Maeve

Unfortunately, it’s pretty common reaction from a people who’s government has actively sown division amongst themselves, as well as anything/anyone foreign. It’s understandable and regrettable. I’d like to see a lot less division among regular people of the world, personally.

If you’re posting in good faith, maybe just lurk more, get a feel for the place. If you aren’t posting in good faith, that’s on you.

There’s definitely a cultural disconnect. The culture of being open in the West about salary is within the workplace, to encourage fair wages (not that it works, but it can). In case you’re asking in good faith, outside the workplace, it’s considered rude to ask, rude to offer the information if seen as braggadocios. It’s still a little rude if the salary is below livable wages, because it makes people making more uncomfortable. And maybe it should.

www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/neurosurgeon-salary (terrible website, fair warning)

How much does a Neurosurgeon make? As of June 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Neurosurgeon in the United States is $696,301. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $367,513 to a high of $1,049,352, with most professionals earning between $524,201 and $881,101.

That means in the US, a lot of people who need surgery aren’t getting it.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/china-national-parks-system

It’s a good read, parks bigger than Florida. Ambitious goals. I’d like to visit.

I noticed, and was deeply ashamed. That was a one-off, though. I can’t say it would be different if it were more it would be different, but it may be.

"The Israeli public has been convinced over the years that it can exist here in the region while deeply disdaining all its neighbours and rampaging in a thuggish and murderous manner against everyone - whenever and however it wants - relying solely on brute force. “That’s why there was something so substantial about the sight of the bombed-out buildings in Ramat Gan,” he said. "They are so similar to the images we’re used to seeing from Gaza. Those sooty grey skeletons of buildings, that billowing cloud of dust, that carpet of ash and rubble covering the street, those images of children’s dolls in the hands of rescue teams. “The scale is, of course, completely different, but these images are nevertheless a momentary rupture of this disturbed fantasy that we are immune to everything,” he added.

United States citizens should take note. We never seem to appreciate the consequences of our actions, at home or abroad, until they return to us. The people in the global South, the East, Middle -East–people around the world-- are humans like us, with struggles, sorrows, dreams and aspirations. We need to shake the boot off our necks, then lift it off our neighbors ’ necks.

Not like the West/USA had anything to do with either, right?

It’s mind boggling. Israel launches preemptive attack, “Israel has a right blah blah blah.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.”

Yes, you can bet your last dollar Dems and Reps are working with the CIA to make this happen.

Yes, the first thing I thought as I read the headline: humans?

You are welcome. This was something that troubled me all night, last evening. Please try to lmk updates/safety when reasonable.

Is this in whole or part because Iran was threatening to leak secrets? If in part, is that just the pretext to doing it, anyway? Are Bibi troubles at home secondary to "I just wanted to do this?”

I am so, so sorry. 🫂

fighting each other

And wars all over the globe, including proxy wars.

😒

Anyone not plain vanilla and falling in line, apparently. Unless you’re fabulously wealthy or otherwise “useful.”

Thanks for that. I need to reread it a couple of times and stew on it for a good while. Being from the USA, my perspective is obviously skewed from that perspective. My immediate question arises from generations behind baby boomers who never had the opportunity of home ownership (and related maintenance/tax expenses), who may be able to inherit properties, if not having to be signed over to the state for necessary elder care expenses. In this situation, the beneficiary have wealth, but have to sell the property to pay taxes, then be taxed on savings, and still unable to afford modest housing, rented or bought.

In this example, my immediate thought is in favor of doing away with sales and/or VAT, but having aggressively progressive income taxes, with income under $x being exempted, or even negative tax burden*.

*Kitten bumped device before sentence completed.

Sure, and that’s extremely important context that should be included, because

taxes are a way - and always have been - to redistribute from the poor to the rich. Sounds about right.

Comes off sounding ancap or USA style libertarian.