Replies

"I can’t help but feel that the Russia/Ukraine discourse heralded much of the decline. I’m sticking around, though."

I've been called a Putin lover, a Russian troll, etc., despite the fact that I've repeatedly stated I don't give a crap about either country, and that I don't want billions in unaccounted-for taxpayer dollars sent to support another proxy war with Russia, which only helps people who have investments in the military industrial complex get richer than they already are. There's arrogant, ignorant idiots no matter where you post on the internet. The secret is to ignore them because they always revert to name calling when they can't argue facts civilly. They show themselves for who and what they are. And I've found that there are plenty of other people here who feel the same way I do. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never kill me."

Good points. After being involuntary confined to hospitalization with television the only medium I was shocked to see how easily one can become deluded by the trash that passes for news - something I would NOT have recognized without years of Free Republic and the general wisdom and insights of it’s members.

Free Republic is a vaccine against ignorance and purposeful propaganda. It’s also an island of sanity in a reality where I have to check too often to see if I’m reading actual news or the Babylon Bee. My sincere thanks and appreciation to you all who’ve expanded my knowledge and awareness over the years with your contributions, help and different perspectives.

...I don't want billions in unaccounted-for taxpayer dollars sent to support another proxy war with Russia, which only helps people who have investments in the military industrial complex get richer...

Thanks for posting a great example of why you might have been characterized as a "Russian troll".

What makes you think money spent, mostly in the USA to build replacements for the old munitions sent to Ukraine is somehow "unaccounted for"? The US spending on support for Ukraine is a matter of public record.

Why is US and European support for a nation we promised to defend against invasion in return for Ukraine's surrender of the world's third largest nuclear and ICBM arsenal a "proxy war" against Russia, the country that invaded them? Is our support for Israel just the USA fighting a proxy war against Hamas?

Doesn't the spending in US factories building weapons systems help the Americans employed in those factories? Do you think it is better to spend taxpayer dollars on welfare for illegal immigrants, or woke social justice programs?

I don't want billions in unaccounted-for taxpayer dollars sent to support another proxy war with Russia, which only helps people who have investments in the military industrial complex get richer than they already are. There's arrogant, ignorant idiots no matter where you post on the internet. The secret is to ignore them because they always revert to name calling when they can't argue facts civilly. They show themselves for who and what they are. And I've found that there are plenty of other people here who feel the same way I do. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never kill me."

I was raised with the, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me." idea too. And I'm totally with you on this. I'm not into 'cancel' or run from people we disagree with... Unless we're dealing with a paid troll let's duke it out or ignore the person. Great reply mass55th...