I meant "beneficial" in the evolutionary sense — Brendan Golledge

Anything that's common must be good at existing in one way or another, or else it would not exist. So, since religion is common amongst humans, it must serve some beneficial purpose, ... — Brendan Golledge

Monarchy is a very robust form of government, even more so when linked to a state religion. We'll pretty much all go back to monarchies as climate change sets in. Democracy is just a tool. It's not a good in itself. — frank

religion's intrinsic, cultural, or existential significance — Wayfarer

Biological men should not be in women's sports. — RogueAI

Why 'lipstick'? With its female connotation?

And into the china shop, walks the bull. — Wayfarer

Don't know whether to laugh or cry. But probably the latter. — Wayfarer

I don't have a full understanding of this and what it means for you. This conception of 'courage sans hope'. — Amity

Hope
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hope/ — Amity

Yeah, in 2024 that "1 way to lose" will be the same as 2016: HRC. The Dems don't learn new tricks often ... though maybe VP Harris :yikes: (if Biden drops out of the race and the Dems don't nominate e.g. Gov Newsom, Gov Whitmer, et al) – HRC redux. — 180 Proof

There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge even wisdom. Like art. — Toni Morrison

I LOVE THE POORLY EDUCATED. — President-elect Trump, 6Nov24

Any chance of success went out the window in 2021, when the 3.5 trillion dollar Bernie-backed reconciliation bill was killed by Manchin and Sinema. That would have been very good for the country. Instead we got crumbs and some baby steps in climate policy. Not good enough, not impactful enough. — Mikie

A question for 180 Proof and any others - how much would you agree that there was too much emphasis and reliance on women votes re abortion? — Amity

The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. — Bertrand Russell

As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron. — H.L. Mencken

In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. — Napoleon Bonaparte

What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind. — William Shakespeare

↪180 Proof
Leave me alone. Fuck off — schopenhauer1

The rest of us need to look at this result with humility. American voters are not always wise, but they are generally sensible, and they have something to teach us. My initial thought is that I have to re-examine my own priors. I’m a moderate. I like it when Democratic candidates run to the center. But I have to confess that Harris did that pretty effectively and it didn’t work. Maybe the Democrats have to embrace a Bernie Sanders-style disruption — something that will make people like me feel uncomfortable.

— David Brooks

Gee thanks David. Glad you’re realizing this NOW.

Him, Bret Stephens, and the rest of the anti-Bernie crowd can just shut up now. — Mikie

Fuck me.
— 180 Proof

Seems gratuitous since you've just been fucked by several million of your countrymen — Benkei

The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history. — GWF Hegel

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. — Karl Marx

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. — George Santayana