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[martinuzz]

Really is a shame that the South America and Subsaharan Africa don't have any nations rising in prominence.  This would be a perfect opportunity for them to break the basically chokehold the Northern Hemisphere has on influence.  Might even have been able to cause people to think of the world more globally if there was one down there.  I mean, you could make the argument Austrailia is one, but it tends to get sidelined by other English speaking nations.

Australiwhat? That's some small island in the pacific used by the UK as a prison colony, right?

[Egan_BW]

South hemisphere? You mean that place that civilization gets resources from?

[Loud Whispers]

Singapore is in the southern hemisphere

Northern hemisphere will always have an advantage though, it simply is the case that it has more clay than the southern hemisphere

[smjjames]

I do think we need to sort of step back a little bit, but we've been dominant for so long that, well, how do you transition to being a more normal country while still having the same amount of geopolitical weight and not have the world order collapse because of a power vacuum.

Really is a shame that the South America and Subsaharan Africa don't have any nations rising in prominence.  This would be a perfect opportunity for them to break the basically chokehold the Northern Hemisphere has on influence.  Might even have been able to cause people to think of the world more globally if there was one down there.  I mean, you could make the argument Austrailia is one, but it tends to get sidelined by other English speaking nations.

Brazil was on the rise, but then it got hobbled by it's own internal problems. Africa.... with the exception of South Africa, the only one that I can think of that might actually be rising or have any significant influence might be Kenya, but even then, it's influence is primarily reputational I think, rather than political. I don't think theres really even one single rising voice in Africa because they kind of all are, at different rates. Some kind of coalition of African states might be what projects influence rather than any single nation.

Singapore is in the southern hemisphere

It's big in trade circles, not so much political ones I don't think.

[TempAcc]

Bill pls

And grand br got hobbled by socialism and which infiltrated its administration (even more so) with polarization, corporativism and corruption for over 10 years and is just now fighting with tooth and nail to get the country back on track.

[Rolepgeek]

Singapore is in the southern hemisphere

Northern hemisphere will always have an advantage though, it simply is the case that it has more clay than the southern hemisphere

Antarctica reign supreme

Although Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil are all becoming more relevant, from what I know. Largely Indonesia due to population, and Brazil's economy/gov't is a shit right now, and South Africa may have already peaked, but still.

My far-fetched hope is that Trump somehow initiates a New New Deal. Especially considering how much of our infrastructure is degrading or degraded for lack of maintenance. Also that he raises taxes and closes loopholes like he said and does a 180 on cabinet picks at some point.

[Silverthrone]

Well. Well, well, well... I am simply not sure where to stand. It is odd to see a position that commands quite a lot of respect and admiration be occupied by an overgrown toddler. I am just not sure what to think. He was chosen. It is impossible to not understand and respect why for. He is what an awful lot of people want, he is the man chosen to lead the United States. And yet, judging on his speech and his behaviour, he is an equivolent to an unusually assertive 4-year-old. It's... Good God. He just seems unworthy for the office, is all. But I cannot tell where my (pitiful sample of) logic ends and where my prejudice begins. Well. We shall see.
His first presidential temper tantrum will be the first test. For all of us.

The redeeming quality of American Protestantism and the top is that things are still pretty fragmented as far as religion goes. We don't really have one state owned church so much as many, many flavors of Christianity, sprinkled with other religions on top.

Part of the reason is that a lot of odd ducks, religion-wise, settled in America to practice their own original (do not steal) interpretation of Christianity in peace. It is... Odd. It is rather like how the United States did not have a rigid system of nobility, clergy, gentry and peasantry, and yet there is a huge, wide class chasm today.
With that said, though, secularism and equality are two things that does make America (or rather, the idea of America) such a great place, and such an ambition. It is just that having a grand idea and maintaining it has proven to be rather difficult.

[Sergarr]

dear lord they're getting their prayers out in the open again

what is this even

[smjjames]

dear lord they're getting their prayers out in the open again

what is this even

No different from saying thanks with a prayer for thanksgiving dinner. (for context, they're at a congressional luncheon)

I know, I know, culture shock and all that. A LOT of it is simply tradition rather than any mandated or forced thing.

[Loud Whispers]

Although Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil are all becoming more relevant, from what I know. Largely Indonesia due to population, and Brazil's economy/gov't is a shit right now, and South Africa may have already peaked, but still.

Brazil is currently fucked, South Africa corruption is holding it back, which is also true of Indonesia - Indonesia could be a major world power if it wasn't so corrupt it would make Russian oligarchs look like pillars of integrity and honesty

Australia is doing better but are still an American protectorate so don't have that much international influence

[birdy51]

Oh right. I did forget to mention, Republicans tend to be more churchy, so I'm not surprised. I'm not sure if we've ever been fully 'secular'. We tried, and put it into the constitution, but the idea of freedom of religion has been construed to 'do what you want in the name of religion'.

[smjjames]

Although Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil are all becoming more relevant, from what I know. Largely Indonesia due to population, and Brazil's economy/gov't is a shit right now, and South Africa may have already peaked, but still.

Brazil is currently fucked, South Africa corruption is holding it back, which is also true of Indonesia - Indonesia could be a major world power if it wasn't so corrupt it would make Russian oligarchs look like pillars of integrity and honesty

Australia is doing better but are still an American protectorate so don't have that much international influence

That's why I said Brazil was rising, until it broke. Also, Australia is a British protectorate, not American.

[Rolan7]

dear lord they're getting their prayers out in the open again

what is this even

In court you're expected to put your hand on a bible or other holy book as you swear to tell the truth.  It's not required, you're "free" to be scandalous.  Like being the one kid who doesn't join the Christian school prayer, when that was a thing.

Unrelated, replying to something from WTF thread:

My, oh, my... I do believe monarchy is not quite as awful as it is presented. There ought to be someone born, rather than elected, available to say "Absolutely not!" in some occasions. No one does well in an environment of full support. Of course, that goes for monarchs as well. And corporate executives. If a boardroom, throne room or office lacks a luddite being obstinate and causing the odd row and being a bother, things are not as they ought to be.

^{It has been a few days since I poked my head in. Awfully sorry.}

Inb4 USA rejoins the Crown

Long live the Queen!

I know it's silly, but sometimes I do think that being in the Commonwealth - having Her Majesty as a figurehead - might have helped us (the US).  Not just this election, but in general.  We conflate figurehead with leader of the armed forces, and then he's manager of the branch that actually does everything.

Just seems inappropriate for a popularity contest.  The manager shouldn't have to be the most approachable or funny person.  It shouldn't even be about agenda, since theoretically they only execute Congress's will.  It should be about managing.
...  Successfully.

I haven't actually seen the inauguration yet, I'm pregaming.

[Reelya]

Singapore is in the southern hemisphere

No it's not actually, check it's latitude and longitude. It's near the equator, but on the north side.

It's sort of a thing: people in the north wrongly estimate exactly where the equator is, usually for cultural divide reasons. e.g. on Leno once they asked Californians whether Mexico was southern hemisphere or northern hemisphere, and most said southern. In some sense Signapore is southern, but not in terms of geographic hemispheres.

[Loud Whispers]

That's why I said Brazil was rising, until it broke. Also, Australia is a British protectorate, not American.

I wish, the transfer happened in the 40s
Australia and UK still cooperate militarily on a deeper level, but there is no doubt that it is as near-equals with USA as leader

Singapore is in the southern hemisphere

No it's not actually, check it's latitude and longitude. It's near the equator, but on the north side.

Jeez, just take more away from the southern hemisphere while you're at it