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Culture War Roundup for the week of May 29, 2023

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I don't think many people are meaningfully able to notice a benefit that won't exist for 50 years, nor are willing to put up with repercussions (severe ones) that will last for 49, so I think 50 is a good line there.

I definitely believe in adverse possession for lands held that long.

Not everyone has to care, just enough people to make an impact, and people in power. People care about passing on wealth to their grandchildren, people care about the honor and fame that their name will carry in future generations. Their legacy. Not everyone cares, but some do.

Having something like "if you conquer this land you and your children and your grandchildren will be wealthy for generations to come, and your grandchildren will venerate you as heroes they are proud of" appeals to a lot of people. Having something like "if you conquer this land then you and your children will be wealthy for a few decades and the international community will watch your country like a hawk until they eventually find a weakness and then reconquer the land, bankrupt your grandchildren, and then indoctrinate all of your great grandchildren into cursing your name in schools" seems like a disincentive. It's a weird game theory thing, like mutually assured destruction, because obviously it's a terrible thing to actually do to someone, and the grandchildren did nothing wrong and don't deserve to be punished, but theoretically if the threat is credible (I'm not sure how it could be if it's happening more than 50 years in the future) then it would act as a deterrent that rarely needs to be actually used.