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Cake day: June 16th, 2023

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  • He’s not a US citizen, he’s a permanent resident. Green cards can be removed if he has broken certain rules (mainly by commiting an aggrevated felony).

    Its likely that in this case he hasn’t and could probably challenge this and win. But it also shows how green card holders are second class citizens as the goal posts can be changed and their protections under the law has limits.

    And it also shows how Trump can weaponise the legal system. Even if this guy wins, at what personal cost will this be to him? The stress, the financial cost, the disruption to his education and personal life. Trump is using the apparatus of the state to punish individuals for political reasons.




  • Not a US citizen.

    But from European experience, new parties build from the base upwards. Local politics is where the opportunity us. So first aim is winning seats on town and city councils, then once established in peoples minds as a viable party, target state assemblies, and later aim for national government.

    Its in large part about making best use of resources. Big parties put all their money into national politics, so they’re weak at the local level. New parties can focus their more limited resources locally and out compete the big parties, winning seats.

    The only way to reform the US system ispribably to go state by state winning power and forcing through reform to that states districting and rules on splitting electoral college votes. No one has succeeded so far but its feasible - 1/3 of voters dont vote, and there are plenty of Dem and Rep voters who only vote their way due to refusing to vote for the opponent rather positively voting for the party.

    Starting locally also neuters the nonsense you see around elections that you “have to vote dem and criticising dems is supporting reps”. The dems and reps have the system sewnnup between them as its a completely binary choice. Biden was a terrible candidate for this election but voices against him were shot down until it was too late because of the mad group think that develops in a 2 party state.

    The alternative route is fine a huge personality and buuld a national party around them. However from European politics weve seen that basically means populist domineering politicians, and the parties are unstable - they build fragment and rebuild. Look at UKIP, Brexit Party and now Reform Partyin the UK, or the numerous parties Berlesconi led in Italy. It can work and be disruptive but I think such parties are very risky. Its a bit like taking a punt on another Trump like personality rather than fixing the actual problem with politics of unrepresentative parties.

    I’d target local politics in progressive leaning areas in any states. That basically means the big cities and towns across the US - and it doesn’t matter of the state is “republican” or “democrat”. Breakthroughs could happen in either state - the big parties are taking their voters and holds on the system for granted. If you find issues that resonate with voters that can trump old party loyalties.

    I’d also say for me there is a clear area to be campaigning on: the threat of automation and AI, and it all being in the hands of billionaires. The future is that technology replacing people in work - so the threat to peoples income, well being and freedom only to benefit the wealthy should be a message that would cut through. If a party were focused and only talked about that issue (and tried to stay out of contentious social issues like abortion) it could cut through. Elon Musk and theother tech Bros are offering plenty of opportunities to be a focus for voter anger.

    Its like how jobs were “outsourced” overseas at the expense of American workers. Well now jobs are going to be outsourced to machines and where does that leave american workers? The big parties are not talking about this, and I don’t think mainstream politicians even grasp that this is a huge looming threat to voters globally.