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US Politics: What goes up, must come down!


Fragile Bird

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4 minutes ago, Fez said:

So basically we need another Cincinnatus or George Washington; a once-every-2000-years figure who has or is offered absolute power and voluntarily gives it up. 

No big deal. I'm sure we'll find someone.

In this instance I was thinking Fabius. Someone who can recast these endless defeats into a strategy.

But yeah, it's a tough position to fill. Lots of applicants, few fits.

Eta: stupid phone correcting words that are correct

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2 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

Hah, I was in the middle of typing EXACTLY the same thing.  I'd like to volunteer myself for absolute power.  Most of you and yours will be fine.  Pinky swear.

Pinky swear? 

Because if you support my mandatory Taco Tuesday initiative once every two weeks I’ll throw my military might behind you 40%!

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Just now, A True Kaniggit said:

Pinky swear? 

Because if you support my mandatory Taco Tuesday initiative once every two weeks I’ll throw my military might behind you 40%!

DOUBLE Pinky Swear.  Part of my platform is to support Taco Tuesday initiatives commensurate with the level of support received in exchange therefor.

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4 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

DOUBLE Pinky Swear.  Part of my platform is to support Taco Tuesday initiatives commensurate with the level of support received in exchange therefor.

So now the negotiations begin........

I will raise my military assistance up to 70% for a guaranteed TacoTuesday every other Tuesday, and sometime Friday/Saturday. 

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15 minutes ago, A True Kaniggit said:

So now the negotiations begin........

I will raise my military assistance up to 70% for a guaranteed TacoTuesday every other Tuesday, and sometime Friday/Saturday. 

Every OTHER Tuesday?

Dude, at least aim for the moon before we hand over all power to Dear Leader Zabzie.

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6 minutes ago, Durckad said:

Every OTHER Tuesday?

Dude, at least aim for the moon before we hand over all power to Dear Leader Zabzie.

I ain’t a Saint (though I support them). Tacos every Tuesday is too much for me.

So I’m trying to get us tacos every 10 days.

Is that so bad?

 

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I understand the "despot" discussion is not meant particularly seriously, but I kind of want to air some thoughts on the topic any way. I think that in many ways, a benevolent climate-preserving dictator is not just unlikely, the concept contains a fundamental logical contradiction. The reason the climate crisis is so intractable at the moment is because any viable solutions will require major social and economic changes, in a way that will massively reduce the wealth and power of the most powerful people and institutions in the world. They don't want that, so those changes don't happen.

So where does our climate saviour despot get their power to enact these changes from? Not from those who already have it, they would resist. The only way for someone like that to gain power is through a mass popular movement. And if we have a mass popular movement, then there's no need for a despot, we can make the changes democratically (meaning not necessarily through existing political institutions, but with democratic support).

Of course, the danger is that a popular movement could just as easily be a reactionary nationalist movement as a progressive socialist one. Ecofascism is something we should all be very concerned about.

The only way the climate crisis will be genuinely tackled is through a popular movement. But we need to be very careful about what form that movement takes.

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4 minutes ago, Liffguard said:

I understand the "despot" discussion is not meant particularly seriously, but I kind of want to air some thoughts on the topic any way. I think that in many ways, a benevolent climate-preserving dictator is not just unlikely, the concept contains a fundamental logical contradiction. The reason the climate crisis is so intractable at the moment is because any viable solutions will require major social and economic changes, in a way that will massively reduce the wealth and power of the most powerful people and institutions in the world. They don't want that, so those changes don't happen.

So where does our climate saviour despot get their power to enact these changes from? Not from those who already have it, they would resist. The only way for someone like that to gain power is through a mass popular movement. And if we have a mass popular movement, then there's no need for a despot, we can make the changes democratically (meaning not necessarily through existing political institutions, but with democratic support).

Of course, the danger is that a popular movement could just as easily be a reactionary nationalist movement as a progressive socialist one. Ecofascism is something we should all be very concerned about.

The only way the climate crisis will be genuinely tackled is through a popular movement. But we need to be very careful about what form that movement takes.

The other issue is it's a world issue, not any one country. A climate-preserving dictator in the US doesn't actually save the world.

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7 minutes ago, Mexal said:

The other issue is it's a world issue, not any one country. A climate-preserving dictator in the US doesn't actually save the world.

No worries. I'm sure UN security forces will quickly unite us into a one world government under our dear leader.

The New World Order is nigh!

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5 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said:

The bimonthly offer of Taco Tuesdays is an interesting first step, but my support cannot be committed until we at least do one thing everyone can agree on: move the Superb Owl to a freaking Saturday.

Fuckin'-A!

Now THAT'S a revolution I can get behind!

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21 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said:

The bimonthly offer of Taco Tuesdays is an interesting first step, but my support cannot be committed until we at least do one thing everyone can agree on: move the Superb Owl to a freaking Saturday.

Insufficient imagination here.  The Monday after the Superb Owl would be a national holiday under my benevolent* reign.  Panem et circenses, baybee.

 

*Benevolence defined by reference by what could be rather than what is.  Applies only to those who agree with me. Cannot be combined with any other offer.  Prices and terms subject to change.

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10 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

Insufficient imagination here.  The Monday after the Superb Owl would be a national holiday under my benevolent* reign.  Panem et circenses, baybee.

 

*Benevolence defined by reference by what could be rather than what is.  Applies only to those who agree with me. Cannot be combined with any other offer.  Prices and terms subject to change.

"Stands behind Mlle. Zabzie with arms crossed looking fierce"

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10 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

Insufficient imagination here.  The Monday after the Superb Owl would be a national holiday under my benevolent* reign.  Panem et circenses, baybee.

 

*Benevolence defined by reference by what could be rather than what is.  Applies only to those who agree with me. Cannot be combined with any other offer.  Prices and terms subject to change.

I would like to reserve national holiday negotiations for the first two days of March Madness, Dear leader.

Now can we scratch the surface on article 7, section iii, line 14.2: Free beer?  

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4 minutes ago, Tywin et al. said:

I would like to reserve national holiday negotiations for the first two days of March Madness, Dear leader.

Now can we scratch the surface on article 7, section iii, line 14.2: Free beer?  

1.  There will be at least 1 national holiday each month under my reign.  However, the first two days of March Madness can only be a holiday if Duke is in the tournament.  

2.  Fountains of it.  Will likely be flat and Coors Light.  Am open to approaches from Budweiser.

@Fragile Bird sort of silly to have a holiday to allow to do something that is no longer relevant, no? 

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1 hour ago, Liffguard said:

So where does our climate saviour despot get their power to enact these changes from? Not from those who already have it, they would resist. The only way for someone like that to gain power is through a mass popular movement. And if we have a mass popular movement, then there's no need for a despot, we can make the changes democratically (meaning not necessarily through existing political institutions, but with democratic support).

It takes a lot of muddying the waters for what you say to be true.
- A mass popular movement does not necessarily amount to a majority of people, or even of voters.
- A mass popular movement can take over some branches of power (the presidency) but fail to take over others (the legislative, the judiciary).
- A mass popular movement can face specific obstacles from outside forces (companies and individuals could drag the state through the courts for ages in some countries).

Then your last bit "not necessarily through existing political institutions, but with democratic support" seems ironic to me. Was it meant to be ironic? Because most dictators claim to have democratic support, and on some level or the other it's generally true. OTOH if they don't go through existing political institutions (and traditions) they are likely to become authoritarian - almost by definition.

Point is, your arguments don't lead to the conclusion you claim. In fact, funnily enough, my thinking and arguments would be extremely similar, and yet I will reach the very opposite conclusion...

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21 minutes ago, Mlle. Zabzie said:

1.  There will be at least 1 national holiday each month under my reign.  However, the first two days of March Madness can only be a holiday if Duke is in the tournament.  

2.  Fountains of it.  Will likely be flat and Coors Light.  Am open to approaches from Budweiser.

@Fragile Bird sort of silly to have a holiday to allow to do something that is no longer relevant, no? 

I should like to offer my services to the dictatorship I accidentally incited. I'm willing to accept a number of job titles "Minister of Propaganda" or "Thought Police Chief" are perfectly acceptable.

So long as my true work as

Spoiler

 

goes unopposed then I'm at your disposal boss!

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