Spite Zero wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 6:05 pm Always love a good Venn diagram.

Venn diagram of the actions spread across five broad domains that correspond to features of proto-authoritarian states:

- Undermining Democratic Institutions & Rule of Law; Dismantling federal government
- Dismantling Social Protections & Rights; Enrichment & Corruption
- Suppressing Dissent & Controlling Information
- Attacking Science, Environment, Health, Arts & Education
- Aggressive Foreign Policy & Global Destabilization

source: "So this is how liberty dies…": Making sense of Trump's first three weeks; where I categorise 76 Trump administration actions and show how they align with the authoritarian playbook, Prof. Christina Pagel, University College London

As long as their guy is doing it, it's fine.

How does democracy die? With a wimper.

https://www.madycast.com/p/capitulation ... -and-ncmec

So fucking depressing

Hex wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:03 pm https://www.madycast.com/p/capitulation ... -and-ncmec

So fucking depressing

I wonder how many people involved considered themselves "the Resistance" during Trump's first term.

ChudFusk wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:14 pm

Hex wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:03 pm https://www.madycast.com/p/capitulation ... -and-ncmec

So fucking depressing

I wonder how many people involved considered themselves "the Resistance" during Trump's first term.

Pussy hats and pantsuits, the lot of them.

Hex wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:03 pm https://www.madycast.com/p/capitulation ... -and-ncmec

Saw this on bsky and reposted it. Cowards.

I think we’re seeing just how “woke” society really is now that there’s no top down push from liberals using mostly identity as their progressive political policies.

The answer is not very. Corporate and non profit America has rug pulled DEI wholesale it seems without batting an eyelid or expecting much pushback. They’re doing this to exclusively to save money or attract income.

The premise of this book, has pretty much played out.
https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardc ... GXdjgOBvV-


Society has never been more egalitarian—in theory. Prejudice is taboo, and diversity is strongly valued. At the same time, social and economic inequality have exploded. In We Have Never Been Woke, Musa al-Gharbi argues that these trends are closely related, each tied to the rise of a new elite—the symbolic capitalists. In education, media, nonprofits, and beyond, members of this elite work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, and are very likely to identify as allies of antiracist, feminist, LGBTQ, and other progressive causes. Their dominant ideology is “wokeness” and, while their commitment to equality is sincere, they actively benefit from and perpetuate the inequalities they decry. Indeed, their egalitarian credentials help them gain more power and status, often at the expense of the marginalized and disadvantaged.

Liberal policy was a cultural shift from the grass roots as people fought for rights. What we're witnessing is not as a cultural shift, but a political coup. A true conspiracy decades in the making. I just don't see how it's going to be sustainable. Only something like 24% of eligible voters in America actually voted for Trump, and I would argue probably half of that number is just people not paying attention. With the shift of demographics, if this coup is successful, it will be temporary. It might take more than generation to shake loose, and it might not be in our lifetimes.

My wife is now very much regretting having children. It's pretty sad.

Jeffries and Schumer need to have 24 hour a day protests around their private residences. No rest. It's time for them to go the fuck away.

How does democracy die? With a wimper.

and neoliberals like John Fetterman bending to kiss the the ring of the giant orange twat.

I do think a massive portion of Trump voters were "mah groceries" types that had limited information. With better messaging, the Dems could have courted these people. The saddest thing is any man probably would have beaten Trump in this misogynistic country. My wife said they should have run Walz.