this is a well written article, worth the time to read imo.
if anyone reading this has even a passing interest in Graeber, debt theory, and the effects of wealth distribution on societies, I highly recommend Gary Stevenson.
Gary came from a working class family and essentially got rich betting on collapse and inequality getting worse. now he spends his entire waking life fighting inequality and advocating for increase taxes on the ultra rich.
If I keep posting this every time there are egg related political news stories, maybe it'll come true?
I put together a little short story about how I would like to see Donald Trump meet his demise. Drowning in eggs:
The Eggsecution.
The once-proud leader, now stripped of title and dignity, stands in the center of the barren, concrete abyss. The abandoned Olympic swimming pool—thirty feet deep, dry as bone—has become their final stage. Above, the gathered masses stretch in every direction, a writhing sea of anticipation.
They do not jeer. They do not boo.
They simply chant.
"Eggs. Eggs. Eggs."
It starts as a murmur, a low thrum of human voices vibrating in unison. Then it grows, swelling into a deafening roar that rattles windows, that shudders in the bones of every person present. A chant as ancient as it is absurd, a single-minded invocation of punishment.
The first egg arcs high overhead, tracing a lazy curve before splattering against the fallen leader’s shoulder. The yolk bursts, oozing down his baggy, ugly, now-useless suit. A streak of yellow, the first of many.
Another egg. Then another.
Then dozens.
The first impacts make them flinch, stagger—hands raised in a futile shield. But soon there are too many to dodge, too many to deflect. They curl inward as the sky rains viscous judgment. The chant never stops.
"Eggs. Eggs. Eggs."
Shells crack. Yolk drips. The scent of sulfur and shame thickens in the stagnant air. It coats their skin, their hair, their pride, turning them into something less than human. Something… egg-like.
At the top of the pit, a child—no older than seven—steps forward. They hold their egg with both hands, cradling it like something precious. Reverent. With a deliberate motion, they lob it downward. It strikes the leader square on the forehead, exploding with an almost musical plap. The crowd erupts into a fresh crescendo of cheers, but the chant never falters.
"Eggs. Eggs. Eggs."
No escape. No reprieve. The pit is smooth concrete, slick now with raw egg and humiliation. They can do nothing but stand there, endure, become part of the ritual.
Somewhere in the throng, a vendor hawks boiled eggs. Another sells cartons to the unprepared. A man in a chicken suit waves encouragingly at the crowd.
The night wears on, but the spectacle does not end.
It cannot end.
Not until the last egg is thrown. Not until the last voice is hoarse.
Not until the world is rid of this one, failed leader, broken not by swords or exile, but by the inescapable weight of public yolk and scorn.
"Eggs. Eggs. Eggs."
agree completely. I've been thinking a lot lately about why this simple defiance is so difficult for some people. I figure it's because they fear social consequences (what will people think of me as a rule breaker?!) or they fear economic consequences (I could lose my job and ability to support my family!).
what's interesting is that the solution to both reasons/excuses is having a strong social support network and solidarity with others who would help you when you stumble. modern individualism and desperation has made people so isolated and fearful of being mis-perceived and has made us less powerful to stand up for what we (collectively) know is the right thing to do.
if someone in my circle gets fired or shamed because they said "No" to a fascist, theyre going to get a lot of help if they need it. and i make sure to tell them that.
Will policymakers continue to ignore the signs and force the planet to face the devastating consequences?
yes. yes they will.
my only hope is rapid socioeconomic collapse caused by short-sighted fascist mismanagement, leading to spiraling declines in life expectancy (and therefore drastically lower global population and consumption levels). that's probably overly optimistic though.
this is a brilliant observation honestly. every accusation or criticism levied against the fascists gets reversed in a "I know you are but what am?" sneer. it works for many reasons, and it's part of the right wing playbook.
obviously none are equivalent in scale or scope, but they have truthiness to them at first glance. and just as importantly, like in your purse thief example, they redirect attention and create doubt... just long enough to avoid getting caught or face the wrath of the crowd.
it also works, esp in America, partly because the so-called opposition party is actually kind of a piece of shit and has been for generations. Dems profess to hate the extreme consequences of capitalism, but love capitalism itself and benefit from it. so they ultimately can't condemn it or offer long term solutions to the problems it creates. conservatives at least offer simpler solutions which all boil down to "hate who you're told" and "obey your God King and you'll someday be rewarded".
instead of subsidized the rich, we should be taxing the fuck out of them. they either comply with wealth redistribution by taxation or we seize their assets.