Posts by Morgan Foster

Sandra Johnson58 said:America is basically this transitional mess stuck in limbo between two different systems, and honestly, you saw this happen in a bunch of other post-communist countries too. Most of those places actually managed to claw their way out of that gap and made some pretty huge strides. People used to make fun of most of those former Eastern Bloc countries because they were such hardcore communist dictatorships—it was like impossible to escape, and since they were totally cut off from the West, everyone lived in way deeper poverty. But the old system here wasn't even a hardcore communist oasis or anything; we had that weird worker self-management thing going on with the party’s blessing, plus there was maybe a bit more freedom when it came to traveling or just leaving. I guess the history of that strange economic setup might be weighing us down, and not just us, but other nearby countries too. The only thing really growing in America is tourism, and its share of the GDP is one of the highest on the planet—well, at least among countries that aren't considered third world. I mean, a country that relies almost entirely on tourism or agriculture as its economic backbone can't really expect a massive future.

The Germans partially adopted that worker self-management model thanks to their local SPD—though, of course, they optimized it for their free-market economy. It isn't inherently bad... it's just a question of scale and financial viability. It’s easy to make money or run numbers, but that isn't everything in economics—you actually have to incentivize the economy somehow.

I know I'm generalizing, but how exactly do we incentivize tourism here? It's "beneficial" if a tourist shows up, drops some cash, and then leaves immediately. You sell them the sun and the beach, and because of that top-tier service, they might never come back. Without a different—and much more rational—mindset, there won't be any progress for us...

bluebison10 said:That's money from a regular salary combined with side hustles, not some entry-level paycheck...

For someone starting out over there, that amount isn't bad. It really all comes down to the individual—how they react when an opportunity for advancement actually shows up. I know people who stayed stuck in old, low-paying roles simply because they were too afraid to move... and then they end up struggling just to get by again.

James Anderson5 said:I also know folks who moved to Germany in their 50s just to build up a retirement fund. It’s hard to make broad statements, but it’s good to know there's an option out there if you feel stuck here. A lot of it really depends on your career path...

In that case, it's a total win-win situation for them.

James Anderson5 said:Living solo in Germany doesn't seem worth much on an average salary, but for a family? If both partners work and one can pull in something like $3,300 a month—which is totally doable for healthcare workers—then there's really no question about it.

The situation here is complicated; it isn't just about people being lazy, location matters immensely too. Living in Chicago is one thing, the Midwest is another, and then you have the coast...

Actually, a huge chunk of Americans are basically living on social security already, especially since the average retirement age in the US is only around 53, which covers a massive part of that demographic. It's the same story with everyone working in big public administration roles, like government agencies and state-owned corporations...

There are actually some pretty solid analytical articles written on this topic if anyone feels like reading up on it...

We should also note that the government intentionally penalizes single people through taxes—it hits them hard when it comes to overtime pay. The number of singles and single parents in Germany is quite high, and the state is essentially nudging people toward starting families. It’s driven by the declining birth rate, which is bad news for the nation—and especially for their social security system...

A single guy living on $2,000 a month—and even then, he’s coming up short at first 🙏

I don't know... I was giving him advice yesterday, but honestly, what do people like this even expect? In my opinion, the internet is largely to blame for this downward spiral in society. Seriously—for the last decade or so, everyone’s dealing with some kind of crisis, acting like they're too good for hard work or actual education, yet they're too lazy to even look up basic information for a tiny little step forward in life...
Anyway, I'm going to take a quick stroll over to visit the crew in Germany. I'll be back in a few days 🙏

Adam Williams2 said:I don't think they'll ever have to get their hands dirty as long as those government-backed companies exist. 😉

In this company, the managers mostly finished with construction or transportation degrees (not that it matters much at a place like Home Depot, I suppose). The ones from the transportation side were actually bought in, if you ask me. It feels like these people don't really get how to manage a team or communicate with anyone. Their whole idea of solving a problem is thinking everything can just be knocked out in fifteen minutes. 🤣

Maybe we should just privatize everything. ☕

Honestly, if I had the money, I’d probably just buy my own degree. As long as things stay the way they are in this country, I guess it doesn't really matter what you actually know, as long as you have the piece of paper. 🐔

The education system here in the States—and frankly, across much of the world—has been downgraded into this bizarre setup designed just to keep unemployed youth busy. You have one group of students who are incredibly talented and hardworking, and then there's the other group—people who enroll in anything just to grab a diploma. Once they have it, they’ll take any soul-crushing job abroad just because they have a degree. A diploma has basically become nothing more than a Facebook status thanks to decades of incompetent leadership and this general "vacation mode" culture... just lounging around and doing nothing.

wiredfalcon2 said:Look, Kerum might be an idiot, but he still managed to use taxpayer money to build a driveway for his private hotel. I don't see why someone like Orešković wouldn't do the same thing. Just look at Tony Blair—after the political grind, he jumped into consulting and started pulling in three times what he makes now. Money is power. This whole idea that someone is going to slash their income from $67 a month down to $6.75 just because, you know, "they're already rich," is hands down the stupidest take of the year.

Forget the income and the cash for a second; being Prime Minister will bring him way more long-term leverage than some measly $20,000-$67. And it isn't even strictly about politics (at least, that’s how it looks right now). What I find ridiculous is watching all these self-proclaimed experts on the news try to dismiss his lack of political experience. For crying out loud—if you land a CEO position and can effectively dictate the fate of hundreds of thousands of jobs, isn't that directly shaping policy?

America is crawling with career politicians who have managed to screw up everything they've touched. While half of Europe is trying to trim the fat of bloated government bureaucracies, here in the States, we seem to be doing the exact opposite. In a functioning democracy, people like Milanovic and Karamarko would have been forced out of their parties by now since they actually lost the elections and failed to meet their party's objectives. The electoral laws should have been overhauled ages ago to prevent these fringe losers with 1% of the vote from sliding into Congress through endless coalitions involving hundreds of tiny parties.

Oreskovica's priority would likely be streamlining the federal bureaucracy just like he cleaned up the private sector—and that's exactly why our establishment parties would view him as a threat. But fortunately, we still have the IMF... as much as it sounds harsh to suggest a massive international beast needs to bail us out from "our own" countrymen—and, frankly, from whatever little money the average American has left.

Michelle Doyle61 said:If you want to be honest, hardworking, and sincere, you won't even make it onto a local school board, let alone join the federal government. The Democratic Party regularly ignores every single promise they made four years ago. Half the cabinet has to step down because of scandals, corruption, or just pure incompetence. Now, they’ve completely flipped their campaign rhetoric, and honestly, we all get it. We just say "politics is a dirty business" and move on. And don't even get me started on the Republican Party and their leadership.

But when it comes to Bridge, there’s this unprecedented hysteria. They aren't allowed to play the game. They can't calculate, they can't promise one thing and do another, or engage in the same political maneuvering that everyone has been doing for the last 10,000 years. People are lighting torches because they feel their future was destroyed. For nearly two months now, they've been getting attacked from every angle—called thieves and frauds. But that's just what we hear publicly. I can only imagine the kind of blackmail, extortion, or threats they might have faced privately from career politicians for whom holding power is quite literally a matter of life and death.

This is the classic playbook used by the ruling elites to keep us feeling helpless, disillusioned, and resigned. They want us to believe everything is terrible, nothing can change, and we're just drifting in a freefall.

No politician succeeds by being upright and honest. It’s all lies and deception. Maybe Bridge had good intentions, but you just can't play fair with those types.

👍

I view the role of the Libertarian Party as a sort of wedge jammed into the gears—something meant to temporarily stall the well-oiled machine.
The question remains: who here is actually being honest? Is it the left-wing faction that screamed about clerical-fascism? Or the right-wingers who, until recently, were bashing boza for being sold out to communists? Or perhaps certain religious leaders who openly attacked Petrov through the media and even during mass, leaving him with no choice but to step down?
In the end, all three sides are backed into a corner, and the Libertarians have pulled a "wild card" that they now have to play.
The current position of the Libertarians doesn't allow for a French Revolution style uprising; instead, they must continue the "pest control" that will slowly sweep up "associates" like the Republican Party loyalists, Bandics, and the rest. Of course, nobody falls without taking a shot first.

🤣🤣

👏

Michelle Doyle61 said:Good grief. You’re standing there as a true humanist, calling out a massive injustice while everyone else is blinded by pure hatred. Most people are stuck seeing everything in black and white, unable to grasp the deeper nuances, but you actually see the bigger picture. You're like a modern-day Sophie Scholl. Unfortunately, reality isn't working in your favor right now. The vast majority of people are looking at this exactly how you are. Honestly, the West deserves what it's getting. It's just tragic how many miserable souls have lost their lives because of sheer stupidity. It’s gone so far that people are actually claiming the white man invented genocide. Talk about peak white guilt.

It’s a shame we can't seem to have a grounded, rational conversation about Islam and its actual teachings. Most people in this group are honestly fascinating—there’s such a wide spectrum of perspectives here. But when this topic comes up, it feels like talking to those self-proclaimed humanists who think they have all the answers. They immediately start pivoting. "But look at Christianity," or "Look at this historical event," or "All religions are essentially the same." They’ll claim Islam is just about love and peace, then turn around and call Americans narrow-minded for disagreeing. It’s always the same cycle. It gets exhausting.

Look, people are out here throwing stones at others. They literally bury someone in the sand and pelt them with rocks until they’re dead, all because of adultery or because they decided to leave Islam. They justify it by claiming the Creator of the universe commanded it. All over the world, Muslims believe this is God's word, so they give it their blessing. I’ll say it: you have to be a psychopath to do that. And whenever I speak up, people call me narrow-minded. It’s like I’m not allowed to call these acts sick without having to bring up the historical massacres committed by every single religion in history just to make my point. But that’s the reality—it is the official policy of certain Middle Eastern nations. Official policy. In those places, even trying to convert a Muslim can be treated as a criminal offense. Where are the global protests? Where are the massive demonstrations from the Muslim community around the world saying Saudi Arabia is wrong? Where are the voices saying, "This isn't actually Islam"? Nobody is stepping up to call these people psychopaths or labeling these punishments as insane. Honestly, if you’re stoning someone because you think a command from a thousand years ago still holds sway today, you’re a psychopath. At least in my book.

I’ll say it again. There are millions—hell, hundreds of millions—of Muslims out there who don't do that. They actually understand what the Quran represents. But honestly, they aren't even the main issue anymore. The real problem lies with the other HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of Muslims who take things literally. In places like parts of the Midwest, for instance, you see significant groups who believe every single word is literal divine command, even when it calls for stoning people. STONING. We need to stand behind the normal, moderate Muslims and give them the support they need to reform the religion from within. We’re never going to achieve that if we just pretend the problem doesn't exist.

What I’m trying to get at is that the reasons someone would go out and set off a bomb in a crowd of innocent people aren't simple. It’s never just one thing; there’s a whole chain of factors at play. I think we can all agree on that. But in my view, tucked right in the middle of all those reasons, you'll find religion. Honestly, I think the very things you see happening during these attacks make that point pretty clear.

The US is a perfect case study for how religious potential can evolve... I don't quite get why you're surprised by an example like this—it's a country of endless possibilities... 🤣

Michelle Doyle61 said:We’re really getting into whether Islamic teachings play a role in all of this. That’s the core of the debate—we're looking for the actual root cause. Now, I’m not saying this is the only factor at play. The world isn't that simple, and I know nobody here thinks it is. But I can't help but wonder if there’s a connection when you see someone shouting "Allahu Akbar" while they're causing chaos. Is there a link to the faith? In my view, beyond all the usual talking points about "evil Americans" or the systemic issues involving white people, there are other underlying causes we tend to ignore. We just don't talk about them because we're too afraid of being politically incorrect.

Here’s the situation. To be clear, Anthony Jackson2 didn't say that their belief in the Quran being the word of God was the cause. What he actually said was that their attacks weren't motivated by faith. He was arguing that there are plenty of other reasons behind this, none of which have anything to do with their religious convictions. Basically, religion just isn't one of them.

That’s exactly what I find so terrifying about the current state of things. We aren't allowed to call out bad ideas anymore if they happen to be tucked under the umbrella of faith. It’s become this untouchable shield. If someone actually believed that Florida shared a border with France, or that humans were born with three eyes, or that water wasn't made of hydrogen and oxygen—people would laugh. They’d demand actual evidence. If someone claimed two lions could somehow give birth to zebra cubs, you'd call it nonsense immediately. But when it's wrapped in religious conviction, the conversation changes entirely. You can't apply the same logic. We've lost the ability to demand proof for things that simply aren't true.

Religion is where that logic falls apart. Anyone can claim they believe in everything, and then we’re expected to just nod along. It’s become this repetitive mantra—that all religions are essentially the same. But I have to disagree. Take Jainism, for example. It’s one of the oldest faiths out there, built entirely on the foundation of meditation and absolute non-violence. You can’t exactly take their core teachings and twist them to justify aggression. Unless you’re lying through your teeth or losing your grip on reality, it’s just not possible. By those standards alone, Jainism stands as a superior faith compared to many others. We can draw these distinctions anywhere. Some belief systems hold much more progressive, modern views on certain issues, while remaining incredibly primitive regarding others. They aren't all cut from the same cloth.

What I'm trying to get at is that bombers have much more on their minds than just some malicious white guy pushing their buttons. It feels like we’re completely overlooking that part of the equation.

This right here is exactly what I mean. If you move from criticizing specific ideas within Islam to attacking its very foundations, it becomes nasty. It turns into an attack on people, and then you get that pathetic whining about how millions of people live peacefully.

Let's try a thought experiment. Imagine there were Catholic nations in the Middle East. Every single law was pulled straight from the Bible, other religions were banned, they shipped millions of Bibles across the globe, they had religious police, stoning, lashings, mutilations...

Now, let's say I live in Chicago and I call myself a Catholic. I go to church regularly and follow Biblical principles—though not necessarily to the letter. I take the parts about love to heart, but I recognize that some parts were written ages ago and don't really apply to the modern world. If I saw those things happening in those countries, I wouldn't claim to be a Catholic just because they are. I’d start my own reformed Catholic church to condemn those primitive laws. I would tell everyone that they are interpreting the Bible completely wrong.

But that doesn't happen with Muslims. Everyone condemns ISIS. But how many people actually condemn Saudi Arabia? Anyone who tries to reform Islam often faces execution or stoning. I'm telling you, the statistics are horrifying. There are massive groups of people who believe Sharia law is the divine mandate we must live by. There is a huge collection of outdated rules that make no sense in today's world, yet millions of people still cling to them literally. For them, the greatest honor is memorizing the Quran.

In America, there are very few people—if any—who take every single word of the Bible literally. Like the idea that God created the entire universe in seven days. But I fear there are far too many Muslims who take the Quran entirely literally.

I just wanted to point this out. I intentionally avoided talking about Christianity or the Bible here; I used other examples instead. I haven't once praised Christianity. We are discussing Islam and how much its teachings influence behavior. Yet, so many people immediately retreat into their shells, making jokes about the Crusades or historical genocides. Sure, we can talk about that, but it has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Let me be clear. I’m not out here representing Christianity, nor do I want to. I don't care much about what's written in the Bible; it isn't my moral compass, and I certainly don't view it as some divine blueprint for the universe. But when you look at the contrast—like Jesus being this sort of hippie preaching on a hillside versus Muhammad acting as a military commander—the difference seems pretty stark to me.

When I said the Bible wasn't a large book, I meant in terms of scale. And if I haven't read it cover-to-cover, I won't pretend I have. If you have, fair enough. There are beautiful passages in the Quran, truly. But there are also sections that point very clearly toward the path Muhammad took, and the path one must follow to reach paradise.

But hey, we agree on this: you called those practices insane, and that’s exactly what I’m saying. Those laws might have made sense a thousand years ago, but today, they are unacceptable. And while millions of Muslims likely feel the same way, the problem is the millions who don't—the ones who take these things literally. I fear that number is much larger than the group that rejects them. I base that on what I see in Middle Eastern nations and the perspectives expressed by Muslims living in Europe regarding the practices back home.

Just as we rejected those radical practices and moved beyond religious extremism, Muslims need to do the same. On that point, we are in total agreement.

I said what I said, and I'm fully aware of the implications, but I honestly think you're mistaken. Like I mentioned earlier, there's a fundamental difference between Jesus and Muhammad regarding how they perceive the world.

That being said, I'm intentionally stepping away from discussing Jesus right now to focus on much simpler examples. I'm bringing this up because people keep accusing me of glorifying Christianity. Look, we can talk about Christianity if you want. We really can. But right now, the conversation here is about Islam.

The Reformation of the Western Church was another massive powder keg—one that triggered an incredible amount of violence and death across the West... I suspect many Muslim clergy are well aware of this history, which is likely why they choose to let things play out as they are rather than interfering with the status quo.

James Anderson5 said:Why would I mix up apples and oranges? It’s obvious that all dissidents were under surveillance during the old era, but it's also clear that most extremism in history stems from economic instability, lack of education, and human rights violations—not religion. Religion is just there to give a psychopath some kind of justification for what they want to do...

Neither Buddhism, Islam, nor Christianity are inherently violent, yet you'll find followers of all those faiths who have done all sorts of terrible things throughout history...

In its best form, Islam simply enriched Western history and culture, from the Alhambra to the palaces of Sicily, contributing everything from science to literature; but in its worst form today, it poses a threat to physical security...

Simply because Busic wanted to sensitize the American public in a way that ultimately backfired on him. He expressed regret multiple times over the death of the American police officer and realized he had made a massive mess of things...
The man was a Slavic studies student—a major idealist (or rather, an activist) for the American cause—speaking out at a time when many wouldn't dare oppose the communist totalitarian regime. In the end, Busic attempts suicide because of these intense "patriots"... yes, those modern-day political caricatures we all mock on forums and the internet today...

And who is Breivik? That guy had mental instabilities from a young age—couldn't even finish school and spent his time after that engaging in all sorts of illegal nonsense just to get his hands on money. When that failed, he quickly identified his scapegoats in the form of Muslims and Marxists who supposedly were destroying Norway. This schizophrenic individual consciously crafts a plan to murder his ideological enemies, designing it so perversely that he kills as many innocent young people as possible without mercy...
He never repented for his actions; instead, he plays the part of some unrepentant intellectual in his cell...

So, you've unconsciously placed two completely different personalities and two entirely different scenarios into the same context. Regarding religion, I agree—people in general are losing their sense of reason, and they easily succumb to prejudice out of laziness instead of actively resolving misunderstandings...

James Anderson5 said:I think it's less about discipline and more about the sheer desperation at the core of everything. Over the last century, the West has been tearing the Middle East apart, whether through direct military force or intelligence games. On top of that, you have incredibly violent and inhumane policies being pushed against Palestine. When people feel like there's no other way to change their reality—and they truly don't see one—they become willing to sacrifice everything...

And before we start blaming Islam itself for every explosion, let's remember why certain domestic terrorists were arrested—like those who planted bombs in the New York subway system just to cause chaos because they felt powerless to fix the political situation back home. This recent group operating over in France is really just a mix of those types of radicalized individuals...

I also fully agree with what Jessica Gonzalez said: France occupied Algeria for 132 years, and during the war for independence, between 500,000 and 1.8 million Algerians lost their lives, mostly civilians. We know all about the foreign interference in the Middle East and who's pulling the strings behind these wars. In places like Libya, the French definitely had their hands deep in the mix. It's clear that some of these actions are bound to come back like a boomerang...

I agree that Bušić committed a terrorist act out of desperation. But it's common knowledge that the old regime used to send roses and sing love songs to any dissident emigrants... you're comparing apples to oranges here.

boldfox88 said:The fundamental flaw in the argument that jihadists have nothing to do with Islam is that these fanatics actually find their core ideologies rooted in Islamic teachings and the Quran. Could a movement defined by such madness and bloodshed sustain itself for decades based solely on the doctrines of other faiths? I don't think so. While history shows wars and atrocities committed in the name of Christianity, those were typically driven by established nation-states pursuing tangible material interests, where the cross served merely as a unifying symbol for their ambitions.

On the flip side, the claim that Islam itself is an inherently dangerous religion ignores the reality that there are over a billion Muslims globally, yet the instability is concentrated in one specific region. This area is deeply traumatized—not just by extremist factions, but historically by the actions of Western, developed nations. Take France, for example. Throughout the last century, they imported thousands of workers from North Africa, benefiting from cheap labor while maintaining a clear conscience because conditions were ostensibly better than the desperation found back home. And things were better—until those individuals began forming families and raising children. Living on meager wages far below the French standard of living, they could offer their kids nothing more than life in the Parisian suburbs and street culture. Being culturally, racially, religiously, and socially isolated from the rest of the country, these alienated youths never had a fair shot at a normal upbringing or education. In such a volatile environment, even a tiny drop of extreme Islamist doctrine is enough to turn people into weapons.

Ultimately, Muslims must confront the fact that certain interpretations within their faith allow for the kind of radicalization that fuels modern evil. Simultaneously, the West must accept its share of historical and contemporary responsibility for the current state of affairs in Africa and the Middle East. Further division, finger-pointing, border closures, and extreme policies will only serve to make the situation worse. Islam acts as the vehicle through which terrorists are radicalized, but it isn't the root cause of their existence. The cause runs much deeper.

By the way, has the individual identified by the passport actually been confirmed as the attacker, or was the passport simply found at the scene without proving that the owner was actually present?

Word is they have a fingerprint from the suspect that links them to that passport...

Alex Brown50 said:Maybe dig a little deeper into history—and while you're at it, check out how Islam actually started. 😉

The mental virus currently running through the Islamic world is basically just a mutation of something that’s been baked into Western civilization for ages—honestly, our past is even more brutal. It just got more sophisticated over time instead of disappearing.

Take the American elite, for example—they aren't just greedy when they export terror globally; there's this deep-seated religious fundamentalism woven right into them.

Look, I’m not defending fundamentalists—keep them far away from me—but I highly doubt closing borders is going to fix anything long-term. It's not like the rest of the world is just going to stop existing on the other side of the fence. It'll resurface eventually, and probably looking way uglier than before.

Closing the borders is a textbook political move. There is always a way through—even back during the Cold War under those old regimes... regardless of who was in charge.
Take, for instance, how people managed to work under the table in Europe for years and slip back home without a hitch... if that's what we're talking about... then 🙏 it's always been this way, and it always will be.

Robin Fox2 said:but this is actually quite hilarious 🤣

just two pages detailing how terrorists are flying in first class, and then, an hour later, we get news that one slipped in with the refugee groups 🤣

and that’s the truly unsettling part, arriving with the refugees, arriving in first class, already inside the country and settled in for the night, leaving absolutely nothing to chance...

Yeah, these terrorist masterminds have clearly orchestrated this entire refugee wave specifically to infiltrate the West 🙏🤦

France and other countries are already getting stuck with the bill for these "integration" policies. These losers from European society pretend to be weekend terrorists who travel to Syria for vacation without a hitch—all while Western nations debate whether they should even revoke their French or German citizenship. 👏

Anthony Jackson2 said:Look, after the presidential election, they didn't have anything left to go after there—that's just how it is. It's not like the Republicans were the only option on the ballot; they could've gone with any third party or whoever else. But instead, they stuck with the GOP and local machine politicians 🤦

On another note, I have to say I’m pretty satisfied with how Željka Markić performed in the elections. Hopefully, she’ll just fade back into the margins and stay out of the spotlight now.

Let's be realistic—the GOP and figures like Bandić are the ones most deeply embedded in that overseas community. Those two options are always present there, actively engaging with that demographic. That simple kind of grassroots promotion always pays off for them, yielding almost phenomenal results in every election cycle. It's how the GOP and similar groups managed to build their voter base among Americans living abroad—even if they were heavily skimming funds back during the war when aid was being sent to the homeland...

And what are the other parties doing? Nothing. They just complain about a disconnected diaspora, trying to use that as a way to camouflage their own incompetence. These parties aren't even capable of presenting themselves to that voting district, let alone organizing a single campaign rally outside the States, much less actually leading a nation 😁

It’s good to see both the GOP and the Democrats struggling. There's no point in celebrating too early, but perhaps our political culture has finally shifted away from a complete standstill...

mellowotter36 said:Of course nobody voted for the Democrats when they didn't even bother to show up out there.

I'm glad someone finally pointed this out 👍

Patrick Martin said:Tax digitalization and the IRS?
Man, everyone knows how that famous little partnership between Linice and Zoran ended up playing out.
We all know how they basically gave a free pass to all those tax "specialists."

You can't have a Prime Minister in the middle of a national crisis acting all phlegmatic and indifferent, saying stuff like:
"Hey folks, please pay your taxes, this is your country." There’s no room for that kind of "please and thank you" begging or letting people choose whether or not they feel like paying.
It’s their job to step in, enforce the rules, and collect that money consistently because that’s how the country stays afloat.
But what are we seeing today? They’re still acting like they couldn't care less,
even though they hold every single lever and tool needed to make it happen.
Basically, whenever there’s an opening or a moment where they really need to crack down (which is literally their primary job), they just pull their punches.

They let the private guys who cruise around on yachts in the Hamptons pretend they can't afford to keep their businesses running.

They just need to get significantly better at doing the most basic, fundamental part of their actual job.

Why does Germany work?

Because everything gets paid instantly, and nobody gets special treatment. ☕



rotation

Personally, I think that’s a myth. In every nation, capital reigns supreme, and it sustains itself through its own unique mechanisms. More money inevitably leads to higher spending—much like a drug driving you further along. Today, we simply call that a "standard of living."

In America, success in market competition and the accumulation of massive capital means everything. Following that (sort of Protestant) mentality, they view themselves as the "chosen ones," possessing the privilege of a high-quality life, and they will do whatever it takes to stay on that throne. It’s them first—everyone else comes later. That’s why they often speak condescendingly about "First World problems"; these recent scandals aren't surprising at all. They do what they can because they have the power to do so.

Germany has a critical mass of people, but they also possess a similar spirit to Americans. However, they are more pragmatic; they learned during the industrial era exactly what it feels like to be exploited. A wealthy German would rather move to another country and register residency there for better tax rates than risk committing fraud in their own homeland. If they do decide to cheat their country, they likely have deep-seated connections ready to clear the path for their exit.

The situation in Greece was similar. When the crisis hit, the Greek elite moved their capital abroad just to ensure its survival. If anyone there actually paid taxes, they were paying the bare minimum or maneuvering around the law however they could. Ultimately, some individuals can blackmail their own nation in various ways—for instance, by closing ports and moving terminals to London or any other country offering better business terms.

Various places like Liechtenstein or Switzerland found their golden goose in the banking sector, and for many years, they were allowed to operate globally however they pleased. Regardless of morality, they dealt with everyone and anyone, which made it easy to transform their agrarian nations into some of the wealthiest in the world.

I won't say too much about the Russians. The interesting question would be what would even remain of Russia today if they hadn't distributed those massive resources among their political players during privatization.

Nowadays, our American elite collaborates with everyone when money is on the line, while ordinary or so-called "little people" won't even help each other out with the smallest thing. Some embed themselves in corruption and luxury yachts, while others abandon their homes just searching for a normal life.

mellowscout24 said:The foreign debt is irrelevant if you're actually paying it off. One of the big Republican spins is blaming the Democrats for the spike in foreign debt, all while they were hiding the domestic debt like a snake in the grass—and it's that domestic debt that’s completely strangling the economy. Back in the nineties, you’d be waiting like 250 days just to get paid by ExxonMobil for work you already did. What little Ivica managed to do was actually fix that; in his first year, they paid down nearly 50% of the domestic debt that Harmon's Republicans had racked up. Taking on foreign loans jumpstarted an economy that was in a total freefall. But with the later measures taken by the Democratic government, Sanders's Republicans just got rich by destroying everything all over again.

Well, look—during and after the war, the priority should have been finding a bank willing to step into a devastated, hopeless America—a country half of Europe has barely heard of, where your guarantee for recovering invested funds is basically zero. Now you have various Sanaders, and even Linice, who were desperate enough to try and drag in some European bank.
Of course, they eventually managed to bring in Hypo, which is now known throughout Europe as the so-called"bad bank." It's a double-edged sword. You have a population on the brink of starvation with no money, and the devil reaches out a hand to save you—but both sides love their under-the-table cash...

bluebison10 said:It isn't about being obsessed with the Pope's stances; it's about actually living by them if you claim to care. In America, you have a huge Catholic population, yet hardly 20% actually live by the dogma—not even the clergy themselves. It’s not that people *can't* follow the rules; it's just that the most self-proclaimed Catholics are often those who've had affairs, had kids out of wedlock, or dodge their taxes while simultaneously expecting the government to foot the bill for "free" healthcare, education, and elder care.

To me, a true American patriot was someone like a martyr from the mid-century era. He could have moved to the Vatican whenever he pleased, but he stayed to work and live his life, even when facing intense political persecution. He knew what was coming, likely, but the man held his ground and trusted in God, regardless of the grim end he met. Now, look at the American elite. You could say the same for much of the general population: they swap their principles and beliefs whenever it's more convenient to protect their inner circle or the real estate they acquired through questionable means.

Politics and the Church are inseparable here—just like it is with our neighbors in Mexico. The reality is that certain political movements would never achieve this kind of "success" without solid political backing and a specific circle of "clergy" surrounding them.

Then these ultra-traditionalists act shocked when a leader like Pope Francis comes along and calls everyone back to the roots.

It isn’t a bad thing if someone drops a prediction right in the middle of a thread for a specific game—especially when it includes interesting details like what we've seen here... I mean, yes, I am curious about the odds for certain matchups 🙄
But starting an entirely new betting thread just for that 🤷
I think it would be much cleaner for those who don't follow everything closely or just prefer reading a specific discussion topic.