Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]

@Bratwurst Boy

I've come to reject the Israel is fighting our fight for us. No, Israel is fighting the fight for regional hegemony.

While it is a terrible and stupid idea to allow muslim Arabs into western countries en masse or with no consideration of probability to assimilate, it is also not good to label to entire Arab world as nothing but terrorists.

Instead, I think we need a re-calibration in our thinking. It'd behoove us to realize that Arabs are certainly of a different worldview than the west, but that they are also a diverse population with diverse self-interests. It is best to deal with these diverse interests individually than to lump them all together. It is also an error to think they are all terrorists-many Arab leaders are fighting against terrorism themselves.

We should recognize the complexity of the Arab world and make deals where we can and hedge off risks where there are risks.

As far as Iran and Hamas. No doubt they are onenin the same.

But, itnisn't Israel fighting Iran, the US is helping. I'm still not completely convinced of Iran's nuclear capacity being a real threat to US.

Yes, but the SU is no longer.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]

@Ironside

Israel a proxy of US. What does the US have to gain? How does Israelis regional engagements fit in with Trump's recent deals with Arab nations-seems to be contradictory to me?

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]


I think the better question is why do we support Israel and claim it's an indispensable ally?

What exactly does Israel provide for us, other than outlays of aid and opportunities to engage in war?

Over past few months, I've had a complete 180 on the notion that we are Israel's patsy. Bibi pretty much validated my newly acquired thinking that we are their patsy last week, when he was caught live saying the US does what Israel wants.

Novi, see if you can find some of the testimonies if former US military guys who were in Gaza for the food aid mission. Since you are not really a kill'em and let 'em die kind of guy, good chance those accounts will make your stomach turn.

The big question us USian need to ask, IMO, is what does Israel give us in return for our billions of dollars in aid and weapons? What American interests are at stake?

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]


You are speaking my language. Flat tax is best, IMO. And, I'm also on board with the vote=pay taxes thing.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]


But he wasn't talking about paying higher state or sales or property taxes, but federal taxes. Your point of cities in blue, or even red, states being stacked with billionaires is good- one of the main reasons any state has a higher amount of federal taxes per person is due to the amount of wealthier people living in it.

It is NOT a myth that the top 10% of earners pay 70% of federal income tax.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]


I don't think the answer to your question is proving the point you are trying to make. The only thing your question really proves is that wealthier people tend to live in blue states, which many democrats don't want to get out. They like to say the Republicans are the party of the rich, and they are the party of the common middle class man...or, at least, they used to.

But, what really makes your question almost moot is that federal taxes go toward federal spending, which does include subsidies to states for various expenses; so, to prove what you are implying-that red states mooch off blue state taxpayers-you need to look at how much federal subsidies go into state treasuries. When you do that, you see it has nothing to do with red and blue, but with population, federal facilities, and other stuff like indian reservations.

States collect their own taxes to fund their own expenses.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]

@Novichok

Finally...you came up with a good analogy.

Off-Topic / Random Chat Thread [620]

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Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]

@Novichok

Funny thing about reading this at this very moment is that I'm in a barber shop (no Novi, I'm not get my "hair" cut, my son is). The barber shop is run by latiinos. I'm sure 90% are not here legally. I should stand up and shout "bleed illegals". Haha.

Off-Topic / Random Chat Thread [620]

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Life / If you lived abroad, would you like to have a Pole as a neighbor? [93]

@Ajronsajdz

Is that still the case? I'd have to look up the data to verify, but for some reason I'm thinking there are currently more Poles returning to Poland than leaving. I could be wrong, though; which, of course, is rarely, if ever, the case.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]

@Torq

I completely agree. It is one of the reasons government is not the ideal party to help those in genuine need-they can't define who is and who isn't because they don't typically have contact with them, and if they do they must follow flawed and rather vague procedures, which means if you know how to game the system, you'll get what you want. Gaming the system is a cottage industry, I know this not by simply having heard the scheming with my own two ears but from bureaucrats who work for social security and human services. The system allows it.

The negative effect is a domino effect of negativity from the recipient down to the taxpayer and community. True need does exist, the question is who provides the best and most effective care for those in genuine need.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]

Your very narrow reductionist editorial seems to be focused on welfare for the poor. Entitlements are much more than that.

Social security and medicare are the two biggest, and they were paid into with the promise of future benefit.

It is my view, that for the sake of honoring these promises and making these entitlements healthy and sustainable some type of reform needs to happen. Same with welfare for the poor-it needs to be seriously reformed.

I personally spent a decade working with the poor and homeless, welfare is abused and it does have a deleterious effect on many recipients. There should be limitations and requirements with more stringent oversight. Eliminating the vast amounts of waste and fraud would give me resources to those who truly need it.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]

Like most: government payouts to those who meet the requirements. The big ones being social security, medicare, and medicaid.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]


While this is all good, we'll still have the mammoth issue of entitlements. We can (and should) cut fat, but we will still be underwater because of entitlements. You know of anyone who has an appetite to touch those?

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 17 [535]


I had a couple beers with him last night. He is a well-spoken guy with well-reasoned opinions. Sharp as a tack. I don't buy he's in his 80's-he's as spry and sturdier than most 50 year olds. Very personable. A good guy-you could even say he's a gentleman-but getting him to read poetry ain't gonna happen.

News / Polish-Russian war? Drones entering Polish airspace. [252]


I'm about the same but other way around.

I have about 1% trust in Putin, and exponentially less trust in Zelensky. Z has spent considerable effort in trying to get NATO/West directly involved, from what I can tell. Glad Polish leadership is showing cool heads. Although, it sounds like Paulina is ready to go full GI Jane.

News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 25 [1150]


I'd love to read more, but time to read more is scarce. I'm lucky to get an hour of personal reading time a day. One of the things that make me ponder early retirement.


Not sure about that. Besides, not everything done is for military terms-there's also political terms.

News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 25 [1150]


I'm not a Russia hater by any means, but I wouldn't say their victory is near. Seems like they are winning, but in a very laborious and grinding way. They win centimeters at heavy costs...or so it seems.

Seems like the only ones who have any semblance of desire to continue this SMO are those sitting in government offices and, probably, defense
manufacturing boardrooms.

News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 25 [1150]


He wrote A Midnight Clear, I see. Heard of that novel-never read it.

I'm amazed how some places gravitate to certain writers, musicians, etc. I went into a bookstore in Poznan years ago and was floored to see a pretty decent number of Don Delillo novels. Delillo of all people.


A lot of people are crazy about her work. Doesn't do much for me. I was forced to read Ethan Frome-not my cup of tea. I can see the writing talent, but the story had me crying for mercy.

News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 25 [1150]

@Torq

Never heard of William Wharton the novelist...Maf is right, some Americans don't even know who he is. 🙂

Off-Topic / Music Thread - part 2 [970]

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News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 25 [1150]

EDIT: Torqi just used the pronoun he so it's not Edith, although some photos of her may lead a contemporary mind to think she or he may have been suffering from some type of dysphoria.

News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 25 [1150]


Understandable!

I took a independent study course in university on Steinbeck. I had to write a 10 page essay for each novel. I started with Grapes of Wrath and commenced to writing my 10 pager on the migrant camp in Grapes of Wrath and how it represented a socialist/communist utopian state that was under attack by capitalist overlords. I basically condemned Steinbeck as a commie/socialist.

By the end of the course, I thought he was closer to a Chesterton Distributist than a socialist. Neither a capitalist fanboy or a commie.


😀. More like horrified glances and one glare of embarrassment.

As in Edith??!!

Off-Topic / Music Thread - part 2 [970]

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News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 25 [1150]


Because Steinbeck wasn't a socialist; at least, I keep trying to make that argument when it comes up.

The commies/socialist characters in In Dubious Battle , for example,are pathetic, self-serving, self-defeating, and destructive.


What do these acronyms stand for?


Unless evil and its utter void of good is considered. Then, it makes sense-complete sense. Although, it still remains stupid and depressing.


Good point. Shows that if reason doesn't manage the emotions, we become nothing but animals.


Make that two of us!


Very reasonable. I'm 57 and still wear them daily from May- September.

Off-Topic / USA News and Poland - part 16 [1071]


You've been talking about corvettes forever on this godforsaken forum....Time is short, just buy the damn thing.