LTS

I don't think you can use the information you had to justify anything. It was the call of the Swedish coaching staff. Meh. They were wrong. Brodin also completely overplayed the 2 on 1 to allow Marchand to literally tap the puck into the net. Dahlin should have been on the ice more than he was. The fact that he was not is not because he's bad but because I am sure the coach is enamored with his Swedish defensive "heroes". It matters not to me. What I know is Sweden didn't win.

I save up my complaints for the week just for when this thread opens, but then I no longer have the energy to complain about them.

Taxes, by their very nature, are an infringement on freedom. Of course we don't have true freedom because true freedom is only known as anarchy. The complete absence of all rules. Rules are designed to restrict, as such they are an infringement on freedom. The question will always be, what rules acceptable and what are not? FICA is an infringement is it's entire purpose is to take money and then redistribute it to the masses. It's a program, that as I pointed out, is run horribly and basically falling apart. Taxation is a means to fund a government which is designed to enact rules upon its citizens. The reach of the government is what is in question. We have far too big a government system. I'll write a much longer diatribe at some point, but at its foundation.. that's it. It's not really as contradictory as you make it out to be.

Yep. Sign me up. I'd do it too. But certainly not if the streaming was egregious to use and it better be easily done on my TV and not just on mobile devices.

I completely understand. I understand where you are coming from. But.. the SAFE act does restrict freedoms. Also, we are a country that lacks respect for life and the desire to resort to violence also exists. What we sow are the seeds of division... it's what the powers that be want. If we are fighting each other we cannot fight them. The government is a shitshow at taking care of things because it is not protecting the interests of its citizens but the interests of big business. How can you look at the United States military spending relative to the rest of the world and draw any other conclusion? It's not the police or firefighters.. although those are generally paid by local taxes, not federal taxes. Yes. Taxes, responsibly used are not a bad thing. We're not one of those countries. Not even close and we should not pretend that we are.

And that's how you know we are scrooooood. This guy actually was elected to office. We get what we deserve. There's a congressional district that elected a moron like this to office. Like it was just "Let's vote the biggest ***** idiot to office. What could go wrong?" God.. we get what we deserve.

I completely recall it. Social Security is a restriction of the freedom of where I invest my hard earned money. I fail to see it as anything else. I accept taxes have to exist as a means to support and operate a government. If those taxes are spent in meaningful ways I have no issue with that. Although I do believe the governments job is to be as small as possible and allow people to be people. When you take my money, you are restricting my freedom. My freedom to choose what I do with the money I earn. The government, if it operated as a business, would be bankrupt and shutdown. They'd have to "raise prices" and if people could opt-out of buying their product many would. The SAFE act restricts access to ammunition, etc. It is an infringement on freedom. It may be put out there to help stop violence but it's all *****. People who want to commit violent acts will find a way to do so. When we allow government to be "our protectors" we absolve ourselves of the responsibility. As such, people stop paying attention to things that matter because they falsely assume the government will take care of it. However, as we see, the government sucks at that and it's all over the place. The Democrats entire motif is to instill in the people that they need the government to as means to live their lives and so we'll take your money to build all of these social programs so people don't have to think for themselves. They can just assume the government will provide. My problem with FEMA fits in that bucket as well. People need to be far more aware and accountable for their actions. We need to live in a socially responsible world. I get that we don't, but by placing the soc As far as Republicans, they are morons too. Their playbook from a social perspective is based from the pure ignorance of religion, which is, in my opinion, an even worse creation than government.

Given that there are far more blocked shots than there are injured players from blocking shots I fail to see it as a negative. I think anytime you can prevent the puck from getting to the goaltender it's a good thing. Not because the goalie should be able to make the save, but because of rebounds, net front presence, etc. If the puck is stopped 35 feet out it reduces deflection opportunities, etc. In addition, when teams are known for being great shot blocking teams it forces opponents to consider that and then attempt to play a style where they don't just throw pucks at the net because they don't want to have a shot blocked and have it result into a transition play the other way. So, bottom line, blocking shots is important.

Despite all the evidence, people still believe Big Macs actually look like they do on TV. Idiocracy is real.

I would imagine they would be pissed... and also concerned. I'm not even sure how that would happen. I don't see Canada just agreeing to this so what's left, an invasion? The US has not made Puerto Rico a state in all these years, but then again, they don't have oil like Canada does. If someone found a livable planet.. I'd be on the first ship.

I can imagine being upset that my team lost. I can imagine also putting that in context of life and saying, at least they won twice in a row. I can't imagine being "devastated" although hyperbole seems to be the way of the world these days. Criticizing Chiefs fans for how they feel is just being bitter about your own team's failures. Meh. There's zero doubt in my mind that if the roles were reversed those there'd be no difference in reaction from people. The KC fans would be commenting on how "How can Bills fans be devastated and complain about losing when they've won 2 in a row before this?" Blah. We need to stop trying to live in everyone else's house.

Do you think this current Trump regime is like the last one? I see a lot of stark differences. I wager a lot of people are wondering about it as well. I didn't want the buffoon in office the first time or this time. But yes, the country, in it's ever solidifying binary opinion, thought a retread idiot would be the best choice. The population continues to only push for two options, so we can't be surprised that we get two bad options. Perhaps its time to stop supporting Idiot Party A or Moron Party B and try something new.

Please tell me where Social Security has anything to do with denying medical care, the right to marry, or the ability to serve in the military? This is the basic problem with your arguments and those like you regardless of what "party" you subscribe to. You are trying to justify Social Security as legitimate because it's not as bad as the things you pointed out. That's not how it works. Republicans use the defense "Look at what the Democrats did, we're not as bad as that." Democrats use the defense "Look at what the Republicans did, we're not as bad as that." News flash.. it doesn't matter. It's all bad. I'm not going to accept the "lesser of two evils" F that. It's all evil. Evil is evil. There are other options out there and that's what I choose to support. As for SS? I don't sit around with articles bookmarked, but here's one I went out and read. It's not bad.. and certainly highlights the problems which are indicative of a "group solution" when the "group" continually changes. As is the problem when we are all pulled into a "group solution" where the group membership is highly diversified. It means the benefits of the "group" program will predominantly benefit some over others. This is fine if one OPTS into it, but it sucks if you are FORCED into it. https://siepr.stanford.edu/news/social-insecurity-nows-time-act Make people work longer to get their benefits. - The never ending finish line. Require workers to pay more. - this is known as raising taxes Cut benefits for all or some. - Guess you don't always get what you pay for. Yeah, no thanks. https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/social-security-trust-fund-myth#introduction I feel so much better. It's all fictitious money, that when the economy goes tits up will be meaningless. If I were able to control my OWN money I could diversify my financial holdings into more meaningful investments. It's broke, it was always going to be broke and it ain't going to be fixed without seriously screwing some people over.

Time to go...

Re: SSA: Your choice. You assume that because that is all I posted that it's all I know. I don't care if we have a discussion or not. Re: Middle East - I'm pretty sure I'm just going to quote you "Perhaps the most short-sighted and uninformed take. Safe to say we have no more to discuss on that subject." So, it's okay for the United States to get involved in other countries because it protects "our interests" and prevents opposition from exerting influence. The same United States that is taking action within its own borders now to protect "its interests" and prevent opposition from exerting influence? Once again we are back to the crucial question "Whose interests?" There are always two sides. You will argue that the other side is wrong because it goes against what you believe in. They will argue the same. And here we are.. no progress is made.

I'm just waiting for the day when the majority of people who voted for this administration are shocked they are getting what they voted for. I'm just sad for all those who knew this crap would happen have to deal with it. I'm just afraid of what the over correction will bring in the future - or if there will be a future.

For what it's worth, I wasn't saying it was. I had said apparent misuse of funds and was directing more at the "uncovered" items. My commentary earlier regarding cutting things like a museum exhibit fall more in the "useless is in the eye of the beholder". I have not seen the museum exhibit on Fauci, I'm not sure I give enough of a damn to want to. I could see how it's wasted money in wondering is there really a need for THAT exhibit? I don't know. And I will say it again. The Social Security system is an absolute scam that takes my money and redistributes it, theoretically, to the "masses". Social Security is the "safety net" for people who cannot figure out how to save their own money and invest it themselves. Worse yet, the government loves to "borrow" that money when they need to. The government, run by both Democrats and Republicans, that have amassed an insane amount of debt because they can just up and spend money without having the revenue to back it up. A very simple concept that every business owner (and human) should understand. The first mistake is involving themselves in the affairs of the Middle Eastern countries in the first place. The United States need to intervene to protect oil interests have led to continued rise and fall of dictators and terrorists. The Democrats and Republicans are both on the same team when it comes to funding the up and coming resistance to only find out that it's yet another power hungry individual hell bent on wiping out those with opposing ideology. In the Middle East I think we don't need a crystal ball. It's best to stop intervening in their affairs and let them be. I don't want people walking in my house telling me how to live my life. Why should they accept that we are in their countries attempting to control their very existence?

Overall I think it's fascinating that suddenly Elon Musk's team (and others apparently) can find all these apparent misuse of funds, etc. It's almost as if someone just looked it would be so obvious. I'd like there to be a new news network called CorrupTV where they do nothing but expose corruption. Or, it's all misdirection to keep us focused away from what else is happening.

Certainly a way to avoid tariffs.

And vice versa sadly. Maybe one day people will wake up and realize the world is not binary and it's not really us vs. them and that there are alternatives. Everything happening right now is designed to divide people all to the same goal. Allow the government to take over our lives. Sadly people don't want to realize it and instead can only be a 1 or 0.

I'm not necessarily advocating or speaking up against anything at the moment. But I would caution that when cuts are made the value of things being cut might be in the eye of the beholder. We can all look at where money is spent by all kinds of organizations and wonder if it was wasteful. If everything were diluted to the bare, only what's needed, model of pure efficiency then the world would become quite sterile. It's what leads to the elimination of art. Again, that's not me saying any of this is right, or that corruption doesn't exist because it certainly does and the government is full of it. Just that caution must be had when any single entity or group begins wielding the machete.

I'm not attempting to explain how anyone is any better off. I'm explaining what happened. That is all.

If I am recalling the situation correctly, Colombia was going to deny the planes. It doesn't matter what they had done prior. It matters that they said they would deny the planes. Trump threatened a tariff and Colombia changed course. Regardless of opinions on the matter those items seem factual. Also, let's not interject petty personal attacks regarding spelling. You knew what was being discussed. If you were unsure if the poster meant the country Colombia you could have asked for clarification.

Wanting to retain players and being able to are two different things. Don't get hung up on the "public speak" of sports. Zucker has also said he's interested in staying here, it doesn't mean he will. Both are statements of possibilities, not probabilities.

For someone...