Random Rants
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the argument can be made that we are essentially a 3rd world oligarchy when judged from the quality of life of the majority of our citizens.
I don't want to start a divisive argument here. I love very deeply a lot of my American friends (and that includes a lot of you), but if I never go to a large American town again it'll be far too soon. The desperate plight of the homeless is something that any 1st world country should be deeply embarrassed about. I find it tragic, appalling and jaw-droppingly uncomfortable in equal measures.
1,000%
And it is getting worse, and will get even worse. And the reaction of many of our people is… less than compassionate. Instead of reacting as Giles did, a lot of us dehumanize the needy and make life even harder for them. We are so stingy with our resources that we don't understand the concept of ROI when it comes to dealing with problems like homelessness and drug addiction. We just want them out of sight and out of mind without having to pay for it. That's not how this works...
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We just want them out of sight….....
There's the irony, they aren't out of sight…....
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I live in Missouri, a state where voters approved Medicaid expansion in August of 2020. However, Missouri also has a state government hell bent on denying folks access to Medicaid so they tried (unsuccessfully) to block it. The Missouri Supreme Court finally ruled unanimously that the Medicaid expansion was indeed constitutional in August 2021. Missouri is a mess, government-wise, and I’m ashamed of lots of the legislation being pushed by our officials.
@mclaincausey I agree with all you’ve said here. What I’m always trying to figure out is where did America’s callousness originate? It’s on display in how we’ve tackled the COVID crisis, civil rights, healthcare reform, homelessness, education…the list is endless. It’s all so disheartening. I keep coming back to the fact that our country is so young and was founded by people who were inherently risk-takers and had to be some degree of callous just to survive. Mix those character traits (and simple greed) with the embarrassment of resources we have and I guess it morphs into what we’ve become. And the thing is, I absolutely love certain aspects of the United States…but there are daily reminders we have a long way to go.
“Random Rant” achieved!!
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We just sweep them under the freeways here
We just want them out of sight….....
There's the irony, they aren't out of sight…....
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It could be that as I've aged my perspective has changed, but our rugged individualism seems to be ranging ever deeper into sociopathy over the years. But then again you think about how the country was established through murder, bad faith, and theft (this shouldn't be controversial to anyone familiar with our forebears' tactics against the natives), then slavery, then indentured servitude, then robber barons, and I think maybe we've just never been very nice to one another. What humanitarian features have been added to government (abolition of child labor, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, etc) seem to be rooted in an America that came and went, when the working class was united against exploitation, rather than being demonized against one another based on cultural issues that have little to no impact on our day to day.
I've probably already crossed the line on the forum's rules so I'll shut up now.
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We just want them out of sight….....
There's the irony, they aren't out of sight…....
Exactly, which speaks to the short-sightedness of Americans; we're not willing to spend money to deal with problems, so they become exponentially worse and ultimately more expensive… and we don't get the results we expected to magically appear based on doing nothing.
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What humanitarian features have been added to government (abolition of child labor, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, etc) seem to be rooted in an America that came and went, when the working class was united against exploitation, rather than being demonized against one another based on cultural issues that have little to no impact on our day to day.
This. Well said.
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Watch the documentary 'capital'. It very nicely demonstrates what has happened to the ownership of capital since the industrial revolution in Europe. Government's job, ultimately, is to protect capital and its owners.
How politicians, regardless of which country's population they suppose to represent, can own businesses or receive money from lobbiests with blatant financial motives is beyond me.
Many decades ago my grandad said to me 'where are all the statesmen boy?'. He was right, we just have career politicians on a trajectory from either university or big business.
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Shit, so sorrt Clint….
Random observation. It always amazes (appals) me that old treads do not seem to get picked up and removed in the USA. I am always aghast when travelling the freeways how much rubber is left lying around. It is clearly very dangerous, and thank god, that in this case, it was only the car that was damaged.
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Thanks Giles, could've been much worse and insurance is bearing the brunt of the repairs, although I'm sure our rates will be going up soon. You're right though, it's ridiculous how much trash and old treads get left on roadways in the states. Years ago while traveling early morning before the sun came up, I narrowly missed hitting a sofa which was blocking both lanes.
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Welp, visited my brothers family over the weekend before the end of my Christmas break, just got a call from him that two of his kids tested positive for Covid…home test just confirmed I also have COVID
Hadn't planned on on spending my anniversary tomorrow in quarantine…oh well ::) -
To hell with that @sabergirl Go nuts and enjoy your anni @Joberwocky Everyone’s gonna get it sooner or later. Omicrons like the pit bull of covids. It sounds scary but it ends up just licking your face.
