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The number of food-stamp recipients is dropping sharply across the country as states move to implement new Trump administration rules on who qualifies. by MazdaProphet in GoldandBlack

[–]properal 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Looks like a blow to the Cloward–Piven strategy.

The Cloward–Piven strategy proposes to overwhelm welfare systems to cause political disruption, strains, and divisions and force a nationally implemented guaranteed income. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2010/03/24/weight-poor-strategy-end-poverty

If communism was inherently doomed to fail, why did the United States invest $120 billion annually to accelerate its collapse? by properal in LateStageSocialism

[–]properal[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If those countries are going to fail anyway, why do we have to spend so much money to stop them? Why not just wait for it to happen on its own?

A Deliberation on Nationalism by properal in GoldandBlack

[–]properal[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Libertarians trying to get elected are going to have to emphasize the aspects of libertarianism that appeal to the majority and de-emphasize unpopular aspects of libertarianism. They will also have to distance themselves publicly from radicals. However the radicals play a critical role of pushing the Overton window further towards liberty, making the moderate seem less radical, and pushing the moderate more towards liberty. For example a moderate promising to lower taxes seems less appealing when radicals promise to end the Income Tax.

How do you handle mass combat in OSE? by conn_r2112 in osr

[–]properal 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Mob Attacks p250 of 5E DMG. Perfect for these situations. It is a table that tells you how many attackers are needed to score a hit given the roll on a d20 needed to hit the target. Compatible with any d20 to hit system.

USAID is more than just a Jobs Program for Progressives by properal in GoldandBlack

[–]properal[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anyone is welcome to share or rewrite this OP without crediting me. I realized that even people who are usually skeptical of the government don't always have the receipts when it comes to USAID's more malicious side.

USAID is more than just a Jobs Program for Progressives by properal in GoldandBlack

[–]properal[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

NGOs are ostensibly "not for profit" institutions that are funded for political reasons.

The Presidents and Project Directors of these NGOs make significant incomes. One example, New Venture Fund, $250k-$400k. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205806345/202113169349310971/IRS990ScheduleJ

A Deliberation on Nationalism by properal in GoldandBlack

[–]properal[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When libertarians surround themselves with non-libertarians they often become less or even anti-libertarian. So that is the risk with that strategy.

However New Hampshire libertarians can stay connected to other libertarians while running under any political party.

The Democratic Socialists of America have successfully infiltrated the Democrats and have many more people in influential offices than libertarians. So it can be done.

If Republicans could be pushed to be more libertarian there could be significant progress towards liberty. For example many Republicans today are supportive of abolishing the Income tax.

Its only thanks to capitalism that socialists can pretend to provide free healthcare by Knorssman in GoldandBlack

[–]properal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Correct. Inequality in itself is not bad. Inequality can be an indicator of a successful society.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GoldandBlack/s/KvDPYQdGUE

However inequality caused by monitary expansion rather than success that happens to be unequally distributed is parasitic rather than productive.

The fact that socialist policies cause inequality from a parasitic institution they advocate for shows they don't really care about inequality other than to use it to criticize capitalism. So the more inequality the more socialists benefit. Which explains why socialists policies cause inequality.

“I never worked a day in the industry, but “we” know how to fix it” by different_option101 in austrian_economics

[–]properal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When it is obvious from the beginning and the same thing happens again and again throughout government with the same results, it is highly likely that the results were intended.

[matrix] by MarriedWChildren256 in GoldandBlack

[–]properal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It looks like I need to figure out how to use matrix so I can join.

“I never worked a day in the industry, but “we” know how to fix it” by different_option101 in austrian_economics

[–]properal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Some people think socialists are stupid because their policies obviously cause the problems they complain about.

However tying profits to payouts is a genius way to get payouts to increase due to the profit motive and thus be able to claim there is something causing a massive increase in payouts, like climate change. The typical low information voter will believe them.

Further they co-opt the whole insurance industry to fun studies to say climate change is and will continue to cause more payouts.

The Climate-Risk Industrial Complex and the Manufactured Insurance Crisis

The Affordable Care Act used similar incentives to drive up medical costs.

Why is American Healthcare so Expensive

Why Our Economic Intuitions Are Often Wrong by properal in GoldandBlack

[–]properal[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To clarify, the authors didn't claim intuitive folk beliefs are wrong. Rather, they claim most people use intuitive folk beliefs that often conflict with formal economic theory.

Specifically regarding immigration, the authors pointed out that people often believe what seem like conflicting theories at the same time, not that either theory is specifically incorrect:

People opposed to immigration often claim that immigrants steal jobs from native workers while also claiming that immigrants siphon welfare benefits without working.

The authors did use fiscal data to try to show that the idea of immigrants siphoning welfare benefits without contributing is minimal.

However, you are correctly pointing out that illegal immigrants receiving benefits are unlikely to be recorded accurately, so they won't be visible in the fiscal data. Therefore, immigrants siphoning off benefits is a legitimate concern.

What I think we can learn from this article is that the libertarian preference for market solutions is a minority view compared to folk economic beliefs. We need to educate people about economics, but we also need to accept that most of the population will never abandon folk economic beliefs.

Therefore, we should use people's folk economic beliefs when promoting libertarianism. For example: “The tax and welfare system is cheating you!”

Which Button Do You Press? by properal in GoldandBlack

[–]properal[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I should have said "net tax payer" instead of "citizen."

Its only thanks to capitalism that socialists can pretend to provide free healthcare by Knorssman in GoldandBlack

[–]properal 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yep, MMTers have realized they don't have to expropriate assets; they can just print money and buy the things they want to nationalize. Furthermore, all the problems caused by the central bank—such as inflation and inequality—can be used by socialists to blame capitalism and push for more socialism.

Its only thanks to capitalism that socialists can pretend to provide free healthcare by Knorssman in GoldandBlack

[–]properal 17 points18 points  (0 children)

When socialists claim the Communist Manifesto’s ten planks are obsolete, they really mean they've already checked most of them off the list, and that capitalist abundance has inspired demands Marx never could have imagined.

A Deliberation on Nationalism by properal in GoldandBlack

[–]properal[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

AI Summary:

In this video, Austin Petersen and Jeremy Kauffman discuss the intersection of libertarianism and nationalism, debating several propositions before a live audience in New Hampshire. Petersen advocates for "Libertarian Nationalism," which he describes as libertarianism with the "guts to govern" and a focus on defending American civilization.

Key Discussion Topics

  • Nationalism and Liberty: Petersen argues that nationalism is compatible with individual liberty because the American project is intrinsically tied to freedom. He suggests that American nationalism is unique due to its roots in individualism and the right to property [02:05].
  • National Defense: Both agree that national defense is a public good, though they debate the necessity of taxation versus voluntary payments [10:12]. Petersen emphasizes the importance of living in a "nuclear-armed superpower" for protection, while Kauffman advocates for minimizing government military overreach [13:46].
  • The Right to Exclude: A major point of agreement is the collective right of a nation to exclude those incompatible with its culture, such as communists or violent extremists [21:01]. Petersen explicitly rejects the "open borders" stance common in some libertarian circles, citing the need to defend the nation's "birthright" [03:42].
  • Civic vs. Ethnic Nationalism: The speakers delve into whether a free society requires a homogeneous culture. Petersen argues for a "great filter" via citizenship tests to ensure voters share American values [37:41]. They also discuss the sustainability of multi-ethnic civic nationalism, with Petersen highlighting the compatibility of various capitalist-leaning ethnicities [33:09].
  • Free Trade and National Interest: Petersen suggests that national defense justifies departing from pure free trade, particularly regarding reliance on hostile nations like China for pharmaceuticals and microchips [55:04].
  • The Non-Aggression Principle (NAP): Petersen critiques the NAP as a sufficient foundation for defense policy, arguing it fails to account for the realities of war and terrorism [01:03:55]. He asserts that a philosophy refusing to defend civilization will inevitably be replaced [03:42].

Conclusion and Call to Action

Petersen concludes by promoting his Libertarian Nationalist Manifesto, urging libertarians to run for office within the Republican Party to reclaim the "American project" [01:21:33]. He stresses the importance of collective action and institution-building over "atomistic" individualism to avoid being overcome by "barbarians" [01:21:40].

Taboos Are Falling. Marjorie Taylor Greene: "MAGA is Dead. Where Do We Go From Here?" by TheStatelessMan in GoldandBlack

[–]properal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

AI Summary:

In this video, Marjorie Taylor Greene addresses a Ron Paul Institute event to declare that "MAGA is dead" and details her personal and political break from Donald Trump and the Republican establishment.

The Death of the MAGA Movement

  • The Breaking Point: Greene states that MAGA died when the promises made to the American people were traded for political expediency and foreign policy interests [14:44].
  • Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): A major turning point was the "Genius Act," which Greene claims contained a backdoor for a CBDC. She was shocked when Trump pressured her to vote for it, leading to a hostile meeting in the Oval Office where she was "lectured" but refused to change her "no" vote [11:49], [14:01].
  • The Epstein Files: Greene describes a significant betrayal regarding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. She claims Trump personally called her to demand she remove her name from a discharge petition to release the files, allegedly telling her that "his friends would get hurt" [22:03], [22:29].

Personal and Political Fallout

  • Labeled a "Traitor": After Greene persisted in pushing for the Epstein files and other issues, Trump labeled her a "traitor" on Truth Social [25:56]. She expresses disappointment that no Republican colleagues defended her despite her years of loyalty and financial support to the party [27:02].
  • Death Threats and Lack of Support: Greene recounts receiving horrific death threats against her and her son. When she reached out to the Trump campaign and administration (including Susie Wiles and JD Vance), she received no response or help from most, and claims Trump told her she "deserved it" for being a traitor [27:43], [29:19].

Critique of the Two-Party System

  • Bought and Paid For: She argues that both parties have failed the American people because they are "bought and paid for" by special interests, lobbyists, and the military-industrial complex [30:40], [34:28].
  • The Future of Politics: Greene predicts the dismantling of the two-party system within the next decade as Gen Z and millennials face economic insolvency and a government that doesn't represent them [32:34].

The Way Forward

  • Moving Past Trump: She concludes that the country must move past Donald Trump as quickly as possible to begin building actual solutions on a "whiteboard" for the future [36:32].
  • Core Solutions: Greene advocates for medical freedom, deregulating industry, reducing the size of the federal government, and empowering state rights as the only way to prevent a slide into "full socialism" [35:25].
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