Yeah, seems to be the carrot and stick approach. Biden provided the carrot a few years ago (subsidies for new US plants) and Trump is providing the stick (tariffs for offshore imports).
So we can prevent the next one. More stringent lab testing procedures are required in China. And, if not implemented, we can easily have a repeat event with a different pathogen.
It's a variety of factors. With the biggest one being leaders worried that burdening their own people would just get the entire thing canned. If you talk about cutting social programs or raising taxes, people are going to get pretty pissy real quick. Leaders want to give as much as they can, without having to entertain ideas like that. To not actually enter a war footing economically. Some countries have done more than others, Poland and the Baltics come to mind. They have known the horrors of Russia for a long, long time. And they have given quite a bit to keep those horrors as far away as possible.
There is, of course, the very real threat of nukes. Where if one doesn't boil the frog, the frog will lash out. Again, I think the pace is much too slow. Though, there is active talk of sending western troops to Ukraine and Trump has threatened to up the arms transfers and sanctions dramatically if Russia does not submit. It's looking like that might be exactly what happens as I don't see Putin backing down.
And to the point you directly bring up, there are absolutely people doing exactly that; people who want Russia to step on every caltrop possible instead of decisively forcing them to stop walking, thus inflicting less pain on Russia.
The reason is not singular, the reason is all of the above and many more.
Yeah, expanding on this and to use one of OP's examples: Sure, your brain isn't an all remembering book, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take active measures to improve on deficiencies. If you are forgetful, take better notes and refer to them when appropriate.
Food is quickly becoming out of reach of many Americans.
I'm not aware of any Americans worried their children will starve to death. Various housing and food assistance programs exist. Such apocalyptic language simply does not ring true.
One scummy way would be to have an artist friend paint you something. If you can get that painting appraised at a crazy high value and donate it to a valid charity, you can deduct it at the appraised value (I think, anyway.)
I would highly recommend against attempting tax fraud. The IRS does not appreciate it.
If you itemize deductions, whatever you donate will reduce your taxable income by the same amount. So, if you have $50,000 in taxable income and donate $1,000, that will now become $49,000 in taxable income instead.
The 2024 tax rates for a single (not married filing jointly) individual are below. In this case, that deduction would come completely out of the 22% bracket, ie, your $1,000 in donations will reduce your tax burden by $220.
Keep in mind the standard deduction for a single individual is $14,600. You can take this instead of itemizing deductions as described above, and it works the same as if you had itemized deductions up to that value. If you have deductions less than that value, take the standard deduction; if they are greater, itemize deductions. The standard deduction for married filing jointly is $29,200.
Do note, this only covers federal taxes, your state taxes may work differently.
It's also right at the end of the prior generation. Let's get Switch 2 release numbers in and compare to Switch 1 release numbers before we draw too many conclusions.
That said, the PC market has been overtaking consoles. Particularly since PC handhelds are a thing. Things like the Steam Deck are directly competing with Switch and (soon) Switch 2 sales.
BombOmOm @ BombOmOm @lemmy.world Posts 61Comments 1,745Joined 2 yr. ago
Yeah, seems to be the carrot and stick approach. Biden provided the carrot a few years ago (subsidies for new US plants) and Trump is providing the stick (tariffs for offshore imports).