It surely feels like dark times, but it's even darker now when democracy in the US is under threat. Belief in democracy abroad or at home seems to have gone away and in its place there is cynicism, implicit "might makes right" and political tribalism.
Re:How Hong Kong became a police state
by lcnPylGDnU4H9OF on Friday July 01, 2022 @12:28PM
(#31948867)
> Same about 1990s Russia: the west hoped a new economic system would lead to political freedom. Wishful thinking?
> The exact same kind of thinking the led US to invade Irak.
Encouraging (maybe there's a better word to use) a different way of running a foreign economy to bring about political change is not the exact same kind of thinking as overthrowing a foreign government to bring about political change. Yeah, there is the belief that political change needs to happen, but in practice these things are very different.
Re:How Hong Kong became a police state
by actionfromafar on Tuesday July 05, 2022 @06:29PM
(#31994542)
So he should really have known better. Malice or incompetence?
The exact same kind of thinking the led US to invade Irak.
We're bringing democracy!
They will love us over there!
What could possibly go wrong!
With exactly zero understanding of the history and culture of the place.
I mean had Bremer ever crossed a US border once in his life before he was posted there?
That level of blindness and self-righteousness, while rather commonly on display in the US, is unfortunately not an american monopoly.