Politics 2016

[Zoraptor]

I don't want to be too nitpicky; but I would certainly hope that when looking for an 'inevitable' collapse to compare the current situation to it would happen a little faster than the time between Caesar and Constantine- a mere 350 odd years. That's an awful long time for a gradual collapse, especially since that time frame includes mediocre leaders such as, er, Augustus, Hadrian, Trajan etc and the period when Rome was indisputably at its strongest.

 

If anything the problem with later Rome was that it didn't even bother trying to assimilate the new settlers and treated them with utter contempt, thought themselves inherently superior, stole from them etc etc leading to such utterly pointless wasteful and unnecessary imbecilities as happened at Adrianople. A more rational and less born to the purple attitude and Rome could easily have survived. Would have helped if they didn't continually kill off all the half way competent leaders (Stilicho, Aetius, Majorian) as well.

 

(I think Merkel's open door policy was moronic, but comparisons to Rome aren't so much not in the same ballpark as not in the same city)

[Guard Dog]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss: http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-tariffs/index.html?adkey=bn

 

Well it didn't take long for all my hopes to be dashed. So when do we drop the title President and start calling them Emperor? Of course he hasn't actually done it yet and this is CNN, a less than reliable source. So perhaps I'm jumping the gun with doom & gloom.

[Namutree]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss: http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-tariffs/index.html?adkey=bn

 

Well it didn't take long for all my hopes to be dashed. So when do we drop the title President and start calling them Emperor? Of course he hasn't actually done it yet and this is CNN, a less than reliable source. So perhaps I'm jumping the gun with doom & gloom.

Oh, it's happening...

[Meshugger]

I don't want to be too nitpicky; but I would certainly hope that when looking for an 'inevitable' collapse to compare the current situation to it would happen a little faster than the time between Caesar and Constantine- a mere 350 odd years. That's an awful long time for a gradual collapse, especially since that time frame includes mediocre leaders such as, er, Augustus, Hadrian, Trajan etc and the period when Rome was indisputably at its strongest.

 

If anything the problem with later Rome was that it didn't even bother trying to assimilate the new settlers and treated them with utter contempt, thought themselves inherently superior, stole from them etc etc leading to such utterly pointless wasteful and unnecessary imbecilities as happened at Adrianople. A more rational and less born to the purple attitude and Rome could easily have survived. Would have helped if they didn't continually kill off all the half way competent leaders (Stilicho, Aetius, Majorian) as well.

 

(I think Merkel's open door policy was moronic, but comparisons to Rome aren't so much not in the same ballpark as not in the same city)

 

I do not mind being nitpicky. Aside of the treatment of the new citizens and the length of time, the result is still the same, concentration of power, rise of an empire and its inevitable collapse due to degradation of culture producing horrible rulers. In any case, as a consolation i think that the following gif illustrates how the state of discussing politics at this forum will always will be:

 

[Blarghagh]

I'm going to assume you're the homeless man?

[Meshugger]

We are all the homeless man, except Bruce. He is the one awkwardly trying to hug us.

[Wrath of Dagon]

They conquered them by force (mostly), but they didn't assimilate them by force. The Empire had a few rules like 'no human sacrifice' but generally allowed conquered people to keep their own culture so long as they didn't fight Rome and paid their taxes etc. They'd (generally, again) lose their own culture fairly rapidly in any case, but such is the nature of assimilation. Their success was such that you had emperors from every corner of the Empire without anyone batting an eyelid- Hadrian was Spanish, Constantine was Thracian, Severus was African etc etc.

 

And I'm not quite sure which Roman Empire you're thinking of which didn't rely on 'migrants' to do the stuff Romans wouldn't; foreign slaves- by definition, since Roman citizens could not be enslaved- were doing the jobs Romans wouldn't do for multiple, multiple centuries prior to the collapse of the WRE.

You're getting the invaded and the invaders confused. Rome was successful because it was the one doing the invading. Slaves are not migrants, migrants invade and demand that the natives start doing things their way, like what happened to the American Indians. Romans lost because they started relying on the barbarians to guard their borders, that's like putting the fox in charge of guarding the hen house. Edit: Much like Hillary hiring jihadists to guard the American facility in Benghazi, lol.

 

 

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss: http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-tariffs/index.html?adkey=bn

 

Well it didn't take long for all my hopes to be dashed. So when do we drop the title President and start calling them Emperor? Of course he hasn't actually done it yet and this is CNN, a less than reliable source. So perhaps I'm jumping the gun with doom & gloom.

"Different trade laws enacted over the course of the past century allow the president to impose tariffs if he issues a determination the United States is being subjected to unfair trade practices or faces an economic or national security threat because of trade practices." Is this what's upsetting you? This is what Trump ran on, the only reason he won the blue states and thus the presidency.

 

Edit: I'd say this is good news: http://www.breitbart.com/california/2016/12/22/trump-names-china-skeptic-uc-irvine-prof-lead-trade-council/

 

Us building up what's now the greatest threat to ourselves got to be one of the most idiotic things in history.

Edited December 22, 2016 by Wrath of Dagon

[HoonDing]

The Chinese government is a despicable, parasitic, brutal, brass-knuckled, crass, callous, amoral, ruthless and totally totalitarian imperialist power that reigns over the world’s leading cancer factory, its most prolific propaganda mill and the biggest police state and prison on the face of the earth.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

It's not A because you need permits and stuff before you can sell food.

[Wrath of Dagon]

In China you can sell poisoned food.

[213374U]

TIL that selling sandwiches by the roadside = TRU FREEDUHM

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

True freedom is abolishing the age of consent.

[redneckdevil]

True freedom is abolishing the age of consent.

Lmfao smh. Thank you, I needed that laugh today

[pmp10]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss: http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-tariffs/index.html?adkey=bn

So what are the chances of things like this getting implemented?

Trump promised new isolationism but from what I understand republicans are not on board at all.

[Meshugger]

 

The Chinese government is a despicable, parasitic, brutal, brass-knuckled, crass, callous, amoral, ruthless and totally totalitarian imperialist power that reigns over the world’s leading cancer factory, its most prolific propaganda mill and the biggest police state and prison on the face of the earth.

When were you last time in China?

 

Answer me this:

In which country you can buy bread, some ingredients and start selling sandwiches on a sidewalk starting your own small business. And no one will bother you.

A) USA

B) China

 

 

Funny, it made me think of this:

 

[aluminiumtrioxid]

Don't worry fellas, it's just an isolated incident. These new romans will succesfully integrate into Rome . After all, the franks, goths and vandals are all fleeing their home countries for a better life and it is our duty to welcome them.

 

After all, everyone knows nobody has ever created anything of cultural and artistic value since the fall of Rome, especially not any people descended from those filthy barbarians.

[Elerond]

 

Don't worry fellas, it's just an isolated incident. These new romans will succesfully integrate into Rome . After all, the franks, goths and vandals are all fleeing their home countries for a better life and it is our duty to welcome them.

 

After all, everyone knows nobody has ever created anything of cultural and artistic value since the fall of Rome, especially not any people descended from those filthy barbarians.

 

 

Rome for about thousand years conquered and raided its neighboring nations, but it ironically suffered that same fate itself after Romans started to become more interest to spat with each other than what was happening in world around them.

[HoonDing]

The final western Roman emperor was literally a baby. After Theodosius they just never got a strong leader to make Rome great again.

Edited December 23, 2016 by HoonDing

[Meshugger]

 

Don't worry fellas, it's just an isolated incident. These new romans will succesfully integrate into Rome . After all, the franks, goths and vandals are all fleeing their home countries for a better life and it is our duty to welcome them.

 

After all, everyone knows nobody has ever created anything of cultural and artistic value since the fall of Rome, especially not any people descended from those filthy barbarians.

 

 

The point was a jab against people thinking about waves of immigration only being a question of increase of labour and other materialistic issues, while at the same time highlighting the inheritly destructive forces that are one the move, historically speaking. It was not about prefered methods of cultural exchange. 

[Hurlshort]

 

In China you can sell poisoned food.

Why would you hurt your clientele? What would be the point?

 

 

You don't seem to really understand how food works.

 

[213374U]

Well, I usually do nothing but mouth off about cops, but there's a first time for everything, I guess. Ask questions first, shoot later: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/berlin-attack-anis-amri-germany-rookie-milan-policeman-shoots-suspect-dead-italy-hero-a7492561.html

 

Gives a whole new meaning to the "killer look" of their Armani uniforms. Never poking fun at them again...

[Wrath of Dagon]

Did a lot better job than the German cops, that's for sure.

 

 

In China you can sell poisoned food.

Why would you hurt your clientele? What would be the point?

 

Make lots of money in the mean time? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal

[Orogun01]

Did a lot better job than the German cops, that's for sure.

 

 

In China you can sell poisoned food.

Why would you hurt your clientele? What would be the point?

 

Make lots of money in the mean time? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal

 

I find it a bit ironic that people are talking about how awful the Chinese are for selling poisoned food when everywhere else in the world you have McDonalds.

[Wrath of Dagon]

More relevantly: https://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2016/12/20/beware-antibiotic-tainted-seafood-from-china-is-making-its-way-to-american-tables/

 

Hate Tilapia, makes my tongue itch.

[licketysplit]

Limiting imports from China should be a #1 priority. They have zero scruples when it comes to...well, everything.