#lower tax burden

[cutmytaxes1]

5 tips to win a property tax protest - Cut My Taxes

Learn how to win property tax protest and be able lower your annual tax burden with these 5 tips and use them to your advantage. Read more here https://www.cutmytaxes.com/5-tips-to-win-a-property-tax-protest/

[oconnor2024]

A Complete Guide on Property Tax Exemption - Cut My Taxes

Property tax exemption helps you lower your tax burden. Texas offers exemptions both partial and total exemptions. Read here to know more. https://www.cutmytaxes.com/

[minnesotafollower]

More Thoughts on U.S. Low Fertility Rate 

A previous post discussed the issues arising out of the recent record low fertility rate in the U.S.[1] A more recent article added additional thoughts on this development.[2] First, recent Gallup polling data shows that 45% of respondents said three or more kids was ideal, the highest level since 1971. And American teenage and adult women for decades have desired more kids much higher than the…

[metamatar]

some of you are being outflanked from the left by the jacobin. lol.

For many loyal Democrats, this will not compute. The Biden economy, party-loyal pundits have said over and over again, is tremendous — low unemployment, strong GDP growth, slowing inflation, a booming stock market — and anyone unhappy about it must simply be brainwashed. Out of view in this self-congratulatory hall of mirrors were the constant statistics that said otherwise: evictions up past pre-pandemic levels, record-high homelessness, cost-burdened renters at an all-time high, median household income lower than the last pre-pandemic year, inequality returning to pre-pandemic levels, and food insecurity and poverty growing by large double digits since 2021, including a historic spike in child poverty. Here’s another thing you might not have heard. Largely due to a trick of history, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a Democratic-controlled Congress, Trump was partly responsible for the creation of what the New York Times called “something akin to a European-style welfare state” in 2020 that reduced inequality and even helped some Americans improve their finances for a short spell — and under Biden, all of it went away. Sometimes that happened due to factors outside Biden’s control and sometimes because of his own decisions, but it always took place with little fight from the president, and it contributed to the ominous rise in hardship under his tenure. That meant not only adding to people’s already onerous monthly expenses — in one case in a self-imposed October surprise that made student loan repayment much more unforgiving for tens of millions of borrowers just before voting. It also saw twenty-five million people being thrown off their public health insurance, many of them in some of the battleground states Harris lost last night. Recall that one of Biden’s attack lines against Trump four years ago was that Trump was going to strip twenty million people of their health insurance. This might have been mitigated had the president passed the flagship policies on his agenda, helping people weather the storm of rising living costs. Those that he did enact he sometimes self-sabotaged. (...)

As a result, Harris’s run was a major downgrade from the 2020 Democratic effort. Biden’s never-passed ambitions to historically expand the social safety net became firmly relegated to distant memory, never to be revived; only the child tax credit and a modest expansion of Medicare benefits survived. The campaign combined a sharp rightward lurch on foreign policy and immigration with a handful of laudable populist proposals to ban price gouging and help out first-time homebuyers (while largely avoiding the national 5 percent rent cap that Biden desperately took on before dropping out and that had earlier made its way into the Democratic platform). Beyond the Medicare proposal and vague promises to protect and strengthen Obamacare, the idea of reforming the broken US health care system — one of Americans’ biggest and most anxiety-inducing costs — was almost entirely absent from the campaign. When voters in a Univision town hall came to Harris with their bleak personal stories of suffering under the health care system and asked how she would solve them, she could give them nothing, because her only real major health care policy was for those over sixty-five and already insured under Medicare.

[capitalism-is-a-psychopathy]

Billionaires destroy more than they create

In a land often championed for its economic opportunity and equality, the American Dream promises that anyone who works hard can rise to prosperity. But for many in today’s middle and lower economic classes, that dream is fading, shadowed by a reality that feels increasingly rigged. At the heart of this issue lies a stark and glaring imbalance: billionaires, a minuscule fraction of the population, wield a staggering concentration of wealth and influence. This is not just an issue of economics but one that touches the foundations of democracy and fairness.

Imagine the economy as a massive machine, built to churn wealth throughout society. In an ideal world, this wealth would cycle effectively, where each part contributes and benefits in turn. But as billionaires amass wealth at unprecedented levels, this machine has come to function more like a funnel, siphoning resources from the broader society and concentrating them at the very top. This dynamic, driven by complex financial structures and tax strategies, isn’t merely an accumulation of personal fortunes but a systematic extraction from the economic potential of others. The capital that could have flowed through wages, education, and public infrastructure is often diverted into private bank accounts and shell companies, rarely benefiting the people who drive and build the economy day by day.

As wealth accumulates at the top, so too does political influence. Billionaires, with vast financial resources, can fund political campaigns, lobbyists, and entire networks of think tanks dedicated to shaping policy. Through these channels, they push for tax policies, regulations, and trade agreements that benefit the ultra-wealthy at the expense of middle- and lower-income families. Politicians, indebted to these donors, increasingly look to billionaire interests rather than to constituents’ needs. This creates a disturbing feedback loop: billionaires influence politics to further policies that reinforce their own wealth and power, leaving the broader populace with dwindling opportunities to influence their own government.

This concentrated power extends far beyond campaign finance and lobbying. With ownership over significant segments of media networks, billionaires control the narratives that millions consume daily. Through these media outlets, they shape public opinion, diverting attention from policies that would challenge wealth accumulation and pushing narratives that frame the ultra-wealthy as essential “job creators” or “innovators” rather than acknowledging their role in widening economic divides. Issues that might threaten their economic stranglehold are often buried, while others, that create division and distract, are amplified.

For the middle and lower classes, this confluence of wealth, media, and political power has a real impact. Stagnant wages, diminishing job security, and rising costs of living aren’t natural outcomes of a complex economy—they���re symptoms of a system shaped to benefit those at the top. Policies that could lift working-class Americans, like raising the minimum wage, universal healthcare, or better labor protections, are often stifled in legislative deadlock, thanks in part to the political influence of the ultra-wealthy who stand to lose from them.

So, as this cycle continues, the gap between billionaires and everyone else widens. The billions accumulated at the top no longer signify mere success but a barrier to mobility for everyone else. The middle and lower classes find themselves carrying the economic burdens, often working harder for less. Meanwhile, billionaires remain insulated, living in a different economic reality, one far removed from the struggles of the average American. This isn’t just an economic imbalance but a distortion of democracy itself, as the machinery of power and influence is pulled further from the reach of ordinary citizens and held more tightly by those whose interests rarely align with theirs.

Without addressing this imbalance, the promise of opportunity, the cornerstone of the American Dream, becomes less attainable with each passing year, not just for the lower and middle classes but for the nation’s future as a whole.

Addressing their manipulation

Billionaires and their advocates often employ a familiar set of narratives to justify their wealth and the structures that enable it. These arguments, framed in terms of the free market, capitalism, or fear of socialism, are not only misleading but often serve to distract from the deeper systemic issues at play. Below is a breakdown of these claims and the counterarguments that expose their flaws:

1. “It’s Just the Free Market at Work”

The myth of the “free market” implies that billionaires achieve their wealth purely through talent, innovation, and competition in a market where everyone has equal opportunity. But in reality, the U.S. economy is far from a genuinely “free” market.

Counterpoints:

• Government Subsidies and Tax Breaks: Many billionaires’ businesses rely heavily on taxpayer-funded subsidies, special tax breaks, and other forms of government assistance. Large corporations frequently lobby for policies that grant them tax advantages, including offshore loopholes and capital gains tax breaks. This creates an environment where they aren’t competing on equal ground but rather with significant state support, distorting the market in their favor.

• Anti-Competitive Practices: Many large corporations, especially in tech and finance, engage in monopolistic behavior, buying out competitors or using aggressive tactics to drive them out of the market. This concentration of power stifles competition, contradicting the notion of a “free” market where anyone can succeed if they work hard.

• Inherited Wealth and Privilege: A significant portion of billionaire wealth is inherited rather than self-made. Generational wealth compounds, giving the ultra-wealthy an enormous head start over those without similar family resources. This challenges the idea that wealth accumulation is simply the product of individual merit or a fair market.

2. “This Is What Capitalism Is Supposed to Look Like”

The argument here suggests that capitalism is an inherently competitive system, where the most successful rise to the top, benefiting everyone through innovation and job creation. This narrative hinges on the idea of “trickle-down economics,” where the wealth of the richest eventually spreads throughout society.

Counterpoints:

• Trickle-Down Economics Doesn’t Work: Decades of evidence show that wealth rarely “trickles down” to the rest of society in any meaningful way. Income inequality has only widened, with wages stagnating for most workers while billionaire wealth has soared. Billionaires tend to reinvest wealth in ways that concentrate their holdings, like in stocks, rather than in ways that benefit the broader economy.

• Wealth Extraction, Not Wealth Creation: Many billionaires achieve and maintain their fortunes through rent-seeking behavior—extracting wealth from existing resources rather than creating new value. Hedge funds, private equity, and real estate empires often profit by cutting costs (like labor) rather than by innovating or producing new goods and services. This dynamic benefits investors but hurts workers and consumers.

• Capitalism Can Take Other Forms: The capitalism practiced in the U.S. today, sometimes called “neoliberal capitalism,” focuses on minimal regulation, tax cuts for the wealthy, and privatization. However, other countries demonstrate that capitalism can function with stronger social safety nets, wealth redistribution policies, and tighter regulations on corporate power. Nordic countries, for example, balance capitalism with robust welfare systems, ensuring a more equitable distribution of wealth and services.

3. “Without Billionaires, There Would Be No Innovation or Job Creation”

A popular myth is that billionaires are essential “job creators” and “innovators” whose wealth ultimately benefits society by funding new businesses and creating employment. This claim positions billionaires as indispensable to economic growth.

Counterpoints:

• Public Funding Fuels Innovation: Many of the biggest technological advances, including the internet, GPS, and medical breakthroughs, were developed with public funding rather than billionaire investments. Government research grants and subsidies often lay the groundwork for major innovations that billionaires later profit from. In other words, society bears much of the financial risk, while billionaires reap the rewards.

• Small Businesses Create Most Jobs: Small businesses, not billionaires or large corporations, are responsible for most job creation in the United States. Big corporations often eliminate jobs through automation, outsourcing, or consolidation. They may employ a large workforce, but they also tend to exploit workers through low wages, precarious employment, and cost-cutting measures.

• Billionaires Accumulate Wealth Through Wealth, Not Innovation: Many billionaires maintain their wealth not by creating jobs or innovating but by using their existing capital to generate more wealth, often through financial instruments that have little to do with actual economic productivity. Stock buybacks, dividends, and passive investments grow their fortunes without necessarily contributing to broader economic prosperity.

4. “Any Alternative Is Socialism or Communism”

When calls arise for higher taxes on the wealthy, stricter regulations, or broader social programs, the response is often to invoke the fear of “socialism” or “communism.” This argument seeks to paint any attempt at wealth redistribution or regulation as a slippery slope toward total government control.

Counterpoints:

• Social Safety Nets and Regulations Are Not Socialism: Social safety nets, progressive taxation, and regulations do not equate to socialism or communism; they’re features of a balanced capitalist system that seeks to prevent extreme inequality and protect public welfare. Countries like Germany, Canada, and Denmark combine regulated capitalism with strong social programs, resulting in healthier economies and greater well-being for citizens without abandoning capitalism.

• Inequality Threatens Capitalism: Growing inequality and economic instability can undermine the foundations of capitalism. A healthy capitalist economy requires a strong middle class with buying power, which excessive wealth concentration undermines. Reforms like progressive taxation, labor protections, and universal healthcare aren’t a rejection of capitalism but rather a means of stabilizing it.

• Historical Success of Mixed Economies: Many of the most successful and prosperous countries practice a mixed economy, where capitalism coexists with social policies that promote equality. The U.S. itself has employed a mixed economy model in the past, particularly after the New Deal, which implemented social safety nets, labor protections, and financial regulations that led to a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity for the middle class.

5. “They Earned It Fair and Square”

Finally, the idea persists that billionaires deserve their wealth because they “earned” it. This argument suggests that any policy aiming to redistribute wealth is fundamentally unfair, penalizing those who worked hard to succeed.

Counterpoints:

• Systemic Advantages and Wealth Hoarding: As previously mentioned, many billionaires begin with advantages—like family wealth or elite educational opportunities—that aren’t available to most people. Additionally, billionaires often employ complex strategies to avoid taxes, lobby for favorable regulations, and capitalize on government subsidies. These factors mean they haven’t earned wealth solely through hard work or merit.

• Billionaires Didn’t Build Alone: No billionaire operates in isolation; they rely on infrastructure, public education, and the work of thousands or millions of employees. A CEO’s wealth is made possible by a web of collective contributions, yet that wealth is rarely shared equitably. While billionaires might be rewarded for their role, their fortune is far from the result of individual effort alone.

In short, these narratives around billionaires often mask a more uncomfortable truth: today’s system is structured in ways that favor the ultra-wealthy at the expense of the broader population. Economic reform, rather than a threat to capitalism, is a necessary step to ensure a more just, equitable society where wealth accumulation doesn’t depend on privilege, influence, or systemic manipulation.

Making a change

Addressing the economic imbalance and the unchecked power of the ultra-wealthy presents a unique challenge, especially given the intense political polarization in the United States. For the middle and lower classes to push back effectively, they will need to build a coalition that transcends party lines and focuses on shared economic interests rather than divisive rhetoric.

1. Build Awareness Through Shared Issues, Not Ideology

The rhetoric around “free markets” and “socialism” often obscures real issues of economic struggle that affect both conservative and progressive working- and middle-class citizens alike. Instead of framing the issue in ideological terms, framing it in terms of tangible, shared grievances can help bridge the divide:

• Focus on Economic Inequality: Income stagnation, unaffordable healthcare, and housing insecurity are felt across the political spectrum. By shifting the narrative from “class warfare” to “economic fairness,” advocates can sidestep partisan language and emphasize the shared experience of economic struggle.

• Highlight the Impact of Corporate Power on Local Communities: Framing issues around how large corporations hurt small, local businesses can resonate strongly with both sides of the political spectrum. This approach often taps into conservative values around community and self-reliance, while also aligning with progressive critiques of corporate overreach.

2. Organize Around Labor Rights and Worker Protections

Historically, unions have been instrumental in improving working conditions and advocating for fair wages, and labor movements transcend political divisions. Many Americans—left, right, and center—share concerns about the erosion of workers’ rights, stagnant wages, and the declining influence of the average worker.

• Expand Union Participation and Labor Movements: Reinvigorating unions and expanding labor protections could give workers a stronger collective voice. New labor movements that focus on economic rights without overtly partisan language could attract support across the political spectrum, particularly when they champion issues like fair wages, workplace safety, and job security.

• Support Worker Cooperatives and Employee-Owned Businesses: Promoting models like worker cooperatives or employee-owned businesses can offer a compelling alternative to the current structure of corporate ownership without resorting to divisive rhetoric. These models prioritize local control and shared economic benefits, appealing to values of self-sufficiency and fairness.

3. Pressure Politicians on Key Economic Policies

A key to bridging the partisan gap is to focus on policies that benefit the broader populace rather than framing them as part of any ideological agenda. The majority of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, support policies like fair taxation, healthcare reform, and increased access to education when framed in terms of fairness and opportunity.

• Promote Tax Reform as “Fairness,” Not Redistribution: Instead of advocating for “redistribution,” proponents can push for tax policies that ensure everyone pays their fair share. Policies like a wealth tax or higher taxes on capital gains can be framed as holding the ultra-wealthy accountable rather than demonizing them, a stance that resonates with people who value fairness and personal responsibility.

• Advocate for Antitrust Legislation: Pushing for stronger antitrust laws to break up monopolies and prevent anti-competitive practices can appeal to both sides. For conservatives, this aligns with the values of market competition; for progressives, it aligns with corporate accountability and consumer protection.

4. Engage in Alternative Media and Independent Journalism

The ultra-wealthy often own or influence major media outlets, which can shape public opinion in ways that protect their interests. For the middle and lower classes to gain a clearer view of economic issues, alternative media sources and independent journalism that aren’t beholden to billionaire interests are crucial.

• Support Independent News Outlets: A growing number of independent news organizations are dedicated to in-depth economic reporting without catering to corporate interests. Supporting these outlets allows individuals to access a range of perspectives that help reveal the true impact of policies on ordinary people.

• Utilize Social Media Responsibly to Build Cross-Party Awareness: Social media, while often a divisive force, can also be used to spread information about economic injustice. When used responsibly to share facts, case studies, and stories of economic hardship, it can cut through the rhetoric and provide people across the political spectrum with a shared understanding of the issues.

5. Prioritize Voting Reform and Campaign Finance Reform

Money in politics is one of the core reasons why economic policies favor the wealthy. Bipartisan support for reducing corporate influence in politics is possible, especially when the focus is on fairness, transparency, and accountability in government.

• Promote Campaign Finance Reform as an Anti-Corruption Effort: Campaign finance reform, which seeks to limit the influence of wealthy donors and corporations on elections, can appeal to conservatives and liberals alike who are frustrated with the influence of money in politics. Instead of framing it as an anti-capitalist measure, framing it as an anti-corruption measure can attract broader support.

• Support Voting Reforms for a More Representative Democracy: Reforms like ranked-choice voting, ending gerrymandering, and preventing voter suppression can help create a political environment that more accurately represents the will of the people rather than special interests. By creating a more representative democracy, policies that reflect the economic needs of the middle and lower classes have a better chance of being enacted.

6. Create Cross-Partisan Grassroots Coalitions Focused on Economic Issues

Many grassroots organizations are focused on economic justice, but they tend to align themselves with one side of the political spectrum, often losing potential support in the process. Building cross-partisan coalitions that emphasize shared economic challenges rather than ideological differences could foster stronger, more united advocacy for middle- and working-class issues.

• Organize Around Issues, Not Parties: Groups like the Poor People’s Campaign, which focuses on poverty and economic justice, have successfully united people across political lines around issues that transcend party loyalty. This approach allows people to focus on their shared struggles, making the movement harder for politicians to ignore.

• Build Community-Level Alliances: Many economic issues are felt acutely at the local level. By focusing on community-level initiatives that address healthcare, affordable housing, and education, people can create practical, on-the-ground solutions that don’t require alignment with national politics. These local successes can serve as models for broader change.

7. Emphasize Civic Education on Economic Policies

Finally, bridging the gap will require education and awareness. Many people accept billionaire-fueled rhetoric because they lack exposure to alternative perspectives. Civic education efforts that focus on teaching economic principles, tax policy, and the influence of corporate power can empower people to understand the real impacts of current policies on their lives.

• Create Accessible Educational Resources: Podcasts, documentaries, workshops, and community discussions can all serve as tools for demystifying economic issues. When people have a clearer understanding of how things like tax policies and wage laws work, they are better equipped to make informed decisions.

• Promote Financial Literacy and Empower Individuals: Financial literacy programs that help individuals understand budgeting, credit, and investments empower people to navigate the economy more effectively. While this doesn’t directly address systemic issues, it gives individuals a greater understanding of the forces shaping their lives and can be a first step toward broader engagement.

By approaching these issues with a focus on shared struggles, fairness, and practical solutions, the middle and lower classes can work together to build a movement that transcends political divides. This movement can challenge the status quo without becoming mired in divisive ideological battles. The real strength of such an effort lies in its ability to unite ordinary people around a common vision for a fairer, more just economic system—one that serves all citizens, not just the wealthiest few.

[confettiibunny]

I’m on my period so now I gotta make it everyone’s problem (more husband!nanami hcs :3)

🎀 Husband!Nanami whose soothing words and comforting demeanor has allowed you to not feel guilty when you take a day to pamper yourself while on your period. Despite the painful cramps and your dreary mood swings, you’d force yourself in the past to simply ignore your discomfort out of fear of coming off as a burden to others. But now, heavens forbid you even lift a finger during your most taxing time of the month or Nanami will quite literally carry you back to bed.

🌼 Husband!Nanami who stays home with you on the first days, the hardest days, to care for you because that’s his wife in pain so of course he’s going to stay home! The moment he hears that ever so familiar groan coming from the bathroom, he already knows that your period has started and is so quick to get your heating pad running for you. When you finally pop out of the bathroom with a very evident pout on your lips, he makes you shimmy into comfy pajamas and a warm fluffy robe, all while kissing you silly in an attempt to wipe that frown off your pretty face.

🎀 Husband!Nanami who insists with a laugh that he will absolutely baby you for the rest of the day because why not? He sees the way you clutch your abdomen when the cramps get back and how you get all crabby because of said cramps so just let him take care of you. With gentle hands he’ll tuck the heating pad on your lower abdomen and layer the sifted blankets atop of your body as you lay in bed, and don’t even speak of trying to do any work around the house because you’ll just wind up right back in bed.

🌼 Husband!Nanami who keeps you company all day by laying in bed with you. He lays with you in the morning, tender fingers massaging your tummy as he spoons you from behind. Those first hours of daylight are spent with you two drifting in and out of sleep, before noon hits and you’re sitting on top of him and asking what’s for lunch. And of course with those doe eyes that you’ve perfected over time he can’t say no to your request, even if all you want for lunch is pastries and boba. Nanami doesn’t necessarily approve of your less than healthy meal choices but he lets it slide just for today.

🎀 Husband!Nanami who hands you a cup of hot chamomile tea in the afternoon and cradles you in his lap while reading to you. It could range from classic literature where you share detailed commentary to shitty modern day romance books where you make fun of the crappy writing, but it’s a bonding experience you live for. It never fails to surprise with how at ease he makes you feel, how vulnerable you’re able to act without guilt. Not a single complaint comes from his lips while he cares for you on period and he makes you feel so supported that you feel yourself turning so gooey in his hold, clinging to him without shame.

[shankss-magnificent-ass]

Imagine having deep discussions with the Whitebeard pirates

Ace: Have you ever wondered why the world government opposes people so far away from them, doing what we do?

Marco: [mutters] I wish you would just stop saying odd shit.

Whitebeard: well we're breaking the law, obviously.

You: It's a little deeper than that. It's because what many pirates do, is the same thing the world government does.

Marco: We are not similar in any way.

You: no, think about it, what does the world government do? They lay out a bunch of rules and if you don't follow them, they use violence to force most of the world into following them. And if a nation elects not to join the world government, or can't afford to join, they raid and pillage those islands and take their citizens as slaves.

Izou: On the other hand, if a nation does join the world government, they have to pay heavenly tributes, because if they don't, the Marines will raid and pillage your country. But if they pay the heavenly tributes, the marines will protect their nation from outsiders, like pirates and non-world-government-nations.

Whitebeard: However, on top of paying the heavenly tribute, the average person also pays local and national taxes, so it's a heavy burden for some countries.

Marco: Oh my gods, it's like a protection racket, that common thugs run, just on a massive scale.

Whitebeard: and, like many pirates.

You: they don't like pirates, for the same reason they don't like common thugs, because you all are muscling in on their turf.

Thatch: so most governments are just organized, and socially acceptable, thuggery.

You: Not all, look at Alabasta for instance, King Cobra has a lot of social programs for his people. Food programs and affordable housing for the poor. Medical programs that put a doctor in every village and a bunch of other stuff. The people should receive something back from their government besides 'protection'.

Ace: I know a lot of nations that are in the world government have a large lower class that they exploit labor from and bleed them dry with taxes, tolls, and fines. I can never forget what I saw at the Grey Terminal out of the Goa Kingdom's Great Gate.

Thatch: That's because in "normal society" they value wealth, and look down on and take advantage of people who don't have it. Meanwhile, in pirate culture, we value strength and look down on and take advantage of those who are weaker, like how we raid other crew's ships because we can, and they can't stop us.

Izou: [sighs] That's an oversimplification If I ever heard one.

Thatch: [steps into Izou's space bubble.] You got something to say to me?

Izou: I've been to both world-government nations and non-world-government nations, and I can tell you that they value both strength and wealth. It's just different classes value one over the other. The upper and more privileged class values wealth, and daintiness because they can hire the strong. While the less privileged value strength, because it helps them survive, because they don't have money.

Thatch: I know that, did you forget I grew up poor as shit, mister little daimyo's vassal-boy.

Izou: And I was a wandering beggar minstrel before that, also keep Oden's name out of your mouth.

Thatch: how about you fucking make me?

Marco: [hops between the two men and dramatically claps his hands together like a clapperboard.] Aaand scene, that was a brilliant performance, gentlemen.

Ace: it was almost hard to tell that you two are actually friends.

Thatch: [huffs] Alright, I'll take it back, I'm sorry Izou.

Izou: I'm sorry too

You: you all are too fighty.

Ace: bitch, you're the most stab happy out of all of us.

You: I am not

Whitebeard: Just last night, you stabbed Vista's hand with a fork because he kept reaching over your plate.

You: ... I did do that, but only after asking him to stop three times. Which is more than reasonable, he's a grown-ass adult, and he, and his fuck ass mustache, should know basic table etiquette by now.

Ace: and then you stabbed me for no reason, with the same fork!

You: that was for good measure, just in case you got any ideas!

List of Up-and-coming works || Master list || Twitter| Kofi || Patreon

[chewwytwee]

Conservatives love to spend eternity wailing about how public school is a failed system not properly teaching kids and leeching taxpayer money. They apparently think the same thing as leftists, that public schools are not up to par and the system of public school is failing many students. Leftists solution to the problem is bolstering funding for public education to make it easier to access, make educational programs more rigorous and remove growth based benchmarks because they make it *easier* for kids to fail out, add higher taxes to corporations to make up this tax burden because the fact that corpos make so much capital off society means they owe it to everyone to put money back in the pot. Their (donald trumps) solution to that problem is redirecting public school funds to other (private and religious) schools which further dilutes already sparse funding to public schools, makes it legal to take out loans meant for college education for K-12 education, protects 'childrens' right to choose a school 'the child' wants to go to. So their master plan is to give funds to private schools which are teaching the 'right' things to students, then have parents make up the difference with loans, that's the ideal scenario for them because they just want to be able to not send their kid to school. They don't care about the neglect and abuse and poverty that public education serves to monitor and curtail, they don't care what the world looked like before public school and standard education because they think they know better than fucking anyone else. ANYONE. They just KNOW deep down that english and chemistry and literature and algebra and geometry and history and music and biology and woodworking and extracurriculars and a diverse peer group aren't *actually* what kids need, they KNOW that kids need corporal punishment and mechanic skills and if that happened it would solve all of societys ilks (because everything was super awesome in the 50s, remember!).

I have never wanted to randomly dm my shitty conservative relatives more than now. I know you could never convince them of anything, but when you actually engage with their ideas its just.... nothing like there's nothing to it besides gut instinct and faith. How could anyone possibly be conservative?

[fioredeciliego]

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝟒

𝐖𝐂: 𝟑.𝟗𝐊

ℑ 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲, '𝔱𝔦𝔩 𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔡𝔬𝔪 ℭ𝔬𝔪𝔢

The council chamber of Argoriath Kingdom was heavy with tension, the air thick with the weight of the discussion unraveling before them. The long mahogany table was lined with nobles and advisors from both kingdoms, their expressions ranging from carefully neutral to outright hostile. At the head of the table, Queen Taeyeon and Queen Tiffany sat with unwavering poise, their regal presence alone commanding the room.

Across from them, Queen Irene and Queen Seulgi mirrored their composed demeanor, though the tightness in Irene’s jaw betrayed her displeasure.

Between them sat Minjeong, now 21 and Y/N, now 19. Their parents thought they were both old enough to give their inputs in important meetings.

This was the first time they had been in the same room in weeks, and the circumstances were less than ideal.

“This proposal is unreasonable,” Irene finally said, her voice calm but firm. “We cannot allow our merchants to be taxed so heavily when passing through your lands.”

Taeyeon exhaled, fingers tapping lightly against the polished wood. “The increased tariffs are necessary to fund our defenses. We’ve had multiple reports of bandit raids along the border—raids that threaten both our people and yours.”

“Then we should strengthen border patrols together,” Seulgi interjected. “A tax burden only increases the divide between our kingdoms.”

Minjeong stole a glance at Y/N, who sat stiffly beside her mothers, her face unreadable.

Y/N hadn’t looked at her once since entering the chamber.

“Strengthening patrols takes time,” Tiffany said smoothly. “And time is not something we have in abundance. The taxes are a temporary measure—only until we secure our defenses.”

“Temporary measures tend to become permanent,” Irene countered.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the Mindor Kingdom advisors.

Minjeong exhaled, straightening. “We are not trying to exploit your merchants. We’re trying to protect the trade routes. If we don’t act now, we risk losing control of them entirely.”

At that, Y/N finally turned her head to look at her. “So your solution is to make our merchants pay for your kingdom’s inability to control the problem?”

Minjeong flinched at the sharpness of her tone, though she masked it quickly. “That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what it sounds like,” Y/N shot back.

Their gazes locked, neither willing to back down.

The room was silent, all eyes flickering between the two of them. The weight of their history—years of shared memories, unspoken words, and something dangerously close to unresolved feelings—hung between them like a fragile thread ready to snap.

Taeyeon cleared her throat. “Perhaps a recess is in order.”

Tiffany nodded. “A moment to reevaluate our positions could be beneficial.”

Seulgi exchanged a look with Irene before nodding. “Agreed.”

Minjeong barely registered their words, her focus solely on Y/N, whose lips were pressed into a thin line. Without another word, Y/N stood, turning sharply on her heel as she strode out of the chamber.

Minjeong hesitated only a second before following.

She caught up with Y/N in the corridor, reaching for her wrist. “Wait—”

Y/N spun around, pulling her arm free. “What?”

Minjeong sighed, lowering her voice. “This doesn’t have to turn into a fight.”

Y/N scoffed. “Isn’t it already?”

Minjeong hesitated, searching her face. “Why are you so angry with me?”

Y/N let out a humorless laugh. “You really don’t see it, do you?”

Minjeong took a step closer, her voice softer. “Then tell me.”

Y/N shook her head, frustration flashing in her eyes. “You’re supposed to be different from them. From all of them. But the moment it comes to politics, you sound just like your advisors—just like your mothers.”

Minjeong felt that hit deeper than she expected. “That’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it?” Y/N exhaled sharply, turning away. “I need air.”

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The halls of Argoriath’s castle were quieter at night, the usual hum of court life fading into the dim glow of torches lining the stone walls. Y/N had needed space, an escape from the weight of the political negotiations, from the clashing words and veiled threats between Mindor and Argoriath’s councils.

She walked aimlessly, letting the silence settle over her like a blanket, until she heard voices echoing from a nearby corridor. Minjeong’s voice.

She hesitated, half-turning to leave, but something in Minjeong’s tone—low, troubled—made her pause.

“She doesn’t see it, does she?” a second voice said, deeper, steadier. One of Minjeong’s knights. Perhaps Jeno.

Minjeong sighed. “No. And I don’t know if I should tell her.”

Y/N frowned, taking a step closer, pressing herself against the cool stone wall to remain unseen.

“You have doubts,” the knight stated, rather than asked.

Minjeong let out a humorless chuckle. “Wouldn’t you?”

Y/N felt her stomach drop.

“You and Y/N have known each other for years,” Jeno said. “You’ve always protected her, even before all of this political mess. I thought… I thought you were at least willing to go through with this.”

Silence.

Then Minjeong exhaled sharply. “It’s not that simple.”

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat.

Minjeong continued, quieter now, as if admitting it aloud was something she wasn’t ready to face. “Neither of us asked for this, Jeno. We’re being pushed into something neither of us may be ready for. What if it doesn’t work? What if we ruin everything between our kingdoms? What if we make a mistake that costs us more than just our own happiness?”

Y/N pressed a hand to her chest, suddenly finding it hard to breathe.

“You’re overthinking again,” Jeno replied, though there was no teasing in his voice this time. “You don’t have to want this, Minjeong. But if you’re not careful, you might end up pushing her away before either of you figure out what you actually feel about it.”

Another long pause.

Minjeong didn’t answer.

That silence was louder than anything else in Y/N’s ears.

She took a step back, heart hammering against her ribs. The stone walls around her suddenly felt suffocating, the flickering torchlight casting too many shadows. She needed to get out of there before they saw her, before Minjeong saw the hurt she knew was written all over her face.

Without another sound, she turned and slipped away, her mind spinning with the weight of Minjeong’s words.

Neither of us may be ready.

The words rang in her ears as she fled into the darkness of the castle, unable to escape the ache settling deep in her chest.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The clashing of steel rang out through the castle’s private training grounds, each strike sending sparks into the cool morning air. The sun had barely risen, yet Minjeong and Y/N stood across from each other, swords drawn, eyes locked in an unspoken challenge.

This was supposed to be just another sparring session. A way to keep their skills sharp.

But they both knew this was more than that.

Y/N’s grip tightened on the hilt of her sword, her knuckles white. Minjeong had barely spoken to her since the meeting with their councils, since the words Y/N overheard in the corridor had carved themselves into her chest.

She hadn’t confronted Minjeong about it. Instead, she held her anger, her hurt, and let it boil beneath her skin.

And now, with a blade in her hand, she was ready to let it out.

Minjeong noticed the shift in Y/N’s stance and raised an eyebrow. “You’re tense.”

Y/N scoffed, rolling her shoulders. “And you’re talkative.”

Minjeong smirked, twirling her sword once before settling into position. “Would you rather I let my sword do the talking?”

Y/N didn’t answer. Instead, she lunged.

Minjeong barely had time to react before their swords clashed, the force of Y/N’s strike sending a sharp vibration up her arm. She gritted her teeth, pushing back, but Y/N was relentless, attacking with a precision that left no room for Minjeong to recover.

“Good,” Minjeong murmured, blocking another strike. “Use your anger.”

Y/N’s eyes flashed. “I’m not angry.”

She swung harder. Minjeong sidestepped, barely missing the arc of Y/N’s blade. “Could’ve fooled me.”

Y/N clenched her jaw and attacked again. Their movements were fast, sharp—both of them skilled warriors, neither willing to yield. The tension that had been building between them since the council meeting now spilled into each strike, each step, each narrowed glance.

Minjeong smirked as she deflected another blow. “Are you trying to prove something?”

Y/N’s blade scraped against Minjeong’s guard. “I don’t need to prove anything to you.”

Minjeong’s smirk faltered for just a second before she retaliated, forcing Y/N onto the defensive. She pressed forward, their blades locked, their faces inches apart.

“I didn’t mean what I said,” Minjeong said lowly.

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t let it show. “Which part?”

Minjeong hesitated. That moment of hesitation cost her—Y/N twisted her wrist, knocking Minjeong’s blade to the side and kicking her legs out from under her.

Minjeong hit the ground with a sharp exhale, her sword skidding across the dirt. Before she could react, Y/N was above her, pressing the tip of her blade lightly against Minjeong’s throat.

Minjeong looked up at her, chest rising and falling, eyes dark with something unreadable.

Y/N held her gaze. “Do you yield?”

Silence stretched between them, thick with everything unsaid. Minjeong’s lips parted, but no words came. Instead, she reached up, wrapping her fingers around Y/N’s wrist—not to fight, not to push her away, but just to hold her there.

For a second, Y/N let her.

Then, with a sharp intake of breath, she stepped back, lowering her sword. Minjeong slowly sat up, brushing dust off her hands, her expression unreadable.

Y/N turned away. “We’re done here.”

Minjeong watched her go, her fingers still tingling where they had touched Y/N’s skin.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp earth and pine as Y/N guided her horse through the open fields just beyond the castle grounds. The rhythmic clatter of hooves against the dirt was soothing, a rare moment of peace in the midst of the chaos consuming her days.

That peace, however, was interrupted by the sound of another horse approaching from behind.

Y/N sighed, already knowing who it was before even turning. “I told you I didn’t need company.”

Minjeong rode up beside her, effortlessly controlling her black steed. “And I decided I didn’t care.”

Y/N shot her a glare, but Minjeong only smirked, the sunlight catching the edge of her dark riding cloak. “It’s reckless to go out alone,” Minjeong added. “What if something happened?”

Y/N huffed, nudging her horse forward. “I can take care of myself.”

Minjeong followed easily, matching her pace. “I know. Doesn’t mean I have to let you.”

For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the distant rustling of trees and the soft snorts of their horses. The tension from the past days still clung between them, the weight of politics threatening to swallow whatever was left of their fragile understanding.

Finally, Minjeong broke the silence. “You’re still angry.”

Y/N didn’t look at her. “I’m not angry.”

Minjeong arched a brow. “You nearly took my head off with your sword yesterday.”

Y/N let out a sharp exhale. “I don’t want to fight you, Minjeong.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

Y/N pulled on the reins, bringing her horse to a slow trot. Minjeong did the same, watching as Y/N’s expression softened just slightly. “It’s frustrating,” Y/N admitted. “I don’t understand why your side won’t compromise. Mindor isn’t trying to undermine Argoriath. We just want fairness.”

Minjeong sighed, running a hand through her wind-tousled hair. “You think I don’t want the same thing? I’m stuck between my kingdom’s expectations and what I actually believe is right. It’s not as simple as giving in.”

Y/N studied her, something unreadable in her gaze. “Then what do you actually believe is right?”

Minjeong opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, a sharp crack echoed through the air.

Y/N’s horse reared back suddenly, startled by the sound. Y/N let out a gasp as she lost her grip on the reins, the world tilting as she was thrown from the saddle.

Minjeong lunged from her horse, catching Y/N mid-fall, twisting their bodies so she took the brunt of the impact as they hit the ground. The breath was knocked from Minjeong’s lungs, but she barely registered it—her focus was entirely on the girl sprawled on top of her, wide-eyed and breathless.

The silence stretched between them, their faces mere inches apart. Minjeong could feel Y/N’s heartbeat against her own, fast and unsteady.

“You—” Y/N swallowed, eyes darting across Minjeong’s face. “You caught me.”

Minjeong let out a breathless chuckle. “You sound surprised.”

Y/N didn’t answer. She was too busy realizing something else entirely—Minjeong had moved without hesitation. She had thrown herself between Y/N and danger, without thinking, without question.

Minjeong’s fingers flexed slightly against Y/N’s waist before she cleared her throat and shifted. “Are you hurt?”

Y/N slowly shook her head. “No.”

Minjeong nodded, her voice quieter this time. “Good.”

"Are you?" Minjeong gulped. "No."

Y/N nodded. It took a second longer than necessary for Y/N to finally push herself up. Minjeong followed, dusting herself off before offering Y/N a hand. Y/N hesitated, then took it, letting Minjeong pull her to her feet.

They stood there for a moment, still close, breaths uneven. Y/N opened her mouth as if to say something, but the words never came. Instead, she turned toward her horse, brushing her fingers against its mane to soothe it.

Minjeong studied her carefully. “Y/N.”

Y/N paused but didn’t turn around. “What?”

Minjeong exhaled, debating whether to say what was on her mind. Instead, she simply murmured, “Be careful next time.”

Y/N finally turned, her gaze meeting Minjeong’s. There was something different in her expression—something softer, something conflicted. “Yeah.”

Minjeong smirked, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Without another word, they mounted their horses and rode back in silence.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

Minjeong stood outside Y/N’s chambers, her hand hovering over the wooden door. It was late—too late to be making formal visits—but after the incident earlier that day, she couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling in her chest. There was too much left unsaid, and for once, she didn’t want to push it aside.

With a quiet sigh, she finally knocked.

A moment passed before the door creaked open. Y/N stood there, her hair slightly tousled, her sleeping garments draping softly around her frame. Minjeong had seen her wear royal gowns, battle attire, and traveling cloaks, but this—this was different. It was intimate in a way that made Minjeong’s throat go dry.

Y/N blinked, surprised to see her. “Minjeong? It’s late.”

Minjeong cleared her throat, forcing herself to focus. “I know. I just… we need to talk.”

Y/N studied her for a moment before stepping aside, allowing her in. “Alright.”

Minjeong entered, trying not to let her eyes linger on the way the candlelight cast a warm glow on Y/N’s skin. She forced herself to concentrate as she turned to face her. “About today. About the dispute between our kingdoms.”

Y/N crossed her arms, leaning against the edge of her bed. “Go on.”

Minjeong exhaled, raking a hand through her hair. “We can’t keep going in circles. There has to be another way to resolve this without jeopardizing everything.”

Y/N nodded, rubbing her arms absently. “I’ve been thinking about that too. If the trade tariffs are the issue, then perhaps a compromise—lower taxes in exchange for shared security along the borders?”

Minjeong considered it, trying to ignore the way Y/N’s neckline dipped slightly when she shifted. “It’s possible. My mothers won’t agree right away, but if we present it as a temporary solution, they might listen.”

Y/N sighed, pushing away from the bed and pacing slightly. “I know my mothers won’t back down easily either. They believe fairness means equal benefit for both sides, not just temporary relief.”

Minjeong groaned, rubbing her temples. “It’s like talking to a wall with them.”

Y/N snorted. “Welcome to my world.”

Despite the heavy topic, a small smile tugged at Minjeong’s lips. But just as quickly as it came, it faded when Y/N sat on the edge of the bed, adjusting her position in a way that caused the fabric of her nightgown to slip slightly off her shoulder.

Minjeong looked away sharply. Focus. Politics. Trade. Not Y/N’s bare skin and how impossibly close they were in the quiet of her chambers.

Y/N tilted her head. “Minjeong?”

Minjeong swallowed, forcing her gaze back up. “I think… I think we should propose the security alliance first. If we push too hard on the tariffs immediately, it’ll only make them more defensive.”

Y/N nodded, seemingly unaware of Minjeong’s internal turmoil. “That makes sense. And in the meantime, we can work on gaining support from the other council members.”

Minjeong nodded, gripping the back of a nearby chair for grounding. “Exactly.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, but Minjeong could still feel the warmth of Y/N’s presence. Her gaze flickered to Y/N’s lips—just for a second—before she caught herself and looked away again.

Y/N arched a brow. “Are you alright?”

Minjeong let out a breathless chuckle, shaking her head. “Fine. Just… tired.”

Y/N studied her, then smirked knowingly. “If you say so.”

Minjeong cleared her throat, stepping toward the door. “We’ll finalize a plan tomorrow. Get some rest.”

Y/N nodded, still watching her with amusement. “You too.”

Minjeong hesitated only for a moment before slipping out, closing the door behind her. Then she stopped.

Rubbing the back of her neck, she debated whether she should knock again. There was something unsettling about how they had left things—not bad, but unfinished. Finally, she sighed, shaking her head at her own hesitation, and turned back.

Inside, Y/N sat on her bed, staring at the door, her fingers gently tracing the embroidery on her sheets. Her mind raced over their conversation. Minjeong had come all this way, at this late hour, just to talk. That meant something, didn’t it?

A knock echoed through the room once more.

Y/N quickly stood and opened the door, her brows raised in curiosity. “Minjeong?”

Minjeong looked slightly embarrassed, rubbing her temple. “Just one more thing.”

Y/N leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. “Go on.”

Minjeong hesitated, then said, “No matter how difficult these negotiations get, I don’t want it to change things between us.”

Y/N’s teasing smirk softened. “You mean, you don’t want me trying to take your head off with a sword?”

Minjeong huffed a small laugh. “Something like that.”

Y/N studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Alright. No matter what happens, we figure it out together.”

Minjeong felt something in her chest ease at that. “Good.”

They stood there for a beat longer, something unspoken hanging between them. Then, Y/N tilted her head toward the hall. “You should really get some sleep.”

Minjeong exhaled, finally stepping back. “Yeah. Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Goodnight, Minjeong.”

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The grand council chamber was filled with the imposing presence of four queens—Taeyeon and Tiffany on one side, Irene and Seulgi on the other. At the center of it all, Minjeong and Y/N sat side by side, the weight of their plan pressing down on them as they prepared to present their proposal.

Minjeong cleared her throat. “We’ve come up with a solution that benefits both Argoriath and Mindor.”

Y/N nodded, her hands neatly folded on the table. “If we establish a security alliance along our shared borders, both kingdoms will benefit from safer trade routes, and it will eliminate the need for excessive tariffs.”

Taeyeon exchanged a glance with Tiffany, while Irene studied the two of them carefully. Seulgi was the first to break the silence. “And how exactly would this be enforced?”

Minjeong straightened. “Each kingdom will provide an equal number of soldiers for the patrols, commanded by a joint force from both nations. This ensures fairness and trust between our people.”

Irene leaned back, considering. “And if tensions rise? What guarantee do we have that this won’t lead to more conflict?”

Y/N exhaled, meeting her mother’s gaze. “This isn’t just a political strategy—it’s an opportunity for our kingdoms to work together beyond necessity. If we don’t take this step, we risk losing not just resources, but any chance at genuine peace.”

The chamber was silent for a long moment.

Finally, Irene sighed. “It’s a bold plan.”

Taeyeon nodded. “And a risky one.”

“But,” Seulgi interjected, “it’s also the most practical solution we’ve heard thus far.”

Tiffany smiled slightly, her gaze flickering between the two young royals. “You’ve clearly put a lot of thought into this.”

Irene raised an eyebrow. “As expected of a future ruling couple.”

Minjeong nearly choked on air. “Excuse me?”

Y/N turned sharply to her mother. “That’s—”

Seulgi smirked. “Oh, please. You two might not have made your marriage official yet, but you already act like a couple.”

Taeyeon nodded approvingly. “Finishing each other’s thoughts, working through problems together, prioritizing the well-being of both kingdoms—it’s quite endearing, really.”

Minjeong and Y/N shared a look, both of them visibly flustered. Minjeong crossed her arms. “This is about politics, not—”

“Of course, dear,” Tiffany said, her tone far too amused. “Purely politics.”

Y/N groaned, burying her face in her hands. “We’re never going to hear the end of this.”

Minjeong sighed, stealing a glance at her before shaking her head. “Apparently not.”

Just as the teasing subsided, a royal advisor stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Your Majesties, I have another matter to bring to your attention.”

The room turned their focus on him as he continued, “Lord Shin-Il Lee of the eastern territories will be arriving in a few days with his eldest son, Lord Mark Lee. They have requested an audience with you regarding a proposal.”

Minjeong immediately scowled, her earlier embarrassment replaced with irritation. “A proposal for what?”

The advisor hesitated. “They have not disclosed the specifics, only that it concerns both kingdoms.”

Minjeong scoffed, leaning back in her chair. “Of course, they didn’t.”

The meeting was adjourned soon after, and as soon as they stepped out into the hallway, Minjeong turned to Y/N with an annoyed huff. “I swear, if Mark tries anything ridiculous, I—”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, amused. “You what?”

Minjeong crossed her arms. “I’ll handle it.”

Y/N chuckled. “You really don’t like him, do you?”

Minjeong rolled her eyes. “He’s irritating, overly charming, and—” she waved her hand dismissively, “—he thinks he’s more important than he is.”

Y/N hummed in mock thoughtfulness. “Or maybe you’re just still jealous about the dance?”

Minjeong immediately stiffened. “What? No!”

Y/N grinned. “You sure? Because you sound jealous.”

Minjeong sputtered, her face growing warm. “I—I’m not—”

Y/N only laughed, clearly enjoying Minjeong’s flustered state. “If you say so.”

Minjeong groaned, turning on her heel. “I’m leaving.”

Y/N called after her, still giggling. “I’ll make sure to greet Mark with a warm smile when he arrives!”

Minjeong’s retreating form tensed but she didn’t turn around. Y/N leaned against the wall, shaking her head in amusement.

This was going to be fun.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ; 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭

𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

[reikunrei]

feeling incredibly averse to posting this but i'm just gonna drop my kofi link here in case anyone wants to help me get out of my increasingly shitty situation living with my parents

more info below ig

after having given my parents nearly $100k over the last four years, i'd love to be able to actually leave. my future job situation is still up in the air (i've submitted for about a dozen positions and the only one i've heard back from and interviewed for hasn't gotten back to me yet), and i haven't been able to build up any savings because, again, i was (and still am) helping my family afford rent and bills, and probably the taxes my parents are behind on, but if i think about that, i'll get too angry. no joke, i've given my family, at the bare minimum, 85% of my income over the last 4 years. the rest of it has gone toward medical stuff and, now, my car

at this point, with the combo of my mom refusing to lower her standards and my dad's seeming refusal to hunt for a new full time job, i don't see how they won't continue to bleed me dry. my dad even has a bad habit of taking money out of my old savings account that he's a joint owner on or whatever from when i got it set up when i was 16, even when i stopped actively putting money in it, so now any time it gets its automated $1 transfer from my checking account, he'll just take that $1 without consulting me. i'm not exaggerating, even if it has $1-2 in it, it'll be gone within a week

i've even put off starting on testosterone because of this. i wanted to start it like 3 years ago, but kept putting it off because of money issues and wanting to save as much as possible. i got really close to actually starting it this year, but because of how messy everything is, i put it off again bc having one more thing on my plate, especially when my parents are already weird about me being trans, was not something i wanted to deal with

not to mention, we're still currently not living under a lease in our house that we're, as far as i'm aware, still tens of thousands of dollars behind in rent on (again, my dad refuses to disclose our financial position honestly with any of us) and it's developed many, many issues bc the landlord, even before we were behind on rent, is shit and refuses to actually fix anything. and my dad loves to just ignore things unless we beg him to do something

i'd love to be on my own (in the, much more affordable, midwest) by the end of summer. i by no means want to rely on donations and i have other avenues i'm working with to make money (i still have my current full time job, but i'm going through my old belongings and selling a lot online), but i'll take any help i can get atp because i'm truly at my wits end. i'd start doing art commissions again if i could, but doing that from 2020-2022, partially on top of my full time job, absolutely wrecked my right hand and i'm still in enough pain that i can't make it a regular activity

idk how much else there is to say. there's more i could say but... i don't really wanna air all my dirty laundry here. i'm miserable in so many ways and it's just become increasingly clear that my dad expects me to constantly cover his ass. my younger brother gives money too, but he manages to go on big cross-country and overseas trips with friends, so i think i've been stuck with the burden of giving the most money. there's so many more things going on in the world rn and everyone is stretched thin so i don't expect much, or anything, but. idk. might as well throw it out there, right?

i’ve also since taken down the gfm i set up last year when we got our first eviction notice bc, while we still need the money, i don’t feel right keeping it up for multiple reasons, including “i don’t want to give any of that money to my family” and it feels too… serious to keep it up when i could just throw out my kofi instead

i just want to make sure i have some sort of safety net to catch me if i move before anything job-wise is finalized. i need to be able to afford a place to live for at least a month so i can job-search while physically being in the area i wanna move to, which would ultimately make it easier for me to find a job at all. i'm working on being more firm with giving less money so i can actually have the means to move and be safe and comfortable, but... that never lasts long in this house

anyway. that's it, i guess. thanks for reading

[petewentzisblack1312]

none of you will care about this because the machinations of a small island developing nation dont matter at all to you for reasons im sure are not something you may need to confront and think on but recently st lucia started rolling out universal health care in phases, starting out with pre and post natal care (and something else i dont remember what) and that has undoubtedly had a positive effect, anecdotally according to my mother (nursing manager at the government hospital) far fewer newborns are ending up in nicu which is fantastic.

but the way theyve gone about funding this is absolutely stupid. st lucia had 4 tax brackets, the lowest of which was 10%, and instead of adding a new maximum tax bracket for a higher income, the merged the bottom two tax brackets so that the lowest tax bracket is 15%. so the lowest taxable income now pays more, while the highest taxable incomes pay the exact same.

additionally, and this is the really stupid thing, they added a levy to everything. if you know anything about economics you know that taxes on purchasing goods and services are disproportionately burdened by people with lower incomes, because we buy things more frequently due to not being able to buy in bulk or not being able to afford something that will last and therefore paying for the same thing more often.

every time i think about this im flabbergasted by what a terrible decision it was. like universal healthcare is good, unequivocally. but like why fund this through those who can afford it the least?

[cutmytaxes1]

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[thenameswinter99]

I generally avoid to talk about politics in my blog, but I woke up choosing violence and I won’t keep myself any longer.

Message to the Americans from an European:

FUCK YOU ALL.

How could you ever, EVER think of voting a racist, homophobic, misogynist, megalomaniac and all the negative adjectives of the world man? I had little hope in Kamala, I had the feeling she would not win… BUT HOW COULD YOU, HOLY SHIT?

Do you think your “saviour”, the same who said that he should have trusted men around like Hitler with their generals? The same man who allowed one his constituents to call Kamala a “whore” and simulated a oral practice with his microphone IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE (who have less brain than him, let’s be honest), the same who organized the assault of Capitol Hill because he could not accept defeat, the same man who had another scum called Elon Musk corrupting the people by donating millions for voting for Trump (a practice ILLEGAL, I L L E G A L), would really MaKe AmErIcAh gReAt AgAiN?

We will talk about this when you’ll cry about multiple civil war starting in your country, because this is what will happen. And I will not be impressed when I’ll read the news in the newspaper.

Don’t cry when you’ll lose your house due to the climate change, because your beloved new President doesn’t believe in climate change and will do everything to turn your back and keep polluting the world, affecting us as well (the Spain floods should be a living example)

Europeans (the intelligent ones, as there are the no brained ones who are celebrating Trump’s victory) are looking at you with extremely side eye because you ruined us. You LITERALLY ruined us, already fragile from two wars that are far from seeing the end. Don’t think that he will be the Messiah that will stop all the wars: it won’t happen. Don’t think the economical and commercial relationships will improve under him: it won’t happen.

For all the women voting for Trump: I hope you look in your mirror in the morning and be ashamed of yourself, because there were women behind you who FOUGHT AND DIED for your fucking rights, and you put your vote on a man that will erase your rights in a heartbeat. Don’t cry when you’ll be treated as a baby machine, because you’ll have to shut up when it will be too late to complain.

For all the Americans who voted for Kamala and tried to break the cycle and giving America a better future: I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I know she wasn’t your best candidate, that she has lots of flaws, but the damage would have been less instead of the orange tycoon. We’re living in a simulation of the 1920’s, where violence and ignorance are reigning without being punished. These four years, barring unforeseen events or coups, will pass. And a better future will come.

Thank you for ruining our world, America. Hope you’re proud of yourself. 💜

P.S. Before you attack me after reading my useless wall of text: I’m from Italy, governed by a party of fascist people, with the first Prime Minister being a woman who hates women; who are annulling the women and the LGBTQ+ rights; with the worst press and television censorship; with the population clamouring for higher salaries and lower taxes, but they do nothing; with the highest tax burden but NOTHING is done to lower them; with a Ministry of Transport investigated for kidnapping for ILLEGALLY holding a boat of migrants. I know what will be your destiny, so don’t worry. 💜

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Walter Einenkel at Daily Kos:

Donald Trump, supposed champion of the working class, is stocking his Cabinet with billionaires.  That’s a contrast with his first go-round, when he proposed only one billionaire Cabinet pick: Betsy DeVos, as secretary of education, who funneled public funds into private schools. At the same time, Trump’s billionaire favoritism isn’t much of a surprise, since his campaign was largely funded by the billionaire class. Billionaires, on the whole, quickly forgave Trump after his attempt to overthrow the 2020 election. After all, he promised to further lower their meager tax burden while reminding them of the $1 trillion increase in their wealth during his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Oligarch-elect Donald Trump, a faux champion of the working class, has a cabinet full of oligarchs and billionaires.

[dullgecko]

Some headcanons for my favorite critter (affectionately because I love your headcanons) and my favorite critter-boys (Gorgug, Riz,)

(for a lot of these I quoted stuff from the handbooks)

Gorgug:

Players Handbook: Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

I think Gorgug is very stubborn, not in a way that frustrates him (expect for in the Porter battle), but more so “I am going to find a way around this if its the last thing I do.” And he always does. (Finding a way to talk to Zelda, using a ropes velocity to get across Leviathan, in the nightmare forest, and the battle with Porter.

Gorgug alway’s been determined even if he mentally wants to give up. His body won’t let him.

Half orcs also have a trait that makes them naturally intimidating

Players handbook: Menacing. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

Gorgug knows he can be intimidating, especially to smaller folk. But its never intentional, he always tries to make himself smaller, keep his voice down, anything to let people know that he’s not trying to scare them.

Riz:

Adventures with Muk: Dankwood Speak with Small Beasts. Through sounds nad gestures you can communicate simple ideas with Small of smaller beasts. Dankwood goblins love animals and often keep squirrels, badgers, rabbits, moles, woodpeckers, and other creatures as beloved pets.

Sometimes Riz will instictivally turn his head in the direction of a cats meow because it sounds uncomfortably familiar to a goblets (goblin kit? gups?) cry. Other times he swears that he heard Zayn’s rat or one Boggy say something. He tries to ignore it most of the times.

Monsters of the Multiverse: Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the charmed condition on yourself.

Riz has a hard time picking up on people's flirting (nor does he welcome it). Weak charm spells, however, don’t do anything to him, sometimes he doesn't even notice someone’s trying to cast something on him.

(I am a critter. A creature if you will. Sadly one that is burdened by the need to pay taxes and work it's fuckin' bullshit :3)

Gorgug is VERY stuborn. So stuborn that he worked out how to combine being an artificer and a barbarian, two classes that should be on complete oposite ends of the spectrum. It also means that he sometimes wont give up on something even though he really should but he's working on it.

He's very aware that he's intimidating, his parents are smallfolk after all, as are all of his neighborus. Making himself appear less threatening is second nature to him. When he gets annoyed or mad at someone though he stops trying and will intentionally allow himself to be intimidating. Standing up straight, squaring his shoulders and not lowering his voice. The first time he did this in front of his friends (not directed at them) Riz fully failed his save and dove into a nearby bush to hide.

------

Riz likes animals and sometimes really misses having Edgar around (though Zayne does let Riz hang out with the rat when he's over at Mordred sometimes). He's contemplated getting a pet before but he really couldn't afford it, plus his apartment is small and he's so busy all the time that he feels like he wouldn't be able to give a normal animal the attention it deserves.

Even after the whole Kaliina thing he still really likes cats and would get one if he ever decided to get a pet, he feels like they almost speak the same language. He sometimes feeds the strays outside his apartment or chirps at ones he sees in the streets when he's out and about. He has never once failed at finding peoples missing pets, but he doesnt charge very much for the service.

As for the flirting thing? He didn't really experience it before his glow-up in junior year. Riz got back from the Night Yorb quest, dove head-first into basically every club in the school and suddenly has to deal with it on TOP of all the stress from studying and making sure his party members dont fail their classes. It makes him feel weird. Flattering, sure, but no thank you random underclassmen.

More than once he's thought he's been involved in a normal and pleaseant conversation then BAM, someone is asking him on a date or leaning in way too close or on a couple of occasions being WAY too bold and actually touching him (he'd pinned back his ears, bared his teeth, and hissed so viciously at those people that they'd actually flinched and let him go not expecting it - he generally tries to tone down his goblin-y-ness around non-party members but fully drops the mask when angry or startled).

[sansxreaderbraindump]

FARMER! SANS X SHUT-IN READER HEADCANONS RANDOM HEADCANONS - FARMER! Sans does all the cooking in the house because you unfortunately, can't cook a simple meal but you are learning though. One time, you tried to make curry for him as a "thank you" meal for moving in with him. Consequently, the rice ended up being mushy and the curry turned bitter. so you ordered fast food as a gift instead. (@lylia9000) - During October, you randomly decided you wanted to dress up as a scarecrow for Halloween and began working on the costume. In addition, FARMER! sans added in a flower crown he made from agsore's garden to make the costume really "brighten up." Yet for some reason FARMER! sans had a weird "Deja Vu" feeling once he saw you in your costume, he stared long enough before you questioned him on it. "what's wrong? is there something wrong with the costume? oh god, is there a tear-" "nah hon, you look "Outstanding." "stooop." "what? not in your "field?" - Long before you guys started dating, FARMER! sans pampered you with his recently harvested vegetable's and homemade ketchup. The reason why he babied you was because when he went over your house, sans questioned how you were still living with how empty your fridge is. All this poor fridge only had was a half empty ramen noodle cup and a carton box storing leftover fast food you ordered last night. the next day when you opened your fridge, you were greeted by.. Sans's vegetables, homemade ketchup, milk, eggs, carbon boxes of cooked food, and toriel's butterscotch cinnamon pie (the full pie.. 0-0) it had a note "Butter not wheat-it all!" - toriel (Toriel joined in with sans on helping you with your fridge situation because she cares for you and is concerned for your health like a mother would.) - Staying inside your house home alone is guilt free but when it comes down with living with your "humerus" skeleton it is not very guilt free, it contains the tax of feeling like a burden. FARMER! Sans doesn't mind working on his farm alone; he done this many times and besides you done enough as cleaning the house for him. but to you it's not enough, so you went to sans and asked him if you could help him with his farm. "sosanscouldihelpyouonyourfarmnotbecause-" "ok" You kinda regretted asking to help because you were not shaped for farm work. You feel your lower back aching from all the hay dragging and rock lifting you had to do, You did ask for it though. though you struggled you were determined to work. hyping yourself with video game references in your mind fills you with determination. "THIS IS JUST STARDEW VALLEY, THIS IS JUST LIKE MINECRAFT, JUST LIKE MINECRAFT AND STARDEW VALLEY! JUST GOTTA KEEP ON WITH THE GRIND!" once you're finally done, you just flop onto the hay with a groan. your sweaty body makes you want to go to your bed but you were too tired to walk. Eventually sans comes up with a grinning smile as always, you lifted your face to greet him but he beat you to it. Sans cupped your face with his hand and rewarded you by pressing his teeth against your lips. *good job kiddo after that you considered working with him more in the future.