So you agree.
It was not possible then.
Um, no…you seem to be making the case that there is no agreed upon definitions of banana republic, so that you can then basically make up your own. That’s simply not true. There are, of course, multiple agreed upon definitions (several have been cited in this thread so far), but because there are multiple definitions does not give you (or the others doing similar things in this thread) a free hand in torturing those definitions, twisting them or simply making up your own.
Regardless, you didn’t answer the question I actually asked you, instead continuing the digression. Can you define some countries that followed similar trajectories to the US during the '60s and mid-2000’s who are banana republics? If you can’t, that’s fine…you could just admit you are playing with the definition in order to make it conform to the answer you already pre-selected, namely that the US is a banana republic and you are just groping for anything you can use as a proof to make it so.
ETA: Oh, I see this poster has now been BANNED. So, I guess I won’t hold my breath for a reply.
What a shame…
Not to mention those who average 28 posts a day.
His flame burned bright, but not long, and when it ended, it ended in silence. Like lighting a fart.
Regards,
Shodan
OK, that’s enough. I’ll leave this open as there remains a remote possibility of a real debate. But let’s not spend a lot of thought-power making fun of the banned guy. There’s no point to it.
I will put forth the emancipation of pot today in Colorado as further proof that we as a society are slowly becoming more free and liberal despite some steps back.
It was yesterday, but if you’re a citizen of CO, we understand… 
Oh, the oligarchs are allowing the peasants to use an incredibly mild euphoric, truly we are a free society now!
We’re freer than we were a few days ago, no?
ALABAMA HAS THE WORST POVERTY IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD, U.N. OFFICIAL SAYS
Maybe not a Banana Republic, but it’s starting to look 3rd world.
Starting?
This is a zombie thread, and the original article cited doesn’t seem to be posted any more.
The latest link works for me. It’s a NYU professor touring the US looking for poverty, which he defines as
which is an interesting way of putting it.
It’s an opinion piece against the latest tax bill. How it shows that the US is becoming a banana republic is not clear.
Regards,
Shodan
Mea culpa.
Dataguy, you were right. Congratulations, I think.
So, gentle reader from the year 2013, please, sit. Don’t read this standing, OK?
The reason for my change is simple: On Twitter, the #1 communication platform of the connected and intelligentsia, Independent (formerly Republican) Congressman Justin Amash (MI) said this about impeached President Donald Trump:
Ok, I get it. There’s a lot of questions. “Twitter? Selling troops? President Trump? Justin Amash, an independent? What ‘bank’? Doesn’t that sound like an extortion attempt? Wait… ‘impeached’? Why is he still President?”
Yeah, like I said, a lot to process. Let’s just say that Riga Morale and Dataguy may have been wrong in their specifics, but they were right as to the political and moral turn this country was taking, while I… I was the exact opposite.
Don’t be silly. Banana republics buy troops.
Damn. Got me.
Never mind, reader from 2013, the US is doing just fine!
Let’s see if I can remember how it was described when I was in school a very long time ago:
A Banana Republic is a country with great economic disparity that is ruled by families whose primary interest is their personnel wealth and perpetuating their time in office. The economy and political system of a Banana Republic is funded by US corporations in exchange for no regulation, low taxes and cheap labor. The leadership of such countries is characterized as ignorant, pompous and removed from reality.
Well gee…I’d say we are working on it.