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Culture War Roundup for the week of July 14, 2025

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One of my friends from grade school and his wife looked into adopting when infertility issues prevented them from having biological children. They are rather well-off and well-connected — a major street in this city is named after my friend's grandfather, and more than one local politician would occasionally attend his family's Christmas party.

And yet, they were denied. No kids. (Now he mostly just channels it into being uncle to his sister's kids, and his wife into her hobbies.)

(I've brought up this example to more than one therapist, when they recommended that I try adopting a kid. Because they'll just hand off a kid into the care of a single, jobless, literal crazy man like me while denying a wealthy, stable couple like my friends?)