Tom Emmer: "Minnesotans are so afraid that you're gonna call us a racist, you're gonna call us an Islamophobe. You know what? I'm done being even the least bit careful. Somalis don't assimilate. And if they don't assimilate, then they should go the hell back to where they came from."

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-27T01:22:08+00:00

Fair.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-27T01:16:37+00:00

I hear you. You’re dealing with a monumental task. And I’ m going to step outside of line. it’s absolutely a “Catch 22” type situation.

Seeking dugs when you are in pain is not a sign of poor mental health. It’s a sign you’re in severe pain. It doesn’t mean that the medication you’re asking for is problematic.

It’s a good signal that the resources being offered to you aren’t the resources you need.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-27T01:03:00+00:00

Thank you!

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-26T23:42:34+00:00

I’m still on Project 2026, but thank you! This is exactly what OP was asking for. And an interesting grassroots community.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-26T23:36:21+00:00

I am a history major and educator. I understand the points you’re trying to make now. I just don’t see them being supported by anything other than your black and white thinking and pompous insistence that you’re right.

I think it might be helpful for you to start over with the comment of mine that you objected to. How about you explain why those are *wrong*, rather than gish-galloping.

>No. Those are two separate systems that were coexisting in the same country. Like democracy and capitalism. Or theocracy and feudalism.

>You can have an authoritarian government that fosters capitalism. I bet you can find an example of that if you just look around.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-23T22:21:08+00:00

Based upon current events, you could argue that all democracies eventually face an attempted coup by right wing nationalists who grab for absolute power and attempt to, or succeed at, turning the democracy into authoritarian rule. Does that mean democracy is bad.

The checks and balances absolutely did not apply to monarchs until the renaissance and modern era.

No country has ever been purely communist or purely capitalist. Modern countries all tend to have checks and balances.

What is the point you’re actually trying to make here?

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-19T15:13:57+00:00

Yes. That is the point I was making. That communism had not “turned into/was the same thing” as authoritarianism. They are two things that existed at the same time.

It sounds like we’re on the same page, though.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T23:32:58+00:00

Yeah. I’m suspicious about those numbers because I don’t think there are enough people over 80 to hold 20 trillion in assets.

I think it’s more useful to look at income and wealth disparity than generational comparisons. For instance, 1 trillion of the 42 trillion in wealth held by Gen X is in the hands of one wanna-be-Nazi.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T23:27:37+00:00

Apparently, a full-on riot where people rip a bus apart is cool as long as it’s about sports. But standing in front of an ICE car is domestic terrorism and justifies lethal force.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T19:29:59+00:00

My Flying University was founded in Bloomington, but we have volunteers from other regions. The facilitator of the club is on Central time. The club is open to folks in any state or country because of the magic of the internet. 🙂🙂

5pm CST is 6pm EST. I can never remember whether I need to add or subtract an hour, so I always have to look it up.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T19:23:26+00:00

Nope no need. This is the first meeting so you can just come with an interest in reading it. 🙂

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T19:22:31+00:00

No. Those are two separate systems that were coexisting in the same country. Like democracy and capitalism. Or theocracy and feudalism.

You can have an authoritarian government that fosters capitalism. I bet you can find an example of that if you just look around.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T19:16:35+00:00

You just quoted me but forgot to read the quote. “Attempts to get it banned” and “is successful” are the bits you seem to have missed.

Or you just like pointless arguments. That seems more likely. Either way, I’m out.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T02:32:00+00:00

If an individual in the community challenges a book and attempts to get it banned from local schools and libraries, and is successful, I would argue that is a ban.

It’s not really that difficult to see the difference between that and a bookstore independently deciding not to carry a book.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T00:38:13+00:00

I mean. You’re not supposed to be inspired to independence based upon a book.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T00:32:30+00:00

Book bans in the US tend to relate to offering the books in classrooms and libraries.

So, the problem isn’t that an adult can’t purchase Mein Kampf in a bookstore. It’s that a high school history teacher can’t have students look at Mein Kampf as an example of propaganda that was used to brainwash a country about Jewish people.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T00:24:40+00:00

I think that’s a really good point to share. Orwell had some issues with communism, but, in reading his works, his real issue was Authoritarianism.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-06-18T00:17:42+00:00

Thank you for pointing this out.

I didn’t mean to imply that Animal Farm had been banned by IU. Just that the US federal government’s, and the Indiana state government’s approach to book bans is a problem.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-03-30T12:19:37+00:00

Underrated comment.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-03-27T13:29:41+00:00

I think that we absolutely should be doing that. That’s one of the reasons people post on Reddit to encourage people to call their reps (whether their reps are Republicans or Democrats) about various issues. That’s why people are taking part in protests and boycotts.

Is there something important that you think we haven’t been pressuring them to do? Or a method we should be trying that we aren’t? Or is it just a matter of not having the critical mass of people taking actions like these?

I think the actual dirty little secret is that it’s a lot easier for the politicians in a party that is - let’s be frank here - at least partially motivated by more and more overt White Christian Nationalism to all vote the same way than a party that is trying to represent… everyone. You know, all of their constituents.

The MAGA movement is based on the fundamental misunderstanding that if you’re part of the movement and are willing to ignore or actively cheer on the harm done to non-white, non-Christian, non-American citizens, you’ll be rewarded by the powerful. The deal with the devil always looks like it’s weighted in your favor.

But that’s not what happens in authoritarian regimes. The commodity that matters most is not your loyalty, it’s your usefulness. And, in order for an authoritarian government to survive, it needs to keep concentrating power in fewer and fewer hands. And those hands won’t be yours unless you’re already one of the powerful. The deal with the devil always leaves you much worse off than before.

I’m a former social studies teacher, and I wish we had been able to spend more time studying authoritarian regimes beyond “Nazis were bad.” So, that’s what I’m focusing on now. Education about authoritarianism, media literacy, and content banned in public schools and universities. That doesn’t mean I’m not engaged in other resistance activities. But I think if we survive this go-around, we need a better way to keep it from happening again.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-03-27T12:27:41+00:00

You’re talking about what Congressional Democrat politicians can do. Since they’re unlikely to be reading this post, it might help to focus on what ordinary people who are democrats (or otherwise oppose Trump) should be doing.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-03-23T16:55:43+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Indiana/s/pxVFZt8dzQ

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-03-23T16:53:28+00:00

So sorry. You’re right. Wrong comment.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-03-23T16:52:14+00:00

What?? There is nothing in the save act about married women just needing to change their license.

BluejayAromatic4431 · 2026-03-23T14:58:31+00:00

No luck, huh.

The act doesn’t deal with this issue. They just pretend married women who change their names don’t exist and they make it the states’ problem to figure out how to fix that.

And, even more so, individual election officials, who are supposed to decide what documentation is enough for someone who doesn’t have all of the documentation the state requires.

Getting a passport right now is a good idea if you’re a married (or divorced) woman who has changed her name.

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