I follow the logic but I don’t think it will happen. At least not in that manner. Perhaps the US decides to quietly buy Bitcoin which could functionally replace whatever the $MSTR underlying bid is. Somewhat akin to other countries buying gold. But bailing out $MSTR or Bitcoin explicitly to save it absolutely defeats the whole point. On the other hand, buying a strategic asset - like gold - during falling prices is not seen as a bailout to gold but a smart opportunity. So I think it depends on how and when it’s done and the framing.
That is a popular opinion. I am ambivalent about it. I see the appeal, but is limiting who can buy homes actually effective in producing more affordable homes? Or is it just a more convoluted form of rent control than will make ultimately makes the housing supply more brittle? Typically increased demand creates an increased supply and more rules and regulations tend to restrict supply so I think the onus is on those supporting this regulation to argue why it actually accomplishes a worthwhile goal. Otherwise to me it seems like it is another popular but ultimately misguided application of popular opinion to economics such as the “minimum wage” or “rent control.” There may be non-economic reasons to do this - but if that’s the case they should be stated. Same goes with proposals to restrict foreign ownership of residential homes.
People overestimate what wealth can do in an election cycle. It can spread the message but ultimately people still have to buy it. Think of the amount of money the Ds spent in 2024 - vastly outspending Rs even when accounting for outside money, what Bloomberg spent in the primaries in 2020 and got nothing, or what Steyer spent running for governor of CA this year only to land in third place. There are many many more examples. Money gets a message out - but people still have to like the message and trust the messenger.
@BeingJWood Agreed. And 95% who support it could not accurately define it either. That’s why people keep saying socialism is just when the government spends money on the people rather than corporations or something stupid like that.
The worst aspect of the Trump presidency is the apparent grift and corruption. Even if one were to grant the argument that it’s not corruption because the self dealing is somewhat public and transparent, it is still bad and undercuts every achievement of his administration. I think the problem many have in focusing on it is the thought that it somehow gives cover to Democrats, progressives and leftists that criticize him for anything. Although I am sensitive to that tendency, the better position is to demand better from those in public office. The strongest argument that the ascending socialists have against the Rs and Ds is not Gaza - it’s that the socialists are not corrupt. And comparatively, it’s hard to argue. But the Rs and Ds should take that argument away by waging their own war against corruption. I remain convinced that if we created an office of independent counsel to investigate Congress, we could have indict 90-95% of the sitting members on some form of campaign finance, insider trading, tax or other financial crimes. It would be wildly popular - this is the socialists best argument (and to me - only real argument) and the Rs and Ds ought not stand idly by and let them have it to themselves.
I don’t think there is. Communism seeks control through violent revolution; socialism through the ballot box. Both seek to have government control of the means of production - though I will grant you there are perhaps many different “socialisms” floating around right now - and they exist on a spectrum that is more or less hostile to free markets depending on the industry. But ultimately they all share ten e opinion that government control is preferable to private control.
I don’t like these “right to exist” questions. As many have said before, no country has the “right” to exist. Countries have the power to exist. If they lack the power they cease existing. Right now, Israel clearly has the power to exist and Palestine does not. The talk of rights muddles the reality. If your rights depend on someone else’s power then in truth you have no rights.
@Sublux8tor@clintoptions Of course it’s an opinion, this is X! AI stocks are also narrative stocks right now. It doesn’t mean they aren’t innovative or won’t change the world. But what is your opinion on why $TSLA dropped since you don’t like mine?
My favorite take on why oil never spiked to $200 and will return to the $65-$70 channel is because functionally there is unlimited oil and every oil producer lies about supply. If true, it explains nearly everything about the relatively unimpressive price action throughout the entire war. Heard on some episode of @MacroVoices. I love how the trade of the century appeared and then just fizzled… It’s like the more you know about something the less certain you can be about it.
@AffordAnything Abolishing landlords is not a political position that comes from reason. It is a political demand that comes from anger because they cannot live like children. Socialism is the deep desire to call government Daddy.
I was speaking particularly about the regulation of prices - not the regulation of economic activity out of other concerns (for example, making drugs, prostitution, gambling illegal, or setting rules and standards for markets). I don’t think government regulation of prices has a lot of success. Do you not see government intervention in markets for the purposes of price control as inherently problematic and self defeating? For example, I’d say rent control is pretty much well known to be a failure - it simply transfers benefits to current renters from everyone else but those benefits degrade over time as the buildings do and the costs are very real to landlords and those looking for places to rent.
I do not think that is particularly surprising given the party obsessed over identity and assumes all politics flows from such identity. The question is, could a Jewish candidate whose position is “Gaza is a genocide” win or would that candidate’s Jewishness undercut the political position? I think the politics would prevail - see Bernie Sanders - but I also agree that being Jewish without having a clear pro Gaza/ anti Israel politics will make it impossible to gain traction - unless everyone else is in the pro Gaza camp , in which case perhaps a small “contrarian lane” opens.