▲ 284 ▼ Yglesias has reached the stage of acceptance (hexbear.net) submitted 2 years ago* by Parsani@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net 206 comments fedilink hide all child comments https://xcancel.com/mattyglesias/status/1906690265932284071
[+] vegeta1@hexbear.net 77 points 2 years ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (8 children) [deleted] permalink fedilink source hideshow 8 child comments replies: [–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 67 points 2 years ago (7 children) At the end, the Soviet Union had enough nukes to wipe out all mammalian life on the planet (and that's a conservative estimate). But when they finaly collapsed, there was no vindictive strike. Nobody tried to close the book on human history. In the same position, could the United States ever do the same, when it's own end comes knocking? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments replies: [–] Bolshechick@hexbear.net 55 points 2 years ago I think the US is led by people who are a lot more vindictive though permalink fedilink source parent [–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 37 points 2 years ago Musk ans Trump would totally wipe the earth if they think they're going to be better after that permalink fedilink source parent [–] Tabitha@hexbear.net 25 points 2 years ago (1 child) The United States and the USSR both endured(/ing) what could vaguely be described as an Oligarchic coup, which IMO are not likely scenarios to result in a vindictive nuclear first-strike. They are both still imperial powers and too far away for direct conflict. Continuing the dance of proxy wars is still preferable to any nuclear exchange. There are not any countries that are likely to put the US into a China/Taiwan or Russia/Ukraine situation, so the US will probably continue to decline/collapse without the likelyhood of a vindictive nuclear first-strike. I do have to admit, Trump is a bit of a wild-card, so he might do one anyways, but the ruling class itself would not be interested. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago I think the bigger threat would be from whatever military figure happens to be standing next to the button in the aftermath of an all-at-once collapse of legitimacy. I've heard stories that evangelical types anxious for apocalypse and rapture like getting assigned to nuclear silos... while I'm not sure how accurate that is, the thought gives me pause. permalink fedilink source parent [+] vegeta1@hexbear.net 20 points 2 years ago* (last edited 7 months ago) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent [–] marx_mentat@hexbear.net 7 points 2 years ago The soviets were the good guys so that makes sense. permalink fedilink source parent [–] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago Idk but Hitler probably would have and unfortunately he is not unique permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 67 points 2 years ago (7 children) At the end, the Soviet Union had enough nukes to wipe out all mammalian life on the planet (and that's a conservative estimate). But when they finaly collapsed, there was no vindictive strike. Nobody tried to close the book on human history. In the same position, could the United States ever do the same, when it's own end comes knocking? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments replies: [–] Bolshechick@hexbear.net 55 points 2 years ago I think the US is led by people who are a lot more vindictive though permalink fedilink source parent [–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 37 points 2 years ago Musk ans Trump would totally wipe the earth if they think they're going to be better after that permalink fedilink source parent [–] Tabitha@hexbear.net 25 points 2 years ago (1 child) The United States and the USSR both endured(/ing) what could vaguely be described as an Oligarchic coup, which IMO are not likely scenarios to result in a vindictive nuclear first-strike. They are both still imperial powers and too far away for direct conflict. Continuing the dance of proxy wars is still preferable to any nuclear exchange. There are not any countries that are likely to put the US into a China/Taiwan or Russia/Ukraine situation, so the US will probably continue to decline/collapse without the likelyhood of a vindictive nuclear first-strike. I do have to admit, Trump is a bit of a wild-card, so he might do one anyways, but the ruling class itself would not be interested. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago I think the bigger threat would be from whatever military figure happens to be standing next to the button in the aftermath of an all-at-once collapse of legitimacy. I've heard stories that evangelical types anxious for apocalypse and rapture like getting assigned to nuclear silos... while I'm not sure how accurate that is, the thought gives me pause. permalink fedilink source parent [+] vegeta1@hexbear.net 20 points 2 years ago* (last edited 7 months ago) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent [–] marx_mentat@hexbear.net 7 points 2 years ago The soviets were the good guys so that makes sense. permalink fedilink source parent [–] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago Idk but Hitler probably would have and unfortunately he is not unique permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Bolshechick@hexbear.net 55 points 2 years ago I think the US is led by people who are a lot more vindictive though permalink fedilink source parent
[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 37 points 2 years ago Musk ans Trump would totally wipe the earth if they think they're going to be better after that permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Tabitha@hexbear.net 25 points 2 years ago (1 child) The United States and the USSR both endured(/ing) what could vaguely be described as an Oligarchic coup, which IMO are not likely scenarios to result in a vindictive nuclear first-strike. They are both still imperial powers and too far away for direct conflict. Continuing the dance of proxy wars is still preferable to any nuclear exchange. There are not any countries that are likely to put the US into a China/Taiwan or Russia/Ukraine situation, so the US will probably continue to decline/collapse without the likelyhood of a vindictive nuclear first-strike. I do have to admit, Trump is a bit of a wild-card, so he might do one anyways, but the ruling class itself would not be interested. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago I think the bigger threat would be from whatever military figure happens to be standing next to the button in the aftermath of an all-at-once collapse of legitimacy. I've heard stories that evangelical types anxious for apocalypse and rapture like getting assigned to nuclear silos... while I'm not sure how accurate that is, the thought gives me pause. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago I think the bigger threat would be from whatever military figure happens to be standing next to the button in the aftermath of an all-at-once collapse of legitimacy. I've heard stories that evangelical types anxious for apocalypse and rapture like getting assigned to nuclear silos... while I'm not sure how accurate that is, the thought gives me pause. permalink fedilink source parent
[+] vegeta1@hexbear.net 20 points 2 years ago* (last edited 7 months ago) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent
[–] marx_mentat@hexbear.net 7 points 2 years ago The soviets were the good guys so that makes sense. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago Idk but Hitler probably would have and unfortunately he is not unique permalink fedilink source parent
