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Driftless Dan

@driftlessregion.bsky.social

6.6K followers 12K following 2.8K posts

Perspectives on nature and culture from a scientist living in the Driftless Region. Damn...it turns out "may you live in interesting times" actually IS a curse. You can't spell revolution without evolution.

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · Mar 6

I joined Twitter 16 years ago, but (literally) never posted anything. I got enough enjoyment reading everyone else's posts.

I joined BlueSky a few months ago, planning to post but avoid politics (who needs the extra stress?)

I cannot in good conscience stay silent any longer.

This is the way.

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 42m

(2/2)
Considering that the primary rationale for a voting age limit is the belief that citizens must reach a certain level of maturity, knowledge, and life experience to make responsible and informed political decisions...maybe we should revisit the idea that age is really the best proxy for that.

Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 42m

The level of ignorance in the MAGA crowd is just staggering.

Sometimes, it's tempting to think that people should have to pass some sort of cognitive test before they can be certified to vote.

Don't get me wrong, there are a LOT of serious problems with that idea, but...

Reposted by Driftless Dan

StopLossMaxWin @stoplossmaxwin.bsky.social · 1h

Lucky for US-All there are politicians still on our side like The Republicans were Decades ago.
I like Ike
I like AOC

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1h

Sen. Durbin: "Who gave the order to flag (Epstein file) records related to President Trump?"

AG Bondi: "I'm not going to discuss anything about that with you, Senator."

Sen. Durbin: "Eventually you're going to have to answer for your conduct in this. If you won't do it today, eventually you will."

Senator Dick Durbin questioning attorney general Pamela Bondi during Senate DOJ oversight hearings (Oct 7th, 2025).

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1h

(4/4)
I've been digging into the topic a little in my spare time. Here is a nice review on "The Science of Empathy":

share.google/RpVZwFEteu2y...

The Science of Empathy

Empathy plays a critical interpersonal and societal role, enabling sharing of experiences, needs, and desires between individuals and providing an emotional bridge that promotes pro-social behavior. T...

share.google

Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1h

(3/4)
These perspectives are not mutually exclusive.

This raises the possibility that the ability to empathize with someone does not automatically mean we should treat them any better than we might have otherwise...just that our decision on how we treat them may be better informed and fair.

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1h

(2/4)
A majority opinion seems to be that empathy stabilizes social groups and societies, probably in the context of kin selection.

Another opinion is that empathy is a fundamental tool that organisms use to understand motives and thought processes of competitors in order to gain advantage...

Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1h

(1/4)
I agree, 'too much empathy' doesn't quite 'feel' right, does it? As a scientist, my first reaction is "is that a testable hypothesis?"

The capacity for empathy is a behavioral trait, with both heritable and learned components.

The selective pressures acting on those are disputed...

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 4h

That feels like a companion question to "should we tolerate intolerance?"

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person by imagining yourself in their position.

Maybe it's like money or power...it's good to have some when you need it, but too much is a bad thing.

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Reposted by Driftless Dan

God @thegodpodcast.com · 15h

Tomorrow the Epstein survivors will storm Capitol Hill to demand release of the files. I hope new Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva is sworn in at their press conference by another judge or official who is authorized to do so (doesn’t have to be the Speaker).

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 10h

Imagine if someone gets hit in the eye.

Those immature clowns cosplaying Call of Duty don't seem to realize life doesn't have a reset button and there's no going back to the last save point.

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Reposted by Driftless Dan

John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 13h

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 14h

Here’s video of the incident

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 23h

Josh, have you even considered the possibility that the FBI tapped your phones because you are associating with known criminals? Just saying.

(10/7/2025) Regarding Independence of the DOJ, Sen. Josh Hawley says:

"I've heard them say that Joe Biden never directed his Attorney General to target his political opponents. Huh, that's interesting, because I could have sworn that yesterday we learned that the FBI tapped my phone."

Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

I would pay real money to see the Nobel Committee announce:

"The 2025 Nobel award for peace goes to Donald...just kidding...to Greta Thunberg"

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

They'll have to go back into session if the GOP wants to pass any more bills.

If they go back into session and try to vote on a bill BEFORE they swear her in, that may be a tipping point.

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

On the other side of that same coin, there is no reason supporters of releasing the files should rest at 218...they should constantly be pressuring more Republicans to join them.

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

Johnson is taking a page from Mitch McConnell's Supreme Court playbook:

'Swear in our people immediately, but delay swearing in the opposition as long as possible.'

These tactics are clearly anti-democratic since they prevent fair representation and should be expressly illegal.

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

I'll have to differ with you there. Any farmers who voted for Trump SHOULD lose their farms. If there are no consequences, nothing changes.

Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

Pam Bondi to Illinois:

'You're not allowed to have crime. Only the Trump administration is allowed to have crime.'

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

I'll give the reporter credit for asking at least one follow-up question, but they should have continued with "so, you're saying, sex trafficking is potentially something that you're okay with?"

Reposted by Driftless Dan

Debbie Mack @dmack30.bsky.social · 1d

youtube.com/watch?v=vOXO...
This is my third time trying to post this to Bluesky. Let’s see if the third time is a charm?

‘F--- them kids’: ICE agents drag children out of bed, ransack Chicago building

YouTube video by MSNBC

youtube.com

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

Apologies, I should clarified that this was my point: reductio ad absurdum.

Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, we should establish precedent at the first opportunity or get useless laws off the books in the interest of honesty and clarity in government.

(I'm reminded of the Hatch Act, which is constantly violated but never enforced).

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Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

California can argue that if the whole reason they're there is to help California reduce its crime rate, then that is de facto allegiance to California.

Driftless Dan @driftlessregion.bsky.social · 1d

Go for it, California! The only thing these goons will understand is getting whacked upside their heads with the (proverbial) 2x4 of jail time with no chance of a federal pardon.

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