Re: Ian Bremmer
 

Among myriad other points:

1. Protectionism doesn’t work;
2. Expect a lot more protectionism;
3. Globalism as currently practiced increases inequality exponentially;
4. Winners in globalism don’t care and won’t do anything to change the system providing them such a huge windfall;
4. Trump is a demagogue we should have seen coming a decade ago;
5. Cultural civil wars are going to take place in every nation as a result of inequality;
6. Lesser developed nations are going to face awful circumstances in the battle between globalism and nationalism/protectionism;
7. Developed nations will have it a bit better, but not much;
8. Automation and environmental crises are imminent gas on the fire in re: 1-8;
9. We’ll need radical policies like UBI to face a future where 50% of jobs are gone;
10. The current political squabbles focusing on individual leaders and social policy differences between the parties are robbing us of time and resources better spent on serious solutions to the crises;
11. Our political systems are hopelessly dysfunctional and pretty much co-opted by small politically connected or wealthy interests.

Re: Ian Bremmer
 

He’s pro-trade, of course, but quite critical of his own view. Very sober and middle of the road assessments.

Re: We are all Slave now.
 

I thought Less was criticizing GGG's suggestion that Argento's behavior was excusable because she'd been previously compelled into sex by Weinsten. I think that's what Less and GGG meant. I could be wrong.

The suggestion she gets a pass because Harvey abused her is not without some merit. The argument abuse breeds abuse is solid. But it's a ridiculous stretch here. Giving a blowjob to save your career and being sexually exploited while underage are not the same thing.

HOWEVER... I haven't read the whole story about the guy with whom Argento had sex. But he was 17. At 17, many of us were already having sex. I mean, maybe he's a victim of a sort... but really? Really? To any male on this board, If Asia Argento asked you to have sex when you were 17... If she pulled a Mrs. Robinson on you... Would you seriously, deep down, feel abused? Or would you perhaps think, Jesus Loves Me! (And then hope with all your might you can last more than two minutes.*)


______
* Premature Ejaculator in Chief

Re: Ian Bremmer
 

Bold words are mine.

1. Protectionism doesn’t work;

That depends on what "work" means. If you are less worried about the economy as a whole and more about the health of certain American industries -- autos, steel, coal -- then what Trump is trying seems to be "working".

2. Expect a lot more protectionism;
3. Globalism as currently practiced increases inequality exponentially;

The phrase "as currently practiced" has more to do with domestic politics than with economic arrangements. The Nordic countries have economies that are well-integrated with the global economy and also have social programs that tax the well-off to provide services to everyone, reducing inequality.

4. Winners in globalism don’t care and won’t do anything to change the system providing them such a huge windfall;

Duh. There are multiple games going on at once, and some are zero-sum.

4. Trump is a demagogue we should have seen coming a decade ago;

5. Cultural civil wars are going to take place in every nation as a result of inequality;

Not seeing this. Why does inequality drive cultural civil wars?

6. Lesser developed nations are going to face awful circumstances in the battle between globalism and nationalism/protectionism;

Why worse than the last 50 years?

7. Developed nations will have it a bit better, but not much;
8. Automation and environmental crises are imminent gas on the fire in re: 1-8;
9. We’ll need radical policies like UBI to face a future where 50% of jobs are gone;

Why are 50% of the jobs going to be gone?

10. The current political squabbles focusing on individual leaders and social policy differences between the parties are robbing us of time and resources better spent on serious solutions to the crises;

No kidding. Some games are zero-sum, and they complicate the non-zero-sum games.

11. Our political systems are hopelessly dysfunctional and pretty much co-opted by small politically connected or wealthy interests.

Sounds like they are not "dysfunctional" from the perspective of small, politically connected or wealthy interests.

Re: We are all Slave now.
 

Sure. And Less was just initially curious about whether Argento was being reasonable.

No it isn't. One can understand that there are reasons behind abuse that involve the abused become abusers. But no one gets a fucking pass. And she is currently not getting a pass.

Absolutely no one is saying that they are the same thing. Are you attempting to set up another straw man conversation?

Ah, yes. The old, "Boys are lucky if hot women statutory rape them" bit.

This needs to stop. We pick an age of consent because we have determined that people under that age do not have the capacity to agree to sex. If you want to argue 17 isn't the right age, okay. But let's move beyond this ridiculous theme that young boys are lucky if they are abused by good looking women. The fact that so many people see it this way makes it almost impossible for them to actually come forward. They may think it was a great thing, but, as I understand it, they often have different feelings about it as they age. I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't often completely screwed up. It's either abuse or it's not. We don't say, "That girl shouldn't complain. The dude who took advantage of her is an athlete!"

TM

Re: We are all Slave now.
 

Just to be clear, I didn't excuse anyone's behavior, I noted that there is often a correlation between being abused and later abusing people. I do not have the view that Rose McGowan, having being abused, is now free to go do it to someone else. I can't believe you typed words that could suggest that.

As to the rest of your argument on what constitutes abuse, can I say, ewwwwwww. Just ewwwwww.

Re: We are all Slave now.
 

I should have just given you my proxy.

Nonetheless, can I say one more time about Sebby's post, ewwwwww.

Re: Ian Bremmer
 

Read the book.

Re: We are all Slave now.
 

Lighten the fuck up. First, that's tongue in cheek. But second, it's not without basis. If a friend's older sister -- past college age, had slept with me when I was 17, I'd have been "all in," in gambling terms.

I am not the outlier here. Hence, this joke persists. The best jokes are rooted in truth.

This is what's infuriating about political correctness. It's so fucking boring.

Re: Ian Bremmer
 

So you're saying I should have taken the job he offered me back when Eurasia was in its infancy?

Re: We are all Slave now.
 

Once more, if you're at all serious, I'll call you a priggish ponce. I'd have been Mrs. Robinson's pool boy without a second thought. So would almost any stable male.

Re: Ian Bremmer
 

If he was drinking that much back then, you should have also asked for a massive signing bonus.

Re: Ian Bremmer
 

Thanks, but I think I'd rather exercise free will.

Re: We are all Slave now.
 

ew.

Re: Ian Bremmer
 

I've read a wide smattering of his stuff over the years, but my suggestion would be to follow his podcasts not read his books. He can be pretty entertaining for a wonk. He's the first person I can think of Sebby has suggested whom I think is actually pretty bright and has his head screwed on.

One warning: there are not a small number of sovereigns who retain the Eurasia group, and take what he says about his own clients with about a billion grains of salt.