The worst of the best, or the best of the worst?

[Sean Hayden]

Or, a question regarding how best to categorize the US in the Trump era.

People, especially Eurotrash and their American sycophants, have long referred to the US as the worst of the best countries. But I think it's time to acknowledge that with Trump in office we are just the best of the worst. This is an important shift. Yes, it helps 42, he's always favored comparing us to shitholes anyway. But don't fret. Rather than seeing it as only a reclassification, or a cheap marketing ploy intended to make us look better, think of it as an indication of things to come. The trend is clearly downward. How long can the US maintain its status as king of shit-hill?

[laklak]

Well they call me King Turd up here on shit mountain, if you want it you can have the crown.

[Sean Hayden]

You need the one from the brewery in this thread.

[laklak]

Damn that's a good 'un.

[Rum]

Depends on your criteria. It is easy for us Brits to forget how big and diverse a country the USA is. I imagine life in Connecticut, Oregon, parts of California and other places I don't know about offer as good a life as one might wish for. Baltimore, Detroit and LA Gangland not so much.

My guess is whoever the Prez happens to be doesn't make all that much difference to the average Merican on an everyday basis. Things like gun crime, poor health care for poor people and such don't seem ever to get resolved anyway. If Obama couldn't fix those issues - or start to - it is hard to see anything much changing.

I'm an optimist though - or try to be often in the face of good reason not to be. Life has improved immeasurably for literally billions of people over the last few decades, irrespective of politics. Barring something truly dreadful happening I see no reason for that process to continue one way and another.

As to who will be king of the shit hill, again it depends. In terms of military power everyone else - the Chinese and the Russians have a long way to go. In terms of what one might call 'international leadership', that might slip I suspect. China looks ready to step into that role.

[Tero]

We are so big hundreds of millions disappear into our millitary without a trace. No receipts.

[laklak]

Fucking Elon Musk! He's 'Murican! Well, partially, anyways.

So fuck all y'all naysayers, there's a fucking Starman in a fucking Tesla up there!

Goddamn that was a LAUNCH!

'Murika! FUK YEAH!

[Tero]

You are into boats: you can buy the shell.
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news ... 306936002/
need to tow it though.

[Rum]

Fucking Elon Musk! He's 'Murican! Well, partially, anyways.

So fuck all y'all naysayers, there's a fucking Starman in a fucking Tesla up there!

Goddamn that was a LAUNCH!

'Murika! FUK YEAH!

Utterly wonderful! ..and no irony intended!

I watched it live. Besides the fantastic achievement what struck me was the number of people cheering and urging the thing to work. That would not happen in any other country and it is one reason America remains special - even with Trump the Cunt in power.

[pErvinalia]

I'm an optimist though - or try to be often in the face of good reason not to be. Life has improved immeasurably for literally billions of people over the last few decades, irrespective of politics. Barring something truly dreadful happening...

Yeah, um climate change.

[laklak]

I watched it live. Besides the fantastic achievement what struck me was the number of people cheering and urging the thing to work. That would not happen in any other country and it is one reason America remains special - even with Trump the Cunt in power.

It was really, really cool. I've been a space nut since I was a little kid and we lived in Daytona during the Apollo program, I've seen more Saturn V, STS, and Delta Heavy launches then I can count, but watching those two boosters land simultaneously was the first time I've actually felt like I was in a science fiction movie. Just imagine what it takes to do that - just the programming and control aspects. Mind boggling.

I was in Titusville when Sally Ride (first U.S. female astronaut) launched in STS-7, man, what a party. Tens of thousands of people, all singing "Mustang Sally" - Ride, Sally, Ride! I remember watching Challenger blow up from the roof of the Uni where I worked. Seen the Shuttle coming in to land and heard the double sonic booms, and saw it flying in on top of it's 747 transporter. This was as memorable as any of those. Wish we'd driven over to see it, but I was pretty sure they'd scrub.

[laklak]

Elon tweeted that the Mars insertion burn occurred at 10:46PM EST. Starman is on his way.

[pErvinalia]

Naomi Klein on Facebook - "This is just a giant car commercial" (paraphrase)

[Rum]

I doubt Musk is just in it for the $$$. It may well be part of it, but space transportt is very high risk and he could probably make more with less ambitious goals in mind.

I thought the Hitchhiker's Guide quote was the best bit. : )

[Scot Dutchy]

Fucking Elon Musk! He's 'Murican! Well, partially, anyways.

So fuck all y'all naysayers, there's a fucking Starman in a fucking Tesla up there!

Goddamn that was a LAUNCH!

'Murika! FUK YEAH!

Utterly wonderful! ..and no irony intended!

I watched it live. Besides the fantastic achievement what struck me was the number of people cheering and urging the thing to work. That would not happen in any other country and it is one reason America remains special - even with Trump the Cunt in power.

Never mind the state of the country. Flag waving is something I noticed most Americans do at a drop of a hat.