You start by assuming that democracy works. That if it's the better policy, if we advocate for it long enough then we can implement it. If there's structural blocks in our democracy to democracy, then address those blocks.
December 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
You start by assuming that democracy works. That if it's the better policy, if we advocate for it long enough then we can implement it. If there's structural blocks in our democracy to democracy, then address those blocks.
The progressive wing of the Party developed a tremendous reform plan. It got watered down by the centrists and sellouts in the Party, into the ACA. Including killing the public option, a key check on ins. Maybe you should be asking the centrists if they are happy with the changes they forced?
December 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The progressive wing of the Party developed a tremendous reform plan. It got watered down by the centrists and sellouts in the Party, into the ACA. Including killing the public option, a key check on ins. Maybe you should be asking the centrists if they are happy with the changes they forced?
You don't think M4A, that would eliminate a huge source of issues in the insurance market (uninsurable Olds that aren't on Medicare yet), would do anything to improve things at all?
What about a public option?
What about a public option?
December 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
You don't think M4A, that would eliminate a huge source of issues in the insurance market (uninsurable Olds that aren't on Medicare yet), would do anything to improve things at all?
What about a public option?
What about a public option?
"What if we don't have to hire labor anymore?" Every corporate executive's wet dream. Yeah, there's profit in that....until you ask, who the hell is going to buy your product if no one has a job? Where's the profit in an ultra low cost good that you can't sell?
December 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
"What if we don't have to hire labor anymore?" Every corporate executive's wet dream. Yeah, there's profit in that....until you ask, who the hell is going to buy your product if no one has a job? Where's the profit in an ultra low cost good that you can't sell?
The valuations aren't crazy, but they are myopic. IF AI can deliver productivity gains like tech has until now, then the valuations are sane. BUT what they miss is that if that happens, society crumbles or corrects. They're missing the forest for the trees.
December 10, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The valuations aren't crazy, but they are myopic. IF AI can deliver productivity gains like tech has until now, then the valuations are sane. BUT what they miss is that if that happens, society crumbles or corrects. They're missing the forest for the trees.
So hire kids who don't know anything yet to write the processes? Yeah, I'm sure those processes will be greeeeaaaaat.
December 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
So hire kids who don't know anything yet to write the processes? Yeah, I'm sure those processes will be greeeeaaaaat.
It absolutely depends on who emerges from the coming fight. At least half the field will absolutely refuse to address it yet again, no matter what they say publicly. The media and the tilted Prez primary structure will assist.
December 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
It absolutely depends on who emerges from the coming fight. At least half the field will absolutely refuse to address it yet again, no matter what they say publicly. The media and the tilted Prez primary structure will assist.
That is the primary (pun intended) fight that will play out the next few years. It sure feels like any candidate who doesn't vociferously endorse "extreme" measures to stop this madness will get shouted down and run out of any substantial primary.
December 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
That is the primary (pun intended) fight that will play out the next few years. It sure feels like any candidate who doesn't vociferously endorse "extreme" measures to stop this madness will get shouted down and run out of any substantial primary.
That's a good point but not really on topic with what I'm talking about. The tech is better at paying attention, but worse at seeing certain things when it is paying attention. It's better at not hitting peeps in broad daylight, but much more likely to slam into a parked car on the side of the road.
December 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
That's a good point but not really on topic with what I'm talking about. The tech is better at paying attention, but worse at seeing certain things when it is paying attention. It's better at not hitting peeps in broad daylight, but much more likely to slam into a parked car on the side of the road.
I bet every day, via my portfolio.
I am aware that metro areas have heavy traffic, yes.
I am aware that metro areas have heavy traffic, yes.
December 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I bet every day, via my portfolio.
I am aware that metro areas have heavy traffic, yes.
I am aware that metro areas have heavy traffic, yes.
Fair point. I do not think Level 5 is achievable until tech can seamlessly replicate a human in real time.
Caveat, significant legal changes can make it happen sooner. I'm thinking self driving insurance. I think we're a long way from that being feasible, but it's doable.
Caveat, significant legal changes can make it happen sooner. I'm thinking self driving insurance. I think we're a long way from that being feasible, but it's doable.
December 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Fair point. I do not think Level 5 is achievable until tech can seamlessly replicate a human in real time.
Caveat, significant legal changes can make it happen sooner. I'm thinking self driving insurance. I think we're a long way from that being feasible, but it's doable.
Caveat, significant legal changes can make it happen sooner. I'm thinking self driving insurance. I think we're a long way from that being feasible, but it's doable.
What most miss is that the entire driving system (roads, vehicles, laws, etc) has evolved around what PEOPLE can and can't do. Tech can get better than people, but it still won't be aligned with what people can do. Thus it won't be aligned with the system.
December 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
What most miss is that the entire driving system (roads, vehicles, laws, etc) has evolved around what PEOPLE can and can't do. Tech can get better than people, but it still won't be aligned with what people can do. Thus it won't be aligned with the system.
I'm sure someone can fine tune it to make it better. But that's not the point. There appears to be an insurmountable gap between what tech can do and what is needed to make full self driving a feasible product. Niche uses will exist, and slowly grow.
December 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I'm sure someone can fine tune it to make it better. But that's not the point. There appears to be an insurmountable gap between what tech can do and what is needed to make full self driving a feasible product. Niche uses will exist, and slowly grow.
And thats kind of amazing all on its own! But it's not full self driving. That's what I said I did not think was achievable, to which you responded it's happening now. It's not. And even that isn't making a profit.
I don't know why you keep bringing up Tesla. I'm not comparing. Neither will work.
I don't know why you keep bringing up Tesla. I'm not comparing. Neither will work.
December 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
And thats kind of amazing all on its own! But it's not full self driving. That's what I said I did not think was achievable, to which you responded it's happening now. It's not. And even that isn't making a profit.
I don't know why you keep bringing up Tesla. I'm not comparing. Neither will work.
I don't know why you keep bringing up Tesla. I'm not comparing. Neither will work.
The 1% of the time is the problem. If it wasn't a problem, it would be nationwide already. I'm quite sure Waymo isn't going to waste time or money. Clearly, they haven't made it work well enough yet.
I'm also curious if it "works" because they block out the hard areas from availability.
I'm also curious if it "works" because they block out the hard areas from availability.
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 AM
The 1% of the time is the problem. If it wasn't a problem, it would be nationwide already. I'm quite sure Waymo isn't going to waste time or money. Clearly, they haven't made it work well enough yet.
I'm also curious if it "works" because they block out the hard areas from availability.
I'm also curious if it "works" because they block out the hard areas from availability.
That's a problem I don't see being solved. Radar/camera imaging will always have "ghost" images, reflections and noise that may be a human or vehicle. If you hit the brakes for every ghost, the ride sucks. If you program to ignore the ghosts, eventually you hit something that a human wouldn't have.
December 2, 2025 at 10:57 PM
That's a problem I don't see being solved. Radar/camera imaging will always have "ghost" images, reflections and noise that may be a human or vehicle. If you hit the brakes for every ghost, the ride sucks. If you program to ignore the ghosts, eventually you hit something that a human wouldn't have.
That clocks. The example I'm thinking of is a lady walked into the street at the border of a streetlight. In the distance was a vehicle. The radar thought she was a ghost image of the vehicle. Camera lost her in the light/dark zone. Software overrode the ghost image (presumably), car ran into her.
December 2, 2025 at 10:55 PM
That clocks. The example I'm thinking of is a lady walked into the street at the border of a streetlight. In the distance was a vehicle. The radar thought she was a ghost image of the vehicle. Camera lost her in the light/dark zone. Software overrode the ghost image (presumably), car ran into her.
And how many times was remote human assistance needed?
Is this about to roll out nationwide? If not, what non-working part of it are they working on?
Is this about to roll out nationwide? If not, what non-working part of it are they working on?
December 2, 2025 at 10:28 PM
And how many times was remote human assistance needed?
Is this about to roll out nationwide? If not, what non-working part of it are they working on?
Is this about to roll out nationwide? If not, what non-working part of it are they working on?
Limited usage that even Waymo won't say is working yet. What I would want to know, does the service shut down in thunderstorms? Can it double park if the passenger needs it and there's no other option? It's not the easy 99% of usage that matters, it's the hard 1%. That's what I doubt it can ever do.
December 2, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Limited usage that even Waymo won't say is working yet. What I would want to know, does the service shut down in thunderstorms? Can it double park if the passenger needs it and there's no other option? It's not the easy 99% of usage that matters, it's the hard 1%. That's what I doubt it can ever do.
Agreed that it needs both.
Disagree on cameras. I do think they have human eye capability, but what's lacking is human brain processing capability. Though that may he what you meant. Disagree that it will ever work, for full self driving anyway.
Disagree on cameras. I do think they have human eye capability, but what's lacking is human brain processing capability. Though that may he what you meant. Disagree that it will ever work, for full self driving anyway.
December 2, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Agreed that it needs both.
Disagree on cameras. I do think they have human eye capability, but what's lacking is human brain processing capability. Though that may he what you meant. Disagree that it will ever work, for full self driving anyway.
Disagree on cameras. I do think they have human eye capability, but what's lacking is human brain processing capability. Though that may he what you meant. Disagree that it will ever work, for full self driving anyway.
The problem with radar, and presumably Lidar, is that it could never support self driving, as the noise and reflections in an urban environment would exceed the needed precision. Strict physical limit. Cameras could, IF tech could process it correctly. Not that Elon knew that, he's an idiot.
December 2, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The problem with radar, and presumably Lidar, is that it could never support self driving, as the noise and reflections in an urban environment would exceed the needed precision. Strict physical limit. Cameras could, IF tech could process it correctly. Not that Elon knew that, he's an idiot.