Apparition of Jack

“Why should us Romans care about Egypt or Spain? From now our we’re putting Italy first!” - Roman populist, circa 200 AD

Holy shit Mamdani might actually do this

All the ego and none of the skill. A dangerous combination.

Unicorns attacked the WTC and Bigfoot killed Kennedy 🤪

Why are Americans so paranoid? Their nuclear arsenal alone makes them basically untouchable; the two giant oceans on either side made them impenetrable. Why do Americans act like middle powers like Iran or NK are a threat to them? America’s nuclear arsenal could wipe out every country on earth 20 times over. The only other country with a comparable nuclear arsenal (on paper) is Russia, but 90% of their bombs are decaying Soviet relics anyway. America reigns supreme in the military world for this one fact alone. Why do they still act like a bunch of woodland rebels?

No one can trust America now. Unfortunately you’ve become a rogue state.

You’re right. I apologise. I am simply far too naive for this cruel and hard world full of cynical self-interested actors: That’s why I can’t explain why the US and USSR destroyed the world in 1962. That’s why I can’t explain why Iran rejected Obama’s nuclear deal in 2015. That’s why I can’t explain why America failed to pass civil rights legislation in the 60s, or elected a black man in 2008. Oh wait. None of those things happened. Turns out human generosity and goodwill actually has power. EDIT: Remember when there were mass killings of Muslims citizens after 9/11? Or all those Chinese internment camps during COVID? Remember when the EU broke apart in 2012 during the financial crisis? Remember when North Korea launched a nuke at Hawaii in 2017 after restriction talks broke down? Oh wait. Again, none of those things happened. The worst part is all of this is just insights I’ve developed from Leo’s ideas about social evolution and the collective development of humanity, but no, apparently we’re all just cynical Cold War-era warhawks right?

America has severe mommy issues.

So you guys are prepared to accept 10 million Iranian refugees into your countries right? Right??

Obama LITERALLY had a deal with Iran in 2015. It was WORKING. Iran was COMPLYING. Trump tore it up out of arrogance and pride. NONE of this is necessary. There’s a sick, twisted force in the collective US psyche that demands blood no matter what.

The US raped Iraq for a decade, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and the rise of ISIS and the European refugee crisis. To this day it’s still not a stable country. It’s now declaring war in Iran for weapons Iran doesn’t even have, threatening to create a far worse quagmire than Iraq ever was. Millions of people could die from this. America is a blind, stupid, arrogant dog full of bloodlust and ill-will that cloaks its violence in “prudence” and “strategic thinking.” America does not bring peace. It brings death and insanity. It has no room to ever lecture others on geopolitically morality.

@Basman Cop’s don’t bomb random suburbs because someone bought a BB gun

Well said.

I’m frankly tired of this line of thinking. We will “geopoliticise” our way into global nuclear Holocaust because of our cynical, zero-sum game theory will eventually “demand” it. How will this benefit “US strategic and military interests?” They’ll be dead too. I’m really failing to see any ideological, political or even pragmatic reason why we as a species think nuclear proliferation is a good idea. If cynical self-interest is all that exists the world wouldve ended in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, yet better angels won out. I really struggle to see how generosity, good-faith and reciprocity will never fundamentally be the right thing to do.

Fuck Israel, fuck Zionism, fuck MAGA, fuck white supremacy, fuck neoconservativism, fuck the Military-Industrial Complex, fuck warmongerers, fuck Evangelical apocalypticists, fuck anyone who brings misery, death and chaos onto this good earth for the sake of ego and greed.

Those soldiers looked so bored lol

I’ve always hated this. I’ve never understood the desire to make as much money as possible, especially if it comes at the cost of relationships / culture / family / etc. Ive known so many people in my life who’ve galavanted across the world just so they can find somewhere with more favourable tax laws, as if collective ethos, friends/family, culture, sustainability etc don’t matter at all. I feel like if I were to move somewhere, it would only be because I truly want to move to a new culture and not just because I want to earn an extra $50,000 over a few years or whatever. I think this addiction to money is at the root of most modern social malaise to be honest. Money is important but it’s just one out of countless factors that make life worth living. In our pursuit of pure profits we’ve sacrificed connection, community, art, healing, authenticity, etc. This world isn’t just some place to exploit so you can make marginally more cash before dying. EDIT: America might be one of the best places in the world to “do business” but at what cost? Grind culture and work hours are insane there compared to anywhere else. Healthcare is tied to your employer so if you get fired or they go under, you’re fucked if you get serious medical problems. American civil society has been rotted from the inside out so you’ll have to avoid entire suburbs / towns / regions because they’re so poor and crime-ridden. The people are extremely wound up and neurotic and the constant low-level paranoia of things like shootings causes people to shut off and stick to their own cliques. And really all there is to do is grind and get shitfaced every weekend. It’s really only a good place if you’re some amoral workaholic who cares not for human connection, art, creativity etc. If you’re prepared to earn lots of money so you can afford a person fortress so “the poors” won’t bother you with their crippling debt and lack of healthcare, go for it. But for people wanting something more grounded and tangible, there are much better places to live. America isn’t really a country, it’s more like a corporate zone with a few sports bars.

Even augmentations fail, Leo

We’ll lovebomb Trump out of the White House

Damn, if I was American I’d be there in a heartbeat I’ll be there in spirit I guess, show Trump what-for from all of your international homies

Israel does have the backing of the world’s greatest superpower, mind you. Much easier to punch above your weight when Daddy USA gives you a blank cheque for as many bombs as you want

So Trump is willing to imprison harmless workers but not the influential businesses that are structurally responsible for them being there? Nice one

I wonder if this is China’s chance to step in and act as mediator.

So why Republicans shoot down a border enforcement bill last year?

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” - The Buddha