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sophieinwonderland · 1 year ago

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An Anti-Endo's Playbook

Hello! Are you an anti-endo looking to convert people to your cause? Well you're in luck because I have the guide for you!

As more studies come out supporting endogenic systems, arguing against pro-endos is becoming harder every day. But let me tell you a secret, people aren't perfectly logical machines. We're emotional and irrational. You don't need science or logic on your side. Instead, your job is to exploit that irrationality.

Let's start with something simple.

Argument by Assertion "Endos Aren't Scientifically Possible."

This is your opening and is possibly the most effective tool in your toolbox. Just say something and repeat it ad nauseum.

See, you don't need to be right. You just need to be confident and state what you want people to believe as a fact. Then repeat it again and again.

Propaganda experts might also call this The Big Lie.

People are social creatures and naturally trusting, so if you say something bold and confidently, they're going to be inclined to believe you. You don't actually need to provide any scientific evidence to support your case, or quotes from doctors, or anything else. Just keep repeating that endos aren't scientifically possible over and over again.

This might not sound effective, but there's a reason a third of the United States still thinks the 2020 election was rigged. If you're confident and don't waver for a moment, and keep repeating the lie, people will believe you.

But... what about the people that don't? What if an endo starts citing actual sources that contradict your claims. Normally, I might suggest finding sources of your own, but given the complete lack of support anti-endos have in academic papers, this may prove impossible. Luckily, we have more tricks up our sleeves.

Appeal to the Masses "Everyone Agrees That Endos Aren't Real."

As we all know, science isn't determined by scientists. Science is a democracy where anyone can vote. That's why even though scientists say we use all of our brains, we can know that the truth is that we only use 10% of our brains, because that's what most people believe and there have even been movies about it and stuff.

This is an the appeal to the masses.

Likewise, most people don't believe in endos. Or at least, that's what you say. See, you probably don't have any reliable polls on hand to back up that assertion, so we're kind of combining techniques here. We're appealing to the masses, but without evidence the masses agree with us, we just kind of have to assert it. As long as it sounds true, then people will believe it.

Like how I bet most people believed me when I said "most" people think we only use 10% of our brain. It SOUNDS like it could be true, and confirms our pre-existing biases that humans are kind of stupid, and that's really good enough isn't it?

What if this still doesn't work though? What if the endos keep demanding evidence?

Well, you can just give them too much of it.

The Gish Gallop: Source Overload

(Example)

You may be wondering, since I mentioned that there aren't any sources that support anti-endos, how this will work.

First, let's take a moment to understand the Gish Gallop. This debating tactic is most commonly associated with live debates where you throw out a bunch of nonsense claims that your opponent doesn't have time to answer because refuting them would take more time than you're allotted. Then when your claims go unanswered, it tricks spectators into thinking the claims are true.

This isn't generally as effective online where people can take hours to compose a response if they want... except...

The online equivalent of this is to overload your opponent with too many junk sources so that they can't debunk them all.

These do not need to support your point in any way. And you should NEVER screenshot them. Remember, your goal isn't to make the information accessible to your opponent. It's to keep the pro-endo occupied reading a 30-page document to try to figure out what it means and how it relates to what you're saying.

If the pro-endo does debunk your first paper, call them out for not addressing your other 20 articles too. Make them out to be ignoring evidence.

If they do call out this tactic and ask for a screenshot or quote of specific lines that back up your argument, respond by self-righteously telling the endo that it's not your job to educate them.

Speaking of education, what do we do about the endo sources?

Ad Hominems: Attacking the Researchers

Ad hominems are great for combating sources.

At the most basic level, you can get a lot of mileage out of throwing around the word "quack" a lot without finding any dirt on the researchers.

You might want to also claim the research is biased in some way. Say for example that a researcher has a hypothesis and they conducted an experiment to test that hypothesis. You can say that this makes the whole experiment biased and therefore should be dismissed because the research already had an expected outcome. Someone might counter and say that most scientists start with a hypothesis. But luckily, a lot of lay people won't realize that.

Let's say, for instance, that someone cites this paper on Vineyard Evangelicals who hear the voice of God as an example of non-traumagenic plural-like experiences.

Instead of addressing the merits of this paper or discussing whether hearing an autonomous and seemingly self-conscious voice identifying itself as God is plural or plural-like, you can look up to see if any of the 200,000 members of the Vineyard Church have ever reported negative experiences. Get one article with people calling it cult-like, and then accuse the endo of using "abusive sources."

Other Strategies For Dismissing Papers: Just Make Up Reasons Why Studies Are Invalid

For these, we're going to rely again on our argument by assertion, and assert some qualifiers for why a study should be dismissed.

First, accuse a study of being outdated.

Now, science doesn't actually have an expiration date. There is some research out there that may be outdated in the way that newer research comes out that disproves it. But in the absence of further research, old papers are generally considered useful, and it's not uncommon to see professionals today still cite sources dating back to the 80s or earlier.

But if you just throw out a number of years for research to expire, you can be sure that many people will take it at face value. But be careful with this. People might believe that 20-year-old research is too old. But it will be harder to sell them on something like "any research older than 5 years is outdated." That's going to be a problem when a lot of endogenic research is actually pretty recent, coming out within the last decade.

Another tactic you can try is to Attack the Domain.

As we're all taught in middle school in the US, only .gov and .edu sources are valid.

This is an oversimplification and is no longer applicable in higher education. But luckily, you're not targeting educated individuals. If you're making this argument, the ones you're probably trying to convince will be traumatized children between the ages of 14 and 17. And for this demographic, this argument is perfect. Not only have they never been to college themselves but neither have anyone in their friendgroup.

They have no concept of what counts as valid source in academic settings, and it's your job to keep it that way. Indoctrinate them young, and they'll stay yours forever.

Demonizing The Enemy: "Endos are Harming Real Systems"

This can take many forms.

At the basic level, you can do the anecdotal "endos are bad because they said mean things about me once." (Be sure to remove any context of things you may have said or did to them first.) There are plenty of endogenic systems out there in the world, and some are going to be cruel and abusive. Just like any other group.

These people are useful to your cause. If you ever had contact with abusive endos or pro-endos before, make sure that you write in detail about your bad experiences and specifically make it clear that they weren't an endogenic system who happened to be bad, but they're bad because they're endogenic. Also, if they're a traumagenic pro-endo, be sure that in your post you just refer to them as an "endo." The goal is smearing the entire endogenic community, and differentiating between abusive endos and traumagenic pro-endos will detract from that goal.

A well known example is the term "traumascum." Despite the fact that its coiner is traumagenic and most of the endogenic community dislikes it, it's important that when you make your emotional arguments to show why endos are bad, you only refer to it as being created and used by "endos."

If you really want to go all-in on this, something else you can do is...

Blame Endos For All Ableism

For this part, you want to try to convince people that any fakeclaiming or ableism they've ever experienced is because of this small niche group of systems on the internet.

In actuality, fakeclaiming DID systems has happened for a long time. The Imitated DID narrative was heavily pushed in all the way back in the 90s. And many of the people fakeclaimed today are TikTokers who are IDing as traumagenic DID systems.

Don't let these facts stop you though.

For the first part, the good thing is that, as I said before, many of the people you're trying to convince are children. If you tell them that fakeclaiming is worse today than ever before, who are they to argue? They have no frame of reference. They're usually younger systems who have only known that they're systems for a few years.

For the second, you can just ignore it. Or better yet, just label all the "cringe" systems as endos, regardless of whether they are or not.

Is calling traumagenic systems "endos" fakeclaiming their trauma? Sure.

But really, you fakeclaiming their trauma is really the endos' fault. If they didn't exist, then you wouldn't be able to call people endos, now would you?

See how smoothly that works?

All Anecdotes of People Who Thought They Were Endogenic Are Proof Endos Don't Exist

Anecdotes are your best friend. If you can find a small handful of people who previously thought they were endogenic and turned out to be wrong, you can weaponize this against all endos.

You can use these anecdotes as both proof that endos don't exist AND that they're harmful to real systems at the same time.

This particular tactic has also been used to great effect by anti-transgender groups, using a small handful of detrans people as proof that transitioning doesn't work and as a means of limiting trans rights. The success of these groups at spinning that narrative is how you can know that this tactic is effective!

More Ad Hominems: Attacking the Opposition

Yup. We're bringing in more ad hominems. This is one of the most important tools in your belt. If you feel like you're losing an argument, you can just attack the person you're arguing with. Actually, you should do this before the argument even starts.

Discrediting your enemy right at the beginning, making people see them as a bad person, will immediately make people not want to associate with them and even make them inclined to disagree with whatever they say.

So try to dredge up anything you can on them to weaponize. Or just casually accuse them of being something-phobic or something-ist.

Calling them ableist is easy. You can shout out ableism accusations right from the start just on the merits of being pro-endo.

If they're a spiritual plural, you can call them racist. This works easiest with tulpamancers since tulpa has a Tibetan etymology. (And don't worry; you won't need to pretend to care about appropriation outside of this context, such as the tulpa appearing in creepypastas or media like Supernatural or X-Files, or Genshin Impact's Hydro Tulpa boss. This is about winning an argument, not being morally consistent.) But it can work with any sort of spiritual system. If you're feeling particularly bold, you can actually claim that all possession states around the world are closed practices and anyone who claims spiritual plurality is appropriating these cultures.

Also, if they use the word "sysmed," because this is derived from transmed, be sure to call them transphobic because they're appropriating trans words. Pay no mind to if they're transgender themselves, or how little sense it would make to appropriate their own language.

Bully into Submission

If simple ad hominems don't work, dogpile and bully them into silence. Invite your friends to join in. Bombard them with constant hate posts and harassment.

The goal here is not to convert people to your side, but to remove them from the conversation. Keep the accusations going. Make up rumors about them. Try to falsely report them to get them banned. You want to make them suffer so much that they never want to post again. To ensure, one way or another, that there is one less pro-endo in the world.

This will work best on people who themselves are traumatized and vulnerable. Luckily, there are a lot of people like that in the pro-endo community you can silence this way.

Be warned though of the emotional tank.

These people have personalities that can tank a shocking amount of abuse and emotional damage, and even turn abuse they receive around and use it as a talking point against your side. They take the old adage of "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" to heart.

If you try to harass an emotional tank, rather than silencing them, you're likely to only make them stronger and more determined.

Speaking of traumatized people...

Try To Make People Associate Endos With Trauma

Remember to know your audience. And your audience is a group of trauma survivors.

If you really, really want to ensnare them, play on that.

Use it to your advantage. One super simple way to do this is to throw around cult accusations. Just saying endos are a cult will immediately trigger cult survivors and make them want to avoid the pro-endo community.

A more complicated version of this can be done if an endo mentions that we don't have proof that DID or OSDD forms from trauma 100% of the time.

What you want to say in this situation is that "to prove all cases of DID come from trauma, you would need to traumatize children."

You can add a line specifically accusing the endo of wanting to traumatize children, or just let the implication hang in the air.

Now, someone paying attention might recognize that such a study couldn't prove what it claims to. Just like if you did a study where you hit a bunch of people in the arm with a hammer and broke their arms, you couldn't prove that 'all broken arms are caused by hammers.'

But you aren't saying this because you think it's logical. You're saying this because you're trying to get your audience of survivors of childhood trauma to think of endos as people who want to traumatize children.

If you can properly trigger them, then that rational part of their brain will just shutoff and they won't question your premise or logic too much.

How to Keep People Once Indoctrinated

Remember, the conversion process is only the beginning. After that, you want to make sure that they stay anti-endo. A good place to start is to...

Make Sure Friendship is Contingent on Them Being Anti-Endo

Pull people into anti-endo servers that have strict rules against pro-endos and even neutrals. Post "pro-endos" in your DNI to make it known that you don't ever want to interact with any pro-endos.

At the same time, encourage them to cutoff pro-endo friends and avoid pro-endo spaces. Ideally, you want the convert isolated from anyone who might be able to change their minds in the future.

Once you've cut them off from all pro-endos, their only system friends will be in the anti-endo community. And if they ever step outside of that box, they'll be instantly banned from their anti-endo servers and blocked by their anti-endo "friends."

With this, not only have you converted them, but you can reliably keep them on your side forever. Or at least, until they're willing to destroy all their relationships with other systems online in order to get out.

Just Let The Endos Do It For You

Endos thesmelves will actually be your secret weapon in this endeavor.

It's a well-known fact that hate breeds more hate. If you fakeclaim someone, they're going to be angry, and will likely resort to personal attacks. Once your newly-converted anti-endo has been successfully indoctrinated, get them to make some public anti-endo posts. The more hateful and invalidating, the better. Preferably where pro-endos can see.

When endos respond respond to the convert's hate post by sending hate of their own, it will only confirm that endos are actually hateful. It doesn't matter who started it. It only matters that you get an angry reaction out of the endos.

And the more the endos react to hate with more hate, the more the convert will double down.

The absolute worst thing for you as an anti-endo would be if endos stopped responding to hate with more hate of their own, and took a moment to consider if how they're reacting is actually in the best interest of their cause, of if they're just being baited into lashing out from hurt and anger themselves.

#satire #syscourse #pro endo #pro endogenic #sysblr #multiplicity #system discourse #discourse #actually a system #All of these are things I've seen anti-endos say and do

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thebreakfastgenie · 1 month ago

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This is a bit of a ramble, but:

I think what's frustrating to me about the current situation regarding liberals and leftists is that I feel like the liberals HAVE made changes that HAVE improved compared to where they used to be years ago...

There's still a lot of things I'm not fond of in regards to aspects of how liberals handle the issue of progress. They can be too slow and timid at times. They can be far too beholden to certain laws and ideas that keeps them from making significant changes that could be genuinely beneficial to them and everyone else. And some parts of their coalition still struggles to deal with the reality that certain groups are their enemy and not just belligerent coworkers. But even with that in mind, at least there's something of a sense that they're relatively better than where they used to be.

The problem is, it feels like much of their progress is also driven by the fact that the LEFTISTS have regressed backwards.

It creates this weird feeling where it feels like the liberals actually haven't changed much (even though they have), but that the people who once claimed to hold their feet to the fire have just nosedived off a cliff into a pit of madness and self-righteous idiocy, if that makes any sense.

So it makes it feel like there isn't as much of a victory or a good feeling as there could be, because yeah the liberals have gotten better, but at what price? A deeply myopic and self-absorbed left that has more in common with the enemy than they want to admit?

It just doesn't feel good at all, because I honestly hoped that it would be a case of the left and the liberals all elevating together, not them metaphorically switching places, and then the former going completely off the rails.

Yeah I think there's a lot of truth to this! The Democratic Party is the main liberal establishment in the United States and the party has really become much more progressive over the last twenty or so years! I used to clarify that I was to the left of the Democratic Party but supported for them anyway (I was, like, not old enough to vote at this point lol). I don't usually bother to do that anymore for a few reasons but I really don't feel uncomfortable being enthusiastic in my support because the party is much closer to me now, and I have not moved to the right.

Even just looking at 2020, the Biden/Harris campaign and administration adopted a lot of things the progressive wing of the party (primarily Sanders and Warren supporters) wanted. Take a look at the 2024 Democratic Party platform. There's big stuff in there! Good stuff!

The Democratic Party being aggressively pro-LGBT and specifically pro-trans is a huge deal in the current political climate.

And you would hope, as any rational person in the liberal-left spectrum of politics would, that this would lead to more unity between liberals and leftists, especially with the threat of fascism looming with the rise of the far right on the other side. It's really disappointing that it hasn't. It's clear there is a dearth of serious leftists, leaving a vacuum where the only ones we hear from are off the rails and more often than not acting in bad faith. It's extremely frustrating!

The reason it "feels like liberals haven't changed" is leftists keep moving the goalposts. When they actually get what they want they change their demands and claim their previous position was only a compromise. I distinctly remember with COVID checks leftists on twitter agitating for $1200 and then, when they got it, insisting they actually wanted $2000 checks minimum. The other option is they literally just deny that good things happen. They ignore them and if they're confronted with them invent reasons why they don't count, or insist Biden or whoever didn't really want to do it. They have made it abundantly clear that they will never be satisfied because they don't want to be satisfied, they want to be righteously angry.

The left these days seems to be a competition to take the most radical position. Along with that, social media rewards hyperbole, because it's attention-getting and creates stronger reactions, just like clickbait headlines. So while there may be rhetorical value in making a hyperbolic statement in some contexts, e.g. "this policy is literally killing people, the people who voted for it are murderers," online it's become constant and of course people begin to habituate to it so you get what I call hyperbole creep where it just keeps getting more and more hyperbolic, and then those statements get adopted as literal positions. I've seen leftists call Nancy Pelosi a climate denier because they don't think the climate change policy she supports goes far enough. The idea that some liberals are in denial about the urgency of climate change has some truth to it (though in many cases that assessment is made based on policy actions that are unfortunately determined less by how seriously liberals take climate change than by what is politically feasible when the other party is full of climate deniers) but that's not the same thing as climate denial, and it's counterproductive to claim it is. If someone agrees with you that an issue is important and about the general direction you should work in to address it, but doesn't go far enough for you, it's not only untrue but also unproductive to claim their position is identical to that of someone who does not believe in the issue at all, or wants to move in the opposite direction. But that's what leftists constantly do with "both sides are the same."

I tend to qualify statements about leftists in various relevant ways out of respect for people I've met who describe themselves as leftists and do serious work, and because I don't want to cede "the left" to the people you're talking about, but increasingly I feel like if most of the people calling themselves leftists are acting like this, that's just what leftist means now. And man, it sucks.

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limbuscompanysituations · 6 months ago

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Now I'm your "pretty please anon". I would like to see a situation where everyone in the unit decided to celebrate something and get drunk. Maybe even Vergil? The only sober ones are Dante and Charon, because Charon is driving, and Dante just can't (but they really wants to). pretty please

An important clarification, if you can write this as a situation, not as headcanons (if you find it difficult, then choose the second option), I would like to see it from a sober person, that is, from Dante

Sorry anon, Vergilius isn't getting drunk this time...

They had a successful day hunting another distortion, so when the sinners asked Dante for a little time to unwind before going back to the bus, they couldn't say no. Vergilius gave them a look, but instead of saying anything, he smiled. Dante should have interpreted that gesture as a warning; more precisely a bad omen. They were known for being oblivious to certain cues, unfortunately.

They arrived at the restaurant of the sinners' choice earlier, and once everyone voted on paying the meal out of their paychecks, everything started going off the rails. They were so excited to be doing something other than killing things and going back to the bus corridor that Dante couldn't say a thing. They counted on the sinners being able to exercise a little caution and good sense. They were expecting them to drink responsibly. Oh what a series of terrible decisions.

Right now the three tables that the sinners occupy are absolutely chaotic, all of the restaurant's patrons have steered clear of their corner. That's good because then nobody will be picking fights with strangers, but that doesn't say a thing about picking fights with each other.

< Guys, please calm down... > They try to reach out to Heathcliff and Ishmael who have been barking drunken insults back and forth for five minutes. Their words don't get through and they can't help but wonder if they'll need to rewind sometime soon.

It is Outis who steps in on their behalf to placate the fight but she's just as intoxicated and ends up joining the argument. In the midst of this battlefield, somehow, Yi Sang disappeared.

Dante walks by a Don Quixote who's joyfully reciting a speech from one of the many series she enjoys. The staff was smart enough not to let them in with their weapons, so she's wielding a spoon. Valliantly brandishing it into the air, standing on top of a table. Her performance could bring tears to anybody's eyes. It doesn't even look like she's drunk, but they know it.

Gregor lays with his head on the exact same table she stands on, his glasses are resting near his face. He covers his eyes with a hand while he groans. Hong Lu is right by his side, eyes sparkling as he applauds the play before him and pokes Gregor, calling his attention so they watch Don Quixote's performance together. Dante didn't have the presence of mind to suggest that Gregor moves to a less... eventful table.

Eventually they find their way to the table where Faust and Meursault still sit, sipping their drinks quietly while they watch the events unfold. This is where Yi Sang was, and from where he disappeared.

< A-are you sure you haven't seen him go anywhere...? > Dante asks them. Faust and Meursault give them looks of pity.

"The executive manager hasn't found him yet, Meursault." Faust says and Meursault frowns, "Pay."

"Most unfortunate." Meursault replies and with a sigh reaches for his wallet.

< YOU WERE BETTING ON THIS?! > Dante exclaims while they watch the transaction conclude.

"He's under." Faust says cryptically and then leans on the table with a slight smile.

< If only you gave me precise directions... ah, wait. > Under? Realization finally hits them.

They crouch under the table and there is Yi Sang. He's curled on the floor, looking slightly green but otherwise unharmed. Dante almost sighs in relief, but behind their back, Don Quixote's 'play' has grown livelier and louder.

Somehow Don Quixote managed to pull Ryoshu onto the 'stage' and gave her a spoon, goading her to fight a fictional battle. Sinclair has climbed the table in hopes of disengaging them, but his voice is not going through. Don Quixote and Ryoshu face each other, ferocious looks in their eyes.

Were it another person, Dante wouldn't worry too much, but knowing Ryoshu, they are certain she is capable of inflicting bodily harm even with a spoon. They quickly apologize to Yi Sang in their mind and rush to help Sinclair.

On another table, Rodion joined the arguing trio of Heathcliff, Ishmael and Outis. Unlike Outis, she didn't join in with the intent of placating, instead Dante could observe her give small malicious comments that seemed to stoke the flames of discord. They make a mental note to bring that up in a future consultation, but decide that Ryoshu vs. Don Quixote is a bigger problem currently. That's until Ishmael lifts a chair.

< Ishmael, no! > They take a detour and hurry to the ginger's side.

From the table where he safely sits with Charon, Vergilius frowns.

"Tick-Tock seems to be in trouble." Charon comments while she eats Vergilius' dessert.

"Hm..."

"It is loud, Vergie." She complains.

"Yes, we will be going back to the bus soon."

"Yay." She replies without any visible excitement.

Vergilius told himself he wouldn't interfere unless they started breaking down the restaurant. They're almost there, of course, but not yet. It's good to let Dante make these decisions on their own, after all if he continues babying the manager and their sinners, none of them will learn a thing. He sighs and keeps an eye on the commotion, not moving a single finger to help the struggling executive manager.

#limbus company #lcb #limbus scenarios #yi sang lcb #faust lcb #don quixote lcb #ryoshu lcb #meursault lcb #hong lu lcb #heathcliff lcb #ishmael lcb #outis lcb #rodion lcb #gregor lcb #sinclair lcb #dante lcb #vergilius lcb #charon lcb

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o-the-mts · 3 months ago

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It looks like the tally of the popular vote is showing that Donald Trump received about the same number of votes in 2024 as he did in 2020. If it's any small consolation, the number of hateful/racist/misogynistic/transphobic people in the US is not increasing but it is maintaining. The bigger problem is that Kamala Harris received significantly fewer votes than Joe Biden did in 2020 (although, interestingly, she already has more votes than Hillary Clinton received in 2016).

A lot of the analysis is focusing on American voters (or demographics within them) shifting to the right. But the real problem is that the vast majority of Americans eligible to vote are not participating. I know this makes a lot of people angry and want to rage at non-voters for their irrationality. But it won't do much good because 1. the non-voters are not going to see your social media posts, and 2. if they do hear you calling them stupid, it's not going to persuade them.

I feel that we really need to understand WHY so many people are disillusioned by the electoral process and what we can do to address that. The Republicans learned long ago that they could sew doubt by repeating that all politicians are corrupt and that government is the enemy of the people. They know they have their block of ~75 million who will vote for their particular form of corruption and if they suppress the rest of the vote, they win!

You will also often hear "both parties are the same." Now you can argue until your blue in the face that this is patently false. But what you'll be missing is that for the millions of Americans living on the margins of society, which party holds the Presidency, Congress, Governership, et al makes no material difference in their lives. Campaigning on a strong economy has no effect on people living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to support their families, saddled with increasing debts, and unable to afford adequate housing. The problem with voter turnout in the United States is routed in the deep levels of despair people are living that leads to the belief that voting makes no difference.

Now, I don't have any easy solutions to these problems, but I think there are two broad approaches that Democratic Party need to attempt:

Wherever Democrats have the power to do so (federal/state/local), remove the barriers to voting. Make registration automatic or offer same day registrations, offer mail-in ballots to everyone, extend early voting and hours at the polls (and make sure those polls are accessible to all communities), and allow ranked choice voting. Fight Republican voter suppression efforts tooth & nail and repeal the legislation already in place. Make GOTV programs year round not just in the weeks before elections.

Wherever Democrats have the power to do so (federal/state/local), provide programs that demonstrably make the lives of the millions of marginalized Americans better. I know this goes against politicians instincts to appeal to the people who vote. But moving to the right or working toward bipartisan legislation will not win over enough of those ~75 million hateful voters to make a difference. Instead go after the ~100 million nonvoters by directly attacking the roots of their despair and make them believe that their government works for them. As Abraham Lincoln said “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” But we're going to need to be a government of the people for that to succeed.

#u.s. politics #2024 election #democratic party #donald trump

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sixtynineinchnails · 7 months ago

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I've been wanting to make this post for months and in light of the recent ex-presidential ear piercing now seems as good a time as any.

As a non-usamerican, as someone who is pro Palestine, as an anarchist: I am begging you with every fibre of my being to go to the fucking polls this fall and

VOTE.

Disclaimer: I don't live in the united states and I never have and I probably never will. I can never truly understand what it's like to be a usamerican and I'm not going to pretend like i could. I fully expect to get called a fascist or some shit for saying your should exercise your right to vote but at this point I don't care. I'm scared, we're all scared, and news like we've just gotten tonight is only going to compound the fear and chaos and conspiracy thought and fearmongering and hopelesspilled doomerism we’re all dealing with rn. I don’t want to make anyone’s day worse. I'm not looking to debate you. I just want to say some things that i’ve been thinking about for a long time now while a couple people might actually stop to listen.

The united states of america is the most powerful country in the world.

What happens in the united states government this fall will affect every single person on the planet, in some way, for better or worse.

You aren't just voting blue to avoid trump turning the united states into an alt-right theocratic dictatorship (which on its own is bad enough). You're also voting to avoid the right from gaining power (where they haven't already) in of other powerful democratic countries. You're voting to stop Palestine (and let’s be real, probably a handful of other places) from being wiped off the face of the planet with nuclear bombs. You're potentially voting to avoid a third world war. I'm not saying this to spread fear of these things happening. I'm saying this because if you're not already aware of how huge the scope is here: you're not voting to save your country, you're very likely voting to save the entire world.

I can't speak to how people feel everywhere (if you’re also a non-usamerican please feel free to share how this is/has/will affect your country in the notes) but I want to speak to my own for a bit. I can confidently say that what happens in america heavily affects the political and social situation here in canada. We would not have had a convoy of thousands of people drive across the country (which takes days to do) to occupy our capital city for a month and halt almost $4 billion in trade to protest, i kid you not, wearing a mask during covid, if trump supporters hadn't paved the way (and directly influenced canadians to follow in their footsteps). We wouldn't have had "concerned parents" protesting against sex-ed and LGBTQ+ inclusivity in schools (protests full of armed+mounted police which they brought their young children to during school hours) if trump supporters hadn't paved the way. There are people waving flags and signs around on street corners along major roads every single week everywhere from the largest city in our country to small towns of under 5000 people. I’ve heard of people who’ve spiraled into such severe conspiracy rabbitholes that their entire lives and personalities have changed in just a few years. Despite being canadian nationalists, these people and their patterns of behaviour are all a direct result of donald j trump and his followers. And no matter your political leaning, pretty much everyone hates our current prime minister, our economy is bad, even people with decent incomes can’t afford to eat, and everyone is frothing at the mouth for something to happen. If america votes trump this fall, I see very little hope that our country won't vote conservative (our main right-wing party). They will backpedal decades of LGBTQ+ rights and Indigenous peoples' rights and climate action funding and children's education and a whole pile of other important stuff. They have made it very clear that they will follow the exact same path as right wing america and there are a scary amount of people here who want that. And even if canada remains centre/left while sharing the largest land border in the world with a trump dictatorship....well I for one can’t see that going over very well either.

And that's just my country. I know a lot of other countries have been battling a similar spike in alt-right groups and conservative ideologies following the last trump presidency. I don't think any of us are truly prepared for what will happen in the event of another one.

Look. I hate biden too. In general I disagree with the very concept of colonial government and money and the division of countries/states/etc and the legal/carceral system and a whole whack of other shit that we have to live with right now. Someone’s said this before but if any of us thought that telling you guys to blow up a walmart would save your country from a fascist dictatorship I for one would encourage it. But none of us are actually going to blow up a walmart, and it wouldn’t solve anything at this point anyways. We all have to take action in whatever ways we actually can and will. Voting is one of many small, simple steps you can take, should take, fucking better be taking. It’s easy, it’s legal, if you mail in you don’t even have to go to the polling station, and if you really can’t vote for whatever reason, encourage everyone you know who can to do so. Hell, if I could vote on november 5th I would crawl my ass over the border on my hands and knees to do it. I'm sorry that the two options are a fascist police state and an even worse fascist police state run by a man who thinks he's a god, but not voting won't fix that problem. You're not going to establish a revolution by purposefully not taking part in social change, and encouraging others not to either. Not voting against trump = voting for trump. If you don't vote and that orange nukefucker takes over your country it is your fault. And we’re all going to pay for your inaction, especially the people in places like Palestine who will be in significantly more danger than they already are if trump gets his fake tanned hands on the situation.

Anyways. Keep fighting. Stay safe. Do what you can. Don't give up. There is always hope for a better future. And for fucks sake go vote.

Oh and if we do end up in the worst timeline this november and I see you anti-voting fuckers making "lmao time to move to canada" jokes...count your fucking days.

TLDR: usamerica is not the only place in the world affected by the actions of usamerica. If you’re still railing against voting at this point you’re pro-trump lmao.

#donald trump #joe biden #us politics #american politics #canadian politics #long post #lemurposting #okay that’s enough of that. i shan’t be saying any more on this until november i think

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qqueenofhades · 1 year ago

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I can't tell if part of the reason people don't recognize Biden's accomplishments is because society is so shallow and easily swayed by loudness over depth, or because Biden is just too quiet and prone to focusing on the idea that his actions speak louder than his words.

Like yeah, the latter thing is important, but we live in a REALLY shallow society; maybe a bit more bragging about your substantial achievements would be helpful here.

I get what you're saying here, but this kind of thing always seems to hinge on "the Democrats need to be doing more/Biden needs to be saying more/the Democrats are not doing it right/etc," and I just don't think that's the actual problem. Yes, in the past the Democrats have relied on the tactic of just doing good things and hoping that people will notice enough to vote for them, but that TORPEDOED them in 2010 (they didn't aggressively defend/market the Affordable Care Act, the Tea Party crazies got to set the narrative about GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, and they got shellacked so badly that they didn't control the House again for the rest of Obama's time in office). Fortunately, they have awoken to the fact that we live in a corporate noise machine owned and operated by cartoonishly villainous billionaire oligarchs who don't care if the country is pushed into fascism as long as they get their tax breaks, and where the average voter is well conditioned by said media to accept the BOTH SIDES BAD narrative without question.

Whether it's true or not is beside the point; if you flood the zone with enough BS, people act as if it is. See all those polls about how people think the Democrats are "too liberal" more than they think the GOP is "too conservative," even though only one of those parties is actively trying to end democracy. See the people who think Trump and Biden are equally ethically compromised. Etc. etc. Biden has already been considerably vocal about his accomplishments, has given several major speeches about the danger to democracy (which he did just the other day), but it is already so filtered and twisted in a radioactively toxic media atmosphere that just talking more or trying to trumpet more isn't going to help.

The DC media is full of a bunch of narcissists who like to make false equivalences and also openly hanker for Trump to be back in office because it makes them more relevant; they get to break juicy exposes and shocking headlines and whatever else, that gets more clicks, they get more exposure, etc. Biden is (as noted) boring, as in he's not on Twitter every day saying something ludicrous (and if he said even ONE ludicrous thing, far less the nonstop stream of BS that Trump constantly spews and which somehow still makes the media yell about how BIDEN should be the one to step aside, he'd be toast), and just does the job. That's not very Sexy and Marketable. When he talks about how he's doing the job and what he plans to do next, the media is too busy commissioning a dozen bullshit Horserace!!! polls and talking about how, in case we haven't noticed, he is 80 and that is somehow, implicitly, a more disqualifying fact than Trump's 91 goddamn serious treason-level felonies, including for literally trying to overthrow the government. Our politics and civic society have been so irreparably poisoned that actual competence is completely beside the point and makes a normal president less appealing than one who's just insane all the time. Everything's just a game show! Everyone's opinions are equal! Live in all the alternate universes you want! Who cares if we accidentally end democracy? Just another headline!

This is likewise not helped by the fact that in this relentlessly commodified social-media universe, Republicans are constantly on message and united behind their candidates, no matter how openly fucking awful they are, while leftists/liberals/Democrats (and people who claim to be) are constantly tearing into and criticizing their candidates in a way that makes Joe and Jane Low Information Voter even more susceptible to believing the "Both Sides" narrative -- after all, if the Democrats are attacking the Democrats, they really must be bad! Yes, we are not in a cult and therefore are able to have an actual discussion about things, but this falls into the "We're Just Holding Them Accountable!!" line that is just an excuse for ripping the Democrats even more than any of those people ever criticize or actively oppose the Republicans.

Hence all these braindead takes about how Biden should step aside, Biden should drop Harris, Biden should do X Y and Z and this is all his fault, instead of anyone remotely trying to come to grips with the extreme polarization and fascism of the other side. I keep yelling about it, and a lot of other people I respect keep yelling about it, because yet again, we've learned fucking nothing from 2016 and we're teetering on a repeat of it. See how all these Online Leftists want to scream and yell about Biden ending the train strike, and then somehow never seem to have heard that he kept working with the unions for months afterward and got their sick days. Even the people who, in a remotely more functional political landscape and/or if they possessed one (1) working brain cell, would vote for the Democrats get their endless jollies and moral holier-than-thous by absolutely incinerating them. Who needs the Republicans, when these guys will do it for you?

Anyway. Because America is a land of morons manipulated by billionaire corporate interests, just doing the right thing and hoping people notice enough to vote for you is not enough. That's why, indeed, the Democrats have learned that you have to talk about it and push back and argue for what you've done. But when it still exists in this environment that will twist and taint and misrepresent and grind it into tiny pieces, because said billionaire corporate interests are genuinely afraid that the Democrats' current policy plans could dismantle their hegemony if allowed to continue, that's only a very small part of the problem, and we have to recognize that.

#anonymous #ask #politics for ts

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everythingismadeofchaos · 6 days ago

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Holy shit

The left don't need a 5-year plan. Or a 50-year plan like the Republicans have.

We need a person

We need one person to run for president in 2028

We need a trump

I am 100% serious

We need an insane liberal who will just say whatever the fuck they want, absolutely go after their guns, take flags and the pledge out of schools and leave them wherever we put God when we took him out of schools. Campaign promises. Take God off the money too. Campaign promise. We need somebody who's an absolutely insane libtard and will just say whatever the hell they want whenever they want. Not just pro-choice, but give women control over men's reproductive systems. Let women force their husbands to get vasectomies without their own cooperation, by court order or something. The men literally get no say, that's just a right they do not have. Campaign promise to make this new law a priority.

We need somebody who's obviously really smart, obviously really tuned into what's happening in the moment and what's important, and if handed the throne and the crown and will utterly destroy any chance the Republicans have to ever be back in power ever again. Somebody who has a ton of experience, but somehow isn't a sellout: we're only going to find somebody like that in generation X in the extremely well tattooed section. We need somebody with media credentials who knows what's happening and is willing while holding office as president of the United States to walk around with a sledgehammer in the Civil War museum run by the KKK, on Network TV, all the while yelling “eminent domain” and “manifest destiny” bashing away, surrounded by the secret service. And then pardon themselves for it if that's a crime. This has been a campaign promise, stated directly to camera at a press conference.

Not just somebody in favor of getting rid of the electoral college, somebody in favor of ruining the benefits the Senate gives to low population states by equalizing the numbers of people in each house or something crazy like that. They stacked the court? We stack the legislature. Campaign promise, top priority. Twice a week, batshit new claims of new ideas that will absolutely ruin social media for everyone, every one a campaign promise, every one a top priority.

Then maybe generation X will finally actually do something that actually helps.

This person could literally just punch Nazis in the face, pardon themselves, and then do it to the next nazi, and pardon themselves for that. Maybe bring a pair of presidential boxing gloves, for the occasion, maybe with a little metal in them in a certain way just for effect.

We need a good Trump

A Trump that actually knows what is going on, but also has the power of insane bullshit and obvious but at the same time ambiguous lies and ridiculous nonsense claims

We need a Superman (… -girl? -woman? The metaphor is clumsy) to Trump's Bizarro

Somebody who is the opposite of him in every way except the ways that exploit what he taught us about America

We need to find somebody who absolutely is not diplomatic enough by half to run for president, (“ … are you crazy?”), and then run them and watch the right explode as they lose the popular vote 2 to 1

Someone who can talk to the smart people, but also hang with the idiots like they're at home

^ This has been a fan letter to Janeanne Garofolo. Paste on Tumblr and then find out what she pays attention to and hit her up on there, Bluesky or whatever. Or somebody that knows her. I don't know who her friends are. David Cross? I mean I always assumed so but reality is not the same as their performed character. Anybody who has read to this point, please signal boost this, I want her to see it and I want her to see her fans react to it. Please do not tag it with her name, just see that people see it who are fans of hers and hopefully someone will know how to reach her or how to tell her she got a fan letter. It's important that she know how we feel though so if a lot of people post it where they are too that would be good, You don't have to link to the original I don't care about that screenshots whatever I just want her to see it or a lot of people to see it

Ms. Garofolo, If you see this, I would be a terrible campaign manager or other important person in your campaign but you do have an agent already who can either do that job or help you find somebody and I would be willing to volunteer where I am located passing out leaflets or something. I don't know a whole lot about how that stuff works so I can't be of much help but I could do the regular citizen things in my part of the country, about halfway down the East Coast.

I do travel for work. So I'm not afraid of travel. But it's just that I travel all the time so I can't really be on the road when I'm not working. But you know, whatever you want to do. Anyway.

Miss Garofalo, consider this: If you do not want to run for president, consider it an acting job for charity: an attempt to save the world. If you do not know how to run the country, bring in another person, a close friend who does, as your primary advisor. Make no secret of this. Let people fantasize about whether this person is your secret lover. Maybe sponsor some Russian bots or whatever to create fan sites of racy fanfic or porn involving the two of you. Go absolutely for broke. I'm kind of vanilla so I'm probably under swinging on this pitch.

Oh my God I am so stoned right now, I'm sorry if this is incoherent or poorly written

I'm completely serious about all of this

This weed is great . I'm Right in The Sweet spot almost before you become inarticulate completely. Amazing edible

Got to get this into my tumbler and pass it on to people while I still can

I think I'll #Davidcross

Love you guys. If anybody knows somebody who's into this lady, Janine garofalo, like in her fan club or whatever, please pass it on

Thank you very much. It occurs to me now I should have just searched for her fan club. And sent it to them. Or seen how they get in touch with her when whatever. I mean she must get fan letters. Why am I doing this

I can't remember what's going on

Oh fuck it I don't have the motivation

Bliss you guys. I can't remember what this was about. Oh yeah Janine garofalo. I love you all

@jacktheeldergod2 can you just sanity check this please. Pretty inarticulate

Don't have anybody else right now to ask unfortunately

By the way, Janine garofalo is a Gen X actress and comedian who eventually got into political talk radio media stuff and would be a godsend for the country in the way Trump is a nightmare. I'm trying to do this because I'm trying to save the country. I was at a protest today, and rather than come out of it feeling charged and jazzed I feel terrified. They have trillions of dollars and we have a bunch of slightly Goofy people who have nothing to do in the middle of the day on Wednesday. Today was supposed to be a huge demonstration across the country and I'm afraid to look at the news because my guess is a massive underperformance because of such huge mental paralysis per Marshall mcluhan. The country is dispirited and dismayed.

Shit dude, I I got to finish my video proving that the Republican party is literally just a scam, starting with the two Santa Claus strategy

It's not a real political party man

I'm serious

It doesn't even take special knowledge to figure this out. It's just generally understood trivia

Roe v Wade happened, making abortion legal. Over the next 10 years the Southern Baptists endorsed this position or passed four resolutions in favor of it or agreeing with it or something. I'm not clear. But anyway after the two Santa Claus strategy all of a sudden the whole of Southern baptism is anti-abortion. They did this on purpose, change the rule in the Southern Baptist Church, to make the Republican party the party of Christianity, and they knew it would bring in all the Catholics if the Republicans were anti-abortion. The Bible isn't even anti-abortion. That's just a lie that these people told their own parishioners as if it came from God specifically as a political maneuver.

It's a lot of lying. Trickle down economics. Trickle down economics might as well be called stealing from your grandchildren economics, because both the lie that the money trickles down and the fact that it amounts to essentially stealing from your grandchildren are really just kind of flashy or charismatic little bits of flair or bobbles that decorate the outside of the fact that the whole political party is basically just a big scam. All of this crap, abortion, gay rights, trans rights, anything low budget is just nonsense they don't care about, they're just waving it around cuz it gets people agitated and talking.

They call that the prestige, if you ever saw that movie or know what that means.

Anyway, The Republican party in the United States is just a scam. If anybody other than Jack has read down this far please understand Jack is just 18 years old and he's in Greece so I don't think he knows that much about this or his knowledge goes way back if he's anything like I was when I was his age. Jack, I hope you're doing well. Don't forget to think hard if you want to succeed. Really pay attention to what you're doing and concentrate on what it is and what your goals are and everything. Let your creativity have its way with your brain.

I'm sorry Jack I'm super stoned I hope it didn't suck reading all this

#david cross

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goldenavenger02 · 3 months ago

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The U.S Election and Anxiety + Tips For Voting

Hello everyone! I've decided that this year, during the election cycle since I live with my conservative family still, instead of getting into useless arguments with them and doomscrolling the whole time, I'm going to practice some mindfulness instead and this is where you come in!

I am writing down every single healthy coping mechanisms/distractions I can, that way I can stay vigilant and informed but I also don't spend four days watching a slow ticking map again, and putting them on folded pieces of paper and into a small bowl. That way anytime I get too stressed or I get into a fight with my family, I can pull one out and at the very least, distract myself for a little bit.

If you know of any healthy coping mechanisms that you use, it doesn't even have to be something you only do every 2 to 4 years, it can just be something you do when that feeling of panic starts to build in your chest, comment below, message me, submit them or reblog with it in the tags.

What I currently have right now is rewatching/rereading comfort media, exercising, cleaning, deep breathing/visualization, hanging out with my pets, crafting and playing mobile/PC games.

I am also willing to make my list public for anyone who needs it if they also suffer from debiliting election anxiety.

At the end of this, I just want all of you to remember a few things. Election anxiety, especially after 2016, is incredibly common and you shouldn't feel ashamed for having it when this political climate has turned into one of hate.

If you are a United States Citizen/registered/old enough to vote, vote. If you are in the line before 6 p.m on November 5th, 2024, they legally cannot turn you away. Bring food and water, there are states where it is illegal for someone to bring you food and water in line. Remember not to wear anything that can be seen as political when you go to vote (not even your Captain America shirt that is in your dresser). And voter intimidation and voter interference is illegal. If someone is standing outside of your polling place, harassing you or others about who they're voting for, let your poll workers know. If you hear someone talking to their buddy about doing something like, I don't know, lighting a ballot box on fire (this has already happened in Washington and Oregon), report it to your non-emergency police line. If it ends up being nothing, you won't be in trouble and if it ends up being something, YOU HELPED PROTECT DEMOCRACY.

Even if you are in a blue state, even if you're in a red state, even if you are in a swing state, even if you hate Kamala Harris and her opponent, even if you don't want to vote down the ballot (which you totally should because it can slowly turn your state blue), even if you are scared of the outcome, vote like your rights as a POC, as a woman, as a member of the LGBT+ community, as someone who isn't a white, straight man will be taken away from you. Because that is the sick reality of the US right now. This election isn't Harris v opponent (remember, names have power), this election is freedom v fascism, no matter what your MAGA relatives say.

And finally, when we fight, we win. Let's beat Kamala Harris' opponent in such a landside that he can't go crying to his lackies AKA the supreme court and beg them to overturn this in his favor with any evidence of "voter fraud" AKA him not getting his way.

And if you're like me, anxious about what will happen to your rights in the upcoming week, we should stay informed. But there is a difference between staying informed and doomscrolling. Yes, there is a LOT at stake in this election, there is no sugarcoating that.

But when you feel yourself start to panic, or your relative starts yelling at you for something they believe your party is doing even though it's not real AND even if it was, you aren't the one doing it, or you feel yourself leaning to unhealthy coping mechanisms, reach into the bowl.

I'll make a list of coping mechanisms to reblog under this and edit it as more come in. The fandom tags under this are so the post gets more reach which is NEEDED and most of these main characters would be voting blue if they were real.

#susz speaks #us election #election 2024 #kamala harris #when we fight we win #election anxiety #harris walz 2024 #vote harris #coping mechanism #current events #ninjago #lego ninjago #mcu #marvel #teen wolf #atla #avatar the last airbender #lab rats

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marimayscarlett · 1 year ago

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Six men marriage favorite [anything, just go off 🧨]

Thank you for your ask 🌻 The topic of 'six men marriage' seems to be moving a lot of people on here currently , and that's the way it should be 😌 I have to say, I immediately thought of something that is a bit more abstract, maybe not really what you had in mind.... What I love and admire about this six men marriage, what sometimes moves me to tears and simply fills me with gratitude at the end of the day, is this: their unity.

Their will to work on themselves and on the band to resolve conflicts, to give everyone their right to vote, to build an unwavering democracy that may not leave much room for the individual, but makes the band all the stronger. It is certainly not always easy to keep something like this going and demands a lot from the individual (as some band members repeatedly mention in interviews), and yet they have kept it up - for 30 years. You get the impression that they really are driven by the desire to optimize this band time and again, which was founded 30 years ago in an old cellar and became an unbelievable worldwide success, and (after inner conflicts and struggles) are willing to put up with having to step back as individuals. Their cohesion is remarkable, there is so much emotionality in this band.

I'll let the band members speak for themselves to show that the subject of their relationship with each other as a unit and as a working team really does have an impact on everyone:

"I realized that I could do something with Rammstein that I wouldn't be able to do in any other world, I would never quit. It's not even important to me that I'm in the band. I could just drive around with the band, that would be enough for me. That's the best thing in the world for me, especially that gang feeling. I was lucky that it's a band and not a gangster gang. But I would have liked it just as much from the heart." Flake [source]

"We have a nice chemistry going on right now, really. We love each other more than ever and it feels really good to make music together." Paul [source]

"We didn't earn every euro for the great songs, but because we stuck together. The fears and hardships, the ups and downs, arguments, jealousies and envy. Not being able to sleep for nights on end because you wonder whether you'll get your way or give in. The conflicts of conscience, the psychodramas. I've often asked myself why I do something to myself that wears my soul out so much and don't just do something else. Rammstein is like an old marriage, you can't let go. The kids are out of the house, but the wife is still there, she's not really sexy anymore, but I love her." Till [source]

"Everyone represents the band, not just the singer. Till has never had a problem with that. We know that we are only Rammstein together. If someone steps out of line, there's a group force that pulls them back in: "Go back into your line." Of course, that restricts our individuality a little. But we love it. We feel safe and comfortable in it because we know that's where our strength lies." Schneider [source]

"We realised that in order to get the best out of our music we had to become very critical of the stuff that we were doing. Because of that, we had to overcome many difficult obstacles together and that’s what we finally did." Oliver [source]

"There were times I felt like I don’t want to do it anymore, but there was always something, a bigger picture I’ve seen that made it worth while. I always figured we can over-step our egos. There’s something more beautiful than fighting for your egos." Richard [source]

It really seems to be like one big marriage... 'For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish...' 🤍

#not going to lie. i cried real tears when i found till's quote #rammstein #ask #six men marriage #thank you for this ask T. really appreciate it 💜#interviews & quotes #rammstein thoughts

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idkwhatimdoingbutimgonnacontinue · 3 months ago

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You know I reblog stuff about how much I hate republicans a lot but y'all should know it's not true in practice. Like, I live in a largely conservative area and the truth is a lot of these people don't actually prescribe to conservative beliefs on an individual level.

Everyone in my building knows I'm gay and while I've gotten a little flack for it, most of them are live and let live people. When I break down policy decisions in a no nonsense ways, they tend to lean more left than what you'd expect from a self claimed republican. But very very few of them voted outside their party lines.

It's habit for these people. And while I do try to point out that they line up more like a moderate than a true republican these days, too many of them are disgusted by the idea of voting across party lines.

And while I do wish they'd pull their heads out of their asses and realize that what calls itself the republican party nowadays is 100% not the republican party that they originally bought into as kids (speaking for the older republicans here), I also get it in a way. Politics is built to be polarized in the United States. It's one or the other. People who jump across party lines and vote for both sides are not seen favorably by anyone

But like you have to be patient when you're working with people like this. You can't insult them or come across as an argumentative liberal. You have to be subtle about it. Because they're used to angry liberals calling them names and not interacting with them on a personal level.

And like ironically the most subtle way I influence my neighbors is just by being myself. When I am openly a lesbian and a kind person to then, they are being influenced. When I dress more masc and can almost pass for a guy, I am influencing them. When I mention I'm going to therapy, I am influencing them.

Sometimes we get into little debates and I lay out my arguments in a specific fashion which influences them more directly. I've explained abortion rights to a lot of people and found that almost none of them are actually against abortion. They just don't understand what abortion rights are

And like yeah on my little anonymous social media feed I insult republicans and especially trump supporting ones. But I also know that the moment you start treating every single republican like they're inhuman or disgusting creatures, you lose them entirely.

And really not all of those republicans are out to get you. Some of them could be on your side if you just sat next to them long enough for them to realize that you are just as human as they are. It sucks you have to prove it to them ofc but it is what it is. And if you want to change that, you have to actually be willing to talk to these people like they're human beings capable of reason.

#us politics #politcs #republicans #republican #democrats #liberal #conservative

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bklynmadman · 3 months ago

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I grew up with Men like this.....PART III

Well, I've noticed I picked up some followers. Thanks to all you 3 people. I love you!

That being said, I'm honored to have readers. It's always nice. I just hope you like my stuff. I tend to write stuff that's somewhat depressing, but I'll try to be a bit more lighthearted despite the circumstances. I do want to stress that this current situation is terrible shit, and this was meant more of a diagnosis than a warning, but it wound up being both.

This is also for you people who thought it was a good idea to vote Donald. To you, I say, You don't realize how fucked you are yet.

Anyway, I hope you read on, and prepare yourselves.

ECONOMY

Let it be known that Donald J. Trump, for all of his time spent in the private sector has ZERO KNOWLEDGE of the Economy or how it works. He has ZERO knowledge of how world markets work, nor does he care to know.

He is also a business failure. How he got the image of being "good at business" is beyond me. It probably has to do with the "Wealth Worshipping" we do in this country. (HAS TO STOP)

He is still very much that spoiled child who likes to torture others simply for the attention, and LOVES more than anything else, having power over people to be able to do so. It's not so much about being in charge for Donald, it's the attention that goes with it. He loves being adored, and wants to be recognized for his lack of business acumen as if he is "Mr. Wall Street". Donald, like other white rich dudes, likes the role of gatekeeper. That's why he says when you ask him something directly "I may do it. I may. We'll soon see." He doesn't know much but he does not how much being publicly indecisive hurts other people's lives, as to whether or not he'll enact a policy that directly threatens a group of people's way of life. He LOVES the fact that he's being talked about right now around the world, doesn't matter if it's good or bad, he's in it for the attention folks and to be gatekeeper to our freedoms well, that is one surefire way to get attention.

Back to his failure of business, I would go into all of his business failures, but I don't have enough room. I will mention them briefly. (Trump Steaks, Trump Airlines, Trump University, Trump Water, Trump Board Game, The Trump Taj Mahal and Casino, Trump Tower Casino, and Trump Marina and Casino of Atlantic City.)

SIDENOTE: HOW THE FUCK DO YOU LOSE MONEY OWNING THREE CASINOS???? Not many can except for the Donny Rapist Man!

He was once quoted in his first term as president (Yuck!) when asked how he will manage the National Debt, he said "“People said I want to go and buy debt and default on debt, and I mean, these people are crazy. This is the United States government. First of all, you never have to default because you print the money, I hate to tell you, OK?” That alone should share the shit out of you for he truly believes if you print more money, you'll manage the debt. A basic understanding of economics would prevent him thinking this way, but then again, Donny fucktard doesn't do thinking!

Anyway, He has promised to apply tariffs across the board on all foreign goods coming into the United States. He promised a universal Tariff on all foreign goods, and a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods. He's proposing this for he wants to get the other nations "in line" that he feels abuse the US market. So he thinks the tariffs will do that. Only, once again, a basic understanding of economics would show that the cost of Tariffs are always passed onto the consumer. That means, All Clothes, Items, Goods, Foods, imported here from other countries will be getting a lot more expensive for everyone. (REMEMBER AMERICA MAGAMORONS, you voted for this. I'll be closing on you in a minute.) If there are any doubters that are reading this, check your current shirt. Let me know where it was made. I'll put odds it was made either in China, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, or even Vietnam. That's just clothes imported into this country. Let me ask you this? You think GAP INC, or HANES, or a majority of Clothing Companies are going to pay that 60% tariff just because Trump said so?

A LITTLE MATH/BUSINESS LESSON (You can skip this if you aren't interested)

On one pallet, (meaning one shipment of t-shirts) you can fit about 2,160 t-shirts total. In one container, you can fit about 20-22 pallets (which depend on the goods and how they're packed but let's just say this for arguments sake.) That means in one 40 foot container, you can have up to 45,360 T-Shirts. (My memory as a former wine importer is getting jogged as I write this. I stopped doing that business officially in 2016 so I'm sure prices have changed and I know prices are different on clothes.)

Before that pallet gets to America, the cost per shirt is about 50 cents. So the total cost of the entire container before the shirts get here would be $22,680. Once it arrives in customs, that's when customs charges begin. Two charges are levied on containers containing "Textiles" which is the category the T-shirts fall under. Those charges are MPF (Merchandise Processing Fee) and Import Duty The MPF is calculated as a percentage of the shipment's value, with a minimum and maximum amount. For informal entries (under $2,500), the MPF is a flat fee of $2–$9. For formal entries (over $2,500), the MPF ranges from $30.66–$595.35. So, since the cost of goods (Keep this in mind, these are cheap t-shirts found at WalMart) in that one container is $22,680, the total MPF would be the max, at $595.35. For Duty, which only applies when goods imported are valued above $800. (which this would be) that means a 5.63% tariff would apply, adding $1,276.88 to the cost.

Here is a lesson in Business, as these fees are added on to import your goods, those are costs that you tack onto the product when you sell it, because you have to lay it out to get it into the country, so you MUST make it back or your company will lose money. (Something else the Orange Fuckwad doesn't understand.) So, those incurred costs before it leaves customs would tack on a total of 3 cents to each T-Shirt, making the total cost of each shirt before it gets to your warehouse or store 53 cents. The cost of the truck that will pick up your container, depending on where your warehouse or store is located will vary, but let's go on a average, which would be anywhere from $500-$3000. It varies on distance. For this argument, let's go with $1800. That would add a total of 4 cents to each t-shirt. Now, each t-shirt landed cost is 57 cents. Stores charge anywhere from 30-40% to make a profit. They charge that because usually 100-400% mark up covers your rent (if you have any), bills (Electric, Gas, Water), Employees, Taxes (Payroll, Income, Federal, State, and City Taxes) So, the total cost that is known to the owner of the store is $2.28. They usually mark it up to maybe $5-$8.00 per shirt, and will do deals like buy 2, get one free or buy 4 and get one more. The profit on one shirt sold would be $4.43 per shirt. Remember, the landed cost is 57 cents.

The Trump tariff would charge an extra 60% to your container if it came from china. So, take 45,360 t-shirts in a container, which is valued at $22,680. Tacking on the usual costs

22,680 + $595.35 + 1,276.88 + 1,800 = 26,532.23 x (.60) = 15,919.34

(Total Cost before Customs) (MPF) (DUTY) (Shipping) + (Trump Tariff)

Take that number and add it to the total cost (26,532.23) = 42,451.46 total cost per container now.

Divide that cost by the amount of t-shirts in the container = 0.94 cents per shirt landed. A total added .37 cents onto each shirt.

This may seem like small potatoes but when you're selling t-shirts in bulk, you are not about to lose .37 cents per shirt. That would dip into your profits, and if you have backers or board members, that .37 cents will eat into your profit margins should it not be tacked onto the cost of the product. Backers and Board Members of a corporation don't do charity, and they will want to see that cost reflected into the sales.

Now, I know what many will say (if you got this far, bravo) BIG DEAL! It's small cents. In business, small change adds up A LOT! And this is just bargain Walmart T-shirts. Never mind graphic t-shirts, or designer t-shirts, or other clothes. And apply that to all GOODS.

This will be hurting Americans, not helping them. Donny Moron doesn't understand it, nor does he want too.

BACK TO TARIFFS

Economists have predicted that Trump's Tariffs will cost the average American family an extra $1700 per year for goods. To those MAGA morons who screamed and voted for "Lower Grocery Bills" will see those prices jump slightly higher now. Companies have already began to announce higher prices in retaliation to Trumps' Tariffs. Effectively erasing the work that President Biden has done to lower the effect of inflation. But Donny won't stop there. Oh No! What he's about to do tax wise is what got him donations from Billionaires like Elon Asshole Musk and Miriam Alderson (Widow of Casino Magnate Sheldon Alderson)

TAX CUTS (A BIT, NOT A LOT)

I went over this in some of my previous posts, and if you want to learn more about Tax Cuts and how they work, you can look back in my previous posts from 2015 and see what they are.

Trump is going to give Tax Cuts to the Wealthy and Corporations. He's going to say he's giving Tax Cuts to everyone. But the devil will be in the details. The IRS collects about $2.56 Trillion Dollars in Federal Income Tax alone per year. This money funds government services, and investments. Trump is proposing to lower the Corporate Tax from 21% to 15%, and proposes that those households who make over $400,000 will get a tax cut of about $60,000 roughly a 15% tax cut. So, if you make 1M per year, you'll receive a tax cut of $150,000. on $3M it's $450,000. On 1 Billion Dollars, it's 150M tax cut. A tax cut for those who don't know, are taxes you don't have to pay on your earned income. This is before deductions and Tax Loopholes that the super rich and Corporations have been doing for years. Just to recap, the following corporations paid ZERO in Federal Income Taxes.

Amazon

Google

Coca-Cola

Facebook

Nike

Tesla

and many more. In fact, if they report losses, they take advantage of a Tax Deduction in which they don't have to pay on those, lessening their tax burden.

It will be the time of record profits for Billionaires and Big Corporations, and meanwhile the rest of us will see tax cuts like $500-$1000 that we wouldn't have to pay. The super poor will see none of these benefits, and New Yorkers know that $500 doesn't do much in a month or offer much breathing room. Meanwhile, fat cats like Elon Musk, who's net income is 1.4 Billion last year will see a 210M tax cut. The rest of us will have to pay our taxes however.

That's what this is mostly about. It's about Money, and the Rich, Like Don the fuckwad and his cronies, feel that they should have more control over their tax money and where it goes.

This will add onto the national debt, and the government will not be able to sustain itself for each tax cut given, that's less money going into the government. Less for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other government services.

So, enjoy your tax cuts middle class, the wealthy will be enjoying theirs. And they'll sell it through their usual promise of "Trickle Down" Economics, which is been proven to not work a BILLION TIMES OVER.

Also, don't tell me that bullshit either of Rich People need those tax cuts to create jobs. They dont. Never have. Trump presided over the WORST PERIOD OF JOB CREATION in this country since the Great Depression in the 1930's. THE WORST. So, don't tell me these tax cuts are going to automatically start working and start creating jobs. They haven't since they've been getting them under Trump's first term. And Where did all that money go? Stock Buybacks. Made themselves richer, while at the same time putting it out there that no one wants to work anymore.

UNIONS

The other thing Donny is going to do, of which I will NEVER FORGIVE THE TEAMSTERS UNION.

He's going to attempt to destroy Unions, and get rid of Overtime Pay.

Unions are the only check against large corporations and big businesses. Unions offer Medical Insurance to it's members, and also collective bargain with employers for wages.

The Orange Rapist has said during a live conversation with Elon Dumbfuck Musk on Twitter (I will not call it what he wants me to call it. Fuck him and his money) has praised Elon for firing Tesla workers who voted to Unionize. He has expressed that workers conspiring to unionize should be fired. He also said in that same convo, that he "hated paying workers overtime." and that "He'd never pay it."

What to expect from this conman during a second term...

Trump changed the rules about who qualifies for overtime pay, making more than 8 million workers ineligible and costing them over $1 billion per year in lost wages during his first term as president.

You Trumptards think that in the past 4 years of dodging court dates and indictments, he suddenly found a heart??? If you think that, you are gravely mistaken.

He will repeat his actions with regards to labor again, only this time, go to more extremes to make it stick.

He has talked about replacing overtime, and giving workers Comp Time, which cheats workers over Overtime laws embedded in our Constitution. 1 BILLION in overtime pay in 2019 to be exact.

Hey TEAMSTERS, no more overtime pay for you. He thinks you're not entitled to it. And apparently, so did many of your members. Enjoy that shit when it's enacted under a GOP controlled House and a GOP controlled Senate. Scabs will be taking your jobs if you refuse, and you know what? Shame on you, because your membership wanted to support Donald.

Trump will also do the following.

Trump will continue to PACK the courts with anti-labor judges who have made the entire public sector “right to work for less” in an attempt to financially weaken unions by increasing the number of freeloaders.

Trump will stack the National Labor Relations Board with anti-union appointees who side with employers in contract disputes and support companies who delay and stall union elections, misclassify workers to take away their freedom to join a union, and silence workers.

Trump will make it easier for employers to fire or penalize workers who speak up for better pay and working conditions or exercise the right to strike.

Trump promised to veto the PRO Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, historic legislation that will reverse decades of legislation meant to crush private sector unions and shift power away from CEOs to workers.

I can't wait when the Teamsters start complaining about "scabs" being allowed to work due to Trump's push of "Right To Work" policy, which effectively emboldens Scabs or picket line crossers to work for companies for less pay than the union would allow them too. Some of these idiots think that wont happen. To that I say....Just wait.

The next time I hear of Teamsters Picketing, they can go fuck themselves as far as I'm concerned for failing to come out to support Kamala Harris, a president that would've protected their Union and advanced Pro-Union Policies. I hope the Teamster Union breaks, and I say that as a UFT member knowing full well that Trump and his merry band of assholes will try to dismantle my Union too. (They already are trying too with Charter Schools. If Governor Hochul had any balls, she'd pull funding from Charter Schools to embolden UFT and pro-union policies. But this is about the Spoiled Boy-King, not NY governor Hochul.)

ABORTION/ IMMIGRATION

On this, Trump will demonstrate his extreme cruelty for he gives neither a fuck for Immigrants (Even though his family was once an immigrant from Germany) nor women (see the 32 Civil Court Cases when 32 different women across this country accuse Donny of Rape and Sexual Assault.) He won this election on getting others to hate Immigrants.

It's a big pet peeve of mine whenever a fellow American Italian hates on the "Hispanics and Mexicans coming over the border." To which I remind them how their family came here, and the adversity that they faced. This convo usually ends with "Well, my family pulled through" but what they don't seem to understand is We're supposed to make things better, not worse for the next guy. It's also what some of my fellow pisans consider retribution. "Well, I came here legally. They can too." Well, they can't. Imagine how desperate they must be to come over illegally. It's not to skirt laws or get away with something.

The thing about Immigrants that many don't understand is the following.

Illegal Immigrants make up for a good portion of our workforce. About 8.3M Illegal Immigrants are currently in the United States Workforce. They are hired by their bosses, who know full well they aren't here legally, and take advantage of that by paying them much lower than they would have to pay an American worker.

Check out the Kitchens of the Restaurants that you frequent. Who is making your food back there?

Also, who is building your houses? Take a good look at the majority of those building private housing. Let me know what you find.

Another thing about Ilegal Immigrants is that they don't mostly Bring Crime, Drugs, and are Rapists. (I always found it funny that a Rapist calling a group of other people Rapists especially when he's a known rapist and pedophile. When Jeffrey Epstein is your best friend...) Ilegal Immigrants make our economy go round!

The Food Industry, the Construction Industry are very very dependent on Illegal Immigrant labor.

Illegal Immigrants are less likely to commit a crime for fear of being deported. So they're mostly law abiding citizens.

Illegal Immigrants pay MORE taxes that Amazon, and Coca-Cola combined. (Yes, they file and pay while freeloaders like Elon and Donny pay nothing.)

Illegal Immigrants make up about 12% of sales for Telecommunication companies (i.e. Cellphone purchases.)

They rent apartments, spend for food, open bank accounts, and California was trying to pass a law that would've made it easier for them to obtain a mortgage regardless of Immigration status.

When he does send ICE and Immigration agents to do a mass deportation, he will be adversely affecting these industries. That is on the way, and I've read one economist suggest that the "mass deportation" that he has promised his fans and fellow racists will total 315 Billion Dollars. Will Donny want to pay that? Sure, why not? The money isn't his, and he'll be dead soon enough so why should he have to worry? Thats a problem for us to figure out later when he's gone.

That's another thing Richers do that Donald likes to do. He loves to spend money when it's not his to spend. Donald is a notorious cheap skate, and has stiffed many people who have done work for him in his hotels and casinos. However, that will go away now that Donald has the United States Purse strings. The next time I hear a Republican preach about Fiscal Conservatism, it will be very hard for me not to deck them in the mouth.

Again, Donny loves being Gatekeeper. He adores it. It doesn't matter if it's cruel, or if he is doing the wrong thing. He is directly responsible for separating 6000 kids from their parents at the border. 6000. And he put them in cages and didn't even bother giving them blankets. He gave them what amounted to aluminum foil for a bedsheet. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???? WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE???? Every single parent should've been outraged with that regardless of political spectrum.

Also any real Christian should've had an issue with that, and those who don't are not real Christians nor do they deserve to be called one. They deserve to be called what they truly are, CRUEL HYPOCRITES WHO WORSHIP SATAN'S COCK.

I had a convo I had with a Trump sympathizer about this once, and the other person had the balls to say "Well, they shouldn't have been there." Talk about the most Victim Blaming Bullshit I've ever heard. As if they brought about that cruel treatment upon themselves when they got caught on the border.

WARS IN GAZA AND UKRAINE

Trump gives a fuck about one thing and one thing only. He's cited it many times in his first presidency, and it's his biggest motivator.

His image.

Trump is such a textbook classic narcissist that his main drive is simply to protect and project his image. He wants to be that "Suave, Smart, Debonair, Wealthy, Strongman who is beloved by all, and everyone fawns over him and his every word while his enemies retreat in cowardice." Trump's self image, like much of anything he says, is not rooted in reality.

He's a wimp, and like all bullies, once someone stands up to them, they run and hide and tell the teacher on you. Trump would run and hide from anyone formidable and run and tell fox news how "unfairly mistreated" he was.

Keep in mind, Donald is still a Russian Asset. The reason he jocks guys like Putin is because he wants it like that. He wants to make American into the Dictator Image. Absolute Power. Absolute Fascism. We know Donald can't read, but he has probably watched a Hitler Speech or two, and realized how Hitler came to power. His path to power is very similar to Hitlers, in fact almost mirror image.

He couldn't care less about what happens in Israel. He couldn't care less about what happens in the Ukraine. He will do what he is told, which the super wealthy are tired of giving aid and money to these two countries.

Also, Putin will tell his bitch to bend over and let him have Ukraine. Trump will do so. He will claim "He made a great deal" but the deal made will be something along the lines of the following.

1.) No Admission to NATO for Ukraine.

2.) Russia will get to keep most, if not all of their occupied territory.

3.) Ukraine will have to enter a trade agreement with Russia over the oil pipeline and they'll maybe do some share. 10 years Russia will have it and then turn it over to Ukrainian control.

Ukraine will do all of this under Trump duress, or Trump will withhold any and all aid to Ukraine, of which that will stop immediately once Trump takes office. So the good news is, The war will end. The bad news is, the war will benefit Russia grately, and Russia will have an open way to take Europe if it feels like it.

Trump will say "Look how great I did. And Look, I ended the war." But in the real world, Trump will only have given Putin what he asked for, which is the part of Ukraine with the resources as a part of Russia. Also, there will be no NATO presence in Ukraine forever, or at least while Trump is president.

As for GAZA...

Many Gen Z people were upset, and rightfully so, over the mass genocide in GAZA by the Israeli government. If they were upset of Former President Biden's lack of action, then they're really going to hate how Trump handles this situation.

I'm sorry to say, but the Palestinian people's numbers will be greatly REDUCED once Trump is in power, and he will not only continue to do nothing diplomatically. He will also side openly with Netanyahu, and praise his actions. He'll even get a bigger contrat, and sell more bombs, guns, and ammunition there. He'll say "What a great deal for America" but what he means is "What a great deal for Smith& Wesson" "Raytheon", and L3Harris Technologies." because last I checked, the American people in general don't own stock in any of those companies, only a select few do. (Trump is one of them by the way. He owns some stock in Raytheon. Conflict of Interest much? Sure, but we wont be able to talk about that for much longer.)

CONCLUSION

So, this is where this series ends. There will not be a 4th installment. I've pretty much said all I needed/wanted to say. I know many are upset over this tyrant returning to the White House.

There has got to be some hope at the end of this fucked man and his deranged policies. It's almost comical how he's in a "Race for the Worst". To predict what can happen, just picture a worst case scenario for each situation, and that is the baseline that Trump is so thirsty to beat. He will also fuck the environment as well, and turn the planet back on Global Warming, why? In the name of money.

So, fellow trumpers, I hope you enjoy the world while it lasts. I hope there isn't another deadly pandemic waiting in the wings, because Donald will handle that one just as well as he handled the 1st one. The one where he got over 1.8M American's killed, and suggested as a cure to inject bleach into your veins. He was also the guy to Poo Poo Masks, and put doubt into the vaccine, despite himself getting it.

But whatever, RFK will be in charge of our health from now on. You know, because he's qualified and believes in Science. But that's talking way too much.

Brace yourselves everyone. Enjoy this last holiday season of peace. We are in for a reckoning.

(So much for a weekly post. I just blogged 3 times in 4 days. But man, does it feel good to write again.)

#trump #make america great again #conservative #donald trump #liberal #lgbtqia #lgbtq community #lgbt pride #jesus christ #christianity #christian faith #god #jesus #faith

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xadenviolct · 3 months ago

Text

Men would rather see the realm put to the torch, than see a woman ascend the iron throne.

Needless to say, there are so many quotes from media (books, movies, television, etc.) that have spoken to me today (especially). From Padme to Leia, from Hermione to Katniss, from Aelin and Feyre and Violet, from every single warrior who has fought for a better world and never given up and always hoped for the better--

Media has always been what has gotten me through times like this. When the utter stupidity (which, I feel, isn't even a strong enough word to truly express the severity of the whole thing) is so great, and I've gone between utter and complete disgust and rage to disbelief and numbness.

And run the entire realm of emotions in between.

So forgive me if this post is a bit... disjointed. It's a true "let me get my thoughts down because I need to write them somewhere before my head utterly explodes" kind of thing.

I don't even know where to begin, in many ways. Because how do you truly put into words these feelings? How do you truly express the utter and complete disgust with mankind that you feel, when you didn't even set the bar very high to begin with? When you had it set extremely LOW, even, because of multiple factors:

They are in a CULT. Led by a con man. There can truly be no denying that whatsoever. And cults, by definitions, do not follow logic and reason and sense.

People are stupid. And hateful. And tend to vote "party" no matter what (in a lot of cases).

The American education system (especially in regards to history, civics, literature, etc.) is utterly horrible--and certain Powers That Be want to keep it that way because an ignorant populace is always easier to control.

And those are just SOME reasons I set the bar low. But at the same time, I had the smallest little nugget of hope:

Surely, the hypocrisy will be called out and stopped? Surely, the utter hate & division (and bullying & insulting & name-calling) will make some people open their eyes? Surely, the fact that so many prominent members of the Republican Party (lifelong senators & military leaders, etc) who have openly endorsed the Democratic candidate--as well as spoken on the dangers of re-electing that man--will show people that there are GIANT FLASHING WARNING SIGNS going off?

Surely, America can learn a little bit from history?

Right?

As a woman, it sickens me even more to see this country say, once again, that it will elect a man like that over a woman. For no other reason than the fact that he is a man, and she is a woman.

Because there can be no other reason, no matter what anyone tries to claim.

That this was even a question at all in the first place, and that there were those who were "undecided" at any time over which candidate to choose, proves that.

Because while a lot of the American system needs fixed (and while yes, the two-party system doesn't always give you "the best" options), it is VERY clear that we're not changing that part of the process any time soon.

So the USA really looked at a black woman who was intensely qualified on every single level, who ran a wonderful campaign in a shorter time than any other candidate in recent history, who spoke of trying to heal the division, to work with everyone, to make this a UNITED country--

And the majority of voters really said:

No, we will take the rapist. The felon. The schoolyard bully. We will take the fascist whose entire campaign was nothing but insults and name-calling. Of division and spreading hate. Of basically declaring those who didn't side with them "enemies".

The majority of American voters really looked at Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and decided that everything they (American people) claim to hate about politics (division, lies, hypocrisy)--in other words, the entire campaign of Donald Trump and JD Vance--was the better option for this country.

Disappointed is not strong enough. Disgusted is not strong enough. Angry, sick-- There is no word that I can think of that is strong enough to fully express everything I've felt today, with this country.

There are times I have been "embarrassed" by America. Many actions in the early 2000s from President Bush. In 2016 when the nation first elected Trump. I thought I was in an alternate nightmare reality then, because I could not believe they were really that stupid.

But to see them do so again? To see, in the last 4 years since he lost in 2020, for him to do nothing but whine and argue and deny the facts like a fucking toddler throwing a damn tantrum*, only for this nation to say, "Yes, we want to elect this man again"--

I want to scrub the blood, the American identity, from my very DNA. I want to never see an American flag again. There is nothing to be proud of in this nation, when that ends up as the majority decision.

*And I would also like to note that Kamala acted like an actual adult, in that she conceded the race. That despite how utterly sick & disgusted we are, the Democratic Party is not whining and throwing some god-awful tantrum and fit, claiming CHEATER?

But hey, America, you wanted the toddler. You wanted the schoolyard bully.

Because god forbid we elect a black woman instead!

And now, I have something to say to all the so-called religious people. To all the so-called Christians.

Every single atheist and agnostic person I have ever met is far, far more "Christ-like" than you will ever be.

And when you die, and you stand before the God you believe in, be sure to tell Jesus just how much you hated your fellow neighbor. Just how much you did not follow what should be so easy:

"Love Thy Neighbor."

Because I know you just love quoting and throwing scripture at people, so have this one:

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25: 35-40)

So I'm sure your Jesus knows of the hate in your heart. Of the true depth of your hypocrisy. Of claiming to do good in his name, when your actions are the complete opposite of what his words and teachings are.

Because while I may not believe any longer, I have the knowledge and the background and the understanding of what the Christian religion should be. What it is supposed to be.

And it is because of people like you that I do not. That I have seen far more "good people", "righteous people" and "kind people" that are not religious than I ever have of those who tie themselves to a particular faith.

So yes, as you stand all holier-than-thou in your churches, only to spew hate and bigotry every other day, know that your actions speak far, far louder than your words.

And if you truly believe (as you claim), then God knows that. Knows what is truly in that heart of yours.

I am sorry you feel like you must bring the entire country down with you. I am sorry that you feel like the entire world must succumb to your religious doctrine, your religious faith. I am sorry that you cannot grasp that "separation of Church & State" and "freedom of religion" are so integral to what the American society is supposed to be...

Because if you only want CHRISTIAN faith, and CHRISTIAN knowledge and CHRISTIAN doctrine and prayer-- but rebel at the idea that the Islamic faith or the Jewish faith or the Hindu faith or the Pagans or any of the other many, many other religions (and those who do not tie themselves to a particular religion at all)--would have equal opportunity and share and have their faith and "commandments" posted and beliefs made law...

Then you are a big, fucking HYPOCRITE.

But I honestly could expect nothing less.

You have a right to your religion. Your belief. Your practices. You can raise your children as secular or as religious as you wish. You can make your health decisions based on what you believe, based on your personal choices, your personal circumstances.

That is YOUR right.

What so many of you fail to understand is that you do NOT have the right to tell everyone else to live by your religion or your belief. To practice a faith that you hold. To make health decisions based on a religion that has nothing to do with them, or a government dictating what can and cannot be done in health decisions between a patient and a doctor.

The only people that should be allowed such a decision? The patient and the doctor. Anyone else that the patient wishes to bring into the conversation is the PATIENT'S choice.

Not. Yours.

Not the government's.

To finish this off (for now?), I'll say this...

I know it is tiring. It is exhausting, always fighting this fight. To prove, time and again, that we matter. That we (as women, as poc, as lgbtq+, as disabled, as mentally ill, etc) are real and living people deserving of a quality of life as good as anyone else. That none of us should be treated like second-class citizens.

And right now, I'm too utterly disgusted with everyone and so completely depressed-- I have gone in waves of feeling utter screaming rage, insane laughter, and numbness.

But then I go back to the beginning -- to media, to what has always been there:

"It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Fold in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. Because they were holding on to something. What are we holding on to, Sam? That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for."

So we will fight. Because despite the bad, despite the disgust and the exhaustion that weighs so heavily, there is still that good. There are still those who try to fight for that sanity. For reason. For logic.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

10 notes · View notes