Barter was very rare in pre market economies. People weren’t trading potatoes for furniture.

You would barter with people you never expected to see again. People you lived with you would owe them one.

Those three states would more than double the population of Canada and overwhelm their political system. I wouldn’t do that if I were them.

Some of us are. No idea how many. We are separated into news bubbles.

Is it worse than the first term?

Yes. Trump didn’t think he would win the first time. He had no plan for what do do if he won, so he leaned hard on institutional knowledge of party stalwarts and military people, along with a few trusted insiders from his campaign, but they didn’t know how Washington worked.

This time hard core ideologues from the Heritage foundation were ready. They are tired of democracy and limits on the power of wealth so they are dismantling it with project 2025.

Why are legal people being kicked out?

Trump has only a few actual policies he cares about and one is to stop brown people from imigrating to live in America. This is also a test case of his own power. Because if he can disappear green card holders without due process he can also get rid of citizens that are a threat to his power.

He is getting ready for a night of long knives and a krystalnaght.

When is it time to consider leaving?

Depends. If you are an anti Israel green card holder with a history of organizing college campus protests you should probably pack your bags and make your way to the nearest airport.

If you are a citizen or permanent resident you have to make a judgement about what you are giving up, where you can go, and how likely we are to go full 3rd Reich.

I will say that if we declare war on Canada or Mexico, you should probably make your way to the other one unless you want to stay and fight it out.

Spoken like someone who’s family loves them.

With right wingers, it’s completely impossible.

Do you want the option to see your brother again? Mend bridges at some future point?

There are some things you can’t take back. I have a grandmother in law that skipped my wife and I’s wedding and we have not spoken to her since.

I don’t want right wing apologia in my life. I do not enjoy biting my tongue to avoid arguments. I understand why you wouldn’t either. But skipping a wedding is serious and maybe permanent damage to your relationship. If it will free you and leave you better off, don’t go. If you will regret it, probably go and do the best you can.

Oh no. You can volunteer without citizenship.

They can say no, but we have non citizens serving.