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[Mr. Palau]

Edit:  And I'm also aware that exploiting anything and everything is basically the story of civilization as a whole, but damn does America take it to dizzying, unprecedented extremes.

In a sort of convuluted way that measn America is the best, or at least the most civilized. You said civilization=exploitation/exploiting things, and that America=unprecedentingly high levels of exploitation, therefore America=unprecedentingly high levels of civilization. Transitive property did come in handy, for once.

[Sirus]

Edit:  And I'm also aware that exploiting anything and everything is basically the story of civilization as a whole, but damn does America take it to dizzying, unprecedented extremes.

The British Empire would like to have a word with you, methinks.

[Mr. Palau]

Edit:  And I'm also aware that exploiting anything and everything is basically the story of civilization as a whole, but damn does America take it to dizzying, unprecedented extremes.

The British Empire would like to have a word with you, methinks.

Pft, they were small fry.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Edit:  And I'm also aware that exploiting anything and everything is basically the story of civilization as a whole, but damn does America take it to dizzying, unprecedented extremes.

The British Empire would like to have a word with you, methinks.

And the Mongol Empire. It takes some serious dedication to exploitation to kill 40 million people with nothing but swords and bows.

[Mr. Palau]

Edit:  And I'm also aware that exploiting anything and everything is basically the story of civilization as a whole, but damn does America take it to dizzying, unprecedented extremes.

The British Empire would like to have a word with you, methinks.

And the Mongol Empire. It takes some serious dedication to exploitation to kill 40 million people with nothing but swords and bows.

Yeah but they toke centuries to do it.

[Sirus]

Edit:  And I'm also aware that exploiting anything and everything is basically the story of civilization as a whole, but damn does America take it to dizzying, unprecedented extremes.

The British Empire would like to have a word with you, methinks.

And the Mongol Empire. It takes some serious dedication to exploitation to kill 40 million people with nothing but swords and bows.

I was focusing on the one closest to American history and culture, but yes. The Mongols, Romans, any of those "X the Great" empires...it's hardly unprecedented.

[Mego]

Edit:  And I'm also aware that exploiting anything and everything is basically the story of civilization as a whole, but damn does America take it to dizzying, unprecedented extremes.

In a sort of convuluted way that measn America is the best, or at least the most civilized. You said civilization=exploitation/exploiting things, and that America=unprecedentingly high levels of exploitation, therefore America=unprecedentingly high levels of civilization. Transitive property did come in handy, for once.

A rectangle is a quadrilateral, and a square is a quadrilateral. Does that mean a rectangle is a square? Not necessarily. The transitive property does not apply to everything.

I guess I should say something related to American politics in this post to make it on topic. So, how about that Oracle lawsuit?

[Jervill]

Anyways, Nate Silver just came out with his Election Forecast.  He was pretty accurate in 2008; so I trust his results:

Election Forecast

[SalmonGod]

Except the word exploitation has more meanings than who has shoved their flag down the most people's throats.  Look at modern consumerism in general, who it benefits most (american businessmen), how destructive it's become, and the extent to which America is responsible for it becoming the dominant way of life for the entire world (Cold War/economic sabotage).  I think the extent to which the modern world conforms to ideas that are traceable to direct American influence is quite unprecedented.

And while I recognize exploitation as a consistent feature of civilization, I never said the two things equate each other.

As for whether I'd be happy somewhere else, I really think Indiana is just a nasty place.  There are waaaay too many people here who fit the "ugly american" stereotype exactly.  Everybody who doesn't leaves eventually.  There are plenty of states where I'd probably be happier.  America in general is just getting more and more crazy, though, and it seems like neofeudalism is outright winning here.  After being on the internet for 16 years and hearing tons of personal account from meatspace friends who have lived in other places, I'm quite solid on the belief that I just don't belong in this country.

Anyway, that concludes my de-rail.  There was a couple pages on the topic of whether or not people like the U.S., and I thought I'd go ahead and be the person to say "Fuck no I don't."

[Aqizzar]

Anyway, that concludes my de-rail.  There was a couple pages on the topic of whether or not people like the U.S., and I thought I'd go ahead and be the person to say "Fuck no I don't."

Well, I'm glad we got that worked out of our system.

Like I should even talk.  This is supposed to be my thread after all.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

The election forecast says there is a 2.3% chance that Obama will win the popular vote and lose the electoral college. Man, can you even imagine the rage if that were to happen?

[Darkwind3]

The election forecast says there is a 2.3% chance that Obama will win the popular vote and lose the electoral college. Man, can you even imagine the rage if that were to happen?

The best scenario (in terms of ridiculousness) is definitely an electoral tie. Due to the way the American system works, the House would vote for President--with each state's delegation getting one vote, meaning Romney would likely win the Presidency thanks to the many, many Republican states in the Midwest and South. However, the Senate votes for vice-president; this means that if by some twist of fate from a frightfully bored god Obama and Romney tie, the result would be Romney-Biden (provided the Republicans don't gain the senate, but we're already in fantasy land so another assumption can't hurt). The fallout would be beautiful to watch, provided you don't live in the US, or anywhere nearby the US, or anywhere with economic ties to the US. Really, this would be a scenario best viewed from space.

(apologies if this has been brought up before)

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Romney-Biden....

I'd impeach them both on principle.

Although, Obama may well end up dropping Biden. It's what I'd do. Biden takes the term "colossal screw-up" to a new level.

[Bauglir]

The election forecast says there is a 2.3% chance that Obama will win the popular vote and lose the electoral college. Man, can you even imagine the rage if that were to happen?

The best scenario (in terms of ridiculousness) is definitely an electoral tie. Due to the way the American system works, the House would vote for President--with each state's delegation getting one vote, meaning Romney would likely win the Presidency thanks to the many, many Republican states in the Midwest and South. However, the Senate votes for vice-president; this means that if by some twist of fate from a frightfully bored god Obama and Romney tie, the result would be Romney-Biden (provided the Republicans don't gain the senate, but we're already in fantasy land so another assumption can't hurt). The fallout would be beautiful to watch, provided you don't live in the US, or anywhere nearby the US, or anywhere with economic ties to the US. Really, this would be a scenario best viewed from space.

(apologies if this has been brought up before)

While we're on that crazy corner case, it throws an interesting wrench into the mix by crunching the House into 1 vote per state, if I read Amendment 12 correctly. I think we'd see fist fights between some of the representatives before they worked out an agreement on how to cast their state's vote.

[Nadaka]

I dont hear much news about biden. I have no idea what he has been up to. Why is he such a screw up beyond being invisible?