Neil Hawkes
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neilauc.bsky.social
Neil Hawkes
@neilauc.bsky.social
NZ Mechanical Engineer, PhD in thermofluids. Sesquipedalian liberal feminist.
Unfortunately real wealth is very mobile, so taxing it is hard. But the ultra-wealthy use their wealth to own assets - which are not mobile. So we should tax the assets. If every asset was taxed at 2% a year, the situation would be transformed.
April 28, 2025 at 5:45 AM
The third way involves many a step of faith, but I believe this chasm must be crossed.
April 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Suppose you must cross a chasm. There is a bridge across it. Public opinion, or the words of experts may lead you to believe the bridge is safe, or not. If you step onto the bridge, in the conviction that the chasm must be crossed, that is a step of faith. Faith involves choice and action.
April 18, 2025 at 9:09 PM
This, it should be said, is a matter of faith rather than belief. Fascists, in particular the subset of religious fascists, derive power from conflating faith and belief, but this is a great lie.
April 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM
There is a third way, the way of the social democrat and the writers of the Constitution of the USA. They hold that a constitution can hold the powerful to the same law that others must answer to, and grant the powerless some influence in the framing of that law.
April 18, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The cunning potentate does well to appoint inept deputies.

The pun is complete. I am required for further ceremonies. My felicitations to your elephants.
April 16, 2025 at 7:39 AM
But rejoice, for I am returned to my post, as it were. The bean stew was merely soporific. I slept for many hours and am now fully refreshed. The Chief Priest is overjoyed, particularly since my deputy proved unable to rise to the occasion and kept dropping his trophies.
April 16, 2025 at 7:39 AM
My old friend the Chief Priest hurried to refresh me with a nourishing bean stew. I drew the wrong conclusion. Everything that has a beginning, has an end. I resolved to be Stoic.
April 16, 2025 at 7:38 AM
We cannot agree and this will come to a head. It may be that my next message will be relayed to you by different means, who can say? Tata for now.

The pun is complete. I am required for further ceremonies. My felicitations to your elephants.
April 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
My Chief Secretary, the estimable Mr. Tata, is causing friction. He demands to be known as my Public Relations Manager. My ceremonial duties already involve constant public relations, of the most vigorous sort. I do not require a PR Manager.
April 14, 2025 at 7:54 PM
The pun is complete. I am required for further ceremonies. My felicitations to your elephants.
April 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Tarrife drives them out and they immediately re-enter. This constant imposition and removal of Tarrife’s charges is causing chaos. I should intervene, but after a day in congress I am too tired.
April 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
My elephant, the Great Orange Oaf, has a companion animal, Nah Varo. The name means utter moron in the local dialect. Their mahout Tarrife can do nothing with them. They stampede into the grounds where all their food is grown.
They trample the earth and uproot everything.
April 11, 2025 at 8:05 PM
It was easily arranged. Prestige has its uses. I know many people at the T@mp@x organisation. I was able to pull some strings.

The pun is complete. I am required for further ceremonies. My felicitations to your elephants.
April 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
We are not so modern here, but do not think us backward. Our women are entirely liberated and period poverty is unknown here. All period products are available freely from the Temples of the Sun. Can America make this claim?
April 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The pun is complete. I am required for further ceremonies. My felicitations to your elephants.
April 9, 2025 at 7:52 PM
My ceremonial work relies upon the proper use of preventatives, but they are ritually impure. I may not handle them myself. So you see, your President is completely in the hands of Mr. Poutine.
April 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM