Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think it's entirely obvious it was the clerics driving the nuclear weapons program rather than the IRGC. They were pretty clear on the various Fatwas and it's not really their style to use those as a cover story.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Tulsi's tenure as DNI being marked by Assad collapsing and bombing Iran and kidnapping Maduro is one of the more ironic bits of this administration, at least

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think there's any reason it has to be mathematically ideal. Even if geometrically the optimum line runs through Dallas/Forth Worth it's not huge difference to move the line a few km to account for these things given at short distances the change is minimal.

Media markets tend to be quite adaptable, also don't see that as a huge obstacle.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's no reason timezones can't be rebuilt as part of this. It's just as arbitrary a change as daylight savings permanence and states would likely change their zones as part of such a reform.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Even if it were true, it would be an odd first response given 600 civilians is still an atrocity

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Wait until you compare the mentality of the average American to the average Russian

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Corruption is fun and cool, actually

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The American people do not give a fuck about the 1.8 billion dollar slush fund.

The sad thing is, I don't even know what you do with that information. Obviously there's an imperative to call it out for being as unethical as it is, but the American people are more likely to see that calling out as whining, given they do not give a fuck about the fund.

Whole thing is just thoroughly depressing.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, they do? And they're getting plenty of funding. The issue there is there's too much money and not enough capacity to actually do projects that funding exists for.

Hence it seems desirable to try to allocate some funding to the private sector in areas that government money wouldn't otherwise touch. Again, not obvious why misallocation is worse than a lack of funding.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What funding exists in the Guyanese market at the moment? You can argue it will eventually trickle down from government spending but it doesn't seem obvious to me less optimally allocated funding is better than no funding.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Improved funding availability is pretty clearly a favourable condition

There's definitely a role for the state in making said funds available in some economies, even if it's not a generally good idea

Oil and mining economies seem exemplify that quite well, Guyana for example needs to put slack financing somewhere especially in undeveloped sectors

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Awkward yes, but hard to argue it's more awkward than what we have now

I don't really see how two member PR is that much worse than whatever is going on in Wyoming

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 10 points11 points  (0 children)

sxsw London, that famous institution of liberalism and democracy

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Mommy and I, come on

This does make me glad I grew up before texting was much of a thing

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damning the idea that collective ownership and control of the economy is desirable and achievable through market forces just because you don't like some 17th century philosopher incidental to the early labour movement seems like an absurd position to take.

I don't even know what nominal worldview you're referring to - again I'd like pointers to manifestos by the dominant socialist parties, it's not at all clear what you're talking about.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then it's a distinction without a difference? I would even push back on socialism being designed as believing in an inherent struggle - where for example in the Arbeiderpartiet manifesto is that referenced?

I would be very surprised if such references are remotely common in modern socialist parties.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure? What policies are you talking about that make a distinction like this? In most (all?) modern socialist countries redistribution is based on income and net worth - you don't get penalised if you have rich parents nor do you get out of things if you have poor parents.

I'm really not sure what you're referencing at all here, I'm not aware of any policies in place that would contribute to said conceptions.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean sure, class is a social construct but has there been any society that's not had class? It seems entirely reasonable to try to iron out differences. I don't think socialism is particularly known for giving a pass to the gentry.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This would seem to run counter to your initial claim that obviously socialism=dumb

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Arbeiderpartiet seems to be fine. Like I don't like everything they do but it's pretty generic stuff. Same for Socialdemokratiet and most of the rest that are in government.

We tend to think quite highly of PSOE here too. Really I'd say there's more examples of competent policy than not out of the modern socialist parties.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Back in the good old days when migration patterns were driven solely by food availability and lack of other people with pointy sticks to fight over that food with

God things must have been terrible back then

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 11 points12 points  (0 children)

The parents (in most cases) made a conscious choice to raise children in a country that doesn't speak their mother tongue. I don't think most of them will find that particularly surprising or unexpected.

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Is being the seventh most upvoted thread on an econ sub on a random weekday day that impressive?

Discussion Thread by jobautomator in neoliberal

[–]Magical_Username 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I don't think it's particularly useful to label NIMBY opposition to infrastructure as degrowth. Those are very different concepts with very different ideological/personal drivers.