thearctic's recent activity
-
Comment on Why are so many pedestrians killed by cars in the US? in ~transport
-
Comment on How America nearly forged a different path in 1916 in ~humanities.history
thearctic Link ParentHe was, but I was just meaning to say that they would've pushed for a sooner end to the war without using that extra leverage in negotiations to ruin Germany.He was, but I was just meaning to say that they would've pushed for a sooner end to the war without using that extra leverage in negotiations to ruin Germany.
-
Comment on How America nearly forged a different path in 1916 in ~humanities.history
thearctic Link ParentThe Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a classic novel that covers progressive-era politics.The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a classic novel that covers progressive-era politics.
-
Comment on How America nearly forged a different path in 1916 in ~humanities.history
thearctic (edited )LinkI'm curious what people here think of Wilson's legacy, on balance. I'm increasingly convinced the country and the world simply would've been better off had he lost in 1912 or 1916. A Republican...Now in 1916, Republicans were eager to deny Wilson a second term. To do so, it was imperative to find a candidate who was acceptable to both the traditional and progressive wings of the party, someone who had not been embroiled in the 1912 GOP civil war. And no one fit that need better than Charles Evans Hughes.
...
He’d demonstrated his political independence by defying Republican leaders on everything from patronage appointments to consumer protection laws and had won a second two-year gubernatorial term in 1908.
...
In late August, Johnson[, Republican Governor of California,] was staying at the Virginia Hotel in Long Beach, California. Hughes happened to be at the same hotel, but had no idea that Johnson was there as well and so made no effort to meet up for even a brief chat. Johnson, however, knew of Hughes’ presence and assumed the radio silence was meant as a snub — to him and the party’s progressives.
...
As far as Johnson was concerned, Hughes had thrown in his lot with the conservatives; there would be no rapprochement. And that meant Johnson and his California progressives would not lift a finger to help Hughes carry the state in November.
...
On Election Day, Hughes took a substantial lead in the early counting — leading in the electoral vote while trailing in the popular vote. The New York Times declared him elected. But the Times had gone to press before California’s vote was tallied; with nearly a million votes cast, Wilson won with a margin of just 3,773 votes — and California’s 13 electoral votes gave Wilson a second term.
...
In the days during and after World War I, Wilson also presided over some of the most flagrant assaults on civil liberties in U.S. history.
...
Charles Evans Hughes, by contrast, may have been the most progressive major politician on racial matters of either party, and he was a longtime defender of civil liberties.
I'm curious what people here think of Wilson's legacy, on balance. I'm increasingly convinced the country and the world simply would've been better off had he lost in 1912 or 1916. A Republican would've set us on a radically better trajectory for civil rights, while taking a more realist posture on WW1 (entering the war early, while not trying to financially ruin Germany). We also would've seen less expansion of the power of the executive and less centralization of government, which I think would've allowed for continued collaboration between conservatives and progressives instead of the union we saw between libertarians and segregationists that led to the Southern Strategy and eventually Fusionism. Though, Wilson's legacy is very complicated and I can see arguments in his favor.
-
How America nearly forged a different path in 1916
19 votes -
Comment on We’re seniors. It’s not our responsibility to fix the housing supply. in ~society
thearctic LinkI don't think there should be pressure on seniors for selling their homes if they don't want to, but there's definitely a lot of responsibility on retirement-age people for NIMBYism. There can be...I don't think there should be pressure on seniors for selling their homes if they don't want to, but there's definitely a lot of responsibility on retirement-age people for NIMBYism. There can be legitimate reasons to put limits or constraints on new construction, but at the end of the day housing stock needs to increase in the places that people want to live and can find sustainable work.
-
Comment on Sean Combs sentenced to more than four years in prison after apologizing for ‘sick’ conduct (gifted link) in ~music
thearctic Link ParentIt's a concerning trend I think that people who almost certainly did many terrible things are being overpunished for whatever crime prosecutors could most easily prove, instead of doing a...It's a concerning trend I think that people who almost certainly did many terrible things are being overpunished for whatever crime prosecutors could most easily prove, instead of doing a comprehensive investigation of their wrongdoing and putting together a really solid case.
-
Comment on Brazilians don't get dry, minimalist literature. A bit of a rant. in ~creative
thearctic LinkMaybe part of it is that there are a lot more English speakers, so if your work doesn't fit with the culture in the US it could still find an audience in Canada, the UK, Ireland, or Australia....Maybe part of it is that there are a lot more English speakers, so if your work doesn't fit with the culture in the US it could still find an audience in Canada, the UK, Ireland, or Australia. Perhaps try branching out into Spanish language writing? Or try sending your work to Portuguese publishers?
-
Data removal services?
Is anyone familiar with data removal services like Incogni, DeleteMe, PrivacyBee, etc? Do they work? Are they safe?
26 votes -
Comment on California attorney fined for using twenty-one AI hallucinated cases in court filing in ~tech
thearctic Link ParentMaybe instant disbarment is a bit harsh, but you're ultimately responsible for what your paralegals submit to you. It would be like if a surgeon completely botched your surgery, but avoided...Maybe instant disbarment is a bit harsh, but you're ultimately responsible for what your paralegals submit to you. It would be like if a surgeon completely botched your surgery, but avoided liability by saying that their assistant handed them the wrong instrument.
-
Comment on United Kingdom, Australia and Canada officially recognize a Palestinian state in ~society
thearctic Link ParentYour argument is that recognition justifies Hamas's horrible actions, but you fail to recognize that not recognizing Palestine justifies Israel's even more horrible actions. That is, they can get...Your argument is that recognition justifies Hamas's horrible actions, but you fail to recognize that not recognizing Palestine justifies Israel's even more horrible actions. That is, they can get away with anything, up to and including genocide, and it won't compromise in the slightest their ultimate objective of a greater Israel.
-
Comment on California attorney fined for using twenty-one AI hallucinated cases in court filing in ~tech
thearctic LinkTbh, they should be pretty strict about this stuff and disbar people. Before, having 21 made-up cases would be not at all tolerated. Imagine if these types of lawyers eventually end up as judges.Tbh, they should be pretty strict about this stuff and disbar people. Before, having 21 made-up cases would be not at all tolerated. Imagine if these types of lawyers eventually end up as judges.
-
Comment on United Kingdom, Australia and Canada officially recognize a Palestinian state in ~society
thearctic Link ParentYou're framing it as if Israel had no agency in causing the international consequences after October 7th. Hamas has also been trying to negotiate an end to the conflict, with Israel torpedoing...You're framing it as if Israel had no agency in causing the international consequences after October 7th. Hamas has also been trying to negotiate an end to the conflict, with Israel torpedoing negotiations. In honesty, which party is currently acting in more bad faith?
-
Comment on United Kingdom, Australia and Canada officially recognize a Palestinian state in ~society
thearctic Link ParentThe Montevideo convention doesn't require a properly functioning government (whatever that means), it just requires a government. Palestine does have clear borders, given that there's literally a...The Montevideo convention doesn't require a properly functioning government (whatever that means), it just requires a government. Palestine does have clear borders, given that there's literally a wall separating Israel and Palestine and most people can agree what constitutes Gaza and the West Bank. If territorial disputes means a country can't exist then many countries shouldn't exist. Montevideo is also only a Western hemisphere convention.
-
Comment on United Kingdom, Australia and Canada officially recognize a Palestinian state in ~society
thearctic Link ParentThis is a bit of a strange way of framing things, given that the Palestinians should already be entitled to statehood. Hamas's greatest objective was turning the world against Israel, which Israel...This is a bit of a strange way of framing things, given that the Palestinians should already be entitled to statehood. Hamas's greatest objective was turning the world against Israel, which Israel delivered to them.
-
Comment on Saudi pact puts Pakistan's nuclear umbrella into Middle East security picture in ~society
-
Saudi pact puts Pakistan's nuclear umbrella into Middle East security picture
12 votes -
Comment on Why people embrace conspiracy theories: It's about community, not gullibility in ~life
thearctic LinkThe term "conspiracy theory" and how it's used bothers me. A conspiracy is when people conspire to do something bad. A conspiracy theory is a theory of a conspiracy, and conspiracies of some form...The term "conspiracy theory" and how it's used bothers me. A conspiracy is when people conspire to do something bad. A conspiracy theory is a theory of a conspiracy, and conspiracies of some form or another occur all the time. When someone is charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, the legal system is engaged in "conspiracy theories" before a ruling is made.
Politics is no exception. Iran-Contra was a conspiracy. Watergate was a conspiracy. It's almost certainly the case that the Trump administration has conspired to cover up what really happened with Jeffrey Epstein, for whichever reason. Before it's fully known what has happened, and, indeed, to do an investigation that holds people accountable, one must be ready to engage with "conspiracy theories".
The problem, of course, is that some people take it too far. I feel like there should be a completely separate term to describe theories like "the world is run by illuminati, free-mason lizard-people" or "the moon landing was a hoax". Perhaps the rough test of whether you're entertaining plausible theories of conspiracy or are going off the deep end should be how parsimonious you are in your analysis. Is it that the body of existing evidence is damning enough that it would imparsimonious to reject the possibility of conspiracy?
-
Comment on Benjamin Netanyahu vows there will be no Palestinian state ahead of UN meeting in ~society
thearctic Link"We said there will be no Palestinian state -- and indeed there will be no Palestinian state! This place is ours. We will take care of our heritage, our land and our security," Netanyahu said.
-
Benjamin Netanyahu vows there will be no Palestinian state ahead of UN meeting
16 votes
Half the time in the US, it's straight up unsafe to not be driving a bit over the speed limit on the freeway. What really irks me though is when cars are made to feel more safe for the driver (bigger cars, taller cars, front guards, blindingly bright LED headlights) but make things more dangerous for other people on the road.