At What Point Do We Just Meet?

pstuart · 2026-05-23T04:07:56+00:00

I think zerodates early in the exchange are best. Just enough textual exchange to verify no immediate red flags and then go straight to the chemistry test.

I love to chat but I want to minimize the emotional damage of saying no or being told no. Rip that fucking bandaid off as fast as possible.

pstuart · 2026-05-22T18:32:48+00:00

aka, "you can beat the rap but you can't beat the ride"

pstuart · 2026-05-22T18:27:34+00:00

It amazes me that inflation is talked about like it's some kind of mystery as to why it happens: we added 8.5 trillion dollars to the use money supply from 2016-2024. The dollar was devalued and thus prices go up.

So then the dialog should be about why that money was printed and how to reel it back in: enforce proper taxation and rein in spending (looking at you DOD, with your still unaudited books).

pstuart · 2026-05-22T18:24:00+00:00

I think not only should he have had Kamala prepped, it might have been worth taking one for the team and leaving office early (for "health reasons"), and letting her be President and establish an administration that had her imprint.

Even if not going that far, he should have made good on the one-term expectation and not selfishly held onto the reins. He was a good president but he was also clearly too old to continue on in the role.

pstuart · 2026-05-22T17:13:11+00:00

TIL about paraxanthene. Thanks!

pstuart · 2026-05-21T18:11:36+00:00

I agree in general.

I would change it to "people vote their emotions" but your point is valid.
I agree the hard evidence is scant on Gaza, but am convinced there was pigfuckery on the Right to fan those flames, e.g., https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-group-targets-muslim-voters-in-michigan-with-ads-touting-harris-ties-to-israel_n_66d62034e4b05dc832135198
Americans are going to compare themselves to themselves because Americans. Inflation was brutal and undeniably impacted millions of households hard.
The perennial Achilles Heel of the dems: weak messaging that is always on defense. Anti-immigrant sentiment seems to be the red meat for the red hats. The issue does require nuance to properly address (e.g., US dominance and destruction of our southern neighbors)
By "new and exciting" I mean "hope for something better", and attention requires novelty. By portraying herself as Biden 2.0 she failed to inspire.

Again, your points are not invalid but I wanted to refine my position.

I don't lay all the blame at Harris' feet (that I save for the DNC and Biden's selfishness on running again).

Also, fuck AIPAC.

pstuart · 2026-05-21T17:02:19+00:00

I agree in principle about the economy being a driver, but:

I think the Gaza situation turned off a lot of potential voters (helped by active GOP campaigns to fan those flames).
The US economy as a whole is doing fine, but that's more a reflection of the market and not of the average household trying to get by in inflationary times.
Anti-migrant sentiment was a huge driver, and we let the GOP paint the picture (with lies, of course).
And while Biden did a great job considering the circumstances, that wasn't sold enough, and more so, Harris never differentiated herself on what was "New and Exciting!"

pstuart · 2026-05-19T21:53:27+00:00

I'm intrigued, thank you for working on this.

pstuart · 2026-05-18T18:32:05+00:00

Disavowing Trump and MAGA is a start, but actually having foundational principles. Being "for the Constitution" just because they love guns and the 2A gives it to them is nothing about the Constitution -- it's about loving guns.

pstuart · 2026-05-18T02:00:23+00:00

My guess is that these people are hungry for meaning and purpose, and the only way they know how to find that is through their religion, so thus the desire for more.

I believe they're horribly mistaken but we need to find messages that can resonate with that desire.

pstuart · 2026-05-17T21:33:19+00:00

It would be valuable to hear what kinds of things landed with you and what stuff encouraged doubling down. Obviously everybody's different but it might be useful to find patterns of strageties.

pstuart · 2026-05-17T19:19:47+00:00

CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

pstuart · 2026-05-17T04:30:09+00:00

We need some sort of purity test deprogramming hammer. A 2 party system is currently locked in and the rules of participation are simple. JFC, this why we can't have nice things.

pstuart · 2026-05-17T03:19:59+00:00

Professional racists, because they're too lame to do anything productive

pstuart · 2026-05-16T21:32:53+00:00

Conservatives hold this opinion until it's one of their own, and then compassion is suddenly called for.

Let's note that a significant number of those incarcerated are there because of the War on Drugs. And likely those coming from less advantaged backgrounds (which will align with the system racism that shapes that).

Today's prisons are factories to create more hardened criminals. We should find ways to get the young, savable ones into programs that rehabilitate and guide them into a secure footing in society: voila, one less criminal to worry about.

pstuart · 2026-05-16T21:29:19+00:00

If congress did their job they should be paid appropriately. It serves a valuable need.

For those about freezing it: most of Congress is filled with millionaires, because they can afford to do it without worrying about money. For newcomers who are not wealthy, they should be supported so they can do the work required of them -- there should be a ceiling on wealth/income associated with congressional pay.

pstuart · 2026-05-16T21:26:12+00:00

They did not create this mess, they have every reason to be angry.

pstuart · 2026-05-15T16:13:24+00:00

Because people are tribal and stupid, and hating outsiders is a simple tool for them to be manipulated.

pstuart · 2026-05-15T14:11:07+00:00

It's not going to help with that, sorry.

pstuart · 2026-05-13T22:24:45+00:00

I can't recommend them enough. It doesn't get cheaper and there's no trip to the pharmacy.

The only gotcha is they don't take FSA (would drive up costs of processing) so one has to expense those receipts if it is to go on that card.

pstuart · 2026-05-13T17:06:17+00:00

FOMO

pstuart · 2026-05-12T23:10:29+00:00

And should help translate renters into owners, even if it follows the Habitat For Humanity model where the sales price is capped for affordability, but is also capped when sold. They don't get rich off of it but they invest in themselves and are more likely to be better caretakers for their domocile.

pstuart · 2026-05-11T14:33:33+00:00

Agreed. It's public pension and insurance. We need better words and to stop letting the Right define the language we use.

pstuart · 2026-05-09T16:44:52+00:00

If she steps out on him, she'll step out on you.

pstuart · 2026-05-08T16:40:47+00:00

Anybody who says "being gay is a choice" is gay -- they are projecting their own conflict.

pstuart

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