[tptacek]

You are describing a very small number of highly-activated people responding to a media environment. I think it's especially telling that you cite women "lining up to marry him"; his support, as you're depicting it, is characterized by deeply irrational behavior. I agree.

[benreesman]

I think I’m still openly condemning the violence without dismissing the fucking broad based anger around it. There are a large number of us who are very pissed off but still seeking compromise.

There are a very fucking small number of people who own any significant equities, or have their interests actually materialize politically.

That’s the group I’m lobbying to get your shit correct before Luigi is fucking everywhere.

[tptacek]

I'm more interested in policy being adopted on its merits, rather than out of concern that The Joker will punish me for not supporting it.

[benreesman]

I hope you’ve got some more robust definition of merit than it sounds like @tptacek, I was if anything taking your side against the mob net/net.

You do have some better definition of merit than “currently profits myself”?

[benreesman]

Maybe the smartest people could get the best but we’ll keep plenty for everyone. No, it’s not that we’ve done.

Maybe we could do the same but with the hardest working? It’s not that either. You ever seen guys making a highway in Arizona? Nah, not the hardest working.

Maybe we could backdate pure fucking blind luck in parents and mentors and shit and call it merit and just push that on the previous two groups like the greasy pimps we are for so long we forgot it was a scam and we actually start believing it. And then use it to justify atrocities at the scale of millions (Brian Thompson) but condemn violence at the retail level (shooting him).

Yeah. John Galt forever. I meant Spring Break.