It still baffles me that the party that wraps itself in the American flag and calls themselves "Patriots" seem to have no problem what so ever in letting a non-elected immigrant run the country.
I think your optimistic side is right, pressure from the masses works. There are 100's of examples from all over the world and from all parts of the past. The thing is that it doesn't work fast. It takes time and commitment to make those in power feel the pressure.
we now live in a world where people's attention spans have been eroded and our comfort level (for most) is just good enough that we aren't going to move out of it unless things get really dire.
I think it will happen, but unfortunately I don't see it happening until things get worse.
Most people are shareholders.
This doesn't play out in the data. Analysis of the Fed data found that the lion’s share of these gains went to the richest 1 percent. This elite group owns 54 percent of public equity markets, up from 40 percent in 2002.
Most people that work these in these large big box shops are not making enough to invest significantly in the stock market. Who are are the owners of these big box stores.
Also this idea all small business owners are some large conglomerate of self-righteous all for me fuck you doesn't play out over the larger population. Sure some people are but you are also making sound bad that someone that was successful with their small business shouldn't travel?
What do you think the owners of these large companies like target and walmart are doing with their profit? Not all of that is going to pension plans.
Also, this idea that big conglomerate stores are some how the savior of the free market is a weird hill to die on.
It really is that simple. Sure the big box stores hire local but the money doesn't stay local if there are no smaller shops. Their paychecks go to other large corporations that have their big box stores in the area. So no money actually helps the businesses but instead just enriches a small group of people that really don't give a shit about the people of the town.
This isn't a guilt trip to get you to buy local, this is the truth. It's been happening since the 80's starting with Walmart.
Small business can't compete on price but a good business will compete and win on quality. It means that their products will be more expensive and I get that some people will not be able to afford it. But for those people that have the means its a win-win for the business and the consumer.
Some small businesses have shady employment practices, so do large corporations and every sized business in between. This isn't a good argument not to try to buy more locally, but it is a good argument for better labor laws.
Basically, local Butcher baker and green grocer.
So local butcher's, bakers and green grocers somehow get a pass on possibly having shady employment practices?
Aren't you advocating then that people are taking from the pension plans of large grocery stores by buying local ?
Please if you have the opportunity to start buying from small businesses. It may be a bit more inconvenient and probably a bit more expensive but it is a great way to help out your neighbor.
Additionally the money you spend locally usually stays local and not go to a CEO or Chairman of the board that really doesn't need another vacation home in Italy or Aspen.
Two years on a can of fucking beans is still the most upvoted post.
This reminds me a time I passed this 20-something man on a trail in Utah. He was only wearing shorts, no water, no shoes and had a look on his face that I can only describe as "holier than thou enlightenment"
My first reaction when I saw him was to roll my eyes and judge the fuck out of him, then it occurred to me that my reaction was just another version of what I saw in him. So thank you random stranger for allowing me to see the bullshit that I carry in me. But seriously if you are hiking in Utah, wear shoes and take water with you!
It's a mental illness that is worshiped by an unfortunately large population of people.
DOGE is doing a great job!
The record breaking speed at which they are transferring money from the poor to the oligarchs is unprecedented in American history. Remember everyone to work hard, we have to make sure those poor billionaires get the money the deserve .
~/s~
The biggest mistake the voters made was thinking that their representative is in office to help improve their lives. In reality it was to improve their own stock portfolio, if they accidentally did something for the constituents that's just icing on the cake.
I think we are talking about leadership at different points of time.
The leader that America needs right now is someone to articulate and draw people together behind the idea of "Throwing the bums out" and in that context there is a large coalition of people that agree with that sentiment.
What happens after the bums are gone is where the in-fighting and purity tests start to take hold. But having the opportunity to argue about whether Leader A's policy of taxing the billionaires at 90% vs. Leader B's policy of 70% tax rate on them would be a welcomed change.
I completely agree that we can't blindly blame this on election fraud, that is a form of denial. Which I will admit is part of my Tinfoil hat rant above.
But if there are credible sources that are stating they have doubts about the legitimacy of the results there should be an investigation. Note, this isn't really about this past election, I know of no evidence that shows fraud only slight rumblings from "unknown sources" which isn't legitimate to me.
My concern is that the Stop the Steal movement, that was using weak or even made up evidence to support their cause has made future allegations less likely to be taken seriously.
One study by the First Street Foundation, a research firm that studies climate threats to housing, found that roughly 3.2 million Americans have already migrated, many over short distances, out of flood zones, such as low-lying parts of Staten Island, Miami and Galveston, Texas. Over the next 30 years, 7.5 million more are projected to leave those perennially flooded zones, according to the study.
All of this suggests a possible boom for inland and Northern cities. But it also will leave behind large swaths of coastal and other vulnerable land where seniors and the poor are very likely to disproportionately remain.
Very true and I'm really happy to see that it did work.
I was thinking more of removing trump and his lessor demons from power, or at least getting Congress to actually hold him accountable for his actions. That, I feel, will take a more sustained pressure from a large part of the population.