It’s a cult. The trappings are to mark the in-group, further insulating their hysteria from any criticism from the out-group.

I agreed that they are the natural outcome, in the absence of effective regulation. Sans means without.

Capitalism inherently concentrates wealth, and as wealth concentrates, it builds upon itself while seeking out novel opportunities to deepen influence. We see this phenomenon in modern economic scenarios as individuals gain the ability to co-opt political forces, and create larger and larger wealth watersheds.

In other words, the existence of billionaires is a symptom of a broken system- one that has NOT effectively been regulated. They become monopolistic entities unto themselves. Billionaire brands then gain further leverage via network effects, creating a snowball that only government intervention can safely defuse. It doesn’t matter if one billionaire is “good,” nor one politician. As Edwards Deming famously said, “a bad system will beat a good person, every time.”

Sure, sans regulation. The point of govt regulations is to ensure that platforms that control two sided markets are not given complete largesse to fleece the participants. It’s ultimately a defeating strategy with diminishing returns, as both producers and consumers lack the necessary surplus required to participate AND to invest/reinvest resources toward long term growth. Another reason that stock buy-backs used to be illegal.

And obviously you can probably guess I believe they should be illegal again.

Idaho also ranks in the bottom half of states for primary care and physician availability. 39 of Idaho’s 44 counties are health professional shortage areas

They’ve already lost 1 of every 5 OBGYN since 2022.

A better functioning government would break up these conglomerates as they operate like cartels, price fixing and gouging and colluding with each other, all at consumer expense, while simultaneously watering down product offerings to their worst versions.

This is NOT the free market.

Let’s not forget Biden, who dragged his old ass around on the carpet until the 11th hour before being forcibly ousted by his backers. Same guy who “committed” to being a one term president…until his enormous ego wouldn’t allow him to let go.

Cap that off with anointing Kamala instead of any democratic process, like Primaries, and the argument could be made that Biden ushered this entire timeline into existence.

And you can swap scopes depending on, uh, context.

The Kissinger special?

Most of the aches and pains related to “aging” are significantly alleviated by reducing your total body weight. Especially in America, where 2/3 of us are overweight or obese.

Most of losing weight is diet not exercise.

So, study some nutrition and cooking, eat better, go on walks and do some pushups, and you’ll be more fit in 3-6 months.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk

If they can’t figure it out, no one tell them.

People sometimes forget that he went to Baltimore School for the Arts, one of the best public arts schools in the country. The man was talented.

Exactly the years that OG Millennials went from small children to adults, and then off to college to saddle ourselves with debt for a future that would never exist. Yay

Anything whitewashable will be whitewashed

That probably stains fabrics, eh?

Covalent?

2 hours later

“Can someone just send me the meeting notes? Thanks.”

The time difference ('68-92) is roughly the same as the time since the Class of 2000 graduated, and now.

I think it’s just Baby Boomers perpetuating the same old ideas in their echo chambers.

We’ve all been struggling to move onward for like 40 years.

I was there. 3000 years ago, when they murdered an entire culinary culture.

No banana for scale?