Uncle Joe

[ProudBoy]

But judging by the Merican imperial track record, we’re far less likely to use our power to be leaders in combating environmental destruction, and far more likely to use that power to just go looting for more oil

It really seems like the tide has changed on that, both here and abroad.

[TDub]

The fact that people still believe this is insane. Our country is full of dumbdumbs

so....we should disband the military?

the military does do a lot of good things and provides opportunities and assistance to people who go that route.

Just quoting this for it's stupidity.

my brother in law is just getting out....he has decided to try and become an electrician. The military is paying for his schooling/apprenticeship training and part of his housing until he journeys out through the helmets to hard hats program. He would not have that opportunity without the military....not while also supporting his family.

You know not of what you speak.

[Cascadia]

so....we should disband the military?

the military does do a lot of good things and provides opportunities and assistance to people who go that route.

Just quoting this for it's stupidity.

my brother in law is just getting out....he has decided to try and become an electrician. The military is paying for his schooling/apprenticeship training and part of his housing until he journeys out through the helmets to hard hats program. He would not have that opportunity without the military....not while also supporting his family.

You know not of what you speak.

You're an idiot.

[TDub]

quality response...really made your point.

[ProudBoy]

I don’t think anyone suggested dismantling our military.

[Cascadia]

I don’t think anyone suggested dismantling our military.

Exactly

[Mjl]

quality response...really made your point.

He's a child.
"No, you're stupid!"
It's what happens when he can't formulate a thought. Which happens a LOT.

[Mjl]

But judging by the Merican imperial track record, we’re far less likely to use our power to be leaders in combating environmental destruction, and far more likely to use that power to just go looting for more oil

It really seems like the tide has changed on that, both here and abroad.

Is that a thing though?
Like, how have we actually taken other countries' oil? It's one thing to help secure it so that it continues to flow to the global market (e.g. Desert Storm), but I wouldn't call that looting by any means.

[PhDhawk]

But judging by the Merican imperial track record, we’re far less likely to use our power to be leaders in combating environmental destruction, and far more likely to use that power to just go looting for more oil

It really seems like the tide has changed on that, both here and abroad.

Is that a thing though?
Like, how have we actually taken other countries' oil? It's one thing to help secure it so that it continues to flow to the global market (e.g. Desert Storm), but I wouldn't call that looting by any means.

Shh...he thinks he's on a roll.

[ProudBoy]

But judging by the Merican imperial track record, we’re far less likely to use our power to be leaders in combating environmental destruction, and far more likely to use that power to just go looting for more oil

It really seems like the tide has changed on that, both here and abroad.

Is that a thing though?
Like, how have we actually taken other countries' oil? It's one thing to help secure it so that it continues to flow to the global market (e.g. Desert Storm), but I wouldn't call that looting by any means.

I was referring more to the need/lust for oil. It isn’t going away over night (and maybe not at all in it’s entirety), but it seems that there has been a fairly massive shift away from all-out reliance recently. It could all be posturing though, with very little actually changing as far as consumption is concerned.

[Mjl]

Yeah, I guess it was more directed at Qus, shouldn't have included yours

[ousdahl]

Qus would suggest maybe there’s some correlation between military footprint and things like resource control and global markets and such.

But that’s just what Qusdahl’s ex girlfriend said about it during her active duty in Syria. Or rather, does anybody else know what the hell she was doing on active duty in Syria?

At the very very least, bigger military footprint means more lucrative (maybe even no-bid) contracts for the MIC.

There’s also this bigger leftist narrative that less wealthy (and also often global south, often of color) countries are kept less wealthy cuz the resources there are controlled by global north (often white) colonists.

But Qusdahl’s tired of even asking if stuff like that is a possibility, cuz he knows so many here will loose their minds about even considering as much. Yall sleep better at night that way.

[ProudBoy]

There’s also this bigger leftist narrative that less wealthy (and also often global south countries, often of color) are kept less wealthy cuz the resources there are controlled by global north (often white) colonists.

That narrative isn’t entirely false. The problem is that “mistreatment” of such groups isn’t always carried out by (often white) colonists. I’m not even sure that’s the case the majority of the time anymore, but it certainly was largely the case historically.

There are ample examples of people eating their own, so to speak. Look no further than Brazil for an example, though I’d imagine Bolsonaro wouldn’t consider the indigenous peoples of the Amazon “his own”.

[ousdahl]

Ever had a banana?

[ousdahl]

Also I’ve shared this story before, about seeing Anthony Bourdain at some meet and greet Q&A lecture years ago.

Someone asked if he had ever encountered cannibalism or been offered human flesh during his travels, and what is position was on the matter.

Bourdain’s stated his position was something like, “medium rare, with a dash of salt”

[ProudBoy]

Ever had a banana?

Yes, and peeled the proper way.

I’ve actually had bananas from Africa, South America and Asia.

[ousdahl]

Look up “Banana massacre”

Military force doing the bidding of corporate imperialism and suppression of native workers and such.

Heck, pretty sure that’s where “banana republic” came from

[ProudBoy]

Look up “Banana massacre”

Military force doing the bidding of corporate imperialism and such.

Heck, pretty sure that’s where “banana republic” came from

I’m not sure what your point is.

An American company, operating in Colombia in 1928, was complicit (?) in the Colombian army opening fire on hundreds of workers “striking” for better working conditions?

[ProudBoy]

I stand by my previous assertion, that there are fewer examples of that sort of abuse these days, and greater prevalence of, I’ll call it domestic abuse, of sorts.

[ousdahl]

My point is, bananas are a tasty snack and rich in potassium.

And also that’s there’s pretty much always been some correlation between military imperialism and economic exploitation.