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WTF is wrong with the left?

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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9360 on: March 28, 2026, 02:38:08 PM »
Quote from: ThePAMan on March 28, 2026, 07:38:36 AM
Sounds like Tempo and Nichi want to restore the monarchy here.

Woke AI Overview

The monarchies in Denmark, , and Sweden are constitutional and hereditary, functioning primarily as apolitical symbols of national unity, continuity, and ceremonial representation. While they are heads of state, their political power is strictly limited or non-existent, with actual governance handled by parliamentarian governments led by Prime Ministers.

Key Roles of Scandinavian Monarchs:

*Symbolic Head of State: Represent the nation, providing a continuous link to history while remaining above political, partisan debates.

*Ceremonial Duties: Perform official tasks such as opening sessions of parliament, hosting foreign state visits, and conducting official travels to highlight industries or regions.

*Apolitical Unity: Act as a uniting figurehead, especially during national crises or celebrations, often seen as a unifying, non-political figure.

*Formal Constitutional Roles: In Denmark and Norway, the monarch signs acts of parliament and chairs the Council of State, though they do not have independent political authority.
 
*Cultural Diplomacy: Support cultural institutions, academia, and charities, often serving as patrons and strengthening national interests abroad.

Key Differences:

*Denmark & Norway: The monarch holds a high-profile, popular role and participates in the Council of State, as discussed on Kongehuset.dk and The Royal House of Norway.

*Sweden: The King's role is strictly defined by the Instrument of Government as non-political, focused purely on representation, notes Kungahuset.

*Republics: Notably, Finland and Iceland are Nordic neighbors but are presidential republics, not monarchies.

The popularity of the Scandinavian monarchies generally stems from their ability to adapt to modern, egalitarian societies while providing a stabilizing, unifying presence.
« Last Edit: March 28, 2026, 02:53:36 PM by illiniray »
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Somewhere in Mn

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9361 on: March 28, 2026, 02:45:43 PM »
Lol

Have a good NoKingsDay.
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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9362 on: March 28, 2026, 02:52:29 PM »
Quote from: Somewhere in Mn on March 28, 2026, 02:45:43 PM
Lol

Have a good NoKingsDay.

No dictators day might be a better slogan.

Awake AI Overview

"No Kings" days are symbolic protest movements in the United States. They began in 2025 as a direct response to concerns that the Trump administration was acting with authoritarian, king-like power, such as abusing executive authority and disregarding checks and balances, rather than behaving as a democratically elected president.

Key aspects of the "No Kings" protest movement include:

*Opposition to Authoritarianism: The movement is a demonstration by grassroots groups to fight against what they see as a shift toward dictatorship, corruption, and the erosion of democratic institutions.

*"No Kings" Slogan: It serves as a reminder of the foundational American belief that the nation does not belong to a strongman or a dictator, but to the people, and that nobody is above the law.

*Reaction to Specific Actions: The protests often coincide with actions perceived as monarchical, such as the use of federal military force against protesters, attacks on the press, and the concentration of power.

*Focus on Democracy: Organizers focus on defending the separation of powers and ensuring the U.S. remains a nation of equals.

The movement asserts that while America doesn't have a king, the protesters believe the administration's behaviors warrant a defense of the republic.
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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9363 on: March 28, 2026, 03:10:21 PM »
Quote from: ThePAMan on March 28, 2026, 07:38:36 AM
Sounds like Tempo and Nichi want to restore the monarchy here.

Awake AI response:

Nordic social democracy offers high living standards, strong social security, and low inequality through a "cradle-to-grave" welfare state funded by high taxes. Key advantages include free, high-quality education and healthcare, comprehensive public services, and high social trust, which coexist with a capitalist economy and constitutional monarchies

Key Advantages of the Nordic Model:

*Comprehensive Social Safety Net: High taxes fund extensive public services, including free higher education and universal healthcare, reducing financial pressure on families and enhancing individual well-being.

*High Quality of Life and Stability: Nordic countries consistently rank top in global happiness, equality, and social progress reports.

*Strong Economic Performance: Despite high taxation, the model supports strong capitalist markets, high competitiveness, and a highly educated, healthy, and productive workforce.

*High Social Trust: A widespread culture of trust in government and other citizens facilitates a social contract where high taxes are accepted in exchange for reliable public benefits.

*Cultural and Social Investment: Public funding supports extensive cultural institutions, public transportation, and social services, fostering a high-functioning society.

*Labour Market Stability: High union membership and collective bargaining ensure fair wages and employment security, reducing the need for government-mandated minimum wages.

The Role of Taxes and Monarchies:

*High Taxes as Investment: Citizens perceive high tax rates (30%–50%) not as a burden but as a collective investment in high-quality public services.

*Role of Monarchy: Constitutional monarchies in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden exist alongside democracy, often serving as non-political symbols of tradition, unity, and stability without interfering in democratic processes.

The Nordic model proves that a generous welfare state can coexist with, and even strengthen, economic prosperity and a robust capitalist, democratic system.
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ThePAMan

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9364 on: March 28, 2026, 09:59:22 PM »
Quote from: illiniray on March 28, 2026, 03:10:21 PM
Awake AI response:

Nordic social democracy offers high living standards, strong social security, and low inequality through a "cradle-to-grave" welfare state funded by high taxes. Key advantages include free, high-quality education and healthcare, comprehensive public services, and high social trust, which coexist with a capitalist economy and constitutional monarchies

Key Advantages of the Nordic Model:

*Comprehensive Social Safety Net: High taxes fund extensive public services, including free higher education and universal healthcare, reducing financial pressure on families and enhancing individual well-being.

*High Quality of Life and Stability: Nordic countries consistently rank top in global happiness, equality, and social progress reports.

*Strong Economic Performance: Despite high taxation, the model supports strong capitalist markets, high competitiveness, and a highly educated, healthy, and productive workforce.

*High Social Trust: A widespread culture of trust in government and other citizens facilitates a social contract where high taxes are accepted in exchange for reliable public benefits.

*Cultural and Social Investment: Public funding supports extensive cultural institutions, public transportation, and social services, fostering a high-functioning society.

*Labour Market Stability: High union membership and collective bargaining ensure fair wages and employment security, reducing the need for government-mandated minimum wages.

The Role of Taxes and Monarchies:

*High Taxes as Investment: Citizens perceive high tax rates (30%–50%) not as a burden but as a collective investment in high-quality public services.

*Role of Monarchy: Constitutional monarchies in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden exist alongside democracy, often serving as non-political symbols of tradition, unity, and stability without interfering in democratic processes.

The Nordic model proves that a generous welfare state can coexist with, and even strengthen, economic prosperity and a robust capitalist, democratic system.

Let me know how those pansies have helped keep the peace since 1945. Bunch of neutral cowards in the face of fascism and communism.  They would be speaking German or Soviet right now if it was not for us. GMAFB.
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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9365 on: March 28, 2026, 10:02:48 PM »
Quote from: ThePAMan on March 28, 2026, 09:59:22 PM
Let me know how those pansies have helped keep the peace since 1945. Bunch of neutral cowards in the face of fascism and communism.  They would be speaking German or Soviet right now if it was not for us. GMAFB.

Are you confusing Sweden with Switzerland?
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ThePAMan

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9366 on: March 28, 2026, 10:10:36 PM »
Quote from: illiniray on March 28, 2026, 10:02:48 PM
Are you confusing Sweden with Switzerland?

No.  They were "neutral" in the face of Nazi Germany.
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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9367 on: March 28, 2026, 10:29:45 PM »
Enlightened AI response

While some Scandinavian and Nordic countries maintained neutrality, others have been foundational members of Western defense alliances. Their contributions to peace since 1945 range from high-level diplomacy and massive financial aid to active military engagement in global conflicts.

Military Alliances & Defense

Contrary to the idea of total neutrality, several Nordic countries have been core allies in the West's defense against communism

"NATO Founding Members: Norway and Denmark were founding members of NATO in 1949, explicitly rejecting neutrality after their experiences in WWII.

*High Defense Spending: As of 2025, Norway surpassed the United States in defense spending per capita. Both Norway and Denmark have committed to meeting the 2% GDP defense spending target.

*Cold War Strategic Role: During the Cold War, Norway and Denmark provided a critical northern flank against Soviet expansion, monitoring the Baltic and Arctic regions.

*End of Neutrality: In response to modern threats, Finland and Sweden officially abandoned their long traditions of military non-alignment to join NATO.

Active Combat & Peacekeeping

Scandinavian nations have participated in major military operations and peacekeeping missions worldwide:

*UN Peacekeeping: Since 1948, over 80,000 Swedes have served in UN missions. Swedish and Danish troops have seen combat in the Congo Crisis, the Balkans, and Afghanistan.

*Global Coalitions: Denmark and Norway contributed significant troop numbers to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the War in Afghanistan, where Denmark at one point had the highest per capita troop contribution to ISAF.

"Support for Ukraine: Nordic countries are currently among the top providers of aid to Ukraine per capita. As of 2025, Denmark leads the world in per capita aid, followed closely by Norway and Sweden.

International Diplomacy

The region has been a hub for international mediation and leadership:

*UN Leadership: The first two UN Secretaries-General, Trygve Lie (Norway) and Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden), were Scandinavian and instrumental in shaping early international peace frameworks.

*Peace Research: The region founded world-renowned institutes like the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) to study and prevent global conflict.
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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9368 on: March 28, 2026, 10:37:33 PM »
Quote from: ThePAMan on March 28, 2026, 10:10:36 PM
No.  They were "neutral" in the face of Nazi Germany.

Your wording was since 1945?

From AI

Sweden maintained an official, yet pragmatic and heavily scrutinized, policy of neutrality during World War II. While avoiding direct involvement in the war, Sweden made significant concessions to Nazi Germany, including exporting vital iron ore and allowing troop transits, while also providing humanitarian shelter, assisting the Allied war effort with intelligence.

*Key Aspects of Sweden’s Neutrality:
Pragmatic Concessions: To avoid invasion, Sweden conceded to German demands, including allowing soldiers to travel via Swedish railways from Norway to Finland and supplying high-quality iron ore for German munitions.

*Economic Dependence: Sweden was economically and geopolitically surrounded, relying heavily on importing coal from Germany while its shipping was restricted by the German blockade in the Baltic Sea.

*The "Midsummer Crisis" (1941): Sweden faced a major crisis when Germany demanded the transit of an armed infantry division (the Engelbrecht division) across Sweden to the Eastern Front, which the Swedish government permitted to avoid conflict, a decision that created severe domestic conflict.

*Intelligence and Security: Despite the concessions, Sweden broke German ciphers and provided intelligence to the Allies. Swedish diplomats like Raoul Wallenberg saved thousands of Jews, and Sweden provided a safe haven for refugees from neighboring countries.
Controversy and Later Admission:

*Sweden’s actions were widely seen as opportunistic. A 1998 report revealed that Swedish authorities handled gold from the Reichsbank, some of which was stolen by Nazis from victims.

Sweden's "neutrality" was essentially a policy of survival. By feeding the German war machine with resources and transport, they protected their borders, avoiding the destruction experienced by their neighbors, Denmark and Norway.
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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9369 on: March 28, 2026, 10:46:12 PM »
Fritz Thyssen and Prescott Bush
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ThePAMan

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9370 on: March 28, 2026, 11:13:15 PM »
Way to jump on the bandwagon, Nordic countries!
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illiniray

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9371 on: March 29, 2026, 12:13:51 AM »
Quote from: ThePAMan on March 28, 2026, 11:13:15 PM
Way to jump on the bandwagon, Nordic countries!

why does the united states subsidize defense spending for NATO?

goodnight
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Reacher

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9372 on: March 29, 2026, 08:13:06 AM »
Quote from: Somewhere in Mn on March 28, 2026, 09:04:47 AM
Operation The Grass Is Always Greener.

Operation Stick in the Mud says don’t try anything, (except more tax cuts for the rich), this is the best we can do.
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Somewhere in Mn

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9373 on: March 29, 2026, 08:40:45 AM »
Quote from: illiniray on March 28, 2026, 02:52:29 PM
No dictators day might be a better slogan.

Awake AI Overview

"No Kings" days are symbolic protest movements in the United States. They began in 2025 as a direct response to concerns that the Trump administration was acting with authoritarian, king-like power, such as abusing executive authority and disregarding checks and balances, rather than behaving as a democratically elected president.

Key aspects of the "No Kings" protest movement include:

*Opposition to Authoritarianism: The movement is a demonstration by grassroots groups to fight against what they see as a shift toward dictatorship, corruption, and the erosion of democratic institutions.

*"No Kings" Slogan: It serves as a reminder of the foundational American belief that the nation does not belong to a strongman or a dictator, but to the people, and that nobody is above the law.

*Reaction to Specific Actions: The protests often coincide with actions perceived as monarchical, such as the use of federal military force against protesters, attacks on the press, and the concentration of power.

*Focus on Democracy: Organizers focus on defending the separation of powers and ensuring the U.S. remains a nation of equals.

The movement asserts that while America doesn't have a king, the protesters believe the administration's behaviors warrant a defense of the republic.
"The movement asserts that while America doesn't have a king,"

And so AI goes with authoritarian, strongman, dictator, dictator (AI got that in twice  ;D), and monarchical.

🤡
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ThePAMan

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Re: WTF is wrong with the left?
« Reply #9374 on: March 29, 2026, 10:06:00 AM »
Quote from: illiniray on March 29, 2026, 12:13:51 AM
why does the united states subsidize defense spending for NATO?

goodnight

That's been an issue, hasn't it?
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