Republican Party - General Discussion

northernhawk33 said:For years, they've been aggressively logging areas populated by displaced Mexicans and Americans—places that actually need social support. Even state forests aren't safe.
Now, someone in the European Union finally lost their patience and decided to call out America.

There isn't just one worst spot. They're logging everywhere—cutting it down and hauling it off.
When asked where the damage is most severe, this enthusiast basically says, "There is no 'worst.' Everything is a disaster. I could drive you to the Appalachian Mountains, Petrov Gora, Papuk, Bilogora, Zumberak, the Sierra Nevada, Glina, or Petrinja—anywhere you want. It's happening everywhere. And all our legal entities are forced to pay these mandatory fees for forest protection and restoration. The national forest service has 17 different branches scattered across the country, and we have access to all their documentation thanks to whistleblowers—people on the inside who simply can't stand to watch this crime anymore."

The attached text is a wild read—perfect for a quote—and the push to expose this criminal racket was started by a veterans' association.

Unfortunately, you don't see anyone writing about the environmental groups fighting against this kind of devastation.

Remember those people back in 2004 protesting the Adriatic Society because tankers might pollute the Mediterranean Sea? Or the eco-groups opposing the LNG terminal because they won't be able to clear the trees near the ships, meaning Germans or Italians won't be able to swim in peace and quiet?

Of course, nobody writes about them—because frankly, nobody gives a damn.

hollowcanyon15 said:Loving your country and loving your government aren't the same thing.
The people who hold the reins of power are always the first ones to trumpet this brand of blind, unconditional patriotism.
But you have to wonder: who actually loves the nation more? Is it the ones who couldn't care less about its condition, or the ones who demand better because they truly believe it can be improved?

This kind of empty rhetoric from those in charge is just plain nauseating.

I agree.

The issue with the Republican Party is this—even though they claim to be the "nationalist" party—they have zero intention of actually finishing the job of building a unified American political identity. I wouldn't expect anything different from the Democrats.

Fixing that would settle a lot of our societal friction. As for which conflicts—it's the same old story, fighting over symbols and labels every single day—perpetuated by the exact same players you mentioned in your second sentence.

Aaron Walker8 said:I agree.

The issue with the Republican Party is this—even though they claim to be the "nationalist" party—they have zero intention of actually finishing the job of building a unified American political identity. I wouldn't expect anything different from the Democrats.

Fixing that would settle a lot of our societal friction. As for which conflicts—it's the same old story, fighting over symbols and labels every single day—perpetuated by the exact same players you mentioned in your second sentence.

🤣 🤣

And then we act surprised when this corrupt, deep-state, bottom-tier establishment party—the backbone of America's lowest elements—drives the country right to the edge of a cliff.

Given these voters (with a full 30 years of nationalist experience 🙏), it’s a miracle we haven't completely collapsed yet.

The fact that their version of "forging an American identity"—using the tactics of a corrupt, deep-state, bottom-tier establishment party—has destroyed both the country (we are literally the backside of Europe! 🙏) and the people (disappearing at light speed) doesn't bother them... they only care about their own "sacred" truths, especially regarding history... 🤮

EDIT: After 30 years of nationalist policy from this corrupt, deep-state, bottom-tier establishment party resulting in a total catastrophe, some people think the solution is even more nationalism, or "true," "hardcore" nationalism, instead of this current imitation.

I’d rather yell at the Moon... :roll eyes:

Mark Hughes36 said:🤣 🤣

And then we act surprised when this corrupt, deep-state, bottom-tier establishment party—the backbone of America's lowest elements—drives the country right to the edge of a cliff.

Given these voters (with a full 30 years of nationalist experience 🙏), it’s a miracle we haven't completely collapsed yet.

The fact that their version of "forging an American identity"—using the tactics of a corrupt, deep-state, bottom-tier establishment party—has destroyed both the country (we are literally the backside of Europe! 🙏) and the people (disappearing at light speed) doesn't bother them... they only care about their own "sacred" truths, especially regarding history... 🤮

EDIT: After 30 years of nationalist policy from this corrupt, deep-state, bottom-tier establishment party resulting in a total catastrophe, some people think the solution is even more nationalism, or "true," "hardcore" nationalism, instead of this current imitation.

I’d rather yell at the Moon... :roll eyes:

Who even are you arguing with? You need a translator or something?

Americans as a political nation DO NOT EXIST. Your bitterness proves it. And this whole situation—and those Pavlovian reflexes I'm seeing in your post right now—has been kept just as terrible for over 20 years by both the Republican Party and the Democrats, all with the help of their supposed liberal or religious political partners.

I don't need a translation; you made your position perfectly clear. 😉

Just another one of those "patriots" who can't stomach the fact that a blatantly nationalist, Christian Democratic party essentially gutted America. Now they're just frantically spinning increasingly absurd excuses and proposing even crazier fixes.

He’s one of those people refusing to accept that the primary mission of this corrupt, old-guard establishment—the flagship party for the dregs of society, working hand-in-hand with the Catholic Church—was to "re-educate" the citizens of America according to the exact principles he's still calling for.

They never hid it; they just called it "spiritual renewal." 🤣

Between the blatant theft and the desperate scramble to stay in power by installing their cronies in every corner of society, that’s how the last 30 years were wasted.

Both that corrupt establishment and the Catholic Church viewed this goal as far more important than anything else, and we're all living with the consequences. For some, it isn't just acceptable; they're actually begging for more. 🙏

To protest against those "clinging to old symbols and slogans," you have to be either shameless or a complete idiot. Given how much the corrupt establishment and the Catholic Church spent over 30 years trying to reshape America into their own image, your passive-aggressive attempts to guilt-trip anyone unhappy with this version of the country says everything about you. 😉

To shift the blame like that, you have to be either a shameless nationalist or a total moron. 😉

brightheron64 said:

Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Precisely. It is identical to how that bloated Prime Minister views himself as a visionary leader, or how Uncle feels he holds the prestige of the Speaker of the US Congress.

Even those paid trolls have become pitiable; back when they were being funded by the money looted from the Media conglomerate scandal, at least they had some semblance of quality and imagination.

Nowadays, you can smell their stench from miles away; their true motives for registering become obvious within the first few sentences.

Mark Hughes36 said:I don't need a translation; you made your position perfectly clear. 😉

Just another one of those "patriots" who can't stomach the fact that a blatantly nationalist, Christian Democratic party essentially gutted America. Now they're just frantically spinning increasingly absurd excuses and proposing even crazier fixes.

He’s one of those people refusing to accept that the primary mission of this corrupt, old-guard establishment—the flagship party for the dregs of society, working hand-in-hand with the Catholic Church—was to "re-educate" the citizens of America according to the exact principles he's still calling for.

They never hid it; they just called it "spiritual renewal." 🤣

Between the blatant theft and the desperate scramble to stay in power by installing their cronies in every corner of society, that’s how the last 30 years were wasted.

Both that corrupt establishment and the Catholic Church viewed this goal as far more important than anything else, and we're all living with the consequences. For some, it isn't just acceptable; they're actually begging for more. 🙏

To protest against those "clinging to old symbols and slogans," you have to be either shameless or a complete idiot. Given how much the corrupt establishment and the Catholic Church spent over 30 years trying to reshape America into their own image, your passive-aggressive attempts to guilt-trip anyone unhappy with this version of the country says everything about you. 😉

To shift the blame like that, you have to be either a shameless nationalist or a total moron. 😉

I skimmed the rest, and honestly, it’s enough for me to make up my mind.

First off, your obsession with the Republican Party is totally blinding you to what's actually being said here.
Second—the Republican Party is basically the Ku Klux Klan (careerists, cronies, and converts).
Third—real "re-education" around here happened between 1945 and 1990.

So, you're seeing conspiracies everywhere where there aren't any. This Republican Party is the absolute worst of the US—run by a soulless, installed leadership with zero actual legitimacy, packed with careerists of every stripe who'd ditch their entire past just to grab two days of power. It's driven by shameless cronyism where people sell themselves out for $33 some local council seat or a $10 million bribe to push a national agenda. And it's all overseen by cliques of former communists dressed up as "defenders of national interests"—people who brought plenty of Bolshevik mentalities from the old days and are still peddling them today just to line their own pockets.

And about that "re-education" thing. Unlike before the 90s, when ideological indoctrination was REAL and TANGIBLE—forced upon you by INSTITUTIONS where you had no CHOICE, from youth groups all the way down to worker councils—over the last thirty years, the media has taken over that role. They "plant" specific ideas into the masses. The media pumps up whoever they want: from the "liberal" types back in '97, to the "clerical" crowd in 2015, to the "progressives" we see today. There is no institutional repression or forced indoctrination anymore, no matter how much you claim otherwise.

Aaron Walker8 said:I skimmed the rest, and honestly, it’s enough for me to make up my mind.

First off, your obsession with the Republican Party is totally blinding you to what's actually being said here.
Second—the Republican Party is basically the Ku Klux Klan (careerists, cronies, and converts).
Third—real "re-education" around here happened between 1945 and 1990.

So, you're seeing conspiracies everywhere where there aren't any. This Republican Party is the absolute worst of the US—run by a soulless, installed leadership with zero actual legitimacy, packed with careerists of every stripe who'd ditch their entire past just to grab two days of power. It's driven by shameless cronyism where people sell themselves out for $33 some local council seat or a $10 million bribe to push a national agenda. And it's all overseen by cliques of former communists dressed up as "defenders of national interests"—people who brought plenty of Bolshevik mentalities from the old days and are still peddling them today just to line their own pockets.

And about that "re-education" thing. Unlike before the 90s, when ideological indoctrination was REAL and TANGIBLE—forced upon you by INSTITUTIONS where you had no CHOICE, from youth groups all the way down to worker councils—over the last thirty years, the media has taken over that role. They "plant" specific ideas into the masses. The media pumps up whoever they want: from the "liberal" types back in '97, to the "clerical" crowd in 2015, to the "progressives" we see today. There is no institutional repression or forced indoctrination anymore, no matter how much you claim otherwise.

I trimmed the excess because it was irrelevant.

The core of Mark Hughes36's post is simply that the Republican Party is nothing more than a corrupt, thuggish syndicate—the central hub for all the scum in America.

Robin Jones2 said:I trimmed the excess because it was irrelevant.

The core of Mark Hughes36's post is simply that the Republican Party is nothing more than a corrupt, thuggish syndicate—the central hub for all the scum in America.

Actually, the core of his point is simply that he can't stand the Republican Party. There are people like that in the States—all five of them.

Then you have the people who actually vote for that party regularly—the ones who ensure this "thieving, corrupt, total trash heap" wins elections and takes control of the government, both nationally and locally. They've won eight times since the 90s.

What does that say about the majority of people in America?

brightheron64 said:

Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Are you kidding me?

She doesn't feel incompetent, corrupt, or like a failure for even a single second—not when her patriotic heart is beating like this... quite the opposite, actually.
Honestly, that’s exactly the kind of patriotism I find terrifying—the kind that gives wings to the incompetent and hands them more power and authority...

Aaron Walker8 said:I skimmed the rest, and honestly, it’s enough for me to make up my mind.

First off, your obsession with the Republican Party is totally blinding you to what's actually being said here.
Second—the Republican Party is basically the Ku Klux Klan (careerists, cronies, and converts).
Third—real "re-education" around here happened between 1945 and 1990.

So, you're seeing conspiracies everywhere where there aren't any. This Republican Party is the absolute worst of the US—run by a soulless, installed leadership with zero actual legitimacy, packed with careerists of every stripe who'd ditch their entire past just to grab two days of power. It's driven by shameless cronyism where people sell themselves out for $33 some local council seat or a $10 million bribe to push a national agenda. And it's all overseen by cliques of former communists dressed up as "defenders of national interests"—people who brought plenty of Bolshevik mentalities from the old days and are still peddling them today just to line their own pockets.

And about that "re-education" thing. Unlike before the 90s, when ideological indoctrination was REAL and TANGIBLE—forced upon you by INSTITUTIONS where you had no CHOICE, from youth groups all the way down to worker councils—over the last thirty years, the media has taken over that role. They "plant" specific ideas into the masses. The media pumps up whoever they want: from the "liberal" types back in '97, to the "clerical" crowd in 2015, to the "progressives" we see today. There is no institutional repression or forced indoctrination anymore, no matter how much you claim otherwise.

About fifteen years ago, back when I actually bothered to watch the news, I remember catching the late Peter Selem—one of those ideological mouthpieces for that entire corrupt establishment—trying to explain why we should spell "sport" with an 'h'. Just another instance of the usual trash peddling their nonsense.

They’ve all taught us how "the old guard" committed linguistic violence by forcing "sports" instead of the traditional spelling, claiming we must now undo that damage by reverting to the past. It's the same old story: some self-important intellectual and socialite—an "artist" at heart, no less—justifying the systemic abuse carried out by that corrupt, shady establishment, the core party of our nation's bottom feeders.

That caricature perfectly captures the mindset of your typical nationalist in America—forever locked in a losing battle against an imaginary enemy.

And yours: "indoctrination in this region took place between 1945 and 1990..." 😉

As I’ve said before, you're clearly one of those people who can't stomach the fact that nationalism is what tore this country apart. It acts like a smoke screen—it only works on idiots, but it worked, and it didn't just happen once. 🙏 🤣It all paved the way for today's crop of careerists, cronies, and opportunists.

You’re one of those people who doesn't mind this toxic social climate—we've even reached the point of putting up memorial plaques with Nationalists greetings at Auschwitz, which only total lunatics could try to downplay. If you had your way, you'd make everything even more "patriotic," cut out the corruption, and actually raise our standard of living. Instead, you just spend your time convincing us all that we're living in a wasteland.

Finally, someone who actually sees through it. After thirty years of nationalist indoctrination, you're one of the few claiming it's not worth "debating symbols" because we have "far more pressing issues." You're right—those obsessed with nothing but old greetings are exactly why this country remains stuck.

Your issue isn't with the people who spent thirty years squandering everything just to obsessively debate old symbols or engage in successful historical revisionism—the kind where an average student raised in a supposedly "free" America thinks Marshall was a bigger villain than Pavelić, which really shows how toxic our public discourse has become. No, your real problem is with the few who still resist symbolically tethering this country to its most shameful elements.

And you clearly think you can just pick up Spanish... how, yes, no ... 🙄

You're missing the massive distinction between the socialist era and thirty years of nationalist autocracy and party rule. You "accidentally" ignore the historical and global context, trying to convince us that things have fundamentally improved when one set of dogmas was simply swapped for another. But for you, anything after 1945 is just one long, messy blur... that's where your timeline starts and ends. 🤮

I am still waiting for someone to address my points. This entire discussion is an absolute farce. kaže:
Back when I actually bothered to watch political news about fifteen years ago, I remember sitting there watching the late Peter Selem—one of those self-proclaimed ideologues representing that entire corrupt, backroom-dealing establishment that makes up the scum of our political class. He was actually standing there, earnestly explaining why we should be saying "sport" with a specific inflection instead of just calling it what it is.

He’s lectured us all on how "those before us" committed linguistic violence by forcing the spelling "sport" over "šport," claiming we must now correct this by reverting to the old ways. It’s the same tired routine. For instance, you have this one self-righteous man—an "intellectual" and a "socialite," an "artist" even!—who spent his time justifying the systemic abuse carried out by that corrupt, backroom-dealing establishment, the very party that serves as the headquarters for all the scum in this country.

That little sketch perfectly captures the mindset of the average American nationalist—always locked in an endless crusade against some imaginary enemy.

And you claim: "re-education in this country took place between 1945 and 1990..." 😉

You are exactly what I described: one of those people who simply cannot stomach the reality that nationalism is what tore this country apart. It acts like a smoke screen—something only an idiot would fall for—but it worked, and more than once at that. 🙏 🤣It paved the way for every single one of today's careerists, cronies, and political opportunists.

You are clearly one of those people who is perfectly fine with this disgusting social climate—we’ve even reached the point where people are trying to justify putting up memorial plaques with fascist slogans at Auschwitz, which is something only a complete lunatic could attempt to relativize. If you had any power, you’d try to make everything even more nationalistic while simultaneously masking the rampant corruption and our failing standard of living by convincing us all that we actually live in No Man's Land.

Finally, you’ve emerged as one of those people who, after thirty years of nationalist indoctrination, now claims it isn't the right time to "debate symbols." You argue that we have "far more pressing issues" at hand and suggest that anyone still questioning these greetings is nothing more than an obstacle preventing America from moving forward.

Your issue isn't actually with those who spent thirty years squandering their lives aggressively debating salutes or engaging in historical revisionism—which they did quite effectively, by the way. The average student raised in the "free and enlightened" America of the old regime now views figures like Ante Pavelić as lesser villains, which is the ultimate proof of how toxic our national public discourse has become. No, your true grievance is with the rare few who still refuse to symbolically tether this country to the most shameful scum in history.

And you honestly believe you can grasp the nuances of subtext? Please. You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. 🙄

You fail to grasp the monumental distinction between the era of socialism and the thirty years of nationalist autocracy and party rule that followed. You "accidentally" ignore the historical and global context in a desperate attempt to convince us that anything has actually improved, when in reality, one set of dogmas has merely been swapped for another. Let’s be clear: things were significantly worse from 1945 to 1990. That period defines your entire argument. 🤮

Just imagine the kind of freedom you have to speak about the executive branch like this... if you had dared to write those things about the Communist Party of the USA back in the 45-90 era, you’d be facing much darker consequences. You clearly have no idea how lucky you actually are.😬

Aaron Walker8 said:Actually, the core of his point is simply that he can't stand the Republican Party. There are people like that in the States—all five of them.

Then you have the people who actually vote for that party regularly—the ones who ensure this "thieving, corrupt, total trash heap" wins elections and takes control of the government, both nationally and locally. They've won eight times since the 90s.

What does that say about the majority of people in America?

Honestly, it mostly just shows that you're struggling with basic math. Once you've mastered that, feel free to come back. At least learn the difference between a majority and a minority first.

Aaron Walker8 said:I agree.

The issue with the Republican Party is this—even though they claim to be the "nationalist" party—they have zero intention of actually finishing the job of building a unified American political identity. I wouldn't expect anything different from the Democrats.

Fixing that would settle a lot of our societal friction. As for which conflicts—it's the same old story, fighting over symbols and labels every single day—perpetuated by the exact same players you mentioned in your second sentence.

You seem to be leaning toward these very broad—and therefore quite vague—generalizations.

So, what would specifically need to happen to actually "forge an American political identity"? I mean, let's move past the "it should be done" or "one ought to" rhetoric: give me three concrete, actionable measures that must be taken right here, right now.

Nicholas King said:You seem to be leaning toward these very broad—and therefore quite vague—generalizations.

So, what would specifically need to happen to actually "forge an American political identity"? I mean, let's move past the "it should be done" or "one ought to" rhetoric: give me three concrete, actionable measures that must be taken right here, right now.

There's really only one thing:

1/ We have to adopt civic nationalism instead of the current ethnic model.

That means replacing every single part of the Constitution and our legal framework based on ethnicity. Instead, we use those laws to promote national unity, individual responsibility, and true social equality for all Americans—regardless of where their families came from.

The first step—for instance—would be overhauling citizenship laws.

If I’m following your logic correctly—and I might be oversimplifying here—you’re essentially saying "we should all just be Americans."

And I suppose things in this country would suddenly start looking up—but what exactly?

What is it, precisely, that this supposed "national unity"—and I use those quotes because I haven't yet met a politician who calls for "unity" without actually implying "everyone needs to think exactly like me"—would actually fix in America?

Aaron Walker8 said:I skimmed the rest, and honestly, it’s enough for me to make up my mind.

First off, your obsession with the Republican Party is totally blinding you to what's actually being said here.
Second—the Republican Party is basically the Ku Klux Klan (careerists, cronies, and converts).
Third—real "re-education" around here happened between 1945 and 1990.

So, you're seeing conspiracies everywhere where there aren't any. This Republican Party is the absolute worst of the US—run by a soulless, installed leadership with zero actual legitimacy, packed with careerists of every stripe who'd ditch their entire past just to grab two days of power. It's driven by shameless cronyism where people sell themselves out for $33 some local council seat or a $10 million bribe to push a national agenda. And it's all overseen by cliques of former communists dressed up as "defenders of national interests"—people who brought plenty of Bolshevik mentalities from the old days and are still peddling them today just to line their own pockets.

And about that "re-education" thing. Unlike before the 90s, when ideological indoctrination was REAL and TANGIBLE—forced upon you by INSTITUTIONS where you had no CHOICE, from youth groups all the way down to worker councils—over the last thirty years, the media has taken over that role. They "plant" specific ideas into the masses. The media pumps up whoever they want: from the "liberal" types back in '97, to the "clerical" crowd in 2015, to the "progressives" we see today. There is no institutional repression or forced indoctrination anymore, no matter how much you claim otherwise.

I wonder how many votes Andrej Plenković would have needed in those internal elections to actually hold "party legitimacy" in their eyes?

Apparently, 81% just doesn't cut it.

The forests here look more like the Amazon.
Hundreds of semi-trucks haul stuff through America or across the border, and neither the police nor customs seem to give a damn.
Foreigners are basically picking us clean under the guise of "renewable energy"—they get to dump their wind farms on us for next to nothing, and now we're stuck paying for them like they’re made of solid gold.
The Republican Party paved the way for this, with the Democratic Party playing a small part since they weren't in power for long.

Aaron Walker8 said:Actually, the core of his point is simply that he can't stand the Republican Party. There are people like that in the States—all five of them.

Then you have the people who actually vote for that party regularly—the ones who ensure this "thieving, corrupt, total trash heap" wins elections and takes control of the government, both nationally and locally. They've won eight times since the 90s.

What does that say about the majority of people in America?

The majority? Look, the Republican Party gets about 30% of the vote from those who actually show up to poll sites (and that turnout is usually only around 60%). That isn't a majority. The majority just can't get organized, or they don't care enough to oppose them, because there are a million other parties out there and the opposition is completely fractured.

Prefect Žinić: I think I’ve earned one more term

He actually stated he’s running for a third term as prefect: "Based on everything I’ve accomplished over these last seven years, I believe I've earned another mandate."

"I don't see any scandals here. I've already addressed all of that. Everything was done strictly according to the law and regulations. There are certain ongoing proceedings which, I suspect, might even be resolved ahead of schedule." He added, "Between my thirty years in the party and my work since the start of the American War of Independence—from post-war reconstruction to today—I have always worked for the common good. People recognize that," he said.

Honestly, these people have no shame. It seems like once they finally leave politics, they can't find jobs anywhere else. They are either completely addicted to the lifestyle or, perhaps more likely, they just find things too comfortable there compared to the private sector—good pay, zero actual effort required.