@ropty.bsky.social
Professional Data Engineer, amateur photographer, former music guy. Father, husband, occasional bread maker.
I do not entertain hypotheticals, the world as it is is vexing enough.
I do not entertain hypotheticals, the world as it is is vexing enough.
Fair point, but as the image on the link shows--it is a dark green full body vest worn over street cloths. It *does* look like body armor. This is not a case of fascists taking a symbol, it is case of a wanting a symbol to be something else.
Man in street with a flak vest is already a symbol.
Man in street with a flak vest is already a symbol.
November 8, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Fair point, but as the image on the link shows--it is a dark green full body vest worn over street cloths. It *does* look like body armor. This is not a case of fascists taking a symbol, it is case of a wanting a symbol to be something else.
Man in street with a flak vest is already a symbol.
Man in street with a flak vest is already a symbol.
Your Honor, I don't even know what jury nullification is. So, I am totally fine to serve on this jury.
November 8, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Your Honor, I don't even know what jury nullification is. So, I am totally fine to serve on this jury.
Let's add a no confidence vote to dissolve the government and force new elections.
Btw, how is Britain doing?
Btw, how is Britain doing?
November 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Let's add a no confidence vote to dissolve the government and force new elections.
Btw, how is Britain doing?
Btw, how is Britain doing?
It was obvious during his (multiple?) presidential runs as well--I think his awfulness of his staff hurt him significantly. Bernie I liked, his people not so much.
Does not speak well of his ability to judge people.
Does not speak well of his ability to judge people.
November 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM
It was obvious during his (multiple?) presidential runs as well--I think his awfulness of his staff hurt him significantly. Bernie I liked, his people not so much.
Does not speak well of his ability to judge people.
Does not speak well of his ability to judge people.
Many Harris supporters knew what Trump's agenda was, and were gobsmacked and traumatized so many voted for it.
Many (most?) Trump voters did not really know what his agenda was, now are finding out, and are unhappy.
Many (most?) Trump voters did not really know what his agenda was, now are finding out, and are unhappy.
November 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Many Harris supporters knew what Trump's agenda was, and were gobsmacked and traumatized so many voted for it.
Many (most?) Trump voters did not really know what his agenda was, now are finding out, and are unhappy.
Many (most?) Trump voters did not really know what his agenda was, now are finding out, and are unhappy.
"Those that do learn from history are doomed to watch everyone else repeat it."
November 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"Those that do learn from history are doomed to watch everyone else repeat it."
I am not surprised, but the national press had a multi month convo about the age of Biden, leading to him dropping out mid-race, and yet still have nothing to say about this obviously very old and sick man sitting the the oval office --when he can find it. They have no shame at all.
November 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I am not surprised, but the national press had a multi month convo about the age of Biden, leading to him dropping out mid-race, and yet still have nothing to say about this obviously very old and sick man sitting the the oval office --when he can find it. They have no shame at all.
My uninformed guess. Current elites are drunk on disruption and change, so a pivot to fascism seems possible. Regular people are used to thinking about things as democratic, so resist that disruption. "We don't do that here" is powerful once ingrained (for better it worse--bettet in this case)
November 6, 2025 at 10:46 PM
My uninformed guess. Current elites are drunk on disruption and change, so a pivot to fascism seems possible. Regular people are used to thinking about things as democratic, so resist that disruption. "We don't do that here" is powerful once ingrained (for better it worse--bettet in this case)
Agreed. I have no dog in this particular fight (don't know enough), but I suspect the real argument is about what limits can you put on a fascist, authoritarian government (which is already lawless).
I just am weary of slippery slope arguments in general.
I just am weary of slippery slope arguments in general.
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Agreed. I have no dog in this particular fight (don't know enough), but I suspect the real argument is about what limits can you put on a fascist, authoritarian government (which is already lawless).
I just am weary of slippery slope arguments in general.
I just am weary of slippery slope arguments in general.
Counter: at what point do you stop with an argument that's based on "The state could use X for some bad purpose in the future"? IDK, but slippery slope arguments are often used as a reason to do nothing. Driver's License? state could track everyone. Gun control? state could use for oppression.
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Counter: at what point do you stop with an argument that's based on "The state could use X for some bad purpose in the future"? IDK, but slippery slope arguments are often used as a reason to do nothing. Driver's License? state could track everyone. Gun control? state could use for oppression.
I guess elections do have consequences.
November 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I guess elections do have consequences.
Clearly a guy who has never eaten at a halal cart.
November 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Clearly a guy who has never eaten at a halal cart.
How old does she think you have to be to vote? In elections, "young people" are under 30. I don't think a stern lecture on socialism to a struggling 25yo is going to make much of a difference.
November 5, 2025 at 6:20 PM
How old does she think you have to be to vote? In elections, "young people" are under 30. I don't think a stern lecture on socialism to a struggling 25yo is going to make much of a difference.
40+ years ago when you paid for groceries with a check at your local supermarket, you would often have to show an ID to get your check approved. Given Trump's age and disconnect from regular life, I suspect this is what he is thinking about.
November 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
40+ years ago when you paid for groceries with a check at your local supermarket, you would often have to show an ID to get your check approved. Given Trump's age and disconnect from regular life, I suspect this is what he is thinking about.
Think of it this way.... We get to see him lose again.
And lose big.
And lose big.
November 5, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Think of it this way.... We get to see him lose again.
And lose big.
And lose big.
Which is why a third to half of the leaders of the Republican party need to be in prison.
And probably most of ICE.
And probably most of ICE.
November 5, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Which is why a third to half of the leaders of the Republican party need to be in prison.
And probably most of ICE.
And probably most of ICE.
To be fair, pretending that the electorate is solely made up of middle aged, angry white people has been surprisingly effective in this country.
November 5, 2025 at 3:12 AM
To be fair, pretending that the electorate is solely made up of middle aged, angry white people has been surprisingly effective in this country.
Correction: the best major election night we've ever had *so far*
November 5, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Correction: the best major election night we've ever had *so far*
First, let's stop calling it "right to work" laws. Maybe something like "restrictions on right to assemble", or just anti-union laws.
IDK, someone must have come up with a pithy name.
IDK, someone must have come up with a pithy name.
November 5, 2025 at 1:50 AM
First, let's stop calling it "right to work" laws. Maybe something like "restrictions on right to assemble", or just anti-union laws.
IDK, someone must have come up with a pithy name.
IDK, someone must have come up with a pithy name.
And what happens when they inevitably don't?
Are you going to do something besides post on social media?
Are you going to do something besides post on social media?
November 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
And what happens when they inevitably don't?
Are you going to do something besides post on social media?
Are you going to do something besides post on social media?
Sure, but how do middle aged white men from rural areas feel? They are the only Americans that matter.
November 4, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Sure, but how do middle aged white men from rural areas feel? They are the only Americans that matter.
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and please like and subscribe, and hit that bell button!
November 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and please like and subscribe, and hit that bell button!
At least the housing crisis was about houses, which people can live in. (And the Tulip mania was about tulips, which are pretty). The AI bubble is about nothing. Like some of the stupidest dot-com bubble companies that were wildly over valued producing nothing (but pets.com was a solid idea!)
pets.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
At least the housing crisis was about houses, which people can live in. (And the Tulip mania was about tulips, which are pretty). The AI bubble is about nothing. Like some of the stupidest dot-com bubble companies that were wildly over valued producing nothing (but pets.com was a solid idea!)