Colors

This entire response is well said and I think I understand your viewpoint.

Some folks, and I share this opinion, view our two party system as too well rooted and a permanent institution in America. For this reason, a “lesser evil” vote is required.

Personally, I’m nervous that casting a vote for an independent effectively allows more nefarious characters, those who are quite literally outwardly amoral and inspirational to other amoral characters (thus enhancing the influence of those who would actively seek to harm), to take power where voting for the other primary may have a better chance to disallow it.

Every primary I see the results, and an independent/third party has never come close to winning an election based on what I have seen.

What would you say, in your opinion, is a better alternative to voting for the “better” candidate in our current climate?

I’m replying to both you and tankie out of laziness, but these are interesting responses.

I’ve recently been reading about the rise of “neoliberalism” and (I may be wrong on this, as I’ve said it’s been recent learning) how the Clintons propelled its influence into what is now outwardly weakening Democratic positions in terms of their seemingly intentionally weak reactions to right-leaning practices as a means to stay in power as the “lesser evil.”

You both paint a picture towards this being at least partially true, but what gets me is that the alternative appears to be actual “just stick, no carrot” imperialism.

In your opinion, what would be the alternative to the fake altruism that leftists seem to stand behind? Some of these folks appear to push for socialist practices but I’m hearing now that my viewpoint may be skewed in favor of a naive outlook on global outreach programs.

I don’t deny the fact that the programs appear to be predatory in nature by those who run them: I’ve read your article and it definitely makes sense. I’m just looking outward now and seeing what the “other side” of things appears to be, which is quite literally just actual imperialism and fascism. Is there some middle ground I’m not seeing?

I’ve always heard that folks like Bernie and AOC are the alternatives to current neoliberals, but what I’m hearing is that some folks do not see that as being the case?

I was curious about this video after seeing this reply, as Ive always seen humanitarian aid as a good thing, regardless of motive. This appears to be a video mostly mentioning USAID. I looked for references to imperialism and hegemony but mostly found opinion pieces regarding USAID and other similar organizations and they appear to criticize that they don’t work (which is believable and probably true) but don’t offer much in the ways that foreign aid is actually imperialism.

I understand that diplomacy is a thing. I offer you something in hopes of getting something that will benefit me. But what do folks with your viewpoint mean (as best as you can speak for others knowing you are just an individual) when you imply that AOC and others with similar neoliberal ideals are pushing for imperialism?

I’d like to hear the response to this as well. What does this mean?

Upvoted for bravery, but I have never disagreed so wholly with someone on any topic more than this.

Take this down, man. You’re gonna wake up tomorrow and realize you don’t want to be this way, and wish you didn’t out this into the universe in the first place.

The bell ringing is fitting. I feel like I’m watching professional wrestling most days now. It’s exhausting. Everything has always gotta be such a spectacle!

I don’t understand Patel’ comments at the end. Why does he call Sen, Schiff a coward? Something about how he was proven wrong about Jan 6th and “Russiagate” as well. I can’t find anything regarding proof of lying regarding him. Is there context to this or is Patel just lashing out with nonsense to stop the grilling? Seems like they have history together.

This is really cool but all I can think of is how as a kid I was never able to have any of the big, exciting Lego sets. It was always so disappointing to love Lego and see all the things I’d never get to play with.

Who is this priced for? (I know the answer). Things are getting so out of hand that kids can’t even play with toys anymore. So much has to cater to elitist cash grabs….

Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool that adults can grab a piece of nostalgia. I just feel like “the line” keeps getting pushed out further and further for what capitalism can get away with.

You ever see a chimpanzee before bro? You ever do DMT with a chimpanzee bro?

Maybe I’m getting older but I feel like texting someone so late they didn’t read it until after the proposed meeting time might not be a good strategy either.

Alright, olive branch. I understand that it’s never good to put people on a pedestal, but this is a weird thing to pull from current events. What we have is a person, regardless of “credentials” joining a flotilla with the goal of bringing food through a blockade.

Fame or motive aside, it’s a good thing to want to help people, full stop. We shouldn’t crab brain things like this and pull people back into the bucket.

We also shouldn’t idolized them, understood.

BUT

You also shouldn’t be so fixated on whether people celebrate this person. Let’s just be happy that there are some folks on the front lines fighting injustice, and mad at people that want to stomp that out. It’s really easy.

Those that can help should help, and those that can’t, or won’t, should just move out of the way. Doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.

I appreciate the help, but this person’s intent was never to actually learn about her.

I don’t know for sure what the point was. Just more pessimist hand waiving I guess. Maybe underachievement guilt, maybe jealousy, maybe just plain old fashioned misogyny.

Hyperbole was enough for this transaction.

Edit: I also wanted to add that I did not insult my friend above. We just don’t agree. I thought some fun over exaggeration would point out the unproductive nature of that line of thinking.

No one should ever do anything to help anyone unless they PASS A BILL (even writing a bill is not good enough)based on the help they give.

You could always ask AI to generate a list and create a link for you.

I should clarify that my intent was never to say all children should be pushed. I just meant that there is now way to tell what the right choice would have been until the child is already grown. Of course, dragging a kid kicking and screaming through the mud is never the way, but for every story an adult has about working in a career they hate, there’s another (see below) that wishes they were playing the piano like they were as a child, but gave up when it was hard and their folks let them quit. We can only reflect on the path taken, good or bad, because the path not taken is unknowable. Of COURSE you know now what the best choice was, you are living in the future of your past self.

Unfortunately, all we humans can do is try to gauge what will bring our children happiness in the future, and maybe we get it right, maybe we fuck it up. As long as you are coming from a place of love, compassion, and understanding, that’s all we can do.

I work in the construction industry, and when talking g about safety, we say that you’ll never know the thousands of lives your choices saved. You only know the choices that didn’t. And you’ll never forget them.

There’s no catch-all plan for parenting. Some kids need to be pushed, some need space, and there’s no way to tell whether the approach was the best approach until “Monday Morning”. All we can do is reflect later on when kids become adults, and even then who knows what the path not taken would have sown? Hopefully, being loving and compassionate is enough, and the fact that we did our best is what will be remembered.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Moms out there doing the best you can!

They’ll feel better after typing in all caps.

Can’t confirm the quantity that would release, but a front-loading cement truck would certainly dump at least a small amount of concrete when slamming on the brakes that hard. The slump of the concrete seems to be 7-8”(loose) and there is no mechanism that would completely prevent concrete from spilling forward that I am aware of.

That said, the concrete does appear to continue for a while after reasonably assuming gravity would stop the flow. Maybe he turned on the hydraulics since he was pissed?

It’s actually the pig that says that.