Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Drudicta t1_j8pdmw8 wrote

It's Unironically gotten a lot harder to breathe....

182

WesternOne9990 t1_j8pivrh wrote

Have you considered moving out of a desert? I know it’s not as easy as I put it

121

Drudicta t1_j8q0fov wrote

All the time. But being disabled with no job and needing psych meds makes that difficult.

76

kreiggers t1_j8q2fts wrote

If only there was public health option and viable social safety nets

93

Drudicta t1_j8q5snr wrote

That would be REALLY nice. Would be able to have some sort of...dunno, FREEDOM?

73

Firm_Transportation3 t1_j8qhk2b wrote

Its not like every other developed nation has these things and shows a perfectly available example of how well it works. Wouldn't that be nice. If that were the case, there really wouldn't be any excuse to keep fucking over every US citizen.

40

bc4284 t1_j8qmjp1 wrote

Capitalism is the problem

12

j6cubic t1_j8rrlxb wrote

It's not even capitalism. It's badly implemented capitalism. It's perfectly possible to have a fundamentally capitalistic society with solid social services, just not the way the States are currently doing it.

12

bc4284 t1_j8rz1qm wrote

True the problem is a lack of regulation in American capitalism and a excess of allowing corporate personhood that allows corporations do directly donate to politicians. The existence of lobbying itself is probably the biggest problem as it allows wealth to matter more than any group Of constituents and as a result politicians are so easily bought no matter What party they are a member of.

The fact is capitalism itself isn’t the issue it’s a lack of meaningful regulation of corporations, a lack of consequences for those corporations, and a system that rewards The rich hoarding wealth instead of giving the government the needed teeth to enforce tax Law on the wealthy.

It’s a known fact that the irs has blatantly admitted that they do not persue auditing and taking the wealthy to court for tax dodging due to the fact that they know the wealthy have the financial means to tie the irs in court for years before the irs will see a single dime of those taxes. The irs knows that if they took the hyper Rick to court the irs would go bankrupt from the legal fees of trying to enforce Tax Law and therefore they don’t even attempt to. Instead they openly admit that’s why if you are poor or middle class you are far More Likely to be audited and to be taken to court for tax crime. Because they knew normal people can’t fight the irs and we will end up giving them the money we owe.

The fact is the irs has admitted they don’t enforce Tax Law on the rich because they fucking can’t. And instead they keep a vice like grip on forcing the poor to pay every dime they can because of the poor are the only they can count on to pay their taxes They will squeeze us dry to make us for what they can’t force out of the hands of the rich.

This is how fucked the US is this is why we will never see nationalized health care, or a raise in federal min wage. Not that it will matter soon as they raise the non wage they people Renting houses will just raise the rent because they know they can now squeeze more money out of the working class so what the hell does raising the min wage even mater for anyways.

this is why every cent I have paid into Medicare and social security will end up gone And I will be told it don’t exist when I’m 75. This is why I will never be able to retire. Because the taxes I paid were taken and paid for my parents to retire while I will get to see jack shit of it.

And there is no way to change any of it because our system is so fucking broken the only thing short of a full blown revolution will do jack shit.

And the scary part is the right actually believes it’s the people for human rights that are the fascists, I literially saw just to say these jackasses arguing that the real Fascism is not letting people have the free speech to say racist jokes without being canceled.

I’ve within the last 24 hours literially heard the argument that the real naziism is not being allowed to call a Jew a k***. That’s right the real Nazis are the people who tell you not to be antisemitic. Because to the right any inhibition of the freedom to persecute and oppress is fascism. And guess what the fucking moderates eat it is and then say both sides are fascists.

No they fucking aren’t. There’s only one side that’s preaching ultranationalist rhetoric , yes the democrats are Shit. But I don’t even know what to call the republicans? The bar is already fucking low with the democrats there isn’t a comparison you can use for what they are. They openly applaud Hsing fucking Nazis at their rallies they broadly boast we Are All domestic terrorists.

And the moderates still go duuurrr huuurrr both sides!

You want to know why America is unrepairable fucked. Because the average white moderate American can not tell the difference between Republican fascism and Democrats just saying maybe we should have laws protecting human rights while also not having the spine to Actually push for that.

So yes this country is irreparably fucked and I would be so much more mentally healthy if I just Ignored it all Said not my problem And just became Comfortable that as a white cis het male I will be on the side that benefits from fascism and said not my problem, ignore the news because the fascism isnt hurting me yet, And as long as I don’t criticize those in power I will be fine.

Fuck this country I should really just give up stop Worrying and just make myself comfortable with being a Nazi if it comes to it. Because guess what no one wants to listen to me shouting into the void so what’s the fucking point in it

14

j6cubic t1_j8senk3 wrote

Yeah, I once tried figuring out what to do to even just fix healthcare. It basically amounted to rebooting at least two branches of the government entirely and redoing much of the foundation they rest on as well.

It's gut-wrenching and I don't even live on the same continent. It's even more gut-wrenching that a lot of the brokenness stems from these systems dating back to naive early implementations that didn't have the foresight to anticipate perverse incentives and exploitable flaws. (Newer or newly-reformed countries get to use hindsight instead. Much easier.)

Citizens United v. FEC was simultaneously the worst decision on American legal history and a symptom of underlying systemic faults. Unfortunately they were already almost unfixable by then.

I wish I could tell you I believe in the death spiral ending and the States recovering to live up to their ideals. Because all in all you guys are alright with me and you deserve so much better.

Despite my doubts I hope, though. All I can do, I'm afraid, but I can at least do that. It's too early to give up on civilization. It's always too early.

2

Confused-Raccoon t1_j8sj256 wrote

When it burns down and sinks, can you lot not take the rest of us with you?

1

bc4284 t1_j8so14c wrote

It’s up the all of you to be willing to stop the Nazis when they take over the US. I just hope you all see the threat and nuke us before we can launch. In reprisal. Because if you don’t the alt right ain’t stopping in America.

And look at American military and look at how much of the Christian world is so happy to throw its lot in with fascism to stop progressivism.

Tell me honestly if America goes full Nazi and decides that a Christian theocracy must rule the world. With our military is there any way to stop us other than preemptive nuclear strike and hoping we get vaporized before trying to retaliate

1

FantasmaNaranja t1_j8si9em wrote

sometimes people call the basic idea of monetary exchange capitalism and that's just not right

capitalism doesnt work because it will always seek to draw in all wealth to individual private owners, that's literally the meaning of capitalism it's a temporary ideology of governing because it will inevitably collapse if not controlled

there are other methods of governing that still use money but whose whole point isnt just to accumulate capital until there's nothing left, like for example justicialism, or further to the left: socialism, if you no longer have a currency you've gone too far left and strayed into communism turn right again

1

TwoBionicknees t1_j8sog3n wrote

Nah, it's capitalism. It's just more advanced capitalism. The UK currently has the tories desperate to privatise every aspect of the healthcare service it can because capitalism. Ultimately capitalism leads to a state where the wealthy control everything and slowly turn everything to a profit generating machine. The US just accelerated down that path really quickly.

Profit above everything eventually seeps into every aspect of a capitalist society. The UK and other countries just aren't there yet. The NHS is one of the things us british people are most proud of, and yet morons vote for Tories and they are trying to tear it apart.

1

bc4284 t1_j8qmiwl wrote

Freedom to actually live is a privilege of the rich the freedoms you get and won’t get infringed is the freedom to be allowed to harm others with hateful words. Freedoms like being protected from hate infringe on the freedom of others to hate so that freedom only exists if you are a group Acceptable to white Christian’s

In short this is capitalist freedom where what level of freedom you have if reflective on how much monitory power you have and has nothing to do with the idea of having foolish notions of human rights.. seriously fuck capitalism and fuck this country

11

LGCJairen t1_j8ra7h7 wrote

The word you want is monetary bro.

If we had monitory power over the rich they would have been dead years ago

2

Cindexxx t1_j8srefs wrote

Lol that's almost word for word what I was gonna say

1

Rednexican429 t1_j8qgfm4 wrote

It’s home, and before McMansions started popping up in the wetlands and our water was sold oversees, living here was sustainable. The legislators are governing as if God himself is going to save us from the tipping point then they distract us with culture wars over church/state. We do drive too much though that’s on us

55

last_rights t1_j8qva46 wrote

I hate to tell you, but last year I had a run-in with the religious conservative hopeful representative from my area.

He legit told me that climate change does not matter because the second coming of Christ will save us. The Chinese or Russian governments don't matter because God is coming.

He told me to repent and asked if I was a dutiful Christian wife. I told him I'm atheist and I have a responsibility to vote for the most intelligent candidate, but I wish him luck.

48

musci1223 t1_j8r51og wrote

That is kind of the issue with belief in the idea that there is a almighty being with a plan. If you believe that there is an all knowing all seeing entity who basically got everything planned out then you will always end up assuming that everything will turn out fine. Had an argument with someone in conspiracy sub where they believed that it doesn't matter what they do on earth and no matter how much they hurt god's creation they will end up in heaven because they believe in Jesus

10

Clunas t1_j8s26dr wrote

/facedesk. The Bible literally tells us to be good stewards of this planet. The book of Revelation just shows that humanity will still exist, not that we won't be living in a toxic wasteland of our own doing.

7

adfthgchjg t1_j8sn3cq wrote

Sounds like you actually read the Bible, instead of just repeating… what someone else told you it said. How dare you! /s

5

Jagwires t1_j8r3fw1 wrote

Sounds exactly like Salt Lake City, UT, talking there

6

MeaningSilly t1_j8qr1hn wrote

Our governor did go on TV and implore the people of the state to pay pray for rain. That is the most proactive measure taken by our state leadership so far.

EDIT: Ducking autocorrect!!!!!! <Shakes fist>

19

gusty_state t1_j8qrqje wrote

Who should the check be written to? And for how much. I'm assuming Nestle and $100k should cover me for a year.

Politicians never like to do an ounce of prevention. They'd much prefer to wait until it's tons of cure.

12

MeaningSilly t1_j8qsg9k wrote

Sorry, pray. I fixed it now.

3

gusty_state t1_j8z4o58 wrote

Sorry the opportunity that the typo provided was just too much to resist.

1

the_ceiling_of_sky t1_j8r22ns wrote

No, pay is correct. Tithe your church so the pastor has a big enough mansion/yacht/private jet to catch god's attention and let him know the people need rain. God is a massive gold digger and only gets with the richest congregation.

3

SnarfbObo t1_j8r5nhh wrote

Saying "Ducking" encourages autocorrect to "duck" with you, it tells it you miss it. Why don't you give that a break for a few weeks and see if the situation improves.

1

Zoomwafflez t1_j8r36rs wrote

Living there was never sustainable, you're kidding yourself. Even before the mega drought the west was using it's water faster than it's naturally replenished, and then there's climate change...

2

Nadaplanet t1_j8rjy88 wrote

>The legislators are governing as if God himself is going to save us from the tipping point then they distract us with culture wars over church/state.

Honestly, a lot of extreme religious conservatives literally do think like that. They legitimately believe that the rapture is just around the corner, so there's no point in planning too far into the future. No need to make laws regarding renewable energy, climate change, or any other looming issues because Jesus is going to come back and take them up to heaven within in the next few years. It's pretty crazy.

2

musci1223 t1_j8r527f wrote

That is kind of the issue with belief in the idea that there is a almighty being with a plan. If you believe that there is an all knowing all seeing entity who basically got everything planned out then you will always end up assuming that everything will turn out fine. Had an argument with someone in conspiracy sub where they believed that it doesn't matter what they do on earth and no matter how much they hurt god's creation they will end up in heaven because they believe in Jesus

1

ZachMN t1_j8qej2x wrote

As Sam Kinison once said, “YOU LIVE IN A FUCKING DESERT!!!!! AGGGH!!!!”

42

frotc914 t1_j8qyc43 wrote

Golf is a massive waste, but if you want someone to blame, it's farming, not the people actually residing in the southwest.

Like maybe you don't need to spend gallons of water growing a nut so you can process it down and add more water to it and drink it. Maybe you could just drink water instead. Crazy, I know.

4

WesternOne9990 t1_j8r9xlu wrote

There’s no reason to grow alfalfa in a desert and yet we do

4

adfthgchjg t1_j8socl4 wrote

Yeah, no. That article claims it takes 7,000 sq ft of land to produce one gallon of milk, yet they supply no details for how they arrived at that number.

After reading the entire article, they seem to assume traditional farming methods… rather than the brutal methods of modern large scale industrial farms, where the animals aren’t allowed to wander across grassy plains like in the past.

0

biscobingo t1_j8tn3xo wrote

Given that before mega farms were a thing, lots of small farms with around 100 head produced plenty of milk, and most of them were smaller than 1000 acres. 7,000 sq ft per gallon sounds ridiculous.

3

musci1223 t1_j8soups wrote

Doesn't matter if they are allowed to wonder or not. The amount of food they need will still need to be grown. Farming is take up a large chunk of water and if you know about basic food chain efficiency the higher up you are in good chain more energy and indirectly water is being consumed per unit of nutrition.

0