But after the lawsuits were thrown out, it was time to move on and concede for the good of the country. — GRWelsh

Anyone with a brain cell knew Trump would claim the election was stolen if he lost. He would have done so in 2016. He did so in Iowa that year when Cruz won the caucus. It was foregone.

He’s been lying about a stolen election for years, and the reality is that he tried his best to steal it himself. The Georgia “perfect call” is a good taste, not to mention what he did to Pence. To say nothing of deliberately inciting an insurrection, using his followers to throw a tantrum for him.

Contested the election on what grounds? — GRWelsh

Oh I’m sure they’ll come up with something — like the fact that during a pandemic, mail-in voting (which has been around for decades) was expanded. In 2016 it would have been that buses of immigrants were given the right to vote in California, etc. etc. In other words: when we lose, it’s rigged by the deep state (despite plenty of split voting), because there’s no way Trump is hated by so many Americans — and when we win, nothing to see. We will in fact rail against the Russia narrative, which at least was based in reality and was shown to be true, despite the fact that the interference did not swing the election to Trump.

Years later, they sound exactly like what they accused the Democrats of sounding like. It’s hilarious.

The past doesn’t exist at the moment. Neither does the future. — Art48

Of course they do. Where else do they exist?

Excessive thought and concern about past and future takes me away from where I really am, takes me out of reality, takes me away from God. — Art48

Thinking does that, yes — it can take you out of paying attention to what you are currently doing or feeling. But it’s still reality. Not sure where “God” comes into the picture.

Who’s doing the interpreting about this life? You.

What values, beliefs, conditioning, habits are you bringing to the table before you cast a judgment on what is a failure and what isn’t? What standard are you using?

Seems to me you’re stuck in the idea that you haven’t achieved xyz — fame, fortune, or whatever your parents want from you. There are ways to be happy (healthy) apart from all that. Try meditating and exercising regularly— what’s there to lose?

I also think you need therapy. One striking thing is lack of connection with others, which is an extremely important component to a happy life.

seeking some therapy from TPF members. That's fine, but you don't follow up. You get plenty of encouraging and thoughtful responses but you rarely respond to any of them. — universeness

As was the case for this thread too.

Almost a year has passed since the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which estimates gross domestic product, announced that real G.D.P. had declined over the previous two quarters — a phenomenon that is widely, although incorrectly, described as the official definition of a recession.

Right-wingers had a field day, crowing about the “Biden recession.” But it wasn’t just a partisan thing. Even forecasters who knew that recessions are defined by multiple indicators, and that America wasn’t in a recession yet, began predicting one in the near future. As Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics, one of the few prominent recession skeptics, put it: “Every person on TV says recession. Every economist says recession. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

By late 2022, members of the Federal Reserve committee that sets monetary policy were predicting an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent by late 2023; private forecasters were predicting 4.4 percent. Either of these forecasts would have implied at least a mild recession.

To be fair, we don’t know for sure that these predictions will be falsified. But with unemployment in June just 3.6 percent, the same as it was a year ago, and job growth still chugging away, the economy would have to fall off a steep cliff very soon to make them right, and there’s little hint in the data of that happening. — Paul Krugman

A few people were screaming about a recession on this very thread. Between that and the constant blather about how we’re “printing too much money,” I think it’s time to simply face the fact that most people don’t have a clue about what they’re talking about, and that the proper action is to ignore them.

There are many factors of inflation— supply chain disruptions, post Covid demand, war, corporate price gouging, monetary policy artificially inflating the three major asset classes, etc.

Now that there’s been no recession and inflation is under control, the new boogeyman will be the national debt, which Republicans suddenly care about again and which therefore all of us are supposed to be scared shitless about.

It never ends.

The fact is that Biden, for all his flaws, has been far more progressive than Obama— and while he’s made maddening decisions on labor and environment, his administration has made attempts to do sensible things in education, regulations, etc— at the SEC, EPA, the NLRB, etc. even saying nice things and appointing good people is a positive message for the country and world.

CPI Report Shows Inflation Eased to 3% in June

https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumer-price-index-report-june-inflation-ede7f4b1?mod=mhp


Interesting.

Hottest global average in 100,000 years.

Anyone see the CNN decades series? They did the 60s through 2000s back in 2014-2018. They just wrapped up “2010s.” I like these series— kind of fun. Good editing and production. About to watch some of these

In my life, by the Beatles.

That sounds like denying there is a territory being mapped by our minds/brains — wonderer1

Right. There is no territory being mapped by our brains. There’s no “out there” that begins where our skin and eyes end. There are things happening, there are sensations present, and a whole lot of interpreting. Most of which is completely unconscious and transparent.

Throw out the subject/object and correspondence stuff and you start getting closer to what’s “real,” in my view.

It's funny how this principle works to prevent regulation of companies, but somehow doesn't do the same for women's pregnant bodies, for example. In practice it always seems to protect companies, and never seems to protect individual humans at all. — unenlightened

Bingo. :100:

So, I am asking, how do you see the 'self' as coexisting as subject and object? — Jack Cummins

Both are constructs of a thinking mind— and not the ordinary kind of thinking. Dates back to Descartes and is adopted and further developed by Kant and others.

No need to take the distinction too seriously. It’s not how we see ourselves most of the time anyway.

Some interesting and encouraging news:

If goals set under the Paris Agreement are met, the world may hold warming well below 2°C (1); however, parties are not on track to deliver these commitments (2), increasing focus on policy implementation to close the gap between ambition and action. Recently, the US government passed its most prominent piece of climate legislation to date—the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)—designed to invest in a wide range of programs that, among other provisions, incentivize clean energy and carbon management, encourage electrification and efficiency measures, reduce methane emissions, promote domestic supply chains, and address environmental justice concerns (3). IRA’s scope and complexity make modeling important to understand impacts on emissions and energy systems. We leverage results from nine independent, state-of-the-art models to examine potential implications of key IRA provisions, showing economy-wide emissions reductions between 43 and 48% below 2005 levels by 2035.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg3781

It’s a start.

What are you talking about?

Remember "the red tsunami" of 2022? The GOP "sweep" was predicted it had seemed by everybody (except me). — 180 Proof

True…no doubt it’ll tighten up as time goes by. Always does. Nominating Trump is probably a mistake, but I can’t underestimate the electorate’s ability to do silly things.

Cornel West is running as a Green Party candidate.

I like Cornel West very much. I think more serious parties is a good idea and would be an improvement in our two party system.

On the other hand, third party votes in swing states are a waste and, essentially, a de facto vote for one’s least preferred candidate. That’s simple arithmetic, so it’s always puzzled me why some people push for not voting given the importance of the election in a country like the US, where even small differences between parties make a big difference in the world.

However, I’m trying to give the idea more weight. Chris Hedges, a person I admire and have much to learn from, seems to advocate for this position. He’s helping Cornel West. He seems to believe that the only way out of this cycle is to make the Democratic Party afraid, to the point where there’s real reforms.

I need to think more about it, but it still seems to me misguided.

due to a significamt "leftward" shift in support by Independents — 180 Proof

Not seeing that leftward shift in independents yet.

Outside the cities I doubt 65% want to move away from the private automobile. — jgill

That’s nice. Unfortunately I prefer going by polling, not personal feelings. It’s also worth remembering about half of Americans have no access to public transit. They’re not even given the option. Of the transit that does exist, it’s been systematically defunded over the years and next to comparable countries is a laughingstock. Which isn’t an accident.

I guess we can choose to believe it’s somehow human nature that everyone wants a car, but when looking at the history it’s just not true. It’s been manufactured, like many other things in American life and which the OP touches on.

Drugs have traditionally been through the black market, which isn't part of corporate America. — Hanover

Both can occur. But I was responding to the OP, which includes the following:

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have aggressively marketed highly addictive prescription drugs, such as opioids, without fully disclosing the risks involved. This has led to a devastating opioid crisis in many parts of the world, with severe consequences for individuals and communities. — Judaka

I'm not sure about how badly people want a public option for health insurance, but it certainly sounds like exaggeration to claim most people want efficient public transit. — BC

68% want a public option; about 65% + favor public transit. Not hard to see why.

Next year: Supreme Court declares class has no impact on one’s opportunities in life, thus making it so.

Yeah, the same reason women film directors are so rare: just not talented enough. It’s all merit based. Remember: racism and sexism have been declared over in America.

So 4 black CEOs? Has nothing to do with racism. There just happens to not be enough black people that boards of old white guys find talented enough. Nothing to see here.

Really good OP, in my view. Kudos.

To what extent should consumers be free to make choices about what products and services they consume in the context of neoliberal capitalism? — Judaka

To me it’s less about freedom to choose as it is about what’s presented for choices.

We’re “free to choose” between a Honda, a Ford, a Chevy, etc. We’re free to choose Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim, Cigna, etc. That’s supposed to be proof of the benefits of capitalism. Ditto Republicans and Democrats for that matter.

Very little talk about what most people really want: efficient public transit, a public option for health insurance, etc.

So the idea is: we, corporate America, will present you dumbass consumers with the options we’ve decided and a couple buttons to push. That’s freedom and democracy. At least it’s not that great evil, communism.

I just happen to agree that AA is wrong, if that makes sense. — Bob Ross

Fair enough. Like I said, I myself am open to god faith arguments about it and don’t hold a staunch position.

And incidentally, you don’t have to put “Bob” after every post— we know it’s you! :grin:

I look forward to the time when all the esteemed legal scholars in this thread actually engage with the written decision instead of tossing about the vague idea of affirmative action as desirable/non-desirable — Voyeur

And then you go on to do the exact same thing.

Pretty easy to ignore.

does a good job explaining it though.



Hi Bob.

I see your point— it’s a reasonable one. But I’m not sure your characterization of AA is correct. There’s strong arguments in favor of it.

As I said elsewhere, I’d be happy to engage with the details of the case and the holding— but I can’t in good conscience pretend that this isn’t coming from a reactionary court who manages to find any reason to push forward their Federalist Society agenda. That makes me very suspicious of their justifications— just as it did with Dobbs and todays ruling on student loans.

It’s fairly predictable what they will rule. Even the independent legislature theory, which was ridiculous — though they ruled against it, it is not completely dead. That’s telling.

It’s clear what these judges want to do. Yes, we can pretend this case or that case was decided on principles and get into the weeds on each one, but first look at the overall trend.

The long-winded legal contortions and justifications and posturings don’t truly merit much energy when one can do easily predict what the ruling will be beforehand — as I did and anyone can.

Every one of these controversial cases are along party lines. When things are so predictable, you know it’s not a matter of a fair assessment of evidence — it’s foregone.

Teamsters, led by the excellent Sean O’Brien, are about to strike. This will be a big deal in the news shortly, if a contract isn’t reached with UPS.

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/teamsters-warn-ups-strike-is-imminent-if-company-doesnt-improve-pay-offer-by-friday/

So in summary:

Unions can be sued if their strikes cause any problems.

The EPA can’t regulate water that isn’t connected to other water somehow.

Racism is over. No need for affirmative action— this isn’t 1965.

Businesses can refuse service to gay people.

Students should stay in debt.

-

Nicely reflects the values of these Bush and Trump appointed lawyers.

Called it:

Supreme Court Rejects Biden’s Debt Forgiveness Plan

How predictable.

Next up: Student loans can’t be canceled. Sorry- too bad. Unconstitutional…somehow. We’ll come up with a reason.

Refusing service to gay people is now fine.

Today is a sad day in American constitutional law and in the lives of LGBT people. The Supreme Court of the United States declares that a particular kind of business, though open to the public, has a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class. The Court does so for the first time in its history.

The immediate, symbolic effect of the decision is to mark gays and lesbians for second-class status.” — Sotomayor

It’s almost as if there’s a pattern.

Massive wildfires in Canada still raging.
Smoke blanketing the northern US.
Extreme heat in Texas (upwards of 110-120 degrees) — hotter than 99% of the world at some points.

Another summer, more records breaking and more once-in-a-generation events every month.

But at least climate change is a Chinese hoax. So nothing to worry about.

we were encouraged to think minimally competent but diverse racially or genderwise. — jgill

Sounds more like a Fox News anecdote than reality. But so be it.

Fair enough I suppose. True— it shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The Court did not hold there is no more racism. — Hanover

That was a partial joke— but only partial. Yes, they’re not going to outright say it. But we shouldn’t expect that. However, take a look at Shelby v Holder. That’s pretty damn close.

you're just arguing you're unhappy with the result. — Hanover

I’m not particularly unhappy with the result. I don’t have a strong opinion about affirmative action. That doesn’t negate the fact that this court is reactionary to the extreme. What they’re systematically doing to environmental regulations, gun control, and unions is far worse in my view.

Sure…but what is your point? Abortion has been supported and attacked as well. As has almost every other issue they’ve ruled on this term.

Yes— isn’t it great that racism is behind us?

This court is a joke. No one their credibility is in the toilet.

Looking forward to the decades to come and how much damage this court will do — and I can’t help but to still be a little annoyed by the people who encouraged apathy in 2016, because Hillary was “just as bad.” Ditto in 2020 — although thankfully that silliness didn’t prevail.

Instead of simply voting against the worst (Trump), people sat out. Now we have a major branch of government remaking America in the Federalist Society’s image. How sad.

He's basically been saying it outright for years.

Except it is like, highly confidential.
...
Secret. This is secret information.
...
See as president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret.

The tape just reaffirms what everyone with a brain already knew. But his supporters will come up with something — anything — to minimize or outright deny what he did. I don’t see it changing any minds there. Still, it’s the jury that counts.

Too bad this is what he’ll get nailed for and not attempting to literally overturn the election and then inciting an insurrection. He continues to lie about the election to this day — and roughly 80% of Republicans believe it.

Anyway — may he rot in jail if he gets there. Traitorous piece of shit.

We don’t really understand anything about consciousness. So it’s hard to say if insects have it or not.