Very good thread, thanks for weighing in :). We are saying basically the same thing, in different words and formatting.

Thanks for pointing out how well the GOP strategy embodies "reactionary" politics, too many folks are unfamiliar with what that word means. The ability of reactionary fascists (because is one possible without the other?) to harbor so much unaddressed cognitive dissonance is a feature of fascism, not a bug. And yeah, the resulting stupidity seems to always eventually lead to destabilization and collapse, but MAGA's still able to get their rocks off today. Are status quo dems losing because of their refusal to react quickly enough to radical reactionaries?

I'm sure that the Fed is (perhaps unintentionally) low balling the inflation numbers, but the media seems remarkably susceptible to overly simplistic right-wing messaging, despite all of the accusations that our media landscape is almost entirely left-leaning. Almost every single American seems incapable of understanding that the quantitative easing instituted under Trump are what has led us into hyperinflation under Biden. And it's not like I or many others had better ideas to get us out of the covid pickle without inflation following, besides better targeting of relief funding, I guess. But "it's the economy stupid" is obviously going to rail Biden in 2024, unless things get much, much better very quickly. Not betting on it. And we have no large progressive outlets, of course, because progressivism is decidedly anti-corporations, and America is now a corporatocracy.

Also lol yeah, five or six people on SCOTUS may genuinely have no idea about some of the implications of overturning Roe. Still, a very large measure of cruely. On top of the lack of empathy seems to be a related idiocy; the inability to game things out using hypothetical scenarios. How many (tens of?) thousands of women will die before Thomas and Alito begin to feel something akin to regret (I almost typed "remorse", but nah)? Will we see women and/or abortion providers sentenced to death?? Not sure if you heard, but our literally criminal AG (everyone knows this story, I hope) wants to make it so TX can't legally do it in the butt or get a beej (Dear Ken; Hands stuff only and forever is a loathe position. I daresay we intend to make callous the hands of your mistresses). My mom, the other day was like "Oh no, they won't repeal gay marriage. Only Thomas seems to be in favor of that" and I wanted to jump through the phone and shake her by the shoulders. The theocrats are very emboldened, at the moment, and an alarmist perspective is currently yielding the best predictions. And the impetus for action. I hope. Now I'm ranting.

edit: How funny is it that Catholic fundamentalists, a superminority of our population, are the majority controlling the GOP's shiny new branch of government, in a country founded by Protestants attempting to escape the Catholic Church, and now the Protestants are firmly aligned with the other radical Christian theocrats against a dangerously bogus perception of The Other? Oh, it's not funny? Oh.

I worry that fascism is inevitable, because it's probably the surest way to sustain or even further increase the current wealth disparity, and the wealthy have clearly already seized the American political apparatus. My profileski says I'm a doomer, but I'm still voting, preaching the anti-fascist word afk, and looking to get more involved at the community level.