I'm stuck in a past era in that I view Dwight D Eisenhower as the quintessential Republican. (Eisenhower now seems more like a normal person (sorry!) but one with a slightly different view of matters international and national but someone willing to compromise and put the national and international interests of the nation and the adherence to the Constitution and the rule-of-law at the top of his list. I have always been a Democrat (or rather a Bernie Sanders Democratic Socialist but registered Democrat but Republicans used to be normal and a normal opposition; now they have become an extremist organization with a cult-leader who is given a free-pass to ignore the Constitution and the laws and rules of democratic people and use the government (and its purse) for his own personal benefit. The legitimate Republicans of years past would not have given Trump the time of day; the current members of the party are quite willing to give him the finest watch ever made and let him set it to whatever time he wants it to be. I do not know what the outcome of this struggle will be as there are not enough decent and normal people in the Trumpy Party to consider the needs of the people and the Democrats are reluctant to offend anyone by telling the truth, by being blunt, by going after the Trumpy-s and deciding that anyone on the Republican side of the aisle (even such as Romney or Collins) is fair game. If the Trumpy-s are willing to swallow their dubious ethical and moral and legal values (if they have 'em) and vote with their leader (Trumpy) then they should be willing to stand up for their side and take whatever truth comes their way. (I do not exempt Romney, etc. from the fray since they loyalties seem to be based on what will benefit them (in the polls) and not on the welfare and well-being of the people they supposedly serve. The current Republicans are a self-service party and they will do whatever it takes to serve Good Old Number One.
Michael, I don’t think the term has been accurate for at least three decades. Not only the loudest voices, scarily the softest ones seem fascist, too… not to mention the infiltrators in our Party. Really sickening… 😞
I don't think these guys want to conserve anything. They're radicals. Most of Republican support comes from "wedge" voters. Abortion. Guns. Gays. God. Most vote contrary to their own economic and health interests.
The majority of CPAC members are professional politicians manipulated by a few ideologues who happen to love money over country and people.
You and I might be saying the same thing although I think that most Trumpy (read Republican) voters suffer from an appalling lack of critical thinking skills; they are the people who willingly believe that ingesting bleach will save you from covid-19 and reject vaccination as some sort of malevolent plot to destroy you; they are the people who believe that there is an evil cabal of Jewish people and/or people of color who are out to replace you, take your job, your wife and kids, your house and car, and leave you with nothing and no one; they are the people who have decided it is their right (and duty?) to make medical decisions for people they don't know; they are the people who cling desperately to the belief that Donald J Trump (a man who never did anything for anyone in his entire life and takes no responsibility for any of his actions or decisions whatsoever) won the election of 2020 and they are going to do whatever it takes to return Trump to the Executive Office where he can be free to destroy people's lives, cozy up to oligarchs and autocrats world-wide; deny obvious climate change; and construct the nation in his own image. They are also people who choose to support the views of the Pillow Guy and Tucker Carlson rather than lift a finger to support the democracy they don't understand and the rule of law they have dismissed so that they can ecstatically and jubilantly follow the Pillow Guy and Dr Ronny and all those who cynically spout nonsense to the multitudes of Trumpy followers. If you reflect on this, you will come to the conclusion that this set of non-critical-thinking folks are afraid; they are motivated by a deep pervasive fear they don't examine and don't really understand or acknowledge. They are afraid of: change in the world they knew, a world that favored them even when they didn't deserve that favor; people they don't know who have done nothing to them but look different (horrors!; people of a different faith or views or background or knowledge that might seem to threaten their own status but really offer us all different possibilities and futures; changes in the global political scene, one which questions autocracy and rule by force and shows us an example of an improbable leader willing to put his people first; changes in the actual physical environment that deserve address but are instead denied by the non-critics, changes in the public media messages we receive in which opinion and bold-faced lies are credited and rebranded as the truth. Yes, most of this is motivated by fear and it is the duty of duly elected leaders to address and confront this intense fear with the truth and with actions that support and deal with the truth. We are not getting that truth from reputable and honest leaders and that fact gives the non-critical-thinkers the upper hand; they win by default. I wonder how long this will be the case.
Lanae, "...appalling lack of critical thinking skills" is the key here. Neil deGrasse Tyson wrote, "Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think." Although the word "know" here really refers to indoctrination.
Of course, even before that, Benjamin Franklin said "The only thing that is more expensive than education is ignorance."
Dan Rather, on Substack, wrote a piece 5/1/22, entitled “There's Nothing "Conservative" About a Coup”. He writes: “There is nothing “conservative” about plotting to overthrow American democracy. It isn’t “conservative” to undermine our institutions. Quite the contrary. It isn’t “conservative” to preach extremism and marinate oneself in lies. It isn’t “conservative” to usher in a radical new vision of American government, one supported by intimidation and violence and rooted in minority rule.”
Further on he says: “Again, “conservative” is not being used as a proper noun. It should not be a synonym for Republican. It suggests restraint, moderation, and caution – attributes completely absent from the modern Republican Party. And when someone talks about a “conservative” politician advocating for the destruction of American democracy, this oxymoron reinforces branding benefiting that politician with a smokescreen that hides reality.”
He frames the GOP’s use of the word conservative succinctly.
, spoke in a Move On interview about liking President Biden’s use of the term ‘MAGA extremists’ for, as Michael points to - those loud voices that sound fascist.
Ada, thank you very, very much for your comment and the links. I agree exponentially! (Try that for a vocabulary tweak... 😁 Sort of fits with "ultra-conservative.")
Robert, could you get another visit to the Simpson's (on Fox - the perfect audience!) to turn the "conservative" meaning into an operatic comic skit? Or perhaps another appearance before Congress?
You make me want to join and vote in the Republican primaries so I make sure that the old Republicans are preserved and the proper opponents are chosen in case Democrats lose. Perhaps we can appeal to the old Republicans to participate more in their own primaries??? Or is that an old idea... ?
Michael, I was ecstatic when the term "liberal" started evolving into "progressive" -- that's what we believe in, making progress toward a more perfect union. I've lamented for a long time that we Democrats haven't aggressively evolved "conservative" -- as it applied to Republican ideology -- into "regressive." Of course, today's Republican ideology would have to be declared ultra-regressive.
I think "conservative" is how it starts, even with individuals, and then a process happens to where these people are fascist after a while in their zeal to fulfill their agenda without any moral principles.
YES! Professor Reich and Heather - the Dems need to join together and voice messages over and over again until it is all anyone hears; WE ARE PRO-DEMOCRACY! WE ARE THE TRUE PATRIOTS AND AMERICA’S GREATEST! We MUST grow thicker skin, put on the gloves and fight fire with fire with regards to our message.
I haven’t been here of late as I have Omicron and only just today feel a bit better. I am fully boosted and this thing kicked my tuchus… Mask up, and please keep safe, everyone!
I enjoyed listening to your coffee time and will tune into the Simpson’s tomorrow…
Cynthia, I love Professor Reich; he feeds the intellect and the goodness of every heart. Yes, spiritual help is vital - but the great pains I’m taking to nurse & nourish my body aren’t hurting one bit…
Here in South Dakota, it is literally becoming Gilead. The legislature and governor actually write bills against our People's Referendums(PO) that pass! Now on the ballot for the primaries(when less people vote), is a Legislature Referendum against the whole process of our People's Referendums, which would require a 60% vote for a PO to pass!!! We are seeing book burnings and a destructive abortion bill being put in place. We already have a huge brain drain and our youth moving away. These radicals will not stop their fascist march until it hurts them financially. The only thing that will save our state from these radicals is a boycott on our tourism(we are the Mt. Rushmore State) which our state depends on, for these Christo-fascists to go back under their rocks.
The businesses that are here must rise up and say they will pull out of SD since their female workforce will no longer be able to be a full participant.
We have had many businesses and foundations pull their conventions from the state when SD was fighting against gay marriage and other LGTBQ rights. I am sure we are going to see the loss of revenue and sales with the abortion issue. MAGAs visit, but they don't purchase luxury items from our artisans like blue voters or international visitors.
Unfortunately, us fossil hunters can't boycott. I spent the summer (1953) hunting in SD (the Fossil Freeway) and Nebraska W/a club that has a federal license to collect on public land.
It seems important to distinguish between "optimism" (everything will be fine, eventually) and "hope" (it might not be fine but I/we have a vision for what it would take and I/we're going to fight like hell to try and make it happen). Optimism is simply another form of denial in my view. Hope is more realistic and tenacious. Example: Vaclav Havel was a hopeful person but not an optimist. (see his essay on "The Politics of Hope" in "Disturbing the Peace", pp.180ff)
Here in South Dakota, it is literally becoming Gilead. The legislature and governor actually write bills against our People's Referendums(PO) that pass! Now on the ballot for the primaries(when less people vote), is a Legislature Referendum against the whole process of our People's Referendums, which would require a 60% vote for a PO to pass!!! We are seeing book burnings and a destructive abortion bill being put in place. We already have a huge brain drain and our youth moving away. These radicals will not stop their fascist march until it hurts them financially. The only thing that will save our state from these radicals is a boycott on our tourism(We are the Mt. Rushmore State) which our state depends on, for these Christo-fascists to go back under their rocks.
Heather has a mellifluous voice and seems like she would be a great singer! I love her voice! I would rather see Bob dance because he is a great dancer! A little bit like a hesitant Fred Astaire!
Thanks Bob. You have so much more visibility and recognition than the rest of us. I am so glad that you continue to use your platform so rigorously. Maybe the Dems will actually listen to you. Like you said (to paraphrase); the anti-Democracy forces aren't even trying to hide their disdain or greed any longer. They couldn't care less about bettering the lives of the citizens of the USA.
When I optimistically voted for Joe Biden, I believed quite naively that the Progressive Era might be upon us. Ordinary working people would have a chance at decent and rewarding lives; people of color, women, disabled people, LGBTQ people, Native Americans; we would all enjoy peace and prosperity on a national, even global, level; we would all see our needs, concerns, and rights considered and addressed; our leader Joe Biden would step up to the plate and strive to emulate his role models: the Roosevelts and particularly, FDR. I was counting a lot on Joe Biden although I had my misgivings about his ability to take action and go out on a limb for the sake of his nation and the world. I expected that he would face a united Trump-party posing as Republicans, but I also hoped he would use whatever legal and Constitutional means to drive his initiative and agenda. (I thought that, since he readily rescinded Trump's often unconstitutional Executive Orders, that he would be ready with his own EOs in order to remedy lamentable economic and social inequities and deal with Trumpy stagnation in Congress.) Well, it has turned out as I feared: Joe is much more willing to compromise on his (our?) ideals and get along with the Trumpists than he claimed. He is more than willing to sacrifice his (our?) agenda for the sake of unity and agreement, never realizing that, as the Trumpists gain political power and influence over the non-critical thinking/skills set, the majority of Americans are steadily losing whatever influence and power-in-unity they had. The Trumpists are an anti-Democracy (democracy) party and they are steadily gaining in power and strength as they continue to divide and conquer/to vote down needed legislation and to force people into fear and submission. At this point, I do not know what the future will bring and I hesitate to predict since my previous prediction (about what Joe would do when put to the test, that is, cave or back down) seems to have been very accurate. I would hope that the essential progressive ideal of a majority of Progressives gains the upper hand but I do not know that this is so---no one knows that. What it comes down to for me is reading candidate statements and written letters of support, trying to select the most avowed progressives and hope that they will carry through, and hoping that the candidate in national office in 2024 (on the Progressive side) will do her best to follow through on the promises she has made. (I tend to support the likes of Elizabeth Warren or Stacey Abrams--that is why I have used the female pronouns!) If we had elected Bernie Sanders (as I hoped) we would be in a different place as Bernie would carry through on his promises and not deal them away as Joe BIden has. Did Joe ever stop to think that there were many of us who were counting on him to carry through and stick to his FDR role model? To resort to the EO tactic Trump used to his own advantage, to cement his personal power, but that an FDR inspired Joe BIden might turn to for the benefit of the people and not for personal gain? There were and still are many who cling to that belief and hope that Biden might decide to serve the people and use whatever constitutional means necessary to do so. Does he have some constitutional tricks up his sleeve? I don't know but I sure hope so.
We need to first, start using descriptive language. Republicans are NOT conservative. They are fascists. We should never use any other word to describe them. We are conservative, in that when we are in power, the deficit goes down, we want to conserve energy, conserve the planet.
Republicans are for mandatory motherhood - pro birth. They are anti lifers except for embryos. They love the death penalty.
Democrats are for democracy, which requires an educated citizenship. It requires a healthy populace. These are the things we support.
And finally, the opposite of woke is asleep. Can we not point out that being woke means we are awake and these people want everyone asleep so the asleep people will not notice human cruelty dishonesty, lies and cheating.
I really think we democrats have always shown a reluctance to paint pictures in black and white. If we are going to hang on to a democracy, we had better start calling shots more clearly.
Seriously, even though the milieu regarding robber barons is similar it is in no way the same as the 1890’s. The robbers are much more powerful and sophisticated! We lose now, I’m afraid we lose forever.
Many of the subscribers have commended how perplex they are that the Democratic Party has been so complacent and docile with the Republican Party. I have wonder often as to why the Democratic Party is not aggressively addressing the attacks coming from the Republican Party. I am suspecting that the Democratic party is being paid to be docile. We need to gradually replace all of the Democratic membership in the party serving in the House of Representative and in the Senate as well as in the Headquarter Office. They should be replaced with smart younger aggressive men and women. People that know how to debate using the facts and who have the ability to educate the masses within our country that do not know how our governmental system works. Believe me there are many citizens that have no idea how democracy functions, nor how the power structure develops and pressures government to pass laws or block laws.
In addition, we need to establish term limits, so that no one becomes too comfortable in their position so as to become low hanging fruits ready to be picked. At 76 and being actively involved in some elections, I have seen a lot. If what we have now is not working, it is time to make changes.
It is true that the demographic of America has been changing. What we see happening now in response to these changes is not a surprise to me and many other Americans. To be truthfully, we expected the ticking bomb to have gone off earlier.
Robert, I want it to be clear that I’m grateful for your insight, even though I’m a socialist, not a capitalist. Thanks for your good humor and cheerfulness, and striving to encourage people.
Do you think the term ‘conservative’ still applies to republican politicians? The loudest voices on that side seem fascist to me.
I'm stuck in a past era in that I view Dwight D Eisenhower as the quintessential Republican. (Eisenhower now seems more like a normal person (sorry!) but one with a slightly different view of matters international and national but someone willing to compromise and put the national and international interests of the nation and the adherence to the Constitution and the rule-of-law at the top of his list. I have always been a Democrat (or rather a Bernie Sanders Democratic Socialist but registered Democrat but Republicans used to be normal and a normal opposition; now they have become an extremist organization with a cult-leader who is given a free-pass to ignore the Constitution and the laws and rules of democratic people and use the government (and its purse) for his own personal benefit. The legitimate Republicans of years past would not have given Trump the time of day; the current members of the party are quite willing to give him the finest watch ever made and let him set it to whatever time he wants it to be. I do not know what the outcome of this struggle will be as there are not enough decent and normal people in the Trumpy Party to consider the needs of the people and the Democrats are reluctant to offend anyone by telling the truth, by being blunt, by going after the Trumpy-s and deciding that anyone on the Republican side of the aisle (even such as Romney or Collins) is fair game. If the Trumpy-s are willing to swallow their dubious ethical and moral and legal values (if they have 'em) and vote with their leader (Trumpy) then they should be willing to stand up for their side and take whatever truth comes their way. (I do not exempt Romney, etc. from the fray since they loyalties seem to be based on what will benefit them (in the polls) and not on the welfare and well-being of the people they supposedly serve. The current Republicans are a self-service party and they will do whatever it takes to serve Good Old Number One.
Good points. The Republicans are getting crazy. It will all fall down on their heads, and it’s our job to make sure that happens as soon as possible.
Michael, I don’t think the term has been accurate for at least three decades. Not only the loudest voices, scarily the softest ones seem fascist, too… not to mention the infiltrators in our Party. Really sickening… 😞
I don't think these guys want to conserve anything. They're radicals. Most of Republican support comes from "wedge" voters. Abortion. Guns. Gays. God. Most vote contrary to their own economic and health interests.
The majority of CPAC members are professional politicians manipulated by a few ideologues who happen to love money over country and people.
You and I might be saying the same thing although I think that most Trumpy (read Republican) voters suffer from an appalling lack of critical thinking skills; they are the people who willingly believe that ingesting bleach will save you from covid-19 and reject vaccination as some sort of malevolent plot to destroy you; they are the people who believe that there is an evil cabal of Jewish people and/or people of color who are out to replace you, take your job, your wife and kids, your house and car, and leave you with nothing and no one; they are the people who have decided it is their right (and duty?) to make medical decisions for people they don't know; they are the people who cling desperately to the belief that Donald J Trump (a man who never did anything for anyone in his entire life and takes no responsibility for any of his actions or decisions whatsoever) won the election of 2020 and they are going to do whatever it takes to return Trump to the Executive Office where he can be free to destroy people's lives, cozy up to oligarchs and autocrats world-wide; deny obvious climate change; and construct the nation in his own image. They are also people who choose to support the views of the Pillow Guy and Tucker Carlson rather than lift a finger to support the democracy they don't understand and the rule of law they have dismissed so that they can ecstatically and jubilantly follow the Pillow Guy and Dr Ronny and all those who cynically spout nonsense to the multitudes of Trumpy followers. If you reflect on this, you will come to the conclusion that this set of non-critical-thinking folks are afraid; they are motivated by a deep pervasive fear they don't examine and don't really understand or acknowledge. They are afraid of: change in the world they knew, a world that favored them even when they didn't deserve that favor; people they don't know who have done nothing to them but look different (horrors!; people of a different faith or views or background or knowledge that might seem to threaten their own status but really offer us all different possibilities and futures; changes in the global political scene, one which questions autocracy and rule by force and shows us an example of an improbable leader willing to put his people first; changes in the actual physical environment that deserve address but are instead denied by the non-critics, changes in the public media messages we receive in which opinion and bold-faced lies are credited and rebranded as the truth. Yes, most of this is motivated by fear and it is the duty of duly elected leaders to address and confront this intense fear with the truth and with actions that support and deal with the truth. We are not getting that truth from reputable and honest leaders and that fact gives the non-critical-thinkers the upper hand; they win by default. I wonder how long this will be the case.
Lanae, "...appalling lack of critical thinking skills" is the key here. Neil deGrasse Tyson wrote, "Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think." Although the word "know" here really refers to indoctrination.
Of course, even before that, Benjamin Franklin said "The only thing that is more expensive than education is ignorance."
More expensive to the whole of society...
In response to Michael:
Dan Rather, on Substack, wrote a piece 5/1/22, entitled “There's Nothing "Conservative" About a Coup”. He writes: “There is nothing “conservative” about plotting to overthrow American democracy. It isn’t “conservative” to undermine our institutions. Quite the contrary. It isn’t “conservative” to preach extremism and marinate oneself in lies. It isn’t “conservative” to usher in a radical new vision of American government, one supported by intimidation and violence and rooted in minority rule.”
Further on he says: “Again, “conservative” is not being used as a proper noun. It should not be a synonym for Republican. It suggests restraint, moderation, and caution – attributes completely absent from the modern Republican Party. And when someone talks about a “conservative” politician advocating for the destruction of American democracy, this oxymoron reinforces branding benefiting that politician with a smokescreen that hides reality.”
He frames the GOP’s use of the word conservative succinctly.
https://steady.substack.com/p/theres-nothing-conservative-about?r=92cc5&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
And Dan Pfeiffer, author of: “Battling the Big Lie: How Fox, Facebook, and the MAGA Media Are Destroying America”
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538707977?tag=hacboogrosit-20
, spoke in a Move On interview about liking President Biden’s use of the term ‘MAGA extremists’ for, as Michael points to - those loud voices that sound fascist.
Ada, thank you very, very much for your comment and the links. I agree exponentially! (Try that for a vocabulary tweak... 😁 Sort of fits with "ultra-conservative.")
Robert, could you get another visit to the Simpson's (on Fox - the perfect audience!) to turn the "conservative" meaning into an operatic comic skit? Or perhaps another appearance before Congress?
Thank you!
Think of all the true conservatives who have started attacking the Trump cult -- Lincoln Project, Michael Steele, etc.
You make me want to join and vote in the Republican primaries so I make sure that the old Republicans are preserved and the proper opponents are chosen in case Democrats lose. Perhaps we can appeal to the old Republicans to participate more in their own primaries??? Or is that an old idea... ?
Michael, I was ecstatic when the term "liberal" started evolving into "progressive" -- that's what we believe in, making progress toward a more perfect union. I've lamented for a long time that we Democrats haven't aggressively evolved "conservative" -- as it applied to Republican ideology -- into "regressive." Of course, today's Republican ideology would have to be declared ultra-regressive.
@ Gary D. ~ Indeed! You have coined an appropriate term.
I think "conservative" is how it starts, even with individuals, and then a process happens to where these people are fascist after a while in their zeal to fulfill their agenda without any moral principles.
I definitely agree with you; conservative can’t possibly describe the current crop of Republican politicians.
YES! Professor Reich and Heather - the Dems need to join together and voice messages over and over again until it is all anyone hears; WE ARE PRO-DEMOCRACY! WE ARE THE TRUE PATRIOTS AND AMERICA’S GREATEST! We MUST grow thicker skin, put on the gloves and fight fire with fire with regards to our message.
I haven’t been here of late as I have Omicron and only just today feel a bit better. I am fully boosted and this thing kicked my tuchus… Mask up, and please keep safe, everyone!
I enjoyed listening to your coffee time and will tune into the Simpson’s tomorrow…
🌻
Get well. Register Democrats. Win Congress. https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Thank You Daniel. Working on it, and been working on it!
Thank you Anne.
🌻
Yes, listen to Mr. Reich as he can raise the dead. Spiritual help is just as important as physical in healing, don't you think?
Cynthia, I love Professor Reich; he feeds the intellect and the goodness of every heart. Yes, spiritual help is vital - but the great pains I’m taking to nurse & nourish my body aren’t hurting one bit…
Here in South Dakota, it is literally becoming Gilead. The legislature and governor actually write bills against our People's Referendums(PO) that pass! Now on the ballot for the primaries(when less people vote), is a Legislature Referendum against the whole process of our People's Referendums, which would require a 60% vote for a PO to pass!!! We are seeing book burnings and a destructive abortion bill being put in place. We already have a huge brain drain and our youth moving away. These radicals will not stop their fascist march until it hurts them financially. The only thing that will save our state from these radicals is a boycott on our tourism(we are the Mt. Rushmore State) which our state depends on, for these Christo-fascists to go back under their rocks.
The businesses that are here must rise up and say they will pull out of SD since their female workforce will no longer be able to be a full participant.
We have had many businesses and foundations pull their conventions from the state when SD was fighting against gay marriage and other LGTBQ rights. I am sure we are going to see the loss of revenue and sales with the abortion issue. MAGAs visit, but they don't purchase luxury items from our artisans like blue voters or international visitors.
Unfortunately, us fossil hunters can't boycott. I spent the summer (1953) hunting in SD (the Fossil Freeway) and Nebraska W/a club that has a federal license to collect on public land.
I’m with you on that!
It seems important to distinguish between "optimism" (everything will be fine, eventually) and "hope" (it might not be fine but I/we have a vision for what it would take and I/we're going to fight like hell to try and make it happen). Optimism is simply another form of denial in my view. Hope is more realistic and tenacious. Example: Vaclav Havel was a hopeful person but not an optimist. (see his essay on "The Politics of Hope" in "Disturbing the Peace", pp.180ff)
You, on Fox? Who’da thunk it 😉
Thank you so much for the work you do. I find it informative and inspiring. Best wishes.
Here in South Dakota, it is literally becoming Gilead. The legislature and governor actually write bills against our People's Referendums(PO) that pass! Now on the ballot for the primaries(when less people vote), is a Legislature Referendum against the whole process of our People's Referendums, which would require a 60% vote for a PO to pass!!! We are seeing book burnings and a destructive abortion bill being put in place. We already have a huge brain drain and our youth moving away. These radicals will not stop their fascist march until it hurts them financially. The only thing that will save our state from these radicals is a boycott on our tourism(We are the Mt. Rushmore State) which our state depends on, for these Christo-fascists to go back under their rocks.
Heather has a mellifluous voice and seems like she would be a great singer! I love her voice! I would rather see Bob dance because he is a great dancer! A little bit like a hesitant Fred Astaire!
I really liked watching him dance. He makes me happy.
I've always read the word "conservative" as "selfish."
Absolutely! And they blame that there is not enough to defend their selfishness, not that they won't share so everyone will have enough.
Thanks Bob. You have so much more visibility and recognition than the rest of us. I am so glad that you continue to use your platform so rigorously. Maybe the Dems will actually listen to you. Like you said (to paraphrase); the anti-Democracy forces aren't even trying to hide their disdain or greed any longer. They couldn't care less about bettering the lives of the citizens of the USA.
When I optimistically voted for Joe Biden, I believed quite naively that the Progressive Era might be upon us. Ordinary working people would have a chance at decent and rewarding lives; people of color, women, disabled people, LGBTQ people, Native Americans; we would all enjoy peace and prosperity on a national, even global, level; we would all see our needs, concerns, and rights considered and addressed; our leader Joe Biden would step up to the plate and strive to emulate his role models: the Roosevelts and particularly, FDR. I was counting a lot on Joe Biden although I had my misgivings about his ability to take action and go out on a limb for the sake of his nation and the world. I expected that he would face a united Trump-party posing as Republicans, but I also hoped he would use whatever legal and Constitutional means to drive his initiative and agenda. (I thought that, since he readily rescinded Trump's often unconstitutional Executive Orders, that he would be ready with his own EOs in order to remedy lamentable economic and social inequities and deal with Trumpy stagnation in Congress.) Well, it has turned out as I feared: Joe is much more willing to compromise on his (our?) ideals and get along with the Trumpists than he claimed. He is more than willing to sacrifice his (our?) agenda for the sake of unity and agreement, never realizing that, as the Trumpists gain political power and influence over the non-critical thinking/skills set, the majority of Americans are steadily losing whatever influence and power-in-unity they had. The Trumpists are an anti-Democracy (democracy) party and they are steadily gaining in power and strength as they continue to divide and conquer/to vote down needed legislation and to force people into fear and submission. At this point, I do not know what the future will bring and I hesitate to predict since my previous prediction (about what Joe would do when put to the test, that is, cave or back down) seems to have been very accurate. I would hope that the essential progressive ideal of a majority of Progressives gains the upper hand but I do not know that this is so---no one knows that. What it comes down to for me is reading candidate statements and written letters of support, trying to select the most avowed progressives and hope that they will carry through, and hoping that the candidate in national office in 2024 (on the Progressive side) will do her best to follow through on the promises she has made. (I tend to support the likes of Elizabeth Warren or Stacey Abrams--that is why I have used the female pronouns!) If we had elected Bernie Sanders (as I hoped) we would be in a different place as Bernie would carry through on his promises and not deal them away as Joe BIden has. Did Joe ever stop to think that there were many of us who were counting on him to carry through and stick to his FDR role model? To resort to the EO tactic Trump used to his own advantage, to cement his personal power, but that an FDR inspired Joe BIden might turn to for the benefit of the people and not for personal gain? There were and still are many who cling to that belief and hope that Biden might decide to serve the people and use whatever constitutional means necessary to do so. Does he have some constitutional tricks up his sleeve? I don't know but I sure hope so.
You get all of that with a big win in the midterms. https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Lanae, why don’t you boil this down and send it to Biden? He needs to hear it.
I do not like the Simpsons but I will watch it tomorrow night.
We need to first, start using descriptive language. Republicans are NOT conservative. They are fascists. We should never use any other word to describe them. We are conservative, in that when we are in power, the deficit goes down, we want to conserve energy, conserve the planet.
Republicans are for mandatory motherhood - pro birth. They are anti lifers except for embryos. They love the death penalty.
Democrats are for democracy, which requires an educated citizenship. It requires a healthy populace. These are the things we support.
And finally, the opposite of woke is asleep. Can we not point out that being woke means we are awake and these people want everyone asleep so the asleep people will not notice human cruelty dishonesty, lies and cheating.
I really think we democrats have always shown a reluctance to paint pictures in black and white. If we are going to hang on to a democracy, we had better start calling shots more clearly.
Defining language
Seriously, even though the milieu regarding robber barons is similar it is in no way the same as the 1890’s. The robbers are much more powerful and sophisticated! We lose now, I’m afraid we lose forever.
Many of the subscribers have commended how perplex they are that the Democratic Party has been so complacent and docile with the Republican Party. I have wonder often as to why the Democratic Party is not aggressively addressing the attacks coming from the Republican Party. I am suspecting that the Democratic party is being paid to be docile. We need to gradually replace all of the Democratic membership in the party serving in the House of Representative and in the Senate as well as in the Headquarter Office. They should be replaced with smart younger aggressive men and women. People that know how to debate using the facts and who have the ability to educate the masses within our country that do not know how our governmental system works. Believe me there are many citizens that have no idea how democracy functions, nor how the power structure develops and pressures government to pass laws or block laws.
In addition, we need to establish term limits, so that no one becomes too comfortable in their position so as to become low hanging fruits ready to be picked. At 76 and being actively involved in some elections, I have seen a lot. If what we have now is not working, it is time to make changes.
It is true that the demographic of America has been changing. What we see happening now in response to these changes is not a surprise to me and many other Americans. To be truthfully, we expected the ticking bomb to have gone off earlier.
Robert, I want it to be clear that I’m grateful for your insight, even though I’m a socialist, not a capitalist. Thanks for your good humor and cheerfulness, and striving to encourage people.
Hi, Carol. Good to "meet" you.