There are so many “rule books” that in some way or another (at least slightly) contradict each other that I am not sure where to start on this.

Thanks, I added the link in the post body.

Missing the alt text on this one is a big oof. I have fixed that and will add the thread link when I get a chance later. I need to not post when half asleep.

1,000% this.

Simply because you have not encountered it does not mean that it does not exist.

ETA; why are you downvoting every opinion that you do not agree with without further explanation? Your votes are public. That is worth knowing.

My brother is very disabled (diabetic and neuropathy to the point where he can’t even hold a plate of food). The sentiment of someone like that being completely unable to contribute any kind of labor is sadly all over the place. Some, sadly, think of labor as “meaningful work” in the sense of tilling fields etc., but disabled people can very much aid in the society in terms of art, writing, or just being a joy and inspiration to those around them.

I disagree here. They don’t actually have to do that. Sure, politicians take all of the money, but they are the (relatively) few in power to actually legislate things into being. It’s like a filter for billionaire money in a sense. Billionaires need the US congress in their purse in order to push legislation.

Because billionaires need congress to pass legislation in order to keep them from harm, congress is beholden to the billionaire class. They are one and the same in the epstein class.

I think that the epstein class is on another tier, but they are similar. The richest are obviously billionaires, but the most powerful (because of money or politics) tend to fall into the epstein class. Someone like many US senators etc. do not have billions, but they have a lot of power that makes them (as well as having enough money) in the the epstein class, being effectively untouchable by the courts because they can delay the courts long enough for it to not matter.