Close Tax loopholes for the rich, reinstall Stegall-Glass; none of this will happen without a true Democratic majority in the Senate and the Democrats retaining the House. Since the GOP's default leader has declared himself a fan of Qanon, the Democrats need to to make this mid-term (and all future elections) Dems vs Qanon until republicans regain some semblance of sanity among their leadership. If not the future of the country looks seriously dystopian.
I voted 'Impose price controls', at least until "we the people" catch up, really though all but 'continue rate hikes' sounds reasonable. Deferring to RR on this.
BUT FIRST, the republican fascists must be defeated in up coming elections or nothing changes and democracy may well be doomed in the US. Once again, "it is the most important election ever".
He appointed Paula White, a Florida televangelist often associated with the prosperity gospel, to an official White House position in the Office of Public Liaison. She led a prayer at Trump's inauguration, chaired his Evangelical Advisory Council, and has a dubious history. During the 2020 campaign, while ostensibly still a government official she was streamed on Facebook calling on "angelic reinforcement" from the continents of Africa and South America. "I hear a sound of victory, the Lord says it is done," she said. "For angels have even been dispatched from Africa right now... In the name of Jesus from South America, they're coming here." In her prayer, she was reportedly speaking in tongues. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/05/paula-white-trumps-spiritual-adviser-african-south-american-angels/6173576002/
Trump and White have been close for many years and she has been his liaison to evangelist groups, White evangelical voters helped deliver Trump the White House in 2016 and came out in droves to support him again four years later. According to polling data, approximately 80 percent of that community voted for Trump in 2016 and in 2020.
Why is this not a violation of the Establishment clause?
Windfall profit tax, restore Glass-Steagall, raise taxes on the wealthy. Turn the clock back to the days before Gingrich. All of this will be possible if the Dems can recapture the House and Senate, which is looking more likely by the day.
With the revelation that Trump now believes he can declassify documents merely by thinking about them, he may be actively delusional. With his loss of language (not that it was that great in the first place) it's possible that he has frontotemporal dementia. Who read the MRI when he was hospitalized at Walter Reed? Is that declassified also?
Great Klatch!: I wanted to respond to the survey with 'all but the first choice', which is what Powell is already doing'. I will see what Dr. Reich is going to say, since that is the most interesting. I am curious. I like the positive ideas about the fact that Justice is beginning to be brought in the document scuffle. I look forward to more of the same in all the court battles with TFG. What ever is done about 'inflation' needs to be viable ; that list cannot possibly all get implemented without a very strong majority in the Senate and the House. Unless there is some executive action that Biden could do.
Sep 24, 2022·edited Sep 24, 2022Liked by Heather Lofthouse
First, I want to wish Robert and Heather a good and sweet New Year. May it be so for us all.
The need by some Americans -- all too many -- for an authoritarian, "messianic" leader is evidence of psychological and spiritual problems on a vast scale. I believe these problems spring from a belief that our current system is not equipped to deal with some of the huge issues -- like climate change -- that we're facing. And so many millions have lost faith in the system.
When we Americans believe we're faced with an existential threat, we'll do crazy things. Like rounding up fellow Americans of Japanese descent and putting them in concentration camps. How else to describe the entire January 6 event but sheer craziness? (Who prepared those gallows? -- That's one thing I would love for the House Select Committee to find out.)
There's currently a big discussion going on in the US Christian community about Christian nationalism, that fascist force which is supplying a lot of the wind under any would-be "messiah's" wings. I don't see any way of properly defusing it except on a sound theological and biblical basis. Many decades ago, I was strongly anti-abortion, and it was only through looking at it from a much better grounded Judeo-Christian perspective that I realized I was wrong and completely changed my views. Prior to that, I thought I was soooo right. It was a very humbling experience, and one that I'm grateful for.
I voted with the majority, so far, for the windfall profits tax. But, that is not enough, I agree Dr. Reich, that temporary price controls (or caps) would give immediate relief. For the long haul though, which is where we need to focus, we have to reinstate anti-trust actions (not just the exiting laws) but action on them. Also I agree with Peter, close the tax loopholes, and retrieve Steagall-Glass from the dump pile of republican led congresses. Another long term benefit would be to reorganize our political parties, giving them names that tell voters what they really stand for. Democrats is not a good name, because every politician, including the trumpster and DeSatan claim to love democracy, because they know it is a catch word the average voter "feels" but doesn't really understand. I would prefer meaningful names like "The Liberal/Progressive", "The Centrists", "The Fiscal Conservatives", I don't know what to call the wingnuts, fringe, authoritarians, bigots, racists, religious fanatics, haters, white supremacists, anarchists, conspiracy theorists, climate and science deniers. I guess they'll figure it out. The latter misfits would never be strong enough to control the Country if voters knew their true beliefs, but amongst themselves they'd have a good old time, shouting, screaming, and dukeing it out.
To stop fiddling with those deck chairs, the big solution to all financial ills is Universal Basic Income.
Give everyone food, shelter, health care, and education to get a democracy where people who aren't
consumed with survival can think together. As the oligarchy comes into more and more control, we the people need to rev it up to make moves that empower us
As you stated, in Econ 101 price controls are disruptive. This is true in a free market, but as you stated, many industries are now oligopolies controlled by a very few players that are able to distort supposed free pricing models predicated on supply and demand. This distortion get exacerbated when those industries are controlling the staples and basic needs of the populace, the things we can’t live without like food, electricity, energy, public transportation, water, natural gas to name a few. Yesterday CNN released a listing of the best airlines in the world, not a single domestic airline was on the main list (Southwest was on the no frills list). This is a prima face result of the consolidation of the major domestic airlines, not to mention the Hub model, basically being able to jettison customer service and employee value in favor of excess profits. It’s high time those industries that all Americans depend be nationalized so customer concerns become the first consideration, not one that may or may not follow profits, dividends, retained earnings, stock buybacks, and shareholder value.
All fingers and toes crossed for the mid-term elections, and writing GOTV postcards like mad .... And yes, we certainly do need reality. And resilience!
To be fair, he IS the Messiah for almost a THIRD of dangerously under-educated "Americans." (I use quotes because they chose Dear Leader over our democracy.) There is no "want" involved.
Once again, I find myself an outlier on the curve, not because I disagree with anything other than raising the prime interest rate, but because I agree with all three of the other options: implement a windfall profits tax, impose price controls, and energetically become muscular about busting trusts instead of unions! I could have agreed with one option had it not been an implausible option - since that's >not< how the system works - of interfering with or otherwise stopping the Fed. But then I've been an outlier because I agreed with >all four< options!
Had the question been "what would be the first thing to do," then I'd say impose price controls, because it seems that could be put in place and relieve the pressure on those >presently< suffering under the burden of inflation. (Not serving those who can afford to keep a "war chest" of savings earmarked for >just such< an eventuality.) The other options would be more time consuming and wouldn't relieve the burden when needed - that is, immediately.
Additionally, I'd start characterizing Republi-wanker action as "waging their class warfare against those of us who work for a living" every time they start banging on about "culture wars."
Survey: I select all EXCEPT "Fed must continue to hike rates" which only punishes workers. Corporate greed is out of control. I hate being price gouged on necessities to feed the insatiable greed of corporations and their billionaire owners. Their ill-gotten gains are then used to gain control over our government, leading to even more abuse of consumers and workers. Our only hope of ending this cycle is to elect better leaders. A step in the right direction would be electing Democrat bulletproof majorities in the House & Senate on November 8th 2022. With blue majorities Democrat leaders could eliminate the filibuster, un-rig SCOTUS, restore women's rights, protect voting rights, and pass more legislation to benefits all Americans, not just billionaires. We need to get this done before SCOTUS hands states the right to overturn election results during the next SCOTUS session.
Close Tax loopholes for the rich, reinstall Stegall-Glass; none of this will happen without a true Democratic majority in the Senate and the Democrats retaining the House. Since the GOP's default leader has declared himself a fan of Qanon, the Democrats need to to make this mid-term (and all future elections) Dems vs Qanon until republicans regain some semblance of sanity among their leadership. If not the future of the country looks seriously dystopian.
I voted 'Impose price controls', at least until "we the people" catch up, really though all but 'continue rate hikes' sounds reasonable. Deferring to RR on this.
BUT FIRST, the republican fascists must be defeated in up coming elections or nothing changes and democracy may well be doomed in the US. Once again, "it is the most important election ever".
Does Trump want to be the next messiah?
In his mind, already probably is. He's been passing himself off as one.
As president he issued an executive order that I consider to be a violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment: "All agencies shall cooperate with the White House Partnerships Office [on religious groups] and provide such information, support, and assistance to the White House Partnerships Office as it may request, to the extent permitted by law." https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/14/executive-order-on-the-establishment-of-the-white-house-office-of-faith-based-and-neighborhood-partnerships/
He appointed Paula White, a Florida televangelist often associated with the prosperity gospel, to an official White House position in the Office of Public Liaison. She led a prayer at Trump's inauguration, chaired his Evangelical Advisory Council, and has a dubious history. During the 2020 campaign, while ostensibly still a government official she was streamed on Facebook calling on "angelic reinforcement" from the continents of Africa and South America. "I hear a sound of victory, the Lord says it is done," she said. "For angels have even been dispatched from Africa right now... In the name of Jesus from South America, they're coming here." In her prayer, she was reportedly speaking in tongues. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/05/paula-white-trumps-spiritual-adviser-african-south-american-angels/6173576002/
Trump and White have been close for many years and she has been his liaison to evangelist groups, White evangelical voters helped deliver Trump the White House in 2016 and came out in droves to support him again four years later. According to polling data, approximately 80 percent of that community voted for Trump in 2016 and in 2020.
Why is this not a violation of the Establishment clause?
And why is this not blasphemy?
Windfall profit tax, restore Glass-Steagall, raise taxes on the wealthy. Turn the clock back to the days before Gingrich. All of this will be possible if the Dems can recapture the House and Senate, which is looking more likely by the day.
With the revelation that Trump now believes he can declassify documents merely by thinking about them, he may be actively delusional. With his loss of language (not that it was that great in the first place) it's possible that he has frontotemporal dementia. Who read the MRI when he was hospitalized at Walter Reed? Is that declassified also?
Great Klatch!: I wanted to respond to the survey with 'all but the first choice', which is what Powell is already doing'. I will see what Dr. Reich is going to say, since that is the most interesting. I am curious. I like the positive ideas about the fact that Justice is beginning to be brought in the document scuffle. I look forward to more of the same in all the court battles with TFG. What ever is done about 'inflation' needs to be viable ; that list cannot possibly all get implemented without a very strong majority in the Senate and the House. Unless there is some executive action that Biden could do.
First, I want to wish Robert and Heather a good and sweet New Year. May it be so for us all.
The need by some Americans -- all too many -- for an authoritarian, "messianic" leader is evidence of psychological and spiritual problems on a vast scale. I believe these problems spring from a belief that our current system is not equipped to deal with some of the huge issues -- like climate change -- that we're facing. And so many millions have lost faith in the system.
When we Americans believe we're faced with an existential threat, we'll do crazy things. Like rounding up fellow Americans of Japanese descent and putting them in concentration camps. How else to describe the entire January 6 event but sheer craziness? (Who prepared those gallows? -- That's one thing I would love for the House Select Committee to find out.)
There's currently a big discussion going on in the US Christian community about Christian nationalism, that fascist force which is supplying a lot of the wind under any would-be "messiah's" wings. I don't see any way of properly defusing it except on a sound theological and biblical basis. Many decades ago, I was strongly anti-abortion, and it was only through looking at it from a much better grounded Judeo-Christian perspective that I realized I was wrong and completely changed my views. Prior to that, I thought I was soooo right. It was a very humbling experience, and one that I'm grateful for.
I voted with the majority, so far, for the windfall profits tax. But, that is not enough, I agree Dr. Reich, that temporary price controls (or caps) would give immediate relief. For the long haul though, which is where we need to focus, we have to reinstate anti-trust actions (not just the exiting laws) but action on them. Also I agree with Peter, close the tax loopholes, and retrieve Steagall-Glass from the dump pile of republican led congresses. Another long term benefit would be to reorganize our political parties, giving them names that tell voters what they really stand for. Democrats is not a good name, because every politician, including the trumpster and DeSatan claim to love democracy, because they know it is a catch word the average voter "feels" but doesn't really understand. I would prefer meaningful names like "The Liberal/Progressive", "The Centrists", "The Fiscal Conservatives", I don't know what to call the wingnuts, fringe, authoritarians, bigots, racists, religious fanatics, haters, white supremacists, anarchists, conspiracy theorists, climate and science deniers. I guess they'll figure it out. The latter misfits would never be strong enough to control the Country if voters knew their true beliefs, but amongst themselves they'd have a good old time, shouting, screaming, and dukeing it out.
To stop fiddling with those deck chairs, the big solution to all financial ills is Universal Basic Income.
Give everyone food, shelter, health care, and education to get a democracy where people who aren't
consumed with survival can think together. As the oligarchy comes into more and more control, we the people need to rev it up to make moves that empower us
More like the anti-christ, methinks.
Yeah, that thing with Nse was wonderful.
As you stated, in Econ 101 price controls are disruptive. This is true in a free market, but as you stated, many industries are now oligopolies controlled by a very few players that are able to distort supposed free pricing models predicated on supply and demand. This distortion get exacerbated when those industries are controlling the staples and basic needs of the populace, the things we can’t live without like food, electricity, energy, public transportation, water, natural gas to name a few. Yesterday CNN released a listing of the best airlines in the world, not a single domestic airline was on the main list (Southwest was on the no frills list). This is a prima face result of the consolidation of the major domestic airlines, not to mention the Hub model, basically being able to jettison customer service and employee value in favor of excess profits. It’s high time those industries that all Americans depend be nationalized so customer concerns become the first consideration, not one that may or may not follow profits, dividends, retained earnings, stock buybacks, and shareholder value.
All fingers and toes crossed for the mid-term elections, and writing GOTV postcards like mad .... And yes, we certainly do need reality. And resilience!
To be fair, he IS the Messiah for almost a THIRD of dangerously under-educated "Americans." (I use quotes because they chose Dear Leader over our democracy.) There is no "want" involved.
Once again, I find myself an outlier on the curve, not because I disagree with anything other than raising the prime interest rate, but because I agree with all three of the other options: implement a windfall profits tax, impose price controls, and energetically become muscular about busting trusts instead of unions! I could have agreed with one option had it not been an implausible option - since that's >not< how the system works - of interfering with or otherwise stopping the Fed. But then I've been an outlier because I agreed with >all four< options!
Had the question been "what would be the first thing to do," then I'd say impose price controls, because it seems that could be put in place and relieve the pressure on those >presently< suffering under the burden of inflation. (Not serving those who can afford to keep a "war chest" of savings earmarked for >just such< an eventuality.) The other options would be more time consuming and wouldn't relieve the burden when needed - that is, immediately.
Additionally, I'd start characterizing Republi-wanker action as "waging their class warfare against those of us who work for a living" every time they start banging on about "culture wars."
Messiah? Trump is more the Anti-Christ
Survey: I select all EXCEPT "Fed must continue to hike rates" which only punishes workers. Corporate greed is out of control. I hate being price gouged on necessities to feed the insatiable greed of corporations and their billionaire owners. Their ill-gotten gains are then used to gain control over our government, leading to even more abuse of consumers and workers. Our only hope of ending this cycle is to elect better leaders. A step in the right direction would be electing Democrat bulletproof majorities in the House & Senate on November 8th 2022. With blue majorities Democrat leaders could eliminate the filibuster, un-rig SCOTUS, restore women's rights, protect voting rights, and pass more legislation to benefits all Americans, not just billionaires. We need to get this done before SCOTUS hands states the right to overturn election results during the next SCOTUS session.