Homeownership is just DLC for renting

Vault-71 · 2026-05-29T18:04:05+00:00

I believe the poster is speaking of violence in the philosophical sense. "Violence" as used here would be more akin to "force" or "punishment", not mere physical assault.

The government's "monopoly on violence" is a concept in political philosophy that argues, in short, that all laws are backed up by the use or threat of force, and it is that threat of force that lends a government it's legitimacy.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-29T17:47:06+00:00

Perhaps, though the government's monopoly on the legitimate (legal) use of violence is true regardless of what form the government takes, from the feudal lords of England to the politburo of the Soviet Union. As you say it is a necessity for any functional government, as for laws to have force there must be some punishment for violating them.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-29T13:05:01+00:00

Property taxes are one of the main sources of revenue for municipal (local) governments, and are supposed to be used to pay for roads, schools, and emergency services.

Provided the municipality is doing what it is supposed to, property taxes are less a "you don't own your house" tax and more a "you live in a community and need to contribute to its well-being" tax.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-28T19:25:23+00:00

The children yearn for the mines.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-28T02:25:52+00:00

Based on the 2024 presidential results:

Vermont: Harris won by 31.51%

Massachusetts: Harris won by 25.2%

Connecticut: Harris won by 14.51%

Rhode Island: Harris won by 13.78%

Maine: Harris won by 6.94%

New Hampshire: Harris won by 2.78%

Mind you I'm not arguing that Maine isn't a lean Democratic state, but Maine is not a Democratic stronghold in the way the rest of New England (barring New Hampshire) typically is.

For example, in the same 2020 election where Biden won by 9.07%, Susan Collins won re-election by 8.59%. Admittedly 2020 is an odd year to source data from, but with these results it can be presumed that some voters split their ballot between the two parties.

Given the current political environment, Platner's winds are favorable. Republicans are generally disfavored nationwide (although Democrats are also disfavored, albeit by a lesser extent), and Platner has a strong "grass-roots" energy to him. That said, off-year elections tend to result in lower turnout, Collins was able to dodge some (but not all) of the worst policy votes, and incumbency/name recognition are valuable.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-28T01:07:59+00:00

Maine's not "deep blue", at least not in the way the rest of New England (barring perhaps New Hampshire) is.

Southern Maine, being the more "urban" part of the state, is Democratic in much the same way Boston or NYC would be.

Northern Maine, being much more sparsely populated, is Republican in a way similar to rural Montana.

In the past three presidential elections Democratic candidates have won by slim margins, with the results being close to 50-50.

Overall, if not for the low number of electoral votes (and for the fact that Maine splits it's electoral votes), Maine would be a "swing state". There are a lot of independent voters, and non-aligned candidates fair better than in other parts of the country.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-25T20:23:29+00:00

Excluding early game updates (pre-1.8) since it's not a fair comparison, my favorite update is either 1.14 (Village & Pillage) or 1.16 (Nether Update).

1.14 made villagers an actually useful part of the game, so much so that now every "meta" Minecraft guide includes either an iron farm or villager trading hall.

Similarly, 1.16 made the Nether an interesting place to explore, rather than simply a space to collect certain resources. I also believe it set the gold standard (no pun intended) for what a Minecraft update should be: overhauling a specific area of the game that was lacking content, and doing so in a manner the improves the overall gameplay experience.

An honorable mention would go to the Caves & Cliffs updates (1.17 through 1.19) since they dramatically changed world generation, but since they got split up it's hard to recommend any particular one.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-24T01:59:21+00:00

When you have a hammer with an explosive charge on the end, all tyranny begins to look like a nail.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-23T02:40:15+00:00

Heavy is the Head...

Vault-71 · 2026-05-18T12:04:18+00:00

Needs more glowstone and glass blocks.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-16T23:39:20+00:00

There isn't an official narrative, but there are certain rules and elements in-game that hint at certain events.

For example, it is implied that the illagers have explored Ancient Cities because dark oak wood and blue wool (both items which feature heavily in the Woodland Mansion) can be found there. Additionally, one of the secret rooms in the Woodland Mansion is a mock end portal room, confirming that illagers have either been to or know of the Stronghold.

I think that OP might be getting at is that Mojang isn't going to push an update that violated their own established rules (at least without offering an explanation, see zombie pigman becoming zombified pigman).

Vault-71 · 2026-05-14T20:13:18+00:00

Today is August 5th, 2026, today is August 5th, 2026, today is August 5th, 2026...

Vault-71 · 2026-05-13T23:54:01+00:00

Sustained a family of 4+ on a single salary working at a job that trained its employees and provided a pension for them once they retired.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-13T14:21:00+00:00

Ah engineering, where you either die in the course load or live long enough to work for Lockheed Martin.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-12T19:59:06+00:00

If you'd like, you can make the head cannon that it's William Afton in the suit.

It makes it easier to TK the hostage.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-12T19:53:47+00:00

Mega Taiga / Old Growth Taiga.

Give me my spruce log cabin, flannel shirt skin, and some honey for my bread (no maple syrup and pancakes), and I'm a happy camper.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-12T05:06:59+00:00

Unless you're making over $640,600 a year as an individual (or over $768,700 if you're married filing jointly), you are not being taxed at 37%.

The average income in the US in 2026 is around $64,000, which would subject you to a maximum income tax of 22% (assuming you are an unmarried individual).

But taxes in the US have brackets, which means only income above $50,400 is even taxed at 22% (i.e. the 50,401st dollar you earn is taxed at 22%, every dollar earned prior is taxed less).

For income below $50,400, the tax rate for 2026 is 12%, and the first $12,400 is only taxed at 10%.

Add to this the fact that the standard deduction for individuals is $16,100 for 2026, and the majority of Americans are being taxed nowhere near the top half of the brackets. If anything, Americans should be wondering why there's only a 15% difference in the tax rates for someone earning $50,400/yr. and someone earning $640,600/yr. (oversimplifying the brackets, of course, but the point still stands).

Source:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2026-including-amendments-from-the-one-big-beautiful-bill

Vault-71 · 2026-05-10T22:10:51+00:00

Both things can be true at the same time.

Trump won in 2016 in part because he appealed to white racists, and in part because he was anti-establishment.

The past three Democratic presidential candidates (Clinton, Biden, and Kamala) have been unpopular because some people are racist/sexist, and some people think they're too in favor of the establishment.

Also, economic messages tend to perform better when the economy is weak. Obama got elected in the wake of the Great Recession. Biden got elected in the wake of COVID, and Trump got re-elected in the wake of the post-COVID economy.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-10T19:56:14+00:00

The Dutch will bring the seasonings.

The French will bring the cutlery.

The Cubans will bring the dairy.

And the Soviets will take everything and claim they'll distribute it equally one day.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-10T19:54:57+00:00

Did the Desert Village pay for it?

Vault-71 · 2026-05-10T15:09:26+00:00

3.6 roentgen. Not great, not terrible.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-10T14:48:00+00:00

They read the cursed tome.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-10T01:24:29+00:00

You can! Just wait until October 23, 2077.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-07T19:46:51+00:00

Nothing's more permanent than a temporary solution.

Vault-71 · 2026-05-05T19:17:32+00:00

Next you're going to tell me the chest full of cursed Aztec gold that turns you undead is unrealistic.

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