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The Standard Conditions Peaceful Or Violent Revolution, Collapse and Coups

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Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 13:41
The Standard Conditions Peaceful Or Violent Revolution, Collapse and Coups

We’ve discussed this before:

  1. fiscal inability;
  2. an elite faction which wants to take over;
  3. support of 20% or more of the population;

What is also very common is lost of prestige due to military defeat. This Russia in WWI (and they had also lost to the Japanese, which was particularly humiliating) or Germany, also after WWI. Getting your ass kicked makes people doubt you.

Or, if you want to put it another way: imperial overstretch, military defeat and internal strife.

Drowsy Don Lies Again

https://digbysblog.net/2024/04/15/drowsy-don-lies-again/
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 08:00
And the media buys it So Trump came out of the trial today whining like an 8 year old that the big mean judge won’t let him attend Barron’s high school graduation — and all of MAGA world is having a full blown collective mental breakdown over it, calling the judge evil and screaming “Witch Hunt!!!!” One little problem: Fact Check: Trump falsely claims judge won’t let him attend son’s high school graduation next month From CNN’s Marshall Cohen After leaving court on Monday, former President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested that Judge Juan Merchan would prevent him from attending his son’s high school graduation in May.  Trump’s son Eric Trump ratcheted up the rhetoric by tweeting, “Judge Merchan is truly heartless in not letting a father attend his son’s graduation.” Facts First: The judge hasn’t ruled yet on Trump’s request to be excused from court so he can attend Barron Trump’s high school graduation. Criminal defendants like Donald Trump are typically required to attend their case proceedings in person.

Eurofanatiker försöker köra över folket igen

https://larspsyll.wordpress.com/2024/04/15/eurofanatiker-forsoker-kora-over-fol…
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 06:37
Efter att ha misslyckats med att få in Sverige i euron på demokratisk väg försöker nu marknadsliberaler andra metoder. ”Jag ser inget behov av en ny folkomröstning om euron” säger Liberalernas ordförande Johan Pehrson … Syftet med demokrati är inte att folket alltid vet bäst. Det är att eliter alltid lider av grupptänk och hybris, […]

About That Near Catastrophe

https://digbysblog.net/2024/04/15/about-that-near-catastrophe/
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 06:30
Josh Marshall on the weekend’s events in the middle east: The U.S. telegraphed more or less exactly what Iran was going to do via extremely good intelligence (reminiscent of the lead up to the invasion of Ukraine). It undoubtedly played a huge role bringing Jordan, Saudi Arabia and likely other Arab states into active and public armed action in defense of Israel. It positioned and deployed U.S. anti-ballistic destroyers and aerial assets to itself shoot down roughly a hundred of the estimated 300+ aerial devices Iran launched at Israel. Together, Israel, the U.S. and various allied Arab states took down 99% or more of all those devices. Iran launched a massive aerial bombardment and virtually none of it got through. And now the U.S. has managed to get Israel not to launch an immediate and inevitably escalatory retaliation. It goes without saying that no administration works on its own. It comes to the game with the world’s most powerful military and major power status. It’s operating with Arab allies who have been gravitating toward a de facto anti-Iran alliance with Israel for years.

Marxist Viewing of Dune: Part Two

https://www.ppesydney.net/marxist-viewing-of-dune-part-two/
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 06:00

The latest movie adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel Dune, Dune: Part Two directed by Denis Villeneuve, has set truly intergalactic box office records, and been globally exalted by movie critics. Dune: Part Two has, of 24 March, hit over US$220 million in the United States domestic box-office, and worm-holed its way to over US$520 million globally. Villeneuve’s latest foray into the harsh world of Arrakis has been critically acclaimed as a masterpiece, with the film compared favourably to the brilliant Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back, while it currently enjoys near-perfect popular and critical reviews.  

Pope Francis has abandoned transgender Catholics

https://johnmenadue.com/pope-francis-has-abandoned-transgender-catholics/
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 04:59
In a recent official Declaration on Human Dignity, Dignitas Infinita, the Pope has endorsed a document that effectively outlaws sex change for transgender Catholics. The Declaration is both harsh and unrelenting in its tone, dismissive of new science and judgemental of those Catholics who in good faith make life choices contrary to the edicts of Continue reading »

The end of occupation: A state of Palestine at the UN

https://johnmenadue.com/the-end-of-occupation-a-state-of-palestine-at-the-un/
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 04:58
UNSC approval of the application for Palestine to become a full UN member state this week would necessarily lead to the end of the occupation. One UN member state cannot occupy the land of another. In the present circumstances, a US veto of Palestinian statehood would make America look ridiculous. It would be seen as Continue reading »

Lest We Forget: Japan joining AUKUS a stark reminder of China’s Century of Humiliation

https://johnmenadue.com/lest-we-forget-japan-joining-aukus-a-stark-reminder-of-…
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 04:57
With the addition of Japan, AUKUS ceases to be a device to supply nuclear powered submarines to Australia several decades in the future but a stark reminder of the oppressive powers that abused Chinese sovereignty in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles who first suggested that the inclusion of Continue reading »

Over Dutton now looms the spectre of a quick trip to Government House

https://johnmenadue.com/over-dutton-now-looms-the-spectre-of-a-quick-trip-to-go…
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 04:56
By mid-May, Budget time, the Albanese government will be a week short of two years in power. Albanese is moving into the zone where he could confidently approach the Governor-General, new or old, for an early election, perhaps as early as July, unexceptionably in October or November. I can’t see any parliamentary problem needing to Continue reading »

How many more tragedies? Sydney siders in disbelief as they lay flowers

https://johnmenadue.com/how-many-more-tragedies-sydney-siders-in-disbelief-as-t…
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 04:55
Our society is failing the seriously mentally ill. In the wake of the Bondi junction shopping centre attack, reporters expressed surprise that a person with a serious mental health illness could be living in cars and hostels. Ask anyone in mental health services they will tell you it’s common for people with serious mental illness Continue reading »

XR blocking arteries of capitalism labelled “catastrophic inconvenience”

https://johnmenadue.com/xr-blocking-arteries-of-capitalism-labelled-catastrophi…
Created
Tue, 16/04/2024 - 04:54
One month ago, three Extinction Rebellion protesters led by Deana ‘Violet’ Coco blocked the Westgate Bridge to deliver a desperate plea to all Australians. ‘Climate Breakdown has Begun.’ ‘Declare a Climate Emergency!’ they urged. Despite 1.15 degrees of warming confirmed in 2022 and the drastic effects of climate change currently affecting global communities, the Federal Continue reading »