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erronis

(21,237 posts)

119. Not too apocalyptic. More like the metaphoric frog that is being slowly boiled

Sat May 20, 2017, 08:46 PM

May 2017

We (humans) now have the capability to kill ourselves in so many ways that probably weren't even conceivable 200 years ago.

- Nuclear war
- Nuclear disasters
- Climate change (global)
- Loss of habitat for interconnected species
- Death of sea creatures. Most don't realize how dependent we are on this food chain
- Atmospheric poisoning. Well, this was prevalent in the 1700's but not as universal
- Groundwater disappearing
- Mono-culture crops
- Antibiotic resistance (totally man-made)
- Rising sea levels with accompanying massive population shifts and housing/feeding requirements
- Vast differences in wealth in the populations
- Lack of basic healthcare for most of the world (and the US is nowhere near the top of the developed countries.)

I don't know anything that is close to the real list in a prioritized real sense of urgency. Fending off asteroids or worrying about walls between neighbors isn't there.

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So, Trump, the "laughingstock," is on his way here to Europe. Here's my take on what is going on: [View all] DFW May 2017 OP

+1, "What they don't get is that we didn't have safeguards in place" uponit7771 May 2017 #1

In this case the safeguard (Electoral College) was stolen and worked backwards. Bernardo de La Paz May 2017 #17

+1 uponit7771 May 2017 #21

The institution of the Electoral College did not foresee systemtic voter suppression DFW May 2017 #52

Every point you made is a great one. Thank you. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz May 2017 #54

And Kris Kobach... 3catwoman3 May 2017 #61

Good points. The Dem party should also have a standing committee to combat repug cheating... brush May 2017 #62

Howard Dean was particularly interested in combating voter fraud from the right DFW May 2017 #66

That Dean "retired" is putting it nicely. maddiemom May 2017 #107

I've known Howard for over 15 years. DFW May 2017 #111

Voter apathy -- 45% didn't bother to vote BarbD May 2017 #67

That makes two of us. DFW May 2017 #69

Exceptional post. This is what we need. suffragette May 2017 #76

Voting supression and electoral fraud should have been #1 on the agenda right after Dubya won LiberalLovinLug May 2017 #95

The answer to the rhetorical "how bad can they be?" DFW May 2017 #96

Great post. You touch on so many of the important reasons the dems are ineffective. erronis May 2017 #110

In Oregon we vote exclusively by mail, problem solved. flibbitygiblets May 2017 #98

If it's practical and makes sense, guess who will fight it tooth and nail DFW May 2017 #99

I always enjoy your posts and you are right on with this. yardwork May 2017 #102

Thanks for the kind words, and I HATE being right about this particular issue! DFW May 2017 #103

When the Democrats get back in power, we must insist on safeguards. yardwork May 2017 #104

I hope the next Democratic leaders are bunch of smart dedicated people I'm too old to have met yet DFW May 2017 #105

Don't we say that every 4/8/12 years? When we get back in power... erronis May 2017 #112

Democrats have certainly not done enough about vote suppression. yardwork May 2017 #117

I read somwhere..... SergeStorms May 2017 #129

That's not my understanding. zentrum May 2017 #83

As you say, the only silver lining is that we're serving as a bad example, not to be emulated. NBachers May 2017 #2

A Cautionary Tale Cha May 2017 #7

I hope we've seen the last of Stein. maddiemom May 2017 #108

I wish, too.. but I doubt it. :( Cha May 2017 #124

Thank You, DFW, For Your Informative Post DDySiegs May 2017 #3

What a contrast between Merkel and Trump. Merkel, the pragmatist, Trump, just a series of emotional Doodley May 2017 #4

In 2012, I had the pleasure of spending an hour with President Obama DFW May 2017 #55

And chocolate cake! The best ever!!! spooky3 May 2017 #82

No chocolate cake that time DFW May 2017 #97

It's no comfort. It's just good to know that the damage spooky3 May 2017 #100

Back in the USSA DFW May 2017 #101

??? I must have skipped over the backstory here erronis May 2017 #113

I think some of the potential environmental damage Trump's pals are capable of doing DFW May 2017 #115

Not too apocalyptic. More like the metaphoric frog that is being slowly boiled erronis May 2017 #119

Just got back from Europe yesterday iamateacher May 2017 #5

Former expat in Germany here flygal May 2017 #6

Pladduetsch I can handle. DFW May 2017 #9

Ha! That's like that commercial where a woman wanted something to shipped to flygal May 2017 #11

So do I! DFW May 2017 #46

I spent some teen years in Schweitz and can't rid myself of the sing-song erronis May 2017 #114

Way back in the dawn of time DFW May 2017 #118

Mahalo for your experience in Germany with Cha May 2017 #8

Noʻu ka hauʻoli DFW May 2017 #10

That's awesome! I haven't been to the Cha May 2017 #14

We love the Big Island. DFW May 2017 #42

Waipio Valley was a paradise in the 70's,.. Permanut May 2017 #126

I only saw Waipio from above, never went down to the black sand DFW May 2017 #140

Oh, man, that road.. Permanut May 2017 #141

I heard that DFW May 2017 #144

You're really taking me back in time.. Permanut May 2017 #146

The only reason I know that area DFW May 2017 #147

Well done JustAnotherGen May 2017 #12

It never fails to amaze me sometimes DFW May 2017 #47

The rise of Trump in America is startling, he saw the weaknesses in the systems, no safeguards, and RKP5637 May 2017 #13

He did not exploit those alone. His comrades across the water and the optical fibres helped some. nt Bernardo de La Paz May 2017 #18

And the authoritarian GOP. Without the GOP he would have ended like LePen american_ideals May 2017 #25

True. Good post. Welcome to DU. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz May 2017 #26

Their propaganda arms ("media") cannot be underestimated DFW May 2017 #39

The last or the beginning2 I think that will be up to us ultimately DFW May 2017 #48

That's not The Who, it's Twisted Sister. First band I ever saw. bettyellen May 2017 #57

I was referring to this part of "Tommy" DFW May 2017 #59

The Who did the original. maddiemom May 2017 #109

It's a different song- the TS version was used by Trump last year and Dee shut him down. LOL bettyellen May 2017 #116

The Trump brand Roy Rolling May 2017 #15

Well Said, DFW,... MarianJack May 2017 #16

Thanks for that DFW May 2017 #35

Thanks for that report DFW. Ligyron May 2017 #19

You don't have to do that--but learn the local languages first DFW May 2017 #33

You're right. Progressive Americans need to be ambassadors of sanity when abroad. Ligyron May 2017 #56

I'm aware of the Parisians' rep, but don't full subscribe to it DFW May 2017 #68

Interesting! Ligyron May 2017 #77

Aren't there like a hundred different langauges spoken in Borneo? DFW May 2017 #79

That's what I heard. Ligyron May 2017 #84

That would be my reason for going, too. DFW May 2017 #86

What a great story. And so true .. pangaia May 2017 #81

Thanks DFW for your insightful and informative post. nt oasis May 2017 #20

Europeans vs. half of US - difference is Fox News and RW propaganda american_ideals May 2017 #22

Also, Murdoch (Fox News) is in the UK american_ideals May 2017 #23

Fox does not broadcast here in Germany DFW May 2017 #29

My whole life I've thought it was a mistake on our part to tolerate neo-Nazis & their ilk... Hekate May 2017 #32

Thre ARE laws against hate speech DFW May 2017 #34

Yes Hekate May 2017 #36

And Europe (and Israel) also have stronger campaign and campaign finance laws sharedvalues May 2017 #65

So much propaganda in the US american_ideals May 2017 #37

Ignorance is the life-giving elixir of the Republican Party DFW May 2017 #40

YES! That's why DeVos is trying to destroy public education. american_ideals May 2017 #64

Heavy article... insightful keithbvadu2 May 2017 #122

Hence Brexit Hekate May 2017 #30

Interesting! One quibble: Hollande was not the payola guy. That was Sarkozy. ucrdem May 2017 #24

Hollande already had all he could ever need from other people's taxes. He didn't need the rest. DFW May 2017 #27

The first measure Hollande enacted was to lower his own salary by 30%. ucrdem May 2017 #41

I didn't accuse him of corruption, just incompetence. DFW May 2017 #45

Lining one's pockets or "grabbing all they'll ever need legally" describes Fillon, ucrdem May 2017 #49

And how many of his "plans" got carried out? DFW May 2017 #50

I like the edit and gave it a rec. ucrdem May 2017 #51

Good to see you as always, DFW. I find your news about Europe to be very encouraging... Hekate May 2017 #28

WE SENT YOU A GIFT.... bresue May 2017 #31

great analysis heaven05 May 2017 #38

Re the 6% move in EURUSD... Lucky Luciano May 2017 #43

I agree that Macron's win was part of it, but only part DFW May 2017 #58

Thanks DFW. I always appreciate your perspective and the view from the smirkymonkey May 2017 #44

Whoever thought that movie would be a blueprint for the USA? DFW May 2017 #53

My concern - RandomAccess May 2017 #60

Dugin is VERY bad news DFW May 2017 #71

Yes, he is an open fascist RandomAccess May 2017 #93

I did know that our extremist right loved Dugin DFW May 2017 #94

welcome to du niyad May 2017 #74

Thanks RandomAccess May 2017 #87

Appointing someone to every dept to report back Lars39 May 2017 #145

I think from Europe, it's hard to appreciate what TV coverage of the election was like muriel_volestrangler May 2017 #63

I was appalled when I visited the States last summer, my wife even more so DFW May 2017 #70

thank you, as always, for such an informative post. niyad May 2017 #72

I'm glad you found something in there you considered worthwhile DFW May 2017 #73

bookmarking because I only have a bit of time today, and want to read all the comments. niyad May 2017 #75

Thank you, DFW. I always Lifelong Protester May 2017 #78

Thanks! My biggest challenge is staying awake DFW May 2017 #80

Excellent OP, as always steve2470 May 2017 #85

So far, though, we have always retreated from the brink DFW May 2017 #88

I really do hope we will do that again steve2470 May 2017 #89

The crazies do have their constant vein drip of hate DFW May 2017 #90

good points, all the best to your you and your lovely family! nt steve2470 May 2017 #91

Thanks as always, Steve DFW May 2017 #92

Evita Rainbow Tour exboyfil May 2017 #106

Do you interview everyone you meet or do random strangers just trot up and spill their obliviously May 2017 #120

More like they interview me DFW May 2017 #130

Your article/opinion is terrific. DK504 May 2017 #121

Maybe the thinking he's brilliant is a cover DFW May 2017 #134

"paranoid egotist with an inferiority complex" - OUCH! Great OP with some excellent comments. (DT keithbvadu2 May 2017 #123

Don't worry DFW May 2017 #131

We're sorry! We didn't all vote for him! forgotmylogin May 2017 #125

I haven't heard a peep from the UK. DFW May 2017 #132

Seriously. forgotmylogin May 2017 #142

K&R!!!!!! burrowowl May 2017 #127

Left CH in March LittleGirl May 2017 #128

I'm sure if email voting becomes prevalent, it will become hackable, too DFW May 2017 #133

There were LittleGirl May 2017 #137

It's sad how the world Blue_Roses May 2017 #135

The embarrassment hurts DFW May 2017 #136

+1 Brilliant analysis, both in the OP and the thread. LongTomH May 2017 #138

He's supposed to arrive in Sprout City on Wednesday DFW May 2017 #139

One of the best OPs and threads I've seen here in a long time. Liberal In Texas May 2017 #143

Except that a US failure is strategically advantageous to Europe. FigTree May 2017 #148

I don't know where that one came from, but it's not the prevalent attitude here DFW May 2017 #149