I had a secure, well paying job in my mid 20s with a very well known company that I was frankly lucky to get given my clear inexperience. I voluntarily left a year or so in. I’m now in my late 30s and work ever since I left has been temporary contracts that lasted no more than a year, and each one was more dreadful than the last.

The money problems and the thoughts of where I could be had I never left that job would be completely non-existent… the life I wish to build for myself and my family, the support I could’ve easily provided my loved ones, the moves I could’ve made to no longer be stuck on the sell your labor for bs pay wheel, all circle my brain at night in bed.

And with the current state of the economy, AI in my industry, the younger generation entering the work force with the latest knowledge, tools, methodology, etc… it’s harder and harder to envision my trajectory getting back to the heights I once had.

I remind myself that I was in my infancy when it came to my professional career with no perspective on the industry (completely diff major in college). I did not have a mentor or direction. And the concept of the private/public sector in relation to job security never dawned on me until much later (I assumed that once you were hired as a contractor, you would eventually be brought on full-time and begin your career with that company… nope ha)

… I remind myself of these things and at times it helps quiet my soul… but at night lying in bed, the most financially stressed I’ve possibly ever been, that reminder does little.

Despite how depressing this all sounds, there’s still a glimmer of hope and optimism left in me. I’m quite grateful for the support I have currently which enables me to plot a change in course starting this coming new year. Fingers crossed 🤞🏾

Wishing everyone well in this thread. So long as we have breath, we have purpose.

I have two:

1. The Song of Kali x Dan Simmons I low-key dislike how much I enjoyed this book due to its controversial author and his perceived racism. The friend who shared the book with me gave a mild disclaimer beforehand and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t feel uncomfortable at times. Just type in “song of Kali Dan Simmons reddit” into google to see range of discourse on this matter.

On the flip side, the sense of dread I had while reading this story was like nothing I had experience from a book.

2. Fever Dream x Samata Schweblin Another book that invoked that anxiety that only horror does. Great writing, the slow build, the reveal… it was originally written in Spanish but I enjoyed the translation.

You were better off not responding lol

🦗🦗🦗🦗

🦗🦗🦗

You’re full of fallacies and just talking nonsense at this point. Again, have a nice day.

False. I never suggested bickering as a whole is useless. Sometimes it’s helpful to inform others, like I just did for you. You’re welcome.

And the fact that you willfully dismiss the invaluable lessons of the past, particularly with regards to class struggle, tells me all I need to know — as if a century is a long time ago, I have grandparents still alive born from that time period ha. Neglect history, continue to wander aimlessly.

Lol @ homie. Have a nice day

I don’t accept that. You clearly know nothing of the social/working movements of the early 1900s. The hallmark progressive achievenments made in this country, many that still exist today (to varying degrees ofc) were a result of literal blood, sweat and tears from third parties.

The Progressive Party led by Roosevelt, The Bull Moose Party with social reformers like Jane Addams and Florence Kelly, the Socialist Party of Eugene Debs… all of these were most prominent in fighting for and ultimately producing a cluster of social welfare, social insurance reforms, women’s suffrage, workers rights/5 day work week, etc.

It was the dedication, pressure and will to not fall in line trying to change the two-party duopoly from within but to build their own movements, their own coalitions on the outside, and thus the mainstream parties were eventually forced to inscribe the populus demands into legislation.

Healthy third parties are a good thing. It builds actual pressure on your legislators. Politicians wont work on your behalf when they know you’re voting for them anyway — they’re lining their pockets with money from the bourgeois they actually legislate for. Seeking the change you wish to see via third party can and has produced monumental value for the working class.

But sure continue spelunking and misplacing your frustrations on your fellow worker instead of holding your desired candidate/party accountable for their bs offering. We’ll keep climbing that hill in the meantime.

If that’s an uphill battle then this useless bickering is a pitch black spelunking

Your lesser of two evils bs is so tired. Aestheticisation? That’s just dismissive cope. Stop projecting your baseless assumptions and try channeling your frustrations into holding your desired candidates/party accountable

The hallmark progressive achievements made in this country, many that still exist today (to varying degrees ofc) were a result of third party sweat, blood and tears. Literally.

I recommend reading about the social/workers rights movements of the early 1900s. The Progressive Party led by Roosevelt, The Bull Moose Party with social reformers like Jane Addams and Florence Kelly, the Socialist Party of Eugene Debs… all of these were most prominent in fighting for and ultimately producing a cluster of social welfare, social insurance reforms, women’s suffrage, workers rights/5 day work week, etc.

It was the dedication, pressure and will to not fall in line trying to change the two-party duopoly from within but to build their own coalitions, their own movements on the outside, and thus the mainstream parties were eventually forced to inscribe the populus demands into legislation.

All that to say, healthy third parties are a good thing. It builds actual pressure on your legislators. Politicians wont work on your behalf when they know you’re voting for them anyway – just line their pockets with money from the bourgeois they actually legislate for. Seeking the change you wish to see via third party can and has produced tremendous gains for the working class.

It makes sense from their perspective in pointing out the hypocrisy in US political culture regarding people who proclaim to be Christians openly practicing religious custom in government chambers as opposed to individuals who proclaim to be Muslim doing the same. The amount of suppossed outrage broadcasted would be massive if they were believed to be of Islamic faith.

Hey, if you’re still in need, feel free to DM me. I’m a web designer who may be able to help.

And based on this response you don’t even know what fallacies are lol. Again have a nice day.

No, just that your statements are so full of fallacies that it’s not worth conversing with you.

Lol at tankie

You’re here to troll. Have a nice day.

Clearly you’re here to argue conjectures rather than have informed discussion. Have a nice day

I would venture to guess that the unilateral phrasing is referring to the fact that Iran’s response did force Israel to turn to the US to intervene and broker a pause in hostility… thus halting Israel’s aggression.

They did this without the offered aid from Russia or China. Unlike Israel who started the aggression and required the US to step in on its behalf

Bibi (and the west) wanted regime change — that did not happen. The bulk of Iranians rallied around the current govt. He wanted to eradicate Iran’s ability to enrich — that did not happen.

There is huge international outcry, just not in the west. One could argue that the consequences of this outcry isnt substantially retaliatory, but there is no doubt major outcry from the global majority and has only strengthened defense agreements among the major powers supporting Iran.

It was already known that the US would aid in Israel’s defense, especially considering that this attack was jointly coordinated. So while the US intervened, it was only intended to deescalate, evident by the potempkin attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. Bibi’s ultimate goal is to have the US involved in a long-term, official military capacity, which it did not achieve.

Trump got the opposite of what he wanted. He completely alienated his base by forsaking his promise to not get militarily involved in West Asian affairs and drag the US into more war. A significant number of his supporters view him as weak in this regard, not a so-called strongman. And what does he have to materially show for his efforts — nada.

This is a victory for Iran because the mystique of Israel has been completely broken by Iranian missiles. Everyone in the region thought Israel was unassailable – supported by the US with the weapons and forces of the US – they assumed it was invulnerable. And now it’s quite clearly vulnerable and was so at the point of breaking apart, because there are a lot of pressures inside of Israel right now. The myth of Israeli technical, material superiority and exceptionalism has been punctured. This is major.

What impact this will have within the region however, we will see.

From what I understand, Israel requested a pause to the hostilities (there’s not exactly an official ceasefire in geopolitical terms as there are several necessary frameworks, procedures and agreements required that was not applied in this case) because alongside depletion of its air defense missiles, it was taking significant damage to key sectors of its economy: Haifa, the pivot point for EU to counter the East West corridor, was taking significant damage including it’s oil refinery, its loss of commerce via its 3 ports, 1 of which is completely closed and a displacement of a significant number of it’s citizens. Essentially the economy was beginning to shut down.

The bombardment Iran was inflicting on Israel would overrun Israel’s ability to defend against it – it’s widely believed that Iran has large stockpiles of missiles well beyond Israel’s capacity.

So rather than provide Israel with more munitions to an air defense that was proving to already be inefficient, the US stepped in with it’s attack on Iran’s nuclear sites… which we all know now was mostly theater