taxes the government steals from us

No it’s not the government that is stealing from us its the Uber wealthy that use our tax money (that should be going to the greater good of the citizens of the country) for their own gain.

That is great to hear and I am happy that the post is doing good .

though the props should go to @[email protected] for doing the work

I’ve noticed that as well, most cities in the States are all different shades of brown and grey. It’s kinda sad to see.

I always assumed that bland colors were easier to maintain and appealed to more people. But by God let’s not have any color in the world because of resale value…

That is exactly what I did. I’m not a maths person. So maybe me trying to do math in a internet comment section wasn’t the best decision.

Honestly I get paid once a month but I know some of my friends have 2 paydays a month so it’s still out there in the wild

I love breaking down these huge salaries into 2 week chunks because I think it brings the disparity into perspective more for people since most of us get paid 2x a month.

For $75 million that is a twice a week paycheck (I know CEOs don’t get paid this way) of $3,125,000!

That’s the total of 1000 employees 2 week paychecks if they all made ~ $40 an hour

Just to put $10 million a year into better perspective: that is ~ $833,000 per month or ~$208,000 each Week! for one year

it’s neither a hobby or a job But the trope that a very complicated, very dangerous situation can be solved by just one person and a gun.

It’s unfortunately so ingrained into the Hollywood story lines that people, especially in the US, think that that’s reality.

The idea of the rugged individual has destroyed the idea of societal support to the point that some people are actually terrified to ask for help in anyway.

I’ve always felt like Star Wars the original 3 (4,5 and 6) were a product of their time. They aren’t bad movies but they aren’t great movies either, but for whatever reason they struck a chord with the population in the late 70’s and early 80’s. George Lucas should have just let them be there really was no reason to make any more of them, but money.

That all small business owners are thieves and out to scam their customers - This was part of someone’s argument defending big box stores.

… and B too

Give it time and there will be the option of Gigantic Corp paying for your teeth if you grow their logo on them.

When you don’t have a solid social safety net, 30+ years of indoctrination of “individualism good, family and friend support bad”, a medical system that is built for profit and generations of both subtle and obvious propaganda that the more money you have the better of a person you are, I can understand why people protect their small stack of chips.

well, it’s been a quick and painful way to educate the American population on specific economic theories and topics

shifting to the right instead of listening to the massive calls for more progressive policies

My thought is that the center-right Democrats that hold power in the federal government saw what happened to the center-right Republicans when MAGA took over, the centrist lost power to the more right leaning politicians. If the centrist Democrats do the same they will lose power as well. So their strategy has been to ignore and undermine the more left leaning policies and candidates so they can stay in power longer.

Just the opposite.

With the potential of medical expenses rising, medication costs going up, insurance becoming shittier (if you’ll be able to afford it at all), staying healthy to continue to earn a paycheck (that is a depressing phrase), the potential of wide spread violence, I think its imperative to be as healthy and strong as you can be.

You may also find yourself in a position where you’re the only one you can count on and if you are sickly, and weak then it will make things that much worse. Or you may find yourself in a position to help someone that has less ability to move and you’ll need to be in good health for their sake.

Ex-spouse: (on the phone with parents) My ex-wife has invited us over for beef wellington.

Ex-spouse’s parents: Hasn’t she tried to kill you like four times before? Why would you accept this invitation?

Ex-spouse: well her beef wellington is to die for!

Ex-spouse’s parents: Well that’s good enough for us, were in see you a 6

This is a great starting list from @[email protected] to questions I had about running for office, because it does seem overwhelming:

Definitely good questions. I couldn’t find any “Beginners Guide to Running for Office”, so I sat up for a while chugging coffee and reading a whole bunch of local election board websites and other related sources, and this is what I came up with. This is by no means a comprehensive list or plan, but I tried to break down the main components of running for a local office in the most general terms possible, so it could be applied more broadly.

Preparation

Figure out which office you want to run for, where you think you can make the most difference with your skill-set in your community.
Research the responsibilities of the office you’re seeking. Attend school board or city council (or whatever) meetings to see how they operate. Take lots of notes or record it if allowed.
Identify key issues in your community, your potential opponents, and the demographics of your district.
Clearly articulate why you’re running and what you hope to achieve. This will be the foundation of your campaign.
Check your local election board for eligibility requirements like residency, age, filing deadlines, and paperwork.
    Here’s a portal to all state and local election offices - https://www.usa.gov/state-election-office
    Leon County, Florida Supervisor of Elections has a great breakdown that should give you a general idea of the necessary requirements, deadlines, and paperwork - https://www.leonvotes.gov/Candidates-Elected-Officials-and-Campaign-Finance/How-to-Run-for-Local-Office

Campaign Team

Campaign Manager: Appoint someone to oversee operations. Preferably someone with some political savvy and/or managerial experience.
Treasurer: Appoint someone to manage finances and ensure compliance with campaign finance laws.
Volunteers: Recruit a team of dedicated volunteers for canvassing, phone banking, and event support. The number of volunteers will vary, depending on the size of your campaign, but there’s no such thing as too many.
Advisors: Network with local community leaders and activists who share your vision, and listen to them. They have their ears to the ground, and can offer critical advice on what your community needs.

Campaign Strategy

Set a budget and determine how much money you’ll need for materials, advertising, and events. Focus on grassroots fundraising. This seems to be the most difficult part with no clear answer, so look into the campaign financing of previous candidates running for the same office to get an idea of how much it’ll likely cost.
Develop a clear, concise message that resonates with voters.
Identify your base and tailor your outreach to their concerns.
Map out key milestones like filing deadlines, debates, voter registration deadlines, and Election Day. Set realistic goals to accomplish by those dates.

Build Your Brand

Create a professional logo and a memorable slogan that reflects your values. Say what you want about Trump, but “Make America Great Again” and “MAGA” are a great slogan/logo combo. It’s simple, clear, and easy to remember.
Build a simple website with your bio, platform, and contact info. Use social media to engage voters and share updates.
Print flyers, yard signs, and business cards to distribute in the community.

Community Engagement

Knock on doors to introduce yourself and listen to voters concerns.
Show up at community gatherings, fairs, and town halls to build visibility.
Organize meet-and-greets, town halls, or fundraisers to connect with voters.
Seek support from local leaders, organizations, and activists to boost your credibility and visibility.
Volunteer at homeless shelters, food banks, and other places. Even just a day here and there can make all the difference. Engage with employees, customers, and residents about your campaign. Listen to their concerns, and offer viable solutions.

Fundraising

Focus on grassroots fundraising by asking friends, family, and community members for small contributions.
Set up a donation portal on your website and promote it on social media.
Keep detailed records of all donations and expenses to comply with campaign finance laws.

Messaging

Send press releases to local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations to announce your candidacy and major events.
Participate in candidate debates and forums to showcase your platform.
Post regularly about your platform, events, and endorsements. Engage with people in the comments.
Send postcards or letters to targeted voters highlighting your key issues.

Get People to Vote

Help eligible voters register before the deadline.
Encourage supporters to vote early or by mail if available.
Organize volunteers to remind voters to cast their ballots and offer rides to the polls if needed.

Again, this is by no means a comprehensive, foolproof plan. I didn’t include many resources, because requirements, deadlines, and paperwork all vary by state and county. These just seemed to be the most common points I picked up from a number of sources, and should at least give you an idea of how and what to research further.

Personally, I have no ambition to run for office because I’m already 50 and don’t want to add to the pool of geriatrics running this country. We need to hand the torch to young people. That said, I will help any way I can if someone younger wants to run. Speech writing, phone banking, logo design, or pretty much anything else, I will gladly offer my services for free.

What are the realistic potential outcomes of everything going on?

Not sure. I don’t think anyone really is.

Part of the reason that there are not big protest yet is that many many people that do disagree with the administration have/had been looking towards the Democratic party to fight back. But that isn’t happening which is adding to the shock and awe of things. Truly Americans don’t really know what to do and without a large organizing presence to help drive a big push back there really isn’t anything being done.

I do hope that someone steps up soon and starts to organize a push back. Haven’t seen it yet.

There are a lot of European keyboard warriors that don’t seem to know much about America (other than social media) that keep trying to call out Americans for not “protesting right.”

It shows that they have no clue about the size of the country or the fact that the shock and awe that started this administration knocked everyone on their heels and only now are we starting to mobilize.