Random Thoughts (10/1/25)

•  There's a good chance that the Mega Flotilla will be attacked, as in, "attacked with the intent to destroy" as opposed to, "attacked to inflict psychological harm." The visuals of an international fleet of boats making landfall to distribute baby formula and medicine to a group that has be denied aid of every kind imaginable is not something the government of Israel is willing to accept. Israel wants the world to believe that Palestinians are either all Hamas or supporters of Hamas, and that Hamas itself is pure evil (they are a militant political party once backed by Netanyahu to have a boogey-man/scapegoat, but "evil" is stretching things). They cannot roust Hamas out of the Gaza rubble, their (surviving) troops either don't want to fight anymore or are taking a "third option" to being redeployed, and they are losing the public relations war badly. Sure, the recent ownership changes involving CBS and TikTok will work in the favor of Zionism, but it may be too late to turn back the tide. Besides, nothing has seemed to convince the leadership there that committing acts of violence against people who disagree with their other acts of violence are bad moves. 
• For me being "post-duopoly" meant keeping the coverage of the Democratic Party/Republican Party drama to a minimum; delving into that sceptic pool when only necessary. Are there differences between the two parties? Yes, but those differences become less noticeable and less relevant with each election and major news event. It's beyond obvious that donors make the Donkey and the Elephant more in America, and anytime there's "bipartisanship" it's usually to the benefit of the 1% of wealth holders (and the detriment of the rest of us). That said, I could really care less about the random Republican maverick who "challenges" President Trump or Democratic upstart who paraphrases a vaguely left-leaning quote. It doesn't matter if they are grifters, authentic, or just "needs our support" to keep them honest. They're still hitched to the system, and the system will not allow for true, fundamental change that's required to make life better for average Americans.
• The US government "shutdown" is over whether or not Americans should keep some of the meager healthcare benefits that haven't been stripped away since the ACA was implemented. Not support for Israel or Ukraine. Not over rebuilding infrastructure. No over dealing with inflation. Not over the impact of tax cuts and/or tariffs. Not over actually trying to have an actual universal healthcare system (aka, Medicare For All). The fallout if over some technocratic concern that, while it will impact a number of people, highlights that such things would not be a concern if the political leader would address the issue at hand.
• It's...interesting that just as skepticism regarding the circumstances of Charlie Kirk's passing seem to be increasing, we're about to enter the second anniversary of October 7th, aka, the day Hamas attacked Israel and took hostages (Israel's authorization of their "Hannibal Directive" notwithstanding). The media will inevitably switch focus (they are already latching on to the government shutdown story) and all of the pomp and circumstance over Kirk's supposed impact will be washed away so Bibi Netanyahu can take center stage. 
• I have an eerie feeling that what George Galloway has recently experience in the UK will be coming to the United States soon. The lives of middle and poor America aren't improving, and our country's leaders are running out of scapegoats.