this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2024
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I will be calling my representatives and letting them know that I would sooner see the government shutdown than see any of these proposals become law.

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[–] [email protected] 85 points 8 months ago (2 children)

A ban on pride flags? Really? You're scared of some fabric or colors?

Grow up and mind your damn business. We're just trying to live our own lives. Fuck

[–] [email protected] 15 points 8 months ago

But muh FrEeEe SPeeCH!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Where do you see a ban on pride flags? I read the letter published by the House Freedom Caucus and didn't see mention of flags.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It doesn't appear in the letter, but is mentioned in the article. The letter also states that there are "more" policies that need to be defunded.

These policies encompass bans on pride flags, prohibitions on insurance coverage, restrictions on DEI programs, and even the defunding of children’s hospitals that offer gender-affirming care.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Not that I don't believe you, but is there official documentation showing details on the "more policies" mentioned at the end of the letter? I prefer to read policies verbatim.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

I would appreciate that link, too. Although the article contains one line that mentions banning Pride flags, I haven’t found anything that indicates Pride flags are being singled out in the congressional tantrum manifesto.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

I can't say where Erin is pulling the pride flags bit from. Ive found this about Florida wanting to ban pride flags from government buildings and schools.

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/17/florida-pride-flags-bill-lgbtq

🤷🏻‍♀️

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago

I see no mention of banning pride flags on this ludicrous list of demands, either.

There are some states that want to ban displaying all “unofficial” flags on publicly funded buildings such as schools and embassies; this would theoretically prohibit pride flags, BLM flags, flags supporting or opposing other nations, religious flags, NRA flags, nazi flags, stars and bars, or any flags that symbolize an ideology apart from the flags of federal, state, and local governments.

It doesn’t apply to non-government buildings, so churches, businesses, private residences that aren’t controlled by HOAs, etc, would still be able to display the flags of their choice.

[–] [email protected] 65 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Representative Dan Crenshaw stated in June that such bans are the "hill we will die on."

You promise?

[–] [email protected] 23 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I think the Republicans forgot that one of the cornerstones of what made the civil rights movement successful was bigots overplaying their hand and getting too heavy-handed in loud, public ways.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

We need a catchy soundbite/slogan to call out anti-trans bigots, but I can't think of anything that's short enough and still evocative.

"Punching down on trans youth instead of [fixing real problems]" (Instead of what? Can't think of anything punchy, no pun intended.)

Actually, in this specific case, there's some nice repetition with "punch down" and "shut down". How about:

"Shut down the government to punch down on trans kids"

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago

Punching down on trans people rather than punch down inflation at the gas pump and grocery store.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

“Punching down on trans youth instead of fixing the border” (since they tanked the deal)

No rhyme scheme or anything but short and clear

“Picking on kids instead of picking good candidates”?

Idk there’s something there as you said.

[–] [email protected] 61 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Now the GOP is just going to threaten government shutdown until they can take over democracy completely.

That's sounds like terrorism

[–] [email protected] 27 points 8 months ago

Maybe I'm overly cynical, but I suspect this was the plan all along.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Don't you post on Facebook or I'll shut the government down!

Don't you post on Twitter or I'll shut the government down!

Don't you post on Reddit or I'll shut the government down!

Don't you post on Lemmy or I'll shut the government down!

At some point, I start to wonder if they are just searching for an excuse to shut it down?

Also, there are laws about "obstructing the workings of the government", but good luck enforcing them in the current environment, when the enforcers are themselves the ones doing it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I mean, if I could shut down my office without getting fired and still get paid, I'd consider it too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Supposedly - and keep in mind I have no idea if this was ever true - there used to be "statesmen" who after living a long life of prosperity and success, would go and take their turn in Congress helping provide leadership for the nation as a whole.

These people were already retired, already rich, and just looking to see what they could give back to society. Or maybe they were bored and just wanted to get far away from their wives, who knows.:-D Probably they were doing it for the fame, who even cares.

Compare that nowadays though to the likes of MTG or Bohbert or Gaetz and such, whose sole goal in life seems to be to get theirs, and are willing and able to fuck over the entire country in the process.

No, they may do some things like us - eat and sleep and breathe - but it takes a special kind of dipshittery to be willing to turn a blind eye to people in need (like in Ukraine) and sell out your entire nation (inflation, Russian and Chinese aggression, etc.) in that manner. I can only hope that you wouldn't allow people in your own country to starve to literal death bc of your actions.

They are playing power games, and they'd probably still play those even if their salaries were at stake too, more's the pity:-(.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 8 months ago (1 children)

A #GOP shutdown right before an election? That has literally never worked out in their favor before, but let's see if it works this time.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Can't they do the usual and place blame for all the pain on the party in power?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago

they can, but only their dumbest followers will fall for it, not the undecided voters they need

[–] [email protected] 28 points 8 months ago

In an exclusive released by Axios, Republican sources state that “people are predicting a shutdown.”

The people who want a shutdown and are demanding policies that violate basic civil rights or else they are going to throw a tantrum are predicting they are going to shut down the government. Wow, it's like they can see the future. Such clairvoyance.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 8 months ago

Another disgusting case of Republicans using the country’s well being as a hostage to enact culture war bigotry - but it’s top-tier asshole gamesmanship, that keeps being appeased and rewarded:

  • Demands suicidal internal rules that enforce a lame-duck speakership, chaos ensues.
  • Demands cuts to previously agreed budgeting, largely cutting liberal spending. Tantrum rewarded, shutdown avoided
  • Tries to pull the same trick in the same year, gets snubbed by establishment partisan dealings. Removes McCarthy, installs hardline Speaker.
  • Demands ‘impossible’ border controls, Dems agree to deal. Trump putting Trump first like always, kills the deal so that he can wield that club in the general election. Deal avoided, everyone loses

And now this. You cannot deal with these people in good faith, this is the end result of appeasement without consequences. Realpolitik and hard power win when met with milquetoast responses, and the left continues to enable these bold plays. Fuck that, mint the stupid coin and let the court decide to tank the global economy or affirm “yes, spending bills mean spending is authorized” and put this to bed

[–] [email protected] 19 points 8 months ago

I’m going to scream. Fuck this goddamn piece of shit country and the steaming piles of human garbage that run it

[–] [email protected] 16 points 8 months ago

literally become ungovernable

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

Ha, Ken Buck signed it pretending he isn't giving up his position this year. Waste of space, every last one of them.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

With the way Democrats caved on the border I'm very worried they'll cave on this too

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

These people are fucking insane. They are willing to fuck this whole country over to stop people from just living their lives as they please.