Historians agree that corruption was a pandemic in European life and politics in the 1800s, and that since then, corruption has generally declined along with economic growth and prosperity. What can Africans learn from this?

From the outset, when reading the very scarce literature on Western corruption it is clear that the decline of corruption largely corresponds with sociopolitical change and most importantly ECONOMIC GROWTH

Two main reasons are given for reduction in corruption: 1. SUSTAINED GROWTH which results in more entrepreneurship & productive investment

2. A PROSPERING ECONOMY that can afford to pay civil servants well, improving overall living standards, reducing motivation for corruption

There is very limited historical literature on corruption in Europe which often gives the impression that this is/was never really a major problem. Not so, for e.g for centuries England, was described as “shot through with corruption and venality”, just like the rest of Europe...

This period of rampant corruption in the West was at a time when Europe was at it's poorest economically. Even with the plunder and looting of the rest of the world, Europe would occasionally fall into hard times, and at this time, corruption would increase accordingly

Here's the best argument for expanding & thereby repairing the Supreme Court. Over the past 2 decades, starting with Bush v. Gore, the court's conservative majority has pursued an aggressive agenda to keep Republicans in power & Republicans in turn appointed conservative justices

This has skewed our political system & improperly increased the number of conservative justices. Those justices have skewed the system to preserve GOP control in Tuesday's Census decision, Citizens United & Shelby County v. Holder (overturning Sec. 5 of the Voting Rights Act) AND

in Gill v. Whitford (upholds outrageous GOP gerrymandering in Wisconsin) and in cases upholding strict voter ID laws & other partisan GOP maneuvers.

There's a strong argument that the GOP has improperly gotten three SCOTUS seats that should have gone to Democratic appointees.

Bush v. Gore was essentially a 5-4 judicial coup that awarded the presidency to George W. Bush. Bush appointed two justices (Roberts & Alito) & if Gore had been president for Bush's two terms, those vacancies would have been filled by Democratic appointees

Republicans stole a seat by not considering Merrick Garland. So there's a strong case that GOP presidents filled 3 vacancies that Democrats should have filled. This created today's 5-4 conservative majority when there'd be a 7-2 liberal majority if Democrats filled those seats.

Lots of folks say “you must be brave” when they find out I work in the ER.

It’s true that I don’t (usually) get upset at the sight of blood. But there are plenty of things that scare me.

A non-exhaustive list of things this emergency physician is afraid of:

Choking

Because I’ve seen a child choke on a hot dog or grape that wasn’t cut lengthwise.

Door slamming

Because I’ve had to repair way too many fingertip amputations in little kids.

Throwing sticks

Because one time I saw a kiddo lose their eye after an innocent game with a sibling.

Jumping on the trampoline with your dog

Because...just don’t do it. It’s a bad idea.

1. "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves;...

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hahah I love this energy I'm seeing like a masculine who is waiting and day dreaming and very sweet and it's like they are both the knight of cups and the emperor but what's fascinating is the feminine is also the emperor? lmao so the way it's playing out is the masculine is

kind of like off waiting for the feminine to get their work done I see this feminine being really focused, sitting working at a computer, writing in a notebook, or a sketchpad, i'm seeing a red pen/marker, I feel like the whole month of october the feminine was very busy and this

masculine was like no it's okay I know you've got stuff to do I'm going to just wait and do my thing and I know you know I'll be here when you're done and it's kind of funny I think this feminine doesn't even realize hahaha The empress also came out 🌚 I do feel like essentially

whatever this like big push to do all this work was is coming to a place where yes like it's still there that "down to business' energy is there but this empress / emperor feminine is very balanced and it feels like someone stepping into a place of creation and manifestation and

phewwwwie that hard work has paid off with the ten of pentacles I tell you. I'm seeing that this feminine is also walking away from anyone who is like I guess not picking up the phone let's put it that way like if someone is sleeping on them or like the knight of cups can be kind

I think there's a lot of general confusion over that "conservatism" is.

First, it's not "evil" or even "bad". It's a legitimate political philosophy that boils down to minimal possible intervention in society, including but not limited to the economy.

Liberals and moreso progressives, believe that the state can/should if not "engineer" society, exercise its power to shape society and use its machinery to level the playing field. To address inequalities that arise from an insufficiently regulated free market system.

If you buy into the notion that these are the primary, functional differences between liberalism and conservativism, you cannot escape the conclusion that a part of the reason for the rise of the hard right is the "gains" made by the liberals towards their "better society" goals.

These liberal "gains" include state intervention in free speech, reduction of personal property rights and freedoms, so-called political correctness, identity politics, redistribution of wealth via taxation and a slew of other things cheered by the left and reviled by the right.

Every time there is a gain that the left cheers, the right moves a little further right and gets a little more angry.

Every time the right gains or undoes something the left feels a deep existential angst and loss of optimism.

I got the following text this morning. Here was my reply:

1. Tell them that you love them, aren’t ashamed of them, and that this is something that you have had to overcome. Tell them they can do the same.

2. Tell them that porn is bad for them spiritually, physically, and relationally. And then explain how.


3. Tell them that you are going to set up “speed bumps” to help them when they’re tempt but it comes down to their desire to live with integrity. Those speed bumps are:

a. Filters (on devices & IP)
b. Screens only in shared spaces
c. Weekly check ups: Have you looked at porn of any form this week?

4. Ask them to identify the a) the times that are most tempted and b) the things that seem to trigger the desire to look at porn.

5. Show them ways to deal with stress that are productive: bible reading, prayer, running, pushups, developing a skill, etc.

6. Remind them again that you love them, that porn makes you weak, & living a lie is hell. Let them know that you won’t look down on them if they stumble & they need to let you know so you can conquer it together: "You can overcome this. You can have a good conscience. Fight!"

1. "How Much of Gen Z Will Be Unmarried at 40?" *More than 40%*, according to one new demographic projection. If true, would be catastrophic for American family life, fertility, & economic inequality.

@RAVerBruggen on that new @UMich study: https://t.co/tIFOkf30Xl @FamStudies

THREAD! 👇🏻
What is Gaslighting?
1. The term originates in the systematic psychological manipulation of a
victim by her husband in Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 stage play Gas
Light, and the film adaptations released in 1940 and 1944.

Reflecting on the discussion over School Exclusions, it's struck me that many see the concept of Abolition as like "Reform, only better". My experience of running a prison segregation unit has informed my view of how wrong this is. And so... A THREAD 1/

Firstly, updating laptop prevents a blog post, but I may get to that later, if so, I'll link below. To begin: A few years ago, I took over the senior management position in a prison that had departmental responsibility for the prison's Segregation Unit 2/

A Segregation unit is essentially a small living unit within a prison, where people can be taken for the purposes of punishment, or separation from the general population for safety reasons. 3/

When I took over the function, there were normally 12-16 residents, and almost never fewer. There are rules around how/why you can segregate people, which are too much for twitter, but for our purposes, we'll use the two main "themes"- Punishment and Safety 4/

People can be segregated as a punishment after an Adjudication, or held for the good order and discipline of the prison. (See the parallels with the school exclusions debate?) Segregation is not the only punishment available from Adjudication, but is often seen as the top one 5/

I believe very strongly we need to start tolerating one another more, making space for one another, working hard to bridge the divide. It's a theme I've been on about for a while. And I get push-back - often very indignant and heated. Sometimes outright accusatory. #cdnpoli 1/16

A point I keep trying to make, with varying degrees of success, is no matter how much other people may bug you, even disgust you, they're simply not going to disappear tomorrow. So we need to live together. It's not a question of if, it's only a question of how. #cdnpoli 2/16

The response I've never understood is the purist one. I refuse to live with X. I make no allowance for Y. How dare you (turning the question back on me) even imply we should tolerate Z. That's offensive. They are wrong and we are right. It's simple. No compromises. #cdnpoli 3/16

I consider purists to be comically self-indulgent. I've even started arguments over it. I recognize the attraction of purity. It feels great to stand firm on principle and uphold what's right. The question I return to is - now what? They're still here, as are we. #cdnpoli 4/16

What I forget, sometimes, is I view this as a political problem and not everyone does, even when talking about politics. They hear me say we need to live with the "other side" and imagine I mean make friends with them, date them, go bowling with them. That isn't it. #cdnpoli 5/16

If women knew how they carried the divine letters they carried, they would understand why dark groups made so much effort to break the marriage tradition. The hymen of women is not only for health and hygiene purposes.

Especially as it is thought in the eastern parts of the world, it has nothing to do with honor. Every woman has a divine letter with her virginity. This divine letter is in the first sexual experience after a true spiritual marriage, in the presence of God, in sickness-health, ..

good day-bad day, until death separates them (without any earthly condition), in the first sexual experience that takes place after a true spiritual marriage, where they are promised to be with each other for their spiritual development.

During the opening of the membrane, its seal is opened with the first drop of blood flowing. This blood is the only divinely allowed blood. All other bloodshed violates divine laws. When there is no marriage, that is, when the oath is not given before God,

the divine protection is removed and this letter is destroyed by the dark beings. This is why the peoples of Europe were taken to unmarried partnerships, polygamy, youth madnesses, and these were normalized, especially for the destruction of the sacred letters of great importance

1/9
Insights gained from helping EX SERVICE PERSONNEL, who have entered the criminal justice system to progress into employment

I have had the privilege of meeting numerous veterans in prison & helping many to secure permanent jobs in the community.

#InclusiveRecruitment

2/9
People leaving the armed forces need more support than is offered.

Some have complex resettlement needs including mental health challenges & struggle to adapt to civilian life.

Many have non-mainstream qualifications & struggle to secure employment without practical help.

3/9
Most veterans are used to having a regimented structure to their lives & rules to follow.

In the absence of such structure, many dwell on their experiences & slip into despair; others turn to drugs, alcohol,or crime.

Employment helps, providing a support network & stability

4/9
Veterans who are suffering from diagnosed or undiagnosed PTSD make up a surprisingly high percentage of the prison population.

"10,000 UK armed forces veterans are in prison, parole or on probation." Liz Saville Roberts, Justice, Plaid Cymru @LSRPlaid

#PrisonersArePeople

5/9
Years ago politicians promised veterans a career in the prison service after discharge.

Unfortunately, those promises were not delivered; thousands of Armed Forces Personnel did come to prison - BUT not as officers, instead as prisoners themselves.

#PrisonersPeopleToo