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Last updated on June 24th, 2017 at 01:35 pm
Guy Rundle – “an Australian writer covering the US presidential elections” – delivers a global scoop:
Put simply, society has collapsed, and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others, and their ability to see themselves as an active force in their own world.
You’d think the Age would have run this on the front page. Then again, Rundle may simply be projecting.
(Via Imre Salusinszky, who – noting the rise of this impressive talent – emails: “Loewenstein, watch your back!”)
Sounds like Michelle Obama’s stump speech. Fast forward to 2:14.
Ack! I knew I should have hoarded more toilet paper!
Posted by lil varmint on 2008 03 02 at 03:46 AM • permalink
Tracee’s bay dredge has undermined society and it has collapsed. Is this possible? We need an expert to determine if a dredge down under affects a society up there. Is there a truther in audience?
Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 03 02 at 04:01 AM • permalink
“…America in particular, has shifted beneath the foundations that…”
WrrrrrITer!!!
Posted by ooh honey honey on 2008 03 02 at 04:35 AM • permalink
So that’s why I had to shoot my way across town and loot the bodies of the dead today. Oh wait—no I didn’t.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2008 03 02 at 04:44 AM • permalink
and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others,
society has collapsed, Armageddon is here, and now we all need therapy.
Posted by daddy dave on 2008 03 02 at 04:44 AM • permalink
- We hear this over and over from the chattering classes. Society has collapsed, people are disconnected,blahblahblah, handwringing.
This IS projection of epic proportion. Out here in the real world, I know nobody who thinks this way. We are optimistic about the future, take seriously our responsiblility to speak into the next generation, have lifelong friends and meaningful work.Too bad our intellectual betters are so miserable. Most of us are not.
Let us know what you need, guys – food, toiletries, the important things like lemon-powered laptops so we can get more Detective Paco mysteries.
Our postal service isn’t too bad when it comes to sending stuff over, so it shouldn’t take more than a week.
Think you can hold off descending into total anarchy until then?
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2008 03 02 at 04:54 AM • permalink
American society has collapsed? Paco, Wronwright, all you other American commenters, why didn’t you tell us? We could have sent food parcels or something.
I dunno: I’m not sure I’d trust the Parcel Administrating Charity Ofamerica with all those jars of vegemite. It’ll all end in tears!
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2008 03 02 at 05:27 AM • permalink
I love the use of the term “Put simply” implying that the author has a vast compendium of data that they are sparing the audience from because we are a bit simple.
It’s a phrase beloved by clueless science journalists on the ABC.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2008 03 02 at 06:05 AM • permalink
Once again, an utterly clueless foreign journo thinks all he hears on the Manhattan cocktail circuit must reflect the reality of America. Never mind flyover country, where the collapse-of-society memo didn’t get distributed to the Kiwanis chapters in Peoria and Dubuque, where their sense of community is doing just fine, thank you.
Posted by Tommy Shanks on 2008 03 02 at 06:14 AM • permalink
If society has collapsed, do I have to go to work tomorrow?
Posted by Rob Crawford on 2008 03 02 at 10:48 AM • permalink
Is it any wonder that “professional” journalists are not respected by a majority of the public anymore, and the few reporters and columnists who still possess a modicum of common sense, like Tim Blair, are considered “iconoclasts”?
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2008 03 02 at 10:53 AM • permalink
It’s never too late to send beer.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2008 03 02 at 12:29 PM • permalink
There is no need to specify a detailed program to them, because it is implicit in what “hope” is — of a health system where people are not sent home to die of easily curable diseases, of a minimum wage that is liveable, affordable study, an end to meaningless wars, and more.
I’m so glad Obama has come along to rescue us from the disease-ridden, poverty-stricken wasteland that America is, and not bother us with details about how he’s going to do it. Frankly, I’m looking forward to my pie in the sky and fairies in the garden, tra la!
I don’t know about society, but my last Jenga collapsed. I feel so unconnected.
Posted by Some0Seppo on 2008 03 02 at 01:27 PM • permalink
Well, damn. That announcement wasn’t in the church bulletin this morning.
Posted by SwampWoman on 2008 03 02 at 03:49 PM • permalink
I’m a pretty active force in my own world. Maybe those other folk just need to change worlds. My world is much better than theirs.
Posted by SwampWoman on 2008 03 02 at 03:51 PM • permalink
Thanks everyone, the Appeal for Societally Challenged America is officially on the move. The first shipment of vegemite sandwiches and pie floaters should be with you within the week.
Reese, about the sheilas…
Unfortunately, we did had some financial problems after the cheque from Pacific American Charitable Organisations (“Distributing other people’s money in the best possible way”) mysteriously failed to clear. As a result we had to lower our selection criteria a little. However, I’m sure you’ll find that Adele, Marilyn, Margo and Traceeee are great little battlers who will eagerly fulfil your every need.
“Put simply, society has collapsed” i.e. those dullards aren’t listening to us anymore.
What a whiner.
Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2008 03 02 at 10:05 PM • permalink
“Put simply, society has collapsed”
i’ve got the serum
and i’m going to take it
all the way to boston
oh i’ve got to get through
the going won’t be easy
but i’m going to make it
it’s the only thing
that i’m cut out to do
ride the post-atomic
radio-active trash
the sky is on fire
from that nuclear flash
diving through the burning hoop
of doom
in an 8-wheeled anti-radiation tomb.
thank you doctor strangelove
for going doolally
and leaving me the heritage
of damnation alley
damnation alley-way.no more arizona now
phoenix is fried up
oklahoma city
what a pity it’s gone.
louisianna’s wiped out
and the
mississip’s dried up
no more chattanooga
cherokee,
lexington.
ride the post-atomic radio-active trash.
the sky is on fire from that nuclear flash.
diving through the burning hoop of doom.
in an 8-wheeled anti-radiation tomb.
thank you doctor strangelove
for going doolally
and leaving me the heritage
of damnation alley
damnation alley-way.craters coming at me now
ashes coming at me
radiation wasteland
i’ve got my anti radiation machine
oh thank you doctor strangelove
for giving me ashes and post-atomic dust
and the sky is raining fishes
it’s a mutation zoo
i’m going down damnation alley
well good luck to you……
…………………….
armour-plated angel
motor pony express
going down damnation alley
it’s one hell of a mess
the sky is raining fishes
it’s a mutation zoo
i’m going down damnation alley
well good luck to you.
Damnation Alley—HawkwindPosted by richard mcenroe on 2008 03 02 at 10:45 PM • permalink
You RWDBs not only deny the rampant global hottycold. Now you’re denying global societal collapse.
This morning on my bus to work, the driver took a wrong turn!!!
Don’t tell me society’s not collapsing.
Posted by s.r.intulom on 2008 03 03 at 01:24 AM • permalink
“…society has collapsed, and with it, many people’s sense of connection to others…”
There’s a grain of truth here—after a hard look at my fellow citizens, I really don’t wish to be connected with many of them. Is there something wrong with me?
Posted by Harry Bergeron on 2008 03 03 at 04:01 AM • permalink
I wish someone had told me that society’s collapsed and we’ve all lost our family and friends and our abilities to influence our own lives.