Erosion and decay can be slow and gradual. The reversal almost never is

[Michael Hardner]

59 minutes ago, DUI_Offender said:

"In the 21st century, the overall number of conflicts has increased, but the number of fatalities and intensity has not increased at the same rate. There are more conflicts, many of which now involve some form of external intervention.  

The average number of conflict dyads per conflict has almost doubled."

source; https://www.visionofhumanity.org/the-rise-of-endless-wars-understanding-unresolved-conflicts/#:~:text=In the 21st century%2C the,per conflict has almost doubled.

I'll read this.

[Legato]

1 hour ago, DUI_Offender said:

Trump's foreign policy was a disaster. 

First, he abandoned the Kurdish people, and destabilised Syria by withdrawing all troops.

Then he held up aid and training to Ukraine.

China sees through Trump as a very weak leader, and will do everything possible to interfere and possibly invade Taiwan.

Finally, he withdrew troops from Afghanistan, when the US was stabilising the region 

Trump also destabilised the Israel region, by not inviting the Palestinians to his proposed peace plan, and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, probably accelerating the 10/7 attack.

[Michael Hardner]

13 minutes ago, myata said:

1. Is that because you weren't following? Trump said at the meeting with the French and Ukrainian leaders that he wants a ceasefire immediately and then "negotiations". This is like a twin coin of the position of Russia's Lavrov, since mid 2022 - negotiations without returning any captured territories. What is "complete or near coincidence of positions" is called in your dictionary?

Why would anyone allow "negotiations" about giving away their internationally recognized lands?

No wrong! If that would be allowed to happen it wouldn't be the "war end". War may not end at all but what would end indeed is: 1) the international law and order and 2) the foundation and any claim of the United Nations. Because if Vlad could do that, is allowed to - who wouldn't and why, for generations or ever? Who or what's there to stop them? An easy calculation. Welcome back to the 17th century - but this time around, with nukes.

 

1. 2. I addressed this in my response.

I'm just talking about what is going to happen.  Metaphors on what that means, vary.

[robosmith]

On 12/11/2024 at 5:07 AM, Nationalist said:

So the last 4 or 5 years were just a "hic-up" then?

"the last 4 or 5 years" were two steps forward, and NEXT is one (hopefully small) step back.

There is no "slow gradual," more like herky jerky. Progress followed by destruction by amateurs who don't know what they're doing, and don't care about destruction suffered by others as long as THEY (YOU) PROFIT.

[Michael Hardner]

1 hour ago, DUI_Offender said:

"In the 21st century, the overall number of conflicts has increased, but the number of fatalities and intensity has not increased at the same rate. There are more conflicts, many of which now involve some form of external intervention.  

The average number of conflict dyads per conflict has almost doubled."

source; https://www.visionofhumanity.org/the-rise-of-endless-wars-understanding-unresolved-conflicts/#:~:text=In the 21st century%2C the,per conflict has almost doubled.

I read it, and it seems like they are mostly concerned about the potential for future conflicts given their dyad analysis. 

That said, they've only been measuring that since 2008 according to the peace index link on that article. 

And the number of deaths through conflict is a third of what it was in the years before the turn of the century again according to them. 

So I would say... Generally, things are trending to less violent, however, there's no reason to not be vigilant about the future.

[User]

1 hour ago, DUI_Offender said:

Trump's foreign policy was a disaster. 

First, he abandoned the Kurdish people, and destabilised Syria by withdrawing all troops.

Then he held up aid and training to Ukraine.

China sees through Trump as a very weak leader, and will do everything possible to interfere and possibly invade Taiwan.

Finally, he withdrew troops from Afghanistan, when the US was stabilising the region 

Trump also destabilised the Israel region, by not inviting the Palestinians to his proposed peace plan, and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, probably accelerating the 10/7 attack.

You people live in a world of lies and delusions. 

 

[Michael Hardner]

On 12/11/2024 at 9:36 AM, Nationalist said:

Well...if society is in a state of constant slow improvement, then the last 4 or 5 years have been a "slip" in a downward direction. Think about it.

the culture wars

the failure of our leadership and our media

unnecessary wars

the decline of our economy

and so on...

The thing is, if you want to avoid the fog of subjectivity you have to go to some kind of measurable metric to figure it out. 

In terms of conflict, this the peace institute that DUI posted measures deaths through war, basically. The stats have been approving marketedly in the last 25 years, with the exception of the last two for obvious reasons 

Let's take off our hats for a second, and analyze the media on a non-political axis. Axis. One thing I agree with Pinker on is that the media loves gloom. 

Do you remember them constantly reporting wars that wars are on a decline? That world hunger is on the brink of being solved?

That's part of pinker's main thesis. And I agree with that part.

[myata]

16 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

Metaphors on what that means, vary.

So facts and logical conclusions are "metaphors" now? Because you don't like them? Haven't we seen this somewhere? What does the word means if any thug can break it at will? Does it mean anything?

So no international law - done. After four decades of predending and three, of some sort of adherence, gone out the window. Any thug with nukes can do the same, what "law"? Congrats on steady improvement.

Edited December 12, 2024 by myata

[Michael Hardner]

30 minutes ago, myata said:

1. So facts and logical conclusions are "metaphors" now? Because you don't like them? Haven't we seen this somewhere? What does the word means if any thug can break it at will? Does it mean anything?

2. So no international law - done. After four decades of predending and three, of some sort of adherence, gone out the window. Any thug with nukes can do the same, what "law"? Congrats on steady improvement.

1. Oh, I LIKE your interpretation but it's subjective.  For me, also. There are other examples of this happening.  I think that peace is a defensible option, although I don't think it's just.

2. I think it's more like seven decades.  As I said there are other examples, including by our allies.

[Moonlight Graham]

If only the ignorant loud mouth politicians are willing to do the things the people want their politicians to do, because of political correctness or the traditional lobbying system etc, then the people will elect the loud mouths.

The more establishment Republicans and the Democrats need to reevaluate their policies and make them closer to what Americans want.  They'll keep losing otherwise.

[Nationalist]

59 minutes ago, robosmith said:

"the last 4 or 5 years" were two steps forward, and NEXT is one (hopefully small) step back.

There is no "slow gradual," more like herky jerky. Progress followed by destruction by amateurs who don't know what they're doing, and don't care about destruction suffered by others as long as THEY (YOU) PROFIT.

Ya know robo-punk...your incessant whining and lying almost make me want the WINNERS of the last election, to go on a rampage of Libbie destruction. But that would be counter-productive in some cases, and as a Conservative Nationalist, I want every nation to do what is best for that nation.

Edited December 12, 2024 by Nationalist

[Nationalist]

1 hour ago, Michael Hardner said:

The thing is, if you want to avoid the fog of subjectivity you have to go to some kind of measurable metric to figure it out. 

In terms of conflict, this the peace institute that DUI posted measures deaths through war, basically. The stats have been approving marketedly in the last 25 years, with the exception of the last two for obvious reasons 

Let's take off our hats for a second, and analyze the media on a non-political axis. Axis. One thing I agree with Pinker on is that the media loves gloom. 

Do you remember them constantly reporting wars that wars are on a decline? That world hunger is on the brink of being solved?

That's part of pinker's main thesis. And I agree with that part.

OK...I do have to admit some of what's been happening of late, makes things "better" for some folks. But overall I'd have to say things have gotten worse. The open borders, first in Europe and of late in North America, have produced only strife for citizens. The idea that "green energy" is paramount when we are emerging from an economic disaster was stupid, economically stunting and down right selfish. The social issues such as all the sex warping and speech squelching has further rubbed salt in the open wounds. Our governments spending money like drunken sailors has turned all these self-imposed wounds in to gaping gashes. And then there's the wars. Brandon surrenders to terrorists and then blames Trump...an act of pure cowardice and a blatantly stupid move. The war in Ukraine...in which both NATO and the USA in particular, had a HUGE hand in fomenting. Now we spend even more money to what? Watch people die over a land nobody gave a rat's a55 about not more than a few years ago? A NATO reject? And then there's Israel and the Middle East. Frankly we should have surrounded the entire area decades ago and said...nobody and nothing goes in or out until you Semites resolve this bullsh1t.

So...better? Improved? We are closer to nuclear extinction now that we've ever been. Is that better?

Edited December 12, 2024 by Nationalist

[Michael Hardner]

3 minutes ago, Nationalist said:

OK...I do have to admit some of what's been happening of late, makes things "better" for some folks. But overall I'd have to say things have gotten worse. The open borders, first in Europe and of late in North America, have produced only strife for citizens. The idea that "green energy" is paramount when we are emerging from an economic disaster was stupid, economically stunting and down right selfish. The social issues such as all the sex warping and speech squelching has further rubbed salt in the open wounds. Our governments spending money like drunken sailors has turned all these self-imposed wounds in to gaping gashes. And that there's the wars. Brandon surrenders to terrorists and then blames Trump...and act of pure cowardice and a blatantly stupid move. The war in Ukraine...in which both NATO and the USA in particular, had a HUGE hand in fomenting. Now we spend even more money to what? Watch people die over a land nobody gave a rat's a55 about not more than a few years ago? A NATO reject? And then there's Israel and the Middle East. Frankly we should have surrounded the entire area decades ago and said...nobody and nothing goes in or out until you Semites resolve this bullsh1t.

So...better? Improved? We are closer to nuclear extinction now that we've ever been. Is that better?

Yeah, most of what you posted I would say that I disagree with... much as with the assertion that violence is getting worse.

But it's too much for this thread, needs it's own.

If you get the news from the news then that's a problem, with regards to long-term trends.  Even Climate Change has things to feel good about.

But again I ask: is the news reporting the good things?  No?  Why not?

[Nationalist]

9 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

Yeah, most of what you posted I would say that I disagree with... much as with the assertion that violence is getting worse.

But it's too much for this thread, needs it's own.

If you get the news from the news then that's a problem, with regards to long-term trends.  Even Climate Change has things to feel good about.

But again I ask: is the news reporting the good things?  No?  Why not?

OK I'm interested.

Start the thread.

[Michael Hardner]

Just now, Nationalist said:

OK I'm interested.

Start the thread.

Wow.  Well... Okay that's a lot of work though. I can tell you what's going to happen. I'm going to be responded to on all sides by people who disagree 

 

On the other hand, a lot of the things I would say are already covered in a book. 

 

Maybe what I'll do is take one or two aspects of what you wrote and put that in a thread with some videos where the author is speaking to the points. 

I like the discussion because it's actually not left or right political. It's about rationality more than anything. 

If I forget to start this then please remind me. Thanks

[Nationalist]

1 minute ago, Michael Hardner said:

Wow.  Well... Okay that's a lot of work though. I can tell you what's going to happen. I'm going to be responded to on all sides by people who disagree 

 

On the other hand, a lot of the things I would say are already covered in a book. 

 

Maybe what I'll do is take one or two aspects of what you wrote and put that in a thread with some videos where the author is speaking to the points. 

I like the discussion because it's actually not left or right political. It's about rationality more than anything. 

If I forget to start this then please remind me. Thanks

OK. Just let me know when its there and in which section.

[robosmith]

1 hour ago, Nationalist said:

Ya know robo-punk...your incessant whining and lying almost make me want the WINNERS of the last election, to go on a rampage of Libbie destruction. But that would be counter-productive in some cases, and as a Conservative Nationalist, I want every nation to do what is best for that nation.

You can't even specify ANY lie in my post. AKA BANKRUPT AGAIN.

[myata]

12 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

your interpretation but it's subjective

Interpretations and metaphors can very well be "subjective" all the way until they catch up, fly into the window and/or knock on the head. But we thought it could happen only to them! Knock, knock. Nothing new to be discovered, in this line of phylosophy.

Edited December 13, 2024 by myata

[Nationalist]

18 hours ago, User said:

You people live in a world of lies and delusions. 

 

But...Joy Ried and Morning Joe said it was so!

 

[gatomontes99]

22 hours ago, myata said:

So will America side now with the worst totalitarian aggressor dictator thug on the planet? Yes or no? Only the mirror: and remember, the reality always catches up.

You don't understand that these emotional and illogical outbursts invalidate everything you say.

[myata]

He just cannot give a clear, definitive answer. They (used to be): 1) Yes or 2) No, no way. Isn't that proof in itself?

Edited December 14, 2024 by myata