Kazin
@themalaiseoftech.bsky.social
Body in the twin cities, mind in the 16th-early 20th century. Thomas Paine was robbed…and so were we.
I absolutely get the desire to dunk on Elon. We should.
But after the catharsis, we, as a society need to see this as a foundational lesson:
Wealth and power is like lead exposure. It allows people to escape social pressure and reality, destroying empathy, identity and security in the process.
But after the catharsis, we, as a society need to see this as a foundational lesson:
Wealth and power is like lead exposure. It allows people to escape social pressure and reality, destroying empathy, identity and security in the process.
February 5, 2026 at 2:34 PM
I absolutely get the desire to dunk on Elon. We should.
But after the catharsis, we, as a society need to see this as a foundational lesson:
Wealth and power is like lead exposure. It allows people to escape social pressure and reality, destroying empathy, identity and security in the process.
But after the catharsis, we, as a society need to see this as a foundational lesson:
Wealth and power is like lead exposure. It allows people to escape social pressure and reality, destroying empathy, identity and security in the process.
The “streetlight effect” is incredibly powerful and, frankly, terrifying. Rufo is directly and unambiguously told “THIS IS WHY WE ARE DOING THIS.”
And in the very next paragraph, says “Hm, who knows. Probably boredom.”
And in the very next paragraph, says “Hm, who knows. Probably boredom.”
January 31, 2026 at 6:10 PM
The “streetlight effect” is incredibly powerful and, frankly, terrifying. Rufo is directly and unambiguously told “THIS IS WHY WE ARE DOING THIS.”
And in the very next paragraph, says “Hm, who knows. Probably boredom.”
And in the very next paragraph, says “Hm, who knows. Probably boredom.”
Now where have I read this before….
January 30, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Now where have I read this before….
I feel this is a lot how the Star Trek TNG computer was used. To me, this approach always made the most sense.
January 29, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I feel this is a lot how the Star Trek TNG computer was used. To me, this approach always made the most sense.
“Preach, Elle, preach!”
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense
January 29, 2026 at 1:03 PM
“Preach, Elle, preach!”
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense
-Thomas Paine, Common Sense
Tired: Progressives working carefully and quietly within a government increasingly calcified by power being in the hands the self interested; achieving ever diminishing returns
Wired:
Wired:
January 29, 2026 at 3:47 AM
Tired: Progressives working carefully and quietly within a government increasingly calcified by power being in the hands the self interested; achieving ever diminishing returns
Wired:
Wired:
“Twin Cities Rohirrim”
We’ll take back our state AND the LOTR references at the same time!
We’ll take back our state AND the LOTR references at the same time!
January 28, 2026 at 1:49 PM
“Twin Cities Rohirrim”
We’ll take back our state AND the LOTR references at the same time!
We’ll take back our state AND the LOTR references at the same time!
Agree. I’m relieved that cold, hard reality seems to be working as intended.
But I sure hope that we can use this opportunity to fix some foundational shit around here. The current system is such that the minute the pressure is off, they go back to pointless shit like this.
But I sure hope that we can use this opportunity to fix some foundational shit around here. The current system is such that the minute the pressure is off, they go back to pointless shit like this.
January 28, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Agree. I’m relieved that cold, hard reality seems to be working as intended.
But I sure hope that we can use this opportunity to fix some foundational shit around here. The current system is such that the minute the pressure is off, they go back to pointless shit like this.
But I sure hope that we can use this opportunity to fix some foundational shit around here. The current system is such that the minute the pressure is off, they go back to pointless shit like this.
America is asphyxiating on the outcome of this one little exchange back in 1787. A proviso that added 15 words to Article V making it impossible to change Senate apportionment
No surprise that it was done on the motion of an aristocracy loving chode who left Thomas Paine to rot in a French prison…
No surprise that it was done on the motion of an aristocracy loving chode who left Thomas Paine to rot in a French prison…
January 28, 2026 at 4:41 AM
America is asphyxiating on the outcome of this one little exchange back in 1787. A proviso that added 15 words to Article V making it impossible to change Senate apportionment
No surprise that it was done on the motion of an aristocracy loving chode who left Thomas Paine to rot in a French prison…
No surprise that it was done on the motion of an aristocracy loving chode who left Thomas Paine to rot in a French prison…
“This one’s as dull as dishwater, idn’t he?”
January 27, 2026 at 8:30 PM
“This one’s as dull as dishwater, idn’t he?”
“Descent of Man” challenges (successfully I think) the idea that there is “innate virtue”. “Virtue” has to be developed and reinforced.
To me, that means that society and government has to ACTIVELY promote virtue….and as a reminder, it was written almost 100 years AFTER the constitution…
To me, that means that society and government has to ACTIVELY promote virtue….and as a reminder, it was written almost 100 years AFTER the constitution…
January 27, 2026 at 12:55 PM
“Descent of Man” challenges (successfully I think) the idea that there is “innate virtue”. “Virtue” has to be developed and reinforced.
To me, that means that society and government has to ACTIVELY promote virtue….and as a reminder, it was written almost 100 years AFTER the constitution…
To me, that means that society and government has to ACTIVELY promote virtue….and as a reminder, it was written almost 100 years AFTER the constitution…
Darwin discusses this. When a human sees someone as outside of their ring of empathy, it becomes acceptable (to them) to commit acts they would never commit to those that are within the ring…especially acts that are terrible for society.
Assholes are definitely much more likely to be pedophiles.
Assholes are definitely much more likely to be pedophiles.
January 27, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Darwin discusses this. When a human sees someone as outside of their ring of empathy, it becomes acceptable (to them) to commit acts they would never commit to those that are within the ring…especially acts that are terrible for society.
Assholes are definitely much more likely to be pedophiles.
Assholes are definitely much more likely to be pedophiles.
Like Darwin said…savages are easily startled.
January 26, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Like Darwin said…savages are easily startled.
And then…
“Our bad. We didn’t know all that moral clarity was a fascism preventer, detector and alarm system. Oops.”
“Our bad. We didn’t know all that moral clarity was a fascism preventer, detector and alarm system. Oops.”
January 26, 2026 at 6:42 AM
And then…
“Our bad. We didn’t know all that moral clarity was a fascism preventer, detector and alarm system. Oops.”
“Our bad. We didn’t know all that moral clarity was a fascism preventer, detector and alarm system. Oops.”
“The constructicons form Devastator - the most powerful robot! We should rule!”
Unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
January 6, 2026 at 12:14 AM
“The constructicons form Devastator - the most powerful robot! We should rule!”
Unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
Sigh. My face every time I read one of these articles….
Thank you for the point by point dismantling of “the dross” (tm)!
Thank you for the point by point dismantling of “the dross” (tm)!
January 3, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Sigh. My face every time I read one of these articles….
Thank you for the point by point dismantling of “the dross” (tm)!
Thank you for the point by point dismantling of “the dross” (tm)!
Ive always liked the term “hard unintelligence” that was quoted by Matthew Arnold in “Civilization in the United States”
December 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Ive always liked the term “hard unintelligence” that was quoted by Matthew Arnold in “Civilization in the United States”
As Matthew Arnold said in 1888….
December 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
As Matthew Arnold said in 1888….
Matthew Arnold really had American Newspapers pegged back in 1888. His whole book “Civilization in the United States” is one hell of a read.
December 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Matthew Arnold really had American Newspapers pegged back in 1888. His whole book “Civilization in the United States” is one hell of a read.
Like a popper. Except it’s fart!
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Like a popper. Except it’s fart!
And if that wasn’t clear enough, later in the pamphlet, Paine does the leg drop on the “across the aisle” bullshit.
December 3, 2025 at 8:25 PM
And if that wasn’t clear enough, later in the pamphlet, Paine does the leg drop on the “across the aisle” bullshit.
This is exactly right.
You galvanize people by standing up for what is right, no matter how unpopular.
Literally the first sentences in Paine’s “Common Sense.”
You galvanize people by standing up for what is right, no matter how unpopular.
Literally the first sentences in Paine’s “Common Sense.”
December 3, 2025 at 8:20 PM
This is exactly right.
You galvanize people by standing up for what is right, no matter how unpopular.
Literally the first sentences in Paine’s “Common Sense.”
You galvanize people by standing up for what is right, no matter how unpopular.
Literally the first sentences in Paine’s “Common Sense.”