Parker J. Reed
@parkerjreed.bsky.social
Classical liberal focused on first-principles political reasoning under stress, societal stabilization, epistemic rigor, and good-faith dialectic.
Do the people on the right side of history want Maduro placed back in power or is there an orthogonal possibility?
January 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Do the people on the right side of history want Maduro placed back in power or is there an orthogonal possibility?
I wasn’t making a claim about regime durability. I was considering whether ordinary people are wrong to feel relief when a dictator is gone.
January 5, 2026 at 8:10 AM
I wasn’t making a claim about regime durability. I was considering whether ordinary people are wrong to feel relief when a dictator is gone.
Reposted by Parker J. Reed
Would it make a difference if the project were privately funded, entirely by donations from people who can well afford to give something to the public?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
January 5, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Would it make a difference if the project were privately funded, entirely by donations from people who can well afford to give something to the public?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
2025 polling shows 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the U.S.
They weren't polled on the compensation package I just made up. 😆
Whatever happens, let it be by the will of the people of Greenland, beneficial and by consent.
They weren't polled on the compensation package I just made up. 😆
Whatever happens, let it be by the will of the people of Greenland, beneficial and by consent.
January 5, 2026 at 6:37 AM
2025 polling shows 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the U.S.
They weren't polled on the compensation package I just made up. 😆
Whatever happens, let it be by the will of the people of Greenland, beneficial and by consent.
They weren't polled on the compensation package I just made up. 😆
Whatever happens, let it be by the will of the people of Greenland, beneficial and by consent.
Would it make a difference if the project were privately funded, entirely by donations from people who can well afford to give something to the public?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
January 5, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Would it make a difference if the project were privately funded, entirely by donations from people who can well afford to give something to the public?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
I see facets and implications that weigh in different directions, but is the objection about public funds, or about symbolism, power, and taste?
> Let me ask you, do you think the regime cant find another bus driver?
I’m not sure I understand the question or the frame you’re using. I know very little about Maduro, which is why I’m approaching this as someone asking for guidance rather than arguing opinions.
I’m not sure I understand the question or the frame you’re using. I know very little about Maduro, which is why I’m approaching this as someone asking for guidance rather than arguing opinions.
January 5, 2026 at 4:39 AM
> Let me ask you, do you think the regime cant find another bus driver?
I’m not sure I understand the question or the frame you’re using. I know very little about Maduro, which is why I’m approaching this as someone asking for guidance rather than arguing opinions.
I’m not sure I understand the question or the frame you’re using. I know very little about Maduro, which is why I’m approaching this as someone asking for guidance rather than arguing opinions.
Are Venezuelans morally wrong to be celebrating that the dictator is gone, assuming any are indeed celebrating?
January 5, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Are Venezuelans morally wrong to be celebrating that the dictator is gone, assuming any are indeed celebrating?
I’m also excited by the prospect of 54,000 new Americans! 🎉🥳🕊️🎉
And we will need a new TV show -- Greenland Five One🏄♂️🌲
Always assuming Greenland is willing, of course, and that it's democratic and FULLY legal (not vibey-Trumpy-legal).
And we will need a new TV show -- Greenland Five One🏄♂️🌲
Always assuming Greenland is willing, of course, and that it's democratic and FULLY legal (not vibey-Trumpy-legal).
January 5, 2026 at 2:17 AM
I’m also excited by the prospect of 54,000 new Americans! 🎉🥳🕊️🎉
And we will need a new TV show -- Greenland Five One🏄♂️🌲
Always assuming Greenland is willing, of course, and that it's democratic and FULLY legal (not vibey-Trumpy-legal).
And we will need a new TV show -- Greenland Five One🏄♂️🌲
Always assuming Greenland is willing, of course, and that it's democratic and FULLY legal (not vibey-Trumpy-legal).
I want to know what Greenlanders think. There are only about 54,000 of them, so the U.S. could make every single one an American—and a millionaire—but do they want that?
For me, the idea of buying territory from Native Americans the right way, for once, may be crowding out other concerns.
For me, the idea of buying territory from Native Americans the right way, for once, may be crowding out other concerns.
January 5, 2026 at 2:07 AM
I want to know what Greenlanders think. There are only about 54,000 of them, so the U.S. could make every single one an American—and a millionaire—but do they want that?
For me, the idea of buying territory from Native Americans the right way, for once, may be crowding out other concerns.
For me, the idea of buying territory from Native Americans the right way, for once, may be crowding out other concerns.
My moral judgment of Trump doesn’t give me standing to tell Venezuelans they’re wrong to feel relief or happiness that their dictator is gone.
Treating their reaction as something to be corrected edges toward moral hegemony. I’m sure that’s not the intent, but it’s worth noticing the posture.
Treating their reaction as something to be corrected edges toward moral hegemony. I’m sure that’s not the intent, but it’s worth noticing the posture.
January 5, 2026 at 1:51 AM
My moral judgment of Trump doesn’t give me standing to tell Venezuelans they’re wrong to feel relief or happiness that their dictator is gone.
Treating their reaction as something to be corrected edges toward moral hegemony. I’m sure that’s not the intent, but it’s worth noticing the posture.
Treating their reaction as something to be corrected edges toward moral hegemony. I’m sure that’s not the intent, but it’s worth noticing the posture.
> what’s protecting Trump?
The fact that he's the one in change of these guys, among other things.
In a very real sense, might makes right.
This meme captures a logic that’s becoming explicit rather than hidden.
The fact that he's the one in change of these guys, among other things.
In a very real sense, might makes right.
This meme captures a logic that’s becoming explicit rather than hidden.
January 4, 2026 at 10:39 PM
> what’s protecting Trump?
The fact that he's the one in change of these guys, among other things.
In a very real sense, might makes right.
This meme captures a logic that’s becoming explicit rather than hidden.
The fact that he's the one in change of these guys, among other things.
In a very real sense, might makes right.
This meme captures a logic that’s becoming explicit rather than hidden.
4. Conservatives are authoritarian/dangerous. (moral loading)
5. Authoritarians are fascists. (terminal category)
6. Fascists are illegitimate/outside moral concern
7. “People like that shouldn’t exist. We can’t tolerate them. History shows what must be done.”
5. Authoritarians are fascists. (terminal category)
6. Fascists are illegitimate/outside moral concern
7. “People like that shouldn’t exist. We can’t tolerate them. History shows what must be done.”
January 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
4. Conservatives are authoritarian/dangerous. (moral loading)
5. Authoritarians are fascists. (terminal category)
6. Fascists are illegitimate/outside moral concern
7. “People like that shouldn’t exist. We can’t tolerate them. History shows what must be done.”
5. Authoritarians are fascists. (terminal category)
6. Fascists are illegitimate/outside moral concern
7. “People like that shouldn’t exist. We can’t tolerate them. History shows what must be done.”
I keep seeing the same escalation pattern, and it’s worth naming because it’s dangerous.
1. I dislike her work. (normative reaction)
2. She functions like a conservative. (normative framing)
3. She is a conservative activist. (judgment recast as fact)
-----let's stop here and not go on ------
1. I dislike her work. (normative reaction)
2. She functions like a conservative. (normative framing)
3. She is a conservative activist. (judgment recast as fact)
-----let's stop here and not go on ------
January 4, 2026 at 2:32 PM
I keep seeing the same escalation pattern, and it’s worth naming because it’s dangerous.
1. I dislike her work. (normative reaction)
2. She functions like a conservative. (normative framing)
3. She is a conservative activist. (judgment recast as fact)
-----let's stop here and not go on ------
1. I dislike her work. (normative reaction)
2. She functions like a conservative. (normative framing)
3. She is a conservative activist. (judgment recast as fact)
-----let's stop here and not go on ------
From what little I know, I’m not sure I’d have categorized Bari Weiss as a conservative activist. Do you mean that in a normative sense? The descriptive labels I’ve heard more often are heterodox, liberal dissident, or anti-institutional.
January 4, 2026 at 2:20 PM
From what little I know, I’m not sure I’d have categorized Bari Weiss as a conservative activist. Do you mean that in a normative sense? The descriptive labels I’ve heard more often are heterodox, liberal dissident, or anti-institutional.
I do not think justice operates on a hierarchy of immediacy. I understand the instinct to feel otherwise, but resist it.
January 4, 2026 at 2:08 PM
I do not think justice operates on a hierarchy of immediacy. I understand the instinct to feel otherwise, but resist it.
Just to clarify, are you saying Bari Weiss is a conservative activist? I don’t know much about her.
January 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Just to clarify, are you saying Bari Weiss is a conservative activist? I don’t know much about her.
The basis cited was an arrest following a U.S. indictment for drug trafficking, among other charges. Biden publicly offered a $25M reward for Maduro’s arrest, so this wasn’t invented out of thin air.
January 4, 2026 at 1:46 PM
The basis cited was an arrest following a U.S. indictment for drug trafficking, among other charges. Biden publicly offered a $25M reward for Maduro’s arrest, so this wasn’t invented out of thin air.
"Why the left isn't celebrating a dictator is gone"
January 4, 2026 at 1:26 PM
"Why the left isn't celebrating a dictator is gone"