OT: Coronavirus XVI: Hey Covid-19, Piss Off Already

[joestevens29]

You forgot drop salaries.

Not exactly easy when a lot of it is union workers

 

[doulos]

Not exactly easy when a lot of it is union workers

Yeah, also an excellent point.

 

[joestevens29]

There are only two ways the city can keep functioning in this depressed time: Raise taxes or cut services. If nobody has any money to pay higher taxes, then the only real option is cutting services.

Wages at the city are quite high, so the labour cost is far from trivial.

The real problem is these ass clowns for some reason decide to give kick backs to people that bought e-bikes or whatever they are called.

Council has done a fine job at complaining about lack of funds and then doing something completely stupid.

 

[joestevens29]

So when should we expect this second wave of Covid?

 

[doulos]

The real problem is these ass clowns for some reason decide to give kick backs to people that bought e-bikes or whatever they are called.

Council has done a fine job at complaining about lack of funds and then doing something completely stupid.

What if the rebate money that those people were going to spend on the e-bike, ends up being spent elsewhere in the local economy? The math becomes a bit less clear. I have to admit that it belongs on the 'nice to have' pile along with trimming dandelions in my opinion. Not sure how much trimming dandelions costs, but the e-bike rebate programs is about 200k/yr. Not a huge chunk of the overall budget, but every bit helps during covid19 time.

 

[doulos]

So when should we expect this second wave of Covid?

Looking at the numbers, we likely have not even left the first one yet. Record high numbers all over the world right now.

 

[joestevens29]

What if the rebate money that those people were going to spend on the e-bike, ends up being spent elsewhere in the local economy? The math becomes a bit less clear. I have to admit that it belongs on the 'nice to have' pile along with trimming dandelions in my opinion. Not sure how much trimming dandelions costs, but the e-bike rebate programs is about 200k/yr. Not a huge chunk of the overall budget, but every bit helps during covid19 time.

Would have rather them gave rebates that would've been to help people in the lower income brackets. Like why not spend 200k a year on regular bikes for people that can't afford them.

 

[doulos]

Would have rather them gave rebates that would've been to help people in the lower income brackets. Like why not spend 200k a year on regular bikes for people that can't afford them.

I can see some interesting arguments for that as well. Particularly with bikes being so tough to find right now.

 

[joestevens29]

I can see some interesting arguments for that as well. Particularly with bikes being so tough to find right now.

I just think there are a lot of people right now that need all the money they can get. Why not give them some money to spend on something fun and healthy?

 

[doulos]

I just think there are a lot of people right now that need all the money they can get. Why not give them some money to spend on something fun and healthy?

I guess because it was a program that was lined up a year ago and flexibility is not something that city councils anywhere do real well.

 

[Drivesaitl]

This is the problem with the world today. Dont do this or that or say this or that because it is offensive/racist/whatever. But I can say this, that and that and its all good (double standard/hypocrisy). MLK had the right philosophy, he didnt want anyone treated differently because of their race, skin color, etc. Now we see people that are racist but apparently they feel that its fine because they have been treated poorly by racists. Stopping the cycle = everyone stop being racist, not only one race. Hate groups will have a field day recruiting people based on this kind of crap. If you are black and hate Latinos, Asians, Whites, Jews, whatever, then you are also racist. It is no better or worse than a white KKK idiot being racist towards any group. Its all BS and all bad. Until the rest of the world starts calling this for what it is it will just separate people more and more.

Agree with a lot of this. But something much more malignant is at work. Generational Socialism. Several other posters have detected and caught the narrative missive. There has currently been an outright attack on property ownership, wealth, and privilege. Boiled right down, and Harpoon nailed it and I've always known it, this is not too disguised Marxism. (Although I call it Maoism due to its patterning) When someone speaks to you of your privilege its a primarily economic distribution based sentiment. But the order of Marxism, Socialism, Communism replaces capitalist or other order (more naturally occurring Darwinian order and selection) with contrived reordered factions of power and always leaves with societies that are mostly upside down, not well led, and that end up inevitably being worse than what preceded.

Myself I would wish for more independent thought in present day. for people to see how much they are being duped. For people to understand history, to understand political fight, seduction, and not to be so conned by it that they end up talking about other peoples privilege in faux terms. In an economic system that produces, privilege is earned. Taking or looting that privilege, or dividing it among the masses is always a worse result (revolution) than system in place.

Lastly less seduction by factioned thought (which is really indoctrination) would make for better, and more illuminating discourse, and more influential and persuasive arguments. The difficulty is that when the factions are Marxist the dishonesty is ripe from the start. Its something that calls economic success a sin. The lie starts there. If you buy that lie a casual thinker starts thinking such things that success is wanton privilege to be sacked and plundered. The riots turning to looting is not accidental as much as symbolic. The factioned socialist mob believes wealth accrual is something to be attacked, instead or respected, aspired to. Why succeed I guess when Marxist plunder will suffice? The mob can just usurp it right? They're dangerous thoughts, and they are spreading.

I imagine this post might not stand, but others touched on it, and I think my outing this as economic, rather than racial tension or strife, is more constructive, and possibly more to the crux of the issue.

 

[AM]

Not exactly easy when a lot of it is union workers

Disband the government unions and start from scratch.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Would have rather them gave rebates that would've been to help people in the lower income brackets. Like why not spend 200k a year on regular bikes for people that can't afford them.

Bingo. This allows also the distribution or subsidy of many more bikes to many more people.

The subsidy was as much as 700bucks/ebike and 600 applicants succeeded in getting first to the post approval and subsidy. This program was overwhelmed with applicants the moment it started and with those most aware of it, and ready to utilize it getting first dibs. (also somewhat suspicious as these could even be people connected, in the know, and that in literal minutes had all application done, bike purchased, receipts sent for reimbursement.

So rather than a subsidy to a fortunate few why not a 100 buck subsidy for basic bikes (especially kid bikes) that would allow the subsidy purchase of over 4K bikes instead of 600?

This ignoring that ebikes are more dangerous than regular bikes. The epower comes of course with dangers. These can go at higher speeds, are silent, and can cause more pedestrian, and user damage. I find it extremely odd that a City would fund something that is likely to be a mechanism of injury on sidewalks and trails.

Its preposterous that a city that believes in zero pedestrian injuries, fatalities has not only introduced affordability of ebikes but is paying for it. I think the elemental rationale is that ebikes are greener and they are less harmful than vehicles either by way of emissions or injury. But they are much more harmful than regular bikes and use electric energy instead of pedal energy. ebikes are of course less green, and more dangerous, than the standard bikes they replace.

 

[doulos]

Disband the government unions and start from scratch.

Is this like defunding the police?

 

[AM]

What if the rebate money that those people were going to spend on the e-bike, ends up being spent elsewhere in the local economy? The math becomes a bit less clear. I have to admit that it belongs on the 'nice to have' pile along with trimming dandelions in my opinion. Not sure how much trimming dandelions costs, but the e-bike rebate programs is about 200k/yr. Not a huge chunk of the overall budget, but every bit helps during covid19 time.

Everyone “benefits” from mowing the verge. Few benefit from ebike rebates.

 

[WaitingForUser]

Agree with a lot of this. But something much more malignant is at work. Generational Socialism. Several other posters have detected and caught the narrative missive. There has currently been an outright attack on property ownership, wealth, and privilege. Boiled right down, and Harpoon nailed it and I've always known it, this is not too disguised Marxism. (Although I call it Maoism due to its patterning) When someone speaks to you of your privilege its a primarily economic distribution based sentiment. But the order of Marxism, Socialism, Communism replaces capitalist or other order (more naturally occurring Darwinian order and selection) with contrived reordered factions of power and always leaves with societies that are mostly upside down, not well led, and that end up inevitably being worse than what preceded.

Myself I would wish for more independent thought in present day. for people to see how much they are being duped. For people to understand history, to understand political fight, seduction, and not to be so conned by it that they end up talking about other peoples privilege in faux terms. In an economic system that produces, privilege is earned. Taking or looting that privilege, or dividing it among the masses is always a worse result (revolution) than system in place.

Lastly less seduction by factioned thought (which is really indoctrination) would make for better, and more illuminating discourse, and more influential and persuasive arguments. The difficulty is that when the factions are Marxist the dishonesty is ripe from the start. Its something that calls economic success a sin. The lie starts there. If you buy that lie a casual thinker starts thinking such things that success is wanton privilege to be sacked and plundered. The riots turning to looting is not accidental as much as symbolic. The factioned socialist mob believes wealth accrual is something to be attacked, instead or respected, aspired to. Why succeed I guess when Marxist plunder will suffice? They're dangerous thoughts, and they are spreading.

I imagine this post might not stand, but others touched on it, and I think my outing this as economic, rather than racial tension or strife, is more constructive, and possibly more to the crux of the issue.

So if I understand this correctly you see nothing wrong with the distribution of wealth and resources in the world today? You think that a small percentage of people having the majority of the wealth while the rest suffer is a fair and just reality for future generations? I’m sorry but when 15-20% of the world owns and exploits the other 80 this is wrong.

 

[doulos]

Everyone “benefits” from mowing the verge. Few benefit from ebike rebates.

I would disagree, and in fact swap those two things. However, I see neither as being currently super important in covid19 times, compared to public services like making sure people have proper access to public transit etc.

 

[AM]

Is this like defunding the police?

Now is a great time to make things better. And yes, it’s happened before.

 

[doulos]

Now is a great time to make things better. And yes, it’s happened before.

I agree with this. We are at a point in history where maybe we can change things up in big ways. I doubt it will happen since it's easier not to, but you're right, we have an opportunity to try some things.

 

[AM]

So if I understand this correctly you see nothing wrong with the distribution of wealth and resources in the world today? You think that a small percentage of people having the majority of the wealth while the rest suffer is a fair and just reality for future generations? I’m sorry but when 15-20% of the world owns and exploits the other 80 this is wrong.

If the current situation in western societies is exploitation, then yes. Please “exploit” away.

 

[Drivesaitl]

So if I understand this correctly you see nothing wrong with the distribution of wealth and resources in the world today? You think that a small percentage of people having the majority of the wealth while the rest suffer is a fair and just reality for future generations? I’m sorry but when 15-20% of the world owns and exploits the other 80 this is wrong.

Never stated that.

I do see that the wealth and distribution and stratification is out of align, and a lot of that is imbalances of power, oligarchy, I see that too. But its not what the mobs are attacking. Not at all. They're actually gathering, mobilizing on Iphones, smartphones, using internet tools like twitter, facebook, and are being pawns of that imbalance and furthering it. So that the mob, by their actions, by their religious devotion to device, to specific internet channels are making the present kings richer, and more powerful. So that the kingdom of facebook, google, tech empires are more pervasive, more controlling, and just sitting back loving it. While the mob destroys the hard earned capital of modest on the street business, even of poc owners.

But hey, make Zuckerberg richer and his power more complete I guess...somewhere he's rubbing his hands in glee. "Look, the peons all have and are using my product."

Mobs are stupid and dumb, pretty much as a rule. That these factioned mobs are unknowingly SUPPORTING the biggest powerbrokers and in fact ARE devout consumers is laughable. I would have more respect for rebelled factions deploring consumption that didn't so wantonly (irony) engage in the privilege of having fashioned smart phone accesories that occupy and fill their every thought as if they were brain implants.

heres a start. Power off the controlling smartphone, read books. Think independently, not as a mob.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[Drivesaitl]

Totally disconnected but my eyes couldn't deviate from the gorgeous woman in the picture perfectly modeling using a mask. Looking fantastic, even mysterious and veiled in it. The most important part of the article might be the modeling of using mask, and making it a fashion statement. That could be positive influencing. I think there were some fashion shows where all the models wore masks. Although sadly in Brazil one of them died on the walk..

 

[doulos]

You are not on the right side of history and your movement will be laughed right out of normal life once your twitter echochamber collapses. Seek mental health coucilers immediately and eduace yourself to the brutal history of communism comrade. Maybe then alarm bells will ring in your head about which current economic power has been inflencing this kind of garbage propaganda.

Hopefully calling into question the mental health of those who have differing viewpoints does not become a pattern here.

 

[Oilhawks]

So if I understand this correctly you see nothing wrong with the distribution of wealth and resources in the world today? You think that a small percentage of people having the majority of the wealth while the rest suffer is a fair and just reality for future generations? I’m sorry but when 15-20% of the world owns and exploits the other 80 this is wrong.

You’ve got the percentages very wrong. It’s more like 0.1% exploiting the rest.