I wish the corporate leaders would listen to you. Unfortunately, immersed as they are in their over-the-top lavish lifestyles and ability to buy politicians, they can't see further than the next quarterly report. For them, life is good just the way things are. Of course, the corporate interests don't want the voting rights bill to pass, because it limits money in politics.
Lawrence O'Donnell, on his show last night, characterized Kyrsten Sinema's sanctimonious speech yesterday as giving a middle finger to the President of the United States, of her own party. He opined that the speech, which she clearly was reading verbatim, was written by her staff. I suspect it was actually written by corporate lobbyists. The same corporate campaign cash that Mitch McConnell uses to keep Republicans in line is being used to keep Sinema and Manchin in line.
Maybe Biden should start talking incessantly about corruption, in the Congress and the federal courts.
Indeed. Corruption should become a major theme of everyone who cares about our democracy. It's corruption in the form of corporate cash, or corruption in the form of loyalty to a cult figure or political party over loyalty to the nation.
You are ABSOLUTELY right. Communism, socialism, democracy... none of them work, for the people/majority, if leadership is focused on self-interest vs national interest. With democracy (majority rule), the people's/voter's self-interest is just as critical, because it facilitates division and prevents united efforts (majority efforts) to address the welfare of the majority. This allows a small number of ppl to divide and conquer by using a filibuster, an electoral college, gerrymandering and voter suppression to keep progress in gridlock for the Majority.
Sinema is a hypocrite, through and through. She used a moderate-to-progressive platform to become Senator and then revealed her true colors. It's up to Arizonans to primary her out!
From 1989 to 1995, O'Donnell was a legislative aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.[5] From 1989 to 1991, he served as senior advisor to Moynihan. From 1992 to 1993, he was staff director of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, then chaired by Senator Moynihan, and from 1993 to 1995 he was staff director of the United States Senate Committee on Finance, again under Senator Moynihan's chairmanship.[10]
Rachel was beyond compare last night while discussing voter fraud with Michigan's Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, and our Attorney General, Dana Nessel. I knew there was election fraud in, Michigan, but I.had no idea there was that much election fraud in our state. They got my attention....
'Thur ; Rachel is very thorough, sometimes to the point where I want to say "come on Rachel, out with it! spill!' because she gets into the weeds with the build up. Always informative. I like her perspective. I cut her hair once, when her regular barber was not at the shop. That was before she went to New York City. She was on radio in our town then.
Hi Laurie, I would note Rachel has been compared to entering a store for a shirt and a pair of pants, wherein one leaves with the shirt, the pants, and a history of the Byzantine Empire. Setting aside the caricature (which is not meant to be pejorative), Rachel truly delivers.
'thur ; She is a great reporter! I get more quality information from her than any other TV journalist. She has read line by line court testimony from actual trials. She gets things that nobody else does. Amazing perspective!
Carolyn, I would note that the Freedom to Vote Act’s predecessor S.1. For the People contained serious legislation related to getting big money out of politics. Though the House version of For the People H.R.1 (initially drafted in 2019) passed the House in early 2021, it stalled in the Senate. This lead Joe Manchin to draft the substantially edited down Freedom to Vote Act that merely nibbles around the edges of big money in politics. Nonetheless, it received widespread support from Dems because it includes effective safeguards against the voter suppression and election subversion measures unilaterally advancing through GOP controlled state legislatures.
My point is I don’t believe that either Manchin’s or Sinema’s opposition to setting aside the 60-vote threshold to pass the two voter protection bills is directly related to moneyed interests. However, I do recall, early in January 2021, that both Manchin and Sinema pledged to McConnell that they would not support any call for filibuster reform; shortly thereafter, McConnell released control of committee leadership posts to Schumer. Beyond those concurrent events, aside from my understanding that neither Manchin nor Sinema could be re-elected, I have no definitive answers as to why these two Democrats persist in refusing, without support from Republicans, to pass Federal voter protection legislation, while GOP controlled state legislatures unilaterally pass bill after bill that restricts voting and nullifies votes.
Having said all that, next week, after Schumer brings the two voting bills to the floor for discussion and a vote, I expect, after the combined bill is filibustered and Schumer introduces a second vote for filibuster reform, that Dems, for the record, will call out Manchin’s and Sinema’s mere support for voting rights as hollow and performative, absent their resolve to do their part to figure out how the filibuster could be modified to pass the combined bill under regular order, even if it meant taking a long time to get to an up or down majority vote.
We the people really must engage in narratively, economically, and politically purposeful conflict with the dominant funders. Yes, that's more than voting. We need to stop business as usual. Yes, I am an old hippy, yes I was in the antiwar movement. We learned a lot of lessons. One of them is you can't vote your way to a better society. Ask the abolitionists, the civil rights movement leaders, the people who watched our leaders get murdered. Malcolm X, JFK, RFK, MLK. Yes, we are very likely to lose, and so is the planet. But if we don't do our part, it's a guarantee that we are all going to shorten the life of the planet for all its occupants, including the rich, the criminal, and the good. And the probability now is we are heading for a fascist takeover I won't live to see the end of. Nevertheless. Persist, even if you cry every day.
They are unwittingly killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. The American laborer has been the driver of the vast wealth here. Now, with outsourcing for cheap labor, we see the supply chain problems and unemployment issues. Homes are out of sight for most people. Our economy is a crap shoot for the humans, great for the 'people' ie corporations. Throw in the complete lack of concern for our ecosystem and we are heading for disaster. We need to reform the 'Supreme' court, and have real justice with term limits. We should root out representatives who do not honor their oaths of office, and jail those who had a part in the attack on the people's house; who were involved in the Sedition. from Citizens United to the Electoral College to the plans to take away our votes, we are in trouble. We need some remedies.
A true pro-democracy movement would focus on (1) eliminating the Electoral College, (2) getting big money out of politics, (3) setting national voting standards, (4) preventing a state party from taking over electoral machinery, (5) eliminating the filibuster, and (6) putting term limits on Supreme Court justices and/or expanding the Court. Have I missed anything? How do we start this movement?
The movement has already begun, we just need to keep building the momentum. This newsletter is an excellent example of how to do it. I am sharing it continually with family members, in the hopes of providing an alternative, engaging viewpoint. As for myself, I will keep supporting Bernie, the ACLU and Justice Democrats. Also, with many of the comments that you all have posted, I am seeing the importance and impact of getting involved in local politics, so that's what I'll be trying to do this year and see where it takes me. Wish me luck! Thanks, Robert, for this newsletter and everyone else for participating.
Yes, please elaborate on the "Electoral College"; the one that Dem Leader Shultz was ready to employ to coronate Hillary, ignoring the true voted voice of the people. The okey doke comes at us from every angle.
By getting the youth of the nation involved. They are completely apathetic to this conversation. They see the age of the average congressional member as a stumbling block to their involvement. They see that age disparity as the reason for our national governmental stalemate.
Mark Murphy ; Age is not the problem. This only divides us. the young people see younger candidates and older ones who are progressives. It's the ideas and causes that count. Voting rights are a big concern, especially now. Locally, there is pressure to allow 16 year old's to vote in local elections. Our local high school has won State awards for their student's learning of civics and knowledge of how government works. It's very exciting to see! Sometimes they march out of class to make a statement on an issue they feel strongly about.
I am anything but a constitutional lawyer. But it appears that the only one of these changes that would require a constitutional amendment would be the first: eliminating the electoral college. The rest could be achieved at the ballot box. Then the question is how much more severe of a cataclysm it will take to wake us out of our stupor before we're in an unrecoverable tail-spin.
That decision was set up by Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell. Reference the "Powell Memo" with its long and broad history reaching well back into the 1800s.
Without the vitality, energy, drive and belief of our youth in such a movement the road becomes much harder . Think of the youthful faces of the anti-war movement of days gone by . THAT raw energy and drive fuels this and any movement. We need to take it to the high schools, colleges and universities .
Mark Murphy ; Actually, at least in my area the youth are very active, even at the high school level. college too. Many are Bernie fans, and they like AOC, who was mentored by him. From climate issues to BLM and voting rights, they have actions, and participate in protests and marches for local food insecurity. They attend rallies for Ed Markey, one of our Senators, who is a fighter for progressive causes, even though he is a senior. Many have older family members who were active since they were young, and still are.
You're off to a great start. Now we need to clone you with high-profile individuals from all walks of life, party profile, race, color, creed, etc., every generation (can any from the greatest generation step up to defend our democracy again?), vets. 911 survivors, sports and various other celebrities,etc.
Why not have responders to your commentary suggest names? (Steve Schmidt, Michael Steele, Mike Murphy, Michelle Obama, Eva Longoria, Lawrence O'Donnell, ..................................................
Underlying all of these issues is the structure and function of the creation and use of money: the core of Capitalism. This structure forces two nefarious results. 1) The money supply and thus the economy must grow at an exponential rate or the system will break down. 2) Money is continually structurally moved from the productive community too the financial community. I have documented the structure and function of our privately owned fiat money system in a paper that I have yet found a publisher for.
Until this monetary issue is dealt with, getting money out of politics will be impossible, and the other issues will be difficult to deal with from an economic/political standpoint.
If we can get a sympathetic heroic billionaire to fund a platform on social media....or maybe get Democracy now! on the TV in an attention getting format. Creative people of all ages and races to help develop the show. Michael Moore got attention making interesting documentaries using humor. Like Someone we know.
I'm thinking about the directions concerning use of a breathing apparatus in emergency on a plane. It says to first put your own mask on before helping another. In a Democracy voting is like breathing. So getting voting to be a viable option would be a start. But the filibuster is blocking that. Too bad it is in the rules that people on our own team can just sell us out!
I was disappointed Biden didn’t focus solely on protecting our democracy when elected. All the participants should be in prison and charged with treason. Biden would have sent a powerful message and brought Americans together. HANDS OFF OUR DEMOCRACY
Totally agree. Biden operates with a very old, political playbook. What was he thinking when January 6th happened? I can't be bothered with that, I have another agenda. Yeah, that was it.
Claire, Biden is one of the few politicians who is yes, old school decent, he has come out recently with a more aggressive approach You should appreciate.. We cannot leave him hanging out on a limb. We need to get behind him and to criticize him in the way you have undermines democracy and other Democrats who areTrying very hard not to let our democracy go under. Also I don’t factually agree with you about your comment. However I very much like the fact that you care and want to make things better.
Can't Biden use his executive power as the Commander in Chief to save our Democracy and the real people?! We had the attack on 1/6/2021, and now more attacks everywhere we look.
1. Corporations exist to maximize profits for their shareholders. Their officers are compensated based on this. Democrat party leaders realize they cannot pass campaign finance reform, and they cannot compete in elections if they don't pander to those who pay for their campaigns.
2. Sinema's refusal to consider a voting rights exception to the filibuster should have consequences. Schumer should "temporarily" and indefinitely remove her from all committee assignments so she can have "more time in AZ to spend with her constituents and hear their concerns".
Yes, pieces of paper, corporate charters, now have greater power and influence than flesh and blood average joe voting citizen--this is a point-blank obscene power grab that must be put out of business. Our Constitutional fathers would be outraged !
Would someone (one of his constituents from NY State, preferably) like to start a MoveOn e-petition to Schumer? I'd probably word it a little too annoyingly.
Senator Schumer: Please temporarily and indefinitely remove Senator Sinema from ALL her committee assignments so she can have more time in AZ to spend with her constituents, and hear their concerns about Voting access, COVID, Jobs, Livable Wages, Climate Change, Building [America] Back Better, Prescription Prices, the Supreme Court, Immigration & Border Security, elected officials profiting from their position, the economy, Educational Costs & Access, and other issues of concern to them.
[...rather than spending all her time getting bribed by lobbyists]
Please encourage national media to recruit audiences, moderate and showcase her fact-finding sessions with her constituents, so she gets full credit for her efforts.
Thank you! It’s ridiculous that these people can just keep saying “no” with no real explanation or reasoning. They can’t just trash our democracy, trash their own party, & trash this country with impunity. Enough! Schumer & Biden & whoever else need to start making it beyond clear what they are doing and the lasting damage it will have since they still don’t seem to grasp the gravity of this situation. If I was a wealthy businessman or celebrity I’d even be tempted to ask them how much they’re getting from GOP & dark money sources so I could match it. They have to want something, and as sad & disgusting as it is, it looks like we have to give these hostage takers what they want if we want our democracy to survive. I am just baffled as to what she and Manchin are playing at. It’s the easiest decision they’ll ever have to make & yet it’s like pulling teeth. Why? What do the rest of the entire democratic caucus & coalition not grasp that they do and vice versa?
From what I understand Sinema is more of a follower than a leader. She wouldn’t want to be the only holdout. If we focus on Manchin and somehow manage to sway him, Sinema will almost definitely fall in line.
I thought Schumer is trying to have the Senate vote on Manchin's bill! The watered-down bill that Manchin said should be able to get bipartisan support. Now, Manchin is able to balk at supporting his own bill, via filibuster reform, because Sinema says she won't go along. Manchin is much stronger and wiser than Sinema, and it's easier & better to sanction her.
Good point. Although, from what I understand, the bill Manchin supposedly worked with Republicans for months to create would receive -0- Republican votes.
Yes! The points are (1) Schumer needs to carve out a "filibuster exception" because no GOP member will even support tepid measures to preserve voting access, and (2) Schumer wants to force all GOP Senators to go on record opposing this. But, Sinema took the lead in saying she won't allow any of this... Because, SHE has POWER, and Schumer has NONE.
And, returning to the original topic, how would the Corporatocracy have to react if they saw Democratic leaders actually do have power? All that corporations & voters see now is that McConnell and #45 have & fight over power, while the circular-firing-squad jack-arse party sits around wallowing in its self-inflicted wounds
Biden seems as powerless as Carter was, after the surviving General from the Battle of Chappaquiddick opposed him for the nomination. Sinema is no Teddy, and shouldn't escape unscathed from killing Biden's agenda for her Corporate bribers
Either Schumer or Biden need to DEMONSTRATE that they have ANY POWER. Reid's obit said he was a former boxer, and everyone knew he was ready to FIGHT when needed, to keep his caucus in line. Sinema's corporate bribes will dwindle to ZERO if she pouts, and formally becomes one of a 51-member GOP caucus
When Biden confronts Putin over the Ukraine, Putin threatens to deploy troops to Cuba and Venezuela. When Sinema thwarts Biden's agenda, what happens? Is Biden supposed to just weep?
My assessment is that Biden really doesn't realize that the "perfect Union" is in permanent peril. He has the authority and power to get compliance from Manchin and Sinema, but no guts.
Many lovely people who, at home, have families, are active in the community, recycle their waste, drive economical or electric vehicles, donate to charities and support progressive policies turn right around each morning when they go to work in their corporate jobs wherein they make decisions and take actions that perpetuate corporate dominance in the economy and public affairs. Each one of us is a miniature Senema or Manchin when we do corporate bidding in exchange for the pittance of our paychecks. And we are stuck. If anyone goes to work and opposes the mission of their employer, they certainly will not become more influential in that enterprise. This may only be some pathetic hand wringing on my part, but we have got to figure out the problem with capitalism and reform it. Trust busting and regulation are two of the best tools we have, but we need a government that EFFECTIVELY acts for the public good.
You are absolutely right, Benjamin. My husband is a software executive who has tried like crazy to hire minorities and women in this country and the stupid CEO wants to send all their jobs to India. Unfortunately he’s lost the fight and quit. At least he succeeded for a while though.
One of the tactics savvy autocrats use is to ally with the plutocrats and their major corporations to funnel capital to them through inflated defense contracts and other sweetheart deals. Add the revolving door between government policy-makers and industry and you have a well-oiled machine for moving money from the taxpayers to the contractors, and rewarding those who facilitate this. Part of the package of reforms needed to reverse this slide into feudalism is contract reform and more strict restrictions on the revolving door. Defense is a sad necessity in modern life, but it shouldn't be a dominant driver of our economy, or an undue influence on our governance.
Why in 2022 does any one expect corporate America who overall profited from both Trumpism and pandemic to support an honest, open, and public commitment to democracy and obedience to the laws and the Constitution? Or expect politically appointed judges or rampantly profiting politicians to try to limit them? No one! From Citizens United to PACs to self-promoting but dishonest full page ads in NYT--and the example of Manch-ema profiting wildly off their undemocratic grifting--to Big Tech--look at the leading examples.
Of course, the US will not follow the examples, incomplete as they may be, across the EU and elsewhere, to both regulate and self-regulate. The US has forgotten the first sentence of the Constitution, "we the people." Instead, we devolve into "some few of the people."
Even worse, as I hear daily from the six Trumpist clowns running for the Rep nom for US Senate in Ohio (and competing to be the Trumpiest--including JD Vance): "individual freedom" is everything which includes the untempered dominantion of children by parents.... They contradict the Constitution, US and State daily
Harvey, perhaps one of the dark sides of "American Exceptionalism" is the naive belief that "It can't happen here": That our constitution and institutions protect us from the darker side of politics and economics. We're the same people as those who create and support dictatorships and oligarchies around the world. We can be deceived as easily by appealing to our fears and our selfishness. These people may present the appearance of clowns, but they're in deadly earnest in preserving and expanding their power and fortunes. The Wizard of Oz may have seemed like a humbug, but he succeeded in fooling the inhabitants and instituting the equivalent of a dictatorship. Dorothy is a symbol of the power of the common people, if only they recognize their own strength, and discern their own interests from the illusions they're fed.
steven, there should be no doubt about those points. Like almost everything else in human and esp US history, contradictions rule. Hegel--along with Marx and Engels--was correct.
It is important to keep in mind that the constitution never refers to corporations or even uses the word "corporation". Corporate power comes not from the constitution, but from the courts. At the writing of the constitution, corporations existed only in the form enabled by the Crown or the charters of the 13 colonies. The only ones whose names we might recognize would be those like the East India Trading Company that was attacked in the Boston Tea Party. (Full disclosure: neither does it use the word "democracy". The Founders were afraid of any hint of populism that might threaten the interests of the slavers. Hence the Electoral College as a stop-gap buffer.) Corporations in the form that we know them became prominent in the 1800s as an outcome of the industrial revolution. That's when they started their persistent effort to infiltrate the courts with the claim that they were corporate "persons" who were included in the "We the People" clause in the constitution. Thereby they could lay claim to all of the rights and protections that apply to real people. The persistently pushed that claim to its eventual victory in "Citizens United" and beyond.
The Supreme Court (in the "Citizens United" case) said corporations were "people" under the First Amendment. I'll believe that when Texas executes a corporation.
If a corporation is a "person", why aren't they subject to the same limits on political contributions any of us as a "person" are? Doesn't Citizens United contradict that; and, has it been challenged on that assumption?
For the holidays this year, I received "The 1619 Project". I'm only about halfway through it, but what an eye-opener about the origins of our Constitution and the founding of our country. It certainly helps me in understanding the blight I see in our country to this day!
The answer to this is simple but difficult to achieve. Lobbying should still be illegal as it was in the original Constitution. Buying laws is not democracy.
We had it too good and unfortunately we need aggressive leadership to attack the threats against our democracy. I was disappointed Biden didn’t focus solely on protecting our democracy when elected. He refused to eliminate filibuster at that time. He said it would be too disruptive for Congress. But somehow traitors serving in Congress was no problem. He’s a day late and a dollar short with his efforts 14 months later. All the participants should be in prison and charged with treason. Biden would have sent a powerful message and brought Americans together. HANDS OFF OUR DEMOCRACY
A responsible citizen should compile a list of corporations that contribute to Trump, the Trump-led GOP, Manchin, Sinema, as well as individual GOP candidates for office. I would like to. boycott these companies.
Michael Moore has no clout, has he? What happened is that the Democratic Party abandoned the working class. Fox and talk radio foment and focus anger. It is not just white male gun nuts with testosterone issues who support the GOP/Trump perspective. According to Carl Bernstein, “Our democracy, before Trump, had ceased to be working well and for 25, 30, 35 years we were in what I’ve called ‘a cold civil war’ in this country. Trump ignited it and we’re not going to go back from this place unless there’s some great event that somehow unites this country.
“But we make mistakes as reporters to look at the country just in terms of politics and of media. This is a cultural shift of huge dimension. Whatever you say about Trump, 45, damn near 50% of the people who vote voted for him and – you look at the surveys – some 35% of people who voted for Trump believe Christianity is being taken away from them.”
He continues: “The idea that the Trump base is some narrow group of white men with guns? Bullshit. This is a huge movement including misogynistic women, including racists of every kind, but also including all kinds of educated people in cities and suburbs.
“It’s also a movement against liberalism, against what the Democratic party in their view has come to represent. It’s about race, all kinds of forces, people’s idea of what the United States ought to be. This movement embraces autocracy, authoritarianism, a peculiarly American neo-fascism which Trump represents.” https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/15/carl-bernstein-interview-our-democracy-before-trump-had-ceased-to-be-working-well So we need to pay attention to our powerlessness, face it, and then find ways forward.
I have been continously surprised that corporate leaders don't understand how bad despotic rule, and its attendant unpredictability and often chaos, would be for their enterprises. There are so many examples in history, including two world wars.
They can’t see beyond their short term profits. I think that when we became a shareholder capitalism that made the fight to preserve democracy so much more difficult. I can give examples from my own life of friends and family who consider themselves, or did, good union backing liberals, who now are first interested in how their stocks are doing, and only then pay lip service to the plight of workers and the corrupting of politicians.
The Supreme Court's decision in the case "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission" was constitutionally wrong! Congress needs to correct this horrible judicial error. Corporate law gives the corporate form of business basically three right: 1) indeterminate life 2) the right to own, rent , lease or sell real property 3) the right to sue and be sued. These rights are said to create a quasi-person. But quasi-persons do not have the right to vote and therefore do not have the right to participate in the election process. Moreover, corporations do not seek their shareholders' opinions before making corporate political donations. Spending funds owned collectively by the shareholders without permission on political parties and candidates instead of on corporate business, constitutes illegal use of owners' funds (theft), and aggrieved shareholders should file class action suits.
Even if you're not a shareholder (or you may just happen to own mutual/index funds that are invested in a particular corporation), it's extremely irritating to know that when buying their products or services, some of your hard-earned money is being used for political donations. For example, when I'm paying insurance premiums, it's frustrating to know that part of that is funding the insurance companies' influence on our elected officials to tilt the scales in their favor. When does this ever end?
As I've banged on about for years, capitalism is every bit as inimical to democracy as communism. (Actually, Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism, or whatever is going on in Cuba that seems to have produced a pretty credible public health system.) Neither communists nor capitalists wish to be regulated in any way. They both >always< claim to fight for "freedom" in their hunger to be "free!" (Of course, that's why capitalists >like< everyone else to have a religion that advocates some kind of "submission." Reagan was all about "Christian" capitalism, while advocating that greed is good.)
As for Sinema, this article is worth the 8 minutes it takes, and includes some instructive background on her historic position on the filibuster: https://youtu.be/F1RbCnPoA7Q It surprised me enough to wonder who is holding what kind of blackmail over her. How has she come to be so corrupted - not that it matters? Maybe she's simply become overly impressed with herself and cynical. Nevertheless, it highlights how disingenuous her statement at the beginning really is.
Just between you, me, & the back door, I've been watching this all play out like a slow-motion train wreck since the '70s, before I was really even conscious of politics. Excruciating!
Hmmm... when I clicked on the link within this paragraph below to learn who the 147 lawmakers are, the NYT said I have to subscribe to read the article...
Am I surprised? Of course not. Just another day in our Capitalistic Paradise.
Excuse me but I subscribe monthly to get the New York Times home delivery along with digital access and it costs me $80 and I am on a fixed income - kind of arrogant of you to think you should be reading the articles on its website for free - not capitalistic at all but just a sign that the Times values its content and has to pay its writers to provide quality content. Why not try subscribing for a month - you might like it!
I wish the corporate leaders would listen to you. Unfortunately, immersed as they are in their over-the-top lavish lifestyles and ability to buy politicians, they can't see further than the next quarterly report. For them, life is good just the way things are. Of course, the corporate interests don't want the voting rights bill to pass, because it limits money in politics.
Lawrence O'Donnell, on his show last night, characterized Kyrsten Sinema's sanctimonious speech yesterday as giving a middle finger to the President of the United States, of her own party. He opined that the speech, which she clearly was reading verbatim, was written by her staff. I suspect it was actually written by corporate lobbyists. The same corporate campaign cash that Mitch McConnell uses to keep Republicans in line is being used to keep Sinema and Manchin in line.
Maybe Biden should start talking incessantly about corruption, in the Congress and the federal courts.
Indeed. Corruption should become a major theme of everyone who cares about our democracy. It's corruption in the form of corporate cash, or corruption in the form of loyalty to a cult figure or political party over loyalty to the nation.
It's all about self interest versus national interest. No type of governance will work if self interest dominates national interest, think about it.
You are ABSOLUTELY right. Communism, socialism, democracy... none of them work, for the people/majority, if leadership is focused on self-interest vs national interest. With democracy (majority rule), the people's/voter's self-interest is just as critical, because it facilitates division and prevents united efforts (majority efforts) to address the welfare of the majority. This allows a small number of ppl to divide and conquer by using a filibuster, an electoral college, gerrymandering and voter suppression to keep progress in gridlock for the Majority.
I watched his show last night... for those who missed it-
https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-sinema-s-filibuster-speech-was-contemptuous-and-dishonest-130841157839
The segment that took place in 2010, where Sinema was promoting the end of the filibuster really revealed her hypocrisy.
Sinema is a hypocrite, through and through. She used a moderate-to-progressive platform to become Senator and then revealed her true colors. It's up to Arizonans to primary her out!
Halfway through Obama's first term, too..... somehow we all missed it.
Thanks. Just watched it. Powerful stuff.
From 1989 to 1995, O'Donnell was a legislative aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.[5] From 1989 to 1991, he served as senior advisor to Moynihan. From 1992 to 1993, he was staff director of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, then chaired by Senator Moynihan, and from 1993 to 1995 he was staff director of the United States Senate Committee on Finance, again under Senator Moynihan's chairmanship.[10]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_O%27Donnell#Career
He's a good guy
'Thur ; I record Lawrence, Rachel, and sometimes other shows every night they are on.
Rachel was beyond compare last night while discussing voter fraud with Michigan's Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, and our Attorney General, Dana Nessel. I knew there was election fraud in, Michigan, but I.had no idea there was that much election fraud in our state. They got my attention....
'Thur ; Rachel is very thorough, sometimes to the point where I want to say "come on Rachel, out with it! spill!' because she gets into the weeds with the build up. Always informative. I like her perspective. I cut her hair once, when her regular barber was not at the shop. That was before she went to New York City. She was on radio in our town then.
Hi Laurie, I would note Rachel has been compared to entering a store for a shirt and a pair of pants, wherein one leaves with the shirt, the pants, and a history of the Byzantine Empire. Setting aside the caricature (which is not meant to be pejorative), Rachel truly delivers.
First good laugh of the day- 6:02 am 😂
Rachel is not the glib sound bite that one hears on so many 'news' shows.
True!
I was just reading her wiki page. She has ALL the credentials... I wonder if she'll run for office one day?
'thur ; She is a great reporter! I get more quality information from her than any other TV journalist. She has read line by line court testimony from actual trials. She gets things that nobody else does. Amazing perspective!
@Carolyn. It's Bernie Sanders who is doing that, and Elizabeth Warren, and others. But we didn't elect them did we...
Carolyn, I would note that the Freedom to Vote Act’s predecessor S.1. For the People contained serious legislation related to getting big money out of politics. Though the House version of For the People H.R.1 (initially drafted in 2019) passed the House in early 2021, it stalled in the Senate. This lead Joe Manchin to draft the substantially edited down Freedom to Vote Act that merely nibbles around the edges of big money in politics. Nonetheless, it received widespread support from Dems because it includes effective safeguards against the voter suppression and election subversion measures unilaterally advancing through GOP controlled state legislatures.
My point is I don’t believe that either Manchin’s or Sinema’s opposition to setting aside the 60-vote threshold to pass the two voter protection bills is directly related to moneyed interests. However, I do recall, early in January 2021, that both Manchin and Sinema pledged to McConnell that they would not support any call for filibuster reform; shortly thereafter, McConnell released control of committee leadership posts to Schumer. Beyond those concurrent events, aside from my understanding that neither Manchin nor Sinema could be re-elected, I have no definitive answers as to why these two Democrats persist in refusing, without support from Republicans, to pass Federal voter protection legislation, while GOP controlled state legislatures unilaterally pass bill after bill that restricts voting and nullifies votes.
Having said all that, next week, after Schumer brings the two voting bills to the floor for discussion and a vote, I expect, after the combined bill is filibustered and Schumer introduces a second vote for filibuster reform, that Dems, for the record, will call out Manchin’s and Sinema’s mere support for voting rights as hollow and performative, absent their resolve to do their part to figure out how the filibuster could be modified to pass the combined bill under regular order, even if it meant taking a long time to get to an up or down majority vote.
Voting is not enough.
We the people really must engage in narratively, economically, and politically purposeful conflict with the dominant funders. Yes, that's more than voting. We need to stop business as usual. Yes, I am an old hippy, yes I was in the antiwar movement. We learned a lot of lessons. One of them is you can't vote your way to a better society. Ask the abolitionists, the civil rights movement leaders, the people who watched our leaders get murdered. Malcolm X, JFK, RFK, MLK. Yes, we are very likely to lose, and so is the planet. But if we don't do our part, it's a guarantee that we are all going to shorten the life of the planet for all its occupants, including the rich, the criminal, and the good. And the probability now is we are heading for a fascist takeover I won't live to see the end of. Nevertheless. Persist, even if you cry every day.
Persist, absolutely -- by organizing and mobilizing now for the midterms.
And litigating?
They are unwittingly killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. The American laborer has been the driver of the vast wealth here. Now, with outsourcing for cheap labor, we see the supply chain problems and unemployment issues. Homes are out of sight for most people. Our economy is a crap shoot for the humans, great for the 'people' ie corporations. Throw in the complete lack of concern for our ecosystem and we are heading for disaster. We need to reform the 'Supreme' court, and have real justice with term limits. We should root out representatives who do not honor their oaths of office, and jail those who had a part in the attack on the people's house; who were involved in the Sedition. from Citizens United to the Electoral College to the plans to take away our votes, we are in trouble. We need some remedies.
A true pro-democracy movement would focus on (1) eliminating the Electoral College, (2) getting big money out of politics, (3) setting national voting standards, (4) preventing a state party from taking over electoral machinery, (5) eliminating the filibuster, and (6) putting term limits on Supreme Court justices and/or expanding the Court. Have I missed anything? How do we start this movement?
Blue MADGA hats? (Make American Democracy Great Again)
Dan, a clever idea. I like it
My feeble attempt at humor...
Life lesson, my friend. Innocent quips can and >do< go horribly wrong! LOL!
The movement has already begun, we just need to keep building the momentum. This newsletter is an excellent example of how to do it. I am sharing it continually with family members, in the hopes of providing an alternative, engaging viewpoint. As for myself, I will keep supporting Bernie, the ACLU and Justice Democrats. Also, with many of the comments that you all have posted, I am seeing the importance and impact of getting involved in local politics, so that's what I'll be trying to do this year and see where it takes me. Wish me luck! Thanks, Robert, for this newsletter and everyone else for participating.
Yes, please elaborate on the "Electoral College"; the one that Dem Leader Shultz was ready to employ to coronate Hillary, ignoring the true voted voice of the people. The okey doke comes at us from every angle.
By getting the youth of the nation involved. They are completely apathetic to this conversation. They see the age of the average congressional member as a stumbling block to their involvement. They see that age disparity as the reason for our national governmental stalemate.
Mark Murphy ; Age is not the problem. This only divides us. the young people see younger candidates and older ones who are progressives. It's the ideas and causes that count. Voting rights are a big concern, especially now. Locally, there is pressure to allow 16 year old's to vote in local elections. Our local high school has won State awards for their student's learning of civics and knowledge of how government works. It's very exciting to see! Sometimes they march out of class to make a statement on an issue they feel strongly about.
Or put forth the notion of a viable third party . Both existing parties are complcit in the rampant corruption .
I am anything but a constitutional lawyer. But it appears that the only one of these changes that would require a constitutional amendment would be the first: eliminating the electoral college. The rest could be achieved at the ballot box. Then the question is how much more severe of a cataclysm it will take to wake us out of our stupor before we're in an unrecoverable tail-spin.
Need to address Buclkey v Valeo. Money is not speech.
That decision was set up by Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell. Reference the "Powell Memo" with its long and broad history reaching well back into the 1800s.
Without the vitality, energy, drive and belief of our youth in such a movement the road becomes much harder . Think of the youthful faces of the anti-war movement of days gone by . THAT raw energy and drive fuels this and any movement. We need to take it to the high schools, colleges and universities .
Mark Murphy ; Actually, at least in my area the youth are very active, even at the high school level. college too. Many are Bernie fans, and they like AOC, who was mentored by him. From climate issues to BLM and voting rights, they have actions, and participate in protests and marches for local food insecurity. They attend rallies for Ed Markey, one of our Senators, who is a fighter for progressive causes, even though he is a senior. Many have older family members who were active since they were young, and still are.
You're off to a great start. Now we need to clone you with high-profile individuals from all walks of life, party profile, race, color, creed, etc., every generation (can any from the greatest generation step up to defend our democracy again?), vets. 911 survivors, sports and various other celebrities,etc.
Why not have responders to your commentary suggest names? (Steve Schmidt, Michael Steele, Mike Murphy, Michelle Obama, Eva Longoria, Lawrence O'Donnell, ..................................................
Underlying all of these issues is the structure and function of the creation and use of money: the core of Capitalism. This structure forces two nefarious results. 1) The money supply and thus the economy must grow at an exponential rate or the system will break down. 2) Money is continually structurally moved from the productive community too the financial community. I have documented the structure and function of our privately owned fiat money system in a paper that I have yet found a publisher for.
Until this monetary issue is dealt with, getting money out of politics will be impossible, and the other issues will be difficult to deal with from an economic/political standpoint.
A simple slogan, Remember 'Mean people suck!' ?
If we can get a sympathetic heroic billionaire to fund a platform on social media....or maybe get Democracy now! on the TV in an attention getting format. Creative people of all ages and races to help develop the show. Michael Moore got attention making interesting documentaries using humor. Like Someone we know.
I'm thinking about the directions concerning use of a breathing apparatus in emergency on a plane. It says to first put your own mask on before helping another. In a Democracy voting is like breathing. So getting voting to be a viable option would be a start. But the filibuster is blocking that. Too bad it is in the rules that people on our own team can just sell us out!
I was disappointed Biden didn’t focus solely on protecting our democracy when elected. All the participants should be in prison and charged with treason. Biden would have sent a powerful message and brought Americans together. HANDS OFF OUR DEMOCRACY
Totally agree. Biden operates with a very old, political playbook. What was he thinking when January 6th happened? I can't be bothered with that, I have another agenda. Yeah, that was it.
Claire, Biden is one of the few politicians who is yes, old school decent, he has come out recently with a more aggressive approach You should appreciate.. We cannot leave him hanging out on a limb. We need to get behind him and to criticize him in the way you have undermines democracy and other Democrats who areTrying very hard not to let our democracy go under. Also I don’t factually agree with you about your comment. However I very much like the fact that you care and want to make things better.
Crazy!
Can't Biden use his executive power as the Commander in Chief to save our Democracy and the real people?! We had the attack on 1/6/2021, and now more attacks everywhere we look.
1. Corporations exist to maximize profits for their shareholders. Their officers are compensated based on this. Democrat party leaders realize they cannot pass campaign finance reform, and they cannot compete in elections if they don't pander to those who pay for their campaigns.
2. Sinema's refusal to consider a voting rights exception to the filibuster should have consequences. Schumer should "temporarily" and indefinitely remove her from all committee assignments so she can have "more time in AZ to spend with her constituents and hear their concerns".
Yes, pieces of paper, corporate charters, now have greater power and influence than flesh and blood average joe voting citizen--this is a point-blank obscene power grab that must be put out of business. Our Constitutional fathers would be outraged !
The deck is stacked against us and the house (Big Businesses) own and have control of the deck.
What’s an average Joe to do?
Would someone (one of his constituents from NY State, preferably) like to start a MoveOn e-petition to Schumer? I'd probably word it a little too annoyingly.
Senator Schumer: Please temporarily and indefinitely remove Senator Sinema from ALL her committee assignments so she can have more time in AZ to spend with her constituents, and hear their concerns about Voting access, COVID, Jobs, Livable Wages, Climate Change, Building [America] Back Better, Prescription Prices, the Supreme Court, Immigration & Border Security, elected officials profiting from their position, the economy, Educational Costs & Access, and other issues of concern to them.
[...rather than spending all her time getting bribed by lobbyists]
Please encourage national media to recruit audiences, moderate and showcase her fact-finding sessions with her constituents, so she gets full credit for her efforts.
Thank you! It’s ridiculous that these people can just keep saying “no” with no real explanation or reasoning. They can’t just trash our democracy, trash their own party, & trash this country with impunity. Enough! Schumer & Biden & whoever else need to start making it beyond clear what they are doing and the lasting damage it will have since they still don’t seem to grasp the gravity of this situation. If I was a wealthy businessman or celebrity I’d even be tempted to ask them how much they’re getting from GOP & dark money sources so I could match it. They have to want something, and as sad & disgusting as it is, it looks like we have to give these hostage takers what they want if we want our democracy to survive. I am just baffled as to what she and Manchin are playing at. It’s the easiest decision they’ll ever have to make & yet it’s like pulling teeth. Why? What do the rest of the entire democratic caucus & coalition not grasp that they do and vice versa?
From what I understand Sinema is more of a follower than a leader. She wouldn’t want to be the only holdout. If we focus on Manchin and somehow manage to sway him, Sinema will almost definitely fall in line.
I thought Schumer is trying to have the Senate vote on Manchin's bill! The watered-down bill that Manchin said should be able to get bipartisan support. Now, Manchin is able to balk at supporting his own bill, via filibuster reform, because Sinema says she won't go along. Manchin is much stronger and wiser than Sinema, and it's easier & better to sanction her.
Good point. Although, from what I understand, the bill Manchin supposedly worked with Republicans for months to create would receive -0- Republican votes.
Yes! The points are (1) Schumer needs to carve out a "filibuster exception" because no GOP member will even support tepid measures to preserve voting access, and (2) Schumer wants to force all GOP Senators to go on record opposing this. But, Sinema took the lead in saying she won't allow any of this... Because, SHE has POWER, and Schumer has NONE.
And, returning to the original topic, how would the Corporatocracy have to react if they saw Democratic leaders actually do have power? All that corporations & voters see now is that McConnell and #45 have & fight over power, while the circular-firing-squad jack-arse party sits around wallowing in its self-inflicted wounds
Biden seems as powerless as Carter was, after the surviving General from the Battle of Chappaquiddick opposed him for the nomination. Sinema is no Teddy, and shouldn't escape unscathed from killing Biden's agenda for her Corporate bribers
Could Schumer do that without inside repercussions?
Either Schumer or Biden need to DEMONSTRATE that they have ANY POWER. Reid's obit said he was a former boxer, and everyone knew he was ready to FIGHT when needed, to keep his caucus in line. Sinema's corporate bribes will dwindle to ZERO if she pouts, and formally becomes one of a 51-member GOP caucus
When Biden confronts Putin over the Ukraine, Putin threatens to deploy troops to Cuba and Venezuela. When Sinema thwarts Biden's agenda, what happens? Is Biden supposed to just weep?
My assessment is that Biden really doesn't realize that the "perfect Union" is in permanent peril. He has the authority and power to get compliance from Manchin and Sinema, but no guts.
Many lovely people who, at home, have families, are active in the community, recycle their waste, drive economical or electric vehicles, donate to charities and support progressive policies turn right around each morning when they go to work in their corporate jobs wherein they make decisions and take actions that perpetuate corporate dominance in the economy and public affairs. Each one of us is a miniature Senema or Manchin when we do corporate bidding in exchange for the pittance of our paychecks. And we are stuck. If anyone goes to work and opposes the mission of their employer, they certainly will not become more influential in that enterprise. This may only be some pathetic hand wringing on my part, but we have got to figure out the problem with capitalism and reform it. Trust busting and regulation are two of the best tools we have, but we need a government that EFFECTIVELY acts for the public good.
You are absolutely right, Benjamin. My husband is a software executive who has tried like crazy to hire minorities and women in this country and the stupid CEO wants to send all their jobs to India. Unfortunately he’s lost the fight and quit. At least he succeeded for a while though.
One of the tactics savvy autocrats use is to ally with the plutocrats and their major corporations to funnel capital to them through inflated defense contracts and other sweetheart deals. Add the revolving door between government policy-makers and industry and you have a well-oiled machine for moving money from the taxpayers to the contractors, and rewarding those who facilitate this. Part of the package of reforms needed to reverse this slide into feudalism is contract reform and more strict restrictions on the revolving door. Defense is a sad necessity in modern life, but it shouldn't be a dominant driver of our economy, or an undue influence on our governance.
@Steven. Well said...
Why in 2022 does any one expect corporate America who overall profited from both Trumpism and pandemic to support an honest, open, and public commitment to democracy and obedience to the laws and the Constitution? Or expect politically appointed judges or rampantly profiting politicians to try to limit them? No one! From Citizens United to PACs to self-promoting but dishonest full page ads in NYT--and the example of Manch-ema profiting wildly off their undemocratic grifting--to Big Tech--look at the leading examples.
Of course, the US will not follow the examples, incomplete as they may be, across the EU and elsewhere, to both regulate and self-regulate. The US has forgotten the first sentence of the Constitution, "we the people." Instead, we devolve into "some few of the people."
“We the people” only as it is now defined by Citizens United, where corporations are people and money is free speech.
Even worse, as I hear daily from the six Trumpist clowns running for the Rep nom for US Senate in Ohio (and competing to be the Trumpiest--including JD Vance): "individual freedom" is everything which includes the untempered dominantion of children by parents.... They contradict the Constitution, US and State daily
Harvey, perhaps one of the dark sides of "American Exceptionalism" is the naive belief that "It can't happen here": That our constitution and institutions protect us from the darker side of politics and economics. We're the same people as those who create and support dictatorships and oligarchies around the world. We can be deceived as easily by appealing to our fears and our selfishness. These people may present the appearance of clowns, but they're in deadly earnest in preserving and expanding their power and fortunes. The Wizard of Oz may have seemed like a humbug, but he succeeded in fooling the inhabitants and instituting the equivalent of a dictatorship. Dorothy is a symbol of the power of the common people, if only they recognize their own strength, and discern their own interests from the illusions they're fed.
steven, there should be no doubt about those points. Like almost everything else in human and esp US history, contradictions rule. Hegel--along with Marx and Engels--was correct.
It is important to keep in mind that the constitution never refers to corporations or even uses the word "corporation". Corporate power comes not from the constitution, but from the courts. At the writing of the constitution, corporations existed only in the form enabled by the Crown or the charters of the 13 colonies. The only ones whose names we might recognize would be those like the East India Trading Company that was attacked in the Boston Tea Party. (Full disclosure: neither does it use the word "democracy". The Founders were afraid of any hint of populism that might threaten the interests of the slavers. Hence the Electoral College as a stop-gap buffer.) Corporations in the form that we know them became prominent in the 1800s as an outcome of the industrial revolution. That's when they started their persistent effort to infiltrate the courts with the claim that they were corporate "persons" who were included in the "We the People" clause in the constitution. Thereby they could lay claim to all of the rights and protections that apply to real people. The persistently pushed that claim to its eventual victory in "Citizens United" and beyond.
The Supreme Court (in the "Citizens United" case) said corporations were "people" under the First Amendment. I'll believe that when Texas executes a corporation.
Actually, California has a corporate execution law, which was last used by Republican Attorney General Evelle Younger against Culligan water softeners for polluting a Los Angeles River. Also see https://www.natlawreview.com/article/imposing-corporate-death-penalty-california.
If a corporation is a "person", why aren't they subject to the same limits on political contributions any of us as a "person" are? Doesn't Citizens United contradict that; and, has it been challenged on that assumption?
Interesting idea. They can't have it all.
OUCH!
(I ♥️ it!)
For the holidays this year, I received "The 1619 Project". I'm only about halfway through it, but what an eye-opener about the origins of our Constitution and the founding of our country. It certainly helps me in understanding the blight I see in our country to this day!
The answer to this is simple but difficult to achieve. Lobbying should still be illegal as it was in the original Constitution. Buying laws is not democracy.
We had it too good and unfortunately we need aggressive leadership to attack the threats against our democracy. I was disappointed Biden didn’t focus solely on protecting our democracy when elected. He refused to eliminate filibuster at that time. He said it would be too disruptive for Congress. But somehow traitors serving in Congress was no problem. He’s a day late and a dollar short with his efforts 14 months later. All the participants should be in prison and charged with treason. Biden would have sent a powerful message and brought Americans together. HANDS OFF OUR DEMOCRACY
A responsible citizen should compile a list of corporations that contribute to Trump, the Trump-led GOP, Manchin, Sinema, as well as individual GOP candidates for office. I would like to. boycott these companies.
Go on over to Opensecrets.org. You'll find all that information and more. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/01/dark-money-persuasion-machine-raised-record-funds-from-secret-donors/. Also https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/033116/top-10-corporate-contributors-trump-campaign.asp. I can teach everyone how to do this research. But then what? Are you going to interview each one of these corporate donors on TV or Youtube and demand that they tell the world why they're screwing us? Who will?
Maybe Michael Moore. He has confronted CO'S on film.
Michael Moore has no clout, has he? What happened is that the Democratic Party abandoned the working class. Fox and talk radio foment and focus anger. It is not just white male gun nuts with testosterone issues who support the GOP/Trump perspective. According to Carl Bernstein, “Our democracy, before Trump, had ceased to be working well and for 25, 30, 35 years we were in what I’ve called ‘a cold civil war’ in this country. Trump ignited it and we’re not going to go back from this place unless there’s some great event that somehow unites this country.
“But we make mistakes as reporters to look at the country just in terms of politics and of media. This is a cultural shift of huge dimension. Whatever you say about Trump, 45, damn near 50% of the people who vote voted for him and – you look at the surveys – some 35% of people who voted for Trump believe Christianity is being taken away from them.”
He continues: “The idea that the Trump base is some narrow group of white men with guns? Bullshit. This is a huge movement including misogynistic women, including racists of every kind, but also including all kinds of educated people in cities and suburbs.
“It’s also a movement against liberalism, against what the Democratic party in their view has come to represent. It’s about race, all kinds of forces, people’s idea of what the United States ought to be. This movement embraces autocracy, authoritarianism, a peculiarly American neo-fascism which Trump represents.” https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jan/15/carl-bernstein-interview-our-democracy-before-trump-had-ceased-to-be-working-well So we need to pay attention to our powerlessness, face it, and then find ways forward.
Actually, it's a bit deeper than that. You may enjoy this series. Nothing about it isn't worth knowing: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0bc3rjy
Well, the first thing I'd need to do is raise money for transport. Go figure! Maybe I can get a corporate sponsor! LOL!
Thank you.
Good idea
I have been continously surprised that corporate leaders don't understand how bad despotic rule, and its attendant unpredictability and often chaos, would be for their enterprises. There are so many examples in history, including two world wars.
They can’t see beyond their short term profits. I think that when we became a shareholder capitalism that made the fight to preserve democracy so much more difficult. I can give examples from my own life of friends and family who consider themselves, or did, good union backing liberals, who now are first interested in how their stocks are doing, and only then pay lip service to the plight of workers and the corrupting of politicians.
My thought exactly.
Couldn’t agree more. That’s why I am turning my company over to a Purpose Trust and would encourage others to do so. Here’s a New Yorker article about how to create companies that are build for the greater good. https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/can-companies-force-themselves-to-do-good
This New Yorker link is for subscribers only
Sorry - ok there’s a PDF on my site at https://www.kateemery.com/new-yorker-article
The Supreme Court's decision in the case "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission" was constitutionally wrong! Congress needs to correct this horrible judicial error. Corporate law gives the corporate form of business basically three right: 1) indeterminate life 2) the right to own, rent , lease or sell real property 3) the right to sue and be sued. These rights are said to create a quasi-person. But quasi-persons do not have the right to vote and therefore do not have the right to participate in the election process. Moreover, corporations do not seek their shareholders' opinions before making corporate political donations. Spending funds owned collectively by the shareholders without permission on political parties and candidates instead of on corporate business, constitutes illegal use of owners' funds (theft), and aggrieved shareholders should file class action suits.
Even if you're not a shareholder (or you may just happen to own mutual/index funds that are invested in a particular corporation), it's extremely irritating to know that when buying their products or services, some of your hard-earned money is being used for political donations. For example, when I'm paying insurance premiums, it's frustrating to know that part of that is funding the insurance companies' influence on our elected officials to tilt the scales in their favor. When does this ever end?
Agree. Has anyone litigated this????
As I've banged on about for years, capitalism is every bit as inimical to democracy as communism. (Actually, Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism, or whatever is going on in Cuba that seems to have produced a pretty credible public health system.) Neither communists nor capitalists wish to be regulated in any way. They both >always< claim to fight for "freedom" in their hunger to be "free!" (Of course, that's why capitalists >like< everyone else to have a religion that advocates some kind of "submission." Reagan was all about "Christian" capitalism, while advocating that greed is good.)
As for Sinema, this article is worth the 8 minutes it takes, and includes some instructive background on her historic position on the filibuster: https://youtu.be/F1RbCnPoA7Q It surprised me enough to wonder who is holding what kind of blackmail over her. How has she come to be so corrupted - not that it matters? Maybe she's simply become overly impressed with herself and cynical. Nevertheless, it highlights how disingenuous her statement at the beginning really is.
Lawrence O'Donnell's program (MSNBC) last night confirmed your conclusions.
Just between you, me, & the back door, I've been watching this all play out like a slow-motion train wreck since the '70s, before I was really even conscious of politics. Excruciating!
Hmmm... when I clicked on the link within this paragraph below to learn who the 147 lawmakers are, the NYT said I have to subscribe to read the article...
Am I surprised? Of course not. Just another day in our Capitalistic Paradise.
So, I went here to read, and this caught my eye-
https://truthout.org/articles/gops-banning-of-books-and-attack-on-teachers-expose-the-partys-rising-fascism/
😷
Excuse me but I subscribe monthly to get the New York Times home delivery along with digital access and it costs me $80 and I am on a fixed income - kind of arrogant of you to think you should be reading the articles on its website for free - not capitalistic at all but just a sign that the Times values its content and has to pay its writers to provide quality content. Why not try subscribing for a month - you might like it!
Thanks for sharing.