just what the duck happened to usa?
Nothing you can do, nothing you can do....
Really? No, there is something that can be done
Full version
^I remember this video getting lots of likes when it came out and people nodding to immigrant initiative. Nothing a good old fashioned beating can't fix. That's how you handle this problem back in the old country.
Here's another, two armed guys. No fear from this father son duo
It's hilarious how a few moments later the robber is the more scared party and so desperate to get out of the shop
I would argue that while you are right in the near to medium term (which is during a steady socio-political state of sorts), but it does not apply to phase transitions. My thoughts are still not settled on the matter, but it appears to me that democracies (and all other socio-political systems) go through such phase transitions when social phenomena exceed a tipping point. Such forces can cause civilizational decline (or ascent). In that context, too much tolerance tends to bring intolerance through the long-term civilizational cycle when the collective view gradually turns decidedly against tolerance (I think of it as some sort of social emergence).
What phase transitions do you see? That's a pretty big change. Not something that happens organically. Maybe imposed by external forces.
Hence the expression 9-11 changed things forever.
If you're referring to the present unrest in the west over the Gaza war. These are paid protests. Not a single one of these jokers will volunteer to rebuild Gaza.
The govt has to crackdown which is happening in three campuses. Whether that is just optics or meaningful needs to be seen.
For Jews something has changed maybe. There was an article in the Atlantic a few months back asking if their golden days in the US were drawing to a close.
The present situation is not good. What's bad for the Jews isn't really good for anyone else. And what starts with the Jews rarely ends with them. More people need to get that.
My current view is that liberal democracies of the west are overextending meaningless forms of freedom to their populations to the point where resulting chaos can disrupt them and cause structural transitions.
This is being exploited by forces against liberal democracies. Use their own freedoms to subvert them into something illiberal because that lot just thinks freedom to the masses was never a good idea.
On the other hand, they are not allowing the freedoms that matter (like the freedom to express views against the powers that be or against popular opinions. It should be allowed, even if it causes mental trauma to others or groups of others, as long as it does not directly infringe on other's rights).
Who is 'they' here?
just what the duck happened to usa? looking more and more like some poor country now.
The city is short on money. That's the problem. Not enough law enforcement, garbage piling up.
Why is it short of money is the question? How did it get this way.
When I was there the place was crawling with cops. Lots of cops means city finances are in good shape. Crime is low and there's always one around even when you don't want one. I never witnessed a mugging in all my time there. Let alone being mugged.
Twenty years ago I felt the west could do no wrong. These days that perception has taken a real beating. Standards slipping. Leadership not worth talking about. Like as if things are slipping. I guess these changes are cyclical. Boom and bust. Happened throughout time, everywhere.
Over ten years back I was thinking we got an octagenarian for a PM. Look at how young their President. That this president would be the worst ever since WW2 in terms of foreign policy I will leave aside. But now they have an octagenarian as a President and likely will for another term.
But we do not
edit: the columbia thing seems even worse
Columbia University faculty condemned the institution for calling the police on student protestors who'd set encampments for pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
www.hindustantimes.com
Why? Because administration called the cops. How else were they supposed to clear these squatters.
Pretty clear that a permissive environment was fostered by the teachers that went over and beyond. And of course the people responsible won't own up because they're arrogant and are in fact doubling down with this walkout.
Now they are using the 'external hand' argument. Not us but outsiders are doing this
What exactly is the point of this thread?
The west is currently in a state of flux. Whether it is temporary and if not what comes next
I think it's a downcycle. The US has shown a remarkable ability throughout history as a self correcting society to bounce back.
theprint.in
www.texastribune.org
