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If you stop and look around you, you’ll see how many things that are happening are quite a bit off. The rich are now disgustingly rich and detached from the rest of the world. The climate is in shambles. Also, no one bats an eye at surveillance, which is becoming more and more normal. It’s all beginning to look like we are living in a dystopian world taken straight from the pages of a fantasy novel.

The following list contains dystopian gems collected from the “A Boring Dystopia” subreddit. Sad, uninspiring, and absurd, these images are bound to make you feel awful about the state of the world. So, proceed with caution. 

With so many dystopian novels speculating the possible future of our society, there must be one that reflects our current world the best. But which reality do we live in? Is it Gilead or Panem?

Well, if we’re trying to asses that, the most logical place to start the analysis would probably be George Orwell’s 1984. That’s both because of the book’s popularity and how often we hear the word “Orwellian” these days.

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    #2

    When Will The Increase Of The Number Behind X Be Stopped?

    When Will The Increase Of The Number Behind X Be Stopped?

    TeenPanter Report

    #3

    What's Wrong With The Trees?

    What's Wrong With The Trees?

    GG__25 Report

    George Orwell’s 1984 is an exploration of a society that has completely given into a totalitarian regime. It shows how censorship and the lack of free thinking is bound to damage the world. It emphasizes the propaganda, manipulation of truth, and the ridiculous amount of power that the government has over everyone. It does sound a little familiar, right?

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    The most recent example of censorship getting out of control is the 2021-2023 book bans that rippled through the US. Libraries around the country are being asked to take specific books off their shelves. In fact, 2022 set the record for the most inquiries ever made. And 2023 is on track to break it.

    #4

    *sigh*

    *sigh*

    Comic__Boi Report

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    Marno C.
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm in Canada. I am scared by the number of policy-makers (and supportive members of the public) who want to emulate the US Education Models because they think it is the most 'efficient' and runs on sound 'business principles.' I am scared by the appetite for degrading and disrespecting teachers. Our most important civic institutions should not be run on the same methods as for-profit businesses.

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    #5

    Mfw I Hear Norfolk Southern's Overall Penalty And "Casualty Charge" Is 1.7% Of Their 2022 Profits

    Mfw I Hear Norfolk Southern's Overall Penalty And "Casualty Charge" Is 1.7% Of Their 2022 Profits

    VaderOnReddit Report

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    arthbach
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For the company it's 'just the cost of doing business'. This is wrong. The fine should be based on how much money they should have spent doing it properly, and the cost of repairing the damage.

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    #6

    The USA Is The Only First-World Country Without Paid Parental Leave

    The USA Is The Only First-World Country Without Paid Parental Leave

    ChrisMMatthews Report

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    Oliver Seitz
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Republicans have no interest in protecting kids. They just pretend to be pro life but immediately after birth. Hypocracy at its finest. No child support, no protection, no education. Now labor laws sllowing kids to do dangerous, toxic jobs just to exploit them because rich donors and big corporations gave big bribe money to the GOP to force that new law. Disgusting.

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    What separates this wave of censorship from others is that this time politicians are the ones stoking the flames. Instead of communities raising the questions directly to schools and libraries, they are getting support from conservative advocacy organizations, which smells a little of 1984.

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    #7

    98 Years Worth Of Progress

    98 Years Worth Of Progress

    Ron_D_3 Report

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    Kevin Beard
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would LOVE for anyone to explain how banning books is considered freedom

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    #8

    My Favourite Calender

    My Favourite Calender

    vagilestumbler229 Report

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    Kimbowa
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some people are just lucky to make a living doing what they love but not everyone is so blessed, otherwise there would be no such thing as the "starving artist."

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    #9

    Such Wholesome Child Laborers

    Such Wholesome Child Laborers

    bee5sea6 Report

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    Marno C.
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, I guess it's cuter than prison labour (aka the modern plantation system).

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    Many of the challenged books discuss race, sex, and gender. Interestingly enough, though, they are often challenged because of profanity and sexual imagery in it, not politics. So, at least they are trying to conceal their censorship with the thin “oh, think of the children” veil. At least we’re not in Fahrenheit 451 territory yet. But we are getting there.

    #10

    Make 'Em Rich Forget About You

    Make 'Em Rich Forget About You

    z0mOs Report

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    Marno C.
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh, bless their hearts. Do they think their employees were just a bunch of bored dilettantes who couldn't come up with a hobby idea?

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    #11

    Sad? Just Buy A House

    Sad? Just Buy A House

    Lochnessfartbubble Report

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    Marno C.
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Safe, stable housing improves mental and physical health. Safe, stable housing lowers crime rates and drug abuse. Safe, stable housing makes communities thrive. Safe, stable housing should be a human right.

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    What about another popular dystopian title, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World? Well, this book also explores a loss of freedom under a totalitarian regime. In it, people are encouraged to consume as much as possible and seek for pleasure and instant gratification instead of higher meaning. This is also not too foreign for us, right?

    #13

    A Plastic Bag

    A Plastic Bag

    RAGGEDYROYAL Report

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    Jared Robinson
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm confused? Two parents being absolute legends of parents. That is very heartwarming. Look they may not be able to control everything about their lives, but goddamnit their kid is going to school and he's going to look dapper as f**k while doing it.

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    #15

    We Do Not Pay Our Employees Enough To Survive

    We Do Not Pay Our Employees Enough To Survive

    thickJewry Report

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    Oliver Seitz
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Idiocy at its finest. The problem is not tipping culture but the lack of fair wages. Greedy companies make millions and billions but won't pay fair. Trickle down never worked. It Was and still is a stupid lie Republicans tell their stupid voters. Unions are the one and only solution to fight for workers rights.

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    Instant gratification is everywhere these days. In essence, the term describes giving up something that would benefit us in the long run and choosing something that benefits us right away instead. How can that be bad, you say? Well, it usually leads to pretty unhealthy habits.

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    #16

    Indistinguishable From The Real Thing!

    Indistinguishable From The Real Thing!

    yuritopiaposadism Report

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    Annymoose
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please note: this is not a "thinking machine". It is programming responses designed by people. That's why it's full of s****y opinions and errors. It's as racist, bigoted, prejudiced as the people who wrote it.

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    #17

    What's Worse Is That The Wild Doesn't Even Look Like That Anymore

    What's Worse Is That The Wild Doesn't Even Look Like That Anymore

    yuritopiaposadism Report

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    Kimbowa
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Every animal has a natural home and we remove them from it and put them in prison.

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    Phones make it especially easy to choose instant gratification over long-term benefits. We spend time we could be spending socializing on social media. The likes and the validation we get replaces real-life interactions. Dating apps are also guilty of that. It used to be that casual dating was seen as too instant of a gratification. These days, this has been replaced with swiping only. So, yes, the brave new world is here.

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    #19

    Poor? Have You Tried Starving?

    Poor? Have You Tried Starving?

    shamwowj Report

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    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    you can even save more money, if you stopped eating entirely! How that's for a "life hack"?

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    #20

    Olga Schubert, A 5-Year-Old Girl, Photographed After A Days Work Picking Shrimp At Biloxi Canning Factory

    Olga Schubert, A 5-Year-Old Girl, Photographed After A Days Work Picking Shrimp At Biloxi Canning Factory

    Plonsky2 Report

    #21

    Supreme Court Of India Just Gave Permission For These 100s Of Years Old Trees To Be Cut For A 4-Lane Highway In West Bengal

    Supreme Court Of India Just Gave Permission For These 100s Of Years Old Trees To Be Cut For A 4-Lane Highway In West Bengal

    thanoskaka Report

    All of that to say, it seems that dystopia is here. We are living it. The question right now seems to be whether the sequel of this reality is written in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road or Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: Space Odyssey.

    #22

    Amazon Anti Union Posters Put Up By The Company

    Amazon Anti Union Posters Put Up By The Company

    bisexualbestfriend Report

    #23

    I Don't Even Have To Read This Article To Know There's Going To Be Some Olympian Level Mental Gymnastics Going On To Rationalize Why It's Okay To Live Like This

    I Don't Even Have To Read This Article To Know There's Going To Be Some Olympian Level Mental Gymnastics Going On To Rationalize Why It's Okay To Live Like This

    Domingosdelight Report

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    #24

    Why Are People So Obsessed With Dubai? It Seems Like A Dystopian Hellscape Birthed From The Spawn Of Satan And Adam Smith

    Why Are People So Obsessed With Dubai? It Seems Like A Dystopian Hellscape Birthed From The Spawn Of Satan And Adam Smith

    Dubai's wealthiest figures can flex their wealth by the license plate they own on their car. The lower the number the wealthier they are.

    ColdBrew13 Report

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    Marno C.
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If we keep supporting green energy, maybe Dubai will just... IDK... stop? The whole place seems like a fever dream of wrong ideas.

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    #25

    I Mean, Payback For Them Ruining The Economy?

    I Mean, Payback For Them Ruining The Economy?

    dukeofpotatoes Report

    #26

    Just A Question In The Ford Stockholder Annual Meeting Vote

    Just A Question In The Ford Stockholder Annual Meeting Vote

    silverstaryu Report

    #27

    Everyone: You Should Support Your Local Economy. My Local Economy:

    Everyone: You Should Support Your Local Economy. My Local Economy:

    tyce_tyce_baby Report

    #28

    Anti-Theft Gates On Laundry Stuff And Chocolate

    Anti-Theft Gates On Laundry Stuff And Chocolate

    queen_clean Report

    #29

    The "Skylight" In Our Canteen

    The "Skylight" In Our Canteen

    We have no windows at all where I work. This is their solution 🤦

    Old_Father_Time Report

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    Sonja
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, to be fair, what else are they expected to do? I guess there's a reason there are no windows?

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    #30

    Ad I Just Saw. Imagine Becoming A Renter In Your Own Home. Ridiculous

    Ad I Just Saw. Imagine Becoming A Renter In Your Own Home. Ridiculous

    3sp00py5me Report

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    #31

    “The Digital Cooler Screens At Walgreens Made Me Watch An Ad Before It Allowed Me To Know Which Door Held The Frozen Pizzas”

    “The Digital Cooler Screens At Walgreens Made Me Watch An Ad Before It Allowed Me To Know Which Door Held The Frozen Pizzas”

    yuritopiaposadism Report

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    Chocolate llama
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "some"?? I have yet to meet a person who considers them to be anything but outrageous

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    #32

    The Things People Here In The U.S. Have To Do For Healthcare

    The Things People Here In The U.S. Have To Do For Healthcare

    tigersmhs07 Report

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    Black Cat
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dies anyone in America still honestly think America is the best country in the world?

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    #33

    New Study: 54% Of American Adults Read Below 6th Grade-Levels

    New Study: 54% Of American Adults Read Below 6th Grade-Levels

    Last_Salad_5080 Report

    #34

    My Urban Dystopia - Amazon Facility In The Neighborhood

    My Urban Dystopia - Amazon Facility In The Neighborhood

    VagueDustin Report

    #35

    The Warning Label On The Back

    The Warning Label On The Back

    Dilitan Report

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    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Call me crazy, but I feel like if you can't tell the difference between a green and orange child's toy and a real firearm, maayyybe you should consider a career other than law enforcement.

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    #36

    The Children Of Yemen Blown To Pieces Are Well Acquainted With These Judeo-Christian Values

    The Children Of Yemen Blown To Pieces Are Well Acquainted With These Judeo-Christian Values

    yuritopiaposadism Report

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    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    hahaha, sure. Because history showed us, that followers of the judeo-christian religion never ever did any wars. Right?

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    #37

    Not Even Airport Security Is Safe From Advertising

    Not Even Airport Security Is Safe From Advertising

    rawcookiedough Report

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    Corinne Wheeler
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is getting worrying, it's already impossible to watch more than 5 mins Tv without an ad. I've seen advertising on ordinary cars recently. A few years ago it was suggested that police officers could have adverts on their uniforms and police vehicles. I hope this was a joke.

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    #38

    The Yacht Was Owned By A Russian Oligarch And Was Abandoned In Antigua In 2022 After Sanctions Were Placed. In June 2023, The Sanctions Against The Yacht Were Lifted And The Boat Was Auctioned Off. The Boat Is Now Owned By An American Oligarch. It Has Been Burning Diesel Fuel For 14 Years Straight

    The Yacht Was Owned By A Russian Oligarch And Was Abandoned In Antigua In 2022 After Sanctions Were Placed. In June 2023, The Sanctions Against The Yacht Were Lifted And The Boat Was Auctioned Off. The Boat Is Now Owned By An American Oligarch. It Has Been Burning Diesel Fuel For 14 Years Straight

    yuritopiaposadism Report

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    TheAmericanAmerican
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And yet we get called "extremists" when we say tax the billionaires out of existence 🙄

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    #39

    I Wanted To Paint How We All Feel

    I Wanted To Paint How We All Feel

    Mighty6Tighty6Whitey Report

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    Jared Robinson
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am not a f*****g monkey. A monkey is smarter than me. They decided to stay up in the trees and write humanity off as a bad idea.

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    #40

    Learning With Logos

    Learning With Logos

    datelessBend672 Report

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    Michael Braisher
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Still, the kids see what they recognise. That can help, as I know from when I was small.

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    #41

    Eating Disorder Helpline Fires And Replaces Staff With Chatbot After Unionization

    Eating Disorder Helpline Fires And Replaces Staff With Chatbot After Unionization

    BoxNemo Report

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    Susie Elle
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I fraking hate chatbots, because all they can answer are questions to which answers are found on the website (when dealing with companies or banks).

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    #42

    Pov: You Made It Into Your 2020s Vehicle, And The Axe Murderer Is Slowly Walking Towards You

    Pov: You Made It Into Your 2020s Vehicle, And The Axe Murderer Is Slowly Walking Towards You

    vectron5 Report

    #43

    This Horsesh*t I Just Noticed On The Back Of My Bag Of Walmart Coffee

    This Horsesh*t I Just Noticed On The Back Of My Bag Of Walmart Coffee

    IfIWasASerialKiller Report

    #44

    Here In The US, We Have Propaganda Billboards Advertising Milk, Funded By The Dairy Industry

    Here In The US, We Have Propaganda Billboards Advertising Milk, Funded By The Dairy Industry

    orgborger Report

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    #45

    Want To Afford A Home? Better Win The Lottery

    Want To Afford A Home? Better Win The Lottery

    ccrondon Report

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    Undercover
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh, wow, didn't know that money could help you buy a home! 😱 /s

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    #46

    An Actual Listing On A Real Estate Website

    An Actual Listing On A Real Estate Website

    pandyxxx Report

    #47

    My City (And All The Cities Around Me) Are Installing These Surveillance Cameras At Nearly Every Street Corner To Gather Habits And Patterns Of Where You Go To "Fight Crime"

    My City (And All The Cities Around Me) Are Installing These Surveillance Cameras At Nearly Every Street Corner To Gather Habits And Patterns Of Where You Go To "Fight Crime"

    22408aaron Report

    #48

    Jeep Puts Ads On The F**king Screen In My Car

    Jeep Puts Ads On The F**king Screen In My Car

    Ragnarokcometh Report

    #49

    Nycmayor With The Robocop, Which Cannot Make The Heart With The Mayor Because It Has No Arms

    Nycmayor With The Robocop, Which Cannot Make The Heart With The Mayor Because It Has No Arms

    katie_honan Report

    #50

    We Love Universal Social Welfare, But Miss Corpo Daddy :(

    We Love Universal Social Welfare, But Miss Corpo Daddy :(

    VictorNoergaard Report

    #51

    Ad Sponsored War Feels Dystopian

    Ad Sponsored War Feels Dystopian

    EldritchSlut Report

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    Tamra
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are they offering therapy to the people being bombed in hospitals in Palestine?

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    #52

    A 2000% Return On Your Investment

    A 2000% Return On Your Investment

    StcStasi Report

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    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It costs upward of a billion $US to buy the American presidency. Republican candidates needed a certain number of donors to take part in primary debates, so he decided to pay donors so he could debate and get media coverage. Democracy in action.

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    #53

    The Middle Income American's Are Thriving! Or So They Say

    The Middle Income American's Are Thriving! Or So They Say

    Lovely_Lunatic Report

    #54

    You’re Right To Protest Has Been Denied By Capitalism

    You’re Right To Protest Has Been Denied By Capitalism

    cocoadelica Report

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    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As I read it, your right to blockade, disrupt and vandalize is being denied, not your right to protest. Peaceful demonstration is still possible.

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