Dunno, honestly. Still, I expect that if the EU implemented a Russian Marshall Plan, they likely have intelligence profiles on who is least bad to head up a budding democracy. If that someone steps out of line, they are removed in some fashion and a different person is tried until the project succeeds. In this hypothetical scenario, the EU can shut the Marshall purse strings until an appropriate puppet is willing to be tied to them. Or leave through a convenient window in search of a replacement.

I wasn’t advocating for his survival. His elimination is a prerequisite to a genuine Marshall Plan. The question is what happens after his death, and that means supporting Russian leaders who prefer democracy over the old ways.

I don’t think our positions are mutually exclusive. I am thinking Russia in the west getting the Marshall Plan reform treatment would be done, and what you described also happening. That would make it easier for the EU to handle the Russian territory closer to home.

Plus, China tearing off a haunch of Russia might be good for peace in the long run. It would allow Xi Ping to have a victorious legacy, without having to attack Taiwan. The Chinese tiger might sleep while digesting the territory it reclaimed from Russia.

I would assume that Ukraine would also get a Marshall Plan. The place is rich with resources and food, but lacks the infrastructure to take advantage. That makes Ukraine suitable for investment, since the EU would get a healthy trading partner in the long run. As with Russia, letting Ukraine rot after the conflict could lead to trouble down the line, so keeping democratic Ukraine in good health is key to keeping the peace.

Be it pragmatic or moral, there is a great deal of value in well executed Marshall Plans for everyone involved.

Considering how Western Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan turned out after their Marshall Plans, I think there is a lot of evidence that reforming and rebuilding a country helps with making them into democratic major powers. I would guess the EU would do it, and Ukraine would want their neighbor to stop being a jackass.

Poland certainly wouldn’t want Ukraine to annex Russia, that just means a new rival on their doorstep. Ditto for Turkey, since they are a naval bottleneck, and wouldn’t want a Uber Ukraine to get ideas. So on and so forth. A lot of nations would rather a smaller and reformed Russia, than a bigger and hungry Ukraine. Better to foster small but capable democracies that want to be part of the EU bloc.

If Putin dies, a successor might (secretly) align with Ukraine. Something like “If you attack XX, I will remove my troops from ZZ, if you don’t attack me. I will be focusing on a bread & butter campaign if I run Russia. Take care of my rivals in the meantime, mm’kay?”

Mind, I would prefer Russia outright being conquered and Marshall Planned into something completely different, but I would accept the other scenario if the outcome could be decent. In this case, Ukraine gets back Crimea and all other territories, plus security guarantees.

Personally, I would like a Japanese karoke-style room system for the theater. Sit back, relax, and watch the video in peace. Order snacks and drinks for delivery, and maybe snuggle up with your partner. No children, just you and a time away from life.

I guess he will hang up curtains in the market aisles, so that people don’t know that they are bare at a glance.

Shit rolls downhill, and Trump is crouching on top of the turd pile.

I think “Roosevelt Party” has potential. You can make two mascots for the ads, one being Theodore and the Franklin, each designed to appeal to the right or left among Americans. Theodore, for example, using guns to hunt down moose, advocating for national parks and peace with Canada.

Also, someone can commission an Epic Rap Battle between the two, who then dunk on Trump and Elon.

I think that if the Good Guys replace Nazi America with something new, they should engineer a new economic system where everybody’s survival is guaranteed. If you have basic but genuine shelter, food, utilities, and so forth to rely upon, you can go out to protest or strike without worrying much about your wellbeing.

The current economy might as well be willfully designed to keep an economic boot on our necks. We can’t afford the time, risk, or afford travel to do what is right. We should make money not used for survival, instead making it solely for buying luxury goods - a fancy car that isn’t government issue, meals that aren’t Generic Corn Flakes #1, and so forth.

Capitalism is good for supplying the demand for things that align with a person’s hobbies and interests, but is utterly worthless when it comes to survival. We should fix that, by ensuring that billionaires cannot exist, and use their freed capital to fund a genuine UBI for all.

I want to see a gun duel between Luigi and Trump. We can put together an Old West stage town, and let it play out.

I think that UBI and capitalism can be combined, in a specific way: UBI gives everything a person ever needs for survival and general wellbeing, but is boring. Money isn’t used for survival, but instead to purchase goods that are more suited to an individual’s interests. Instead of the Generic Dress #2 that everyone may order for free, you can spend money on getting a dress with polka dots, made of silk, and so forth.

Capitalism is really good at producing entertaining items, such as music, branded foods with a twist, or Pokemon cards. However, it utterly sucks at ensuring the wellbeing of people. Thus, we should separate the concepts of survival and luxury.

I think under a UBI scenario, people should get to pick the city they want to reside in, then get assigned a public housing unit(s) for their immediate family. They can also be provided free public transport, and a basic UBI vehicle with free fuel.

Ideally, people would have a bedrock of UBI services to rely upon for their wellbeing, and money is turned into something solely used for lifestyle upgrades: Buying a house of the quality, size, and location you want, a fancier non-UBI car, brand-name food or supplies, private school, ect.

I think the very best thing we can do for Bernie, is to win the political fight and install Roosevelt Administration v3.0 into power, and get genuine reform normalized.

It would be best if he can pass on from this world, knowing he had his part in creating a far better world.

By making America seem like a good neighbor. Would you lend a hand to someone who doesn’t treat you decently?

Treaties, military aid, investment, all of them requires the feeling that things will turn out alright if you get involved. A dickhead like Trump makes it clear that he would shank you and fuck your mother, just because he feels likes it. To say the least, no reasonable or good person would want to associate with a Trumpian nation.

Nations within and without, are built on relationships.

An certain Austrian duke comes to mind…here’s hoping that Elon gets to play his role in the remake.

DOGE wants to kill me, by taking away my insulin. I have good reason to want Musk and Trump to be trapped in a burning cyber truck.

I am hoping that if there is a civil war, all of Yarvin’s Cabal are killed or executed. They are traitors to humanity as a whole.

My money is on Mexico, he has been placing brigades with Strykers and whatnot on that border. Whatever the case, still stupid and evil.