User:VioletStarfall

Hello everyone, I'm Violet or VioletMinds and welcome to my  Polcompball Anarchy Wiki userpage!

I'm just your friendly neighbourhood social futurist who likes coming here to write about my political ideals and beliefs from time to time. Don't expect me to be too active here, but I'll still come over sometimes to update my page and elaborate upon any fun ideas I've been theorising about. Outside of speculative politics and discussing theory, my main interests include electronic music, space and astronomy and everything sweet and wholesome. Generally, I am quite a reserved person, though I have a penchant for being very idealistic every now and again.

' Social Futurism is my fusion of ' and other  culturally left-wing  Third Position ideas with more traditional  center-left politics, creating a new form of anti-capitalism and anti-conservatism that espouses nationalism, meritocracy, social corporatism and radical modernism, ultimately seeking to unite the people around a collective vision of the future that emphasises merit, knowledge and fervent rejection of tradition.

Wishing you, dear reader, a happy and fulfilling day filled with speed, adventure and creativity!

= My political history = Below here is the complete development of my political ideals and beliefs, from the beginning in 2015 until now. The three icons and links at each time are my relevant economic, civic and social positions respectively. My political beliefs formed mostly from my own thoughts and discoveries over the years as my family are, for the most part, apolitical and would encourage me to explore and develop my own independent ideas.

[[File:Apolit.png]] Childhood
As expected, I had zero interest in or understanding of politics as a young child. I grew up in a liberal democracy with a capitalist sytem, born into a non-religious and mostly apolitical family who had their own views on society but often encouraged me to explore ideas on my own terms and develop a worldview independent of theirs. It is worth noting I was mostly exposed to liberal, secular and a mix of progressive and conservative values at a young age, both from my family and the environment I grew up in, forming the basis for my first political beliefs.

[[File:Socdem.png]][[File:Liberal_Democracy.png]][[File:Progconf.png]] Discovering politics (2015-2017)
Further reading:  •  • 

My first exploration of politics coincided with me becoming a teenager and Donald Trump's first presidential campaign drawing much media attention. During this time, I considered myself to be center to center-left and sympathised heavily with social democracy and the Nordic model, believing a mixed economy and a large welfare state in combination with liberal values to be the ideal for my nation, seeing both socialism and laissez-faire capitalism as destructive extremes. Additionally, I was a strong supporter of Western liberal democracy as the most desirable political model. While I was quite open to progressive ideas (secularism, pro-science policies, LGBT rights etc.), I saw traditional morals and values as an essential moral backbone for society and agreed with a few conservative "anti-SJW" positions that were gaining popularity on the internet at the time.

[[File:Liberalsoc.png]][[File:TechDem.png]][[File:Rfrm.png]] Scientific dreams and turning left (2017-2019)
Further reading:  •  • Classical Progressivism

Throughout 2017, I became more critical of capitalism and traditional democracy, being influenced by both reformist socialism and the Technocracy movement, and became more left-wing both socially and economically. I considered myself part of the "moderate left" as I was supportive of worker-owned enterprise and nationalisation of major industries while still supporting free markets (to an extent) and seeing liberalism as something that needed to be reformed and not abolished. A state primarily focused on scientific policies and ruled by technical experts became more appealing to me as a solution to society's problems, as I saw a scientific focus as necessary to prevent the emergence of reactionary politics, though I favoured technocracy-influenced democracy over a pure technocracy as I was still often opposed to authoritarianism. I additionally abandoned my last few conservative positions and became more progressive, though I favoured "science, secularism and rationalism" over any sort of identity politics, identifying as a "classical progressive". This was perhaps my most explicitly utopian phase of political thinking.

[[File:Techsoc.png]] Socialism, technology, inclusivity (2019-2021)
Further reading:  •  • 

Under construction.

[[File:Corptism.png]][[File:Technocracy.png]][[File:Natprog.png]] Towards a third position (2021-2023)
Further reading:  •  • 

[[File:SocFut.png]] Into the future (2023-)
= My political beliefs =

[[File:SocFut.png]] Basic principles
''These are subject to change at any given moment. For now, I'd like to summarise my positions and principles briefly before I take the time to write about my beliefs in detail.''
 * [[File:Soccorp.png]] Harmony and cooperation in the economic sphere is to be nurtured by state intervention.
 * [[File:Nation.png]] National sovereignty must be asserted.
 * [[File:Merit.png]] Merit, knowledge and work should be valued.
 * [[File:Transh.png]] Technological development is a life-affirming force.
 * [[File:Statism.png]] The state is a necessary institution in driving society forward.
 * [[File:Fut2.png]] Radical modernism should be fearlessly embraced, without the suffocating grasp of tradition.
 * [[File:Prgess.png]] Unity around a collective forward-thinking vision is desirable.

Economics
• •

Further reading: Tripartism •  • 

My favoured economic model can be described as a form of social corporatism with a dirigiste approach to economic management and a large welfare state. I support a system of tripartite class collaboration inspired by neocorporatist ideas, with the state taking a proactive role in mediating between and cooperating with trade unions and employer groups, creating a social partnership that promotes harmony within the economy and allows all parties to work together more efficiently towards achieving the nation's economic goals. This allows for an avoidance of class conflict and economic self-interest at the expense of others, while still providing a means for workers, owners and the state to further their mutual interests. Furthermore, trade unions and other worker's groups will receive increased national representation. I additionally support a high level of state intervention and directive policy within the economy and oppose a laissez-faire system, which would lead to consumerism and profit being prioritised above national interests. While I am not opposed to private industry if it does not directly conflict with the goals of the united nation and vehemently reject a fully state-owned economy, some degree of state planning, nationalisation of major industries and strict regulations are needed to curb the excesses of free-market capitalism and align the production of essential goods with national interests. I am also in favour of creating a large social safety net, as well as implementing a wide range of social policies (free healthcare, free education etc.) that will provide benefits to the people. These welfarist measures are intended to ensure the health and prosperity of the nation's citizens, remedy disparities and increase equality of opportunity across the social sphere, and to provide financial and social security for workers affected by automation. Such welfare policies will be essential to ensure our transition towards an automated economy as development advances and we embrace futuristic technology will not have significantly negative consequences for the labor force.

While I support class collaboration and am sceptical about most socialist ideas, I support a number of strict anti-capitalist policies for two reasons. While supporters of capitalism often argue that capitalism creates a meritocracy, capitalism often operates contrary to meritocratic principles by prioritising wealth above talent and knowledge and not providing the equality of opportunity needed for such a meritocracy to flourish. Furthermore, such a system allows individuals with significant financial power to pursue personal profit motives over national interest without consequence and resort to worker exploitation instead of cooperation. These policies include nationalisation of major businesses in essential industries, wealth redistribution, abolition of landlording and creation of very strict regulations surrounding automation within private industry.

The motive behind my economic ideas is the creation of a "social meritocracy", where merit, talent and hard work are valued yet increased equality of opportunity is given to those who are currently disadvantaged through welfare and other social programs. While opposed to socialist class struggle, this conception of meritocracy goes against typical meritocratic capitalist ideas by promoting the state as a force to create such equality of opportunity, rectify the many anti-meritocratic aspects of the modern economy and to ensure that knowledge and talent, not lust for profit, become the driving forces for the nation's industries through consistent implementation of dirigiste policies and tripartite bargaining that gives workers representation while putting pressure on business owners not to neglect social interests for the benefit of monetary gain.

Nation
• •

Further reading:  •   • 

The purpose of nationalism within my ideology is twofold: firstly, it serves to reflect my belief that each individual nation has the right to assert its sovereignty, and secondly, nationalism is beneficial in giving the nation's people a higher ideal and purpose to unite around, with national identity, in this case, being the pursuit of social and technological progress. I support an inclusive conception of nationalism that can unite all people within our borders, a recreation of national identity and culture into a radically modern national spirit and an anti-interventionist approach to foreign policy that prioritises national interests, simultaneously rejecting imperialism, respecting the sovereignty of all other nations and allowing for diplomatic and economic cooperation with like-minded countries.

I oppose ethnic or racial nationalism as it would undermine the preservation of national unity and only give rise to segregation and separatism, especially within a multi-ethnic and multicultural nation such as my own, not to mention the moral issues I have with any manner of ethnocentrism. Civic nationalism would therefore be the best path as it allows for an all-inclusive conception of national unity that accommodates for all peoples within our borders, without any unnecessary discrimination. While I would prefer cultural nationalism over ethnic nationalism, cultural nationalism is often restricted by its conservative outlook on national customs and tradition and would come into conflict with the development of a newer, modernised culture aligned with futurist values. Despite this, I recognise the importance of culture for maintaining national unity and thus favour a highly unorthodox type of cultural nationalism in the form of national revivalism. National revivalism essentially encourages the development of a novel national culture and identity, formulating a completely new and forward-thinking vision for its people to unite around and emphasising technophilia, radical modernism and a rejection of the romanticisation of the past. Rapid technological, industrial and social development, state intervention in the cultural sphere to promote ultra-modernist values and creation of an everchanging culture unburdened by strict adherence to any sort of tradition are all key components of this form of nationalism, with national revivalist thought borrowing considerable influence from the ideas of Futurist theorist Filippo Tomasso Marinetti.

When it comes to foreign policy, I am against political and military intervention, both out of prioritising national interests and out of respect for the rights of all other nations to maintain their individual sovereignty. While I am against isolationism and argue in favour of pursuing diplomatic alliances and cooperation with like-minded nations, I oppose unnecessary participation in foreign affairs and warfare. Interfering in conflict is often highly costly in money, resources and human lives, all spent without the guarantee of long-term political stability within affected regions, thus interventionist policy can easily become detrimental in the long run. Furthermore, I stand opposed to any form of warmongering and imperialism due to such actions violating the right to national sovereignty possessed by all nations. For these reasons, I support moving my nation away from supporting and contributing to US interventionism and towards developing foreign policy that ensures a more pacifistic approach to diplomacy.

Civics
• •

Further reading: Statism •  • 

While I oppose totalitarianism and even some forms of authoritarianism, I believe in statism, viewing the state as an essential organ of modern society, and I support a meritocratic social order and a transition away from a liberal constitutional monarchy to a technocratic republic. The state exists as the most centralised expression of social power and is thus the strongest means of promoting social change and cohesion, being an entity through which order, unity and progress can be realised. State intervention in the economy is needed to ensure economic self-interest of those with significant capital is not prioritised over national interests, centralisation of power is needed for driving forward social change and development on a large scale, beyond what individual actors can achieve, and state influence upon culture and public opinion is needed to promote the radical modernist values and ideas inherent to a futuristic, forward-thinking nation. The state is a requisite means to the ends of rapid social and technological progress, a pace of development beyond what more democratic or libertarian systems of governance can achieve due to their inherent subservience to popular will or heavy limits on their power. Despite these authoritarian tendencies, however, there are a number of issues I have a more liberal perspective on, for example, I am in favour of freedom of artistic expression, free love, bodily autonomy (to an extent), legalisation of soft drugs (cannabis, psilocybin, LSD etc.) and a shift from a punitive to a rehabilitative justice system. While the governance of a strong state is necessary for the reasons outlined above, a balance of authority and liberty and a degree of respect for individual autonomy is necessary to ensure that progress can be pushed forwards faster without significant violations of social freedoms, with a repressive authoritarian police state best being avoided.

While complicated political issues are already better off in the hands of informed experts, my main reason for opposing democracy and populism is because of the inherent conflict between popular will and social and technological progress. Much of the voting public can easily be driven by emotions, and one of these emotions is often fear of change, novelty and new ideas. While such a fear of change is a natural part of human psychology, this fear can easily manifest into popular movements espousing and popularising conservative and reactionary ideas when allowed to flourish in a democratic system, such as the various right-wing populist parties gaining traction across parts of the Western political sphere. A democratic system would allow regressive ideals to become policy if such movements achieve success, running contrary to the revolutionary perspective on culture held by systems such as Social Futurism. Furthermore, democracy and party politics allows those who are not apt for the job and without necessary background or experience in their respective fields to assume key positions in government ministries (e.g. someone without a background in health becoming a health minister). A meritocratic or technocratic approach would ensure these government positions are occupied by only those knowledgeable or qualified enough to take the responsibility of looking after the populace, allowing for a long-term focus on social, technological and economic development that is not prioritised under the pursuit of short-term electoral success or susceptible to mass popular sentiment that could favour more conservative policies.

My desired system of governance could be described as a romantic technocracy. Essential government functions and operations as well as major social development projects would be directed by qualified technical experts, however, this does not mean that strict rationalism and materialism would be enforced through government policy. Art, music, culture and other such expressions of creativity and emotion will be emphasised through government funding and policy, in order to cultivate a society where artistry, creativity and the innovative aspects of the human spirit are celebrated and allowed to freely flourish as part of giving birth to a progressive and forward-thinking national spirit. As part of such change, younger generations would have a greater role in government, synthesising technical expertise with youthful idealism in running the country.

Society
• •

Further reading:  •  • 

My social and cultural positions emphasise rapid technological development, laïciste policies separating religion from the public sphere and fearless adherence to radical modernism through futurist cultural policy. I consider myself to be ultraprogressive, however, instead of mainly focusing on identity issues, my conception of social progress is centred around secularism, science, technology, speed, youthfulness, the avant-garde and an aggressive rejection of tradition and the past, primarily influenced by the Italian Futurist movement. Through placing importance on technological development, rejecting religious authority and conservative and reactionary values, embracing fearlessness of the future and creating a novel and rejuvenated national culture that cherishes speed, creativity and modernity, a forward-thinking vision for a new tomorrow, given new life from the ashes of tradition and history, can provide a higher purpose and means of unity for the community.

In regards to technology, I support transhumanism and increased technological development, for their potential to be life-affirming forces that will help us overcome many of the obstacles holding back human development. Research into advanced technology in order to find treatment for aging and diseases should be encouraged and funded and methods of utilising technology to increase our intellect and enhance our capabilities should be investigated to allow humanity to reach its full potential, triumph over its natural limitations and create the human of tomorrow. On matters of religion, I generally support secularism and laicism and wish to see a separation between religion and public life. I consider myself to be an anti-clericalist and support strict policies that would diminish the power of religious authorities and organisations and prevent them from having influence over national politics, due to their tendency to attempt to enforce conservative and reactionary policies when granted political authority. Despite these positions, I often oppose state atheism because I see a degree of personal spirituality as beneficial for giving individuals a sense of higher purpose and because any attempts to eradicate religion entirely would only lead to increased religiosity in the long term (e.g. Russia after the collapse of the USSR), in addition to disagreeing with the enforced materialist perspective of historical atheist states. My concern is with religious organisations influencing the public sphere with traditionalist mentalities, not what individuals choose to believe in and practice in their own time.

I support futurism as the basis of the new national culture and the development of a new idea of "social progress", moving away from more identity-focused concerns towards a fierce rejection of the past and all tradition. Speed, technology, youthfulness and action should be the beating heart of social change, leading the people forward in rebellion against traditionalism and promoting creativity, novelty, industrialism and self-actualisation through fearless endeavour. The collective fear of change and the unknown should be thrown aside in the pursuit of progress in all spheres of society, giving rise to a dynamic, ever-changing culture driven forwards by an embrace of everything that challenges the conservative social order and births new ideas, innovations and national traditions. Among such policy is the promotion of art, music and creative projects as the centre of national culture, reflecting many of the beliefs and values held by the Italian Futurists in their quest to rejuvenate their country through radical modernism.

[[File:SocFut.png]] How it all fits together
Under construction.

= My political inspirations =

[[File:Ataturk.png]] Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and [[File:Kemal.png]] Kemalism
Policies and ideas I like:
 * [[File:Statism.png]] Economic statism
 * [[File:CivCultNat.png]] Fusion of civic and cultural nationalism and creation of a new national identity
 * [[File:Antiimp.png]] Anti-imperialism
 * [[File:Laicism.png]] Laïciste policy on religion
 * [[File:Edu.png]] Education reform

Policies and ideas I don't like:
 * [[File:Pop.png]] Emphasis on populism

[[File:Marinetti.png]] Filippo Tomasso Marinetti and [[File:Fut2.png]] Italian Futurism
This includes the platform of the short-lived Futurist Political Party (1918-1919).

Policies and ideas I like:
 * [[File:CapAnti_Clerical.png]] Anti-clericalism
 * [[File:Indust.png]] Support for rapid industrialisation
 * [[File:Georgist.png]] Georgist-influenced land reform
 * [[File:NatRev.png]] Fusion of nationalism with revolutionary and ultra-modernist values
 * [[File:RomanticismAlt.png]] Emphasis on the arts, aesthetics and irrational emotion
 * [[File:Anticon.png]] Furious rejection of conservatism, reactionarism, tradition and the past

Policies and ideas I don't like:
 * [[File:male-icon.png]] Was putting "contempt for women" in the Manifesto of Futurism really necessary?
 * [[File:Imp.png]] Glorification of imperialism and war

Other inspirations
= My contributions =

Pages I've created
None so far.

Pages I've contributed to
None so far.

Icons I've created

 * [[File:SocFut.png]] Social Futurism (personal ideology)  • SocFut.png
 * [[File:Cybercorp.png]] Cybercorporatism • Cybercorp.png
 * [[File:StateCapMarkSoc.png]] State Capitalism-Market Socialism Synthesis • StateCapMarkSoc.png
 * [[File:CorpSynd.png]] Corporatist-Syndicalism • CorpSynd.png
 * [[File:GeoTransh.png]] Geo-Transhumanism • GeoTransh.png
 * [[File:TechDem.png]] Technocratic Democracy • TechDem.png
 * [[File:Technophilia.png]] Technophilia • Technophilia.png
 * [[File:RomanceTech.png]] Romantic Technocracy • RomanceTech.png
 * [[File:NatRevProg.png]] National Revolutionary Progressivism • NatRevProg.png
 * [[File:NatRev.png]] National Revivalism • NatRev.png
 * [[File:AuthClassProg.png]] Authoritarian Classical Progressivism • AuthClassProg.png
 * [[File:ArisRad.png]] Aristocratic Radicalism • ArisRad.png

"Romantic Technocracy" refers to a technocratic society with irrationalist or anti-materialist elements. "National Revivalism" is a component of my ideology that mixes Futurism and Cultural Nationalism.

= Relationships = Relationships are currently restricted to Main Wiki ideologies only.

[[File:VioletV1.png]] The vanguard of progress

 * [[File:Kemal.png]]  - One of the 20th century's best leaders and one of my greatest inspirations! Your policies of nationalism, progressive reformism, secularism and republicanism are all admirable and we share many political beliefs and values in common. Just be a little more futuristic and you'd be perfect!
 * [[File:Soccorp.png]]  - Tripartite cooperation and welfare states are great, you're certainly a promising alternative to both socialism and capitalism.
 * [[File:Welf.png]]  - A safe and healthy populace means a safe and happy nation! You're essential for securing equality of opportunity.
 * [[File:Civnat.png]]  - An inclusive conception of nationalism that includes all citizens is perfect for national unity!
 * [[File:Nattrans2.png]]  (non-Nazi)  - Technology will be the beating heart of our national spirit! Let's conquer the stars together!
 * [[File:Merit.png]]  - You value effort, merit and hard work just like I do! This is how we should decide who's in charge.
 * [[File:Technocracy.png]]  - Great alternative to the flawed system of democracy and a fellow fan of the intelligentsia, perfect for any forward-thinking and future-orientated nation.
 * [[File:Fut2.png]]  - Now this is what I call progress! Another great inspiration of mine and a fellow appreciator of art and the avant-garde, speed, industry and technology. Love your attitude towards rejecting all of tradition and the past too!
 * [[File:Laicism.png]]  - Keep religion out of public life and fight any and all clerical authority! Strict secularism is the way forwards.

[[File:Yes.png]] A lukewarm cup of tea

 * [[File:BullMooseProg.png]]  - Fellow nationalist progressive, Roosevelt was a great president and I like your trust-busting policies too! You're a little too conservative and friendly towards imperialism for my liking unfortunately, but still worthy of praise otherwise.
 * [[File:Sansepolcrismo.png]]  - Nationalist, republican, progressive, anti-imperialist and opposed to both Marxism and capitalism? This is great! Shame you turned into something worse later on though...
 * [[File:Nordmodel.png]]  - Neocorporatist economics and a large welfare state are a great start, but you still like free-market capitalism a bit too much. Much better than neoliberalism though!
 * [[File:Socgeo.png]]  - Anyone who likes unions and welfare and wants to fight landlords is a friend of mine.
 * [[File:Statecap.png]]  - We have our disagreements, but your dirigisme policies are pretty great. Nationalise essential industries!
 * [[File:Socauth.png]]  - Fellow enjoyer of free healthcare and strong governments, but why choose labour-friendly police states over artistic technocracies?

[[File:Meh.png]] Feelings of doubt

 * [[File:Vpered.png]]  - On one hand, you're a Marxist. On the other hand, you take influence from Futurism, you deeply value education and you want to create a new culture like I do, and your whole "god-building" project is a unique alternative to traditional religion. I'd call you my comrade if I was a socialist.
 * [[File:Soc-h.png]]  - Great critiques of capitalism and the modern free market, but you're too focused on class struggle when there are other alternatives. Also, you don't like meritocratic hierachies.
 * [[File:Cap.png]]  - You can be pretty efficient sometimes, but please stop mistreating your workers and putting profit before everything. Also, don't you contradict your own meritocratic principles?
 * [[File:Cultural_Nationalism.png]]  - I'd much rather work with you than with [[File:Ethnonat.png]], and we agree on the importance of shared customs, but you fight to preserve culture, not recreate it. A little futurism doesn't hurt sometimes.
 * [[File:Civlibert.png]]  - Artistic freedom, free love and legal psychedelics are great, but you're too anti-government for me to call you an ally.
 * [[File:Prog-u.png]]  - Inclusivity is quite nice but your progress focuses a little too much on identity issues and not speed and technology. And please, I'm not a violence-loving fascist just because I like Marinetti. Though demolishing old statues and monuments is pretty nice Futurist praxis.
 * [[File:Progconf.png]]  - You like social progress too, but unfortunately you don't realise tradition and modernity simply won't work together.
 * [[File:StateAth.png]]  - We both strongly dislike religious authorities, but don't you realise persecuting anyone who follows a religion will just turn more people against the state and increase the prominence of religion once your system collapses? Also, please stop trying to force materialism on people.

[[File:No.png]] Agents of decay

 * [[File:NeoFash.png]]  - The few good ideas you have were done much better by Futurism and the Sansepolcrismo! You're only focused on ethnic and racial populism as opposed to making any meaningful social progress happen. You're also an autocrat and a traditionalist, regrettably.
 * [[File:Ethnonat.png]] ' and [[File:Racenat.png]] ' - Segregationists and separatists who want to undermine national unity!
 * [[File:Natcon.png]]  - Our national culture should be dynamic and forward-thinking, not passéist and conservative.
 * [[File:Necon.png]]  - Imperialism under the guise of the world police. Please stop trying to force regime change and getting us tangled in senseless warfare.
 * [[File:Paleolib.png]]  - You're an anti-government traditionalist, I'm a pro-government futurist. We're pretty much complete opposites ideologically.
 * [[File:Monarch.png]]  - The laws of kings and queens belong in history books, not in a modern future-orientated nation, not to mention that merit-based rule is far more sensible.
 * [[File:Pop.png]]  - You tend to interfere with the march of progress a little too often for my tastes.
 * [[File:Christianright.png]]  - Stop trying to turn my country into a theocracy or I'll regrettably have to deport you.
 * [[File:Reactcross.png]]  - All you care about is reviving a past that's not worth bringing back in the slightest. Demolish tradition, embrace futurism.
 * [[File:Anprim.png]]  - Not only do you want to undo all social and technological progress, but you want to undo all of industry and civilisation too!

[[File:Chaos.png]] Unclassifiable
= Comments = I will be periodically clearing the comment section to reduce any clutter.
 * - Australia gang. Also, howdy.
 * - Hello there! Always nice to see a fellow Australian around.
 * - Could you add me please :pleading_face:
 * - I'm not adding any user relations yet, but I might once I've gotten around to finishing the "Beliefs" section.
 * Wonderfully done page so far excited to see more -Buni (talk) 12:29, 18 January 2023 (UTC)
 * - Thank you so much! I'll be sure to add more as time goes on!
 * - What Buni said. At the moment, this has got to be the most aesthetically pleasing user wiki on the site.
 * - Thank you kindly! 😊
 * [[File:Glencoe.png]] Glencoe- Cool thoughts on my ideology
 * - I'll be honest, I'm quite sceptical of liberalism, but I like your ideas as to how to remedy capitalism's negative effects in the USA and we both agree in favour of rapid technological development. Mixed feelings but there are a few positives. Also, [[File:Socgeo.png]] social georgism is very nice!
 * [[File:Glencoe.png]] Glencoe- thanks I am kinda like your 2017-2019 stage
 * - My thoughts exactly! I'd have agreed with you on a lot back then.