Josh Roman
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joshroman.bsky.social
Josh Roman
@joshroman.bsky.social
360 followers 500 following 470 posts
compassion, curiosity, connection, & courage.
practicing human.
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joshroman.bsky.social
The dollar rn
Animated gift of the iconic scanner from the movie aliens showing lots of white dots representing the aliens closing in on the position of the space marines
May 7, 2025 at 10:10 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
with alt text
Screenshot of Paper: The economic consequences of major tax cuts for the rich Abstract The last 50 years has seen a dramatic decline in taxes on the rich across the advanced democracies. There is still fervent debate in both political and academic circles, however, about the economic consequences of this sweeping change in tax policy. This article contributes to this debate by utilizing a newly constructed indicator of taxes on the rich to identify all instances of major tax reductions on the rich in 18 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries between 1965 and 2015. We then estimate the average effects of these major tax reforms on key macroeconomic aggregates. We find tax cuts for the rich lead to higher income inequality in both the short- and medium-term. In contrast, such reforms do not have any significant effect on economic growth or unemployment. Our results therefore provide strong evidence against the influential political-eco-nomic idea that tax cuts for the rich 'trickle down' to boost the wider economy. David Hope D * and Julian Limberg D Department of Political Economy, King's College London, London WC2B 4PX, UK *Correspondence: david.hope@kcl.ac.uk Socio-Economic Review, 2022, Vol. 20, No. 2, 539-559 doi: 10.1093/ser/mwab061 Advance Access Publication Date: 7 January 2022
May 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
WTF NPR?

“J.A.Q.”-off.
NPR push notification that says “Taking Down Tesla: Elon Musk and his allies say Tesla protests are a form of "domestic terrorism." Are they?”
May 3, 2025 at 10:04 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
A human caduceus
Black and white image of a caduceus, the “staff of Hermes” with two snakes twisting around a pole with wings on top.
May 3, 2025 at 11:18 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
A plaque commemorating inmates forced to serve in WW1 containing only their inmate numbers.
A plaque at Eastern state penitentiary, commemorating the deaths of inmates during World War I that only shows their inmate numbers not their names
April 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And then this, the birthplace of the Pennsylvania Prison System at the Easten State Penitentiary.
Photo of a decrepit hallway with cells at the eastern state penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this…
Photo of the US Constitution with text of Article 1: THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WiTE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. ARTICLE 1 Br SECTION 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. SECTION 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
April 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this…
Plaque on a street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that reads: JOSEPH and AMY CASSEY (1789-1848)/(1809-56) This prominent, wealthy African American abolitionist couple founded intellectual and benevolent societies for blacks. Dealing in real tente Joseph pansided both blacks and whites at his barbershop here. Amy was active in the Female Anti-Slavery Soc.
April 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this (bank panics? Oh my!)
Photo of a bronze plaque on the Bank building in downtown Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the United States of America. Text on the plaque reads: THE PHILADELPHIA BANK BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1857-59 FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA BANK WHICH FAILED DURING THE PANIC OF 1857 AND WAS COMPLETED BY THE PHILADELPHIA BANK. JOHN M. GRIES WAS THE ARCHITECT. THE CAST IRON FRONT DOORS AND WINDOW GRILL WORK WERE BY H. C. ORAM AND COMPANY. COMPLETE RENOVATION OF THE INTERIOR OF THIS HISTORICALLY CERTIFIED BUILDING WAS COMPLETED IN 1983 BY THE DEVELOPER, HISTO ASSOCIATES.
April 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this…
Photo of the liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
April 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this:
Photo of the front of the national Constitution center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a another sign that says the first amendment gallery hanging in the front window of the center
April 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this, with Lincoln quote from
the seventh Lincoln-Douglas debate: “It is the eternal struggle between these two principles – right and wrong – throughout the world. They are the two principles that it stood face-to-face from the beginning of time, and will forever continue to struggle.”
Mural in downtown Philadelphia showing a young boy holding a metal with a necklace that has three coins attached one is a bust of Abraham Lincoln, one is of Frederick Douglas and another one is a kneeling figure that says am I not a woman sister and the date 1839. The quote on the mural is from Abraham Lincoln that says “it is the eternal struggle between these two principles, right and wrong, throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face-to-face from the beginning of time and will forever continue to struggle. “ Although not on the mural, an important quote from that debate continues “The one is the common right of humanity, and the other the divine right of kings. It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same spirit that says, ‘You work and toil and earn bread, and I’ll eat it.’ No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle.”
April 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this:
Photo of US Post Office Seal with text: “Qui Pro Domina Justitia Sequitur” the Latin motto found on the official seal of the United States Department of Justice. The most widely accepted translation is: “Who prosecutes on behalf of justice (or Lady Justice”
April 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
Posting this for no particular reason…
Mural inside food market in downtown Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the USA of eDwarD de Grazia 1927-2013 SUCCESSFULLY APPEALED TO THE SUPREME COURT THE CENSORSHIP OF WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS' BOOK, NAKED LUNCH, WHICH WAS BANNED IN MAJOR CITIES SUCH AS BOSTON AND LOS ANGELES
April 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
Another Benefit Army, another Battle of Blair Mountain, another Stonewall, and more John Browns, Emily Davisons, and others.
British WW2 poster “We beat ‘em before, we’ll beat ‘em again.”
April 26, 2025 at 10:53 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
Can recommend “Hokum & Snark” on Etsy.

www.etsy.com/shop/HokumAn...
Grey cap with a colorful pin that has the words “Protect Trans Kids” on a white banner over a shield with blue, pink, and white stripes, and crossed swords behind that. Purchased from Hokum and Snark, a queer-owned Etsy shop.
April 26, 2025 at 10:07 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
Profiles always be like…
Not going to even do alt text for this ransom note bullshit emoji vomit
April 24, 2025 at 12:52 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
Oh how I’m waiting for the release of this perfectly-timed gem so that the contributors can be showered with richly deserved ridicule (and hopefully be chased from the public square for good.)
Cover photo of the upcoming book the war on science
April 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
Checking in from Boston. No one gets left behind.
Me, wearing a black tshirt with the words "Protect Trans Kids" in blue, white, and pink and a small Human Rights Campaign logo. Taken in a coffeeshop outside of Boston, Massachusetts. No one gets left behind.
April 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
Solidarity from Boston
Me, wearing a black Protect Trans Kids t-shirt from the Human Rights Campaign at a local coffeeshop in the Boston area.
April 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
And this site is free!
the american electoral system is basically 500,000 information-resistant people across a handful of states taking a guess and then going "haha! oops!" every two years. this process takes 18 months and costs four trillion dollars every time. *a handful of counties... but, yes. Ah the beautiful American electorate: a $4 Trillion Puxatawney Phil who pokes its head out every two years to see if it's going to be racist or not racist
April 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
Forwarded by a friend, and yes… this tracks. The anxiety is real.
Screenshot of a post from @drtheresamacphail “The conversations I'm having with people my own age (late 40s to mid 50s) are quietly chilling. All of us are doing math in our heads about how old we are versus the risk to our continued employment in this chaotic era we're in, how we would survive in all the worst-case scenarios and what other jobs we could do, and how best to prepare for all the unknown futures in realistic ways while still trying to get through each day without losing our minds.” 4,213 likes
April 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
joshroman.bsky.social
With all the horrible rule of law and civil rights abuses happening, easy to forget that DOGE is still ripping the copper out of the walls.

Fed worker comp is only 4% of budget and 1 % of GDP - historic lows.
Bureau of Labor Statistics chart of Federal labor force from 1960s through today showing historic lows
April 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
New bigoted anti-trans snitch line just dropped — this one targeted at doctors (and parents?) and designed to further erase trans existence. Ghouls is too charitable a word to describe the architects of this or any "whistleblowers."
Screenshot of a US Health & Human Services (HHS.gov) website announcing a "whistleblower" tip line for "complaints regarding the chemical and surgical mutilation of children". In other words, a bigoted anti-trans snitch line targeted at doctors, parents, and trans kids designed to make accessing health care (aka trans healthcare aka gender affirming care aka BASIC FUCKING SERVICES) more difficult for some of the most vulnerable among us. It makes me want to cry and beat the shit out of some Nazis at the same time. "Can't waste a day when the night brings a hearse / So make a move and plead the fifth 'cause ya can't plead the first"
April 15, 2025 at 1:34 AM
joshroman.bsky.social
Prosecute everything, down to the smallest Hatch Act violations.
Photo of Ivanka Trump holding a can of Goya beans from Trump’s first administration
April 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM