DOGE reductions ARS

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Glaucus said:
Why would you even say this? Why would a constitutional Republic necessarily be anti-democratic?
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It's relevant because the American voters had two bad options appointed for them by political parties. It's an oligarchy that pretends to be democratic. It's hard to say exactly what percentage, but I do know that many Trump voters were really just voting against another "Weekend at Biden's."
 
penumbra said:
I am leaving this site now, at least for a while.
I will miss the site.
I will not miss this post. I live it every day. This site was my only escape from the hateful mess we are in.
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Don't leave now. You're less than 200 posts away from your own special nickname.
 
Gabler said:
It's relevant because the American voters had two bad options appointed for them by political parties. It's an oligarchy that pretends to be democratic. It's hard to say exactly what percentage, but I do know that many Trump voters were really just voting against another "Weekend at Biden's."
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The US being a republic has nothing to do with the first past the post system that enforces a two party system. Or two candidates for a presidential election. France is a Republic, with an elected president, and they have two-round system.
In fact, half the world has a non-first past the post system to directly elect a head of state (though probably half by surface).
As for having to pick between two evils, you know now how much of a lie of the mainstream media that was. Biden quietly tried to make small improvements, through bipartisan support.
Trump breaks all norms, creates a new diplomatic crisis every other day. Trump likely will commit several new crimes before he leaves office. You can argue that Nixon committed crimes, but besides him, no US president has ever committed crimes like Trump has. And I don't see how Biden was being controlled by the super-billionaires during his term. Quite the contrary.
And what Elon Musk has been doing has been happening at such a fast pace, even historical experts on how democracies end are surprised by the speed.
Authoritarians usually need years to dismantle institutions.

How many people had to leave this site under Biden? If Harris had been elected, penumbra wouldn't be are saying what they are saying now.

Instead, everyone here on this site could come together. Rather than try to nitpick me for confusing a republic for a democracy. Or by saying Harris would have been equally bad.
 
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penumbra said:
I am leaving this site now, at least for a while.
I will miss the site.
I will not miss this post. I live it every day. This site was my only escape from the hateful mess we are in.
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I understand the impulse :rolleyes: . I posted this just to point to needed support for the Museum. I kind of knew it would degenerate into this kind of nagging back and forth, but I thought the message would get through--donate, support the organization, it's an uncertain time for it (and no, simply calling for support for the museum isn't ignoring other issues. This is a bonsai site, not MSNBC or Fox.)

I think the solution isn't to leave, just skip the post and/or put the naggers on ignore for a while.
 
penumbra said:
I am leaving this site now, at least for a while.
I will miss the site.
I will not miss this post. I live it every day. This site was my only escape from the hateful mess we are in.
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I hope you don’t go but I fully agree with the sentiment. I liked that this place felt very apolitical.
 
rockm said:
I understand the impulse :rolleyes: . I posted this just to point to needed support for the Museum. I kind of knew it would degenerate into this kind of nagging back and forth, but I thought the message would get through--donate, support the organization, it's an uncertain time for it (and no, simply calling for support for the museum isn't ignoring other issues. This is a bonsai site, not MSNBC or Fox.)

I think the solution isn't to leave, just skip the post and/or put the naggers on ignore for a while.
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C’mon now. You absolutely knew this would happen. You mentioned a cause (I hope) we can all get behind but you mentioned it in the same title as an extremely political, extremely divisive government “agency”. This was bound to be a shitshow.
 
Turns out, politics matters. Even for bonsai. This should be political. This thread isn't a shitshow. DOGE is.

You Americans are now asking Europeans to donate to your national bonsai museums. Something we in Europe don't even have. And that happens just days after your current government basically back-stabbed all of Europe with the NATO betrayal and the insults of our democracies and freedom of speech laws. Yes, it is your government doing it. Not users on Bnut. But some people here are still defending it. The first two posts basically defended DOGE cutting the federal government, which then both got plenty of likes.
The museums, ARS, forestry departments, that's just a tiny thing among many.
You guys in the US don't understand how valuable it is to have all these federal musea. And most of them have free entry. Which to me as a European is absolutely insane(ly good).

This is the leopards face eating party meme.
 
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penumbra said:
am leaving this site now, at least for a while.
I will miss the site.
I will not miss this post. I live it every day. This site was my only escape from the hateful mess we are in.
Click to expand...
As a group, we are ok at keeping this insanity to the tea room. I’d ask you to stay and just avoid this section.
 
Glaucus said:
Turns out, politics matters. Even for bonsai. This should be political. This thread isn't a shitshow. DOGE is.

You Americans are now asking Europeans to donate to your national bonsai museums. Something we in Europe don't even have. And that happens just days after your current government basically back-stabbed all of Europe with the NATO betrayal and the insults of our democracies and freedom of speech laws. Yes, it is your government doing it. Not users on Bnut. But some people here are still defending it. The first two posts basically defended it, which then both got plenty of likes.
The museums, ARS, forestry departments, that's just a tiny thing among many.
You guys in the US don't understand how valuable it is to have all these federal musea. And most of them have free entry. Which to me as a European is absolutely insane(ly good).

This is the leopards face eating party meme.
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Yeah, we’re completely aware that politics matters and those of us in the states have to live this day in and day out with very little break so while this is apparently your chance to vent at a bunch of Yanks this place is actually a respite from the day to day for many of us. Please know that you and I are generally on the same page but there’s not f@&kall anyone can do for at least another 2 years. The horse you’re beating has been dead since early November. There are plenty of forums where you can either piss everyone off or find your echo chamber but I definitely get that some folks don’t want this content here.
 
yashu said:
Yeah, we’re completely aware that politics matters and those of us in the states have to live this day in and day out with very little break so while this is apparently your chance to vent at a bunch of Yanks this place is actually a respite from the day to day for many of us. Please know that you and I are generally on the same page but there’s not f@&kall anyone can do for at least another 2 years. The horse you’re beating has been dead since early November. There are plenty of forums where you can either piss everyone off or find your echo chamber but I definitely get that some folks don’t want this content here.
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Then go call your senators office, Susan Collins:
www.collins.senate.gov

Contact | U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine

The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Susan Collins of Maine
www.collins.senate.gov www.collins.senate.gov

Blame her. Not me. She is one of the most likely people to be swayed. Tell her staff that Trump and Musk are ruining your bonsai safe space.
She is actually one of the most likely people to put some guard rails on Trump, out of all GOP senators.

I can't call anyone. I don't have a say in the US government. But I do have to see it on the news. And on a bonsai forum.
I get that you are saying you didn't vote for this. 75% of Americans didn't.

The horse is also not dead, because your founding fathers were smart cookies who wrote a constitution that has plenty of checks on power. They just aren't working right now.
 
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Before this thread gets locked, I have to say I’m thoroughly enjoying the TDS spewing from that vitriolic gasbag as if the Netherlands was about to annexed as our 51st state. MY tax dollars have been stolen, wasted and weaponized against me for long enough.

I would doubt any necessary funding is cut to the Arb, there’s so much w/f/a to go before cutting out national treasures, which this president seems to appreciate. These are actually smart people with some common sense who have already earned their living as successful women & men.
 
If they already fired 300 people who design nuclear bombs, I doubt the Indian on a Hb1 visa who just got their IT degree would be worried about potentially firing the guy who waters the bonsai at the National Arboretum.
These people don't even know what the word 'bonsai' means. Honestly, ask the first random 22 year old you see to explain to you what a bonsai is. They won't even know.
And for those that are American and do, you'd be surprised at how many MAGA people would consider bonsai to be 'woke' or DEI.
You are delusional to think that somehow your special interest is going to be magically protected. Just because you love Trump. That's TDS.
 
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Some people need some time away from the internet, social media, and mainstream media the constant pounding on their brains is showing through here on the site. They need to go outside and enjoy some sun or get out of their basements and get some fresh air away from these things.
 
yashu said:
C’mon now. You absolutely knew this would happen. You mentioned a cause (I hope) we can all get behind but you mentioned it in the same title as an extremely political, extremely divisive government “agency”. This was bound to be a shitshow.
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🙄
 
Michael P said:
"When fascism comes to America it will wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross."

--Attributed to C.S. Lewis
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I'm not even sure what this means, but just to point out, I looked up what it was meant to signify and it was attributed to Sinclair Lewis, among others - not CS Lewis, but even then it's a false quote.
 
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