April 08, 2005

• What's the matter with amerika? We can't just blame Kansas or Alabama, Oregon, etc.. anymore.
• The matter with America is that the empire is finished. We are a few months away from the dollar crash, which will, incidentally, also mark the end of our (sham of a) democracy. It is now time for Europe and Asia to shine. Our death spasms might hurt a bit, so apologies in advance.
• fuyugare, I like you. You're obviously an intelligent person. And I'm sure that you are incredibly angry about what you see as the problems of your country. However, I think what you have just said there is just facile. Its as facile as if I had said: The trouble with your country is that when presented with an issue of genuine complexity - such as "how can we understand and analyse the attitude of the inhabitants, and the nature of political discourse and power structures of one particular state with regard to homosexuality?" - you respond "well amerikkka is just fucked man wait a few months and it'll all be over." I put it to you that no, it won't be all over in a few months; unfortunately we both will have to live with tired bullshit like "god hates fags" for a looong time. I also put it to you that your attitude suggests a desire to ignore that fact by pretending that a mythologised Europe and China will sweep away America and all the fuckwits therein, delivering long-hoped for justice. I put it to you that that would be a false hope, motivated by willful ignorance.
• although, y'know, I could be wrong about that ;)
• I think you are indeed very wrong about that. Our dear President has already started to hint that the government might not honour our treasury bills. You don't have to be an economist to realize that the moment China and Japan lose faith in our t-bills, it's over. Just yesterday I was reading somewhere that the chief economist of the world bank is "not entirely pessimistic" about the state of the US economy, or words of that nature. The signs are plain. I seriously doubt we're going to be getting out of this whole. Yes, we could spend months debating why we're in this mess, and maybe there is some merit to it, but I'm afraid there is no getting out now. (Also, it is fine to say that America isn't already a nightmare when you don't live here, but Americans who deny it are denying the evidence of their eyes and ears. This is not particularly surprising, of course. The fall of Rome was, for the most part, not noticed by the Romans.)
• I think Bush needs to be in power for seven years before the reckoning comes. That's what it says in Revelations.
• I think you are indeed very wrong about that Oh well then. It was nice to know you! How long do you think before the US ceases to exist?
• I give up. I have tried to preach perspective, bringing up things like the 36.5% of Kansana who voted for John Kerry, but I guess I will surrender to the fact that I live in the worst country ever, far worse than anyplace in Africa, Russia, Central America or any of those other heavens on Earth... Also: My fwiend is a Woman. His name is Biggus Dickus.
• ...the fact that I live in the worst country ever, far worse than anyplace in Africa, Russia, Central America... Kee-reckt. Spend a year in Sierra Leone and tell me how much more fucked Delaware is. While I agree with your general thesis that the US empire is eventually going to recede into the shadow of (probably) China, I think it's a bit overboard to have us all living in Hoovervilles by Christmas. I live here. I live in one of the poorest, most conservative, most illiterate, most Bible-thumpin' and queer-hatin' states in the Union, and I gotta toss my hat in with quidnunc's. There is much in this country that's nightmarish, I agree, but I doubt very seriously that it's beyond fixing. Besides, corny as it sounds, I believe in my country's ideals (despite its inability to live up to them), and I feel they're worth fighting for.
• well, you got your east, see - then over here you got your west. It's a "ne'er the twain shall meet" sort of proposition. Then over here, you got your favoritism. /Raises Arizona
• Well said my friends. Although I do like the idea of a Father Fu ranting about how the economic end times are-a coming and all America's stupidities will be obliterated by gay chinese and european angels buttfucking their way across the land, spreading culture and good will. That's a gross misstatement of fuyugare's comments, but it won't stop me raising a glass to my American friends here when I go to the pub in about ten minutes.
• The end times are not a-coming, my son. The end times are here.
• And the buttfucking angels?
• The buttfucking angel smells like angels ought to smell. The perfect ass. Goldie. She says her name is Goldie.
• Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore!
• I'd rather have the parole officer than Goldie. She's far hotter, and she's got the good pills. Plus, you know, naked all the time.
• Internally, no, America is not quite on the level of Sierra Leone. Externally, however, it's much more dangerous, do to America's wacky foreign policy, chimp-puppet President, politically idiotic and morally misguided citizenry, demonstrated willingness to invade and conquer other countries, and our HUGE stock of WMDs. Maybe the US should conquer Sierra Leone and Liberia. There's no oil there so the long-term benefit to the US would be minimal, but there are diamonds, and that's one region where the US' SOP won't be any worse than what the locals are used to. Of course the fact that it won't be very profitable explains why the US didn't do it a decade ago: "We get PAID to do the rights thing!"
• One MILLION Dollars! *raises pinkie*
• What's the Matter with Kansas? Well, obviously they peaked in the mid 70's with Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, but they kind of faded into obscurity in the 80's along with most of their prog-rock cousins. I still like some of their old stuff, though.
• drjimmy11: Hey, I count myself in that 36.5%. When it's put as a percentage, it doesn't look quite so bad. But keep in mind that's pretty much a 2:1 ratio, and the marriage amendment passed by an even greater ratio (7:3). Also, Douglas County was the ONLY county which went against the amendment. It's like being on a tiny island and watching the water rise. As with fuyugare, I'm rather pessimistic about the US's ability to work its way back to the black. I'm also skeptical that the EU and/or China will take the reins, mainly because there won't be enough oil for them to generate a sustained push for dominance. And yeah, China's real progressive. on preview: all we are is dust in the wind, rocket88.
• Incidentally, didn't Kerry Livgren become a Christian? He put out a fantastic solo album sometime in the late 80's called One of Several Possible Musiks. A lot of synth, but being multi-instrumental, he did it all himself. Not sure where I was going with that.
• Oh yeah, well put quid. I'll raise a glass to you and your mates tonight when I go to the pub!
• Carry on, my wayward sons. There'll be peace when you are done.
• All we are is dust in the wind, dude. Dust. Wind. Dude.
• A Political Tornado in Kansas. With pic!