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2 yr. ago

  • I was just interested to see what the reaction would be in this forum.

    I thought the politics here was progressive honestly. Now I don't know what it is.

    Clearly the joke appeals to the audience of The Daily Show, which is not insignificant in US demographics.

  • If only telling morons not to be morons was the solution to morons being morons.

  • Got the top row at Big Day Out here in NZ circa... 2004 or 2005 I think it was? Was pretty neat but the accoustics was so bad could barely hear anything.

  • When you're a psychopath of one description or another, who knows what might motivate you?

    Most of us normal people are content to be free to spend time with friends and family doing the things we love. Imagine if you couldn't give a shit about that, and that's basically the world's most successful people.

    Their lineages have spent recent human history honing capitalism to be the vessel for the freedom of their kind. Money buys you freedom from consequences most of the time. That shouldn't be possible.

    The internet opened up their world for us to see, and for a moment it looked like we might sieze control. Instead, we let ourselves be manipulates into thinking they do in fact give a shit, or at least if we tag along we'll be winners too.

    The names we know are the ones who court controversy for the thrill.

    Elon Musk is an excellent example. Whatever talents he has are moot next to his moral insanity. All he cares about is having a legacy, and achieving the things he wants. He just pays lip service to any real altruism. I mean, he's the last person who needs to preside over horrific working conditions. He even bans PPE because he doesn't like bright colors.

  • My idea is that you would as the recipient get to nominate a charity from a list of effective charities, as well as send a tip to whatever Lemmy instance you use. You get the little digital gold mark on your comment/post too naturally.

  • This. Sorry, I'd give you Lemmy gold if that were a thing.

  • I don't think you read the post.

  • Lmk

    Jump
  • 'Something' is what we abstractly call that which is both not nothing and has some significance to us beyond being merely anything.

  • Ironic how the reverse will never happen. Only the right-wing benefit from less people voting. It's such a shit asymmetry.

  • That's honestly just worse if true. How is this not criminal? He doesn't go to jail unless the state is what he's ripped off? You know, the one by the people for the people?

  • If you're poor though they just put you in jail while they figure that stuff out. If they figure it out.

  • Cries in New Zealand

  • My only hope is that people as morally insane as Trump are rare, and there may be a correlation between his sociopathic traits, and how seemingly incompetent he is.

    What this hopefully means in practice is that even though this time around he will surround himself with yes-men over which he will have more control, few of them will be precisely like Trump and so not immune to actual concern for the future, and to Trump's surprise will not all follow his insane ideas without question, as Trump clearly wants everyone to do. He can't rule on his own. He does need some people, and people needing people requires at least a semblance of regard for others.

    In this same way, even his stacked Supreme Court I think will still be likely to put America itself ahead of Trump and a victory that would make a mockery of their own institution, the constitution, and just general common sense.

    It's only a shred of hope, but one which might enable civil society to survive another Trump presidency, and if we're really lucky, avoid it.

  • I hope you're right. The fact all the polling data puts Trump at an almost 50% chance of being re-elected if allowed to run is not encouraging, and it's almost like the closer we get to locking him up (or out), the more popular he becomes.

    His followers lack critical thinking skills. But so does the overwhelming majority of the population. That was really my point.

  • I do. He needs to go to jail eventually, or at least be made ineligible to run for office, or both. But if law enforcement locked him up tomorrow I think that could be immediately destabilizing of American society and the ensuing riots could cause massive loss of life and destruction, if not all out civil war, frankly. The cult of Trump is not insignificant. I live in New Zealand, and even here I encounter Trump pariahs all the time. We are living in very interesting times.

    The asymmetry here is the most frustrating thing, but building things has always been harder than tearing them down. Dealing with Trump and the cult surrounding him, and the phenomena that actually made him possible in the first place (social media and the outrage and misinformation economy that has infected news media and the entire information space), is probably going to be the project that defines this decade, and that all other projects depend on for their success (like dealing with climate change). So it's one that if we fail, could set us back to the early 1900s or worse in terms of global societal cohesion. I don't think I'm being hyperbolic when I say this.

  • That's a very good point I've only just really let sink in. Trump not passing go and going directly to jail will mean chaos and collateral damage, perhaps globally. Things have to be done delicately for all our sakes unfortunately.

  • Absolutely, unless they're also drinking - but then weed may also be mitigating some of alcohol's worst effects. Alcohol reduces inhibition, while weed often causes anxiety. Alcohol increases propensity for violent behavior, while weed usually calms you down.

    It's also important to point out, it's still illegal for kids to be doing either if the things in the first place.

  • Make smoking around others outside or in public without other's consent illegal (i.e. you can complain to police if you don't like the smell), and introduce a rule you can only smoke on licensed premises (with smoking rooms) or at home.

    That's what some places have done with tobacco smoking. It is basically harassment or assault in my view to have people consume your second hand smoke and smells.

    Edibles on the outer hand, or if you create flavored vapes that don't smell much or travel far in the air, all good.

    Lack of creativity among conservatives is never surprising.

    Also it's already illegal for kids to do weed, smoke or drink.