ViperMan
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Posts posted by ViperMan
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32 minutes ago, HeloDude said:
Appreciate the data. My question is this: When does all this start that it becomes obvious to a majority of Americans that we’re in trouble? Predictions are great and all, but if the person making them can’t be fairly accurate with the timeline then the predictions are near useless…just take a look at the global warming/climate change nonsense predictions over the last 30+ years.
That process is beginning now, IMO, but there are many naysayers out there whose job is to spout rainbows and keep people in denial. Read a book called "The Coming Generational Storm." It points to the size of generations and how accounting needs to be internally balanced. The baby boom generation has written more checks than they can cash, now, smaller generations below them who are less productive are going to have to make up that productivity gap and pay those bills. This, combined with the flattening (redistribution) of productivity to many other parts of the world are going to lead to tougher economic conditions for those who don't have the means or wealth to support themselves and their families.
Current housing prices are probably the thing that is going to cause the most people to wake up - that they may never come down again, combined with flat wages, is going to mean many people must permanently work.
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3 hours ago, brabus said:
Another “when a complete dumbass finally meets reality” moment. Not that she deserves what happened, but also I don’t feel bad for her at all. Stupid games = stupid prizes.
I dunno dude. I feel like when you advocate for policies that will inevitably lead to this happening to the people she represents, you most certainly do deserve it. In fact, I can't think of anyone who would be better placed at the top of that list. Poetic justice if you ask me. The ones who didn't deserve it were her kids. Who knows, maybe some of them will grow up to be cops and state prosecutors. Here's to hoping they do. Maybe that's how the cycle functions.
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6 hours ago, Pooter said:
3 years into the covid debate and I'm still waiting for the mass outrage over yearly flu shots, anthrax boosters, malaria pills for places that barely have malaria, and countless other onerous military medical requirements everyone just blindly accepts.
Oh I forgot, none of those are political lightning rods so no one cares.
None of those bugs are being used to fear-monger and bludgeon our society into all manner of ridiculous behaviors, so apples to oranges much? I'm sure if there were politicians out there beating the war drum over the four horsemen of the yearly flu, you'd have the hypothetical response you're sarcastically looking for.
As for me, I'm not confused by this. The powers that be have used the COVID event to shuttle in all manner of onerous policies and shove our economic system off a cliff. In the future, I hope our dollars are worth what we're all saving them for. I hope the trillions of dollars that were printed, someday find the productivity they stole from the future.
Flu and Malaria don't make money. COVID does. Your sarcasm is misdirected, and you clearly don't understand what people are pissed about.
"Unscorable @ 9, 2".
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Voting in the next election isn't going to solve anything. There will be no candidates that are middle of the road that could actually undo the fracture within our society. The outcome is going to be one thing: one group will lose big time, and the other group will hold the reigns of power for four years. Our current cultural moment is one in which when one party wins, the other loses. We are not going to have a candidate that is going to offer any middle ground. Your vote isn't going to change that most basic fact. It didn't always used to be that way, either.
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On 8/20/2023 at 9:37 AM, brabus said:
I also hated Snowden for years, but there’s a lot to that story that many who hate him don’t actually know. He didn’t just expose a ton of random SAPs, etc, he exposed specific, very illegal, comm collection programs the NSA directed all over, including millions of untargeted Americans and other foreign nationals (as in they collected all their shit as “collateral damage” or “just in case we need it later”). The program was proven to be used for personal gain (agents spying on ex’s and things like that). It was so damning and illegal that congress actually forced change and restricted our intelligence gathering on Joe Blow, which is a good thing.
So that’s just to say I can understand the logic of the action, while also not condoning the mishandling of classified/the method of whistleblowing Snowden took. He did a wrong action to expose incredibly wrong and illegal govt actions vs. millions. So perhaps this is a case of two wrongs make a right, the right being pardon because of the proven govt corruption and illegal shit that was at least attempted to be solved only because of his actions. Would I pardon him? I don’t know, but I can see why someone might. And that’s why this topic does not move the needle for me on Vivek or any other candidate who may say the same.
Based on what you wrote, it's safe to say we have diametrically opposed views on who and what Snowden is and we will not likely reach agreement. I think he is a sock-puppet Russian spy who was specifically designed to take advantage of a certain element within the American psyche that looks to defend the concept of liberty and has a certain default level of distrust in the government - all of which I can understand to some degree, and which I can support given our country's founding on July 4th. It makes him the perfect psyop. You can also look at the precipitous slide in relations between major world powers in the last 10 years (i.e. since 2013 when the revelations happened) and the theft of other computer-hacking tools from the CIA/NSA/etc, which have certainly been used against us to unknown effect and draw a not-so-indistinct line between the idea that a "patriot" traitor inspired other people in positions of trust within our government to betray it. How were those tools "stolen"? Do we even know? Are they being used against us right now?
The bit about how the program was used for personal gain/vendetta carries the same structure as the "guns kill people" argument from the left. Any tool can be used or abused by people with an agenda - that doesn't negate the necessity of the tool. And in any case, the NSA isn't collecting a database of your dick-pics. Even if they were, based purely on volume, they'd only be able to look at a single pic for no more than .000069 seconds.
You call what he did whistle-blowing. I call what he did treason. I don't think those NSA programs were illegal. I think the Russians/Chinese/terrorists, probably already had some general idea that they were going on, but the net effect was to inspire a distrust in the US institutional apparatus...how's that working for us today? So yeah, when Vivek says he would pardon Snowden, he loses me - because it shows me his level of discernment/big picture SA. He has missed the point of Snowden - which was to inspire distrust of our government - not to disclose government programs that basically amount to the government collecting data that everyone was willingly giving to there phone-service provider anyway.
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Vivek loses me when he supports Snowden being pardoned. Who, for the record, is a Russian counter-intelligence professional. A spy who did more damage to our national security than anyone else I can name, except for maybe the Rosenbergs. He has fell, hook, line, and sinker, for a Russian op. Having him as President would be good in some dimensions, and catastrophic in others. Maybe he'll wake up, time will tell. I think his heart is in the right place overall, but he is woefully misled in certain areas.
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On 8/4/2023 at 2:17 AM, Pooter said:
@Danger41
Not to split hairs here but the t-6 is a jet. Quite literally. It has a jet engine in it that has no mechanical linkage to the prop, and it even has exhaust stacks that make a small but non-zero amount of thrust.So stop being afraid of your douche canoe enjjpt IP and tell him to open the dash 1, learn his systems, and maybe just eat a whole dick.
By your logic nuclear submarines and M1 Abrams tanks are "jets". Turbine-powered does not equal jet.
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The government discussing aliens "seriously" is officially the moment our government jumped the shark.
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2 hours ago, CaptainMorgan said:
It’s 20% back, up to $2000. I don’t think racking up $10000 for personal interest courses to get $2000 back is a great idea.
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkYou are correct. The AOTC is the one that is 100% up to $2000.
https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/aotc
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As other people said, use the Roth version of the TSP. Shelter as much of your future income as possible.
Not necessarily a financial strategy, but there is something she's probably eligible for, called the lifetime learning credit. Even if she just takes personal interest courses, I'd rather have my $2000 spent on me than some social project.
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1 hour ago, uhhello said:
So am I reading this right in that you should be getting COVID boosters every 5 months?
If you're not getting injected right now (sts) it's already too late...
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2 hours ago, BashiChuni said:
Are you calling JFK a pussy?
@BashiChuni, your previous two posts have been attempts to change the subject. i.e. they are tacit admissions that you've lost the argument.
Can you explain for the crowd why Russia would agree to all those treaties and agreements that placed no limit on NATO's expansion and why you argue that in fact it is, provocative, Russia didn't know what they were signing up for at the time, or something to that effect?
Or are you just going to continue to rage white?
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2 hours ago, BashiChuni said:
wise words
You never got in a fist fight as a kid did you.
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1 hour ago, BashiChuni said:
ahhhhhh there it is! the CLASSIC drone narrative! "IF YOU DON'T GET ONBOARD WITH THE GOVERNMENT YOU'RE SPOUTING ENEMY PROPAGANDA!"
listen to yourself my man...it's pathetic. do you swallow up everything the legacy media and the government tells you?
No dude. See my opinions on the Iraq war, COVID, affirmative action, abortion rights, etc.
I am pointing out that you have a position that is inconsistent with reality. That primary fact being your argument rests upon something even Russia does not hold to be true: namely that they agreed there would be no limits to NATO expansion and have publicly and formally ratified such notions. Your argument rests upon a counterfactual that is not true. If you want to spout off with something that contravenes that which is obviously true for anyone who does even the most basic homework, then you need to articulate why for the crowd. All you've done so far is shout at clouds.
Feel free to point at me and say that I'm "getting on board with the government" - odd since our government's current form (form of: Joe Biden's government) is one I almost wholly disagree with, top to bottom - to any casual observer though, it is you who is not engaging with the facts.
The Big Lebowski GIF is funny and cute (and sometimes appropriate) but in this context it actually does constitute failure to engage with the argument - which is frankly a very "liberal" thing to do. So I'll leave you with this: You need to answer why Russia would agree that there would be no limits to NATO's expansion and also agree with the proposition that all nations should be free to form whatever alliances they want, while simultaneously explaining why NATO expansion constitutes provocation. I'll leave that as homework. Seems challenging to me, but that's the corner you've painted yourself into.
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16 hours ago, BashiChuni said:
we need to examine HOW WE GOT HERE
putin didn't just decide to "steamroll Ukraine"
the US and NATO have provoked Russia for decades...we got here because the neocons and war hawks in government WANTED this war
3 hours ago, BashiChuni said:so many of you guys have zero critical thinking and just parrot what the media tells you to say/think. nato has provoked russia since the early 90s with expansion. it's a fact. you can say its russian talking points as many times as you want....still doesn't make it not true.
3 hours ago, BashiChuni said:no we moved NATO to the border of russia
you wouldn't like it if china violated the monroe doctrine and incorporated mexico into a chinese military alliance. same thing.
@BashiChuni, it's like you don't listen dude. That, or you're just fact-immune. Your argument rests on this presupposition that "buh we provoked Putin". As laid out for you back in September, this is not the case. But, to humor this argument, even if it was hypothetically true, that does not justify Putin invading an independent third-party nation. Your argument is without merit. How you can literally not see how he has used this meme as a pretext for something he wanted to do anyway is baffling. I have to assume you are being intentionally dense in order to frustrate other posters on this board.
"NATO expansion became an excuse post facto..." for Russian militarism and autocracy.
"The ability of countries to determine their own foreign policy and their alliances, is written into the UN Charter...written into the 1975 Helsinki act...written into the 1990 charter of Paris for a new Europe...written into the 1997 NATO-Russia founding act...Russia's signature is on every one of those documents. Moscow signed the UN Charter, it signed the Helsinki final act...signed the NATO-Russia founding act that places no limits on NATO expansion..." etc, etc.
Russia's signature is on every one of those documents.
Russia's signature is on every one of those documents.
Russia's signature is on every one of those documents.
Get on board dude. You spouting Russian propaganda is not a good look for someone who represents themselves as a military officer.
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7 minutes ago, uhhello said:
So if you're not working for a year you don't get to vote? I could go on and on and on. Too many holes. Somewhat good idea but impossible to execute.
This is an internet message board used to exchange ideas / thoughts; let's not avoid the subject by trying to come up with a fully fleshed-out, 40000-page tax code that addresses all your nitpicks. I think my broader point is clear. There is a sizable portion of this country that provides no input into the coffers, yet is gaining an increasing share of political power and is able to exercise say over how money is directed. That is moral hazard, and should not be a thing.
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17 minutes ago, uhhello said:
Who doesn't pay taxes of some sort?
Sorry, should have been more specific. Income taxes.
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4 minutes ago, CaptainMorgan said:
Term limits and campaign finance reform are the only way to fix this mess. Corporate donations should be outright banned. Out-of state donations should be outright banned. The candidate running for the 69th district of Georgia should not be getting financial backing from Dick Suckerburg in California because the candidate’s job is to REPRESENT their constituents, not the interests of some billionaire 1500 miles away.
As far as terms go, I think the house needs to adopt a four year term, rather than two, so that they aren’t constantly running for re-election. For term limits, I’d say no more than six total terms in the House/Senate combined. That would give you 24 years in the house, 36 in the senate, and somewhere in between for those that transition.The real solution is to limit voting rights to people who pay taxes. No skin in the game is the root cause of the out-of-control moral hazard we are currently mired in. I don't think there is a way out of this until you get rid of that systemic misalignment. Said another way: there's likely no way out.
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7 hours ago, General Chang said:
Maybe some of the crusty keyboard “warriors” in this community should put their money where their mouths are and run for Congress instead of typing the same drivel every week on this site.
We certainly do need more soldiers in elected office. Just not more like him.
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Thanks for your service, now F off.
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2 hours ago, TreeA10 said:
Article describing the self-induced chaos in Europe. Opening the immigration flood gates has not served their citizens very well and too many here in the U.S. are impervious to the hard lessons taught by history.
It's almost, almost, as if this entire thing were entirely predictable!
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On 7/4/2023 at 1:50 PM, lloyd christmas said:
Reality is bending so hard right now. Working at the Babylon Bee has got to be one of the toughest journalism beats there is.
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It's absolutely abominable. Unforgivable.
The most unbelievable part is that he has to wake up everyday and decide to continue denying her existence.
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You sound like you've got the attitude part wired - so good for you.
1. Well no F-somethings, but that said, it depends on what gets written on your form 8s, etc. You could still fly single-seat, depending on what gets written on your form 8s, etc.
2. You should probably already have some sense of whether they were going to take your wings. Why are you asking the question? Did something (or multiple things) happen during your course that makes them think you should be a pilot at all? Or did you just get the vibe that they didn't think fighters were your jam? If it was the latter, you'll keep your wings. My sense of FEBs is that they are a formal process that recommends what they've been recommended to do...
3. If you get to keep flying, you'll be fine. I know someone who washed out of F-15s (post B-course, post MQT), and is now a weapons' officers on another platform. Shit happens, but your attitude will carry you. Own your f-ups, and move on with your life - you will absolutely be fine.
I promise you, flying something else besides a fighter can be every bit as rewarding, and more so, than flying a fighter. It's your attitude that will make the difference. I'm sure it sucks, but try not to dwell on it longer than necessary. Once you start your next B-course, don't look back.
WTF? (**NSFW**)
in Squadron Bar
Posted
This is where you just have to look.
Look at the housing market. Can you afford a new house? Can a working family afford a house almost anywhere in this country anymore? Look at the level of capital it take to purchase an asset now-a-days (i.e. something that's going to hold value).
The degradation has begun. If you need to see a "crash" to have the point proven to you, well you may wait for eternity. But I'll just point to the above fact again. We didn't need a crash to cause housing to be unaffordable, and yet if no one can afford a place to live, how is your QOL doing? If you define a downturn as stock prices crashing, then sure, maybe that's not going to happen, but if you can't buy a house to live and thus you have to work forever, then I'd say the crash was a stealth crash. It didn't look like what you were expecting, but the affect has been the same.