Forwarded from Political memes
The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, is out with a major new research study showing that immigrants, both legal and illegal, contribute significantly more in taxes than they receive in public benefits.
And there's more: because immigrants (both legal and not) are such large net-contributors of tax revenue, they also structurally reduce government budget deficits.
https://www.cato.org/commentary/immigrants-reduce-americas-deficit-congress-should-take-notice
And there's more: because immigrants (both legal and not) are such large net-contributors of tax revenue, they also structurally reduce government budget deficits.
The study finds that immigrants reduced the U.S. debt by nearly a third — or $14.5 trillion — from 1994 to 2023.
https://www.cato.org/commentary/immigrants-reduce-americas-deficit-congress-should-take-notice
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Uhhh, maybe I shouldn't post that one actually while actively applying for jobs.
Telegram channels can't show up on searches, right?
Telegram channels can't show up on searches, right?
Regarding the Epstein circle:
There's an interesting thing occurring where a lot of people (especially in the US, but I'm sure this sentiment is around elsewhere) frame it under the lens of "moral corruption is a natural consequence of power."
In any serious society, this would be a critique on power, and prompt serious inquiry into how it's alloted. However, our power systems are deeply entrenched, and seem unmoveable in the eyes of many. So, what would otherwise be seen as a radical critique of our social and administrative systems is instead reduced to a pathology, a sort of hand-waving "what can we do about it?" gesture in the face of a multi-front failure.
While I don't mean to imply everyone is letting the perpetrators of this abuse off the hook because of this (thankfully most of us still aren't!), I definitely see this argument starting to form, and I expect to see it more often as people try to make excuses for their guy™️
There's an interesting thing occurring where a lot of people (especially in the US, but I'm sure this sentiment is around elsewhere) frame it under the lens of "moral corruption is a natural consequence of power."
In any serious society, this would be a critique on power, and prompt serious inquiry into how it's alloted. However, our power systems are deeply entrenched, and seem unmoveable in the eyes of many. So, what would otherwise be seen as a radical critique of our social and administrative systems is instead reduced to a pathology, a sort of hand-waving "what can we do about it?" gesture in the face of a multi-front failure.
While I don't mean to imply everyone is letting the perpetrators of this abuse off the hook because of this (thankfully most of us still aren't!), I definitely see this argument starting to form, and I expect to see it more often as people try to make excuses for their guy™️
Forwarded from Ministry of good ideas
Good idea: practice bird watching
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/birdwatching-birding-brain-boost-cognition-research-rcna259945
Being an expert birdwatcher is more than a hobby. It’s a pastime that may alter the structure and function of your brain. And these changes may enhance cognition even as you age, new research suggests.
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2026/02/11/JNEUROSCI.1307-25.2026
#birdwatching, #neuroplasticity, #nature
https://ieji.de/@MinistryOfGoodIdeas/116221519866429625
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/birdwatching-birding-brain-boost-cognition-research-rcna259945
Being an expert birdwatcher is more than a hobby. It’s a pastime that may alter the structure and function of your brain. And these changes may enhance cognition even as you age, new research suggests.
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2026/02/11/JNEUROSCI.1307-25.2026
#birdwatching, #neuroplasticity, #nature
https://ieji.de/@MinistryOfGoodIdeas/116221519866429625
NBC News
'Birdbrain' benefits: How being an expert birdwatcher may boost cognition
New research shows that seasoned birders — including older adults — had denser tissue in parts of the brain tied to attention and perception.