r/tuesday This lady's not for turning Dec 02 '24

Semi-Weekly Discussion Thread - December 2, 2024

INTRODUCTION

/r/tuesday is a political discussion sub for the right side of the political spectrum - from the center to the traditional/standard right (but not alt-right!) However, we're going for a big tent approach and welcome anyone with nuanced and non-standard views. We encourage dissents and discourse as long as it is accompanied with facts and evidence and is done in good faith and in a polite and respectful manner.

PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD

Like in r/neoliberal and r/neoconnwo, you can talk about anything you want in the Discussion Thread. So, socialize with other people, talk about politics and conservatism, tell us about your day, shitpost or literally anything under the sun. In the DT, rules such as "stay on topic" and "no Shitposting/Memes/Politician-focused comments" don't apply.

It is my hope that we can foster a sense of community through the Discussion Thread.

IMAGE FLAIRS

r/Tuesday will reward image flairs to people who write an effort post or an OC text post on certain subjects. It could be about philosophy, politics, economics, etc... Available image flairs can be seen here. If you have any special requests for specific flairs, please message the mods!

The list of previous effort posts can be found here

Previous Discussion Thread

6 Upvotes

6

u/Mal5341 Conservatarian 23d ago

Has anyone else seen the responses MAGA had to Ben Shapiro's recent video condemning the killing of the insurance ceo?

Like I was already convinced that MAGA is just left wing progressiveism bordering on socialism with social conservative culture War stances, but seeing all of these people openly embrace The narrative of class warfare, you eat the rich jokes, etc just blows my mind how they themselves don't see it.

5

u/arrowfan624 Center-right 23d ago

Horseshoe theory in action

5

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 23d ago

Dusted off my old VR headset and bought Hotdogs, Horseshoes, and Hand Grenades.

Kind of relaxing just laying prone and taking shots at long distances with an M82.

5

u/Soarin-Flyin Classical Liberal 23d ago

I find it really gross how apathetic and/or ambivalent about the UHC murder. Like if that was a black kid that got shot by NYPD, a school shooting, or anything else involving gun violence the discourse would be so wildly different.

But because this guy “had it coming” or “deserved it” it’s okay? If you have a problem when the first paragraph happens but not this you’re a raging hypocrite.

3

u/bta820 Left Visitor 23d ago

Most deaths just have apathy. This one is just weird because it has attention and apathy. Yea there are some people celebrating but that’s true of most attention deaths. They just feel louder because the other side is almost non existent. Rich ceo of maligned industry doesn’t get people’s tribalism up enough to beat the apathy

3

u/jmajek Left Visitor 23d ago

I'm really not a fan of the response of this guy dying and kids without their dad but yo what a weird comparison to try to make a point on...

3

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 23d ago

Yeah people are a little too bloodthirsty about this. Healthcare access is a hard problem, we will have to manage costs *somehow* other than "taxing/eating the rich", other countries ration care/control costs and they have issues (see wait times in UK/Canada).

However healthcare insurance companies have a bad reputation and the perception from most people's perspective makes sense when their relatives die/go into bankruptcy because of medical bills.

Healthcare access needs to be improved, bottom line. For whatever reason Obamacare may not have worked as well as people hoped, even before the individual mandate was repealed by Trump and the Republican congress in the TCJA.

1

u/[deleted] 23d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/tuesday-ModTeam 23d ago

Your post/comment has been removed because it violates our subreddit rule 'Tuesday Is A Center Right Sub'. We aim to foster a discussion for people closer to the center-right, and as such, we do not allow promotion of non-center-right ideologies, utilization of r/Tuesday as a debate platform, or advocation of illiberal policies. If you think this decision is incorrect, please reach out to us via modmail.

Attempting to justify murder is vibrantly illiberal.

2

u/Soarin-Flyin Classical Liberal 23d ago

Being vocal in disapproval or vocalizing support for this type of action normalizes it. So are you saying this type of gun violence is okay? What other people or groups are okay to commit violence against?

You can’t pick and choose when it’s okay based on your own values and preferences. Are insurance companies shitty? Absolutely and there needs to be changes. This is 100% not how you go about it though. Otherwise you can justify all kinds of stupid shit.

6

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 23d ago

So are you saying this type of gun violence is okay?

Just remember that the 'but' in repljes can be implied.

1

u/[deleted] 23d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/tuesday-ModTeam 23d ago

Your post/comment has been removed because it violates our subreddit rule 'Tuesday Is A Center Right Sub'. We aim to foster a discussion for people closer to the center-right, and as such, we do not allow promotion of non-center-right ideologies, utilization of r/Tuesday as a debate platform, or advocation of illiberal policies. If you think this decision is incorrect, please reach out to us via modmail.

Murder is not acceptable political action.

2

u/[deleted] 23d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/tuesday-ModTeam 23d ago

Your post/comment has been removed because it violates our subreddit rule 'Tuesday Is A Center Right Sub'. We aim to foster a discussion for people closer to the center-right, and as such, we do not allow promotion of non-center-right ideologies, utilization of r/Tuesday as a debate platform, or advocation of illiberal policies. If you think this decision is incorrect, please reach out to us via modmail.

6

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 24d ago

Allahu MF Akbar. Assad is gone and the rebels won, the Syrian Civil War is finally over

3

u/redditthrowaway1294 Right Visitor 23d ago

Feels crazy how quickly it happened. Maybe I just didn't hear much but it seems like everything crashed down within like a month if that after no real updates. Good riddance Assad. Hopefully the power vacuum isn't as bad as they usually end up being.

2

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 23d ago

Agreed on all counts

6

u/normalheightian Right Visitor 23d ago

Might not be quite over yet, but the Assad family is definitely out of the picture. We'll see what happens.

I have been surprised, however, by the number of people I'm seeing on social media claiming that the US should have acted to support Assad because now Syria is ruled by jihadists. I really don't think this is the US's fight and it seems like currently Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah are all weakened by this result anyways.

3

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 23d ago

Dude that was a huge talking point 2014-2018. Like it was dominating perspective in the SCW subreddit and on twitter, all the isolationists/contrarians/RWers wanted to support Assad against the ISIL/Nusra/Salafist groups

7

u/Mal5341 Conservatarian 24d ago

AP and BBC is reporting that Assad has fled Syria and that the rebels are in control of Damascus.

4

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 24d ago

Hell fucking yeah

7

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 24d ago

WHO MUST GO?

7

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 24d ago

ASSAD MUST GO

7

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 24d ago

I'm starting to get Ted Bundy vibes with all the people thirsty for him. I can't tell if it's ironic or unironically at this point.

That reminds me, I am sure JREG has great commentary on this situation.

7

u/coldnorthwz New Federalism\Zombie Reaganite 24d ago

3

u/jmajek Left Visitor 24d ago

Money is great but a few years ago I considered moving to Europe for a software engineering role. I really really love dense cities, and I wanted to live in Europe for a bit. I didn't do it(family stuff) but if I had the opportunity again I'd probably go for it.

3

u/Rebuilt-Retil-iH Right Visitor 24d ago

Not gonna matter when political violence gets worse in the US 

Who’s gonna want to run a business here when making some commie mad online can get you offed?

5

u/Nelliell Right Visitor 24d ago

Honest question. I am flaired a left voter, but was a registered Republican until Trump rose to power. I have voted Democratic ever since, but I feel it's more the party moved right than I significantly moved left. I understand the weight of personal responsibility and fiscal conservatism. I still wish for a return to civil discourse and the end of MAGA in the party and would vote for a Republican if they were not part of that movement and their policy largely aligned with my beliefs. Is my left flair correct or should I change it to Right?

3

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 24d ago

For this sub, I would say it's roughly a question of whether you'd vote for Mitt Romney or if you'd vote for Biden (on domestic policy and ignoring age)

4

u/Jags4Life Classical Liberal 24d ago

I feel similarly and believe I remain true to my classical liberalism beliefs despite now voting for (almost) any Democrat running against a MAGA Republican.

I think you're in good company if you adopted a right flair.

2

u/Nelliell Right Visitor 24d ago

I think I will. I was a bit hesitant because I don't want to misrepresent myself and I'm not as conservative as the modern Republican party. As much as it seems to be a filthy term on much of Reddit I am a moderate whose vote is not strictly dictated by what color team someone claims. I am an unaffiliated voter in any case - my state has open primaries and I prefer to vote in the GOP primary because it's the only way to have a voice at the local level.

3

u/JustKidding456 Believes Jesus is Messiah & God; Centre-right 24d ago

To /r/tuesday: Have a blessed week ahead.

Gospel According to Luke, 3:1–14 (ESV):

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Second Sunday in Advent: Gospel Reading (CPH The Lutheran Study Bible) : https://www.reddit.com/r/Sunday/comments/1h8vj9v/

Second Sunday in Advent: Reflections on Scripture (video, American Lutheran Theological Seminary) : https://www.reddit.com/r/Sunday/comments/1h8k1dq/

9

u/DooomCookie Right Visitor 25d ago

I wonder if Trump tried to get Bridenstine back for NASA. Surely the most unreservedly successful admin appointment from his last term.

3

u/coldnorthwz New Federalism\Zombie Reaganite 25d ago

2

u/redditthrowaway1294 Right Visitor 24d ago

Not surprised at all. I got on Bluesky early to follow some artists that went there and the discover portion has gotten incredibly worse now that all of BlueAnon twitter has made it their home.

6

u/WeaknessOne9646 Right Visitor 25d ago

Hialeah, Florida (80% Cuban)

2012: Romney 54-45

2016: 48-48

2020: Trump 66-32

2024: Trump 76-23

I think the data is clear that the Latinos want Hillary 2028!

On a serious note though it’s legitimately impressive in hindsight how well Hillary held up with Hispanics (allowing her to hold Nevada) and to an outsider odd how coddled Harris is for being the worst Dem since Dukakis while Hillary was dumped by the party and base within hours of her loss (which was wayyyy more a stroke of luck than Harris’—-seriously play election night 2016 over 10 times and she wins 6/10)

3

u/DerrickWhiteMVP Conservatarian 25d ago

I think a lot of it is because it was obvious that Hillary’s career was over after that loss. She was going to be 73 when she would’ve run again and I don’t think anyone thought she could win a rematch against Trump. Kamala is still relatively young and wouldn’t face Trump again. However, the party would be fucking dumb to even think about running her again. She is a terrible candidate that will never win a competitive election.

2

u/TranClan67 Left Visitor 24d ago

Tbf a decent number of us thought it was already dumb to even have Kamala on in the first place.

5

u/cyberklown28 Environmentalist 25d ago

DOGE, meet REGO. 32 years before Elon Musk, Al Gore did it.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/06/politics/doge-musk-gore-rego-what-matters/index.html

3

u/arrowfan624 Center-right 25d ago

With the week off and not needing to worry about ND making the CFP, I can now get back to our regularly scheduled CFB gambling picks!

Here’s what I got for CCG weekend:

AAC: Tulane (-5.5) against Army

MWC: UNLV (+4.5) against Boise State

Big 12: Iowa State upsets Arizona State

SEC: Texas (-2.5) against Georgia

ACC: Clemson upsets SMU and another CFP controversy ensues

Big 10: Oregon (-3.5) against PSU - I’m not going to pick Franklin to win big games until he does it 3 times in a row.

3

u/Palmettor Centre-right 25d ago

I expected my tigers to get stomped by U(of)SC, and we didn’t. If it weren’t for Sellers being a beast (and full respect, that was cool), we win that one.

Maybe we won’t be stomped by SMU.

Also, my biased vote is for U(of)SC to get in and leave Bama out in the cold. Another possible rematch and we get to laugh at Alabama.

4

u/cyberklown28 Environmentalist 25d ago

Mayor Adams was a member of the GOP from 1995 through 2002, and was asked during an appearance on NY1 whether he would return to the party. He did not rule out the possibility.

“I’m a part of the American party,” he said in response. “I love this country.”

“Those who don’t like it, they will cancel me,” he said. “I say: Cancel me. I’m for America.”

8

u/cyberklown28 Environmentalist 25d ago

The US economy added 227,000 jobs in November, exceeding economists' expectations of 220,000, as the labor market rebounded from the previous month's data that was impacted by severe weather and labor strikes.

The unemployment rate rose to 4.2% from 4.1% in October, while wage growth increased 0.4% in November, in-line with the previous month's increase.

3

u/Sir-Matilda Ming the Merciless 26d ago

I presume Ketanji "not a biologist" Jackson is abstaining from the upcoming ruling on puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for minors?

3

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 25d ago edited 25d ago

I'm unclear on the through line. The case is about whether restricting access for medically indicated use is a violation of the 14th amendment or is sex discrimination

2

u/Sir-Matilda Ming the Merciless 25d ago

I was unclear on the through-line that you needed to be a biologist to know what a woman is...

3

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 25d ago

Yes I understood the reference, I'm just not sure how it's applicable to this case

5

u/Mal5341 Conservatarian 26d ago

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/us/politics/biden-trump-pardons.html

I hate that people are even humoring this. The idea that Biden should give pardons to people on the January 6th committee or people who were part of the legal cases against Trump.

Even setting aside the fact that apparently pardons can be given for hypothetical crimes being one of the most stupid legal arguments I've ever heard, but I just don't get this. Best case scenario of them giving pardons to people like Cheney or Smith is that you basically make Donald Trump and his supporters feel justified and make moderates think that maybe there really was a conspiracy against Trump. Where if you do nothing and let the legal system play its course then the best case scenario is is that any case is brought up against these people will come up with nothing cuz there's no evidence that they did anything because they didn't do anything and it'll all blow up in Trump's face.

2

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 25d ago

Even setting aside the fact that apparently pardons can be given for hypothetical crimes being one of the most stupid legal arguments I've ever heard

I mean, let's just note this is legally uncontroversial. I don't think anyone's ever even bothered to challenge it in our history

you basically make Donald Trump and his supporters feel justified

They already feel maximally justified

make moderates think that maybe there really was a conspiracy against Trump

Moderate conservatives mostly already think this

Where if you do nothing and let the legal system play its course then the best case scenario is is that any case is brought up against these people will come up with nothing

Except not all of these people are rich and can afford to be dragged through arrests and prosecution even when they are easily acquitted

it'll all blow up in Trump's face.

When Trump does stupid things, it doesn't blow up in his face. He just had his best election yet

I'm ambivalent on whether he should definitely do it, but there are clear downsides both ways, so I lean toward the one that at least protects people who are about to be subject to witch hunts

11

u/psunavy03 Conservative 26d ago edited 26d ago

This just is more ammo for my theory that for as much damage as Trump has legitimately done to American democracy, the backlash against him hasn't gotten the credit it deserves.

The Democrats since before Obama have had this arrogant conceit that "We are the educated and smart ones. If you disagree with us, you don't actually have an opinion. You're only having an emotional reaction to our enlightenedness. We are the only ones who have actual rational opinions, because We Fucking Love Science™." Which is, of course, complete bullshit. We're all flawed humans who are sometimes wrong.

But Trump is such a cartoon villain that he accentuates this trait. And for all the evil stuff he has done like January 6th, which he should be held to account for, he also makes his opponents more and more convinced of my second paragraph, which is still utter bullshit. Even if Trump supports something, that doesn't automatically make it wrong. And if he opposes something, that doesn't automatically make it right. Vegans, Dog Lovers, and Trainspotters for Hitler, anyone?

2

u/Nelliell Right Visitor 24d ago

Biden pardoning his son after repeatedly saying he wouldn't do so and he'd abide by the jury's decision eroded almost all the moral high ground that Democrats claimed to have. For all their talk about being the educated, ethical party their backtracking since the pardon has destroyed any credibility they may have had. Biden abused his power. Trump will (and has) also. Both should see accountability from their own party but they won't because "my party is the only rational option, the other party is absolute evil and hell-bent on destroying this country."

3

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 26d ago

Bush II gave a lot of opportunity for this, too, the Evangelical Rube in Chief.

I think this is a lot older than Trump. The Intellectual Vanguard moved out of the Republican Party with the New Deal and, while the Democrats won the Stupid Party label (vis the Republicans as the Evil Party), the slow movement of Reagan Democrats into being just Republicans has reinforced the tendency to see the Republicans as the Stupid Party more and more every decade of my life.

3

u/psunavy03 Conservative 26d ago

the Evangelical Rube in Chief.

Explain how this post does not violate sub rules?

4

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 26d ago

That was the way he was thought and spoken of at the time.

8

u/psunavy03 Conservative 26d ago

9

u/Vanderwoolf Left Visitor 25d ago

I said this the day after the murder: Nobody actually cares about "gun control" as long as the "right people" are getting killed.

4

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 26d ago

Lol I'd be VERY interested in this

16

u/Nklst Liberal Conservative 26d ago

Yesterday for third year in a row with help of corporate sponsors my friends and I planted around 5000 thousands tiny English Oaks and tiny Red Pines :)

13

u/DerrickWhiteMVP Conservatarian 26d ago

Hegseth should be disqualified from his sideburns alone.

6

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 26d ago

Why are they so long

8

u/Vanderwoolf Left Visitor 26d ago

It's an optical illusion. His sideburns aren't long, it's actually that his head is incredibly short.

8

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 26d ago

It’s so funny seeing redditors say this guy was a “pro” when he didn’t even have enough common sense to think his subsonic rounds would require a lighter recoil spring so his gun would cycle.

9

u/Vanderwoolf Left Visitor 26d ago

Ban subsonic rounds when?

But really, there's a lot of stuff people just don't know, even people (somewhat) familiar with guns. The last time I was buying ammo I had to explain at length to the guy working the department that I was looking for 22 long and not 22 long rifle.

1

u/DustySandals Neoconservative 24d ago

I had a similar experience when I went to go ask the guy at the counter if they had any 7.62x51mm(M80 Ball) or .308 150grn FMJ ammo and he just looked me like I was asking for ammunition for an AK where showed me a shelf of 7.62x39mm. After giving up hope, a coworker told me about a store closer to me that I never heard of where I walked in and the guy at the counter knew him his stuff and sold me a 500rnd can of M80 Ball. Now I have a well fed M1A.

7

u/psunavy03 Conservative 26d ago

“He knew how to clear a malfunction! ZOMG HEZ A SKILLED GUNMAN!!1!”

This is seriously a take I read over my morning coffee.

7

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 26d ago

He's skilled enough to handle a gun safety but he's not fuckin John Wick lol

12

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 26d ago

"Detectives believe the gunman is not a professional killer, sources said. Bullet casings found at the scene had the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" written on them, police sources said."

When researching the meaning, it leads to a book titled "Delay, Deny, Defend", which is a book about how Health Insurers are screwing over Americans.

This killing was a political statement. I wonder if we'll get a response from both the President and President-Elect.

12

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago edited 26d ago

I will say, with almost every tragic event I've witnessed where certain people in social media celebrate, almost always in real life people are much more measured. Like I never heard from family members or coworkers celebrate when that submarine imploded, or when that theater in Moscow was shot up, but there was all sorts of nuts online celebrating it.

This however is different. I work in a very white collar and high educated environment, these are not a group that's normally super ready to jump on the next populist bandwagon, and my coworkers are absolutely giddy. I just walked out of the break room and someone had taped a meme about the bullets being a per-existing condition on the refrigerator, the reactions I've heard from my coworkers range from "good" to "I can't believe this hasn't happened sooner". And basically all the political and non-political spaces on Reddit, from all ideologies, other than this sub and NL are at the least saying he deserved it.

Now I am 100% part of the "murder is bad, actually" side of things, but this sentiment seems to be a vastly outnumbered opinion both online and offline I've never seen before. People, really, really, really hate insurance companies (and for absolutely good reasons).

I would bet there's over a 50/50 chance if the killer is caught they won't be able to find a jury willing to convict him.

6

u/IndubitablyThoust Right Visitor 26d ago

r/Neoliberal is also filled with people celebrating this murder.

3

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 25d ago

That hasn't been my experience there, and I'm there more than any other sub (I know I shouldn't admit this).

3

u/Vanderwoolf Left Visitor 26d ago

Neoliberal, you'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany.

10

u/psunavy03 Conservative 26d ago

Wonder how many of these people crowing over a man being murdered are the same people losing their minds over “guns in our streets.”

1

u/DustySandals Neoconservative 24d ago

A lot of anarchists and socialists have taken up a more lax stance on guns since they are convinced civil war is coming and that they'll be fighting fascists, whether they let people keep them after their revolution is another thing. Progressives and Liberals on the other hand, still seem be mostly against having guns and the other sub was appalled by people celebrating that CEO's death.

I think personally if Trump is really set on becoming dictator, all those liberals and progressives are about to find themselves very sorry for thinking the police were going to protect them from armed bands of right militias.

1

u/psunavy03 Conservative 24d ago

If Trump was hypothetically a dictator, the gun rights movement would hypothetically be the first ones up against the wall.

15

u/Chemical-Oil-7259 Conservative Liberal 26d ago

Healthcare will never get "solved" because people are straight up unhinged when it comes to health issues. It's very, very personal for them, and their reactions are always deeply emotive.

3

u/Whoeveninvitedyou Centre-right 26d ago

Part of the problem is in one breath someone will complain about their $1600/month premium for their family, with their 5k deductible per person and 14k out of pocket max, their copays, and the out of network specialist bill; then in the next breath the same person will say universal/tax payer funded healthcare is socialism and privatization is the key, ignoring the fact that in this case private healthcare is the problem. People are really good at compartmentalizing things in their head, and their hatred for anything "government" overrules any thoughts they have about healthcare. And I say this as a private practice physician whose salary will go down under medicare for all: Our health insurance system is totally broken.

UHC in is particularly egregious. They are obviously the biggest private insurer. They also own the largest pharmacy benefits manager, optumRX. PBMs act as an intermediary between insurance providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. They negotiate drug pricing and distribution, manage formularies, and create pharmacy networks. PBMs also process claims and review drug utilization. Also, UHC owns OPTUM health. They have purchased the largest home health agency, and also purchased and employ doctors.

So to sum up, if someone has UHC and goes to a physician employed by optum health: They pay premiums to UCH for a profit . The physician then bills UCH, their employer, who pays the doctor a smaller amount and makes a profit. If you get a prescription, a 3rd party company, owned by UHC, decides what drugs are covered and approved, and receive part of the profit from the pharmacy. They are completely vertically integrated and make profits on every step.

4

u/Chemical-Oil-7259 Conservative Liberal 26d ago edited 26d ago

US healthcare is a mess, but Washington, DC is incapable of fixing it.

The consolidation of health care systems was deliberately incentivized by the ACA. Its weird restrictions on insurer profit margins encouraged insurers to buy up hospitals. It set up a Medicare payments system that favored scale and size and discouraged private practice physicians. It set up a litany of regulations that made it hard for physicians to operate their own practice. The ACA was created with good intentions but what it did was create bad incentives and reduce price competition.

The low prices on Medicare can only exist (assuming the Medicare patients aren't turned away) because of high prices and payroll taxes for everyone else, mainly young working people. This makes a regressive system even more regressive, since there are already age-based price controls on insurance premiums that makes health insurance insensibly expensive for healthy young people. This incentivizes them to drop coverage and increases the risk profile of the insured, leading to higher and higher healthcare costs.

The employer mandate in health insurance also contributes to rising healthcare costs because it is untaxed compensation. 10k in extra healthcare benefits is worth more than 10k in salary.

I could go on and on, but I really think it's worth pointing out that Medicare and Medicaid are very easily defrauded. There is at least 100B/year worth of fraud in Medicare/Medicaid. Given our convoluted system, with the many different 3rd parties involved in processing claims, the real value of fraud is actually much higher. And that's just outright fraud. Medicare/Medicaid are also easily exploitable, meaning there are many ways people can shake down the government for money without being on the wrong side of the law, a recent egregious example being UHC "providing" Medicare Advantage to vets - who are already covered by VA benefits.

Healthcare is complex, and our lawmakers are too often clueless and slow. The government cannot be trusted to control costs - not in healthcare, not in defense, not in itself. And government intervention in healthcare, in particular price controls, creates bad incentives and bad service.

0

u/Whoeveninvitedyou Centre-right 25d ago

The best point I can make is your last sentence, which is actually the point you made in the comment above, and mine all wrapped up. it'll never get solved, because its personal, emotional, and people have a knee jerk reaction to being anti government.

Every argument you made is actually against a private system. You even made my point with Medicare advantage. that's a private plan that is taking advantage of people signing up for it, not taking advantage of Medicare, though it is a side effect. Private insurance also relies on young healthy people so subside older and sicker patients. That's one reason the ACA required everyone to have insurance. And sure, there is a fraud, but there's also fraud against regular insurance as well. And don't forget the biggest Medicare fraud in history was committed by a private hospital system HCA, when Rick Scott was the CEO (and they were caught).

10

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago edited 26d ago

I've had my own nightmare with health insurers (United specifically actually) and it's impossible for me not to hate them. I had to spend thousands on lawyers and and opportunity costs from investments to get them to pay for a treatment for my newborn daughter they owed her, and it took 18 months. If I hadn't had those investments to pay for it out of pocket when they denied the claim, she would have died. I know many others who have very similar stories. It's one of those things where even if it hasn't affected you it's definitely affected someone you know.

So as a start if you want to "solve" it, maybe don't let insurance companies deny treatment that medical professionals say is necessary.

Obviously murder won't solve anything, and only has the opportunity to make things worse.

3

u/aLionInSmarch Right Visitor 26d ago

Elon Musk recently highlighted (on twitter) US healthcare costs (administrative specifically, but it applies across the healthcare sector) relative to OECD countries as being 3x greater. Overall US healthcare is about twice the European cost for slightly worse overall health outcomes. This is a bit of a hobby-horse of mine but US healthcare is a viable target for DoGE efforts and could secure some massive (potentially $1 Trillion+) wins.

I am not predicting anything but it would be interesting if, in the drive to control spending, the Trump administration takes us further down the socialized medicine route. Experiences like yours anecdotally show the constraints and unnecessary costs built into the present system that are backed by more rigorous numerical analysis.

5

u/Chemical-Oil-7259 Conservative Liberal 26d ago

in the drive to control spending, the Trump administration takes us further down the socialized medicine route.

I find this highly unlikely. Medicare is a huge source of inefficiency in healthcare, easily exploitable and frequently defrauded.

2

u/Whoeveninvitedyou Centre-right 26d ago

And privatized plans like Medicare advantage plans cost more, and provide less.

5

u/aLionInSmarch Right Visitor 26d ago

I understand your skepticism and I favor free-markets but it is interesting that European healthcare is about half the costs of US for comparable results. The inelasticity of healthcare demand and our desire for universal coverage might favor socialization. I am not wedded to it ideologically though.

3

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 26d ago

Swiss Healthcare uses price caps to keep costs down IIRC

3

u/aLionInSmarch Right Visitor 26d ago

Looks a lot like the out-of-pocket limits present in US insurance, although capped at an income % rather than a specific amount and managed by the government.

10

u/Chemical-Oil-7259 Conservative Liberal 26d ago

Do the people calling for open season on CEOs not realize they're just asking to get charged more for insurance/goods/services because of the added security costs?

2

u/IndubitablyThoust Right Visitor 26d ago

Its a nothingburger but a dream for Marxists. CEOs are replaceable and increased security costs are minimal for large companies. Nothing ever happens.

12

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago

Security costs would be minimal for such a profitable company and wouldn't affect premiums. What they should be more worried about is that if it's ok to just execute someone in the street without a trial, what happens to them when someone decides they aren't properly communist enough or whatever.

9

u/DerrickWhiteMVP Conservatarian 26d ago

Revolutionary types rarely look past their emotions.

1

u/Nelliell Right Visitor 24d ago

Long-term critical thinking isn't a strong suit for many.

5

u/cyberklown28 Environmentalist 26d ago edited 26d ago

220-215 final score in the House. Plus 3 Republicans are joining the administration or leaving, so it'll be 217-215 for a while.

5

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago

Bets on how many days before Johnson is ousted as Speaker?

7

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 26d ago

They came to an agreement on trashing the single member motion to vacate.

3

u/Chemical-Oil-7259 Conservative Liberal 26d ago

Maybe gridlock enjoyers did win a little bit

7

u/WeaknessOne9646 Right Visitor 27d ago edited 27d ago

Texas Metro Results (not just the city or urban county but including the suburbs)

Dallas-FTW

2020: Biden 49-48--->2024: Trump 53-46

Houston

2020: Biden 50-49--->2024: Trump 53-46

San Antonio

2020: Biden 51-48--->2024: Trump 52-47

Austin

2020: Biden 62-35--->2024: Harris 59-39

McAllen

2020: Biden 58-41--->2024: Trump 51-48

El Paso

2020: Biden 67-32--->2024: Harris 56-43

This kills the Blexas. A decade of progress wiped out in one night. Allred was a good candidate (had I lived there I'd probably have voted for him) but he made a major error not seeing this coming and holding off on a statewide run

2

u/Tombot3000 Mitt Romney Republican 26d ago

I don't see the issue. The voters did select All Red

8

u/DerangedPrimate Right Visitor 26d ago

Blexas was entirely predicated on Hispanics voting Democratic at the rates they did from 2008 to 2016. Culturally, the Democrats really did leave behind Texas Hispanics, who still largely identify themselves with more conservative forms of Christianity, Catholicism and Pentecostalism, regardless of regular practice. Folks around here also care MUCH more about money and the economy than about what is perceived to be nebulous forms of justice toward historically marginalized groups.

I also would say that Texas doesn’t have a healthy civic culture. Local government, especially in South Texas, tends to be insular, marginally competent, and perceived to be staffed by corrupt officials that look out for themselves and their own, which is often true. People largely seem to think of government in terms of power than process and policy here, probably less so than places with healthier civic cultures, like New England and the Midwest. Trump’s style is thus less offensive.

4

u/WeaknessOne9646 Right Visitor 26d ago

I wonder if we ever get an RGV like swing in the black belt. I wouldn't bet on it but it would fit with cultural realignment. Trump did well actually in winning a few majority black counties in Virginia and the Deep South but I am guessing it was mostly depopulation in these places and high white turnout and less (not zero but less) actually winning black votes

I think more likely candidates for such a swing would be

A: Utah the other way (it had the smallest right shift in the country and fits the educated suburbanite model of the current Dem coalition)

B: NYC (the trends here for Dems have been inching badly for quite some time---Hochul actually improved on Cuomo upstate in 2022 but collapsed in the metro)---Queens is actually more Republican than Westchester at this point and Staten Island votes like a rural midwestern county

Sleeper candidate but Hawaii is one to watch as well down the line. Like south Texas it doesn't have a particularly strong civic culture and a lot of culturally conservative nonwhites (Natives and Filipinos) that hated the lockdowns of Covid. It is a bit of a vote sink for liberal whites though and Japanese which aren't as conservative as the Filipinos

8

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 27d ago

TX is not going to turn blue for a long time at this rate.

7

u/Nklst Liberal Conservative 27d ago

Barnier has fallen, there is no hope for western European growth.

13

u/oh_how_droll Right Visitor 27d ago

The comments on this post are even worse than I'm used to outside of the DT. There's only one commenter who isn't worshipping at the altar of Lina Khan.

8

u/coldnorthwz New Federalism\Zombie Reaganite 27d ago

I'm not sure why they think this is the place to simp for Lina Khan. It's one of JD Vance's giant red flags.

6

u/TychoTiberius Right Visitor 27d ago

I think it's reflexive contrarianism. GOP says Biden bad so I say Biden good.

Trump excluded, I'd rank him as maybe the worst president we've had since Ford. Completely disastrous on Ukraine. Did absolutely nothing about Trump while at the same time calling him a threat to democracy (which I agree, just maybe do something about it). Should have been able to swallow his pride and commit to being a one term president. Keeping Trump's tarrifs and commiting to made in America protectionism bullshit.

10

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 27d ago

PEPFAR alone dwarfs Biden’s accomplishments on basically anything. How can these people legitimately believe that he is the most consequential president of the 21st Century? Not to mention Obama, who I may disagree with but was a generally effective president.

19

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 27d ago

UHC CEO shot in broad daylight and people are happy. Even on the medical subreddits. As if all of the issues with American healthcare can be isolated to executives. People are insane.

6

u/interwebhobo Left Visitor 26d ago

Even on the medical subreddits.

You say "even" on medical subreddits as if they wouldn't/shouldn't be some of the first people throwing a party about this. Now I'm not saying this about every medical professional, but a LOT of them absolutely hate insurance companies and have seen patients die or live with a poorer quality of life as a result of their practices. Not to mention the amount of time they spend dealing with them, fighting for their patients.

FWIW I'd rather not see this happen at all, but I also fall on the side of "I'm surprised this hasn't been happening with more frequency already."

5

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 26d ago

As a medical professional, I can’t justify celebrating someone being murdered.

9

u/Leskral Right Visitor 26d ago

Getting more and more obvious America's social fabric is fraying.

4

u/braeeeeeden Liberal Conservative 26d ago

How do you reverse that?

7

u/TerminusXL Left Visitor 26d ago

Enact policies that attempt to address issues.

2

u/braeeeeeden Liberal Conservative 25d ago

And what sorts of policies would those be?

I guess what I struggle to understand is what would actually move us toward greater social cohesion. It increasingly seems like there are two diverging groups, and catering to one pushes us further apart. I struggle to think of policies that would manage to bring those two groups together in a meaningful way.

10

u/Vanderwoolf Left Visitor 26d ago

Flex SealTM

11

u/UncleDrummers Right Visitor 27d ago

leftys try to not celebrate deaths challenge, impossible.

12

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 26d ago

Forget leftists, have you seen the "Conservative" subreddit? They're cheering as well.

The majority of both parties are disgusting now. Communists and National Socialists both acting accordingly.

This is why I'm not exactly jumping to pay taxes so that these people can enjoy "free healthcare". They're just angry, bitter people.

5

u/UncleDrummers Right Visitor 26d ago

It's gross all around, I don't venture into arr/con it's a joke.

9

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 27d ago

The conservative subreddit, minus the gun law jokes, is largely fine with it too. This isn't really a "leftist" thing. People hate health insurance companies

0

u/UncleDrummers Right Visitor 26d ago

I don't visit arr/con but it's such a stupid thing to cheer about

8

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 27d ago

It’s literally like every time with these people

7

u/UncleDrummers Right Visitor 27d ago

I use to be like that at the start of the pandemic. It’s really fucking morbid to have that in your head. Like with the people who died in the submarine, Reddit lit up like 4th of July in reveling in the death of a CEO and passengers.

14

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 27d ago

Social media has been inundated with socialist agitprop for a decade and a half or more at this point. Anything touching on corporations or capitalism and violence gets disgusting pretty much everywhere very quickly.

-6

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

Are they insane, or are they just responding naturally to how fucked our healthcare system is and no one seems interested in fixing it?

0

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 26d ago

or are they just responding naturally to how fucked our healthcare system is and no one seems interested in fixing it?

Maybe we shouldn't if these psychos are the ones who will benefit. Sorry, but if you cheer the death of any average person, you're a psycho and maybe there's a reason besides "muh healthcare CEOs" that you're struggling.

5

u/YouKnowThisBrother Right Visitor 27d ago

They are insane.

10

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 27d ago

Yes, they are insane. That you can't see this makes you insane, too.

1

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

If you think I'm insane wait till you hear my friends. They're all lunatics in comparison.

Jest aside though, I'm not really sure how I feel all about this still without knowing the shooters motive. Is it bad? Yea. But healthcare has been broken for how long in this country? Eventually something like this was going to happen.

7

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 27d ago

just responding naturally to how fucked our healthcare system is

You can dodge around it all you want but this isn't the language of someone just explaining cause and effect.

Healthcare in this country isn't that fucked, it's just that a whole generation of people have been driven insane on the subject (and other subjects related to the capitalist market system) by online propaganda memes.

11

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago

Healthcare in this country isn't that fucked

My wife was covered under a plan from United that my employer offered. She gave birth to my daughter in a hospital that was covered by my plan. United had no issue paying for my wife's care for giving birth. However, they refused to cover my daughter because they said she wasn't covered under the plan (because she wasn't born yet). I got it reversed after arguing with them for 18 months, and reimburse the thousands I had to pull out of pocket for the coverage. I didn't get the thousands I paid to lawyers back of course, nor the opportunity cost of what that money would have done if it had stayed in my investments. For every story like mine where someone had the means to still provide care for their loved ones, and only lost money, there are dozens where someone died, or had to have surgery without painkillers, or who had lifelong conditions or injuries made permanent by insurance companies denying, delaying, and stalling as much as they can. They have time on their side too because a lot of times they can just wait it out till the patient dies.

So don't tell me the insurance industry isn't fucked. You are utterly out of touch if you think that.

This murder isn't going to fix anything, it will probably just make things worse, but it's impossible for someone who's had to deal with the insurance industry denying claims that are clearly needed, not to immediately understand why it happened. My daughter is fine, I only lost money, I have no idea what my mental state would have been if she lost her life because of them.

0

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 26d ago

Your experience, while obviously a bad one, is not the typical of the way most people feel about their experiences. While struggles with the insurance company are not allowed, the overwhelming majority of people are satisfied with their coverage. That is not what a 'fucked' healthcare system looks like.

2

u/bta820 Left Visitor 25d ago

It read to me there that people are positive about insurance the less they use it. Which feels disingenuous to the conversation

2

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 25d ago

They are, but the gradient is small, a shift from 80% to 70%. That's not disingenuous.

8

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago

Oh cool, then I guess I should be totally satisfied with the way the system works then. Thank you for letting me know that they don't try to kill all the babies, only some.

0

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 26d ago

You might consider that your experience is not a systemic problem if most people don't have a similar one.

5

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago

Also the stats you are quoting include people who haven't gotten sick or injured. So they haven't even had to actually deal with their insurance companies. The article even states the satisfaction rate of insurance goes down dramatically when people actually get sick or injured. So it doesn't prove at all what you think it does.

→ More replies

4

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 26d ago

United denies 30% of claims. Saying "well the 70% are fine" is leaving out millions of people who are not fine. If your measurement for success is it only ruins the lives of 1 in 3 of the people who need care, your measurement of success is trash.

4

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

Lol. Isn't that fucked. At least you're acknowledging it isn't good or acceptable.

7

u/Mexatt Rightwing Libertarian 27d ago

To the extent that all scarcity is not good.

11

u/N0RedDays Liberal Conservative 27d ago

They are insane. The brokenness of our healthcare system comes from Washington, not from insurance executives.

-1

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

Right. Washington, and not the insurance companies denying claims.

If it was revealed that the shooter lost a loved one because due to a denied claim, could you really blame him?

2

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 26d ago

If it was revealed that the shooter lost a loved one because due to a denied claim, could you really blame him?

Yes, I can absolutely blame someone for murder. This is absolutely bonkers. This is what a generation of attempting to humanize murderers will do, apparently. Anyone celebrating this ought to be in jail.

9

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 26d ago

>Anyone celebrating this ought to be in jail.

For what crime?

0

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 26d ago

Creating this environment of violence. Clearly that's the only way to get ghouls to stop supporting and glorifying literal murderers.

8

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 26d ago

Can you cite an actual law for me to look at?

Otherwise, your statement seems like a clear violation of the first amendment.

1

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 26d ago

You have no first amendment right to incite violence, so no.

6

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 26d ago

And how is cheering for his death inciting violence?

You can claim they're being ghouls or whatever, but those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

→ More replies

3

u/ReturnoftheTurd Right Visitor 27d ago

It’s not as simple as “a claim was denied so healthcare is broke”. Newsflash, the inability to obtain medical care exists in every country that has universal healthcare too. They also deny claims. They tend to have extreme wait times in addition to this. Europe also has far more strict immigration standards which is a slightly indirect way of effectively denying medical care to people as well. On top of that, Europe straight up doesn’t even have access to certain top level services that only exist in the United States.

Healthcare is not actually that broken here. There’s just a flood of anecdotes that even when added up together don’t make a statistic. Thing is, I’m not out there ranting every single time my insurance and everyone’s insurance that I know just pays the bill without basically any effort or issues. Because why would we? But regardless of that, insurance companies still pay over a trillion dollars per year in claims. We still perform tens of millions of operations a year. And even where there are disparities, first, adjust for the definition differences before addressing it.

4

u/UncleDrummers Right Visitor 27d ago

I would ask did they push back to ask for additional reviews or file a member grievance or did they immediately try nothing and all out of ideas except murder a CEO?

3

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

This all sounds very complicated and beaucratic.

I thought private systems were supposed to be more efficient?

2

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 26d ago

private systems

Our healthcare system isn't private.

2

u/UncleDrummers Right Visitor 27d ago

Talking to someone is complicated?

Yet a government led healthcare system which changes from President to President and Congress to Congress and appointee to appointee is not bureaucratic?

12

u/TheCarnalStatist Centre-right 27d ago

Yes I can blame them. I hope they meet the maximum sentence for their behavior.

11

u/DerangedPrimate Right Visitor 27d ago

An explanation is not an excuse

0

u/bta820 Left Visitor 27d ago

An explanation isn’t an excuse. But ignoring an explanation is a recipe for repetition

5

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

Maybe. But assuming you're serious about solving the problem. You need to understand the motive to prevent future hits wouldn't you?

4

u/DerangedPrimate Right Visitor 27d ago

I see what you’re saying. You’re talking pure cause and effect rather than about moral blame; in that case, I’d say you’re right.

5

u/UncleDrummers Right Visitor 27d ago

It's disgusting.

6

u/cyberklown28 Environmentalist 27d ago

DeSantis is being discussed as a possible replacement if Hegseth’s nomination does not move forward.

7

u/arrowfan624 Center-right 27d ago

OOTL: Why is Yoon trying to pull off a coup?

0

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 27d ago

Korean capitalism goes crazy and even the good politicians need to do some corruption here or there. When their time is up, they either go quietly into the night or take a moon shot. Since Yoon was elected off the incel vote, I'm guessing he was more prone to pressing the big red button and seeing if anything happens

1

u/IndubitablyThoust Right Visitor 25d ago

I can't blame them with the femcel problem Korea has.

1

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 25d ago

I mean, I can't blame the femcels for being femcels when the average South Korean male citizen is insanely misogynist lol. I also don't know why the men are so angry at women when women are economically so far behind them

Like, 🤏 is being treated like the n-word in the US. Actually, it's being treated like it's worse, unlike many South Korean men, black people in the US don't painstakingly go frame by frame through every corporate video and try to find any coincidence n-word-like sound and immediately cancel the company and any employee remotely related to it

8

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

Him and his ilk are corrupt as fuck and they ran out of stall tactics from my understanding.

So business as usual in Korea.

11

u/cyberklown28 Environmentalist 27d ago

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot and killed in midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning in an apparent targeted attack as he was about to attend the company’s annual investor conference, a law enforcement official tells CNN. The gunman remains on the loose.

2

u/psunavy03 Conservative 26d ago

High-profile executive gets whacked in an obviously premeditated and targeted attack in the city with the strictest gun laws in the country, and half of Twitter blows up talking about how all 335 million other people in the country need to forfeit rights in response. 🙄

8

u/interwebhobo Left Visitor 27d ago

I generally don't like doom-like takes but something in my gut tells me we're in for more of this over the next 10 years. Idk if it's because of the state of inflation, healthcare, or income equality, but given the political state of things, "taking things into your own hands" seems like it will be a more common approach in the immediate future...

9

u/DerangedPrimate Right Visitor 27d ago

Yuval Levin brought up a very interesting point in a recent Remnant episode about Americans desiring confidence that generally things are “under control.” I don’t remember everything exactly, but generally his point was that many people feel like significant parts of their lives—their health, finances, safety—are largely out of their control, in the control of people who they don’t trust will act in their best interest despite that nominally being their job, or just totally outside the control of anyone competent.

Having dealt with the seemingly excessive complexity of my own UHC insurance (with my first job, so I had no prior experience with health insurance), I understand why people feel that way about insurance companies. I had payment denied for a (thankfully minor) dental procedure, because some faceless UHC reviewer determined it unnecessary after the dentist explained to me personally why I needed it.

That’s one example. Another example would be the comments left on Reddit posts and local news stories that describe the perceived uselessness of reporting hit-and-runs (which happen frequently and cost A LOT in a very car-dependent Texas city) to local police.

Of course, none of this justifies the murder of the CEO or anyone else. The murderer must be severely punished, regardless.

5

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

I keep hearing reports that apparently a suppressor was used?

3

u/Vanderwoolf Left Visitor 26d ago

I'll bet $1000 fake dollars that nobody on the Left calls for banning suppressors this time.

If anyone on the Right does I'll literally* eat my shoe.

*terms subject to change at any time

2

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 27d ago edited 27d ago

That's what makes me suspect (low confidence) that it was a former employee. The person would have needed to already have the equipment, which makes it likely they are someone of means who has toys like a suppressor. And someone like that is probably more likely to feel personally screwed by a CEO and less likely to be facing medical bankruptcy and decide to take it out on a CEO, especially when he's

I won't be shocked either way though. And hopefully this doesn't start copycats nor CEOs and companies starting to hire more private security armies

1

u/psunavy03 Conservative 26d ago

I’m frankly surprised a F500 CEO doesn’t have a security detail at this point, and that the board of directors didn’t demand it.

I’m not sure what a “private security army” is supposed to be, but once you hit a certain level of seniority in controversial fields like healthcare or defense, you’re going to be a magnet for nutjobs and having a protective detail just makes sense.

6

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

Looking at cctv footage, the weapon almost looks home made.

4

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 27d ago

Dude had to keep cycling the gun

6

u/TheCarnalStatist Centre-right 27d ago

He was using subsonic rounds to prevent excess noise. This ammunition typically doesn't have enough excess energy remaining to automatically cycle as a normal round would. This was very deliberately done.

3

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 27d ago

oh I didn't realize there was footage. Home made would definitely change the calculus

I'm one step closer to solving the case myself

6

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 27d ago

Holy shit

19

u/Randomusername123450 Centre-right 28d ago

Between Trump’s original AG and DEA picks dropping out, and now with the WSJ reporting that he’s considering replacing Hagseth with DeSantis for Defense, it sure looks like the chaotic staffing of his 1st term is back in full swing before he’s even President…

5

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 26d ago

it sure looks like the chaotic staffing of his 1st term is back in full swing before he’s even President

For what it's worth, I'm actually somewhat reassured. Because based on what's been going on behind the scenes in Washington, it seems less like indecision and chaos and more like Trump's team finding out that he's not getting a free pass in the Senate just because they're both Republican.

3

u/Whoeveninvitedyou Centre-right 26d ago

I agree. It seemed like the senate was going to rollover and let trump try to recess appoint everyone. Glad to see they are exercising their power of check and balances.

2

u/TheDemonicEmperor Social Conservative 25d ago

I think it might be a case of whether they're more afraid of Trump or more afraid of McConnell, but I'll at least take the wins where I can get them.

Hopefully there's a few more nominees scuttled, but to be fair, I'm not sure how many more they'll be able to nix.

2

u/Palmettor Centre-right 27d ago

Will we get a better unit of time than the Mooch, though?

7

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 28d ago

Yo, for anyone paying attention to the SK political coup/crisis/thing:

The Korean SOF unit deployed to the capital was literally coming off of a training exercise and they weren't running with live ammo, they had simunitions only. And they weren't trained or equipped for riot control. On top of that they were trying to thread a very thin line which is why they didn't really fight back hard against the civilians.

I got this info from Redcell Korea, they have legit sources inside the Korean SOF community.

7

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 27d ago

Sounds like even they didn't want to put up with Yoon's shit.

9

u/IllustriousHorsey Right Visitor 28d ago

Apparently, if someone tries to coup you, you just have to tell them it’s illegal and they can’t do that. A putschist can’t legally coup you if you say no.

4

u/PubliusVA Constitutional Conservative 27d ago

Insert consent meme, noting that “coup” and “fuck” have similar etymologies.

10

u/NonComposMentisss Left Visitor 28d ago

Hard to get good news right now, but it looks like Yoon isn't giving up. Orders were given to arrest the leaders of 3 political parties (including Yoon's), for opposing his martial law order.

In other news, here's an extremely brave Korean woman trying to wrestle the rifle away from a soldier. She's brave as hell. https://imgur.com/QF9EpIb

8

u/Viper_ACR Left Visitor 28d ago

Gun isn't loaded with live ammo and these people are seeing that the 707th guys aren't trying to be aggressive

12

u/Vagabond_Texan Left Visitor 28d ago edited 28d ago

So, I was talking to my parents and we both agreed:

"If Disney made a separate black mermaid that was allowed to be her own unique character that co-stared alongside Ariel I don't think there would be any controversy."

And it kind of explains why I hate a lot of Western media right now I think. Characters are not characters, they are IPs, who's properties can be altered to appeal to whoever our target audiance is.

3

u/DestinyLily_4ever Left Visitor 28d ago

The only problem with Disney's production is that it's a shit movie. Unlike some others, I don't think Disney's brand of bad writing was even wokeness (correct me if Ariel in the live action says something about being a black girl-boss). If it had been a good movie instead, all the angriest people would be just as angry, and normies wouldn't have noticed the actress being black for more than a minute

6

u/Soarin-Flyin Classical Liberal 28d ago

I think it’s lose lose either way. You either have an original character that is viewed as the token X character and it’s pandering, or it’s a gender or race swap of an existing one and it’s also pandering.

6

u/PubliusVA Constitutional Conservative 27d ago

You’re right that some people will complain no matter what, but I’m glad Disney made Moana rather than, say, a Cinderella reboot with a Polynesian princess.

4

u/cyberklown28 Environmentalist 28d ago

And it kind of explains why I hate a lot of Western media right now I think.

JRPG games and K-Drama shows back on the menu? <3

→ More replies