If you’re reading this, that means I changed my mind or else a WordPress plugin doesn’t work or you’re some kind of l33t h4x0r or whatever.
I have set my blog to private — likely a futile effort but it makes me feel a bit better at this moment — because the right-wing ninnyhammers who hold sway over the US government are pushing to declare trans people mentally ill and/or domestic terrorists. It’s 100% a fascist power grab, with all the statistics and facts standing against them. They just want to flex fascist muscles, and trans people happen to be the ones they think they’re most likely to get away with stomping on first.
Project 2025 has a new memo for what constitutes “Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violent Extremists” and it includes everyone who thinks that transphobia is a threat to trans people. What the actual fuck? Also, a trans pride flag with “Protect Their Right To Exist” is shown as an example of a “violently extremist” slogan. Neither violence nor extremism is required for this designation. It’s just doublespeak.
For those who aren’t trans, just remember the Martin Niemöller poem. [EDIT: since I wrote that, Tr**p has decided that “non-Christians” (about 40% of the US population) are also potential terrorists and he’s pretty much accused the entirety of Democrats likewise. At this point it’s beyond absurd.]
As for me?
I’m against violence and against guns. I haven’t even played any shooters for years; Borderlands 2’s attitude really grossed me out in a world where schoolchildren get shot every week.
I believe in democracy — which only works when there’s freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, free and fair elections, properly working checks and balances, and the ability of the people to hold all elected and appointed officials accountable for their actions at all times. All of which are already broken, or under threat — and not from the left.
I am a leftist, perhaps somewhere between Democratic Socialist and Social Democrat. Capitalism as we have been exercising it is full of cruelty and unfairness. I believe that it can be exercised in a way that provides benefit for an entire population, but the problem with our capitalism is it’s concentrated far too much money (and thus power) into far too few hands. That concentration of wealth erodes democracy, and turns it into oligarchy (and in fact some of the people running our country right now believe that democracy is obsolete and nations should be run like corporations, by an authoritarian figurehead for the benefit of the wealthy elite). I believe that in a world where poverty still exists, there should be zero billionaires.
I believe in empathy, in “live and let live”, in treating others with basic dignity and respect. I believe in the equality of all people regardless of their genitals at birth, their gender identity, race, religion, citizenship, etc.