Sic Semper Tyrannis.

My issue is not with Democracy. It is with capitalism with its celebration of rent-seeking, arbitrage, "growth at any cost"; my issue is with extreme accumulation of wealth to a small minority who think they should be kings simply because they have pulled the strings of power to accumulate wealth.

I, for one, agree with our founding fathers on this point - it is OUR RIGHT as a people to alter or abolish the government and reform it in a way that serves all. Yes, the government has at times been large, clunky, and inefficient - but it has served an essential purpose.

For decades (yes, perhaps much longer), our government has been subverted to serve the needs of the few - and the few are not SNAP beneficiaries, or welfare queens, or scientists - the few are the 0.01%; the wealthy who believe they deserve to own everything and want to make us all their slaves.

"it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Here in the US, our democracy was founded on the ideal that a government should provide for the security and happiness of all people. That's right; our government exists TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE. Don't believe me? See the declaration of independence here: www.archives.gov/founding.../...

See full thread here: bsky.app/profile/velo...

I'm not sure whether or not I still believe in a literal interpretation of Revelations, but I do find it ironic that it's possible many who claim to be Christians may have voted the eventual antichrist into a position of control and power, and celebrated as they did so.

Once fascists take control, history has shown that the only way to remove them is external force or massive domestic uprisings at an early stage. It's hard to imagine either of those being possible in our current situation.

The United States government has the economic and military power to inflict human suffering on a scale this world has never before seen. It is being led by individuals who are perfectly willing to inflict that suffering as long as they get to hold the reins of power and accrue wealth to themselves.

We are descending into fascism controlled by oligarchs reminiscent of early 1930's Germany or early 2000's Russia. Both of those countries inflicted massive human suffering on their own populations and those of their neighbors.

All I can conclude is that those of who are celebrating, or who are saying "checks and balances" will protect our democracy, are either: (a) hateful sociopaths, (b) so completely indoctrinated by the koolaid that you've lost all capacity for critical thinking, or (c) have your head deep in the sand.

Looks like fun!

Of course, in 5 years it may be able to approximate what a top PhD candidate could do… or maybe much sooner.