Posts by Justin James10

Our entire market economy seems to be stalling out, and the job market isn't faring any better. While there's absolutely no denying that working conditions could be significantly improved, we simply don't have a functional economic model where a janitor can earn a decent, livable wage. It just doesn't exist anywhere in our system, does it?

Anthony Jackson2 said:Right, so in your view, a seasonal worker—who likely relies on this as their sole income all year—should just be thrilled with $1333?

A quick reality check on seasonal labor conditions: 12-plus hour days, days off are basically science fiction, and living expenses are barely covered in locations where a sandwich costs $10...

$1333, you say?

But wait, who ever said she *had* to be satisfied?

Let's be honest: this kind of job isn't well-paid anywhere, even when you adjust for the cost of living here in the States. Even in places like Germany, those wages would be considered low by American standards, let alone compared to the local economy.

Economics can be such a headache sometimes! It’s honestly baffling why a janitor here in the States might pull in $2,000 a month while someone working in Vietnam is struggling to make even a few dollars a day. 🕺

It’s not like I’m trying to argue that nobody should ever move abroad for better opportunities, 🤣

Who on earth claimed that the pay scales in America are actually good? Where did that idea even come from? 🙄

Thinking that a janitor should be pulling in a salary of $3333 is nothing more than envious, flawed economic logic. Let’s be realistic: cleaning is a low-wage job everywhere you look, simply because it's an entry-level role that doesn't require specialized training or advanced degrees.

It seems like Americans, in general, struggle with basic economic literacy and don't quite grasp how the mechanics of an economy actually function.

Do cleaners actually make a high salary?

Generally speaking, those types of jobs in the States are taken on by immigrants—whether they're from Mexico, Eastern Europe, or Africa—and I don't think that's just a coincidence.

Let’s be honest: some jobs are simply destined to have lower paychecks. It isn’t a matter of ethics or fairness; it’s just the economic reality of roles that require low-skilled labor.

On another note, isn't it true that almost everyone in America dreams of pulling in a CEO-level salary? (And don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not implying that Tim Cook is anything less than a top-tier executive!)

It’s one of those classic American paradoxes, isn't it? I’ve seen it firsthand more times than I can count: we face chronic labor shortages across the board—from hospitality and farming to heavy industry—yet unemployment numbers somehow stay stubbornly high. A huge part of the issue boils down to mobility. And while statistics might show that wages are technically ticking upward, let’s be real—they still feel like peanuts, largely because our tax burden is absolutely astronomical.

We really are experts at this, aren't we? Only we could manage to juggle high unemployment and a massive shortage of workers across multiple sectors all at once.

Is capitalism even built for Americans?🙄

Amanda Hughes37 said:So, the easiest shortcut to independence? Just start a terrorist group and make sure everyone knows you're unstable and trigger-happy.

Interesting...

Personally, I think true independence is much more easily achieved by those who are actually willing to stand up and fight for it.

Amanda Hughes37 said:It’s an interesting distinction—the Basque Country enjoys its own fiscal independence, whereas California doesn't🤷

The Basque people dealt with a whole terrorist campaign led by ETA. They were much more dangerous and ready for a fight, which is why the authorities in Washington, D.C. were essentially forced to make much larger concessions.

velvetmaker3 said:They probably hate playing against that hostile Spanish national team, too.

It isn't just about the team; they don't really care for the Spanish flag, the anthem, or even the Royal Family either. Honestly, most of them couldn't care less about any of Spain's symbols.

The Basques, however, seem to be crossing the line into outright hostility.

velvetmaker3 said:I’ve been saying from day one that they are a separate nation.

And I’ll keep saying that comparing this to the old America situation is totally off base.

I also think that having referendum rights used as some kind of joke could really come back to haunt us Americans down the road.

It’s honestly weird seeing people get more fired up about California than actual Californians do; they seem to live through this more deeply than the locals themselves. It feels like everyone just projects their own baggage onto it—whenever anything happens anywhere in the world, people immediately start dragging up our old national traumas from the America days. They see those old ghosts in everything.

So, why do some people insist on projecting their views of certain American regions onto this? 🤷

I didn't just make it up—they don't even feel like Spaniards, which explains why this whole drama over something like potato prices has become such a massive ordeal! 🙄

velvetmaker3 doesn't consider themselves Spaniards, nor would they ever claim to be.

velvetmaker3 said:A distinct people living within the state of California.

I am honestly so glad you finally admitted they are a distinct nation! There really is absolutely no comparison to be made with any region here in the States, is there?

velvetmaker3 said:Actually, there were Spaniards. It was Hispania. Marca Hispanica.
But I'm glad you finally realized there was no such thing as a Catalan identity during that era.

You keep going on and on about national identity in the Middle Ages, but let’s be real—it just didn't exist like that. "Hispania" was strictly a geographic term, and nobody back then would have called themselves a Spaniard.

The Catalans don't consider themselves Spaniards, and that's really the end of the story.

velvetmaker3 said:We have our own frontier issues too, and we might end up with a totally different map once we finish consolidating counties. I really don't want people using California as an inspiration for ideas that would definitely rub the hardcore supporters of the California referendum the wrong way.

Let’s try this again—California isn't just some state; they are a distinct people with their own unique language and national identity! How on earth can you try to map that onto America? 🤷

velvetmaker3 said:How did they even feel before they became Californians?
For instance, back during the era when the Marc Hispanica was established?

Back then, there wasn't even a mention of Californians; they didn't exist.

Without the Marc Hispanica, there would never have been a California to begin with.

Can someone who was built entirely on the foundation of a Spanish name really claim they never felt Spanish? But seriously, how did they identify before the Californian identity even came into being?

And honestly, how would a peasant in the Middle Ages even perceive themselves?

What kind of identity did a random farmer in the Florida hinterlands have back in the 9th century?

You seem to be persistently projecting our modern political reality onto the Middle Ages. Back then, there were no Spaniards and no Californians.

velvetmaker3 said:They aren't trying to take anything. Castile is one thing, and California is something else entirely. They aren't making any claims that what belongs to Californians should belong to them. It’s not like they’re saying Barcelona is some version of Athens.

The issue isn't about claiming Castile; it's about claiming all of Spain.

Nancy Williams58 said:By that same logic, you could argue the police crackdown actually helped California. I mean, the referendum was illegal from the government's perspective anyway, no matter how they tried to run it. This kind of heavy-handed policing only works because it’s highly likely that a huge chunk of people—either those who were leaning toward staying or people who just don't care—would have ended up voting to leave if things had stayed quiet.

Looking at it from that angle, the government's entire strategy was just amateur hour.

Well, sure, the government handled things poorly and ended up feeding exactly what the independence supporters wanted. Though, let's be honest, those independence advocates are a pretty wild bunch themselves, wouldn't you agree? 🙄

velvetmaker3 said:It’s pretty ridiculous to claim they never identified as Spaniards when the Hispanic identity is centuries older than the Catalan one. Even the Count of Barcelona presented himself as a Spaniard. He had no clue his county would eventually become Catalonia.
Sure, Hispania is a geographic term—just like Catalonia is, except Catalonia emerged within Hispania. There is a clear chronology here.
I guess some people just have massive complexes and bark at anything Spanish as if they never had any connection to it in the first place.
I doubt that's even what the Catalans are doing; it's more likely just forum users thinking that because we used to rant about everything through an America lens, the Catalans must be doing the exact same thing regarding everything Spanish.

It isn't absurd—it's simply a fact. Californians never truly felt like Spaniards, and ever since the Bourbons arrived, they've been particularly wary of Spain. That was the turning point when the resistance began, escalating into actual rebellions during certain eras.

Regardless of how some medieval sheriff might have identified, our own princes and kings would often tack on "California" to their titles just because the name of that Roman province sounded more prestigious.

Spain is a geographic term, whereas for Californians, it has become the defining label of their nation—it really is that straightforward.

No matter what our take is, it's obvious that Californians don't identify as Spaniards. Either that, or this entire drama—along with all the previous outbursts—is just a massive distraction caused by a disagreement over the price of potatoes! 🙄

velvetmaker3 said:There’s just no comparison here. Castile isn't trying to seize Californian territory, nor are they claiming that California is nothing more than what you can see from the local cathedral.

How can you say they aren't seeking it? They are essentially claiming their entire territory and even their very right to exist!

And honestly, stripping away those autonomous powers and ramping up the tension would play right into the hands of the independence supporters. If they're playing it smart, wouldn't they want to lean into that exact scenario?