When you said that your old world had disappeared, you sounded excited by the prospect of a new one. — Paine

I loved what I thought the USA stood for. I'm broken hearted. This isn't really the place for that kind of expression though. It would be like crying into a pool of fucking sharks.

Does this dream of Manifest Destiny promise to bring the old USA back? — Paine

Step back and try to understand what's happening as if you're reading a history book. Be the psychologist, the anthropologist, the philosopher, etc...

Issues in Philosophy of Religion and issues in theology are not mutually exclusive, at least not necessarily. Can you prove that they are? — Arcane Sandwich

I'm not inclined to debate the issue.

It's Philosophy of Religion. — Arcane Sandwich

No, it isn't. It's a theological issue.

It's Philosophy of Religion. — Arcane Sandwich

No, it isn't. It's a theological issue related to fact that some early Christians were Neoplatonists.

It is therefore in the interest of Christian philosophers to argue that God and Jesus are indeed identical. — Arcane Sandwich

There were Christian sects that didn't believe that Jesus was God, the Arians, for instance. Those groups died out and the Catholic view became standard. There are Christians today who don't think Jesus is divine, like the Jehovah's Witnesses. So it's a sectarian issue, not a philosophical one.

You guys are still not convinced climate change is an existential threat? Well I guess we'll find out the hard way if there are limits or not. — unenlightened

Why do you think he wants Greenland and Canada?

I think the more serious problem with democracy is that it mandates short-termism in policy. Any problem that can be kicked down the road by 5 years isn't worth the cost of solving, any investment that won't show a profit within 5 years is not worth making. Either is liable to be an expensive free gift to one's opponents. — unenlightened

As long as the Soviet Union appeared to be an existential threat, the US government could be consistent over time. As a lone superpower, there are no limits on anything.

Always happy to help. — unenlightened

:smile: Cutting costs is a veil for eliminating opposition.

Thank you

And Trump's approval rating is at an all time high. This is what Americans want.

Wow. There's a lot of strong emotions about this.

Have a nice life — Wayfarer

Thanks for the blessing. I am having a nice life.

You sound remarkably sanguine about it. — Wayfarer

I feel like the USA I grew up in is gone. It seems alien to me, but I think Trump's vision of securing Canada and Greenland is genius. I know how weird that sounds, but it is, partly because of climate change and partly because the Yellowstone caldera is due to blow up.

The presence of Musk, Vance, and Vought signals that visionaries are gathering around Trump. Musk wants the US government to help SpaceX. Both Vought and Vance want dictatorship. A dictatorial USA will be stronger and more flexible than the old version. That's why all democracies eventually becomes monarchies, historically.

So let’s get rid of it. — Wayfarer

I believe we're watching the emergence of an authoritarian state spanning North America and Greenland. This kind of thing happens all the time in history books. I've never seen it in real life though.

There's a bunch of those. They're all pretty funny.

No good trying to kick into the long grass of ruminations about democracy. — Wayfarer

No, it's true. The US has struggled with the problem for decades. There is no solution within the framework of democracy.

It’s your breakfast they’re going to be eating — Wayfarer

I doubt it.

In a democracy there is no way to limit government spending. Only an entity who does not answer to the people can do that. It's kind of bizarre that it's Elon Musk doing it, but there you have it.

This fault in democracy is something the human race has yet to resolve.

But in the end, it's the Americans themselves that have to pay the price. — ssu

Most of the wood Americans use comes from Canada. Canada doesn't require the sustainability rules for harvesting wood that Americans do. It would benefit the planet if the US stops buying Canadian wood altogether. I'd like to see that happen, actually.

I think the point is to convince these governments to help tackle the problem, which is apparent in all countries involved. — NOS4A2

Right. Maybe have the countries that are dependent on us stop fucking us over.

The US was an oddity. Countries don't usually behave magnanimously the way it used to, giving out aid, supporting the UN, fostering democracy in the world, etc. I think that was just a leftover from the Cold War when some sort of ideological war was supposed to be playing out. It's time for the US to revert to the way countries usually are: selfish, ruthless, aiming to literally destroy competitors rather than creating a level playing field for all.

Plus, it's pretty well established that the US government used to accept drug imports in order to crush noisy sections of the population, so it's significant that fentanyl abuse was highlighted. I wonder if that came from Vance.

I approve of that. Nicely done.

Apathy about Zionism. — BitconnectCarlos

Alright. :up:

Judeo-apathy would be a good descriptor. — BitconnectCarlos

For what?

What about being apathetic about Zionism? Is that Judeo-apathy?

Specifically, Trump wants to make Canada a state. 90% of the Canadian population lives on the border, and from what numerous Canadians have told me, a lot of Canadians want to cross over and live in the US. So Canada might depopulate when Trump gets his way.

Anything is better than being tethered to the British crown. — NOS4A2

You can say that again!

You guys will probably be annexed after Greenland.

Why don't you have faith that new technology will solve the problems associated with climate change — Agree-to-Disagree

Seems ominous that we haven't heard anything about fusion lately. :worry: But there's the thorium reactor. Maybe.

I support life in all its forms. :love:

Funny thing is, I am quite confident that NOS is actually a govt informant so I am refraining from too much interaction... — Tobias

He's just a Canadian waiting for civilization to break down so he can finally get some peace of mind.

They didn't actually cancel Black History month.

I loved your post Frank, It left me thinking about your example. It resonated with what I read years ago when I read House of Leaves. Navidson's house represents our limitation of understanding; the universe is actually like Navidson's house. At times, we all feel like Johnny Truant and struggle to make sense of things. — Alonsoaceves

Thank you! I hadn't heard of House of Leaves. I got a copy to read.

Fascinating, thanks!

I would rather you stayed, so no using AI as an authority.

I've also read the paper, so no one is using an AI comment in lieu of reading and considering. I didn't know about the "spinning in the void" criticism and looking into that is giving me a deeper understanding.

Don't... it's like a bottomless maelstrom for ships of rational people to drown in. — Christoffer

I have a friend who tells me it went to shit after Musk bought it.

Oh. I don't go on Twitter or whatever it's called.

Some who liked what he did years ago have woken up, but there are hundreds of thousands following everything he does like zealots. — Christoffer

I guess I'm out of touch. I don't know anything about that.

He's as unstoppable as a cult leader. — Christoffer

There is no Elon Musk cult. I don't think Americans particularly like him. He's just the richest guy in the world and now he's apparently in charge of the US government, sort of. Whether you like him or not, he's in charge.