I wasn’t advocating for his survival. His elimination is a prerequisite to a genuine Marshall Plan. The question is what happens after his death, and that means supporting Russian leaders who prefer democracy over the old ways.

I don’t think our positions are mutually exclusive. I am thinking Russia in the west getting the Marshall Plan reform treatment would be done, and what you described also happening. That would make it easier for the EU to handle the Russian territory closer to home.

Plus, China tearing off a haunch of Russia might be good for peace in the long run. It would allow Xi Ping to have a victorious legacy, without having to attack Taiwan. The Chinese tiger might sleep while digesting the territory it reclaimed from Russia.

I would assume that Ukraine would also get a Marshall Plan. The place is rich with resources and food, but lacks the infrastructure to take advantage. That makes Ukraine suitable for investment, since the EU would get a healthy trading partner in the long run. As with Russia, letting Ukraine rot after the conflict could lead to trouble down the line, so keeping democratic Ukraine in good health is key to keeping the peace.

Be it pragmatic or moral, there is a great deal of value in well executed Marshall Plans for everyone involved.

Considering how Western Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan turned out after their Marshall Plans, I think there is a lot of evidence that reforming and rebuilding a country helps with making them into democratic major powers. I would guess the EU would do it, and Ukraine would want their neighbor to stop being a jackass.

Poland certainly wouldn’t want Ukraine to annex Russia, that just means a new rival on their doorstep. Ditto for Turkey, since they are a naval bottleneck, and wouldn’t want a Uber Ukraine to get ideas. So on and so forth. A lot of nations would rather a smaller and reformed Russia, than a bigger and hungry Ukraine. Better to foster small but capable democracies that want to be part of the EU bloc.

I just hope that the EU and other major powers blacklist Yarvin’s Cabal from living or operating in their territories. The 1%'s money is tainted, as it would surely be used to corrode and destroy countries as it had the US.

If Putin dies, a successor might (secretly) align with Ukraine. Something like “If you attack XX, I will remove my troops from ZZ, if you don’t attack me. I will be focusing on a bread & butter campaign if I run Russia. Take care of my rivals in the meantime, mm’kay?”

Mind, I would prefer Russia outright being conquered and Marshall Planned into something completely different, but I would accept the other scenario if the outcome could be decent. In this case, Ukraine gets back Crimea and all other territories, plus security guarantees.

I know an old hardware store, the kind that is about half the size of a Home Depot. That building and the lot around it has been empty for nearly a decade by now. Aside from likely being dilapidated from not having humans, it should be a pretty good building for stowing gear. Hopefully, my Euros when converted into dollars will be able to buy cheap real estate for a good cause.

Many times more than $500, but far below $100,000. In any case, I am thinking that if WW3 starts up, I can buy war bonds from the places that oppose Dogey America. Probably fiscally safer and more effective than buying ammo as an individual, since states can do better bulk purchases and negotiations with that money. Hopefully my neck of the woods would disobey Trump orders to outlaw the purchase of foreign war bonds.

I want him to terminally overdose.

I am guessing that Musk will create a Muskcoin, and offer to ‘sell’ it for a preferable rate to the US government. Coincidentally, the Muskcoin uses the X Everything platform for all transactions.

With each day that passes, I am becoming more convinced that shifting 99% of my money into Euros is the right call.

I guess Sanders and DeVito used a fusion dance to achieve this form.

I was raised in a rural area. The amount of friends I made in life after forty years is…zero. Aside from a sibling, I don’t have anyone to count on. I am also too poor to afford visiting bars or other social things, so I can’t learn how to be around people, let alone establish ties. It is my belief that America’s shitty economy is the source of these issues, because a person can’t blossom if they don’t have the fiscal agency to escape a tiny bubble.

The internet let me develop as a person, but that can only go so far. I can’t afford risks, such as trying beer, an escort to lose my virginity, or travel. Poverty is a prison without walls.

I think it is because the wealthy have constantly reduced the wealth of the average American. Each individual has to spend more time working, for less pay. This deteriorates their mental and physical health, prevents socialization, saps energy, limits the amount of money, time, and travel they can spend on politics.

IMO, the “lazy” European gets about 95% of an American’s work efficiency for the time spent, but are not nearly as damaged by their work/life ratio. This lets them have far greater agency in the politics of their land. If this continues, I think the assorted cultures of Europe will be far more documented in history than their American peer. The corrosion from beating the good life out of American workers, means that there is little incentive for Americans to want their culture to survive nor spread.

Current politics are partially driven by apathy, one born from the learned helplessness that life won’t get any better. We will need French cutlery to be deployed, so that the blood of tyrants can water the tree of liberty. Just as with the French, I think America can recover from a dead end. Whether that happens…well, we will see within a decade.

Here’s hoping the good guys destroy Dogey America, and replace it something that people can take pride in.

May his weapon be hollowed thrice over.

The one cold comfort I take away from this, is that the civil war against Dogey America would end faster than if the bastards were competent.

The Avatar episode about No War in Ba Sing Se would fit in as well. Oh, and the opening episodes of the classic Battlestar Galactica - the Cylons attack when the opposition is gathered for a peace conference. We might relate if WW3 starts.

Battlestar 1978 - Saga of a Star World trailer

We probably should make a list of stuff for everybody to select and show for their respective libraries.

*Avatar: The Last Airbender, episode 14, “City of Walls and Secrets”.

*Babylon 5: seasons 4 and 5 focus on the civil war with Earth. In one of the episodes, Sheriden asks incoming warships about what they are supposed to do when issued illegal orders. We could use a supercut of B5 that is solely concerned with the civil war, since the series is filled with many unrelated plot threads.

On that note, Mac’s Lore did an episode that summarizes the civil war.

The Secession of Babylon 5

*V: An alien invasion, in which the aliens literally wear human skin to make themselves appear normal. Aside from eating mice and things, they institute fascism. The series is all about forming a resistance against them. There is also a reboot of V, but I don’t recall which series got to their conclusion.

Progressives should support a boar hunting program, along with offering assistance for moving, dismantling, and inspecting game. People who learn how to hunt, know how to shoot. That might be a very valuable skill in the times ahead.

We kill two boars with one bullet.

Personally, I would like a Japanese karoke-style room system for the theater. Sit back, relax, and watch the video in peace. Order snacks and drinks for delivery, and maybe snuggle up with your partner. No children, just you and a time away from life.

Unfortunately, the Traitor in Chief really likes Hitler and enjoys giving Putin a reacharound. I don’t like our odds for having peace.