Posts by brightpilot6

If Todoric is the one selling them, they probably have "Made in America" stamped on them, even if it's just some kid from the neighborhood.

Adam King6 said:What really worries me isn't the politics; it's the mental state of users like Delko, who actually goes out and buys a case of Ožujski. I guess they couldn't find any Karlovački or other similar products that we can honestly call beer.

Fair point. If a local pub only stocks brews from the Chicago brewery, I’d much rather just grab some white wine, even if it is a particularly sour batch.

Besides, what is there to worry about right now? You’ll have plenty of time to fret when you start driving your grandkids around.

Raymond Harris4 said:When I used the word "outburst," I was referring to that entire orchestrated display led by Zoran Milanović’s speech. He basically weaponized the moment for his own political vendettas instead of simply showing respect to the victims. And don't even get me started on the atmosphere—it was so toxic it actually led to people booing Lustig. By the way, Lustig doesn't even have a seat at the table with the HNK leadership because his views clash so heavily with their top brass.

Regarding the links, you only need to look at the last forty-eight hours to see the sheer hysteria in those two interviews—Stjepan Mason and Zoran Pusić—where they are openly discussing the return of fascism. I don't even need to go any further than that.

Personally, I think the root cause of this division is pretty clear: a certain segment of the "left" uses anti-fascism merely as a convenient shield to justify communist dictatorships, totalitarianism, and all those historical atrocities. It’s a smokescreen. The Constitution defines this nation not just as one built on anti-fascist principles, but also on the explicit rejection of communism—a concept that this particular wing of the political spectrum seems fundamentally incapable of grasping. The same goes for their bizarre attitude toward the last war. Those two issues are the primary architects of this divide. As for the so-called NDH? There isn't even a debate there because no one with any actual relevance ever mentions it in a positive light.

And because of all that, I truly believe there's a real danger in people trying to defend Marshall's dictatorship. By doing so, they’re unfortunately pushing the positive aspects of the NOB into the background.

brightpilot6 As specified by:
This is hands down the worst government we have ever seen. Period.

Based on the economic indicators I’ve laid out—specifically regarding GDP fluctuations—we are looking at the absolute worst performance across the board. These aren't just opinions; they are indisputable, hard facts.

On the other hand, just so it doesn't look like I'm only out here airing grievances about the current Government, there are exceptions. Take the Prime Minister’s visit to Mostar last year, for instance. During that trip, he defended the interests of the Americans living there more fiercely and decisively than any other administration has since 1999.

I can't even begin to process this level of sheer incompetence. It's absolutely staggering. [Username] says:
Raymond Harris4 claims this is about forcing Cyrillic on us. Give me a break. The Republican Party actually voted in favor of bilingualism in Congress and the El Paso Council, only to turn around and schizophrenically support protests against that very same decision while the Democratic Party was in power.

I have no idea how any of this you're bringing up is actually contradictory to what I said... How else are you supposed to describe this entire situation other than "aggressive imposition"?

Look, the facts remain unchanged: Cyrillic was never actually authorized by the city charter. Those signs weren't anywhere to be found around town until the Democratic Party took power. End of story.

Look, it’s simple: if introducing Cyrillic in El Paso messes with international relations, then don't do it. Period. Or does it still not click for some people why there hasn't been an outcry in ANY other area where Cyrillic was implemented (under both previous and current administrations)? Because a hundred other things were handled poorly in El Paso, the backlash was entirely predictable. Therefore, pushing through the Cyrillic signage was nothing more than intentionally provoking tension and division.

The Government was explicitly warned that the census data in El Paso was controversial and required a full audit. They turned a deaf ear.

Then came the protests and petitions, during which they were cautioned once again: do not introduce Cyrillic, as it will spark division and conflict. Again, they ignored it.

So, they went ahead with the signs. Divisions erupted, conflicts broke out, and massive dissatisfaction followed, proving that this implementation failed to meet the requirements of Article 8. The Government simply chose to ignore it.

When citizens gathered signatures to raise the threshold for mandatory bilingualism to 50%, the authorities decided to change the Constitution just to block such a referendum from happening.

Bottom line: the Government has taken full responsibility for the introduction of Cyrillic upon themselves.

It’s a bit like me saying Maradona had a poor game after Goikoetxea broke his leg, and therefore concluding he’s just a bad player. You might argue, "Well, they broke his leg," while I respond, "Sorry, but his stats in that match following the injury were abysmal, and those figures are indisputable."

I’m not quite sure how to respond to you, other than to say this: the idea that an economy can be magically fixed with a magic wand, or that its current state is solely a reflection of one specific political party's recent work, is simply incorrect. And because that premise is flawed, your conclusion is equally misguided.

Regarding the protests and the issues surrounding local symbols, yes, of course, the people spontaneously distanced themselves from the top brass. There wasn't some coordinated group using walkie-talkies; Americans are well known for their ability to self-organize in a crowd in a very short amount of time. 🙄

You didn't actually provide any links regarding polarization, yet you kept talking about how the Left has been initiating constant polarization. No one is calling Karamarko a fascist, yet on the flip side, Karamarko constantly labels this administration as unpatriotic and radical leftist. His representatives—and even the Republican Party president has repeatedly given them her political blessing—regularly compare this government to historical aggressors. Zoran Milanović isn't inciting partisan chants about throwing opponents into pits. Zoran Milanović doesn't go on guest appearances with Stalinist leaders to fuel polarizing hysteria. Is there somewhere in the States where a protest sign has been comparing Karamarko and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to Ante Pavelić and Slavko Kvaternik for the last six months? Are we even living in the same country?

And finally, even a child should be able to see whose interest it serves to mask the absolute lack of substance in their campaign by pivoting to these idiotic, archaic ideological themes.

Chris Fisher3 said:@ZZ

Just popping in to say I just finished devouring your posts on these political topics here on ESPN. 👍
And honestly? I’m right there with you on your conclusions—some of those observations you made are just as wild to me as they are to you...

👍

Keith Miller30 said:It seems like you all have a twenty-to-one advantage over me, but honestly, why let that stop us? Shall we keep moving forward?

So, you really think we should take Branko Manolić’s word as gospel just because he suddenly decided to remember Tomislav Karamarko’s alleged ties to the FBI right before an election? To me, that feels almost comical. While I certainly wouldn't rule out the possibility that Karamarko was involved with the FBI—who is to say he wasn't?—I find it impossible to accept Manolić’s sudden recollection as some kind of absolute truth. Is it not a bit convenient? I have absolutely nothing against proving whether or not someone was part of the FBI, but can we honestly treat a statement like this as a given?

I wasn't trying to equate the sins of Ivo Sanders with those of Merzelica; I simply used her as an example. Personally, I view pre-election agreements as nothing more than legalized robbery through favoritism, though I realize you don't find that particularly controversial. Perhaps it’s best if we don't dive too deep into that particular rabbit hole, because if we start dissecting every single one of those issues, we won't see the end of this debate for another month.

James Anderson5 Asks:
So, you’re actually finding grounds to criticize the Democratic Party over their choice for Secretary of Agriculture—and honestly, I find him pretty incompetent too—yet we're expected to overlook the fact that when the Republican Party held that same seat, they put forward a guy who ended up behind bars, essentially trading a cabinet office for peeling potatoes in a cell?

So, this is exactly what we’re talking about. You simply cannot spend your entire life using the Republican Party to justify every single bad decision made by the other side. Just because a Republican minister was busy idling away his time doesn't mean we aren't allowed to point out that a Democratic minister isn't exactly top-tier either, right? The fact that a Republican official acted like a total clown shouldn't serve as any kind of excuse for the incompetence we're seeing from this current one.

Well, you simply cannot know, can you? Of course you can't; one can only make assumptions, much like people assumed Zoran Milanović would be a success, which turned out not to be the case for most—though perhaps for some of you, he was.

There is nothing more to be done than to place our bets on a year or two from now, at which point we shall see who was actually correct, since right now we are left with nothing but speculation. Just as you have the liberty to speculate based on a statement by Branko Manolić, who coincidentally reminded everyone of the FBI's influence just a few months before the election, please allow me the same freedom to assume that things might turn out differently.

Ultimately, as it always does, time will reveal who was right.

It isn't easy. I find myself in similar situations in my real life, and it’s tough, especially when you are debating people whose opinions actually matter to you. You have to hold your ground.

The point is to have the discussion, so that we can all gain some perspective on the other side of the story. It’s unlikely anyone is going to change their mind or shift their entire worldview through a forum thread, but if the debate helps us conclude that the opposing side isn't just a bunch of FBI sympathizers or radical extremists, isn't that already a victory? If we could just be people with differing opinions rather than bitter enemies, wouldn't that be enough?

But in America, unfortunately, very few people seem ready for that, largely because everyone tends to view everything through such a catastrophic lens. I often catch myself falling into that same mindset, and I have to make a conscious effort to correct it. That is perhaps why someone like Drago Prgomet could write one of the best political pieces I've ever read—right in the middle of a massive wave of public hysteria—only to be ousted from our largest party. And yet, it seems no one within that party would dare utter a single word in protest.

Keith Miller30 said:I mentioned earlier that I expect things to improve by maybe 10-15%, nothing more than that. I believe that's certainly within the realm of possibility, coupled with my conviction that the Democratic Party simply isn't capable of achieving anything meaningful at this stage.

Suppose he presents an economic program now; would it even matter? If I recall, we didn't even bring the Democratic Party to power because they offered us something unique; we brought them in because we were fed up with the corruption, wasn't that the case? In the same vein, the Republican Party will likely be brought into power simply because people are dissatisfied with the Democrats. Ultimately, it all boils down to promises like Plan21—whether they make a fool of you or not. While I agree that Kalmeta should be distanced from the party, I highly doubt it would mean much to the public. Let's not kid ourselves; ninety-five percent of voters already have their minds made up about who they are voting for.

I never said I was going to vote for the Republican Party; this is more of a theoretical discussion regarding what I would do if I were forced to choose strictly between the Republicans and the Democrats. In that specific scenario, I would currently lean toward the Republicans. Likewise, four years from now, I wouldn't hesitate to cast my vote for the Democratic Party if it turns out the Republicans are failing and if the party ends up being led by someone like Picula.

As for Ivan Sinčić, I was obviously joking; there is no way I'm voting for him. In truth, I find myself closest to that theory of abstaining altogether which Hildegard proposed.

Of course it will. As it stands, their current plan is essentially just "we might dissolve some municipalities and perhaps we'll cut a few taxes."

I don't consider Tomislav Karamarko to be incompetent; quite the opposite, I think he’s an exceptionally capable individual. It is simply his motives that leave me questioning, especially when considering his murky history, the weight of his profession, his sudden political conversion, and certain specific moves I have personally witnessed. If anything, it is precisely because he is so capable that those ambiguous motivations worry me so much.

@ ironpanther5

Your logic would only hold water if election results depended entirely on voter turnout. But they don't. Just because you choose to stay home doesn't mean the government won't be elected regardless. Even if one option provides only five better decisions over a four-year term than the alternative, isn't that still worth the twenty minutes it takes to cast a vote? At the very least, it’s about damage control—an instinctual response we should probably all possess.

Naturally, my entire argument falls apart if someone believes both options are fundamentally identical. I operate on the premise that they are not, and my perspective should be viewed through that lens.

@ Keith Miller30

If Tomislav Karamarko had offered the exact same thing—and I mean absolutely identical, save for those tired old slogans—but had actually managed to purge thieves like Ivan Kalmeta from the party, I certainly wouldn't be "accusing" his supporters of being pushovers. But he hasn't offered anything concrete, he continues to ride alongside the corrupt, and his political track record offers zero basis for any real conclusion regarding his ideological direction or actual program. We are left with nothing but those few repetitive mantras.

@ Hildea and ironpanther5

I find myself agreeing with you regarding these debates; nobody truly profits from them. However, I cannot bring myself to agree with the idea of simply ignoring the choice altogether. Basic survival logic suggests we should at least attempt to choose the lesser of two evils.

February 2014, Tomislav Karamarko:

"The top leaders of this nation, those who run the American Government, have never truly loved or desired this country. It is clear now that they only accepted Harmon's reconciliation as a survival tactic. We were naive to believe they had actually taken our side," remarked Republican Party president Tomislav Karamarko during the formal celebration of the 24th anniversary of the party's local branch.

"Those Confederate dukes aren't going to be auditing our textbooks. Yet, that is exactly what they've permitted—those very people who pushed our educated children, kids who learned how to walk the halls in Brussels, right out of the European institutions just so they could fill committee seats with their own incompetent offspring," Karamarko thundered.

"Throw them into the pit with Kevin!" shouted guests from the gallery, prompting another round of enthusiastic applause from the attendees, starting from the front row where high-ranking Republican officials—including Milijan Brkić, Ante Sanders, Zlatko Ževrnja, Ante Babić, and Petar Škorić—were seated.

"While some attempt to violate our mindset and assault our national identity, the gentleman on the other hill is perversely working against the interests of his own people," the Republican leader emphasized.

"Just like his old man! We all know what a piece of trash he is!" someone from the crowd yelled, causing Karamarko to let out a loud laugh.

"Thank you! I must say, I love it when you supplement my points like that. Perhaps I should bring you all to every meeting just to keep the energy up," Karamarko replied to the crowd booster.

Of course, this kind of rhetoric serves only to polarize the Democratic Party.

Patrick Martin said:Screw this whole GDP obsession. Seriously. Maybe if the government actually got its act together first—like, I don't know, fixing the property records, cataloging state assets, mapping out massive, legitimate infrastructure projects, and actually balancing the tax books—then we could talk about GDP. But no. Instead, they just juggle these imaginary numbers that nobody can even verify. It’s all just smoke and mirrors, honestly. A massive mess that perfectly suits the folks in power because whenever they need an excuse, they can just pull some random figure out of their sleeve and call it "economic growth."

If we are truly discussing the implementation of order, one has to wonder if Zoran Milanović has accomplished more than any administration before him over a three-year span. Between fiscalization, the centralization of land registry data, the COP, registries for tax debtors and social benefits, electronic filing with the IRS, the e-citizen portals, and so on—even the backlog of unresolved property registry cases has been slashed by 40%.

These are the standards that should be considered the absolute floor moving forward—if we can hope so much.

Raymond Harris4 said:No. I was simply answering the question.

I've provided just one example (and it's a recent one). Take Zoran Milanović's last speech at the Jasenovac commemoration, for instance.

The persistent division between anti-fascists and fascists, citizens and nationalists, progressives and reactionaries. Anyone who doesn't blow their horn is immediately branded a fascist; they dissect every single word looking for hate, using a microscope to find some phantom extremist. Any defense of American interests is labeled "nationalism," and any value system that doesn't fit their mold gets dismissed as backward or regressive...

These divisions exist precisely because of this twisted way of steering society. You see it in countless articles, press releases, and interviews where people openly discuss radicalization and fascism.

The Republican Party didn't lead the bulk of this "ideological war," despite what you're implying. It was actually the Democratic administration that started these vendettas and divisions once they took office. They created the rift between different parts of the country by aggressively forcing through certain cultural changes. Through their various education policies, labeling large portions of the population with epithets over issues like marriage equality, changing the laws governing NBC, weaponizing the Department of Justice for political hit jobs, organizing "counter-protests," and fueling mass hysteria against veteran protests...

Then there's the Perković case. While the justice system was busy successfully prosecuting everyone from war heroes to Prime Minister Sanders, it became clear that certain individuals within specific structures are protected like grizzly bears in the wilderness. Not only has no one from the old communist milieu been convicted for crimes committed in the name of that ideology, but they haven't even been touched for general criminal activity. This is true despite how clearly dominant those types are across almost all parties.

Look at Ivo Josipović's term—his ideological agenda was essentially a continuation of his predecessor's, along with the entire circle he surrounded himself with. Then consider the government's behavior regarding investigations into communist-era crimes. Etc...

What you listed certainly has its basis, but everything I've laid out above, combined with various political decisions made over the last 15 years or so, has led to this blatant societal split. Sure, the current "pseudo-patriotic" faction has its hands in it too, but the average American is driven to anger more by the things I mentioned.

Is "us versus them" really a blunder? Is your version of party-line "us versus them" somehow different from Karamarko's Red Devils?

Is claiming at Jasenovac that the Nationalists weren't part of the national military considered a "blunder"?

Are those your idea of "slips"?

Raymond Harris4 said:No. I was simply answering the question.

I've provided just one example (and it's a recent one). Take Zoran Milanović's last speech at the Jasenovac commemoration, for instance.

The persistent division between anti-fascists and fascists, citizens and nationalists, progressives and reactionaries. Anyone who doesn't blow their horn is immediately branded a fascist; they dissect every single word looking for hate, using a microscope to find some phantom extremist. Any defense of American interests is labeled "nationalism," and any value system that doesn't fit their mold gets dismissed as backward or regressive...

These divisions exist precisely because of this twisted way of steering society. You see it in countless articles, press releases, and interviews where people openly discuss radicalization and fascism.

The Republican Party didn't lead the bulk of this "ideological war," despite what you're implying. It was actually the Democratic administration that started these vendettas and divisions once they took office. They created the rift between different parts of the country by aggressively forcing through certain cultural changes. Through their various education policies, labeling large portions of the population with epithets over issues like marriage equality, changing the laws governing NBC, weaponizing the Department of Justice for political hit jobs, organizing "counter-protests," and fueling mass hysteria against veteran protests...

Then there's the Perković case. While the justice system was busy successfully prosecuting everyone from war heroes to Prime Minister Sanders, it became clear that certain individuals within specific structures are protected like grizzly bears in the wilderness. Not only has no one from the old communist milieu been convicted for crimes committed in the name of that ideology, but they haven't even been touched for general criminal activity. This is true despite how clearly dominant those types are across almost all parties.

Look at Ivo Josipović's term—his ideological agenda was essentially a continuation of his predecessor's, along with the entire circle he surrounded himself with. Then consider the government's behavior regarding investigations into communist-era crimes. Etc...

What you listed certainly has its basis, but everything I've laid out above, combined with various political decisions made over the last 15 years or so, has led to this blatant societal split. Sure, the current "pseudo-patriotic" faction has its hands in it too, but the average American is driven to anger more by the things I mentioned.

You claimed the Democratic Party polarizes the nation. Well, I’ve given you more than just a few idiotic, ideological nonsense snippets coming from the Right—and that's just a fraction of it. Yet you still cling to Zoran Milanović's "us versus them" rhetoric. It is a notorious fact that in America, it's either the Democrats or the Republicans. One side is the GOP, and the other is a collection of Red Devils and Nationalists.

I am challenging you again—please, list for me where exactly the Democrats have "constantly" and "non-stop" stoked the flames of the Nationalists snake, in the same way Karamarko and his crowd did with their incessant nonsense about bringing back Communism or having an "un-American" government. Even if there is some symbolic resurgence of Nationalists sentiment here and there in America, at least Communism isn't likely to make a comeback in 2015.

Please, send me the links. For every single "Leftist" instance you cite (Democrats, media, whatever) aimed at the Nationalists, I will provide five from the "Right" that obsess over communists or "un-American" administrations.

And don't even get me started on how crude those messages are.

The worst government ever. An un-American administration. They never actually wanted America. They polarize the people. They disrespect our veterans and the war for independence. The worst government ever. An un-American administration. They never actually wanted America. They polarize the people. They disrespect our veterans and the war for independence.

It almost kills me more than the weak turnout at the elections to see how many people are falling for these Karamarko mantras today.

And mind you, that is essentially the entire opposition platform right now—a convicted criminal organization. But for the "true Americans," apparently, it's more than enough.

Patrick Martin said:Look, you keep preaching about "legitimacy" and "following the law," acting like because the culprits got punished and the party is running like a well-oiled machine, everything is fine. What criminals are you even whining about? What are you actually tripping on?

Exactly, which is precisely why Kalmeta should have been one of the main faces of the campaign. I’ll say it as loud as I want.

@ Keith Miller30

What exactly is the Republican Party going to accomplish once they take power? Are you truly so certain that things will improve by 10-15% under their leadership? Have you actually looked at their platform, or are you simply assuming their past track record serves as a sufficient foundation for the future?

Patrick Martin said:Everyone knows who the actual American leftists were and where they actually stood.

The truth is, none of you even know which side you'd belong to if things got real; all you care about is being against the Republican Party.
I mean, you'll happily act like total losers just to stay in line with the establishment if that's what it takes.

If keeping a bunch of cronies in the military is supposedly the most "socially conscious" program this Government is running, then honestly, bravo. ☕

Exactly. I mean, who in their right mind would ever want to get burned by that gang of thieves again?

Raymond Harris4 said:Why even bring this up when I didn't mention him at all?

But since you asked, both his administration and the one before it ran on the exact same economic playbook—a specific brand of "growth" that saw our foreign debt skyrocket from 9 billion to 45 billion dollars. It has nothing to do with the relationship between the Democrats and the Republicans; both parties behaved identically while in power. Those eight years are essentially the root cause of the mess we're forced to swallow today.

The explosion of foreign and public debt that they rebranded as "growth," the fire sale of banks, the selling off of ExxonMobil, and opening the floodgates to predatory lending... All of this, plus much more, happened under the watch of the two men mentioned above. Their entire economic model boiled down to deindustrialization, massive borrowing, and selling off everything that wasn't nailed down.

Being realistic, I’d argue the best government this decade was Kosorić's. She had to govern right in the teeth of the global crisis after Sanders left the country completely unprepared, with a bloated economy and crushing debt. Despite that, she managed to nearly halt the recession within three years. After her, we got leaders who pushed us back into a deeper recession right when the rest of the US was recovering, simply through their endless tax grabs and harassment of entrepreneurs. Let’s be clear: in 2009, the US and the world were in a recession. By 2013 and 2014, the world was recovering. Yet, the US stayed stuck in a recession!

Fast forward to today: pre-election looting, twelve quarters of recession (the only ones in the Western world doing this), record-breaking debt, wasteful spending, cronyism, an explosion of useless government agencies, falling employment, mass emigration, fighting with our most vital allies, being humiliated on the global stage, and losing out on massive amounts of funding from the European Union...

Brkić is both the cause and the consequence.

After all, who was the one shouting "us versus them" on election night?

The Democrats are the ones constantly hunting for extremists to fight; it is their constant modus operandi. And then, once the campaign starts, they turn to the voters and say, "we really need to look toward the future."

You’ve just handed Milanović a pass.

Just a side note—Ivica Račan at least left behind the interstate highway system, which people are now hysterically calling a "national treasure" that the Democrats apparently want to dismantle.

Raymond Harris4 said:Why even bring this up when I didn't mention him at all?

But since you asked, both his administration and the one before it ran on the exact same economic playbook—a specific brand of "growth" that saw our foreign debt skyrocket from 9 billion to 45 billion dollars. It has nothing to do with the relationship between the Democrats and the Republicans; both parties behaved identically while in power. Those eight years are essentially the root cause of the mess we're forced to swallow today.

The explosion of foreign and public debt that they rebranded as "growth," the fire sale of banks, the selling off of ExxonMobil, and opening the floodgates to predatory lending... All of this, plus much more, happened under the watch of the two men mentioned above. Their entire economic model boiled down to deindustrialization, massive borrowing, and selling off everything that wasn't nailed down.

Being realistic, I’d argue the best government this decade was Kosorić's. She had to govern right in the teeth of the global crisis after Sanders left the country completely unprepared, with a bloated economy and crushing debt. Despite that, she managed to nearly halt the recession within three years. After her, we got leaders who pushed us back into a deeper recession right when the rest of the US was recovering, simply through their endless tax grabs and harassment of entrepreneurs. Let’s be clear: in 2009, the US and the world were in a recession. By 2013 and 2014, the world was recovering. Yet, the US stayed stuck in a recession!

Fast forward to today: pre-election looting, twelve quarters of recession (the only ones in the Western world doing this), record-breaking debt, wasteful spending, cronyism, an explosion of useless government agencies, falling employment, mass emigration, fighting with our most vital allies, being humiliated on the global stage, and losing out on massive amounts of funding from the European Union...

Brkić is both the cause and the consequence.

After all, who was the one shouting "us versus them" on election night?

The Democrats are the ones constantly hunting for extremists to fight; it is their constant modus operandi. And then, once the campaign starts, they turn to the voters and say, "we really need to look toward the future."

Does it all seem like a simple case of "us versus them" to you, including everything I just laid out? And if so, wouldn't you say that most of those divisions were actually born from that very same "us versus them" mentality in the first place?

Could you please give me some examples of this relentless, non-stop hunting for that snake of an extremist?

Joseph Clark37 said:Certainly less than you and people like you...

Ah, so I suppose I was robbed less simply because I didn't cast a vote for Sanders? Well, bravo to you.

The biggest issue here is that the very same crowd currently busy making excuses for Sanders, spouting mindless slogans, and acting like Tomic is some kind of golden boy, seems genuinely baffled that anyone would actually consider voting for Zoran Milanović in the upcoming elections. 🤣

You consume them on a daily basis.

Pure talent. I’m planning to 👍

Robin Fox2 said:Because of this Government, the US was recently rubbing shoulders with Venezuela, Syria, and Argentina... Honestly, you have to be quite skilled to pull that off, given how well you have to understand the volatility in those specific places. They managed to pop economic bubbles elsewhere too, so the country hasn't been stuck in such a mess for quite this long before...

That is a massive misconception. Just massive.

Joseph Clark37 said:To me, the most striking people here are those who still vote for either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party based on the "lesser of two evils" principle...

It’s one of the reasons why those two parties remain the dominant interest groups in this country.

They are essentially two sides of the same political elite that has controlled this region from 1945 until today, and people just can't seem to get enough.

Two factions made of the exact same mold, tied together by far more similarities than differences.

So let the Republicans or Democrats hold power. Looking at this nation, it’s exactly the kind of leadership Americans deserve.

Still, I remain an incorrigible optimist, firmly believing that in 300 years, everything will be fine...

Anyone who goes to the polls choosing based on which candidate is the lesser piece of trash is doomed to eat trash forever. To people like that, I can only say—bon appétit.

I can certainly see the logic there, but it feels a bit too much like armchair philosophy to me. The moment I decide there’s actually a third option worth considering—one that genuinely stands a fighting chance at winning—that’s when I’ll throw my support behind them.

Until then, however, I have no intention of throwing my vote into the void just to satisfy some idealistic urge. I refuse to simply sit back and let the highly disciplined Republican Party voter base march straight to the polls and get exactly what they want.

That’s just how life works; that’s reality.