Prelude to the Apocalypse

[Rob]

Hold on, this guy's a conservative columnist? Well shit.

Oops.

[GaijinPunch]

If there's one blinders-on, what-me-worry "argument" out there that makes me want to punch someone

Feel free to punch me if you ever get the chance. I'll make sure you won't live to regret it.

Awesome! The "I'll kick your ass through the internet" card.

Nice to see the indoctrination machine on base hasn't changed since I left... creating nothing but upstanding ambassadors to Asia.

I knew the people who would be most perplexed by this would be those who aren't from the US. To you guys, we're gunslinging cowboys. The reality is though that the vast majority of Americans today (and most importantly, the vast majority of young Americans) overwhelmingly lean left on most issues. The left-leaning tendencies have been slowly been pushed on to Americans since, by my estimation, the 60's. I have noticed that a good portion of those born in the 60s/70s ("Gen X"), while not nearly as indoctrinated as those of my age group, still fall back on various leftist ideologies, even when they are self-proclaimed conservatives.

Generally people in large, urban populations lean left. Those in rural populations lean right. Yes, there is a very, VERY obvious correlation here. Even you should be able to see it. If you get stuck, google "civilized".

[Mischief Maker]

Feel free to punch me if you ever get the chance. I'll make sure you won't live to regret it.

I'm treading on you!

[Ed Oscuro]

I hope the mods aren't just going to let conservatives foam at the mouth about how they'd like to kill people. I'm afraid that if I point this out again that I'll be told to stop being provocative, again. Somebody prove me wrong.

Here's my challenge to the supposed conservative self-made martyrs: Can you find a way to get along without promoting your pig disgusting self-martyrdom murder fantasies, okay?


deebo = new dealer jackbooted thug
red = flag draped conservative patriot

[GaijinPunch]

deebo = new dealer jackbooted thug
red = flag draped conservative patriot

Stealing the living fuck out of this.

[Ed Oscuro]

Isn't it great? It's the second time I've posted it already.

[quash]

Awesome! The "I'll kick your ass through the internet" card.

He said that a certain argument, that he thought I was making, makes him want to punch people. If I didn't insist on making sure he would stand behind this, I would be doing everyone a disservice. But I guess that makes me the violent one, doesn't it?

Nice to see the indoctrination machine on base hasn't changed since I left... creating nothing but upstanding ambassadors to Asia.

I am, in any sense, one of the least institutionalized people you will ever meet. And say what you will of the various miscreants we have over here, they are still the only thing preventing this place from becoming China.

Generally people in large, urban populations lean left. Those in rural populations lean right. Yes, there is a very, VERY obvious correlation here. Even you should be able to see it. If you get stuck, google "civilized".

You are missing the point here lol. I already explained that America's "right" (defined by our elected officials) still very much leans left on many things, and plays within the rules set by the left. There are very few exceptions to this, one of them being gun control, though that is slowly changing, it seems.

[quash]

conservative

What is it going to take for you guys to drop this tepid accusation? I voted for Obama. I fall left-center on every political alignment test I take. Just because I don't want Comrade Bernie to transform us into the USSA doesn't make me a conservative, and it especially doesn't make me a fucking neocon (which many here, even if only subconsciously, equate with all conservatism).

[BryanM]

Just because I don't want Comrade Bernie to transform us into the USSA doesn't make me a conservative, and it especially doesn't make me a fucking neocon (which many here, even if only subconsciously, equate with all conservatism).

Technically it does since all the other options are conservative neoliberals.

Trump is a die roll on if he's a neocon or not. Therefore I trust him 10,000% more on that front than Hillary or a Jeb.

[Ed Oscuro]

Clearly that was the important thing to address, quash.

Speaking of self-righteous losers, RIP.

[Rob]

And say what you will of the various miscreants we have over here, they are still the only thing preventing this place from becoming China.

I'm curious. Please explain.

[Xyga]

Spoiler

[Bananamatic]

[GaijinPunch]

Nice to see the indoctrination machine on base hasn't changed since I left... creating nothing but upstanding ambassadors to Asia.

I am, in any sense, one of the least institutionalized people you will ever meet. And say what you will of the various miscreants we have over here, they are still the only thing preventing this place from becoming China.

Jesus...
Japan has tons of shit wrong with it. I'm the first to admit, as anyone who has followed my internet career knows. Turning into China isn't in the cards though, and whatever bad things may happen, the fine population of Yokosuka isn't preventing it.

[Xyga]

Waitaminit, turning into China... all people suddenly getting into healthy food, becoming fit, working and studying till they drop, and being polite with foreigners and respect other cultures ?

Let them invade.

[quash]

Nice to see the indoctrination machine on base hasn't changed since I left... creating nothing but upstanding ambassadors to Asia.

I am, in any sense, one of the least institutionalized people you will ever meet. And say what you will of the various miscreants we have over here, they are still the only thing preventing this place from becoming China.

Jesus...
Japan has tons of shit wrong with it. I'm the first to admit, as anyone who has followed my internet career knows. Turning into China isn't in the cards though, and whatever bad things may happen, the fine population of Yokosuka isn't preventing it.

I don't think Japan is so bad, really. They just need to get out more.

And don't fool yourself: if we left Japan tomorrow and left them on their own, they would be an island of sweatshops within a year. The SDF is a glorified militia that is only now starting to gain the naval assets required for self-defense against a modernized Chinese fleet. This isn't WWII, Japan doesn't have that kind of military infrastructure anymore; here they are putting all their assets in hoping they don't get completely annihilated in the event of a drive by.

I don't appreciate the rowdiness of Yokosuka any more than the next person, I don't live there anymore lol. But they are there for a good reason, which is something I've noticed many Japanese (and Americans, for that matter) have no perspective on.

[quash]

Waitaminit, turning into China... all people suddenly getting into healthy food, becoming fit, working and studying till they drop, and being polite with foreigners and respect other cultures ?

Let them invade.

I see you have never been to China.

[GaijinPunch]

And don't fool yourself: if we left Japan tomorrow and left them on their own, they would be an island of sweatshops within a year.

B/c the Japanese are known for making/consuming low-quality crap as quickly as possible.

The SDF is a glorified militia that is only now starting to gain the naval assets required for self-defense against a modernized Chinese fleet. This isn't WWII, Japan doesn't have that kind of military infrastructure anymore; here they are putting all their assets in hoping they don't get completely annihilated in the event of a drive by.

Okay.

I don't appreciate the rowdiness of Yokosuka any more than the next person, I don't live there anymore lol. But they are there for a good reason, which is something I've noticed many Japanese (and Americans, for that matter) have no perspective on.

Anyone that's spent more than a week in Japan knows why they are there. And with the majority that make it in to Tokyo making asses of themselves in Roppongi, etc., nobody will ever forget.

[quash]

You were born to miss the point.

There is a balance of power in East Asia that we currently keep in Japan's favor. Although we are starting to slip on the military front now, there is still time for us to re-vitalize our presence here. Part of that is getting the SDF to be able to mobilize in the event of an attack on an American vessel (which they can only currently do if we're in their waters).

Which brings me to my next point: a good portion of Japanese like to act as if they don't have a dog in the fight, that America is using their country as a platform to antagonize China just for the hell of it. In reality, we are there to protect a vested economic interest in their country that they benefit from immensely. I know that many Japanese acknowledge this, but even some of them like to act as if Japan doesn't have any interest in keeping China at bay. They've been drinking the pacifism Kool-aid for so long that they would in all probability blame us if war were to break out with China. It's as if they've forgotten why we're there in the first place.

As for military members' debauchery in the country, ideally it wouldn't be an issue, but ultimately it is a small price to pay for keeping Japan the nation it is. You are really coming off as one of the many breeds of self-righteous foreigners that exist out here, though I want to believe I am wrong about that.

For the record, I've been to Roppongi once and it was to go to the art museum. It's probably the least stimulating part of Tokyo besides perhaps Nishinippori, but at least there's a cool arcade there.

[Xyga]

Waitaminit, turning into China... all people suddenly getting into healthy food, becoming fit, working and studying till they drop, and being polite with foreigners and respect other cultures ?

Let them invade.

I see you have never been to China.

I lived there.

[GaijinPunch]

You were born to miss the point.

There is a balance of power in East Asia that we currently keep in Japan's favor. Although we are starting to slip on the military front now, there is still time for us to re-vitalize our presence here. Part of that is getting the SDF to be able to mobilize in the event of an attack on an American vessel (which they can only currently do if we're in their waters).

No, the US military is there as a scare tactic against North Korea. The US military has famously stayed out of Japan's "business" as long as it's just military tiffs here and there. Besides, China wouldn't do shit. Economy is too entangled with Japan's. It would redefine blowing off your foot.

Which brings me to my next point: a good portion of Japanese like to act as if they don't have a dog in the fight, that America is using their country as a platform to antagonize China just for the hell of it. In reality, we are there to protect a vested economic interest in their country that they benefit from immensely.

First: You certainly are using the world "point" quite liberally. "We" are there b/c we kicked the shit out their military and civilian populations and didn't allow them to regrow a military through pacifist constitution. And acting like they have no dog in the fight is a biproduct of growing up in something other than a military state that spends more on defense than the next 50 cuntries combined.

You are really coming off as one of the many breeds of self-righteous foreigners that exist out here, though I want to believe I am wrong about that.

I back my statements up with years of study, residence, and 20+ years of speaking the language. You learn a few things about Japanese people, culture, and history.

For the record, I've been to Roppongi once and it was to go to the art museum. It's probably the least stimulating part of Tokyo besides perhaps Nishinippori, but at least there's a cool arcade there.

Yes, but you're doing the online equivalent here. And Nishinippori is fantastic if you are into textiles. Amazing stuff. Seamstresses/Seamsters probably go on about all the pedos in Akihabara (and would be right).

[BryanM]

a military state that spends more on defense than the next 50 cuntries combined.

Hey I know a guy who thinks that's kind of stupid.

[Mischief Maker]

a military state that spends more on defense than the next 50 cuntries combined.

Hey I know a guy who thinks that's kind of stupid.

I know another one!

Fucking hippy.

[BulletMagnet]

Fucking hippy.

By today's standards he absolutely is, in many ways...his "their number is negligible and they are stupid" quote is another one you'd be hard-pressed to hear even from most contemporary Democrats. And that's before you get into his "the top tax rate was 90 percent" thing or "built the interstate highway system and established NASA" thing or "expanded social security but still cut the deficit by reducing corporate welfare" thing.

But why would bits of historical context like that ever dissuade anyone from backing a fact-free, paper-thin reactionary demagogue like Trump, primarily on the grounds of I Feel Oppressed Because This Country Is Just Too Damn Liberal These Days?

[BryanM]

contemporary Democrats

Back then, if you rejected the new deal you were a psycho completely off the political spectrum (as commie Eisenhower often remarked himself). Look at this madness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyT44Vmb0Io

[Rob]

Hillary is such a robot. Has she ever sounded genuinely impassioned about anything I wonder.

[BryanM]

Hillary is such a robot. Has she ever sounded genuinely impassioned about anything I wonder.

She was genuinely happy to the point of near orgasm at the news of Muammar Gaddafi's death.

Gaddafi would still be alive today if he had remembered to mail the check to the Clinton foundation.

[BulletMagnet]

On a semi-related note, smart money was on Trump being the next exhibit in my "inexcusable things plutocrats say" series of forum sigs, but Ted Cruz beat him out.

[quash]

No, the US military is there as a scare tactic against North Korea.

Our naval forces here are far more preoccupied with China and Russia than they are with North Korea. The only place where North Korea is our primary interest is, wait for it... South Korea.

Judging by this comment alone, I have to assume that you have never really paid much attention to the military operations in the region.

The US military has famously stayed out of Japan's "business" as long as it's just military tiffs here and there.

Their business is our business. We can't tell them what they and can't do within their territorial waters but beyond that they have to stay out of our way. Which is something Abe is trying to change for a few reasons.

Don't underestimate our coordination with the SDF, either. The biggest limiting factor at this point is the fact that they can't currently do anything past 12nm.

Besides, China wouldn't do shit. Economy is too entangled with Japan's. It would redefine blowing off your foot.

I think you underestimate just how little China gives a shit about keeping positive relations with Japan. They are far more entangled with the US and they constantly antagonize us out here.

"We" are there b/c we kicked the shit out their military and civilian populations and didn't allow them to regrow a military through pacifist constitution.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they couldn't reinforce their interests in the region without resorting to final solutions.

And acting like they have no dog in the fight is a biproduct of growing up in something other than a military state that spends more on defense than the next 50 cuntries combined.

More like the result of being able to say whatever you want at the bargaining table with the reassurance that the bouncers are there to back you up. They wouldn't be nearly as cavalier towards China if they didn't have our presence hoisting their position.

I back my statements up with years of study, residence, and 20+ years of speaking the language. You learn a few things about Japanese people, culture, and history.

You clearly did not study or pay any serious mind to our military presence in the region. Frankly, I would not be bragging if I were you.

[GaijinPunch]

Judging by this comment alone, I have to assume that you have never really paid much attention to the military operations in the region.

Only what was in the news every single day for about 15 years of my life. Why when Chinese and Russian ships ram into Japanese ones the US does... wait for it... literally nothing (except say we're not getting involved)?

I think you underestimate just how little China gives a shit about keeping positive relations with Japan. They are far more entangled with the US and they constantly antagonize us out here.

Positive relations and aggression are two different things. It's the world's 2nd and 3rd largest economies. Even the old boys clubs are not stupid enough to fuck that up.

The biggest limiting factor at this point is the fact that they can't currently do anything past 12nm.

Or deliveries in the middle east.

You clearly did not study or pay any serious mind to our military presence in the region. Frankly, I would not be bragging if I were you.

Cool. Are you going to punch me in the back of the head now?