tw: the government is trying to make us do hard work and i am literally shaking
erika kirk and senator ted cruz just dropped the most toxic bill in human history, mandating 9-to-5 eye contact and rapid email responses. my nervous system is in shambles.
tw: hard work, corporate jargon, perceived urgency, pdfs, ted cruz
besties i am writing this from under my desk because the simulation has officially become a hostile work environment. so like, my fyp was just serving me gentle morning stretches and suddenly i got jump-scared by c-span. erika kirk and senator ted cruz just introduced the 'american grit and grind act,' and it is literally the most traumatic piece of legislation since they invented the concept of the IRS.
if you don't know what this bill does, please hold your crystals tight. it legally mandates that every citizen over the age of 18 must respond to professional emails within 24 hours. sending an email is already literal violence, but forcing a reply? that is a direct attack on my parasympathetic nervous system. they are weaponizing 'checking in.'
during the press conference, ted cruz actually used the phrase 'hard work' without a trigger warning. my soul left my body. the sheer toxicity of expecting human beings—who are basically just highly sensitive houseplants with anxiety—to labor in a completely toxic economy is deeply un-alive behavior. he said we need to 'clock in.' clock into what, theodore? the irreversible heat death of the universe?
erika kirk was standing there nodding, looking like the concept of boundaries has never even occurred to her. she suggested we should 'look our bosses in the eye' when we ask for time off. eye contact? in this economy? that is a literal microaggression. my therapist (who is technically a tarot reader on tiktok but it's the same thing) said that the government is just projecting its unhealed generational trauma onto our generation.
i'm physically exhausted just typing this. existing is basically a full-time job already. if you need to self-soothe because the concept of a 9-to-5 is triggering your fight-or-flight, i highly recommend the extra-heavy weighted sensory blanket i use when the news cycle gets too aggressive. it's linked in my amazon storefront (link in bio) and it feels like a hug from someone who will never ask you for a deliverable by EOD. stay safe out there, the vibes are in critical condition.
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Reader Discussion (11)
Back in MY day, we didn't have 'parasympathetic nervous systems'. We just got our work done. This generation needs to toughen up! What happened to initiative and ambition? Kids these days...
I'm literally drowning in emails already, this bill is just going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I can barely function on 3 hours of sleep and a triple shot latte. Send help (and maybe some therapy vouchers).
This is just another example of the globalist elites trying to control us! They want us too busy responding to emails so we don't see their nefarious plans. Wake up sheeple! #Bitcoin is the only way.
I don't understand all this 'American Grit and Grind Act' stuff. Can someone explain it in plain English? I just want to enjoy my knitting and watch the Hallmark channel.
This is HUGE! They're finally admitting that they need us to be productive slaves. Think about it, folks - this bill is just another step towards a dystopian future where we have no free will.
This is going to kill any chance of creativity! I can barely find time to code as it is. Between emails, meetings, and this new law, there's no room for innovation.
This bill is just another example of how the government ignores the real problems facing our planet. We need to focus on sustainability, not forcing people to work themselves to death.
Look, I get that it's annoying to constantly be bombarded with emails. But there are also legitimate reasons why businesses need quick responses. Maybe instead of complaining about the bill, we should focus on finding ways to manage our email overload more effectively.
This is just another way for the government to control us and make sure we don't have any free time. They know that happy people are dangerous, so they try to keep us constantly stressed and overworked.
Can someone please explain how this bill is supposed to help with the actual problems? Like, what about cybersecurity threats or lack of digital literacy? This feels like a bandaid solution for a much bigger issue.
This is deeply unsettling. My creativity comes from moments of quiet contemplation and inspiration, not from being constantly connected and pressured to respond. This bill feels like a direct attack on my ability to express myself.