WilyRickWiles's Profile

How America's Elites Lost Their Grip in 2019 | Time

Boardwine comments on Dec 3, 2019:

Garbage article by a trash writer.

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 3, 2019:

Why that's a strong reaction.

Richard Wolff counters libertarian arguments against socialism

Ericrmusing comments on Dec 1, 2019:

He starts out by claiming that WW1 and WW2 were caused by capitalism. No evidence, no historical references, merely an assertion. Further, there is no rebuttal of the original claim that socialism has murdered an estimated 100M people. He simply states that "Capitalism killed more people". This is ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 2, 2019:

@mindmuser Bingo.

Virginia seems to be going full blown commie totalitarian.

WilyRickWiles comments on Dec 1, 2019:

I guess that (going "commie") is why they aren't going to roll back the "right to work" laws.

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 2, 2019:

@KCSantiago You confused things by using outlandish rhetoric. The "right to work" issue: https://www.roanoke.com/northam-discourages-repeal-of-right-to-work-law-in-remarks/article_66e67f2a-fb29-54ce-bee0-1b8d15f41445.html Guns were a big election issue: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/new-poll-finds-virginia-voters-focused-on-gun-policy-ahead-of-pivotal-election/2019/10/03/db034922-e472-11e9-a331-2df12d56a80b_story.html

Virginia seems to be going full blown commie totalitarian.

WilyRickWiles comments on Dec 1, 2019:

I guess that (going "commie") is why they aren't going to roll back the "right to work" laws.

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 2, 2019:

@KCSantiago You don't see the contradiction between their actions and your rhetoric?

Richard Wolff counters libertarian arguments against socialism

3percent comments on Dec 1, 2019:

@WileyRickWiles So.... Germany, Italy, and Russia were trying to take over Europe, and CAPITALISM is the cause? That guy is old enough to know better. His argument is that it was a capitalist agenda that put tens of millions of Jews and other "unwanted" people to death in Germany and Russia?? If ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

I think he's making a softer claim that it was a function of competition between capitalist nations--one at least as related to capitalism as the deaths in socialist nations were due to socialism. He is only bringing this up to counter that common talking point, which he thinks is ridiculous.

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Biosphere, @Jeeper752 He called himself a democratic socialist, but fought among and admired the anarchists in Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War against the fascist Franco.

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Biosphere I know that... not sure how it applies to Orwell, though. All I know was that he wasn't exactly enlightened on women and gays.

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Seriousreason What?

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Jeeper752 Good one. Orwell was one himself.

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Facci Whether they are attributable to "Western Civilization" and the "barons of the internet," it is wise to recognize the complexity--good and bad, success and failure--in all things.

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Facci Really? I see a lot of complaining about Facebook's content moderation and YouTube's demonetization on here.

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Facci Libertarian socialists (anarchists) have always opposed state power. Democratic socialists have been more pragmatic. I prefer to use the state when something is already concentrated with clear efficiencies that benefit the public (e.g. Amazon and the Federal Reserve), is a public good, or is something the state is already involved in (and grassroots power or the public imagination is not ready), and otherwise to break up and democratize (esp. Facebook).

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Dmwils How can there be competition with Facebook when network effects lock us all in. How can there be competition with Amazon when it controls the market? Not to mention that both of them have the resources to pick off any potential competitors. As for Google, it's perhaps not as serious as the former two, but it is still hard to escape them because they control much of the ad market and one of the two major smart phone platforms. These are not how markets are supposed to operate.

Richard Wolff counters libertarian arguments against socialism

Ericrmusing comments on Dec 1, 2019:

He starts out by claiming that WW1 and WW2 were caused by capitalism. No evidence, no historical references, merely an assertion. Further, there is no rebuttal of the original claim that socialism has murdered an estimated 100M people. He simply states that "Capitalism killed more people". This is ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

The point is that socialism is not special in its capacity for killing, which tends be the primary argument people on the right make about socialism.

A Socialist Plan to Fix the Internet

Biosphere comments on Dec 1, 2019:

What's wrong with it other than slow speed?

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

Mainly that the platforms of companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon have become monopolies or monopsonies with state-like power. They have perverse incentives to manipulate the public and do other things that are counter to the public good.

Awesome meme

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 30, 2019:

Also a socialist. And one who Trump has likely condemned to death.

WilyRickWiles replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@JimbobNE Some background on her brand of socialist feminism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jineology And her organization. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units The right uses the SJW label when it suits them. I'm glad they've spared her for now, but it would be nice if they laid off at home.

Awesome meme

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 30, 2019:

Also a socialist. And one who Trump has likely condemned to death.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 30, 2019:

@JimbobNE Her "feewings" may be secure, but her life is not. But let's exploit the former in service of right-wing propaganda.

Does the term white privilege exist in America?

Halligan comments on Apr 23, 2019:

I believe dvarga succinctly hit the nail on the head (response on April 22). It's an intentional agenda driven by the far left using Alinskian tactics to divide the US into the 'haves' versus the 'have-nots' so they can reshape society as they see fit. They use tactics involving white privilege, ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 28, 2019:

@madjewesswoman How long have you been a boomer?

Does the term white privilege exist in America?

chuckpo comments on Apr 22, 2019:

Preposterous. It's just an example of moving the goalposts. Here's a couple of questions. Which way is the better way to treat members of society? Should we adopt the 'black historical experience', or should we adopt the average 'white experience'. Let's just assume nobody's going to argue we should...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 28, 2019:

@madjewesswoman It's a state of mind.

Does the term white privilege exist in America?

chuckpo comments on Apr 22, 2019:

Preposterous. It's just an example of moving the goalposts. Here's a couple of questions. Which way is the better way to treat members of society? Should we adopt the 'black historical experience', or should we adopt the average 'white experience'. Let's just assume nobody's going to argue we should...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@madjewesswoman OK boomer.

America Wasn’t Founded on White Supremacy - The American Mind

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 27, 2019:

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-american-mind/

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@Brainiac Traditional media doesn't really cover online trolls.

2 White House budget officials resigned expressing concerns about Ukraine aid being withheld but I'm...

Boardwine comments on Nov 27, 2019:

Who gives a fuck?

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@Boardwine Appropriations law because he didn't notify Congress of the hold.

2 White House budget officials resigned expressing concerns about Ukraine aid being withheld but I'm...

Boardwine comments on Nov 27, 2019:

Who gives a fuck?

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 27, 2019:

I'm sure it's not because Trump was breaking the law by intentionally holding up the aid. They were just really impatient, right? Maybe they had interests in Ukraine.

The left argues that the citizenship question on the census will cause non-citizens to not respond ...

Georgesblogforum comments on Apr 24, 2019:

Illegals have no citizenship rights . The census question screens out illegal voters and applicants to benefit programs . The census question stands in the way of Democrat vote fraud .

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@rway I don't think you read everything I posted. And you have a Peculiar interpretation of the Constitution.

America Wasn’t Founded on White Supremacy - The American Mind

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 27, 2019:

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-american-mind/

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 27, 2019:

The main reason this even registered on my radar was because I just learned about how a guy who funded alt-right troll armies wrote for this outlet. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/josephbernstein/this-man-helped-build-the-trump-meme-army-and-now-he-wants-t

The Tragedy of the ‘Trans’ Child | National Review

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 26, 2019:

OK boomer.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

@Brainiac There's not enough time in the day for this garbage. I'll save my energy for more intelligent posts that I disagree with.

‘Idea laundering’: How bizarre campus ideology finds its way into the real world | The College ...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 26, 2019:

OK boomer.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

@Brainiac Please, I beg you, stop with the reactionary posts!

The Tragedy of the ‘Trans’ Child | National Review

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 26, 2019:

OK boomer.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

@Brainiac Keep posting reactionary bullshit and I'll keep replying "OK boomer!"

Were The Nazis Socialists? - YouTube

purdyday comments on Nov 26, 2019:

Ok Sandman!

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

Why?

Figured this out long ago when Obama won the second term.

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 26, 2019:

OK boomer.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

@FEWI It's coming out every time I see a reactionary or conspiracistic post. Not my fault boomers do that so often.

Were The Nazis Socialists? - YouTube

M_MarinoDC comments on Nov 26, 2019:

Please study history and not some Socialist who is spouting the lies of Stalin. The party that Hitler became the leader of was the German National Socialist Worker's Party. The maker of this video is trying to pander the idea of Democratic Socialism. Which interestingly enough is spoken about by ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

@JackStraw70 You are incoherent.

Were The Nazis Socialists? - YouTube

M_MarinoDC comments on Nov 26, 2019:

Please study history and not some Socialist who is spouting the lies of Stalin. The party that Hitler became the leader of was the German National Socialist Worker's Party. The maker of this video is trying to pander the idea of Democratic Socialism. Which interestingly enough is spoken about by ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

@JackStraw70 "The NAZI's had nothing to do with the Republic." You need to work on your reading comprehension. I said nothing of the sort. Here's the socialist party that was in power during the Weimar Republic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany

Were The Nazis Socialists? - YouTube

M_MarinoDC comments on Nov 26, 2019:

Please study history and not some Socialist who is spouting the lies of Stalin. The party that Hitler became the leader of was the German National Socialist Worker's Party. The maker of this video is trying to pander the idea of Democratic Socialism. Which interestingly enough is spoken about by ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

Not sure what you are taking issue with. This video has reminded me of a clarifying fact--the leaders of the Weimar Republic were socialists.

The left argues that the citizenship question on the census will cause non-citizens to not respond ...

Georgesblogforum comments on Apr 24, 2019:

Illegals have no citizenship rights . The census question screens out illegal voters and applicants to benefit programs . The census question stands in the way of Democrat vote fraud .

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 26, 2019:

@rway Not sure what your point is, but please see the "all persons" part and the rest of the nuances discussed here.

The Orwell quotes right-wingers never mention

Jeeper752 comments on Nov 24, 2019:

Why would "right wingers" quote a Socialist? Wasn't he a Fabian like H.G. Wells?

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

Because he was anti-Stalinist. I don't think he was specifically a Fabian, but probably had similar views.

Same people complaining about Climate change and blaming the boomers will have Vegas style Christmas...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 24, 2019:

We all know those are boomers.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

@MarieBabik LOL, that's what I was telling you. You said "zoomers and their millennial offspring." Do you know what your own words mean?

Diversity Is Not a Strength - YouTube

ForeverFree76 comments on Nov 21, 2019:

Self loathing white people are ALWAYS leftist scum.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

I mean, I grew up with people from all backgrounds and they all integrated. Why does that make us scum?

Same people complaining about Climate change and blaming the boomers will have Vegas style Christmas...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 24, 2019:

We all know those are boomers.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

@MarieBabik Oh, and you seem to have a mistaken meaning of "zoomers." "Zoomers" refers to generation Z, which comes after the millennials. That is, they are not the parents of millennials, but they might be their children.

Same people complaining about Climate change and blaming the boomers will have Vegas style Christmas...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 24, 2019:

We all know those are boomers.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

@MarieBabik No wonder millennials have to to take on so many dollars in student loans.

Same people complaining about Climate change and blaming the boomers will have Vegas style Christmas...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 24, 2019:

We all know those are boomers.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

@MarieBabik Conspicuous consumption is very typical of boomers. Gotta have the suburban McMansion, the lake house, the season tickets, and vote conservative.

Same people complaining about Climate change and blaming the boomers will have Vegas style Christmas...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 24, 2019:

We all know those are boomers.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

@MarieBabik Admitted early millennial here. I have many light show memories, but they are all from boomer parents during my suburban childhood, not from my present-day peers.

Same people complaining about Climate change and blaming the boomers will have Vegas style Christmas...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 24, 2019:

We all know those are boomers.

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 24, 2019:

@MarieBabik "Vegas-style Christmas light shows" have long been a Boomer trademark.

"US billionaires philanthropic giving: - Gates, Buffett: annual giving 3%–4% of their wealth...

LastLiberal comments on Nov 23, 2019:

There is a large grey area here I feel like you're missing. Granted, the gates foundation has only spent a tiny fraction of Bill Gates' money, but they eliminated malaria in several countries and have saved millions of lives. If that money was given to the US government, do you think it would be ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 23, 2019:

@LastLiberal No. I want democracy, regulation, and an economic floor and ceiling.

"US billionaires philanthropic giving: - Gates, Buffett: annual giving 3%–4% of their wealth...

LastLiberal comments on Nov 23, 2019:

There is a large grey area here I feel like you're missing. Granted, the gates foundation has only spent a tiny fraction of Bill Gates' money, but they eliminated malaria in several countries and have saved millions of lives. If that money was given to the US government, do you think it would be ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 23, 2019:

First off, you used as your example one of the most charitable billionaires. Aside from him and one or two others, I give at a higher rate, and so do most Americans. So I think that if they hadn't hoarded as much wealth from their companies, a lot more Americans would have more wealth which not only would improve their standard of living, but increase the total amount of money given to charity. Moreover, giving to charity and paying taxes are not mutually exclusive. Finally, from my perspective, the purpose of increasing taxes on billionaires is to decrease inequality. Once your wealth becomes that large, it can only really be used in pursuit of more power at the expense of democracy. Democracy is imperfect, but it is better than the alternatives. We must engage civically so that the government addresses our priorities. And it should be constrained not by revenue but by inflation and some percentage of growth.

Study by IDW-linked Heterodox Academy shows that Jordan Peterson is a gateway to the alt-right

tooktheredpill comments on Nov 23, 2019:

In the graphic Feminist is one side and Alt Right is on the other. It is as if the two are opposites of each other. Even many of the other words attached to these words indicate that they may be. However in the media Feminism is portrayed as positive while Alt-Right or Masculism is portrayed as ...

WilyRickWiles replies on Nov 23, 2019:

It's not being displayed as positive. As the article mentions, it's a visualization of a word/context association analysis of Gab posts about Jordan Peterson. Feminism is being displayed in the context of misogynist tropes (purple). White nationalist tropes (yellow) appear in a different context.

Two things I like about em, their standards...

WilyRickWiles comments on Nov 20, 2019:

That Hunter exploited his father's position and that there was a conflict of interest is beyond dispute and doesn't require an investigation. Also beyond dispute is that Biden's actions were not in in the interest of Burisma. So why does Biden need to be investigated and why does Ukraine need to ...