11–20 of 71 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The proponents of liberal democracy should have sold it better.
I don't disagree. Liberal Democracy inevitably leads to corporate capture and then Fascism, as the US is demonstrating beautifully right now. The ideal form of government is Titoism, with strong repression of regressive forces.
It's challenging to comprehend this administration's "Strong with the weak, weak with the strong" approach to geopolitics. What's the end game here?
The only difference is that these guys are perhaps more brazen about it, as they’ve realised it makes no difference to their electability.
International politics is revealing itself to operate on the principles of the mafia, where basically everything is leverage and where 'imposing costs' is the primary tool of discipline. Perhaps,'twas ever thus and Trump's main crime is being so crude about it that deniability is no longer plausible
Sounds like you know more about it than me.
Can you explain?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The proponents of liberal democracy should have sold it better.
I don't disagree. Liberal Democracy inevitably leads to corporate capture and then Fascism, as the US is demonstrating beautifully right now. The ideal form of government is Titoism, with strong repression of regressive forces.
Things like freedom of speech or political organizations which are not subservient to the state?
Of course unrestricted freedom of speech can devolve into whatever has been happening in the US for quite a while but still... don't see how "enlightened totalitarianism" is an answer to that.
International politics is revealing itself to operate on the principles of the mafia, where basically everything is leverage and where 'imposing costs' is the primary tool of discipline. Perhaps,'twas ever thus and Trump's main crime is being so crude about it that deniability is no longer plausible
Wait, so you're saying the crackdown on Bolsonaro is fine and ethically 100 percent ok? Sounds like you know more about it than me. Can you explain?
I meant the guy had a concrete plan to topple democracy, assassinate other leaders and bring back dictatorship.
People like this should be thrown into prison for the rest of their lives.
International politics is revealing itself to operate on the principles of the mafia, where basically everything is leverage and where 'imposing costs' is the primary tool of discipline. Perhaps,'twas ever thus and Trump's main crime is being so crude about it that deniability is no longer plausible
Wait, so you're saying the crackdown on Bolsonaro is fine and ethically 100 percent ok? Sounds like you know more about it than me. Can you explain?
I have to say, it is cute to read your faux outrage over this after Bolsonaro made sure the guy with the best chances to defeat him two elections back would be put into prison in a sham trial right before the election... not persecuting a figure as corrupt and power hungry as Bolsonaro would be 100% ethically wrong.
International politics is revealing itself to operate on the principles of the mafia, where basically everything is leverage and where 'imposing costs' is the primary tool of discipline. Perhaps,'twas ever thus and Trump's main crime is being so crude about it that deniability is no longer plausible
Wait, so you're saying the crackdown on Bolsonaro is fine and ethically 100 percent ok? Sounds like you know more about it than me. Can you explain?
If the vote was fair, then there may be an excuse of bad advice. He should've known better, but it's possible someone lied to him.
And a third option, he lied knowing well that the vote was fair. I such case this is an attempt to undermine the state and it should be dealt with harshly. It's o E thing if some journalist makes BS claims. It's another if obe if candidates does so.
I genuinely have no idea which of these is true. I know for a fact the claim "we lost because of fraud" has been popularised by Trump and him basically not getting even a slap on the wrist for it. So it gets used everywhere now.
International politics is revealing itself to operate on the principles of the mafia, where basically everything is leverage and where 'imposing costs' is the primary tool of discipline. Perhaps,'twas ever thus and Trump's main crime is being so crude about it that deniability is no longer plausible
Wait, so you're saying the crackdown on Bolsonaro is fine and ethically 100 percent ok? Sounds like you know more about it than me. Can you explain?
But Trump exerting pressure like this is another level.
International politics is revealing itself to operate on the principles of the mafia, where basically everything is leverage and where 'imposing costs' is the primary tool of discipline. Perhaps,'twas ever thus and Trump's main crime is being so crude about it that deniability is no longer plausible
Not really a revelation though. The ones with most of the power always leveraged any tool they had at their disposal to have their way and press everyone else into compliance. Sometimes it's carrot, sometimes it's stick. And they always applied rules selectively based not on what but on who. Just like the mafia, carving out special rules and dispensations for themselves.
Interference in other countries' affairs was the name of the game for at least a century. But for a long time now the US has no need to offer the carrot at all seeing how most times they can get anything they want with just the threat of the stick.
In this case not having a visa is probably a blessing in disguise. Better to know you're not wanted before you are detained at the border and "accidentally" extradited directly to a prison's gate.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wait, so you're saying the crackdown on Bolsonaro is fine and ethically 100 percent ok? Sounds like you know more about it than me. Can you explain?
States using courtrooms to punish people who have attempted a coup is hardly unethical, no? I have to say, it is cute to read your faux outrage over this after Bolsonaro made sure the guy with the best chances to defeat him two elections back would be put into prison in a sham trial right before the election... not persecuting a figure as corrupt and power hungry as Bolsonaro would be 100% ethically wrong.
Not saying that Bolsonaro has any moral high ground to stand on, though. He is as corrupt as it gets. But if anything, I'd say that his problems really started when he was already elected and colluded with the Supreme Court to get Lula out of prison in exchange of killing the investigation against his sons.