[mlekoszek]

I think the Overton window has become much easier to slide around with social media influence campaigns. If someone powerful wants something -- even if it's against everyone else's interests -- it's now much easier for them to drum up popular support for it through underhanded tactics. Remember that Brexit started as a joke.

[SpecialistK]

"Remember that Brexit started as a joke."

Did it? Stickers or posters saying "keep our Pound!" were common on bus stops and street lights as a kid in the Home Counties in the 90s. Newspapers ran (mostly untrue) stories about market fruit stands needing to sell bananas by the KG rather than by the lb. Both the Tories and Labour had Euroskeptic wings since the 1970s.

Rightly or wrongly, the undercurrent of Brexit was there from the start of the EU and ebbed or flowed based on events of the day.

[mlekoszek]

That's a great point; I'm glad you added that context and I'll take back that characterisation. I was mostly speaking through the lens of Farage's antics, and lacked the viewpoint of someone from the UK proper.

[throwup238]

I forgot about the metric martyrs!

[throaway89]

Brexit wasnt a joke, it was the culmination of decades of anti-EU sentiment in the UK.

[tokioyoyo]

Everyone gets manipulated one way or another. It’s up to the person to carry the weight and responsibility of their actions.

When it comes to US - Canada relations, if Canadians decide to be a part of the states, then it’s their will. I don’t support it, but if super majority changes their minds… well, we live in a democracy, and such is the will of people.

Frankly, I think US is in a panic mode as they realize they can’t outcompete China anytime soon by themselves. So they’re trying every possible thing to see what sticks to increase their chances.

China is also in panic mode because of internal issues that stem from the younger generation’s dissatisfaction. Natural fix is to claim some wins to rally and unite people. So the ideas of reunification, playing to win in manufacturing, showing how much better they can overcome the economical problems using their 1B population are on the play now.

For whatever reason, I think the common lives of people who live in countries that play for both sides will be the only ones that get elevated. And frankly, I think, Canada should do the same.

[throaway89]

This is my analysis too. Trump is all about brinkmanship. Scare everyone else and bring them to the edge of the precipice that you know they dont want to go over. Then extract concessions. Its desperation, not sustainable, but it works as long as you have the upper hand.

[tokioyoyo]

Agreed, it definitely works. But given the absolute numbers of population in other countries, I’m not sure how long it can last. Alienate the allies, make them get together, and join the competitor, as you’re being very unreliable.

[throaway89]

Thats the question. How much does Trump actually understand the context and how far will he go?

[tokioyoyo]

I think he understands quite a bit. People on his team are very far from being stupid. They’re all playing the “populist game in the streets” to garner support, but it doesn’t seem like they have a strategy laid out to confront the upcoming problems.