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"When the course of human events"

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 9:47am

Don't know why that famous quote sticks in my mind. It is of course from the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson.
We've certainly had a great deal of human events since that time of struggle to free a people from immense tyranny, mostly originating from a power from far away, overseas.
Yet, the feeling of tyranny raising its ugly head returns.
But this time it is home grown, right here in Washington DC.
At one time in my youth, I could recite much of the document by memory. Today, portions come back at seemingly odd times.
I'm beginning to think it is driven by the current course of human events.
Re-reading the entire document confirms my suspicions.
We again have an organized clique of rulers governing us with tyrannical zealous evil.
"We hold these truths to be self evident".
I would encourage everyone to revisit this document and note the deja vu.
Or at least a rhyme.
I'm off the shop for a new chainsaw.
Thread is open.

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 11:18am

Good morning e1. That was indeed quite a document. We

are now openly and brazenly fascist, and hence tyranny is arguably an automatic accoutrement thereof, evolving out of the opportunity for it to come into existence just as fluids will rush to fill a vacuum.

For reasons I can't explain, this calls to mind the poem Der Bauer an seinen Durchlauchtigen Tyrannen by Gottfried August Burger, probably the word tyranny and related tyrant. Worth a read if you read deutsch, else, in english (more or less) From the Peasant to his illustrious tyrant. Something in the air back in those days.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:25pm

There is something to be said

@enhydra lutris
about the higher level of writing and written skills back in colonial times when that document was composed. Not all citizens could read and write, but those who could displayed an amazing sense of vocabulary and sentence structure with a swing to subtle poetry.
In those times, Trump would be considered an uneducated bore.
He certainly is ten levels below JFK.
Hell, I'm just gonna say it out loud; Obama wrote much better than Trump.
And Trump has already stated he doesn't read anything, someone "briefs" him.
Thanks for stopping by.

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by soryang on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 11:49am

Morning E1

But this time it is home grown, right here in Washington DC.

I suspect it's an Anglo thing.

I'm sure the AI is reading my keystrokes, listening to everything I say at home or on the phone, etc. I wrote my last comment yesterday, (I'm amazed) as to the cynical US elite disdain for goodwill, trust, old fashioned business planning, reputation, etc. So this am the Quora sends me an email concerning a Feb. 23 Washington Post article by Matthew Lynn entitled China tried to buy the world it failed. The original article is behind a paywall. (I would never pay to read that rag or any of its ilk.

But I will post this Thomas Anderson review of the WP column in Quora, because it notes the cynicism, stupidity, and malevolence of the WP columnist. I suspected the WP column author is British because his Xposts are all about UK politics. Why is a foreign alpha hotel given such a podium on a major estab media rag? I read once in one of the poly sci "power elite" type books, how deferential US elites typically are to the UK aristocracy. It's a great coup for a usian to get some degree from Cambridge or get an audience with royalty.

The Washington Post recently published an opinion piece by British columnist Matthew Lynn, openly mocking China for its reluctance to resort to force in defending its interests, suggesting that this is precisely why China's infrastructure investments in Latin America have "come to nothing" and why China has lost to the US in various parts of the world.

The article also mentioned the “lesson” from the EU: the EU claims to be a "regulatory superpower," but when Trump threatened to annex Greenland, it turned out that the power to set rules for cell phone chargers is far less deterrent than they had imagined. China can pour money into infrastructure construction, and the EU can regulate as much as it wants. However, the author believes that when it comes down to critical moments, only military force truly matters. The only countries that can shape the world according to their own interests are those capable of transporting personnel and weapons anywhere in the world at any time.

This article can essentially be summarized as: "You Chinese losers think you can gain influence through construction and commerce? The only thing that really works is bombing." He argues that China's approach is a "huge waste of money" because, through US-led "regime change," "control of infrastructure can change," and "ownership of any asset can be revoked."

Ultimately, the article made a conclusion being like, "You can't buy an empire, and you can't buy global influence. Only hard power matters." It seems the question of which approach the author believes is the right one is not a difficult one to answer.

What's it like Mr. Lynn, to step on one's crank, in front of the whole world, and have it recorded for all time?

Apparently, this is the kind of judgement the WP solicits for its sophisticated audience. Here's another example from Wikipedia-

In a 2007 Bloomberg article, Matt Lynn predicted that Apple Inc. "…will sell a few to its fans, but the iPhone won't make a long-term mark on the industry".

—

己所不欲，勿施于人。

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:17pm

Good morning, Soryang. Of course it's an Anglo thing.

@soryang

The fledgling US had outposts from France, England, and Spain, but England and, more importantly, English law prevailed. There is allegedly a touch of French law and culture in LA, nad clearly some Spanish/Mexican in the SW, but it's principally Anglo, right down to our common law. The Supremes have, over their history, cited Blackstone a truly enormous number of times, for example.

be well and have a good one

But this time it is home grown, right here in Washington DC. I suspect it's an Anglo thing. I'm sure the AI is reading my keystrokes, listening to everything I say at home or on the phone, etc. I wrote my last comment yesterday, (I'm amazed) as to the cynical US elite disdain for goodwill, trust, old fashioned business planning, reputation, etc. So this am the Quora sends me an email concerning a Feb. 23 Washington Post article by Matthew Lynn entitled China tried to buy the world it failed. The original article is behind a paywall. (I would never pay to read that rag or any of its ilk. But I will post this Thomas Anderson review of the WP column in Quora, because it notes the cynicism, stupidity, and malevolence of the WP columnist. I suspected the WP column author is British because his Xposts are all about UK politics. Why is a foreign alpha hotel given such a podium on a major estab media rag? I read once in one of the poly sci "power elite" type books, how deferential US elites typically are to the UK aristocracy. It's a great coup for a usian to get some degree from Cambridge or get an audience with royalty. The Washington Post recently published an opinion piece by British columnist Matthew Lynn, openly mocking China for its reluctance to resort to force in defending its interests, suggesting that this is precisely why China's infrastructure investments in Latin America have "come to nothing" and why China has lost to the US in various parts of the world. The article also mentioned the “lesson” from the EU: the EU claims to be a "regulatory superpower," but when Trump threatened to annex Greenland, it turned out that the power to set rules for cell phone chargers is far less deterrent than they had imagined. China can pour money into infrastructure construction, and the EU can regulate as much as it wants. However, the author believes that when it comes down to critical moments, only military force truly matters. The only countries that can shape the world according to their own interests are those capable of transporting personnel and weapons anywhere in the world at any time. This article can essentially be summarized as: "You Chinese losers think you can gain influence through construction and commerce? The only thing that really works is bombing." He argues that China's approach is a "huge waste of money" because, through US-led "regime change," "control of infrastructure can change," and "ownership of any asset can be revoked." Ultimately, the article made a conclusion being like, "You can't buy an empire, and you can't buy global influence. Only hard power matters." It seems the question of which approach the author believes is the right one is not a difficult one to answer. What's it like Mr. Lynn, to step on one's crank, in front of the whole world, and have it recorded for all time? Apparently, this is the kind of judgement the WP solicits for its sophisticated audience. Here's another example from Wikipedia- In a 2007 Bloomberg article, Matt Lynn predicted that Apple Inc. "…will sell a few to its fans, but the iPhone won't make a long-term mark on the industry".

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 12:36pm

I wouldn't call it a fault

@soryang
of China: "The Washington Post recently published an opinion piece by British columnist Matthew Lynn, openly mocking China for its reluctance to resort to force in defending its interests".
But adherence to an age old adage from the Art of War. To win without going to war is the greatest victory.
Or something like that.
Lynn has made his own bed. Dumbass.
Thanks for the post.

But this time it is home grown, right here in Washington DC. I suspect it's an Anglo thing. I'm sure the AI is reading my keystrokes, listening to everything I say at home or on the phone, etc. I wrote my last comment yesterday, (I'm amazed) as to the cynical US elite disdain for goodwill, trust, old fashioned business planning, reputation, etc. So this am the Quora sends me an email concerning a Feb. 23 Washington Post article by Matthew Lynn entitled China tried to buy the world it failed. The original article is behind a paywall. (I would never pay to read that rag or any of its ilk. But I will post this Thomas Anderson review of the WP column in Quora, because it notes the cynicism, stupidity, and malevolence of the WP columnist. I suspected the WP column author is British because his Xposts are all about UK politics. Why is a foreign alpha hotel given such a podium on a major estab media rag? I read once in one of the poly sci "power elite" type books, how deferential US elites typically are to the UK aristocracy. It's a great coup for a usian to get some degree from Cambridge or get an audience with royalty. The Washington Post recently published an opinion piece by British columnist Matthew Lynn, openly mocking China for its reluctance to resort to force in defending its interests, suggesting that this is precisely why China's infrastructure investments in Latin America have "come to nothing" and why China has lost to the US in various parts of the world. The article also mentioned the “lesson” from the EU: the EU claims to be a "regulatory superpower," but when Trump threatened to annex Greenland, it turned out that the power to set rules for cell phone chargers is far less deterrent than they had imagined. China can pour money into infrastructure construction, and the EU can regulate as much as it wants. However, the author believes that when it comes down to critical moments, only military force truly matters. The only countries that can shape the world according to their own interests are those capable of transporting personnel and weapons anywhere in the world at any time. This article can essentially be summarized as: "You Chinese losers think you can gain influence through construction and commerce? The only thing that really works is bombing." He argues that China's approach is a "huge waste of money" because, through US-led "regime change," "control of infrastructure can change," and "ownership of any asset can be revoked." Ultimately, the article made a conclusion being like, "You can't buy an empire, and you can't buy global influence. Only hard power matters." It seems the question of which approach the author believes is the right one is not a difficult one to answer. What's it like Mr. Lynn, to step on one's crank, in front of the whole world, and have it recorded for all time? Apparently, this is the kind of judgement the WP solicits for its sophisticated audience. Here's another example from Wikipedia- In a 2007 Bloomberg article, Matt Lynn predicted that Apple Inc. "…will sell a few to its fans, but the iPhone won't make a long-term mark on the industry".

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by humphrey on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 3:01pm

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the west to condemn

Israel's ~~"defensive"~~ actions.

Israel has blown up 10,000s of homes in south Lebanon, erasing dozens of villages. It has ethnically cleansed some 14% of Lebanese territory. It has destroyed bridges, cutting civilians off from help.

For how much longer are media and human rights groups going to suggest these… pic.twitter.com/BQk8o1ur52

— Jonathan Cook (@Jonathan_K_Cook) May 12, 2026

The rest of the tweet:

For how much longer are media and human rights groups going to suggest these "could be" war crimes?

Such terminology makes them utterly complicit in Israel's atrocities.

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 3:46pm

Ethnic cleansing?

@humphrey
"walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, must be a pussycat?

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by humphrey on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 3:41pm

With leadership like this the EU can continue on its rapid

steep decline.

The EU is in desperate need of regime change pic.twitter.com/8nrfStORQK

— Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) May 12, 2026

Submitted by on the cusp on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 6:19pm

Good evening, e1!

Trump admits he didn't read Iran's response to our latest "diplomatic" demands. He admits he isn't thinking about American's finances "even a little bit". He took his billionaire CEO cronies to Beijing to try to get them deals, emphasis on "them", not us.
When in the course of human events a revolutions occurs, it is warranted in most cases.
I support all military personnel who refuse to fight in this Iranian conflict, and I would like to see them stop double tapping "narco traffickers".
Interesting OT, friend.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 8:01pm

I would like to see them

@on the cusp
stop double tapping everyone, including girls schools.
We have created a murderous monster bent on leaving no survivors at all.
Thanks for the post.

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by on the cusp on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 9:09pm

That too,

@earthling1 E1. They massively double tapped, killed them all. Tried to blame AI. I call bull shit.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Sima on Wed, 05/13/2026 - 10:04pm

My advisor in my graduate studies...

who was British, and upper class, once had a good chuckle when I made the claim that the USA was not part of the British Empire. I thought it was strange, but in a few hours understood why he was laughing. USA, Britain, Australia... we are all part of the same Anglo Empire. And those who run it are basically the same.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so