And then one of the strangers approaches you to tell you how they also lost their child recently and gives you a lot of support resources. The joke is no longer funny and you feel like an ass.

If I remember right, the rich confederates hid their wealth during the war in banks in Montreal. There were definitely Canadians who were allies with them.

I think we are talking about two different things. I’m talking about individual policies, and I think you are talking about elected representatives. I do agree that percentages of representatives should match the population, but votes on individual policies should always match what the majority of the population wants.

“Also majorities are slow to change, and it’s simply dishonest (and destabilizing) to have one’s vote weigh less depending on which group they are part of.”

It doesn’t. Just because you are a part of the minority doesn’t make your vote count less. It just means there are more people who disagree with you than agree.

I’d say countries that devolve into dictatorship aren’t due to too much democracy but due to weak constitutional protections.

Right now in the US we are in danger of devolving into a dictatorship because of the extra weight added to minority votes.

Edit: and by minority votes I’m talking about policies with less than 50% support.

That’s a bit more than just math. When considering a policy, I don’t tend to take into account where the different parties stand. It’s better to think for yourself and not resort to tribalism. With that in mind I do think the majority should win 100% of the time. It has been insanely annoying here in the US how some policies have had popular support for years if not decades yet go nowhere because of small interest groups who use cheap tricks like the fillibuster and the electoral college to ensure the will of the minority wins out. I do acknowledge the danger of the tyranny of the majority, but I think protections against it should be provided by the rights outlined in a strong constitution.

Still better than every other option.

Most of the Taylor Sheridan shows and movies. I don’t know if he writes the dialogs, but there is a lot of cringe lines and scenes.

Yes and he only cited the Bible to show that jews lived there thousands of years ago. He wasn’t citing the Bible to make any kind of religious claim, so this guy’s comment is completely missing the point.

I remember a story back at the beginning of the war of a Russian helicopter pilot defecting. He had other Russian soldiers in the helicopter with him, but they couldn’t do anything because he was the only one there who knew how to fly it.

What’s the difference between a cartel and a mafia?

Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about but wouldn’t starlink know the serial numbers or Mac addresses of the dishes they gave to Ukraine? Couldn’t they easily filter that region so only those work?

Some issues really don’t straight up exist. Outrage TV will always come up with something to stir people up. Other issues are pretty complicated without any promising solutions, so it may just seem like they’re being ignored. Conservatives will focus on those and claim to have the answer, but then their answer is something like “to eradicate poverty we need to put poor people in jail”.

Then you learn that the “something” they want to do is the exact opposite direction of what solving the problem would look like. It takes 2 seconds of critical thought to realize I’d much rather stick with the “milquetoast centrists” than ever consider voting for regressive conservatives.

People always point to the worst of the worst to justify the death penalty, but it’s not about them. It’s about us. I just picture people who support the death penalty the same as medieval peasants cheering on the gruesome torture and execution of a criminal like its some kind of entertainment. People need to do more introspection about what part of their personality they are feeding when they give in to the desire for vengeance. That’s not even taking into account that no justice system is perfect.

I got a bunch of free Coca-Cola once, and some dude at taco bell overheard me say something about “all the coke I have in my trunk”. He then tried to sell me some of his coke.

Though statistically, guns kept at home are more likely to be used in an accidental shooting or suicide than as protection from a home invasion.

I’ve always heard “in oder to be successful you have to be able or willing to do things others can’t or wont”. Global competition and increased technology has pretty well evened out the ability side of that quote leaving behind the other factor of what people are willing to do. I think the biggest decider on what people are willing to do is based on personal morals and ethics, so a person more willing to ignore ethics has a better chance of becoming successful. This is supported by statistics that show corporate executives and politicians exibiting psychopathic traits at higher rates than the general population. The only way I can think of to correct this is to have regulations on ethics, which is why I whole-heartedly support the CFPB and despise Republicans who try to shut it down.

Well if the current front lines are pretty entrenched, and it’s hard to take back occupied Ukrainian land, then just go take unprotected Russian land to make it even. Didn’t Putin say he was up for a truce if the current lines were kept? Let’s see how he feels about that when he has to give up Russian land. At the very least it will force Russia to relocate troops and resources.

Sunny has been decent so far.

Time Bandits just started, and it looks like it could be fun.

Evil is finishing out strong

Serpent Queen is a good historical drama that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Snowpiercer about to start the new season after I thought it was canceled.

Yeah. Mainly I go for the “what are you watching this week” stickied post to get an idea of what new shows might be worth trying.