Commerce Secretary Lutnick: Tariff Policies ‘Worth It’ Even If They Trigger Recession
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended President Donald Trump’s tariff policies on Tuesday, stating that they are essential for America—even if they lead to a …
I'm so delighted to be part of Matthew Seybold's American Vandal podcast, talking Twain, The Gilded Age and oligarchy, The Mysterious Stranger and technology. I enter stage left about 1:15: marktwainstudies.com/the-gilde…
NEW: Judge Hollander sends a 2nd letter today warning acting commissioner Dudek not to shut down Social Security operations. Her order barred DOGE from further. accessing sensitive records & to delete data that it has.
As glacial cliffs break off and destabilize frozen landscapes, glaciologist Richard Alley focuses on the fractures. The work could improve predictions about future sea-level rise. #WorldWaterDay 💧
I'm beginning to think that allies and enemies don't apply to whole countries in this situation: it's all the autocrats together against everyone else. I can see China and America going to war purely as a way for each country to tighten despotic control of their people while the 1% of the 1% grift off the military-industrial complex. Basically just 1984.
It's just a meme. It's satire. And, yes, it's meant to be silly.
But the point is not whether or not they are literally retired or unemployed. The point is that their lavish lifestyles are funded on the backs of working-class people.
This is stigmatizing people who are unemployed and reliant on state benefits. Don't put genocidal white supremacist monarchs together with us, the disabled and unemployed. Thanks!
Two Chicago police officers who have overseen many felony charges under a new policy that lets police file felony gun charges without prosecutor approval have 59 misconduct complaints between them, including illegal searches and excessive force. boltsmag.org/cook-county-initi…
In a predominantly Black area of Chicago, police can now directly file gun charges without a prosecutor’s approval. The new program rolls back a process that serves to check misconduct.
@aSweetGentleman @mls14 @RegGuy And what exactly was "lost" in Cuba anyway? There's zero debate about whether there was massive wealth inequality under Batista. Cuba's poverty since the revolution is due more to American sanctions than to the failures of socialism, and at least everyone there has healthcare.
@CStamp @RobotDiver @RegGuy THIS^^^ So many people are STILL defending their choice to stay home or vote for some crazy 3rd-party candidate. Their excuse? “Both sides are bad.”
Imagine feeling so privileged that when Nazis start rounding people up, they assume they won’t be among those in the camps!
Even today, I saw comments that Obama is just as bad as Trump, or that Harris is just Republican-Lite. WTF?
If people cannot even admit that voting against Harris (or not voting) was an unquestionable MISTAKE… then we are well and truly f-ed.
@mls14 @CStamp @RobotDiver @RegGuy it’s antiblackness and I want you to call it out when you see it. White people think being led by a black man/woman is worse than being led by a felonious rapist.
@aSweetGentleman @mls14 @RegGuy I'm not saying Cuba is great, by any means. But I suspect that for most Cubans it's nevertheless better post-Castro than pre-Castro (a VERY low bar).
The AOC / Bernie "platform" isn't much different from what Harris and Walz campaigned on last year. The difference is more where AOC and Bernie are campaigning - western cities with large working-class populations - and where Harris and Walz campaigned - mostly must-win electoral college states.
White people look at Trump and see themselves. They look at their black neighbors with similar struggles and concerns and they see "the other." And via this dynamic, the USA dies
Unbelievable. First, I am tired of people telling past leaders to come and save them after they didn’t vote for Harris.
But this one gets bonus points for bigotry with the choices of what he whined about.
I think it's more complicated than that though, when you dig into it. I think, at least in Canada, we live under the delusion that we have a true democracy. We don't, but it doesn't mean I'm giving up my right to vote, because the alternative is even worse. Sheldon Wolin wrote a lot about it. Here I vote for the party least likely to ruin or unalive my friends and vulnerable people, but I know that none of them have my best interest at heart because they are all part of a network of corporate interest, because literally no one can make it to their places without wading into it. Dems are better than fascists, but if you are just voting or not voting, you are still allowing a broken system to govern you and not in any layperson's best interest.
I almost had hope for the lack of voter turnout the last election because it indicates some serious unrest and desire for change, but you can't just vote or not vote and then not do anything and that's the real problem. You eith
I think it's more complicated than that though, when you dig into it. I think, at least in Canada, we live under the delusion that we have a true democracy. We don't, but it doesn't mean I'm giving up my right to vote, because the alternative is even worse. Sheldon Wolin wrote a lot about it. Here I vote for the party least likely to ruin or unalive my friends and vulnerable people, but I know that none of them have my best interest at heart because they are all part of a network of corporate interest, because literally no one can make it to their places without wading into it. Dems are better than fascists, but if you are just voting or not voting, you are still allowing a broken system to govern you and not in any layperson's best interest.
I almost had hope for the lack of voter turnout the last election because it indicates some serious unrest and desire for change, but you can't just vote or not vote and then not do anything and that's the real problem. You either become an active participant in change and your governance or the monster eats you at the end of every choose your own adventure.
Not voting just results in every concern you put forth getting worse
Voting gets you shit, but at least slightly better than before. And that is all you will ever get in this world, in any democracy that could ever exist
I would criticize your words by saying you think some outcome is possible that is never going to be possible
Not voting absolutely gets you worse. Voting gets you less worse. Now and until you try to reform your government, and that is decidedly what he talks about.
@ErickaSimone @mls14 @CStamp @RobotDiver @RegGuy@mastodon.world Not in the Northeast. We look at Trump and see that one shitty landlord or used car salesman we’ve all run across. The guy is a gilded turd.
@RegGuy All I'm saying is there is far more at play than democracy and no democracy, but it's takes a book or two of digging into it and I couldn't fit it all in a social media post.
100%. I think a lot of people lose their sense of responsibility after they vote, like that is their only political requirement to maintain their democracy, and it isn't. It's a 'yes, and..."
@RobotDiver @RegGuy Also some see not voting as a principle thing whereas I see it as a refusal to accept responsibility thing.
Both choices are "bad" so you "aren't going to get your hands dirty" (legit quote) by voting for the one who will kill fewer people.
That's not principle, that's refusing to accept responsibility for even the simplest of functional choices, and if you're not willing to do take absolute least-effort action IN THE WORLD to change outcomes, I don't think you're willing to do a single goddamn other thing either.
...except energy-vampire everyone else in sight to keep _them_ from doing anything _either_, so that nothing gets done, and your inaction is validated.
It looked as if the misogyny was a bit larger than the racism from over here. Neither absent, but a black man was elected, and a white woman was rejected.
@RobotDiver @RegGuy Iirc The Biden admin negotiated a deal between with 8 out of 12 of the unions accepting. The 4 unions that did not accept decided to strike and thus the admin was forced to vote to block it. Voting to block the strike prevented massive economic shutdown. I believe this context makes AOCs decision a lot more reasonable.
@zakalwe @RegGuy @RobotDiver The Dem Congressmen are having difficulty leading the charge against authoritarianism. Like with most fields, Congress is full of mediocre members. It's easy to be a Congressman (or anything else) when the waters of your profession are calm.
It isn't calm now, it's extremely turbulent. But those who can lead us through this will rise to the top. Schumer won't be one of those. Walz, Bernie Sanders, and AOC are showing their leadership zeal and courage. Governor Pritzker seems to be making a move. There will be others hopefully.
Those who cannot or will not provide leadership will hopefully at least fall enthusiastically behind those who are leading.
@IndieGoblin @RobotDiver @RegGuy We are choosing people for a job, not to be our life partners. We don't get to build these people in labs to our specs, so we have to choose from actual options. Art of the Second Best and all that.
@moira @RobotDiver @RegGuy Seriously. My friend we are here because blaming everyone and everything except the people who’s Job We are here because of weakness Years of Politicians on both sides enriching themselves first People are fine letting others starve as long as they are fed Letting others suffer as long as they are comfortable No we are here because like everything else it’s easier to kick the can down the
@moira @RobotDiver @RegGuy Not voting is never having a right to ever complain about anything. Anyone who doesn't vote in a democracy is thumbing their nose at the democracy, and is ok with the very worst happening. Screw non voters. There is absolutely nothing principled about refusing to protect and participate in a democracy.
don't defend nonvoters. they are fucking morons and you will hear me say far worse if you continue to defend these useless pieces of shit
the only terms of this interaction for me with you right now is "why the fuck does this person not understand nonvoters are stupid pieces of shit helping us get to fascism"
@moira @RobotDiver @RegGuy Some might *claim* to be not voting as some sort of principle, but back in the real world approximately 100% of people who claim they don't vote "on principle" are lying and the truth is that they are simply too ****ing lazy to get their arses down to the polling station.
Not in 10 billion years do I hold anything against anyone who can't vote legally, easily, or has any social, financial or physical situation that prevents them from voting
I'm specifically referring to those fucking shitwits who can easily vote and simply chose not to
Okay, some are lazy f… but some are legally/illegally disenfranchised in ways that are hard/impossible to overcome (take the US for example). In some countries this amounts to a sham democracy.
If the system isn’t working for the electorate, it’s up to the electorate to vote people in who will change it (US should vote for Bernie Sanders and his allies in the midterms and keep them in for a couple of POTUS Administrations to turn the clusterfuck around IMO)
@midgephoto @mls14 @CStamp @RobotDiver @RegGuy they’ve been freaking out and the first step was that shitty bootleg tea party they tried. It’s evolved into this.
@midgephoto @mls14 @CStamp @RobotDiver @RegGuy Half White half African man was elected. White woman was technically elected but lost the electoral. Half Desi half Black woman could not pull popular or electoral.
And don’t let them tell you it was Palestine either. Bullshit. Palestine has been an issue since the second war of Gaza 1899. To blame a black woman for an ongoing genocide she walked into? Misogynoir.
You have ranked choice voting, what you call preferential voting. This is like nirvana to me, an American, stuck in this two party shit. You can vote your conscience freely without concern for dreary strategy, you aren't forced to choose between only two different flavors of shit
Do you not understand your own fucking voting system?
It's ironic you complain about bourgeoisie and yet the content of your "concerns" is clueless privilege
@RobotDiver @RegGuy During a particularly unpleasant period I had a management team that kicked projects into the long grass by not responding to emails and refusing to have meetings to discuss the work, the idea being that they could claim no responsibility for outcomes or problems but still expected things to happen in the specified timescales and claimed the right to give a good kicking for not achieving unspecified perfections. Eventually I ended every email to them with the words: "Please bear in mind that not making a decision is a decision unto itself and will be documented as such." I would say the same about not voting, if you choose not to make a decision you live with that decision.
Under first past the post not voting doesn't mean you don't like either of the available options, it means you're okay with either of them. People tend not to realise or aren't told that under FPTP you aren't voting for what you want, you're voting against what you most don't want.
@the5thColumnist @msbellows @moira @RobotDiver @RegGuy I utterly and wholeheartedly disagree. On the terms of your stated concern, the genocide in Gaza, Harris would have been a better check on Netanyahu. To not choose her because magic unicorn perfection wasn't available is not principled. It's fucking stupid. There is nothing honorable nor wise in nonvoting. It's self-serving self-destructive morons and assholes
Some people find it hard to vote for less evil because it still means voting for evil. I am not going to criticize anyone for example refusing to vote for a genocide enabling administration. I am also not going to criticize anyone voting for lessor evil. Both can be principled positions.
@RobotDiver @RegGuy we are two party, and if you had any current understanding you’d know the LNP and Labour have voted to remove any competition by strangling any independent from gaining funds. America is a racist despotic cesspool, you voted for it. The rest of the world must act accordingly.
@the5thColumnist @msbellows @RobotDiver @RegGuy When "refusing to vote for a genocide enabling administration" means "helping an administration that wants that genocide ramped up AND TO START THREE MORE," then yeah, I will ABSOLUTELY criticise that non-vote. 100% of the time. And did. Because you're literally helping start more genocides.
People who had that position can pretend they were taking a "principled position against genocide" but when that position STARTS MORE GENOCIDES, it's a goddamn filthy lie.
@TimWardCam @moira @RobotDiver @RegGuy Doing nothing is never a sign of principle. It’s either indecision, laziness or cowardice. In the end it really doesn’t matter why. My memory of #Shakespeare quotes is a bit rusty, but I think King Lear said nothing will come of nothing, and he was right.
Yes, America sucks. And Australia is better. But Australia will become more like the USA if more Australians are like you because you're a spoiled whiny child. You are the bourgeoisie. I don't care how much money you have in your account, I see in your words the same indolent entitled whiny cluelessness as I see in Americans around me who gave us this shit
Allow this stupid American to educate you on YOUR OWN voting system, genius:
No, voting and not voting aren't both "principled positions."
Gangrene sucks. Amputation sucks, but not as much as gangrene. Refusing to perform an amputation because everyone deserves to be whole = letting someone die because you are too "principled" to support the lesser of two evils.
My comments had nothing to do with not voting, just with people not voting for evil and choosing something else, refusing to be compelled to choose between two evils. Not to say under certain circumstance abstentions could not be out of principle.
Read carefully people. Saying I will not attack people for taking a certain position based on their principles (not necessarily mine) is not saying I agree with that position.
Sorry, please name which POTUS in the last 50 years wouldn't have done at least as much as Biden did to support Israel after the attack and during the genocide. I'll wait.
@RobotDiver @RegGuy funny shit from a Nazi enabler. I’ve voted with integrity for nothing for almost 30yrs. Australia circles the USA like a lonely dog. I’m so fkn ashamed that you’re allowed on Mastodon.
@RobotDiver @RegGuy ah good ol American exceptionalism. Wouldn’t have a fucking clue about your own country but super comfortable running the world. You’ve got nought to say to anyone. Back in your little fascist box. Focus on your next invasion.
but if you want to insult someone effectively you need to be relevant to the topic at hand
you tried, i appreciate that
remember the issue here is that australia has preferential voting. so you are not stuck with two parties like the usa
in reply you have a go at foolishness and nazi enabling. the issue is you don't even understand your own fucking voting system- but you can't defend that. it's ignorance that, drum roll please, enables nazis
@RobotDiver @RegGuy you don’t understand preferential voting… it gets us losers who have less than 500 primary votes total “representing” me? That’s rubbish. You really have that American exceptionalism ingrained.
At least three people were killed and 14 others were injured in a mass shooting at a park in the desert city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, police said Saturday.
Samuel
in reply to Solarpunklifer • • •