> For me, this mostly centers around the analysis of soft-power machiavellianism at the upper echelons of government and it's shadow coterie I take that as a g

> For me, this mostly centers around the analysis of soft-power machiavellianism at the upper echelons of government and it's shadow coterie I take that as a given and yes, I base that not just on my own experience but also studying history among other things but that's for my own self satisfaction and easing of general ennui. It has zero predictive value. I can't tell you who's going to win an election, I can't tell you how many people are going to die of COVID, I can't predict the future. The article we're discussing attempts to do just that, which is why I say it's bunk.