Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

ruggedjackal46 said:Sure you did, but let's be honest—that wasn't exactly a random thought that just popped into your head, was it? 🙂 After all, they always justify cutting off funding by crying about cronyism and government waste—an argument that holds water sometimes, sure, but often feels like a convenient smokescreen.

Now that I'm seeing the same old tired stories about corruption and wasted tax dollars everywhere, I’m starting to wonder what’s actually happening behind the curtain. Is it genuine reform, or is it just a cover for something else entirely? Privatization, political vendettas, or maybe just rerouting the cash to different pockets?

The reason that specific example came to mind is because I literally just read it five minutes ago in ZZ's thread, and his post wasn't even about cronyism, it was about something else entirely, so I realized after the fact that I brought it up for no real reason.

But look, let's talk about something that hits everyone, like those water bills, which aren't just an issue for small business owners but for every single person out there, where you see line items that spike your bill by 80% and they look like something straight out of a cartoon like Alan Ford. And then, wouldn't you know it, just two months after they jack up those rates, they hold a local public tender looking for some director for some totally made-up, nonsensical job title.
That's really what you were getting at with transparency, but it also ties directly into these fees that have surged way past anything remotely sustainable, and honestly, it’s the exact same deal when you look at the tax burden being placed on entrepreneurs.

Alex Brown50 said:Economic freedom isn't the same thing as a deregulated market—not even close. A totally deregulated market is basically just a playground for corruption by default, but hey, maybe people will actually realize that one day... hopefully. And look, I'm not a Republican or a Democrat voter—I haven't even touched a ballot in God knows how many elections. That's why I'm pretty sure you're just one of those folks falling for that whole "anti-establishment" nonsense from groups like Live Wall and Bridge.

That's exactly what I was thinking, so basically it's not the GOP-Democrat Coalition, it's not Bridge, it's not LIVE WALL AND BRIDGE, nothing works, nobody gets my vote, I offer zero solutions, I just sit here blathering away and criticizing everything.

Humanity really benefits from people like you, especially the folks who actually need help the most.

Do you even realize that even the capitalist you hate the most probably contributes way more to those in need than you ever will?

Can someone please translate this from amoeba to English?

ruggedjackal46 said:Nonprofit media outlets receive about $450,000 in annual funding. That amounts to less than a dollar per citizen every year. The reason this funding hasn't been cut isn't because of any strain on the federal budget.

Which brings us right back to the issue you raised: the total lack of transparency regarding how our tax dollars are spent. If roughly 40% of my paycheck disappears into taxes and payroll deductions, I want to know exactly where that money is landing, rather than having to play a guessing game.

You should have mentioned what you were curious about sooner...

Alex Brown50 said:Economic freedom isn't the same thing as a deregulated market—not even close. A totally deregulated market is basically just a playground for corruption by default, but hey, maybe people will actually realize that one day... hopefully. And look, I'm not a Republican or a Democrat voter—I haven't even touched a ballot in God knows how many elections. That's why I'm pretty sure you're just one of those folks falling for that whole "anti-establishment" nonsense from groups like Live Wall and Bridge.

Oh, please! As if they aren't already being hit with heavy-handed regulations! 👏 👏 👏 It’s almost funny how people try to argue that. Does it really make any sense to claim they're economically free when the red tape is this thick? Honestly, it’s just illogical! 🐔

I’d bet anything that you’re one of those people who thinks the Nordic countries are some kind of socialist paradise!

I cast my vote for Bridge for one simple reason: they disrupt the cozy little status quo maintained by the Republican and Democratic Parties. Don't get me wrong—I'm under no illusions about them either! But honestly, isn't there something deeply satisfying about listening to those party loyalists whine about how these outsiders are "getting in the way" or "don't know how to do the job"? I live for it!

James Anderson5 said:

You should have mentioned what you were curious about sooner...

an 18% tax cut

Justin James10 said:Oh, please! As if they aren't already being hit with heavy-handed regulations! 👏 👏 👏 It’s almost funny how people try to argue that. Does it really make any sense to claim they're economically free when the red tape is this thick? Honestly, it’s just illogical! 🐔

I’d bet anything that you’re one of those people who thinks the Nordic countries are some kind of socialist paradise!

I cast my vote for Bridge for one simple reason: they disrupt the cozy little status quo maintained by the Republican and Democratic Parties. Don't get me wrong—I'm under no illusions about them either! But honestly, isn't there something deeply satisfying about listening to those party loyalists whine about how these outsiders are "getting in the way" or "don't know how to do the job"? I live for it!

To be fair, Bridge actually doesn't know what they're doing. Back in the previous elections, their economic strategist was Mr. Lovrinović. And Mr. Lovrinović managed to hire 200,000 people into government and local administration jobs, for crying out loud 😂

But yeah, screw them all, including that clown Pernar, let them deal with it, it’s not like it matters much anyway.

Justin James10 said:Oh, please! As if they aren't already being hit with heavy-handed regulations! 👏 👏 👏 It’s almost funny how people try to argue that. Does it really make any sense to claim they're economically free when the red tape is this thick? Honestly, it’s just illogical! 🐔

I’d bet anything that you’re one of those people who thinks the Nordic countries are some kind of socialist paradise!

I cast my vote for Bridge for one simple reason: they disrupt the cozy little status quo maintained by the Republican and Democratic Parties. Don't get me wrong—I'm under no illusions about them either! But honestly, isn't there something deeply satisfying about listening to those party loyalists whine about how these outsiders are "getting in the way" or "don't know how to do the job"? I live for it!

Yeah, they're pretty regulated and definitely more "socialist" compared to the US. Doesn't matter how many mindless emojis someone throws into their half-baked, unfunny posts.

I voted for Bridge

Didn't even doubt it.

restlesssurfer97 said:To be fair, Bridge actually doesn't know what they're doing. Back in the previous elections, their economic strategist was Mr. Lovrinović. And Mr. Lovrinović managed to hire 200,000 people into government and local administration jobs, for crying out loud 😂

But yeah, screw them all, including that clown Pernar, let them deal with it, it’s not like it matters much anyway.

Like I said before, I’m not holding my breath, especially considering how the Bridge party first came together. They still need to learn how to function as an actual political organization.

However, I wonder if everyone realizes just how much the entrenched bureaucrats are whining right now? These are people who already had their positions carved out, and suddenly, this group is coming along and messing up their entire setup. If nothing else, that alone makes them worth watching, don't you think? ☕

On the bright side, they at least claim they want to dismantle this broken, cronyist, socialist-style system we have. As for how much concrete action they’ll actually take? Well, that remains to be seen.

Alex Brown50 said:Yeah, they're pretty regulated and definitely more "socialist" compared to the US. Doesn't matter how many mindless emojis someone throws into their half-baked, unfunny posts.

I voted for Bridge

Didn't even doubt it.

There he goes! I knew it—one of those people who thinks every Nordic country is some kind of socialist paradise for his little clique. 🤦

Does that really show us just how much of an expert you are?

Workers of the world, unite! 🧐

Man, this guy actually thinks those Nordic countries have totally deregulated markets—that's why they're so "economically free." And he gets a vote in this... unbelievable.

Alex Brown50 said:Man, this guy actually thinks those Nordic countries have totally deregulated markets—that's why they're so "economically free." And he gets a vote in this... unbelievable.

Does this person honestly think those Scandinavian nations are socialist? He certainly has a lot to say about it!🤦

Alex Brown50 said:It’s honestly wild how many people have such a shallow, childish view of things—especially those who act like they’re these gritty realists who "get" real life and aren't fooled by the news. They fall for this whole fairy tale about a corrupt elite vs. the free market, or some fantasy about being non-ideological and outside the system, plus all that isolationist nonsense... It's the exact same crowd that thought certain fringe populist movements were the answer back home.

If political correctness is supposedly so toxic and government interference is such a disaster, then why do the most decent, livable countries in the world actually lean into social sensitivity and market regulation?

And look, let's say we're living in an era more like the early days of industrial capitalism (instead of our super messy, globalized reality) and maybe the idea that Trump will use his business savvy to create jobs isn't totally crazy. You don't need to be a political genius or have deep social insight—just a basic grasp of recent history tells you what aggressive industrialization (plus militarization) and slashing regulations at the expense of social safety nets actually does. And we're talking about 2016 here, not the 1930s or the colonial era.

Even if he manages to spark some economic growth, that kind of policy is just destructive in the long run, both at home and abroad. Let's not forget, the guy basically promised a massive military budget hike alongside cuts to healthcare. God forbid we deal with this "entrepreneurial engineer" mindset where the whole world is viewed through nothing but spreadsheets and economic indicators. Honestly, a single lying, bottom-tier member of the hated political establishment is less dangerous than someone like him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irqi...el=PBSNewsHour, so if you have no clue what that is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmE9...=RussiaInsider

James Anderson5 said:

You should have mentioned what you were curious about sooner...

🤣🤣

Justin James10 said:Does this person honestly think those Scandinavian nations are socialist? He certainly has a lot to say about it!🤦

Look, you're being an obnoxious troll, but surely you aren't illiterate enough to miss how I used quotes around 'socialist'—plus, I was speaking relatively compared to the USA. Honestly, the US today is way more socialist than it used to be. If you want to find places where capitalism actually looks like its original, totally deregulated self, you have to look at certain parts of Africa. In the developed world, capitalism is always regulated and modified—partly thanks to those (socialist) fights for workers' rights. Sadly, the younger generations in America have been totally brainwashed on this stuff.

Alex Brown50 said:Look, you're being an obnoxious troll, but surely you aren't illiterate enough to miss how I used quotes around 'socialist'—plus, I was speaking relatively compared to the USA. Honestly, the US today is way more socialist than it used to be. If you want to find places where capitalism actually looks like its original, totally deregulated self, you have to look at certain parts of Africa. In the developed world, capitalism is always regulated and modified—partly thanks to those (socialist) fights for workers' rights. Sadly, the younger generations in America have been totally brainwashed on this stuff.

While you're being a rude troll, I assume you're literate enough to notice I never claimed they have a deregulated market. Their market is far less regulated than our own American version of socio/crony capitalism wilderness. Because, heaven forbid, their wealth is actually the result of a highly developed market economy (which funds all the things our socialists dream about), rather than the failing systems you see in Cuba, Venezuela, or North Korea (though even Cuba is slipping).

It's clear your brain has been washed if you believe socialists were the ones who achieved everything in the West. The welfare state was actually a political invention of Otto von Bismarck, though brainwashed folks love to believe Scandinavian countries are socialist—and as you likely know, he was anything but a socialist. And do you know who actually inspired his "trick"? Socialists? Not quite; it was none other than Rockefeller. And no, he wasn't a socialist either! 🙂

Yeah, right—comparing the Scandinavian model to Bismarck. So, stripping away social safety nets and gutting public ownership to kickstart this predatory kind of capitalism is basically "socialism" in action? Sure. Let’s just deregulate everything even more, and maybe we'll be even more "economically free" than the Scandinavians while our local businesses just wither away. I'm sure the free market will take care of everyone perfectly. Honestly, this "crooney" capitalism... man, these market fundamentalists are just straight-up illiterate. I can't recall who said the root cause of fascism was recklesness. Just pure brutality, stupidity, and being totally unrefined. Spot on. Anyway, gotta go—I feel like my brain cells are dying trying to talk to you.

Alex Brown50 said:Yeah, right—comparing the Scandinavian model to Bismarck. So, stripping away social safety nets and gutting public ownership to kickstart this predatory kind of capitalism is basically "socialism" in action? Sure. Let’s just deregulate everything even more, and maybe we'll be even more "economically free" than the Scandinavians while our local businesses just wither away. I'm sure the free market will take care of everyone perfectly. Honestly, this "crooney" capitalism... man, these market fundamentalists are just straight-up illiterate. I can't recall who said the root cause of fascism was recklesness. Just pure brutality, stupidity, and being totally unrefined. Spot on. Anyway, gotta go—I feel like my brain cells are dying trying to talk to you.

Good grief, does this guy honestly believe that Scandinavian countries operate on deregulated markets? Does he truly think that’s why they’re considered "economically free"? And he actually has a voice too! Isn't that something?."

I'm telling you, I wasn't just nitpicking over a slip of the tongue. Relying on that kind of logic is a dead end—it’s really only an argument used by people who have absolutely nothing intelligent left to contribute to the conversation. But then again, what else can we truly expect from a socialist? 🤦 What a total rogue you are! 🐔

Look, I feel bad saying this—but there’s a difference between just forgetting a word and looking straight-up illiterate by misspelling stuff in basically every single sentence. Just let me be.

It's not even "croney," you poor soul—it's just "crony." You finally managed to hit edit, huh? Anyway, take care.

Look, Alex Brown50, I don't feel the need to go back and edit every single little thing on this Reddit thread. How can you try to make such a big point when you're making the exact same mistakes yourself? 😒 Honestly, I couldn't care less, yet you seem to be getting all worked up over nothing! 🤣🤣🤣

Just a total hypocrite, just like any of those Clinton voters. 🐔

Reading your posts, Alex Brown50, I can't help but feel you have a slightly inflated sense of self. It seems like you think anyone who doesn't see eye-to-eye with you is just slow, and that all those people who voted for Trump are somehow to blame for everything... you've already mentioned like twenty times that Trump supporters are just clueless and weak.

I guess I just don't get why you won't just be honest about what's really on your mind. Maybe you could just say it, man—that people who aren't particularly bright or those who make poor choices shouldn't be voting at all? Since we're just on a forum, you might as well be real.😁