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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 6, 2025

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That may not seem like a lot, but even as a relatively comfortable middle class office worker, 5X more expensive airfare would have a massive effect on my wellbeing. Going from being able to visit friends and family spread around the country three or four times a year to being able to swing a single family reunion every two or three years. Entire years at a time not being able to see my parents. I would have been an adult before getting on my first plane, because there's no way in hell my parents could have swung $6000 on airfare for a family vacation. As much as I grumble about 17-inch-wide seats, I'll take that over forced isolation any day.