Notices by Jonathan Kamens (jik@federate.social), page 3

"the 2024 U.S. election was a trolley problem" <- yes, absolutely
"flipping the switch could only change who would be crushed" <- no, absolutely not
The fundamental idea of the trolley problem is that flipping the switch HARMS FEWER PEOPLE.
Most people when confronted with the problem agree that's the right thing to do.
Harris would have harmed far fewer people.
It's incredible that even now some people still struggle with this concept.
#politics #USPol
Ref:
https://mastodon.nl/@abhayakara/114132500366031146

Here's the email I just sent to Markey about the town hall
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

On the way out of the auditorium I told someone on Markey's staff that I came to the "town hall" (ftr, 2/3 of the time spent on speeches and no open mic is not a town hall) to hear what Markey was going to DO, not to hear how bad things are.
He said I should call the office and tell them that and it would be tallied and summarized to Markey.
I said I don't want Markey to be tallying public opinion, I want him to be LEADING.
Why do they not understand this?
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

Here is what I think: Markey still does not understand, or at least is not willing to admit in public to understanding, that Trump and Musk are using an extra-Constitutional strategy and therefore fighting back within the Constitutional system is not going to work.
In this I am certain he is joined by many other Democrats in Congress.
I walked out of this "town hall" less hopeful than I was walking into it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

@lackthereof This is a great statement, but are they just putting out a statement or are they actually sending it to their constituents? Getting it printed in newspapers? Talking about it on TV and radio news and talk shows? Getting it on social media? If all they're doing is putting up statements on their web sites it's just navel-gazing.
@blaise

He's giving a stump speech about what's wrong, not saying how he's going to fix it.
People just started yelling from the audience what he's going to do about it. Lots of yelling from the audience.
The courts are going to be used to fight back.
Markey says he was at the EPA last week.
Markey says he's going to do everything he can. No specifics.
Litigate, legislate, organize, and fight.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

Ok, it's over.
I didn't learn anything useful from this town hall.
I'm disappointed.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #mapoli

Ok, they're doing questions now, and they are indeed doing only prescreened questions.
I'm sure they're all going to be softballs.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

First question: checks and balances, from an AP History teacher.
Congress has the power of the purse.
The courts so far are defending checks and balances.
We don't know how this is going to play out.
I do know this… We're going to have to litigate.
So far it's tenuously holding.
But we also need to fight back in Congress and block block block. That's why I'm voting against every one of a Trump's things.
We're also going to need an uprising.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

Second question: what are you going to do to protect the social safety net programs that my family depends on?
No good answer given, except perhaps that the state legislature will work to find funding to make up for any gaps created by cuts at the federal level.
Markey says that the cuts will affect everyone, red and blue states. I guess he's saying therefore the cuts won't be bad? That's a stupid answer.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

Oh, I see, he's saying we need to reach out to Republicans in Congress and find a few who are willing to protect safety net programs because their states will be impacted too.
Yeah, good luck with that.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

Next question: how are the jobs of federal workers going to be protected?
Musk is doing stupid shit.
I feel a special obligation to protect veterans.
We are not going to allow them to dismantle a system that was put in place to etc.
Great, tell us HOW you're going to keep them from dismantling those systems. HOW?
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

Next question: what can be done to support Ukraine. This gets a standing ovation. The person asking the question calls Trump an Oval Office bully.
Markey says Putin is a dictator, Russia invaded Ukraine not the reverse, and what Trump and Vance are doing is absolutely irresponsible.
What we're going to do is block any cuts in aid to Ukraine.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

When Musk gives that salute, it's a permission slip for people in our country to say and do things that we have spent generations rooting out from our country.
It's wrong and it goes against our country values.
I will be there on the front lines in the Senate protecting funding for Ukraine.
(No specifics about how.)
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

Last question: what can we do if our electeds are already on our side?
You have friends. You have to use the social media to spread the word and let people know how they're going to be hurt.
Our job is to spread this revolutionary idea, which is being led by Massachusetts right now. [Name-checks Michelle Wu's testimony]
The more you talk to your friends all over the country, the more of a difference it makes.
Ok, I'll give him credit, this is good.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

They lied, one more question. Person asking works in the green energy field, runs a small business. Ask their grants are frozen. How are they getting away with that? How are they stealing this funding?
How can we protect this important climate saving work?
Trump asked the fossil fuel companies for a billion dollars, said he would kill all the green energy programs if they paid up, they paid up so now he's doing it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

I don't think I'm going to get in to this #EdMarkey town hall in #MaldenMA today. #MAPoli #politics #USPol
EDIT: Made it in!

Made it in!

I'll be live posting through this Ed Markey town hall. I'll try to hashtag everything: #EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli

There were a few MAGA Nazis out in front of the high school yelling crazy shit about penises in women's sports and aliens raping and killing people, you know, the usual. No photo because they aren't worth it.
#EdMarkey #politics #USPol #MAPoli