This loss isn't ideologically neutral. The rich don't need parties as a technology for coordination. They all mostly know each other and are tied together in various ways. The poor and middle classes on the other hand...

We've lost the older understanding of parties not as representatives for a social group in a particular domain (elections) but as the nexus of rich associational life that created, reified, & upheld that group's existence.

Do we really think politics is just about pinpointing a spot on an ideological density function that’ll win elections?

Pro-Shah and pro-Trudeau! They’re making new types of Iranians every day.

(& Hobsbawm is totally correct here — more correct than he ever could have predicted)

I think the boon would be the importing of Canadian voters — who heavily lean D.

This is partially why municipal progressives, from BC to NY, are overwhelmed & outmaneuvered by police at every turn. Instead, they fatally tie themselves to 'abolish the police' rhetoric & avoid practical strategies for breaking right-wing control over police forces.

Although the wait times are much less than a few years back: www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/...

Hah yea Mille is terrible. But the dynamic holds for Rolex, Patek, FP Journe, etc.
There’s also usually a big price gap b/w buying from the retailer vs. secondary market (& you get blacklisted if they find out you buy 2nd-hand)!

Often, buyers will travel to places like Dubai where sellers are often multi-franchise holders, so you can buy other (non-watch) jewelry in order to ingratiate yourself.

Same dynamic with men's watches! Buyers have to build a reputation with licensed franchises — I've heard of buyers inviting sellers to parties, etc.

Another things the Leninists got right: barriers to entry in your org are absolutely necessary.