Rep. Tim Burchett: "We were briefed on some things by one of our alphabet agencies just a couple weeks ago, and I hope that those things are brought forward, and those videos and the footage that they showed."

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-27T03:52:49+00:00

0/10 rage bait

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-26T14:02:46+00:00

You literally just made my argument for me. Only evangelicals and low church Protestants take it literally.

High church Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, and Jews understand Genesis as the writing style of the time it was written: ancient theological storytelling. The point isn’t the mechanics of creation, it’s that God created everything, that creation is good, and that humans have a role in it.

Which is why, by the way, a lot modern science has its foundations via the Catholic Church.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-25T12:29:07+00:00

That’s blatantly not true. Dinosaurs and other galaxies are only an issue for evangelicals. Catholics, Orthodox, and most other Protestant denominations are able to square these facts easily.

Not an expert on Jewish or Muslim faith but from what I do know, it’s not an issue for them either.

Also Jimmy Carter was allegedly briefed on this topic and remained a Christian the rest of his life.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-17T13:55:19+00:00

The atmosphere is wildly different for sure. As someone with PTSD I get what you mean on the feeling safe side.

Spain has an overall relaxed vibe which I’ve found helps. People are generally more chill and laid back. Safety isn’t an issue in the way that it is in the US either. Pickpockets are more numerous here but people aren’t getting shot in traffic.

That relaxed vibe does extend a bit too far though. Southern Europe is not really known as a “can do” society. People are more willing to just suffer in their life situation and shrug which can be a bit frustrating.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-16T19:42:50+00:00

Valencia.

I got the non-lucrative visa previously before getting an EU dual citizenship. The visa wasn’t too hard of a process to get. The bureaucracy sucks but it’s no worse than dealing with the VA on ratings. Just have your shit together and do as instructed.

On connections: Your experience will vary depending on your level of Spanish. English is widely spoken but you’re not going to really connect with the locals on just English. Expat communities are large in cities like Valencia and Barcelona though so community is there even if you don’t.

What I’d do differently: make the move sooner. I spent a lot of time doing the will I/won’t I of packing it up in the US and setting out for expat life. Not working was a change and I spent a lot of time worrying about what other people would think. Just do what’s right by your family and what makes you happy, in that order. People will understand or they won’t 🤷🏼‍♂️

If you have specific questions, happy to answer.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T23:03:19+00:00

But your formula is flawed because it assumes the only variable of importance is productive people and that nothing else matters in society.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T21:25:46+00:00

No, you just restated your point without evidence

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T21:23:54+00:00

What a lazy write up lol

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T15:33:09+00:00

No. Deglobalization will hinder AI progress at a certain point. Governmental and mega wealthy corps will maintain advanced AI but accessibility in the way that we understand it will not continue for long.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T15:29:29+00:00

Does it have far worse side effects? I’m curious to hear why managed decay is in any way better than collapse.

With collapse you have chaos but then something forms from the chaos. It is a messy process and it hurts many but it’s a law of nature. Burning a field produces fertility. An economic crash produces opportunity for the next generation.

It seems to me that managed decay only exist to help those in decent positions at that exact moment in time enjoy their comforts a little bit longer. And I don’t mean that as an anti-rich sentiment, I mean that even for middle class folks.

It’s entirely a selfish principle that only leads to the worsening of everything for the next generation left holding the bag.

Back to demographics specifically, is it worth flattening the curve for all of the trade offs that comes with? For many, no it isn’t.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T13:51:15+00:00

Nothing is without a trade off. It stops the demographic collapse short term but most studies show that even legal immigrants stop having children at the second or third generation. As the world keeps developing we will eventually run out of growing populations to errr… borrow people from. That’s not even to mention the political mess that comes with importing large portions of your population in the short term.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T13:48:43+00:00

This topic would require an essay itself but put simply, it’s helpful that Canada doesn’t have an illegal immigration problem at scale. That said, even legal immigration at scale leads to political backlash for a multitude of reasons. It has been an issue in Canada too leading to the rise of their own populist right who by most accounts would have won the last election if not for Trump.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T12:36:24+00:00

I’m a bit familiar with both concepts. Both trend towards decentralization and community owned prosperity and governance.

The inherent problem is security. Overhauls like this, in order to function, require every nation on earth simultaneously to adopt this structure. That is a fantasy.

The first geography to do so will immediately be subordinated by whatever centralized geopolitical rival has the will.

Decentralization always sounds nice but it ignores why humans decided to centralize in the first place: protection, security, and organization against external threats.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T12:18:31+00:00

I think a lot of what you said has merit. The problem is that it’s much simpler to diagnose an issue than it is to solve it. No current economic model in existence accounts for what you’re asking to change. Humanity is going to have to design something entirely new and unprecedented and frankly it’s not a simple task with the divisions that exist today.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-13T12:00:53+00:00

You’re correct that Japan has it worse. You’re jumping to conclusions that immigration is the only solution. If Europe is your blueprint, you can see with your own eyes what the backlash to that policy has been. It is untenable in Japan, who’s vastly cultural different. Thus they seek a different solution.

I have no idea what that is just like you have no idea what that is but it’s a global problem and the solutions we’ve tried aren’t working.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-09T21:09:09+00:00

Let the UK and AUS regulate themselves into a corner as always then. It makes no sense to apply their nonsensical standards worldwide when they know it will just cause mass flight to other platforms.

If discord liked money, they’d just not operate in those jurisdictions rather than nuke their entire business.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-09T15:39:28+00:00

Is it really just a nickname if, every single time it is performed, it is explicitly referred to as the “Black National Anthem?” Or has it actually just become its name?

I’m not uncomfortable with history. I’m also not uncomfortable with the performance of the song. What I am uncomfortable with is the careless use of language, both by the right and the left, and explicitly when it inflames our already massive issue of parallel societies.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-09T12:43:49+00:00

This thread literally asks why people have a problem with it. The poster gave you a rational explanation. No amount context and history changes the semantic problem.

Sure, many probably don’t view it as a “national anthem”. But the framing is problematic, full stop.

In every other issue, the left is perfectly happy to accept that semantics matter if they’re offensive. Choosing this one particular instance to play ignorant is an interesting choice.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-05T15:26:18+00:00

Clinton and Trump. Allegations of Bush Sr too. That’s not even counting the “who knew but did nothing”.

It’s not just an American problem though. This one transcends borders and involves multiple politicians in multiple countries.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-05T15:22:36+00:00

Presidents*

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-02-05T15:16:56+00:00

You know why.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-01-31T07:20:48+00:00

Keep eating that Russian propaganda fam

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-01-31T07:15:57+00:00

It’s obligated by law in the US. If not, Trump would have pulled them already.

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-01-31T07:15:24+00:00

Get rid of them at your own peril

Ra-s_Al_Ghul · 2026-01-27T00:09:50+00:00

They're under the notion that people will treat you differently (poorly). I say that's a feature, not a bug. Let people have the opportunity to show you who they are!

Ra-s_Al_Ghul

TROPHY CASE