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The US Empire is Collapsing

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Kraichgauer
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31 Jul 2017, 6:22 am

LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


We're talking about a tiny segment of the military, so allotting money to transitional surgery isn't going to break the bank.


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shlaifu
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31 Jul 2017, 7:27 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
shlaifu wrote:
George Friedman of Stratfor and geopolitical futures disagrees and argues, the american empire is just in its beginnings.
Yes, it has internal struggles, and it hasn't been successful lately in absird attempts to create outposts in the middle east, but, he says, it's a young empire, and it doesn't really want to be one.
But the US is the country in control of the major oceans which seperate it from potential enemies and can project its power wherever it wants on the planet.
It has no rivals.

Regarding the wealth divide, and this us my sarcastic comment: the British ruled the world with an incredibly impoverished working class... The greeks and romans had slaves...
Inequality is not what "empire" is measured in.
Trump's election is only of advantage for the "vile masters of mankind", .... So....


Yes, that is true; empires of the past had had vast social and economic inequality. But we Americans at least like to imagine that we are something different. We see ourselves as the shining beacon of equality. I personally think, in order to be Americans, we must live up to our own self perception, otherwise we risk becoming something most of us consider abhorrent.


I was under the impression you guys saw yourself as the shining beacon of individual freedom and equal chances- not equality. so, as long as someone manages to turn definitions of freedom into, for example "the freedom to not have health insurance", and "equal chances" into "student loans"...

personally, I expect there will be struugles back and forth within US aociety, until changing climate creates giant streams of refugees from middle america - in places like costa rica, going outside in the humid heat in summer is already deadly- literally, it causes heat stroke and kidney failure, andlack of accessto dialysis then causes death - so refugee crisis and crop failure will tear the US apart.
until then, I see no challenger to the title of number 1 empire in the world, with all the perks and all the shadows that come with trying to rule the world.


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Kraichgauer
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31 Jul 2017, 7:46 pm

shlaifu wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
shlaifu wrote:
George Friedman of Stratfor and geopolitical futures disagrees and argues, the american empire is just in its beginnings.
Yes, it has internal struggles, and it hasn't been successful lately in absird attempts to create outposts in the middle east, but, he says, it's a young empire, and it doesn't really want to be one.
But the US is the country in control of the major oceans which seperate it from potential enemies and can project its power wherever it wants on the planet.
It has no rivals.

Regarding the wealth divide, and this us my sarcastic comment: the British ruled the world with an incredibly impoverished working class... The greeks and romans had slaves...
Inequality is not what "empire" is measured in.
Trump's election is only of advantage for the "vile masters of mankind", .... So....


Yes, that is true; empires of the past had had vast social and economic inequality. But we Americans at least like to imagine that we are something different. We see ourselves as the shining beacon of equality. I personally think, in order to be Americans, we must live up to our own self perception, otherwise we risk becoming something most of us consider abhorrent.


I was under the impression you guys saw yourself as the shining beacon of individual freedom and equal chances- not equality. so, as long as someone manages to turn definitions of freedom into, for example "the freedom to not have health insurance", and "equal chances" into "student loans"...

personally, I expect there will be struugles back and forth within US aociety, until changing climate creates giant streams of refugees from middle america - in places like costa rica, going outside in the humid heat in summer is already deadly- literally, it causes heat stroke and kidney failure, andlack of accessto dialysis then causes death - so refugee crisis and crop failure will tear the US apart.
until then, I see no challenger to the title of number 1 empire in the world, with all the perks and all the shadows that come with trying to rule the world.


Without equality, there is little chance for individual freedom and equal chances.


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LoveNotHate
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31 Jul 2017, 7:55 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


We're talking about a tiny segment of the military, so allotting money to transitional surgery isn't going to break the bank.

Yeah, its statistically insignificant compared to a 69 billion dollar increase. So much so that perhaps Trump is joking.



Kraichgauer
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31 Jul 2017, 8:01 pm

LoveNotHate wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


We're talking about a tiny segment of the military, so allotting money to transitional surgery isn't going to break the bank.

Yeah, its statistically insignificant compared to a 69 billion dollar increase. So much so that perhaps Trump is joking.


Or more likely, he's talking out of his a$$, like he does when he doesn't know what he's talking about.


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31 Jul 2017, 8:08 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


We're talking about a tiny segment of the military, so allotting money to transitional surgery isn't going to break the bank.

So the military should pay for elective surgery then recovery that takes a year meaning the soldier is out of duty on paid leave for 1/4 of their service? Then where does the transitioned soldier got. If man to woman do they get treated as woman(no combat potions), or do they get treated as a man, but then that's unfair to women. Also they better be prepared to be treated piss poor by their fellow troops who won't be accepting of a trans soldier and will be uncomfortable regardless of which way the transition was.


Then there's the it's a disorder. The military doesn't allow people with disorders to serve. Why should they get special treatment while aspies and other disordered people are refused?

All this reduces the effectiveness of our troops. Military is meant to be the most effective killing machine it can, its to win battles, not be a social paradise or experiment. It's unfair but combat is unfair.



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31 Jul 2017, 8:31 pm

sly279 wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


We're talking about a tiny segment of the military, so allotting money to transitional surgery isn't going to break the bank.

So the military should pay for elective surgery then recovery that takes a year meaning the soldier is out of duty on paid leave for 1/4 of their service? Then where does the transitioned soldier got. If man to woman do they get treated as woman(no combat potions), or do they get treated as a man, but then that's unfair to women. Also they better be prepared to be treated piss poor by their fellow troops who won't be accepting of a trans soldier and will be uncomfortable regardless of which way the transition was.


Then there's the it's a disorder. The military doesn't allow people with disorders to serve. Why should they get special treatment while aspies and other disordered people are refused?

All this reduces the effectiveness of our troops. Military is meant to be the most effective killing machine it can, its to win battles, not be a social paradise or experiment. It's unfair but combat is unfair.


Maybe they should let Aspies join.


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kraftiekortie
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31 Jul 2017, 9:21 pm

I'm not inclined to join the military.

But I am sure there are at least some Aspies who would make good soldiers.



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31 Jul 2017, 9:27 pm

DarthMetaKnight wrote:

The elites are feeling woozy.
Their boat is rocking.

TIP.
IT.
OVER.

Since the U.S. freed Cuba and the Phillipines it ceased to have an "empire". As imperialist nations go, the U.S. is not even a second rate imperialist. The U.S. exerts most of its soft power in trade associations, not in occupying and governing colonies. Colonies are soooo 19 th century.


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Lintar
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31 Jul 2017, 9:33 pm

LoveNotHate wrote:
Expanding and dominating, not collapsing.

"U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $68 billion increase in military spending next year"
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa- ... SKBN1AC38K

That increase alone .. is more than every country on the planet spends on their military budget, except China and Russia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... penditures

Image


All this proves is that when it comes to money, the U.S. Government is wasteful and corrupt. The equipment that these dollars buy is often substandard and not necessary for requirements (ex. the flop F-35, and the F-22 'Craptor').
Russia has better-equipped armed forces, as does China.



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31 Jul 2017, 9:36 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
sly279 wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


We're talking about a tiny segment of the military, so allotting money to transitional surgery isn't going to break the bank.

So the military should pay for elective surgery then recovery that takes a year meaning the soldier is out of duty on paid leave for 1/4 of their service? Then where does the transitioned soldier got. If man to woman do they get treated as woman(no combat potions), or do they get treated as a man, but then that's unfair to women. Also they better be prepared to be treated piss poor by their fellow troops who won't be accepting of a trans soldier and will be uncomfortable regardless of which way the transition was.


Then there's the it's a disorder. The military doesn't allow people with disorders to serve. Why should they get special treatment while aspies and other disordered people are refused?

All this reduces the effectiveness of our troops. Military is meant to be the most effective killing machine it can, its to win battles, not be a social paradise or experiment. It's unfair but combat is unfair.


Maybe they should let Aspies join.


Why on Earth would anyone want to join? Are you eager to get yourself shot at in order to promote and protect the interests of the ruling classes?



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31 Jul 2017, 9:45 pm

Kraichgauer wrote:
America is in decline, but not because we don't spend enough on the military. It's in decline because of the widening gulf between the rich and poor, the stagnation or even loss of wages, the loss of a manufacturing base, a crumbling infrastructure, a bad educational system, and the rejection of intellectualism by a large segment of the population, etc. Let's give those other things money, or at least attention, in order to offset America's decline.


Hey, once again we agree! The amount of money that is WASTED on the U.S. military, while half the country is starving to death or dying from treatable conditions because they can't afford "insurance", is simply criminal. Hell, with all of those rednecks, survivalists, NRA members and so on armed to the teeth with AK-47's and SAM's, does the U.S. even need a military? Are you people seriously worried about being invaded by Canada or Cuba?



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31 Jul 2017, 9:47 pm

Lintar wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
sly279 wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


We're talking about a tiny segment of the military, so allotting money to transitional surgery isn't going to break the bank.

So the military should pay for elective surgery then recovery that takes a year meaning the soldier is out of duty on paid leave for 1/4 of their service? Then where does the transitioned soldier got. If man to woman do they get treated as woman(no combat potions), or do they get treated as a man, but then that's unfair to women. Also they better be prepared to be treated piss poor by their fellow troops who won't be accepting of a trans soldier and will be uncomfortable regardless of which way the transition was.


Then there's the it's a disorder. The military doesn't allow people with disorders to serve. Why should they get special treatment while aspies and other disordered people are refused?

All this reduces the effectiveness of our troops. Military is meant to be the most effective killing machine it can, its to win battles, not be a social paradise or experiment. It's unfair but combat is unfair.


Maybe they should let Aspies join.


Why on Earth would anyone want to join? Are you eager to get yourself shot at in order to promote and protect the interests of the ruling classes?

I have no problems with the military, if my nation was attacked I'd sign up (probably not feasible at my age, but I've always felt that way), but currently as it stands you're correct, the U.S. military has only been used for the enrichment of special interests since around the Korean War. The sick thing is that the U.S. military budget could be cut to a quarter of it's current limits and still maintain superiority over any other nation. It's a waste of national treasure at the moment, and it's not like all that money is going to the actual people in the military, it's a bunch of industrialists that have enriched themselves through faux-patriotism (they're as patriotic as the revenue stream they receive, it changes quarterly).



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31 Jul 2017, 9:48 pm

kraftiekortie wrote:
I'm not inclined to join the military.

But I am sure there are at least some Aspies who would make good soldiers.


What kind of "Aspie" in his or her right mind would want to join the military? Wars are caused by N.T.'s, so we should just let them kill each other off.



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31 Jul 2017, 9:57 pm

BaalChatzaf wrote:
DarthMetaKnight wrote:

The elites are feeling woozy.
Their boat is rocking.

TIP.
IT.
OVER.

Since the U.S. freed Cuba and the Phillipines it ceased to have an "empire". As imperialist nations go, the U.S. is not even a second rate imperialist. The U.S. exerts most of its soft power in trade associations, not in occupying and governing colonies. Colonies are soooo 19 th century.


The U.S. still occupies Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Alaska. The "wild West" was pilfered from Mexico during the early-to-mid 19th century, and the land currently called Texas was absorbed into the Evil Empire after the state was flooded with settlers who thought it to be no big deal to attempt to secede from a nation (i.e. the aforementioned Mexico) when their numbers grew disproportionately large (hmmm, much like the Russians did in Crimea - you guys set the standard when it comes to irredentism).

The U.S. military has more bases in foreign lands than all other nations put together, so yes, it truly IS an empire.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=U.S ... ORM=HDRSC2



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31 Jul 2017, 10:01 pm

LoveNotHate wrote:
Sweetleaf wrote:
So what we get a bunch of guns and equipment for the military while things like the infrastructure, environment and social safety net get neglected?

Yes.

Also, transgender soldiers cost too much, so they have to be kicked out.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/p ... itary.html


Now why do I get the very odd feeling that you actually approve of the complete neglect and ultimate collapse of your country, as long as the military is well-fed?