Some people really needed this apparently

I feel like these guys have thrived on a sort of ambitious techno optimism of "we can do it if we dream!" And at some point their dreams took flight and just completely left planet reality

One last thing to note: in some ways, the tech right are the opposite of traditional conservatives in that they actually seem to want extremely rapid, transformative change, and feel liberalism isnt moving fast *enough.*

Simplest example is that if you think the singularity is near and that it will solve a ton of horrible problems (Perhaps including death itself), you might be willing to do some pretty horrible stuff to hasten the singularity's arrival

Theory I've been grappling with, Hank: I've begun to wonder if some tech guys who swung right did so because they sense a tech revolution is close and they genuinely want to live to see it, as they think it might let them live much much longer.

Anything that impedes the rush to that goal is bad.

I like to point to HW, as a liberal, to demonstrate that we are not that far removed from experienced, dignified Republican presidents.

Reagan would also count, but that is older and also lots of libs already have... strong feelings about him that aren't easy to shake

Reminds me very much of the 5 year research cycle in academia, where academics doing expensive research would always claim a 5 year time horizon for their research to bear fruit because many grants are on a 5 year cycle

Jesus, 2030? Might as well just say "some hypothetical year far in the future, beyond what can be plausibly prognosticated" and leave it at that.

I think this is looking to end up like a 15 point swing? Not sure that's right, but that's what Im seeing form other sources!

2028: "Musk says AI will solve the US debt problem within the next three years"

I do think he may be a bit late to the game -- the fightin' centrists calling out the left did gangbuster numbers 5 years ago, but I think were past the apex of that movement.

He can probably squeak in, but hes not going to be the next Dave Rubin.

The great gastropod fraud

With the creation of X/paypal, tesla, and spacex, Musk has bought himself an enormously long leash.

"Trust me Bro" goes a long way with him. Not saying it necessarily should, but it absolutely does.

Please do know, professor Caroll, that I am pro-individual/liberty. I just see the downside here: for people who want clear cultural norms they can straightforwardly adhere to, then the weakening of cultural norms can be extremely exhausting and anxiety-inducing.

As an example to illustrate: what it means to be "feminine" or "a good wife" are defined by cultural norms. But if enough people buck those norms.... the norms disappear.

Some of the "Tradwife" movement, imo, is women not just wanting to live that way, but to re-establish that as the standard/norm.

I think this is very insightful, but I would add one friction: to some extent these "roles" only exist precisely because so many people conform to them. If many people stop conforming, the appeal goes away!

Also refutes the argument that people were tough on crime during the Crack epidemic (as that hit urban/ Black neighborhoods hardest) and then got soft and empathetic when Opiods hot the White, rural communities.

Nope. People got tough on crime in both cases.

I often tell sarcastic jokes to my wife where I ask incredibly stupid questions as if I were hopelessly naive (e.g. asking what someone on a TV show means when using obvious sexual innuendo, as if I dont understand). One side benefit is that when I really do ask stupid questions, she cant tell!

"Back in the day when we were young, none of my friends had back pain. If doctors are so great at medicine, why do so many of my friends have back pain now?"