47

[Crusades]

https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-ELECTION/RESULTS/zjpqnemxwvx/

Welcome back. 

[Kafka Fan44]

heron said:

Hahahahahaha!

Ayn Rand was a cult leader who was happy to take a government handout when her acolytes couldn't afford to support her. Objectivism and its red-headed stepchild, libertarianism, were formulated to provide philosophical cover for behavior that is totally free of ethics, morality (yes, they're two different things), reciprocal responsibility and contribution to the common good. The Robber Baron is it's god and Kleptocracy it's church.

Nothing wrong with taking responsibility for one's own welfare and enjoying the fruits of one's own labor. I'm almost pathologically independent myself. It's the exclusive worship of "finances" and the fairy tales used to mask the means by which those finances are aquired, along with the total denial of responsibility for the damage done by those means, that are the sticking point for me.

I stand by my characterization: a bible for bullies.

I read Atlas Shrugged my first year in college. I still remember the images of early Soviet propaganda posters that kept flashing in my mind as I read. You know - the ones of muscular young men holding sledgehammers aloft like soldiers celebrating victory. Rand's legacy is just as much of a lie. It has led us to the same outcome.

IMHO

One can speak against the evils of programs like social security and Medicare while also collecting "benefits" from these programs.  She had already paid into social security, and it was available, this does not mean this ponzi scheme should not come to an end. 

You have never read Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, Anthem, We The Living, or any of other Rand's great works.  Individualism and Objectivism is about working towards taking care of yourself rather than exploiting others for personal gain.  This is hardly "cult like" and if more schools pushed this philosophy in high school, we would have a lot less leeches out there complaining about student loans or pushing towards financially bigoted predatory programs like SNAP, EBT, Medicaid, etc.  

[toomuchbaloney]

There's that fascist propaganda calling Social Security a ponzi scheme again.  That alone is evidence that if you repeat something often enough other people will believe and repeat it, even in the absence of evidence.  If it's a ponzi scheme then working Americans will just be happy to do away with it and pretend that no senior citizens will suffer as a result.  

It's weird that highly paid college graduates would repeat such obvious baloney as if it's true.  

[Kafka Fan44]

toomuchbaloney said:

There's that fascist propaganda calling Social Security a ponzi scheme again.  That alone is evidence that if you repeat something often enough other people will believe and repeat it, even in the absence of evidence.  If it's a ponzi scheme then working Americans will just be happy to do away with it and pretend that no senior citizens will suffer as a result.  

It's weird that highly paid college graduates would repeat such obvious baloney as if it's true.  

Do yourself a favor and look up the definition of ponzi scheme.  I don't want my tax dollars going to current or future social security, leave my money alone.  

[heron, ASN, RN]

Kafka Fan44 said:

Do yourself a favor and look up the definition of ponzi scheme.  I don't want my tax dollars going to current or future social security, leave my money alone.  

And I don't want my taxes going to the petrochemical industry and Agribusiness, but there you are.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Back when Musk called social security a Ponzi scheme we've had this discussion already.  There's arguments to be made it is and isn't.

I don't care if it is or isn't a Ponzi scheme, because unlike the richest man on earth and wealthy posters here, as one that will require SSI, that I've contributed to all my working life 50 years now, to supplement my retirement income to make ends meet, I don't mind it.  I'm counting on it.

I'm all for getting rid of fraud and false claims of disability but overall it's a huge contributor to the economy.  It's money well spent.  

https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/social-security-is-not-a-ponzi-scheme/

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

President Trump with wife Melania gets booed  then chants of USA broke out while introduced at opening night of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center  --he turned it into a fundraiser for the center.

https://x.com/jeffmason1/status/1932944046789701766?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1932944046789701766|twgr^|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alternet.org%2Ftrump-booed-mercilessly%2F

[toomuchbaloney]

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tlg/d/washington-seat-fillers-needed-June/7857143452.html

Quote

T-Mellon Events is looking for seat fillers and extras to provide their time for space maximization and attendance perception for an event taking place in Washington DC on June 14th. Extras and Seat fillers will check in on the morning of June 14th at 9:00 a.m.
Extras are required to wear Red, White and Blue clothing and will be provided a RED hat to wear. GOLD accessories are acceptable as well. The team will advise the extras where to stand or sit according to the line of sight from a VIP viewing platform area.
Extras and Seat fillers will be paid a flat daily fee and will be provided a lunch of fast food and soda.
We encourage people of color and ethnic groups to sign up for maximum perception control and these individuals will be prominently displayed on the televised broadcast and local viewing screens to be seen by the VIP platform.

Bold mine.  

We are about to indulge and pay for some very expensive political theater.  

[toomuchbaloney]

Trump had sported a new cap recently.  Anyone know the meaning or symbolism of the color or image on the front? Trump is always messaging.  

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Glad you asked.   Symbol on front is Fort Bragg insignia while side patches are airbourne insignia.

President Donald Trump points to an Army hat as he arrives to speak at Fort Bragg, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Fort Bragg, N.C

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

NJ.com 6/12/25

'TACO' Trump roasted after backtracking on major issue
 

Quote

 

President Donald Trump acknowledged on Thursday that his illegal immigration crackdown has hurt the farming and hospitality industries — and he said that an order should be coming "soon.”

"Our farmers are being hurt badly — you know, they have very good workers, they've worked for them for 20 years. They're not citizens, but they've turned out to be great. And we're going to have to do something about that,” Trump told reporters in the White House.

We can't take farmers and take their people and send them back because they don't have what they are supposed to have... You are supposed to throw them out? You know what happens? They end up hiring the criminals that have come in, murderers....

...“Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,” he wrote....

Trump also blasted former President Joe Biden for his "VERY Stupid" border policies, claiming that criminals are applying for the open jobs.

"This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!” he added.

 

Guess young unemployed men and women unable to tolerate the tough work conditions that immigrants face to keep produce on our tables and hotel rooms clean.

[toomuchbaloney]

Thank you for the cap research and information @NRSKarenRN.  

Trump seems to have not thought his policy through very well. Once again, Trump backs down when confronted with the foreseeable harmful consequences of his acts. Trump is not a thoughtful man and he has surrounded himself with people who are not terribly thoughtful. There are too many unintended consequences from their reckless actions. 

[heron, ASN, RN]

NRSKarenRN said:

NJ.com 6/12/25

'TACO' Trump roasted after backtracking on major issue
 

Guess young unemployed men and women unable to tolerate the tough work conditions that immigrants face to keep produce on our tables and hotel rooms clean.

Still, it was fun to watch and imagine Miller's head exploding. He may have to concentrate on importing more white racists for a while.