If you let out apartments and houses, you're also going to have to make your properties "greener', or you get penalized in some way. For instance in Belgium you can't raise rent with inflation unless your property reaches a certain level of compliance.

Glad we don't have to deal with that type of overregulation over here in the US.

I mean, it's great if a property owner wants to do it and it is feasible for them.....but I don't like the govt mandating crap like that.

There are still a few primaries coming up: https://www.fvap.gov/guide/app... [fvap.gov] If you don't see a DSA candidate see who Bernie recommends https://www.youtube.com/@Berni... [youtube.com]

Sorry I'm just NOT for dismantling the US like the DSA is promoting.

I don't want to get rid of the senate (although I would vote for making them appointed by state governments instead of popular vote like they used to do)....

I don't want to get rid of prisons.

I don't want to get rid of ICE and open our borders to anyone....

I don't want to stop deporting people that are here illegally.

I don't want to get rid of the Supreme Court.

I don't support govt taking over the means of production.

There's a LOT I don't want to do that leads to the complete upheaval of the US and how it was set up by the founders.

There is only so much an individual 'needs" when the needs of others are considered.

Why should I consider the "needs" of others?

I mean, aside from myself, family and friends.....why should I give a fsck what others need when considering my purchases and the support of my preferred lifestyle?

I don't purposely try to hold anyone back, but I certainly don't pause to think "what do others need" when I'm saving for a necessity or even a fun purchase that will buy me something I WANT...not need, WANT.....

Who the fuck stops and ponders others in this manner in life.....?

Anyway, the actual reason why China is doing so well here is that they have a proper plan that doesn't keep changing, a realistic timeline for it, and are putting in the resources. They have methodically built up the technology they need.

This is easier to do in what is basically a dictatorship where the people have no say in the government and what it does....

Well, I' glad to see that somebody somewhere rants about one of the most demented and dangerous people on the planet. I can only hope they manage to actually do something to oust him before it's too late.

So, you're PRO allowing Iran to fully develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them balistically?

So, you're for open US borders to let most anyone in and you're against deporting those here illegally? (I mean, even Obama was for deporting illegals).

So you're against the drop in crime across the US, especially in cities where the Nat'l Guard had to be deployed temporarily?

Yeah...so demented.

I don't really like the guy as a person,BUT I very much appreciate many if not most of the actions and accomplishments he's managed to do since election. I don't like it all, but most of it I support, I voted for...and hope he can finish doing the job.

Have you ever been a hiring official for any medium- or large- organization?

Yes I have.....and for entry jobs....GPA has been a consideration where there is no experience.

Is it the only consideration? No....but when you don't have experience it is one component to weed applicants down.

College GPAs are just meaningless and it's time we just forget about them.

That GPA is what gets you in the door, over other applicants on those first jobs...

Hell, when I think about it....if "I" were a child today, and my parents raised me like they did back in the day....they'd be under the jail, with child protective services taking me away LONG ago....

No cell phones...and during the summers starting when I was a teenager....my mom started work again....so I'd be home alone all day, running around the neighborhood with my friends, playing all day.

We rode bikes and skateboards miles....played in the woods near our subdivision that hadnt' been developed yet....built forts, built skateboard ramps (the local house constructions "donated materials").....neighborhood pool, etc.

When I was very young, I had to call home about every 2 hours from a friends house....but other than that, I'd leave at sunrise and my folks generally didn't see me again till dusk and dinner, where we all ate together.

I got a job at 16yrs....I've been working ever since. With a little help, early graduation, I bought my own car my senior year in high school....a '78 280Z....fun!!

But yeah, no supervision was how we grew up, my friends and I are all older adults now, many with kids....we got into trouble and mischief, sure, but nothing that stopped the world and we learned how to deal with people and the world.

I can't remember the last time I witnessed a hospital demonstrating general competence

Where do you live where it is so bad there?

Unfortunately in the past 2 years...ive had to make a number of visits to the ER and one major surgrery....and I could NOT be happier with the doctors, nurses and general staff of the hospitals I've been too....

And my insurance covered most of all of it...didn't put me in the poor house like so many seem to claim will happen in the US if you get some much as a hang nail....this is private medicine I'm talking about with me, not VA.

My 16 year old daughter just got advice from her Pediatrician on how to get into Medical School - go to a small college where the Profs know you and you can convince them to inflate your grades, there is too much competition in big schools and no room to influence your grades outside your work So basically, try to cheat a little. Thanks Doc.

Well, being female, gives her an advantage for Med School....AND if she's a minority female, that really helps mover her closer to the top of the list....

It's only one semester, and a semester of the least important material of their university time.

Err...where did you go to school where 1st semester/year wasn't important stuff?

I was in all the weed out classes....chemistry, calculus 1...etc....

Hell I didn't get any "easy" classes like sociology or one English reading classes (sci fi books) till like I was a Junior or maybe senior.....

"In order to salve the mental health of freshman student..."

JFC...are you fscking KIDDING ME?

Is this just the next natural progression from everyone getting a participationi trophy in grade schools?

Why is it today's kids are so mentally deficient in ways that all other generations till the past decade haven't been troubled with??

Look, not everyone is cut out for college ....and those early classes, are weed out classes like others have said...at least they used to be.

Stress is a real part of REAL LIFE and this is a good time to learn these lessons.

Learn them early if they aren't college material....and let them get out before racking up massive debt in a degree that won't pay shit in the end.

I read the other day where incoming freshman these days, I think in the 5%-8% range had to take remedial math?!?! Our 1-12 schools aren't preparing them.....

If we keep lowering the standards....we're not helping anyone, we're hurting all them in the long run.

Let's re-think educations....some kids SHOULD be left behind for higher education, but that doesnt' mean we don't teach them some real skills where they can earn a living and contribute to society.

But for God's sake, let's quit coddling these little fuckers...they're going soft in ways that never even occurred to previous generations....

One of the requirements to become a US Citizen is you have to show some proficiency in American English.

Other countries have an official language, we need to make it official here.

We want people coming into the US to assimilate and the greatest tools for that is common language.

You rarely go to other countries and hear commercials in different languages ......certainly the signage for streets, etc is not in multiple languages...etc.

There is nothing bigoted about expecting someone trying to live in your country to speak the common language ....

The USA doesn't have an official language.

We need to fix that...other countries have official languages.....why not us?

Here in the US, audio recording without consent is prohibited by wiretap laws, but not video recording... sigh.

That's not quite true....

That's ONLY true in states that mandate both parties consent to and know they're being recorded.

Many, if not most states...allow for one party consent, so usually the person recording knows its recording and therefore legal.