Paul Rosenberg
@paulrosenberg.bsky.social
Words. At Salon: https://www.salon.com/writer/paul_rosenberg
& Random Lengths News: https://www.randomlengthsnews.com/archives/author/paul-rosenberg
Election take: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xy5et7tjp2m5vcse6ky23v2x/post/3lajp4jwy2s2n
& Random Lengths News: https://www.randomlengthsnews.com/archives/author/paul-rosenberg
Election take: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:xy5et7tjp2m5vcse6ky23v2x/post/3lajp4jwy2s2n
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
If we were really going to "run the government like a business," Costco is the actual model we'd want to follow.
Let's again stipulate that the government is not a business & the whole idea it should run like one is a dumb category error. But if anyone was actually serious about running the government like a business & eliminating waste, the model would be Costco & not a single person/firm from Silicon Valley.
Costco is a really popular subject for business-success case studies but I feel like business guys kinda lose interest when the upshot of the study is like "just operate with scrupulous integrity in all facets and levels of your business for four decades" and not some easy-to-fix gimmick
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
If we were really going to "run the government like a business," Costco is the actual model we'd want to follow.
Shoulda taken that one to his grave!
November 11, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Shoulda taken that one to his grave!
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
The only thing special about us is our uniquely bad electoral & legislative institutions. We could be just like every other normal actual democracy. Sure, we'd have all their problems. Every one of them would be vastly better than "the fascists have governing majorities/control of every institution"
If we were an actual democracy, our politics would look ~like 👇: the center-left at ~1/3 of the vote, the center-right ~1/3, the fascists <1/5 (& with no chance of the exec/majorities), & a few small parties. Yes, we’d have tons of problems (see 🇩🇪), but none of them would be “will democracy end?”
November 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The only thing special about us is our uniquely bad electoral & legislative institutions. We could be just like every other normal actual democracy. Sure, we'd have all their problems. Every one of them would be vastly better than "the fascists have governing majorities/control of every institution"
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Thinking about the trillionaire manchild from Alien Earth who subtly misattributes an Arthur C Clarke quote to Isaac Asimov in the middle of a speech about how smart he is
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Thinking about the trillionaire manchild from Alien Earth who subtly misattributes an Arthur C Clarke quote to Isaac Asimov in the middle of a speech about how smart he is
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Parties are shells that are continuously remade. Compare Ds/Rs in 1868, 1904, 1932, 1972, & today on class, race, gender, immigration, & religion.
Most of us want more parties, but that isn’t* viable w/o proportional representation.
Since 1972, all nominees are directly chosen by voters. Do that.
Most of us want more parties, but that isn’t* viable w/o proportional representation.
Since 1972, all nominees are directly chosen by voters. Do that.
"The best way to solve these problems is to leave the Democrats behind!"
"No, you can solve these problems more effectively by taking over the Democrats"
"LOOK AT WHO LOVES THE DEMOCRATS!"
"No, you can solve these problems more effectively by taking over the Democrats"
"LOOK AT WHO LOVES THE DEMOCRATS!"
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Parties are shells that are continuously remade. Compare Ds/Rs in 1868, 1904, 1932, 1972, & today on class, race, gender, immigration, & religion.
Most of us want more parties, but that isn’t* viable w/o proportional representation.
Since 1972, all nominees are directly chosen by voters. Do that.
Most of us want more parties, but that isn’t* viable w/o proportional representation.
Since 1972, all nominees are directly chosen by voters. Do that.
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Sortition is a form of representative gov't, kinda like jury service, in which representatives are chosen by lottery. 1 plus is leaders who match US on class, sex, etc. 1 knock is that reg people may not know or be smart enough to govern well, even w/ supports.
But this is what we have now, so... 👇
But this is what we have now, so... 👇
Whoa -- Sen. Durbin went to up Leader Thune during the vote last night to tell him that on the shutdown vote and ACA promise that "8 of us are sticking our neck out that you're going to keep your word. I hope you will. He said 'I assure you I will,'" Durbin says just now
November 10, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Sortition is a form of representative gov't, kinda like jury service, in which representatives are chosen by lottery. 1 plus is leaders who match US on class, sex, etc. 1 knock is that reg people may not know or be smart enough to govern well, even w/ supports.
But this is what we have now, so... 👇
But this is what we have now, so... 👇
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
“He’s figured out a way to banter with the boys and not punch down,” Charlie Sabgir, research and strategy lead for the Young Men Research Project, a nonpartisan organization, said of Mr. Mamdani.
How candidates with good values and ideas break through the noise
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/s...
How candidates with good values and ideas break through the noise
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/s...
A Political Litmus Test: Can You Hang With the Boys?
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
“He’s figured out a way to banter with the boys and not punch down,” Charlie Sabgir, research and strategy lead for the Young Men Research Project, a nonpartisan organization, said of Mr. Mamdani.
How candidates with good values and ideas break through the noise
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/s...
How candidates with good values and ideas break through the noise
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/s...
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
The perfect time!
I feel silly publicizing a book in these times BUT my book describes how constitutional structures allowed the accumulation of generational wealth + rights for settlers and white people. These are the same advantages MAGA is trying to preserve today. Pre-order page:
November 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The perfect time!
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Helpful review of past fed Indian law cases. "The Supreme Court, becoming known as a tribunal willing to overturn some of its major decisions, could only muster two votes on Monday to reconsider one of the most fiercely condemned rulings on the law governing America’s Indian tribes."
One of the most reviled decisions by SCt on Indian law, the 1886 decision in US v. Kagama, withstands a challenge today. Only 2 JJ voted to hear it. SCt also refused to reconsider same-sex marriage precedent. Details at:
lyldenlawnews.com/2025/11/10/o...
lyldenlawnews.com/2025/11/10/o...
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Helpful review of past fed Indian law cases. "The Supreme Court, becoming known as a tribunal willing to overturn some of its major decisions, could only muster two votes on Monday to reconsider one of the most fiercely condemned rulings on the law governing America’s Indian tribes."
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
The latest from YouGov (n ~ 4.3k)
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
November 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM
The latest from YouGov (n ~ 4.3k)
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
Who do you blame for the shutdown: Dems 31, Reps 34
Approve/disapprove of the deal to end the shutdown: approve 37, disapprove 29
Who do you think benefited most from the deal? Dems 9, Reps 38
today.yougov.com/topics/overv...
Dems: Got no game. Got no game theory, either.
I'm not sure why there would be another shutdown at end of January. Some Dems have learned they are unlikely to get anything out of it & others have learned that their members will cave in the end (which means the same outcome).
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Dems: Got no game. Got no game theory, either.
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Negotiating 101: Be willing to walk away.
It increasingly seems like the Democratic defectors came to a resolution just because they felt like they should come up with something after having worked at it for a while.
In terms of classic blunders, this is land war in Asia-level.
It increasingly seems like the Democratic defectors came to a resolution just because they felt like they should come up with something after having worked at it for a while.
In terms of classic blunders, this is land war in Asia-level.
November 11, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Negotiating 101: Be willing to walk away.
It increasingly seems like the Democratic defectors came to a resolution just because they felt like they should come up with something after having worked at it for a while.
In terms of classic blunders, this is land war in Asia-level.
It increasingly seems like the Democratic defectors came to a resolution just because they felt like they should come up with something after having worked at it for a while.
In terms of classic blunders, this is land war in Asia-level.
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Government, taxes, & regulation are good actually
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Government, taxes, & regulation are good actually
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
For non-philosophers: to oversimplify, logical positivism says that any claim that has any meaning at all can be expressed in terms of logic and perception. YOU try to express something like “the German soul can be purified only by blood” in terms of logic and perception alone.
November 11, 2025 at 3:44 AM
For non-philosophers: to oversimplify, logical positivism says that any claim that has any meaning at all can be expressed in terms of logic and perception. YOU try to express something like “the German soul can be purified only by blood” in terms of logic and perception alone.
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
This is SO not my area of expertise, but I always assumed that one of the (many) points of logical positivism was to counter claims about the essence of the German people, and similar.
Mary Hesse on "the political aspect of...the Vienna Circle" and why analytic philosophers had "lost the urgency" of epistemological questions given that they "divorced their philosophy from ideological and practical interests" (1980, xiii).
archive.org/details/revo...
archive.org/details/revo...
November 11, 2025 at 3:38 AM
This is SO not my area of expertise, but I always assumed that one of the (many) points of logical positivism was to counter claims about the essence of the German people, and similar.
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
!
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
!
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
This degree of solipsism is a great data point in the case for abolishing the Senate.
Tim Kaine on backlash he's getting: "I got the first good night's sleep last night that I've gotten since Oct 1, b/c I wasn't worried about being able to look Capitol Police in the eye when I walked in, or what a furloughed fed worker would say to me at church, or what somebody would say about SNAP"
November 11, 2025 at 3:31 AM
This degree of solipsism is a great data point in the case for abolishing the Senate.
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
we are going to win
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE - Bolts
A populous, swing county replaced its GOP sheriff on Tuesday after months of controversy over his joining ICE’s 287(g) program. The Democratic winner promises he’ll end the contract.
boltsmag.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:18 AM
we are going to win
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Sad to see Cornell capitulating to Trump, even though there's been no finding Cornell violated civil rights law. As I've said before, we must address antisemitism on campus - we also must protect academic freedom & freedom of speech. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm... (1/2)
Cornell Settles With the Trump Administration
Cornell will pay out $30 million and invest another $30 million in agricultural research. In exchange the federal government will restore research funding and close investigations.
www.insidehighered.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Sad to see Cornell capitulating to Trump, even though there's been no finding Cornell violated civil rights law. As I've said before, we must address antisemitism on campus - we also must protect academic freedom & freedom of speech. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm... (1/2)
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
The media is bad and getting much worse because of who owns it. We can and must take steps to support independent media. Listen to Mostly Economics with Milo Vassallo Ex. Dir of the Media and Democracy Project cepr.net/mostly-econo...
Mostly Economics Podcast
Mostly Economics is a weekly podcast hosted by CEPR Senior Economist and co-founder, Dean Baker, about ways US economic policies affect everyday lives—from household budgets to global trade relationsh...
cepr.net
November 11, 2025 at 2:51 AM
The media is bad and getting much worse because of who owns it. We can and must take steps to support independent media. Listen to Mostly Economics with Milo Vassallo Ex. Dir of the Media and Democracy Project cepr.net/mostly-econo...
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
getting ratio'ed into oblivion
I will not support the Republican bill that’s on the Senate floor because it fails to do anything of substance to fix America’s healthcare crisis.
November 11, 2025 at 1:53 AM
getting ratio'ed into oblivion
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
getting roasted for accepting magic beans in exchange for political leverage
POTUS, Speaker Johnson and Congressional Republicans remain the barrier to addressing health care costs.
For the first time, we've secured a guaranteed vote on this crisis and if they continue to ignore the needs of the American people, they'll be held accountable next November.
For the first time, we've secured a guaranteed vote on this crisis and if they continue to ignore the needs of the American people, they'll be held accountable next November.
November 11, 2025 at 1:59 AM
getting roasted for accepting magic beans in exchange for political leverage
Reposted by Paul Rosenberg
Senate Dems are out here posting noise like "omg the Senate GOP just voted against healthcare subsidies and are trying to sneak a bunch of terrible shit into the funding bill" — and people are flooding their mentions with "bitch, please, GTFOH"
Never seen such a dramatic swing in political momentum
Never seen such a dramatic swing in political momentum
November 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Senate Dems are out here posting noise like "omg the Senate GOP just voted against healthcare subsidies and are trying to sneak a bunch of terrible shit into the funding bill" — and people are flooding their mentions with "bitch, please, GTFOH"
Never seen such a dramatic swing in political momentum
Never seen such a dramatic swing in political momentum
"if Ds are smart" => assuming a contradiction you can prove anything.
so if Ds are smart they might be in a better position in january.
ugly lining to silver lining is that there's not a whole lot of indication that Ds are smart.
ugly lining to silver lining is that there's not a whole lot of indication that Ds are smart.
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 PM
"if Ds are smart" => assuming a contradiction you can prove anything.
🎯🧵"Flooding the zone with shit" Dem centrist style.
But, yes, it CAN be coherently critiqued:
But, yes, it CAN be coherently critiqued:
PS/ It's not just that these cowards caved. It's not just that a December Senate deal won't pass the House, so ACA subsidies are gone now. It's not just that America was with the Dems. It's not just that this makes Trump seem strong. To cut this shitty deal, these schmucks *defied logic repeatedly*.
November 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
🎯🧵"Flooding the zone with shit" Dem centrist style.
But, yes, it CAN be coherently critiqued:
But, yes, it CAN be coherently critiqued: