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Culture War Roundup for the week of September 1, 2025

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Mob rule is preferable to minority rule. Plus, it's not like Trump's supreme court let anything like "norms" or "precedent" prevent them from overturning Roe vs. Wade. And that's a good thing! Both on the object level (abortion is bad) and on the meta level (people living today shouldn't be beholden to the whims of voters decades in the past.) Remember: the constitutional framers expected frequent amendments. Our ossified norms are the cause of our political dysfunction; they let disputes simmer instead of forcing action. They're a big part of why our political parties are so corrupt, and so entrenched.

Anyways, we would still have the senate.

(Also we should eliminate social security.)

Plus, it's not like Trump's supreme court let anything like "norms" or "precedent" prevent them from overturning Roe vs. Wade.

How is Roe vs. Wade itself not a norm violation, and therefore it's repeal not a restoration of norms?

Actually, I'll go further. It seems the norm regarding Roe vs. Wade was that the Supreme Court can rule whatever the hell they want, no matter how absurd, and you have to respect the ruling, and if you don't like it, you have to win enough elections to appoint judges that will rule in your favor. This norm was followed by the Republicans followed it quite faithfully, even though they absolutely hated that court decision.

That is not an accurate description of how the Republicans got their supreme court majority. But whatever-- there's no point in fighting about who started it. Ultimately, both parties have proven that they don't care about norms, except as a way to complain about things that get in their way. So why not just go mask off? Appealing to "norms" is basically a logical fallacy. If something is good, do it. If something is bad... hell, try it anyways, and get punished when you fail.

That is not an accurate description of how the Republicans got their supreme court majority

I know there's this mythical idea about how some dude got kept away from a spot that should have went to him, but the idea this was breaking some norm is absurd. It was a pretty typical play for any liberal democracy.

But whatever-- there's no point in fighting about who started it. Ultimately, both parties have proven that they don't care about norms, except as a way to complain about things that get in their way

In this case I'm saying the opposite - both sides have kept to the norm. Let's see if the court gets packed, or something, but so far so good.

but the idea this was breaking some norm is absurd.

You're clearly defining "norm" in a way that benefits your political interests. Symmetrically, it should be fine for your enemies to do the same. That's why this whole "norms" business is pointless in the first place. It's just a useless definition game. Similarly, "court-packing" has no objective definition. Republicans have used purely legal means to ensure that the the court rules in their favor. Democrats aren't currently capable of doing the same-- but if they were to gain that capability, there's no objective reason they shouldn't do the same. There might be practical reasons, and I would encourage the democrats to consider them, but if they decide that swaying the supreme court to their side is a good idea, I don't see why "norms" should be any barrier.

You're clearly defining "norm" in a way that benefits your political interests

I don't see how I'm doing this. The way I'm defining "norm" might benefit my political interests in a specific case, but a simple look at the historical record will yield many cases of it benefiting my opponents.

That's why this whole "norms" business is pointless in the first place. It's just a useless definition game.

Ok, cool. So let's a stop with this nonsense of telling me how orange man bad, because muh norms.

I don't see how I'm doing this

You're setting the threshold of "norm" precisely at, "taking control of the supreme court by refusing to confirm qualified appointees was Fine but taking control of the supreme court by adding more justices would be Bad." One heap is bigger than the other, but they're both heaps.

So let's a stop with this nonsense, because muh norms.

When did I start? Orange man bad (for me) because he opposes my interests and my ingroup. Whether or not he breaks norms doesn't matter.

You're setting the threshold of "norm" precisely at, "taking control of the supreme court by refusing to confirm qualified appointees was Fine but taking control of the supreme court by adding more justices would be Bad." One heap is bigger than the other, but they're both heaps.

If you think packing the court is fine, we can begin right now. Many Republican presidents could have done so during a number of years in the past. Isn't it odd they didn't?