"Russia’s economy minister admits ‘reserves have largely been used up’ while communist lawmaker warns of 1917-style revolution as #GDP shrinks"

[pg1958@mastodon.sdf.org]

@benroyce you wouldn't know it from the Russian tourists we see everywhere we go. UAE, Turkey, Egypt full of Russian tourists living it up.

[crcollins@writing.exchange]

@benroyce

Any advice for our ridiculous CA governor primary where we're all just going to be voting to keep from having 2 MAGA choices in the general? It's beyond depressing. I wish I could use my vote like you say to push more to the left but seems like I'll just be using it to ward off disaster.

@spreadthetruth @retech

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@pg1958

no that's part of the problem:

brain drain

if people have money to leave russia, do you think they are ready to go back so easily? some of those tourists do come back now, because they have to according to the enforcement of the countries they are touring

but they are also testing the waters, shopping around, and if the shit really hits the fan, they are not going back, they are now refugees

[mike@thecanadian.social]

@benroyce When too many of the right people start losing too much money Putin will go. We haven't reached the tipping point yet (although it's coming) and when the day arrives it will be messy.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@crcollins @spreadthetruth @retech

so we push for the most left of the centrist assholes

or we run someone more left. maybe even run ourself

AND we vote against MAGA. even if the dem is a piece of shit

that people don't understand that drives me bonkers

the game is not "i want perfect, waah"

*it never is*

it's sustain

iterate

move left

*there is no better deal*

that people think "magic perfect candidate appeared then everyone lived happily ever after" is insane delusional entitlement

[gregwardo@c.im]

@benroyce @crcollins @spreadthetruth @retech people think it’s like getting married. It’s more like ordering dinner, get the best thing on the menu…

[mikelovesbikes@hear-me.social]

@benroyce @retech Speaking of which, do you know which candidates you'll support in your state's primaries, or how a candidate could win your support? This is addressed to all readers, not just Ben.

Personally, I'm gonna ask my state's candidates to promise to fight as hard as they can for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, the Abolish ICE Act, the Ranked Choice Voting Act, the United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2026, and the Recognizing the Genocide of the Palestinian People in Gaza Resolution (and turn it into an Act to give it real power), among others. I'll find specific demands regarding the environment and retaliation against the Republican Party when I have more time later this week.

I also have some demands in mind for candidates in my state's (Colorado's) government, namely promising to protect our LGBTQ rights laws (need to see which ones in particular) and increasing our minimum wage to the minimum amount required for one adult anywhere in the state to survive according to the MIT Living Wage Calculator (I know the average is $26, but idk what it is in the cheapest county).

I'm registered as unaffiliated, so I'll really be able to ask these questions to *all* candidates and choose which party primary to vote in. Just in case the Unity, Libertarian, or Republican Party candidates give better answers than the Democratic Party ones lol

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@gregwardo @crcollins @spreadthetruth @retech

*why* people think of voting as romance, as some sort of declaration of pure ideological perfection, is something that drives me up the fucking wall

voting always was, always will be, a choice between better or worse. perfection is never on the menu. and not choosing simply means "i'm fine with worse for society, what's really important to me is not dirtying my vain perception of my holy purity"

disgusting entitlement

[crow@cville.online]

@gregwardo Best analogy I know for this is public transport. You take the one that’s getting you closer to your destination.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@mikelovesbikes @retech

this is the way

[roknrol@beige.party]

@mikelovesbikes @benroyce @retech If you're unaffiliated are you allowed to vote in the Primaries?

[crcollins@writing.exchange]

@benroyce

Do you understand we only get one primary here? We don't have separate Dem and Rep primaries. The top 2 winners of that advance to the general. As of the last polls, Trump's guy was in 1st place & the 2nd MAGA was tied with the billionaire Dem. That Dem wouldn't be my first choice but seems he is the best shot at not getting a choice between 2 MAGAs in the general. I keep hoping for some good news upset where I get a better choice before primary day.

@spreadthetruth @retech

[crcollins@writing.exchange]

@benroyce

I don't see it as purity to want at least to have a choice in the primary. I'm happy to vote for whatever Dem gets into the general, but I'd like to be able to choose between them in the damn primary.

@gregwardo @spreadthetruth @retech

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@roknrol @mikelovesbikes @retech

every state has different rules about who can #vote in the #primary

you got closed, partially closed, partially open, open to unaffiliated voters, open, multi-party, etc

it's fucking complicated, and part of our problem with voting in general in the #USA because people are never educated about it and never figure it out

it still doesn't mean they are free of blame IF THEY DON'T FUCKING VOTE IN THE #PRIMARIES

educate yourself AND VOTE

Just a moment...

(www.ncsl.org)

[roknrol@beige.party]

@benroyce @mikelovesbikes @retech That was why I asked the question. In Oregon I'm pretty sure not, but there are 49 other states that I have no idea about.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@crcollins @spreadthetruth @retech

i don't have a single problem with you

you vote

if you vote you are my best friend

but please do not give voice to the endless problems we have as if they are an impediment

*we have to vote*

we have to work through the shit

and inch our way to better

it is the only way

you can't let the problems crush our spirit and destroy our resolve

we need to sustain, iterate, be determined

what else is there?

drowning in cynicism and helplessness and fascism?

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@crcollins @gregwardo @spreadthetruth @retech

and how do we fix that? how do we address your complaint? we vote and vote on that concern

[farbel@mas.to]

@benroyce @spreadthetruth @retech 100%. 25% show up for primaries. Even if your far left choice doesn't win the primary, their relative success informs the platform, cabinet nominations, and policies of the winner.

[kitkat_blue@mastodon.social]

@benroyce

Honestly i feel Russia has never been *not* in deep shit. Kinda why they have had the market of cynicism cornered for literally -ever-.

[screwturn@mastodon.social]

@benroyce

Very much a "white savior will come to rescue us" flavor in there.
American voters need to wake up and realize that it is THEIR job to find and pick good candidates, not some party leadership or deity.

@crcollins @spreadthetruth @retech