this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2024
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Lefty Memes

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An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of the "ML" influence of instances like lemmy.ml and lemmygrad. This is a place for undogmatic shitposting and memes from a progressive, anti-capitalist and truly anti-imperialist perspective, regardless of specific ideology.

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[–] [email protected] 87 points 20 hours ago (10 children)

One person was arguing that they shouldn’t be able to refuse to do “chores” in prison, but the things they do there are things like making license plates, furniture, and fighting wildfires. A bit far from mopping up and taking out the garbage.

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 19 hours ago (9 children)

Don’t blame me! I voted Yes!

The baffling thing is that the other side didn’t even file an argument against the measure in the voter guide… and it still lost!

Like, if your side can’t even be bothered to come up with an argument for or against particular legislation, I’m voting with the other side, full stop.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 17 hours ago

California is not the most progressive state. It's just so big that it being progressive makes the news more.

[–] [email protected] 51 points 20 hours ago (8 children)

I know it has that reputation but I really don’t think California is the most progressive state. Maybe Oregon? Vermont? Not sure to be honest.

It’s pretty much just basic liberals here. And lots of fascists but they hide out away from everyone else most of the time.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I also feel like people forget how fucking enormous California is. It's really just a few big liberal areas separated by a giant wasteland of racist rednecks that spans nearly the entirety of the United States from north to South in between. It's huge. If you start in San Diego and drive north for 12 hours you'll be....almost to the top of California. If you do that on the East coast you can drive through nine states.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

It’s not even racist rednecks in most of those in-between areas. It’s a lot of Hispanics, and let me tell you… there’s a whoooolllleeeeee lot of racist Hispanics in this state and a lot that are happy they got in and fine with no one else coming in behind them.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

California has the second largest population of Republicans in the US after Texas.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

California also has the largest population of all states. A direct numerical comparison is disingenuous, a statistical comparison would be more valid.

Of registered voters in California, about 25% are Republican. In Texas, 38% are Republican.

https://independentvoterproject.org/voter-registration-by-state

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 hours ago

I have huge skepticism about the Texas number.

Texas DOES NOT have voters register for a party.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

Wait… only 38% of voters in Texas are registered republican, yet they win every single time?!

[–] [email protected] 12 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Gerrymandering is an art form in Texas

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

That's not an issue for state-level elections or national elections, the answer is that many don't vote and many don't register for a party.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

A lot of people don't register for a party

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

46.5% are registered democrats

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Texas doesn't do voter registration by party so uh

How did they get these

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago

And a ton of people choose not to participate at all.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Willy Wonka, but the chocolate factory is Texas:

🎵 Come with me and you'll be
In a world of pure voter suppression 🎵

[–] [email protected] 6 points 20 hours ago

I think it's probably one of those two. California is a bit too diverse idiology when you look at the individual level because it's a huge state, just like Texas (which might go purple under better circumstance). Drive through central valley to know what I mean. Plus we're the state that gave the country Reagan!

As for the slavery, dem voter turnout was fairly bad like in the other states, so that probably had some impact. Some red house seats got flipped though, although that is pretty specific to those communities (turn out lead by house members, believe it or not).

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (5 children)

This is a spin on the truth. Slavery has ~~never not been illegal~~ always been legal per the US constitution, as long as the slaves are prisoners. We had a prop on it to disallow mandatory labor in prisons in California. We voted against it because Americans have a hard-on for punishment. Personally I think being caged is punishment enough, ESPECIALLY when you consider the sheer volume of for profit prisons in the US. Hurray, private business can keep doing slavery in the state -_-

It has been and still is legal in federal law across the US

[–] [email protected] 24 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

How is it a spin on the truth? Forced labor sounds a lot like slavery and they voted in favor of it. Just because some people justify slavery with a reason like "criminals deserve it!" or "but look at their skin color!" doesn't change that they're voting for slavery. Just because the criteria isn't directly skin color (80% of prisoners are not non-hispanic white... so its pretty much is still forced labor based on skin color) doesn't change it at all.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Slavery has never not been illegal per the US constitution

???????

[–] [email protected] 12 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States

[–] [email protected] 5 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

I think that was pretty clear and correct. Slavery is still very much legal in the USA.

Edit: actually the triple negative makes it say the opposite of that lol, carry on.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Basically because we're the 4th largest economy in the world, and thus, billionaires also run this state.

We also didn't get rent control adjustments, or a minimum wage hike. So yeah.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 19 hours ago

They haven’t called the results of the minimum wage vote yet, god dammit! Don’t take this from me yet!

[–] [email protected] 23 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

The US is working exactly as planned

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 hours ago

And will collapse as has been predicted.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 21 hours ago (3 children)

I've seen this. Isn't it because of prisoner firefighters?

Fucking wild

[–] [email protected] 6 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

You can absolutely still have volunteer programs like that. Volunteering to work time off faster shows a willingness to work on the problems that landed you in prison. Forcing it just creates misery.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

That's what pretty much all prison labor is. They coerce you with "Good Time" and something to do.

It's still slavery, it's not like they have a real choice. Do I rot in my cell or work and maybe get out a year early? Of course I'm gonna work. I'm not getting (really) paid for it, I'm just getting punished less. Sounds a lot like indentured servitude to me, which we all agreed was slavery too.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 20 hours ago (3 children)

All right I'll bite. I crave more information.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 20 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

While incarcerated California firefighters choose to work, many other incarcerated workers are not allowed a choice at all. The 13th Amendment ended slavery in the United States, but a loophole allows people convicted of crimes to be forced to work.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I maintain all prison labor is slavery.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

Sorry, I'm not sure if you're trying to make a point or just provide a TL;RD?

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Some people think the language was confusing

Prop 6 Eliminates Constitutional Provision Allowing Involuntary Servitude for Incarcerated Persons. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 15 hours ago

I have to do laundry too. 🙁

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