Precipice? I think we fell off of that at least a year ago! Dr Ruth is simply giving context not necessarily saying it makes sense. Yet in the context of historical frameworks and human nature she finds it completely predictable So if it completely didn't make sense there would be no predictability. That's my thought. I appreciate the thoughtful discussion. The mass extinction is eventually better for the earth itself. She'll be happier when the humans are gone. We ruin everything! Ask the Neanderthals 😜
There's something about this "making sense" that disturbs me -- are we trying to make sense of an administration that itself can't make sense, due to its gross ignorance, carelessness, and general incompetence? I notice that the world of "Foreign Affairs" does this all the time, providing a semblance of strategy and purpose where the facts are all wrong or misguided, where the point behind it all is corrupt. We occasionally have an administration that manages to cope with the backdraft. The world is all-too-full of pretenders with obvious but cartooned motives. Are we normalizing incompetence by loaning some cover of an explanation? Can't we simply call people daft, incompetent, misguided, and corrupt, as applicable? Formalizing administrative malfeasance and short-sightedness as some kind of "thing" seems dishonest. In a grown-up world, we're facing the 6th Mass Extinction and crippling Overreach. The world is complex, but we should approach with a little modesty and humility. Those pegs don't fit the holes we make for them.
Wonderfully said. I appreciate your sensibilities! We do have to make sense of it in order to correct the situation. Whether we give it sense it doesn't deserve is my question. Normal people feel compelled to occupy a world that makes sense, but some things really don't, and I think that's a space we have to acknowledge. Our real problem is that some people are raising children who can't grow up. We still have to be the grown-ups, to reject nonsense, call things what they are.
I joined Lucid in the early Summer 2021 a few months shy of being an original member. My historical research is on Fr Coughlin, notorious 1930’s-Roman Catholic priest and radio personality on communism and Nazi activity. His transcripts quote Mussolini a lot and he often referred to ‘drain the swamp’. The American and Canadian RC church were powerless against his ravings. ( because of the papacy’s involvement) Finally FDR silenced him for good in ‘41-42. He was what I call a 2nd tier strongman. When Ruth’s book came out I snatched it up so fast the pages were still warm from the press! So I find her analyses and comments to be spot on …especially on what a waning strongman will do to try and keep his power.
Yes Steve, I’ve enjoyed your comments over the years. Glad we agree Ruth is spot on in her predictions on the future of American Strongmen and how they are going to dig their heels in over the next 2 yrs. Glad to hear from you! Liz
After all of the continual unconstitutional behavior from tRump, it is mind bending to see millions of his followers still stridently backing him. It's like getting a fish on the hook in which it just cannot get off. Their mind is owned, and he knows it. It's like the Manson cult.
Prof. Ben-Ghiat, your voice is extremely important now. I admire your bravery in the face of this regime. I am looking forward to reading the book you are working on. I really learned a lot from "Strongmen" and I continue to from your postings and Zoom talks. I am glad you are speaking in the mainstream media as well. More people need to hear what you have to say. I keep thinking of how you have explained that Trump is engaged in taking over the Americas while allowing Putin Europe and Xi Asia. I am in Europe and hope it is not going along with this fake peace plan for Ukraine.
Is America on the precipice of becoming a rogue state?
Precipice? I think we fell off of that at least a year ago! Dr Ruth is simply giving context not necessarily saying it makes sense. Yet in the context of historical frameworks and human nature she finds it completely predictable So if it completely didn't make sense there would be no predictability. That's my thought. I appreciate the thoughtful discussion. The mass extinction is eventually better for the earth itself. She'll be happier when the humans are gone. We ruin everything! Ask the Neanderthals 😜
Becoming? As "in the future"?
There's something about this "making sense" that disturbs me -- are we trying to make sense of an administration that itself can't make sense, due to its gross ignorance, carelessness, and general incompetence? I notice that the world of "Foreign Affairs" does this all the time, providing a semblance of strategy and purpose where the facts are all wrong or misguided, where the point behind it all is corrupt. We occasionally have an administration that manages to cope with the backdraft. The world is all-too-full of pretenders with obvious but cartooned motives. Are we normalizing incompetence by loaning some cover of an explanation? Can't we simply call people daft, incompetent, misguided, and corrupt, as applicable? Formalizing administrative malfeasance and short-sightedness as some kind of "thing" seems dishonest. In a grown-up world, we're facing the 6th Mass Extinction and crippling Overreach. The world is complex, but we should approach with a little modesty and humility. Those pegs don't fit the holes we make for them.
Completely understand, yet at some level if we don’t make sense if it we are culpable.
Wonderfully said. I appreciate your sensibilities! We do have to make sense of it in order to correct the situation. Whether we give it sense it doesn't deserve is my question. Normal people feel compelled to occupy a world that makes sense, but some things really don't, and I think that's a space we have to acknowledge. Our real problem is that some people are raising children who can't grow up. We still have to be the grown-ups, to reject nonsense, call things what they are.
I got a giggle out of the phrase , “ mini swamp”😂 We sure have an abundance of of those…
Love hearing from both of you together! Always interesting conversations! Thank you!
I joined Lucid in the early Summer 2021 a few months shy of being an original member. My historical research is on Fr Coughlin, notorious 1930’s-Roman Catholic priest and radio personality on communism and Nazi activity. His transcripts quote Mussolini a lot and he often referred to ‘drain the swamp’. The American and Canadian RC church were powerless against his ravings. ( because of the papacy’s involvement) Finally FDR silenced him for good in ‘41-42. He was what I call a 2nd tier strongman. When Ruth’s book came out I snatched it up so fast the pages were still warm from the press! So I find her analyses and comments to be spot on …especially on what a waning strongman will do to try and keep his power.
Yeah, I'm one of the originals as well. Glad to see you're still here.
Yes Steve, I’ve enjoyed your comments over the years. Glad we agree Ruth is spot on in her predictions on the future of American Strongmen and how they are going to dig their heels in over the next 2 yrs. Glad to hear from you! Liz
After all of the continual unconstitutional behavior from tRump, it is mind bending to see millions of his followers still stridently backing him. It's like getting a fish on the hook in which it just cannot get off. Their mind is owned, and he knows it. It's like the Manson cult.
Prof. Ben-Ghiat, your voice is extremely important now. I admire your bravery in the face of this regime. I am looking forward to reading the book you are working on. I really learned a lot from "Strongmen" and I continue to from your postings and Zoom talks. I am glad you are speaking in the mainstream media as well. More people need to hear what you have to say. I keep thinking of how you have explained that Trump is engaged in taking over the Americas while allowing Putin Europe and Xi Asia. I am in Europe and hope it is not going along with this fake peace plan for Ukraine.