The ability to tax such new revenue streams is enticing for state and city officials dealing with post-pandemic economic upheaval, said Richard C. Auxier, principle policy associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, a think tank.

brainworms

  • UlyssesT [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    I think it's consumerism, or "treat brain" as I call it locally. The old nazi death camp slogan "to each his/their own" is another version of that thought terminating cliche.

    The insistence that people aren't connected, or that intersectional interactions don't happen somewhere between a treat's cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and/or consumption has lead to a lot of easy cultural and ideological victories for capitalism lately. People can feel insulated and safe from feeling bad about their entertainment if they can contend that everything they spend money on is an enlightened informed democratic gesture that has no consequences outside of themselves.

    Gambling is just the most glaring example. I have family members that pulled everyone around them into ruin over their addiction to it. But To Each Their Own(tm)!

    Show

      • CarbonConscious [he/him]
        ·
        3 months ago

        Haha I literally read this line and thought, "Jesus who do you think you are, UlyssesT??".

        Anyways, welcome back brotherino.

      • UlyssesT [he/him]
        ·
        3 months ago

        I’m not sure where the origin of its modern use came from, where it’s used more like “eh whatever floats your boat”

        Yeah that is how it's used now, but I mentioned the death camp thing just to draw attention to it not being some grand uncontested ancient wisdom from some unspecified but surely credible source as some may believe it is.