Watch both russia and china bounce up.
Current Affairs The Would Be Emperor Has No Clothes (aka POTUS 47)
- Thread starter RAFUH
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LL. I’ve missed you, and your well sourced, well referenced points.
Nah, we get it. We've got private schools and a publicly funded school system which is marketized with league tables, usually the better ones end up dominated by the middle classes who buy houses to get into the right neighbourhood or spend fortunes to coach their kids through entrance exams.
Right but it's way more localized here.
So there are private schools but the public schools are mostly funded by local property tax.
So you could have a town with a population of about 20,000 and the average yearly property tax on a home could be around $8,000.
Once you live in this town, they are obliged to educate your kid.
So rather than make the decision to send kids to private school, a lot of people move to these small towns so their kids get the best education.
This drives up property values and the tax base and the schools get more and more funding and the towns get more and more exclusive and white.
Diversity is priced out.
There could be a town bordering it with 20k population but people are leaving for the next town over and the property values are shrinking, the amount of kids is decreasing and the schools are being defunded. This is inevitably where the people of color and immigrants end up.
Then, weirdly, these poorer towns start gentrifying because young professionals with no kids start getting on the property ladder.
This starts driving up values, drives up taxes and landlords pass the costs on to tenants. So the diverse community gets shoved out as soon as the area gets any way liveable and replaced by white educated 20 somethings. But the tax base is going up so when these 20 somethings have kids, there'll be more funding for the local underfunded schools.
Ha, kinda lost the run of myself there.
But unless there is movements like DEI, these cycles are never broken.
Wealthy white men rely on them never being broken.
Self contained racist 'white-flight' miasma?
"You are not welcome!"
may aint paid a decade on.
Yeah, doesn't sound too dissimilar here. Bigger class divide as well as race.
And it isn’t just funding of schools.
There is the whole environmental issue of pollution impacts on attendees at schools in low income districts - lead being the classic example.
RFK used to pretty good on the subject, he now seems to have decided his unfounded “vaccines cause autism” stance gains him more money and power.
Robert F Kennedy Jr takes big business to task over pollution at SXSW Eco
‘Good environmental policy is good for economic prosperity,’ according to the environmental advocate, who admonished corporations for not doing more
One of the most poignant points made by Kennedy was that poor communities often suffer the most from environmental devastation, yet they are least equipped to fight it. This point has also been made by developing countries as they seek funding from first-world nations to address climate change.“Polluters always choose the soft target of poverty,” said Kennedy, who noted, as an example, that the highest concentration of toxic waste dumps in America resides in the south side of Chicago.
Yup, around Boston, you just have to take a highway in to the city and see which sections have sound barriers protecting the abbuting communities and which dont. Follow that up by measuring population density/air quality/asthma rates and even cancer rates. All the areas without the walls are black or immigrant communities, without exception.And it isn’t just funding of schools.
There is the whole environmental issue of pollution impacts on attendees at schools in low income districts - lead being the classic example.
RFK used to pretty good on the subject, he now seems to have decided his unfounded “vaccines cause autism” stance gains him more money and power.
His talk also highlighted some of the ongoing major clean air and water battles within the US, such as the oil pipeline project in North Dakota, and worries about a rollback of major environmental laws should Donald Trump become president. Trump supports the coal industry and vows to axe programs such as the Clean Power Plan, which forces electricity producers to cut emissions and is currently being contested in court.The North Dakota pipeline project, which the Standing Rock Sioux tribe contends will pollute their water supply and decimate their cultural heritage, exemplifies the effort by big business and investors to make it difficult for America to move away from fossil fuels, Kennedy said.“They lock our nation into a dinosaur form of fuel that stops us from transitioning into a more efficient form of energy,” he said, calling low-carbon energy like solar and wind “cheap, green, patriotic fuel from heaven”.Robert F Kennedy Jr takes big business to task over pollution at SXSW Eco
‘Good environmental policy is good for economic prosperity,’ according to the environmental advocate, who admonished corporations for not doing morewww.theguardian.com
One of the most poignant points made by Kennedy was that poor communities often suffer the most from environmental devastation, yet they are least equipped to fight it. This point has also been made by developing countries as they seek funding from first-world nations to address climate change.“Polluters always choose the soft target of poverty,” said Kennedy, who noted, as an example, that the highest concentration of toxic waste dumps in America resides in the south side of Chicago.
Efcjake
Player Valuation: £80m
A lot of talk about fentanyl but nothing about all the guns that make their way up here. The fentanyl line is utter nonsense and everyone knows it.
This will be painful for both sides of the border but it will absolutely destroy the relationship between Canadians and Americans from our POV. We will take the brunt of these tariffs but people will never look back at the US as friends again if it is as bad as it can be. Your anthem is already being booed in Montreal and Ottawa and it will spread further.
Even the conservative rural friends I have who like to joke about Trump will turn when it hits their pockets and stops being fun and games.
Efcjake
Player Valuation: £80m
They can ask all they like but we can just as easily slap export tariffs on. Lumber, steel and aluminium is just a part of what we will slow down. They've already begun refusing orders.
The talk up here is it will be import tariffs on red state exports Whiskey, Orange Juice.
There are options available to really make it painful for other areas and industries if this is what we are driven to. Cheap hydro power goes to a lot of the eastern states, you have refineries built specifically to refine Alberta oil sands crude that we sell at a pittance, we supply a large portion of potash for fertilizing your farms.
Carney, the Evertonian, coming in as the Liberal party front runner in the wake of Trudeau resigning has the potential to really shake things up. They might not get their chosen stooge in Poilevre to work with instead.
Weird lack of posting MAGA fans on DJT’s first days in office, they were all over these threads in November.
Where are the impassioned claims that pardoning J6 criminals who beat up cops and destroyed a government building was good - thought you supported law and order?
How about the tariffs, perhaps someone can explain how picking a trade fight with the 2nd (China), tenth (Canada) and sixteenth (Mexico) largest econonies simultaneously (with more promised for the EU #3) will make goods cheaper? Not to mention deporting a high % of the people involved in picking our food or building our homes.
Or how about unelected Elon Musk doing a Johnny on government systems?
I know I’m only a DEI contributor here on GOT but I’d really like to know how defunding malaria programs is going MAHA.
Where are the impassioned claims that pardoning J6 criminals who beat up cops and destroyed a government building was good - thought you supported law and order?
How about the tariffs, perhaps someone can explain how picking a trade fight with the 2nd (China), tenth (Canada) and sixteenth (Mexico) largest econonies simultaneously (with more promised for the EU #3) will make goods cheaper? Not to mention deporting a high % of the people involved in picking our food or building our homes.
Or how about unelected Elon Musk doing a Johnny on government systems?
I know I’m only a DEI contributor here on GOT but I’d really like to know how defunding malaria programs is going MAHA.
This is pretty long and was posted 2 months ago, its pretty accurate so far and does not paint a pretty picture of our future/current.
Not my words.
We need to all be calling it what it is...A Coup
That is what is happening.
Here is a summary to date...
A Coup Is Underway—It Must Be Stopped Now
The United States is in the midst of a slow-moving coup, orchestrated through a combination of executive overreach, dismantling of oversight, and private-sector collusion. This is not just democratic erosion—it is an active power grab designed to neutralize opposition, consolidate control, and fundamentally alter governance without the consent of the people.
The Coup Checklist: What Has Already Happened
The administration has repeatedly ignored Congressional subpoenas and investigations, weakening legislative oversight.
2. Seizing Control Over Government Agencies
Reports confirm that Elon Musk’s aides locked government officials out of federal systems—a move reminiscent of corporate-backed coups in other nations.
Private corporations are being given control over key government infrastructure, bypassing democratic accountability.
3. Attempting to Change the Constitution Unilaterally
Trump has signaled plans to end birthright citizenship via executive order—directly violating the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
There have been repeated efforts to bypass Congress and the courts to enact sweeping, unconstitutional policy changes.
4. Defunding and Weakening Government Institutions
Trump and allies have frozen and redirected federal funds without congressional approval, impacting essential services for vulnerable communities.
Agencies meant to protect democracy, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, are being purged of officials who refuse to pledge loyalty.
5. Undermining Future Elections
State legislatures controlled by Trump allies are changing election laws to make it easier to overturn results they dislike.
Officials overseeing elections are being replaced with political loyalists, increasing the risk of fraudulent election interference.
6. Silencing Opposition and Restricting Free Speech
Efforts to criminalize dissent and protest are increasing at the state and federal levels.
Independent journalists reporting on government abuses are being threatened, discredited, or shut out of press briefings.
This Is a Coup—Not Just a Warning Sign
Historically, successful coups do not always involve military takeovers or tanks in the streets. Modern coups are often bureaucratic, legalistic, and corporate-backed. This is how autocratic takeovers have happened in:
Hungary (2010s): Viktor Orbán systematically rewrote laws, took control of the judiciary, and altered election systems to maintain permanent rule.
Russia (2000s): Vladimir Putin dismantled independent media, arrested opposition leaders, and manipulated elections to remain in power.
Chile (1973): The U.S.-backed coup against Salvador Allende involved economic destabilization, disinformation, and neutralizing institutions before Pinochet took full control.
What We Must Do NOW
The public, lawmakers, and independent institutions must recognize this not as a "political crisis" but as an active coup. Waiting for an official declaration means waiting until resistance is nearly impossible.
Action Steps:
Elected Officials Must Speak Out. Demand that your representatives publicly acknowledge this as a coup and take action.
Public Mobilization Is Urgent. Peaceful protests, community organizing, and legal challenges must increase before more damage is done.
Support Independent Journalism. As corporate-controlled media fails to report the severity of this crisis, independent outlets remain vital.
Pressure Corporate Enablers. Companies aiding this takeover—like X (Twitter), major donors, and legal firms—must face public accountability.
Prepare for 2026 Election Interference. Efforts to subvert elections are underway. Voter suppression, electoral manipulation, and post-election sabotage must be anticipated and countered.
Conclusion
This is not a drill, a warning, or a hypothetical. The checklist of an authoritarian coup is being systematically completed in real time. If democratic institutions and the public do not act decisively, the window for stopping this takeover may close permanently.
We need to all be calling it what it is...A Coup
That is what is happening.
Here is a summary to date...
A Coup Is Underway—It Must Be Stopped Now
The United States is in the midst of a slow-moving coup, orchestrated through a combination of executive overreach, dismantling of oversight, and private-sector collusion. This is not just democratic erosion—it is an active power grab designed to neutralize opposition, consolidate control, and fundamentally alter governance without the consent of the people.
The Coup Checklist: What Has Already Happened
- Dismantling Independent Oversight
The administration has repeatedly ignored Congressional subpoenas and investigations, weakening legislative oversight.
2. Seizing Control Over Government Agencies
Reports confirm that Elon Musk’s aides locked government officials out of federal systems—a move reminiscent of corporate-backed coups in other nations.
Private corporations are being given control over key government infrastructure, bypassing democratic accountability.
3. Attempting to Change the Constitution Unilaterally
Trump has signaled plans to end birthright citizenship via executive order—directly violating the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
There have been repeated efforts to bypass Congress and the courts to enact sweeping, unconstitutional policy changes.
4. Defunding and Weakening Government Institutions
Trump and allies have frozen and redirected federal funds without congressional approval, impacting essential services for vulnerable communities.
Agencies meant to protect democracy, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, are being purged of officials who refuse to pledge loyalty.
5. Undermining Future Elections
State legislatures controlled by Trump allies are changing election laws to make it easier to overturn results they dislike.
Officials overseeing elections are being replaced with political loyalists, increasing the risk of fraudulent election interference.
6. Silencing Opposition and Restricting Free Speech
Efforts to criminalize dissent and protest are increasing at the state and federal levels.
Independent journalists reporting on government abuses are being threatened, discredited, or shut out of press briefings.
This Is a Coup—Not Just a Warning Sign
Historically, successful coups do not always involve military takeovers or tanks in the streets. Modern coups are often bureaucratic, legalistic, and corporate-backed. This is how autocratic takeovers have happened in:
Hungary (2010s): Viktor Orbán systematically rewrote laws, took control of the judiciary, and altered election systems to maintain permanent rule.
Russia (2000s): Vladimir Putin dismantled independent media, arrested opposition leaders, and manipulated elections to remain in power.
Chile (1973): The U.S.-backed coup against Salvador Allende involved economic destabilization, disinformation, and neutralizing institutions before Pinochet took full control.
What We Must Do NOW
The public, lawmakers, and independent institutions must recognize this not as a "political crisis" but as an active coup. Waiting for an official declaration means waiting until resistance is nearly impossible.
Action Steps:
Elected Officials Must Speak Out. Demand that your representatives publicly acknowledge this as a coup and take action.
Public Mobilization Is Urgent. Peaceful protests, community organizing, and legal challenges must increase before more damage is done.
Support Independent Journalism. As corporate-controlled media fails to report the severity of this crisis, independent outlets remain vital.
Pressure Corporate Enablers. Companies aiding this takeover—like X (Twitter), major donors, and legal firms—must face public accountability.
Prepare for 2026 Election Interference. Efforts to subvert elections are underway. Voter suppression, electoral manipulation, and post-election sabotage must be anticipated and countered.
Conclusion
This is not a drill, a warning, or a hypothetical. The checklist of an authoritarian coup is being systematically completed in real time. If democratic institutions and the public do not act decisively, the window for stopping this takeover may close permanently.
- Status