#mandated poverty

[irradiatepositivity]

("european who can hop on a cheap train and pass thru 3 different countries without a passport on a day trip to get some coffee and who gets several weeks of legally mandated paid vacation a year" voice) god i cant believe most americans have never left the country. it must be because they are stupid and lazy and uninterested in visiting other countries :/

[wilwheaton]

Frederick Douglass, who was born into Southern slavery, described the South as “a little nation by itself, having its own language, its own rules, regulations, and customs.” Fewer than 2000 families — six-tenths of one percent of the Southern population — owned more than 50 enslaved people and ruled the oligarchy that we call the Confederacy with an iron fist. The 75 percent of white people in the South during that era who did not own any enslaved persons generally lived in deep poverty. Women had no rights, queer people were routinely tortured and murdered, education for both enslaved Africans and poor whites was generally outlawed, religious attendance was often mandated, and hunger and disease stalked all but those in the families of the two thousand morbidly rich planter dynasties. Modern-day Red states are doing their best to recreate that old Confederacy, right down to state Senator Kathy Chism’s new effort to return the Confederate battle flag to Mississippi's state flag. Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence have both emphasized their presidential pledges to restore the names of murderous Civil War traitors to American military bases, celebrating their armed defense of the “values” of the Old South. Today’s version of yesteryear’s plantation owners are called CEOs, hedge and vulture fund managers, and the morbidly rich. They use the power of political bribery given them by five corrupt Republicans on the Supreme Court — with Clarence Thomas’ tie-breaking Citizens United vote on behalf of his sugar daddy Harlan Crow — to lord over their Red states, regardless of the will of those states’ citizens.

Why are red state 'welfare queen' oligarchs allowed to mooch off of blue states?

[dark-rx]

50 Times US Conservatives Were on the Wrong Side of History

As you read this post, keep in mind today's Conservative moments hold all the same views. We are actively seeing them rolling back many of these movements in real time.

Slavery (Before the Civil War) – Southern conservatives staunchly defended slavery as a vital part of the economy and way of life.

The Civil War (1861-1865) – Conservatives in the South fought to preserve slavery, leading to a bloody conflict that devastated the nation.

Reconstruction (1865-1877) – Southern conservatives resisted Reconstruction efforts to grant rights and protections to freed slaves.

Jim Crow Laws (Late 1800s-1960s) – Southern conservatives fought to maintain racial segregation and disenfranchise Black Americans.

The Women's Suffrage Movement (Late 1800s-1920) – Conservative politicians and groups actively opposed women's right to vote.

The New Deal (1930s) – Conservative elites opposed Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, which sought to alleviate poverty and economic inequality during the Great Depression.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Many conservative Southern politicians opposed this landmark legislation to end racial segregation and discrimination.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 – Conservative lawmakers opposed this bill, which aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting practices.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) – Conservative politicians and groups in the South opposed the Supreme Court decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Desegregation of Public Schools (1950s-1960s) – Southern conservatives resisted federally mandated school desegregation.

The Equal Rights Amendment (1970s) – Conservative groups, such as the “STOP ERA” campaign, fought against equal rights for women, fearing the ERA would undermine traditional gender roles.

The Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights (Late 20th Century-Present) – Conservative groups have long opposed LGBTQ+ rights, including the fight for marriage equality.

Roe v. Wade (1973) – Conservatives, particularly religious groups, staunchly opposed a woman’s right to choose abortion.

Desegregation Busing (1970s) – Conservative politicians and parents opposed busing programs designed to integrate public schools.

The Vietnam War (1955-1975) – Many conservatives supported the war, which ultimately became widely seen as a failure and a quagmire that led to significant loss of life.

The Fight for Minimum Wage Increases – Conservative politicians have repeatedly opposed efforts to raise the federal minimum wage.

The Fight for Healthcare Reform – Conservative opposition to healthcare reforms such as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has been widespread, arguing against universal healthcare solutions.

The Fair Housing Act (1968) – Southern conservatives opposed the Fair Housing Act, which aimed to eliminate discrimination in housing practices.

Social Security (1935) – Conservative figures opposed the creation of Social Security, a key part of the American welfare system.

Unions and Labor Rights – Conservative forces have historically opposed labor unions and workers' rights, fighting against collective bargaining and labor protections.

Women's Reproductive Rights – Beyond Roe v. Wade, conservatives have opposed various efforts to expand reproductive rights and healthcare access.

Opposition to the Affordable Care Act (2010) – Conservative groups strongly opposed the ACA, claiming it was too costly and that it represented an overreach of government power.

The Fight for Immigrant Rights – Conservatives have historically supported harsh immigration policies, including the criminalization of undocumented immigrants.

The Fight for Environmental Protection – Conservative groups have often downplayed the importance of environmental protections and climate change action, opposing measures to regulate pollution.

The LGBTQ+ Military Ban – Conservatives in the 1990s supported the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which restricted openly LGBTQ+ individuals from serving in the military.

The War on Drugs – Conservative policies contributed to mass incarceration, disproportionately affecting Black and Latino communities, without addressing the root causes of drug addiction.

The Fight for Marriage Equality – Conservative figures and groups consistently opposed same-sex marriage, including a federal ban that was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court.

Opposition to Public Health Measures – During the COVID-19 pandemic, conservative politicians downplayed public health guidelines, including wearing masks and social distancing, resulting in higher rates of transmission and death.

The GI Bill (1944) – While the bill benefited millions of veterans, conservative opposition in some areas limited access for Black veterans.

The Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s) – Conservative politicians and law enforcement were often hostile to civil rights leaders and protests, including opposition to Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington.

Opposition to the Equal Pay Act (1963) – Conservative figures initially opposed equal pay legislation for women, arguing it would interfere with market forces.

The Fight for Workers' Rights – Conservatives frequently oppose stronger labor protections, such as paid sick leave and vacation days.

The Immigration Act of 1965 – Conservative figures fought against the Immigration and Nationality Act, which removed racially discriminatory quotas in U.S. immigration law.

The American with Disabilities Act (1990) – Conservative politicians opposed the ADA, which required accessibility and anti-discrimination protections for disabled individuals.

The Fair Labor Standards Act – Many conservative leaders fought against the legislation that set minimum wage laws and restrictions on child labor.

The Equal Education Opportunity Act – Conservatives have often resisted efforts to provide equal educational opportunities for students of color and students with disabilities.

Opposition to Gun Control – Conservative gun-rights groups and politicians have opposed various gun control measures, even in the face of increasing gun violence.

Opposition to Federal Civil Rights Laws – Conservative Southern Democrats and Republicans historically fought against federal civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (1993) – Conservative lawmakers were opposed to the idea of paid family leave and medical leave programs.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986) – Although this was a compromise bill, conservative opposition to more comprehensive immigration reform has persisted.

The Clean Water Act (1972) – Conservatives resisted environmental protections for water systems, which led to more pollution and harmful practices for public health.

The Clean Air Act – Conservative opposition to the regulation of air pollution and emissions has undermined efforts to protect public health and the environment.

Efforts to Address Climate Change – Conservative skepticism about climate science has led to inaction on reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.

The War on Women’s Health – Conservative policies aimed at restricting women’s access to contraception, abortion, and reproductive health services have been widely criticized.

Civil Rights for Indigenous Peoples – Conservative opposition to Native American land rights and sovereignty has led to continued struggles for indigenous communities.

The Fairness Doctrine – Conservative media figures fought the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in the 1980s, which allowed for more partisan and biased media coverage.

Opposition to Immigration Reform (2000s-Present) – Conservative politicians have opposed comprehensive immigration reform, often focusing on border security rather than addressing root causes or offering a path to citizenship.

Opposition to Scientific Research on Gun Violence – Conservatives have historically blocked research into gun violence and its causes, impeding evidence-based policy solutions.

Opposition to Universal Basic Income – Conservatives have resisted proposals for UBI, fearing that it might incentivize laziness and undermine capitalism.

Opposition to Reparations for Slavery – Many conservatives oppose reparations for African Americans as compensation for slavery and the ongoing impacts of systemic racism, arguing that it’s impractical or unfair.

There is not a single Fascist government in all of history who didn't make economic progress on the backs of mass repressions and/or murder.

This is the moment we are at in history.

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. - Henry David Thoreau

How will history remember you? Will history remember you?

[max1461]

I mean, I think the CPC's mandate for rule is pretty well established by now, at least in China proper. They've massively lifted the country out of poverty in the last 40 years; that's not something people quickly forget. It seems to me that most Chinese people are not interested in a return to the status quo ante of chaos and poverty that any sort of political revolution would likely bring! Now this is maybe less true in the outlying regions, Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, where nationalist sentiments conflict with the benefits of stability, and indeed where these benefits have been less fully realized.

So my question is: why does the party feel increasing need to censor communications and media, at least in China proper? Xinjiang and Tibet aside, surely no one in fucking Jiangsu is going to be launching a revolution. So the party is stifling culture and commerce through censorship for what? Peace isn't actually delicate in China's core. Frankly I'm skeptical it's delicate at the periphery either; maybe in Tibet but I think a friendly strategy rather than a hostile one for integrating Xinjiang probably could have been viable. Maybe not anymore; China seems like it has failed to learn some of the lessons the US also failed to learn in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well I don't really know.

China's censorship largely seems stupid to me. But like I said in another post, I think Xi is basically a normie conservative who is dumb in all the ways normie conservatives are dumb, it's like a more exaggerated version of why the US right wants to censor porn right now. But that's stupid! You could have had a whole bishie boy soft power thing like South Korea, Xi, if you didn't have a problem with twinks on TV! What are you doing?

[cozycoffeereads]

Today’s disability topic is how America forces disabled people into poverty.

Today’s particular topic is how SSI keeps disabled people poor.

Let’s first go over what SSI is. Supplemental Security Income is a program that provides monthly payments to disabled people and elderly people who meet the financial qualifications.

SSDI stands for Social Security Disability and eligibility is based on work credits. This is for people who used to work before becoming disabled. We will not be discussing this today.

Here are the facts:

The average SSI payment in January of 2023 is $553 per month.

Disabled people on SSI also cannot have more than $2000 in savings and assets. This is severely limiting.

This is not enough to even cover basic needs. How can someone live based off those payments? Disabled people who live with someone such as a caregiver, family member, or partner receive reduced payments and risk losing their benefits.

Disabled people cannot marry without losing their SSI or losing financial assets.

Here is an eye opening article about forced poverty:

https://brownpoliticalreview.org/2022/01/government-mandated-poverty/

Also check this article by The Hill called “Lifeline for people with disabilities forces them to live in poverty”

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/3702528-lifeline-for-people-with-disabilities-forces-them-to-live-in-poverty/

[robot-roadtrip-rants]

and roses, too

Long hair is a luxury on Chemos. Everyone’s got a story—everyone has an uncle, or a daughter, or a friend. It gets caught in gears, twisted into spinners, stuck to pressed. Every great machine in the factories springing up all over Chemos these days seems to have a hunger for hair.

People try all kinds of things. Hair ties, tight caps, gel. Nothing quite works, not completely. There’s always another story—the spine-tingling screams, the crunch of bone, the blood from scalps, the bits of human that show up in the product that comes out. That’s the real problem—it ruins the product, gums up the machines. Can’t be having that on the assembly line.

More and more, people just cut their hair. Sometimes it’s mandated by the foreman, but most folks don’t need any prompting. The great machines hunger for human flesh. Mostly fingers, but sometimes hands and arms too, or toes and feet and legs. And hair, always hair. You can’t cut off your arms and legs, but you can cut your hair.

So long hair disappears on the lines. No more ponytails, no more dreads. No more updos, no more afros, no more buns or braids or blowouts. Spikes? Gone. Layers? Gone. It’s not needed on the line, and who’s got the money for that, anyways?

It’s different in the corporate castles, of course. If anything, it’s the opposite. The higher the office, the more elaborate the style, and if you merit a corner office—phew! Business people have needs, after all, and one of those needs is looking the part. Gotta make sure everyone knows you got money!

So the poor cut short and the rich cut long. It’s custom, not law—not until Emala grows her hair out and flings the Labor banner across the sky. There’ve been insurrections before, but nothing like this, where the union madness spreads like plague from factory to factory. Chemos is wracked with war for a full generation, and simmering unrest for another. Everything changes after that.

Ragillan, Inc. is the first corp to establish sumptuary laws, but all the others quickly follow suit. Buzzcuts for the lines, chin length for the cubicles, shoulder length for the lower offices, and of course the upper floors can do whatever they want. Not that they’d be caught dead with a bob, of course.

Years, decades, centuries pass, and slowly other sumptuary laws are added to factories’ regulations. Industria has long been the primary deity on Chemos, but a new philosophical trend begins circulating amongst her worshippers. It is the duty of the poor to save and the rich to spend.

Poverty is a product of laziness, of poor discipline, insouciance, disobedience, bad attitude. Therefore let the poor learn discipline through frugality. Abandon luxury for the important things in life—hard work and a go-getter mindset. Cut the fat from the budget! You can relax when you’ve clawed your way up through the offices. Does man need beauty to survive? Surely not!

The executives quickly realize their duty to shepherd their lines to a higher moral standing. Line workers are a dissolute lot, naturally inclined to sloth, theft, filth, and ignorance. They need a strong hand to keep them on the straight and narrow. Heavy is the executive’s lot, burdened with the duty of uplifting their workers!

And so the sumptuary laws expand. No more sweet-smelling soaps, no more silky-smooth conditioners. No more make-up, perfume, or cologne. No more brightly colored clothing cut to flatter the form, no more patterns or embroidery. No more, no more, no more…

Thirty thousand years after the birth of a forgotten god, Chemos is a dull, grey planet full of dull, grey people. Everyone is stunted, shorn-headed, dull-eyed, dressed in shapeless coveralls, filthy with grease, coughing up soot, exhausted and malnourished, overworked and underpaid. Stare at enough of them and they start to blend together. Labor is a virtue and beauty is a sin.

And then one day—

One day, Tullea and Corrin’s son walks into work, and everyone stops to stare. He’s always been an odd one, as pretty and wise and impossible as his namesake god, but today takes things to the next level. Overnight, his hair has grown down to his waist, and he has teased and twisted and braided it into an elaborate style. Washed and dyed with stolen products, it seems to shift from color to color as it sways in the light. His eyes match his hair, painted with glittering, multicolored eyeshadow and lined with dark, dramatic mascara. Blush dusts his cheeks, lipstick brightens his mouth. Amidst the dull, gray assembly lines of Chemos, the boy is an explosion of color, of beauty, of joy.

Fulgrim looks across the factory floor—at the enthralled workers, the slackjawed foremen, the uncertain enforcers, the distant manager scrambling for her phone—and smiles. Fulgrim smiles, and everyone knows that the lines are going to march.

[mariacallous]

Several groups representing “startup nations”—tech hubs exempt from the taxes and regulations that apply to the countries where they are located—are drafting Congressional legislation to create “freedom cities” in the US that would be similarly free from certain federal laws, WIRED has learned.

According to interviews and presentations viewed by WIRED, the goal of these cities would be to have places where anti-aging clinical trials, nuclear reactor startups, and building construction can proceed without having to get prior approval from agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Trey Goff, the chief of staff of the startup nation known as Próspera, tells WIRED that he and other Próspera representatives working under an advocacy group called the Freedom Cities Coalition have been meeting with the Trump administration about the idea in recent weeks. He claims the administration has been very receptive. In 2023, Trump floated the idea of creating 10 freedom cities. Now, Goff says that Próspera’s vision is to create “not just 10, but as many as the market can handle.” They hope to have drafted legislation ready by the end of the year.

“The energy in DC is absolutely electric,” Goff says. “You can tell in meetings with the people involved that they have the mandate to do some of the more hyperbolic, verbose things Trump has mentioned.”

Three Paths Forward

According to Goff, Freedom Cities Coalition has briefed White House officials on three options for creating freedom cities. One is through “interstate compacts.” In this scenario, two or more states could set aside territories with shared tax and regulation policies, with some state-specific carve-outs. Under existing law, these compacts can’t be revoked, though they can be dissolved under certain circumstances.

If an interstate compact is approved by Congress, it becomes valid under federal law. Goff says the coalition is considering Congressional legislation that would give “advanced consent” to any freedom city compacts. That way, Congress wouldn’t need to approve each individual city.

Two other options are creating federal enclaves with special economic and jurisdictional zones, or having Trump issue executive orders to create each new freedom city.

“It depends on what Trump and the White House want to do,” Goff says. “Whatever pathway they want to take, we want to help them make that a reality.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from WIRED.

A Network of Backers (and Detractors)

Freedom Cities Coalition was created by an entity called NeWay Capital LLC, which owns several trademarks for Próspera. Since opening on the Honduran island of Roatán in 2020, Próspera has been attracting tech workers and startups by promising low taxes, few regulations, and a businesslike government that considers its citizens to be akin to customers. Its financiers include Pronomos Capital, a venture capital firm backed by Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen, and Coinbase.

Startup nations outside the US have largely relied on the creation of special economic zones (SEZs), where the regular rules governing businesses are waived, often in order to attract foreign investment. The hope, it appears, is to bring a similar model to the US.

Notably, the current government of Honduras considers Próspera and its special economic status to be illegal. The country’s previous president, Juan Orlando Hernández, gave Próspera a permanent charter to operate on its own terms. However, many Honduran citizens opposed Próspera, arguing that it has increased poverty and worsened biodiversity in the area. The Honduran Congress passed a law in 2022 repealing the allowance of SEZs, and Próspera sued the Honduran government shortly after. The lawsuit is ongoing.

President Donad Trump mentioned the idea of freedom cities on the campaign trail in March 2023. He promised that if he was elected president, he would hold a contest to pick 10 winners to build their own freedom cities on federal land. Trump hasn’t referred to the idea in public since, but Goff says he’s confident that it wasn’t a throwaway line from the president.

“It’s not just a marketing tactic—they take it very literally,” Goff adds, referring to members of Trump’s team. “They intend to follow through with all of the promises they made on the campaign trail.”

A Second Legislative Push

Freedom Cities Coalition isn’t the only group currently lobbying the Trump administration. Frontier Foundation, a 501c4 organization, is working in partnership with the nonprofit Charter Cities Institute to bring freedom cities to the US.

Jeffrey Mason, the head of policy at the Charter Cities Institute, tells WIRED that several other groups have recently joined their effort, including the Housing Center at the American Enterprise Institute and the Foundation for American Innovation. They’re drafting legislation that Mason says should be ready “hopefully sometime in the next several months.”

He adds that members of these groups are having “casual conversations with people in the White House,” in addition to Republican and Democratic members of Congress.

In a 2025 memo shared with WIRED, the Frontier Foundation argues that “domestic innovation and production has been significantly impeded for decades by outdated and unnecessarily restrictive federal regulation.”

Allen tells WIRED that using federal land would lower the cost of development for startup cities. The Frontier Foundation suggests that federally owned land outside western cities like Boise, Idaho; Grand Junction, Colorado; and Redmond, Oregon would be suitable candidates. “If we're able to get a legislative transfer of land from the US government to make a public-private partnership, or a trust, or even a private corporation, then it's a lower cost of capital,” he explains.

The Frontier Foundation memo also recommends allowing private landowners to become freedom cities and to “allow municipalities to vote to become Freedom Cities, allow Freedom Cities to expand with the consent of the contiguous land owners.”

When asked why the Freedom Cities movement has chosen not to focus on revitalizing existing post-industrial cities like Detroit or Toledo, Ohio, Allen tells WIRED that “when you're building these new facilities, you need to sort of start from scratch.” He noted that Joe Biden signed an executive order instructing the federal departments to lease federal lands to be used as data centers in the final days of his administration.

“There's so much capital and there's so much political will, but yet there's an inability to develop these technologies,” says Allen. “And the inability comes from lack of space and too many regulations.”

But Gil Duran, a former political consultant and author of the Substack newsletter Nerd Reich, warns that building new cities from scratch could have negative consequences. “To be outside of the law and above the law, what does that mean for the rest of the country?” he asks. “It seems like you're going to start hollowing out other places in order to have these places where the rules are suspended and don't apply anymore to certain people.”

Goff says that unlike Próspera, which has an entirely different tax structure from surrounding Honduras, freedom cities in the US would likely pay a similar amount in state and federal taxes as other American cities. The main difference would be how the cities are regulated.

American Dynamism

One company that stands to benefit from the rise of freedom cities is Minicircle, a longevity biotech company focused on developing gene therapies to extend human lifespans. The company’s seed funding came from Thiel and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and it currently has offices in both Austin, Texas, and Próspera. Minicircle cofounder Mac Davis is also working with the Frontier Foundation.

Davis says that Minicircle’s gene therapy clinical trial on the protein follistatin—which he claims increases muscle mass without side effects, and also has life-extending benefits in mice—was only possible in Próspera, but noted he’d like to see that change.

“I'd like a ‘longevity city’ where everyone and their dog is on gene therapy,” Davis says.

Davis adds that he can imagine many other companies benefiting from freedom cities, including SpaceX, the defense hardware and software company Anduril, and Oklo, a nuclear fission startup chaired by Sam Altman.

Many of the industries Allen says he hopes to foster in Freedom Cities–energy, nuclear, semiconductors, and defense technology–are, not coincidentally, ones “a lot of venture [capital] is going towards” as funding moves away from SaaS, digital, and internet consumer brands.

“The theme is American Dynamism,” he says, referencing the 2022 manifesto from venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which argues that “the scientific and operational excellence of consequential technology companies made up for the shortfall of our flailing governmental institutions.” Since 2021, venture capitalists have plowed more than $100 billion into defense tech startups alone.

Some tech companies have been considering revitalizing nuclear power in order to sustain AI data centers, which use a huge amount of energy. Amazon signed several nuclear power agreements last year, Google made a deal with a nuclear power company in October 2024, and Meta is asking for proposals on how the company can leverage nuclear power.

Goff tells WIRED that he thinks freedom cities could also be used as manufacturing hubs and shipbuilding ports, allowing builders to bypass the environmental review process. Mason says the American Enterprise Institute, which is partnering with the Frontier Foundation and Charter Cities Institute, is eager to find ways to use freedom cities to increase housing.

Mason says he’s most excited about speeding up innovation in sectors like biotech and using nuclear power to power AI data centers.

“There's a lot of exciting opportunities here, especially as we need a lot of data centers,” Mason says. “There's a lot of land that you can tap.”

But Duran says that the same deregulation that could be seen as pro-business will likely not favor those outside Freedom Cities’ ultrawealthy backers. “These are going to be cities without democracy,” he claims. “These are going to be cities without workers' rights. These are going to be cities where the owners of the city, the corporations, the billionaires have all the power and everyone else has no power. That's what's so attractive about these sovereign entities to these people, is that they will actually be anti-freedom cities.”

[xclowniex]

https://www.tumblr.com/technofeudalism/778921831652589568/how-do-you-respond-to-the-fact-that-there-are-two?source=share

Is this true?

The road graph in the addition is false as most of it is mislabeled.

The yellow roads are accessible to Palestinians who are Israeli citizens or hold a valid visa. Legally speaking, Palestine and Israel are separate countries. It would be like saying I, a kiwi aka someone from New Zealand, cannot drive down roads in the US right this second. Because no shit I can't I don't have A) a valid US visa and B) an international drivers license which would allow me to drive in the US.

Where it does apply and the graph is correct is the west bank only, not the entirety of israel and palestine. Because Israeli settlers are Israeli citizens, they can freely drive into Israel. The Israeli settlers are bad. My knowledge ends here on whether or not the road marked were accurate for 2012 which is when the graph is from and my knowledge also ends here for if it is accurate today.

To go through the other claims made. I won't go through all as some are repeating or very similar.

The nakba law, which is formally called Fundamentals of Finance – Amendment No. 40. This law states that organizations can have their government funding partially revoked if they commemorate the Nakba. Citizens can still commemorate the nakba and can discuss it, unlike what tamamita said. The revoking of funds is related to the amount of money spent on the event, capped at three times the amount of money spent. Eg if an organisation recieved 6k of government funding and spends $100 on commemorating the nakba, maximum $300 can be withheld. Do I agree with the law in its entirety? No. But it's not as bad as being claimed. If someone was actively wanting the state of Israel to no longer exists, I can understand having funding withheld. However if an event is simply commemorating lives lost, then I don't think funding should be withheld.

The second claim is true. Arabs were living under military mandate until 1966. Was it good? No. Should it be talked about? Yes. Should it be painted as if that erases the fact that they are citizens? No. It is good that things have changed. That doesn't erase the past and the past doesn't erase the present.

Yes a Jewish person has the right to claim Israeli citizenship. This used to be pretty common place in a lot of countries, where diaspora populations could claim citizenship in their people's homeland if they were not born there. Palestine is the country Palestinians should be able to gain birth right citizenship to. I do not know if that is the current law in the west bank or Gaza. But claiming palestinians should get Israeli citizenship is like me claiming i should be entitled to Australian citizenship through birthright even though I'm not Australian in any capacity. Kind of a shitty example as I get almost all the same rights as an Australian if I were to live in Australia due to an agreement between the governments of Australia and New Zealand, but I still would not be an Australian citizen. I do think that the agreement Australia and NZ has would be beneficial between Israel and palestine once peace has been established.

The next point, which is on the same note, is that yes, a convert can claim birthright citizenship. That is because of jewish law saying that once you convert you are fully Jewish, both religiously and ethnically, and that your soul was always Jewish but just born into a non Jewish family. Attacking Jewish law on who is Jewish enough, is antisemitic. And again the reason why a convert can get birth right citizenship but not diaspora palestinians, is like I said earlier, Israel and palestine are two separate countries.

Yes a wage gap exists and it is bad. The Israeli government should do more to close that gap. That is one claim i will say is being made accurately.

45.3 percent of families and 57.8 percent of children living below the poverty line (Endeweld et al., 2019). So it's not over half of families as claimed, but it is still really bad and again needs to change.

Palestinians cannot build infrastructure without permits which also applies to Israelis. You need building permits. This is standard practice in most countries. I could not build a house without a permit here in New Zealand. Yes, permits may be harder to get if you are Palestinian, but there is no ban on Palestinian building infrastructure.

The Call to Prayer ban by Ben Gvir. Yes it is Islamophobic. Yes it is bad. But the bill has not passed to my knowledge. Ben Gvir states that the reason for the bill is because they're too loud and residents complain it wakes them up too early. Whilst I do not doubt there are complaints, there is also the element of Islamophobia. That being said, part of the motivation is due to the history of the mosque. It is built on the ruins of a jewish temple. Jews, we cannot pray at the ruins of our temple. This is a sore spot for many jews. Our place of worship was torn down and replaced with a mosque. Do I think that justifies tearing down the mosque to put up a synagogue? No. Two wrong do not make a right. However you cannot ignore how that history affects jews.

Essentially most claims are misrepresented to some degree. Which isn't surprising since tamamita is a known antisemite who has spread the whole "Israel harvests organs" libel

[justafewberries]

i really like the argument proposed at the end of sotr to justify the games:

“But they really are for a greater good. The Hunger Games.”

Collins never delves into this argument. I wish she had, as it provides the foundation for why people believe the Games are important to continue.

we know the harm the Games cause on the districts. They steal 24 children from their homes, they keep people confined to one area for their whole lives, they mandate production of each district, they prey on poverty, etc. etc.

So how is it even possible that the Games could maximize good for the greatest amount of people?

Snow's belief of Human Nature. In Ballad, Snow becomes convinced that Dr. Gaul is correct. At their core, humans are violent creatures who only seek to serve themselves. He believes, like Thomas Hobbes, that humans needed a government to keep them from killing each other.

Hobbes said this about what the world would look like without an entity to keep men from pulling each other apart:

[There would be] no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious Building; no Instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no Knowledge of the face of the Earth; no account of Time; no Arts; no Letters; and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.

Hobbes and Snow both believe that without a government, the people of Panem would tear each other apart. The government protects people from themselves. The Games, by extension, keep the districts in line. They do not allow the districts to make demands. They keep them bound to the terms of the Treaty of Treason.

The Games are, then, under this belief, for the Greater Good. They work as a clause of the contract to ensure that Panem does not devolve into killing one another.

The justification under Hobbes's point that people must give up freedoms to benefit from a system now reads like this:

Giving up two children to the Games each year as a trade for protection is less of a cost to pay than having everyone kill each other barbarically.

Hobbes further claims that both parties in the contract must benefit from it. They must be better off in the contract than outside of it. Both the Capitol and the districts do benefit from a strong central government:

Low unemployment rates

Government assistance programs (tesserae)

Assigned housing

Schools

Protection from the outside world (Navy, Electric Fence)

While we know the downfalls of each of these things, they are technically benefits in the metaphorical contract between the districts and the government. It is when these things begin to dwindle, that people of District 12 begin to revolt. You can read my essay on why the burning the Hob was burning Hobbes here.

Under the belief that all humans are inherently selfish, the Games as a tool to keep people in line can, technically, be justified under the greater good. The Games protect Panem from devolving. According to this belief, they benefit everyone.

Further, 23 deaths a year over the span of 75 years comes out to about 1,750 (inc. the 2QQ, but not accounting for who all escaped the 75th). Those deaths, 23/year, are fewer than the number of casualties from the bombing of d12 alone. If one were to argue utilitarianism's greatest good, saving 7,200 d12 lives by not rebelling would have kept those people alive. The rebels take thousands of lives, too, in d2, in the Capitol, etc. The Hunger Games killed fewer people than the war did.

(Of course, this is with the limit of the games going 75 years and not accounting for the fact the Games were the reason the war happened in the first place.)

All of this hinges on one foundational aspect, though: The belief that without a strong government to control them, humans will devolve into chaos.

The Games are founded on fear. The justification digs its roots in that fear, and it waters itself with the hatred for the districts for the pain the capitol people suffered during the war.

It's why the propagandist aspect of this argument is so believable to someone who has been in the Capitol their entire lives. It reinforces their foundational, fearful beliefs that the Capitol protects them from the outside world, not that it keeps them from it.

It's d12's electric fence around the Capitol without the power to keep it on. It grounds itself in fear, and only fear.

[bricksandmutualaid]

Sin: Capitalism with Extra Steps

Comrades: Final Fantasy X is not just a game about fighting monsters—it's a masterclass in revolutionary theory, a devastating critique of theocratic authoritarianism, and an allegory for how the ruling class gaslights the working class into accepting endless suffering as “fate.”

So grab your oversized sword, your blitzball that you use as a weapon(???), and your deeply suppressed class rage—it’s time to deconstruct the class struggle of Spira.

🏛️ Yevon: The Union of Church and State

The Church of Yevon holds totalitarian control over Spira. It is both government and religion, ensuring that there is no distinction between political power and divine mandate. It upholds its rule.

Manufactured crisis & fearmongering – Sin, an unstoppable force of destruction, keeps the population in a constant state of fear, ensuring their reliance on Yevon. (Sound familiar?).

Banning progress – The church forbids machina (advanced technology) to keep the masses dependent on archaic traditions. Meanwhile, the ruling class in Bevelle enjoys all the benefits of technology, proving their "anti-machina" stance is pure hypocrisy.

Rigid class structures – The Maesters (bourgeoisie) send summoners (working class) to their deaths, brainwashing them to martyr themselves for "peace." Meanwhile, the elite sit comfortably, untouched by suffering.

The Illusion of Salvation – The Final Summoning is a scam. It kills the summoner, destroys Sin temporarily, and the cycle starts again. The system exists to sustain itself—not to fix anything.

The Church of Yevon gaslights an entire civilization into believing that suffering is noble, poverty is virtuous, and only the ruling class can "save" them.

⚡️ Tidus: The Outsider-Turned-Revolutionary

At the start, Tidus is completely disconnected from Spira’s struggle. He is, effectively, the apathetic outsider—your average "I’m not political" guy.

He just wants to go home (apathetic bystander).

He notices things aren’t adding up (early-stage radicalization).

Then he realizes the entire system is a lie and refuses to accept it (fully radicalized revolutionary).

By the end, he helps dismantle the entire oppressive power structure.

Tidus’s journey is a lesson in waking up to systemic oppression and actively fighting back against it.

🔧 The Al Bhed: Radicalized Revolutionaries in Exile

The Al Bhed are Final Fantasy X’s equivalent of anarchist resistance fighters.

They reject Yevon’s control.

They embrace "forbidden" technology.

They actively rescue summoners from being sacrificed.

They challenge the idea that suffering is necessary.

For this, they are vilified, hunted down, and treated as dangerous radicals. The ruling class frames them as terrorists, because their existence alone threatens the power structure.

💀 The Final Summoning: Grooming for Suicide

From birth, summoners and the working class of Spira are taught that the summoner's deaths are necessary "for the greater good." Their sacrifice is celebrated, not questioned.

If you die working, that’s just life.

If you struggle to survive, it builds character.

If you suffer, it’s because of your own failings—not the system.

This mirrors how capitalism convinces workers that suffering is noble, while the ruling class sits comfortably, demanding more sacrifices.

💥 Dismantling Yevon: A Full-Scale Revolution

The party’s fight against Yevon is not just about defeating Sin—it’s about overthrowing an entire power structure.

They expose the Church’s lies.

They dismantle Yevon’s authority.

They destroy Sin WITHOUT a summoner’s sacrifice.

They end the cycle of oppression—permanently.

This is not just a battle against a big evil boss. This is a full-scale revolution that topples an entire system.

🔥 Conclusion: Final Fantasy X as a Revolutionary Blueprint

Final Fantasy X is not just about fighting monsters. It’s a lesson in radicalization, class consciousness, and direct action. It’s about:

How ruling classes use fear to maintain control.

How those in power create artificial cycles of suffering to justify their existence.

How revolutionary change requires rejecting not just the leaders, but the entire system upholding them.

Resistance is messy, painful, and often met with hostility—but it is still necessary.

Ultimately: It’s a story of how to wake up, how to fight back, and how to build something better.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Advocates are calling for more regulation around maximum temperatures in rental housing units. Some municipalities in B.C. have mandated minimum temperatures in rental homes but there are no existing rules for maximum heat levels. Following the heat dome in 2021, when more than 600 people died, extreme heat events have become a health issue as well as a housing one. Emily Rogers, the director of operations with Together Against Poverty, said it is time to look at how hot it has to be before a landlord must install something to keep the heat down. “The burden of action should be on the landlord in terms of equal temperatures,” she said, adding that could mean providing an air conditioner or fans. “At the end of the day, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide a home that ‘s safe — and that includes extreme heat.”

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[neverbeentokansas]

O'Dessa: A Review

This is a preliminary review, right after I watched it for the first time, and there are SO many things to say about this movie, so let's dive right on in.

The costuming and design was stunning. Seriously. I loved how O'Dessa's character drew inspiration from Elvis and Bowie, although I think they could've gone ham with the lipstick for the climax and done some cool facepaint. Maybe not Ziggy Stardust's exact lightning bolt, for costuming reasons, but I think that would have been stunning. And Euri served LOOKS, in EVERY scene. I would like to give the costume team a crisp high five and an academy award. They really managed to capture such a queer feeling even in 'straight' relationship. Euri's heels, his masks, his HAIR- with costuming alone they made it very clear that he was not only the Eurydice of the story, but emblematic of the problems so many queer people face. Sexual violence, most of all. O'Dessa's look tending towards no makeup and simpler clothes really emphasized her role as a herald of the real roots of punk. Everyone forgets punk was born from poverty, in that those in poverty could, and would, change the system that oppressed them. Punk says 'fuck the world, we deserve a good life' and I think O'Dessa (the character) really represented that. Her country roots, irish name, just, ugh. O'Dessa is what punk is supposed to be.

The set design is great too. All the swirling colors reminiscent of oil, they hypnotic screens... very obvious about the anticapitalist and environmentalist themes, but the aesthetic slaps. I'm not sure about the hypnotism as a plot device, because as much as our technology is designed to addict us, we are still in control of ourselves. And I guess everyone in the movie could theoretically, as well, but it was almost too heavy handed, too much like 'ooh a spooky plot device you can't escape.' I would've liked to see someone (maybe Roach!) exemplify the agency everyone has, or maybe even have her pull O'Dessa away at some point. O'Dessa's character could have benefited form that, because as it is, she seems almost immune to it because she's the 'chosen one.'

Speaking of chosen one's and prophecy... I wasn't a fan of the prophecy. I think we could have had the exact same story without it. O'Dessa could have come from a long line of ramblers (preserving the idea of the seventh son), who had a spiritual encounter, carved the Willa, and received their mandate to ramble and change the world. All without the idea of a chosen one. She could have chosen herself, and I think that would make her character more accessible, more applicable to the world now.

Now, as for the story? I actually like this interpretation of Orpheus and Eurydice. It's not revolutionary, by any means; the whole movie is something of a mix between Hadestown and the Hunger Games, with a 'rock opera soundtrack' (although I think there should be a country in there somewhere.... just saying). It draws on the idea that Hades did trick Orpheus from the beginning, instead of the more classic approach to 'loving is looking back,' but I think that works really well. It's ultimately a story about the evils of capitalism and exploitation, so it fits: those in power will not give you a break. It just doesn't happen.

The whole idea of the reality show contest for a final wish really illustrated that point. Because ultimately what everyone would have wished for was a better life, and maybe (maybe) one person could have gotten it, but the whole thing was a scam for entertainment. The contest was a carrot on a stick. And honestly, a lot of reality shows *are* like that! They will exploit young, talented artists for profit by pitting them against one another. And when O'Dessa wished for something that was antithetical to the way Plutonobitch controlled everything, that thin veil of promise, the wish, was stripped away. If you can't tell, I really liked the ending.

There's one more thing I think they could have added. Priscilla, the Persephone of the story. I think it would've been interesting if she was Euri's sister, or at least knew Euri's sister, and gave O'Dessa her chance because of it. I think it would've emphasized how she, too, was a prisoner, which would have contrasted with Plutonovitch's behavior backstage and reinforced that the 1 percent really, really don't care. And if they act like they do, it's because they want something.

Anyway, that's all! I really enjoyed the music as well, but that's not my expertise. I think it's worth a watch, Sadie Sink and Kelvin Harrison Jr. were exceptional actors, and the queer themes really hit.

[senatortedcruz]

My old job was one of the biggest and wealthiest companies in the world and behaved like a poverty franchise (paying for break room snacks, office in the middle of no where, some of the most dogshit internal software I’ve ever seen and tech from the Clinton administration, mandating 5 days in office this year and most importantly could not match my new job salary wise) but I felt valued and kept busy and there was always something to do and I loved the people I worked with. New job is super bougie and we get a ton of perks and free food and I get paid more but this new position they cooked up for me is literally nothing I have nothing to do all day and every one in a more defined role is understandably busy and doesn’t talk to me so I just sit around like a useless vegetable all day. Not regretting leaving my old job yet but not loving this decision either.

[all-socialism-is-democratic]

I don't know if I said this already, but I'm saying it again.

I'll never understand why Liberals recognize that poverty, crime, and racism are systemic issues, not don't get that people not voting is a systemic issue, not a matter of personal responsibility.

When there are only two parties, neither of which represents the interests of half the population, half the population just is not going to vote. End of story.

Liberals act like ending the two-party duopoly is impossible, but it's not. Most Americans are sick of it, but they were taught by their government-mandated high school Civics class that duopoly is good and you can't change the system. And they believed it!

Imagine if your favorite Liberal party disappointed you (say by failing to protect abortion rights, or letting the Supreme Court turn Fascist, or losing multiple times to a corrupt convicted felon), so you could vote for one of the other two or three Liberal parties! Imagine how nice that would be!

Stop acting like fundamental change is bad and impossible. It's neither. Our problems REQUIRE fundamental change. And you're never going to get it from the Democrats.

[dark-magician-girl-meets-world]

The year is 2075. The promise of Eurovision has been fulfilled; bound together by the ties of music, the world’s nations have abandoned war. The government pours hundreds of billions of dollars into its National Glamor Budget. For children born into poverty, the only reasonable path to higher education is to serve as a rock star. New elaborate stunts and advances in glitzy pyrotechnics make it an increasingly dangerous job, but anyone who criticizes this is derided as dull and frumpy. World superpowers stockpile performances so eye-catching they could level cities and leave massive civilian casualties. An underground resistance of unlistenable performance artists fights the sparkly rise of pop totalitarianism with hour long songs containing one or fewer notes. You put on your government mandated glittery eye shadow and pray today won’t be the day you disappear into the unregistered prison known only as the Backstage.

[rolandtowen]

Chapter Summary: Steve and Bucky stay in New York while the team heads to Siberia. Steve visits Peggy and Bucky goes to therapy.

Recommended listening: "Who We Are" and "Francesca" by Hozier

The Avengers deploy four days later, the coordinates for the Siberian base programmed into the Quinjet. 

With much of the team gone, this leaves Steve, Bucky, Helen, and Pepper essentially alone in the Tower aside from support staff. It was strange, to hear the floors so quiet and see the common room so empty. Bruce had taken up a habit of reading in the common space in the mornings, and Steve finds himself missing the soft-spoken man's presence. It was nice to be able to just…share space with another person. No conversation required or social expectations. Just the smell of Steve’s coffee and Bruce’s tea and the occasional turning of pages from the two of them. 

Maybe it's an "old man thing", as Tony would say, because Steve could swear Bucky feels the same way, even if he can't verbally express it. They make their way through an entire afternoon without a word to each other. Bucky coloring and Steve drawing while Nina Simone plays in the background. Bucky'll need a new coloring book soon, at the rate he's going. Steve almost thinks about taking him shopping before he considers, well, everything: crowds, strangers, bright lights, sudden noises. They'll work up to it. 

Sam had left some more realistic task suggestions - more activities of daily living. Laundry, dishes, cleaning, that sort of thing. He did make it explicitly clear that Steve was not to teach Bucky how to cook. "I've seen your cooking, Rogers, and it makes my mama roll over in her grave. You leave the culinary lessons to me." 

Sam had seen him make eggs one time , and that had been enough for him to write off Captain America's cooking skills. To be fair, he wasn't wrong. So that left the other activities to fill their time. Steve knew they were essential skills to learn if Bucky wanted to regain his autonomy and become independent. As the Winter Soldier, Bucky had no say in his own care. Feeding, bathing, clothing, exercise – all of these were determined by handlers. By making the Winter Soldier fully dependent on its handlers, HYDRA ensured absolute compliance. 

Steve's not sure Bucky would've survived defecting on his own. He's enhanced, sure – but the refeeding syndrome almost took him out. Not to mention the trouble Bucky would have with discretely acquiring enough calories while a fugitive. They haven't talked about it yet, Bucky staying by Steve's side on the banks of the Potomac. Had he just been ensuring Steve was found safely? Or had he been planning to defect, to stay with Steve? Bucky can barely remember from before the war – Steve is certain he doesn't remember what they were to each other. He doesn’t think he’s strong enough to ask. The Smithsonian had it wrong. More than friends. More than brothers. Lovers, as much as two men could be in the twentieth century.

Steve vividly remembers June 24th, 2011. He'd been out of the ice for a few months, still waking every night from nightmares, shivering no matter how many blankets he put on the floor, no matter how many punching bags he broke. After another restless night, he opened up the Friday paper to read: NEW YORK ALLOWS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. 

Unsurprisingly, his SHIELD mandated reintegration training had left out a lot of things. Maybe they were still being cautious, tip toeing around topics like Civil Rights and feminism, as if Steve would get offended. Steve. The second-generation American who spent his entire youth disabled, survived the poverty of the Great Depression and rationing, and commanded the first racially integrated special ops unit in the Army. Sure, Steve needed to be sheltered from all the progress that had been made in the last seventy years. 

The paper headline had been like a punch to the gut. He'd had no idea that marriage equality was even possible. It'd been a pipe dream for people like him to just exist openly without being arrested and institutionalized, he never could've imagined -

He should've been happy. Overjoyed. He could get married now, have a family. But all he could think about was Bucky. His Bucky, who read science fiction and dragged him to tech expos and dreamed of the future. And there Steve was, in the future, without Bucky. There wasn't anyone else for him, Steve knew that much. 

One day, our souls will find each other again , Buck had said, staring up at the stars one night in '39. The day we don't have to hide.  

How will you find me? Steve had asked, frail and tucked under Bucky's arm. 

I reckon the Good Lord carved our souls from the same stuff , Buck said, intertwining their fingers. Can't help but be brought back together. 

In another lifetime, Buck had promised. They'd gotten to the future. But they hadn't gotten their future. The next lifetime, then. Steve's good at waiting. 

***

Steve visits Peggy. He tries to make it every week, always on Thursdays. He takes advantage of the fact that Buck has his second therapy session with Rebecca that afternoon, and walks to the long-term care center, coffee in hand. He’s nearly buzzing with excitement, certain that Peggy will be overjoyed to hear that her friend’s alive and – not well, not yet – but still. Alive. And getting better. 

He greets Amanda at the nurses’ station, and she returns the courtesy. “Mr. Rogers,” she smiles. “You’re in luck, it’s a good day today.” She guides him out to the facility’s garden, and Steve sees Peggy sitting under a cherry tree, knitting something with blue yarn. He crosses the cobblestones in a few strides and sits on a bench next to her. “Hiya, Peg.”

“Steve!” She beams at him. “It’s been so long.” It had been longer than usual since his last visit – he hadn’t wanted Peggy to see him with all of his injuries after the Triskelion. He explains why he missed his last visit, and her eyes are rapt with attention. He clears his throat, trying to think about the best way to break the news to her. “Peggy – I have something else I have to tell you – SHIELD fell, but we found someone else instead.”

Peggy’s eyes widen. “Who? Who did you find?”

Steve clasps her hands in his. “Bucky. He’s alive. He was captured during the war, and he’s been a POW all these years.”

“The Winter Soldier?” Her eyes flick away for a moment. “You found him? You captured him?”

“Yes, we – wait.” Steve’s hands tighten over hers, before he removes them entirely. “I didn’t tell you Bucky was the Winter Soldier.” 

Peggy’s face falls, and she sighs. “Damn. Still so sharp after all these years.” She shifts, clearly uncomfortable. “Howard and I had our suspicions – and then those were confirmed after Howard and Maria were killed –”

“You knew? ” Steve whispers harshly. 

“Not for certain. They…were driving with prototype supersoldier serum. It was stolen from their car, and I could only assume…” Her voice trails off, getting weaker with each word spoken. “I assumed that someone out there was still trying to finish what HYDRA started.”

“And who else knows? Clearly you never told Tony this.”

“I am the only one who knows what was in the trunk of the Starks’ car, and only I had access to the full report from the car wreck.” 

“So,” Steve’s tone turns dark. “You’ve thought there was a chance all these years that Bucky could still be alive – and that there could be other supersoldiers out there – and you did…what, exactly?”

“I held it together, Steve,” Peggy says, her voice breaking. “I knew no one would believe me – the government had already forced SHIELD to hire Zola and countless others from Operation Paperclip, and after Howard was killed I had…no one. No one I knew wasn’t HYDRA. If – if we had started searching for Bucky, we knew it would have gotten us both killed.” She looks down at the knitting in her lap, abandoned. “But don’t you dare think for one second that it didn’t haunt us.

“All we could do was move in the shadows. Pull invisible strings. Howard and I had Zola exposed to radiation, to finish him off, but he took ages to die. By the time he was gone, Howard had Tony, and I had my girls to think about.”

Steve looks down at his hands. Michaela and Elizabeth, Peggy’s daughters. It’s easy for him, he thinks. The man out of time, no attachments to the real world. He could still jump on a grenade in a heartbeat but for Peggy, for Howard – they had their kids, their spouses to think about. The only thing he ever had was Bucky, and he thought he was gone. When he looks back up at Peggy, he sees that she’s weeping. “C’mere, Peggy girl,” he murmurs, and he holds her for a good long while. All around them, the mourning doves coo. 

***

“I hear you've had quite the week,” Rebecca says kindly. “Would you like to tell me about it?” 

Bucky's mind goes blank for a moment before he remembers his journal. Placing it on the table, he shows Rebecca the daily entries. “It - I have been completing logs each day. Tracking sleep, calories, and noting the – the rules.” 

Rebecca nods, a look of appreciation spreading across her face. “Do you find this activity helps you stay more present? Completing the logs?” 

Bucky hesitates. “It…fills the time, yes.” He pulls out the stack of printed worksheets Rebecca had given him the week before. “Apologies. The Sol– I have utilized all of the worksheets. More will be necessary, to fully catalog the rules.” 

Rebecca doesn't scold him. Instead, she smiles. “That's really good, Bucky. I can get you more worksheets, no problem. Do you mind sharing with me some of the rules you identified?” Bucky passes the papers over and she reads through each, noting the logic used to overrule each fallacy. 

1. The Soldier is not a person 

Status: Unknown. 

2. The Soldier has no name 

Status: False. Steve has given the Soldier the name of James Buchanan Barnes, but also “Bucky” or “Buck”. JARVIS says the Soldier once served as “Sergeant Barnes”, and Avengers refer to the Soldier as “Bucky” or “Barnes.” 

3. The Soldier has no preferences 

Status: False. Bucky is encouraged to make choices by the Avengers. He likes the color blue. He likes Duke Ellington. He likes Steve

4. The Soldier does not own

Status: False. Bucky has many possessions now, gifts from the Avengers. Records, books, and colored pencils from Steve. Calming tea from Sam. “Good” shampoo from Natalia. Bucky has many clothes now, too, though it is unclear who buys them. 

5. The Soldier exists to serve HYDRA. 

Status: False. Bucky is helping to destroy HYDRA. But after that, who does he serve?

“Tell me more about this first one,” Rebecca points to the worksheet labeled ‘the Soldier is not a person’. “You've come to the conclusion that all these other rules are false, what's different about this one?” 

Bucky takes a long moment to gather his thoughts, gazing out the window at the Manhattan skyline. “People…feel things, yes?” Rebecca nods, leaning in, and he continues. “It – I feel things too, sometimes. But…” he struggles with the words for a second. “Most of the time, it's just…silent, in here.” He gestures to his head. “And there is no initiative. It – I – am just…existing.”

“Well, there’s quite a few people who experience what you’ve described,” Rebecca says, writing down the words ‘dissociation’ and ‘executive dysfunction’ in her notes. “So, you feel like you don’t make your own choices very often?”

Bucky shakes his head. “It’s exhausting. Picking. But people make choices all the time. And if I can’t make choices…”

“You think you’re not a person,” Rebecca finishes as he trails off. He nods. “Well, give me an example where you didn’t make a choice this week. Any example.”

Bucky looks out the window again, gathering his thoughts. “The day after – after the meeting with all the Avengers, I just – stared out the window when I was alone. Not reading or listening to music. Just looked outside for a whole afternoon, until Steve came to visit.” 

“What if I told you, that’s a choice too?” Rebecca asks, and she can swear she sees the gears turning in Bucky’s head. “You made a choice to not read or listen to music on your own. The schedule doesn’t tell you what to do with that time, so you chose what worked best for your energy that day.”

“But – if I’m not doing anything, how is it…” Bucky goes back to twisting his shirt hem. “How is it a choice?”

“Choices aren’t only about action. Sometimes they’re about inaction too.” 

Something nags at Bucky’s brain when she says that, and he’s only vaguely aware of what she says about the other inner rules. If inaction is also a choice, then that means…well, it could mean – there were times when the Soldier did not act. Did not shoot. Did not, for example, destroy surveillance cameras prior to a kill and extract mission. Did not walk away after pulling a target from the river. And if those were all choices then…then he, he was making choices, he was trying where he could, and –

Rebecca’s voice suddenly comes back into focus. “I heard you recovered quite a lot of memories this week, can you tell me about that?” 

Bucky fidgets with the hem of his shirt. He can talk about it, but he doesn't want to. But, Rebecca has told him many times that she's just here to help. And she can't help without knowing what's going on. He takes a deep breath. “Approximately 0300 hours on Tuesday morning, this – I – had a malfunction, a dream. I remembered a mission: December 16th, 1991. Kill and extract. The target was Howard Stark.” his fingers twist in his shirt violently. “I killed him. But he – he knew me, he knew my name. He called me ‘Sergeant Barnes,’ and I,” Bucky pauses, breathes in and out through his nose. “I still killed him.” 

Rebecca nods, her voice even. “And what happened, after you woke up?” 

“I asked JARVIS if it was true – if I was Sergeant Barnes – and he said yes. And then,” Bucky takes a deep breath. “Sam said I was having a panic attack. JARVIS called him and he came and helped me.” 

“How did Sam help?”

“He – he told me where I was, when I was, who he was and he – he gave me a blanket. He made it warm.”

Rebecca smiles. She knew she liked Sam for a reason. “I’m really glad JARVIS called Sam for you. It sounds like he was really helpful.” Bucky nods, and Rebecca thinks she can see the hint of a smile. “I think it’d be a good idea to talk about some grounding exercises you could do if you have another flashback.”

Bucky looks at her, suddenly concerned. “Am I in trouble for calling Sam?”

“Absolutely not,” Rebecca soothes immediately. “But, I think it’s likely that you’re going to have more flashbacks as your brain heals, and I want you to feel like you have the coping mechanisms to handle them. Having a support person like Sam is great, but I want you to feel like you’re in control. Does that make sense?”

Bucky nods. Rebecca gives him another sheet of paper that describes methods of grounding. She walks him through the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, listing categories, body awareness, and mental exercises. “You said the warm blanket and tea was helpful as well – sometimes therapists recommend using the cold to ground yourself during a flashback, but I think you’ll respond much better to warmth. JARVIS, could you please order a microwaveable heating pad?”

“Certainly, Doctor.” 

Rebecca turns her attention back to Bucky. “JARVIS can walk you through how to use that. Do you think you’ll be able to use these skills on your own?” Bucky nods, pointing to the fourth technique on the list. “I think – the body awareness will be really…helpful.” He settles on the word slowly, like he’s not quite sure of the definition. 

“I think so too. And I’m always happy to give you some more options, if you find these don't work for you.”

When Rebeca departs from their session, JARVIS informs Bucky that Steve is requesting access to his apartment. Bucky assents, looking to the schedule on the whiteboard. Time for music hour, as usual. Steve looks…drained, Bucky thinks. Whatever he's been doing for the last few hours must've been exhausting. He's curious what it might very been, but it's not his place to ask. That doesn't stop him from feeling a bit guilty – Steve must have so many responsibilities now with the team gone, and yet he's still making time to come visit Bucky. 

“Hey, Buck,” the blond smiles easily, though his eyes are red. “Therapy go alright?” 

Bucky nods. “Rebecca is a very skilled technician. She has given me more coping skills to exercise.” 

“That's great,” Steve beams at him. “I wanted to ask – Pepper suggested a movie night, while the team's away. I thought it might be good for you, hanging out with only a few people this time.” He chuckles to himself. “I promise it'll be much less stressful than a team meeting. The Avengers are wonderful, but they can be…overwhelming, to say the least. I think Helen is planning on bringing her crochet, if that gives you any indication.” 

– The sound of wooden needles sliding against each other – a shuddering projector and moving images and a small blond next to him – checking the alley behind the movie theater for – 

“Buck, you with me?” Bucky shakes his head free of the memories. 

“I'm okay, just – just some flashes.” He takes a deep breath in, feeling his ribs expand. He's here, he's safe. And he's…happy? 

“Oh, God, I'm sorry,” Steve is saying, but he stops when he sees the smile on Bucky's face. 

“Good flashes,” Bucky clarifies. “Good memories.” He stands, crossing to the record player, loading a Harry James album. “So,” he turns back to Steve as the trumpet solo soars through the apartment. “When's movie night?”