Wannabe Apparatchik
@apparatchikwannabe.bsky.social
he/him
History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.
History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
oil.
no not the black stuff in the ground but the idea of it as it exists to explain the iraq war with the mistake being we didnt just steal it
no not the black stuff in the ground but the idea of it as it exists to explain the iraq war with the mistake being we didnt just steal it
Why the fuck are we going to war with Iran?
February 19, 2026 at 4:19 AM
oil.
no not the black stuff in the ground but the idea of it as it exists to explain the iraq war with the mistake being we didnt just steal it
no not the black stuff in the ground but the idea of it as it exists to explain the iraq war with the mistake being we didnt just steal it
someone joked last year around Liberation Day that by 2028 they’d be trying to use Grok to centrally-plan the economy, and i still believe this might actually happen
i do wonder if we end up seeing price controls at some point if things go to shit
we probably wouldn't get gas lines, they'd just raise the price this time
February 19, 2026 at 1:03 AM
someone joked last year around Liberation Day that by 2028 they’d be trying to use Grok to centrally-plan the economy, and i still believe this might actually happen
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
i find that Atlantic article on white collar automation somewhat silly because if tech ever got to that level, that is essentially the Das Kapital moment
Maddening genre of writing about AI which blithely describes the conditions that to a civil war that killed one person in ten in China and proceeds on the basis that it would be less politically disruptive than deindustrialisation in the UK in the 1980s was.
This article is very strange. While saying this is very unlikely it treats it wholly as an employment problem with no solution, but never contends with the fact that this would lead to an economic depression!
February 19, 2026 at 12:53 AM
i find that Atlantic article on white collar automation somewhat silly because if tech ever got to that level, that is essentially the Das Kapital moment
this type of prison abolitionism is basically the same as the various advocates of “socialism where 80% of the workers produce Theory and bad poetry”, which is that it’s not really a policy proposal at all, it’s just a stated ideal of what one wishes were true.
if we're doing this again i feel obligated to say something in support but i basically haven't got anything new
it is actively harder to make any changes to the criminal justice system if the people who consume the most attention are saying things like this
it is actively harder to make any changes to the criminal justice system if the people who consume the most attention are saying things like this
February 19, 2026 at 12:53 AM
this type of prison abolitionism is basically the same as the various advocates of “socialism where 80% of the workers produce Theory and bad poetry”, which is that it’s not really a policy proposal at all, it’s just a stated ideal of what one wishes were true.
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
i'm going to be real with you, if a Iran war goes badly i do not think the electorate is choosing Gavin Newsom
February 19, 2026 at 12:21 AM
i'm going to be real with you, if a Iran war goes badly i do not think the electorate is choosing Gavin Newsom
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
(and, yes, the obvious question to ask is "can it actually do that" and the answer is "probably not")
February 19, 2026 at 12:27 AM
(and, yes, the obvious question to ask is "can it actually do that" and the answer is "probably not")
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
"what if AI can completely replace knowledge workers" is an economic transformation somewhere between "the industrial revolution" and "agriculture"
This would be the worst calamity to hit the American economy since 1929!! It's very weird that it is never treated as such!
February 19, 2026 at 12:27 AM
"what if AI can completely replace knowledge workers" is an economic transformation somewhere between "the industrial revolution" and "agriculture"
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
closing the strait of hormuz is kinda a "welps that was a mess, we got it reopened (dragged out that wreckage...), stuff is moving again" problem.
abqaiq is a facility in saudi that ~85% of their oil has to pass through. it's a complex desulfurization plant. How long would it take to rebuild that.
abqaiq is a facility in saudi that ~85% of their oil has to pass through. it's a complex desulfurization plant. How long would it take to rebuild that.
people think iran closing the strait is their main threat but it's actually flattening the facilities at abqaiq
February 18, 2026 at 11:57 PM
closing the strait of hormuz is kinda a "welps that was a mess, we got it reopened (dragged out that wreckage...), stuff is moving again" problem.
abqaiq is a facility in saudi that ~85% of their oil has to pass through. it's a complex desulfurization plant. How long would it take to rebuild that.
abqaiq is a facility in saudi that ~85% of their oil has to pass through. it's a complex desulfurization plant. How long would it take to rebuild that.
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
that’s the sound of a seal breaking
JUST IN: Judge Provinzino in Minnesota has held a Justice Department attorney in civil contempt for violations of her order requiring the return of a released ICE detainee’s ID documents. He must pay $500 a day until the documents are returned.
February 18, 2026 at 11:50 PM
that’s the sound of a seal breaking
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
“Walter, how are you going to get those robots to pay your union dues?” gibed the boss of Ford Motor Company.
Without skipping a beat, Reuther replied, “Henry, how are you going to get them to buy your cars?”
Without skipping a beat, Reuther replied, “Henry, how are you going to get them to buy your cars?”
This would be the worst calamity to hit the American economy since 1929!! It's very weird that it is never treated as such!
February 19, 2026 at 12:31 AM
“Walter, how are you going to get those robots to pay your union dues?” gibed the boss of Ford Motor Company.
Without skipping a beat, Reuther replied, “Henry, how are you going to get them to buy your cars?”
Without skipping a beat, Reuther replied, “Henry, how are you going to get them to buy your cars?”
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
Incidentally, so many of the scandals around sex abuse on college campuses are about predatory teachers and students who get the same “he said he was sorry now move on” accountability processes that someone caught plagiarizing might get
February 18, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Incidentally, so many of the scandals around sex abuse on college campuses are about predatory teachers and students who get the same “he said he was sorry now move on” accountability processes that someone caught plagiarizing might get
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
In the world of academia and campus life if you commit misconduct (be it plagiarism or an actual crime) you either get expelled/fired and aren’t heard from again or you go through humiliating accountability processes where everyone grovels and at the end you get to move on like nothing happened
February 18, 2026 at 10:16 PM
In the world of academia and campus life if you commit misconduct (be it plagiarism or an actual crime) you either get expelled/fired and aren’t heard from again or you go through humiliating accountability processes where everyone grovels and at the end you get to move on like nothing happened
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
I think Mariame Kaba and most prison abolitionist thinkers make a lot more sense when you consider that they’re mostly academics replicating how discipline works in the world of academia
February 18, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I think Mariame Kaba and most prison abolitionist thinkers make a lot more sense when you consider that they’re mostly academics replicating how discipline works in the world of academia
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
Likewise, you put a real estate guy from Miami and a real estate guy from Shanghai in the same room and you're gonna get the American Psycho business card scene but with the grindset routines they post on social media
You put a redneck from Heilongjiang and a Redneck from Alabama in the same room and they'll be comparing pictures of the gizmos they built from scrap metal to grill 30 chickens at the same time
February 18, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Likewise, you put a real estate guy from Miami and a real estate guy from Shanghai in the same room and you're gonna get the American Psycho business card scene but with the grindset routines they post on social media
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
I have noticed a trend amongst the columnists/staff writers at papers, journals, and think tanks, to be extremely sensitive to people saying they're wrong but they exclusively pick fights with queer or trans people and women
The people who usually do this are predictably male
The people who usually do this are predictably male
meanwhile on the other site some dude with 47k followers is so mad about I & @jamellebouie.net saying gender affirming surgery for minors isn't a thing - particularly my misuse of literally - that he has been @'ing me about it for over 24hr (also he's gotten like 26 likes because lol, dead website)
February 18, 2026 at 9:55 PM
I have noticed a trend amongst the columnists/staff writers at papers, journals, and think tanks, to be extremely sensitive to people saying they're wrong but they exclusively pick fights with queer or trans people and women
The people who usually do this are predictably male
The people who usually do this are predictably male
the thing that’s frequently ignored on This Site is that when you don’t have enough cash on-hand to maintain your lifestyle and cover an unexpected expense, you generally don’t immediately fall into poverty, you spend less on consumption or access more credit to cover the shortfall
Most Americans have 3 months of savings and are able to finance normal expenditures in the absence of a missed paycheck.
America is a rich country - most (not all!) Americans are financially comfortable compared to anywhere else (or Americans at previous points in history).
America is a rich country - most (not all!) Americans are financially comfortable compared to anywhere else (or Americans at previous points in history).
February 18, 2026 at 10:11 PM
the thing that’s frequently ignored on This Site is that when you don’t have enough cash on-hand to maintain your lifestyle and cover an unexpected expense, you generally don’t immediately fall into poverty, you spend less on consumption or access more credit to cover the shortfall
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
Most Americans have 3 months of savings and are able to finance normal expenditures in the absence of a missed paycheck.
America is a rich country - most (not all!) Americans are financially comfortable compared to anywhere else (or Americans at previous points in history).
America is a rich country - most (not all!) Americans are financially comfortable compared to anywhere else (or Americans at previous points in history).
February 18, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Most Americans have 3 months of savings and are able to finance normal expenditures in the absence of a missed paycheck.
America is a rich country - most (not all!) Americans are financially comfortable compared to anywhere else (or Americans at previous points in history).
America is a rich country - most (not all!) Americans are financially comfortable compared to anywhere else (or Americans at previous points in history).
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
Also, every hot take about the US not being able to replace ships forgets that South Korea and Japan *can* build enough ships for us, if we’re desperate enough to screw the domestic MIC on this matter, which we will be in a prolonged war with China.
real talk: both China bears/hawks make the same mistake people in the 90s made about Japan - extending current trends into infinity
I appreciate that people are more interested in my subject matter but it reminds me of Weebery from a decade ago.
February 18, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Also, every hot take about the US not being able to replace ships forgets that South Korea and Japan *can* build enough ships for us, if we’re desperate enough to screw the domestic MIC on this matter, which we will be in a prolonged war with China.
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
the enormously funny fact is that if Taiwan drops their claim to the owning the mainland, this would be seen as an affront to the PRC
Also the US recognised that Taiwan is part of China and that the People's Republic is the official government of China but that doesn't constitute recognising that the PRC is the government of Taiwan.
You may now see why AOC can't state this clearly!
You may now see why AOC can't state this clearly!
February 18, 2026 at 8:35 PM
the enormously funny fact is that if Taiwan drops their claim to the owning the mainland, this would be seen as an affront to the PRC
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
"We need to make government bigger, actually" is something we should be doing constant propaganda for and why I'm a little distrustful of pop leftism.
tbh i think a lot of this comes down to the hollowing out of state capacity in global nations
neoliberalism has basically driven so many states to P3s that people don't get "states doing things" is still possible, but not necessary radical
neoliberalism has basically driven so many states to P3s that people don't get "states doing things" is still possible, but not necessary radical
china is incredible in its own way but don't mistake that with it being a radical government
February 18, 2026 at 8:14 PM
"We need to make government bigger, actually" is something we should be doing constant propaganda for and why I'm a little distrustful of pop leftism.
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
I grew up in a single-family house in a utopian planned suburb.
I have spent my adult life in apartments because I want to live near restaurants and rock clubs and bars and rock gyms and every urban amenity that does not exist within walkable distance in any suburb.
I have spent my adult life in apartments because I want to live near restaurants and rock clubs and bars and rock gyms and every urban amenity that does not exist within walkable distance in any suburb.
step 1: ban apartments
step 2: now everyone can afford to live in a spacious single family home with a yard and a garage close to school, work, and amenities
step 3: utopia :D
step 2: now everyone can afford to live in a spacious single family home with a yard and a garage close to school, work, and amenities
step 3: utopia :D
February 18, 2026 at 6:35 PM
I grew up in a single-family house in a utopian planned suburb.
I have spent my adult life in apartments because I want to live near restaurants and rock clubs and bars and rock gyms and every urban amenity that does not exist within walkable distance in any suburb.
I have spent my adult life in apartments because I want to live near restaurants and rock clubs and bars and rock gyms and every urban amenity that does not exist within walkable distance in any suburb.
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
the vaccine rollout was the most effective campaign for the public good our government had overseen in years, and no politician will ever be motivated to do such a thing again. absolutely zero political reward for it
I have seen this claim several times on here and it is abject fucking madness. bordering on antivax sentiment
February 18, 2026 at 6:15 PM
the vaccine rollout was the most effective campaign for the public good our government had overseen in years, and no politician will ever be motivated to do such a thing again. absolutely zero political reward for it
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
my scorching take is that, despite all the noise, there is a deep cultural affinity between the chinese people and the american people. we both really like money
February 18, 2026 at 7:38 PM
my scorching take is that, despite all the noise, there is a deep cultural affinity between the chinese people and the american people. we both really like money
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
i feel like people don't realize that like, if you went to weibo, this would be the same exact take you would get from Chinese citizens who aren't wolf warrior nationalists
"consumerist populace" is stuff i've seen on Weibo
"consumerist populace" is stuff i've seen on Weibo
Ehhh, China would destroy the US in a war now. We’d run out of ships in a month and missiles in 3. A soft, anti-intellectual, consumerist populace is not equipped to fight China.
February 18, 2026 at 7:36 PM
i feel like people don't realize that like, if you went to weibo, this would be the same exact take you would get from Chinese citizens who aren't wolf warrior nationalists
"consumerist populace" is stuff i've seen on Weibo
"consumerist populace" is stuff i've seen on Weibo
Reposted by Wannabe Apparatchik
The driver "having the green light" does not matter in the slightest because he was turning!
The child -- THE CHILD -- in the crosswalk had the right of way, regardless of whether the driver had a green. And crossing with the "flashing red hand" is the legal thing to do here!
The child -- THE CHILD -- in the crosswalk had the right of way, regardless of whether the driver had a green. And crossing with the "flashing red hand" is the legal thing to do here!
An absolutely bizarre way to describe a child in a crosswalk with the light getting killed by a massive vehicle turning right (without the right of way).
February 18, 2026 at 7:53 PM
The driver "having the green light" does not matter in the slightest because he was turning!
The child -- THE CHILD -- in the crosswalk had the right of way, regardless of whether the driver had a green. And crossing with the "flashing red hand" is the legal thing to do here!
The child -- THE CHILD -- in the crosswalk had the right of way, regardless of whether the driver had a green. And crossing with the "flashing red hand" is the legal thing to do here!