It’s not stupidity, it’s loyalty to the level of irrationality.

You’ll understand the current American right if you assume that they have no attachment to the meaning of their words, and the prime axiom they operate by is: “My team is always right”.

They use words as weapons to convince those who can be swayed by them, but they themselves are immune to being swayed by words, and largely indifferent to their literal meaning - only their emotional content.

This is not to deify the left, they have their own problems.

This ruling is only possible and accepted because the current political climate allows for that, true. Things haven’t been fine for a while. But this is a sign that they keep getting worse.

I vehemently disagree with the idea that it’s a good thing to have “the curtain pulled back”. Realpolitik is and has been true forever - but public perception and acceptance matters a huge amount. These popular illusions and ideals are a part of the calculation of realpolitik.

Society should be idealistic, it should expect better - because those expectations shape the actions of politicians. Our society losing its ideals shouldn’t be applauded, it should be mourned.

You’re right that they could.

Now look at their past legislation. Will they?

You’re right, using this ruling in the way people fear it can be used would provoke a civil war.

Now, remind me, was there a large fraction of the US population frothing at the mouth at the idea of a civil war? Perhaps one with a complex the size of Alaska with regards to the previous US civil war? Hmm…

It sincerely feel absolutely insane. Completely beyond any party line bullshit - I’m almost as concerned with what Obama would do with this as what Trump would do with this.

This sort of ruling has no place in a democratic society. It is beyond reprehensible, it is utterly absurd.

The fact that it has been basically accepted by the general public - no riots, no large-scale outcry - sends a dire fucking message.

“May you live in interesting times”, indeed.

I had initially mentioned the custom keyboard app I was using. I have since edited the post to remove that, since I’m genuinely interested in people’s answers and don’t want them to think this is an ad.

A big part of that is that those bulbs are never turned off. Cycling power is actually a large part of what degrades them.

Northernlion. He’s still a cool person in my books, but the moment he started actively trying to maximize revenue is when he began to lose his appeal to me. Nick’s - RockLeeSmile’s - departure was the first warning bell, but I stuck with him for a long while after that.

I completely get it, though - he wants to ensure a good future for his family.