memes

I don't think you're wrong about the level this needs to get to in order to change, which is kind of sad tbh.

This is why I can appreciate someone like Luigi Mangione. As far as I'm concerned, the man is a martyr. He demonstrated that, we, the people, have the power. Not some short list of corporate elites. He fits into the mould of the whole "anonymous" movement; where anyone and everyone could be a part of it, they're coming, expect them to come, but you will never know who, where, or when, they will come for you.

Anonymous has no formal structure, it's just people that collectively decided to get something done; and enabled eachother to do it. Random citizens that have just fucking had enough of the bullshit and acted to make a difference.

As far as I'm concerned, that movement is growing in number, eventually it will be less of an individual effort by like-minded persons, and more of a social movement towards real, and hopefully lasting change.

IMO, this is helped along by what's happening in the USA right now, since a nontrivial number of Trump supporters are getting royally screwed from what he said he would do, and eventually did. It's a shame that many are unlikely to transfer those feelings onto others that are just like Trump in the future. They'll think he's a one-off bad Apple type thing and keep voting for the "fuck the little guy" politicians, thinking they're not the "little guy" and get fucked by the very people they voted for. By the time they learn any different, they're one foot in the grave.

I support social programs. Whether childcare (I don't have children), disability (I am not disabled), education (I am neither a teacher nor student), healthcare (I rarely need medical help beyond a family doctor), welfare (I've been gainfully employed or on employment insurance benefits for over 10 years and I don't expect that to change), or any of a plethora of other programs that benefit people who are not me.

I also support unions, though my line of work (IT support) is usually excluded from collective agreements specifically....

To me, these are worthwhile social and governmental goals. Things that help everyone. Even if everyone doesn't include me in that specific case. It's simply the best thing for everyone. There's far too many people that are only looking out for themselves and being highly selfish, aggressively individual, and aggressively capitalistic. That kind of thinking should be bred out of society.