"the Feinstein story is like a reel from the black comedy The Death of Stalin, as the senators remain as timid as the Politburo members gathered around Joseph Stalin’s deathbed who refused to replace him until he was absolutely cold."
US: The Sick Man of Democracies.
@sciliz@davidbeecher@kairyssdal The fact that there is doubt means there is no doubt; men and women in positions of power need to have no doubt that they can perform their duties.
@drethelin Like the frog and the scorpion for flying things except the wasp survives.
(So superficially).
This is an impressive shot tho; like nat geo photo of the year level.
@MurphInCA @paulmcleary@sambendett It's not the military it's Congress. Budgets and priorities continually changing in a shorter time-span than the projects they are funding, means most failure of imagination is due to short attention spans, and political whims.
what if the Iraq war but within driving distance of many of our largest cities. what if Afghanistan but also alienating or even radicalizing the single largest diaspora group in the fucking country. what if Vietnam but against a foe that has no flag, no armies or even ideology.
@smittie61984 @Madmadmonkey2 @mattyglesias Not within the spirit, which is why American government is in the legalese hellhole it is today: where nothing ever gets done, and representatives are elected to wield rules to make things worse for the people who annoy them.
@Random__Kids@drethelin Only based on the opportunities they have. Put a few random 24 year old in a position of responsibility with high stakes, and the average is going to surprise you.
Our geriatric risk-adverse leaders just don't give opportunities/favour seniority.
Life has gotten easier over the years, but baseline complexity of daily life has gone up while protective social scaffolding has been dismantled. It's easy to say dumb people should just drown, but it's not their fault the waterline rose. Who's to say it won't rise over you too?