#maga doesn't care about workers

[vintageseawitch]

happy Labor Day! just a reminder that it was leftists who got us the weekend. it's leftists who give us unions & keep them strong.

the federal minimum wage hasn't risen from $7.25 in well over a decade. the main culprit? Republicans of course, & too many people that are in a union are Republican.

Republicans HATE unions nowadays. rich people are so far up their asses they've become living meat puppets for them. rich people don't care about a happy population; they want to get rich at our expense. people blame the president for the high cost of living, such as groceries, when this is actually a global issue & companies have openly stated they were the ones who were price gouging.

it's rich people behind the scenes & they're a massive reason why Project 2025 is a real threat. they want to take away 40 hour work weeks & turn them into 160 hours work months. they will take away the right to get paid for working overtime (page 592). they want to ban unions for public service workers (page 82), make it easier for private companies to decertify unions (page 603), & allow states to opt out of federal labor laws (page 605).

a SCOTUS justice (Thomas) has expressed they he thinks OSHA needs to go. some states like Arkansas have allowed child labor with limited safety & legal measures. they want to take away so many workers' rights that have been so hard fought for & earned. OSHA became a thing because of so much bloodshed. people are going to die from these but it's okay because these rich people who do so much for us will be getting paid more while not being required to even pretend we are human beings.

are you gonna be like the rednecks of old? who gave such a shit for their fellow workers that they literally fought to protect them all? do you really believe rich people are good for us? they don't care at all. they need us more then we need them. even with their power, they're scared in the back of their pathetic little greedy minds. they exhaust us on purpose. Project 2025 is going to make so many aspects of our lives hell & they will not only do nothing about the conditions now to improve our way of life but they fully intend to make it WORSE.

they will force people to stay married & make babies they can't afford while offering no help whatsoever. they want working conditions to be lethal again. they want us to be wage slaves. how can anyone want this? you think it's horrible now? why risk this??

please don't stop talking about Project 2025 or Agenda 47. they're the same plan & the reason why trump doesn't talk about policy is because Project 2025 IS his policy. he's only in this to stay out of prison. he doesn't give a shit what kind of evil, insane people will be doing in the background to fuck us all over. the rest of the world is watching us nervously, hoping he won't be president again. it won't ve good on a domestic OR international level. this is a dangerous time.

please check your registration status often & vote early if you can. encourage friends & family. make a day of it! don't wait until three last minute but be careful out there, too. if it's not voting issues they'll cause people might get violent. ladies, if you're with a Republican partner but you're scared to vote for Harris... please know that your vote is private & you can pretend you're doing something else in order to get it done. stay registered Republican just to be safe. we got this 💙

[qqueenofhades]

Sure, Mitch McConnell is evil. But I think progressives thrilled about his demise aren't considering the fact that right now he's pretty much the only person keeping the Senate Republican conference from turning into the House Republican conference. Like, yeah, he's a piece of shit who stole a supreme court seat, but he can keep the rightest of right flanks mostly under control. I don't know if potential future GOP Leader John Thune could do the same.

Look, I'm not going to call it thrilled, at least for me. He's an old man, he presumably has people (uh, somewhere) who love him, and if he loved them back, or anything more than power, he might retire to be with them and/or do something more appropriate for an 81-year-old man who clearly is not well. But as it is, he has spent 30 years being one of the worst impediments to progress in this whole country, he stole not one but THREE SCOTUS seats (or at least maneuvered in very, very bad faith to get them) and managed to install the current nightmare court that is stripping protections for women, workers/labor rights, LGBTQ people, health care, immigrants, the environment, anyone who doesn't want to get murdered by a gun, democracy, etc. etc. left and right. I have no sympathy for him, I will not be pretending sympathy for him, I don't think anyone else should be obliged to either, and his overall public legacy is one of absolutely damning and devastating damage. Fuck him.

Nor am I a believer in the "we should accept this terrible person because the next terrible person might be worse!" McConnell might not be an open raving MAGA conspiracy theorist, but he has never, not once, done the right thing and put principle over power. He might have personally loathed Trump; he still took full advantage of him to pack the courts with far-right Federalist Society hacks who will likewise damage the judiciary for the duration of their lifetime. He vigorously condemned Trump for January 6 and then immediately voted not to convict him for it. McConnell seems "reasonable" only because he can stand in public and not spew insane QAnon election conspiracy batshit theocratic nonsense, but once again: nobody except for Trump did more than him to fuck this country up, and he was and is very good at it. I'm honestly fine with his demise leaving a power vacuum that will impel the Republicans to spend so much time fighting each other that they might for once actually break the rigid ideological lockstep that McConnell maintained over all of them. Which was, as noted, precisely in support of Trump all the time. Don't let the fact that McConnell is able to masquerade as an establishment politician fool you. He is possibly even more toxic than the Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz GOP losers of the Senate, who talk an endless stream of idiocy and do little. McConnell says relatively little and does the most evil things of all.

Anyway, yes. Fuck him, fuck the things he's done, fuck the Republicans, and let them fight. It will be another mess to appoint his successor, it will make them even more toxic and extreme to the general electorate, and since they need to be burned to the ground and salted in the ashes before we should even think about giving them power again (not that this will happen, because MURKA), frankly, in the end, this is exactly what McConnell deserves.

[asingingpenguin]

You know, it's funny to me that, while it's mostly been positive, I've seen people talk about how Walz isn't progressive enough. I really don't know how much people honestly talk to the average person, more so in the Midwest, but they probably would say he's at least solidly left. But here's the thing, they will listen to him all the same. We need men like him. As someone from the Midwest, I promise you they care far more about him coaching a football team to state champs than his policies (and calling him Coach over his policial title is such a good move I'm still in shock). He really does sound like every dad around his age I've ever met in my home state. He is the blue collar worker the right claims they support and people will believe him when he rightfully calls them liars. We can't expect more progressive changes so long as there's enough people that believe any of the MAGA bullshit. If we want options to do better and possibly get rid of this shitty two party system and electoral college, we need a man like Walz who can speak to the average person in a way that's non-threatening and easily understood. He doesn't talk like a politician or sound like he feels he better than anyone but Vance. He's just a coach. A dad. A guy. And I really do think he can help get more of that stereotypical average American vote.

[oramn]

i am waiting for my tylenol to kick in, so here is an unpleasant experience with a coworker (who i am neutral dislike with). i traded my coworkers shift and i did a midday. I ended up working with three other people, here is the cast:

coworker 1: first gen bosnian american, she is going into her freshman year of college, she is going to play soccer there. she is muslim and her family fled bosnia during the genocide and settled where I live. she isn't too religious, but her family is

coworker 2: idk much about her, she's not very relevant to the story, but I like her, she doesn't do much at work but she's chill. she is like in her early 20's and she is married to a 50 year old that's the only interesting thing about her

coworker 3: our main antagonist. she 24 i think and is very loud and can be very obnoxious. she has been working here about as long as me (about 1 year maybe a little more a little lesss) i go back and for between liking her and not liking her. she has screamed at multiple people and has issues with controlling her emotions because of either bipolar or borderline personality disorder, not sure which.

Now lets set the scene, it's like 1pm, the tail of the lunch rush, we're in drive through, which has it's own little section unlike most paneras where it's just one production line. I'm with coworkers 1-3, i'm doing my thing, making salads when coworker 3 brings up politics and she's talking about voting.

coworker 3 is a very "tell it like it is" person but not in the blunt and honest way, but the "i don't care about other people's feelings i'm gonna say shit and not read the room" type of way. she also has said in a training thing that she thinks her biggest fault is that she's "too nice" when i know she has screamed at multiple people, giving one a panic attack (over soup).

she says she's voting for trump and starts getting very brash about it (she's maga). Now, i don't get into political conversations at work because 1.) i don't know enough to hold those conversations 2.) i'm not a very confrontational person. I do, however, interject when she says "i'm voting for trump because he's gonna make us all richer" i say "no what he's gonna do is he's gonna cut the taxes for the rich and raise the taxes on the poor"

and then she keeps going on about how she doesn't know much about politics but her dad and grandmother do so she's voting the way they're voting and also says that she doesn't think people who don't understand politics and aren't inclined to want to know more about politics should vote (which like ok girl i disagree).

at this point i'm very quiet and very uncomfortable, coworker 1 (my beloves) is also very uncomfortable and she notices that I'm uncomfortable so she tells worker 3 "hey can we not talk about politics."

coworker 3 keeps on talking, and is told 3 more times to stop talking about politics. now she ends up bringing up how she's not apart of the "woke left" right next to me: an 18 year old, gay, transgender man who transitioned as a teenager. people who repeat the rhetoric she is repeating believe that i am a little girl who was groomed by my parents into ruining my body. and she says that right. next. to. me.

now i don't know if she knows I'm trans, a lot of my coworkers don't, a lot of them just assume I'm really fucking gay, but still. she ends up stopping talking about politics later but I'm still very uncomfortable for the rest of my shift.

I gave her a hug as she was about to leave work because she was crying as she was stressed because her car was broken and it costed like a thousand to fix it and she is in a very rough spot in life right now and I hope shit gets better for her.

the end

[kawaiimunism]

the second half of Uri Berliner's takedown of NPR contains some of the most loser shit I've read recently (as expected from someone whose problem with NPR is that it's too progressive lol)

gee, if only there was some way to reference existing research on systemic racism in the so-called u.s.

you're right, uri, grassroots employees shouldn't have a say in editorial standards. if you want diversity of viewpoint, editorial standards should be the sole purview of the editorial board. can't believe SAG-AFTRA would advocate for the interests of workers' groups like that

(/s lol)

this dude trying to play dumb about Don't Say Gay "oh but the law doesn't even have 'gay' anywhere in its text you're misrepresenting it!" as though he doesn't know full-well why everyone called it that (hint: the NPR articles you're mad about explain the nickname)

and speaking for myself, the Latine folks I know are actually pretty divided on "Latinx"—some like it, some hate it, others don't care. and didn't you just say NPR has an internal Latinx advocacy group? do you know their position on the topic?? do you know Latine NPR employees who disagree with Mi Gente that you could discuss this with before going straight to the execs? why do you feel comfortable being the arbiter of this issue? what the hell man

Okay, so this one is variously disgusting:

Dude tips his hand right away by calling it the "Israel-Hamas war."

"jumped from the faculty lounge to newsrooms" lmfao universities have been wildly hostile to Palestinian liberation advocates how are you this out of touch?

When I do a site-search of npr.org for "hamas", the first three articles are all about the October 7 attack. NPR's reporting on rising antisemitism has been kind of lopsided in focusing on accusations of antisemitism while keeping fairly quiet about actual incidents/attitudes thereof, but I suspect accurate reporting on the topic (that is, existing antisemites attempting entryism into Palestinian solidarity movements) wouldn't please this guy.

NPR has tried to be neutral about the Gaza genocide in a way that I think is revolting, but Uri and I obviously disagree about why that's revolting.

The bird names piece is an article about the lack of diversity in bird-watching as a hobby. The bulk of the article talks about how the bird-naming convention of "[discoverer's name] [type of bird]" has led to a lot of birds that are named after horrible racists, and the ensuing conversation within birdwatching about whether/how to change those names. That's it. That's all it says. EDIT: I guess "discoverer" should be in a second set of quotes here, because English-language names for "New World" birds are generally going to be derived from the first settler to decide to name it.

The article "justifying looting" is an interview with Vicky Osterweil, the author of In Defense of Looting. The headline of the article literally calls it "One Author's Controversial View."

Fears about crime are racist and NPR was right to report on it lmao

When he says "suggesting that Asian Americans who oppose affirmative action have been manipulated by white conservatives," the way the story in question "suggests" that is quoting Asian-Americans who feel manipulated by white conservatives.

I haven't read the Beatles story he's talking about. It's kinda long and doesn't really interest me, so I won't comment on it.

I think this bit is the most revealing part of the whole piece. It kinda lays bare the exact ways that Uri is full of shit. He spends most of the latter half of the piece talking about how NPR's push for diversity of identity has coincided with a decrease in diversity of opinion, and that more ideas should be given a seat at the table, but he clearly doesn't actually believe that. Sure, bring in the MAGAs, bring in the Republicans, let the right have a say. But defending looting? Shining a light on racism in hobby spaces? Discussing racism in American attitudes towards crime? Well that's obviously beyond the pale! Obviously those ideas don't get a seat at the table.

Berliner clearly believes that some ideas are dangerous or ridiculous and shouldn't be platformed on that basis, but his main criteria for deciding which ideas shouldn't be platformed seem to be (1) how far outside the mainstream they are (e.g. the Defense of Looting piece) and (2) how ~divisive~ they are (e.g. the stuff about racism). Bringing on Republicans to explain why diversity sucks and trans people should be put in camps? Totally fine, I guess.

This little spiel reveals Berliner for what he is: A status quo warrior burned that the future is leaving him behind. NPR isn't alienating American society, it's embracing the vaguely-progressive left-lib attitudes that are becoming increasingly mainstream across the so-called U.S, paying occasional lip-service to more radical ideas while being very careful to avoid endorsing them.

[chargetheintruder]

You know, I was debating with myself on whether I should reblog this or not. Because I'm not sure people would understand or appreciate where I'm coming from on this. But I guess I can explain it. I don't watch television in my apartment. It's a habit of mine. I've cultivated it since childhood, when I had to stay the hell FOCUSED on getting through school, and AWAY from my abusive parents. Yeah, in spite of my low-key having hyperactive ADD and lots of other problems I didn't even have names for, back then. Point is, I find TV way too passive and spammy with commercials. You agree to give up way too much control with TV under good conditions. So that's the first of it. The second is that, as an adult . . . well, people know I have problems with depression, anxiety, and a few know I have some post-traumatic stress issues too. My point is, the state of Illinois, and the local city I live in, essentially considers me "damaged" and a "mope", which lumps me in with LOTS of people. Yes, for political and policy reasons people like me get lumped in with alcoholics and drug addicts, we get lumped in with ex-felons too in terms of some programs and services, and on a social level, yes, while this "lumping in" might make for cost-efficient policy, it also has its way of turning people into social outcasts. We have it about as bad as the homeless people do, but not quite as bad as people of color, in terms of having The Target On Our Backs.

So . . .yes, I've heard and had to put up with a lot of "crazy" in my life. People wanting to hang out with me and "be friends" because I keep it halfway together and stay rational while they're . . . spitting conspiracies and weirdness, and then looking at me funny when I mention real people's real kids being shot dead by cops. And yeah, I wasted some of my life, maybe 10 to 12 years ago, giving as good as I got, in terms of trolling and menacing those sorts online, on the internet. Digging into them for not having evidence, facts or figures. Exposing them for living in fairy-land and being delusional.

But here's the thing about that. This Union. America. The USA. It doesn't care if you're right or wrong. It only cares, under capitalism, if you're an obedient worker drone or not. If you work and make your own money, you're considered human. If you don't, you aren't. In the end, Thomas Piketty was right. We are largely a dictatorship by, of and for the money. And so I get lumped in with the worst of the worst, and most likely so do you, dear reader.

So I maybe set the bar a little bit low compared to most. I don't care if you call yourself a fascist or a Nazi. I don't care if you call yourself MAGA or QAnon. I don't care about the specifics of your brand of conspiracy or madness anymore. This is because my own society insists on dumping me in the same shit-pits you live in too.

But I do care when you guys kill people. And when you threaten to kill people. And when your pet Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene still gets to do her thing in Congress: being a threat to herself and others. I care when you want to militarize the police even MORE and make them even WORSE. I care when you want other people's children dead because I for one know what being OTHER means.

Seriously, do you guys really think a rich-bitch like a Trump, like ANY Trump ever, is going to have your back if they get to take over like Don-Jon threatens, still, from the courtroom? Are you even on this planet with us?

I'm sorry I went on so much. Point is, yeah, I'm in the semi-bad habit of asking, at least mentally, "Hold up, are you suicidal or homicidal?" first. Others have done it to me and mine for so long it's in my vocabulary now. So those are MY questions: Who are you here to kill, you, me, society? And where did you learn that ANY of this bullshit was acceptable?

[hissytapes]

Why 'Grabbing Hands' Vote Trump

I've been forever trying to get inside the MAGA- and/or Country Club GOP-mind when it comes voting for #Trump against all rational reason and self-interest. Well, moment of clarity, it begins and ends with greed (plus a dose of spite when they double-down after realizing cruelty is the real point).

Turns out, the No. 5 slot on the list of Seven Deadly Sins is ground-zero for most of the immoral, unethical and criminal behavior throughout human history. Just ask your angry-uncle Bible-thumper.

Greed is what enables MAGAs and so-called "moderate Republicans" to turn on their own family and friends, agree to take away the liberties and freedoms of others, endorse abuse of and violence against immigrants (legal or illegal), agree to imprison and/or execute fellow citizens for not aligning with Trump's fascist-dictatorship, and then ultimately give up their own freedoms and personal liberties because dictators always turn on those who put them in power — always.

(And yes, authoritarianism is what we're ultimately voting for — or against — in 2024.)

For these folks, money is their God and consumerism is their life. Whether the working-poor or gated-community dweller, their only mission is obtaining wealth at all costs. It's not about survival or paying the bills; they believe they are entitled to the riches of the world simply because they are white (and mostly male). Minimal work — maximum payout. (What they used to call "easy living.")

And what windfall does it take for someone to turn on their fellow citizens and subsequently give up their own freedoms? Surprisingly, just pennies. I'll never understand someone who’ll liquidate their soul for the goal of fattening their wallet.

But not only is greed a deadly sin, it also makes its practitioners consummate suckers and easy marks. The grabbing hands grab all they can — until someone grabs it from them.

This all reminds me of Trading Places: Randolph and Mortimer Duke socially engineer the downfall of Louis Winthorpe III and then the upward mobility of Billy Ray Valentine — all for a bet of one dollar … These $1-bets are Trump voters.

And I haven't even mentioned Project 2025 yet — the Heritage Foundation's guide for Trump's potential second-term of greed and grift. This 920-page "mandate" reads like Hitler's obsessive-compulsive playbook for 1930s-Germany.

I get the feeling most Trump voters don't even realize what they're signing up for, much less taken the time to read this step-by-step plan on how to convert our democracy to a fascist-theocracy. Nor do they seem to care as long they think it benefits them now (it doesn't and won't). Ignorance is piss.

(And why is it up to us libtards to bring this to their attention?)

If you're voting Trump, I challenge you to ask yourself … Why? Do you really understand the implications of Trump's plan to destroy our democracy?

Are you comfortable inflicting pain on loved ones and family? If so … Why? Are you cool with your family, neighbors and co-workers who don’t support Trump being imprisoned indefinitely and/or executed?

Are you OK with giving up your personal liberties just for a few extra pennies you don't need — nor will ever receive? Are you good with brutal violence just so your party "wins?" And last but certainly not least, do you want to be told what God to pray to by the government?

Don't believe me? Or think these prompts are hyperbole or subterfuge? Fine. Just download Project 2025's Mandate for Leadership. Then open to any random section and read for five minutes.

From the hiring of all positions within the federal government based on individual loyalty to Trump, "punishing" opposing officials at all levels of government and consolidating power to the executive branch alone — it's all there in disturbing detail, typeset in 10.5 pt. Chronicle Text.

But a final query. If you answered "yes" to any or all of those questions:

Why?

[bitchesgetriches]

So I do enough volunteer work, it's basically a part-time job. I'm a transportation coordinator and instructor for three states in my region, which sounds impressive...except I volunteer with 2 different abortion rights non-profits (Midwest Action Coalition and the National Network of Abortion Funds). I was laid off at the start of the pandemic because the company I worked for the past decade decided to close down and the owners retired. I'm putting together a professional resume for the first time after a different gig is ending. I'd love to cite my volunteer work because my higher education is lacking, but I worry about stigma. My old company wasn't controversial in any way, and we were all across the political spectrum, even if that meant I had to share a break room with a bunch of Trumpers and walk past computers displaying someone's MAGA hat 🙄 but I've always kept my opinions to myself and got along with people different than me (minus real workplace issues related to racism, homophobia, sexism, etc that I handled head on). So I worry about how this loaded issue in a mixed political climate in my field will be regarded. But I've done so much because I'm deeply involved, I don't want to leave out the seminars I've organized and what would impress them about my management/educator/leadership skills that my previous independent role doesn't communicate on its own. What do you think? I'm from Ohio which is a purple state, but that means a lot of people working in a blue county live in a red county. Sorry this ask is so messy, it's 3:30am my time and I'm thinking out loud but very grateful for your insight.

Hey tiger. This is a GREAT question to be asking. And I certainly have thoughts! I know it’ll surprise few of you to learn that I rarely put Bitches Get Riches on my resume even though it’s a HUGE part of my life and my professional experience.

Ok, so first off you should read these two articles:

How to Write a Resume so You Actually Have a Prayer of Getting Hired 

How to Frame Volunteering on Your Resume When You’ve Never Had a Job 

Pay special attention to the one on volunteering. You should work on reframing your experience with abortion funds and other reproductive healthcare nonprofits as something along the lines of “volunteer healthcare literacy specialist” or “healthcare transportation for underserved communities.” The KIND of healthcare you’re working on (reproductive healthcare) is what could make certain people biased against you. The fact that you’re a volunteer in the healthcare field is enormously valuable experience. So just be careful about how you word things.

You guys can reframe ANYTHING on a resume, but it’s especially important for sex workers and people working in controversial industries. That said, think carefully about why you might need to reframe something. You don’t want to run the risk of being hired by someone who violently disagrees with your core values, if for no other reason than it might not be safe.

Also... have you considered pivoting to make your volunteer work your full-time work? I’m sure there are paid positions within abortion-related nonprofits that could really use your skills and compassion! 

[reading-writing-revolution]

580,000 people won't get the money they were screwed out of during the #TrumpShutdown because #DonaldTrump will not authorize it. "Fuck you," said the President. #MAGA

"So—as economist Robert Reich put it—"no one should be surprised" that Trump is continuing this cruel practice as president, this time by reportedly refusing to sign any government funding deal that includes back pay for the estimated 580,000 federal contractors who were furloughed or forced to work without pay for over a month due to the shutdown."

"Just in case you need more evidence that Donald Trump doesn't care about American workers, he views giving back pay to federal contractors like custodians and food service workers as a dealbreaker 

—Rep. Mark Pocan

[angelsaxis]

I don't care how many previous Democratic presidents have had a Republican in their cabinet because that's not the point that either I or the quote-tweeter are making.

Harris and her campaign have repeatedly talked about the dangers of P25 and the dangers of the Republican party and to my knowledge don't make this distinction between Maga and (presumably less bad?) Republicans that liberals keep insisting on.

(why lie and act like there's even that much of a difference between a MAGA and a Republican? They both have Trump/Vance signs on their lawns. They both hate everything the Democrats allegedly stand for)

I don't want a Republic in charge of national policy in any way, shape, or form. The entire Republican party is acting against my interests as a Black queer person. People would be less upset if Harris actually worked to court the vote of the liberals and leftists she keeps condescending, ignoring, or sneering at instead of fighting for the votes and support of the Republican party/a handful of voting Republicans.

So what if it's normal. That means I should accept it? Why would I vote Democrat if a Republican is going to end up in with power anyways? How long do I/we have to keep acting like Democrats reaching across the aisle while Republicans keep moving the pews back or acting in dirty underhanded ways is at all a good political strategy? I've been seeing this bullshit since I was in middle school. Democrats try to, want to, have to compromise. Compromise compromise compromise. And Republicans never make an effort to do the same. She could paint the whole damn oval office red and Republicans will still call her a dirty communist even WHEN she's to the right of Trump on something like immigration so I don't frankly see the point in going belly up for political enemies when she could just suck it up and actually promise to do things that people want.

Like sorry there's this thing that liberals do where any time someone makes a valid and justifiable complaint about a democratic nominee they act like that person has 0 understanding of the political process and that anyone who complains or has valid fears or grievances just Doesn't Get the 4D chess the nominee is playing.

YEARS of this compromising strategy and where are we? COVID killing thousands every month, disabled people abandoned, rights of queer people still in the toilet and the violence against us on the rise, police brutality and money to police on the rise, NO single payer healthcare (she removed that from her campaign!!), increased money to foreign aid and the military budget and increased support for the colonial violence of Israel while people here literally die in the streets and/or die homeless and/or die because of easily preventable diseases and/or die because they're simply too poor. We can't get minimum wage up to 15 an hour. Unions are striking left and right with mixed success. Again, billions to Israel. Again, nothing like free day care or preschool. Biden and Kamala have probably done some passably good things but all the ways this place has gone to shit completely overshadows any of their progress. We don't have Roe anymore and besides yelling at us to give them money and vote for them I don't see a coherent strategy from Democrats. Grocery prices are through the fucking roof and what'll help it is not destroying the environment (she supports fracking last I checked) and actually supporting workers rights (haven't seen anything about fed min wage from Dems in a minute).

Denying the fascist tones of the Democratic party and acting like it's just the Republicans is rich. Again, genocide happening with full support from every aspect of the US government. Again, support for policing. They were just putting down student protesters and violating their free speech rights up and down the Ivy Leagues. Also if the Republican party is the evil fascist overlord party why the Fuck would you justify her trying to add a fascist to her cabinet? What progressivism is she gonna successfully put through when, by your own admission, the "full fascist" party is gonna be in control of something major?

Her entire fucking campaign has just been "haha we're not Republicans I'm not trump" it's half assed it's lazy she's not talking about the things people want to talk about and care about. She can go Fuck herself.

[illisidifan]

Go volunteer at soup kitchens. You will meet Christians there who you likely disagree with a lot, but who are there to care for their fellow man and deserve your respect. Volunteer at a senior center. A lot of the people will be racist or rude but there will also be people who are lonely and just want someone to BE with them and they deserve your time and respect. Start a union at your job and don't turn away ANYONE including the guy wearing the MAGA hat because guess what if he is interested in a union and you talk to him with respect and like a human being, you might find out he was one of the people who bought into Trump's bullshit and now feels too deep in to let go without hurting his own pride and if you show him a working class path forward (a populism based on compassion rather than hate) he might come around. And even if he doesn't, you can work with people you can't stand to achieve a common goal. Because as a leftist, you should want EVERYONE to have better pay, better health care, better workers rights. The way forward is through coalition building, solidarity, compassion, and talking like a normal, working class person about things that everyone would benefit from.

Hell, you don't even need to use the "right words". You can describe unions as "workplace democracy". You can describe socialist programs as "helping the working guy the same way we help the rich". We can all SEE the disparity, we can all SEE what is wrong, there are people who are just blinded by ideology but when you stop using the words they're conditioned to react to, they agree with your basic points. Because most people want everyone to be able to feed themselves and take care of those they love. Most people want a COMMUNITY. So, build that first. Make the connections in real life to other human beings first and then maybe start the ideological discussions. Show people you care about them and don't look down on them. Why do y'all think Bernie was so fucking popular?

might be swinging a bat at a hornets nest here but

specifically in denver at least ive noticed a lot of leftists are some of the most deeply unpleasant people ive ever met

like sure you know the basics of marxism but have you ever engaged with contemporary theory and have u learned how to explain those concepts without filling everything with jargon? or have u read like, anything else? have u considered reading a book and not incoorporating it into ur life is meaningless and no i dont mean just slapping ACAB on ur profile header

do you like... talk to your neighbors? like in a meaningful way? do u go out of your way to help people even if it's something like helping a neighbor shovel snow from their driveway or offering to go pick up their groceries?

i just have a met a lot of people who are some of the most bitter, condescending ppl who act Like That under the guise of being The Ones Who Are Right and are deeply unpleasant to well-intentioned ppl who might not be Radical Enough even tho the way to develop ur politics is thru... learning? and yeah 'go read a book' is fine if ur like me with a postgrad education, but what if the well-intentioned person is like, your dad who works 60-70 hours a week and never finished high school and possibly has a learning disability. u think im gonna tell my dad to go read early 20th century sociological theory???

idk i just think you can have All The Right Opinions but if you aren't, you know, nice, it really doesn't mean a lot lol

if u read this and got mad at me i need u to light a nice candle and have a little cup of tea or something and then not send me an ask about it