Red Mosquito

I've noticed lately that the narrative in rose emoji circles has shifted from "minimum wage hikes won't effect small businesses" to "fuck small businesses, they pay their employees less than giant corporations anyway".

BurtReynolds wrote:I've noticed lately that the narrative in rose emoji circles has shifted from "minimum wage hikes won't effect small businesses" to "fuck small businesses, they pay their employees less than giant corporations anyway".

There is a certain strategy there. The more people you force onto government benefits, the more likely they are to support increasing government benefits.

Probably not a good sign

BurtReynolds wrote:Probably not a good sign

It's pool/lake/ocean float season, Burt.

Highest inflation rate since *checks notes* September 2008. I'm sure this will be fine.

Bi_3 wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:I've noticed lately that the narrative in rose emoji circles has shifted from "minimum wage hikes won't effect small businesses" to "fuck small businesses, they pay their employees less than giant corporations anyway".

There is a certain strategy there. The more people you force onto government benefits, the more likely they are to support increasing government benefits.

The strategy is pretty well detailed in a book called “1984” maybe you guys have heard of it?

4/5 wrote:Highest inflation rate since *checks notes* September 2008. I'm sure this will be fine.

Can't we just raise taxes on the private sector to stop inflation?

Bammer wrote:

Bi_3 wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:I've noticed lately that the narrative in rose emoji circles has shifted from "minimum wage hikes won't effect small businesses" to "fuck small businesses, they pay their employees less than giant corporations anyway".

There is a certain strategy there. The more people you force onto government benefits, the more likely they are to support increasing government benefits.

The strategy is pretty well detailed in a book called “1984” maybe you guys have heard of it?

It’s a great, great book, but I am always struck by the fact that the people who live in (basically) the only country that doesn’t even provide health insurance are the ones most afraid of this.

Rob wrote:

Bammer wrote:

Bi_3 wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:I've noticed lately that the narrative in rose emoji circles has shifted from "minimum wage hikes won't effect small businesses" to "fuck small businesses, they pay their employees less than giant corporations anyway".

There is a certain strategy there. The more people you force onto government benefits, the more likely they are to support increasing government benefits.

The strategy is pretty well detailed in a book called “1984” maybe you guys have heard of it?

It’s a great, great book, but I am always struck by the fact that the people who live in (basically) the only country that doesn’t even provide health insurance are the ones most afraid of this.

I love the book and am worried about a tendency towards actual socialism, but I don't see much of a connection between 1984 and social welfare programs. I think the book is much more relevant in contemporary discussions about the power of controlling language, thought, and history, though.

Neither are really excellent comparisons, but if we're considering mid-20th century dystopian novels I'd take Brave New World over 1984.

Green Habit wrote:Neither are really excellent comparisons, but if we're considering mid-20th century dystopian novels I'd take Brave New World over 1984.

A lot of people say this, and there's something to it. But for my money 1984's commentary on the power of language to control (influence is probably more accurate) thought is extremely relevant. I think when people dismiss 1984 it's because they focus too much on the overt Big Brother is Watching type of totalitarianism. But the thought police, Orwellian language of government and politics strikes me as extremely prescient.

4/5 wrote:

Green Habit wrote:Neither are really excellent comparisons, but if we're considering mid-20th century dystopian novels I'd take Brave New World over 1984.

A lot of people say this, and there's something to it. But for my money 1984's commentary on the power of language to control (influence is probably more accurate) thought is extremely relevant. I think when people dismiss 1984 it's because they focus too much on the overt Big Brother is Watching type of totalitarianism. But the thought police, Orwellian language of government and politics strikes me as extremely prescient.

Memory holing things seems to be pretty popular at the moment.

Green Habit wrote:Neither are really excellent comparisons, but if we're considering mid-20th century dystopian novels I'd take Brave New World over 1984.

Go back to whatever you’ve been doing for the past year and stop spamming me!

j/k luv u

Bammer wrote:Go back to whatever you’ve been doing for the past year and stop spamming me!

j/k luv u

4/5 wrote:

Green Habit wrote:Neither are really excellent comparisons, but if we're considering mid-20th century dystopian novels I'd take Brave New World over 1984.

A lot of people say this, and there's something to it. But for my money 1984's commentary on the power of language to control (influence is probably more accurate) thought is extremely relevant. I think when people dismiss 1984 it's because they focus too much on the overt Big Brother is Watching type of totalitarianism. But the thought police, Orwellian language of government and politics strikes me as extremely prescient.

There’s a lot to take away from the book, but “how they can control the narrative” seems to be the first lesson.

Green Habit wrote:Neither are really excellent comparisons, but if we're considering mid-20th century dystopian novels I'd take Brave New World over 1984.

I think BNW is probably the more likely scenario. We're kinda there already.

I dunno, if 40+% of republicans believe Trump’s big lie, I think it proves what 4/5 is saying. Trump didn’t have much going for him except one huge thing - a reality tv star for 14 years which taught him exactly how to speak to a large audience.

I've read 1984 at least twice. I was never really aware of Brave New World until now. Just ordered it.