I have a wonderful idea for all you conservatives
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Dan
Political parties are a reality of political life. They’re not good or bad in none of themselves, but when you have a win take all system where you’re only allowed to have two parties it’s pretty awful when they are both captured by the same donors and stop representing the people in favor of The very very rich. I think that’s where we’re at now.
Eddie
The constantly barefooted Ray!
Leo LizardMan
Eddie
No, you provided no data for your number of 30,000 blind/visually impaired people being fired from the government. That's why you got called out.
Eddie
Eddie
Leo LizardMan
So it seems by mentioning a number that doesn't align with some people's ideology, I've triggered some conservatives? And usually I'm the one who's accidentally triggered one of the new liberals my daughter's age and younger. This is indicative of why I shall forever remain an independent of either wing of the same bird.
Dan
Fascists are going to fascist I guess
Dan
They either no longer have the expertise to measure these data points or they are intentionally hiding them from the public who they are supposed to represent. Sad 
Katya
Dan
They claim they are not keeping data on things like this, as well as unemployment, inflation, and GDP data. Boy it must be really bad for them to not be able to publish this. It’s like they’ve destroyed the federal government so much they can’t even tell us how destroyed it is because there are not enough experienced workers left , sad 
Dan
It’s in the hundreds of thousands at this point, but there is still litigation, and they keep calling people back because of their experience being so gravely missed. 
Dan
“Separated from their jobs“ but not laid off?? sounds like a Trumper 
Leo LizardMan
Chris Hofstader, my former boss from 20 years ago, gave me it.
Katya
I too wondered where you got the 30,000 figure. From ChatGPT: There is no single official count of how many United States government employees have been fired or laid off. However, available reporting indicates that at the federal level, tens of thousands of civilian employees have been separated from their jobs during recent workforce reductions. Some estimates place confirmed job losses at around fifty to sixty thousand, while broader counts that include buyouts and voluntary departures suggest the total number of departures may be higher, possibly exceeding one hundred thousand. Comparable nationwide figures are not available for state and local government employees. There is also no reliable public data on how many of those laid off or fired were blind or visually impaired. Disability status is generally not included in publicly released layoff or termination statistics. While disability advocacy organizations have raised concerns about the impact of workforce reductions on employees with disabilities, including those who are blind or visually impaired, no official or comprehensive numbers have been published. In short, many government employees have lost their positions, but the exact figures vary by definition, and the specific impact on blind or visually impaired workers is not formally tracked or reported. The United States federal government employs about 2.9 million civilian workers. This number includes people working in areas such as national parks, healthcare, science, transportation, law enforcement, and administration. It does not include active-duty military personnel. When state and local government employees are added, such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, and public health workers, the number rises significantly. State and local governments together employ roughly 19 to 20 million people. Taken together, all levels of government in the United States employ approximately 22 to 23 million people. This means that roughly one out of every seven or eight workers in the country is employed in public service.
Dan
Is that 30,000 figure accurate? I know doge targeted minorities but wow 
Tapper-🇬🇧
God is not reel BTW!
The constantly barefooted Ray!
Katya
Katya
Hi, respectfully submitted from Wikipedia: I wasn’t aware till recently of the last few verses, noting that on the first verse which I didn’t put, the last phrase is a question; about does the banner yet wave : On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave, From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand, Between their loved home and the war's desolation, Blessed with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land, Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Alternative lyrics In a version hand-written by Francis Scott Key in 1840, the third line reads: "Whose bright stars and broad stripes, through the clouds of the fight".[74] Fifth stanza In 1861, poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. penned an unofficial fifth verse during the beginning of the American Civil War, looking hopefully at the emancipation of slaves.[75][76] When our land is illumed with Liberty's smile, If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory, Down, down with the traitor who dares to defile The flag of her stars and the page of her story! By the millions unchained when our birthright was gained, We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained! And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave While the land of the free is the home of the brave!
Lemuria
Leo LizardMan
Ray that was quite nice, and yes, that's the anthem. They all know it subconsciously when they get up on stage and say "God Bless America." Other nations don't do the "God bless ..." thing, so everyone's already acknowledging Lee Greenwood's song as the new anthem. They just need to make it official already.
The constantly barefooted Ray!
Brandon