Malazan Empire: Tapper - Viewing Profile - Malazan Empire

Tiste Simeon, on 14 March 2024 - 11:27 PM, said:

It’s a European election year.
A sceptical reading (mine) could be that Macron is trying to kill many birds with one stone and most of them have less to do with actually, actively helping Ukraine and more with his position on the (inter)national stage.

There is the French internal political situation in which (the unpopular) Macron positions himself and his government as pro-Europe, actively pro-Ukraine versus the previously Kremlin-friendly LePen (as many far right figureheads are/were - a source of embarrassment that unfortunately does not diminish their popularity much).

Secondly, it ties in with earlier speeches Macron made, which basically amount to “the EU needs to stand on its own.” Which traditionally translates to: “Within the EU, France can be a leader who does things differently from Germany,” (which can generally count on the support of the Benelux, Austria).

Further, it draws a contrast between Germany (very cautious in proclamations and which systems they deliver, seemingly afraid of escalation) and France (playing mind games with Putin), and the audience may include the EU/NATO countries bordering Russia as well as the US.

And it reminds both Europe and Russia that France is the only EU nation with nukes, so Putin will likely not provoke them.

HoosierDaddy, on 06 March 2024 - 02:00 PM, said:

I don’t know. As you say, he is a terrible person with despicable views and very few morals.

Maybe that’s why; he is the (young male) fantasy of what being successful entails: a medieval robber baron, basically, taking whatever he wants, giving in to the base hedonistic instincts. Let’s say that it takes a decade or two of adulthood to learn that lust, gluttony, envy and greed are cravings rather than bringing happiness or fulfilment, and even then, many fall into their trap during a personal crisis or as the result of a toxic environment?

My 25 year old self certainly skirted that edge.

From the conservative/industry lobbying groups and career politicians I get the cynical trade off; they don’t care about the man, just about the results. If your product is (indirectly) responsible for the deaths and discomfort of thousands without causing a loss of sleep at night, why refrain from dealing with someone because of their despicable personality?

I am however deeply puzzled by the rock solid support he gets from people who pride themselves on their morality (such as evangelicals). He is proudly living a life antithetical to their beliefs yet they somehow see him not just as a means to and end, but as the second coming of Christ.

HoosierDaddy, on 05 March 2024 - 01:12 PM, said:

But the thing about western culture is that it worships and elevates individuals. Capitalism (whether viewed as the escape of poverty through hard work as the American Dream purports or seen through the lens of meritocracy in which money is the measuring stick by which we compare personal skill: Elon Musk is the richest man on Earth, therefore he is worth listening to) is one pillar, media another. We love mavericks and vigilantes in our entertainment and they’re part of culture for over seventy years. When the police and bureaucrats are consistently portrayed as incompetent, it’s no wonder there’s a place for the NRA in people’s mind.

Arguing the system is broken and working against the common man has been a part of election promises everywhere since the 60s. Combine it with a politician who claims he is going to tear the system down and/or circumvent it, rather than work through it, and you arrive at Trump. The vagueness of his language and promises enhance the appeal, as everyone can read into it what they want: he promises a restoration of former glory and wealth but from what period he leaves to the imagination. So yes, for people who are dissatisfied but don’t know with what, how or why or who just imagine they’re worse off than their neighbours, he appeals.

The political system in the UK and the US with its focus on electing individual representatives per district rather than voting for a party doesn’t help (and therefore the reliance on individuals to find funding through sponsorship and promises to lobbyists), but it’s the lesser evil. In Europe, we see a rise of the far right as well, after all.

Awesome! If you’re allowing him:)

Lady Bliss, on 10 January 2024 - 05:06 PM, said:

Oil (plus gas and coal) I’d presume. Autarky is a big thing for autocrats (and nationalists). Plus, I guess the MAGA base digs the idea that it is worth trillions on paper and even better, pisses off anyone who worries about man made climate change - never mind that the unsubsidised extraction costs are higher than investments in renewables would require, and the preparation won’t be finished by the time Trump II is through.