Peter Drake, he/him, LFHCfS 🔥 @peterdrake@social.cleverlibre.org

@SecondJon I agree that both major parties support parties that help their demographic. I prefer the Democrats because their demographic is inclusive rather than exclusive.

I like some third parties even better; I was once co-chair of the Indiana Green Party. Alas, third parties have no power at the national level. I'd like to see instant runoff or approval voting, which might improve this, but getting rid of the Electoral College is a higher priority. Among other consequences, it erases third parties: Perot got 19% of the popular vote in 1992 and zero electoral votes.

OH: "The day they stop having strawberry @fanta@twitter.com is the day I stop eating at @TacoTime@twitter.com."

@SecondJon It would depend on exactly how the new criteria were worded. If it were made retroactive, it would disenfranchise a huge number of people who have lived here their whole lives, working, paying taxes, etc., knowing no other country. I would wager that very few of those people are Republican voters. The primary motive for such a change is clearly stacking the deck in favor of Republicans. The secondary motive is racism.

It's a death of a thousand cuts, but this move (along with lots of other GOP voter suppression and gerrymandering moves) is increasingly putting us in a situation where, even though a majority of people oppose the minority that rules them, they have no electoral route to change. That's not democracy.

@SecondJon Also, I don't think it's fair to say that my toots are generally exaggerated or hysterical. I tweet on a wide variety of topics (comedy, computer science, fire dancing, teaching) other than politics. When I do get political, I try to back up any factual claims with reliable sources.

Of course, if I do make (or boost) a claim that's directly, factually incorrect, by all means call me out.

@SecondJon If they actually did it, I don't know that it is an exaggeration. I may be hyperbolic in that the GOP won't hold Congress long enough to pass the law.

The Republicans have been doing a lot of voter suppression lately. (The Democrats have not.) This birthright citizenship move is clearly a ploy to redefine the electorate in a way that benefits Republicans. I wouldn't be shocked to see them next go after Puerto Ricans moving to Florida.

I admit to being very alarmed and frightened, but I think it's justified.

Computer science students need to understand syntax, abstract concepts, and application to new problems. Experienced computer scientists focus on the back end of this list, but learning to front end is hard!

By odd coincidence, I've loaned out my 9th, 10th, and 11th editions of Core Java Volume 1 to various students.

Forget Red Wave, Forget Blue Wave, This is The Best Year for Pro-Voter Election Reform in 50 Years https://ivn.us/2018/11/01/forget-red-wave-forget-blue-wave-this-is-the-best-year-for-pro-voter-election-reform-in-50-years/ via @ivn@twitter.com

Our Satan dislocated his knee in last night's show, so it looks like I'll be taking on the role tonight.

@SecondJon True, Trump hasn't (yet) reversed the long trend that happened under Obama.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/18/trump-economy-versus-obama-economy/

The left is more worried about wealth inequality. Trump has set new (bad) records there, but to be fair it's a decades-long problem under both major parties.

My shaolin staff number in this weekend's Dance of the Damned fire show will put the WHOOSH in wushu.

Table decorations at the retirement party for our departmental administrative coordinator.

We must ALL be careful about fact-checking:

https://www.sadanduseless.com/news-manipulations/

Snopes is your friend.