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Culture War Roundup for the week of March 31, 2025

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To which my response is, very well! Then we shall all go without roofs. Now of course, people are capable of far more than you expect them to be once their backs are actually up against the wall. People will leap into action if there's no other choice. But, supposing he's right and it does turn out that no one answers the call, then we shall simply go without. A nation, a culture, a race that does not provide for itself, should go without.

Does your wife agree with this "go without roofs" thing? When the water's coming into your house, remind yourself of that core ethical commitment.

The wife probably expects him to be a "roof fixer of last resort" (or at least this would be the case in a traditional marriage). Maybe not as pretty as a professional job, maybe it doesn't last as long, but good enough to get through the next rain storm.

I would expect most men, with a couple hours of watching youtube, and a day off for the project could fix a leaky roof.