Again you've put into articulate and plain speaking form, what my half thoughts and feelings are - and filled in the details for me! Replacing one corrupt leader for even more out of control ones such as Trump's lot can only lead to a more dangerous and chaotic world I feel.
I stopped thinking of the Orange Mussolini (as an apt a name as any of your others, like it) as president long ago. He loves being top dog, adores the title and all the power but we know what he is, he’s a business man. Not necessarily always successful save that he stays out of the shit ( and continues to do so) which always hits everyone else. In my mind he ticks the boxes for the “dark triad” (Delroy, Paulhus, Williams 2002)and he’s self evidently greedy (indebted to @dangoyal.bsky.social for discussing the greedy personality last year). Anyway, one can bang on about his more attractive traits as mentioned but put it all together, add in that which he deploys above all else, leverage and there is the man. Wheeling and dealing to serve his own greed, manipulating all from individuals to sovereign nations and simply helping himself because he can. Business doesn’t work with democracy, asking the board (congress) first, social niceties, diplomacy. Get in there, close the deal you want, deal with any fall out later preferably by ignoring it. Losers is what everyone else is. Maybe if our glorious leaders looked at him like this they’d be less surprised, possibly even ahead of him. The Orange Mussolini is the ultimate hostile actor with no boundaries, no care. How the world deals with him on the diplomatic stage given that’s not his playground, I don’t know. It is, as you say, terrifying. And now I will just shut up or get repetitive.
I think you are spot on about the president role. I only realised over the holidays that he never actually ran for the presidency. That is a job that has specific rules, like the Constitution and more. He ran for the pure power of it all, which he is why he is so blatantly disregarding the rules. He only cares about himself. I think he is a crime against humanity. I watched the so-called press conference for a while, and was so grateful I had to go meet some friends so my brain didn't totally melt down from hearing him ramble in real time. I did catch the part with the Monroe Doctrine where he "humbly and modestly" said some people are saying it should be renamed the "Donroe Doctrine" because he is taking the old imperialist template to a new level. I wanted to scream at that point. Thank goodness for people like The Bear who can actually use the English language correctly and coherently so we can have clear communication about such a bizarre and outlandish situation.
PS Nothing wrong with the repetition. There are still (too) many people in the back who have yet to get the message.
Once upon a time I almost wondered why it was that the US film industry makes so many great dystopia films, turns out they were predicting their future.
Dangerous days… and all because the people of America put a deranged megalomaniac in charge. I hope it won’t come to it, but I fear the world will be paying a high price for this madness unless it steps in now and stops him in his tracks by whatever means are necessary.
The worry for me on that is that the US Armed forces were fully involved in this and had even practised for it. Who is going to stop Trump in his tracks if his armed forces are on his side? Did they try to persuade him it wasn't a good idea? Did they just say, 'OK Boss, we're on it'? Who knew what was going to happen? Weren't there any wise heads there? This is totally unbelievable.
If it comes down to strength Europe has much less. Diplomacy doesn’t seem to work. Maybe trade? Trouble is the whole thing is so bat shit crazy. DT doesn’t care. Maybe Russia? They are geographically much closer to Greenland. But this is why it’s so dangerous.
Just heard on the radio that UK stands with Denmark and the Danish rep said if DT attacked Greenland, part of a NATO country, “that would be the end of everything “
Your comparison to the East India Company is apposite, this is clearly state power delegated to big business. It appears much else of what is going on is taking us back to c19 and before, just with modern technology and weapons. In the USA, even medicine and healthcare is going backwards.
This piece of adventurism is not remotely spontaneous either, it has been planned and carefully rehearsed for nearly 6 months (there are other reliable posts covering this). My current concern is what else have they got planned? I very much doubt they'll be content to stop here.
I think that endeavouring to frame what has happened in the context of the Post WW2 settlement misses something,
That settlement didn’t change the human race.
The Trump regime, as you infer in with your reference to Leviathan, has exposed itself as the descendant of medieval realms and empires. Or the post renaissance states pursuit of Empires. No more or less.
Shakespeare could do true justice to these events.
There are now few if any limits to what will come.
And I fear that the current UK government needs to get a grip because as things stand it is timorous in the face of existential threats.
I feel as if we have already witnessed a Trump-esque trial run of this ideology in the last four years of Tory governance. Fortunately (or not) we were able to vote them out but this option is fast disappearing in the USA. I was appalled by the actions of Johnson et al as it seemed that nothing could done and it was in broad daylight but this is on another level altogether! Thanks for your elucidation Bear, it always helps.
Ta daaaa! Couple it with the recent decision to order the Fed to start buying US Treasuries to the tune of $40bn on the secondary market and we can clearly see a Hail Mary attempt to preserve the (dwindling) value of the petrodollar. So, Trump's real strength, that he's in charge of the world's reserve currency, won't last much longer anyway as the BRICs et al are manoeuvring round it & his other asset, the US military, is hobbled by the lack of access to necessary rare earths. When he tumbles to that I expect we'll start hearing about whoever runs Greenland killing all the firstborn and how the poor Greenlanders are crying out for the cavalry to ride in and save them... not that it will do Trump any good as it's only the Chinese who can process rare earths, gallium etc and anyhoo, them pesky markets wot are behind alla this will soon be in turmoil as the oxygen they breath, the cheap money from Japan, is no more. Cue the collapse of the West then. Not before time either. Buy a gravity water filter and thank me later.
Top piece . Its incredible how your intelligent words pull together my wildest thoughts and despite confirming my worst instinctive fears, calm me down. As always, thank you Bear.
Absofu*kinglutely terrifying, but, as ever, thanks for articulating so succinctly and clearly all my random, scary, but inarticulate thoughts, dearest (((Bear))) Love, as ever, Pat Xx
Really scary times for all the reasons that you have already so eloquently related. I note that Trump is now saying that Cuba is a failed state. Its failings, in the main,are caused by the American embargo. While Cuba doesn’t particularly have anything that Trump would want (unlike Venezuelan oil) I can see how taking it over would feed Trump‘s already enormous ego as the USA has never forgiven the country for the defeat at the Bay of pigs. Which other countries does Trump have his eye on? Canada? Greenland? The list is endless and the possibilities terrifying.
Again you've put into articulate and plain speaking form, what my half thoughts and feelings are - and filled in the details for me! Replacing one corrupt leader for even more out of control ones such as Trump's lot can only lead to a more dangerous and chaotic world I feel.
I stopped thinking of the Orange Mussolini (as an apt a name as any of your others, like it) as president long ago. He loves being top dog, adores the title and all the power but we know what he is, he’s a business man. Not necessarily always successful save that he stays out of the shit ( and continues to do so) which always hits everyone else. In my mind he ticks the boxes for the “dark triad” (Delroy, Paulhus, Williams 2002)and he’s self evidently greedy (indebted to @dangoyal.bsky.social for discussing the greedy personality last year). Anyway, one can bang on about his more attractive traits as mentioned but put it all together, add in that which he deploys above all else, leverage and there is the man. Wheeling and dealing to serve his own greed, manipulating all from individuals to sovereign nations and simply helping himself because he can. Business doesn’t work with democracy, asking the board (congress) first, social niceties, diplomacy. Get in there, close the deal you want, deal with any fall out later preferably by ignoring it. Losers is what everyone else is. Maybe if our glorious leaders looked at him like this they’d be less surprised, possibly even ahead of him. The Orange Mussolini is the ultimate hostile actor with no boundaries, no care. How the world deals with him on the diplomatic stage given that’s not his playground, I don’t know. It is, as you say, terrifying. And now I will just shut up or get repetitive.
I think you are spot on about the president role. I only realised over the holidays that he never actually ran for the presidency. That is a job that has specific rules, like the Constitution and more. He ran for the pure power of it all, which he is why he is so blatantly disregarding the rules. He only cares about himself. I think he is a crime against humanity. I watched the so-called press conference for a while, and was so grateful I had to go meet some friends so my brain didn't totally melt down from hearing him ramble in real time. I did catch the part with the Monroe Doctrine where he "humbly and modestly" said some people are saying it should be renamed the "Donroe Doctrine" because he is taking the old imperialist template to a new level. I wanted to scream at that point. Thank goodness for people like The Bear who can actually use the English language correctly and coherently so we can have clear communication about such a bizarre and outlandish situation.
PS Nothing wrong with the repetition. There are still (too) many people in the back who have yet to get the message.
Once upon a time I almost wondered why it was that the US film industry makes so many great dystopia films, turns out they were predicting their future.
Careful 2026 everyone
And our leaders don’t seem to have a clue what to do about our maverick would-be emperor 😬
Dangerous days… and all because the people of America put a deranged megalomaniac in charge. I hope it won’t come to it, but I fear the world will be paying a high price for this madness unless it steps in now and stops him in his tracks by whatever means are necessary.
The worry for me on that is that the US Armed forces were fully involved in this and had even practised for it. Who is going to stop Trump in his tracks if his armed forces are on his side? Did they try to persuade him it wasn't a good idea? Did they just say, 'OK Boss, we're on it'? Who knew what was going to happen? Weren't there any wise heads there? This is totally unbelievable.
Yes. This. And will they fall in line for Greenland?
I dread to think. The only hope is thst Europe will be stronger on Greenland
If it comes down to strength Europe has much less. Diplomacy doesn’t seem to work. Maybe trade? Trouble is the whole thing is so bat shit crazy. DT doesn’t care. Maybe Russia? They are geographically much closer to Greenland. But this is why it’s so dangerous.
Just heard on the radio that UK stands with Denmark and the Danish rep said if DT attacked Greenland, part of a NATO country, “that would be the end of everything “
I'd laugh ... if it wasn't all true.
The only hope we seem to have, at present, is a turn around once Trump and co are done. Sadly, I know it's not that simple.
What a way to start a new year.
I wish I had hope…
"Moss Bross suits"? Armani, surely!
Your comparison to the East India Company is apposite, this is clearly state power delegated to big business. It appears much else of what is going on is taking us back to c19 and before, just with modern technology and weapons. In the USA, even medicine and healthcare is going backwards.
This piece of adventurism is not remotely spontaneous either, it has been planned and carefully rehearsed for nearly 6 months (there are other reliable posts covering this). My current concern is what else have they got planned? I very much doubt they'll be content to stop here.
I think that endeavouring to frame what has happened in the context of the Post WW2 settlement misses something,
That settlement didn’t change the human race.
The Trump regime, as you infer in with your reference to Leviathan, has exposed itself as the descendant of medieval realms and empires. Or the post renaissance states pursuit of Empires. No more or less.
Shakespeare could do true justice to these events.
There are now few if any limits to what will come.
And I fear that the current UK government needs to get a grip because as things stand it is timorous in the face of existential threats.
Great to have you back after the break, and in such good form.
Just a pity that we have to have such a palimpsest of madness to bring out such brilliant writing.
I feel as if we have already witnessed a Trump-esque trial run of this ideology in the last four years of Tory governance. Fortunately (or not) we were able to vote them out but this option is fast disappearing in the USA. I was appalled by the actions of Johnson et al as it seemed that nothing could done and it was in broad daylight but this is on another level altogether! Thanks for your elucidation Bear, it always helps.
A possible reason for taking over Venezuela.
The refineries on the gulf coast of America were built to refine heavy crude.
The current main source is Canada, which if Trump continues to piss off, may turn off the taps.
The oil from Venezuela is heavy crude.
The oil companies pay money (bribe) Trump for his ballroom.
Trump takes over Venezuela which gives the oil companies access to the oil they need.
Ta daaaa! Couple it with the recent decision to order the Fed to start buying US Treasuries to the tune of $40bn on the secondary market and we can clearly see a Hail Mary attempt to preserve the (dwindling) value of the petrodollar. So, Trump's real strength, that he's in charge of the world's reserve currency, won't last much longer anyway as the BRICs et al are manoeuvring round it & his other asset, the US military, is hobbled by the lack of access to necessary rare earths. When he tumbles to that I expect we'll start hearing about whoever runs Greenland killing all the firstborn and how the poor Greenlanders are crying out for the cavalry to ride in and save them... not that it will do Trump any good as it's only the Chinese who can process rare earths, gallium etc and anyhoo, them pesky markets wot are behind alla this will soon be in turmoil as the oxygen they breath, the cheap money from Japan, is no more. Cue the collapse of the West then. Not before time either. Buy a gravity water filter and thank me later.
Top piece . Its incredible how your intelligent words pull together my wildest thoughts and despite confirming my worst instinctive fears, calm me down. As always, thank you Bear.
Absofu*kinglutely terrifying, but, as ever, thanks for articulating so succinctly and clearly all my random, scary, but inarticulate thoughts, dearest (((Bear))) Love, as ever, Pat Xx
As a nation, we have crossed the Rubicon.
Yes, I expected this fuckery within our borders and I’m surprised it’s spilling over but it’s still shocking nonetheless.
Really scary times for all the reasons that you have already so eloquently related. I note that Trump is now saying that Cuba is a failed state. Its failings, in the main,are caused by the American embargo. While Cuba doesn’t particularly have anything that Trump would want (unlike Venezuelan oil) I can see how taking it over would feed Trump‘s already enormous ego as the USA has never forgiven the country for the defeat at the Bay of pigs. Which other countries does Trump have his eye on? Canada? Greenland? The list is endless and the possibilities terrifying.
Iran!
Money In America
Money In America: that’s how we keep score.
No matter how much we get, we want more
Even though we may not know what we want it for.
Money In America: that’s how we keep score.
The difference between what I want and what I need
Seems like the very definition of my greed.
How much of the many, many things that I buy
I think I ”really need to have” because I bought a lie?
Money In America: that’s how we keep score.
No matter how much we get, we want more, more, more.
Even though we may not know what we want it for.
Money In America: that’s how we keep score.
Where wealth is your worth, you are what you possess -
What a place of unchecked wants and unhappiness!
Life measured by the SQ FT of your primary residence
With so many homeless doesn’t make much sense.
Money in America…
Disappointment comes when our wants get denied.
If we control desire, we will be more satisfied.
Tolstoy speaks of one man’s loss because of his greed
In his tale asking “How much land does one man need?”
“His servant picked up a spade and dug a grave, long enough for Pahom to lie in-
And buried him in it. Six feet from his head to his heels was all he needed.”
“Money, I’m tellin’ you, son – that’s how we keep score.
You go to work; you got enough? Then work more, more, more!
How else would we know we’re better than the poor?”
Money In America: that’s how we keep score…
Read the ideology of Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel, the silent oligarch in the background and founder of JDVance.