Not defending the idiots, but I think social media played a far significant role in brainwashing people than we realise. The stupid social media algorithms corral them to seeing only certain contents and distort their world view. I wonder what social media showed to the non-white people to even support Trump. I hava poc colleagues who seemed to trivialise and have casual approach to Trump, with one stating “some of the things he says makes sense.” I wonder what those things “makes sense” from poc point of view. Even before Trump 2.0 came, I have disliked him for being fascist-adjacent. Now, that the mask is off, people thought that he’d stay with his far-right adjacent policies in his first term, and they lived to regret fucking around and finding out.

Only because Mussolini fucked up so bad. People typically support a ruler if that ruler could maintain material stability. If Mussolini had been as pragmatic as Franco, he may have lived as long.

Why do you think Vance and Newsom are running? Where is your candidacy announcement? Americans are so pacified by their media.

Naive is when Americans are corralled to think into the way that you are thinking now. Why is it no one mentioned about primary-ing progressive alternative to Newsom? Everyone quickly assumed it’s Vance and Newsom immediately in the next presidential election.

No one said anything about Vance.

Rich people fleeing because of a “socialist^TM” politician in power is a complete nonsense since FDR. Even Warren Buffet called it out. Sure, some leave, but it is usually just a handful who do.

I also think that many rich people decided to stay and buy property in New York is because they actually know that Mamdani is a more stable economic hand than GOP states such as Florida. Plenty of tycoons low key wish for America to “Make America, America Again” because they are anxious of Trump’s chaotic economic policies; so much so that JP Morgan CEO threw his support on Mamdani.

It’s so fucking funny yet nonsensical and pathetic. I have always seen this accusation of “racism” when criticising CCP. CCP trolls have taken a page from Israeli government’s successful co-opting of “antisemitism”. Although CCP’s attempt to weaponise “racism” falls flat when you point out that the criticism is railed on pissing off South East Asia and Taiwan by trying to claim an entire body of ocean and wanting to annex a democratic society. So nothing is racist here. The “racism” angle is founded on weak grounds. Maybe this works on Chinese domestic audience? Russian trolls are cleverer with their psychological subversive tactics.

Problem is if it’s a coworker to whom you’re interested in. A lot of people are hesitant to ask their coworkers for date because of the adage “don’t shit where you eat”.

SCOTUS: If you paid us with more money and showered us with gifts, we would have likely ruled in your favour instead.

Liberalism is not as dogmatic as other ideologies, because liberalism itself encourages free thinking and going against the grain.

A lot of fascists are actually globalistic in the sense that they want to propagandise everyone to be isolationists, tribalistic and anti-democratic.

Many tankies are apologetic of Russian imperialism as well.

This screams: YOU OFFENDED MY DEAR LORD, SNOWFLAKE!

Bigger lens is better for wildlife photography and long distance shot. Animals scurry away when you try to get close, so it’s best to take a picture from the distance.

Do you actually asked locals what they think of Russia and China?

I’m not even going to bother replying to the rest of your bootlicking

Trolls and their unoriginal bad faith tactics of saying “not going to reply” when they know they are backed to a corner. At least you’re creative by preemptively pigeon shitting on the chessboard.

To the surprise of nobody.

When the citizens complain and want them out, they are silenced by coercing the local governments.

Do you have a source? American soldiers who commit crimes do get punished. Crimes of individual soldiers does not mean it’s institutionalised and sanctioned by American policies. Meanwhile, in South China Sea, Chinese vessels waterhose Vietnamese and Filipino fishermen and not letting other nations to traverse and fish in international waters, and claiming an entire body of water despite being well away from their legal zone.

For these countries, US is a lesser evil. But I have to admit, Trump’s shenanigans making these countries decouple from US, which is good.

P.S. Fuck Chinese and Russian governments too

Sure bud. Have a plausible deniability.

Although with Trump’s shenanigans, US dollar is gradually losing its value.

Many countries consciously outsource defense to the US, so that they could invest in their own people instead. A clear evidence of this attitude is when Spain expressed hesitancy to increase their defense budget. Obama has a point that EU has been “free riding”. However, the way Trump makes US allies to “pull their weight” is more coercive than diplomatic.

Shh…some will be offended when you call reddit and lemmy social media!

Contrary to certain narratives, and while it has some merit, US bases are in said countries at the explicit request of host countries because there is a perceived bigger and more existential threat next door. The host country is basically subcontracting the defense to the United States. Trolls would tell you that these countries were “influenced” or “coerced” to let American troops be stationed. Well, the US is not the one claiming the entirety of South China Sea, or invading Ukraine. South East Asia and EU want US troops to stay because of this. Poland is very US friendly, and so are Taiwan, Vietnam and Philippines. The Philippines elected to kick the American soldiers out 34 years ago, but are now regretting it with the benefit of hindsight due to territorrial dispute in South Chins Sea. Certain actors who push for US withdrawal stand to benefit from it for obvious reasons.