Such a brilliant discussion. Thank you both. I do hope the flexible coalition builds within USA. Speaking as a non-citizen of the empire, the world is losing patience with the US empire and American supremacism. We have little faith that America can fix this. My read on Trump and the MAGA coalition is that what really troubled them was not wars but losing wars. Maybe the USA needs in Trump-speak to LOSE BIG for the change in ruling vales to occur?
Thanks Sam for taking on these issues in the midst of yet another crisis. It was Dr. Schneider's comment about the way empires bankrupt themselves which seems to indicate that we will see much worse to come in the imperial metropolis. The drain on resources, the taxation of the population to sustain the now trillion dollar war budget and the increase in internal disorder doesn't bode well for any of us getting a good nights sleep for quite some time to come. Coalition politics requires people who do not see the world in stark moralistic terms. I fear that reputations on both the left and right have been and continue to be built on the drive to maintain ideological purity...painting anyone less saintly as beyond redemption. Dr. Schneider's notion of " common sense" only works if one is dealing with people who have a tolerance for differences at many levels of political and social action. My deepest respect for you both for having the gumption to put this discussion out there.
“So fucking basic that it hurts my brain” sums up my cognitive and emotional despair and why when I woke up at 4:00 a.m. But there is a comfort with my dog lying on the rug in my little library with his head on my foot. I tend towards things getting worse. So, driving my dog to the beach is the balm.
'It won't happen for values - it will happen when empires over-extend themselves'....I have watched and participated for 50 years in opposing empire. If I was sitting in Moscow or Beijing I would see what the options are and support Iran in sucking the USA into another unwinnable war. We are running out of time. Empire has to be smashed. Putin and Xi understand the world better than western leaders. The west has created the very bogeymen that they say they want to destroy....Trump was hesitating BUT the fact that Tulsi Gabbard has been 'leant on' to change her view on the prospects of Iran creating a nuclear bomb imminently tells me that the decision has been made to attack and maybe invade. It will be a disaster. Cry now for the tens and perhaps hundreds of thousands of innocent people who will be slaughtered.
The problem is that, while Netanyahu and Trump et al may be acting on behalf of their own agendas, they are “acting" as though the possibility of nuclear holocaust and world-wide destruction is of no concern to them. “Act” here is almost euphemistc. It appears that such destruction is of no concern to them. It is important to think about these matters rationally, as you do. But it is also important to keep in mind that anger and hatred and fear are not rational. Those who define themselves as victims will always be able to justify defending themselves against their persecutors, even when that “defense” takes the form of attack and aggression. I.E. “WE have to get them before they get us.” That was the nazi mentality against the Jews and it is Israel’s mentality against the Palestinians. And it is now the Palestinians’ mentality against Israel.
What it is a beautful day outside of Lesbon?
Incredibly cute energy
Tank you very much for your kind and respect. Best regards from Portugal, Paulo
Such a brilliant discussion. Thank you both. I do hope the flexible coalition builds within USA. Speaking as a non-citizen of the empire, the world is losing patience with the US empire and American supremacism. We have little faith that America can fix this. My read on Trump and the MAGA coalition is that what really troubled them was not wars but losing wars. Maybe the USA needs in Trump-speak to LOSE BIG for the change in ruling vales to occur?
Thanks Sam for taking on these issues in the midst of yet another crisis. It was Dr. Schneider's comment about the way empires bankrupt themselves which seems to indicate that we will see much worse to come in the imperial metropolis. The drain on resources, the taxation of the population to sustain the now trillion dollar war budget and the increase in internal disorder doesn't bode well for any of us getting a good nights sleep for quite some time to come. Coalition politics requires people who do not see the world in stark moralistic terms. I fear that reputations on both the left and right have been and continue to be built on the drive to maintain ideological purity...painting anyone less saintly as beyond redemption. Dr. Schneider's notion of " common sense" only works if one is dealing with people who have a tolerance for differences at many levels of political and social action. My deepest respect for you both for having the gumption to put this discussion out there.
“So fucking basic that it hurts my brain” sums up my cognitive and emotional despair and why when I woke up at 4:00 a.m. But there is a comfort with my dog lying on the rug in my little library with his head on my foot. I tend towards things getting worse. So, driving my dog to the beach is the balm.
'It won't happen for values - it will happen when empires over-extend themselves'....I have watched and participated for 50 years in opposing empire. If I was sitting in Moscow or Beijing I would see what the options are and support Iran in sucking the USA into another unwinnable war. We are running out of time. Empire has to be smashed. Putin and Xi understand the world better than western leaders. The west has created the very bogeymen that they say they want to destroy....Trump was hesitating BUT the fact that Tulsi Gabbard has been 'leant on' to change her view on the prospects of Iran creating a nuclear bomb imminently tells me that the decision has been made to attack and maybe invade. It will be a disaster. Cry now for the tens and perhaps hundreds of thousands of innocent people who will be slaughtered.
The problem is that, while Netanyahu and Trump et al may be acting on behalf of their own agendas, they are “acting" as though the possibility of nuclear holocaust and world-wide destruction is of no concern to them. “Act” here is almost euphemistc. It appears that such destruction is of no concern to them. It is important to think about these matters rationally, as you do. But it is also important to keep in mind that anger and hatred and fear are not rational. Those who define themselves as victims will always be able to justify defending themselves against their persecutors, even when that “defense” takes the form of attack and aggression. I.E. “WE have to get them before they get us.” That was the nazi mentality against the Jews and it is Israel’s mentality against the Palestinians. And it is now the Palestinians’ mentality against Israel.