So Jair Balsanaro got the sentence Trump should have got - 27 years for an attempted coup. — Wayfarer

:clap: Brazil has a functioning judicial system. Good to see. May he rot in prison, that piece of shit.

We should all have moved on by now. Kids are shot every day — kids who didn’t contribute to ensuring this happens for decades to come with their spewing of gun manufacturer propaganda, like this guy did.

More media hysteria.

If we can only say it in retrospect -- i.e. the Nazis -- then that's not exactly a guide to when and why. — Moliere

Why? If we’re assess that a person, a movement, a cult, a government, etc., will cause great destruction / murder / suffering in the future. No one has a crystal ball, but there is good evidence.

As to when— once certain lines are crossed. I think the Trump administration has pretty much crossed those lines, but I look for the ignoring of court holdings — provided the Supreme Court’s Trump-appointed members don’t continually rubber stamp his blatantly illegal moves. Once that happens, the military will have to make a choice whether to uphold Trump or the constitution. If they choose Trump, then the only recourse is states leaving the union and people fighting back if the army tries to stop it.

But that’s me.

You have to have a license to drive a car.

No license to carry a machine literally designed to kill many people.

Your NRA-like analogy is stupid.

Because this guy happens to be a little famous (I never heard of him until this thread, frankly) it has to be some major turning point we have to look inward and question our deepest ideals? Come on. That's a bit melodramatic, wouldn't you say. All things considered. — Outlander

Yes. When any event is ubiquitous, and everyone is supposed to have an opinion or reaction about it (see the cringey editorials and twitter posts), I ask myself a few questions: 1), why this story and not some other, 2) who decides, and 3) should I really waste much time with it?

Plenty of more important stories happened yesterday. But nonetheless I offer my reaction too, because it’s everywhere. Still, it really does all ring false to me. Kids are getting shot every day— nothing but crickets. No ridiculous and hysterical calls for “war” or races to out-humane everyone.

As for the OP question: sometimes violence is necessary, yeah. When all else fails. Should have been more violence against the Nazis as they were coming to power.

One doesn't have to cheer or laugh at something like this. It just shows exactly where the hateful rhetoric of the grifting fascist right leads, and it's not towards an open, empathic and safe society. — Christoffer

Agreed.

Well, he died for the second amendment I guess. He also railed against empathy— but after seeing the video, I just can’t help but feel sickened. I can’t cheer it on or laugh at it. It actually upset me. I hope Charlie was wrong and that empathy is alive and well. Including for all the kids killed every week in school shootings. No half staff flags for them though.

With Trump nearly assassinated last year and now Charlie Kirk killed, anyone care to wager whether Republicans do anything about this problem and then implement the obvious solutions?

I would wager my house that it does nothing whatsoever. So goes the power of the money, lobbying, and propaganda.

She’s fantastic.

Well, I can say that all those people who loved to say "If I were alive when the Holocaust happened, I would've done something" or words to that effect. Welp, something not entirely dissimilar is happening and you have people DEFENDING this. Granted, a small portion, but it's obscene, grotesque. — Manuel

Yes indeed. The people now are even more culpable, since without US support there would be no genocide. It wasn’t like the US was propping up the Nazi regime.

Sad to see Israel use similar tactics as the very regime that murdered so many of their citizens’ families.

https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/middleeast/100000010370105/nasser-hospital-gaza-israel-attack-videos.html

What a shocker.

What’s cool is that the entire world, including the US, knows just what a genocidal, psychopathic state Israel is.

Biden has been signing EO’s like a madman. He has almost signed as many EO’s in his first two weeks as FDR did in his first month. According to Biden’s own words this is dictator shit. — NOS4A2

Thanks to for another laugh. The hypocrisy (and unadulterated stupidity) are so easy displayed with the cult, if only one takes a little time to do so. Thanks for spending that 5 minutes. Gave me a chuckle at least.

Beyond language, there is the maths. Is that what perturbs you? — apokrisis

No.

I think what’s most interesting about this discussion is that, once again, it’s crucial to distinguish between “common sense” notions and technical notions. In the same way as “work” can mean all kinds of things in everyday life, what it means in physics is entirely different.

My problem with what’s called philosophy and philosophers, is that much of the technical jargon often reeks of posturing, of self importance. It’s an attempt to turn philosophy into physics— looks important, and helps to justify academic funding, but one wonders how close this resembles what was done in Greek times.

That being said, why is it important to have a technical notion of “system,” and more importantly (echoing Chomsky): what explanatory theory does it belong to? Is there one?

He is a bright spot— and we do need more immigration. Illegal or otherwise. That you’re so far brainwashed into believing both of these things are somehow ridiculous only reveals what a waste of time you are. Enjoy your mainstream narrative (propaganda) and stay thoughtless.

Edit: For context, the quoted user made a (now strangely deleted) post commenting on his (hard to say) either disapproval or genuine sense that the definition can be improved as far as the 2nd post on this topic by Baden — Outlander

It’s fine that it was deleted— it was superficial. But to elaborate: I think the definition given (sincerely) is way too technical. Maybe it makes some sense and maybe it’s worth studying (as someone who respects Heidegger’s works, I grant that possibility) — but outside academia, I don’t see it being helpful in any way in life. I like ‘s description.

Legal immigration is a good thing, illegal immigration is not — RogueAI

Illegal immigration is good too. Should be more of it.

The Southern border was a festering wound — RogueAI

If by that you mean a manufactured problem that countless people believed, mostly because they want someone to blame for their shitty lives — then sure.

S&P 500: For the year-to-date through August 11, 2025, the index was up 8.4%. — RogueAI

:up:

I suppose this is a success— despite his best efforts to crash it.

but to say nothing good has happened under him is just wrong. — RogueAI

Yeah, no one’s said that. Plenty of good things — but mostly in spite of this administration’s policies and choices. And that’s the point.

Strawmen are usually the first sign of a shallow mind.

everything has gone to shit — frank

Case in point.

Illegal immigration at the Southern border has slowed to a trickle, stock market is up 6%. — RogueAI

Slowed to a trickle, yes. Which will be a disaster, since immigration is a good thing and there never was a problem to begin with, other than a backlog. But I guess this was a fulfilled goal.

As for stocks being up— yes, as they have been for years. Where the 6% comes from is anyone’s guess. 6% in what index? From when?

Not hopeless, just vacuous. Mamdani is a bright spot.

Don’t be a sap. You know very well that’s exactly what I advocate. I assume your “too many regular people” line isn’t sarcastic, but it should be. Regular people like Jeffries and Schumer and Pelosi? Please.

It says something about the power of elites, their control of propaganda, the education system, and the general social and economic conditions which lead to the voluntary election of an ignorant, degenerate fraud.

It also tells us something about the Democratic Party, and just how crappy they have to be to have the majority prefer sitting at home and letting Trump run the country into the ground rather than vote “for” their anointed candidate.

Has there been ANY successes yet in this administration (in reality — not the delusions of the cult)? Domestically, I see nothing. I see failure after failure, and the setting of precedents that the current party in power will regret. Also irreparable damage to the environment, rule of law, and world reputation.

On the foreign policy front, there may be minor successes (mostly exaggerated), and bumbling attempts at peace, but so far no real results. Especially in Gaza and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, his polling numbers are tanking and his signature policy bill is deeply unpopular.

Republicans will get wiped out in 2026, with or without their blatant cheating.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/us/politics/defense-intelligence-agency-chief-fired.html

:rofl:

It’s raining out— fire the meteorologist.

This guy was elected. Twice. Just shows how stupid Americans are.

What exactly is this?

Pulling support for Ukraine and Israel would be fantastic. Trump so far has done neither.

As stupid and ignorant and as a major loser as he is, ending these wars or support for them is (in his case, accidentally) a good thing.

He wouldn't be entirely wrong.

Genuinely, what reason is there to continue fighting? What could Ukraine possibly gain that would improve their bargaining positioning? — Tzeentch

Good point. But it’s still a hard pill to swallow for many Ukrainians. And I understand that.

He’ll blame Zelensky for not taking the “Great deal.”

He'll be outplayed by Putin, to Ukraine's' disadvantage. — Wayfarer

Yep. But he’s inadvertently advocating for a solution which may end the war. Of course Ukraine won’t agree— but to expect Russia to give up the territory it’s gained is also ludicrous.

I don’t see any real deal being made here.

People can find ways of convincing themselves of anything. It’s partly how casinos work. Wishful thinking. And of course there’s usually a modicum of truth — like the fact that someone usually wins the lottery, etc.

But this war is over. Not technically, since they’re still fighting— but for all intents and purposes, it’s over. Barring some miracle, Ukraine will come out with a crappy deal. No one said life is fair.

No. — Linkey

Cool. So now I know to ignore you in the future. :up:

This is a joke, right?

Great new strategy: when something is presented that you don’t like, don’t simply dismiss it or call it “rigged” or a “hoax” (as has been done by Trump for years with polling, coronavirus figures, approval ratings, climate change evidence, etc). Instead, fire the person saying it.

Example: If it’s too hot outside for your liking, fire the guy who read the thermometer. Then launch an investigation about thermometers’ liberal bias. Problem solved.

No one wants cancer. That doctor who noticed a tumor? Fired. Situation resolved. Etc.

This war is over. Ukraine can fight on and lose more lives, and Trump can blow smoke about it all, but Russia will keep the territory it stole. Sanctions and threats will do nothing. As we see with India, who will continue to buy Russian oil.

The American people were getting Biden 2.0 either way, and the only thing they could choose from is in which packaging it came. — Tzeentch

I think we’ve been down this road before. I don’t agree with it. It’s true that Trump has been Biden 2.0 in regards to Gaza and Ukraine. But on other consequential matters— especially climate change and nuclear proliferation — Trump is not the same. And those differences matter.

A minority of Americans voted this buffoon into office. At this point, we deserve whatever he does. He feels emboldened this time around, and he should. We actually voted this stupid, incompetent, ignorant, anti-American degenerate into office — again. There’s little else to say.

Imagine actually believing Trump is anything other than a vacuous, degenerate con man. And being an adult.

Anyway, Trump’s EPA is now pretending greenhouse gases don’t harm people. Another nail in humanity’s coffin courtesy of the racist rapist in the White House. What winning.

So those who favor gun control favor tyranny. — Leontiskos

:lol:

Fake news. — BitconnectCarlos

:rofl:

Truly the Donald Trump of this thread. Without the popularity.

At least 36 killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid in Gaza, hospital says

https://apple.news/Aq2J_HexKSYmIGc01vrSaKQ

Nothing to see here. Just a continued genocide.

Will antifa be demonstrating for the Druze anytime soon? — BitconnectCarlos

Ask Antifa.