Charlie StrossNov 8, 2024

I'd just like to remind Americans that France is currently on its Fifth Republic since 1789 (with three Empires—with monarchs—interleaved until 1870).

The USA appears to be in the dying days of its Second Republic (time out in 1860-65) but something better will emerge eventually, if we avoid planetary ecosystem collapse in the meantime.

This, too, shall pass.

Show threadSophie Schmieg
@cstross the French only acquired nukes, and with them the ability to destroy all life on Earth, during the Fifth Republic, though.
Nov 8, 2024 at 11:58amWeb
Show threadCharlie StrossNov 8, 2024
@sophieschmieg Nuclear weapons are incapable of destroying all life on earth. They ARE capable of collapsing global supply chains, killing billions of humans, and making the living envy the dead, but that's not the same. Earth abides!
Show threadSophie SchmiegNov 8, 2024
@cstross fair, I should have specified that I meant human life. Rats, cockroaches, and deep sea vent inhabiting bacteria will likely be fine. And heck, a few humans might even make it, let's have another genetic bottleneck, why not, it was fine the first time!