American Nightmare

Plus: Curtis Sliwa hit piece, China's military parade, Florida's vaccine mandates, and more...

The American dream is dead, people tell pollsters: "A new Wall Street Journal-NORC poll finds that the share of people who say they have a good chance of improving their standard of living fell to 25%, a record low in surveys dating to 1987," reports The Wall Street Journal. "More than three-quarters said they lack confidence that life for the next generation will be better than their own, the poll found."

And "nearly 70% of people said they believe the American dream—that if you work hard, you will get ahead—no longer holds true or never did, the highest level in nearly 15 years of surveys."

Interestingly, though inflation has abated from its recent highs in 2022, people's sense that it's affecting their bottom line has not eased: "The share saying rising prices were causing them major financial strains, at 28% of all respondents, was identical to a Journal-NORC poll in March 2023, when inflation was at 5%, higher than the 2.7% of today. The share saying inflation caused them minor strains, at 32%, was also unchanged."

Sometimes, people's self-assessments of what they can and cannot do are delusional: the Journal quotes a 40-year-old married father of one (combined household income: $350,000) who says their four-bedroom townhome is too small for them to be able to grow their family. It's possible, not to overly extrapolate, that Americans are increasingly pessimistic, with unreasonable expectations: For example, mortgage rates might not return to the historically low levels seen in 2020 and 2021, so some people may be anchored by that, believing those rates to be possible again. But tariffs and labor market uncertainty, rising rents and insurance prices, lingering financial hits from the era of horrible inflation, and reduced savings rates over time also have created really tough headwinds for so many people.

Regardless, the belief that upward mobility is no longer within reach has already created more favorable conditions for the growth of socialism and populism, so the reality of it in some ways matters less than the perception.

"Manhattan Project" for babies: "The group behind Project 2025 wants a 'Manhattan Project' for more babies," reads a Washington Post headline from yesterday, referencing the Heritage Foundation (forevermore known as "the group behind Project 2025," apparently, because that's the maximally sensationalist framing).

"The conservative group behind the Project 2025 governing playbook for President Donald Trump's second term is set to propose sweeping revisions to U.S. economic policy meant to encourage married heterosexual couples to have more children," reports the Post. "It hopes to steer funding for child care away from programs like Head Start and toward individual families—specifically to encourage parents to stay home and rear children. And the group wants Trump to issue executive orders requiring all proposed policies and regulations to 'measure their positive or negative impacts on marriage and family'—then overhaul or end programs that score poorly."

All of this is The Washington Post's attempt to report on the executive summary of a forthcoming paper from the conservative think tank on "restor[ing] the American family." We don't have much detail on what specifically is being proposed, and there are some planks to which libertarians will surely object (the think tank's opposition to "extraordinary technical solutions," including egg freezing, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, and genetic screening,  as well as "custom lab-created babies on demand"). But mostly, Heritage identifies a clear problem—historically low birth and marriage rates—and offers a list of possible solutions, like changes to the tax code and the way welfare is structured, that could alleviate burdens on families. No need for all that handwringing.

---

Scenes from New York: Apologies for the Roundup disruption; I moved from Queens (the best borough) back to Brooklyn (ughhhhh) and have been attempting to get a household up and running while slightly too pregnant to function.

---

QUICK HITS

• Mayoral race watch:

Zohran loves the idea of being able to run on "Trump likes him," insofar as it relieves him of the burden of defending insane ideas (and convincing gullible New Yorkers that he's abandoned some of them). https://t.co/pOdpeAFh0u

— Rafael A. Mangual (@Rafa_Mangual) September 3, 2025

• I think this Politico feature is supposed to be a hit piece, but it makes me like Curtis Sliwa—and his absurd Sliwonics—even more.
• "Florida will end all state vaccine mandates, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday," reports Axios. "The state already leads the southeast in non-medical vaccine exemptions among kindergartners, and the rollback could mean fewer school children are inoculated against deadly viruses like measles and polio. Ladapo, a well-known vaccine critic, announced his plans to end the practice via an administrative rule at a news conference in Hillsborough County, comparing vaccine mandates to 'slavery.'" Some mandates are written into state law, though, and must be changed by legislators, not just the Department of Health.
• Inside China's most recent military parade showcasing new weapons technology.
• Europe bans gel nail polish, which makes me feel very Luanne Platter.

Luanne the libertarian? pic.twitter.com/AXZ4p5utIT

— Liz Wolfe (@LizWolfeReason) May 20, 2021

• "The 'epidemic of loneliness' can be understood as being caused by standards increasing faster than the actual capabilities of our search technologies. The following is a common observation about the problems associated with dating apps: These apps give people, and especially women, the illusion that they have far more options than they actually have," theorizes Vlad Tarko at EconLib. "These days, dating apps can feel like an avalanche of options and overtures, much of which is garbage, but people also receive a fair number of legitimate messages. All this can create the impression of an abundance of potential partners. This perceived, but partially illusory, abundance causes many partner seekers to raise their standards to unrealistic levels. This leads to a failure to actually find someone in a reasonable period of time, and to a disillusion with the existing search technologies themselves. When standards outpace search, the lost trust in the existing search technologies understandably leads to a sense of despair and the belief that loneliness is inescapable." (I disagree with his belief that traditional community is overrated, but think his diagnosis of the search/standards problem is pretty good.)
• This fills me with rage:

It is galling and shocking the number of people on the left who are so cavalier about violence against some religious people.
The assassination plot on Alito, etc, led to MSM anchors saying "quit whining that your rulings had consequences."
The trans murders at a Tennessee… https://t.co/O50z2Ya1Jl

— Tim Carney (@TPCarney) September 3, 2025

• lol

There are pre-Sumerian religions less dead than "defund the police" https://t.co/xuHcB8ODVW

— David Weigel (@daveweigel) September 3, 2025

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

The wolf has returned.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Don’t be a sheep.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

I'm baaaack.

[Randy Sax]

Don't know if that's her maiden name or husband's name. To be fair, it'd be hard to change a name like Wolfe.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

If she has a son I hope she names him Tim Bur

[mad.casual]

Get him automatically put on every government list possible with 'Lone'.

[Jefferson Paul]

That was actually pretty good!

[EISTAU Gree-Vance]

“You sendin’ the Wolfe? Sheeeeit, negro, that’s all you had to say.”

[diver64]

"Wait for the wolfe who should be coming directly"

[Fist of Etiquette]

And "nearly 70% of people said they believe the American dream—that if you work hard, you will get ahead—no longer holds true or never did, the highest level in nearly 15 years of surveys."

Well, the dream was if you work hard your children and grandchildren will do better. Since we're now saddling them with debt...

[Longtobefree]

. . . or killing them
. . . or not having them

[Spiritus Mundi]

...or cutting off their private parts

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

I am sure they will think the balance of huge debt (and taxes and/or inflation) vs no functioning genitalia is worth it.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Wait wait wait! I thought The American Dream was cheap Chinese shit? Therefore we can blame Trump’s tariffs!

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'The American dream is dead, people tell pollsters: "A new Wall Street Journal-NORC poll finds that the share of people who say they have a good chance of improving their standard of living fell to 25%, a record low in surveys dating to 1987," reports The Wall Street Journal. "More than three-quarters said they lack confidence that life for the next generation will be better than their own, the poll found."'

Let's see. Media tell people how terrible life is, over and over. Then media ask people how life is, and report that people say life is terrible.

Did I get this right?

[But SkyNet is a Private Company]

Yes, much like the booming economy under the dynamic Joe Biden Presidency

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Well, Democrats like to tell everyone that all aspects of life are terrible, and the world is about to end (again), so Bidenflation was just a minor issue.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

A lot of it is because the cost of things have flipped from where they were 45 years ago when the country was in a similar economic situation. Back then, basics like housing and transportation were relatively inexpensive, but consumer goods cost a ton. That's where the habit of people buying shit like ramen and powdered milk to get through the week for meals came from, or Gen-Xers being told by their parents to heat up a TV dinner because they were both working.

A TV in 1980 might cost $500 for a family that was making $25K a year combined, so they'd use it until it broke for good ten years later instead of buying 2 or 3 to put around the house. But even with high interest rates, a typical mortgage would still probably be about $500-700 a month, while apartment rent would be in the $200 range. It wouldn't be hard to find an okay used car for $500, even with the shit that American car companies were putting out then.

Now, consumer goods are cheap as hell, but housing and cars are fucking expensive, and food hasn't ever really come down from the 2021-22 spike. Eating out or going to the theater can be a $75-100 affair for a family these days, and even fast food is going to run you nearly $20. That's why Chili's is killing it with their 3 for Me meals now, that were mostly a novelty before COVID.

[NoVaNick]

Well said. We did not get a color tv until 1977 and it had dials, remember those! Probably weighed what a small car does now, but lasted until 1990 or so.

The things you mention have gotten so much more expensive, along with college tuition, because of finance. Car and student loans and mortgages are all securitized now so you pay indirectly what might seem reasonable until the interest and fees kick in. All but the very wealthy can’t pay cash up front anymore.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

I'm going to speculate here that housing was relatively less expensive in part because people lived in more parts of the country. Something about everyone trying to live in the same neighborhoods in the same metro areas might just drive prices up. And of course houses are twice as big (outside of NYC and WEF-inspired sleeping cubicles) with more stuff.

And cars do cost more, again because of much more elaborate content. But they do consistently last longer so cost per year of ownership is lower for people who can resist buying a new ride every other year.

[Chuck P. (Now with less Sarc more snark)]

But they do consistently last longer so cost per year of ownership is lower for people who can resist buying a new ride every other year.

Um, what? I bought my first car in 1988. Spent $700 for a 1970 VW Beetle. Drove it for 5 years and sold it, still running, for $700. Modern cars do not last longer.

[Marshal]

Same style cars (for example sedans to sedans) do not cost more when adjusted for inflation. They appear to cost more because so many purchased are large SUVs which as a category replaced small compacts over that period.

The same is largely true in housing. The median home today is 60% bigger than in the 70s, and that's at a time when the average household size is materially declining.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

And cars do cost more, again because of much more elaborate content. But they do consistently last longer so cost per year of ownership is lower for people who can resist buying a new ride every other year.

That really depends. Those older cars didn't have a ton of electronics and safety shit shoved into them. The balance of car design and functionality probably peaked from the mid-90s to late 2000s, before Obama and his team of malicious retards started piling on regs that led to overengineered laptops with a car built around them. A lot of the models that you see go for 300,000 miles or more are from that particular era.

[EISTAU Gree-Vance]

“Did I get this right?”

Close. Don’t forget the unfair, sir. Everything Is So Terrible And Unfair!

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

It hopes to steer funding for child care away from programs like Head Start

Putting those lil bastards further into debt.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

How much does monocle polishing pay?

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Pay?

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Gruel is pay.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Ok, half a bowl for the most polished in a day, quarter bowl for the rest. Gotta keep em motivated.

[Ersatz]

hmmm, grueling work then

[Fist of Etiquette]

The group behind Project 2025 wants a 'Manhattan Project' for more babies...

We're going to import Nazi scientists to teach Americans how to raw dog.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

This also explains the importation of all those rapists I’ve been hearing about.

[Quicktown Brix]

Blonde hair, blue eyes and bareback

[Social Justice is neither]

So Operation Coat Hanger instead of Paperclip?

[Spiritus Mundi]

What could possibly go wrong?

[mad.casual]

It's either that or impregnate the Hell out of the Japanese.

The whole idea does sound like a Manga/Hentai plot.

[Medulla Oblongata]

"especially women ...This perceived, but partially illusory, abundance causes many partner seekers to raise their standards to unrealistic levels."

There's a reason why the Husband Store joke works.

https://jokesoftheday.net/joke-The-Husband-Store-8211-Still-True/2017032149

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

The patriarchy strikes again!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Apologies for the Roundup disruption; I moved from Queens (the best borough) back to Brooklyn (ughhhhh) and have been attempting to get a household up and running while slightly too pregnant to function.

NO EXCUSES JUST GET IT DONE.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Barefoot in the kitchen!

[But SkyNet is a Private Company]

Why not move to somewhere in real America ?

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

In the primitive wilderness outside NYC? Jersey?

[Anomalous]

No sleep till Brooklyn.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Is that where trees grow?

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Just one.

[Kungpowderfinger]

Homegirl got tired of fixin’ macaroni and collard greens at Christmas.

[Idaho-Bob]

Interestingly, though inflation has abated from its recent highs in 2022, people's sense that it's affecting their bottom line has not eased:

I wonder if the constant bombardment from the press (Reason) about tariffs destroying all things good has anything to do with "people's sense of".

I live in a poor state and life is good.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

I just cant believe the abatement comment. Eric assures me that the cosr of everything is the highest ever due to tariffs. Which one is lying?!?

[mamabug]

It's more the reality that inflation significantly outpaced annual pay raises for about 3 years. What used to cost $50 now costs $75, but that same $50 of pre-tax income has only increased to $53. Even if it is subsiding, the average American is still feeling the impact from the defacto pay cut.

[Idaho-Bob]

American is still feeling the impact from the defacto pay cut.

Bullshit. These people have iPhone 16 Pros, order Door Dash, use Uber, Amazon, video games, drink, smoke, and finance cars they can barely afford.

Living within their means is lost on most.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

This.

Doesn't help that rampant consumerism is pushed at libertarian sites.

The entire responsibility portion of libertarianism is lost.

[Quicktown Brix]

You're both right.

[Zeb]

How is that bullshit? People still feel it, and it is a real thing, even if they spend like idiots. I live very much within my means, and still have to spend considerably more on necessities than 5 years ago. It doesn't cause me immediate distress or affect my lifestyle, but I could be saving more if not for the blind idiocy of the past 5 years (and more).

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Because...

The economy has never been a stable entity. Pretending or living life like it is creates things like the Fed and attempts to control economic stability. Consumers buying on impulse adds even more to the instability they complain about.

Yes a lot of the decisions have been made have been fucking terrible, but demanding economic stability just leads to more power for them to fuck up again later.

[Zeb]

I don't disagree. But I still contend it's not bullshit to say that people feel the effects of the Covid policy driven inflation. We're talking about people's perceptions and the actual economic effects, which includes all the dumb spending decisions people make.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Which is why I dont support the equal access banking and credit laws which force the responsible to subsidize the risk of the irresponsible.

Part of liberty is letting people fail.

[Chuck P. (Now with less Sarc more snark)]

Just for reference -

I spend less per month for phone/text/internet that includes the latest and greatest devices for the whole family than I spent on local and long distance service in 1990.

I just signed up for 500 GB internet (with wireless router) for $28 / month. AOL dial-up was $24.99 in 1997.

$2000 will get you a high end computer, just like it did in 1988 when I bought my first PC (no hard drive).

Housing, cars and food are all 4X what they were in 2000. That is where the money goes.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

I spend less per month for phone/text/internet that includes the latest and greatest devices for the whole family than I spent on local and long distance service in 1990.

Is that inflation-adjusted? I did the math and my cell phone bill is about as much as my landline was on an i-a basis. This was back around Y2K during the long-distance calling wars, so my long-distance was done using the 1-800-Collect/10-10-321 type numbers if I did have to make a call for whatever reason.

[diver64]

Every week I go to the local supermarket and see women buying frozen pizza, hot pockets, soda and so one wearing nice clothe with jewelry and an IPhone whip out a flag waving EBT card to pay for the junk food then cash for the case of beer and carton of cigarettes. It's not a problem of money, it's no impulse control combined with free money.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

It's more the reality that inflation significantly outpaced annual pay raises for about 3 years. What used to cost $50 now costs $75, but that same $50 of pre-tax income has only increased to $53. Even if it is subsiding, the average American is still feeling the impact from the defacto pay cut.

People forget that, save for gas, prices never really abated in the 1980s when the worst of the inflation had ended. What happened is that everyone spent the rest of the decade trying to catch their salaries up to the new price levels. We're going to see the same thing over the next few years.

[Zeb]

That's a good point. But it only makes it worse that they have been stealing our money through inflation for many decades.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Yeah, people think 2% a year isn't that bad, but 2% on increasingly higher prices is still devaluing the currency.

There might have been a lot of inflation/deflation cycles before the Fed, but at least you'd be pretty confident that, if the supply line was stable, a shirt that cost you $10 in 1870 was probably going to cost $10 in 1910. The overall cost of stuff really didn't shift all that much unless you lived in a remote area, which affected the demand side of things, and the explosion of rail lines in the late 19th century mitigated a lot of that.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Zohran loves the idea of being able to run on "Trump likes him," insofar as it relieves him of the burden of defending insane ideas...

At this point I have to think Trump is getting terrible politicians elected on purpose.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

He does have the ability to make his enemies always choose the 20% side of an 80/20 issue. This includes their candidates.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Deliberately going full retard is one type of "resist".

[diver64]

The only idea that retard communist has that is halfway correct is government run grocery stores. He didn't complete the thought. The stores should be run by the government and only stock basic food stuffs like rice, potatoes and so on. These are the only stores the EBT cards work in and you have to provide proof of citizenship along with a picture ID to enter.

[Medulla Oblongata]

When you lose MSDNC and Morning Joe...

https://x.com/devorydarkins/status/1960339347787714588

WATCH: Even MSNBC's Joe Scarborough is baffled that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson won't just give a straight answer when it comes to the safety of his city.

This is difficult to watch.

https://x.com/ThePatriotOasis/status/1962826913577345453

HOLY SH*T: Joe Scarborough BLASTS democrats for Chicago's CRIME-riddled Labor Day Weekend.

"I think JB Pritzker should do something radical; he should pick up the phone and call the President because the 'nothing to see here' move isn't working."

"The Mayor talking about we are going to protect people's dignity, well, protect their LIVES!"

[Use the Schwartz]

RE: JB Pritzker

"Let me have men about me that are fat; sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; he thinks too much: such men are dangerous".

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Interestingly, though inflation has abated from its recent highs in 2022, people's sense that it's affecting their bottom line has not eased'

Stupid peasants want prices to return to 2019 levels. And government spending, too.

[diver64]

People would like that the enforced inflation never happened but they don't understand what deflation would mean.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Florida will end all state vaccine mandates...

They know the world can't survive an autistic Florida Man.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

I see what you did there.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

"Trump likes him,"

Trump probably does love him some Mamdani, what with all the taking control of private companies.

[But SkyNet is a Private Company]

You blithering imbecile, ZM is running on “Trump likes HIM (Cuomo)”

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

But their policies are so much a like? Mamdani really must get over his racism against orange people.

[Social Justice is neither]

Your thinking is so superficial and flaccid I wouldn't doubt you genuinely believe electricity comes from the wall and good comes from the store with nothing beyond that allowed to permeate hour smooth brain.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Good comes from crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Good comes from opposing lying piles of slimy TDS-addled shit like you.
Fuck off and die, asswipe.

[diver64]

No, he is pretty correct with the Conan line. It is the best thing in life.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Do explain the difference from Donald Trump taking golden shares of US Steel and state ownership of a grocery store?

Public ownership of private companies is evil and stupid, whether its Obama. Trump or Mamdani.

[Nobartium]

That's easy: once you open the company to publicly traded shares, you invite whoever has the biggest money to take ownership.

Bad news, the feds have the most money.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Except Trump on behalf of the gov didn't buy those shares on the open market, just took them.

[Homer Thompson]

the public can't purchase "golden shares"

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

"...Donald Trump taking golden shares..."

Fuck off and die, TDS-addled lying pile of shit.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Don't tell him that the golden shares shit is a fake narrative that hasn't been confirmed. He'd look silly. None of the announcements claim they were golden shares. Just leftist sites attacking trump (while ignoring amtrak, gm, and other past examples)

Commerce Sec Lutnick even said they were not voting shares.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

"President Trump has secured a perpetual Golden Share as part of Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel"

-Howard Lutnick

https://x.com/howardlutnick/status/1933924525265043774

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

But go ahead and tell Sevo he's muted. He's too tiresome.

[VinniUSMC]

SaGN, you really need to take a break from the internet. Your utter hatred of Trump clouds everything you do. It's almost as bad as the alcoholic retardation of sarcjeff. Get some help.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Both him and STG were broken when their failed models of the economy declared tariffs would collapse the economy and they didnt. They both broke at that point and refuse to admit their failed models are broken.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Your upset that I proved another of your lies wrong and now your spreading more. Please cite any predictions I made on "tariffs would collapse the economy".

JessieAOC be telling lies.

https://youtu.be/D1KDnV9l2z8?si=iQIt5QbAqyhxMnzf

[Longtobefree]

"Apologies for the Roundup disruption; I moved from Queens (the best borough) back to Brooklyn (ughhhhh) and have been attempting to get a household up and running while slightly too pregnant to function."

Never apologize Mister, it's a sign of weakness.
Nobody likes a whiner.
Why move if you don't like the place you are moving to?
Where is the daddy? Let him set things up.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Some mandates are written into state law, though, and must be changed by legislators, not just the Department of Health.

That's a defeatist attitude that belongs in the past.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Hmm, did those state laws claim federal dollars?

[Spiritus Mundi]

Interestingly, though inflation has abated from its recent highs in 2022, people's sense that it's affecting their bottom line has not eased...

Tell me you don't understand how inflation works without saying you don't understand how inflation works.

[Medulla Oblongata]

This bear was not in a trunk. Man in "furry" or mascot-like bear suit challenges real bear in his yard. Real bear leaves without mauling the man.

https://www.thedailyacorn.com/fur-real-bizarre-standoff

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

The bear didn’t want to catch Covid.

[Mother's Lament]

The bear didn't want to catch monkeypox.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

"The group behind Project 2025 wants a 'Manhattan Project' for more babies"

Are we finally going to (re)learn where babies come from?

[Vernon Depner]

They come from men or women who have identified as birthing persons.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

The problem is, getting those “birthing persons” to get together with “non-birthing persons” with whom they are somewhat compatible. You can’t have 90% of them chasing only 10% of the other.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Harems.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

That leaves a good portion of the young men without wives or sex. It’s usually a bad mixture unless you want to ferment rebellions and bloody revolutions.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

What if we chop their nuts off...oh, wait!

[Vernon Depner]

That's why they fuck boys.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

I moved from Queens (the best borough) back to Brooklyn

You were supposed to move out of NY, not within NY.

[Mother's Lament]

Kind of like moving from Sodom to Gomorrah.

[Zeb]

I think I'd be happy to have Liz as a neighbor, but in general, I'm happy to have city people stay in the city.

[D-Pizzle]

She's like your typical abused wife, "NYC really loves me, but it's just misunderstood, and besides that, sometimes I make it mad (bitching about closed playgrounds, etc..), so I bring it on myself."

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Apologies for the Roundup disruption; I moved from Queens (the best borough) back to Brooklyn (ughhhhh) and have been attempting to get a household up and running while slightly too pregnant to function.'

I guess people who think NYC is paradise have to settle some times.

[Mickey Rat]

So she went from unfit place to live to slightly more unfit place to live.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Brooklyn's slightly better than Queens, though, isn't it, depending on the neighborhood? I can't imagine Liz and her husband deliberately downgrading unless they were having financial issues.

[Zeb]

They both have very nice and very shitty parts. Brooklyn probably beats Queens on the absolute, but no way Liz (or anyone who isn't very rich) can live in those parts of Brooklyn.

[Fist of Etiquette]

These apps give people, and especially women, the illusion that they have far more options than they actually have...

Hahaha, hoo boy. Try writing this prior to the Trump Era 2.0.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Why do you want to shatter the dreams of fat chicks?

[Vernon Depner]

As long as a fat chick has a Section 8 apartment, she can always find a Black guy who will move in with her.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Revenge for their chairs

[mad.casual]

AFAICT, the only thing that definitively *doesn't* give women the illusion of far more options than they already have is a black eye.

Makeup, alcohol, rom coms, romantic fiction, credit spending, yoga pants, consumer products colored pink or pH balanced or otherwise formulated for a woman...

Maybe a mirror. Maybe.

[Mickey Rat]

"Interestingly, though inflation has abated from its recent highs in 2022, people's sense that it's affecting their bottom line has not eased: "The share saying rising prices were causing them major financial strains, at 28% of all respondents, was identical to a Journal-NORC poll in March 2023, when inflation was at 5%, higher than the 2.7% of today. The share saying inflation caused them minor strains, at 32%, was also unchanged.""

Though the rate of inflation has returned to more normal levels we are also dealing with an expanded baseline for prices due to the previously high rate of increase that people were having a hard time dealing with before. You are essentially saying "why are you complaining now that prices you already cannot pay for are rising slower now?"

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Remember those “I did that” Joe Biden stickers?

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

The ones Joe got with his ice cream after every BM?

(Remember when we joked about Biden's senility? And then we found out the truth was much, much worse? And that Democrats were even bigger lying assholes?)

[Mother's Lament]

I for one am flabbergasted that seven months into Trump's reign this still hasn't been completely fixed and that prices that skyrocketed under the Biden junta haven't gone back to pre-2020 levels.

[Quicktown Brix]

I am flabbergasted that seven months into Trump's reign he is vigorously pursuing unconstitutional policies to continue to raise prices above the 2022-2024 levels.

[Chupacabra]

Where's Retard Finder when we need him/her.

[Quicktown Brix]

Always right next to you, pointing?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Someone with your position on public safety really isn't in a position to be calling anyone else a retard, retard.

[Quicktown Brix]

Hmmm, maybe I'm the retard finder.

Anyway... What is my position on public safety? That I don't want the armed forces doing civilian law enforcement? That I don't want the US to emulate El Salvador?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

You're the one who made a flip comment about getting used to shootings because you didn't like that extreme measures were needed for extreme situations. Don't get pissy just because your retarded words get shoved back in your face.

And the US won't need to emulate El Salvador if you don't let your gangbanger buddies act like retards in the first place.

[Quicktown Brix]

Yeah, it's like arguing with assholes online. You get used to it.

So, what is my position on public safety?

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Cmon, he has more retarded positions than that.

Open borders.
60% overhead is fine for government contracts.

But yeah, his never crack down on criminals because crime has always existed is extra retarded. I give you that.

[Quicktown Brix]

You're wrong on all 3 positions you ascribed to me.

Hmmm, maybe I'm the retard finder.

It's confirmed.

[Marshal]

Notice the whataboutism. The standard practice is that all criticism of non Reps must be re-directed to criticism of Reps.

[Quicktown Brix]

It's nothing to do with republicans and everything to do what's happening now that can still be changed.

[Marshal]

It's nothing to do with republicans and everything to do what's happening now that can still be changed.

And yet when those opportunities arise under Dem administrations you had no such motivation. It seems your desire to change these bad economic policies when they are "happening now" waxes and wanes in a pattern exactly matching whether the President is a Dem or a Rep.

What a coincidence considering this has nothing to do with Reps.

[Quicktown Brix]

And yet when those opportunities arise under Dem administrations you had no such motivation.

That's not true. I bitched about Bidenomics, especially the Inflation Production Act, but apparently no one noticed because I was singing with the choir then. The only thing special about complaints against republicans is the attention and pushback it gets here.

[Marshal]

I bitched about Bidenomics, especially the Inflation Production Act, but apparently no one noticed because I was singing with the choir then.

No you didn't. I reviewed the comments for the first 15 Reason articles mentioning inflation after Biden was elected, and another 15 2 years later. As expected you made zero comments criticizing inflation caused by Biden.

The most substantive comment was this thread where all the usual suspects coordinated to turn a comment critical of Biden's spending into a criticism of Trump. This is what left wingers call whataboutism except when they are doing it.

Brandybuck 3 years ago
Flag Comment
Mute User
A Republican Congress that wants to cut spending? Did I die and go to heaven last night? Amazing. And it's led by McCarthy of all people. I swear I've been kidnapped by aliens and flown off to their planet or something.

Four years of a Republican White House, House, and Senate, and every time I suggested cutting spending I was told by the commentariat to shut the fuck up.

But we'll see if they are serious or just pandering again.

Comment hidden because this user is muted.
Unmute
Show username
sarcasmic 3 years ago
Flag Comment
Mute User
Republicans only want to cut spending when they can't. Soon as they have the power to actually pass legislation they spend as much as Democrats.

Quicktown Brix 3 years ago (edited)
Flag Comment
Mute User
There are 20 years of proposals for deficit reduction from the right.

My dog barks at the Amazon delivery guy from inside; teeth showing and hair standing up. He runs and hides if he’s outside when the delivery comes. Either way, we get our package.

Quicktown Brix 3 years ago (edited)
Flag Comment
Mute User
Remember this tweet?

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

Budget Deal is phenomenal for our Great Military, our Vets, and Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! Two year deal gets us past the Election. Go for it Republicans, there is always plenty of time to CUT!

10:30 AM · Aug 1, 2019

[Quicktown Brix]

Wow. That's a little creepy.

I didn't post here until 2022. But OK. Update us when you get done reading through the rest of the comments because you checked like .01% so far.

[Marshal]

That's a little creepy.

Standard left winger reaction: when caught lying pivot to claim being proven wrong is illegitimate.

[Quicktown Brix]

Here you go. One of my first posts here.

Quicktown Brix 3 years ago
Biden Forgets That Workers Are Consumers Too

Best case scenario: the government is taking our money (in the form of higher prices) and giving it to steel workers and the steel industry.

It's redistribution of wealth; planned-economy-thinking, no different than making tax payers pay off student loan

https://reason.com/2022/09/05/workers-are-consumers-too/?comments=true#comment-9687813

[Mother's Lament]

"unconstitutional policies to continue to raise prices above the 2022-2024 levels"

Such as? (please say tariffs)

[Quicktown Brix]

Yes, tariffs and mass deportation.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Mike doesn't know that the Feds goal is 2% inflation even as he defends against firing the incompetent Lisa Cook.

So he can declare victory if prices ever increase despite that being by plans he supports.

Again, his form of economics is just like his form of climate science.

[Quicktown Brix]

Mike doesn't know that the Feds goal is 2% inflation

But I do.

even as he defends against firing the incompetent Lisa Cook.

But I never did.

Again, his form of economics is just like his form of climate science.

Is there an Austrian school of climate science? Have I ever said a single word about climate science other than I'm not that interested in it?

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

"...into Trump's reign..."

Fuck off and die, TDS-addled asswipe.

[Spiritus Mundi]

the Journal quotes a 40-year-old married father of one (combined household income: $350,000) who says their four-bedroom townhome is too small for them to be able to grow their family.

Clearly the american dream to become increasingly entitled is still alive and well.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Hey, in some parts of NYC $350k is barely enough to eke by. And only four bedrooms? The nanny, cook, and driver have to share a room!

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

The TEMU Bugatti.

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/i-bought-bugatti-temu

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Where do young people like this get the money for the building full of toys and an extra $30k to piss away on Chinese crap cars?

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

YouTube.

I still dont get how they make so much.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

11 million subscribers, with what looks like avg views around 500 thousand per vid. The guy is doing better then Cuomo, and youtubers don't have to employ union labor and alot of other overhead networks do.

[Mother's Lament]

There are successful Youtubers with millions of subscribers whose entire business outlay was their cellphone.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

So in the perfect future they will all post videos and subscribe to each other? I hope by then humans have become virtual beings.

[Quicktown Brix]

Outside of politics, youtube is wonderful.

Although AI is becoming an issue.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Anyone else sick of those damn AI voiceovers that mispronounce common words?

[Quicktown Brix]

YES.

[Fist of Etiquette]

This perceived, but partially illusory, abundance causes many partner seekers to raise their standards to unrealistic levels.

IN OTHER WORDS fatties demanding over six-feet-tall lads are not going to be able to also filter out a certain race. The bigots.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Some mandates are written into state law, though, and must be changed by legislators, not just the Department of Health.

1. Don't try to force people to take an experimental drug if you don't want blow back. Fuck Joe Biden.

2. Shouldn't all vacine mandates come out legislature and not some unelected bureaucrat, if your going to have mandates?

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Shouldn’t all mandates be eliminated?

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

if your going to have mandates?

Yes, I'm against, but double so when it comes from the Executive branch.

[Spiritus Mundi]

Whatabout a mandate on no mandates?

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Especially if Trump is POTUS, right?

[Mother's Lament]

Orange man bad.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Orangeman didn't do the vaccine mandate, that was Joe Biden - like I said Fuck Joe Biden.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

ELIMINATING GOVERNMENT MANDATES IS FASCIST AUTHORITARIANISM!!!

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Those mandates deserve due process.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Europe bans gel nail polish, which makes me feel very Luanne Platter.'

For everyone? No exclusions for trans-tweens? And older, balding trans-tween identifiers?

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

They just created a huge black market opportunity.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Market color is the most important thing?

[mad.casual]

Okay. Black eyes, mirrors, and makeup bans.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

How the ICIG elevated the Ukraine call fake whistleblower but buried the russiagate ICA whistleblower.

https://justthenews.com/accountability/watchdogs/intel-watchdog-did-not-act-russiagate-whistleblowers-repeated-reports

Pretty damning release of documents.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

What part of Orange Man Bad do you not understand?

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

This is just funny.

https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/09/03/trump-just-humiliated-every-obama-and-biden-staffer-on-linkedin-with-one-move-n4943291

Changes WH picture on linked in to his mugshot so anyone with WH on their bio has Trump on it.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Damn, that was funny.

[Mother's Lament]

That’s what you get for using LinkedIn.

[Spiritus Mundi]

It is galling and shocking the number of people on the left who are so cavalier about violence against some religious people.

They won't be happy until everybody is as miserable as they are, or dead.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Sounds like a cult. A nihilistic doomsday cult.

[Fist of Etiquette]

It is galling and shocking the number of people on the left who are so cavalier about violence against some religious people.

Yes, when did the left become so prone to political violence.

[Spiritus Mundi]

*mostly peaceful violence

[Bertram Guilfoyle]

1861?

[Mickey Rat]

September, 1793?

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Sounds like a Frankie Bastille and the Four Guillotines song.

[MK Ultra]

1828?

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

10,000 BC?

[Dillinger]

pyramids are racist cultural appropriation.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

The recent 7 deaths of AfD candidates in Germany is raising questions.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/german-elections-thrown-immense-chaos-after-wave-afd-deaths-rises-seven

[Mother's Lament]

Weird. Four suddenly died of health problems that weren't life threatening, one committed "suicide", and nobody knows what killed the rest.

Of course suspecting shenanigans against party who the German establishment has been desperately trying to remove from the ballot and arrest their leadership because "reasons" - is just conspiratorial thinking

[Dillinger]

>raising questions.

everywhere but Germany.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

A masterpiece of German engineering.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

It was night, and the long knives are back.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

Anyone seen Hillary lately?

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Don’t say anything bad about Hillary!

— Lying Jeffy (who’s definitely not a Democrat)

[CountmontyC]

Let me amend your statement.
Don't say anything bad about Hilary unless you have life insurance and named me as the beneficiary.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Mayor Bowser has an epiphany and realized Trumps actions actually helped reduce crime, agrees to extend getting help.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/09/d-c-mayor-bowser-tells-police-to-work-with-feds-indefinitely/

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Even she likes free stuff.

[Social Justice is neither]

She finally realized she can take credit for the crime reductions while blaming Trump when the related "attacking our community" cries ring out.

[Mother's Lament]

"Under my mayorship crime decreased 10,000%"

[Moderation4ever]

As I have noted many times people's increasing interest in socialism is based on the fact that they don't see capitalism doing them much good. So, the columnist writing here should consider dropping the idea of scaring people with socialism and start looking to how capitalism is not working for people. This country needs to move away from capitalism focused on the wealthiest to a capitalism focused on the middle class.

[But SkyNet is a Private Company]

Capitalism isn’t focused on classes, you fvcking nitwit

[Moderation4ever]

Listen professor I am not talking some college text book capitalism but about the real world application of capitalism.

[rbike]

Capitalism has done me well. Took a bit of work, but I am coasting free now.

[Moderation4ever]

Same here and I am a supporter of capitalism. That is why I think there is a need to make reforms so capitalism does well for people.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Lazy idiot.

[Bertram Guilfoyle]

No one will stop you from moving into a commune with tony godiva, charlie hall, and nelson any time, dumbass.

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

Sounds like the type of place where the total IQ is in single digits.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

And Crying Game 2.0

[Mother's Lament]

But the forcible sodomy is in the quadruple.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

If everyone is a retard, is anyone really retarded?

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

The man with an IQ in double digits is the king in a sea of single digit retards.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Capitalism let's you take out what you put in.

Sorry lazy fuckers like you are harmed at being accountable to your own efforts.

[Moderation4ever]

How profound. Get that from some book. Many people work extremely hard, end their lives with broken down bodies, and have never really gotten ahead.

[See.More]

. . . Many people work extremely hard, end their lives with broken down bodies, and have never really gotten ahead.

And zero of their choices had/have any impact on that?

[Moderation4ever]

People choices can certainly impact their future. But somethings maybe out of your control. Say your a long time employee and work hard. But the company President makes some bad mistakes, you could find yourself late middle aged and unemployed. Your and your wife work hard but your child comes down with cancer. One of you has to stop working and the family savings dry up. It could be you bad choice it could be fate.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Read that excuse on reddit?

Individual choices matter. They likely made bad ones.

I know homeless to mid 6 figure people. I know orphans making six figures. It is all about what you choose to do.

[sarcasmic]

I have noted many times that people who claim to support socialism don't know what socialism is. Socialism is when the government controls the means of production, and it always ends in disaster. These people are looking to Nordic countries and thinking that's socialism. In actuality it is robust capitalism with high taxes on the middle class that fund a strong safety net. I doubt that those who claim to want socialism would continue to do so if they knew it would mean paying 50% of their income in taxes and having a much lower standard of living.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Thanks Bernie.

Glad to see you've adopted a robust welfare state. Even while you are raging open borders.

Or is it that Norway was able to do that by staying homogenous like your preferred state of Maine and youre really dreaming of that?

By the way. You sound more and more like AOC every day. Even beginning the no true socialism shtick.

[Moderation4ever]

I have noted your argument many times and I acknowledge there is a real disconnect between people's view on socialism. Many Reason authors use Cuba and North Korea as their example while pro-socialism people use the Nordic countries as their example. It would be nice to have all these people settle on a common country to examine.

As for the Nordic countries you are correct that their populations pay higher taxes for a more robust system of safety nets. It is also true that their population seem to be happier overall that many other countries. It may well be that the peace-of-mind provided by better safety nets makes up for higher taxes and living simpler. I don't know that for a fact but it would make for a more interesting discussion than we currently have on socialism.

[Zeb]

If by "capitalism" you mean whatever it is we have now, then sure. How about better defining "capitalism" as something better than the shitty mixed economic system we have now where government controls a large part of the economy. Or better yet, promote free markets and free enterprise rather than the ill defined "capitalism".

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Yes, “capitalism” as a term was initially used derogatorily by socialists. Free market is a better term.

[Cyrano]

Or just claim it like gays claimed "queer" or Ayn Rand claimed "selfishness" (and "capitalism").

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Or black people something something.

[Zeb]

Which has pretty much happened. But I still think it's not the best term for a system libertarians would want. "Free market" or "free enterprise" implies a minimal government involvement that "capitalism" doesn't. The US is pretty capitalist, but not nearly as free market as it should be.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

The current US Market nor global market has ever been free despite the claims.

This stems from disparate regulatory policies, tariffs, subsidies, etc.

Yet we keep seeing claims that we had a free market as a defense against tariffs. Kneecapping yourself to advantage others is also not a free market.

[Zeb]

I would have said exactly the same before Trump started with his tariff stuff.
I still think the US should leave it's own people free as possible to trade, even if the international market is not particularly what I'd call "free trade", but that's a whole other debate that I wasn't even thinking about.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

And I have noted that people's perpetual interest in socialism is based on their desire for stuff without having to work for it. Plus controlling other people.

So fuck off.

[Spiritus Mundi]

they don't see capitalism doing them much good.

....the Journal quotes a 40-year-old married father of one (combined household income: $350,000) who says their four-bedroom townhome is too small for them to be able to grow their family...

Life under the asymtope.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Parody.

[Homer Thompson]

all the covid spending that devalued the currency was text book capitalism

[Quo Usque Tandem]

Do you get paid by the word M4E? If so, this screed isn't doing you much good.

[VinniUSMC]

M4e is living proof that you can't fix stupid.

[See.More]

As I have noted many times people's increasing interest in socialism is based on the fact that they don't see capitalism doing them much good. . .

Much like being fed the lie that America is a "democracy," they've been lied to about America being capitalist.

Capitalism only works with free markets. We do not have free markets. We have multitudinous regulations and mandates with even more proscriptions and prescriptions affecting nearly every product and service traded.

Capitalism hasn't failed Americans. Americans have failed at capitalism.

. . . This country needs to move away from capitalism focused on the wealthiest . . .

See above. Capitalism isn't the problem. The problem is a combination of emotion-laden (if it saves one life!) and agenda-driven (if it reduces CO2 emissions by just 0.001%) regulations and corporate-state cronyism.

[Moderation4ever]

Pure capitalism does not really exist. That said capitalism can not really be avoided either as it is really an outgrowth of the natural laws or supply and demand. But capitalism is affected the environment and so it has to adjust to things like, tariffs, laws and regulation. You say America has failed at capitalism and I disagree. What I think is that America has failed and is continuing to fail at creating optimum environments for capitalism. I think this has resulted in dissatisfaction that causes other economic system to appear more attractive. I happen to think that free trade is far better for capitalism. I see many barriers to free trade created by wealthy people who wish to maintain their position and avoid competition.

[Fist of Etiquette]

There are pre-Sumerian religions less dead than "defund the police"...

How is reality managing to seep its way into the Democratic Party?

[mad.casual]

White Supremacy baby!

[Kungpowderfinger]

How is reality managing to seep its way into the Democratic Party?

Don’t think for a second that it’s from self reflection or concern for their constituents.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'"These apps give people, and especially women, the illusion that they have far more options than they actually have," theorizes Vlad Tarko at EconLib.'

Hey, if women can't have it all (even when their "all" is logically impossible) then why even go on living?

[Mickey Rat]

"It hopes to steer funding for child care away from programs like Head Start and toward individual families—specifically to encourage parents to stay home and rear children."

I seem to recall that Head Start is almost entirely ineffective in the long term and therefore is taxpayer money pit.

[Marshal]

I seem to recall that Head Start is almost entirely ineffective in the long term and therefore is taxpayer money pit.

That depends on the standard you use to judge it. If you judge by its stated goal - to improve the education achievement of recipients - it is true Head Start is a complete failure. But if you judge it by its actual goals - (1) targeting free daycare to Dem party voters, and (2) creating employment for near certain Dem voters - Head Start is a resounding success.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

That and indoctrination. Need to start the SEL bullshit early. Too many kids were getting away.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

wants a 'Manhattan Project' for more babies,"

Little Boy this is not; a bottle of cheap wine and the backseat of a car have been already been invented.

[Vernon Depner]

We need more Section 8 apartments for fat chicks.

[Dillinger]

paradise, by the dashboard light.

[Kungpowderfinger]

Someone should crunch numbers on US birth rates vs Boone’s Farm sales.

[Mother's Lament]

Take away teenagers phones so they can't access anymore anime and porn, and you'll see a baby boom the likes of which has never been witnessed before.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

So is Elon done making babies then?

[InsaneTrollLogic (smarter than The Average Dude)]

It’ll take more than that. You also have to fix family law so that there are penalties for the women. End no-fault divorce so there must be a reason for divorce other than she just wants Chad. Start making motherhood more attractive and higher status than a college degree. Ban online dating and OnlyFans.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/09/paper-mills-sham-journals-and-stolen-reputation-fraud-and-greed-are-poisoning-science/

By combining large-scale data analysis of scientific literature with case studies, the researchers led a deep investigation into scientific fraud. Although concerns around scientific misconduct typically focus on lone individuals, the Northwestern study instead uncovered sophisticated global networks of individuals and entities, which systematically work together to undermine the integrity of academic publishing.

The problem is so widespread that the publication of fraudulent science is outpacing the growth rate of legitimate scientific publications. The authors argue these findings should serve as a wake-up call to the scientific community, which needs to act before the public loses confidence in the scientific process.

[But SkyNet is a Private Company]

The barn is already empty, now they worry about the door?

[mad.casual]

The barn is already empty,

Worse (for them).

[Medulla Oblongata]

Someone's an asshole in this story. I'm just not sure who...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/crown-royal-dethroned-in-canada-as-whisky-company-shifts-some-operations-to-us/ar-AA1LRWxk

Production has remained in Canada for decades, but last week, Diageo said it would shift its bottling operations to the US in February. The move will cost 200 jobs but has taken on outsized political importance amid the backdrop of trade war between Canada and the US.

A spokesperson for Diageo said the company’s “focus at this time remains on their commitment to Canada”, adding: “Crown Royal will continue to be mashed, distilled, and aged in Canada, just as it has been since 1939.”

Still, the decision has faced strong criticism from Ontario provincial lawmakers. Lisa Gretzky, a New Democratic party member, says the government should pull the whisky from provincial liquor stores – something Ford has said is possible.

“We’re not going to stand by and let you just try and squeeze a little more money out for those wealthy shareholders at the risk of 200 people in our community,” she told local media.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Directly across the street from Annunciation Catholic Church, where a trans-identifying man slaughtered school children as they prayed, someone is flying a transgender flag next to the signs: “PROTECT KIDS NOT GUNS.”'

Cunts gotta cunt.

[mad.casual]

Somebody shoots a group of kids at Annunciation Catholic Church with guns that have "Kill Trump" written on them and everyone is confused about motives and political alignments but if somebody were to wade in next door with a gun labeled "Actions have consequences" or "FAFO" and half the country would be able to tell you precisely which federal hate crime statutes were violated and what the minimum sentencing requirements are.

[VinniUSMC]

With guns, protect kids from Democrats and other various Leftist filth.

[Mickey Rat]

I saw a statistic, that on a per capita basis, trans genders are the group most likely to commit a crime based on their hatred of another demographic group.

[Medulla Oblongata]

Blah, blah, blah...academics mad at Trump take 2000 words to say so, while also bemoaning "the tyranny of STEM" and wanting everyone to study humanism and that "Winning the fight for an intellectual life will require solidarity across generations."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/an-open-letter-to-our-students-universities-do-not-deserve-you/ar-AA1LRPCr

[Medulla Oblongata]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/cannot-do-business-in-the-state-of-california-gas-prices-could-hit-8-gallon-as-two-refineries-shut-down/ar-AA1LOq8Z

The Phillips 66 and Valero’s Benicia refineries are set to close in 2026. Together, the shutdowns will eliminate 284,000 barrels-per‑day of refining capacity — roughly 17% of the total used in the state.

Valero attributed its decision to “years of regulatory pressure (and) significant fines for air quality violations,” including an $82 million penalty levied in 2024. Phillips 66 similarly cited business challenges stemming from California’s strict environmental regulations.

"They have said that they cannot do business in the state of California," Gipson reiterated. “The regulatory agencies have imposed on the refiners of California very stringent regulation that makes it very difficult for them to remain in the state of California.”

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Sarcboehm will blame tariffs for any cost increases of oil from this. So we can ignore it.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

I’ve mentioned several times that Michigan’s AG is doing similar suits and that it will drive up energy costs here. I’m sure Reason will cover this issue very soon.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Jersey already did it and they've had huge price increases.

Reason already ran an article on energy prices blaming tariffs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Quo Usque Tandem]

The Gretch is just being a Democrat. Like sitting on a special election for a vacant senate seat for 200+ days for fear of it flipping Republican; you really just don't need no stinking representation if it doesn't suit me.

[Medulla Oblongata]

I also read recently that California legislature declined to pass Leno's Law, which would have given classic/antique cars (35 years+) a pass on meeting certain air-quality standards and tests. Such cars constitute something like 0.001% of the cars in California and most are driven less than 1000 miles in any given year--they usually sit in display garages. But no, California subjects them to annual testing that the cars simply cannot pass, costing the owners a lot of money for nothing (except to throw revenue into pot).

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/lenos-law-aimed-at-easing-classic-car-emissions-rules-in-california-has-effectively-been-killed/ar-AA1LOk6c

California Bureau of Automotive Repair was expecting initial exemption figures of over 17,500 applications.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

"...The conservative group behind the Project 2025 governing playbook for President Donald Trump's second term...". lies Wa Po.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

The hits just keep on comin':

"Trump Punishes Newsom by Canceling $427M Wind Project"
[...]
"The headline is misleading. Trump is NOT punishing Newsom by cancelling the scam $427 million wind mill; project. He is stopping that money going to friends and donors of Newsom. He is stopping union corruption. Pres. Trump is saving tax dollars for the public..."
https://capoliticalnewsandviews.com/trump-punishes-newsom-by-canceling-427m-wind-project/

And lowering power costs by avoiding high expenses on an un-reliable energy source.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

"Wildfires blaze across California Gold Country, ravage historic town"
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wildfires-blaze-across-california-gold-country-ravage-historic-town/ar-AA1LP0R0?ocid=BingNewsSerp

And Newsom has removed at least three dams on the Klamath so "indigenous" teens can paddle their fiberglass kayak and watch the fishies:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/

[Quo Usque Tandem]

And MSM is doing, and will do much much more, to put hair gel in a positive light. I predict these efforts will excel anything previous, beyond ignoring the all too obvious decline of a sitting president and giving major passes to his incredibly inept VP throughout her tenure and campaign.

[Dillinger]

>>Scenes from New York:

mazel tov.

[Dillinger]

>>The 'epidemic of loneliness' can be understood as being caused by standards increasing faster than the actual capabilities of our search technologies.

in previous more social decades it was simply "see girl, ask girl out."

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Or, meet girl at party, have a few beers and mess around, decide it was fun, so then ask girl out the following weekend.

[Dillinger]

exactly.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

I used that app successfully back in the day.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

It's all misogyny now, you objectifying bastards! How dare you treat persons identifying as women, as women!

[Dillinger]

(they like it. don't tell anyone)

[Dillinger]

>>Florida will end all state vaccine mandates

it's a story when Florida ends all vaccine options.

[Dillinger]

>>Inside China's most recent military parade showcasing new weapons technology.

how we achieve 25% pessimism on the American dream.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

First I heard that Liz is pregnant with number two. Congratulations to you and Mr. Liz. Best thing you'll ever do. But I'm pretty sure you already knew that.

[Minadin]

Same here.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

Ditto; raise them well [equal measure of love and discipline, permission and restriction, all at the right times--that is parenting] and they are a gift that never stop giving.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

And if you're really lucky you get grandkids. I got lucky.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

That’s how it starts.

[Minadin]

This fills me with rage:

More moderate people on the left side of politics are practically begging their progressive allies to act more normal to win hearts and minds, and these people go out and demonstrate at a church / school shooting location?

I mean, just last week, one of their consultants gave them a list of all sorts of terms and actions that turn off 'normies', and they just ignored it.

The week before that, they decided to tell young males across the country that finding a young attractive model / actress appealing was a sign that they might be right-wing / literally Nazis.

Maybe the reason they push so hard for gun control is because they keep shooting themselves in the foot, repeatedly.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Modern DNC is filled with theater kids. They have to act and lie their way through everything. All performative.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

I sincerely hope those theatre kids will continue to act themselves into oblivion.

[Marshal]

More moderate people on the left side of politics are practically begging their progressive allies to act more normal to win hearts and minds, and these people go out and demonstrate at a church / school shooting location?

Are they really more moderate? Or do they just realize they have to pretend to be more moderate to win elections? It seems to me if they were really more moderate they wouldn't be allies with the extremists at all.

[Incunabulum]

Either way - if you act that way long enough you become the mask.

And once elected they still have to pretend to be moderate in order to get re-elected.

[Marshal]

And once elected they still have to pretend to be moderate in order to get re-elected.

Is that true? Or do they enable activist bureaucrats to create campus sex police and sue and settle anti-market edicts while counting on friendly media to obscure the existence of programs making their lives vastly worse?

if you act that way long enough you become the mask.

So that doesn't happen.

[Medulla Oblongata]

And he cannot run again, anyway!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/opinion-democrats-can-t-escape-their-toxic-co-dependency-with-trump/ar-AA1LSccz

Democrats should just rename themselves the “Not Trump” Party and be done with it. It would be far more honest branding. After all, for the last nine years, the Democratic Party has been a squabbling mass of interest groups united only by their hatred of President Trump.

That’s no recipe for long-term success — or even short-term, considering they have lost twice against the president already.

Many Democrats recognize they have a problem, but they have diagnosed it as a mere messaging issue — the recurrent complaint of all losers in politics. They think it can be remedied by changes in language and more frequent podcast appearances. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) seems to think that out-trolling Trump is his path to the White House.

As long as the Democratic Party is held hostage to its out-of-touch base, it will be impossible to form a lasting majority. The party will have to rely on Trump and his successors handing them elections. So far, that has been a bad bet.

[DesigNate]

It’s been a “messaging” problem my entire adult life. They really dont think there’s anything wrong with their beliefs or policies.

[Minadin]

That’s no recipe for long-term success — or even short-term, considering they have lost twice against the president already.

Twice minimum.

[Medulla Oblongata]

Democrats don't that understand inalienable rights don't come from the government allowing you to have them...

Tim Kaine: hold my beer!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/backlash-erupts-after-tim-kaine-calls-the-foundational-principle-of-the-united-states-extremely-troubling/ar-AA1LSPxP

The Declaration of Independence's second sentence reads as follows:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"The notion that rights don’t come from laws and don’t come from the government, but come from the Creator -- that’s what the Iranian government believes. It’s a theocratic regime that bases its rule on Sharia law and targets Sunnis, Bahá’ís, Jews, Christians and other religious minorities. And they do it because they believe that they understand what natural rights are from their Creator. So the statement that our rights do not come from our laws or our governments is extremely troubling," Kaine said.

[Medulla Oblongata]

Matt Walsh:

"This is a remarkable moment from Tim Kaine," Walsh wrote. "He just announced that the core foundational principle of our country, affirmed in the Declaration of Independence, is 'extremely troubling' and 'theocratic.' He should be immediately removed from office. Anyone who rejects our nation's foundational principles is obviously not fit to serve."

[NoVaNick]

This coming from a senator from the state that was home to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison is simply appalling.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Yeah the declaration specifically identifies "their" creator not "the" creator. You are free to decide who or what that entity is. But if you want to live here you have to accept that every body else has individual natural rights. The bill of rights doesn't grant anybody the right to impose their dogma on other individuals.

[DesigNate]

“I can fix him!” - liberaltarians everywhere

[Minadin]

Whether you're religious or not, the idea that rights come from government is an extremely troubling one, especially coming from someone in government. Because if that's the case, government can simply take them away. That makes them the opposite of 'inalienable'.

People are not granted rights by the government, the government is granted authority by the people. If people in the government can't deal with that situation, it's time to remove them - they can't be trusted with the wheels of power.

[Dillinger]

>>https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46151970/reports-koch-family-buy-stake-giants-10b-valuation

Go Giants? always exciting to see how far a Soros partnership can take one ...

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Giants are garbage too, so fits their portfolio.

[Incunabulum]

>"The 'epidemic of loneliness' can be understood as being caused by standards increasing faster than the actual capabilities of our search technologies.

Yeah, we know. We knew 15 years ago. 80% of women chase 20% of men on apps. All women will tell each other they're 10's. They'll tell each other what they deserve - none of them will talk about what they have to offer.

Get rid of dating apps and this all goes away. Social media is actually destroying the world. Maybe all online communication should be message boards only - and anonymous message boards at that.

The future is 4chan.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

The dating app conundrum is a consequence of lazy terrified children trying to be adults. You can't win if you don't roll the fucking dice. Get out on the street light up and look around. Even ugly people hook up if they take their chances. We are a nation of crybabies.

[MWAocdoc]

"Florida will end all state vaccine mandates, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday"

Hooray! Please let me know when Florida ends all state education mandates and terminates the tax-funded school system. Only then will I be truly impressed by Florida.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Right here, the binary simpleton:
"If it ain't perfect, it sucks."
Fuck off and die, TDS-addled asswipe.

[Zeb]

You could say pretty much the same about all of your comments attacking people who mostly agree with you. It's not as if grumpy internet libertarian purists are what's stopping Florida, or anywhere, from becoming more free.

[MollyGodiva]

Florida: Making measles great again.
MAGAs are the dumbest shits this side of the middle ages. MAGA is a death cult.

[Dillinger]

>> death cult.

fund federally abortion and euthanasia.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Kill yourself.

[MollyGodiva]

MAGA is a death cult.

[D-Pizzle]

Now do Islam.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Someone who supports kids getting chemically castrated really isn't in a position to be wagging their finger about death cults, you stupid Zizian.