Trump's Tariff's impact on Gladiators [LOCKED DUE TO POLITICS]

[Greg_L]

I'll take Mexican food in California. BBQ is the one draw to texass, that's it. The weather blows, there are no beauty to the landscape, and it takes 8 hrs to get anywhere. And don't get me started on the dumbass freeways.

You're mostly correct. Texas does have it's pretty parts though. Anything west of San Antonio starts getting pretty nice. The Big Bend area is beautiful. But yeah, it's mostly a shitshow.

Sponsored

 

[BourbonRunner]

You're right, I apologize.

I have strong feelings against "if you don't like it then leave". No, I will not leave. I don't have to accept things I feel and/or know are wrong. I have a voice and a vote and I will not have anyone tell me to leave my country.

Hey man, good on you. And I get what you're saying. I don't like it when anyone says that regardless of the direction it's coming from, either. It's a cheap shot.

What I do have a problem with is the people that give up, tuck tail and run to another country who are of means to do so as if it's some sort of protest, especially celebrities. Who gives a rat's ass if Ellen goes to her farm in the Cotswolds until the political winds change back home? I'd like to her put her money where her mouth is and renounce citizenship. Now that's a protest!

The ones I loathe are the ones who forget we're all still Americans, yes, even the ones that disagree with you. The ones who use the misfortune of others as some sort of gotcha because they voted for the other guy. Those are sick bastards.

I don't disagree at all but that doesn't answer the question - what are all the low-skill people gonna do? Some people are just low-skill. So what are we gonna do with them?

Bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps. Seriously. Look at all the good it did. Thousands of out of work and undisciplined men with zero prospects got a shovel and a job and learned life skills. Our Natl and State parks, Hoover Dam and so much more across the country are the result. Added benefit- it created a large group of men already accustomed to quasi-military order more ready for military service than other civilians. (on the eve of WW2 people discount that aspect. There's a good writeup in a MD State Park about that very thing. BTW, built by the CCC. ) That could be done again but it would take massive buy in from all or an FDR-type near dictatorship.

Won't work for everyone but it could be the start of something big.

The other issue I think is we need to get to a middle ground again- without the immediate hyperbolic kirking out from the extremes. The 24 hour news cycle could use a knee capping but the money is just so damned good. So much that journalistic ethics has left the chat entirely. If it bleeds it leads, sure but the outrage engine is running hard. It makes Pulitzer's yellow journalism look like Dear Fucking Abby. Social media magnifies that and sends it out faster than we can comprehend. It releases our dopamine and BOOM. Outrage Engine in overdrive. Think about it- if random strangers talked to each other like that IRL there'd be a lot more broken noses and jaws.

We need to listen to each other and discuss things we disagree about like adults. Even if it's uncomfortable.

This thread has been a pretty good example of that.

 

[biodiesel]

Tennessee offers its residents free community college and funds it through a hotel tax, I think.

College Tuition is free in New Mexico to all New Mexico high school graduates.

 

[Greg_L]

Hey man, good on you. And I get what you're saying. I don't like it when anyone says that regardless of the direction it's coming from, either. It's a cheap shot.

What I do have a problem with is the people that give up, tuck tail and run to another country who are of means to do so as if it's some sort of protest, especially celebrities. Who gives a rat's ass if Ellen goes to her farm in the Cotswolds until the political winds change back home? I'd like to her put her money where her mouth is and renounce citizenship. Now that's a protest!

The ones I loathe are the ones who forget we're all still Americans, yes, even the ones that disagree with you. The ones who use the misfortune of others as some sort of gotcha because they voted for the other guy. Those are sick bastards.




Bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps. Seriously. Look at all the good it did. Thousands of out of work and undisciplined men with zero prospects got a shovel and a job and learned life skills. Our Natl and State parks, Hoover Dam and so much more across the country are the result. Added benefit- it created a large group of men already accustomed to quasi-military order more ready for military service than other civilians. (on the eve of WW2 people discount that aspect. There's a good writeup in a MD State Park about that very thing. BTW, built by the CCC. ) That could be done again but it would take massive buy in from all or an FDR-type near dictatorship.

Won't work for everyone but it could be the start of something big.

The other issue I think is we need to get to a middle ground again- without the immediate hyperbolic kirking out from the extremes. The 24 hour news cycle could use a knee capping but the money is just so damned good. So much that journalistic ethics has left the chat entirely. If it bleeds it leads, sure but the outrage engine is running hard. It makes Pulitzer's yellow journalism look like Dear Fucking Abby. Social media magnifies that and sends it out faster than we can comprehend. It releases our dopamine and BOOM. Outrage Engine in overdrive. Think about it- if random strangers talked to each other like that IRL there'd be a lot more broken noses and jaws.

We need to listen to each other and discuss things we disagree about like adults. Even if it's uncomfortable.

This thread has been a pretty good example of that.

Agreed, and well said. All of it.

We as citizens of one country used to be able to come together. Unfortunately it usually took some kind of disaster or attack, but we'd pull together somehow and make it work. That's gone. Just look at the fires in California. A certain subset of a certain partisan demographic takes tremendous pleasure in watching people's lives be destroyed simply because of who they are or where they live. They want to attach stipulations to federal aid. They want to blame and point fingers. But when a hurricane wipes out a Mississippi trailer park, they got their hands out. I don't think they realize how transparently shitty they really are. That's where we're at now.

 

[biodiesel]

Thats pretty much the way federalism is supposed to work. However, I have mutiple graduate degrees and live in Texas. Nothing wrong with your opinion, though I disagree with it, but unless you were being facetious, having an education doesn’t mean you don’t prefer lower taxes.

Agreed. I have a master's degree and would love to see the IRS abolished. I also advocate for ending the Federal Reserve.

 

[yoda13]

That’s awesome!

Edit: Guess I hit the wrong button…I was talking about free college in New Mexico.

 

[ttn333]

College Tuition is free in New Mexico to all New Mexico high school graduates.

I did not know that. That's great! Gonna start making plans to move there. Oldest is 7 years away. Lol

 

[yoda13]

We have become totally tribal as a country. I am not happy with strings being added to any aid for the California wildfires. That’s a catastrophe. I don’t care who is responsible, people need help, it’s time to step up, just like when a hurricane hits the South.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Agreed, and well said. All of it.

We as citizens of one country used to be able to come together. Unfortunately it usually took some kind of disaster or attack, but we'd pull together somehow and make it work. That's gone. Just look at the fires in California. A certain subset of a certain partisan demographic takes tremendous pleasure in watching people's lives be destroyed simply because of who they are or where they live. They want to attach stipulations to federal aid. They want to blame and point fingers. But when a hurricane wipes out a Mississippi trailer park, they got their hands out. I don't think they realize how transparently shitty they really are. That's where we're at now.

Thanks bud. Much appreciated.

To your second point: Usually we do. A common cause/enemy is a great way to put aside petty political differences and work together.

BTW: I know someone who said that of people in a red state after some natural disaster a couple years ago deserved it because of the way they voted. Inverse of yours. I dressed her down on the spot.

That type of thinking is toxic as hell.

 

[yoda13]

Show me some data about Texas, please. Our property values have gone through the roof with all the folks leaving California, fleeing the state, and coming here. I can’t speak about Florida.

 

[BourbonRunner]

We have become totally tribal as a country. I am not happy with strings being added to any aid for the California wildfires. That’s a catastrophe. I don’t care who is responsible, people need help, it’s time to step up, just like when a hurricane hits the South.

Yep. Totally.

Believe it or not, it's very common to have strings attached. The Feds will provide money in a disaster provided you do what they want. I was involved with a low level (comparatively) federal disaster declaration years ago, twice. It wasn't easy to get it in the first place and the requirements the Feds had in place to get it were byzantine and time consuming.

 

[biodiesel]

That’s awesome!

Edit: Guess I hit the wrong button…I was talking about free college in New Mexico.

I should have also added that it's paid by the Lottery. Funded By the Lottery, College In New Mexico Is Now Tuition-Free, Even For Part-Time Students - Public Gaming Research Institute

 

[biodiesel]

I did not know that. That's great! Gonna start making plans to move there. Oldest is 7 years away. Lol

It's a great state. Here's more information: UNDERSTANDING TUITION-FREE COLLEGE IN NEW MEXICO August 19, 2022

 

[yoda13]

It's a great state. Here's more information: UNDERSTANDING TUITION-FREE COLLEGE IN NEW MEXICO August 19, 2022

The Enchanted Circle and The White Sands region are my favorite parts of the state.

 

[Aj58]

One of the biggest problems here is our educational system. Almost Everyone comes out with a participation trophy, I mean college degree and a payment equivalent to a mortgage.

I have an AS, BS, and MS and honestly the content in my MS was embarrassing. It was just the universities way of convincing the student to go to school for one more year and get a MS at a discount. I was lucky enough to have an employer pay for it is clearly a money grab without a focus on turning out high quality students. Kids clearly did not understand the content, nor did they project work but all got degrees because the schools lose money when kids fail out.

While I’m also a fan of college sports I think it’s ridiculous kids have to take loans out to go to college but now some universities are going to be able to pay athletes up to $20 million. That money should just be reinvested back to help drive down tuition costs.

Kids coming out of school making less per month then they owe on student loans is certainly not good for the country.

Sponsored