American Politics

I am surprised at how many posts I read that seem to indicate to me that many mother fucks making comments up in here do not really understand how the United States Government works.

[B]Article III[/B]

[U]Section 1[/U]

[I]The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.[/I]

If the [B]Supreme Court[/B] can rule on a case, then a district court or appellate court rulings are valid also. The President of the United States of America is NOT above the law. He is restrained by the law. The Judicial Branch is a separate but equal part of the United States Government.

[B]Full Stop![/B]

[QUOTE=Tiny12;2989568]Great posts Hot Dog. My only quibble is that I believe the Chinese have been dumping USA Debt, in part because of what they saw happen to Iran and Russia, and still interest rates have remained low. You could probably change my mind though. You likely know more about economics than anyone who's posted in this thread during the time I've followed it. But I shall not be intimidated, because I know more about flue gas than you do!

There's an identity in economics.

Current Account = Savings - Investment

As you know, the current account is the trade surplus, plus investment income received from overseas.

So, what does this mean? Basically, if the American government and American people are going to spend like drunken sailors (that is, the savings rate is low), and if investment is to remain at levels sufficient to (a) keep our government afloat (that is, buy the treasuries and municipal bonds to finance the government debt) and (b) keep our businesses from being starved of capital, we must run a trade deficit.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the interesting views, Tiny.

I had to look up some of the data. So you are quite correct, China has been reducing its debt holdings in Treasurys over the last several years. [URL]https://www.ceicdata.com/en/china/holdings-of-us-treasury-securities/holdings-of-us-treasury-securities[/URL].

And here is what the Treasury's yield looks like: [URL]https://ycharts.com/indicators/5_year_treasury_rate[/URL]#text=5%20 Year%20 Treasury%20 Rate%20 is, a%20 maturity%20 of%205%20 years.

So you can see that the yield has gone up massively, which is exactly what you would expect with these supply / demand features of China pulling out.

* You could say the Chinese are our sugar daddies. They work hard, don't consume a lot, save a lot of money. And send us lots of cheap stuff! And what do we give them in return? Paper! It's a great deal!

Precisely, it has been this symbiotic relationship which has kept America being able to fund its trade deficit. But frankly its true, this cannot carry on in perpetuity. Yes, America has been able to max out its Credit Card but just like when you or I max out ours the Hookers are Us etc Mastercard company may still fund your lifestyle but it will increase your rate, so the same applies to America (and indeed the profligate west).

* Maybe Donald will make a few key replacements at the Fed, people who will listen to his advice to keep interest rates low. Very low. In fact, negative, like Japan and Germany used to do.

That's the thing though, this is an impossibility- even if the Fed were to adjust base rates, the market rates are set by supply demand factors as mentioned above not necessarily by the base rates- the two usually correlate but they don't necessarily have to. Investors look at things like inflation, security of repayment, political risk etc. In the good old days, eg 3 years ago, investors were piling in at negative yields (not rates) into Japanese debt or even German because they were seeking safe parking for the immense amount of liquidity. What trump is doing is completely the opposite of giving safe parking for foreign money.

Just as a segue, my two cents.

America is fucked under the current scenario. You definitely need to get spending and debt under control but this is not through destroying livelihoods, social security and healthcare entitlement. Take the latter as an example: there is something rotten in the state of America. It spends more than any other country on healthcare yet it's still a bad, bad system. Is musk had any real balls, he would take it on and commit to making it cheaper AND better, like Germany or Japan or Singapore. Tinkering around the edges won't go very far. The fundamentals won't change. And the downsides of tariffs far exceed the upsides.

I cannot see a way out of this, other than a growing economy. Perhaps AI will come to the rescue.

[QUOTE=MarquisdeSade1;2992374]How Democracies Die.

Book by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky.

I've started reading this and so far it's eye opening. Anyone who doesn't think Trump is on his way to destroy America needs to read this.

I'm reading a book with a similar title "How the Democrats Die".

It all starts with Ross Perot jumping into the 1992 race and throwing the election to Scumbag Bubba if not for that the world would be very very different today.

He liked the BS concept of the 3rd way, aka selling the party to Wall Street for some kickbacks via the CF after leaving office.

He pushed thru Glass Stegall NAFTA and installed the CCP into the WTO for Wall St, the people would never of accepted any of these things from a GOPer let alone all of them..[/QUOTE]We are only 60 days in, 1400 more to go LMFAO.

If I were a betting man, I would bet Trumpet will be forced out of office, or there will be a civil war.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2992419]At least one of the more oblivious Repub MAGAs here suggested Trump would fire Falling Down Drunk Pete Hegseth if he fucks up.

Uh. OK. We're waiting.

[B]Top Trump officials accidentally shared war plans with media.[/B]

[URL]https://www.indy100.com/politics/trump/russia-kremlin-donald-trump-ukraine[/URL][/QUOTE]Yeah, what an A-one clusterfuck, this is indeed! This is what you get with racist reverse-DEI unqualified crony incompetent hires!

I knew it was coming, but I am just so surprised at how fast, this colossal bungle occurred. I mean, "sex with unconscious woman isn't rape", Pete Hegseth, wasn't even drunk. [I][b](...kkkk!)[/b][/I] Buckle-up when, he does hit the source.

Serbians, take that "hill to die on" and claim it as "VICTORY HILL" and forces the Serbian government resigns.

After months of mass protests and several days after the largest historical rally ever gathered in Belgrade, of some 325,000 people peacefully protesting, [url]https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2g8v32q30o[/url], the Serbian people forces the Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, resignation along with President Aleksandar Vucic, saying he may call fresh elections in early June. [url]https://www.politico.eu/article/serbia-government-resign-milos-vucevic-aleksandar-vucic-floats-new-elections/[/url]

So while those with no backbone and very little stomach to fight for their rights and freedoms on those [i][b]"hills to die on"[/b][/i], and instead scoff, and hide behind the fake veneer of sarcasm and privilege, take a good look at the Serbians, who for months now, have being saying [i][b]"ENOUGH!..."[/b][/i]

When your done looking at Serbia, take a good look at the level of protests, ramping up in the U.S. Are Americans, unflinchingly declaring, that some hills are worth dying on?

So, whether it's the civil rights, 40-hour workweek, marriage equality, clean air laws or in the case of Serbians, [b]corruption[/b] and shoddy crony construction, that resulted in a collapsed concrete canopy at a railway station, where 16 died. The Serbian people, did not go [i][b]"gentle into that good night",[/b][/i] like cowards void of a backbone or spine, but instead stood their ground, on their [i]"Hill to Die On"[/i], and spoke truth to power, against authoritarian rule, until it become their [i][b]"VICTORY HILL"[/b][/i]

Is that "enough" moment or "victory hill", on the horizon for the U.S., given the current MAGA levels of ineptitude, corruption, authoritarianism and cronyism, we're seeing in America?

[b]PS:[/b] Is Turkey up next? Hopefully with more peaceful protests, in the face of the brutal authoritarian fascist Erdogan?

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2991528][b]Another one Busted! [/b]

There is definitely a pattern emerging. Sexual assault, adjudicated rape, sexual exploitation of children, it just goes on and on with Trump, his Administration, Fux News contributors and the MAGAs:

[B]Social media personality Ricci Wynne, who spotlights San Francisco crime and drug use, indicted on child porn charges.
March 20, 2025[/B]

[URL]https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/ricci-wynne-san-francisco-child-porn-charges-human-trafficking/[/URL][/QUOTE]

But it wouldn't surprise me, if there's a huge uptick in QAnon/MAGA/Repubs degenerates found to be committing similar criminal behavior, as I'm sure many of them probably feel, their MAGA Fuhrer, will simply pardon them. Naturally, with the right amount of a bribe, their MAGA Fuhrer will absolutely grant them, that "GET OUT OF JAIL CARD!"

After all, the Fuhrer, is nothing more than a sellout!

[QUOTE=The Cane;2990844][b]Busted![/b]

Those right wingers who are the most adamant and self-righteous are also the ones most likely to be hiding something in the closet:

[url]https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/18/minnesota-justin-eichorn-arrested-soliciting-minor[/url] [/QUOTE]
Absolutely Right! Yet more MAGA pedos!...It's shameful!

And you wonder why they are so many ISG QAnon/MAGA/Repubs choirboys that are so quick to run to their defense, sympathize or just freakin' delusional to their own hypocrisy, that knows no bounds when those who claim moral child transgender authority, are revealed to perpetuate the very harm, they condemn. Yes, just another case of QAnon/MAGA/Repub scapegoating and marginalizing LGBTQ communities, to distract from their own crimes.

Just the kind of right-wing "woke" hypocritical garbage, the QAnon/MAGA loony-tunes imbecilic choirboys, are always trying to [b]"own the libs"[/b] with.

Well I guess those Russian cosmonauts, were seeing more than just thousands of bright spots all over mother Russia, but all over the world, especially in the biggest areas of oil and gas (O&G) production in the U.S., according to a new study of satellite images, of methane gas flares and leaks.

[b]Satellite images reveal the extent of methane leaks across the world[/b], March 19th, 2025
[URL]https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/columns/planet/satellite-images-reveal-the-extent-of-methane-leaks-across-the-world/[/URL]

• In 2022, scientists revealed significant methane emissions using TROPOMI data; [u][b]two-thirds[/b] of the events are related to oil and gas production.[/u]

• In 2018, a team pointed out that emissions from the oil and gas sector in the United States [b]exceeded those estimated[/b] by the Environmental Protection Agency [b]by 60%.[/b]

With the latest advances in better detecting [b]dirty methane gas leaks[/b], it has become abundantly clear, that the horrendous, dirty methane gas leaks, most often compromises it's said ability, to be cleaner than coal. But this is probably just another PR problem, right?
[LIST][u]The Food and O&G Industries have more in common then you'd think:[/u]

Take for example, the [b]fake labeling[/b] of the word "natural", applied to methane gas, as a marketing ploy and deceptive practices, similar to the food industry's use of [i]"natural flavors"[/i] or [i]"all natural"[/i].

So rather then deal with the actual problems of their products, both industries, decide a "rebranding" of their products, with the use of the word "natural", would solve their PR problems.

Or at the very least, it should confuse, obfuscate or obscure methane gas’s climate destruction, and convince consumers, their product is pure, safe, harmless and eco-friendly.[/LIST]Now that dirty methane gas, can be seen for what it is, [i][b]as it's spewed plumage are caught on satellite, polluting the atmosphere,[/b][/i] the so called watch agencies (if there are any still around), can no longer leave it to good ol' O&G to "self-monitor" and "self-report", and hide, just how much, dirty methane gas (80x more potency then CO2) spew into our atmosphere.

Although, I'm sure it won't be long before the Fuhrer's cronies, cry foul and have him put the kibosh, on the technology and science.

[QUOTE=HotDog666;2992554]We are only 60 days in, 1400 more to go LMFAO.

If I were a betting man, I would bet Trumpet will be forced out of office, or there will be a civil war.[/QUOTE]Ever hear of the axiom, a fool and his money soon part.

Or even more so, A Fools Bet.

Don't bet against the future the stakes are too high.

[URL]https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/24/trump-estimates-4-trillion-worth-of-companies-are-moving-back-to-u-s/[/URL]

[URL]https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/19/exclusive-peter-narvarro-china-is-the-worlds-biggest-cheater-but-the-eu-and-vietnam-run-close-seconds/[/URL]

Gambling is for chumps.

But I'm guessing the Polymarket big money would be on the red team with all the guns LMFAO.

[URL]https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/400000000-firearms-why-gun-control-america-doomed-209214[/URL]

[QUOTE=Spidy;2992587]Well I guess those Russian cosmonauts, were seeing more than just thousands of bright spots all over mother Russia, but all over the world, especially in the biggest areas of oil and gas (O&G) production in the U.S., according to a new study of satellite images, of methane gas flares and leaks.

[b]Satellite images reveal the extent of methane leaks across the world[/b], March 19th, 2025
[URL]https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/columns/planet/satellite-images-reveal-the-extent-of-methane-leaks-across-the-world/[/URL]

In 2022, scientists revealed significant methane emissions using TROPOMI data; [u][b]two-thirds[/b] of the events are related to oil and gas production.[/u]

In 2018, a team pointed out that emissions from the oil and gas sector in the United States [b]exceeded those estimated[/b] by the Environmental Protection Agency [b]by 60%.[/b]

With the latest advances in better detecting [b]dirty methane gas leaks[/b], it has become abundantly clear, that the horrendous, dirty methane gas leaks, most often compromises it's said ability, to be cleaner than coal. But this is probably just another PR problem, right?
[LIST][u]The Food and O&G Industries have more in common then you'd think:[/u]

Take for example, the [b]fake labeling[/b] of the word "natural", applied to methane gas, as a marketing ploy and deceptive practices, similar to the food industry's use of [i]"natural flavors"[/i] or [i]"all natural"[/i].

So rather then deal with the actual problems of their products, both industries, decide a "rebranding" of their products, with the use of the word "natural", would solve their PR problems.

Or at the very least, it should confuse, obfuscate or obscure methane gass climate destruction, and convince consumers, their product is pure, safe, harmless and eco-friendly.[/LIST]Now that dirty methane gas, can be seen for what it is, [i][b]as it's spewed plumage are caught on satellite, polluting the atmosphere,[/b][/i] the so called watch agencies (if there are any still around), can no longer leave it to good ol' O&G to "self-monitor" and "self-report", and hide, just how much, dirty methane gas (80x more potency then CO2) spew into our atmosphere.

Although, I'm sure it won't be long before the Fuhrer's cronies, cry foul and have him put the kibosh, on the technology and science.[/QUOTE]As I've said several times, the industry in the USA should and is doing more to control methane emissions. But how big a problem are they? Your link indicates methane emissions from oil and gas worldwide are 78 million tons per year. Of that, the USA accounts for about 8.5 million tons. The chart in your link says global emissions from agriculture are 142 million tons per annum, and emissions from waste are about 73 million tons. So the oil and gas industry in the USA accounts for about 2. 5% of global methane emissions. And the emissions from agriculture are much higher than oil and gas.

If you're really concerned about methane emissions, you should give up eating meat and dairy products. Also get a Flatus Containment Device AND USE IT.

I would trust the EPA's estimate of methane emissions over a statement from climate and environmental researcher Marielle Saunois that "a team" said its estimate is 60% higher than the EPA's. She doesn't even identify the team!

It's difficult to de-program you because you don't have a handle on the chemistry and properties of natural gas.

I've been careful to say that natural gas is a "clean burning" fuel, when used for generation electricity. I never wrote that natural gas is clean. The hydrogen sulfide in some natural gases, which is removed through processing, is deadly. Furthermore, if you have an extremely low tolerance for risk, it would make sense not to use natural gas for cooking or heating your home, as the health risks which are low, are higher than for electric.

The carbon dioxide produced by the combustion of natural gas in producing electricity is not dirty, nor is pure methane. They're colorless, odorless, and don't cause death unless inhaled in massive quantities.

The quantity of particulate matter, which is the largest culprit for dirty or polluted air, produced by combustion of natural gas in power plants is insignificant. The quantity of sulfur dioxide produced by combustion of natural gas is insignificant. The quantity of nitrogen oxides is significant but half or less of coal.

Worldwide, particulate matter is responsible for 4.2 to 6.7 million premature deaths per year.

Hundreds of thousands of premature deaths can PARTLY be attributed to sulfur dioxide.

Several hundreds of thousands of premature deaths can PARTLY be attributed to NOx compounds.

I asked ChatGPT (subscription version with Python) to produce a chart showing deaths per Terawatt Hour for various energy sources and this was what it came up with:

Coal 24.6
Natural Gas 2.8
Nuclear 0.07
Solar 0.02
Wind 0.04nat

So again, if you're extremely risk intolerant, like the kind of person who's been living in a cocoon since COVID hit, maybe natural gas is not acceptable.

So how many deaths are caused by CO2 and by pure methane, as a result of global warming? Well, by some estimates, to date they've actually saved more lives than they've caused. That's because a lot more people die annually from cold than heat.

Politicians who think like you let perfect be the enemy of good. If they're successful in banning natural gas production in and exports from the USA, the air over some cities will be somewhat more polluted, and CO2 emissions will probably be a little bit higher. And they'll put a lot of people in the USA out of jobs. On the other hand they'll create more jobs in places like Russia and Saudi Arabia.

[QUOTE=SubCmdr;2992524]IThe President of the United States of America is NOT above the law. He is restrained by the law. The Judicial Branch is a separate but equal part of the United States Government.

[B]Full Stop![/B][/QUOTE]Absolutely.

[QUOTE=Spidy;2992417]Am I Now?

You evidently DO NOT seem to understand the very quote you, Tiny 12 and Elvis 2008 are using, in which you accuse me of wanting, "the perfect solution", for the U.S. grid. If it's anybody putting words in Elvis 2008's mouth...IT IS YOU!

[i][b](...kkkk!)[/b][/i] Did you not see where I told you, fossil fuels (especially coal) have such a low bar, that striving for "better", is NEVER hard goal to achieve! Sure [b]dirty methane gas[/b] is "better" than coal, but not by much.

S+W+B, pumped hydro, DO NOT emit CO2 GHG emissions. Wayyyyyyyyyyyy BETTER, by light-years, than dirty methane gas!

So for your [b]dirty methane gas[/b], to trump coal, in reducing emissions is a joke, when [i]"Leaking From US Oil and Gas Is 8 Times Higher Than Agreed Targets[/i] [url]https://www.newsweek.com/methane-leaking-us-oil-gas-8-times-higher-agreed-targets-1932878[/url]. Methane gas leaks occur all the time and puts 80x more pollutants into the atmosphere than coal, when leaks occur.

[b]I beg to differ on the baseload[/b]. Renewables (all forms) can and do provide baseload power. Renewables have already flipped the script on fossil fuel baseload power, in some places like China (certain places, with newer renewable gigawatt projects coming online nationwide every week), South Australia, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand, California), where fossil fuels are only needed and are being used, as backup during peak demand hours.

Isn't it just like Tiny 12, to provide half-truths and obfuscate events/matters. Hey, don't forget to tell the readers, I already owned up, about being incorrect on that data point, about China, here: [url]http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2467-American-Politics&p=2986138&viewfull=1#post2986138[/url].

But you, Tiny 12, of course continue to act all high and mighty like you've never made incorrect data point assumptions. [b]Or shall I count the ways, of thine errors?[/b] Much like your ONGOING bag of lies and disinformation, with regards to your MAGA Fuhrer's "...beautiful clean coal" and your [i][b]"clean burning methane gas" (...kkkk!)[/b][/i][/QUOTE]Again, I'd trust the EPA's numbers over the greenies (Environmental Defense Fund) any day.

Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, yes. But it only stays in the atmosphere for 10 to 12 years. CO2 is up there for hundreds of years.

And the quantities leaked from oil and gas operations in the USA are small and becoming smaller, see post below. Yes, government should continue to pressure industry to reduce methane leaks even more.

Pure methane does not contribute to dirty air. Again, it's colorless and odorless and not toxic unless breathed in sufficient quantities to crowd out Oxygen.

I challenge you to find a single city or contiguous region in the developed world with a population of over one million that only uses solar or wind power except for peak demand. I don't believe you can find a single one where battery storage is such that they can do away with fossil fuels, nuclear or hydro when the sun's not shining and the wind's not blowing.

While I have a lot of problems with Trump, thankfully he's not a Green Cultist, unlike many of the politicians in your party.

[QUOTE=HotDog666;2992536]Thanks for the interesting views, Tiny.

I had to look up some of the data. So you are quite correct, China has been reducing its debt holdings in Treasurys over the last several years. [URL]https://www.ceicdata.com/en/china/holdings-of-us-treasury-securities/holdings-of-us-treasury-securities[/URL].

And here is what the Treasury's yield looks like: [URL]https://ycharts.com/indicators/5_year_treasury_rate[/URL]#text=5%20 Year%20 Treasury%20 Rate%20 is, a%20 maturity%20 of%205%20 years.

So you can see that the yield has gone up massively, which is exactly what you would expect with these supply / demand features of China pulling out.

* You could say the Chinese are our sugar daddies. They work hard, don't consume a lot, save a lot of money. And send us lots of cheap stuff! And what do we give them in return? Paper! It's a great deal!

Precisely, it has been this symbiotic relationship which has kept America being able to fund its trade deficit. But frankly its true, this cannot carry on in perpetuity. Yes, America has been able to max out its Credit Card but just like when you or I max out ours the Hookers are Us etc Mastercard company may still fund your lifestyle but it will increase your rate, so the same applies to America (and indeed the profligate west).

* Maybe Donald will make a few key replacements at the Fed, people who will listen to his advice to keep interest rates low. Very low. In fact, negative, like Japan and Germany used to do.

That's the thing though, this is an impossibility- even if the Fed were to adjust base rates, the market rates are set by supply demand factors as mentioned above not necessarily by the base rates- the two usually correlate but they don't necessarily have to. Investors look at things like inflation, security of repayment, political risk etc. In the good old days, eg 3 years ago, investors were piling in at negative yields (not rates) into Japanese debt or even German because they were seeking safe parking for the immense amount of liquidity. What trump is doing is completely the opposite of giving safe parking for foreign money.

Just as a segue, my two cents.

America is fucked under the current scenario. You definitely need to get spending and debt under control but this is not through destroying livelihoods, social security and healthcare entitlement. Take the latter as an example: there is something rotten in the state of America. It spends more than any other country on healthcare yet it's still a bad, bad system. Is musk had any real balls, he would take it on and commit to making it cheaper AND better, like Germany or Japan or Singapore. Tinkering around the edges won't go very far. The fundamentals won't change. And the downsides of tariffs far exceed the upsides.

I cannot see a way out of this, other than a growing economy. Perhaps AI will come to the rescue.[/QUOTE]Hey HotDog, if the Current Account / Savings / Investment relationship interests you, this may be worth a look.

[URL]https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2025/lets-stop-trade-deficit-blame-game[/URL]

The person who brought my attention to the link knows more about macroeconomics than anyone I know.

My "solution" to get rid of the USA's national debt was tongue in cheek by the way. That would be a great way to go down the same path as Argentina, towards hyperinflation. But if Trump controlled the Fed, then perhaps he could keep short term rates low and refinance maturing debt with short maturity T-bills. Yes, longer term rates would be set by the market, and demand for the shorter term rates would suffer too.

I agree with you 100% about the USA's healthcare system. I'm a big admirer of Singapore's system.

[QUOTE=SubCmdr;2992524]I am surprised at how many posts I read that seem to indicate to me that many mother fucks making comments up in here do not really understand how the United States Government works.

[B]Article III[/B]

[U]Section 1[/U]

[I]The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.[/I]

If the [B]Supreme Court[/B] can rule on a case, then a district court or appellate court rulings are valid also. The President of the United States of America is NOT above the law. He is restrained by the law. The Judicial Branch is a separate but equal part of the United States Government.

[B]Full Stop![/B][/QUOTE]Making the rounds on Facebook:

[QUOTE]If you're a little confused about what Musk is trying to achieve with DOGE, here's the breakdown:

Elon Musk and Peter Thiel cofounded a company that became PayPal.

Other executives at PayPal went on to found or lead other huge tech companies including YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Affirm, and many VC firms.

This group became known as the PayPal mafia because they exerted an outsized influence on Silicon Valley.

Peter Thiel mentored a young JD Vance and helped him get set up in his first VC firm.

Peter Thiel and the PayPal mafia funded JD Vance's successful Senate run. Amazing because he had absolutely zero political experience.

Thiel and Musk all but forced Trump to choose JD Vance as VP in exchange for funding his presidential campaign.

The three of them, plus a lot of other tech billionaires subscribe to an ideology called the Dark Enlightenment espoused by this super weird, creepy dude: Curtis Yarvin aka Mencius Moldbug.

Yarvin preaches that the media and academia represent "The Cathedral" that secretly controls power and must be dismantled.

He advocates for a corporate run, monarchy, led by a CEO-Dictator.

Says that Democracy is an "outdated software" and openly opposes it and that:
- Government agencies should be dismantled and The U.S. should be broken up into "patchworks" controlled by tech oligarchs.
- That the elite tech billionaires should rule because they have the intelligence to "fix" society
- That the "masses are asses" too dumb to govern themselves.

The strategy is to gut the government via R.A.G.E - Retire All Govt Employees to make government incapable of operating.

Then to replace government with private corporations.

To eliminate elections because they are "obsolete"

To use distraction and chaos to prevent public resistance.

Trump is their useful tool to be disposed of as soon as they can wrest control.

This is why Elon wears a black MAGA hat. They are not Trump supporters, they are "Dark MAGA"

This isn't a hypothetical. The plan is already in motion:
- Musk, Thiel, and their network are actively dismantling democratic institutions.
- JD Vance, the MAGA heir, is being positioned to help implement this transition.
- The public is too distracted to realize whats happening.
- If successful, democracy in America will be permanently replaced by a corporate-run authoritarian state.
-----------------------------------
That's it. Now that you understand that you can see how everything that's happening fits within that lens.

Now the only question is what do we do about it?[/QUOTE]BTW, it's interesting that Jaydee Vance openly oposed Trump's War Plan decision and pointed out his blithering mental state on that Signal group chat of incompetents and DEI hires, isn't it?

Why, someone might reasonsbly conclude Jaydee Vance has more influence and protections from the REAL Powers That Be in the White House than blithering blathering Trumpty-Dumpty does himself.

[B]Vance broke with Trump admin over Houthi airstrikes, group chat report says.[/B]

[URL]https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/24/vance-broke-with-trump-over-houthi-airstrikes-group-chat-report-says-00245996[/URL]

[QUOTE]"I think we are making a mistake," Vance said to the group chat, which included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, national security adviser Mike Waltz and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to the report. It doesnt appear that the president was included in the group chat.

"I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now," Vance added. "Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc."[/QUOTE]

Yes, we're all fucked. But why everyone be all doom and gloom, when so many people, me included can't even be sure we can pay the rent? Who cares if there's world war 3 when homelessness is just around the corner. Jeez guys, get your priorities straight. You know why? Cause you guys have more to lose. For people like me with literally nothing, I can't wait for the apocalypse and the total collapse of the global financial markets. I want the damn world to end. We all should expire together. Let's fucking do it.

Alfred said "some men just want to watch the world burn".

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbPiIwFOQtU[/URL]

Hmmm, now if only NVDA would go up.

[QUOTE=NewtonYork;2992640]Yes, we're all fucked. But why everyone be all doom and gloom, when so many people, me included can't even be sure we can pay the rent? Who cares if there's world war 3 when homelessness is just around the corner. Jeez guys, get your priorities straight. You know why? Cause you guys have more to lose. For people like me with literally nothing, I can't wait for the apocalypse and the total collapse of the global financial markets. I want the damn world to end. We all should expire together. Let's fucking do it.

Alfred said "some men just want to watch the world burn".

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbPiIwFOQtU[/URL]

Hmmm, now if only NVDA would go up.[/QUOTE]I don't wish to sound insensitive or impolite but am genuinely curious about this: how do you get yourself into a situation whereby you can't afford to pay the rent? Especially when it seems you are. Advanced in age and have had a lifetime to accumulate savings to tide through rainy days?

With regards to the American stock market, for every multi millionaire that it made on its years up (who are convinced that they are financial geniuses and not just got lucky) there's 10 who get sucker punched out. I blame social media in facilitating the idea of getting rich quickly which these Gen Z's think is their entitlement. It's probably why the west is in terminal decline, while China keeps its head down, until that day dawns when it's too late and they do hold all the cards.