pnwguy
Associate Professor
Posts: 1,447
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Post by pnwguy on Sept 4, 2021 0:43:51 GMT
As LFC mentioned in a different thread, "the wipeout is coming" in the midterms. Between red states gaining congressional seats from the census, where gerrymandering is guaranteed, and the over-representation of small-ass states with the same two senators per state, it's likely we'll see the fascists take over. I fear that will be the last federal election that looks like a democracy. After that, the GOP no longer needs to pretend. Elections will look like they did in the Soviet Union.
In the most dystopian scenarios, laws will be passed to gut press freedoms that a partisan Supreme Court will allow. Some sort of violent event will be pretense for different forms of martial law. Christian zealots will demand their own version of Sharia law. RW militia groups will find sympathizers in enough police departments to be allowed an almost free hand to maim or kill who they think are enemies. And this is regardless of whether Mango Mussolini is re-instated in 2024.
Like Jews in 1930's Germany, we might all need to find an escape route. Where have each of you thought about? Canada, I fear, is too much in the Austria predicament, and an American fascist in the White House would take the Anschluss approach.
Cheery thread, right?
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jackd
Assistant Professor
Posts: 813
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Post by jackd on Sept 4, 2021 0:56:54 GMT
The other possibility is that the Republican ownership of the overruling of Roe v. Wade, together with a strong economy and successful legislation (if the Democrats get together instead of shooting at each other) could result in a strong Democrat majority in both houses. Nothing wrong with dreaming.
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Post by goldenvalley on Sept 4, 2021 1:38:52 GMT
My son quite enjoyed living in Europe, though he wouldn't want to live in the Czech Republic again for lots of reasons. Perhaps if he and his girlfriend return to Europe...to the Netherlands or Belgium...I'd consider it.
But I think I'll join with jackd's cautious optimism. The Senate returns to DC on Sept. 13 or 14 and I know the voting rights folks are planning a big onslaught of lobbying as will, I suspect, the pro-choice folks. It might shock some of the idiots out of their bunkers within the Dem party. What is the saying? If they don't hang together they will surely hang separately.
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Post by Bact PhD on Sept 4, 2021 1:56:26 GMT
Dear Daughter has made semi-joking noises about France, but that would be a hella trick, I suspect (at least she speaks the language).
We’ve given thought to at least getting the hell outta Flori-DUH once a few loose ends get tied up (no sooner than 2023) if Supreme Emperor gets a second term in Tally next year. The prospect of him in national office scares the tar outta me.
There are also a couple of wild cards that will eventually be put in play here. The timing is the unknown.
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andydp
Tenured Full Professor
Posts: 3,010
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Post by andydp on Sept 4, 2021 11:36:33 GMT
Sometimes you need a baby goat.  |
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Post by LFC on Sept 4, 2021 14:02:45 GMT
Sometimes you need a baby goat. My wife will melt when I show her that picture. She loves baby goats. We spent a long weekend in the Finger Lakes and the highlight for her was feeding and playing with baby goats at a small place that makes cheese.
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Post by LFC on Sept 4, 2021 14:04:47 GMT
Remember how a shift to working from home was going to bring lots of more highly paid workers into the red states? Other than so many of them being generally less desirable to live in they are ensuring that their political climate horrifies the younger generations. Way to attract talent. Of court smart, educated, talented people aren't really their demographic.
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Post by Rue Bella on Sept 4, 2021 16:53:10 GMT
A few years ago I never, ever thought Trump would be elected. But it happened. Now I can't see how someone like DeSantis possibly could be re-elected, much less move on to higher office. But it really could happen. They love the uneducated, aka The Base.
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Post by LFC on Sept 4, 2021 16:54:41 GMT
A few years ago I never, ever thought Trump would be elected. But it happened. Now I can't see how someone like DeSantis possibly could be re-elected, much less move on to higher office. But it really could happen. They love the uneducated, aka The Base. The reason is that you couldn't imagine America as a fascist nation. I've come to realize that 1/3 of the country desperately isn't just willing to accept it but wants it to become one. |
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Post by Traveler on Sept 4, 2021 16:56:59 GMT
Consensus prediction for the senate. It don't look that bad to me. PA may be tossup, but the way the POG is flailing around here, pretty sure it will go blue as well. Remember, a majority of PA voters are blue. So a thought occurred to me. Can the House pass bills up to the 2023 inauguration, and then pass them in the Senate afterward?
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Post by Rue Bella on Sept 4, 2021 17:07:56 GMT
This is exactly right (no pun intended, but true). It's going to be difficult enough living in a blue state watching the rest of the country erode around us. Too bad our governmental 'checks and balances' were based on honor and integrity - that went out the window with religious extremism, prejudice, money, power, over-population, climate change, pandemic, and of course the GOP...
May you live in interesting times ~ Old Chinese curse
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Post by LFC on Sept 4, 2021 17:10:30 GMT
Consensus prediction for the senate. It don't look that bad to me. PA may be tossup, but the way the POG is flailing around here, pretty sure it will go blue as well. Remember, a majority of PA voters are blue. Which is why the PA state level Republicans are screeching about faudits. When their gerrymandering was struck down they went from holding 70% of House seats to 50%. They don't want free and fair elections to ever happen again because it's likely to cost them. |
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Post by Bact PhD on Sept 4, 2021 18:58:07 GMT
A few years ago I never, ever thought Trump would be elected. But it happened. Now I can't see how someone like DeSantis possibly could be re-elected, much less move on to higher office. But it really could happen. They love the uneducated, aka The Base. And we have LOTS of uneducated and willfully ignant here in Florida-DUH. Not only do we have the home-growns, we IMPORT an awful lot of ‘em: The Villages is chock-full of ignoramuses imported from the Rust Belt. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I will be shocked if the Supreme Emperor of Florida gets voted out next year. |
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jackd
Assistant Professor
Posts: 813
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Post by jackd on Sept 4, 2021 21:14:50 GMT
How about the parents in those school districts that are defying him? Some are Republican counties.
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Post by Bact PhD on Sept 4, 2021 21:41:46 GMT
How about the parents in those school districts that are defying him? Some are Republican counties. Depends on how long the collective memory is—the 2022 campaign is both imminent and faraway. Granted, I truly hope The Lincoln Project et al. come after Supreme Emperor with full artillery and refuse to let the electorate forget the fascist (NOT “conservative” by any definition) aspects of Supreme Emperor’s governance. The other half of the equation is whether the Dem nominee (and supporters) can GOTV. It’s an open question whether FL Dems will select Crist, a “retread” who could just as easily be saddled with the “has-been” label, or Fried, the current Ag Commissioner, but who in some respects is still something of an unknown quantity as a statewide figure. I doubt someone else comes out of the woodwork at this point. |
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pnwguy
Associate Professor
Posts: 1,447
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Post by pnwguy on Jan 11, 2022 14:49:09 GMT
I've got a trip to Costa Rica scheduled for March, and I'm going to take a serious look at what living conditions are like there. Of course in this era, stable and reasonably fast Internet is just as vital as electricity for modern life. Actually I could generate my own electricity with solar, but unless systems like Starlink are successful, I'm more concerned about Internet than power.
But of course, medical care is another issue too, in my 60s. It's at least a decent country for that.
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Post by LFC on Jan 11, 2022 15:02:32 GMT
I've got a trip to Costa Rica scheduled for March, and I'm going to take a serious look at what living conditions are like there. If it got that bad we'd look there and in Panama. We live in a blue county but in a Republican district. As an interracial couple it might be time to look into carry permits. I'm getting too old to run so it's stand your ground. |
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