{"channel":"usconst","content":"It is unclear whether Trump's \"annex Canada\" statements have any meaning other than juvenile haranguing.\r\n\r\nBut, it isn't the worst idea in the world. ( some versions of it *might* be the worst idea in the world)\r\n\r\nIt would have to come with some more-aggressive *devolution*. Roughly, everything other than the nuclear umbrella and the US dollar can be devolved to some degree.\r\n\r\n----\r\n\r\nThe risk factors (roughly: what if Donald Trump gets elected) remain.\r\n\r\nThe obvious solution is to not have popular elections. This would be wildly unpopular. And it has failure cases of its own.\r\n\r\nThe *ideological drift* of a multi-national body is, in some ways, counterbalanced by the risk (or reality) of extremist populists.\r\n\r\n----\r\n\r\nThere are two kinds of concerns about a Constitution.\r\n\r\nOne is << in a country where 80% of people are white supremacists, the country will pursue white supremacy! this means the Constitution has failed! >>. And, no. That's not a real risk. That is how government is supposed to work. Any attempt to imagine a document will let you impose *your* values indefinitely against the will of the populace will fail.\r\n\r\nThe second is that a well-organized minority will do that. Or, that the failures of the government will create such a minority. ( :guild_sign_1:)","created_at":"2025-02-14T18:10:06.683903","id":228,"llm_annotations":{},"parent_id":null,"processed_content":"

It is unclear whether Trump's \"annex Canada\" statements have any meaning other than juvenile haranguing.\r

\n

But, it isn't the worst idea in the world. \n \ud83d\udd25\n ( some versions of it might be the worst idea in the world)\n \r

\n

It would have to come with some more-aggressive devolution. Roughly, everything other than the nuclear umbrella and the US dollar can be devolved to some degree.\r

The risk factors (roughly: what if Donald Trump gets elected) remain.\r

\n

The obvious solution is to not have popular elections. This would be wildly unpopular. And it has failure cases of its own.\r

\n

The ideological drift of a multi-national body is, in some ways, counterbalanced by the risk (or reality) of extremist populists.\r

There are two kinds of concerns about a Constitution.\r

\n

One is in a country where 80% of people are white supremacists, the country will pursue white supremacy! this means the Constitution has failed!. And, no. That's not a real risk. That is how government is supposed to work. Any attempt to imagine a document will let you impose your values indefinitely against the will of the populace will fail.\r

\n

The second is that a well-organized minority will do that. Or, that the failures of the government will create such a minority. \n \ud83c\udf0e\n ( :guild_sign_1:)\n

","quotes":[],"subject":"the 51st state"}