Oh my! I seem to have entered an alternate universe . . .

wormyguy

Banned
Are any US soldiers deployed to foreign countries?
Well, we have quite a few military bases, but we aren't unlawfully occupying any countries, unlike the Russians.
Is there any police or intelligence service, public or secret, in charge of protecting and promoting the ideology of the government?
Well, nothing beyond the sensible laws you would expect.
Also, do you have any questions about this universe?
Yes - was there no revolution in this universe? If not, then do people simply accept the state of affairs? How many protests are there against the government? Is there any armed insurrection? How can an inherently doomed economic system like capitalism possibly be sustained in a country like the United States for so long?
Does my name mean anything 2 u :D
You're a raven, from Bavaria?
 
Well, we have quite a few military bases, but we aren't unlawfully occupying any countries, unlike the Russians.
Where are those bases?

And who are the Russians occupying?
Well, nothing beyond the sensible laws you would expect.
Like what? Is it acceptable to protest against the government?

Yes - was there no revolution in this universe? If not, then do people simply accept the state of affairs? How many protests are there against the government? Is there any armed insurrection? How can an inherently doomed economic system like capitalism possibly be sustained in a country like the United States for so long?

Oh, there was a revolution, if you mean a communist or socialist revolution.

In Russia.

Yes, yes, we do realize that that was the last place Marx said it would go down, but it did. The czar was deposed in 1917, after a long series of Russian set backs and disasters against Imperial Germany in the First World War (1914-1918), but those revolutionaries were themselves deposed (because they failed to secure a peace with Germany), and the czar and family executed, by communists, who won the Russian Civil War (1917-1921).

The United States, while experiencing quite a few trials and tribulations, came through without a revolution.

As for capitalism being inevitably doomed... well, hate to tell you, but it was the commies that lost out. There are only a handful of modern communist nations, and they're either economically miserable, or just going through the motions while embracing state capitalism.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the socialist Russian state) lasted from 1917-1991, and dominated Eastern Europe following the Second World War (1939-1945), and contested global domination with the United States and other democratic/capitalist nations (the UK, France, Japan, etc), and, eventually, the contest proved too much for them, and their 'empire' collapsed.

There is a good deal of protest against the government here, but only a fairly radical fringe demand a socialist economic system in full and instantly. We recently passed a law intended to extend healthcare (one way or another) to as many people as possible) and there are plenty of socialist-style government programs like Social Security (state pensions), Medicare (government payed health care), and so on. There is no armed insurrection against the government, and hasn't been for some time.
 

wormyguy

Banned
Where are those bases?
Most South American countries, China, Japan, Spain, France, Egypt, Syria, India, and the New South African Republic.
And who are the Russians occupying?
They're occupying Eastern Turkey, Afghanistan, and parts of northern Iran and China in violation of international law, and maintain capitalist puppet regimes in Sweden and Rumania.
Like what?
The present school of thought is that free speech is always to be allowed, except when intentional harm is intended. Just as shouting "fire!" in a crowded building or threatening someone is an intentional attempt to cause harm, then so are all other attempts to cause harm through abuse of communication channels. This obviously includes any offensive language - racism, sexism, religious bias, homophobia etc., as well as malicious libel including unsupported allegations of ulterior motives, and any attempt to incite violence, suggest violence, or organize violent uprising. As an example, the Supreme Court recently ruled that the Democrat-Republican alliance would have to end their "Taking Back America" campaign, as it implied a desire for violent insurrection ("taking back").
Is it acceptable to protest against the government?
Of course, so long as it is orderly, legitimate, registered, and non-violent. Why, last week I stood outside the State House demanding an end to political corruption.
In Russia.
Russia? Surely you must be joking.
Yes, yes, we do realize that that was the last place Marx said it would go down, but it did. The czar was deposed in 1917, after a long series of Russian set backs and disasters against Imperial Germany in the First World War (1914-1918), but those revolutionaries were themselves deposed (because they failed to secure a peace with Germany), and the czar and family executed, by communists, who won the Russian Civil War (1917-1921).
How curious! Russia only became a republic in 1965 as far as I know.
The United States, while experiencing quite a few trials and tribulations, came through without a revolution.
How awful! You must live in a horrible dictatorship for such an awful economic system to be maintained. I hope you're safe writing this.
As for capitalism being inevitably doomed... well, hate to tell you, but it was the commies that lost out. There are only a handful of modern communist nations, and they're either economically miserable, or just going through the motions while embracing state capitalism.
Oh, that's just reactionary propaganda. Don't listen to it.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the socialist Russian state) lasted from 1917-1991, and dominated Eastern Europe following the Second World War (1939-1945), and contested global domination with the United States and other democratic/capitalist nations (the UK, France, Japan, etc), and, eventually, the contest proved too much for them, and their 'empire' collapsed.
Well, that's what happens when you don't have a proletariat. Clearly the plutocratic elements in Russia had such a stranglehold on society that they were never able to fully relent and allow a true revolution to develop.
There is a good deal of protest against the government here, but only a fairly radical fringe demand a socialist economic system in full and instantly. We recently passed a law intended to extend healthcare (one way or another) to as many people as possible) and there are plenty of socialist-style government programs like Social Security (state pensions), Medicare (government payed health care), and so on. There is no armed insurrection against the government, and hasn't been for some time.
Ah, so I see your Socialists have sold out on the People and have merely embraced Social Fascism to sprinkle a few bread crumbs to the plebes while the fruits of their labor are carted away by bankers and organized industry.
 
Most South American countries, China, Japan, Spain, France, Egypt, Syria, India, and the New South African Republic.
Interesting, the United States has troops and or bases in... hang on, lemme get the list:
Iraq, Afghanistan (both classified as active combat zones), South Korea, Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, and a bunch of other places, all by treaty and non-occupational.
They're occupying Eastern Turkey, Afghanistan, and parts of northern Iran and China in violation of international law, and maintain capitalist puppet regimes in Sweden and Rumania.
Here, Turkey joined NATO, an alliance composed of the US and most of Western and Southern Europe, so an invasion would have lead to global war, but they did invade unaligned Afghanistan to impose a communist government. Iran was not invaded, but had a revolution against its monarch, and formed what amounts to a theocratic (Islamic) republic. China (mainland) wen communist at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, but has since moved largely toward a state capitalist system to prevent a Soviet-style fall.

The present school of thought is that free speech is always to be allowed, except when intentional harm is intended. Just as shouting "fire!" in a crowded building or threatening someone is an intentional attempt to cause harm, then so are all other attempts to cause harm through abuse of communication channels. This obviously includes any offensive language - racism, sexism, religious bias, homophobia etc., as well as malicious libel including unsupported allegations of ulterior motives, and any attempt to incite violence, suggest violence, or organize violent uprising. As an example, the Supreme Court recently ruled that the Democrat-Republican alliance would have to end their "Taking Back America" campaign, as it implied a desire for violent insurrection ("taking back").
I see. Who is leading the Democratic-Republican Alliance?

Also, I note mentions of prohibition of religious bias. Here, communist nations were frequently very, very hostile to religion, persecuting and often executing persons and espousing state atheism.
Of course, so long as it is orderly, legitimate, registered, and non-violent. Why, last week I stood outside the State House demanding an end to political corruption.
Register? How difficult is it for someone to secure a registration?

Russia? Surely you must be joking.
Afraid not, pal. I'm a bit of a history buff, so I would know.

How curious! Russia only became a republic in 1965 as far as I know.
Well, Russia is democratic now, but its had a few rocky years, and their current Prime Minister (and former President) Vladimir Putin has a fairly firm grip on the country.

How awful! You must live in a horrible dictatorship for such an awful economic system to be maintained. I hope you're safe writing this.

Actually, no. We have elections regularly, free, fair, and open. In 2008, we elected Barack Obama, an African-American, to the Presidency, replacing George Bush, who had been elected in 2000 and 2004. We have democracy at the local, state, and national level. Incidentally, you probably didn't have the direct election of Senators by the time the revolution occurred. Well, we do. I could go on about the problems the system has, but it is largely fair and functional.
Oh, that's just reactionary propaganda. Don't listen to it.
Sorry, no. Believe me, its true, no propaganda. The media, while possessed of its own problems, would have to have been keeping up the farce for about 20 years now, and millions of Americans have traveled to Russia and other former communist countries. Its a fact.

Well, that's what happens when you don't have a proletariat. Clearly the plutocratic elements in Russia had such a stranglehold on society that they were never able to fully relent and allow a true revolution to develop.
Well, they pretty much slaughtered the business class, and imposed a highly-centralized state economy. They definitely made great economic progress in the 1920s and 1930s, and were in good enough shape to slug it out with Germany in the Second World War (and, in combination with the other Allies, win), but the central economy proved hideous inefficient. It was all they could do to maintain military and technological parity (or, more frequently, near-parity) with the West, and couldn't hope to supply the consumer goods that the West enjoyed, and they collapsed.

And, of course, adding in the massive environmental damage, monstrous corruption, mass murders of political enemies (several million Ukrainians in a deliberate famine by the government), suppression of any and all dissent, combined to bring them down.

I'm vastly simplifying things, but thats the gist of it.

Ah, so I see your Socialists have sold out on the People and have merely embraced Social Fascism to sprinkle a few bread crumbs to the plebes while the fruits of their labor are carted away by bankers and organized industry.
Not really. Fascism went down hard with the Second World War, and, while a political dirty word, there isn't a true fascist country anymore. Plenty of countries have aspects of fascism, but nobody will admit to it.
 
Hang on, let's not start another war. Tell me about something a bit less controversial.;) You mentioned an air crash. Is that common? What type of aircraft was it?

On another note, what was the biggest film where you came from last year? (Or do you call them movies?) Who was in it? Directed it? Do you get imported films? (We call them "foreign". Some people just call them garbage...:p) Can you get pre-recorded films? And watch them at home?

Do people own cars? Is it common? It's very common here. Especially in California.:D Which reminds me, is smog a problem? Do your cars (if you have them;)) use internal combustion engines, or something else? Do they run on gasoline?

Is crime a problem? Do you have severe restrictions on private gun ownership? Or even allow it?
 
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Actually, I would also love to hear about what kind of entertainment you have over there. See, I find that ours can be very context-dependent, especially in the last several decades, and it's interesting to me to hear what it would be like in a divergent culture. What is your music like? Do you have video games?

On your WorldNet, are there memes? If so, what are they like? Also, do you have alternate history sites?
 
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