1.? Do traffic tickets reduce accident rates?

Yes, but likely not as much as in countries where the penalty fee is based on one’s salary and not just a flat fee.

2.? Is threatening to confiscate dollar reserves held in escrow for violations of international law by the US government a good idea?

Generally I think “threatening” is not a good idea. With most things in life, either do it or don’t. IE, if someone is trying to harm you, either shoot them or call the police, don’t “threaten.” If you are in a bad relationship, just break up with them, don’t “threaten” them. If someone has bad intentions, threatening them only tips them off to what you might do as a recourse, it’s not going to suddenly make them repent and do the right thing. So while I’m not sure about this exact situation, I’ll go with my general principal, either the US government should confiscate the money, or not. I see no point to “threatening.”

3.? If the BRIC countries create their own reserve currency - will the US dollar lose value?

I don’t think so, but I don’t know much about this. I don’t think the US dollar lost value to the euro when it was created, so I don’t think we will lose value to BRIC countries making a currency either. At least not enough to matter in the grand scheme of things.

4.? Have you ever worked as an independent contractor?

Haha, does selling Avon count? I think legally it does. I did sell Avon for a few years, mainly because I was buying a tremendous amount of the product and it only made sense to become a distributor so I could get the discount.

5. What was the most egregious example of disinformation you have seen this year?

It is hard to pick just 1 example. I think the idea that the 2020 election was stolen is going around, when it most certainly wasn’t, is certainly in the running. The 2020 election was double, triple, quadrupled checked with so many court cases, so many recounts, there is no doubt that Biden won. Previously to 2020, I was one who had my doubt about election integrity. But with Trump’s 202 0 blatant lies, I actually learned about the process of how votes are counted, the many steps to prevent fraud, and seeing the numerous double/triple checks in many states, I now have ZERO doubt about election integrity. It’s just not possible in our modern age without getting caught.
But while that is likely the example with the most real world consequences, the absolute craziness of disinformation being passed around on social media is incredible. For instance, there are apparently a large minority of people who believe that *all* US presidents and their spouses are/were secretly trans (as well as almost everyone else in the public sphere.) There are forums dedicated to analyzing facial features to “prove” this, and a huge number or participants. While I’d like to think they are all bots or trolls….given how many people I know in real life (and even on this Mensa forum) who believe patently disproven beliefs, I sadly think that a good number of the people on those forums really believe a majority of people are trans.

Rhonda

It is