JamesTeaKirk's recent activity
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Comment on Megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - May 16-17 in ~news
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Comment on Megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - May 16-17 in ~news
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentI don't wish to speculate on a social media forum. The concern is that an unprecedented amount of weaponry is being funneled into an unstable situation. There's the fact that Russia has nuclear...I don't wish to speculate on a social media forum. The concern is that an unprecedented amount of weaponry is being funneled into an unstable situation. There's the fact that Russia has nuclear armaments to think about as well. All of this is occurring while the U.S. is rationing vaccines and on the brink of an economic crisis (as usual). The United States has a robust history of intentionally prolonging conflict for political and monetary reasons. That may not be the case here, but I certainly doubt the intentions of our leaders.
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Comment on Megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - May 16-17 in ~news
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentNo thank you. I will continue to worry about both things simultaneously, as should everyone.No thank you. I will continue to worry about both things simultaneously, as should everyone.
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Comment on Megathread for news/updates/discussion of Russian invasion of Ukraine - May 16-17 in ~news
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentThe problem will not be the Ukrainian military, it will be one of the numerous Nazi-adjacent militia groups operating in and around the area. I don't know how you can't be concerned about this if...The problem will not be the Ukrainian military, it will be one of the numerous Nazi-adjacent militia groups operating in and around the area. I don't know how you can't be concerned about this if you're a U.S. citizen. We've done this routine before....
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Comment on Why America sucks at everything in ~society
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentThere are a lot of explicitly pro socialist videos on the channel along with numerous explicitly socialist hosts/guests. I think the issue is possibly more an issue of this video's execution than...There are a lot of explicitly pro socialist videos on the channel along with numerous explicitly socialist hosts/guests. I think the issue is possibly more an issue of this video's execution than it is an issue with the entire project.
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Comment on Why America sucks at everything in ~society
JamesTeaKirk LinkI'm glad to see this video getting some attention. It's frustrating how over-represented right-wing media is in all social media spaces. I think it's a mixture of the money behind them and the...I'm glad to see this video getting some attention. It's frustrating how over-represented right-wing media is in all social media spaces. I think it's a mixture of the money behind them and the easy to digest bullcrap they put out .
I think one of the more difficult obstacles for progressive policies at this point is in expanding the political will/imagination of the Democratic base and its leaders. The burden of arguing one's position is never pushed onto the centrist who is skeptical of progressive policies. Videos like this serve to dispel the attitude that maintaining the status quo is a neutral position.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
JamesTeaKirk LinkI'm currently reading Homage to Catalonia by Orwell and Gorilla and the Bird by Zack McDermott. I always have one political book for active reading, and something a little lighter for reading...I'm currently reading Homage to Catalonia by Orwell and Gorilla and the Bird by Zack McDermott. I always have one political book for active reading, and something a little lighter for reading before bed. I was not exactly prepared for Gorilla and the Bird; I'm moving through it very slowly as it's making me reflect on my relationship with my mother in a somewhat emotionally taxing manner.
I'm absolutely loving Homage to Catalonia; I've never read anything quite like this. It's a personal account of Orwell's time in the Spanish Civil War fighting with the anti-fascist unions. Orwell has a way of making everything a joy to read (even if it's 20 pages of confusing explanation of the various political parties in Spain or an extended rant about genital crabs in the trenches).
That being said, I'm trying to get through them as quickly as possible so I can start reading Al Franken's memoir Giant of the Senate. I found a really nice hardcover copy for 4 bucks on thriftbooks and it has really positive reviews which is rare for political books (at least in terms of the user-generated reviews on GoodReads).
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Comment on Tacoma police officer drives SUV into group of pedestrians in ~news
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentI think we can expect better judgement from the enforcers of law, no? No one (obviously, I hope) deserved to be murdered here and yet the officer chose the deadliest possible option in this...I think we can expect better judgement from the enforcers of law, no? No one (obviously, I hope) deserved to be murdered here and yet the officer chose the deadliest possible option in this scenario. If I "feared for my life" in this scenario, I would have been backing up immediately. I would also expect that I'd be catching a manslaughter and/or attempted murder charge if I decided to run a crowd of people down, but that's only because I'm not an elevated citizen (LEO).
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Comment on I wasted $40k on a fantastic startup idea (in medicine) in ~health
JamesTeaKirk LinkI'm unsure why you would try to sell this to individual practices. This looks like something a large multi-state healthcare company or someone who provides software to said companies would love to...I'm unsure why you would try to sell this to individual practices. This looks like something a large multi-state healthcare company or someone who provides software to said companies would love to throw money at.
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Comment on I made a laptop table in ~creative
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentWhile I do find it annoying that imgur wants to be a social media platform, you can still link directly to images which cuts out all that crap.While I do find it annoying that imgur wants to be a social media platform, you can still link directly to images which cuts out all that crap.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
JamesTeaKirk LinkLast.fm chart I've finally taken the time to seriously listen to some Aphex Twin and it's growing on me a lot (I know I'm like two decades late to the party). I'd be interested in any...I've finally taken the time to seriously listen to some Aphex Twin and it's growing on me a lot (I know I'm like two decades late to the party). I'd be interested in any recommendations people may have for artists that hit this same itch; I've especially enjoyed the earlier releases. Most of the artists I've seen compared to Aphex Twin tend to push too far into ambient soundscapes for my taste. There's something unique about the mixing, melodies, and sounds he uses that really captures my interest despite my usually being put off by ambient music. I think I'm really drawn to "industrial" sounds. I love when the groove of a track sounds like the pumping of a massive mechanical machine/factory like in Nine Inch Nail's "Reptile".
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Comment on For the people who want capitalism to be replaced by some form of socialism, why? in ~talk
JamesTeaKirk LinkMarx's central argument was that capitalist economies create certain patterns and trends that will necessarily cause the entire system to fall apart. It's not so much that Marxist thinkers believe...Marx's central argument was that capitalist economies create certain patterns and trends that will necessarily cause the entire system to fall apart. It's not so much that Marxist thinkers believe that capitalism should be dismantled, it's that they see socialism as a necessary and inevitable evolution of capitalism. You don't have a socialist society without a capitalist society as a starting point.
The Wikipedia page "Criticisms of Capitalism" has a really basic overview of this idea. If you want to start down a really deep dive of trying to understand Marxist theory, I would recommend checking out David Harvey's live read through of Marx's "Capital"
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Comment on How come Australia suddenly has billions of dollars to pay for welfare? in ~finance
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentI always find it interesting that the Republicans have been able to create this false understanding about Congress's ability to fund things while simultaneously cutting revenues at every chance...I always find it interesting that the Republicans have been able to create this false understanding about Congress's ability to fund things while simultaneously cutting revenues at every chance with little concern for "how they'll pay for it".
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The erosion of deep literacy
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~finance
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentStill don't understand where you're getting that from. From the article you posted:Still don't understand where you're getting that from. From the article you posted:
Indeed, prior shutdowns haven’t had long-term electoral implications. Republicans recovered on the generic ballot by February 1996, just a month after the final shutdown of that period ended. And in the elections later that year, they held onto their majorities in both the House and Senate. Clinton, meanwhile, recovered his lost support by March 1996. He would go on to easily win reelection later in 1996.
Basically, America put the same people who shut the government down back in office.
The 2013 shutdown tells the same story. Despite losing the blame game, Republicans jumped to a lead on the generic ballot by late November 2013 — their first of the year. In the 2014 midterms, they expanded their majority in the House and won back the Senate. Meanwhile, Obama continued a long-term decline in his approval ratings in the months following the 2013 shutdown, but recovered to his pre-shutdown approval level by April 2014.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~finance
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentI don't think I made a general statement about shutdowns. I asked why the Democrats don't employ shutdowns and you said that it is conventional wisdom that shutdowns are ineffective.I don't think I made a general statement about shutdowns. I asked why the Democrats don't employ shutdowns and you said that it is conventional wisdom that shutdowns are ineffective.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~finance
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentI was referring to the polling data being examined in the article you linked. The article mentions that part of the challenge in examining the efficacy shutdowns is the lack of "polling with which...I was referring to the polling data being examined in the article you linked. The article mentions that part of the challenge in examining the efficacy shutdowns is the lack of "polling with which to examine the political effects of prior shutdowns."
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~finance
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentOkay. It just seems like you're using the term "conventional wisdom" to suggest that I'm an idiot (which is fine, I'd just prefer directness over passive aggressiveness). I asked a question, it...Okay. It just seems like you're using the term "conventional wisdom" to suggest that I'm an idiot (which is fine, I'd just prefer directness over passive aggressiveness). I asked a question, it was answered, and I conceded the point. It was not "conventional wisdom" to me.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~finance
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentYeah I suppose I'm on a bit of a tangent and I lost track of the OP. I was responding to NaraVara talking about the pattern of Democrats being blamed for things and I brought up the Iraq war. I...Yeah I suppose I'm on a bit of a tangent and I lost track of the OP. I was responding to NaraVara talking about the pattern of Democrats being blamed for things and I brought up the Iraq war.
I think the stimulus bill is terrible but I agree with your point; It appears that the Democrats did what they could here.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~finance
JamesTeaKirk Link ParentI think we disagree about what "conventional wisdom" means. It seems like you're trying to suggest that I'm ignoring something obvious but the article you linked explicitly says that there is not...This is well known enough to be conventional wisdom
I think we disagree about what "conventional wisdom" means. It seems like you're trying to suggest that I'm ignoring something obvious but the article you linked explicitly says that there is not a lot of data to go on. Regardless it seems to be generally true so I concede the point about outright shutting the government down.
If you want to pretend that there are not nazi militia groups in and around Ukraine, that's your issue. I'm not a politician, it's not my job to skirt around facts to make you feel nice. That article is a somewhat ridiculous response to the overall topic we're talking about. Biden allowed desperately-needed covid relief to sink so that he could instead sign a bill sending an obscene amount of weaponry to Ukraine. Again, I'm not really making a value judgement on sending the weapons, but I don't really understand what point you're making with "at least he didn't send guided missiles that they would use to bomb Russian territory". And yeah, that would literally mean nuclear war so lets rejoice that FOR NOW, they aren't doing that.