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adventuredyesterday at 4:11 PM10 repliesview on HN

The US is more stable than the powers of Europe (which have constant political upheavals, snap elections that completely remake the political landscape, etc). You're confusing Trump's mouth with how the US political system actually functions.

Just because the US changes political direction, that doesn't equate to instability. Its aims are changing, like it or not, good or bad. The US deciding it wants Greenland is not a proof of instability, it's a change in the strategic goals held by the people controlling the superpower.

And the US is at a high level of strength, not weakness. Its large corporations hold sway over the globe in a manner the likes of which has never been seen before in modern history. Its military has force projection to nearly every point on the globe, with hundreds of global military bases. Its national wealth is at an all-time high. Its stock markets are at all-time highs. Its median income is at an all-time high. Its median disposable income is at an all-time high. Its housing wealth is at an all-time high.


Replies

justin66yesterday at 4:48 PM

> The US is more stable than the powers of Europe (which have constant political upheavals, snap elections that completely remake the political landscape, etc)

How many European powers have had their incumbent head of state violently attempt to hold onto power after losing an election after January 6th, 2021?

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epistasisyesterday at 5:04 PM

> You're confusing Trump's mouth with how the US political system actually functions.

I'm not confusing anything, right now Trump's mouth IS the political system in the US. Republicans control every aspect of the government completely, all the way through to the checks of the US Supreme Court.

No Republican has enough backbone to stand up to Trump, and if they do gain a backbone to stand up to Trump at all, like MTG, they exit politics quickly. Thomas Massie is the closest to somebody who is standing up to Trump. If Republicans in the Senate were willing to stay in office yet defect from the party, that would be enough to stand up to Trump, but even that's not happening.

Right now, the US is in a position not unlike Imperial Japan, right before they launched an attack on the US, forcing the US into WW2. High Command wants somebody to stand up and stop the obviously bad action, but nobody is willing to make the short-term sacrifice for the long-term good.

jimnotgymyesterday at 4:38 PM

In a war type scenario between US and Europe, what do you think will happen to those large corporations 'sway'? Their assets will be confiscated, their systems cut off or repurposed. It will immediately end any sway those corporations had

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senderistayesterday at 5:35 PM

Sorry, Trump insisting on annexing Greenland is not a "change in strategic goals", it's a toddler's petulant obsession. The US already had carte blanche from Denmark to do pretty much whatever it wanted in Greenland.

Besides Trump, I doubt there's another official in the WH who wants this. They are all just humoring the demented old man.

isodevyesterday at 5:21 PM

> The US is more stable than the powers of Europe (which have constant political upheavals, snap elections that completely remake the political landscape, etc)

Can you name 26 countries with the same level of unity and cooperation with the US as what exists between the 27 members of the EU (and larger economic zone)?

The US is but one country. If you zoom into states, you’d see a lot more bickering and division - y’all just sent your military against your own people just now…

GJimyesterday at 4:22 PM

> The US is more stable than the powers of Europe ....... You're confusing Trump's mouth with how the US political system actually functions.

Eh?

If the US political system was stable and fit for purpose, the US would have got rid of the wannabe dictator by now; or at least held his power in check.

EDIT: Amusingly, I'm being downvoted by a class of American who refuses to believe their way might not be the best after all. Even when the facts are staring them in the face.

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blibbleyesterday at 4:17 PM

> The US is more stable than the powers of Europe (which have constant political upheavals, snap elections that completely remake the political landscape, etc). You're confusing Trump's mouth with how the US political system actually functions.

this is satire right?

the UK's system is close to 1000 years old

I doubt the current US system will last another decade

> with hundreds of global military bases

all of which will evaporate the moment it does anything to Greenland

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7speteryesterday at 4:23 PM

> And the US is at a high level of strength, not weakness. Its large corporations hold sway over the globe in a manner the likes of which has never been seen before in modern history. Its military has force projection to nearly every point on the globe, with hundreds of global military bases. Its national wealth is at an all-time high. Its stock markets are at all-time highs. Its median income is at an all-time high. Its median dispoable income is at an all-time high. Its housing wealth is at an all-time high

This is in part because other countries allow American countries to come in and take over markets.

triceratopsyesterday at 4:15 PM

> Its median income is at an all-time high. Its median dispoable income is at an all-time high. Its housing wealth is at an all-time high.

Then why is everyone so damned unhappy all the time?

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