If I were a teacher in Texas, I would think, "you have no idea what you have just done." The New Testament is a very subversive book if you actually read it. Time to start having class discussions about Marxist philosophy centered around various Bible passages. Time to start teaching lessons with completely different conclusions, each based directly on Bible verses, in order to reveal the internal contradictions.
WoodScientist
My God in Heaven. It WAS aliens all along. A UFO intercepted Earhart's plane and turned it to stone with a space ray! Or, possibly, a wizard did it.
Honestly, I wonder people should start a movement that overtly supports capitulation to and cooperation with China. Start a movement that at least portrays things as being better in China, the people in China actually being freer, that leaders are held accountable, etc. Maybe even overtly say that you wouldn't care if the CCP wholesale took control of the country.
Do I actually espouse or believe any of these things? No. But honestly the ownership class could use a good heart attack once in awhile. Imagine if we had some decent percentage of the population overtly championing Maoism. Suddenly Medicare for All wouldn't seem so extreme, would it?
Because utilitarian ethics isn't the be and end all of moral decision making? Elections are just as much about holding people accountable as they are about choosing the utilitarian optimal future policy path.
It is crucial to remember that most of history's greatest atrocities were justified on utilitarian grounds - the greatest good for the greatest many. That's how eugenics was justified. That's how the crimes of the Nazis were justified. That's how the Tuskegee Experiment was justified. And it's how powerful men get away with being sexual predators. ("Yes, he may be a monster, but he's doing important work...")
Utilitarian decision making has its place. But at some point you also have to hold people accountable. And that's what you've missed. Remember, this is the only shot the voters ever got at holding Biden/Kamala responsible for their actions. This is literally the only way we as citizens have of directly holding these people accountable. Protests have their place, but voting is all we get in terms of direct accountability.
What is the point that you would stop using utilitarian ethics and start holding leaders accountable? What crime would be so bad that you wouldn't vote for a leader if you thought their overall policies would be superior to their opponent? Where do you personally draw the line? Because if you have no line...well God help you. Because you are already lost.
Bismark will be infuriated.
Shame. Shame upon you!
Republicans have significant division in their caucus. Look at the chaos they had with electing a House speaker. Most of the Republicans in the House will talk the talk, but ultimately they really don't want to tear down the entire government. But there's a quarter of them or so that would eagerly vote for a bill that just shut the Federal government down entirely. There's some real whackadoos there. Or some people who will simply never vote for a debt limit increase under any circumstance.
And Republicans are looking like they're going to have a razor thin margin in the House, probably only 4 or 5 seats. History has shown that when the House GOP needs to actually govern, they fail miserably. They also have quite a few histrionics within their ranks who will object to any significant bill just for the sake of getting attention. Inevitably, any significant legislation to come out of the House will require at least a few Democratic votes.
And then in the Senate, there's the filibuster to worry about. Republicans are loathe to repeal the filibuster; as on balance, it helps Republicans a lot more than it helps Democrats. So any significant legislation beyond basic budgets and court confirmations is going to require the participation of at least a few Democratic Senators.
And this actually does concern me. Democrats suffer from pathological bipartisanship. It is in their DNA to always offer an olive branch, try and be the better person, and seek a compromise. It just takes a few compromising Democrats to see some really terrible legislation passed. If Republicans try to pass anti-trans legislation, they will not be able to do so on their own. In the House, some of the Histrionics Caucus will object to its because it doesn't go far enough. And they won't have the 60 votes they need in the Senate. But if a few centrist Democrats decide, "hey, I can compromise on this. I'll vote for this, but in exchange I'll ask them to water it down a bit. So we'll end up taking away fewer civil rights..."
I have a better idea. How about for every one $7,500 EV credits we could give, we instead give out 10 $750 tax credits for e-bikes. That will cover the entire cost of a basic entry level e-bike nowadays.
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women.
If you're trying to hide it, be careful with fabrics you wear, some will show straps and other things. Though if you want to hide it, you might be better off with a sports bra. But really, layers are your friend. Maybe consider an undershirt or wear a jacket/hoodie. But also keep in mind that if you notice a change in silhouette, others may as well. But anyway, congrats on the milestone.