Hard to be compassionate when basic needs are not being met or if they are by a thread ready to break. Civility is only held in place by full bellies.

We probably subsidize the payroll of many of the rich "benefactors." We subsidize Wal-Mart's payroll already with food stamp assistance and more, the blood sacrifices which are not optional sacrifices have been moved to far away countries after unions caused to much trouble for the owners wallets. Unfortunately for the rich greed knows no bounds and the middle class they created to protect themselves from the guillotine of the exploited poor is shrinking because, as greed knows no bounds, they began consuming that which there ancestors created as protection. They believe their own propaganda.

And creating more privately owned public spaces where rights are not the same and the rich maintain control.

I shared this elsewhere but Its part of a long running push towards privately owned public spaces.... Do you see where this goes? Do you see the connection to privately owned public services and more privatization? It also gives them more control because they do not have to follow the constitution the way the government does. A privately owned public space does not have to protect free speech from themselves only the governmentfor example! if thingss dont go how they like they find reasons to shut the public space down such as "cleaning" or 'repaors" that often last until whatever "unrelated" problem they have is solved. Facebook is like a privately owned public space. Religious schools not bound by all the laws that protect people within fully public I.e. government ran schools like most of us attended. If every free public space disappeared how long do you think private space would remain free? Maybe this place isn't exactly like that but it serves as a good source of propaganda for privatized public spaces.

I posted this as a general comment but will reply to your comment by reposting it since you included the hedge fund piece here.

Its part of a push towards privately owned public spaces.... Do you see where this goes? Do you see the connection to privately owned public services and more privatization? It also gives them more control because they do not have to follow the constitution the way the government does. A privately owned public space does not have to protect free speech for example! Facebook is like a privately owned public space. If every free public space disappeared how long do you think private space would remain free? Maybe this place isn't exactly like that but it serves as a good source of propaganda for privatized public spaces.

Its part of a push towards privately owned public spaces.... Do you see where this goes? Do you see the connection to privately owned public services and more privatization? It also gives them more control because they do not have to follow the constitution the way the government does. A privately owned public space does not have to protect free speech for example! Facebook is like a privately owned public space. If every free public space disappeared how long do you think private space would remain free? Maybe this place isn't exactly like that but it serves as a good source of propaganda for privatized public spaces.

Minimum wage is perfectly fine. If its not then perhaps minimum wage is what should go up. This is part time though , with their hours it varies year to year but more than double minimum wage still.

We stoped being British but colonialism is something else. It's the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. The term country is used loosely and applies to Native American tribes and land.

If corporations are people is the government a person?

How long have corporations been a concept and how did it start? I read that up until the early 1900s incorporation was something granted to businesses as a temporary status to product them in special circumstances and that businesses were never supposed to be corporations permanently.

Can you murder a corporation? Can a corporation be put in prison or executed? Why can they be sold or owned by individuals if they have personhood?

Now if only you made just $10 an hour then maybe you wouldn't have this concern about your lack of concern? A great Prophet once said "mo money, mo problems." I think I can help you with this difficult burden you carry... Just place it in these here pockets of mine and yes yes let me help...

Define pain please?

There is someone near me with a blue one that still has the light above the mirror and other stuff on the outside. It just looks like one of the blacked out cruisers because you can see some of the outline under the paint over.

Because people just happen to know a random reference from a random show from a decade ago??

People took a reasonable guess that this person just doesn't know what they're talking about or what's in the constitution. Judging based off the last decade alone and it seems a lot of people barely have a junior high level grasp of it and the law.

Oh is that the scene where somebody thinks a cop has to tell you they are a cop if you ask them? And thanks for the reference.

It always amazed me when I was younger and met real world examples of people thinking a cop has to tell you they are a cop if you ask them. Usually people thought it had to do with entrapment.

Better call Saul is NOT breaking bad but its a spin off, I think its pretty good so far, and I like the character Saul. He can be complex, he has a good heart but struggles to do right. I haven't seen the last season yet. Have you seen any of the show!

Where?

There are Atheist AA meetings for anyone that needs help but does not believe in gods or the supernatural. There are also excellent alternatives, one such alternative and my favorite is SMART Recovery. It is secular and evidence based. I'm (an atheist) in recovery and if anyone needs help or advice, ask me. Even if your a believer and I'm not it doesn't matter, I will help you.

Besides AA there are also other group options such as my favorite, SMART Recovery as well as Refugee Recovery for examples. AA can be great especially in connecting you with others wanting the same thing but AA alone won't be enough. Get into counseling as well. Some people are not religious and some are atheists for them, the latter especially, 12 step groups can be difficult. A lot of groups tend to push the god aspect but worse is individual people that WILK try to persuade you then often berate you and tell you how you can't get sober. Ignore them and keep trying new meetings until you find good ones. There are atheist friendly meetings and even some (rare in CT) atheist meetings (with slightly modified steps. You do not need a god or higher power to get sober but if you believe in that its probably not going to harm you in anyway and if that's what you need to stay sober then do it.

I have a long history regarding this topic and if anyone wants to talk or needs advice/direction to get help, to get services, to get into rehab, whatever, ask and I will help how I can.

if you are struggling with AA or any 12 step group because of the spirituality/god part you don't have to. There are ways to make it work and even atheist meetings. There are also other options, options without gods or the supernatural. I'm an Atheist that did a lot with AA. If anyone needs help/guidance I will do what I can if you ask.

I love SMART recovery.

There is also an atheist AA meeting in northeast CT. As far as I know the only one of its kind in CT. The steps are tweaked a bit. There are a lot of Atheist AA groups around the country and they are great. Refuge Recovery is Buddhist based and also pretty good.

If anyone wants to talk I have a lot of experience regarding this topic. I can also help anyone that wants it work through AA as an atheist and deal with diff meetings and especially people regarding pushing god. Sometimes its extra hard if you are limited to local meanings and there aren't many and/or they are not very good. Ask about rides to other meetings and people will pick you up. Meetings can be very different from group to group.

Ketamine clinics for addiction? Im a recovering addict and have never heard of this. I did just recently look into a nearby clinic that does Ketamine therapy for treatment resistant depression. How is it being used for addiction treatment?

Edit: I Google it and most of what little I saw was vague and was tied to the use for treatment resistant depression. I'd love any sources/information you have as this applies to me in different ways.

If true, thank you for your service.

Those taxes also support things like healthcare, schools, social services, safety regulations, and more. Taxes are a necessity of a civilized society, one that cares for its members. Not Eve is perfect. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. I will pay my taxes happily, but also vote, speak out for what is right and for those needing help, and physical get involved with the community, with protests and an assortment of other actions.

The entirety of everything that we perceive to exist all occurred instantaneously. Everything that was is and will be did not occur in time but all at once it is was and isnt.

My dad told me that when he was in Vietnam you could buy a metal tin or cloth wrapped package of 50 or 100 joints for $1 American money. They were sold predominantly as just "marijuana" but most of the time were also dipped in opium. Supposedly it was meant to addict the soldiers but the vast majority of the soldiers already new they had opium in them and were more than happy to use those instead. The war was brutal and many of the soldiers on the front were forced to go and taken from the poorest and most disadvantaged in society. If politicians want to send us to war then their children or at least one of their children and at least one child (blood for both to avoid adoption schemes) from every rich family should be sent to the front lines (enlisted combat roles, no officer positions) before there is ever a draft. Even without a draft I feel that politicians who vote for war need more skin in the game, something personal.