General News Thread

[asterism42]

Is it just me or is the US starting to feel like Yugoslavia circa 1989?

[Twelveseal]

Maybe, but nowhere near as toxic. I haven't seen anywhere near the level of nationalist rhetoric coming out of the Dems as from the Reps. Likewise, there's not really a single "American" identity that people can rally around beyond political movements with a lot of nuances between them. The actively ethnonationalist movements here don't represent a significant portion of the population, just a distressingly influential one. If they did, the SBC would probably still be segregated rather than being headed by a black man.

What I'm more afraid of is the beginning of a conflict between rival insurgent movements, none of whom have the power or skill to organize into a cohesive force, take and hold territory,
or meaningfully govern, let alone have the legitimacy to, but who do have the weapons and know-how needed to produce "lone wolf" attacks.

The level of security held by the economic and political elites makes attacks against them unlikely to succeed, but terrorist attacks against the poor, middle, and working classes or against facilities would be viable. That's not a good situation for anyone, unless you happen to not benefit from the US in the global supply chain and just hate the average American rather than the jackasses running the shitshow.

[Mattias]

Is that before, or after the civil war?

[rxrx]

To some, America died on 26/12/91

[asterism42]

Speaking of things that happened in the past, today is the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo 13's return to Earth

[aldeayeah]

To some, America died on 26/12/91

To me, history's real heroes are the Gorbachevs of the world, who managed to navigate shitshows such as the Soviet collapse in a peaceful way.

(well, not all was peaceful, but considering the situation and precedents it was remarkably so)

[rxrx]

To me, history's real heroes are the Gorbachevs of the world, who managed to navigate shitshows such as the Soviet collapse in a peaceful way.

(well, not all was peaceful, but considering the situation and precedents it was remarkably so)

At the expense of the Soviet bloc that is, but yeah, it is better than the world going kaboom thanks to nukes.

[Tobias]

The fearless leader of Texas Gregg “genocide” Abbott has boldly announced his intent to make Texas the first state to fully re-open.

on a related note, I hear both Austin and Dallas have new outbreak clusters

EDIT: oh, can’t forgot Houston! They are popping up all round the port. Is it to late to rename The governor Gregg “genocide von fuckstick” Abbott ?

[Rafflesiac]

you're a big state, you can take it

[Altima of the Gates]

And we got Trump supporters protesting to open up businesses in Annapolis as well like they had in Michigan. We'll see if Hogan sticks to his guns to keep things closed until the 30th or not.

[Twelveseal]

Dead men tell no tales, but their next of kin might.

[rxrx]

Dead men tell no tales, but their next of kin might.

I doubt that, since their next of kin will be lying just next to them.

Come on, things are getting worse, but people are calling for re-opening already? How deep does that dying for economy goes into people's head?

[RacingeR]

And the economy is going to tank anyway.

[rxrx]

And the economy is going to tank anyway.

It will only get worse if real efforts are not put into dealing with the virus. Trillions ain't much if people keep dying.

[AsGryffynn]

Is it just me or is the US starting to feel like Yugoslavia circa 1989?

Wrong comparison son!

- - - Updated - - -

Maybe, but nowhere near as toxic. I haven't seen anywhere near the level of nationalist rhetoric coming out of the Dems as from the Reps. Likewise, there's not really a single "American" identity that people can rally around beyond political movements with a lot of nuances between them. The actively ethnonationalist movements here don't represent a significant portion of the population, just a distressingly influential one. If they did, the SBC would probably still be segregated rather than being headed by a black man.

What I'm more afraid of is the beginning of a conflict between rival insurgent movements, none of whom have the power or skill to organize into a cohesive force, take and hold territory,
or meaningfully govern, let alone have the legitimacy to, but who do have the weapons and know-how needed to produce "lone wolf" attacks.

The level of security held by the economic and political elites makes attacks against them unlikely to succeed, but terrorist attacks against the poor, middle, and working classes or against facilities would be viable. That's not a good situation for anyone, unless you happen to not benefit from the US in the global supply chain and just hate the average American rather than the jackasses running the shitshow.

I mean, you have states that do have a "unique" mentality and are with Trump on this (Texas and everything in the Deep South). Just because you haven't seen them in a while doesn't means those old roots can't come back.

Just look at Catalan nationalism.

- - - Updated - - -

The fearless leader of Texas Gregg “genocide” Abbott has boldly announced his intent to make Texas the first state to fully re-open.

on a related note, I hear both Austin and Dallas have new outbreak clusters

EDIT: oh, can’t forgot Houston! They are popping up all round the port. Is it to late to rename The governor Gregg “genocide von fuckstick” Abbott ?

What's with the Abbott clan and conservatives?

Like, didn't Texas see Australia and think "this guy will bury us"?

[Laserman]

I can't believe there are anti-lockdown protests. Not only is it a dumb thing to protest over, but being in groups like that will also spread the virus even more.

[Twelveseal]

You... can't?
I mean, a lot of us here can't afford to not work. I'm only not panicking because I'm getting catastrophe pay for the two weeks I've been off, I'm going back to work the day after tomorrow, and I've held my current job long enough to qualify for unemployment, as well as having enough tax refund left to pay for a month's expenses if I keep my budget under control.

Not everyone is that lucky. Especially small business owners whose expenses require steady income to maintain. The government loans for that have already dried up. Or the folks who are less stable than I am; those government checks haven't shown up for everyone and'll be late for people without banking options. In other words, the most poor.

This isn't amazing. What's amazing is that it isn't violent yet. A lot of these people don't even believe the thing is real, or that it's been overblown by the media and Democrats as a way to attack Trump and undermine the crown jewel of his presidency; a thriving on paper economy.

[Tobias]

A rather comforting poll came out from NBC this morning noting that 60% of responders believed the government was trying to open to early, vs 32% who said it was taking to long. I would have thought the numbers more closely tracked partisan divides. But people being smart and staying the fuck at home are less interesting then the protest of morons picketing whitackers office or whatever

[RacingeR]

Fear has a strong impact on people. It is why I think forcing the whole "die for the economy" thing is going to get very ugly sooner or later.

[Twelveseal]

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It sets up a direct conflict between people who are at high risk from it and those that care for them with people who either aren't, or aren't willing to conform for the safety of others. A conflict between business owners and operators and their workers.

Huh. Sounds like a Class War...