Recent posts

#1

Off the Record / Re: Elon Musk: Always A Douche

Last post by viper37 - Today at 09:44:45 PM

What was the reason Romans distributed grain to the populace, and bread at the circus?  What was the reason the State (or the provincial cities) did sometimes organize circus and gladiatorial games?

To stop the continuous rebellions that had plagued the Republic up to that point?

There were such things happening during the Republic era, it was only a continuation of the practice.

But you do recognize that government social spending can be a necessity to reduce social unrest?

#2

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Admiral Yi - Today at 08:50:23 PM

He's pretty anti-Trump now.

I figured that out by myself.

#3

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Razgovory - Today at 08:45:03 PM

Don't be thankful yet.  He's pretty anti-Trump now.  He tried to go to Ukraine to fight but was turned down cause he was old and had no military experience.

[who voted for Trump]

#4

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Admiral Yi - Today at 08:36:36 PM

Pretty wild considering Florida is an open carry state. The SS overcorrecting after the last "attempt"? The guy appears to be a big anti-vaxxer independent who voted for Trump in the past according to initial reports.

Thank God.

#5

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Valmy - Today at 08:07:08 PM

Also, especially wild an anti-vaxxer would go after Trump given his history

Well that is the thing. Trump is not actually an anti-vaxxer. They are mad at him for Operation Warpspeed. And who knows where else their batshit imaginations go from there.

#6

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Sophie Scholl - Today at 07:56:45 PM

I mean, technically it isn't a legit assassination attempt, is it? The guy had a gun in an open carry state, didn't fire any shots, fled when shot at, and wasn't there when Trump was.

Also, especially wild an anti-vaxxer would go after Trump given his history plus he recent addition of super anti-vaxxer RFK, Jr. to his Legion of Doom.

#7

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Valmy - Today at 07:53:58 PM

The thing about conspiracy theorists is they eventually turn their conspiracies against you.

Or at least my conspiracy theory brother-in-law did, which is why he is no longer my brother-in-law.

Trump is trying to ride the conspiracy train to power...

#8

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Razgovory - Today at 07:53:52 PM

Tomorrow we will be awash in stories about how Zelensky put the hit out on Trump.

#9

Off the Record / Re: 2024 US Presidential Elect...

Last post by Sophie Scholl - Today at 07:46:54 PM

Seems like secret service shot at the guy after spotting his AK poking out from the bushes, guy fled and was later arrested.

Very fortunate for Trump, his debate performance will not be discussed any longer.

Pretty wild considering Florida is an open carry state. The SS overcorrecting after the last "attempt"? The guy appears to be a big anti-vaxxer independent who voted for Trump in the past according to initial reports.

#10

Off the Record / Re: Elon Musk: Always A Douche

Last post by Admiral Yi - Today at 07:07:37 PM

I was ready to concede all your points (they're all good but I liked the role of the Church in medieval society the most) until you came out with this doozie.  Really?  Betcha I can rattle of 20 rebellions in which famine/hunger did not factor.

To go a little Dirty Harry, I think the question you need to ask yourself is how much wiggle room did I mean to give myself with "basically almost"

But I would be interested anyway - and not necessarily famine or shortage. In fairness I should have said that, I think for obvious reasons, that famine rarely leads to rebellion - but shortage and associated price rises etc definitely does. I'm terribly Marxist on this I tend to think the material conditions before rebellions are always important - I don't think they're the "cause" or the only issue, but I think they're always present. And as a generalisation I suspect most of the time those material conditions are not "we're all doing well!"

I agree that all Marxist inspired rebellions have been based to some extent on we're not all doing well.  But what fraction of total rebellions is that?