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

[sir_osis_of_liver@beige.party]

@benroyce

"And then it got worse"
~unofficial Russian motto.

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@retech

yup, the #USA is going the way of #Russia as well

IF WE DON'T FUCKING #VOTE

VOTE YOU FUCKING ASSHOLES

especially in the #primaries

get some real #left #candidates

if you don't vote, shut the fuck up about our problems, you've abdicated your right to speak, since your true voice, your vote, you decided isn't perfect enough

nobody rational thinks that way

accounts shitting on the vote are either a #rightWing #psyop cosplaying left to suppress the left vote, or just a fucking idiot

[spreadthetruth@mastodon.social]

@benroyce @retech as a person running in a local election this fall that has been our message up & down the board .. so out did canvassing the other day, a lady said I don't need your literature and we replied with its for the primaries she said I always vote... But oh I have not known about the primaries! Is that voting going on now? Inward sigh...yes it is! Here's some literature to tell you about it

[tk@f.kawa-kun.com]

@benroyce Revolution?

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@tk

don't buy into it

revolution is still very far away in russia. revolution really only happens when people are hungry. not saying that isn't coming, just saying that is the real signal for revolution

the other problem is that russia is famous for stage managing "opposition" to give people a spectacle and sap them of real discontent

they see their grievances play out, a performance by fake controlled opposition, on a stage, and their energy is redirected into passive observer status

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@spreadthetruth @retech

that americans complain about their #candidates, but don't fucking show up and vote in the #primaries, is nothing but a massive indictment of average americans

you need to fucking show up in the fucking primaries people!

that is where you get real #left candidates

if you don't do NOT fucking complain about the candidates in the general #election!

YOU failed to show up in the primaries so that is on YOU

[chemicaleyeguy@mstdn.science]

@benroyce There will soon be mass migration *within* #Russia so #Russians will be on their preferred side of the #SinoFinnishBorder when it goes from dark #Soviet humour to the light of geopolitical reality.

[regguy@mstdn.social]

@benroyce @spreadthetruth @retech

This year we must choose candidates that can win and excite a new parcel of voters. Otherwise, we might just be doomed.

[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