VOTE!

[Bolty]

For the love of all that is holy, vote today!*

Do something to correct the course of this country.

*For those of you not in the United States, we apologize for the interruption. Move along.

[Tal]

For the love of all that is holy, vote today!*

Do something to correct the course of this country.

*For those of you not in the United States, we apologize for the interruption. Move along.

[Kevin]

For the love of all that is holy, vote today!*

Do something to correct the course of this country.

*For those of you not in the United States, we apologize for the interruption. Move along.

Been there, done that. I'm even in a state where the Senate race is a toss up. I freaking hope the results don't help the toupee'd mutant circus peanut that was given more power than a disgusting pile of goo should have.

I really want the Nazis and fascists, if they have to be alive, to go back into the closet and not out in the open and dictating policy.

[Lissa]

For the love of all that is holy, vote today!*

Do something to correct the course of this country.

*For those of you not in the United States, we apologize for the interruption. Move along.

I did it a week ago this past Sunday. Tal should have done so as well in the past week.

Also, there's always this: http://pvponline.com/comic/2018-11-06

[LavCat]

Almost an hour and a half in pouring rain. Told myself I would vote come hell or high water. Experienced a bit of each but managed to flip a House seat.

[Jester]

Thanks for voting, folks. Sounds like there was extraordinarily good turnout. I know I'm not an American, but we're getting more reminders than usual about just how influential the US has been in keeping the world together, now that things are coming apart.

-Jester

[GhastMaster]

Democracy is not important. Liberty is the goal. Democracy does not equal liberty. Lichtenstein(constitutional monarchy) is arguably more free than the US and is ruled by a king.

Many tyrants have been democratically elected. The people get what the people want. US citizens no longer value liberty and it shows. The US is not a "capitalist" country. Price limits/controls are everywhere. Quasi socialist mandates are pervasive. When the looming collapse comes, do not blame free market economics. The governments of the US and the states within have manipulated this economy beyond repair. A collapse in an economy this manipulated cannot reasonably be blamed on free markets.

Although it is tough to find the time. The best way to facilitate change is to get involved in local politics. The support for national candidates comes from local party politicians and organizations. Being absent from these allows others to decide whom we get to vote for.

[Lissa]

Democracy is not important. Liberty is the goal. Democracy does not equal liberty. Lichtenstein(constitutional monarchy) is arguably more free than the US and is ruled by a king.

Many tyrants have been democratically elected. The people get what the people want. US citizens no longer value liberty and it shows. The US is not a "capitalist" country. Price limits/controls are everywhere. Quasi socialist mandates are pervasive. When the looming collapse comes, do not blame free market economics. The governments of the US and the states within have manipulated this economy beyond repair. A collapse in an economy this manipulated cannot reasonably be blamed on free markets.

Although it is tough to find the time. The best way to facilitate change is to get involved in local politics. The support for national candidates comes from local party politicians and organizations. Being absent from these allows others to decide whom we get to vote for.

You're right in one respect, the US has become a Cronie Capitalist economy. If the US was truly Capitalist, "Too Big to Fail" would have never happened. The heads of corporations in the US want to socialize loses (ie, everyone pays for the loses), but want to privatize the gains (only the share holders get the money). So, when the collapse comes, it will be because the populous of the US has finally gotten tired of the Cronies and does something about them.

[GhastMaster]

You're right in one respect, the US has become a Cronie Capitalist economy. If the US was truly Capitalist, "Too Big to Fail" would have never happened. The heads of corporations in the US want to socialize loses (ie, everyone pays for the loses), but want to privatize the gains (only the share holders get the money). So, when the collapse comes, it will be because the populous of the US has finally gotten tired of the Cronies and does something about them.

Agreed. This system of companies controlling regulation, taxation, and welfare(just another subsidy for the companies) is ruinous. The cronyism started a long time ago, sadly. Agricultural losses have been subsidized for a long time under the commerce clause(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_T...o_v._Olsen).

Someone pointed out to me the reason big money wins so much. Lets say a corporation wants a $100,000 government contract. That cost spread across a large population. Individuals may see very little cost to them. The incentive for an individual citizen to fight is very low, but the corporation has a lot to gain. Unfortunately stacking contracts or regulations ends up costing a lot. This concept is not new or mind blowing, but it does well to illustrate something we all know.

[Jester]

Someone pointed out to me the reason big money wins so much. Lets say a corporation wants a $100,000 government contract. That cost spread across a large population. Individuals may see very little cost to them. The incentive for an individual citizen to fight is very low, but the corporation has a lot to gain. Unfortunately stacking contracts or regulations ends up costing a lot. This concept is not new or mind blowing, but it does well to illustrate something we all know.

It was a pretty novel idea when Mancur Olson came up with it back in 1965. But it's such a classic, that it's now just passed into conventional wisdom.

-Jester

[GhastMaster]

Someone pointed out to me the reason big money wins so much. Lets say a corporation wants a $100,000 government contract. That cost spread across a large population. Individuals may see very little cost to them. The incentive for an individual citizen to fight is very low, but the corporation has a lot to gain. Unfortunately stacking contracts or regulations ends up costing a lot. This concept is not new or mind blowing, but it does well to illustrate something we all know.

It was a pretty novel idea when Mancur Olson came up with it back in 1965. But it's such a classic, that it's now just passed into conventional wisdom.

-Jester

Thanks you. I'm adding that to my list of books to read.

[Occhidiangela]

Friend of mine ran for mayor. He made it to the runoff. And then the run off vote came, and it appears that a bunch of his supporters forgot that there was a second vote. The supporters of the other guy did not forget. So, my friend is not the mayor, and I have no friends on low places (city hall).

This friend of mine won his attempt. but I don't live there. I sent him a congratulatory text.