Today in 1993, after a senseless siege that lasted 51 days, the US government murdered 82 people at Waco.
US Attorney General Janet Reno authorized tanks to flood the compound with tear gas.
Instead of encouraging evacuation, the decision backfired.
Those inside scrambled to protect their children and fled to enclosed areas.
Federal agents fired rounds into the compound on the same day, starting a massive fire that consumed the entire structure. The state denied firing any munitions, but infrared cameras captured the thermal signatures of many gunshots from the tanks.
As the compound burned, women and children burned alive in agony. After the tragedy, federal agents took pictures of themselves in front of corpses that were still smoldering.
This tragedy was the natural result of draconian disarmament schemes. It reminds me that my disdain for the US government hardly misplaced.
I remember the innocent victims of the Waco massacre today.
@ElonMuskAOC Only the economically illiterate would not accept a free Tesla, I would like the car just doesn't fit my life today, but I'd still take it and use it around town the few weekends I'm there.
If Social Security wasn't a Ponzi Scheme, as it appears lefties are trying to claim, and the money is "my money," then I wouldn't actually be forced to contribute.
In reality, though, it IS a Ponzi Scheme so I must pay taxes to pay out benefits to those currently collecting.
@ArmandDoma But why is a date missing from social security? Don't they, you know, issue the cards to, you know, people who are alive, and therefore, would have birthdates. Unless those cards were intentionally left date less... Like to pay someone who shouldn't get it...
I've been part of quite a number of corporate acquisitions in my career, mostly on the buying side.
When you acquire a company, you go over their expenditures in fine detail looking for ways to save money.
In addition, you look for things like duplication of efforts between the companies, etc., also to save money.
This is what DOGE is trying to do, but on a much much much much larger scale, and with an employee population that is largely hostile to the goal of saving money.
Add on top of that the politics and potential fraud & grift involved and it's a monumental task.
IRS: you owe us taxes
Me: how much do I owe?
IRS: you get to figure that out
Me: can I just pay what I want?
IRS: no we know exactly how much you owe but you have to guess the number too
Me: what if I guess wrong?
IRS: jail
Happy tax season!
@Rothmus For 41k an hour I'd do a lot, and you're only asking me to watch a movie... I don't think there's any movie I wouldn't watch for over 41k an hour...
@beinlibertarian Definitely the second, the more liberty, the better, it's easy to sell someone a glass of water on a hot day, and once they're used to the water, adding ice gets easier, the smaller the sell the easier the sale.