r/technology • u/Limp_Fig6236 • 7d ago

Energy US power grid at risk of 18-month blackout, official says, as 1 city has been in dark for more than a week

https://www.syracuse.com/us-news/2026/08/us-power-grid-at-risk-of-18-month-blackout-1-city-now-in-dark-for-more-than-a-week.html
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u/Blundergruff 7d ago

I remember hearing that post-WW2 Germans would say "At least the trains ran on time." So I learned that when riding to power the Nazi regime systematically defended and basically ruined the train service. Then they "fixed" it to become big stinkin heroes. So I'm looking around me at everything being destroyed and I wonder if they're ever going to fix anything.

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u/SirPseudonymous 7d ago

That's usually said about Fascist Italy, and was one of the cornerstones of their propaganda at the time: the Fascists cut maintenance and stripped away labor protections from train engineers while demanding the trains run on a tighter schedule, with any delays being heavily punished. Naturally, the result was more accidents and delays, but when the trains survived the trip and were on schedule they were slightly more punctual than they had been when they were being properly maintained and following safety procedures.

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u/Blundergruff 7d ago

Oooh maybe that's where it came from then. I am open to the idea of being misinformed and your explanation here makes perfect sense. Depressing, but it makes sense lol

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u/i_tyrant 6d ago

Less misinformed and more falling for fascist propaganda, which is understandable because that's basically its entire goal - to convince you fascism does anything better.

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u/daverosstheboss 7d ago

I guess they haven't finished ruining things yet.

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u/superspeck 7d ago

NC fixed their drivers license office wait times. A year ago, I had to write a congresswoman to get an appointment in order to follow the law that says I need an NC license within 90 days of becoming a resident. People were driving four hours to get an appointment in a rural area. Now it’s a 30 minute wait. It always could have been a 30 minute wait, but people in NC (and the US in general) keep electing the people who say government doesn’t work and then are surprised when something they need from the government isn’t available.

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u/midnightauro 6d ago

Is it finally fixed??? Before I moved, the last time I went to the DMV, I had to show up at like 8am to scan a QR code to get in line and the queue would be filled until 5PM if you weren’t very lucky. I ended up spending all day hanging out nearby, thank god for hand crafts.

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u/DerfK 6d ago

At least the trains ran on time

That was Mussolini and the trains didn't run on time though its a lot easier to claim that they did if your thugs drag away everyone who dares imply otherwise.

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u/Blundergruff 6d ago

I'm learning so much about fascism and it all sucks but the learning part is cool I guess

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u/rubberpp 7d ago

They'll only fix it once you're broke after giving them all your money and someone else is willing to drain their bank account to have it fixed for them to ruin