Let’s go beyond the schadenfreude of watching MAGA having a conniption over Pam Bondi covering up the Epstein files. Instead of having a watch party hoping to see some kind of anti-Trump revolt, and breathlessly keeping score of every statement made by people about Epstein, Bondi, and Trump like itsContinue Reading
The powers behind Trump have a plan powered by a very old prejudice Stephen Miller. He’s one of the brains behind the Project 2025-Trump regime and Trump’s speechwriter. Yes, I know brains and Trump’s speeches don’t go together, but focus with me for a moment. I’ve been saying for monthsContinue Reading
The Karl Marx of Libertarianism Robert Nozick (public domain image) The Libertarian Manifesto (more or less) A specter is haunting America— the specter of Libertarianism. All the Powers of Government have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this specter. The Libertarians disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare thatContinue Reading
You can’t fight an enemy you don’t understand In 2024, I wrote two short but information-packed books about politics. They were pertinent to the US election (along with all the other elections in 2024), but they are even more pertinent now after the US election results. That’s particularly true becauseContinue Reading
A philosopher foresaw our current era of social reactionism I am not fond of cynics, but I have a soft spot for those who are optimistic about humanity’s potential and who are thus disappointed when people do so little with their potential. Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche fit into thatContinue Reading
This isn’t an “I told you so.” This is an “all right, let’s talk about where we go from here.” We could argue about what mistakes were made by Democrats this election. Of course they made mistakes because, obviously, they failed to stop the reactionary right. But how about insteadContinue Reading
Plato (L), Vance (R), though both right-wingers (Sources: public domain (L), US Congress (R)) The ideology that we now call “right wing” has been around for many centuries. What “right wing” means is the idea and desire that power be concentrated into a particular segment of society. Those whoContinue Reading
When people show you who they are, believe them This is not “The Right Stuff,” this is the right wing (Source: Trump-Vance campaign) Politics is about power, and power has a political dimension. Power manifests not just on a grand scale but also on a very personal scale. Not all powerContinue Reading
Plain talk about plain truths Tatter tots (source: divine inspiration) Tatter tots. If you don’t know about them yet, you will. They are one of the greatest inventions in the universe. They are also a food staple where I’m from — Minnesota — especially in the form of tatter tot hot dish. Not a casserole,Continue Reading
This is real. (Source: Proud Patriots) That image is real. You can actually buy that … thing. Why someone would create such a thing and why someone would want such a thing is less baffling when you realize the power of ressentiment. I wrote about ressentiment here on Medium several yearsContinue Reading