Not much has changed in Washington DC the last several generations except the average IQ. It’s dropped recently and I blame lead

Shows the limits of an out of control capitalist county with minimal support to the vast majority of its population.

Probably some of both

My grocery bill is much higher than pre-pandemic. I don’t even notice the egg prices.

I for one look forward to the made up numbers: allowing me to be optimistic about the economy

Actually this cost a lot of time and money. Even today I have to take an extra step to see if master or main is use . Before it was standard.

Curse this

Because the argument is stupid. Much like pointers not being a good term to use because it’s rude to point. Or man pages being sexist.

The term confuses me in politics: it seems to have too many meanings; and even the agreed definitions are flexible.

Human reason is just an extra layer, not so important, except in its threat to existence to all life

Humans will procreate while falling into the chasm. It’s not that we are stupid, but because we are here now after 4 billion years of millions of ancestors in a row did the very same thing. It’s who we are as a group.

Alternatively, perhaps the shoes were winter boots that were meant to be worn with several pairs of socks or some kind of insulation. This theory, Penn writes, is supported by a preserved letter that refers to socks and underpants being sent to a soldier stationed there. Historians also know that archers from Syria lived at Magna, and it’s safe to assume that these men would not have been accustomed to the cold climate of northern England, he adds.

I think this is my favorite theory

I think that one downvote had a chip on their shoulder?

Historically, democracy only allowed free males who were land owners to vote. A minority.

In the last few generations the wealthy have come up with clever ideas to hold onto power while expanding the vote to the majority.

So, I think Democracy is defined by periodically changing some of the government by the voting of some people. And the votes must be counted in front of witnesses.

This is my definition of democracy only; and not me arguing for it, personally I don’t think it works well enough

Yes, as practiced it’s mostly theatrics and the working class does not take power due to many controls and mental conditioning.

Democracy gives the illusion of control.

But many of these countries are by definition democracies

Yes: As long as people can vote, kick the other government out, and replace it with worse, maybe better.

I think where the confusion lies at, is the very definition of democracy. Democracy does not mean good governance or even particularly fair treatment. It had nothing to do with socialism or helping the disadvantaged. It simply means it can be replaced using voting.

I think the democracies of the west are overhyped oligarchies; but they are democracies

One is a quickly developing powerhouse.

The other is a democracy. It’s main opposition party had promised to allow porn again and is wildly successful

It could have been worse. Could a Trump delegation actually be productive and not sabotage the summit?

The USA was not going to help after the orange menace gained power. It could have been worse other than non participation.

I’m grateful he did not send a delegation headed by the someone who doubts carbon dioxide exits. Or one who thinks climate change helps bring the second coming of Christ.

It’s like watching an online version of Brexit, without the referendum

Trump is terrible. His family is horrible no good people, and using politics to enrich family and friends is unethical.

That said, the only thing I see different from other presidents is less hiding and less being clever about the enrichment.

Which is a huge issue; because in my experience one can tell the level of graft in a government by using the visible crimes, usually small things. The actual crimes can be ten times more than the scandals. Like an iceberg

So when we see public crimes that are more often and more serious: that is a lot of new graft… tens of billions of USD at least

Users are funneled towards actions exploited by both politics and greed. Many have no choice.