The difference between the US and other countries is that there’s more financial incentive to having political control in the US. Companies here have way too much freedom to exploit under the current system and a lot of money they can invest in keeping it that way. Whether that means bribing justices or building platforms for Ben Shapiros or making big donations to campaigns.

There’s a way out for the US I think. We need to get people in office whose goal is to remove the incentives. Take money out of politics (no more donations, lobbying). Laws should be decided based on merit and debate alone, and if it’s not near unanimous in the courts it should be a citizen vote.

I’m sure in America there would be a massive power struggle over which party would have majority control over the judicial review board. Agree with term limits though.

I’m admiring the ASCII art - great usage of different characters to smoothe out the outline of the text

Yarr

We should’ve been taxing homes or land that people own but are not their primary residence, from the start.

It would be super easy to implement, and flexible - if housing prices are too high for 75% of the population, you raise those taxes little by little and the problem eventually sorts itself out. If it’s no longer a problem, you reduce the taxes.

Probably, but could just as well be anxious attachment since we don’t have the whole story. I’m on the anxious side and this happens a lot if the other doesn’t show enough interest or is closed off in conversation.

I think there’s a line somewhere and for me the line is whether the job is suitable for children. Like, doing chores around the house or on your grandparents’ farm. Paper route riding a bike. I worked summers at a carnival, and at a pool when I was a bit older. Low physical labor, low responsibility, low customer interaction, family friendly environments. You’re right it should never interfere with education.

If I saw a kid at the register of a fast food place or a store, I would turn around immediately and never return. Just leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth.

Absolutely, have that conversation at least. Just tell them how uncomfortable you feel and if you can find a compromise. My wife and I got married in a courthouse for less than $50 and we still think it’s the best decision we ever made. Maybe do a road trip tour where you see small groups of people/family and celebrate afterwards.

Yeah, just think - we could not only protect more lives, we could be having doctors suit better purposes if we started treating guns like, y’know, abortion in Texas. A bit depressing.

Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast series on guns sheds some light on the phenomenon: despite the increase in guns and gun violence, doctors in the U.S. have become increasingly specialized in saving gunshot victims, which essentially turns a homicide into an assault (and police don’t categorize gun violence separately from assault). There’s also some progress being made to build more trauma centers closer to high risk areas of the U.S., which has been a big problem in more violent cities.

Free respecs in cities or even dual spec is all I want.

Damn this really is a boring dystopia

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He looks like a less jolly whoville character

I think you gotta be more fun about it. Kids aren’t gonna care about books and documentaries, they’ll be so bored. I enjoyed science through magic school bus, jumpstart, Bill Nye, mythbusters. I don’t know what they have now, you might have to do some searching. Stand up comedy is also good for social critical thinking and it’s fun. Don’t bore your kid into the wrong path lol.

Well see, capitalism isn’t about productivity. It’s about maximizing capital. More consumers means more spending, and more money moving to people maximizing capital. So… Capitalism hates the death of consumers and loves procreation even more.

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If Palestine continues with their eye for an eye approach, they are going to lose their fight for freedom. They need strong allies, like every other country fighting for their freedom. Ukraine is the best example I have, but I know it’s not the same. I hope Palestine gets their freedom my friend, it doesn’t look good so far. This is the last comment I’m gonna make.

You didn’t read my post. I’m on nobody’s side. What Isreal has done is 100% not okay, and at scale much worse than what Hamas has collectively done in response.

I see your point but there’s gotta be a better example. The natives didn’t have any allies that could stand up to the colonizers or even a way to ask for outside help. Today, we have the internet.

I’m just spitballing here in my privileged American home, but if Hamas was vocal about not stooping to Israel’s civilian-killing level, and did major damage to a political building without harming anyone, that could have given Palestinians more sympathy on the world stage. Even if it’s the thing that “must be done for survival”, it’s really hard to be on the side of innocent killing. I personally can’t be on either side of this conflict, and many feel the same.