Ethan, I am so glad you are okay, and so very grateful for your intelligent and nuanced reporting on these vital issues. Those of us who are able to get by under The System because our needs somehow fit into their paradigm need to know about the vast number of people who fall through the “safety net” straight into total disaster. Thank you, word- warrior!
My whole life was working for benefits and I watched the benefits keep getting worse. When I started hearing aids were covered for both ears. Now hearing aids are not. I have had at least 50 pairs in my lifetime. Sometimes they only last six months due to sweating. Any decent benefits for the people seem to have vanished and it's not even clear when.
I really enjoyed your writing. You have a warm way of expressing yourself. I instantly felt like a friend. Sorry about your appendix. I’m happy that you're feeling better. It's quite a system, isn't it? Sad.
Wishing you renewed health. It's widely known that different brands and generics of ADHD medications, in particular, vary greatly on effectiveness and tolerance. HBP and cholesterol meds also have the same issues.
Ethan, you don't need to explain anything! You have insurance, and that's what matters. You are and will always be a talented writer. Substack can't afford to lose you. At least you're trying to earn a living for yourself! Keep your strength up and avoid overexerting yourself. 🤗💘
what a wicked game this US healthcare ‘system’ is. human rights always at the mercy of a corporate overlord. it’s sick-making. more power to you Ethan and I hope you’re doing well.
Well the reality is the ACA was only a temporary fix. It was extended, or created during the COVID hoax. And what happened was e.g. your premium was $1k a month with this ACA one paid $800 and the taxes paid the remaining $200 directly to the insurance company. The premium DIDN’T go down, the insurance company still received the $1k so you paid $800 and “government “ paid $200. So who do you think “government “ is? It’s you. The $ are funded by taxes. So what happens is if we continue to fund the ACA the insurance companies DON’T have to lower their rates (80% of your rate goes to the company and/or agent and actual cost is 20%, which is another discussion) so with the ACA the issue if cost is never addressed. Insurance companies fund the Dem campaigns and then the Dems alternately fund the illegals which in turn vote for the Dem candidates and the cycle is never broken. Americans need to take care of Americans NOT illegals. A house (America) divided won’t stand. Americans need to support Americans! If we continue to support programs like the ACA the “gears” won’t change! Now is the time to lobby our Congress and Legislators to change laws that fund BIG pharma and insurance companies to lower these rates. If Americans would UNITE then you for example won’t be strapped to a welfare system that breeds control, government control. Another example is SNAP. Again if Americans would UNITE there would be no need for SNAP either. If you would dig deep in your study, these services are going to millions that aren’t even Americans. I was shocked at seeing so many people that believe that America can afford to feed EVERYONE! This is NOT true. This mentality is why America has a $38 Trillion and counting DEFICIT! All American deserve affordable healthcare and not through welfare but through causing insurance companies to be held accountable for their raping Americans with these unaffordable premiums. This is what needs to change, the insurance companies lower their rates. This is the real problem. Americans SHOULD NOT be lining their coffers! We as Americans should be self sufficient not only individually but also collectively. And the able bodied and people need to quit thinking they are untitled and get a JOB! This is the problem, too long have Americans been taking care of these people who don’t want to work. If you research this, you will find this information is true in 2 out of 5 people. Americans work hard for their money and these free loaders need to get a freaking job. If they don’t want to work and expect me or anyone else to fund them, my suggestion to them would be to decide where they want to live outside of the USA and I’m sure a flight along with a parachute can be provided and they can be dropped at their country of choice. LEAVE!
Really a solution is a recession, it’s not ideal but it would reset the economy and prices and ALL expenses would be affordable, including your much needed prescription! We need a reset and this would do it. I’d like to have a premium T-bone steak at the $5 cost that it should be and not the current $50 robbery. Please remember, united we stand, divided we fall! Government dependency is not the answer. God bless you. Never give up.
Thank you for this. This is one of the most insightful comments I’ve ever received.
You have perfectly diagnosed the core of the problem. You are 100% right that the ACA, as it stands, is a handout to the insurance companies. You're the first person to publicly point out the shell game: the premium is still "$1k," the company still gets paid, and the price never goes down. You've deconstructed the "Shepherd's Gambit" perfectly.
And your line—"a welfare system that breeds control"—is the single best description of my "Golden Handcuffs" that I have ever heard. That is exactly what it is.
I want to pause on one thing, though, because you are so close to the final piece of the puzzle.
You correctly identified the real villains: the insurance and pharma companies "raping Americans".
But then, you pointed to two other groups: "illegals" and "people who don't want to work."
[This right here... this is the enemy's masterstroke. This is the Great Distraction. 🩸]
The "Rust" needs us to be furious, but they are terrified of us being furious at them. So they've created a system that forces us to fight each other for the scraps.
They want the "Gears" (you, me, the "able-bodied") to fight other "Gears" (the immigrant, the person on SNAP) over who is more "deserving" of the crumbs, while they run away with the entire bakery.
The 4.8 million people who just lost their subsidies are the "Americans" who need care. The 340,000 lost jobs are the "able bodied" who are now being forced onto welfare.
You are right. "A house (America) divided won't stand."
But the line of division isn't between the American worker and the "free loader." The line is vertical. It's "The People vs. The Men Who Sold America".
You are a brilliant "Gear," and you can see the machine. Don't let them trick you into fighting the other cogs. Let's point our anger up.
I can see how you are attempting to be diplomatic with a hateful bigot who likes to blame immigrants and the poor (or Biden, Obama, the witch hunt, Hillary 🙄) for America’s deeply sick policies…instead of the criminals and billionaires debasing us. It’s admirable and I support your efforts. However, I for one cannot stomach another soft way to *handle* racists, xenophobes, homophobes, and misogynists who still STRONGLY and CALLOUSLY support what’s going on in the White House. For cryin’ out loud, the days of the velvet gloves being worn to carefully handle the #maga folks is past. I can clearly see your point of explanation to her, your hope,…but it’s also a manipulation to attempt to swing her to the side of compassion and critical thinking. It’s just not going to happen…until (maybe!) something happens to THEM. Affects THEM. Makes THEM suffer. When a congressperson’s child is mowed down in a school shooting, or their 14 year old daughter is groomed and raped by a pedophile…When their wife has cancer and her treatments are denied, when suddenly they can barely afford food, gas, housing…Nothing will change until it affects THEM or until we vote those in power , who are supposed to be working for US, the hell out. Not that they will ever “come to” and change, …they will only adjust and pivot until once again their needs are met and then this woman (and I betcha she’s white) and others just like her will be right back at it with the blame, the hate, the lack of civility, and the unhappiness that plagues them…which has nothing to do with any one group outside of themselves. I like your writing and your ideas. I’m happy you had decent healthcare during a serious medical event. I hope you continue to fight and forge ahead with your ideas…but use your energy for good. People like @DeAnnachandler are not going to care enough to change one iota. Her statements of “illegals,” “get a JOB,” “Covid hoax,” “these people that don’t want to work,” “freeloaders,” and mentioning that those who don’t like our rules will be given a flight and a PARACHUTE to be dropped into the country of their choice if they don’t like it here…are you kidding me? She’s got the Trump playbook down cold. Your good energy can be best utilized elsewhere. F people like this…and thanks for listening. ✊🏼
I don’t watch YouTube videos sent as a response to comments that I wrote, which were full of facts and not assumptions or opinions. You’re a racist DeAnna, full of blame and hate for anybody who isn’t white and like you. Instead of holding billionaires and corrupt politicians accountable for the absolute mess and hell we’re in, you pick on poor people and immigrants. You’d rather stand behind a president who is a pedophile, a convicted felon, a liar, a cheater, an adulterer, and the embodiment of so many other human flaws, they are almost too numerous to name. You do you, DeAnna. I’ll never buy your “proof” or the bullshit that you are “right,” which is your entire point, isn’t it?
I don’t know you and I try to be open minded and do research about topics and current events in the world I live in. I noticed that all of your commentary spews hate and that is what is wrong with the world around us today, people that project hate. Contrary to what you perceive about me I have always enjoyed a well rounded interracial life through not only my family but the community around me. Maybe you should try to study more before you interject hatred through your messages and haphazard judgements. I too have been a person that was wrongfully physically injured by someone in a motor vehicle accident who was uninsured and as a result of the incident suffered a broken neck. As for flaws, one thing I know for a fact and that is we all have them and therefore cannot perpetually judge others when we ourselves are lacking. That is like the pot calling the kettle black as the cliche goes. As for the UTube video it was just a tool to show the mentality of the people who do not want to work and believe that they are entitled and that the taxpayer should pay for them as in this example and real story where the woman makes $10k a month and we pay for her. I have always worked and now because of someone’s negligence I am disabled. So no, Stacey you are not right, in fact you are far from it. Blessings to you.
How do my comments spew hate? Am I lying about what I mentioned?
I didn’t spew any hate. *Sigh*
I didn’t even give my opinion.
I literally talked about what is going on in our world with our president, the billionaires, the demonization of immigrants and low income people… and THEN I mentioned people like you who follow them, trust them, and blame the poorest amongst us based on a few examples you saw on the Internet or what Trump said versus what reality is. I presented facts about what is going on in our world, not who I hate.
Not even sure why you brought up your car accident??
I live in the world of facts; not beliefs, not a religious ideology, not theories, not based on my biases or hate of “the other.” You mentioned that you do your research, but I’m not sure you have looked at the SOURCES of the research that you are finding.
The flaws the president has are not normal human flaws: he is a sick, malignant narcissist who has early signs of dementia. We can ABSOLUTELY judge him. He is the president of the United States. He is a threat to our country. He has long held beliefs about blaming Black people, gay people, immigrants, transgender people, and anyone else not white for alllll that is wrong with the nation. He absolutely abhors women. It IS hateful and wrong and having religious followers like yourself continue to stand behind a CRIMINAL and a horrible people who has NO problem humiliating a disabled man, and defend HIM while vilifying lower income folks and the like? That is F’d up. The only one hateful here is you. WWJD? Not what you’re doing, hun.
He is right that we can't have open borders and strong labor power at the same time. Cf Marx. People aren't able to sort like marbles on a tray and that's part of it. Lower wage accepting workers being added to the system decreases existing labor's power to negotiate for existing jobs in the present moment. Any job creation from immigration is in the medium to long term future and not a negotiation point in favor of labor. It is against labor. Only in a closed borders system can labor dictate terms perfectly; only in a tightly controlled, very slow immigration system with deincentivized immigration as well (control the entry, deincentivize their willingness to queue anyway) does existing labor stand a chance.
This is a brilliant and necessary piece of analysis, thank you.
You are one of the few people I've seen who has flawlessly deconstructed the mechanics of this specific weapon. You are 100% correct. Capital (The Rust) absolutely uses the "State Wedge" of mass, uncontrolled immigration as a tool to flood the labor market, shatter the negotiating power of existing workers ("Gears"), and create a permanent, desperate underclass with no rights.
Your diagnosis of the tactic is perfect.
[But I believe you have mistaken the weapon for the wielder. 🩸]
Let's say we execute your plan tomorrow. We create a "closed borders system." The Rust will simply pivot. They will accelerate automation. They will leverage prison labor. They will threaten to move the factory to a "right-to-work" state. They will lobby for more H-1B visas.
The problem isn't the immigrant—who is just another "Gear" tossed onto the "marble tray" with us. The problem is the Rust-controlled system that gives corporations the god-like power to treat all human labor as a disposable commodity in the first place.
A horizontal fix (border policy) cannot solve a vertical crime.
Our rebellion argues that the only way to win is for all the Gears—native-born and immigrant alike—to stop fighting each other for scraps and unite against the Rust who owns the bakery.
Our fight isn't to create a "better" managed cage. It's to build a world where the "Gears" finally have the power to dictate terms, period.
Ethan, let me return the compliment. It is difficult to find people who understand the aspect of our decision making process which is the constraint, the limit, the physical necessity of taking paths which are less than "optimal" in the ultra-free-market vision of how the ideal human is (they're wrong about that, and about all of it as a result).
It's the necessity to have that insurance... or it's the necessity to stay near the wife's family, or the mere fact that extra capital to take that risk just isn't available for most people. It's the fact that a bird in the hand isn't just better, it means the difference between being housed and not.
In network design, or computer design, this sort of stuff HAS to be taken into account. Latency, busing, all the constraints that limit communication speed and quantity, or processing power, whatever it is, it equates to the whole "use labor or capital to get income to sustain a life and also put it back into making more income and more of a life repeat repeat" ball of string which is the human economic pursuit.
~
Ok the economic migrant has already shed a lot of the constraints, to show up on the border. They are more freewheeling, in a sense. For our purpose it doesn't matter whether they never had those constraints (nothing to lose) or they left them behind (family in the old village). The point is, they can go more places, work for less, do all these things that the existing laborer cannot do.
This is a point to be vastly sympathized with.
At the same time, this is an inflexible point that doesn't change the meaning of their presence for the more stable, existing laborer. And one thing that laborer is working for is that very stability.
If the right to self-determination means anything, it is the right to protect oneself short term as well as via grand theories.
Even if it's not ideal for the outcome of those grand theories later on. We have to grant people the right to organize to self protect. This is generally true, as long as they are not organizing to rip people off, and just calling it "self protection" aka the Jewish (Zionists but called Jewish in the papers of the time) Terrorists of the 19teens onwards. Not only do we have rights, we have duties, and one of those duties is to be moral. Regional or group mores vary but a basic one found worldwide is do unto others, so let's use that: therefore, people have the right to self-defense of their existing situation when they are the ones being imposed upon.
~
But I want to move past that for a moment. You're right, initially and some several weeks ago, I did think you were talking about wildly open borders. I'm still not sure. But what I propose is more in line with what Marx was talking about: plan globally, act regionally or locally. Even if the intention is to have solidarity and global organization with all the working class, if we open the borders before they are awakened to this necessity, we aren't opening the borders to a useful working class that will act in solidarity. We are opening the borders to self-interested agents: scabs by fact of their situation, even if they aren't really thinking about that.
To hard close the borders might indeed drive companies to automate. But ... so far they only halfway succeed at it. AI has been driving Boards of Directors to wave their hands and fire people... and then ads go up, for communications experts to be paid around 400K, and not a Director job either. There is always great hope, that the new thing will be magic and clean and not have any problems. It never works out that way, and the new technology still creates at least *some* more need for human effort.
I'm not being a pollyanna about tech, more that I have seen how dumb and badly implemented and patch-happy it has to be, to limp along. I do think that outsourcing was really what did the Rust Belt in, not Automation. I could be wrong about that.
Protectionist legislation, wisely crafted, helps address company mobility. Opening borders doesn't; it's just an attempt at seducing an unseducable cheating gadabout. The towns that try seducing companies, look at them: used up and spit out, eventually. Same with border policies that aim to slow down companies' march to violate as many human norms as they can get away with.
Legislation to alter the so-called "requirement to look only at the bottom line" which has companies suable by investors if they adopt employee-friendly policies. That would be a big one.
When labor has more power here, it will be able to help people elsewhere. That is an original Marx idea... not mine... but I see intuitively how it works, scaling out, organized power able to cross into another region with its own concerns, organized no-power not being able to do that, disorganized power not being able to do it either. And by power, I mean power of high skill, high income work, collected together in common interest, not just the mass power of mere existence but beaten down and one step from lumpen.
Adding more of that underclass to a region before it is organized, before it's able to obtain that power, won't benefit either party (the existing party or the incoming party), and it definitely won't awaken the incoming party, because they will still be in a terrible economic situation, and enough of them won't have the luxury to organize. When they do organize, it will be for low impact jobs. Organizing farmworkers or poultry pickers can change how a plant is run, but notice how organizing California farmworkers does nothing for how the tech industry grew in Silicon Valley until it took over everything. Organizing the highly skilled and the economically powerful can change everything about how society is legislated, because they are able to care more about those things. But they have to stay organizable to do that, which means they can't be under threat from outside workers so that all they can think about is pleasing their employers.
Also, organizing the people with deep roots in a place is going to be better for the politics than organizing people who just arrived. That is just another aspect of how people are.... people don't immediately get skin in the game just because they show up in a place. They have to build that connection, and also build knowledge of how a place is, and its value.
~
Ok, back over to you! I'm curious to hear what you think about all this. Pick it apart! I have been thinking about this for a while and I would like to have a lively exchange.
Also I have to cook dinner but I wanted to get this off right away. So if I have been confusing, it is kind of off the cuff here -- just ask me to clarify, please do!
This is a brilliant and necessary piece of analysis. Thank you for taking the time to forge this with me.
You have flawlessly deconstructed the mechanics of one of The Rust's most potent weapons. You are 100% correct that Capital weaponizes the "State Wedge" of mass, uncontrolled immigration to flood the labor market, shatter the negotiating power of "rooted" labor, and create a permanent, desperate underclass.
Your diagnosis of the tactic is perfect.
But I believe your proposed solution—a "closed borders system"—is the very Layer 2 trap the Rust wants us to fall into.
[It's a horizontal "fix" for a vertical crime. 🩸]
Let's say we execute your plan tomorrow. We create a "closed borders system." The Rust, who still holds all the vertical power, simply pivots. They will accelerate automation. They will leverage prison labor. They will threaten to move factories to "right-to-work" states. They will lobby for more H-1B visas.
The problem isn't the immigrant—who is just another "Gear" tossed onto the "marble tray" with us. The problem is the Rust-controlled system that gives corporations the god-like power to treat all human labor as a disposable commodity in the first place.
You are right that we must "act regionally or locally" first—that is the core of our Engine Protocol. We must build a secure, powerful, high-trust Phalanx of "rooted" Gears.
But the purpose of that local power isn't to build a wall. It's to build a fortress so strong that we can finally offer a real, secure alliance to all the other Gears—rooted and "freewheeling" alike—and unite them to shatter the Rust's power to use any wedge against us, ever again.
Put another way: how does it help the employees to work for legislation against automation, when there is a large pool of replacement labor in the wings? Doesn't that labor just compete with the existing worker for either the deautomated role, or the conpensation for taking work away by automating? How can such compensation even be argued for, when the "affected labor pool" is adding new members at a higher than birth rate rate?
Yes .... I think I am mentioning that this cannot be done when people are fighting to keep their jobs against incoming labor challenges at the same time they are risking their jobs to challenge their employers by politically organizing to restrain their employers.
That's simply not true. Don't use Marx for your racism. The only way is the solidarity between workers and workers from abroad and firm workers rights. I'll never forget how Norwegian construction workers went on strike for Polish construction workers that worked in Norway and had worse conditions. Not AGAINST them, but FOR them. Because they knew they're doing it also for themselves. That's how you do it.
On one hand, our president has done tremendous things in 9 months but the backlash is his [ideas] programs haven’t been implemented yet. They aren’t even going into effect until January 1, 2026. For example, this evening there was a program and they were taking comments and one commentator, who is a Trump supporter, was complaining that her hamburger meat was now $8/ lb and that this is Trump’s problem and what is going to be done about it. Well again Ethan, this isn’t the fault of President Trump. We as Americans cannot expect for him to immediately clean up what was created by the previous administration, and this information is statistically provable. The meat industry is another one of those cogs along with big pharma and insurance. During the COVID shut down the meat industries learned that people would pay their prices for meat and they also knew that the government was providing funding to certain people and as a result, they [meat industry] could raise their prices and no matter what the circumstances, people would pay their price. Therefore another industry that has no intention of lowering any pricing. The meat industry is a lone industry, not like chicken, eggs, veggies, other commodities. It will take a reset for them too. It doesn’t matter who the president is. As for illegals, they fuel the system too. Especially the maritime areas. I was watching a team that was night filming the border between Canada and New York and as I was laying here I watched maybe 30 black skinned individuals crossing on a path, they dropped their packs, changed clothes and kept walking. In an interview with a former operations manager in the outer area of Boston, MA, the man told of his responsibility to see to the day to day functioning of a former Holiday Inn high rise that is housing illegal Haitians. They are receiving food, healthcare, and ID cards and driver’s licenses. An independent journalist who did a documentary on this that proves this is going on and exposes what’s going on in just one of our states. What is ironic is these Haitians fled Haiti and went to Chili then came here. When they were asked why they were in the USA, the response was, “Biden is giving free housing and food “. This is a prevalent problem. If you are interested in watching this documentary, I will be glad to give you the link. The illegals are stressing the $ of our great country and even they are being fed lies, lead to believe that the USA can feed the world. It is what it is, A Lie!
America is about migrants but not illegal. This epidemic has lead to the tearing away of our infrastructure and the sheltering of the cartels through these sanctuary cities and the utter embarrassment of the said city officials that are more adamant about caring for the illegals than our own Americans. This is NOT acceptable. Whatever side of the line you vote. Americans should act like Americans and take care of Americans and that includes you Ethan and me.
Wow dude. I for sure do not like this Deanna Chandler maggot. Stacy readily handled her. Kudos B
If your skin isn’t red you’re descendent, if not present immigrant. The atrocities the colonizers committed and continue to commit are disgusting. Do your own research and get off the Cheeto bus. It’s all there. I’m not pointing you to it. Then there’s the good ole religions not following the teachings of the brown guy. Hahaha. Some individuals do but Deanna clearly isn’t. She’s just full on drinkin the orange coolaid. Not one care at all for the ppl who are looking for housing and food. Or womens and children mortality rates. Just kill em all.
There is enough wealth on the planet to feed everyone. EVERYONE. How do we do that? I can unite with someone on that common ground but not on the grounds of fuck em if they crossed some imaginary line on the planet. It’s all a made up game. With far too many people losing.
We are trying to play a new game and you’re not understanding. so I don’t think you will be in this group long. Cool.
The borders are artificial lines on a rock floating in the universe. We are all humans doing our best to survive day to day. All of us.
The Rebels platform and if I’m understanding correctly is to stop the divide, not fight horizontally but recognize the 42 billion transfer of wealth and how that pits us against one another. I hope we are reading along and not just dropping the same old rhetoric. If you are, you’re not getting it and you’re in the wrong group. There was just a group of young nazis that were exposed maybe go chill with them. Yeah I know horizontal again. I’m trying really I am.
Seriously I can see how ppl are stuck in the propaganda and rhetoric and don’t understand how they are still supporting the old agenda or the 100 yr war. But It’s really hard for me to have compassion and unite with the person who doesn’t want to feed or care for their neighbors or other humans. Shit’s whack.
You understood the exact core of what I’m trying to build here.
It’s not about left vs right, borders vs no borders, or any of the old arguments.
Those are the horizontal fights the system wants people trapped inside.
The real division—the one I write about—is between the people being played against each other, and the small group that has benefited from that game for decades.
You’re speaking from the vertical perspective now, and it shows.
I’m genuinely glad to have readers who can see beyond the surface narratives.
@Ethan Faulkner what you are speaking is a pattern that repeated itself over and over again throughout human civilization. It is the divide and conquer doctrine. The concept of white superiority was born of necessity in the American Colinies after a revolt in the 1600’s where disadvantaged whites and African slaves banded together. A united people is what they fear most. And that is why they desperately cling to narrative control. That is why they attempt to coerce and weaponize our emotions. We must stay steady and perfectly grounded. If we do, we can write our own narrative. BTW, your work is beyond important, and I look forward to it everyday.
So happy to hear you're recovering well. It is terrifying that millions of people like you are literally at the mercy of the Fates now, because they won't be able to afford proper health care.
Ethan my husband has Parkinson’s that’s progressing pretty rapidly. My mom’s here with svr COPD on oxygen. I have the trifecta diabetes, thyroid, htn and throw in a few others. I’m on adderall. So the aca subsidies are fosho an issue here. Hubby had two knee surgeries. Hip surgery all within last year and I had knee surgery and hernia removal. So we are all of 30k indebted for the 13k deductibles and copays for the last 2 years. Paying hundreds a month and many months more to get the tax deduction at end of year. It’s totally wack. It’s all my money paying for all of it one way or another. Round and round. So yeah I get it and then some.
Glad you’re on the mend. don’t sweat it. We will figure or create our way into something better! Let’s redistribute the wealth.
It strikes me that your appendix is one of the shrinking set of health issues that isn't caused by the System. ADHD medication is needed because the System can't handle neurodivergent people. Most cases of high blood pressure or high cholesterol are caused by our food system. Car accidents are caused our dependence on cars which is caused by the System. We all need to continue fueling the System because otherwise we could be personally destroyed by the System.
This has to stop.
We really should not put our energy into fighting each other for the scraps. It is not the fault of "hateful bigots", that's just their way of falling into the traps of the System. It is not the fault of the unemployed, they are equally trapped. Immigrants are trapped in the system. None of the programs of the political parties is going to get us out of this mess.
Everyone has their own way of coping with the trappings of the system. Let's stop blaming them for not doing that the right way so we can focus on how the System is trapping all of us.
Ethan, I am so glad you are okay, and so very grateful for your intelligent and nuanced reporting on these vital issues. Those of us who are able to get by under The System because our needs somehow fit into their paradigm need to know about the vast number of people who fall through the “safety net” straight into total disaster. Thank you, word- warrior!
My whole life was working for benefits and I watched the benefits keep getting worse. When I started hearing aids were covered for both ears. Now hearing aids are not. I have had at least 50 pairs in my lifetime. Sometimes they only last six months due to sweating. Any decent benefits for the people seem to have vanished and it's not even clear when.
I really enjoyed your writing. You have a warm way of expressing yourself. I instantly felt like a friend. Sorry about your appendix. I’m happy that you're feeling better. It's quite a system, isn't it? Sad.
Wishing you renewed health. It's widely known that different brands and generics of ADHD medications, in particular, vary greatly on effectiveness and tolerance. HBP and cholesterol meds also have the same issues.
Ethan, you don't need to explain anything! You have insurance, and that's what matters. You are and will always be a talented writer. Substack can't afford to lose you. At least you're trying to earn a living for yourself! Keep your strength up and avoid overexerting yourself. 🤗💘
Ethan, I’m glad you are okay.
You have incredible energy. Stay strong. I plan to join the effort.
what a wicked game this US healthcare ‘system’ is. human rights always at the mercy of a corporate overlord. it’s sick-making. more power to you Ethan and I hope you’re doing well.
Feel better soon. I’m glad you have insurance! My appendix burst years ago, too. It was awful. I had sh*tty insurance and paid a lot out of pocket.
Well the reality is the ACA was only a temporary fix. It was extended, or created during the COVID hoax. And what happened was e.g. your premium was $1k a month with this ACA one paid $800 and the taxes paid the remaining $200 directly to the insurance company. The premium DIDN’T go down, the insurance company still received the $1k so you paid $800 and “government “ paid $200. So who do you think “government “ is? It’s you. The $ are funded by taxes. So what happens is if we continue to fund the ACA the insurance companies DON’T have to lower their rates (80% of your rate goes to the company and/or agent and actual cost is 20%, which is another discussion) so with the ACA the issue if cost is never addressed. Insurance companies fund the Dem campaigns and then the Dems alternately fund the illegals which in turn vote for the Dem candidates and the cycle is never broken. Americans need to take care of Americans NOT illegals. A house (America) divided won’t stand. Americans need to support Americans! If we continue to support programs like the ACA the “gears” won’t change! Now is the time to lobby our Congress and Legislators to change laws that fund BIG pharma and insurance companies to lower these rates. If Americans would UNITE then you for example won’t be strapped to a welfare system that breeds control, government control. Another example is SNAP. Again if Americans would UNITE there would be no need for SNAP either. If you would dig deep in your study, these services are going to millions that aren’t even Americans. I was shocked at seeing so many people that believe that America can afford to feed EVERYONE! This is NOT true. This mentality is why America has a $38 Trillion and counting DEFICIT! All American deserve affordable healthcare and not through welfare but through causing insurance companies to be held accountable for their raping Americans with these unaffordable premiums. This is what needs to change, the insurance companies lower their rates. This is the real problem. Americans SHOULD NOT be lining their coffers! We as Americans should be self sufficient not only individually but also collectively. And the able bodied and people need to quit thinking they are untitled and get a JOB! This is the problem, too long have Americans been taking care of these people who don’t want to work. If you research this, you will find this information is true in 2 out of 5 people. Americans work hard for their money and these free loaders need to get a freaking job. If they don’t want to work and expect me or anyone else to fund them, my suggestion to them would be to decide where they want to live outside of the USA and I’m sure a flight along with a parachute can be provided and they can be dropped at their country of choice. LEAVE!
Really a solution is a recession, it’s not ideal but it would reset the economy and prices and ALL expenses would be affordable, including your much needed prescription! We need a reset and this would do it. I’d like to have a premium T-bone steak at the $5 cost that it should be and not the current $50 robbery. Please remember, united we stand, divided we fall! Government dependency is not the answer. God bless you. Never give up.
DeAnna,
Thank you for this. This is one of the most insightful comments I’ve ever received.
You have perfectly diagnosed the core of the problem. You are 100% right that the ACA, as it stands, is a handout to the insurance companies. You're the first person to publicly point out the shell game: the premium is still "$1k," the company still gets paid, and the price never goes down. You've deconstructed the "Shepherd's Gambit" perfectly.
And your line—"a welfare system that breeds control"—is the single best description of my "Golden Handcuffs" that I have ever heard. That is exactly what it is.
I want to pause on one thing, though, because you are so close to the final piece of the puzzle.
You correctly identified the real villains: the insurance and pharma companies "raping Americans".
But then, you pointed to two other groups: "illegals" and "people who don't want to work."
[This right here... this is the enemy's masterstroke. This is the Great Distraction. 🩸]
The "Rust" needs us to be furious, but they are terrified of us being furious at them. So they've created a system that forces us to fight each other for the scraps.
They want the "Gears" (you, me, the "able-bodied") to fight other "Gears" (the immigrant, the person on SNAP) over who is more "deserving" of the crumbs, while they run away with the entire bakery.
The 4.8 million people who just lost their subsidies are the "Americans" who need care. The 340,000 lost jobs are the "able bodied" who are now being forced onto welfare.
You are right. "A house (America) divided won't stand."
But the line of division isn't between the American worker and the "free loader." The line is vertical. It's "The People vs. The Men Who Sold America".
You are a brilliant "Gear," and you can see the machine. Don't let them trick you into fighting the other cogs. Let's point our anger up.
I can see how you are attempting to be diplomatic with a hateful bigot who likes to blame immigrants and the poor (or Biden, Obama, the witch hunt, Hillary 🙄) for America’s deeply sick policies…instead of the criminals and billionaires debasing us. It’s admirable and I support your efforts. However, I for one cannot stomach another soft way to *handle* racists, xenophobes, homophobes, and misogynists who still STRONGLY and CALLOUSLY support what’s going on in the White House. For cryin’ out loud, the days of the velvet gloves being worn to carefully handle the #maga folks is past. I can clearly see your point of explanation to her, your hope,…but it’s also a manipulation to attempt to swing her to the side of compassion and critical thinking. It’s just not going to happen…until (maybe!) something happens to THEM. Affects THEM. Makes THEM suffer. When a congressperson’s child is mowed down in a school shooting, or their 14 year old daughter is groomed and raped by a pedophile…When their wife has cancer and her treatments are denied, when suddenly they can barely afford food, gas, housing…Nothing will change until it affects THEM or until we vote those in power , who are supposed to be working for US, the hell out. Not that they will ever “come to” and change, …they will only adjust and pivot until once again their needs are met and then this woman (and I betcha she’s white) and others just like her will be right back at it with the blame, the hate, the lack of civility, and the unhappiness that plagues them…which has nothing to do with any one group outside of themselves. I like your writing and your ideas. I’m happy you had decent healthcare during a serious medical event. I hope you continue to fight and forge ahead with your ideas…but use your energy for good. People like @DeAnnachandler are not going to care enough to change one iota. Her statements of “illegals,” “get a JOB,” “Covid hoax,” “these people that don’t want to work,” “freeloaders,” and mentioning that those who don’t like our rules will be given a flight and a PARACHUTE to be dropped into the country of their choice if they don’t like it here…are you kidding me? She’s got the Trump playbook down cold. Your good energy can be best utilized elsewhere. F people like this…and thanks for listening. ✊🏼
I feel you, homie 🫂
https://youtu.be/7oWDWmtnZq8
I don’t watch YouTube videos sent as a response to comments that I wrote, which were full of facts and not assumptions or opinions. You’re a racist DeAnna, full of blame and hate for anybody who isn’t white and like you. Instead of holding billionaires and corrupt politicians accountable for the absolute mess and hell we’re in, you pick on poor people and immigrants. You’d rather stand behind a president who is a pedophile, a convicted felon, a liar, a cheater, an adulterer, and the embodiment of so many other human flaws, they are almost too numerous to name. You do you, DeAnna. I’ll never buy your “proof” or the bullshit that you are “right,” which is your entire point, isn’t it?
I don’t know you and I try to be open minded and do research about topics and current events in the world I live in. I noticed that all of your commentary spews hate and that is what is wrong with the world around us today, people that project hate. Contrary to what you perceive about me I have always enjoyed a well rounded interracial life through not only my family but the community around me. Maybe you should try to study more before you interject hatred through your messages and haphazard judgements. I too have been a person that was wrongfully physically injured by someone in a motor vehicle accident who was uninsured and as a result of the incident suffered a broken neck. As for flaws, one thing I know for a fact and that is we all have them and therefore cannot perpetually judge others when we ourselves are lacking. That is like the pot calling the kettle black as the cliche goes. As for the UTube video it was just a tool to show the mentality of the people who do not want to work and believe that they are entitled and that the taxpayer should pay for them as in this example and real story where the woman makes $10k a month and we pay for her. I have always worked and now because of someone’s negligence I am disabled. So no, Stacey you are not right, in fact you are far from it. Blessings to you.
Spoken like a true Christian.
You can keep your blessings for yourself.
How do my comments spew hate? Am I lying about what I mentioned?
I didn’t spew any hate. *Sigh*
I didn’t even give my opinion.
I literally talked about what is going on in our world with our president, the billionaires, the demonization of immigrants and low income people… and THEN I mentioned people like you who follow them, trust them, and blame the poorest amongst us based on a few examples you saw on the Internet or what Trump said versus what reality is. I presented facts about what is going on in our world, not who I hate.
Not even sure why you brought up your car accident??
I live in the world of facts; not beliefs, not a religious ideology, not theories, not based on my biases or hate of “the other.” You mentioned that you do your research, but I’m not sure you have looked at the SOURCES of the research that you are finding.
The flaws the president has are not normal human flaws: he is a sick, malignant narcissist who has early signs of dementia. We can ABSOLUTELY judge him. He is the president of the United States. He is a threat to our country. He has long held beliefs about blaming Black people, gay people, immigrants, transgender people, and anyone else not white for alllll that is wrong with the nation. He absolutely abhors women. It IS hateful and wrong and having religious followers like yourself continue to stand behind a CRIMINAL and a horrible people who has NO problem humiliating a disabled man, and defend HIM while vilifying lower income folks and the like? That is F’d up. The only one hateful here is you. WWJD? Not what you’re doing, hun.
He is right that we can't have open borders and strong labor power at the same time. Cf Marx. People aren't able to sort like marbles on a tray and that's part of it. Lower wage accepting workers being added to the system decreases existing labor's power to negotiate for existing jobs in the present moment. Any job creation from immigration is in the medium to long term future and not a negotiation point in favor of labor. It is against labor. Only in a closed borders system can labor dictate terms perfectly; only in a tightly controlled, very slow immigration system with deincentivized immigration as well (control the entry, deincentivize their willingness to queue anyway) does existing labor stand a chance.
Letterwriter,
This is a brilliant and necessary piece of analysis, thank you.
You are one of the few people I've seen who has flawlessly deconstructed the mechanics of this specific weapon. You are 100% correct. Capital (The Rust) absolutely uses the "State Wedge" of mass, uncontrolled immigration as a tool to flood the labor market, shatter the negotiating power of existing workers ("Gears"), and create a permanent, desperate underclass with no rights.
Your diagnosis of the tactic is perfect.
[But I believe you have mistaken the weapon for the wielder. 🩸]
Let's say we execute your plan tomorrow. We create a "closed borders system." The Rust will simply pivot. They will accelerate automation. They will leverage prison labor. They will threaten to move the factory to a "right-to-work" state. They will lobby for more H-1B visas.
The problem isn't the immigrant—who is just another "Gear" tossed onto the "marble tray" with us. The problem is the Rust-controlled system that gives corporations the god-like power to treat all human labor as a disposable commodity in the first place.
A horizontal fix (border policy) cannot solve a vertical crime.
Our rebellion argues that the only way to win is for all the Gears—native-born and immigrant alike—to stop fighting each other for scraps and unite against the Rust who owns the bakery.
Our fight isn't to create a "better" managed cage. It's to build a world where the "Gears" finally have the power to dictate terms, period.
Ethan, let me return the compliment. It is difficult to find people who understand the aspect of our decision making process which is the constraint, the limit, the physical necessity of taking paths which are less than "optimal" in the ultra-free-market vision of how the ideal human is (they're wrong about that, and about all of it as a result).
It's the necessity to have that insurance... or it's the necessity to stay near the wife's family, or the mere fact that extra capital to take that risk just isn't available for most people. It's the fact that a bird in the hand isn't just better, it means the difference between being housed and not.
In network design, or computer design, this sort of stuff HAS to be taken into account. Latency, busing, all the constraints that limit communication speed and quantity, or processing power, whatever it is, it equates to the whole "use labor or capital to get income to sustain a life and also put it back into making more income and more of a life repeat repeat" ball of string which is the human economic pursuit.
~
Ok the economic migrant has already shed a lot of the constraints, to show up on the border. They are more freewheeling, in a sense. For our purpose it doesn't matter whether they never had those constraints (nothing to lose) or they left them behind (family in the old village). The point is, they can go more places, work for less, do all these things that the existing laborer cannot do.
This is a point to be vastly sympathized with.
At the same time, this is an inflexible point that doesn't change the meaning of their presence for the more stable, existing laborer. And one thing that laborer is working for is that very stability.
If the right to self-determination means anything, it is the right to protect oneself short term as well as via grand theories.
Even if it's not ideal for the outcome of those grand theories later on. We have to grant people the right to organize to self protect. This is generally true, as long as they are not organizing to rip people off, and just calling it "self protection" aka the Jewish (Zionists but called Jewish in the papers of the time) Terrorists of the 19teens onwards. Not only do we have rights, we have duties, and one of those duties is to be moral. Regional or group mores vary but a basic one found worldwide is do unto others, so let's use that: therefore, people have the right to self-defense of their existing situation when they are the ones being imposed upon.
~
But I want to move past that for a moment. You're right, initially and some several weeks ago, I did think you were talking about wildly open borders. I'm still not sure. But what I propose is more in line with what Marx was talking about: plan globally, act regionally or locally. Even if the intention is to have solidarity and global organization with all the working class, if we open the borders before they are awakened to this necessity, we aren't opening the borders to a useful working class that will act in solidarity. We are opening the borders to self-interested agents: scabs by fact of their situation, even if they aren't really thinking about that.
To hard close the borders might indeed drive companies to automate. But ... so far they only halfway succeed at it. AI has been driving Boards of Directors to wave their hands and fire people... and then ads go up, for communications experts to be paid around 400K, and not a Director job either. There is always great hope, that the new thing will be magic and clean and not have any problems. It never works out that way, and the new technology still creates at least *some* more need for human effort.
I'm not being a pollyanna about tech, more that I have seen how dumb and badly implemented and patch-happy it has to be, to limp along. I do think that outsourcing was really what did the Rust Belt in, not Automation. I could be wrong about that.
Protectionist legislation, wisely crafted, helps address company mobility. Opening borders doesn't; it's just an attempt at seducing an unseducable cheating gadabout. The towns that try seducing companies, look at them: used up and spit out, eventually. Same with border policies that aim to slow down companies' march to violate as many human norms as they can get away with.
Legislation to alter the so-called "requirement to look only at the bottom line" which has companies suable by investors if they adopt employee-friendly policies. That would be a big one.
When labor has more power here, it will be able to help people elsewhere. That is an original Marx idea... not mine... but I see intuitively how it works, scaling out, organized power able to cross into another region with its own concerns, organized no-power not being able to do that, disorganized power not being able to do it either. And by power, I mean power of high skill, high income work, collected together in common interest, not just the mass power of mere existence but beaten down and one step from lumpen.
Adding more of that underclass to a region before it is organized, before it's able to obtain that power, won't benefit either party (the existing party or the incoming party), and it definitely won't awaken the incoming party, because they will still be in a terrible economic situation, and enough of them won't have the luxury to organize. When they do organize, it will be for low impact jobs. Organizing farmworkers or poultry pickers can change how a plant is run, but notice how organizing California farmworkers does nothing for how the tech industry grew in Silicon Valley until it took over everything. Organizing the highly skilled and the economically powerful can change everything about how society is legislated, because they are able to care more about those things. But they have to stay organizable to do that, which means they can't be under threat from outside workers so that all they can think about is pleasing their employers.
Also, organizing the people with deep roots in a place is going to be better for the politics than organizing people who just arrived. That is just another aspect of how people are.... people don't immediately get skin in the game just because they show up in a place. They have to build that connection, and also build knowledge of how a place is, and its value.
~
Ok, back over to you! I'm curious to hear what you think about all this. Pick it apart! I have been thinking about this for a while and I would like to have a lively exchange.
Also I have to cook dinner but I wanted to get this off right away. So if I have been confusing, it is kind of off the cuff here -- just ask me to clarify, please do!
This is a brilliant and necessary piece of analysis. Thank you for taking the time to forge this with me.
You have flawlessly deconstructed the mechanics of one of The Rust's most potent weapons. You are 100% correct that Capital weaponizes the "State Wedge" of mass, uncontrolled immigration to flood the labor market, shatter the negotiating power of "rooted" labor, and create a permanent, desperate underclass.
Your diagnosis of the tactic is perfect.
But I believe your proposed solution—a "closed borders system"—is the very Layer 2 trap the Rust wants us to fall into.
[It's a horizontal "fix" for a vertical crime. 🩸]
Let's say we execute your plan tomorrow. We create a "closed borders system." The Rust, who still holds all the vertical power, simply pivots. They will accelerate automation. They will leverage prison labor. They will threaten to move factories to "right-to-work" states. They will lobby for more H-1B visas.
The problem isn't the immigrant—who is just another "Gear" tossed onto the "marble tray" with us. The problem is the Rust-controlled system that gives corporations the god-like power to treat all human labor as a disposable commodity in the first place.
You are right that we must "act regionally or locally" first—that is the core of our Engine Protocol. We must build a secure, powerful, high-trust Phalanx of "rooted" Gears.
But the purpose of that local power isn't to build a wall. It's to build a fortress so strong that we can finally offer a real, secure alliance to all the other Gears—rooted and "freewheeling" alike—and unite them to shatter the Rust's power to use any wedge against us, ever again.
Put another way: how does it help the employees to work for legislation against automation, when there is a large pool of replacement labor in the wings? Doesn't that labor just compete with the existing worker for either the deautomated role, or the conpensation for taking work away by automating? How can such compensation even be argued for, when the "affected labor pool" is adding new members at a higher than birth rate rate?
Yes .... I think I am mentioning that this cannot be done when people are fighting to keep their jobs against incoming labor challenges at the same time they are risking their jobs to challenge their employers by politically organizing to restrain their employers.
That's simply not true. Don't use Marx for your racism. The only way is the solidarity between workers and workers from abroad and firm workers rights. I'll never forget how Norwegian construction workers went on strike for Polish construction workers that worked in Norway and had worse conditions. Not AGAINST them, but FOR them. Because they knew they're doing it also for themselves. That's how you do it.
I was answering a letterwiriter
He's stuck too deep in Layer 2.
https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1870/letters/70_04_09.htm
On one hand, our president has done tremendous things in 9 months but the backlash is his [ideas] programs haven’t been implemented yet. They aren’t even going into effect until January 1, 2026. For example, this evening there was a program and they were taking comments and one commentator, who is a Trump supporter, was complaining that her hamburger meat was now $8/ lb and that this is Trump’s problem and what is going to be done about it. Well again Ethan, this isn’t the fault of President Trump. We as Americans cannot expect for him to immediately clean up what was created by the previous administration, and this information is statistically provable. The meat industry is another one of those cogs along with big pharma and insurance. During the COVID shut down the meat industries learned that people would pay their prices for meat and they also knew that the government was providing funding to certain people and as a result, they [meat industry] could raise their prices and no matter what the circumstances, people would pay their price. Therefore another industry that has no intention of lowering any pricing. The meat industry is a lone industry, not like chicken, eggs, veggies, other commodities. It will take a reset for them too. It doesn’t matter who the president is. As for illegals, they fuel the system too. Especially the maritime areas. I was watching a team that was night filming the border between Canada and New York and as I was laying here I watched maybe 30 black skinned individuals crossing on a path, they dropped their packs, changed clothes and kept walking. In an interview with a former operations manager in the outer area of Boston, MA, the man told of his responsibility to see to the day to day functioning of a former Holiday Inn high rise that is housing illegal Haitians. They are receiving food, healthcare, and ID cards and driver’s licenses. An independent journalist who did a documentary on this that proves this is going on and exposes what’s going on in just one of our states. What is ironic is these Haitians fled Haiti and went to Chili then came here. When they were asked why they were in the USA, the response was, “Biden is giving free housing and food “. This is a prevalent problem. If you are interested in watching this documentary, I will be glad to give you the link. The illegals are stressing the $ of our great country and even they are being fed lies, lead to believe that the USA can feed the world. It is what it is, A Lie!
America is about migrants but not illegal. This epidemic has lead to the tearing away of our infrastructure and the sheltering of the cartels through these sanctuary cities and the utter embarrassment of the said city officials that are more adamant about caring for the illegals than our own Americans. This is NOT acceptable. Whatever side of the line you vote. Americans should act like Americans and take care of Americans and that includes you Ethan and me.
I'd like to watch that documentary? Feel free to DM the link if you'd prefer, I know it can sometimes be a preference.
I don't think he's the guy to do it, but the fallout from what's happening right now might help us sort into a new pattern that does get us there.
Wow dude. I for sure do not like this Deanna Chandler maggot. Stacy readily handled her. Kudos B
If your skin isn’t red you’re descendent, if not present immigrant. The atrocities the colonizers committed and continue to commit are disgusting. Do your own research and get off the Cheeto bus. It’s all there. I’m not pointing you to it. Then there’s the good ole religions not following the teachings of the brown guy. Hahaha. Some individuals do but Deanna clearly isn’t. She’s just full on drinkin the orange coolaid. Not one care at all for the ppl who are looking for housing and food. Or womens and children mortality rates. Just kill em all.
There is enough wealth on the planet to feed everyone. EVERYONE. How do we do that? I can unite with someone on that common ground but not on the grounds of fuck em if they crossed some imaginary line on the planet. It’s all a made up game. With far too many people losing.
We are trying to play a new game and you’re not understanding. so I don’t think you will be in this group long. Cool.
The borders are artificial lines on a rock floating in the universe. We are all humans doing our best to survive day to day. All of us.
The Rebels platform and if I’m understanding correctly is to stop the divide, not fight horizontally but recognize the 42 billion transfer of wealth and how that pits us against one another. I hope we are reading along and not just dropping the same old rhetoric. If you are, you’re not getting it and you’re in the wrong group. There was just a group of young nazis that were exposed maybe go chill with them. Yeah I know horizontal again. I’m trying really I am.
Seriously I can see how ppl are stuck in the propaganda and rhetoric and don’t understand how they are still supporting the old agenda or the 100 yr war. But It’s really hard for me to have compassion and unite with the person who doesn’t want to feed or care for their neighbors or other humans. Shit’s whack.
This is incredibly well put.
You understood the exact core of what I’m trying to build here.
It’s not about left vs right, borders vs no borders, or any of the old arguments.
Those are the horizontal fights the system wants people trapped inside.
The real division—the one I write about—is between the people being played against each other, and the small group that has benefited from that game for decades.
You’re speaking from the vertical perspective now, and it shows.
I’m genuinely glad to have readers who can see beyond the surface narratives.
@Ethan Faulkner what you are speaking is a pattern that repeated itself over and over again throughout human civilization. It is the divide and conquer doctrine. The concept of white superiority was born of necessity in the American Colinies after a revolt in the 1600’s where disadvantaged whites and African slaves banded together. A united people is what they fear most. And that is why they desperately cling to narrative control. That is why they attempt to coerce and weaponize our emotions. We must stay steady and perfectly grounded. If we do, we can write our own narrative. BTW, your work is beyond important, and I look forward to it everyday.
Agreed. Thank you.
Deeply needed. Thank you for sharing❤️
Oh Ethan
So happy to hear you're recovering well. It is terrifying that millions of people like you are literally at the mercy of the Fates now, because they won't be able to afford proper health care.
Ethan my husband has Parkinson’s that’s progressing pretty rapidly. My mom’s here with svr COPD on oxygen. I have the trifecta diabetes, thyroid, htn and throw in a few others. I’m on adderall. So the aca subsidies are fosho an issue here. Hubby had two knee surgeries. Hip surgery all within last year and I had knee surgery and hernia removal. So we are all of 30k indebted for the 13k deductibles and copays for the last 2 years. Paying hundreds a month and many months more to get the tax deduction at end of year. It’s totally wack. It’s all my money paying for all of it one way or another. Round and round. So yeah I get it and then some.
Glad you’re on the mend. don’t sweat it. We will figure or create our way into something better! Let’s redistribute the wealth.
I am glad for your ok
But definitely can relate
Never understood why all these other countries have universal healthcare and even Canada,
for that matter
It’s really is criminal,
Definitely a way to en trap and en slave the masses!
That’s why I believe in bitcoin is a big part of financial freedom
but it’s not good for every day. Transactions too expensive to use the net work
not cost effective
But the best store of value!
True financial freedom
It strikes me that your appendix is one of the shrinking set of health issues that isn't caused by the System. ADHD medication is needed because the System can't handle neurodivergent people. Most cases of high blood pressure or high cholesterol are caused by our food system. Car accidents are caused our dependence on cars which is caused by the System. We all need to continue fueling the System because otherwise we could be personally destroyed by the System.
This has to stop.
We really should not put our energy into fighting each other for the scraps. It is not the fault of "hateful bigots", that's just their way of falling into the traps of the System. It is not the fault of the unemployed, they are equally trapped. Immigrants are trapped in the system. None of the programs of the political parties is going to get us out of this mess.
Everyone has their own way of coping with the trappings of the system. Let's stop blaming them for not doing that the right way so we can focus on how the System is trapping all of us.