Why doesn't slashdot have a dark mode?

Agreed. I remember lurking on BBS forums on my 386 reading about how we would all need to upgrade to a 486 with a whopping 4MB of RAM to play it properly! One of the most anticipated games ever until Quake in those days. Ah the memories.

It made me laugh. It was funny. Lighten up, you'll live longer.

THIS!!! Putin only invaded when US presidents were democratic understanding that they are pacifists and would not directly retaliate. And Putin advocates the candidate that creates the most turmoil in US elections. However, in this case, he thinks that Trump will be willing to negotiate an end to the war which has gone on far longer than he expected and become too costly. Putin is desperate to end the war by keeping what's he has conquered and preventing Ukraine from joining Nato, which allows him to not lose face. He will go back, lick his wounds and try again when the next democratic president is elected. Maybe Belarus that time.

Yes, well, that's capitalism for you.

Most Americans have no choice in insurer. And their choices are controlled by a powerful cartel that colludes to keep prices high. There is no competition in the health insurance field.

No American gives a rats ass about the "choice" of insurer. They want a choice of doctors and services, but really, and I can not stress this enough, REALLY hate all insurance companies. More than they hate the government even!

And yet, taxes have been cut again and again and again. How do you reconcile that fact with your statement that "Because the people raising taxes will never reach a point when they say "the government has enough money now, let's cut taxes"."

Seems that it's very, very easy for the government to cut taxes, at least for the rich. Why are you afraid of "the people who want to raise taxes" when those people have never actually done so? Seems you are imagining a scenario that is not just unlikely, but counter factual.

No, people want to pay for things with their taxes. The are not, in fact, idiots. They don't want predatory capitalists taking a cut, and figure, correctly, that government is more trustworthy than a man with a profit motive and no morals.

People recognize that certain endeavors are just not well served by a capitalist free market. Health care is a primary one that simply doesn't work unless heavily regulated or run by the government. You do not know what is wrong with you. You do not know how to fix it. You can not shop around for a new liver.

As it is, we are basically running health care like a for profit government, and we are getting the worst of both the public and private worlds. Health insurance amounts to a system of taxation that forces the healthy to pay for the sick, and lets a third party take a huge cut. Replace health insurance with actual government taxation and what have you lost, except for the greedy bastard trying to mark up your heart medications? Nothing.

You showed no proof of anything.

You assholes have no problem with kids reading those same types of sex scenes if it's straight. Just ask Beverly Cleary. Most YA novels have sex scenes. Doesn't make them pornographic or unsuitable for kids.

You aren't American so stop talking as if you know us or our culture, asshole.

You don't know shit then. Stop talking like you know America if you aren't from here, asshole.

We need to raise taxes on the rich back to what they were in the good old days Republicans pine for. Marginal tax rate of 90%. "Oh!" you whine, "Nobody paid that!" Yes, but they paid more than they do now and that's the point. Raise taxes on capital gains, raise corporate taxes, lower taxes for the middle class and boom! Deficit fixed.

Normal people are not lazy, they just don't want to be taken advantage of. The real drag on our economy is billionaires and other tax cheats.

Oh stop lying. You can't provide any evidence for any of your wild claims. You censorious assholes only ever talk in generalities. Be specific. What fucking books are you talking about?

What normal people have figured out is that it is the right wing and religious figures who are abusing kids. So many right wingers who shout "groomer!" have been caught with child porn. You disgust normal Americans.

We don't have a left wing in US politics. We have a center right party, and a far right party. Neoliberals want everything Reagan wanted, they are not left wing. And they are very authoritarian.

It is pretty obvious that the right wing is banning books and free speech. That's what you mean, right? The actual government telling you what you can and can't read, and what you can and can't wear.