tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post7516867865072949572..comments2023-03-25T23:14:28.396+10:00Comments on Waving Not Drowning: Help Me Out, Americagraywavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-32810320236773434822009-10-18T10:23:21.356+10:002009-10-18T10:23:21.356+10:00Thanks, Francesca. And I really hope you enjoy it!...Thanks, Francesca. And I really hope you enjoy it!graywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-35344253115708112282009-10-17T23:47:25.870+10:002009-10-17T23:47:25.870+10:00Since much of my last comment was somewhat runaway...Since much of my last comment was somewhat runaway express train of thought rather than well planned, logical argument, I would just like to add this:<br /><br />The scenario you describe will not strike anyone as too far-fetched to swallow. So from a literary (rather than a strict political theory POV, whatever that is) you're good to go and I am looking forward to reading your book when it Francescahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07892273762273248682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-21224189078891055042009-10-17T11:55:38.859+10:002009-10-17T11:55:38.859+10:00Francesca, thanks for your thoughts. I love the di...Francesca, thanks for your thoughts. I love the distinction bewteen an Orwellian and a Huxleyan self-destruction. <br /><br />I had considered the States seceding and the USA breaking up, but opted for the rather darker scenario where this is avoided by the emergence of strong leadership. At least with secession, the States can all renegotiate the Union when things settle down.graywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-27925055574675151302009-10-17T10:24:53.642+10:002009-10-17T10:24:53.642+10:00As a sometimes reluctant USAian (awkward alternati...As a sometimes reluctant USAian (awkward alternative to American which is, as Mr. Crunk pointed out, applicable to two whole continents full of people), I think that the scenario is highly possible. Sadly. Obviously it's not the only way the dice could roll but much of the way the USA tends comes from the heartland, conservative middle rather than the liberal coasts.<br /><br />Also this Francescahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07892273762273248682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-49662120705158837562009-10-17T09:33:45.870+10:002009-10-17T09:33:45.870+10:00Thank you Flavio, David and Mary Jo!
Flavio (and ...Thank you Flavio, David and Mary Jo!<br /><br />Flavio (and all Canadians) I do apologise for the "Americans" thing. Isn't it possible that we have one word here that means two things, both usages being correct?<br /><br />The peak oil thing is debatable. Of course, we'll never run out of oil, the price will just keep going up and up. But that doesn't mean farmers and graywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-28796084375705037402009-10-17T09:00:44.722+10:002009-10-17T09:00:44.722+10:00I believe anything can happen after this last deca...I believe anything can happen after this last decade. <br /> Employment Rate, low-wages, rampant abuse, gangs, children w/guns, flooding victims still in Feema Housing, no dental care.under and unisured millions,<br />businesses going under, wounded coming back with insufficient healthcare and rehab, elderly dying of abuse in nursing homes anything else? <br />Religious fundamentalists trying to Mary Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03473794989882620075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-21912525202538249432009-10-17T08:49:55.468+10:002009-10-17T08:49:55.468+10:00Except for the part about the removal of GM crops ...Except for the part about the removal of GM crops somehow lowering food production (there's no evidence GM crops do anything other than increasing seed company profits and increasing the amount of pesticide used) I find it entirely plausible.<br /><br />Given how easily Americans rolled over for the loss of their constitutional rights through the PATRIOT Act, warrantless wiretapping, etc. it&Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17623243339063930018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-42696984972112235772009-10-17T08:49:22.930+10:002009-10-17T08:49:22.930+10:00Firstly, (and I get tired of reiterating this) CAN...Firstly, (and I get tired of reiterating this) CANADIANS ARE AMERICANS TOO. We're all part of NORTH AMERICA. <br /><br />Ok. <br /><br />I think this is quite possible. But I don't think we'll ever hit peak oil, simply because the price will become too much of a barrier as you get closer and closer to the peak. <br />But that's all crap! The story's already written! And it&#Flavio Q Crunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05110338608410195466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-83796499730565472182009-10-17T08:29:05.081+10:002009-10-17T08:29:05.081+10:00Thanks for the vote of confidence, Frostie, but, a...Thanks for the vote of confidence, Frostie, but, as a Canadian, unfortunately, your vote doesn't count ;-)<br /><br />The thing is, I have a strong suspicion people outside the US will see this very differently from people inside. <br /><br />Besides, I think Margaret Atwood spoke very loudly for the Canadian view when she wrote 'The Handmaid's Tale' :-)graywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-74432563235124097332009-10-17T06:15:05.166+10:002009-10-17T06:15:05.166+10:00I'm not American (I'm actually Canadian), ...I'm not American (I'm actually Canadian), but I think that it's completely plausible for something like that to happen. I don't have any examples, but that's all you really wanted to know anyways, right?<br /><br />I'm very intrigued by the scenario you've presented; I'll make sure to pick up a copy when it comes out. =)Frostiehttp://s-frostie.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-74881238993621923242009-10-16T20:59:03.762+10:002009-10-16T20:59:03.762+10:00Thanks, RJS.
It is a side detail, but I still wou...Thanks, RJS.<br /><br />It is a side detail, but I still wouldn't want to include anything too improbable. The view from outside America is very different from the view from inside and, in this case, I think the inside view is more likely to be accurate.graywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33572374.post-46243081196797278012009-10-16T20:44:45.853+10:002009-10-16T20:44:45.853+10:00Well, I'm an an American, so I'll give it ...Well, I'm an an American, so I'll give it a shot. :)<br /><br />I wouldn't say it's completely impossible--history shows us that what you often get is the unexpected. It might be most plausible if the crash happened *very* quickly--any situation in which a government must move with speed is dangerous, democracy not being designed for efficiency. If people have time to actually Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01078842648532832407noreply@blogger.com