Eat the rich.
Here’s my breakdown, numbers from Wikipedia, for estimates and purposes of discussion:
Total population: 340 million Eligible voters: 245 million Turnout: 155 million
Children can’t vote, that’s 70 million. Convicted felons and other non-eligible citizens make up another 20 million.
Are you suggesting that children should vote? (I do believe that convicts should have the right to vote, but that’s only 20 million.)
despite the downsides which we should be doing a better job of mitigating.
This is the part where I lose faith. We have failed to mitigate the downsides. In fact, we have encouraged the monetization of the downsides.
https://youtu.be/tsAZ0RweVxk?t=22
O Brother Where Art Thou, a movie like none other
What is the “right” side, in your opinion? What if both sides are wrong? What if there are more than 2 sides?
Human beings have been outputting incorrect information for years. Get a high school textbook in literally any subject (except possibly math) from the 1970s. You’ll be amazed at how much of it is oversimplified or politicized or just plain wrong.
I do agree that AI has compounded the problem. There’s a limit to how much inaccuracy/incompetence a given system can tolerate. An organization that relies on AI for critical processes better have a way to monitor and intervene.
It’s not ready for commercial use by the general public.
We see this ALL the time in America - a new disruptive technology emerges. We jump all over the benefits and the profits without regard to consequences or expense. We suffer.
New cheap pesticide? Hell yeah, spray that DDT everywhere, it’s super effective! (Insert other endless examples here, from microplastics to asbestos.)
AI (and information technology in general) has shown itself to be a danger to human beings. Its effects are not felt so much in the short term (5 or 10 years) but generationally. We’ve seen that information technology has already impacted quality of life. It’s used as spyware, as a tool to collect and correlate massive amounts of data. It’s used to shape our media experience, our purchasing, our social circles. There are great things, like online banking. But they seem more and more to be outweighed by a loss of humanity. So much misinformation that I question my own reality some days.
What we call “AI” is the evolution of these obtrusive, coercive practices. It exists purely to replace human thinking skills. I’ve spent a bit of time in r/teachers over the last 15 years, and the stories keep getting worse. The rise of AI means that detecting plagiarism/cheating is exponentially more difficult. But, more importantly, the kids don’t have any stress when it comes to cheating. They don’t have to find a friend or know the bare minimum. They can just…cheat. And they never learn to problem solve or overcome adversity.
None of this matters, though. Ready or not, here we are. A new kind of slavery for a new world order.
I don’t see anyone cheering. I see people debating the ethics and morality of the situation.
Your feelings about your daughter are valid. You are more than welcome to use every tool at your disposal to ensure that she doesn’t date older men. This is expected; you are there to protect her. But don’t expect everyone to feel the same way. Many younger women look for an older, financially stable man. Many older men are willing to enter long-term committed relationships and financially provide for a younger woman.
If you want your daughter to avoid this situation, make sure she’s well-educated and independent. Instead of coddling her, challenge her to achieve her goals and excel in her field.
JFC. Pedophiles are people who rape children.
These are two consenting adults. ADULTS. What fucking use is adulthood if your every action is judged as if you are still a child?
So, let’s keep things in perspective. Yes, there is a power imbalance when the age gap is almost 50%. No, this is not even close to pedophilia. Yes, she should reconsider dating an older man or take things very slow. No, he is not a rapist. No, she is not a child.
Dunno what to tell ya. The process is what it is. What we are seeing is a failure of of the entire system of checks and balances. The legislative and judicial branches refuse to reign in the executive branch. IMHO, our Congress members and Supreme Court are more culpable for those girls’ deaths than the soldier who fired that missile.
I can’t speak for what actually happens, or what even what SOP in the armed forces might be in this situation.
SO…I googled it. Here’s the levels of complexity involved in a Tomahawk missle strike:
Command and Authorization (Top-Down Flow)
Authorization: The process starts with a decision by the President, often passed through the National Security Council to the Secretary of Defense, and then to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Command Channel: The Joint Chiefs convey the order to a regional commander (e.g., U.S. Central Command or Indo-Pacific Command). Execution Order: The regional commander transmits the target information and engagement requirements to the specific launch platforms (ships or submarines).
Transmitting the Order to the Specialist
Secure Communications: The order is sent via secured, encrypted digital communications to the vessel’s Tomahawk Strike Coordinator (TSC) or equivalent senior operator. TTWCS Integration: The data is directly integrated into the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS) on board. Mission Planning: The TTWCS allows the crew to plan the route or receive pre-planned, digital target coordinates, known as a Missile Sequence Number (MSN) task.
Action by the Specialized Operator (Launch Team)
Mission Assignment: The firing platform’s operators receive a digital tasker, which includes primary and sometimes backup assignments. Validation: Specialists on the bridge/combat center verify the target and launch authorization. Targeting Data Entry: The TTWCS is updated with the new target data, which may include GPS coordinates. Block IV missiles can be reprogrammed in-flight, but the launch command requires pre-defined parameters. Launch Sequence: The operators execute the final launch sequence, which involves the missile being ejected by a solid-fuel booster from the Vertical Launching System (VLS).
SO, at which point should the crew have refused the order? Where does the blame lay?
Poorly executed military action is 100% an American institution. We expect it - from the Bay of Pigs to “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq to the twenty year campaign in Afghanistan, our executive branch has a habit of making itself look incompetent.
But guess what? Nobody’s asking about Epstein, so VICTORY!
Shilling much lately?
It could be.
But I don’t see any other PC/laptop reviews by this author. He writes mostly about cybersecurity. And his Neo articles seem a bit…biased. Compare to his other articles, which are well-researched. Example:
https://www.csoonline.com/article/563017/wannacry-explained-a-perfect-ransomware-storm.html
My guess is either someone is posting articles in his name, or he’s taking a free Neo in return for a positive review.
It seems like assigning the blame solely to the soldier is downplaying the crime. Why don’t you want the entire chain of command prosecuted?
Nope. Not gonna read a 23 page document. YOU tell ME how it’s similar. Or at least copy/paste the relevant information.
Second, I’m all about prosecuting war crimes. I’d love to see this one prosecuted. How about we actually investigate it, too? Maybe, I dunno, find out who gave the order. If bad intel was passed. If the leaders knew about the bad intel but decided to proceed.
Ofc, this won’t actually happen. The “war” is just another distraction, until the next manufactured crisis and the next until humanity snuffs itself out with its own all-too-clever Machiavellian schemes.
But by all means, throw the full weight of social justice at the poor sap who has to live with knowing his finger pushed a button that killed 160 innocent girls. Beloved daughters and sisters, erased from this world to amuse a demented billionaire’s ego.
You got me twisted, my friend. I fully condemn the military actions. All of them.
But assigning blame to some random soldier? It’s like screaming at the waitress over a menu item. She didn’t write the menu, she doesn’t cook the food, she has literally no power over anyone.
By coveting.
There’s a scene from Band of Brothers, two GIs meet a French family on D-Day. One of the soldiers offers the boy, 4 or 5 years old, a chocolate bar. The boy smiles from ear to ear when he tastes it. His father says, “Thank you. He’s never had chocolate before.”
Imagine that. Imagine living in a society where chocolate is considered an exotic food. That’s how the world was, for almost all of human history. You live in Norway and you want a lemon? HA! Tough shit, you’ll never even know what lemon smells like.
But, at some point, Americans got used to having every delicacy from every corner of the world. We forgot that each nibble of chocolate is exotic. That the beans aren’t native to our country. That most people in the world can’t afford real chocolate except as a rare treat. And look at us now - just like the rest of the world.
Oh, my. The US is so very, very far away from a revolution. The citizens are hopelessly outgunned. The police have been militarizing since the 80s, and there’s always the Army/National Guard if things get really wild.
Further, the people who are most likely to call for revolution are the least likely to own firearms or have military training. MAGA is armed to the teeth - the Dems and progressives, not so much.
So, I’m afraid you’ll have to choose Door #2 - a slow descent into authoritarianism and fascism. (But at least ICE can provide “security” for our “fair and free” elections.)
Google? What say you?
Based on reports from early 2026, there have been allegations and estimates suggesting a high death toll during crackdowns on protests in Iran, with some sources, including reports cited by TIME magazine, indicating that over 30,000 people may have been killed by security services on Jan. 8 and 9, 2026. However, this figure is highly disputed and the subject of intense media contention:
High Estimates: Reports from Iranian interior ministry sources and TIME suggested over 30,000 deaths in a massive, rapid crackdown, with bodies reportedly transported in trucks and the exhaustion of body bags.
Government Denials: The Iranian Foreign Ministry has dismissed reports of a 30,000+ death toll as a “Hitler-style BIG LIE”.
Official Figures: The Iranian government has acknowledged a much lower death toll of 3,117, claiming this number includes civilians, security forces, and those they termed “terrorists”.
Other Estimates: Other reports have indicated varied, yet still high, estimates, including over 16,500 dead, 7,000 killed according to activists, or a lower figure of around 1,300, as reported in other updates during that volatile period.
I love that you took the time to make this analogy. I’d like to share another example, and then explain why I think the above analogy maybe won’t appeal to working class folks. First, a bit of history:
Years ago, I was broke and jobless. My neighbor needed an odd job or two done. So, I tightened a few screws and painted her kitchen. She loved my work. I loved working for myself. I started painting houses. Interior only, because all I needed was a tarp and a paint brush. The customer was responsible for buying the paint up front.
Eventually, I worked my way into buying a really shitty truck and a ladder and it kept snowballing. My equipment got better. The jobs kept rolling in. I had more work than I could handle.
Now…what should I do? Should I hire someone? Try to find an equal partner? Or just turn down the work? I talked it through with several friends, and decided to hire a friend of a friend. I didn’t know the guy, so it didn’t make sense to immediately offer him a partnership. The guy didn’t know me, and wasn’t about to commit to a partnership.
So, at this point, I’m the same as “Fred”, right? I’m the owner, I’m looking for an hourly employee. Why am I the bad guy? I’m just working hard. If business is good and I can pay someone who wants the money, isn’t that a good thing?
Let’s skip ahead in your story. Fred retires. Fred Jr. inherits the business and continues to make money for doing nothing. And that’s a very valid objection to the way things work - inherited wealth is poison to a fair system. Nepotism is poison to a fair system.
On the other hand, Fred built a business. Yes, he had someone else running his backhoe. Fred was responsible for other aspects of the business, though. Admin tasks, sales, etc. He worked, there’s no shame that his was a desk job instead of a field job.
The wrap up your analogy is this:
“This is the way we decide who gets the rewards of all the work humanity collectively does (under capitalist systems) and it’s resulted in a hundred or so people so insanely wealthy we can’t even conceptualize how much money they have and everyone else scraping by.”
Let’s break down that statement, there’s a lot going on.
“This is the way we decide who gets the rewards…” Sorry, but the system we use is SO much worse than your analogy. I buy a share of stock in the company. I never meet an employee. I never meet a customer. I never even see the business. I just get paid when the company profits. The company itself is too big to fail. The government will loan them low or no interest money to ensure that it doesn’t go under. In 30 years, I can sell my stock, or I can pass it to my children. I can take loans against the unrealized value of that stock.
“it’s resulted in a hundred or so people so insanely wealthy we can’t even conceptualize how much money they have…” Again, it’s SO much worse than that. The poorest person on Forbes 400 list is worth almost $4 billion. (That list is USA citizens only, btw.) A billion dollars is inconceivable wealth to most people. At a 10% return rate, that’s $400 million per year accumulated by doing nothing but investing in the Dow. Imagine that. Enough money to give 50 of your family and friends $4 million per year AND still have $100 million income for yourself AND still have $100 million to reinvest every year. Imagine how much political influence that amount of money buys.
So, yeah. I think using a small business as an analogy for capitalism - especially a single proprietor working-class business - distracts from just how bad things really are. Thanks for reading, and hope that I didn’t offend you by jumping into the comments with this rant. :)