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The terms "police state" and "decadent" in the US are only used to describe other countries. The sentiments carry over, they're just called "law and order" and
by rhizome 8y ago
The terms "police state" and "decadent" in the US are only used to describe other countries. The sentiments carry over, they're just called "law and order" and "losers" here.
- perl4ever 8y agoI can't recall hearing an American call another country decadent, at least not unironically. It's strongly associated with Communist countries or leftists criticizing the US, it seems to me. The term "police state" isn't as strongly associated with critics of the US, but I would say the majority of the time it is directed at the US.
- pvg 8y agoSuggesting that the US has become a decadent, past-its-prime empire or that it is turning into a police state are pretty standard-issue critiques and have been for many decades. You can regularly find them on HN, too.
- rhizome 8y agoThe specific term "decadent" is tarred in the US by its Marxist associations and it's use by Nazis in their Entartete Kunst critique. You're right, the sentiment persists, but with different words, which was my point.