i think they may be lying to themselves.

i have lefty friends who voted for Trump entirely on the theory that he'd challenge the "blob" and US security state, be a force for international peace. maybe so! maybe he's just speaking loudly and carrying a tiny stick. but the case is looking weaker than it did (and it never looked so strong).

remarkable deference. x.com/mattyglesias...

maybe it's just his way of retaliating against Jimmy Carter for voting Kamala.

call me old-fashioned, but i still think the norm against territorial expansion by military force is worth adhering to and enforcing.

i’d prefer ‘60 tax rates…

people will still think they’re dicks, and because they can’t resist social media, they see some of the world beyond their sycophants, and they can’t abide it. they manufacture scapegoats not just to distract the plebs from class war, but to absolve themselves from their own notoriety.

i think the GWB era US was, for all its many mistakes and betrayals, lots more attractive as a model than the US ca 2024.

a lot of crowing about the US’ “amazing” economy leaving Europe in the dust, but one doesn’t see a lot of mass protest by states looking to draw closer to America, while what’s going on in Georgia and Serbia is remarkable.

worth pointing out that this is an issue Musk has a very personal chip on his shoulder about. that might or might not have something to do with Trump’s motivation to take it up.

i assume your mooting that as an implication of the position i’m attributing to Smith. i don’t want to speak for Smith, don’t think he’d agree with the claim you offer, but i don’t think he’d agree with himself in this piece if he weren’t tendentiously minimizing the hazard Musk presents.

wouldn’t a dark enlightenment be an endarkenment?

i’m a bit skeptical that’s what this billionaire-headed enterprise will do.

bsky.app/profile/inte...

yup. you’d need to be serious about it, not use taxation as a chokepoint from which you can sell loopholes.

so who does God Emperor Musk favor to become the next Senator from Florida?

yes. i think it is a new thing we have to collectively understand, that the distribution of wealth and income is a matter of public concern, it determines in large part what kind of society we live in, so yes we tax to prevent the emergence of too rich (and spend to prevent too poor).

📌

(you may do whatever you like and i’d be honored, with or without attribution.)