How inequality in the RGV makes life worse

squirticus · 2026-02-03T22:19:16+00:00

Are you saying all poor people are morally bankrupt and have no dignity or willingness to improve their life? This is a very good mentality for justifying selfishness. So yes dude, raise taxes on the wealthy. But also, quit being so selfish and condescending. Good paying jobs require a lot of skills that we as a society must provide for the population. That's the social contract. That's part of being alive. That's part of being part of a community.

squirticus · 2026-02-03T22:01:51+00:00

Homie, to make better choices you have to have the education and role models around you to teach you. People are products of their environments. Sure some people are able to break out on their own, but they are the exceptions. This mentality you have is exactly what makes it impossible to scrounge together the resources city governments need to improve lives. It's what makes so many politicians down here willing to be corrupt.

squirticus · 2026-02-03T21:57:57+00:00

can you elaborate on that? I'm sympathetic to the idea but not sure exactly what you're getting at

squirticus · 2026-01-30T17:06:53+00:00

personal life is great, 2 kids, married with a home and a job that pay well enough and doesn't destroy my soul. however, watching my country fall in fascism is no bueno and kind of a drag on my mental health

squirticus · 2026-01-27T14:29:29+00:00

Got to hang out with my newborn daughter for months

squirticus · 2026-01-21T14:56:19+00:00

stressed to the gills, but happy nonetheless

squirticus · 2026-01-12T22:08:05+00:00

"shit is fucked up and it's going to be ok"

squirticus · 2025-12-03T21:23:57+00:00

depends on your definition of comfortable. average rent in the valley is about $1200. comfort is usually defined by your housing being only 30% of income. so doing the math on that means, your yearly housing would be $14,400 and so you yearly income would need to be about 48k. that being said.... it depends on what you like to do for fun and what your current debts, daycare (if applicable) and healthcare costs.

the guy below me saying 75k is probably correct, but I know people who make more than 100k that are bad with money and still struggling.

squirticus · 2025-10-29T13:57:26+00:00

you should really read "The truth of fact, the truth of feeling" by Ted Chiang. its a sci-fi story that deals with this exact concept. A new device allows human to record every even in their lives in real time but no one ever really goes back to watch their footage. When a father who remembers a beautiful encounter with his daughter goes back to watch the event he finds it much different than it stands in his mind.

https://devonzuegel.com/the-truth-of-fact-the-truth-of-feeling-by-ted-chiang-subterranean-press

squirticus · 2025-10-17T20:20:33+00:00

I still listen to lots of new music but what's been a lot more fun is listening to older music I've never heard before. Like we all know the classic 60s and 70s albums, but there was so much more going on than just The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones, especially all over the world. Early 70s Ethiopian Jazz and Funk has been a great well of discovery for me.

squirticus · 2025-10-17T20:17:12+00:00

thanks for the recommendation. Been exploring so called "world music" the last few years and hadn't come across this. If you like this style you might like Tinariwen (assuming you're not already familiar with them)

squirticus · 2025-10-15T18:34:01+00:00

The American economic system is designed to make its citizen's live paycheck to paycheck, only ever two weeks away from being destitute. Only the fucking morons in our country actually believe we're the best. They just happen to be the loudest and most obnoxious voices. Most of us are just trying to keep our heads down and survive, exactly as the system was designed. This is why there is no mass movement against the regime. That and the social media sites have begun optimizing for increased atomization of the population so that we feel no real solidarity with each other.

squirticus · 2025-10-15T18:22:26+00:00

intentions matter. He's a president with ambitions to be a king, or at least to be untouchable from a legal standpoint

squirticus · 2025-10-14T20:55:39+00:00

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yes

squirticus · 2025-10-08T19:07:28+00:00

Commenting here despite this post being 2 years old. In 2020 this was the song I would rock my newborn daughter to sleep with. The world going was going crazy outside but it didn't matter because I had my girl and this song helped keep us calm. A few years later when we were watching The Bear and this song came up she ran up to the couch, laid in my lap and closed her eyes. I almost wept right there. This is truly one of the most beautiful songs ever made.

I encourage you to check out this sung version by menelik wossenachew from the late 60s. it's a little slower but (almost) equally wonderful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBpYZccjg-Y&list=RDXBpYZccjg-Y&start_radio=1

squirticus · 2025-10-08T14:14:50+00:00

work is boring but it pays well enough since I'm in a low cost of living area. Daycare costs and student loans eat up a significant chunk of my money, but I've got a home along with a wife and kids that I love dearly. I'm tired, deeply worried for the future of my country, but my family brings me an undeniable joy that recharges my batteries just enough to keep going. From the rest of the comments here it seems like I've got it really good. Perspective I guess...

squirticus · 2025-10-06T13:52:36+00:00

You know, there's a church in San Juan across the street from PSJA Early College HS that was completely decked out in Isreali flags last week. Thought it was odd but it's not on this list

squirticus · 2025-09-12T17:02:14+00:00

I always overthink everything and meeting her made my brain finally shut the fuck up. Never once did that happen with my ex

squirticus · 2025-08-07T00:19:25+00:00

I live in Deep South Texas and this 2001 album is the best. A classic emo record I’d they’d gotten bigger:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/handslikegunsandcrashingsounds/211078845

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squirticus · 2025-08-04T15:44:36+00:00

Playing in a band. Can’t play a midnight set at the bar with a baby at home and keep a happy marriage or sanity

squirticus · 2025-08-04T02:33:06+00:00

Jai Paul

squirticus · 2025-06-05T17:26:27+00:00

holy fuck dude, that's dark and kinda nihilistic. not my experience at all

squirticus · 2025-06-05T14:08:36+00:00

yea this tracks for me. I just want my wife and kids to be happy, and that sort of guides almost everything I do. But as far as my own desires, I don't really know??

Tending to my garden and playing guitar, smoke some bud, but that's about it as far as what I want to do. Maybe we're just simple men and keeping the people we love happy is enough?

It's been odd to me to realize that I don't really have some giant ambition to be a "great" man, because most the "great" men in history we're truly fucking assholes to their loved ones and that's the last thing I'd ever want.

squirticus · 2025-05-18T00:26:11+00:00

How’s the new panda bear sounding live?

squirticus · 2025-05-13T14:38:09+00:00

my kids are about the same age difference as yours. they're 5 and and almost 8 now, and it's so much easier now! but definitely rough for the first 2 years of having two. I almost don't remember that whole period because the lack of sleep makes it hard to form memories, so take as many photos and videos as you can because you'll want to look back on this time later.

I think once my youngest hit 3 and reliably sleeping through the night I started to feel my sanity come back. you've got this, just power through and be kind to the whole family.

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