Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
@captainmeap.bsky.social
Pro-abundance, new liberal shill, foreign policy enjoyer, history degree haver, American pragmatism believer, Catholic (but not in a weird way).
CaptainMeap on other platforms.
"Cynicism is the death of wisdom."
CaptainMeap on other platforms.
"Cynicism is the death of wisdom."
Pinned
A key reason why I (usually) align with the new liberal/neoliberal wing is that it presents a fundamentally positive-sum view of the world where even difficult issues are ultimately solvable with patience, pragmatism, and good policy
This is, I think, simultaneously both optimistic *and true*
This is, I think, simultaneously both optimistic *and true*
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
it looks like crap and immediately antagonizes a good chunk of us. if that's your goal, carry on. if that's not your goal, consider "Americans"
If your argument involves referring to Americans as “USians” it doesn’t matter how cogent the rest of your point may be tbh
November 26, 2025 at 9:55 PM
it looks like crap and immediately antagonizes a good chunk of us. if that's your goal, carry on. if that's not your goal, consider "Americans"
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
What a stupid headline. Governments have a choice when building high speed rail, they can either
1) focus on the outcome of getting it built in a reasonable timeframe
2) focus on excessive process and make the project delayed and over budget.
Props to Canada for choosing option 1
1) focus on the outcome of getting it built in a reasonable timeframe
2) focus on excessive process and make the project delayed and over budget.
Props to Canada for choosing option 1
November 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
What a stupid headline. Governments have a choice when building high speed rail, they can either
1) focus on the outcome of getting it built in a reasonable timeframe
2) focus on excessive process and make the project delayed and over budget.
Props to Canada for choosing option 1
1) focus on the outcome of getting it built in a reasonable timeframe
2) focus on excessive process and make the project delayed and over budget.
Props to Canada for choosing option 1
It really feels like the regime has spent the decade desperately circling the drain to no avail
No friend to them and I'd be happy to see their end, but I do worry that "there will be no Islamic Republic by 2030" has growing potential to become an incredibly thorny monkey's paw
No friend to them and I'd be happy to see their end, but I do worry that "there will be no Islamic Republic by 2030" has growing potential to become an incredibly thorny monkey's paw
another piece on the Tehran water crisis, this time focusing on how old an idea moving the capital is and how it got caught up in endemic corruption
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/26/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/26/t...
Iran Can’t Run Away From Tehran’s Disasters
Moving the capital is an old idea and a perennial nonstarter.
foreignpolicy.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:51 PM
It really feels like the regime has spent the decade desperately circling the drain to no avail
No friend to them and I'd be happy to see their end, but I do worry that "there will be no Islamic Republic by 2030" has growing potential to become an incredibly thorny monkey's paw
No friend to them and I'd be happy to see their end, but I do worry that "there will be no Islamic Republic by 2030" has growing potential to become an incredibly thorny monkey's paw
A rather large problem with the modern left is that everybody wants there to be large, well-run, competent organizations and agencies, while at the same time refusing to believe that anybody should be paid for delivering them
I was just thinking about contributing to the "charity" Feeding America. Until I discovered that the salary for its CEO, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, was approximately $949,866 in 2024, with her total compensation being $1,113,502. Apparently, feeding America isn't her top priority.
November 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
A rather large problem with the modern left is that everybody wants there to be large, well-run, competent organizations and agencies, while at the same time refusing to believe that anybody should be paid for delivering them
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
I don't know what to call it, but there is a very common and annoying social media phenomenon where people demand validation for mildly antisocial behaviour, instead of just feeling mildly guilty about it like a normal person.
These are pretty naked -- and therefore instructive -- examples of the sorts of defenses that people offer to try and get off the hook
November 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I don't know what to call it, but there is a very common and annoying social media phenomenon where people demand validation for mildly antisocial behaviour, instead of just feeling mildly guilty about it like a normal person.
I don't always read Paul Krugman's blog, in part because it is often filled with "things you don't want to see written in a blog by Paul Krugman"
November 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I don't always read Paul Krugman's blog, in part because it is often filled with "things you don't want to see written in a blog by Paul Krugman"
This, too, is Abundance
since we're talking about pies- one of my favorite internet traditions is r/costco every year, without fail, featuring multiple top-of-page posts of people completely agog at the scale of the costco pumpkin pie display. it must feel like walking onto a sherman tank factory floor in 1944
November 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
This, too, is Abundance
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
Also, when you say people saying "Dems would win everywhere with a Mamdani-style platform," I think it's important to remember that that platform delivered the most charismatic candidate in recent history a whopping 50.4% of the vote against a street vigilante and actual vampire, in New York City
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Also, when you say people saying "Dems would win everywhere with a Mamdani-style platform," I think it's important to remember that that platform delivered the most charismatic candidate in recent history a whopping 50.4% of the vote against a street vigilante and actual vampire, in New York City
There's some good points about how some measures don't fully reflect actual costs of living (that's why I'm a YIMBY) but the thrust of the article is "$150,000/year is poverty" and please let's be serious
This is an insightful but deeply upsetting article about why everyone in the US feels poor, and why the current political situation emerges as a direct result.
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Part 1: My Life Is a Lie
How a Broken Benchmark Quietly Broke America
www.yesigiveafig.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:04 AM
There's some good points about how some measures don't fully reflect actual costs of living (that's why I'm a YIMBY) but the thrust of the article is "$150,000/year is poverty" and please let's be serious
Good article! Though I definitely would have dropped The Expanse as an example of the enduring role that the overpopulation myth plays in SF
ICYMI: One of the most interesting things about sci-fi is that ideas like a space elevator or an O'Neil cylinder can "exist" as discrete, almost Platonic concepts without ever taking on physical manifestation.
The folks at Heat Death very kindly gave me space to talk about the implications of that.
The folks at Heat Death very kindly gave me space to talk about the implications of that.
The Fatal Allure of Yesterday's Tomorrows
On the dangers of seeing science fiction as a template for the future.
heat-death.ghost.io
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Good article! Though I definitely would have dropped The Expanse as an example of the enduring role that the overpopulation myth plays in SF
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
F/A-XX in shambles, Connie canceled, LSM/LAW stuck in perpetual torment, SM-6 production in shambles, F-35C buys at lowest rates, F/A-18E/F line being terminated, DDG(X) sent to the indeterminate future. The US Navy's century of Burkiliation is here. Arleigh-Burkes now and forever.
November 25, 2025 at 11:03 PM
F/A-XX in shambles, Connie canceled, LSM/LAW stuck in perpetual torment, SM-6 production in shambles, F-35C buys at lowest rates, F/A-18E/F line being terminated, DDG(X) sent to the indeterminate future. The US Navy's century of Burkiliation is here. Arleigh-Burkes now and forever.
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
Union forces had suffered some 5,800 casualties but inflicted twice that on the rebels. When a chaplain asked General Thomas whether the dead should be sorted and buried by state in the new military cemetery, the Virginian who stayed loyal replied "Mix 'em up. I'm tired of states' rights.” (21
November 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Union forces had suffered some 5,800 casualties but inflicted twice that on the rebels. When a chaplain asked General Thomas whether the dead should be sorted and buried by state in the new military cemetery, the Virginian who stayed loyal replied "Mix 'em up. I'm tired of states' rights.” (21
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
On FFG, we’ve left the period where there’s no consequence from a policy perspective for failed major acquisitions programs. You are burning years you can’t get back against a red threat that is only getting closer to being ready. It was a bad program but the capabilities are needed from somewhere.
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM
On FFG, we’ve left the period where there’s no consequence from a policy perspective for failed major acquisitions programs. You are burning years you can’t get back against a red threat that is only getting closer to being ready. It was a bad program but the capabilities are needed from somewhere.
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
Heading to Potsdam for the @sochistorywar.bsky.social conference (three guesses what I’m presenting on)
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Heading to Potsdam for the @sochistorywar.bsky.social conference (three guesses what I’m presenting on)
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
I thought she was a bad choice for VP and a not-great candidate, but that she ran a good campaign, and also, she wasn't a deranged authoritarian, and that last part was good enough for me
She might not have been the optimal choice but i thought she did about as well as she could in the campaign
November 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I thought she was a bad choice for VP and a not-great candidate, but that she ran a good campaign, and also, she wasn't a deranged authoritarian, and that last part was good enough for me
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
This will be a battle because there’s a lot of well meaning anthropologist types who really do believe it‘s racist to say that eg: traditional chinese medicine is mostly bullshit, but it’s a fight well worth having.
I'm all for woke 2 as long as we agree woo-woo is out, I want aggressively pro-science and medicine thanks
November 23, 2025 at 3:58 AM
This will be a battle because there’s a lot of well meaning anthropologist types who really do believe it‘s racist to say that eg: traditional chinese medicine is mostly bullshit, but it’s a fight well worth having.
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
the takeaway from the Zohran Trump meeting is that Trump is a gullible fool who will temporarily bend to the last charismatic person he talked to.
Zohran played him perfectly but that doesn’t mean Trump is good now. He’ll go back to fascism tomorrow morning after he talks to Stephen Miller
Zohran played him perfectly but that doesn’t mean Trump is good now. He’ll go back to fascism tomorrow morning after he talks to Stephen Miller
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
the takeaway from the Zohran Trump meeting is that Trump is a gullible fool who will temporarily bend to the last charismatic person he talked to.
Zohran played him perfectly but that doesn’t mean Trump is good now. He’ll go back to fascism tomorrow morning after he talks to Stephen Miller
Zohran played him perfectly but that doesn’t mean Trump is good now. He’ll go back to fascism tomorrow morning after he talks to Stephen Miller
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
The most important thing to remember about all this fantasy-engineering of the Constitution is Madison's warning: If we suck as a people, no clever constitutional schemes will save us.
November 22, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The most important thing to remember about all this fantasy-engineering of the Constitution is Madison's warning: If we suck as a people, no clever constitutional schemes will save us.
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
Reposted by Allen Woke 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🌐
this is your brain when your entire politics is just a set of aesthetics
November 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
this is your brain when your entire politics is just a set of aesthetics
I think it's more accurate to say that Trump has a long and well known history of being easily flattered and Mamdani is a conventionally handsome and personable guy who seems to be a skilled conversationalist
Frankly this was always the most likely outcome lmao
Frankly this was always the most likely outcome lmao
I do honestly think trump is senile enough that the mayor of New York is sort of instinctively an impressive person to him that he wants to please, despite being the fucking president
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I think it's more accurate to say that Trump has a long and well known history of being easily flattered and Mamdani is a conventionally handsome and personable guy who seems to be a skilled conversationalist
Frankly this was always the most likely outcome lmao
Frankly this was always the most likely outcome lmao
Very hard to do that when the party is openly hypocritical on the issue re:Garcia but otherwise I agree
Hungary’s Orban seemed undefeatable a year ago.
Then Peter Magyar broke through with a powerful anti-corruption platform, rapidly consolidated the fractured opposition, and now leads Fidesz comfortably.
Anti-corruption defeats authoritarianism worldwide. It will work here, too.
Then Peter Magyar broke through with a powerful anti-corruption platform, rapidly consolidated the fractured opposition, and now leads Fidesz comfortably.
Anti-corruption defeats authoritarianism worldwide. It will work here, too.
November 21, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Very hard to do that when the party is openly hypocritical on the issue re:Garcia but otherwise I agree