Ben Fleming

I became a Canadian citizen! I was born in an authoritarian regime. This is the first time I can vote in democratic elections. What an honor! ❤️ I believe democracy is the zenith of our achievements as humans. Not electricity, not the automobile, not the Internet. A planet of smart apes could have invented those. But we created democracy and peaceful existence that precludes war and violence. I have only one goal as a new citizen: to uphold democratic values (and pay taxes 😏).

🔺 NEWS: Iran’s parliament moves toward formalizing plan to charge tolls in Strait of Hormuz The head of parliament’s Civil Commission said Iran is pursuing legislation to formalize its sovereignty, control, and supervision over the Strait of Hormuz and introduce tolls for ships passing through it, creating a new source of national revenue, according to Fars. He said a draft has been prepared but has not yet reached the full proposal stage. Lawmakers aim to send it to the Parliament’s Research Center next week for legal review before advancing it once sessions resume. Under the plan, vessels would be charged for transit in exchange for security, with the official arguing the strait should be treated like other international corridors where tolls are routinely paid.

People bicker over whether to call this “third-worldism,” but you do see common propaganda threads here and elsewhere: the ideology is resentment-driven, civilization-skeptical, and obsessed with upending, cathartic violence enacted by the “historically downtrodden” (ie “wretched of the earth”).

If you’re traveling to Cuba or any impoverished community, or just generally, you should be wearing a mask. We’re 6 years into an ongoing pandemic and airborne disease is real no matter how many “leftists” want to scream and stomp their feet and shout RFK talking points