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Post by scamander on Jan 7, 2021 14:51:35 GMT
Scamander I have thought for a while that the USA in some ways resembles the Roman Republic from the Gracchi onwards. Both ended up with constitutions that are unsuited to the political situation, but which can't be easily reformed. There's also very little difference between politicians ideologically, but massive personal differences Both have empires which have destabilised them and politicians who struggle to deal with this. There's obviously a lot of differences as well. The question is how does the USA avoid the long term political problems that beset Rome. One way might be a multi party system. Too much consolidation round figureheads, there are plenty of reasonable Republican voters but what choice did they have? One of the oddities of the voting patterns was the rejection of Trump in some areas which voted for a Republican in congress or such. Trump read this as voter fraud because he assumed any Republican would vote for him as well. He couldn't comprehend many Republican voters hated him. Rome used to unite itself by invading a foreign nation perhaps the US could....oh...hang on. |
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Post by crankcaller on Jan 7, 2021 14:54:10 GMT
Sturgeon just poured cold water on clapping for heroes, live on telly. Crank's neighbours will need to have a fackin word with her. They don't like her anyway. They used to live in her constituency many years ago (before it was hers) and "look what she's let it become..." i.e. let Roma folks move in. |
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Post by MrTiddles on Jan 7, 2021 15:00:06 GMT
My take on the 'Rona. It's a virus, you can't stop it spreading. I've tried whacking it with a slipper and it didn't work.
p.s. I am a moron.
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Post by Sheep2 on Jan 7, 2021 15:28:46 GMT
Scamander I have thought for a while that the USA in some ways resembles the Roman Republic from the Gracchi onwards. Both ended up with constitutions that are unsuited to the political situation, but which can't be easily reformed. There's also very little difference between politicians ideologically, but massive personal differences Both have empires which have destabilised them and politicians who struggle to deal with this. There's obviously a lot of differences as well. The question is how does the USA avoid the long term political problems that beset Rome. One way might be a multi party system. Too much consolidation round figureheads, there are plenty of reasonable Republican voters but what choice did they have? One of the oddities of the voting patterns was the rejection of Trump in some areas which voted for a Republican in congress or such. Trump read this as voter fraud because he assumed any Republican would vote for him as well. He couldn't comprehend many Republican voters hated him. Rome used to unite itself by invading a foreign nation perhaps the US could....oh...hang on. It might be better id they had direct federal elections rather than state elections for federal positions. So whoever got the most votes becomes president rather than whoever wins most states. Also the 2 1/2 month gap is unnecessary. The Republicans don't want direct presidential election - they would have lost in 2000 and 2016 and as you need 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 states to carry a change it's very difficult to change. What worries me is that Biden is is many respects the continuity Obama/ Clinton candidate. If he repeats the mistakes of Obama & Clinton we'll end up in 4-8 year with the potential for another demagogue Republican to win. It's not bound to happen, but I'm not sure the Republicans are in a position to adopt a moderate candidate. Maybe Zuck will be ready to step in. He's already got the Crassus hairstyle so what could go wrong? |
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Post by tenthenemy on Jan 7, 2021 15:47:43 GMT
Speaking of Covid statistics, yesterday in the late afternoon I received a phone call. It was the NHS Track & Trace and they wanted to talk to Mr Tent Rooster. Clearly they got wind of his Covid infection (btw, I talked to him this morning and he's still the same, bit out of breath but otherwise okay) but didn't know anything about the circumstances, i.e. the fact that he caught it in hospital. The virus is running rampant in the country and a whole NHS hospital ward full of elderly people has just come down with Covid in one fell swoop, but these troupers will still spend roughly 45 minutes per case on the phone in their quest for every single person's contact details. Full marks for tenacity.
Anyway, the upshot is that because I visited him last week I will have to quarantine for another week, which obviously isn't a problem for me as I would have done that anyway. Throughout the whole call I got the impression that they aren't used to people cooperating with them. After I gave the caller my contact details I received a text message this morning that actually points out that it is my legal duty to self-isolate and that I could be fined if I fail to do so, but there was none of that during the phone call where the advise to stay at home was followed by a pleading "do you think you could do that?" Relax, Track & Trace lady, I've got your back. I'm playing Animal Crossing, what would I want to go outside for?
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Post by scamander on Jan 7, 2021 15:48:40 GMT
One way might be a multi party system. Too much consolidation round figureheads, there are plenty of reasonable Republican voters but what choice did they have? One of the oddities of the voting patterns was the rejection of Trump in some areas which voted for a Republican in congress or such. Trump read this as voter fraud because he assumed any Republican would vote for him as well. He couldn't comprehend many Republican voters hated him. Rome used to unite itself by invading a foreign nation perhaps the US could....oh...hang on. It might be better id they had direct federal elections rather than state elections for federal positions. So whoever got the most votes becomes president rather than whoever wins most states. Also the 2 1/2 month gap is unnecessary. The Republicans don't want direct presidential election - they would have lost in 2000 and 2016 and as you need 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 states to carry a change it's very difficult to change. What worries me is that Biden is is many respects the continuity Obama/ Clinton candidate. If he repeats the mistakes of Obama & Clinton we'll end up in 4-8 year with the potential for another demagogue Republican to win. It's not bound to happen, but I'm not sure the Republicans are in a position to adopt a moderate candidate. Maybe Zuck will be ready to step in. He's already got the Crassus hairstyle so what could go wrong? I agree about the opposition to a federal election. The difficulty is that the constitution is to Americans what the NHS is to us. Anything which can be cited as changing it is immediately jumped on. I think Putin once said something along the lines of democracy not working if you have time zones in the same country. It's not a perfect system but can be easily made fubar with the wrong people. Biden's going to be made to sweat by the extreme in his party. They are expecting a supermarket sweep (RIP Dale). I think a 3 or four party system would cause less tension. But perhaps they should just go to work in a toga. |
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Post by BabyfarkmcGeezak on Jan 7, 2021 15:51:36 GMT
Apparently I'm a key worker now.
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Post by Felice Landry on Jan 7, 2021 16:01:24 GMT
Apparently I'm a key worker now. Locksmith? |
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Post by Shenguin on Jan 7, 2021 16:02:05 GMT
New job at Mr Minit?
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Post by Shenguin on Jan 7, 2021 16:02:27 GMT
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Post by lazybones on Jan 7, 2021 16:05:36 GMT
I agree about the opposition to a federal election. The difficulty is that the constitution is to Americans what the NHS is to us. Anything which can be cited as changing it is immediately jumped on. It's ok. You just amend it and call it an amendment. Americas love the amendments. Crazy about them. |
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Post by Melvazord on Jan 7, 2021 16:07:34 GMT
Apparently I'm a key worker now. Locksmith?  |
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Post by Felice Landry on Jan 7, 2021 16:11:58 GMT
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Post by lazybones on Jan 7, 2021 16:12:47 GMT
America would probably do best to follow the Canadian model, or the Australian model, when it comes to the head of state. Sovereign nations - enjoying a common wealth.
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Post by Chumbles on Jan 7, 2021 16:17:45 GMT
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Post by tenthenemy on Jan 7, 2021 16:27:38 GMT
I'm getting Claudius vibes from Biden. Maybe it's the stutter, maybe it's because he's older. Highly competent but maligned by his opponents. Which would make Trump Caligula, close enough. So expect the Biden presidency to be followed by the next Nero, a shoo-in for a Republican presidential candidate in my opinion.
The only problem is that that makes Obama Tiberius when clearly he needs to be Augustus.
Yesterday's scenes from Washington were remarkable. So much interesting footage for future history classes. My favourite was one of these goons stomping on a news reporter's camera with the cry "NO MORE FAKE NEWS". If the journalists were there to report on you and your mob's actions, what does that make you?
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Post by RollingEscargot on Jan 7, 2021 16:28:01 GMT
We can wish that the glory of Rome had never ended, but if the simulations of Sid Meier are to be believed, it would have been nuked by Gandhi in the 1940s anyway.
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Post by tenthenemy on Jan 7, 2021 16:34:15 GMT
I also loved that Trump was calling his supporters "special".
Oh, they are "special", alright.
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Post by lazybones on Jan 7, 2021 16:42:01 GMT
Joe Biden reminds me of Nookie Bear. I don't know why.
Actually Min Campbell reminded me of Nookie Bear too so maybe it's just an age thing.
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Post by Destry on Jan 7, 2021 16:52:48 GMT
Hello
I'm seeking help from the 'box. *
Our internet (VM) went down and my daughters are WFH. i rebooted the VM box and eventually my daughters were able to connect via their laptops but not their phones. My wife and I get Connected, No Internet on our laptops and our phones can't connect. I don't want to reboot the VM box again while they're still working.
Any ideas why my and my wife's laptop don't connect but my daughters machines do?
* Yeh, I know, but needs must.
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Post by Sheep2 on Jan 7, 2021 16:54:43 GMT
Your daughters have put your laptops in airplane mode so they get better wi-fi.
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Post by Destry on Jan 7, 2021 18:05:18 GMT
Killed it.
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Post by stxdpr on Jan 7, 2021 18:36:20 GMT
Games nope, TV nope. Bit of a book with magic and maps. Hope all the preferred mammals are getting better.
Were the scenes from yesterday similar to those in the division or homefront?
Who needs apocalypse games or films when we have the news.
Work is looking to crack down on office work, masks and lab time only. A a company it seems a bit slower than pharma which are masks and testing employees already.
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Post by tenthenemy on Jan 7, 2021 18:38:09 GMT
Err, what Sheep said?
I have no idea other than kicking the VM box. That usually doesn't work, either, but it makes you feel better.
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Post by RollingEscargot on Jan 7, 2021 18:39:20 GMT
I've met Ming Campbell. Taller than I expected, and not especially reminiscent of Nookie Bear.
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