
The Great Lecture Hall in the Sky: Michael Parenti (1933–2026)
Michael Parenti died today at 92, peacefully, surrounded by family.

The Great Lecture Hall in the Sky: Michael Parenti (1933–2026)
Michael Parenti died today at 92, peacefully, surrounded by family.
How have your political views changed over time?
Over time, my political views have shifted in ways I didn’t expect. I’m more progressive than I used to be, especially when it comes to issues like health care. Before my brother’s death, I didn’t have a strong position on universal health care; now I see it as essential.
My views on drug policy have also changed. I used to support full legalization, but I’ve moved toward believing that regulation and strong ethical oversight matter more than blanket legalization.
I read Marxist‑Leninist texts because I’m interested in understanding different political frameworks, but that doesn’t mean I expect—or advocate for—any kind of revolution in my lifetime. My interest is more analytical than predictive.
Overall, my politics have become more grounded in lived experience, personal loss, and a desire for systems that prioritize people’s well‑being.
I’m not really a fan of Stoicism, but I haven’t really given it a fair chance, so I decided to download Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Seneca’s Letters on Ethics. I have a tendency to cherry pick quotes for inspiration though, so I looked up some from Seneca.
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Of course, I haven’t celebrated any holidays since my brother passed away. I did collect some cat memes for Thanksgiving, though, and I didn’t forget about those who, like me, don’t celebrate (or live outside the U.S.). Have a happy Thursday!
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What major historical events do you remember?

Trump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people
Related:
Trump Pushes Policies That ‘Treat Homelessness and Mental Illness as a Crime’
New Research Shows Risks of Coercive Psychiatric Treatment
A new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is raising difficult but necessary questions about a practice that affects hundreds of thousands of lives each year: involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.
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This equates to a 79% increase in risk of being charged with a violent crime, and almost a doubled risk of dying by suicide or overdose, in the three months following evaluation for hospitalization.
The researchers also found hospitalization often caused destabilization. It led to declines in employment and earnings, and increased use of homeless shelters. It did not lead to better outpatient care or more consistent medication use.
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