Trigger Warning: Politics. · 3:04pm February 11th
Saw the trigger warning? Might want to walk away if you're offended by someone exercising the act of free speech when they're not agreeing with the Supreme Leader.
Last warning.
So, for the next 4 years...
The USA is the only country in the world that will call the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America". Let's see if it lasts as long as "Patriot Fries."
Talk about petty BS "wins" when the economy promised didn't happen, and the current government is destroying institutions they barely understand, increasing prizes for everything (again, like in 2016 with the Aluminum and Steel tariffs which bombed then, and will do so again), and making a real impact on the international scene by betraying allies, supporting dictators, and stripping the country of its place as a world leader in order to cater to nationalists and salesmen who shout about free speech and take it away, alongside jobs only to give them to malleable minions so they can play around with our social security, aid programs, and national security.
But I'm sure someone is convinced this is helping the US.
Let's watch and rejoice while people are being treated as unworthy to exist because of their gender, gender identity, or country of origin, or skin color.
I can't wait for the excuses for how Project 2025 is still "not what Donald Trump is aiming for" even though he's doing his damned best to turn the presidency into monarchic nightmare. Even though he's ignoring the constitution. Even though he's surrounded himself with people that thrive in controlling.
This is exactly why being informed was a big deal. This is why people should have voted instead of staying home pretending it wasn't their responsibility. This precisely why people need to understand how tariffs work and who pays for them. This is why the GOP can't stay in power. They want to rule. They don't want to govern.
This is the monster you chose... knowing he's a monster and a psychopath. Remember that while you practice your sieg heils alongside Musk while the safeties and checks that protect you from the damage these people can do fall one by one.
He's been following P2025 almost point for point so far. BTW ignoring the courts is on the "todo" list... not that he's listening to anyone.
Trump can be overridden on stuff like tariffs, he only has the power to do that when the country is facing a national threat... given that he's the one threatening Canada, Congress can step in and stop it by pointing out Canada isn't a threat. But they won't, they're standing back and standing by if you'll excuse the poor humour.
They're literally making themselves irrelevant and can't see why that's a bad thing for their continued existence, let alone the good of the democracy.
To be fair, investigative reporting showed 3.5 million Kamala votes were thrown out or disenfranchised. It was likely she would have gotten 287 electoral votes had they been accepted. Pumpkin Spice Palpatine here didn't win because more people voted for him. He won because he lawfared over three million votes out of consideration.
I sure as hell didn't vote for the Coppertone Coward and his Cadre of Cohorts and at this point I'm making backup plans to get out. Either Canada or Europe will work.
Cause nothing says wanting to rule like dramatically imiting government spending so instead of FEMA paying millions for illegal immigrants to stay in hotels, that money goes toward hurricane, forest fire, and disaster relief so Americans who lost everything don't get only $750.
If only Democrats propped up Tulsi Gabbard, a strong independent woman of color in 2016 none of this would be happening... oh wait, Tulsi was too strong and independent for the Democrats and would fight the government machine instead of letting it run wild
Hopefully someone can intervene and knock some sense into the “majority vote” people.
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Don't get me started on the Democrats. However, two wrongs don't make a right.
Additionally, didn't FEMA have to do that because certain GOP lawmakers forced immigrants into buses to be dumped in other cities out of spite? That's my understanding of it, although I honestly haven't double-checked. Either way, that could have been changed by the majority of congress and Senate which is in the hands of the GOP, so... why didn't that happen? Maybe because immigration is a surefire way to rally the troops? Like when Trump publicly told the GOP to not support a much harsher immigration policy back in 2023? It had to be fixed, for sure, but not at the cost associated with what is being done now.
If I didn't know any better, I'd think that destroying the country was the actual goal. There are probably anarchists who voted for him on the basis that an obvious dictator is more useful for the rebellion by acting as their recruitment pitch, at the very least.
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Accelerationism is a hell of a drug, yeah.
I think you'll find this quite interesting. I honestly find it astonishing that this scale of voter suppression is happening in a nation which loves to lecture others on how to run elections.
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Video linked above (Five Minute News is superb, and he also has a show on MeidasTouch Network) outlines how this strategy works and is being used to potentially guarantee GOP victories forever. I'm so glad I left the states for the UK in 2024...
Small correction: It wasn't "Patriot Fries", it was "Freedom Fries."
Otherwise, on point. I still remember having to nuke one of my first discord servers after one of its members (a friend whom I have since drifted from) was glazing Ron DeSantis. Got called a Nazi for it. Another confronted me, wondering if I had changed and/or gone radical. He'd go on these long tirades about how Obamacare ruined his life and how his mother had Trump Derangement Syndrome. Always talked about how Republican victories would get this nation right again.
I will not name him out of a modicum of respect for him because we were friends for a good while, but I don't talk to him anymore.
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Lol, I guess my mistake there also helps prove the point! I didn't even remember what they were called. Guess that goes to show the staying power of renaming things like these.
5830494
Im torn on FEMA, me being in a potential disaster zone every year (new Orleans) and them getting rid of it, i dont want them to get rid of fema because i may need it one day, at the same time, when i see article saying fema was paying $59 million to house migrants in nyc in hotel rooms instead of it going for people in disater zones especially the recent fires and hurricanes storms,
something has to be done about the missuse of fema funds because if we don’t then we won’t have any funds for when the next disaster happens and they happen all the time
I dont want them to get rid of fema but it need to be managed smarter to not waste and squander $
All political sides are garbage and we all know it, it's just morons who want power and nothing else. But there is one thing nobody gets to bitch about: Trump actually did what he promised. It's empty, a purely PR based move and everyone will regret it down the line, but unlike EVERY SINGLE FUCKING POLITICIAN IN THE LAST 50 YEARS he actually signed the executive orders. And I think that automatically makes him more trustworthy than anyone else, if only because I'd rather die from a guy who honestly says that he'll kill me and stab me in the heart rather than one who smiles and waits for me to turn around before sticking the knife in my back.
As one of the ants living next door to the elephant: this has been a long time coming. America is broke as fuck. The interest on the debt is about to become unaffordable. The armories were all emptied and given to Israel and Ukraine. Hell, your nukes may or may not even work, and every time you test your ICBMs and SLBMs those don't work. The Global American Empire has passed its pull-by date, and it's coming apart whether anyone involved likes it or not. That means the American troops are going to go home, NATO is going bye-bye, and the Pax Americana is dead.
Just like every other failing empire, America is going to flail around, alienate former allies, and try to shore up a new imperial border closer to home. That's why Trump's sticking his fingers into every country on this side of the globe. It isn't even his idea, or from anyone in his administration, he's just particularly ham-handed in the execution. Roughly the same shit would have happened under the other option, just with a slower pace and a much better PR campaign. It's just what dying empires do.
We might stay America's Hat up here, or we might become East China. Russia's gonna be futzing around in the High Arctic either way (which is why America wants Greenland). And we'll be here, doing what the dominant Great Power tells us to do, and selling them our resources, just like we always have. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
5830507
While I agree that it shouldn't have worked like that at all, we also need to remember FEMA has money pre-allocated per state. So saying that FEMA used the money in New York for an immigration emergency that should have been used for New Orleans is a bit of a stretch. Additional money should be available for extreme emergencies, but it's not a "you get, I don't" kind of situation. For instance, Florida, Luisiana and Texas receive the most money out of FEMA allocations, at least for the last decade. Misuse of it once in those states might have more impact than other states using their emergency funds for some other thing.
5830508 dude. Plz.
First of all, he has plenty of things he's said that he's never owned up to. (Look at the price of eggs for a bit of an on-the-nose example). Second of all, Biden also signed executive orders, and so did Obama, Bush, etc. Don't delude yourself into assuming he's actually doing what he promised for the reasons he promised them. He's not honest, and he's never been honest. If he kills you, it's going to be first by convincing you he's doing it for your own good. That's not honesty... it's fraud.
Imagine assuming you need to threaten the danish government in order to get territory while not saying a word about Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands or the US Virgin Islands. Seems like it'd be much easier to invite territories already following the laws of the federal government than to threaten a country that already said it isn't interested, backed by a government whose stated policy on U.S. Relations was to ignore everything we're threatening because treating this seriously only encourages us.
I mean, it's obviously about resource deposits in Greenland - or at least that's one of the reasons why the US would even care at all - but imagine being treated by former allies like a petulant toddler or a misbehaving pet because of how we're conducting ourselves on the foreign stage.
How the mighty have fallen.
5830509
So he increases the debt, reduces taxes for the rich, elevates the prices for everyday products, and negatively affects farmers. Brilliant.
Um... no? That's literally not how it works. The materiel sent to Israel and Ukraine is essentially overstock and older weaponry that didn't affect US readiness at all... that's why the army never raised an issue with it, regardless of GOP politicians using it to incentivize their base.
Um, that's uh, that's Russia, buddy.
Wow, where are you getting all of this? NATO going bye-bye due to Trump, not because if was a failing model. And there's never been peace.
I don't know about that. What former allies were being alienated before Trump took office and then took it again? Or are you talking about the dependents, like Israel being told they can't get everything they want via genocide?
I mean, Canada has plenty of problems, but so does every country in the world. My point is, that the active destruction of a global economy leader is not a great thing for anyone that's remotely on the same side. Assuming both sides are equally fucked politically here, the question should be, "Do I want North Korea as my southern neighbor, or someone I can at least talk to in order to get to a mutually beneficial result?"
5830508
What? No.
Trump has NEVER, EVER been honest.
Look up how many blatant, outright lies he told in the first term.
It's all on the record.
5830492
Ah yes, Tulsi Gabbard, the pro-Putin, pro-Trump, cult-member lunatic pretending to be a progressive. She and every single third-party presidential candidate (Jill Stein in particular) are political grifters and scum, and if you think for a second there's any substance to them, you are a gullible fool.
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I'll check them out
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i feel like maybe states should have something extra for disasters like maybe a state fema instead of federal for the states that need extra funds can make a new assistance program but for that state that pays for it with its own taxes maybe?
just to have additional help, maybe all states in hurricane ally can figure out a way to do that.
Looks like the 'muricans are going ape shit again.
5830525 I mean they do. I think the management of it locally is more of an issue. I seem to remember there was a policy change relatively recently (years-recently, not like, months) so I'll have to check if I can find it.
5830527
How dare you imply that ever stopped?
5830494
Come to think of it... Why are you/me/all of us even posting about politics on here, a fanfic website? If you need to vent I understand, but go it on bsky or whatever you use. You aren't going to change someone's mind and all talking about politics does is get people riled up and start comment wars. Is that what you want to happen? I'm guilty of falling into this trap and I'm starting to get tired of it all. Why can't we all just shut up and keep politics alone and on this website about mlp fanfics can we just talk only about fanfics? We keep forgetting that (or at least I do) come here to escape the real world and not have it infect the sites I use yo get away from it all.
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Honestly might be reaching out to some friends in the UK for shelter soon. Just working the angles on if I can keep my job and be remote only until I can get something local over there. At least something in the short term until I can sort out immigration there or maybe head down south to Spain for their digital nomad visa.
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Honestly I like this sort of thing because this one of the only sites that allows such an exchange of ideas
5830544
because its within OPs right to do so.
5830544 I mean, I did put a trigger warning up there.
5830554
I went on Bluesky once. Within five seconds I had unwillingly and on it's part enthusiasticslly exposed to every state of equine anatomy then I have seven years on a site dedicated to the proliferation of tales about Skittle cuddle horses.
You may find more people who echo your sentiments Wanderer... But I'd recommend sticking to here
There's a lot of madness and stupidity out there. I really wish I didn't have to pay attention to it. We'll see what happens from here. I dread that we're far from the bottom of the barrel.
5830556 Snerk. True. Been there, done that. Seen far more than one post that started "I'm going to Bluesky where at least I'll be free" and ending with "Whew, I'm back. They're nuts, and when you say they're nuts, they lock you out. So, what did I miss?"
5830544 Politics is politics. I'm old enough to have seen about (counts on fingers) ten political transitions, each accompanied by hysterical people claiming things that never happened afterward, and each of them admits the previous premature panicfits, but says "This time, it's different." And it never is.
5830527 Every few years like clockwork. Personally, I think it's a good sign. When the government makes changes and *absolutely nobody say anything against it* is the time to sincerely worry and explore escape strategies.
5830518 We're at a bizarre point in military procurement. In no battle since WWII (and to a lesser extent, Korea and Vietnam) has procurement of new military weapons systems been accomplished during the period of the conflict. That's one reason why we have a giant pile of M1 tank bodies in storage. They'd have to be pulled out and refurbed (like a factory has been doing constantly for the last few decades) but that can be done in weeks or months, while actually pouring and casting tank bodies can take years to get organized. TLAM is largely being replaced by Navy Strike Missile for maritime missions, and third or fourth gen TLAMS are being developed and produced, so the actual number in storage is fairly moot. The 155mm howitzer round shortage is real, but overblown. (I've got a friend who works in ammunition supply) A drone swarm each carrying one shell has longer range and more accuracy than a howitzer group, so expect a shift in that direction. Ukraine in four years has totally smashed the strategies used to prepare for a conventional war that we've been putting together for decades, and I suspect it is just going to get messier.
I don’t tend to talk politics on my pony sites, but… My feeling is, I voted against this shit, I warned people until I was hoarse that this shit that’s happening was exactly what would be happening. So now, those who voted for it or chose to stay home and not vote against it are getting what they decided to deserve, and my care is for me, mine, and those who, like me, saw this disaster coming and tried to get people to change course, and I have no energy to spare for those who walked fat, dumb, and happy into the arms of a fascist tyrant.
At least I live in a blue state that can be counted on to not turn into a failed state hellhole if the union splits up completely.
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But then it went from a US one with the bearded lady and a Fiji mermaid to one of those European ones with donkeys and pretentiousness and whining about dad.
I knew it was going to be an abject shit show going in. That's not why I went. I went too see the freaks.
As for Trump... You gotta agree being around through you have, love him or hate him, if he abolishes income tax, people will make his effigy on Rushmore with their teeth
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Am I really the only person here that's had a good bsky experience? At least relative to the other social media hubs I've been on, it's less full of fucking insanity, and at least the "block and move on" mantra is keeping the most ridiculous shitfights from spreading further. All social media sites suck to some degree, but I'd much rather linger there than modern twitter's user base or basically any period of tumblr's larger community.
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Probably, but let's be fair, everyone there at least admits it
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I can always write metafiction to get my self-awareness fix. "Gallus dunks on the very concept of friendship", or maybe "chrysalis's statue gets hella fat because ponies love architecture more than contrary points of view".
5830571 Nah, I've had a good one so far too.
I watched the firehose of bullshit closely for 4 years already. I don't need to do it again. I CAN'T do it again and retain any semblance of mental health. I haven't looked at the news since election night and I don't plan to anytime in the near future. The media screwed us just as much as everyone else by telling everyone that mountains and molehills are roughly the same size. Wake me up if he opens the Ark of the Covenant in the Capitol Building.
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Wellllll.... I am exaggerating somewhat for comedic effect
But only a scooch, that's what concerns me
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Honestly, it wasn't much better/worse than my X-perience.
media1.tenor.com/m/vPEhZc-i_-wAAAAd/band-of-misfits-monkey.gif
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This won't be the first time Britain has welcomed refugees from the United States with open arms; after the passing of the Fugitive Slave Law, many leading abolitionists (such as Henry Box Brown) escaped there.
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Personally I avoid all, and I mean all, forms of social media outside of here. Shit rots your brain and has ruined the Internet
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I use Facebook solely to keep up to date with stuff for Train Simulator and because my boardgames group uploads important info there.
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I'll only comment on your final link as that's a test series I am deeply involved in. MMIIIs haven't "repeatedly" failed tests -- the recent test anomaly was the first time in years we've had any issues with a launch, and I can tell you the actual anomaly was far less impactful than the article suggests, because our criteria for terminating a "test" launch is much lower than for operational launches.
I can't even figure out where you got the text "Minuteman ICBM inventory keeps failing tests" from.
Source: I routinely attend these launches at VSFB.
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I barely used FB because I kept up with family through and dropped that garbage as soon as I got a viable messenger.
Also I meant to reply to Wanderer. Whoops
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And even if the Minute man 3s fail, thats why we have the ohio class Boomer submarines patrolling the world