I thought the World Cup was associated with the heathen and heretical outside world.

But would they create Lutherans?

This is too positive, futurology needs to post another alarmist piece about underpopulation for people living in countries not experiencing underpopulation in a world that just hit 8 billion people.

It's fine. A lot of people simply don't know these things. I recommend Stephen Pinker's 'Enlightenment Now' lecture on YouTube where he goes over a list of the many things that have gotten better and also why we think they haven't. The media doesn't come off too well :P It's an hour long, but worth it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkPOHB2rRkc&t=3187s

The data shows that there are more democracies than ever except just ten years ago, despite the notorious examples of Russia and Hungary and wannabe Erdogan. And Bolsonasshole, who governs 217 million people, just lost the election in Brazil to a liberal opponent. It turns out the mighty CCP rules a country whose economy may be 60% smaller than it has been claiming, meaning it is a long way from challenging the USA and not the behemoth we thought.

The craziest and Trumpiest candidates in the American midterms lost to more moderate opponents and the Democrats retained control of the Senate in a stunning success for the ruling party in the midterms.

The destruction of Vladimir Putin will fill autocrats everywhere with fear. If he can fall or be severely weakened, who is next? Already people in the West are seeing that Tibet is Ukraine, Xinjiang is Ukraine, Hong Kong and Taiwan are Ukraine. That and basic logistical security are two reasons we are trying to disengage from China economically.

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/number-democracies-autocracies-row?country=~OWID_WRL

Full send is streets ahead.

This issue does not affect the developing world, however. It is bad but it’s not irreversible and it is confined to the developed world, and then only part of it, North America.

I never thought that, but now I’m wondering if this guy actually is one. Or a troll, anyway. If there’s a difference.

Whoa that triggered you so bad you had to reach back 170 years to find something to counter me with :D

I’m not attempting any straw men because I never said that you supported Putin in the first place. What I’m saying is, I am not buying what you’re selling. There is absolutely not even close to a moral equivalence here. Not even close. And you say you agree, but then say “But the USA can be bad too.” So what? Russia has historically behaved much worse. Which country would you prefer on your border? You’re mealy-mouthing.

You need to educate yourself more about Russian history. You probably have no idea that Russia has been an imperialist, expansionist power since 200 years before the USA existed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_conquest_of_Siberia (1580-1778)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsardom_of_Russia "From 1551 to 1700, Russia grew by 35,000 km2 per year."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossack_Hetmanate (Ukraine) Vassal status with the Tsardom of Russia was established in 1654.

The list of Russia's egregious imperialist crimes is far longer and far larger that the USA's. If we confine ourselves to the 20th-21st Centuries, Russia's crimes absolutely dwarf America's.

And it wasn't going to stop. Unlike the chastened USA, which pulled out of Afghanistan last year, allowing the poor innocent Taliban to retake control of the country - Russia was going to continue to bully, threaten and intimidate its neighbours and continue its policy of subverting democracy around the world. For instance, Russia interfered in the 2020 American election, and given how razor-thin that margin was, it is a certainty that Russia enabled Trump's victory.

The USA also has a habit of having to make everything about itself. Even the war in Ukraine must be about the USA, because the American ego demands it. It couldn't possibly be a 300-year-old story about Russian exploitation of Ukraine, no, the USA must be involved somehow.

If you’re really serious about educating yourself on this issue, you should watch the following talk, specifically the part up until 47:25. Stephen Kotkin, Russia expert, talks to Lex Friedman about the exact issue we’re discussing. I’m sure you’ve heard of Fridman if you hang out here.

Stephen Kotkin: Putin, Stalin, Hitler, Zelenskyy, and War in Ukraine | Lex Fridman Podcast

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2a7CDKqWcZ0

But you probably won’t. You don’t seem interested in hearing other points of view.

I've said everything I wanted to say. If this doesn't get through to you, nothing will. FYI, I’m Canadian. We aren’t exactly blind to the USA’s failings. But you’re being absurd. Have a nice life.

If only Russia hadn't given Ukraine so much reason to let the CIA train paramilitaries on its soil...you know...after the illegal invasion...

Did the USA force anyone to join NATO? No. Did Russia force Ukraine and other countries to join the USSR? Yes. Did the USSR force the Warsaw Pact countries together? Yes. Did the USSR crush uprisings in these countries? Yes. You cool with that? Let's not pretend history didn't happen the way it did and revise it like Russia is doing.

Given the history of Russia's behaviour with its neighbours, it would make perfect sense that they would all want in on NATO.

Evidence for your claims?

Ukraine had pledged NOT to join NATO. The EU is an economic arrangement. It played along with Russian demands.

Let's not play coy and pretend Ukraine was ever even remotely a threat to Russia. This was all about Putin's ego and Russian imperialism, the USA had nothing to do with it.

Except to the extent that Putin wanted a proxy war with the USA. He got one.

My sister and brother-in-law stack their days so full of...stuff that I swear when their children leave for college - and it won't be long now - I swear they will have an existential crisis.