401 Comments
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Cary Sipiora's avatar

Thank you for calling out how unfair and dangerous the accumulation of wealth is in the hands of such few people. Of course they want to hold on to their riches and disregard all the rest of us. This system is unsustainable, unfair and totally inhumane. Shame on these billionaires. I boycott all big corporations.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Well said

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ChatterX's avatar

The Essence of Capitalism is the constant, excessive CONCENTRATION of Capital and therefore Power in the hands of a small group (Oligarchy).

The Capitalists, through their ownership of capital and means of production (basically all the land, factories, Companies/Corporations, Healthcare, Utility Services), which came from the previous exploitation of workers (or just inherited) , are thereby in a position to further exploit workers.

Look up how many apartments the orange man inherited. Not Earned, inherited.

Blackstone also owns a lot of houses.. Willing to rent you one at a "fair" price.. For life.. 'cos you and your children won't be able to buy one. Hope now you understand why.

youtube.com/watch?v=2e6iFp4KHj8

***

"A small group had concentrated into their own hands an almost complete control over other people's property, other people's money, other people's labor - other people's lives. For too many of us life was no longer free; liberty no longer real; men could no longer follow the pursuit of happiness."

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

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The Word Herder's avatar

Word.

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Laura's avatar

At least you have the FREEDOM and the right to boycott big corporations! Socialism& Communism take away those rights and is neither fair nor sustainable. The wealth goes to those in power and the rest of us become literal slaves. So stop pushing this garbage agenda of the left.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

This is a classic example of using actual capitalism as it is happening right now to smear socialism. "The wealth goes to those in power and the rest of us become literal slaves" sounds just like life under capitalism right now. This is an old propaganda technique and you are swallowing it whole.

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ChatterX's avatar

"It is the heart of U.S. policy to use fascism to preserve capitalism while claiming to save democracy from communism."

-Michael Parenti

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The Word Herder's avatar

Excellent line!

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The Word Herder's avatar

He's right, you know. Capitalism is GREAT-- if you're making *lots* of money. So, it's damn close to Communism in a way, it's just wearing a "cool outfit." And only the very wealthy get the outfit.

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The Word Herder's avatar

I agree, but the "Right" also has a garbage agenda.

Such is the dilemma when you have a two-party "system" in a corporatocracy, where both sides are cheating, lying, and stealing.

This is why everyone hates oligarchs, but too many people want to BE one.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

Socialism is in sustainable! You guys just can’t stand it because people are successful and you are nothing, people’s earnings are their earnings. Nobody else has a right to it. What a bunch of covetous losers

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ChatterX's avatar

Just ask yourself - If the Capitalists are so sure that Socialism/Communism doesn't work and always fails, why do they spend so much effort and resources trying to destroy them?

And remember: Every failure of a socialist nation is blamed on it being socialist; but NO failure of a capitalist nation is ever blamed on it being capitalist.

youtube.com/watch?v=nFUC0UWgdGY

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😎 dude's avatar

Just ignoring all historic and ongoing examples where huge riches are the result of political and criminal and often also violent deadly corruption. You disregarding that, invalidates a lot more at the same time.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

I’m definitely not disregarding that just look at George Soros, but you can’t forcefully take wealth from people and just give it to somebody else that to is BS

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😎 dude's avatar

It's what pretty much all states have been doing since ... Practicaly forever? Just most of the time the wealth has been directed upwards. Also for some reason people who own one two houses and have less than 10 mill on their account somehow feel in the same league as dynasties that acquired endless wealth during times of kings and colonialism. Look at china. Them doing what they do, well planed redistribution of wealth by building up poorer communities or "forcing/encouraging" rich private individuals investing in poorer regions.... And directing capacities into important state sectors, research... It all increased national wealth and security. Made the pie bigger, not smaller.

You seem kinda reasonable. Thanks for reading.

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Cameron's avatar

Ok pedo supporter.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

your mistaken I don’t support you at all

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😎 dude's avatar

And about this specifically, the condition of the country, social order, education, existing wealth, doesn't that have anything to do with the money successful people can accumulate? Yeah it temporarily is even more money possible when social order decays, people are forced to work slave labour wages, take multipple jobs and sleep under bridges... But just temporarily and such situations actually justify what simply isn't happening in the US, violent social justice, even when governed over by genocide supporting surveillance state police state favouring ... Ppl

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Karen Arestides's avatar

So how do you do that when most everything is owned by corporations? All gas companies, most of all grocery stores, automobile companies, lots of restaurants, etc. And then there is Amazon…

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Roberta Nan Kolar's avatar

Do you have electricity and internet?

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

The issue is especially if you are a Bible, believing Christian that God created the birthright to be passed down from father to the eldest son. And God is extremely serious about the birthright. Nobody has any right to take anybody’s inheritance away from them.

Capitalism just like any other system has its pitfalls, I’m not an economist, I’m not even good with numbers that’s why I’m a writer. so I make no pretense in the fact that my knowledge on this topic is somewhat limited. But the only way for socialism to work is for us to eliminate money altogether. But I have no clue how to get to this Star Trek type of future as long as money/power/greed are part of the human condition.

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dave's avatar

Stop giving the money, I don’t.

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The Word Herder's avatar

You don't "give" them money, they just TAKE it, govt does. It's what govt's DO. How else could they get a wage? WE PAY THEM to steal our money in the form of taxes and licenses... And... They tax every fricken thing you do. If you decide to OPT OUT of paying taxes, they will try to put you in JAIL. They sign you up as a "corporation" on the day you're born. They give you a Soc Sec # and steal it that way (they SAY they will pay you back when you're old, but... (waaaah, how else can we fund old people after they retire???) If WE made interest on our wage theft the way THEY make interest on our wage theft, we'd have a good system, maybe. They treat us like they OWN us, even though in reality, it's more the other way around... But we're all under the SPELL of "authority."

Ever read a book called "The Most Dangerous Superstition"? Larken Rose. You'd probably LOVE it. ^_^

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dave's avatar

I mean to places like amazon- or pretty much anywhere that sells things. Most people have to buy food, but I think most people could last a long time without buying anything else.

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The Word Herder's avatar

Well, big things, yeah.

But everyone needs clothes, and gas, and batteries, and... all that day-to-day stuff. It adds up sometimes. That's why people like buying things that LAST. You know, things like vacuum cleaners and tools and winter coats, etc etc Food is the most necessary, but there's all the little things we don't think of or have to buy very OFTEN. And... just to be ornery, I don't buy ANYTHING from Amazon. ;)

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Jan D. Weir's avatar

One of the greatest achievements of the ruling class has been to convince so many Americans that believing there is a class war is a dangerous Marxist idea. You only have to say that Marxist and their mind shut down.

The ruling class gets its political power from a success of wealth as you point out. Louis Brandis warmed in the early 1900s We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both.

The prosperity that came to America after the reformed to the great depression has continued. However, the once sharing of that prosperity has been taken up by the ultrarich. Their methods for taking up this greater proportion of the wealth produced by the nation should be examined and disclosed. A good starting point would be to examine why FDR's solutions to the Great Depression started that sharing of wealth and why Obama's solutions did not.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Great contributions as always Jan, thank you. A key consideration when comparing Obama to FDR is of course examining their financial supporters. Nobody gave more money to Obama than Wall Street.

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Jan D. Weir's avatar

Yes, Obama was heavily influenced by Wall Street. Michael Froman, Obama's buddy since Harvard Law, then at Citibank, wrote to John Podesta suggesting 33 names for positions in the Obama administration that could influence regulations for Wall Street. He got 30 of his wishes. Any wonder why the Obama reforms helped Wall Street but not Main Street. I think Obama's and Clinton's problem was that they both wanted to be rich and so they admired the wealthy. It turned out well for them. They entered the presidency with rather average net worth and are now worth multimillions.

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

Word salad of trendy wokist notions

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Scott Bennett's avatar

It's too bad you couldn't comprehend what I was saying. That's probably because you have internalized hierarchy to the the point that you can't imagine anything else. May you stay asleep and never awake, become woke that is, to class struggle or reality. Sweet dreams.

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

It's wild when the best argument someone can come up with us "You probably meant this, instead of what you actually said/wrote", and then argue against that.

Schizophrenia is the psychological phenomena wherein a person's ability to negotiate reality is first filtered through their imagination, often on behalf of protecting their ego.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Calling someone's essay "word salad" is not an argument. It indicates a fundamental inability to understand. Also diagnosing someone with schizophrenia based off the comment section is absurd. Please drop dead.

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

1 The words used had no definitive quality to it.

Just a run on sentence of buzz words.

This is commonly referred to as “word salad”.

2 If you read it again, you'll notice I didn't diagnose anyone with a mental illness, I simply described how schizophrenia affects the mind.

While there is an obvious implication in the context I use it in, you yourself made the connection a diagnosis was being made.

Happen to have heard of Freud, and his world famous slips?

3 OhEmmGee, wanting death for someone you disagree with is totally a unique stance to take for a small swatch of (totally not psychotic) people who identify according to identity politics.

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Joe Jones's avatar

Wow. If you think that is word salad, you better get to the nearest ER stat for stroke symptoms.

After you are done being treated there:

1) Explain why you think fascism is not being used to prop up and ensure the survival of hierarchy and hegemony.

2) How does the current use of authoritarianism, and worse totalitarianism, bring wellness and prosperity to all people, restore the American middle class, and restore America's place among the developed countries while also reducing international conflict, poverty, disease, famine, and economic collapse of nation states?

Note bene: My wife & I still have not received our $5,000 (Trump, Feb 2025) dividend checks from the Republican govt.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

For a second, I thought your post was going to be good until I realized you were suffering from TDS so before you tell somebody else to get to the nearest ER, you might want to do the same you’re Displaying symptoms of psychosis secondary to TDS

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

Sigmund Freud was a perverted douche bag

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

I'm coming back to this.

You read the entire exchange, and took no issue with "Please drop dead", but became riled up at pointing out a Freudian slip?

That's really messed up, man.

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

You have heard the term, yes?

When some admits a thing in error?

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

You just said some really ignorant crap.

“It is better to be perceived a fool, than an open one’s mouth and remove all doubt” - Abraham Lincoln

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

Did you reply three times to a single post, in an effort to articulate emotional composure?

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Scott's avatar

Yawn.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

And schizophrenia is not a phenomenon, it’s a chemical imbalance in the brain

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

Agreed, but it can be emulated to stay in-group

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Jaime Morris's avatar

I'm just now noticing how intelligent debate or concepts is “word salad” to them. Before Trump, we never noticed the stupid people in society

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Jose Pinto's avatar

And did not even have the courtesy to dress it. Totally inedible salad.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

What's your favorite dressing? You might like a little boot to lick it with?

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Jose Pinto's avatar

Not like you Scott. Stop projecting.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

It’s really tough all over the world not just the US. I wish you the best of luck on your plans of moving here.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

Thank you! It was definitely a long hard fight. That’s why I still have hope for our country deep down. I truly believe we still care about one another, for the most part at least. Online division in real life division are too completely separate animals altogether when I go out and about in town, I don’t experience the same polarized division that I do online is far too easy to shoot off your mouth and not realize that your words are hurting someone else because you can’t see their facial expression and the hurt that your words are causing this is a big problem. And I am guilty of it myself.

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

I couldn't agree more, arguing with strangers through text over topics we don't *actually* care about seems to routinely bring out the worst in us.

Myself included.

I've got more hope for the US than I do my country of Canada.

Long term plan is to retire quietly somewhere in one of your mid-States.

Best of luck to you and yours.

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Julia Johnson's avatar

Just because you don’t understand them, doesn’t mean they are wrong

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

Zoom out dummy.

Your logic applies perfectly to your response to me.

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Julia Johnson's avatar

Ah, name calling… that *definitely* has changed my mind! Whatever could I have been thinking?! All it took was some elementary school insult, and I can see the light, thank to your brilliant prose.

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

It's social media, not a wrestling ring.

Who cares about changing your mind?

Stop living according to hot takes.

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Julia Johnson's avatar

I guess insults and rudeness are really all you have going for you at this point. Enjoy

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Rostin's avatar

So what’s your case? Oh, that’s right you don’t have one. Just parrot what you’re sold while being sold down the river.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

I concur, which points to the heart of many issues. Presentation is everything, unfortunately. I have a son that has schizophrenia. My first wife had severe bipolar disorder, which was later re-diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder.

He is done very well despite his challenges he is a drug abuse counselor in Oregon. He has found a way to turn his illness into insight. He has learned Greek and ancient Hebrew. He uses his disability like a superpower.

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

That's extremely impressive.

Your family has overcome a lot, and turned calamity into virtue.

Inspiring.

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The Disturbed Philosopher's avatar

I’m a firm believer in whatever doesn’t kill you makes you even stronger. Adversity definitely can make or break us. It’s just not in my DNA to give up. I’m 60 years old, but I am constantly reevaluating my position on things. You definitely can teach an old dog new tricks. 🤣

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AppropriatedProductions's avatar

Couldn't agree more.

Most of the tough times in life are just opportunities to level up.

Wish you the best, man.

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Drew Hall's avatar

Man it would have been nice if the Democratic Oligarchs had allowed a fair and open primary in 2016, 2020, and especially 2024. I guess we should just shut up and vote for who the elite Dem oligarchs chose for us and be happy about it.

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Jayden Lawson's avatar

Yep - the inconvenient truth

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E J Hermann's avatar

Right on man! Looks like you got some detractors - I prefer to call them the Hostile Elite

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Doesn't bother mean. Haters are going to hate.

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Lisa Rogerson's avatar

I needed to hear this. Thank you 🙏🏼

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Lisa, I am so happy this resonates with you.

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Deidre Snutz, Mind Goblin's avatar

I believe billionaire Peter Thiel actually admitted this in a speech he made he didn’t know was recorded. He also said the answer is to use religion, to label class protesters as “anti-Christian.” Interestingly, I understand Trump has ordered the FBI to investigate, among others, “anti-Christian activists”. Interesting, isn’t it?

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Quite so

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Citizen Lars aka Larry Nocella's avatar

Long ago, I used to listen to cassette tapes of Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn lectures and the podcast Counterspin to learn more about how the world works and the forces that drive it. Scott B's Let's Make Them Pay is the updated version. Always good info, concise and insightful!

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Aww Lars you always know just what to say to cheer me up. It is incredibly validating to be mentioned in the same breath as my heroes.

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Cindy's avatar

This is so great! I wish it could be played everywhere - public areas, schools, etc.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Also thank you!

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Same here

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ChatterX's avatar

In fact the ideology of Fascism started to form after the International Financial Conference in 1920 in Brussels, where the wealthiest capitalists/bankers discussed what to do with the rise of socialist movements across Europe and emergence of Soviet Russia as an alternative system:

youtu.be/7f_V9zZNzTY?t=508

So Fascism itself is reactionary by nature.

***

"Fascism is just Imperialism trying to save itself"

-Joti Brar

***

As a result of that Conference they came up with the set of policies called "Austerity" or, as they called it, "Pure economics" (now, doesn't that sound Fascist..) Simply speaking, "work hard, live hard, and save hard", higher taxes on everyday goods (like VAT) for the workers and lower taxes (like Income and wealth) for the rich. And, of course, Privatization of State assets.

In the 1930-40s, It was also supported by the Swiss so-called "Mont Perelin" Society headed by Friedrich Hayek, that gave Fascism the fancy name "Neoliberalism".

youtu.be/zswexNXorOE?t=193

***

BTW In the U.S., the Capitalists' reaction turned into a temporary compromise (usually called "Social Democracy") - the “New Deal" by Franklin D. Roosevelt: public works projects, social welfare safety nets, and financial institution reforms – with a purpose to mitigate the effects of the profound Capitalist crisis that is commonly associated with the 1929 stock market crash and subsequent Great Depression.

***

So, simply speaking, Fascism is a radical form of Capitalism, its self-defense mechanism. The ugly face it shows in times of inevitable crisis, while keeping the veneer of "democracy" in between.

youtube.com/watch?v=HpqwDo_2xck

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Bingo

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Debra's avatar

Wrong country, wrong decade, this fascist shit isn’t going to work in America.

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BNice's avatar

The rich also refuse to pay their workers a decent wage. But they are ready to boast about their tax cuts and their profits.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

Nice video, thank you for sharing

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Mark's avatar

The most powerful must contend with the less powerful to maintain their advantage. Their most natural allies in this struggle are the least powerful.

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Scott Bennett's avatar

True words

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Fulaniyira's avatar

Resources are dwindling. Countries are no longer willing to accept the terms and conditions of the elitists. The elitism tried to block #aynrand #objectivism and now they all running scared. Welp, to bad, #Neo cracked their code.👩🏾‍💻

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Jackie Blanton's avatar

So smart!

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