I don't think it's as likely that the Feds break this strike like they did with the railroads. Their argument against the rails was that almost every other industry relies on them to move product, while having fewer new cars will only effect the new and used car markets. With however hundreds of millions of usable vehicles that are already out there, this strike doesn't really have the same opportunity to spill over to the larger economy.

Id be very interested to see what demands they got and what had to be negotiated. Had that been released yet?

If the broncos continue their current trend, they'll give up about 140 points next week.

This is incredible news! While 20,000 is fewer jobs than I would have liked, it's still 20,000 more people that are fighting to save our planet than we had before. Plus all those jobs will provide income to all those people and families, and they'll be able to recirculate those funds to their local economies. I bet this program will generate more income than it's cost over the long run, and that's not even counting all the monetary savings that a more stable (or at least slower changing) climate will bring.

I was very confused when I came up on the trader in Mt. Gelmir. That didn't seem like a spot with a lot of foot traffic...

He also co-hosts a podcast called "The Climate Deniers Playbook" that you might might like as well. There are only a few episodes out, but they're all great.

So it sounds like your dad is right?

Well she is the prime demographic for phone scams... so yeah, probably.

Can't the government see that if they allow people to get life saving drugs for slightly less money, then the pharmaceutical CEOs will only be able to buy a 53-foot yacht before the next regatta? They'll be laughing stocks! (/s just in case)

But seriously, fuck all corporate greed, but especially fuck corporations that keep people sick.

They believe that they won't be effected, or at least effected last and the least. These people are parasites on society and need to be treated as such.

The problem comes when conservatives see the rainbow flag (or any of the other numerous pride flags) as a direct attack on their religion. I grew up in a very conservative area of a very red state, and I can tell you from personal experience that an attack on their religion will feel like a personal attack against them. They might be flying the thin blue line flag as a "fuck your feelings" flag, but it's likely because they see any pride flag as a "fuck your religion" flag.

This really stems from the larger issue of tying religion and politics together; now they can view any challenges to their political views as a challenge to their religious views. One thing Christianity is very good at is building a victim complex and that Jesus/ the church is the most important thing in this life or the next, and that preconditions their followers to believe that they will have to dig in harder in the face of adversity.

I think the real key is to make everyone realize that freedom of religious is the same as freedom from religion as well. Once we can all get on the same page that making something legal and available (like women's healthcare) is not the same as a government endorsement and still allows people to not use the service. Getting over that hurdle might take away a huge arm of the right-wing propaganda machine (allowing priests and ministers to give political messages from the pulpit) and might help the wheels of government to turn a little smoother.