I wouldn’t say my feelings are often hurt here. I just am irked by the shallowness of what often passes for analysis or commentary. I chalk it up to the complexity of the world outrunning people’s ability to emotionally and intellectually adapt. I’m a utilitarian in a broad sense, but I don’t think we have a very good idea of what contributes to utility, especially emotional utility in the modern world, and in that sense I would regard myself as a radical, in that I would support a complete reconfiguration of society (along the lines of Marxism, but completely different) if there were good evidence that it would lead to greater human flourishing. However, absent any even minimally plausible candidate, I find myself aligned with incremental neoliberalism along the lines of Yglesias, Noah Smith, Brad DeLong, Francis Fukuyama and others, who believes an “abundance” society is the best project for now.
However, I am sympathetic to the idea that material progress is secondary to emotional well-being or self-actualization, and I think that tribal societies probably do a better job with the latter, at the high cost of people often being physically miserable and dying much sooner. Also, I think the structure modern world is conducive to scientific progress and the general ascertainment of truth, and I place those as higher values than almost anything, as I believe the improvement in knowledge will help solve many of the problems of the modern age, including better ways to structure society on the national and international levels. If it weren’t for the continued proliferation of nuclear weapons and the general stupidity of the human populace in the face of a complex world, which makes even democracy unreliable, I would say that I am even optimistic for the long-term prospects of humanity. (I expect people to become less stupid over the next 100 years with genetic engineering and improved AI, but we will still be dangerous to one another, likely moreso than in the past.)
I can’t speak for simp, sabo, or anyone else, but I don’t mind the piling on. I post what I think and if I can’t defend it, then I probably deserve it
What I definitely don’t like however, is when the mods show double standards. Seems that any time I go eye for an eye and meet rudeness with rudeness, I get a warning and my post gets deleted while theirs stay up. Pretty sure if I posted an unprovoked content free and brainless “fuck off” in response to someone, it gets deleted and I hear from the mods (as just the most recent example)
Followed by a link to an interview he made with Jeffrey Sachs, who I admit i don’t know enough about, but the majority of the geo-political interview was far to the left of Bernie Sanders or anyone on the squad. Including a very strong pro-Iran and China stance that Tucker seemed to agree on. So confusing.
Russia/China/Iran are all allies. (china/russia only officially a soft one cause USA buys too much china stuff) It’s pro authoritarian which far left/right agree on.
I think technology can reach a point where humans no longer ever have to work. But until we get over that hump, it’s gonna suck. We just happen to be living in that niche time frame.
I may disagree with Cactus but I have never once thought he was posting in bad faith. I didn’t agree with his covid takes and i didn’t agree with his Trump prosecution takes. It turns out he was partially right and partially wrong in both cases(as was I) if I am remembering correctly. And the wrong parts he wasn’t afraid to take ownership of and/or discuss later rather than pretend they didn’t happen.
Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), leading big group of Republican co-signers, lays out roadmap for where Rs go from here:
Pass an immigration bill that completes border wall, and “remove migrants” who entered illegally. Offset with mandatory spending cuts.
Then pass a second bill to extend Trump tax cuts, paid for by repealing Dems’ clean energy tax credits & $2.5 trillion in DOGE cuts (Big TBD here on what this is)
Shocking that they will undo Biden’s MOST PROGRESSIVE PRESIDENCY IN HISTORY within weeks of him leaving office.
Serious question but how much of the big climate/infrastructure bill money has been spent? Hopefully they were smart enough to require spending most of the money prior to 2025?
I’m sure they’ll start by raising SS/Medicare eligibility ages by 5 years across the board and cutting benefits in half. Time to normalize working until you’re dead like we did throughout most of history.
Was about to say they’ll probably sunset it in a way that protects most boomers, but last I checked my very own Gen X is largely a bunch of MAGA dipshits too, so fuck us all I guess.