I would take either.

I think that the us perspective on politics is surprising self-centered. If millions will die remains to be seen, but an unpredictable us leadership will certainly shift power dynamics on an international scale. The trump administration might randomly decide to side with land grabbing dictators, might embolden Israel, or switch to Doge Coin as the main currency. Those things might not directly cause death, but will disrupt the world stage to a degree which might overpower currently stable institutions. Which in turn might lead to death and suffering as a consequence. I’m not trying to say that everything should remain as is. Things are awful in a lot of places, but one of the biggest and most powerful nations with a “leader” that might throw a world ending tantrum over a Twitter thread is nothing anybody, but the most nihilistic acclerationists want. Also Trump’s plans to withdraw from climate change mitigation will certainly add to the pile of dead bodies which we will inherit in the next 50 year as a consequence of our actions today.

If I remember correct there is a [Edit] video recording from a [/Edit] Chaos communication Congress on the failure of democracies in which this is discussed. I’ll see if I can dig it up. Might be in German though, but we’ll see…

[Edit] Yeah sorry it is in German https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12056-ist_die_demokratie_noch_zu_retten

Selk, the presenter also has seemingly published mostly or exclusively in German, but I guess one can find similar researcher with publications in English.

Edit3 there is a English translation audio track available

Post scriptum: This got way longer and way more opinionated than I intended. I still believe there is some fundamental argument in there, but it’s not delivered rational. Sorry.

–

Something I have repeatedly heard and read in criticism of modern democratic governments is that they don’t actually do anything.

The calculus of political compromise, the promise and ideal of stability, and over complex systems they over see make them fundamentally incapable of changing anything. The way democracies govern cannot adapt to outside change and will not deliver on inside demands. Change is opposed to how they calculate decision paths, how they understand incentive.

They promise you that the continuation of injustice will guarantee price stability and then inflation happens. They ask you to cut back your carbon footprint and climate change escalates anyway. And when the fascists are appearing on the horizon they ask you to defend democracy, the system that fails you over and over again, by sacrificing your ideals, your needs, and in many cases your personal safety and security by opposing fascism.

Democratic governments have proven that they cannot and will not protect you from economic hardship, war, climate catastrophe, wealth inequality, and your neighbor’s tree standing to close to your fence.

This is nothing that is necessary or inherent to democracies, it is how the internal way of thinking of democratic governments incentives their decision making.

People want things to change. Past governments have shown that they won’t deliver on that ever.

And to make that clear I don’t think minority rights are nothing, but they are for minorities. There is no fundamental change to the lives of the majority populous on the scale of same sex marriage.

What they choose instead is burning books and people, because that is an expression of their internal suffering and pain, which they feel is ignored. They don’t care that they might be next on the chop block, as long as they get to chop for a time.

It’s a nihilistic reaction to political frustration.

I assume they believe it makes them go faster? I have seen videos where they drop bodies out of a truck, apparently in an attempt to get lighter and therefore faster. It’s not particularly smart, but other people have just offed themselves after seeing a drone nearby. So there is a spectrum of reactions.

Getting thrown out of the car which is about to get blown up is a way to save your skin, but there is not much for oneself to do to make it happen.

While nobody has officially send troops, there are a significant amount of professional soldiers from NATO states in Ukraine. Some of them volunteered sure, but I would assume that there are also special forces there, for let’s say payed time off. This however does not change the original point, that the use of 10000+ NK soldiers changes the dynamic of the war.

True, but if one reads this news favorable it could mean that new weapon shipments could come without restrictions. As in the restrictions for previous deliveries still apply, but with these do whatever.

🏴‍☠️ Well no, but actually yes 🦜

Great picture, very hot.

I’m sure that trump could fill the eights circle…

Eighth Circle of Hell: Fraud

This circle is distinguished from its predecessors by being made up of those who consciously and willingly commit fraud. Within the eighth circle is another called the Malebolge (“Evil Pockets”), which houses ten separate bolgias (ditches). These ditches housed different types of people who committed fraud: panderers; seducers; flatterers; simoniacs (those who sell ecclesiastical preferment); sorcerers; barrators (corrupt politicians); schismatics (those who separate religions to form new ones); and alchemists, among others.

Each bolgia is guarded by different demons, and the inhabitants suffer different punishments, such as the simoniacs, who stand head-first in stone bowls and endure flames upon their feet.

https://www.thoughtco.com/dantes-9-circles-of-hell-741539

When you pass a brick so vile that you need your bro to back you up.

Fröhlicher Sonneumrundungstag!

🥳🎊🎉🦄

🦈🦈🦈

Aww Yiss spank that skeleton ass with dat nettle bush! 🥵

Fuck your couch HaHaHa

Our lazors comrade 🔴⭐

But are those lasers from space and Jewish?

Honestly there isn’t much else to do after you do this level of stupid.

Hmmm Steak.

Dang, still can’t walk on all fours properly.

Another thing I learned by watching porn.

Is that person twerking while talking?