For context I want to make these into little flashcards. I'm thinking something a little bit like https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/.

Thoughts on how good this is as it currently stands, and how I can improve?

1. Conditioning

From cradle to grave, white America is the only America we know. At school, we are made to learn about primarily white events and history. Through history/social studies class, we are drip-fed trivial stories meant to convince us that white men are "good guys". Conservatives are the product of state-sponsored propaganda.

"Because we've always done it this way" are the most dangerous words you'll ever hear. Look at George Floyd. Look at all the school shootings that occur on a seemingly monthly basis. Clearly, the status quo isn't working. The fear of change is holding us back. Conservatives fear change.

2. Blind patriotism

American exceptionalism is dead... and that's a good thing. Conservatives use rose-tinted spectacles to look at our history. They see racism and oppression as a key part of our "glorious past". To criticize progressivism is oblivious to the fact that just because an institution is centuries old, doesn't mean it's fit for purpose in the 21st century. Conservatives are stuck in the past.

3. Cognitive dissonance

Excuses, excuses. "But they do so much for charity", "both sides have the same problems", "but they seem so nice". Supporters of Trump and similar demagogues happily turn a blind eye and make whatever excuses necessary to justify their beliefs. FOX and other conservative pundits have dismissed Trump's racism as "politics". Trump loves his golf clubs full of rich white men, completely denying the decline of the old order. Conservatives are in denial.

4. Pressure to conform

"Soft" conservatives may only support the GOP due to the pressure to conform. Consider the example of a parent who might not want their children to take part in a celebration at school even though everyone else seems to be involved, so the children stay silent.

Another factor is that living/growing up in a conservative community, like a small rural town, can also create pressure to "fit in" and not ask questions. Conservatives are conformists.

5. Ignorance

Ignorance is bliss: many conservatives demonstrate a remarkable inability or refusal to question what they are shown, e.g. they see evangelical pastors posing for photos with homeless/impoverished people but don't wonder or want to think about the context: they're unlikely to have spent over an hour, and then they go back to their million dollar megachurches and sports cars in a jiffy. Pastor Johnny doesn't really care about helping the poor, he just did a PR stunt to improve his image. Conservatives are blissfully ignorant.

6. Servility + low self-esteem

Servility is the tendency to act as if you don't share equal basic rights with every other person, i.e. the government. Conservatives have low self-esteem, believing those with the surname Trump are better human beings. Servility is also a fear response: the fear of being outcast for having different views. Conservatives are fearful.

7. Establishment profiteers

The Establishment describes the dominant social group or "elite", e.g. private schools like Phillips Exeter Academy, the local megachurch, media pundits, business elites, Congress, etc. It is a system of self-preservation and self-enrichment. Those who benefit from it have no reason to undermine it, no matter what the different parts secretly think about the GOP. Conservatives are determined to protect the Establishment.

8. Misconceptions

Conservatives have misconceptions, e.g. they believe conservatism is good for the economy and that Democrats want socialism/communism. They believe white male straight cishet supremacy is part of American identity and that it represents Americans values. They often ignore evidence that challenges their beliefs.

9. Magical thinking

Conservatives only dare to dream of having that much authority, wealth and privilege. They watch FOX and absorb the carefully staged narratives, viewing the Trump family as respectable celebrities. Conservatives find the idea of rich men in suits hopping between DC and Mar-A-Lago romantic. They're dreamers who only see what they want to see.

10. Underestimating the influence of the GOP

"Soft" conservatives and the apathetic don't know enough about the GOP. They believe "we're in the 21st century" and don't know about things like tax havens, filibusters, gerrymandering, media influence, etc. And so, the GOP often subverts the law goes under the radar as Trump refuses to be questioned and conservative media provides lots of distractions.

If unified national and international commitment could achieve monumental progress during crises like the world wars, a similar level of coordinated mobilization is required today. A wartime economic restructuring transitions society at emergency speed off fossil fuels through massive investments, just transition programs, and an enduring rationing of carbon pollution. Government mandates modernize infrastructure, transportation, manufacturing and agriculture along renewable lines while stimulating sustainable jobs and industries.

International cooperation leverages strengths and resources, from research collaborations to emissions pacts holding all nations accountable. Wealthy emitters aid economic transition of frontline nations suffering first from weather extremes. A progressive carbon fee program funds mitigation efforts while incentivizing structural economic changes. Grants assist vulnerable communities relocating from rising seas and intensifying natural disasters.

Prioritizing collectivity and justice transforms sacrifices into liberating progress for all humankind. With science as the commanding general, nonviolent civil disobedience compels stubborn political systems to catalyze transformations long stalled by obstructionism and misinformation. But societal will aligned behind solutions offers hope where bleakness once prevailed.

The problem being, of course, that conservatives and capitalism are ruining everything. Just look at how we fared at COVID. If we can't get the entire population to stay at home and wear masks to protect themselves against a global pandemic, how the heck are we supposed to get them to stay at home and wear masks to protect themselves against climate change?

I live in an area where there are many climate change deniers. Recently, the city of Athens has shut down the Acropolis until further notice, because of an unprecedented heat wave fueled by anthropogenic climate change. And unfortunately, I'm hearing many of those people formulating nonsense batshit conspiracy theories. Sheesh, I'll bet many of them weren't even set on visiting Greece once in their lifetimes... yet they're still ragging on and on.

Incidentally, many of them also happen to be the exact same people as those who downplayed the severity of COVID, and went around unmasked whining about restrictions and vaccine passports, like toddlers. Gee... I sure wonder why?

Going to the Acropolis in extreme heat is dangerous and irresponsible, and this is a totally justified measure to keep Athens safe.

Well, guess what? We're going to have much more of this, and around the world, too! I'm glad the Athens government has a brain, and I only wish ours would. Serves us right for destroying the planet, I guess. There's gonna be a lot less snow everywhere, and it's going to be one hot summer for the rest of our lives.

Seriously, why the hell are we still letting these idiots have microphones? We need to take this seriously. We have only one planet to live on.

“OMG, I have an iPhone!” Yeah, you have an iPhone, so what? You’re the best? You can FaceTime your friends, despite you and your friends probably having, like, 7 other apps to do so? And no UI customizability or jailbreaking?

I’m just unable to understand the Apple/iOS hype. It makes my eyes roll. I’m content with my Samsung and Android, thanks.

It reflects the kind of attitudes that allowed oppressive systems to persist for centuries. I'm as anti-fascist as the next person, but I'm worried that adopting a tribalist mentality will only nurture fascism and shield the privileged from accountability. Giving in to cynicism and analysis paralysis will do little to resolve the ever-worsening environmental catastrophe, and cedes the moral high ground to those prizing individual gain over the greater good.

Instead of wasting energy on Schadenfreude, I believe it's more productive for us to come together as a species, set aside our differences, and reorganize our social and economic structures for the common benefit. Although it might sound demanding, anyone can help, and we can go a long way just by working together. Small daily choices will aggregate into powerful movements, but only if enough of us opt for sustainability over excess, demand accountability from corporations and governments, and upend the industrial capitalist machine that created this crisis.

The progress may seem glacial, intermittent, or stagnant. But this should not be rationale to give up! Besides, let's celebrate the positives, and look towards how far we've come - more people than ever, especially those most directly impacted by climate change, such as Gen Alpha and/or the Global South - are recognizing the danger we're headed for, and momentum for a just transition is building. Bottom line: the battle isn't hopeless, but if we make it hopeless, it will. Stay strong, warrior.

Today I’m introducing a groundbreaking bill - the National Strategy for Social Connection Act.

It creates a federal office to combat the growing epidemic of American loneliness, develops anti-loneliness strategies, and fosters best practices to promote social connection.

https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1681350024200962053

Using the former verbiage implies that members of the Blind and Deaf community are "imperfect" and therefore cannot serve as valuable, functioning members of society. This cannot be farther from the case. They are not "lacking", they simply perceive the world differently, and therefore we should treat them as such - human beings just like us, who just take in the world a different way. With decency and respect.

Me personally? I've become much less tolerant of sexist humor. Back in the day, cracking a joke at women's expense was pretty common when I was a teen. As I've matured and become aware to the horrific extent of toxicity and bigotry pervading all tiers of our individualistic society, I've come to see how exclusionarly and objectifying that sort of 'humor' really is, and I regret it deeply.

Ever notice how the reddest states are also the southernmost?