The United States(!) of A
Hahahahaha. What are you talking about? And more to the point, who are you talking to??
Made-up boogie people rattlin' around in your poor ol' US garbage-filled skull...still?!
Whoah, never go full Donnie*, kids.
Windmill tiltin' & trippin' ain't healthy.
*Quixote...not your other fave US wank-puffin.
when denial is all you have...
left
the?
Did I just Leave a Cult?
Because it Feels Kind of Like I did...
"...Everyone else, which was mostly everyone, was to be named as the oppressors. The more successful, the more oppressive.
Meanwhile, many of our kids began creating and inventing their own religion online, a jacked-up version of ours based solely on identity, purity, and a binary measure of people who are good and people who are bad. They didn’t realize it but they were building a utopian cult that would grow up, join the workforce, and completely overtake the Left. We saw the beginnings of it at Evergreen College in 2018.
The Democrats folded. The media pandered. Corporations surrendered. Though it took me a while to really understand what had happened to the Left, I knew eventually it would drive me away. I was with them as a loyal Democrat who really was a true believer in the Party and even the social justice movement for a time. But then it got weird. Really really weird.
I spent a few years trying to fight with them, pushing back against the many cancellations...
...What I do know is that it was a lie that we were the resistance. We were always the empire. It was a lie that Trump was a fascist. We’re closer to fascism now than we’ve ever been as a country with the Democrats in power. And it was always a lie that Trump World was a cult.
What kind of cult leader takes credit for the vaccine and then can’t get his supporters to take it? Wouldn’t they have complied like everyone on the Left? Did Jim Jones allow anyone to not drink that flavoraid laced with cyanide?
The cult of the Left is ruled by fanatics, zealots, and true believers. While there really are people who suffer from gender dysphoria - and trans people do exist, in my view - they aren’t part of the cult of the Left so much as they have become sacred symbols of it.
To be a member of the cult you have to be always deferential to the sacred and protected groups. America is still majority white, majority Christian and majority heterosexual nation. That means cult members have to either “cross over” as non-binary or trans to be “saved” or they have to be good allies:
The women are bad enough - trading their journey of empowerment for endless self-punishment over their whiteness. So now their children are being used as sacred symbols for their path toward salvation. They might not be sacred themselves but they are “holy mothers” of the sacred which gives them some status...
...But that’s nothing compared to the “Good White Men” of the Left. They have had to erase themselves in real time, as though they alone can roll back thousands of years of men being in charge.
This poor guy, like someone please find his balls. They were here a minute ago:
Their only outlet is to take to Twitter and unleash all of their pent-up frustration at their own muted masculinity. They can call Marjorie Taylor Greene “white trash” and feel perfectly justified in it. They know no one will call them a sexist. They can openly mock Justice Clarence Thomas knowing they will not be called a racist.
It must feel so good to beat their chest and cosplay being the men they once were, instead of the melted goo that they are now..."
"openly mock Justice Clarence Thomas"
hmmmm...
https://sashastone.substack.com/p/did-i-just-leave-a-cult#details
History cycles, Sypkan:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobin
You could say it goes back to the Plato/Aristotle difference in the West, one side looks to an idealised world that it thinks can be realised, the other calls "A" as "A" - ie realistic for the now. It's not to say the idealistic side is all bad - through the movements that arise (often bloody) society twists and turns and has tended to incorporate; this is successful because it extends franchise and has led to an enduring appeal.
This is a good read. Pragmatic. Informed. Relatable.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-new-yorker-interview/how-the-war-in-u...
Faith in US geopolitical strategic competence seems to be waning (from pretty low levels).
Taiwanese not so keen on being the next Ukraine:
https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/why-local-election-results-taiw...
Something for everyone!!
Joe Biden, Hunters laptop, Ukraine, bio-labs, Covid origins
Malarkey alert ! ;)
https://m.
Check out the background, very interesting.....
the background once the vid starts playing. Never seen it from that angle before
This one seems to have been missed by the MSM...
https://johnmenadue.com/jeffrey-sachs-testimony-at-un-security-council-o...
san Guine wrote:This one seems to have been missed by the MSM...
https://johnmenadue.com/jeffrey-sachs-testimony-at-un-security-council-o...
Biden ordered its destruction. Plenty of proof out there. Cut off Europes access to cheap Russian gas in order to sell them US gas at 5 times the price. Among other reasons.
gragagan wrote:Check out the background, very interesting.....
the background once the vid starts playing. Never seen it from that angle before
It's Nazare on a big day filmed from a satellite (by the altitude). Can see the skis towing in, surfers, the set-up etc
Is Rupert admitting his network lies ? https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/rupert-murdoch-admits-fox...
The fix is in …
Everything’s a scam ;)
https://m.
Election lies are a scam?
gragagan wrote:Biden ordered its destruction. Plenty of proof out there. Cut off Europes access to cheap Russian gas in order to sell them US gas at 5 times the price. Among other reasons.
I think you’re confusing motive with proof, fella. Unless you’ve got some proof…
https://unherd.com/thepost/why-is-there-no-covid-19-commission-in-america/ Over the past year, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Denmark have begun or completed public investigations into their countries’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. These governments believed it was important to report on successes and failures of pandemic decisions because it was the public that was on the receiving end of policies such as closed schools, vaccine mandates, and shuttered businesses.
The United States is notably absent from this list, despite a long history of setting up bipartisan commissions after national crises in order to avoid repeating mistakes.
Aaaah….. the ‘united states’ ;)
- attempting to unite the world through lies, corruption, propaganda and coercion.
Will this really create greater freedom and liberty ? ;)
And let’s change the definition of terrorism while we’re at it ;)
(Already covered ‘recession’ and ‘sovereignty’)
Motives ? Proof ?
… remember those wmd’s ;)
There is a proven track record.
The military industrial complex also has proven motives.
Even a pirate will go down with the ship.
After all - hard to see with one eye!
And yet….. still…..
Proof is in the pudding ;)
https://m.
So, no proof? Just speculation?
And a YouTube clip (of course).
Got it.
Ummmmm
So…
You have a penchant for war (of course).
But can’t deal with youtube clips…
Ok.
Got it ;)
etarip wrote:gragagan wrote:Biden ordered its destruction. Plenty of proof out there. Cut off Europes access to cheap Russian gas in order to sell them US gas at 5 times the price. Among other reasons.
I think you’re confusing motive with proof, fella. Unless you’ve got some proof…
The US is the only country with motive, they have said they would do it, they have admitted doing it, they have the resources to do it .
They have cut off a revenue stream to Russia so they can enter an energy market. They have stated their intent many times.
They have form.
But hey hang a flag in your front yard and talk about how nasty Putin is. Sheesh.
Yeah nah,
I’m not denying that the US had motive, nor capability. They haven’t admitted doing anything…. Or did I miss something?
Someone said they had proof. I’m interested in what the proof is. Because it isn’t Hersh’s theory. That report, based on an interview with a “single, well-placed, anonymous source with intimate knowledge of the operation” has been completely and utterly discredited by publicly available information. .
I’m open-minded about it. There’s a few differing theories about how, who, what.
But I’m sure you’ve looked into them JF, so I’m keen to hear what they are.
This post goes into some detail disproving Seymour Hersh’s claims.
https://oalexanderdk.substack.com/p/blowing-holes-in-seymour-hershs-pipe
But also doesn’t disprove USA involvement.
Murdoch news full of shit? Well what a farkin surprise....
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/feb/28/rupert-murdoch-deposition-...
Pretty sure there was a report on the authoritative news service crAAP by someone with knowledge of the matter who cannot be named for security reasons that Vlad's passport was found next to the destroyed pipeline on the sea floor. And he is known to swim in cold water. Clearly, on this basis it is fairly conclusive who done it. As the MSM loves to say - "the finger points at" ...... a certain country that likes vodka.
Putin's girlfriend is Gold Medal Olympic Gymnast Tsarina Alina + her Golden Palace
Complex comes with Air Defence System / Secret Train Station + Armoured Train / Solarium / (Hamman)- Fancy name for Wave Pool / Cyro Chamber / Mud Room / Cosmetology
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11802679/Inside-forest-palace-P...
......................................................................................................................................................................................
Tik Tok Doomsday Clock Strikes 25 O'Clock ( That's cause enough for an Alarming Soundtrack ).
Da Prez has decreed for all the World to stop yer Toking...
Oz Treasurer : US Prez order doesn't apply to our Communist Regime!
PM Albo : (Admits a Tik Tok Pow Wow does sound pretty Cool!) Fingers Crossed Oz can ban something!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-28/united-states-government-bans-tik...
Da Prez : "World has 30 days to wind down...This is The Final Countdown!"
When you invent laws within an imagined ‘rule based system’ of fairness and co-operation…
Then you deceptively promote ‘transparency’ and ‘legitimacy’ with the promised ideals of mutual trust, equality and understanding…
And then you demand others must adhere to newly created government enforced directives and regulations.
- Whilst the government itself remains separate from having to adhere to such directives, as well as being immune from prosecution for doing so…
‘Rule of law’ ?
Democracy…
Hypocrisy ;)
Or… ‘nobody can do state sanctioned surveillance operations and illegally store your information and data except us’.
When u make the rules, it’s ok as long as u are able to break them ;)
Seems to be working…
https://reason.com/2023/02/27/scotus-says-domestic-spying-is-too-secret-...
This report by the ASPI echoes my experience in academia and industry. In my specific areas of pure math and particularly machine learning, the Chinese lead the way now and publish most of the highest quality research.
One thing that shocked me was when I used to go to machine learning conferences in China pre-covid. They were next level compared to the Aus conferences. I would be sitting in them saying to myself “oh fuck we’re goners.”
The West is asleep at the wheel and more focused on left progressive woke culture wars, integrating critical race theory into all levels of society, and war mongering in order to make the wealthy elite even wealthier.
Meanwhile, there’s a nation of 1.4billion people getting hammered into STEM studies in high school and then funnelled into STEM studies in the best universities on the planet, with the objective of returning to China with their skills and education to contribute however they can to the rejuvenation of the Chinese civilisation to being the Middle Kingdom once again. (Might be surprised to learn that very few Chinese stay in the West after their studies; they love their China.)
The writing is on the wall. It’s no longer a joke.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-02/china-critical-future-technologie...
Spot on gsco. I can’t speak to the quality of the research like you can, but I have had some exposure to the scale. A systems analyst (PhD) I worked with recently showed me a graphic of investment of human, educational and financial capital into R&D in emerging tech.
Kind of heat map with dot clusters etc.
Each country had a graphic, and then you could overlay them. He did a side-by-side graphic build of the PRC map then started with Australia and built out the other leading western countries. No comparison. PRC are streets ahead
The other challenge is that unis became so dependent on foreign funding and partnerships that even where Ozzie smarts generate a great idea, the IP is often copied, shared or stolen anyway. Again, I’m guessing you’ve got more direct experience in this area.
"The West is asleep at the wheel and more focused on left progressive woke culture wars, integrating critical race theory into all levels of society, and war mongering in order to make the wealthy elite even wealthier."
"Spot on gsco."
https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/09/03/2018/will-bourgeoisie-eve...
Wilhelm that's a good Global Policy journal piece by Branko Milanovic.
China has grappled with the appropriate level of private sector wealth and power, and in general its place in society, since the very first dynasties a couple thousand years ago, well before the ideas of Adam Smith and before England started experimenting with private enterprise. I think the answer to the title of the article "Will Bourgeoisie ever Rule the Chinese State?" is: No the Chinese have been very conscious about this question all throughout history. Their goal is to enable the country to enjoy the benefits of the innovation, resource allocation, economic development, etc, of the private sector, but not allow a wealthy elite to devour the country like for instance the US has.
This is definitely one major reason why China didn't end up becoming a colonial war machine built on the back of government/military-backed private corporation overseas military exploits and conquests like the West did and still is, a tradition and mindset starting all the way back in the age of discovery with the Catholic Conquistadors of Spain and Portugal, and the development of stock markets and hence the alignment of a whole nation's financial incentives with the pillage and plundering of foreign lands and peoples, and all in the glory of the Catholic Church.
My favourite book that details the development and evolution of this tradition and mindset is the esteemed historian J. M. Roberts' The Triumph of the West. It's an absolutely epic read.
good?
all I saw was... Bourgeoisie...
which made me think of facto...
and this...
"...Well, identity politics is another perverse fruit of success. The movement grew during the decade of economic expansion and peace that followed the 2008 crash. As those benign conditions fell away, so did the movement. It is hard to care that Augustus Gloop is called “fat” at a time of double-digit inflation. It is hard to deplore microaggressions while Ukraine is enduring a rather macro one. The cultural left hasn’t been defeated so much as demoted: in salience, in moral urgency. Grievances that once had force now seem beside the point.
Something else has changed. Liberals have stopped pretending there is no problem to confront on their left. I shouldn't overdo the praise here. It is still hard work getting liberals to state their position on, say, gender or free speech. To avoid losing friends, or upsetting offspring, their stratagem is to question the relevance of the subjects. “The culture war is overblown.” OK, but what do you think? “The right wants to distract voters from economics.” True, but what do you think? “Marxists are good on this intellectual manipulation. ‘Hegemony’, they call it.” Yes, listen, I know, but what do you think?..."
https://www.ft.com/content/6f69ea55-32c6-477e-93d2-598bbd6e761a
gsco wrote:This report by the ASPI echoes my experience in academia and industry. In my specific areas of pure math and particularly machine learning, the Chinese lead the way now and publish most of the highest quality research.
One thing that shocked me was when I used to go to machine learning conferences in China pre-covid. They were next level compared to the Aus conferences. I would be sitting in them saying to myself “oh fuck we’re goners.”
The West is asleep at the wheel and more focused on left progressive woke culture wars, integrating critical race theory into all levels of society, and war mongering in order to make the wealthy elite even wealthier.
Meanwhile, there’s a nation of 1.4billion people getting hammered into STEM studies in high school and then funnelled into STEM studies in the best universities on the planet, with the objective of returning to China with their skills and education to contribute however they can to the rejuvenation of the Chinese civilisation to being the Middle Kingdom once again. (Might be surprised to learn that very few Chinese stay in the West after their studies; they love their China.)
The writing is on the wall. It’s no longer a joke.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-02/china-critical-future-technologie...
If this is still news to anyone then it’s time to switch on. I’ve been talking about it for years. Actually, I believe this battle is already lost. Show a basic algebra problem to an average person on the street and they will have no idea what you’re talking about. Good luck with that. And then people complain about migration. How do you hire someone who doesn’t understand some basic problem statements?
sypkan wrote:good?
all I saw was... Bourgeoisie...
which made me think of facto...
and this...
"...Well, identity politics is another perverse fruit of success. The movement grew during the decade of economic expansion and peace that followed the 2008 crash. As those benign conditions fell away, so did the movement. It is hard to care that Augustus Gloop is called “fat” at a time of double-digit inflation. It is hard to deplore microaggressions while Ukraine is enduring a rather macro one. The cultural left hasn’t been defeated so much as demoted: in salience, in moral urgency. Grievances that once had force now seem beside the point.
Something else has changed. Liberals have stopped pretending there is no problem to confront on their left. I shouldn't overdo the praise here. It is still hard work getting liberals to state their position on, say, gender or free speech. To avoid losing friends, or upsetting offspring, their stratagem is to question the relevance of the subjects. “The culture war is overblown.” OK, but what do you think? “The right wants to distract voters from economics.” True, but what do you think? “Marxists are good on this intellectual manipulation. ‘Hegemony’, they call it.” Yes, listen, I know, but what do you think?..."
https://www.ft.com/content/6f69ea55-32c6-477e-93d2-598bbd6e761a
I honestly don’t understand anything anymore. How are liberals so left? That doesn’t make any sense to me but it appears to be true. Conversely, conservatives have completely hijacked the right, to the point that you must be a conservative to be on the right otherwise you’re something else. It’s all so messed up, best is not to thinks about it.
flollo wrote:If this is still news to anyone then it’s time to switch on. I’ve been talking about it for years. Actually, I believe this battle is already lost. Show a basic algebra problem to an average person on the street and they will have no idea what you’re talking about. Good luck with that. And then people complain about migration. How do you hire someone who doesn’t understand some basic problem statements?
That is some real broad sweeping irrelevant dumb arrogant ivory tower shit right there flollo.
gsco wrote:(Might be surprised to learn that very few Chinese stay in the West after their studies; they love their China.)
https://theconversation.com/amp/students-from-china-may-defend-their-cou...
Happy days ahead. The Empire of Peace and Truth has proven very effective at deterring wars over the years - so we can all relax.
"Wormuth’s plan would involve sending more troops and advanced weapons into the region, including hypersonic missiles. She said the buildup would be an effort to deter war with China, although Beijing has been increasing its military activity in the region in response to US actions.
She listed Australia and Japan as two places where weapons could be staged ..."
Weird that China is increasing military activity with all the good US deterrence stuff happening. Not what the think tanks thinked.
Here's hoping we get plenty of them weapon thingos in Aus - sounds like very good plan for peace.
Lol so the US is:
- shoring up more military bases in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, etc
- shoring up the QUAD and AUKUS, effectively creating a west pacific NATO
- conducting military drills with allies in the west pacific, basically on China’s shores
- packing Taiwan to the rafters with military equipment and supporting the anti-China political party (sound familiar…Ukraine…?)
- having political figures regularly visiting Taiwan, and interacting with Taiwan as though its an independent nation
- engaging in a relentless global China-threat propaganda and disinformation campaign across all media and which is particularly driven by foreign policy think tanks
- rolling out on a daily basis more economic and technology sanctions aimed at damaging China and rolling back its development, with think tanks and government figures now unashamedly and openly admitting their strategy is not just China containment but rollback
- …etc…
Imagine if China was doing all this with say Cuba and conducting military tests in the Gulf of Mexico…?!
Who exactly is the aggressor and threat here?
The aggressors have a rich history ;)
$$$
A history of invasion…
A history of genocide.
- Theft, coercion and control through force.
All in the name of freedom and liberty ;)
- and, to this day, free of accountability…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Wars
https://m.
Taiwanese very much looking forward to their chance to get some of that Ukranization style deterrance and peace.
Might have been hesitant a few years' ago but being a US proxy now looks just peachy.
I'm worried for the Taiwanese. It's such a classic place with good surf, great year round climate, clean Pacific Ocean water, and super friendly and open people with everything to look forward to.
They don't seem to realise they're getting the wool systematically pulled over their eyes by the US's brute force information and psychological warfare China-threat assault.
The real lesson of Ukraine is that Taiwan is simply heading in the same direction: the US pumping it full of military equipment all aimed at China and then backing the anti-China, pro-independence government, with the aim of backing China into a corner to think that it has no options other than to take military action.
The Taiwanese need to stand up and say no to the US, that they don't want to be the first line of expendable pawns in the US war machine's and military-industrial complex's profit and hegemony driven war on China.
They need to take the realist perspective that they're better off focusing on their own social, cultural and economic growth and prosperity as a nation and peoples, instead of getting into a US lead military conflict with China and hence guaranteed self-inflicted destruction.
I'm also worried for Australia. We need to back out of it all asap too before it's too late.
But... but... China wants them? What they supposed do?
I’m just not actually sure that’s true. It’s definitely what the US has convinced everyone of.
I think there’s a chance it will become a self fulfilling prophecy though, just like Ukraine did, something like
The US will just keep provoking, pressuring, and upping the ante, keep doing exactly what China says will lead to military conflict.
And then the US will claim innocence and sell to the world some lowest common denominator, simpleton China-bashing narrative.
That’s the path things are currently going down.
Best vid I've seen on the topic. Balanced presentation with all sides having a say, given appropriate historical background (thanks Henry for the duplicity - resulting in all the ambiguity) and finishes by suggesting a peaceful conclusion. From the German DW network.
Edit: this thread now sounds like the Global Times :)
Haha, VJ. Right on.
Gsco: what are your thoughts on the best outcome for the Taiwanese people?
1. Independence
2. Status Quo
3. Unification with the PRC
Or, if there’s something else on the menu, happy to hear about it.
None of the above.
First thing that needs to happen is the US needs to leave the poor people of Taiwan alone and stop railroading them into becoming a separatist US military base with all guns aimed at China - this current trajectory will only lead to WW3 (but also in light of Ukraine, it seems that this is what the US wants).
Then what has been happening for the past 70 years should be allowed to keep on happening: the very slow, voluntary and peaceful increasing of economic, family and cultural etc ties between Taiwan and the mainland, via the free volition and choice of the people from both sides.
If people call this the status quo then fine, but I call it a very slow, gradual peaceful evolution or progression - in fact an improvement - of relations and ties, so in that sense not strictly a "status quo".
China consistently maintains - in both its words and actions - a stance of slowly and peacefully increasing relations and ties, and it hopes for eventual peaceful reunification.
Taiwan should only be politically reunified with the mainland if that is the free, voluntary choice of the Taiwanese people as expressed via elections. I actually genuinely believe that China also feels the same way and its actions over the past 70 years seem to support that view.
Meanwhile the US is over there in China's face creating military blocs, rearming Japan, increasing the military capabilities of all proximal countries, conducting military drills, arming and encouraging and supporting a separatist Taiwanese political party, setting up military bases, imposing sanctions, etc.
Who's the aggressor here? Whose behaviour is inappropriate? Who's causing the problems? Who's the one trying to change the status quo? Who's trying to create conflict and division? Who's the actual threat to peace in the region?
What does the last 1000 years of history - both China's and the West's - tell you about these questions and the behaviours of the parties involved?
Who has the history of invading, conquering, pillaging, plundering, slaughtering and murdering foreign lands and peoples? Who doesn't have this history?
Gimmie a T
Gimme an I
Gimmie B
Gimmie an E
... ah that's enough. I mourn for the lost lessons of the monks and their monasteries.
A lot of the Taiwan tension is that the Nationalists fled to the island and the Communists have unfinished business in the civil war. It has yet to be resolved. Just like North and South Korea technically has yet to resolve.
VJ the story of Tibet, like Taiwan, is absolutely nothing like the ridiculous, idiotic, braindead, simpleton narrative we're led to believe.
People driving around with "Free Tibet" and similar stickers on their cars etc don't actually seem to realise whose or what "freedom" they're advocating.
I read this book over the xmas break. It will open your mind a bit to the long, colourful, complicated and conflicted history between Tibet and China:
Nothing we think we know is real.
Taiwanese don't have a menu of three ready to eat outcomes to select from. They have a range of paths into the geopolitical mists all fraught with risk and danger.
As Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria and the Ukraine shows, don't underestimate the head chefs ability to f... things up (but to profit themselves from a "bit" of chaos and all that tasty military spending and rebuilding work).
The standard Middle East and South American recipe was much lower risk than their current adventures.
Septic Tanks are going to Septic Tank