Neoliberalism
Self-driving cars
Fig. 1. Photograph by Mark Doliner, August 1, 2012, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
You know, if people don’t want to drive, then maybe they shouldn’t have driver’s licenses. And they sure as hell shouldn’t have cars.
Faiz Siddiqui, “Tesla owners are using steering-wheel weights to drive hands-free,” Washington Post, July 7, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/07/tesla-fsd-autopilot-wheel-weights/
Pennsylvania
Marijuana
It’s the same thing that I think drove marijuana legalization in California: When politicians see recreational marijuana, they see tax revenue, and they’re saying so explicitly in Pennsylvania. Whether that sways enough votes in the legislature to win legalization of recreational marijuana remains to be seen.[1] A lot of folks claimed California’s taxes were too high, and that this is why the state still has a black market. I’m leaving that argument alone, at least for now, but given the whining I already hear about taxes in Pennsylvania already, I’d kinda like it if I didn’t have to listen to whining about marijuana taxes.
Amy Worden, “Is Pa. primed to legalize weed? 2 lawmakers introduce bill to allow recreational use,” Harrisburg Patriot-News, July 7, 2023, https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/07/is-pa-primed-to-legalize-weed-two-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-allow-recreation-marijuana-use.html
Pittsburgh
Infrastructure
Fig. 1. Post-collapse scene at the Fern Hollow Bridge, photograph by National Transportation Safety Board, January 29, 2022, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Samuel Long, “The Swindell Bridge will close for about a month for steel beam restoration,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 7, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2023/07/07/swindell-bridge-pittsburgh-closure-construction/stories/202307070078
Gilead
Donald Trump
Coup attempt
Fig. 1. “Jake Angeli (Qanon Shaman), seen holding a Qanon sign at the intersection of Bell Rd and 75th Ave in Peoria, Arizona, on 2020 October 15.” Photography by TheUnseen011101 [pseud.], October 15, 2020, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Prem Thakker, “Rudy Giuiliani Should Lose Law License for ‘Malicious’ Efforts in 2020, Panel Says,” New Republic, July 7, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/174186/rudy-giuiliani-lose-law-license-malicious-efforts-2020-panel-says
- [1]Amy Worden, “Is Pa. primed to legalize weed? 2 lawmakers introduce bill to allow recreational use,” Harrisburg Patriot-News, July 7, 2023, https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/07/is-pa-primed-to-legalize-weed-two-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-allow-recreation-marijuana-use.html↩