Do you feel the USA is better now than it was 22 years ago?

[titan_tim]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I'm just hoping that people actually realize the real issues
(which is semi happening, the more the Republican party overreaches, the more it becomes obvious were dealing with fascism)
Some people are waking up to it. It's just a lot of people are beaten and tired from their work lives, we're extremely disconnected and fragmented within our own communities. It creates a pretty strong sense of either dread, or apathy. Or mix.

The left and the right are going to absolute extremes. Centrists like me have a difficult time seeing either as the right way to go. The right in the US used to be about fiscal responsibility and family values, but not really anymore. Now they're just there in stark opposition to what the other side wants, and nothing else.

But the last part you mentioned brings me to the main issue of the US. The middle class is being absolutely strangled to death. The more people that fall below the poverty line, the more crime. On the opposite side, Japan is almost all middle class. When you're a middle class person, you don't want to risk what you have by doing something illegal. It could ruin what you have instantly. Your future, your current job, your friends, it'll all disappear if you do something dumb.

The answer is simple. Focus on the younger generation, get them educated, and give them hope in the future. Those people will think twice about doing petty theft if they have something to lose.

 

[titan_tim]

Some guy did try to go on a shooting spree in a mall. He was stopped by a CCW permit holder. Criminals do not care about laws. It's why they are criminals. The criminal who shot Abe knew that guns are banned in Japan, yet he still built one himself. The only thing criminals fear are armed law abiding citizens.

Hoooooooooooooly crap that's dumb. Seriously dumb! You've changed your beliefs into an identity to a level that is embarrassing.

In the face of ALL the statistics on shooting in Japan, are you seriously trying to say that Abe would have been safer if the normal people in the crowd were armed!?! The guy literally had to build a gun out of tubes and duct tape! The fact that you feel the need to rely on regular people to protect you instead of the police is just a testament to how bad things are over there.

I have been down the scariest streets of Japan (The Kabuchicho area), and NEVER have I felt that I needed a gun to feel safer. In fact, I felt so safe that I have never feared for my life in the 15 years I've been here.

 

[Deleted member 586536]

The left and the right are going to absolute extremes. Centrists like me have a difficult time seeing either as the right way to go.

I'll just lay down this argument.
We can't have a system that has infinite growth. Our world just, doesn't work like that. The right wing, supports captialism, a framework which severed a purpose for a time. Which was I mean (looks around me) all of this came from a lot of that time period. However, it's out grown it usefulness. Even Marthin Luther King jr pointed it out.

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/notes-american-capitalism


"I am conviced that capitalism has seen its best days in American, and not only in America, but in the entire world. It is a well known fact that no social institut can survive when it has outlived its usefullness. This, capitalism has done. It has failed to meet the needs of the masses."

The issue is, now it's acting in a reductive way. It's no longer helping human beings, or a majority of human beings. Subscription services for enabling your car seat warmer? Micro transactions in what could of been great games? To the spam call centers, robbing people who didn't know better.
It proves that, the jobs are becoming more meaningless. And the ones that pay well, are stuff like advertising, call centers. stuff that doesn't actually help other people out in a meaningful way. And the ones that actually do, are paid like shit. I already earlier went over the fact that some, are saying people starving keeps people working. Which is just ethically wrong to do. Because it destroy's peoples bodies, in several ways.

Over here (I don't know modern japans work culture all that well. I do know that overworking was a problem, at some point, not sure if it still is)
We have this whole concept of "picking up a second gig" which really is just a second job. We shouldn't need two jobs to live. But, in this system, money is more important than taking care of human beings. Unions over here are so laughably weak that it's hard to counter companies. Paying shitty wages. You can be fired for practically anything.

And that's where the political system comes into play. Democrats and Republicans are all on the same side of that coin. We don't actually have a leftist party. That was removed post red scare through several executions and propaganda. Which just through history, we know that capitalism leans more into fascism. Facists continue to fear monger about leftists, since they are trying to continue to use the red scare as a deterrent. When in reality, the only way for fascism to be countered, is leftism.

You call yourself a centrist, but to me, your not. Your a little left leaning (by a smidge) and that's because the overtune window over here in the states, is so shoved so far right, that the center is absurdly in middle right territory.

 

[titan_tim]

The US is not failing. The corruption of the elites is being exposed to the world.

Go look at the current debt that the US is in. $30 TRILLION!!! Some debt is fine for a country. That level is pretty damn out of hand. China is without a doubt going to overtake the US, and as I said, you'll be too busy blaming the other side to do anything about it.

And no doubt, there is a LOT of corruption in US politics. Both sides are very corrupt in their dealings. They ALL get money from outside interest groups. And of course, they don't label it as bribes, when they so clearly are.

But you don't care about the obvious corruption on your side, do you? Just the other EVIL side!

 

[titan_tim]

I'll just lay down this argument.
We can't have a system that has infinite growth. Our world just, doesn't work like that. The right wing, supports captialism, a framework which severed a purpose for a time. Which was I mean (looks around me) all of this came from a lot of that time period. However, it's out grown it usefulness. Even Marthin Luther King jr pointed it out.

Yeah, people like Bezos are bad for everyone. He's a giant aneurism in the body of the country, when that money needs to be more freely flowing to everyone. Anyone who feels they need more than a billion dollars can go to hell.

Over here (I don't know modern japans work culture all that well. I do know that overworking was a problem, at some point, not sure if it still is)
We have this whole concept of "picking up a second gig" which really is just a second job. We shouldn't need two jobs to live. But, in this system, money is more important than taking care of human beings. Unions over here are so laughably weak that it's hard to counter companies. Paying shitty wages. You can be fired for practically anything.

Most people here (that I deal with) only work one job. And overwork is definitely a problem. When I leave the office around 7 or 8pm, I feel guilty if others are still working. But I get along with my co-workers, so it's not too bad for me. Companies try to do the right thing to get people to do less overtime, but most of the time, people just don't say they worked late to save them the hassle.

You call yourself a centrist, but to me, your not. Your a little left leaning (by a smidge) and that's because the overtune window over here in the states, is so shoved so far right, that the center is absurdly in middle right territory.

You're absolutely right. Definitely more left leaning, as I hope to help myself by helping everyone. Sort of a self preservation level of selfishness. But I'm also for fiscal responsibility. Spending money is important, but as long as it's spent well with as little waste as possible. I hate hearing about the stimulus money that just kind of disappeared.

 

[Deleted member 586536]

But the last part you mentioned brings me to the main issue of the US. The middle class is being absolutely strangled to death. The more people that fall below the poverty line, the more crime.

As I'm going to argue (I apologize for double quoting you. I'd usually edit it in, but already the previous was pretty long)
The main issue isn't the middle class being strangled. It's the symptom of the even larger problem. Which is money=power, and this system is designed to go to the top.

Just like how there can't be infinite growth, there can't be infinite competition, when "winning" results in even more power. Invetibly, power will consolidate into the few, up to the point that no one can challange them. That's how walmart pervaded pretty much everywhere. It killed local businesses by tapping into it's deep pockets. But even more importantly, the people do want to change the system, the people who may have polices that people actually like. They can't win. It takes 2billion dollars to become the United States president. With Senators and House representatives being less, but not by much.

Which means you have to essentially spout what a company wants, and give you that money to campaign, if you even want to stand a remote chance in the sea. Which means we have essentially two fake choices. Either, little less right. And far right.

 

[LainaGabranth]

I'm not going to debate a topic that I care nothing about. I'm also not going to debate someone who has used emotions to further their argument. If you can't present a coherent argument here, why would I want to read your incoherent arguments on a different platform?

You are more than welcome to suggest a topic, but it seems to me like you're not able to.

 

[sombrerosonic]

Honestly ill rather not think about it. Im happy watching older cartoons from nick, Playing Fallout 3 and shuting the world and its BS out

 

[LainaGabranth]

Honestly ill rather not think about it. Im happy watching older cartoons from nick, Playing Fallout 3 and shuting the world and its BS out

Why 3 and not like, any other RPG?

 

[sombrerosonic]

Why 3 and not like, any other RPG?

I grew up playing 3. I understand why people dont like it, but 3 is great with exploration and alot of otherthings i loved for it. and yes i do have other RPG's (PS2 to be specific)
Alot more than shown

 

[LainaGabranth]

I grew up playing 3. I understand why people dont like it, but 3 is great with exploration and alot of otherthings i loved for it. and yes i do have other RPG's (PS2 to be specific)
Alot more than shown
View attachment 318534

I'm just actually glad to see more people who enjoy 3. I love playing it as a post game for my NV stuff using TTW. After years of Elona Plus (fantastic Japanese roguelike, highly recommend it btw) I've come to appreciate post game exploration centered around just killing shit with your cool ass gear.

For all of 3's flaws, there's still something to be loved about it. It's a vibe and a half like no other.

 

[sombrerosonic]

I'm just actually glad to see more people who enjoy 3. I love playing it as a post game for my NV stuff using TTW. After years of Elona Plus (fantastic Japanese roguelike, highly recommend it btw) I've come to appreciate post game exploration centered around just killing shit with your cool ass gear.

For all of 3's flaws, there's still something to be loved about it. It's a vibe and a half like no other.

Honestly i like games where you just explore the map finding new things, Games like Fallout 3, Minecraft, Gmod, etc but ill still like linerar games like Sonic or Puyo Puyo

 

[TraderPatTX]

The left and the right are going to absolute extremes. Centrists like me have a difficult time seeing either as the right way to go. The right in the US used to be about fiscal responsibility and family values, but not really anymore. Now they're just there in stark opposition to what the other side wants, and nothing else.

But the last part you mentioned brings me to the main issue of the US. The middle class is being absolutely strangled to death. The more people that fall below the poverty line, the more crime. On the opposite side, Japan is almost all middle class. When you're a middle class person, you don't want to risk what you have by doing something illegal. It could ruin what you have instantly. Your future, your current job, your friends, it'll all disappear if you do something dumb.

The answer is simple. Focus on the younger generation, get them educated, and give them hope in the future. Those people will think twice about doing petty theft if they have something to lose.

The destruction of the middle class is planned. Listen to the words of Yuri Alexandrovich Bezmenov. He outlines the goals of communism. Everything we are seeing now mirrors what he said back then.



All of the fake divisions that have been created between races, classes, genders, etc. Indoctrinating children. Political prisoners in prison for over a year just for trespassing. All of these are steps to implement communism here in the US. We have been warned. Apparently, either people didn't listen or they actually think they can implement communism here. Fortunately, they are wrong.

 

[TraderPatTX]

Go look at the current debt that the US is in. $30 TRILLION!!! Some debt is fine for a country. That level is pretty damn out of hand. China is without a doubt going to overtake the US, and as I said, you'll be too busy blaming the other side to do anything about it.

And no doubt, there is a LOT of corruption in US politics. Both sides are very corrupt in their dealings. They ALL get money from outside interest groups. And of course, they don't label it as bribes, when they so clearly are.

But you don't care about the obvious corruption on your side, do you? Just the other EVIL side!

One would never know we were $30 trillion in debt here. The Dems and RINO's in the uniparty spend like drunken sailors. They send 10's of billions to a corrupt country that nobody over here even cares about to fight a proxy war against a country that nobody here wants to fight.

I am fully aware of the corruption of the uniparty. The Dems and RINO's have been bleeding us dry for decades. It's in the process of being handled though. A lot of RINO's are losing their primaries and the Dems will be tossed out in November.

The corruption being exposed is why everything seems chaotic at the moment. The people are waking up all over the world from Sri Lanka to the Netherlands to Canada.

 

[TraderPatTX]

You are more than welcome to suggest a topic, but it seems to me like you're not able to.

Your opinion doesn't matter. You can't even debate here. There is no reason for me to debate you elsewhere on platforms I am unfamiliar with.

 

[mrdude]

lol my agenda is "stop blaming eachother" nice try though.

We live in a world where some people's decisions affect others, if they do something we don't like do you expect people to just sit and be quiet? If that's the case why are the USA sending Ukraine weapons to fight the Russians - surely USA should just sit back and let them get on with it.
You probably can't see the reason people blame each other and you'd like to live in a hippy commune where everyone agrees and sings Kumbaya, however in the real world, when people do something that affects others - well people will get vocal about it and if that doesn't work they will resort to other measures so that these people that are making life "difficult" for them will be removed from the equation.

 

[LainaGabranth]

Your opinion doesn't matter. You can't even debate here. There is no reason for me to debate you elsewhere on platforms I am unfamiliar with.

"unfamiliar with" discord??? lmfao
boomer moment!

 

[TraderPatTX]

"unfamiliar with" discord??? lmfao
boomer moment!

I manage a multimillion dollar corporate network. I manage routers, switches, vSphere servers, firewalls, VOIP, storage, wireless, and cloud platforms. I also hold Cisco certifications.

Sure, I'm a boomer.

 

[ccfman2004]

Seems too many people are offended by stupid things these days. I stopped being offending by stupid things years ago. I mean come on, a young kid getting in trouble just because they called the teacher the wrong pronoun? Calling it sexual harassment if someone calls you the wrong pronoun? There are way more important things to be worried about. The lying media doesn't help either.

 

[appleburger]

Depends on the measuring stick being used, imo.

I think the world as a whole has improved gradually over time, and that we're living in the greatest, easiest time ever to be a human being. However, I don't mean to say that the current issues are small potatoes or anything, I just think we've still seen worse historically.

I seem to remember there being a phrase or word for this phenomena, where people have historically had a tendency to assume the world is "getting worse" when by most measures it's been steadily improving. If somebody here knows what I'm referring to, maybe they can remind me.

Here's a quick writeup I just came across that talks about this idea: https://thecorrespondent.com/104/th...ing-is-both-better-and-worse-than-ever-before

I'd extend this to the U.S., too - I'd say we've definitely had more challenging times, even politically - although we're easily in the top 5 most contentious political environments these days, it seems.