To have or have not? It seems (from studies) that there are 38 separate factors that are involved in creating the stage for a Civil War. And it takes no kind of genius to accurately guess at many of them. Inequality, corruption, persecution, poverty, ideology, etc. But, according to B.F. Walters, a three decades-long expert in Civil Wars, there are only two main REAL factors to worry about in the short term: celebrity/identity/ethnic/racist politics (and) in a weak or eroded democracy termed an ‘anocracy’. (Somewhere between an autocracy and a democracy – in most instances, a corrupt democracy).
In other words: democracy has a better chance when voting is ideologically driven rather than when focused on a cult-personality or a fear/hatred. Furthermore, voting needs to be universal, trusted and influential. The people need to see that their vote counts.
The US currently qualifies so highly in those two main areas and many of the 36 lesser ones that their democracy has been downgraded by Democracy Watch three times since 2016. The USA is, by expert opinion, on the verge.
Apparently, a likely civil war scenario can be ‘walked back from the edge’. Ms Walter states that, in the short term, firstly, media has to be regulated. NOT censored. The difference she cites is that anyone should be able to say anything they want in a real, free-speech democracy but that the media (or shadow media actors) should NOT be employing algorithms to artificially amp up one message or another. Russia and China used altering social media algorithms to assist Trump get elected. Our social media is acting or being used as foreign propaganda.
Secondly, business has to become more ‘people focused’ and be less profit focused. Business is currently the missing ally with government in the equation for a stable and healthy democracy.
Thirdly, we as a population/society have to accept inevitable sociological changes and the single-most resistant segment of the population to those changes are older white men and women. Where older white men and women used to enjoy higher status and some kinds of privilege, today they do not. Furthermore, whites as a group, will be in the minority sometime soon. Walters believes it will be sooner rather than later because of climate change migration. She also states that a lot of (vague) anger drives militias, addictions, homelessness, mass shootings and the increasingly marginalized and white men are the ones who have fallen the fastest and the farthest. See the January 6th crowd.
For the record: B. F. Walters is a white woman.
I tend to agree with her….mostly. I am not in the least aggravated by skin colour, religion or most cultures. And I grew up so poor that privilege and status are not something I aspire to (I am already doing great for trailer trash). But, like every white male, I have seen ‘white-male-ism’ somewhat maligned and increasingly blamed for just about everything. That’s ridiculous, of course, but it does indicate a lower social status than before. Nobody likes change if it is for the (self perceived) worse. So, I can almost understand the hill-billy Bubba coal miner getting angry and shootin’ up the local Walmart. I, too, am a grouchy old man, after all. I just don’t blame anyone is all. Don’t wanna shoot anyone. If foreigners come, that is OK by me.
Mostly. I really do not want the Bloods and Crips to move in next door. Or the Hell’s Angels. I do think (probably erroneously) that the Russian culture is more than a bit scary at times. And I confess to keeping a watchful eye when visiting a 3rd world country with a lot of unemployed, impoverished, rough-looking young men carrying guns. Like, Haiti might put me on edge, for instance. I ain’t Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm. Still, I can honestly say that I can be and will be friends with anyone who is pleasant and trying their best to be a good Canuck. We could use a few more good guys around.
But I digress….the point is that US democracy is under some real threat. The point is that change is coming. The point is the two main ingredients for a US civil war are present and B.F. Walters is raising the alarm.
How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them is a book by Barbara F. Walter, published in 2022
Our Off the Grid Home 
“…the increasingly marginalized and white men are the ones who have fallen the fastest and the farthest….’
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“fallen”?
Try “pushed”.
Every advertisement for the last decade that I see or hear on tv and radio has the man (usually white) as a bumbling idiot that is “rescued” by either a woman, a female child or a non white person.
Quite a message to surreptitiously send out to young men and boys.
Then we have “toxic masculinity” identified and taught in schools.
Gender fluidity is embraced when kids haven’t even hit puberty.
What a disaster.
Another great way to marginalize boys from the get go.
Women’s help groups, Girls empowerment, corporate sponsorship of girls in trades or sports and “non traditional” careers, etc etc etc.
While boys quietly ….quit because they are relentlessly shamed for things they haven’t even done..
Prioritizing LBBTQx2+ “rights”.on and on and on.
Its a nauseating, overhyped, self excoriating, shame fest.
And white men are the main targets.
Revolting.
But when I see and hear the visceral , seething anger that is boiling under the surface everywhere in Canada I have visited this Summer……..
Don’t expect our help when this all goes to shit.
Men didn’t fall.
They had their legs kicked out from under them and were then pushed by their teachers, their peers and their govt.
The repercussions of the politically correct, appeasement, donkey fest we are now experiencing….will take decades to sort out.
ALL while we are rolling into climate emergencies that will create MILLIONS of refugees….. that are hungry and desperate.
Get out!
Get out Now!
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Oh, Almost forgot.
The only thing better than Trump’s mugshot….is when he violates the conditions of his bail by blabbing relentlessly and gets thrown in the slammer for 2 weeks.
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Luv ya, dawg! Let it out!! ‘Splode yer spleen!!!!
And I mostly agree. NOT completely. I mean…a man is NOT bad because he wants to hump his secretary. That’s just basic nature pushing past cultural lines (some cultures, by the way, not all). Men have drives and they come naturally. Male stuff is real. Much of the time, those needs are required for survival. Having said that, there is no question that – in current times – male physical strength, male rage, male bravery, male creativity is NOT as much required. More and more we are being homogenized. And society is basically dictating that. So, manly-men TRULY are NOT as necessary today as when Ghengis Khan was rolling through town or there were unexplored territories needing exploring. We (men) can now live full lives as nurses or kindergarten teachers living in condos with cats and house plants. White wine (ugh). We don’ need no stinkin’ warriors or Mammoth hunters anymore. And I get that. And I EVEN feel that. I accept that. But…well….not so much as PC ness wants me to. As a species we are definitely evolving and men may, in fact, not be necessary 500 years from now. I can imagine that. That could happen. But, as of today, I lift the heavy stuff. I stand in front of Sal if there is danger and I take no responsibility whatsoever for the sins of my father/s. We all just try our best. Blame should not be part of the conversation.
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100% agreement.
I’ll drink a single malt to that.
🙂
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Along the rapidly growing trend of male emancipation, Spains soccer coach in a moment of joy over their teams win kissed a female player on the lips, very briefly, the women’s team has demanded his resignation as the kiss was not consensual!! Hide your balls, change your voice, grow long hair and hide as males are under attack by well, everyone! Again I state that the worlds population is doomed. Its just happening faster than predicted.
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Scott, for the record, it was the sixth time in five years as a coach for the female soccer team that he was charged with misbehaviour. The guy is so “wrong”, so I can understand why they will fire him. He is a real super macho guy
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I suppose institutional heads who inappropriately kiss subordinates need addressing. I mean, it is wrong. It is stupid. And I suppose firing them sends a message. Still, the punishment should fit the crime. To my mind, most public indiscretions are not deserving of the usual termination, humiliation and reputational destruction. Apologies should suffice. Mind you, in the giant scheme of things, the odd naughty behavior is not worthy of such media attention either.
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My first job (now + 30 years ago) was in a big multinational company. The head of the Engineering department was notorious for pinching young secretaries in the butt and grabbing their boobs in the elevator. Everybody knew (even the CEO and the HR department). Nobody ever did anything about it, not even reprimand the guy. Newly hired young girls were given the avice by HR never to be alone with him in a room or the elevator. Times have changed….
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Social media is creating again a very negative image of the white male and female. Every advertisementis now full of all races, except white. All genders present except of “straight”. We even have an advertisement on TV during prime time (when a lot of children are watching), of 2 lesbians french kissing to promote I don’t even remember what .
And social media is putting oil on the fire everywhere to fire up your civil war threat.
Every little incident, where ever it takes place in the world, is blown up out of proportion
And strangely enough, the “accidental” death of Pregosjin is getting very little media attention
And I agree with noncon, we are creating/teaching a very bad image of society to our children
They have no more standard role models to look up to or to align themselvs with
There is a whole generation of “f…up yongsters growing up
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I agree, too. The media is out of perspective, out of balance, not telling the honest truth. They are selling a falseness, hyperbole, selected issues. And we are buying it. Admittedly, I am in no position to determine the truth on any one issue but the resulting body of false hysteria, fear and loathing and the outrage that comes from the news feels manufactured. It feels wrong.
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Dare I suggest that the “liberal” media ( Actors, writers, producers, etc etc etc) are disproportionally gay or Bi as compared to the rest of the general population and therefore are somewhat biased towards the gay lifestyle and may have an agenda to “promote” pro gay ideals?
Just sayin’
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Well, you can say anything you want here but you may get some pushback. I think that’s OK. As for gays and liberals, I see no correlation. Nor conservatives being straight. More tolerance, perhaps, for the left offset by more hypocrisy on the right it seems – at least on that topic. But, to be fair, I would assume that the more liberal-arts, fashion-designer, choreographer types are inclined to appeal to those who are more attracted to the same sex. More of a thing, I suppose, than diesel mechanics hooking up.
Mind you, I worked a year at the CBC and Gays ruled the CBC….still, I did not see their gender preference in say NEWS content or even general programming content. Didn’t see gayness in Hockey Night in Canada either. CBC was gay and blah but straight in programming.
Well, unless dull and boring is a feature of gay. Another point of view – the CBC is obsessed with FN issues all the live-long day. But not that many FNs work there to constitute an influence. So that topic is not minority employee driven so much.
Personally, I do not believe there is a Gay agenda. There is likely a TOLERANCE/ACCEPTANCE agenda but not a recruitment agenda. I agree fully that the GAY movement is ridiculous, self absorbed and narcissistic but none of that bothers me. Just silly ‘look-at-me’ stuff. As you say, “Who cares!”
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As a mother of a queer young man and another that is straight and a bit quirky, I can assure you that both of them would protect me at the expense of their own safety. It is nice to see functional relationships of all types in the media. However, I am worried for my young man’s safety because there appears to be a renewed wave of hate fanned by malicious persons and “actors” using traditional and non-traditional media and socials. Hyper anything is fairly concerning and not a positive role model.
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I couldnt care less what someone sexuality is.
Who cares.
Just stop demanding that I must accept every change in the sexual orientation description alphabet soup. Bi. Cis, LGBTQx2, on and on and on and on and on the endless “identities” grow.
Each demanding their “rights”.
What about the rights of the majority?
95% of the population? Say 90% that are heterosexual?
WE have to bend over backwards to appease the few?
Sorry.
And as for teaching children in schools as part of the curriculum that haven’t hit puberty yet that they may or may not be gay……
Nauseating indoctrinating propaganda at its most vile.
While our international scholastic rankings plummet.
Here’s an idea.
Perhaps schools should stick to STEM subjects rather than a pro gay indoctrination..?
But no
Pink Shirt Day! Hurray!
As bullying in schools and on the internet gets worse and worse and worse.
A friend of mine had to pull his 15 year old daughter out of school.
Blonde, pretty, popular….until a trans boy/girl started punching her and egging on his/her gay friends.
Seems a pretty hetero gal may be a threat? Or just an easy target?
The parents called the police when the bullying escalated to home visits, internet harassment from these cretins.
The police office was a lesbian and saw no issues. The single parent of the trans child was a psychologist….a saw no issues.
One wonders it the police situation would have been different if she had announced that SHE was gay and she was being gay bashed.
The girl took self defense lessons and the next time the boy/girl grabbed her hair in school….. she broke his nose….and was expelled for anti gay behaviour.
The majority are getting very fed up and very very angry.
Perhaps the minority should pay attention.
We ALL have rights. Not just a select few.
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You’ve mentioned the incident with your friend’s daughter before.
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It bears repeating.
The politically correct pendulum has swung way too far to the left.
Into an absurd parody of itself.
Its now swinging back to the right….the far, angry, right.
And if Trump becomes President again.
All bets are off.
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I taught my kids, “Moderation in all things” but, of course, that statement allows for the immoderate, the different and the minority as well. The ‘different’ is inherent in the statement. I suppose I should have taught them “Majority rules or prevails most of the time” but I did not. And it is that lack of that second lesson that seems to be buggin’ some of the peeps. The majority now feel ignored or worse, ‘put upon’ by the minority. Frankly, I do not see the minority ‘putting upon’ us so much as raising their own profile. Mind you, raising one’s profile – done wrong – can be rude and threatening so some minority issues feel like an intrusion at times. I personally get irritated by Gay Pride week. Why in hell do I or all the elected officials have to close streets and march around as a form of pride? Just seems exhibitionist to me. But I digress….normally, I do not care. Dance on the sidewalk. Just don’t hold up the traffic!
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Of couse, we teach our kids to support and help the “under dog” and those who ae given are hard time because they are different.
Fortunately, so many more people are nervously or proudly coming out that the majority has the opportunity to know and love at least several LGBTQI people in their lifetime. Of course, there will some unpleasant people whichever way they identify.
I asked my father who spouts crap whether he would refuse to go to support his grandson should his grandson decide to participate in the Mardi Gras.. He immediately backed down, but then carried on about the traffic disruption. And yet he has no issue when the traffic is diverted for our ANZAC Day march, and is completely disinterested if traffic disruptions are caused by some sporting event, or New Years Eve celebration. Concerns about traffic disruptions might just be a meme for whatever is really bothering a person, don’t you think?
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Of course. Traffic disruption is just another way to say, “Do what you like, just don’t bother me in the process.” It is not intolerance so much as a bit of selfishness. “You do you and I am fine with that. But I wanna do me and do not need any obstacles.” Do I care about anyone’s sexuality? NOT at all. Hell, I would not even be offended if some gay guy hit on me….at least he is saying that he finds me attractive…..(amazing how all orientations do not find me attractive) but I do not want to hassled. Just as Spanish soccer players don’t want to be ambush-kissed. There is a line between tolerance and imposition. Frankly, I think that line is pretty well hammered out nowadays and I am fine with it but guys like your dad are somewhat fixed in their views. And that, too, is fine (we practice tolerance for them) so long as he stays out of everyone’s way and hurts no one in the process. Tolerance and respect cuts both ways.
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