> Saying the difference between Adderall (an amphetamine) and Ritalin (methylphenidate) doesn't matter because they both just boost dopamine is like saying it doesn't matter whether you turn up the volume on your speaker by using a remote or by walking over and pressing a button. Yes, both methods make the music louder, but how they do it is different.
Ok, but considering the context your distinction has no relevance.
Why are you conflating the concept of "nation" with that of a "state"? These are two words with different meanings. This just strikes me as meaningless friction to cause domestic arms production.
You're just reading a mildly ambiguous sentence in poor faith. Not only is the amphetamine comment clearly applying to Adderall—which is true—methylphenidate also delivers an uptick in dopamine, which is why it's effective at all. The difference between the two drugs—which is meaningful in many contexts—is not substantial in this context.
Ok, who gives a damn about that? White collar workers are still workers who are fucked by the current globalized market. Furthermore most folks don't have cushy salaried positions and they collectively matter a lot more than the folks on this forum.
Turns out people want more from the market than a 401k and a cheap tv. Specifically a stable place to live with reliable employment and decent healthcare is worth sacrificing a hell of a lot for.
> while I agree with the geo-political arguments, I'd prefer to see regulations that allow the freemarket to design a solution, rather than a government contract to choose the winner.
I think the market did choose and the choice was "not in the us".
> Unfortunately AGI is orders of magnitude more impactful than Web 2.0 and social media.
It's worth noting that this "impact" might appear as the production of conversation and discourse so unhelpful and unwanted it clogs the internet. I think comparison to the email spam explosion is probably the best available!
Ok, but considering the context your distinction has no relevance.