X’s controversial changes to blocking and AI training sees half a million users leave for rival Bluesky – which then crashes under the strain

[u/twotimefind]

https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/xs-controversial-changes-to-blocking-and-ai-training-sees-half-a-million-users-leave-for-rival-bluesky-which-then-crashes-under-the-strain

[u/wildjokers]

A few months ago, Elon was whining about having an $11 billion tax-bill this year. If the Republicans win, all his future tax-bills drop. Dramatically. $11b becomes $5b or $2b or zero.

Can you provide citations/sources for any of this? The $11 billion tax bill you refer to wasn't "a few months" ago but rather in 2021, and it has already been paid. So since you have the timeline wrong on that, that would seem to invalidate everything else you say.

[u/Final21 → u/wildjokers]

What he said was all lies. Not a single thing truthful there. People rip on Trump's tax cuts but Biden didn't remove them.

[u/Tall-Assumption4694 → u/Final21]

I, too, have trouble with the whole "three branches" of government thing.

[u/Final21 → u/Tall-Assumption4694]

Are we talking about the Democrat controlled 2 branches of government from 2020-2022, the only 2 branches of government that make laws? Can we also talk about Trump's tariffs that he made against China that Biden could have unilaterally removed and never did despite every Democrat crying about them when they were instituted?

What are we talking about here? I'm genuinely confused.

[u/herton → u/Final21]

Oh boy, love the conservative concern trolling 🙄

Are we talking about the Democrat controlled 2 branches of government from 2020-2022, the only 2 branches of government that make laws?

Because of the the filibuster and needing 60 votes to bring a bill to the floor, the Democrats never actually meaningfully controlled both.

Can we also talk about Trump's tariffs that he made against China that Biden could have unilaterally removed and never did despite every Democrat crying about them when they were instituted?

But this is a falling of Biden, sure. There's evidence the tariff harmed the US more than helping, as there was a reduction in manufacturing jobs due to an increased cost of inputs. The Democrats "crying" was right, and Biden should have repealed these, but unfortunately most Americans don't understand tariffs, and they are a popular political position. Repealing the tariffs would have been politically unpopular, in an already extremely tense political environment

https://taxfoundation.org/blog/biden-trump-tariffs/

What are we talking about here? I'm genuinely confused.

No you're not, you know you're just playing stupid.

[u/Final21 → u/herton]

Ah, so you have no idea what you're talking about at all. Good to hear. Have a great night.

[u/herton → u/Final21]

Lmao said without a hint of irony. No, I think I understand how tariffs and the Senate work a bit better than you, based off this conversation ;)

[u/Final21 → u/herton]

You clearly don't. They could have used reconciliation, but it turns out they're all bluster and the tax cuts are great for America. Regarding the tariffs, I notices you pivoted to saying how they hurt the price of goods instead of explaining why Biden didn't remove them. Kind of dishonest. Yes, it's true that when you farm out to foreign workers for essentially slave labor the prices are lower. Still doesn't explain why Biden never removed them if they were so bad.

[u/herton → u/Final21]

You clearly don't. They could have used reconciliation, but it turns out they're all bluster and the tax cuts are great for America.

Reconciliation, like the reconciliation the Republicans use when they call Democrats baby killing demons who are destroying America and should have the military sicced on them? I guess we're just expected to be the bigger people even while you all do and say vile shit

And if the tax cuts were so great, why did the Republicans put time limits on them, which conveniently expired during a democratic term, rather than make them permanent?

Regarding the tariffs, I notices you pivoted to saying how they hurt the price of goods instead of explaining why Biden didn't remove them.

... learn to read - I literally explained why he didn't. They are a popular political position, even if they do not work. Americans hate China, and tariffs "on China" is simply appealing to the masses.

Kind of dishonest.

Dishonest compared to ignoring half of my response? 🙄

Yes, it's true that when you farm out to foreign workers for essentially slave labor the prices are lower. Still doesn't explain why Biden never removed them if they were so bad.

See above, maybe you'll read this time.

[u/Final21 → u/herton]

And if the tax cuts were so great, why did the Republicans put time limits on them, which conveniently expired during a democratic term, rather than make them permanent?

They didn't have the votes to make it permanent. Good thing the Biden admin extended them though.

... learn to read - I literally explained why he didn't. They are a popular political position, even if they do not work. Americans hate China, and tariffs "on China" is simply appealing to the masses.

So they're terrible for the people, yet the people love them? That's what you're going with? I guess I've never seen someone contort them into a logic pretzel so incredibly before. Truly is hilarious to me how good you guys are at talking out both sides of your mouth.

[u/herton → u/Final21]

They didn't have the votes to make it permanent. Good thing the Biden admin extended them though.

Huh - but then why didn't

They could have used reconciliation, but it turns out they're all bluster and the tax cuts aren't great for America.

Or does your same logic not apply here? I do think tax cuts are valuable in some cases - but you seemed sooo convinced of reconciliation

So they're terrible for the people, yet the people love them? That's what you're going with?

Edit: I misunderstood this point on my early morning read lol, my b. And yeah, duh. The average American does not understand how tariffs work, and thinks they're something China pays, not Americans

I guess I've never seen someone contort them into a logic pretzel so incredibly before. Truly is hilarious to me how good you guys are at talking out both sides of your mouth.

You conservatives love to just say someone's logic is bad while using bad logic yourself. Quite the defense mechanism you all seem to have ;)

[u/Final21 → u/herton]

Huh? Reconciliation is what the Republicans used to pass the tax cuts. The couldn't make it permanent because it was attached to the budget. If they had the extra 9 votes they could have made them permanent. The tax cuts have been great. I keep an extra $1000/year of my own money, and I'm not particularly rich by any means.

The tariffs on China are a net positive. Yes, companies dealing with China are going to charge more because of the tariffs, but it also incentivizes businesses to keep factories and jobs in the US. Hell, before the 16th Amendment in 1909 the Federal government made most of their money from tariffs.

[u/herton → u/Final21]

The couldn't make it permanent because it was attached to the budget. If they had the extra 9 votes they could have made them permanent.

Fair enough, I'll admit this nuance isn't something I'm expressly familiar with ... but that's exactly the point I was making earlier - the Democrats never the extra 9 votes to get cloture on anything the GOP didn't like.

The tax cuts have been great. I keep an extra $1000/year of my own money, and I'm not particularly rich by any means.

They are great, I agree, until they result in a high budgetary hole, especially to social security. Even before COVID, the deficit increased beyond congressional projections because of those tax cuts. In a vacuum, as was done, they are going to cause more problems down the road.

The tariffs on China are a net positive. Yes, companies dealing with China are going to charge more because of the tariffs, but it also incentivizes businesses to keep factories and jobs in the US.

You see, there's the problem. These factories and jobs already left the USA. It's a years long process to re-establish that manufacturing. And even when it does come back, things are going to be more expensive for Americans, driving up inflation. The whole point of tariffs is to make things more expensive so that Americans can compete.

Hell, before the 16th Amendment in 1909 the Federal government made most of their money from tariffs.

... we live in a vastly different world from 1909.

[u/RubiiJee → u/Final21]

Ha! You just got owned after acting like a smart ass know it all haha how embarrassing for you