Musk's Illegal Control of the US Government

[oblong]

sure, if you have a lot of debt then I think you should take care of that or at least not add to it.  Where I come from is this attitude from the likes of a Dave Ramsey who calls people stupid for not doing things his way.  Not everyone has the same goals in life.   I also understand for many it's a hobby and they enjoy playing around with it and learning.  There's no right or wrong answer.  I'm focusing on the judgement aspect.

Not unlike fitness instructors.  We have one who thinks its all about building muscle mass and 'getting better'.  For a lot of people in our classes they just want to move around, stay active, and be around people.  They don't care about moving up to a higher weight.  Mental health is just as important as what you can do physically.  Running too.  After the pandemic my goals changed.  I accomplished what I wanted to, 5K's in under a certain time, a couple of half marathons.  What I always aspired to was being able to just go out on a whim and run 7-8 miles.  I can do that.  I also don't deal with pain and all of that.  If my hammie is bothering me or I'm getting a cramp, then walk for a minute.  Better to run well while running than to screw up your gait and get hurt.  Running is your own internal game and only you can tell the difference when you need to stop vs wantng to stop.  Nothing beats the sensation of a finish line in a race.  

[Motown Bombers]

 

[romad1]

5 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

He seems like the sort of guy who has earned himself a lot of empathy.  

[Tiger337]

25 minutes ago, oblong said:

sure, if you have a lot of debt then I think you should take care of that or at least not add to it.  Where I come from is this attitude from the likes of a Dave Ramsey who calls people stupid for not doing things his way.  Not everyone has the same goals in life.   I also understand for many it's a hobby and they enjoy playing around with it and learning.  There's no right or wrong answer.  I'm focusing on the judgement aspect.

Not unlike fitness instructors.  We have one who thinks its all about building muscle mass and 'getting better'.  For a lot of people in our classes they just want to move around, stay active, and be around people.  They don't care about moving up to a higher weight.  Mental health is just as important as what you can do physically.  Running too.  After the pandemic my goals changed.  I accomplished what I wanted to, 5K's in under a certain time, a couple of half marathons.  What I always aspired to was being able to just go out on a whim and run 7-8 miles.  I can do that.  I also don't deal with pain and all of that.  If my hammie is bothering me or I'm getting a cramp, then walk for a minute.  Better to run well while running than to screw up your gait and get hurt.  Running is your own internal game and only you can tell the difference when you need to stop vs wantng to stop.  Nothing beats the sensation of a finish line in a race.  

I used to run to prepare for races of which I've done about 750 in my life.  Now, I don't race much because that kind of training beats up my body at my age.  I now run mostly to be healthy and because I love being active outdoors.  The good thing is I still like it now as much as I when I was racing every weekend. Maybe more so.  

[romad1]

48 minutes ago, oblong said:

sure, if you have a lot of debt then I think you should take care of that or at least not add to it.  Where I come from is this attitude from the likes of a Dave Ramsey who calls people stupid for not doing things his way.  Not everyone has the same goals in life.   I also understand for many it's a hobby and they enjoy playing around with it and learning.  There's no right or wrong answer.  I'm focusing on the judgement aspect.

Not unlike fitness instructors.  We have one who thinks its all about building muscle mass and 'getting better'.  For a lot of people in our classes they just want to move around, stay active, and be around people.  They don't care about moving up to a higher weight.  Mental health is just as important as what you can do physically.  Running too.  After the pandemic my goals changed.  I accomplished what I wanted to, 5K's in under a certain time, a couple of half marathons.  What I always aspired to was being able to just go out on a whim and run 7-8 miles.  I can do that.  I also don't deal with pain and all of that.  If my hammie is bothering me or I'm getting a cramp, then walk for a minute.  Better to run well while running than to screw up your gait and get hurt.  Running is your own internal game and only you can tell the difference when you need to stop vs wantng to stop.  Nothing beats the sensation of a finish line in a race.  

 

16 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I used to run to prepare for races of which I've done about 750 in my life.  Now, I don't race much because that kind of training beats up my body at my age.  I now run mostly to be healthy and because I love being active outdoors.  The good thing is I still like it now as much as I when I was racing every weekend. Maybe more so.  

The debilitation of age sucks.  I'm able now because of this softball organization I run get access to a Jugs machine that can feed me all the balls i would have loved to have hit when I was younger but because of this elbow thing or that back thing, its just not something where I can rip em like I would have done if I were in my 30s.   

I still love to be outside, coaching and running down fly balls with the girls but the arguments with my joints are louder and more one-sided. 

[LaceyLou]

2 hours ago, Edman85 said:

I think about that a lot too, but I come at it from the other angle. A lot of people drowning in student loan debt spending 5-10K a year on vacations seems like a bad move, especially in the context of the debt forgiveness.

I've never been big on vacations. They are a luxury. I never really got to go on many as a kid: dad worked long hours in the summer and we didn't have much money. As a result, I've never really been big on them as an adult.

I've known people who found ways to travel for a lot less-by staying in hostels, camping, couch surfing, etc. although it only goes so far. They still paid off debts a little later than they may have otherwise, but it was worth it for them. 

[chasfh]

4 hours ago, oblong said:

It reminds me of something I read over the weekend.  There was one of those personal finance tiktoks or reals debating a particular strategy over 30 years.  The difference was alleged to be about $100K by the time you are 65.  One of the commenters defended it as possible for people who "don't waste money on vacations and new cars".  

I'm thinking.... what's the whole point then?  There's a balance between planning for the future and the unexpeted and actually living your life in the present.   My kids are 24 and 21 and we've went on vacation every year since 2005.  If I invested that it would be well into six figures.  But at what cost? Would I be better off? I never understood this fascination with making wealth building an almost religious undertaking.  I know too many people who have died under the age of 70 for that to be my focus. I'm also fortunate enough to have enough to be casual about these things and still have something waiting for me in 11 years.  I understand that.  But I'm not going to sweat decisions i've made in the past to provide my family with entertainment and experiences.  

 

I kind of wonder whether this is a deliberate nod to its audience of mostly young and middle-aged people of modest means who don't have the money or family situations for vacations and new cars anyway? A way to make them feel smart or morally superior for engaging in delayed gratification, even though they practically don't have a choice anyhow?

To your point about wealth-building as a "religious undertaking": isn't religion itself, like wealth-building ideology, all about delayed gratification anyway? After all, the radio host Dave Ramsey is a vocal proponent of delayed gratification (although you can be sure he's not delaying his in even the slightest), and I hear all kinds of Christianity dog whistles any time I hear his show. I don't think it's an accident that they are linked with one another, even as it operates in the shadow of prosperity bible theology.

[ewsieg]

This segment is about 20 minutes long, but it's a good reminder why so many are angry with their government and why some are blindly following DOGE.

[Motown Bombers]

**** Jon Stewart. This guy came out of the woodwork after 9 years, attacked Biden relentlessly about his age, did his usual both sides schtick, said we would be ok under Trump, and now is hair on fire about Trump. He can **** all the way off. Ezra Klein too. 

[romad1]

37 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

**** Jon Stewart. This guy came out of the woodwork after 9 years, attacked Biden relentlessly about his age, did his usual both sides schtick, said we would be ok under Trump, and now is hair on fire about Trump. He can **** all the way off. Ezra Klein too. 

I didn't have much truck with Stewart either.   Seemed very obvious and common type of humor compared to others. 

[gehringer_2]

2 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

**** Jon Stewart. This guy came out of the woodwork after 9 years, attacked Biden relentlessly about his age, did his usual both sides schtick, said we would be ok under Trump, and now is hair on fire about Trump. He can **** all the way off. Ezra Klein too. 

I think Stewart did good work for the NYC first responders but other than that he's not a guy on my radar,  but there are things Klein gets right. His critique that we can't get anything built - housing, transit etc., to serve lower income people largely because progressivism has created too many costly rules and given too many people veto power over too many things is one that has a lot of truth to it.

Edited Tuesday at 03:31 PM by gehringer_2

[ewsieg]

2 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

**** Jon Stewart. This guy came out of the woodwork after 9 years, attacked Biden relentlessly about his age, did his usual both sides schtick, said we would be ok under Trump, and now is hair on fire about Trump. He can **** all the way off. Ezra Klein too. 

Oh whatever.  You're just upset someone that you thought was 'on your side' pointed out the obvious with Biden.  Both sides, hah!  

[Motown Bombers]

11 minutes ago, ewsieg said:

Oh whatever.  You're just upset someone that you thought was 'on your side' pointed out the obvious with Biden.  Both sides, hah!  

No he said America would be fine with Trump. 9 years and that ****er re-emerges like a cicada to tell us Biden and Trump are the same and we’ll be fine with either. Now, he’s hair on fire alarmed by Trump. 

[gehringer_2]

10 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

9 years and that ****er re-emerges like a cicada

Metaphor of the day award winner there.

[chasfh]

3 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

No he said America would be fine with Trump. 9 years and that ****er re-emerges like a cicada to tell us Biden and Trump are the same and we’ll be fine with either. Now, he’s hair on fire alarmed by Trump. 

I don’t remember hearing anything about this. Receipts?

[Motown Bombers]

28 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I don’t remember hearing anything about this. Receipts?

He said the country is not over if either wins and both will do bad things. He did a whole thing about Biden’s age and used the Hur report that mischaracterized Biden’s answers. 
 

https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/jon-stewart-daily-show-return-trump-biden-age.html

[ewsieg]

21 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

He said the country is not over if either wins and both will do bad things. He did a whole thing about Biden’s age and used the Hur report that mischaracterized Biden’s answers. 
 

https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/jon-stewart-daily-show-return-trump-biden-age.html

So you're letting someone else make the determination for you...got it.

I participate in both sides on this forum.  You know, I say Trump is actively trying to become a dictator.  I have issues with his foreign policy, his immigration policy, how he views checks and balances, how he thinks government should work for people, and his behavior as a whole.   And unlike Biden which I have some issues with him too, many of my issues aren't just his policies, but the illegal or at best, ignorance of the laws and norms that drive government as a whole. 

That's also why i've voted damn near straight ticket dem for two presidential elections now despite still believing the democratic party has a ton of flaws in their policies.

But I also voiced my concerns when Biden didn't even seem to realize he was in a debate on primetime TV once, so yeah, basically Trump/Biden must just be a toss up on who is worse.  With Both Sidsin' like that, lord knows I'm probably a shoe in to vote for Trump 3.0 in 2028.

[Motown Bombers]

2 minutes ago, ewsieg said:

So you're letting someone else make the determination for you...got it.

I participate in both sides on this forum.  You know, I say Trump is actively trying to become a dictator.  I have issues with his foreign policy, his immigration policy, how he views checks and balances, how he thinks government should work for people, and his behavior as a whole.   And unlike Biden which I have some issues with him too, many of my issues aren't just his policies, but the illegal or at best, ignorance of the laws and norms that drive government as a whole. 

That's also why i've voted damn near straight ticket dem for two presidential elections now despite still believing the democratic party has a ton of flaws in their policies.

But I also voiced my concerns when Biden didn't even seem to realize he was in a debate on primetime TV once, so yeah, basically Trump/Biden must just be a toss up on who is worse.  With Both Sidsin' like that, lord knows I'm probably a shoe in to vote for Trump 3.0 in 2028.

No, I'm not. Chas wanted a source where Stewart did his both sides and everything will be fine. This has been Jon Stewart's thing since the 90's. The stakes are different now than they were back then. I don't give a **** what you think about Trump or Biden, Jon Stewart can **** right the hell off for his both sides on Biden and Trump. I don't care if they had to stuff Biden like the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz, it would overwhelmingly be the better choice. The thing is, no one can actually say how anything was negatively impacted by Biden's age. Stewart used a right wingers report who mischaracterized Biden evading questions on the advice of his lawyers as cognitive decline. Tulsi, who's half Biden's age, forgot what happened a week ago on a Signal chat she was involved in. 

[CMRivdogs]

Dr Muskenstein's Monster is turning on him

 

[LaceyLou]

4 hours ago, gehringer_2 said:

I think Stewart did good work for the NYC first responders but other than that he's not a guy on my radar,  but there are things Klein gets right. His critique that we can't get anything built - housing, transit etc., to serve lower income people largely because progressivism has created too many costly rules and given too many people veto power over too many things is one that has a lot of truth to it.

You're partially right about the housing.... truth is there are a lot of people who say they want to have housing built for working class and poor people-as long as it's nowhere near where they live. It's an issue that often comes up in some of the Boston area towns with the highest rated schools. And these are supposedly the liberals.

And sadly, public transit is now viewed by many as a form of welfare, even though a well run transit system is one that benefits everyone.

[Tigermojo]

Just saw someone refer to him as Musky Ballsack.

[chasfh]

5 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

He said the country is not over if either wins and both will do bad things. He did a whole thing about Biden’s age and used the Hur report that mischaracterized Biden’s answers. 
 

https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/jon-stewart-daily-show-return-trump-biden-age.html

I do not agree that this opinion piece proves that Jon Stewart said the country would be fine with Trump, or its implied corollary that they are both the same. Stewart takes comic license to put across his frustration that Democrats are stuck in an old guard moment and that new leadership is needed, which is a valid and reasonable position to take, but it is a huge leap to conclude that means he believes that Trump as president is fine, or even that joking about their similarly superannuated ages is the same as both siding their policies and the effect they will have on the country. It’s simply not.

[Motown Bombers]

1 minute ago, chasfh said:

I do not agree that this opinion piece proves that Jon Stewart said the country would be fine with Trump, or its implied corollary that they are both the same. Stewart takes comic license to put across his frustration that Democrats are stuck in an old guard moment and that new leadership is needed, which is a valid and reasonable position to take, but it is a huge leap to conclude that means he believes that Trump as president is fine, or even that joking about their similarly superannuated ages is the same as both siding their policies and the effect they will have on the country. It’s simply not.

This is a direct quote from Stewart: “If your guy loses, bad things might happen, but the country is not over, and if your guy wins, the country is in no way saved,”

What bad things might have happened if Biden won? Surely they would not be on the same level as Trump, and the country, as we know it, is over because Trump won. It's just laughable that the only criticism of Biden was that he was hold, and cognitively declined based on a report from a right winger who mischaracterized his answers. Stewart never explains how Biden's age actually affected his ability as president and what exactly the new guard would do that the most liberal and progressive president in decades didn't do. It's the same both sides schtick that Stewart has been doing for decades. I watched it as it happened. This opinion piece I just read today after you asked for receipts. 

[chasfh]

6 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

This is a direct quote from Stewart: “If your guy loses, bad things might happen, but the country is not over, and if your guy wins, the country is in no way saved,”

What bad things might have happened if Biden won? Surely they would not be on the same level as Trump, and the country, as we know it, is over because Trump won. It's just laughable that the only criticism of Biden was that he was hold, and cognitively declined based on a report from a right winger who mischaracterized his answers. Stewart never explains how Biden's age actually affected his ability as president and what exactly the new guard would do that the most liberal and progressive president in decades didn't do. It's the same both sides schtick that Stewart has been doing for decades. I watched it as it happened. This opinion piece I just read today after you asked for receipts. 

I don’t see this as nearly the same as saying Trump is Biden is Trump. If I have to fault Stewart here, it’s that he didn’t have the foresight to understand that Trump would set about immediately destroying the country through chaos and confusion. To be fair, not many people outside of me were saying exactly that.

But to break down what he’s saying above, it reads to me as, the institutions are strong enough to keep this country alive even if Trump is elected, and just electing Biden isn’t enough by itself to save the country and make the Trump problem go away. Criticize Stewart for the first point as you like, but even you have to admit he’s right on the second point.

[CMRivdogs]