The Doom Thread: Gloom, Despair, Agony

Luckily, I genuinely feel the vast majority of Canadians are currently eyes wide open because we physically are a neighbor and we've had our own sovereignty threatened in broad daylight. Our recent federal election is evidence of this.

My main concern is we need our own domestic economy to hold up during this period to fight back. Our current affordability issues are a genuine area for pro fascism germination.

While people see it clearly here. Many in our population are having a tough time dealing because it's so stark, and so many of us have so many friends and family below the 49th.

 

This shows what a difference a few years make. A few years ago it was VA that had it's shit together while MD had its fat ******** Chris Christie-lite governor. Now MD has a Democratic governor and it Democratic congressional representatives are all from the democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

 

An argument that boils down to "I think a mass political party needs to do more direct action to fight dictatorship but I personally get angry when said I also must do more" holds no water here.

 

I once watched a documentary about the Austrian resistance around Anschluss. It was hard - even the rich were reduced to having nuns make clothing out of curtains.

 

You ever watch a horror movie and you see the black guy go off to see what that noise was and you start yelling at the screen "don't you know what happens to black guys in these movies?" but he goes all alone anyway and you just shake your head in disbelief knowing that's the last you'll see of him (alive anyway)?

Or

You remember when Cher slaps Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck and tells him to "snap out of it"? Ignoring the pleasure of seeing that incredibly annoying actor get slapped by Cher, do it 100 times over with Cher representing people from the outside and Nicolas Cage representing people in the US.

 

More. It’s even called Doomsday Scenario

https://www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-tips-into-fascism-f51000e08e03254d

 

Foreigners have an unrealistically positive view of Americans and our devotion to democracy. Of course this false view is spread largely by ourselves.

 

I haven't noticed this much. Maybe among Germans I've known, but not many others and not since the Cold War.

 

One of the reasons I left before inauguration is because of a lesson I learned at the start of the pandemic. I was in Melbourne and work had been insisting I return after my official duties in Melbourne were finished. Then, when things became obviously serious, work told me to do whatever I need to do to be safe, even if that means my not returning right away. I immediately called Air New Zealand to change my ticket to go back to the USA through Rarotonga. I figured Raro was the best place for me to deal with a pandemic given my food issues, the fact that my friends there could put me up, and the fact I like it there.

Air NZ gave me an option of the first flight out (in 3 hours) or the flight the next morning, both of which went through Auckland to get to Rarotonga. I figured I couldn't get packed, checked out of the hotel and to the airport in Melbourne in less than 3 hours (I probably could have, but I never like being rushed), so I opted for the flight the next morning. That night New Zealand closed its borders (they were among the first to do so, if not the first). I then changed my ticket to fly to Raro via Sydney on Air NZ, but the flight was in 2 days time, if I remember correctly given they didn't fly daily between Sydney and Raro. Later that day Air NZ ceased all international flights (or at least flights to the Pacific Islands). My only options were to stay in Melbourne or to return home. I decided to return home (Air NZ booked me on Qantas from Melbourne direct to LAX).

tl;dr - The lesson I learned is when facing an emergency is act now, not tomorrow. National borders can close with no advanced warning whatsoever. Even if you have plans to get out, those plans can be useless because you waited a few hours longer than you should have. While you might not "appreciate" how Brummie has phrased things, I share his concern that the emergency is happening right now. While Nazi Germany allowed people to leave, they weren't as kind about letting their assets leave without government approval. As more Americans start leaving, you can expect the orange idiot to find a way to prevent people's assets from leaving the country without his approval. Best to beat the rush, if you will. (I currently have buying a house as my immediate priority in order to get a substantial part of my assets officially out of the US).

 

1) You left the Virginia Democratic Party. You want them to do more. That's ok.

2) You're not in the streets every day protesting en masse. I want you to do more. That's ... not ok?

Explain what I missed.

You're wrong! You're putting your head into the sand and hoping someone else will make the costly sacrifice. All of you are.

 

We closed our last US accounts this spring ahead of the tariff announcements.

 

It's been trickier for me as I was helping my mom get set up before focusing on where I would end up and I retired early, so no social security. I'm at the point now that I am concerned enough about the dollar's collapse that getting a house paid for is my top priority.

 

Yes, and you as well. Either you leave, you protest, or you acquiesce. That's what your options are under autocracy. I left. You acquiesced.

I think that's a bad decision.

 

I'm staying to help the people here. Especially those the regime is against. Does that make me loyal? Or fighting back in my own way that doesn't involve protest and similar actions (as it'd stop me from helping others through my job)?

 

Doom antidote here

I work at a doggy daycare, and we have a heated saltwater pool just for dogs. They get to swim twice a week, plus therapy sessions for older pups and those recovering from surgery... pic.twitter.com/1vz47xFrnU

— Puppies 🐶 (@PuppiesIover) August 20, 2025

everyone take a breath