[ben_w]

My condolences about your mum; I lost mine during the pandemic, though Alzheimers' causing her to forget to drink water rather than cancer, and the frequent closing of international borders meaning I couldn't even be there for the funeral.

That said, you've shifted the goalposts here: the one and only thing I was disagreeing about was the military. The military are the final arbiter of what happens, when the civilian government turns evil.

Seeing all the toadying and the way red hats are becoming the new brown shirts… I hope the ocean separating us is sufficient to keep me safe.

I cannot say, an am not saying, for certain that *the US military* are going to be not-evil, because unlike everyone else in the US federal government today the majority of the US armed forces are competent enough to keep quiet, and quiet makes it impossible to tell.

But what little gets out, from specifically the military? It suggests they take their oath of allegiance to the constitution seriously.

If the military is as bad as all your other non-military examples… well, even 25 years ago I was wondering how a new American civil war would play out, and if nukes would get involved.

[_DeadFred_]

I didn't know how to respond. I'll concede the discussion. It's nothing compared to your loss. I am so sorry that you went through that and that your mother passed. Wasn't going to say something, but I need to acknowledge how sad/horrible that is.