UnwittingSenior

When we treat our allies this poorly, it's no wonder they're boycotting us.

I'll be honest too, I don't think you get to make that call about other people.

I can only speak for myself, but as the lone mod that ought to be good enough. Next time read the pinned post. I'm no writer, but I do attempt to lay out my beliefs there a few times.

1. Not the extent that we're currently supporting them. Israel is an ally, so to a certain extent we should support them. But to me, that "certain extent" does not mean supporting genocide. Ukraine is also an ally. I believe we have acted poorly in how we support our allies.
2. I believe living healthily is part of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" and that healthcare is as good for the country as a whole as it is for any individual being treated.
3. This isn't an approach I've put a lot of thought behind. On the surface, the idea that employment is something that can be solved by a policy sounds like the wrong tool for the wrong job or maybe it's a promise that can't be kept. I believe it's in the best interest of our country for people to have access to quality jobs they can be proud of and policy can play a part in that, but this opens up room for government overreach. I've detailed in another post how I'd prefer we have stronger non-government institutions that self govern themselves. This sounds like something they would handle. I don't know but I agree that this is a problem we're not solving adequately.
4. The only way to solve homelessness is with homes. Anything else is shameful and equivalent to kicking the can down the road.
5. I have a strong belief that a man is entitled to the value of his work. Hard labor is not it's own reward. Everything in our economy is an exchange. When we look at Pay Ratios, we see a discrepancy between earnings that I would argue don't line up with who does how much work. If somebody could actually put out over 100x the work output of a janitor to earn the 10 digit payouts they're getting our world would be a much better place. I'm hesitant to say I'm "anti billionaire" but I will raise my hand and say I'm anti "whatever made today's billionaires billionaires."
6. I have commented before that I don't regret voting for McCain for president back in the day. But no single politician will represent all of my interests unless I run for office.

I think it's fair that people in a community know who's moderating them. My politics will be scrutinized more than anybody else's in this comm, but please try reading the pinned announcement post rather than posting this. I might delete this post after awhile, we'll see.

This reads like propaganda. He threw the claim out there without any support, it's all just hopes and dreams.

I didn't vote for this. I voted Harris.

The lines are really blurry to me on who are our allies and who are our enemies.

You know, I’ve thought a lot about what it would mean to call myself a Democrat or a leftist or a socialist, and I just don’t think it fits. There are a few opinions I’d have to change to get there.

At the heart of it, I believe change should come from the bottom up, not from the top down. I don’t think the government should be out front trying to steer us. I think it should follow the people’s lead, doing the things we’ve already come together and decided we want. In my perfect world, my own personal Star Trek future, people would organize themselves outside of government into groups that actually know what they’re doing. Groups with real values, real knowledge, that could help shape things in a smart, honest way. I know corruption’s always a risk, but I still believe self-regulation is possible if people are serious about it and don't become complacent.

I have no problems admitting there's overlap here with socialism and the left. Things like giving people more say at work, keeping big corporations from gobbling up everything, and making sure everyone’s treated equally seem important in more than one ideology. But the part I can’t get behind is putting too much power in the hands of the state. I don’t think government should sit at the very top of society calling all the shots. I don’t think there should even be a single “top” like that. I believe in small government, but not in that hardcore libertarian way where the only thing left is the military. I just want power spread out in communities, in families, in workplaces and not all crammed into Washington.

So I think of myself as being on the conservative side. I just think the best change comes slow, local, and from the ground up.

That's too bad

Somebody beat you to posting about this topic

It seems things are still changing

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-06-29/senator-mike-lee-scraps-plan-to-sell-public-land-fierce-backlash

I couldn't make myself vote for Biden. But last year I was desperate for anyone but Trump, and the Republican primaries didn't excite me either. I voted Harris.

Them not showing IDs is trouble brewing. The first case of self defense against unbadged law enforcement will turn this country inside out no matter how the ruling comes down.