revolutionize how women get care

About fucking time for that

One time long ago, a guy on the train (whether tweaking or mental issues, I don’t know) sat down across from me, which was probably the most spacious spot in a fairly busy train. I didn’t register any unusual behaviour, nor was I - white male teen, at the time - particularly concerned.

He suddenly leaned in and asked me what I’d do if he killed me. Die, obviously. He then followed up telling me he could punch me in the face. He did neither of these things, eventually got off the train, and I never saw him again. The incident obviously left an impression, but I wouldn’t say I am or was traumatised by it.

I think this exemplifies that difficult grey zone. I don’t think it was motivated by hate, given I’m a fairly “safe” demographic. I also didn’t take him for the type of bully that does it for the power fantasy, or the type of macho needing to establish superiority.

Was it a threat or just a rather unhinged musing on social restraints? Was there actual intent to hurt me, kept in check by some lucky circumstances, or was it just a brief outburst of intrusive thoughts? I did feel threatened and intimidated, but is what I felt enough to judge his actions?

Regardless of the legal question, he probably needed help - medical or social - rather than punishment. I’m not qualified to assess that, but that question has bounced around my head ever since. What led to this outburst? What could be done to prevent that? What could be done to help him?

It’s not strictly relevant to the legal question - his actions are his own to account for, though his mental state may be a mitigating factor - but I figured I’d add it as context because I think it’s worth considering.

Might be a joke?

He was a piece of shit. In his final moments, he was comforted by his kin.

Right, Trump’s fragile ego voted him into office 🤨

There are a lot of contributing factors. Obama making fun of him might have seen him run for office, but without all the enablers along the way carrying him on he would have collapsed a few steps in, fucked off to go eat a gourmet Happy Meal and told himself (and anyone in earshot) how brave and strong he is for running in the first place.

Ridicule may have lit the fuse, but the powder was there long before.

Get me riled up and I can be quite fiendish

He can also fire the secretary of state.

What duties does the secretary of state hold that would go unattended until a new one is installed? How long would that take? And would he be able to actually get the committee to approve a candidate of such (comparatively radical) inclinations? What political and social fallout would he risk?

My statement “locking down the entire government” was an exaggeration, granted. But firing senior members of cabinet is a minefield and political dynamics tend to be slow to change course and often highly speculative.

Quick changes require overwhelming and clearly visible popular support, particularly during moments both critical for a politician’s career and uncertain enough to affect their stance, and even then it may be counterbalanced by uncertainty and reluctance to change stance.

Congress, not Parliament.

My bad, I wasn’t aware of the distinction (or that parliament has a more specific definition than “assembly of elected representatives”). I’ll fix that. Thanks for pointing it out!

He’s angry behind the scenes but unwilling to take action, which may have to do with the ongoing election.

I don’t envy his position. It’s far easier for us to complain and point out problems - which I’m not downplaying, don’t get me wrong - than to come up with effective solutions. It’s his job to do that, he chose it and he must be held to that responsibility, but all the amenities of wealth aside, I doubt that I’d enjoy navigating this mess where your every move gets you yelled at.

Biden tried to delay the support. There’s just not much he can do short of locking down the entire government. The president does not hold absolute authority, and if the congress and secretary of state are being bitches…

It’s just common sense!

Yeah, that was actually my point, but it was phrased poorly: Trump talks about sending the military against citizens. If he gets his way, we’ll stand sideby side - in front of the firing squads.

Recursion is its own reward

Look, my point is that he’ll probably be even worse this time around if he gets the chance. I’m painting a (hopefully exaggerated) image in an attempt to convince people that the left should unite on the big issues and push for a point where actually progressive parties are more than a spoiler in a fucked up system.

The more workers you attract, the higher your standards for hiring can be. That goes for any job, including jobs of passion. If you need to fill three positions and get three applicants willing to do them for shit pay… odds are your applicants are shit too, or they’d be going for better paid positions.

If you offer more, people with better qualifications will be interested more. You get more applicants and can be picky who you want.

As a bonus: better paid employees have more incentive to stay and do a good job to ensure they keep their position.

You missed my point. If Trump manages to pull off what he literally and explicitly endorses, we’ll land in the same grave together and be united that way. He has praised Hitler. You know, the guy who used a fire to suspend civil rights and persecute political opponents.

Support progressive politics in local elections, but right now, damage control is the strategic option.

Put differently, is “protect civil rights” not an issue on your ballot?

I tried reason and optimism. Maybe morbid cynicism is more effective.

An introduction to which topic?

Yes! It’s pretty nice!

I’ve been giggling for three minutes now. Thanks for making my morning a little sweeter <3

Ah yes, let’s skip the social part and get right to the obligatory consumption.

I don’t really care for Halloween, but I don’t actively hate it either. I like seeing kids and parents in cute costumes walking around. To me, the whole point has always been one of social activity, of walking around the neighbourhood and showing off your cool costume and such. You know, the whole “reinforcing horizontal social ties” deal we’ve done since forever.

I think my point was made poorly: I don’t think they’ll work together. He has gone fully mask off now, I worry he might pull a Reichstagsbrand 2 and start eliminating his opponents. And no matter how fractured we may be, no matter how we see our differences, at the end of they day we’re all leftists and to him, that’ll be enough to lump us all together as enemies.

I worry that the only way the leftists will unite is by being thrown into the same mass graves.

I didn’t mean “unite” in the sense of “we’ll work together” so much as “if he manages to pull off his idol’s stunt and execute his opponents, we’ll all die together”