Is the US becoming a Banana Republic?

Author: IlDiavolo
Donald Trump
banana republic
yankee
USA
degradation

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#1
IlDiavolo
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These are Trump's words, of course.

But despite this, I can tell that the US has degraded to levels never seen before, socially and economically. So, I ask the american, the yankee, if you agree with the title, but please, try to answer with the hand on your heart, with all honesty, leaving aside your political sympathy.
#2
Best.Korea
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I am not an American, thank God.
#3
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I am not an American, thank God.
Yes, thank god for that!!!! 

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#4
IlDiavolo
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Maybe this topic needs a bit of context.

#5
Mharman
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When you see one side arresting the other on flimsy grounds like we see now, yes. Plain and simple.
#6
FLRW
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@IlDiavolo

Since this was the First Lady, yes.

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#7
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@Best.Korea
I am not an American, thank God.
South Korea doesn’t fall behind either. Many people agree that South Korea is even worse than the US in terms of social problems. 
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#8
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@Mharman
Also the cases of corruption that involves Joe Biden and son. You only see this in third world countries like Latinamerica.
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#9
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@FLRW
Since this was the First Lady, yes.
Yes, I know she is a damn temptation but as far as I know prostitution is still illegal in the US. 😁
#10
FLRW
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@IlDiavolo

Who would want an American born First Lady, am I right?
#11
FLRW
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Remember that anyone rich and stupid can become President of the USA. But if you are poor and smart, no way.
Isn't that the definition of a Banana Republic?
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@FLRW
Biden has 5 houses, including the white house. Just don't ask him to remember where they are.
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#13
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@FLRW
Remember that anyone rich and stupid can become President of the USA. But if you are poor and smart, no way.
Isn't that the definition of a Banana Republic?
Well, it's pretty much what I think . Neither Trump nor Biden should have been president of the US.

What I see though is that you're just considering one side of the problem: the Republicans, when the problem is the whole system, including the Democrats which are responsible of the last debacle in the US (because Biden was elected last). 
#14
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@IlDiavolo

I actually agree with you. That is why I'm registered Republican and I only friend people who I think have an IQ over 130.

We need to have a US President with an IQ over 150. John Quincy Adams had an IQ of 175. Thomas Jefferson had an IQ of 160.

We probably should ban Parties altogether and have each person who runs for an office tells us what he believes in.
#15
cristo71
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@FLRW
We need to have a US President with an IQ over 150. John Quincy Adams had an IQ of 175. Thomas Jefferson had an IQ of 160.
Anti racists would dismiss this as white supremacy.

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@cristo71
Absolutely. IQ has no place in a skintocracy replacing a meritocracy.

#17
FLRW
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@cristo71

Ok, I'll drop the criteria to 140. Michelle Obama has an IQ of 144.
#18
Lemming
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@FLRW
Haven't there been a lot of 'relatively poor presidents in American history?
#19
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@Lemming

No, Thomas Jefferson was worth $240 million (adjusted for inflation) before he got elected.
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@FLRW
Jefferson died in heavy debt, from what I recall.
Though he had land and slaves I suppose.

What about Abraham Lincoln?
"We have laid by some money, and during this term we will try and save up more, but shall not have enough to support us. We will go back to Illinois, and I will open a law-office at Springfield or Chicago, and practice law, and at least do enough to help give us a livelihood.
LINCOLN'S STATEMENT TO HIS WIFE, April 14, 1865."

Or Truman?
"Harry S. Truman is considered by most to be the poorest president. U.S. history experts know that Truman was poor throughout his life, and he had several failed business ventures and debts on his back that took him perilously close to bankruptcy. It’s due to him that the presidential salary was doubled later on, in 1969. He and his wife were also the first official recipients of Medicare."

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@Lemming
What is really strange is the 400 million dollars the Obama's made on the salary of a President over 8 years...

I suppose this is the standard now.
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Lemming
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@Greyparrot
Is that president 'salary,
Or stuff like book deals, paid appearances?
#23
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@Lemming
book deals, speeches, paintings, favorable stock trading... all "legal" ways to bribe the POTUS....
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@Greyparrot
'Are they bribes though?

People might think it profitable to sign a president to a book deal,
Or think they have something worth saying.

Maybe they hope to influence people by prestige of president public appearance speech.

Even paintings, presidents have fans, memorabilia.
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@FLRW
Ibram X. Kendi et al claim IQ tests are a tool of white supremacy:



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#26
IlDiavolo
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@Greyparrot
Specially the speeches. They make us believe that a former president's conference is worth some millions of dollars. Who couldnt become rich that way? 😁
#27
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Haha