Very true and I’m really happy to see that it did work.

I was thinking more of removing trump and his lessor demons from power, or at least getting Congress to actually hold him accountable for his actions. That, I feel, will take a more sustained pressure from a large part of the population.

It still baffles me that the party that wraps itself in the American flag and calls themselves “Patriots” seem to have no problem what so ever in letting a non-elected immigrant run the country.

I think your optimistic side is right, pressure from the masses works. There are 100’s of examples from all over the world and from all parts of the past. The thing is that it doesn’t work fast. It takes time and commitment to make those in power feel the pressure.

we now live in a world where people’s attention spans have been eroded and our comfort level (for most) is just good enough that we aren’t going to move out of it unless things get really dire.

I think it will happen, but unfortunately I don’t see it happening until things get worse.

Most people are shareholders.

This doesn’t play out in the data. Analysis of the Fed data found that the lion’s share of these gains went to the richest 1 percent. This elite group owns 54 percent of public equity markets, up from 40 percent in 2002.

Most people that work these in these large big box shops are not making enough to invest significantly in the stock market. Who are are the owners of these big box stores.

Also this idea all small business owners are some large conglomerate of self-righteous all for me fuck you doesn’t play out over the larger population. Sure some people are but you are also making sound bad that someone that was successful with their small business shouldn’t travel?

What do you think the owners of these large companies like target and walmart are doing with their profit? Not all of that is going to pension plans.

Also, this idea that big conglomerate stores are some how the savior of the free market is a weird hill to die on.

It really is that simple. Sure the big box stores hire local but the money doesn’t stay local if there are no smaller shops. Their paychecks go to other large corporations that have their big box stores in the area. So no money actually helps the businesses but instead just enriches a small group of people that really don’t give a shit about the people of the town.

This isn’t a guilt trip to get you to buy local, this is the truth. It’s been happening since the 80’s starting with Walmart.

Small business can’t compete on price but a good business will compete and win on quality. It means that their products will be more expensive and I get that some people will not be able to afford it. But for those people that have the means its a win-win for the business and the consumer.

Some small businesses have shady employment practices, so do large corporations and every sized business in between. This isn’t a good argument not to try to buy more locally, but it is a good argument for better labor laws.

Basically, local Butcher baker and green grocer.

So local butcher’s, bakers and green grocers somehow get a pass on possibly having shady employment practices?

Aren’t you advocating then that people are taking from the pension plans of large grocery stores by buying local ?

Please if you have the opportunity to start buying from small businesses. It may be a bit more inconvenient and probably a bit more expensive but it is a great way to help out your neighbor.

Additionally the money you spend locally usually stays local and not go to a CEO or Chairman of the board that really doesn’t need another vacation home in Italy or Aspen.

It’s a mental illness that is worshiped by an unfortunately large population of people.

DOGE is doing a great job!

The record breaking speed at which they are transferring money from the poor to the oligarchs is unprecedented in American history. Remember everyone to work hard, we have to make sure those poor billionaires get the money the deserve .

_/s

I think we are talking about leadership at different points of time.

The leader that America needs right now is someone to articulate and draw people together behind the idea of “Throwing the bums out” and in that context there is a large coalition of people that agree with that sentiment.

What happens after the bums are gone is where the in-fighting and purity tests start to take hold. But having the opportunity to argue about whether Leader A’s policy of taxing the billionaires at 90% vs. Leader B’s policy of 70% tax rate on them would be a welcomed change.

I completely agree that we can’t blindly blame this on election fraud, that is a form of denial. Which I will admit is part of my Tinfoil hat rant above.

But if there are credible sources that are stating they have doubts about the legitimacy of the results there should be an investigation. Note, this isn’t really about this past election, I know of no evidence that shows fraud only slight rumblings from “unknown sources” which isn’t legitimate to me.

My concern is that the Stop the Steal movement, that was using weak or even made up evidence to support their cause has made future allegations less likely to be taken seriously.

trump isn’t a strong leader, he’s a very accomplished con artist.

He allows people to project their vision of who he is on him.

You say I’m christian? Sure I’ll pretend I am

You say I’m anti abortion? Sure I’ll pretend that I am

You say I’m for the little guy? Sure, I’ll pretend that I care about them

You say I’m anti-vax? Sure, I’ll tell you that I am

You say I’m the second coming of Christ? Okay, I’m good with you thinking that about me

You say I’m a strong patriot? Sure, I’ll hug the flag and say the words you need me to say

He is everything to everyone of his supporters because he never tells them that they are wrong about who he is.

A strong leader is someone that has strong convictions and articulates them in a way that resonates with the population. They are not people that waffle in their ideals, you either like their stance or you don’t. Smart ones will adjust their ideas over time but they do this from a strong ideological foundation. Some are genuinely good people like MLK, jr. others are more despotic. What America needs is one or two genuinely good strong leaders.

we voted for this

<Tinfoil hat>

Did we? There are some suspicions of voter fraud in some swing states and it sure as hell isn’t below musk to attempt something like that.

Yet, I think that the past MAGA crazies screaming about “election fraud” and “stop the steal” has poisoned the well for legitimate future calls for investigating potential fraud in elections. On top of that it also makes people that question the results sound like the crazies of the past.

It could explain why trump is allowing so much power to musk.

</Tinfoil hat>

Source: I have no source. It’s all feels over reals and a partial lack of acceptance that so many American people are that dumb.

Honestly I think a large majority of people would be on board with this system, the thing is how do you describe this to a disengaged voting population in a way that is understandable but brief ? And at the same time, how do you quickly counter the ‘communist’ argument that would come from the ultra-capitalist right?

Are there videos of these rallies that can be shared so more people know about this?

and in four years when this shit is worse for the entire planet due to these fuck bags - there will be a ton of comments asking why Americans didn’t stand up to this stuff when if first showed it’s ugly head.

Best to plant a tree 20 years ago, second best time is now. The damage that is done can be contained to just America if there is an organized opposition and I’m hoping that Bernie starts it.

I just sort of feel that regulatory capture is hard to fight against and that any stable capitalistic system will devolve into a monopoly/cartel if given enough time.

This only really happens when you have a majority of the voting base not engaged in their local, state and federal politics or a voting base that has been brainwashed by one sided media.

Are there independent websites that doctors can log there data, ones not attached in anyway to the federal or state government?

Thanks for that write up. I had no clue that these taxes existed. Was the purpose of taxing unmarried men more due to the fact that historically men were the ones earning a living while women were more unpaid labor (house wives)? Or was it that women historically haven’t had much of a say in who they will marry?

I don’t think that there is a tactical thought to people wanting to vandalize Teslas. I think that there is a true sense of helplessness on not being able to do anything to stop these fuckers. So in in the place of something more substantial the anger and frustration is being taken out on something associated with musk

Is it right? Probably not. Is it understandable, yes

So if this passes then the next bill will be to force all women that marry to change their last name to reflect their husbands last name. This, of course will be part of a larger bill to outlaw gay marriage.

And then when women decide to protest this by not getting married there will be an economic bill that will be passed that states unmarried women will be taxed at a higher rate - and they will use the excuse that we need to shore up the “traditional family” to fight against all this “God-less liberal brainwashing”.