Both! Certainly both overall. Sometimes both for the same critter. Also, you missed an important third category. The formula is "brainwashed, bought, and blackmailed". Usually in that order.
If you want to know which way the wind is blowing, consider that U.S. Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin just called his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu to urge a cease-fire.
U.S. insistence on a cease-fire does not spring from a position of strength.
Luongo may have some geopolitical insight, but I think he's basically delusional about Russia. He's still promoting a "5D chess" narrative while ignoring contrary evidence that would support simpler and more consistent explanations.
Good counter perspective SB. After reading his posts, it's not terribly convincing. It's in the same vein as Brandon Smith-- that Putin and Russia are all in on the Globalista Master Plan and all of the apparent attempts to remove Putin and ruin Russia are somehow just kabuki theatrics.
While there's no denying the associations w the Globalistas (and it might be conceded that Nabuillema is a WEF plant or at best conflicted), there's no indication that Putin is acting overall against Russian national interests. In other words, we don't see the type of intentional sabotage from Putin that we see *all the time* here from the OGUS.
Maybe best we can say is, it's complicated. Putin is not a dictator and has internal politics that must be minded and priorities that must be juggled. Luongo's theory about the Fed coincides w the idea that it's protecting the dollar and the interests of Wall Street and Big Banks vs the ECB and Davos. It is a big hot mess right now w lots of players and a multiverse of interests and outcomes. Simple explanations are likely wrong.
The simplification I most object to is conflating Russia with Putin. It's super lazy. And Putin himself is a complicated guy, with some WEF background. (He was not in fact a Young Global Leader, but barely: that program just didn't exist by that name at that point.)
As for "intentional sabotage," look at Russia's Covid response, with the QR codes and the vaxx mandates and all that. So, with Sputnik V (a seriously shady homegrown product) it's not profiting Pfizer or Moderna directly, but it's hard to claim that they're not following the script, sweeping aside civil liberties and consolidating state power over the citizenry.
I don't think Davos can just order around heads of state, but it's pretty clear they pull some weight in the Russian political class.
As for Riley Waggaman (who writes Edward Slavsquat), I wouldn't claim he's got the whole picture by any means. But he lives in Moscow, used to work for RT, is married to a Russian, reads Russian, and reports directly on Russian media and street graffiti and such. So I find him rather more convincing, regarding basic evidence, than Luongo. Analysis is difficult as always, but reliance on pro-Russian Western counter-propaganda is a big blind spot.
Russia’s oil revenues are up 50% this year "even as trade restrictions following the invasion of Ukraine spurred many refiners to shun its supplies." Apparently the restrictions - which pushed the price of oil to the highest level in a decade and boosted revenue for oil exporters - is precisely what Putin was hoping for.
THIS is the thread ive been contemplating for 2+ yrs now. Best i can figure, so far:
1. We need to prepare for most likely scenarios first and spend most resources there before preparing for less and least likely. At same time we must factor in the scenarios that are the biggest threat, so, iow, What is the most likely scenario that I am least prepared right now to survive? Solve for that first before moving on to other equations.
2. To me, most likely scenario is a Venezuela or Argentina economic collapse, a kind of hyperinflation. The DC Regime wants this as their opportunity to impose digital currency and strong CCP like controls. The Scamdemic was a test run to see how compliant the serfs would be and, boy, did we fail that test miserably. Our 1776 ancestors would be ashamed. I'd like to hope, however, that next time around we'll do better and the Regime will have to resort to force. And that's where ShyBoys idea of citizen militias may come in.
3. The primary threat will be security from lawlessness, perhaps even a Regime strategy of anarcho tyranny where gangs are allowed to flourish and act as Regime enforcers, particularly in "recalcitrant areas." Since Americans are the most heavily armed and most trained people on the planet bar none, this won't go well for gangs and it will accustom ordinary people to guns and collective self defense, something the Regime absolutely doesn't want. From there might develop spontaneously and by necessity local autonomous zones where people work and live and reject federal dictates.
4. At some point the Regime will try to force its writ upon these areas and then it will need a military willing to do so. I don't think they have one and if they try it will split the military into divided loyalties that will quickly escalate to a 1930s Spanish Civil War. Study that. It only lasted 3 years but brutal and very analogous to the type of societal divides we have here now.
5. This leads to the idea that while local community defense and support are crucial, location will be most important. Anywhere near a major city is untenable. Anywhere in a state that is thoroughly in the grip of the Regime is also likely untenable. The country is going to split, at least for a time, and you don't want to be on the wrong side of that divide. Better a humble home in Tennessee than a grand spread in New York.
6. I'm hopeful we come out of this reborn as a people and unified like never before. But a lot of people aren't going to make it. I buy into the Fourth Turning theory and right now I don't see any Gray Champion on our side, someone willing to make the tough calls. All of them seem to be on the other side. That worries me.
I'll give you this for Maine. If you look at the published maps of likely fallout areas in a nuclear exchange, Maine is one of the cleanest states, if you think that's likely scenario.
On the downside, Maine's growing season is way too short and w us heading into a mini ice age that's going to get worse. Fishing is good though so maybe it's a wash.
Also, Maine would likely be in the wrong side of any Red Blue divide so you risk living in a People's Republic of the Northeast which could be hell.
So the solution is to become a feudal peasant? Huh... OK. Be sure to save enough fruits of your honest toil for the tax-collecting warlords showing up to claim their share of your corn and beef in exchange for protection from those other warlords in the next county. Hide your daughters.
I think that you are spot on this one! It’s absolutely going to come down to what YOU do where you are. I’m afraid that cities over 20k will simply collapse under their own weight when the government checks stop and the reality of what life is going to be like in the future sinks in, the darkest side of human nature will surface.
I’m trying to convince my in-laws that they need to get away from places like Vegas and San Francisco, but I just get the ol’ eye roll along with the “things will never get that bad” speech.
The way things have been happening lately makes me think that there won’t be a lot of warning. We’ll go to bed one night and wake up in a different world.
Happy to be wrong, but sure looks like a gathering “perfect storm” from what I can see.
Your idea is basically sound, I'd just add citizen militias and participation in local politics. Things are rotting from the top down, there's no reason to let everything fall apart locally.
I think the Davos group either sees themselves winning, or destroying the whole system. Either way, we lose. For them, it's a win-win. They either take over and kill us through their tyranny, or they destroy everything and watch us fight amongst ourselves until we reduce the population for them. They have gotten enough money over the last few years to buy real assets, protection, food, etc., and could likely care less about the dollar or whatever currency finally rises to the top.
OTOH, My family and I got lucky and found a place with land next to a very large body of water. And, we live now in a small community as compared to the big city -- and quite far from any other large city. Very active hunting community, lots of guns. I think/hope we are way down on the list of people they want to conquer.
I have a better explanation for you. They aren't bought, they're blackmailed
Both! Certainly both overall. Sometimes both for the same critter. Also, you missed an important third category. The formula is "brainwashed, bought, and blackmailed". Usually in that order.
Along the same lines:. https://twitter.com/mtgundogan/status/1525512013669089280?t=N0j9Lv8SkQ04nhhnpoOWQg&s=19
My vote is desperate action.
Doubling down since current policy not working.
@GeromanAT
A winner does not ask for cease fire
Quote Tweet

Anabel V.
@Anabel_Villeroy
If you want to know which way the wind is blowing, consider that U.S. Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin just called his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu to urge a cease-fire.
U.S. insistence on a cease-fire does not spring from a position of strength.
Same thing from Gonzalo.
https://thesaker.is/gonzalo-lira-why-did-lloyd-austin-call-sergei-shoigu/
Contradicts his own recent statements, as well as BoJo who just said we could "never" have normal relations with Russia.
It's hard for me to believe that Russia has somehow broken free from the Davos control grid when I read reports like this:
https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/russia-and-the-who-relationship-status
https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/imf-obedient-bank-of-russia-rejects
Luongo may have some geopolitical insight, but I think he's basically delusional about Russia. He's still promoting a "5D chess" narrative while ignoring contrary evidence that would support simpler and more consistent explanations.
Good counter perspective SB. After reading his posts, it's not terribly convincing. It's in the same vein as Brandon Smith-- that Putin and Russia are all in on the Globalista Master Plan and all of the apparent attempts to remove Putin and ruin Russia are somehow just kabuki theatrics.
While there's no denying the associations w the Globalistas (and it might be conceded that Nabuillema is a WEF plant or at best conflicted), there's no indication that Putin is acting overall against Russian national interests. In other words, we don't see the type of intentional sabotage from Putin that we see *all the time* here from the OGUS.
Maybe best we can say is, it's complicated. Putin is not a dictator and has internal politics that must be minded and priorities that must be juggled. Luongo's theory about the Fed coincides w the idea that it's protecting the dollar and the interests of Wall Street and Big Banks vs the ECB and Davos. It is a big hot mess right now w lots of players and a multiverse of interests and outcomes. Simple explanations are likely wrong.
The simplification I most object to is conflating Russia with Putin. It's super lazy. And Putin himself is a complicated guy, with some WEF background. (He was not in fact a Young Global Leader, but barely: that program just didn't exist by that name at that point.)
As for "intentional sabotage," look at Russia's Covid response, with the QR codes and the vaxx mandates and all that. So, with Sputnik V (a seriously shady homegrown product) it's not profiting Pfizer or Moderna directly, but it's hard to claim that they're not following the script, sweeping aside civil liberties and consolidating state power over the citizenry.
I don't think Davos can just order around heads of state, but it's pretty clear they pull some weight in the Russian political class.
As for Riley Waggaman (who writes Edward Slavsquat), I wouldn't claim he's got the whole picture by any means. But he lives in Moscow, used to work for RT, is married to a Russian, reads Russian, and reports directly on Russian media and street graffiti and such. So I find him rather more convincing, regarding basic evidence, than Luongo. Analysis is difficult as always, but reliance on pro-Russian Western counter-propaganda is a big blind spot.
Good points. Complex environment.
True?
https://twitter.com/baronichitas/status/1525539595345174535?cxt=HHwWjoC99byL56sqAAAA
Hmmm.. if true i wonder if this is Germany exerting leverage on Poland not to send troops into western Ukraine (as the DC Regime may be asking)?
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/what-sanctions-russian-oil-revenues-soar-50-hitting-record-high
Russia’s oil revenues are up 50% this year "even as trade restrictions following the invasion of Ukraine spurred many refiners to shun its supplies." Apparently the restrictions - which pushed the price of oil to the highest level in a decade and boosted revenue for oil exporters - is precisely what Putin was hoping for.
@mary et al.
THIS is the thread ive been contemplating for 2+ yrs now. Best i can figure, so far:
1. We need to prepare for most likely scenarios first and spend most resources there before preparing for less and least likely. At same time we must factor in the scenarios that are the biggest threat, so, iow, What is the most likely scenario that I am least prepared right now to survive? Solve for that first before moving on to other equations.
2. To me, most likely scenario is a Venezuela or Argentina economic collapse, a kind of hyperinflation. The DC Regime wants this as their opportunity to impose digital currency and strong CCP like controls. The Scamdemic was a test run to see how compliant the serfs would be and, boy, did we fail that test miserably. Our 1776 ancestors would be ashamed. I'd like to hope, however, that next time around we'll do better and the Regime will have to resort to force. And that's where ShyBoys idea of citizen militias may come in.
3. The primary threat will be security from lawlessness, perhaps even a Regime strategy of anarcho tyranny where gangs are allowed to flourish and act as Regime enforcers, particularly in "recalcitrant areas." Since Americans are the most heavily armed and most trained people on the planet bar none, this won't go well for gangs and it will accustom ordinary people to guns and collective self defense, something the Regime absolutely doesn't want. From there might develop spontaneously and by necessity local autonomous zones where people work and live and reject federal dictates.
4. At some point the Regime will try to force its writ upon these areas and then it will need a military willing to do so. I don't think they have one and if they try it will split the military into divided loyalties that will quickly escalate to a 1930s Spanish Civil War. Study that. It only lasted 3 years but brutal and very analogous to the type of societal divides we have here now.
5. This leads to the idea that while local community defense and support are crucial, location will be most important. Anywhere near a major city is untenable. Anywhere in a state that is thoroughly in the grip of the Regime is also likely untenable. The country is going to split, at least for a time, and you don't want to be on the wrong side of that divide. Better a humble home in Tennessee than a grand spread in New York.
6. I'm hopeful we come out of this reborn as a people and unified like never before. But a lot of people aren't going to make it. I buy into the Fourth Turning theory and right now I don't see any Gray Champion on our side, someone willing to make the tough calls. All of them seem to be on the other side. That worries me.
Amen. It's too bad about Trump. I think the Swamp kind of swallowed him up.
I'll give you this for Maine. If you look at the published maps of likely fallout areas in a nuclear exchange, Maine is one of the cleanest states, if you think that's likely scenario.
On the downside, Maine's growing season is way too short and w us heading into a mini ice age that's going to get worse. Fishing is good though so maybe it's a wash.
Also, Maine would likely be in the wrong side of any Red Blue divide so you risk living in a People's Republic of the Northeast which could be hell.
More power to ya! Will miss having you in the Free Republic but sounds like you've got it covered. Vivamus libero.
So the solution is to become a feudal peasant? Huh... OK. Be sure to save enough fruits of your honest toil for the tax-collecting warlords showing up to claim their share of your corn and beef in exchange for protection from those other warlords in the next county. Hide your daughters.
I think that you are spot on this one! It’s absolutely going to come down to what YOU do where you are. I’m afraid that cities over 20k will simply collapse under their own weight when the government checks stop and the reality of what life is going to be like in the future sinks in, the darkest side of human nature will surface.
I’m trying to convince my in-laws that they need to get away from places like Vegas and San Francisco, but I just get the ol’ eye roll along with the “things will never get that bad” speech.
The way things have been happening lately makes me think that there won’t be a lot of warning. We’ll go to bed one night and wake up in a different world.
Happy to be wrong, but sure looks like a gathering “perfect storm” from what I can see.
Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Your idea is basically sound, I'd just add citizen militias and participation in local politics. Things are rotting from the top down, there's no reason to let everything fall apart locally.
I think the Davos group either sees themselves winning, or destroying the whole system. Either way, we lose. For them, it's a win-win. They either take over and kill us through their tyranny, or they destroy everything and watch us fight amongst ourselves until we reduce the population for them. They have gotten enough money over the last few years to buy real assets, protection, food, etc., and could likely care less about the dollar or whatever currency finally rises to the top.
OTOH, My family and I got lucky and found a place with land next to a very large body of water. And, we live now in a small community as compared to the big city -- and quite far from any other large city. Very active hunting community, lots of guns. I think/hope we are way down on the list of people they want to conquer.