tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post1346570199930915239..comments2024-03-20T03:33:22.357-07:00Comments on Skeptophilia: Talk me out of my pessimism. Please.Gordon Bonnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06003472005971594466noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-2189833461040313522017-01-26T05:58:45.802-08:002017-01-26T05:58:45.802-08:00I have a dismal view of this administration and th...I have a dismal view of this administration and the Republican-majority legislature. They seem ready and eager to do any number of terrible/dumb/destructive things that will harm me, my loved ones, and the people who voted them into office. <br /><br />One glimmer: we no longer have any illusion that things will somehow work out OK, and that the politicians who share our views will take care of things for us. It's up to us to act, to take direct, effective, nonviolent action to let our elected officials know that we will stand up to them. Such as this: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2017/01/25/Protests-security-perimeter-set-for-Trump-s-visit-to-Philadelphia-pennsylvania/stories/201701250160Sarah Kanninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01243943056991724484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-61964055363092447272017-01-25T18:06:26.368-08:002017-01-25T18:06:26.368-08:00I'm making an assumption here, and I'm sor...I'm making an assumption here, and I'm sorry if it's wrong, that most of the people telling you it's going to be ok are straight, white, christian, cisgender males. They (and I am one) won't face persecution from the new administration, but they're still pretty fucked when sea levels rise. <br /><br />Carry on, Gordon. This stuff needs to be said. And don't forget, enough snowflakes can make an avalanche.<br /><br />Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02814804554194390618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-24380902904153896412017-01-25T11:02:22.170-08:002017-01-25T11:02:22.170-08:00No, you're good. Carry on.No, you're good. Carry on.Vivianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11459167602091243067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-5088470514919320642017-01-25T08:04:31.405-08:002017-01-25T08:04:31.405-08:00Jan 20 is not a new holiday...Jan 20, **2017** was...Jan 20 is not a new holiday...Jan 20, **2017** was the "day of patriotism". It doesn't continue to any future year. It seems to be kind of a tradition for presidents to declare the exact day of their inauguration as some kind of day. Obama did it too. Other than that, I think pessimism is well-justified, although for me it is focused on Trump's disregard for democratic institutions rather than on any of the customary left/right political issues. We can handle four or even eight years of environmental backtracking, especially if it does helt to get the economy going. But we will be real sorry if, say, there's a terrorist attack, state of emergency, and Trump installs himself permanently. WNelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02551138308857743655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-69500465996859017332017-01-25T06:11:00.462-08:002017-01-25T06:11:00.462-08:00"just let him work"
here in Italy we alr..."just let him work"<br />here in Italy we already heard this story and it didn't end wellFederico Serrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12575048300288442704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-30593011434045450212017-01-25T05:06:16.343-08:002017-01-25T05:06:16.343-08:00I wish I had the patience to write this. I am comm...I wish I had the patience to write this. I am commenting so I can see the responses because I, like you, am eager to understand why people shouldn't be worried. Andrew Buttershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18129116283463309554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-78872892645940318522017-01-25T04:48:36.648-08:002017-01-25T04:48:36.648-08:00Crickets....
Seriously though, while I don't...Crickets....<br /><br /><br />Seriously though, while I don't have any solace to offer ( I am as dismayed as you are), I would like to address the "Holiday" assertion.<br /><br /><br />If I understand it correctly, presidents can declare National Days for all kinds of things but it doesn't mean anyone necessarily observes them. So I'm not sure they are technically holidays.<br /><br />You can browse a list here:<br />https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_observances_in_the_United_States_by_presidential_proclamation<br /><br />I guarantee you haven't even heard of most of them. So I'm not even sure it means anything that the DJT designated January 20 as a "National Day of Patriotic Devotion." <br /><br />Although if there were such a Day I would think it would make more sense to be on "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November" - which really SHOULD be a day off work in this country.<br /><br />4A.HEALTHY.BMIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15427227885064051978noreply@blogger.com