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The worst restaurant experience of my life.
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48
The feeling once again being in a love relationship with a genuine Thai lady.
Well done, and well said. -
51
Does the inequality ever make you uncomfortable?
Good thing to do. Please help me understand, 10% of what?- 1
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51
Does the inequality ever make you uncomfortable?
This topic strikes a chord in me, so this will be long. Feel free to tl:dr. The Universe doesn't hand out things evenly, nor does anyone's deity. We all find our own way to come to terms with that harsh reality. Ideally, we understand the inherent unfairness of existence, and behave accordingly, which means never thinking we are better simply because we have more. I'm the first person to admit what I have been able to acquire is dumb luck. Some who are "Haves" like to think they worked really hard for what they achieved. Even that I attribute to dumb luck, as I believe even intellect and ambition are certainly not handed out equally, nor are physical characteristics like body shape, height, and physical appearance. Any of those can make life a heck of a lot easier to navigate. I accept that in all of human history, there has never been a greater advantage than being born a white, or mostly white, male in a developed Western nation. To NOT be flush would require some substantial effort and self-induced screw ups. All that being said, how one behaves with others is the test we all must pass. Nobody is any better than another person just because of material wealth. As a non-believer in any deities, I ignore things like "manna" or "karma". Whether it's in a 7-11, or Food Gourmet or a fancy restaurant, just treat everyone kindly and with the respect any human deserves (until proven otherwise). Yes, some people might be jealous, but most will not be, and will judge based on how one communicates with them. Also, there is a difference between flaunting one's wealth and merely having it, and perhaps having some of the things wealth can acquire. I've been more than fortunate, and for reasons of practicality I have usually employed a household staff in the places I have lived. In some places, it's also considered polite, as jobs and income are provided. So I've had chefs and cleaners and gardeners, though I do a lot of the work myself. I understand there is a natural separation and power position, but one's behavior can minimize that and make everything comfortable for all concerned. Now in Thailand, it's the first time in years I haven't employed a household staff. I do, however, run a business that provides jobs, and my staff is fantastic. I'm leaving this site soon, as it has become a bit of an unnecessary irritant seeing the mindset of the captured cult, and because I'm totally anonymous, I can say a few things. This topic---having wealth in an unfair Universe---has always been a thorn in the core of my being. I grew up in a faith, but by my teen years I realized all faiths were utter nonsense and existence is random. When I first fell into wealth, I began to give a lot away. I built some schools and funded hundreds of children who otherwise would not ever get an education. I brought many all the way through university, and those people are now totally self-sufficient and passing on some of the luck they received. I offered microloans to people with a business plan but no capital. I hired doctors to provide medical care to folks suffering from everything from malaria to TB to sepsis. I became a kind of NGO, albeit with no donations and no tax breaks. Until I excised every last bit of my faith, I used to flip the bird to the sky at the deadbeat deities who ostensibly were responsible for the things I tried to help. Many times I had to suck it up, as I saw things that made me want to cry, but I never wanted to show pity, just concern and caring. Nobody wants to be pitied. Now here's the big surprise (for me). I got more from them they they got from me. When I was on Wall Street, I might have had 200 good things happening each day and one bad thing. I focused on the one bad thing. The folks I met in the developing world had just the opposite, yet they chose to focus on the one good thing and simply endure the bad. Their circumstances had made them better people than me. I learned from them and changed. I also left my WS career behind, just so I would not revert back to (bad) form. I never use the term "hard earned" when discussing my wealth, because it wasn't, nor likely was that of anyone reading this. The last time I dug ditches, other than on my own property, was during a high school summer job. As an adult in my second career, all I did was silly parlor tricks, watching numbers on a screen and placing bets on which numbers would get larger and which would get smaller. Yes, there is an underlying value to society involved in what those numbers represent (businesses that produce goods and services and create jobs), but I did not think of that day to day. Obviously, I've strayed off topic a bit, or at minimum expanded it. If you are reading this or are simply on this site, you are lucky. Have a little humility. You had advantages many people will never have. You aren't better because of wealth or career success. If you are "better", it is only because of how you have used the gifts you got but did not deserve, and only if you refrain from doing anything that hurts anyone. That young Moslem woman wearing the headscarf in 7-11 is most likely kind and caring and just trying to get by. She deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. If she looks as if she wants to communicate, do it. She might make your day, or you might even make her day. Acts of kindness or friendliness are always appreciated, coming at you or coming from you. Be nice to those with whom you are sharing time and space in this brief and only existence. -
51
Does the inequality ever make you uncomfortable?
Who is that leader whom some wag termed "The Short-Fingered Vulgarian"? It's becoming clear why some people are fans of that guy...living vicariously. -
86
US Social Security
In reality, or in fantasyland? In reality, tax cuts, without more, will enable more of the same nonsense. Expand the debt and kick the can down the road. It works until such time as it doesn't and then we're all in trouble. Whether you know it or not, America and much of the rest of the world exists in a debt based system. You think you have money? Unless you have gold or silver, you have debt. Your dividend payments are debt. Your retirement funds are probably packed with lots of debt based instruments. Even Social Security is backed by debt. The Social Security "trust fund" is nothing but a bunch of special purpose US bonds. Of course, some payments are paid into the system by those currently working. But at some point in the future, those payments won't cover the benefits owed. I think the current system runs short in the year 2034 or so, unless they make some changes. In Trump fantasyland, which I happen to think is our best hope right now, tax cuts help keep everything afloat while his tariffs works their magic. Short term economic pain in exchange for a more prosperous future without the rest of the world leeching off America. We had all better hope that Tump and his team are successful in pulling that off. Unfortunately, there are some people who have been well and truly brainwashed. They really do think their problem is Elon Musk, one of the people trying to save the system. Ands yet why would anyone want to help the people committing waste, fraud, and abuse? Why would anyone be happy that other people are living off their hard earned pay? It's a truly insane position to think that way. In a worst case scenario, the US dollar may well have another five years or so as the world's reserve currency. It's in need around the world for various reasons, and isn't going to just disappear overnight. Use that five years wisely, if you can. It may be your only hope to get out of this mess in one piece. -
4
The media is lying to you
Probably conspiracist tat, a bit like 911... you know, 'the towers were brought down by charges because they came down awfully quick' etc. Donkey flat earth people. Covid was real, the overreaction by our governments was agenda, but it was real nonetheless. Jesus was real, too, and the spammers pounced on him then wrote a bs fairytale about it all. Funny world!
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