certeoun
Joined 5 years ago
Karma
110
Submissions
42
Member since
Aug 17
Recent submissions
Comment · 5 years ago
Comment · 5 years ago
What makes us better than China then? Our relative freedoms?
What can we do about it?
Princeton also did a study on America not being actually a democracy. I shared it here:
Comment · 5 years ago
@sam0x17, are you aware of this finding?:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-poli...
> Despite the seemingly strong empirical support in previous studies for theories of majoritarian democracy, our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts. Americans do enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread (if still contested) franchise. But we believe that if policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America’s claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened.
Especially the part with "policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans" made me think that it is not only those elites who do this or businesses. Does this mean that the government (NSA) doesn't care what we want? They are allowed to essentially patronize us because we do not know any better? Can you explain to me why the NSA is spying on us despite it being unpopular? We didn't ask to be spied on, right? I don't understand politics or the role of government anymore. I am utterly confused. Politics is so contradictory I cannot wrap my head around it. Or perhaps, I am missing something?
Comment · 5 years ago
You expressed it better than I did.
At the end it is people, but apparently we two have fundamental disagreements with OP (Kliment).
Comment · 5 years ago
Thank you for your comment, Kliment. I am currently trying to see my error in thinking and fix it.
> currently severely undertaxed
Is it because companies such as Amazon are good at avoiding taxes?
> they come from corporate wealth and income
Hmm... I think this is what I don't really understand. Aren't corporations owned by a few people? So at the end the owners are paying the taxes? Can companies exist without owners (people)? (They change, I know, but can they exist without people?) I am probably to fixated on people, and perhaps I need to see companies as an own entity.
> taxes on things we don't want like carbon emissions and other pollution
Okay, so somebody and a "company" is also a somebody here, needs to pay for that? (So it is the owner at the end?)
> direct wealth generation from nation-level investments (sovereign funds, resource funds)
Okay, that makes sense. A stock is bought and sold by people, and its value increases and decreases depending on the decisions of people. However, you are right, the government owns that stock. So it belongs to all of us.
Okay, so my question essentially boils down to: Why is the owner of a company like Jeff Bezos irrelevant here? I can see this for the sovereign funds, resource funds part. However, I have trouble with the CEO part. What am I missing here? My understanding of government and taxes is wrong, perhaps. That's why I cannot see it, probably.
Comment · 5 years ago
Okay, the person who disliked my comment refused to answer why he did it.
I can only guess why he did it. I suspect it is because of my silly remarks in general.
Anyhow, it would be still better if you could provide me a reason, so I can get better next time. I cannot read minds you know, unknown downvoter whoever you are.
Next time I will avoid being silly or making silly remarks. If this was even the offender?
(However, my comment above was not entirely silly. A small part of it was.)
Edit:
Okay, I got an answer. Apparently it was because my argument was flawed. Thank you! :)
Comment · 5 years ago
This is Jason Turner's SO CV: https://stackoverflow.com/cv/lefticus
I added it for inspiration. :)
Comment · 5 years ago
I hope so. Again, I wouldn't complain about it, but there are people like Ben Shapiro, you know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
People like Ben then perhaps need to put up with it if the majority decides so. I just don't want to imagine his rage and anger...
Comment · 5 years ago
The government needs to pay for this.
The taxes collected come from people.
So a fraction of the people have to pay for UBI.
If we assume full automation and no private property, then the machines work for us now. They don't complain like Ben Shapiro that paying for the poor with your wealth/income is "stealing". Communism is a good idea on paper, but humans in general are greedy and envious. If we had unlimited resources, the machines in such a scenario could produce everything for each greedy individual. However, our resources are limited, and one greedy person wants more than the other. That's actually the main issue here. People don't want to put up with getting the same thing as everyone else. (I would put up with it, though, but I am the minority here.)
Then there is Europe or social democracies. There is actually a limited form of UBI called "public assistance". You don't have to pay anything back and it is only for those who can't support themselves.
I hope there is a flaw in my thinking here. It would make my day if you would enlighten me with your wisdom. :)
PS: I couldn't resist sharing a good parody on Ben Shapiro's character: https://youtu.be/wPgwwZ8ih3k Sorry HN, I know this is somewhat silly from me, but it is too funny. :D
Edit: For the person who downvoted my comment here. Care to share on why you did this? Please enlighten me. I don't care about karma points. I care about why you think that I am wrong. Was my first sentence the offender? I meant it in this way: For UBI, the government needs to ...
Anyhow, tell me why I am wrong and not just downvote it and leave. Explain, please! Thank you!
Comment · 5 years ago
You have to put up with the status quo[1] often, but don't let that dissuade you from your path.
[1] https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-poli...
> Despite the seemingly strong empirical support in previous studies for theories of majoritarian democracy, our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts. Americans do enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread (if still contested) franchise. But we believe that if policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America’s claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened.
This is how lobbies pulled off Brexit.
On a second thought, I had to take Socrates' opinion on democracy into account:
> Socrates also said that democracy without education becomes demagogy, a sneaky and dishonest way to achieve political power. A demagogue exploits people’s ignorance and promises anything to cheat them to gain power. At the end an unqualified person will be ruling a country and people will get nothing.
https://www.isvara.org/archive/democrazy-socrates-opinion-an...
This reminded me of Dondald Trump.
Seeing people adopting ridiculous ideas (e.g. flat earthers) is quite unsettling, but that's why it is important to fight against ignorance and poverty.
“The biggest battle is the war against ignorance.” - Ataturk
Comment · 5 years ago
Good points! I would like to bring to your attention that consumerism is indeed not the key for living a healthy life.
> Money doesn’t buy happiness. Neither does materialism: Research shows that people who place a high value on wealth, status, and stuff are more depressed and anxious and less sociable than those who do not.
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/consumeri...
> Harvard study, almost 80 years old, has proved that embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-8...
Comment · 5 years ago
'No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.' - Heraclitus
He is not the 2012 PG anymore, he is the 2021 PG. :P Now that I think of it, what will the 2030 PG be like?
Comment · 5 years ago
> Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.
which I then put at the top of the file I use as a todo list.
This is a good memento. It's very easy to fall victim to self-fulfilling prophecies, negative thought cycles and the like. Hard to escape from them, but as Paul argues, you ought to change your environment and life. Get out of a rut to change your perspective. Recharge, reframe to combat unconstructive thoughts preventing you from thinking clearly and getting ahead in life.
Consider also cognitive behavioral therapy to unlearn self-sabotaging behavior.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy
Consider also Stoic philosophy. Stop worrying so much about things outside your control. ;)
Comment · 5 years ago
How about this "made in Japan"[1] laptop as a MacBook alternative?:
> And like humans, flies develop "drinking problems."
Am I like a fly now? :/ (I observed similar behavior on me with similar circumstances.)
Yeah, I know community is good[1], but I am estranged from family and have 1 friend who is busy with his own life. Possibly it is because of me being weird around people? Or me being socially awkward? I will screen myself for ADHD, but every attempt to connect with people failed. :( I seem to connect with people on platforms like HN, but I cannot connect outside of platforms like HN for some odd reason. Furthermore, I really tried to connect with real people, but I got rejected many times. I am afraid that I am an annoyance to people and that's why they don't want to connect with me.It is stressful to be alone.
Anyhow, I was chronically lonely and still am, and I can confirm the stress reactions that flies experience when they are chronically lonely.
It is stressful to be alone. At least HN gives eases a bit of the stress for me. HN is essentially providing me a venue to connect with people. I am happy about that.
[1] > Harvard study, almost 80 years old, has proved that embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-8...