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submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca to c/politics@lemmy.world

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If you think things are bad now, then, brace yourself: it is about to get a whole lot worse. If you are alarmed at the speed with which the Trump administration has set about dismantling every institution of American government and every pillar of the international order, you must understand that this is not just the initial burst of activity, the “shock and awe” phase after which things will settle down: if anything, the pace will continue to accelerate.

The world has never before been faced with such a threat. The United States has handed the nuclear codes to a madman, a criminal, a would-be dictator and a moron, all in the same person. Whatever the purpose to which he directs these powers – to impress his dictator friends, to further enrich himself and his cronies, to seize absolute power or just to watch the world burn – we must hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

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[-] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 23 points 2 days ago

And that doesn't seem like it's going to happen. For the most part Americans are complaining but not willing to actually do anything about the situation.

I've heard people say the US couldn't invade us because it would cause an uprising, but they aren't willing to stand up and fight for their own democracy. They won't stand up to fight for ours.

[-] ricecake@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 days ago

We've never been in a situation even remotely like this before. A lot of people aren't sure that doing a coup would be fighting for our democracy because removing them from office would be removing the, as far as any evidence can show, legally elected government. It's about as bad as it's been in nearly 200 years, but what if we "destroy the democracy to save it"?

Invading a country that most Americans like more than their federal government is an entirely different question. This current bullshit is disgusting and heartbreaking.

[-] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 16 points 2 days ago

At this point, American democracy has already been destroyed.

[-] SabinStargem@lemmings.world 5 points 2 days ago

The democracy we knew. Whether there is a new one, depends on us.

[-] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago

It always has.

[-] Azal@pawb.social 5 points 2 days ago

Last time we had anything remotely close to this was 160 years ago. And this time the sane ones would be the ones going against the federal government.

It's... we're in the unknown as a country.

[-] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Also doing an uprising or outright causing regional sessions would be a lot more devastating if the US is already at war with someone else. It'd cause chaos in everything from logistics to the chain of command, that's not even getting into how it'd fuck up all asset control.

Just to use an example say the Trump declared war on Canada next week and only California declares secession. That alone would fuck up so much more on all sides than just California declaring independence.

As you said we're in uncharted waters and it's best to play it safe, any actions not carefully considered could even strengthen Trump's position.

[-] DrDickHandler@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Americans now want to invade and are cheering this on. It's inevitable.

[-] Xanthobilly@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

Bull fucking shit. Equating a minority of MAGAs that want to invade with most Americans only worsens the problem. Canadians could benefit from recognizing they have plenty of allies in the US and if the federal government chooses to invade our neighbors it’ll spark tremendous outrage and new alliances with Canada from blue states. Just to be crystal clear most Americans do not want this and see Canada as an important ally despite what you see on social media.

[-] stardust@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Can it be called a minority when more people voted for trump? And can't just assume people who didn't vote wouldn't support him.

Bigger question is how many Americans not in the military would willingly sign up to fight against Canada, and what would happen if there started being drafts. Even supporters of wars turn out to be cowards when they or their children are actually forced to participate.

So that is likely the scenario that would turn trump supporters against the US and lead to inner conflict and unify both sides of the political spectrum.

[-] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

Yeah, IMO war with Canada will be the trigger for kicking off balkanization.

[-] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago

Who want to invade and are cheering it on? His followers will agree with anything he does, obviously, but who else?

[-] floofloof@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Once "support our troops" kicks in and Canadians become those people who fight against heroic American soldiers, I fear the majority of the USA will support crushing Canada. A country doesn't need to have done anything for it to play out this way in the USA. There's a vast reservoir of "we're the best in the world" to tap into.

[-] HawlSera@lemm.ee 3 points 2 days ago

American Exceptionalism will be the death of us all

[-] skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

The "support our troops" movement went right into the shitter around the Iraq War. A majority of Americans do not approve of our military operations or expenditure.

And that was when the operations in question were across the entire world almost as physically far from the US as it is possible to be. If the government tries to start a war in our literal backyard you're going to see a different side of Americans.

I wish you'd see it without having to come to that, but, unfortunately, I do share a lot of your views about our inaction. We've never had to deal with something like this before. We don't know what to do about it. The obvious solution could cause even more problems that we can't foresee, and would guarantee the complete destruction of whatever hero carries it out. Most people aren't willing to die for their political beliefs unless they're backed against the wall. We are very swiftly approaching that wall though.

this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2025
810 points (100.0% liked)

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