Where do we draw the line?

Richard Lewis16 said:You really hit the nail on the head there... exactly what I was thinking... 😉

I mean, let's be honest, someone who’s living in a bubble, just getting bits and pieces of news dropped in their lap every once in a while... they aren't exactly going to see the big picture the same way someone who’s constantly plugged in, pulling from a dozen different sources and actually keeping tabs on everything... it’s just not a fair comparison, really...

It’s kind of like the whole situation with the team owner... I know, I know, some of you are probably going to think I've completely lost my mind, but honestly, there are people out there who just don't get why the fans are so incredibly hostile toward him... it’s like they’re living in a different reality where the math just doesn't add up...
All they ever seem to care about is sitting at the top of the standings, or qualifying for the Europa League, or whatever other trophy is currently being tossed around... it's always just that one singular focus, isn't it...

I honestly think even a grandma living out in rural Montana would feel the same way about the local GOP and their leadership... mostly because they’re the ones who finally paved her driveway, hooked up her electricity, and kept some cash flowing her way...
Most people have something to gain from the status quo, you know... and let's be honest, very few are actually going to step up and fight against their own interests just for the sake of being right...

They don't say information is power for nothing...

I understand voting for someone when you stand to gain from them, but those leading us have "benefited" a relatively small number of people compared to the sheer volume of votes they receive. Perhaps that's just how this nation works.
The question remains: did that grandmother in Nebraska actually get her road, water, and power? 🤷

hollowharbor56 said:They don't say information is power for nothing...

I understand voting for someone when you stand to gain from them, but those leading us have "benefited" a relatively small number of people compared to the sheer volume of votes they receive. Perhaps that's just how this nation works.
The question remains: did that grandmother in Nebraska actually get her road, water, and power? 🤷

Take a look at how many people actually work, then look at how many don't. Think twice about saying the government—any government, starting with that mess involving Solomon—has only helped a small group.
Either you're one of those people who believes it's a divine right for those who don't work to take food out of the mouths of those who do in the name of "equality." That mindset is exactly why we ended up where we are.

@hollowharbor56

How exactly are they doing? If you’re a veteran, you’ve got your pension—plus you're picking up side gigs under the table because, frankly, you're bored—on top of having stakes in a veterans' fund. Your kid gets into college just by passing half the entrance exam, and then comes the scholarship; back in the day, you could even import cars tax-free like a wounded warrior. If you're a farmer—a real grower—well, life's a breeze. You plant some wheat, the government buys half your tractor, tosses in a subsidy, and you don't even have to worry about selling the crop. You just sell it back to the government at whatever price you feel like naming. You haven't even spent two months a year actually out in the field! If you work in the civil service, you basically don't work at all—it's great because the paycheck and benefits just roll in. But if you're a retiree voting for the Republican Party or the Libertarian Party, you're still getting squeezed by the state—even though your savings were gutted and looted back in the '90s, and there isn't enough left to raise workers' wages. And if you're part of the diaspora, you vote because you get all the perks with zero obligations—no taxes, no local levies, no tribute, and no military service (which is gone now anyway)—all while asking the USA for subsidies despite already having your own home base. In short—there is no economy that can sustain this right now, let alone in the future.

Nicholas Turner said:@hollowharbor56

How exactly are they doing? If you’re a veteran, you’ve got your pension—plus you're picking up side gigs under the table because, frankly, you're bored—on top of having stakes in a veterans' fund. Your kid gets into college just by passing half the entrance exam, and then comes the scholarship; back in the day, you could even import cars tax-free like a wounded warrior. If you're a farmer—a real grower—well, life's a breeze. You plant some wheat, the government buys half your tractor, tosses in a subsidy, and you don't even have to worry about selling the crop. You just sell it back to the government at whatever price you feel like naming. You haven't even spent two months a year actually out in the field! If you work in the civil service, you basically don't work at all—it's great because the paycheck and benefits just roll in. But if you're a retiree voting for the Republican Party or the Libertarian Party, you're still getting squeezed by the state—even though your savings were gutted and looted back in the '90s, and there isn't enough left to raise workers' wages. And if you're part of the diaspora, you vote because you get all the perks with zero obligations—no taxes, no local levies, no tribute, and no military service (which is gone now anyway)—all while asking the USA for subsidies despite already having your own home base. In short—there is no economy that can sustain this right now, let alone in the future.

Well said.
If I could add one thing... I was over at an old friend's place yesterday, and his neighbor was there too. This guy is only 24, but he’s been officially retired since he turned twenty.
I asked him, "How on earth did you manage to pull that off?"
He just shrugged and said, "Why not? I take the retirement check $587 and then do some odd jobs on the side. It works for me. My doctor wrote me a whole list of ailments..."
You find scammers like that everywhere. It's the same old story, just different packaging.😠

Nicholas Turner said:@hollowharbor56

How exactly are they doing? If you’re a veteran, you’ve got your pension—plus you're picking up side gigs under the table because, frankly, you're bored—on top of having stakes in a veterans' fund. Your kid gets into college just by passing half the entrance exam, and then comes the scholarship; back in the day, you could even import cars tax-free like a wounded warrior. If you're a farmer—a real grower—well, life's a breeze. You plant some wheat, the government buys half your tractor, tosses in a subsidy, and you don't even have to worry about selling the crop. You just sell it back to the government at whatever price you feel like naming. You haven't even spent two months a year actually out in the field! If you work in the civil service, you basically don't work at all—it's great because the paycheck and benefits just roll in. But if you're a retiree voting for the Republican Party or the Libertarian Party, you're still getting squeezed by the state—even though your savings were gutted and looted back in the '90s, and there isn't enough left to raise workers' wages. And if you're part of the diaspora, you vote because you get all the perks with zero obligations—no taxes, no local levies, no tribute, and no military service (which is gone now anyway)—all while asking the USA for subsidies despite already having your own home base. In short—there is no economy that can sustain this right now, let alone in the future.

Great post. Between what you wrote and all the political dirty tricks, I guess that's why it's so hard for them to lose power.

Nicole Collins13 said:Take a look at how many people actually work, then look at how many don't. Think twice about saying the government—any government, starting with that mess involving Solomon—has only helped a small group.
Either you're one of those people who believes it's a divine right for those who don't work to take food out of the mouths of those who do in the name of "equality." That mindset is exactly why we ended up where we are.

Yes, I'll admit it: I am responsible for bringing America to its current state.

Nicholas Turner said:@hollowharbor56

How exactly are they doing? If you’re a veteran, you’ve got your pension—plus you're picking up side gigs under the table because, frankly, you're bored—on top of having stakes in a veterans' fund. Your kid gets into college just by passing half the entrance exam, and then comes the scholarship; back in the day, you could even import cars tax-free like a wounded warrior. If you're a farmer—a real grower—well, life's a breeze. You plant some wheat, the government buys half your tractor, tosses in a subsidy, and you don't even have to worry about selling the crop. You just sell it back to the government at whatever price you feel like naming. You haven't even spent two months a year actually out in the field! If you work in the civil service, you basically don't work at all—it's great because the paycheck and benefits just roll in. But if you're a retiree voting for the Republican Party or the Libertarian Party, you're still getting squeezed by the state—even though your savings were gutted and looted back in the '90s, and there isn't enough left to raise workers' wages. And if you're part of the diaspora, you vote because you get all the perks with zero obligations—no taxes, no local levies, no tribute, and no military service (which is gone now anyway)—all while asking the USA for subsidies despite already having your own home base. In short—there is no economy that can sustain this right now, let alone in the future.

I completely agree with you. But if that group represents everyone, does that mean we aren't stuck with the current administration for another hundred years? That was my point, damn it.

To clarify a few things (since it seems I wasn't quite understood):
The current administration, spanning its last three or four terms—despite various minor party shifts along the way—has accomplished essentially nothing for the average citizen. Instead, they have simply enriched a certain group of freeloaders. Yet, the majority of the population continues to vote for the exact same people.
Furthermore, those who abstain from voting are indirectly handing their power to the major parties (we all know which ones).
By the way, I’m from a small town in Northern California, and you all know exactly how poorly they were received here (even back when folks in the rest of the country were shouting about how great they were and claiming there was no better solution for America). Well, if that is truly the case... God help us all.