Laurentide

joined 1 year ago
[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 5 points 2 weeks ago

They're not talking about natural monopolies. A natural monopoly is when there's some barrier to entry that prevents competitors from entering the market, like a need for prohibitively expensive infrastructure.

What OP is talking about are situations like Walmart opening a store in a new location, operating it at or near a loss to drive the local competition out of business, and then jacking up prices once no competitors remain. The government isn't forcing them to do that.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 21 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The child abuse and fear mongering are things that they're proud of and believe are justified. Trying to address it just makes them feel more powerful.

Calling them "weird" works because their whole ideology is based on them being the normal ones. If you take that away, you also take away their entire (false) claim to authority.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 1 points 2 months ago

I was responding specifically to the implication that Biden isn't trying to do loan forgiveness, which is factually incorrect. It's the courts that keep blocking the plan and forcing it to be narrower in scope, not Biden.

As for this proposed cap on rent increases, I fail to see how a limited increase is worse than an unlimited one. Is it less action than we need? Definitely. Is it insulting that it took the credible threat of a fascist dictatorship to extract this tiny concession? Absolutely. Am I going to kick and scream because it isn't everything I wanted? Hell no! Just the fact that the President is seriously discussing this is an improvement, and we need all the leftward momentum we can get if we ever want to start pushing the Overton window on economic issues.

I used to scoff like this at early efforts to decriminalize marijuana. "Lower penalties? State-issued medical cards with heavy restrictions? None of that actually solves anything! It needs to be completely legal!" Now look at where we are: Fully legal in 24 states, partially legal in most others, and the DEA has started the process for rescheduling to a less-restricted category. It was slow going and we're still not quite where we need to be, but that's way more progress than I ever thought we would get!

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 12 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Seems kind of weird to blame the guy who is trying to do the thing you want and not the people who keep blocking it from happening.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No mention of trans people, which is odd given that Florida is a Do Not Travel state for its government's efforts to criminalize being transgender.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's because the furry fandom, when it was founded back in the late 70's by a gay polycule of sci-fi fans, was one of the only communities in existence that accepted openly gay and trans people. (And the only non-fetish community.) For many queer people, the furry fandom is the first place they ever feel welcome.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That link is for a previous breach against a different entity, so not the same story at all.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 10 points 2 months ago

True, but it's still the right thing to do. At the very least it will force some members of Congress to clearly and undeniably declare themselves as supporters of tyranny.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 1 points 2 months ago

Unfortunately, honest questions are indistinguishable from the horde of transphobes spreading misinformation and sowing uncertainty under the guise of "just asking questions" (sealioning).

If you are genuinely curious, then I recommend starting with the Wikipedia article on puberty blockers, and also reading the one on precocious puberty which is a condition in very young children that is treated by the same drugs. (Tellingly, this usage is non-controversial and exempted from all of the new laws banning puberty blockers for trans children.)

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

If zero kids on puberty blockers decide not to transition that would be pretty telling.

Maybe, if that were anywhere close to what is actually happening. In reality, there are more cisgender children taking puberty blockers than there are trans children taking them, so the number of kids deciding not to transition after taking blockers is >50%. Your speculation is baseless.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 5 points 2 months ago

Yes, I meant no negative or unintended consequences.

[–] Laurentide@pawb.social 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Thank you. It doesn't feel like I've done much journeying, as I was essentially trapped in emotional stasis for most of my life and circumstances have so far prevented me from doing anything with my newfound knowledge, but at least I know which way is forward now.

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