Power and money. That is the sole calculus for all these people. Nothing else matters for them, not country, not integrity, not truth. The only conversation they have with themselves is about how to perpetuate and increase their power and money. Just like a cancer, they will kill their host, and they will then die along with it because the system they exploited and corrupted for power and money will no longer exist.
I dream of journalists and media labeling every politician as a Big Lie opponent or denier on every occasion. I would like every voter to know before voting.
I have never been so disheartened in the more than 60 years I have been observing and particpating in the political arena. The question you posed is so "right on", it deserves to be shared with all Americans. Thank you for putting it so succinctly.
robert reich writes: "Generations to come will sit in judgment about what you have wrought. And if the democratic experiment called America continues to unravel because of what you did or failed to do, you will live in infamy."
i respond: the planet is being destroyed at a rapidly accelerating pace. we've wiped out huge swaths of habitats, biodiversity, even entire ecosystems are being destroyed whilst we ALL complacently stand around in the deluded daze that humans will have a future to look forward to. we do not. our children and grandchildren will be facing ecological, economic, political and especially basic everyday-needs disasters that will NOT be solvable using science, technology or anything else, not even planting a few dozen trees -- and nor will we be able to escape our unforgivable planetary sins through space travel. all these greedy elitist bastards that you call out by name are only too happy to burn the entire planet to the ground if it means they get to be the last one standing on the pile of rotting corpses. that's their goal. to crush the competition one final time.
in short, robert, my response to your optimistic comment is this: SOYLENT GREEN.
Another great essay; needs to be echoed by more of you with the ability and authority. Loved the naming names and hope that you'll write a follow up with examples in American history when others followed this same self-serving agenda...your one about McCarthy comes to mind as worthy to be named again in the company of all those of this post. The saddest thing is, every one of us has our reasons we've reasoned ourselves into so reasoning only will not change behaviors. The roots lie deeper, in our emotional identities, and emotions are a far more dangerous topic to touch than simply following what we're told has value--wealth, power, charm--over identifying with those who lack the desire to acquire them in a rigged system; those are people who have the ability to identify with and nurture others as equal beings, human or not.
May I ask them, too...Do you not have enough freedom? What freedom do you lack? What freedom do yo want more of? What freedom has Biden taken from you?
And do you know that autocrats tend to strip freedoms and rights? Especially freedom of speech. Autocrats dislike dissent. You will likely lose freedoms if trump returns to office. You can see trump has a long record of enforcing loyalty to him. Loyalty to the Constitution has no downside. Treason, sedition, etc does have a legal downside, of course. Disloyalty to an autocrat has a downside, but not a legal one. Just an dishonorable personal downside.
That’s what is confounding. We can try and understand motivations, but who are these people really? Deluded by their own ambition. In the deny, deny, deny Modus operandi. Backed into a corner and unwilling to lose face. Or just under the spell of plain every day greed, dishonesty, and a dance with a devil.
The answers would likely be the same as those senators that took us on that damn fool’s crusade to Iraq based on dodgy evidence and faulty logic 20 years ago but fail to admit their error.
What a powerful and elegant piece of writing, Robert Reich. I hope the people you have named will have their “dark night of the soul” and come to support the Constitution and the principles of democracy before it’s too late. Thanks for all you do.
Your question makes me think about the age old problems of power and greed. Look no further than the lessons of literature. Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and the pigs, Napoleon, “four legs good, two legs bad.” And the lies. And that Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Is it human nature? It doesn’t have to be.
Mr. Reich, you forgot to ask one group of powerful people how they continue to support the Big Lie and Trump. The clergy. The people with with undue influence over their minions using God’s Law to justify their position and sermons. They aren’t going away.
Ed Meese, Ronald Reagan’s attorney general once commented to the effect that the Republican Party needed to take steps to ensure the “Reagan Revolution”, assuring the prerogatives of the haves, was protected against any democratic inspired efforts to dislodge it. Using justifications first posed to justify slavery and minority government provided by former Vice President, senator, and strident defender of slavery John C. Calhoun, and funded by oligarchs who despise taxes and majoritarian politics, the Republican Party has been doing just that ever since. The Party was stacking the courts, and rigging the electoral process long before Trump happened along. Knowing this is anyone really surprised the Big Lie would be in the Republican tool box? It’s just represents the next step in the process. Appealing to the consciences of these people as you have done by your question Dr. Reich, is a Labor of Sisyphus . You cannot be a Republican or vote Republican and lay claim to having one. At the end of the day it is all about power and the Lords of the Dark Money Universe, who really control the GOP , are determined to keep hold of it by any means necessary.
Power and money. That is the sole calculus for all these people. Nothing else matters for them, not country, not integrity, not truth. The only conversation they have with themselves is about how to perpetuate and increase their power and money. Just like a cancer, they will kill their host, and they will then die along with it because the system they exploited and corrupted for power and money will no longer exist.
I dream of journalists and media labeling every politician as a Big Lie opponent or denier on every occasion. I would like every voter to know before voting.
Thank you for the clarity of your words that will forever challenge infamy. Be Well. Be Safe.
I have never been so disheartened in the more than 60 years I have been observing and particpating in the political arena. The question you posed is so "right on", it deserves to be shared with all Americans. Thank you for putting it so succinctly.
robert reich writes: "Generations to come will sit in judgment about what you have wrought. And if the democratic experiment called America continues to unravel because of what you did or failed to do, you will live in infamy."
i respond: the planet is being destroyed at a rapidly accelerating pace. we've wiped out huge swaths of habitats, biodiversity, even entire ecosystems are being destroyed whilst we ALL complacently stand around in the deluded daze that humans will have a future to look forward to. we do not. our children and grandchildren will be facing ecological, economic, political and especially basic everyday-needs disasters that will NOT be solvable using science, technology or anything else, not even planting a few dozen trees -- and nor will we be able to escape our unforgivable planetary sins through space travel. all these greedy elitist bastards that you call out by name are only too happy to burn the entire planet to the ground if it means they get to be the last one standing on the pile of rotting corpses. that's their goal. to crush the competition one final time.
in short, robert, my response to your optimistic comment is this: SOYLENT GREEN.
Thanks, Bob, for a powerful essay. What ARE they telling themselves, and their children and grandchildren?
Another great essay; needs to be echoed by more of you with the ability and authority. Loved the naming names and hope that you'll write a follow up with examples in American history when others followed this same self-serving agenda...your one about McCarthy comes to mind as worthy to be named again in the company of all those of this post. The saddest thing is, every one of us has our reasons we've reasoned ourselves into so reasoning only will not change behaviors. The roots lie deeper, in our emotional identities, and emotions are a far more dangerous topic to touch than simply following what we're told has value--wealth, power, charm--over identifying with those who lack the desire to acquire them in a rigged system; those are people who have the ability to identify with and nurture others as equal beings, human or not.
May I ask them, too...Do you not have enough freedom? What freedom do you lack? What freedom do yo want more of? What freedom has Biden taken from you?
And do you know that autocrats tend to strip freedoms and rights? Especially freedom of speech. Autocrats dislike dissent. You will likely lose freedoms if trump returns to office. You can see trump has a long record of enforcing loyalty to him. Loyalty to the Constitution has no downside. Treason, sedition, etc does have a legal downside, of course. Disloyalty to an autocrat has a downside, but not a legal one. Just an dishonorable personal downside.
That’s what is confounding. We can try and understand motivations, but who are these people really? Deluded by their own ambition. In the deny, deny, deny Modus operandi. Backed into a corner and unwilling to lose face. Or just under the spell of plain every day greed, dishonesty, and a dance with a devil.
The problem is that the people who need to read this message, have been indoctrinated by the Trump cult, and refuse to listen to the real truth.
The answers would likely be the same as those senators that took us on that damn fool’s crusade to Iraq based on dodgy evidence and faulty logic 20 years ago but fail to admit their error.
What a powerful and elegant piece of writing, Robert Reich. I hope the people you have named will have their “dark night of the soul” and come to support the Constitution and the principles of democracy before it’s too late. Thanks for all you do.
I hope you find a way to bring your powerful message to the attention of the people who are intended to hear it.
Your question makes me think about the age old problems of power and greed. Look no further than the lessons of literature. Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and the pigs, Napoleon, “four legs good, two legs bad.” And the lies. And that Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Is it human nature? It doesn’t have to be.
Mr. Reich, you forgot to ask one group of powerful people how they continue to support the Big Lie and Trump. The clergy. The people with with undue influence over their minions using God’s Law to justify their position and sermons. They aren’t going away.
Ed Meese, Ronald Reagan’s attorney general once commented to the effect that the Republican Party needed to take steps to ensure the “Reagan Revolution”, assuring the prerogatives of the haves, was protected against any democratic inspired efforts to dislodge it. Using justifications first posed to justify slavery and minority government provided by former Vice President, senator, and strident defender of slavery John C. Calhoun, and funded by oligarchs who despise taxes and majoritarian politics, the Republican Party has been doing just that ever since. The Party was stacking the courts, and rigging the electoral process long before Trump happened along. Knowing this is anyone really surprised the Big Lie would be in the Republican tool box? It’s just represents the next step in the process. Appealing to the consciences of these people as you have done by your question Dr. Reich, is a Labor of Sisyphus . You cannot be a Republican or vote Republican and lay claim to having one. At the end of the day it is all about power and the Lords of the Dark Money Universe, who really control the GOP , are determined to keep hold of it by any means necessary.