Posts by Austin Gonzalez13

Adam Collins4 said:Look, if your employer is the government—and let's be real, they don't pay you on time, they drag their feet for months, effectively creating your own liquidity crisis in the process—then yeah, absolutely...

Especially since they play by a completely different set of rules when it comes to taxes—meaning, the second they want their cut, they're suddenly very efficient...

But, thank God, I had enough sense to ensure about 85% of my business is done with international clients...

So you just love our exchange rate policy, don't you? It’s just great when you're already starting out 15% more expensive because of the currency fluctuations.

Lisa Gray94 said:..but do you honestly believe the government is to blame to such an extent that your boss can't handle rising overhead or variable costs, dropping demand, a surplus of labor, or a total lack of market liquidity? 🤷

Look, the government is the primary—the absolute MAIN—driver of market illiquidity!!!

granitemarlin77 said:Nothing changes here. Like I said before—America was picked clean by individuals using every single political faction active on the scene over the last 20 years. Whether it’s more or less, it’s all just semantics. Everyone took a cut, even when they weren't in office but sitting in the opposition—think of an DNC member like Milan Bandić and those types of "characters."
So, it's pretty simple: everyone carries the blame, including the average voters—because they're the ones who gave these political groups their legitimacy in the first place.☕

Oh, it absolutely changes things—look, one thief among a hundred honest people is just an exception that proves the rule... and by that same logic, one honest soul among a hundred thieves is also just an exception that proves the rule. ☕

The truth is, we didn't even acknowledge there was a crisis happening, let alone bother to actually prepare for one.
Our economy is getting hit harder and harder—it’s shaking us to the core—while everywhere else, the recovery is already gaining momentum. It just goes to show that the economic policies over the last twenty years have been fundamentally broken; our entire system has been gutted, which means you can't just play defense and expect to bounce back from a recession. You can't just patch up a sinking ship. And the second thing is, we didn't even try to build any kind of buffer against the crash... though I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, since everyone seemed too busy coasting while everything was clearly heading straight down the drain.

briskbison55 said:Good grief... :-) okay, fine, I'm just going to ignore you from now on.

Can't handle a solid argument, I guess. Typical. ☕

Lisa Gray94 said:vegi
Look, don't get mad at me, but why am I even bothering to argue with you when you're just out here taking swings at the Republican Party? What's the point? It's like people didn't realize they were basically voting to keep the Democratic Party in power for all this time.
I mean, honestly, do you really think Timothy Geithner wasn't dirty? And then you've got Eric Adams, who was actually doing alright for a while until he started biting everyone's hand.

I’m attacking whoever has been steering us down the wrong path 90% of the time... if it had been the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, or the Reform Party, I’d be coming for them too... but we all know who has been in charge for so long, and who is still pulling the strings today.

And of course, people didn't see the Coalition coming—the Republican Party won that election legitimately... so fine, let people live with their choices if that's what they want... every nation gets the government it deserves.
It seems we clearly deserve a Prime Minister who has to run for cover, and ministers who get exposed every single day for stealing everything they can get their hands on.

briskbison55 said:haha, man, come on, get real. America hasn't seen this kind of debt levels until what the current administration has pulled off.

There it is again—that tired old cliché that just doesn't hold water. Foreign debt and national debt aren't even the same thing... honestly, maybe stick to topics you actually understand, because this clearly isn't your lane. External debt is driven by citizens (well, in our case), whereas the actual state debt is the responsibility of the President.

briskbison55 said:Honestly, that’s just nonsense. I mean, in the UK, hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs and entire companies went belly up, but here? We haven't seen anything on that scale at all. And now you're trying to sell me this political demagoguery. Look, as we discussed before regarding this topic, the experts don't agree with the silly points you're making. Even the major analysts aren't buying it. My god, who are you even listening to? :-)

Quincy:

That's true, back when the Financial Times was the main thing, the European Union was nothing more than a pipe dream... let alone opening up chapters... it was pure science fiction...

I guess if things had gone differently—like if certain leaders hadn't been sidelined by illness—we might have been in the European Union already. The neighbors wouldn't have said a word, and all those wet, delusional fantasies from random losers would have stayed just that: fantasies.

Quincy:

I'm just mocking the logic where they constantly try to blackmail us with stuff related to Desert Storm, yet when it comes to joining the European Union... it's almost funny where that logic was before the signing of the Declaration... back then, weren't we told there was no European Union without signing it?

Maybe the political party you worship so much can answer all of this once you guys finally stop being so blinded by red tape and emotion.

Quincy:

And if memory serves, during the Financial Times era, an agreement was signed with The Hague, and generals were being extradited... so much for the idea that the defense war wasn't being called into question...

Just ask the former President what he actually signed. Just that. Then maybe you can come back and laugh about it if you still find it funny.

If he were actually alive today, he’d be sitting in a cell in The Hague. It’s common knowledge they were already putting an indictment together for him. ☕

Adam Collins4 said:No, I'm blaming them for being totally unprepared and just ignoring the global crisis even when it was already hitting the US hard...

And who's to blame for that? Just remember those ten anti-recession measures that they failed to implement—not a single one went through. So there you have it...

True, back when the Financial Times was the main story, the European Union was nothing more than a pipe dream... let alone opening up negotiation chapters... pure science fiction...

I'm just mocking the logic where they constantly try to blackmail us using the Storm—and as for joining the European Union... it's hilarious where that logic was before the Declaration was signed... we weren't being blackmailed then by saying no signature means no EU, right?

And if anyone remembers, during the Financial Times era, the cooperation agreement with The Hague was signed and generals were actually being extradited... so much for the idea that the defense of the country was never called into question...

Of course they are, but let's not go breaking any nationalist dogmas here.

briskbison55 said:I cut out all the nonsense from the original post—just answer why the Democrats and the rest of the coalition didn't do a single thing to change the situation during their four-year term.

They actually did plenty, it’s just that you either can’t see it or you refuse to, mostly because you’re leaning too hard on slogans instead of actual facts.
We’ve seen a massive drop in liquidity issues, the budget burden and the deficit have been trimmed down, state bureaucracy has been cut back, and they really tried to stop those political leeches from draining the treasury... but then you had those radical agitators out protesting on the boardwalks—the same ones who now probably have to hide out on some yacht in the middle of the ocean just to avoid getting picked up by the authorities.

briskbison55 said:I mean, I don't think any administration since the 90s is actually to blame for the fact that we aren't producing anything or exporting much—it's more like we just encourage imports and grow stuff nobody even wants. That's really the point I was trying to make before... I guess it's not really the state's job to micromanage and develop everything. Once the legislature sets the rules, it's all on the entrepreneurs, right? I mean, why else do you think the top 200 families basically run both American domestic and foreign policy? And then we just sit here and laugh whenever someone tries to call it out, instead of relying on those old-school relics from previous regimes to somehow "save" us.

Exactly—it’s the fault of every single administration from the 90s up until today... though I'd say the ones right after the 90s bear the brunt of it, because that was when they built this whole system designed specifically to fuel imports... I mean, let's talk about exchange rates for a second, shall we?!

Lisa Gray94 said:Who exactly sold out America? I mean, seriously, do you actually have names or legally binding court rulings to back that up? No? Then why don't we just throw everyone else into this massive fire sale—the judges, the cops, the ambassadors, and all of us who sat there watching the whole thing go down while doing absolutely nothing.

How can you honestly think we didn't do anything?!! We gave people like that legitimacy through our own votes... the Republican Party, which built this entire system and ran it for 16 years, keeps getting elected legally and legitimately.

We, the people, chose this path—so I guess we deserve it.
For some folks, "America first" is all that matters. That’s the bottom line. The fact that we're staring down bankruptcy, or that 130 people lose their jobs every single day, doesn't seem to matter as long as we still "have America."

As long as the people obsessed with national pride don't die off—and until leaders emerge who care more about the *quality* of the country than just the mere fact that it exists—we're going to stay stuck in this mess we're in right now.

Look, Marshall was the president for everyone, including the people from Canada, so why aren't they filled with corrupt tycoons and cronies like the ones we blame on him?!!

The Republican Party has done way more damage to the US than Marshall, who died 30 years ago, ever did!

Of course, they'll try to protect their positions and keep everyone brainwashed by inventing some arch-enemy they need to "save" us from using those hyper-patriots... it's the classic move: one hand on your heart, the other deep in my pocket.

briskbison55 said:Well, if that's the case, then I guess we really don't have anything to talk about. I mean, almost all our issues today are tied back to that old era and the mess it left behind in our current political landscape.

That’s just not right—the real issue is that these leftovers actually get support from the public and climb their way into power... mainly because people just fold to that whole hyper-patriotism nonsense, where half those guys basically had an FBI handler back in the day.
And then you have these ultra-nationalists winning elections simply because everyone is terrified of the old communists again?!!?!!

briskbison55 said:I mean, honestly, Americans have never had it better or lived more comfortably than they do right now. Seriously. Anyone trying to argue otherwise is just being loud and ignorant, I guess. Like, look at the grocery stores—there's more variety than ever, and there are options for every budget at every turn. You remember, Austin Gonzalez13, back when you couldn't even get a basic loan from the bank? Yeah, well, I definitely remember.

Well, look, maybe things are great for you personally, but I highly doubt most people would agree with you, briskbison55.

I mean, if you could trade all those fancy supermarket aisles for a guaranteed, free house, I bet everyone would take that deal in a heartbeat. Sure, salaries might be higher today, but does that actually mean our purchasing power is any better? I'm not so sure...

America fell apart when I was about twelve, and honestly, I don't remember much about how life felt back then—not that I care one bit about the old days of America.

What I care about is what's happening right now. It really turns my stomach to see people in their 40s and 50s still clinging to the past—fighting these imaginary battles and nursing childhood complexes instead of moving on. Honestly, until that entire generation finally passes on, America won't be able to truly move forward.

Sandra Harris2 said:And how exactly did that hurt you? Are you under investigation or something?

And who started the rumors and carried them out to make it seem like America only needed to care about those 200 wealthy families while everyone else was just small fry?

It’s pretty obvious, really—it’s those people who constantly talked about how much they loved this country, yet they never hesitated to hollow it out and leave it completely broke. We all know exactly who they are. And then, to top it all off, they have the nerve to mock the "common folk" who put them in power in the first place.

briskbison55 said:I guess I should probably start by saying... well, let me think. It’s hard to put into words sometimes, you know? But anyway, I was just sitting here thinking about everything that's been going on lately. It feels like things are constantly shifting, and honestly, I'm not always sure where we stand. Maybe I'm overthinking it, or maybe everyone else is just missing the point? I don't know. It’s just one of those things where you feel like you need to say something, even if it's just a little bit of a rambling thought. I really mean it, though. I truly do.

What can I even say... honestly, looking at the posts below, you actually called it. You were totally right ;-)

Honestly, I’m just feeling so angry right now. I feel cheated, honestly... just kind of stuck and powerless. It’s hard not to look around at all the businesses nearby and feel that way. I see people lined up outside the hospital—my people, I guess. Everything is just frozen. Everyone is just standing there, waiting. Debts are piling up left and field, and nothing is actually happening. If I started telling you all about which specific companies have already sent their employees home to sit around and wait, I think you'd all be pretty shocked. And we aren't even talking about some fly-by-night startups here. These are serious, established corporations that have been operating successfully for over twenty years. It's just... it's a lot. I guess everything is just stalled.
Coma. Just... coma. And nothing else. I mean, that’s really all there is to it, I guess.

The world really took off after WWII, you know? It just kept developing, modernizing, and constantly getting better... but we? We were stuck in this cycle of constant setbacks and that old regime, just watching all those dictators in their fancy white suits travel around like they owned the place. I mean, everything you’re seeing right now—all the stuff you listed—it’s all just a direct consequence of that era and all those politicians who came from it. It feels like we’ve been frozen in time, maybe stuck at the level where parts of the Midwest were back in the early '80s. And then there's this mindset... people just sit around expecting the government to swoop in and fix every single thing, but they don't seem to realize that's not how it works within the system we actually chose for ourselves. I guess it's just complicated.

It didn't just stop in the 80s when that first guy in the white suit passed away... we had our own version of that during the 90s too. And now, in this new century, it’s not even about the suits anymore—it’s about the watches. And honestly? It isn't some flaw in the system itself. It's just people. People who always end up crowding into whatever structure exists and then successfully lead their little "flock" along, regardless of what the current "system" happens to be.

granitemarlin77 said:America's been picked clean by individuals backed by EVERY SINGLE political party on the map over the last two decades—no exceptions. To me, there’s zero difference between the ones actually grabbing the cash and the ones holding the bag or the ladder.
I guess it’s just the curse of any nation going through a massive transition, especially those hit hard by war. It’s always the same old story: one man's war is another man's payday. Honestly? It’ll probably stay this way as long as humans exist. It’s just part of our messed-up nature...☕

Look, a thief is a thief, sure, but we can't just pretend everyone shares the exact same level of blame here... parties that have never even held power are obviously less responsible than the one that sat in the driver's seat for sixteen years. It’s not the same thing to say one guy from party X stole something versus a thousand people from party Y—that doesn't mean party X and party Y are equally guilty.🙂🙂

briskbison55 said:Look, it's pretty obvious you're just a kid, if I don't say something else. There are literally endless threads here about jurisdiction over Operation Storm and Flash, the International Criminal Court, the whole dynamic between the prosecution and the defense... so just go read them. I honestly can't be bothered with you; you aren't being funny or smart.

What seems "obvious" to one person is an absolute mystery to someone else, I guess. 😉

Everything about this is actually quite clear if you think about it—jurisdiction is a settled matter regardless of which administration is in power. Honestly, if George W. Bush had won the election back in 2000, we’d be staring at the exact same situation. And don't even get me started on how nonsensical it is to have a court that only targets specific actions... I mean, how do you think the European Union would ever tolerate that? Besides, if nothing illegal actually happened, then let them investigate until they're blue in the face... but if there *were* dirty dealings, we should have handled that ourselves a long time ago instead of waiting on the International Criminal Court to step in.

And besides, who was even asking for the International Criminal Court to be established in the first place? If I recall correctly, America was one of the founding nations.

briskbison55 said:Believe whatever makes you feel better, honestly. The ICC wouldn't have even breathed a word about those defense actions if the coalition back then—working alongside the President—hadn't actually cooperated and signed off on everything they asked for. Back in '97, the previous administration basically stonewalled them and refused to sign anything. But hey, who cares, right? It seems like Americans have a memory span of maybe a few weeks, if we're being lucky.

Yeah, right. They wouldn't have pulled off those actions regardless—I mean, how incredibly naive can one statement actually be??😂😂🤣🤣😂😂

Scott Cox28 said:You know what I'm actually sorry about? It's the fact that roughly 30% of the morons among us force the rest of us to live off the scraps left by the Democratic Party in Washington, D.C. And the sad part is, those losers actually think they're some kind of intellectual elite just because they can read a two-syllable word without breaking a sweat.

Look, if you're so against how the Republican Party handles things in D.C., then go ahead and join them—that way you won't have to deal with those 30% of idiots anymore.👍
It’s always easy to talk trash from the sidelines... why don't you actually do something about it?