First, Trump and Trumpism seem to be fading -- along with Putin and Putinism. Two birds of a feather.
Second, a growing realization -- especially in Europe but also here in the U.S. -- that renewable energy technology and infrastructure are not just about climate and jobs; they are fundamental matters of national security. Europe for sure will be doubling down on energy security, and maybe Biden will get more support for an ambitious renewable energy agenda.
I like that Robert Reich has the perspective he has shared with us. I have been feeling increasingly that we are on a path to being ruled by fascists, or autocrats. Democracy seemed doomed. I had thoughts that an external threat like a potential hot war would pull us together a little bit. let's hope we can not only survive but prevail, in a good way.
I welcome this shift but until the country reckons with its racist foundations, so cruel but so integral to our entire history, there will be no truly multiracial democracy.
We as a collective whole can agree on a few things certain: We abhor Putin (and his enabler DJT.) Secondly, and more importantly, we love and admire Volodymyr Zelensky and the strength and patriotism of the Ukrainian people. In my humble opinion, it is the courage and the will to save their country which has opened our eyes to take a good look at ourselves in the mirror. Would Americans stand up and fight for our fellow countrymen the way all of Ukraine has? I fear not, sadly.
We as a nation are not in the top 20 Democracies. How did that happen? We have laws and actions that promote the top 1% over everyone else. I have worked 42 years in education and still volunteer at my local high school with a group of students. Many teachers feel under attack by actions promoted by the GOP. We have a respected medical Dr. in our valley who has said " Why do we not trust the people who have studied, researched and practiced in their field over the yahoo on YOUTUBE? Why did 4 years of a grifter escalate our civil deterioration. Why do people like MTG and LB have such attention paid to them? Why are people like CT still on the Supreme Court? Why is anger and hate so satisfying an emotion for so many? I do not know. I know that I will continue to do my part.
On a positive note. Part of what keeps me from going down the rabbit hole is that I volunteer with the High School students and they give me hope. I also volunteer in my community so I can have a role in our present and future. Small actions sometimes have big effects. The butterfly.
Great thought but it overlooks the bitter divisions caused by global capitalism that have rewarded or overrewarded some at the expense of others.Shattered blue collar communities have deserted liberal or left wing parties because of the perception that these parties have facilitated the rise of laissez faire economics whilst reducing safety nets for the unprotected.A temporary truce between the two parties is welcome but unlikely to last when doctrinal differences are aired at midterms.
Professor it is working. The Republicans so easily able to con you positive attitude wanting to believe we can all get along. All that is going on in Washington is what is not happening not what is happening. The number one tool of propaganda - which is ALL Republican are about - is smoke screen. Once again, all that stuff you see is stuff that goes on the debt and is not paid for because it has word WAR - cold, hot, warm, fake WAR allows "emergency" bills put on debt via supplemental. Notice how all you rattled off had ZERO issue For The Welfare Of The People. It was how to spend our kids money on WAR which goes to corporation profits. Non of these items are progressive agenda items ZERO. For you to think that Connell or ANY republican in house can be trusted is simple folly that Regan used to kill all unions, corporations to pay zero taxes, talk big center of international diplomacy, stack the court leading to steeling presidency by Roberts playing with words, Citizen money is free speech, etc etc. Comon man you are not getting me to join that wagon train again. Congress going through that tears in eyes is same as when head of state of Israel came to talk to congress to get war crime leader elected in his state or buying in to all press clamor tat got us in Iraq. OUR Oligarchs smoking cirgar with some brandy in board room laughing together is what was going on. But when it comes to help all of our people with Medicare for All which a tear jerking video could be made and shown to congress you would have gotten boos from people you no think as a miracle will have a fallacy term Cold War made up with a movie star fam on saying Tear Down That Wall when it was already born down and Cold War ended by Russian leader. Or omg heaven forbid if college education was an extension of our free education to help our dream - surely professor you could make a tear jerking video to get a standing ovation for that. Or how about fixing child care and senior citizen care. ALL OF THIS IS HIDDEN BY DESIGN and you took the bait Mr Reich. Just to have a get-along-feeling? Really!!! Are you a progressive - search you believes out professor - are you really
I don’t want Trump on the back burner. He is a danger and security risk. If we let his crimes slide, we’ll pay a very big price. There is a tremendous amount of nuttery out there still, not only with republicans but Trump’s armed followers. The only reason republicans applauded Zelenskyy, is because all of our allies are watching, and NATO countries are supporting the Democrats’ words, not republicans.
I say this ad nauseam, but stop showing these republican nuts on the news constantly. They are always interviewing a damn republican. Or showing the stupid trump big rig tantrum brigade.
I hope the needle is moving just a little toward sanity but seeing will be believing.
The massive risks associated with accelerating climate change and extinctions were not enough of an existential threat to unite us. It takes the grim prospect of mutual nuclear annihilation with Russia, which is now more imminent.
I think it's a pretty feckless excuse to say (or perhaps admit) that the only thing that can really bring America together is an outside threat. Will we ever evolve from that?
I do not now and never will trust one ounce of the GOP propaganda machine that spreads lies, cruelty and hatred. They can all go straight to you know where.
Professor, Until receiving your missive, I didn’t dare allow myself to imagine, partisan disputes aside, that perhaps the majority of us are viewing Ukraine as the front line of freedom right now, engaged in a struggle between freedom and tyranny that, dare I say, awakens in us the desire to protect our own aspirational American experiment from its potential undoing. I will know we have undergone a paradigm shift when opposing parties, once again, view one another as opponents and not as enemies.
Yes, immediate threats to our security seem to mostly bring us together for our survival. Pity that global heating is a slow threat, largely unrecognized and denied by the right.
Could what you're sensing in Congress be an increasing realization that the US party conflict is itself a large factor in Putin's decision to move on Ukraine >now<? That the polarization itself has been Putin's whole game - where Putin's a'playin' "the long game?" That polarization was - and apparently still is - ol' Tweety's >whole job!< Naw! It couldn't be anything so rational. Never mind.
Two things I have also noticed recently:
First, Trump and Trumpism seem to be fading -- along with Putin and Putinism. Two birds of a feather.
Second, a growing realization -- especially in Europe but also here in the U.S. -- that renewable energy technology and infrastructure are not just about climate and jobs; they are fundamental matters of national security. Europe for sure will be doubling down on energy security, and maybe Biden will get more support for an ambitious renewable energy agenda.
I like that Robert Reich has the perspective he has shared with us. I have been feeling increasingly that we are on a path to being ruled by fascists, or autocrats. Democracy seemed doomed. I had thoughts that an external threat like a potential hot war would pull us together a little bit. let's hope we can not only survive but prevail, in a good way.
I was surprised at the Postal Service action. As you say, “thinnest of silver linings”. Let’s hope it becomes more.
I welcome this shift but until the country reckons with its racist foundations, so cruel but so integral to our entire history, there will be no truly multiracial democracy.
We as a collective whole can agree on a few things certain: We abhor Putin (and his enabler DJT.) Secondly, and more importantly, we love and admire Volodymyr Zelensky and the strength and patriotism of the Ukrainian people. In my humble opinion, it is the courage and the will to save their country which has opened our eyes to take a good look at ourselves in the mirror. Would Americans stand up and fight for our fellow countrymen the way all of Ukraine has? I fear not, sadly.
We as a nation are not in the top 20 Democracies. How did that happen? We have laws and actions that promote the top 1% over everyone else. I have worked 42 years in education and still volunteer at my local high school with a group of students. Many teachers feel under attack by actions promoted by the GOP. We have a respected medical Dr. in our valley who has said " Why do we not trust the people who have studied, researched and practiced in their field over the yahoo on YOUTUBE? Why did 4 years of a grifter escalate our civil deterioration. Why do people like MTG and LB have such attention paid to them? Why are people like CT still on the Supreme Court? Why is anger and hate so satisfying an emotion for so many? I do not know. I know that I will continue to do my part.
On a positive note. Part of what keeps me from going down the rabbit hole is that I volunteer with the High School students and they give me hope. I also volunteer in my community so I can have a role in our present and future. Small actions sometimes have big effects. The butterfly.
Great thought but it overlooks the bitter divisions caused by global capitalism that have rewarded or overrewarded some at the expense of others.Shattered blue collar communities have deserted liberal or left wing parties because of the perception that these parties have facilitated the rise of laissez faire economics whilst reducing safety nets for the unprotected.A temporary truce between the two parties is welcome but unlikely to last when doctrinal differences are aired at midterms.
Professor it is working. The Republicans so easily able to con you positive attitude wanting to believe we can all get along. All that is going on in Washington is what is not happening not what is happening. The number one tool of propaganda - which is ALL Republican are about - is smoke screen. Once again, all that stuff you see is stuff that goes on the debt and is not paid for because it has word WAR - cold, hot, warm, fake WAR allows "emergency" bills put on debt via supplemental. Notice how all you rattled off had ZERO issue For The Welfare Of The People. It was how to spend our kids money on WAR which goes to corporation profits. Non of these items are progressive agenda items ZERO. For you to think that Connell or ANY republican in house can be trusted is simple folly that Regan used to kill all unions, corporations to pay zero taxes, talk big center of international diplomacy, stack the court leading to steeling presidency by Roberts playing with words, Citizen money is free speech, etc etc. Comon man you are not getting me to join that wagon train again. Congress going through that tears in eyes is same as when head of state of Israel came to talk to congress to get war crime leader elected in his state or buying in to all press clamor tat got us in Iraq. OUR Oligarchs smoking cirgar with some brandy in board room laughing together is what was going on. But when it comes to help all of our people with Medicare for All which a tear jerking video could be made and shown to congress you would have gotten boos from people you no think as a miracle will have a fallacy term Cold War made up with a movie star fam on saying Tear Down That Wall when it was already born down and Cold War ended by Russian leader. Or omg heaven forbid if college education was an extension of our free education to help our dream - surely professor you could make a tear jerking video to get a standing ovation for that. Or how about fixing child care and senior citizen care. ALL OF THIS IS HIDDEN BY DESIGN and you took the bait Mr Reich. Just to have a get-along-feeling? Really!!! Are you a progressive - search you believes out professor - are you really
I don’t want Trump on the back burner. He is a danger and security risk. If we let his crimes slide, we’ll pay a very big price. There is a tremendous amount of nuttery out there still, not only with republicans but Trump’s armed followers. The only reason republicans applauded Zelenskyy, is because all of our allies are watching, and NATO countries are supporting the Democrats’ words, not republicans.
I say this ad nauseam, but stop showing these republican nuts on the news constantly. They are always interviewing a damn republican. Or showing the stupid trump big rig tantrum brigade.
I hope the needle is moving just a little toward sanity but seeing will be believing.
The massive risks associated with accelerating climate change and extinctions were not enough of an existential threat to unite us. It takes the grim prospect of mutual nuclear annihilation with Russia, which is now more imminent.
I think it's a pretty feckless excuse to say (or perhaps admit) that the only thing that can really bring America together is an outside threat. Will we ever evolve from that?
I do not now and never will trust one ounce of the GOP propaganda machine that spreads lies, cruelty and hatred. They can all go straight to you know where.
Professor, Until receiving your missive, I didn’t dare allow myself to imagine, partisan disputes aside, that perhaps the majority of us are viewing Ukraine as the front line of freedom right now, engaged in a struggle between freedom and tyranny that, dare I say, awakens in us the desire to protect our own aspirational American experiment from its potential undoing. I will know we have undergone a paradigm shift when opposing parties, once again, view one another as opponents and not as enemies.
Yes, immediate threats to our security seem to mostly bring us together for our survival. Pity that global heating is a slow threat, largely unrecognized and denied by the right.
Forgot #DaylightSavingsTime - Just saw feed from Trevor: senate unanimous vote
Could what you're sensing in Congress be an increasing realization that the US party conflict is itself a large factor in Putin's decision to move on Ukraine >now<? That the polarization itself has been Putin's whole game - where Putin's a'playin' "the long game?" That polarization was - and apparently still is - ol' Tweety's >whole job!< Naw! It couldn't be anything so rational. Never mind.