded in reflection and contemplation. Trump is incapable of self-reflection. "

Is Rump then a parody of 'blind religious faith'? Instead ..."

I think you're onto something there

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Muslims, for example. Give me Muslims."

Careful what you wish for.

Niklas wrote: "Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Muslims, for example. Give me Muslims."

Careful what you wish for."

Care to explain? Is it a wrong thought to have preferred a Muslim President of the USofA over Rump?

Is it incorrect to suppose that a Muslim could uphold the laws of the land and the Constitution more competently than Rump?

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Is it incorrect to suppose that a Muslim could uphold the laws of the land and the Constitution more competently than Rump?"

It is rather depressing to consider that Trump is, at least as far as I can tell, an atheist. Okay... I've always wondered what an atheist POTUS would look like, and now we know. Come back monotheism, all is forgiven.

I disagree that ideologically bankrupt politicians are necessarily worse than ideologically zealous politicians. One can even argue that a corrupt career politician is better than a principled politician with firm beliefs. The worst human rights offenders and monsters throughout history have always been convinced of their own moral and ideological superiority.

Niklas wrote: "necessarily worse than ideologically zealous politicians."

Just to stick with my claim, a left=leaning Muslim Democrat in the White House should be totally within the range of a sane political imagination.

But I'm not going down that route of the Two Evils. I think it's still possible to imagine a better world ; not this worse world.

Keith Ellison 2020!

(you know, by ballot, NOT violent insurrection)

Nah I'm gonna say Keith Ellison by violent insurrection. I'ma start doing most things by violent insurrection. Ordering paella BY VIOLENT INSURRECTION like Marxists oughta.

That's the spirit Geoff. How come we're not friends?

Geoff wrote: "Nah I'm gonna say Keith Ellison by violent insurrection. I'ma start doing most things by violent insurrection. Ordering paella BY VIOLENT INSURRECTION like Marxists oughta."

No one expects The Spanish Inquisition?

Going to the DMV to renew my license... by VIOLENT INSURRECTION.

This phrase has now been appropriated by the machine. Get your limited edition VIOLENT INSURRECTION Diet Pepsi while stocks last!

howl of minerva wrote: "This phrase has now been appropriated by the machine. Get your limited edition VIOLENT INSURRECTION Diet Pepsi while stocks last!"

Haha! VIOLENT INSURRECTION SUPERBOWL HALFTIME SHOW WITH LADY GAGA

The new fragrance by Calvin Klein. I can even see the advert: the chiseled model with the Guevara gaze.

howl of minerva wrote: "The new fragrance by Calvin Klein. I can even see the advert: the chiseled model with the Guevara gaze."

Lol. Beards have been back in for awhile, Karl Marx Violent Insurrection Facial Hair Styling Products.

Also

“No administration has accomplished more in the first 90 days.”

-President Donald J Trump

Geoff wrote: "Also

“No administration has accomplished more in the first 90 days.”

-President Donald J Trump"

You know, that may be true. For the first time I can remember, the American democratic system looks seriously vulnerable.

Ha! Yeah, you're right - a lot has happened - don't know if you can call it all "accomplishments"

Well, if your goal is to create a kleptocracy aligned with Putin's Russia, I'd say pretty impressive accomplishments. A second war in Korea may well seal the deal. He just needs to prod the DPRK into striking first.

Manny wrote: "Well, if your goal is to create an kleptocracy aligned with Putin's Russia, I'd say pretty impressive accomplishments. A second war in Korea may well seal the deal. He just needs to prod the DPRK i..."

Yeah, as far as the downfall liberal democracy and a sane, civil society, he has indeed accomplished more in 90 days than any administration. Truth!

He has also probably tweeted the most of any POTUS I've known in the first 90 days.

Ian wrote: "He has also probably tweeted the most of any POTUS I've known in the first 90 days."

Well yeah except maybe Rutherford B Hayes - dude had a serious internet addiction - also, was into "furry porn" - truth.

"Kid Rock and Ted Nugent Dine With President at White House" is a headline I never thought would be real.

Power's out through San Francisco, yet the good people are still observing traffic laws... we haven't quite hit the apocalypse yet!

Geoff wrote: "Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Give me someone who believes in something any day of the week. ."

Muslims, for example. Give me Muslims."

Exactly. Give me someone that has beliefs fou..."

I have certainly missed a lot here! But (maybe incorrectly) I have to disagree....I think Trump only reflects on himself! He is not concerned with anything or anyone BUT himself! Or what affects him. He certainly has no clue when it comes to what he is supposed to stand for.

Geoff wrote: "Also

“No administration has accomplished more in the first 90 days.”

-President Donald J Trump"

Um..."accomplished"?!?!?! I'm not sure destroying everything that was begun should be considered an "accomplisment"! At least not something to shouted from the rooftops!!

Cody wrote: "(IN WHICH I DISCLOSE WAAAAAY TOO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF)

Alright guys,

This is where I lay my cards on the table and, I think, walk away from the game. I got 4 hours sleep last night because of this t..."

Hope you gave your daughter a memorable birthday at Disney! Never show fear to a child :)

Catherine,

We all had a delightful time. Thanks much. Only thing that proved negative is that all three of us are now racked with colds. Thank you again.

Cody wrote: "Catherine,

We all had a delightful time. Thanks much. Only thing that proved negative is that all three of us are now racked with colds. Thank you again."

Cody, a cold is a mere hinderance! Think yourself better! Positive vibes! Or you could come hang out with me....I rarely, if ever, get sick!

Feel better. :)

I noticed Trump hasn't been impeached yet. WTF!?
Fix this.

So since the Left have collapsed in the Netherlands and now in France I think we can safely say that the Left/Right dichotomy is becoming increasingly irrelevant in politics. Now it seems to be just a choice between Populist Nationalism and Globalist Neoliberalism.

In that case, Go Globalist Neoliberalism!

Globalism is mainly a good thing, and almost nobody seems to think so. Both right and left seem determined to ruin our economic prospects in an effort to improve our economic prospects.

Five years ago, the National Intelligence Council of the U.S. published their Global Trends forecast, looking forwards towards 2030. (I haven't yet read the new one that came out this year... I'm curious...) They included a discussion of what they called the "most plausible worst-case scenario," a retreat from globalism, which they referred to as "stalled engines." In their analysis, this means "...the risks of interstate conflict increase. The US draws inward and globalization stalls."

The report calls this "a bleak future."

"Drivers behind such an outcome would be a US and Europe that turn inward, no longer interested in sustaining their global leadership. Under this scenario, the euro zone unravels quickly, causing Europe to be mired in recession... global economic growth falters and all players do relatively poorly."

"The US political system fails to address its fiscal challenges and consequently economic policy and performance drift. The European project unravels... More nationalist, even nativist, parties rise to claim positions of influence in coalition governments. By the 2020s, it looks like only a limited free trade zone will remain. Economic growth continues in major emerging markets and accounts for approximately three quarters of global growth. Nonetheless, fundamental economic and political reforms remain elusive in China and India. Corruption, social unrest, weak financial systems, and chronically poor infrastructures slow their growth rates. China’s growth falls, for example, from 8 percent at the start of the period to around 3 percent by 2030. As pressures grow everywhere for disengagement and protectionism, the global governance system is unable to cope with a widespread pandemic that triggers panic. Rich countries wall themselves off from many developing and poor countries..."

"Slower global growth is accompanied by higher food prices."

"The US turns inward... and... is more interested in building a Fortress America."

Now, the above analysis, like several others in the report, puts more stress on pandemic outbreaks than I would have expected. I don't know what to say about that. I've also omitted one point which may not have been on target, but who knows... it referred to the potential failure of the U.S.A.s energy revolution, but I'd say that's very much up in the air right now. Whether global or isolated, the U.S. has potential for economic strength coming from either fossil fuels, OR innovative new energy tech, or so I think... ooops gotta run!

Niklas wrote: "So since the Left have collapsed in the Netherlands and now in France I think we can safely say that the Left/Right dichotomy is becoming increasingly irrelevant in politics. Now it seems to be jus..."

This piece by Susan Watkins was written a year ago, but still holds up remarkably well. The definitive assessment of left-wing opposition groups to have emerged in the west.

https://newleftreview.org/II/98/susan...

I don't think it's at all accurate to speak of a collapse of the left. The left had been dead for decades with neoliberalism & third way-ism. Rather, what we're seeing now is a modest resurgence.

Anyway, looks like Macron will probably get the chance to kick the can a little farther down the road. The existing order is widely despised, but the alternative is terrifying. France is not nearly as advanced in terms of social decay as the US. At least for the moment they seem much less likely to do anything as crazy/drastic as happened in this country.

Buy American, Hire American, or like whatever
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slates...

David wrote: "This piece by Susan Watkins was written a year ago, but still holds up remarkably well. The definitive assessment of left-wing opposition groups to have emerged in the..."

Very interesting reading, although I don't think that the final statement that "the young are breaking left" is very accurate. Traditionally, young voters have ALWAYS leaned to the left. It is only now in recent years where young people have become open to right-wing populism as well. While it's true that "Supporters of Trump, UKIP and Le Pen tend to be middle-aged or over" they've also had an unprecedented amount of young voters. In France, Le Pen is mostly popular with young people.

http://www.france24.com/en/20170424-f...

There's also the fact that, while Millennials are generally very left leaning, the upcoming Generation Z is apparently "the most conservative generation since those born before 1945"

http://www.marcomm.news/gen-z-is-the-...

I doubt that the "modest revival" of left-wing populism stands a chance against the complete paradigm shift towards right-wing populism.

No, Niklas is right - just because you're young doesn't mean you can't be a narrow-minded jerk too. Fascism has a great appeal to a generation of narcissists.

This is the first I'd heard of generation Z. Are the high schoolers coming to take away my gay marriage and marijuana?

That article you linked also says Melenchon outperformed Le Pen among young voters. In the US opinion polls show people 30 and under have a more favorable opinion of socialism than capitalism.

Geoff wrote: "No, Niklas is right - just because you're young doesn't mean you can't be a narrow-minded jerk too. Fascism has a great appeal to a generation of narcissists."

Why do you think that people who support right-wing populists are just bad people?

Niklas wrote: "Geoff wrote: "No, Niklas is right - just because you're young doesn't mean you can't be a narrow-minded jerk too. Fascism has a great appeal to a generation of narcissists."

Why do you think that ..."

Because I think their beliefs lead to a decrease of human rights and freedoms and generally obstruct the progress of the human experiment and lead to cultural/national antagonisms.

'End the muslim occupation of France'?

Until very recently, it was not considered at all controversial to describe the Front National as a fascist organization. I wouldn't say all its supporters are necessarily bad people, but the vision of a hypermilitarized police state to enforce national purity is not my cup of tea.

Plus their leadership strongly endorsed the election of Trump as a herald of their own movement. That's just dumb.