We need to "oppose," not resist. Opposition is both active and consequential - and it is precisely the action that Trump has tried to thwart.
Once you accept this framing of "resistance," you've acknowledged a total loss (game over, season over etc.), but we haven't really lost yet. We've had a major setback, but just as any opposing team can come back from a loss or even a series of losses, so too can we regain the upper hand by staying in the game (or in the case of the folks being pointed out in this post, getting off of the sidelines and into the game).
Those professional associations all need to formally "oppose" what they know to be wrong - only through reaffirming our principles can we defeat totalitarianism.
A person could use a historical reference. Vichy France provided TOKEN opposition to the Nazi occupation of their country. Lahanas doesn't know when opposition becomes token -- aka performative.
On the other hand, there was a French resistance movement. Lahanas believes these people threw in the towel. "Acknowledged a loss."
Well, I consider MAGA to be an occupying force out to destroy democratic institutions. Playing footsie to try to gain an "upper hand:" in THEIR game -- is .... insanity.
I would challenge you to consider the power that words play in politics - these two words are particularly important and relevant to our current situation.
Acknowledging that we need a real Opposition is step 1, declaring that Opposition openly (which is what I think Mr. Reich was calling for here) is step 2. So far we haven't properly done either and instead have been relying on Trump to self-destruct, but that was a huge risk and cannot be the strategy going forward once Trump is gone.
The French Resistance represented; 1) a movement that existed entirely outside of the French power structure established after Germany defeated it, in other words there could be no actual Opposition at that point. The real French opposition occurred later when elements of the Free French movement managed to peel off parts of Vichy France and fight with the Allies across various theaters. The Resistance was a sideshow in that larger context.
2) The French had thrown in the towel (and handed over all actual power to Germany through the new Vichy Government), and the Resistance as we know it was largely created & supported by our intelligence services in advance of the eventual European invasion (to aid int hat effort through sabotage). It would not have likely happened w/o that external support and that sabotage would have been meaningless and ineffective without an invasion.
3) MAGA is not an 'occupying force' and it's becoming less of a force or movement by the minute. All of the success that this Administration has had in 2025 is due to people giving up on Opposition in advance through cowardice or incompetence and in fact that was and is the only path Trump ever had towards becoming a true totalitarian leader. "Fear Itself" was their plan and it came close to working, but is now falling apart.
The MAGA movement is a decidely uneasy coalition of billionaires and their neocon supporters in the media, conspiracists and fanatics and a vast horde of disillusioned and ignorant people with largely genuine grievances about the way they been allowed to fall behind in the US economic system. Trump's genius has been to successfully tap into their shared dysphoria by linking his own imagined grievances to those of his base - the horde and the fanatics - whilst actually serving the wishes of the billionaires. The coalition will ultimately dissolve under the ineluctable pressure of economic reality and the huge inequalities he is exacerbating and solving this problem seems to be well beyond his powers. The only question is whether he has already caused irreparable harm to your democracy. In my view, he's done you a favour by showing you how fragile your system of checks and balances really is.
Yes. That is how we got here. It was a remarkable scheme. It is interesting to me that what may undo this ridiculous marriage of Tech Bros and Bible Thumping Bigots is a scandal.
Scandals can be helpful in "cleaning house". And as is so often the case, the coverup of the scandal explodes its negative value.
The Epstein Class coverup is SOOOO slow and sloppy so as to be a textbook example of how not to handle a bad story.
Which opens the starting gate for a "new populism" that sees the new "deep state" as the Trump/Epstein collusion to hide horrific behavior.
And as you pointed out, the pressure of economic pain and who causes it will shift from "Coastal Liberals" to the current crew in charge.
We have an American tradition. Everything, ultimately, is ALWAYS the fault of the president in power. "47" is flailing.
Word matter, a lot. In the English language, 'Resistance' is immediately associated with the idiomatic expression; "Resistance is Futile." As a term, it also implies a lack of credibility or authority - a sort of fringe effort. An Opposition isn't fringe (it's at least half of the country) and has an even chance of winning and most importantly it also implies that we haven't yet shifted over into one party rule.
This is why the current administration has done everything in its power to intimidate folks into not presenting an effective opposition movement.
Effective opposition to the administration can sometimes be consistent with throwing in the towel. For example, the many resignations that have occured in the Department of Justice have left it floundering and unable to undertake some of its normal duties. It's attempts to find replacement attorneys have only led to futher embarrassment for the administration which has led to its angry denunciations of conservative judges who have simply demanded qualified replacements.
Another possible example might come for the Kennedy clan who could demand the removal of JFK's name from the Kennedy Center so that Trump would no longer be able to bathe in the reflected glory of a truly great American president. This would be an act of opposition that might deeply wound this egotistical man.
Those professional associations have presided over your deeply unfair and unequal legal and health systems for decades without a murmur of recognition of their deficiencies.
You don't have an official opposition in your federal political system. It's possibly why the Democratic Party often seems leaderless and rudderless (although there are probably other reasons for that too). An opposition leader will only appear after the primaries to your election, after what can be a bruising and damaging audition. It's at least arguable that if the party chose a leader now, who would be the presumptive nominee, it could oppose this administration more effectively both inside and outside Congress.
Democrats should be choosing "leaders" now. Plural.
Many of us have asked for a "Shadow Cabinet" that could respond to each outrageous move by the MAGA Nazi administration - department by department. That could be the kind of "audition" that would show the public who has the speaking skills, understanding of key topics and all around required "charisma" - without demonizing each other.
Opposition may do more, but resistance still has value.
Opposition: Those neighbors getting in the face of ICE thugs (aka "Schutzstaffel") and recording their abusive behavior toward nonviolent people. People bringing costly lawsuits against Trump admin actions. That church that put the "ICE took them notice" in place of Mary Joseph and the baby in their crèche.*
Resistance: Slow-walking tasks and "losing" documents that the higher-ups order.
I'm not sure how to classify the Underground Railroad types, who are both active and secret.
________________
*The Boston Archdiocese's chastisement of that church falls under the category →collaboration←. Maybe they're just in favor of Trump's pro-pedophile position.
But opposition or resistance is not an easy choice. I'm flabbergasted by the simple lack of quality of the representatives. Spinelessness, lacking autonomy in thinking, loyalty to an authority seem the big selectors in the selection process of your politics.
In Russia the elect the Duma with this candidates, but the US is the land of the free!
Now there seems a shift to impeachment, because some old men think that can be a solution. But the disgrace is for all sitting Rep's who let the Trump regime do its work.
Thank you so very much, Dr. Reich. Isn't there also a measles outbreak? I don't think the Secretary of Health and Human Services realize what he is doing is quite evil. Merry Christmas.
About ten years ago, I had a chiropractor who was anti-vaccine. He did talks about the evils of vaccines. I listened. I became convinced vaccines were a scam by the pharmeceutical companies to make millions. He seemed to have science behind him- science that was being "suppressed." Then I started doing my own research. The stats he touted about how Infant death syndrome went down in Japan after then reduced the number of vaccines babies received. Not really true. How European countries had banned the HPV vaccine. Not true. I could go on, but you get the idea. Did he think he was evil? No- he thought he was the hero, warning innocent people about certain danger. I checked on his Facebook page last week- He is still sounding his alarms. He hasn't seen that much of his research is specious. He still thinks he is a misunderstood hero.
Putting peoples health and lives in danger by intentionally misrepresenting vaccine information in order to make himself a hero is insane. Why give him a pass by saying that he hasn’t seen that much of his “research” is specious? If you can read the scientific evidence so can he. If RFK Jr and your chiropractor don’t think that they are evil it is proof of their derangement. Unfortunately neither has a license that the AMA can take away.
Good share. This is the conundrum we all face. How to begin a conversation which can become a discussion vs an argument. And I as type this I realize that a commitment to the work of understanding is needed. Like "I like you. Can we meet once a week to discuss this in further depth?". You got me thinking. Thank you.
I pitched our local county political parties on a program I wanted them to support. We get volunteer teams- 2 to a team. One Republican, one Democrat but they LIKE each other. They get booked into Rotary meetings, churches, anywhere people are looking for speakers. And we tell our story- how we never vote for the same people but we really like each other. There was no interest. And I would have done all the work. So no cost to them.
In his intriguing book, The Practice of Autonomy, Schneider writes that, "People generally and patients particularly persuade themselves they have control where they do not." He then goes on to describe different ways that patients gain a sense of control. Schneider does not mention denial or inventing facts, but maybe these are ways some people "gain a sense of control without the reality." In crazy and uncertain times, we all look for a sense of control.
At the beginning of the pandemic I was aware that I was seeking control and was relieved to get vaccinated. But why seek control from con artists when we have brilliant scientists who dedicate their lives to the public good like Anthony Fauchi? Does believing in a conspiracy make them feel superior?
One of our doctors, Andrew Wakefield, was kicked out of the profession for professional misconduct related to false claims he made about the safety of the MMR vaccine. He's now making a nice living in the US as part of the MAHA anti-vaccine movement.
Damn, but we oldsters look great! and also think pretty good too. I have been very puzzled over the lack of action by the professional associations and by the many Democratic congressmen/women who are also lawyers who have not advocated for their professions. We need a few more matches to light the fire under this matter. Merry Christmas.
Many caved early due to the blitzkrieg effect, the fear like Germany 1930’s was evoked fearing violence and retribution, the strong arming. I’m probably being too charitable but fear was more contagious then than courage at that time.
Health care professionals aren't supposed to diagnose people who aren't their patients, and an organization of such professionals wouldn't be doing that as one of their normal functions as far as I know.
A major disagreement exists between those professionals who claim one must see an individual patient in order to diagnose, and those opposing them who have formed the organisation Duty to Warn, which does everything to try to inform the public about psychopathy in politicians and public officials that is likely to endanger the general public and undermine democratic systems.
I fail to comprehend why anyone today should try to restrict fundamental, essential knowledge in any field. Elitist self-interest and restricted membership in order to control high incomes seems to be the real reason for the conservative side's stance.
How would you feel if an air hostesses' or pilots' association tried to ban members from advising the public about air safety?
The old reasons for secrecy in professional associations went out the door when the separation of Church and State meant doctors no longer needed to fear the Church when practising their profession. How long ago was that?
To your examples of medical professional misconduct one can add the behavior of regime officials (with medical degrees) toward transgender people. "Dr. Oz" (who is a licensed physician) recently stated in a public forum that the cost of a phalloplasty is $150,000 (actual cost - in the US, not a foreign country - is between $35,000 and $50,000, per several actual provider quotations). Similar lies were stated regarding vaginoplasty, not quite as far from the truth. This same "doctor" is actively pushing legal prohibition of professionally vetted gender-affirming care. That will kill people. Hippocratic oath? Actual government oath? Not for them.
And where are all the state bar associations? The fact is that ethics in this country mean nothing anymore. The only thing that is important here is making more and more money.
As we continue to see the erosion of trust in our government, our courts, our legal system and our healthcare and education systems - I wonder, where will we be next year at this time if there is no accountability?
With people of color (citizens), homeless veterans & others incarcerated in camps ran by private corporations, lots of medical bankruptcies, the list of losses increases daily.
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
I have never been a member of the AMA, but I've been a long time member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The current president of AAP has done an outstanding job of advocating for children's healthcare, and more importantly speaking out loud and proud against the horrific MAHA debacle. Dr Kressly's work and that of Peter Hotez, another AAP member, have made me proud of my professional organization. Vaccinate against MAGA!
Great questions. Seems like we have a problem getting those in power to do their jobs. Case in point - Congress. Any ideas on how to get the ABA and AMA to do their s?
Thank you for wondering and expressing what I have been contemplating. What the hell has happened to all these organizations that allegedly oversee the upholding of very specific professional standards? While the supposed professionals in those fields in the current administration blatantly ignore or violate those standards on a daily basis, the professional organizations have been silent. Are there no standards to be upheld these days?
Thanks to his piece on this “You Look Great” habit that many of us share, I’m working on restraining the auto-statement. Still seeking a replacement. You look alive (if true)….You appear happy (assuming they are smiling)…Nice to see you (though that one too is over used). 🤣
It’s been my experience that when people behave in unexpected ways, it’s for a reason that benefits them. Per Google AI, “The American Medical Association (AMA) has faced significant criticism and controversy, notably for its historical racism, including excluding Black physicians and supporting segregation, for actions deemed anti-competitive by limiting medical school access and residencies, and for strong opposition to socialized medicine like Medicare; more recently, debates involve its influence on healthcare costs, insurance issues, and ongoing efforts to address its problematic past, including apologies for racism.”
Canadian here. Warning: I am about to go off on a tangent.
"Socialized medicine". What a totally ridiculous US misnomer! When will Americans in general move past the terminology of the notorious McCarthy Era red scare? The AMA has you thoroughly brainwashed, it seems to me, if this term is still in common usage by thoughtful. commentators.
Socialized medicine. Oh, you mean all the types of medical care for taxpayers that is provided free by ALL OTHER OECD countries because taxpayers are voters and citizens and our working lives are the foundation of our country's economic well-being...
Oh, and it is also provided because free medical care not only IMPROVES economic productivity. It also makes national populations happier and raises quality of life.
Some people in the US do have access to socialized medicine. It's available to military veterans who served in active duty and certain of their family members. One of the main reasons for the extraordinarily high cost of healthcare in the US is that we have many different systems, thus creating an administrative nightmare.
The entire congress has access to socialized medicine, platinum level-coverage, which we pay for with our taxes. As for the VA, this regime is busy privatizing it, and thus insuring that it will be inefficient and costly. But we're off on a tangent. RR's question is the on the reason for the lack of accountability by the professional associations. To my mind, they suffer from the same helplessness and confusion infecting so many of us: the occasional No Kings protest, sure, but where is the active resistance or opposition to the attack on immigrants? As the Nazis did to the Jews so this regime is attacking immigrants. As the Germans quietly accepted the removal of the Jews, so we are mostly accepting the sweeps,exception Chicago. But no huge surge of people out in the state legislatures (since we don't have a single place to gather for the whole country). The resistance and opposition are left to the communities to stand up for their own. We need more than peace on earth just on Christmas Day.
Well then, we need better leaders of these organizations. The current ones are too comfortable and complacent and are not ethical LEADERS who have the balls to stand up for our country. What exhausting cowardly bullshit these well-paid organizations are. More yelling please.
Short answer: They're afraid to stand up. Glad to see that you're standing up to regime! We all need to resist!
We need to "oppose," not resist. Opposition is both active and consequential - and it is precisely the action that Trump has tried to thwart.
Once you accept this framing of "resistance," you've acknowledged a total loss (game over, season over etc.), but we haven't really lost yet. We've had a major setback, but just as any opposing team can come back from a loss or even a series of losses, so too can we regain the upper hand by staying in the game (or in the case of the folks being pointed out in this post, getting off of the sidelines and into the game).
Those professional associations all need to formally "oppose" what they know to be wrong - only through reaffirming our principles can we defeat totalitarianism.
The difference between oppose and resist. This is where we should be focusing our efforts?
Oppose: actively resist or refuse to comply with (a person or a system)
Resist: withstand the action or effect of. Refrain from doing or having (something tempting or unwise).
A person could use a historical reference. Vichy France provided TOKEN opposition to the Nazi occupation of their country. Lahanas doesn't know when opposition becomes token -- aka performative.
On the other hand, there was a French resistance movement. Lahanas believes these people threw in the towel. "Acknowledged a loss."
Well, I consider MAGA to be an occupying force out to destroy democratic institutions. Playing footsie to try to gain an "upper hand:" in THEIR game -- is .... insanity.
A person could use some common sense and realize that TOKEN resistance and TOKEN opposition are.... ah, never mind.
I should have stopped after "use common sense." Merry Christmas!
I would challenge you to consider the power that words play in politics - these two words are particularly important and relevant to our current situation.
Acknowledging that we need a real Opposition is step 1, declaring that Opposition openly (which is what I think Mr. Reich was calling for here) is step 2. So far we haven't properly done either and instead have been relying on Trump to self-destruct, but that was a huge risk and cannot be the strategy going forward once Trump is gone.
https://politicalperspectives2025.substack.com/p/not-a-resistance
https://politicalperspectives2025.substack.com/p/a-declaration-of-opposition?utm_source=publication-search
Bertrand Russell once described common sense as the metaphysics of the savage so perhaps you ought not have bothered at all.
The French Resistance represented; 1) a movement that existed entirely outside of the French power structure established after Germany defeated it, in other words there could be no actual Opposition at that point. The real French opposition occurred later when elements of the Free French movement managed to peel off parts of Vichy France and fight with the Allies across various theaters. The Resistance was a sideshow in that larger context.
2) The French had thrown in the towel (and handed over all actual power to Germany through the new Vichy Government), and the Resistance as we know it was largely created & supported by our intelligence services in advance of the eventual European invasion (to aid int hat effort through sabotage). It would not have likely happened w/o that external support and that sabotage would have been meaningless and ineffective without an invasion.
3) MAGA is not an 'occupying force' and it's becoming less of a force or movement by the minute. All of the success that this Administration has had in 2025 is due to people giving up on Opposition in advance through cowardice or incompetence and in fact that was and is the only path Trump ever had towards becoming a true totalitarian leader. "Fear Itself" was their plan and it came close to working, but is now falling apart.
The MAGA movement is a decidely uneasy coalition of billionaires and their neocon supporters in the media, conspiracists and fanatics and a vast horde of disillusioned and ignorant people with largely genuine grievances about the way they been allowed to fall behind in the US economic system. Trump's genius has been to successfully tap into their shared dysphoria by linking his own imagined grievances to those of his base - the horde and the fanatics - whilst actually serving the wishes of the billionaires. The coalition will ultimately dissolve under the ineluctable pressure of economic reality and the huge inequalities he is exacerbating and solving this problem seems to be well beyond his powers. The only question is whether he has already caused irreparable harm to your democracy. In my view, he's done you a favour by showing you how fragile your system of checks and balances really is.
Yes. That is how we got here. It was a remarkable scheme. It is interesting to me that what may undo this ridiculous marriage of Tech Bros and Bible Thumping Bigots is a scandal.
Scandals can be helpful in "cleaning house". And as is so often the case, the coverup of the scandal explodes its negative value.
The Epstein Class coverup is SOOOO slow and sloppy so as to be a textbook example of how not to handle a bad story.
Which opens the starting gate for a "new populism" that sees the new "deep state" as the Trump/Epstein collusion to hide horrific behavior.
And as you pointed out, the pressure of economic pain and who causes it will shift from "Coastal Liberals" to the current crew in charge.
We have an American tradition. Everything, ultimately, is ALWAYS the fault of the president in power. "47" is flailing.
Word matter, a lot. In the English language, 'Resistance' is immediately associated with the idiomatic expression; "Resistance is Futile." As a term, it also implies a lack of credibility or authority - a sort of fringe effort. An Opposition isn't fringe (it's at least half of the country) and has an even chance of winning and most importantly it also implies that we haven't yet shifted over into one party rule.
This is why the current administration has done everything in its power to intimidate folks into not presenting an effective opposition movement.
Even as you speak... 🙂
https://jaynasheats.substack.com/p/resistance-is-not-futile
Very well-written. Thank you.
Effective opposition to the administration can sometimes be consistent with throwing in the towel. For example, the many resignations that have occured in the Department of Justice have left it floundering and unable to undertake some of its normal duties. It's attempts to find replacement attorneys have only led to futher embarrassment for the administration which has led to its angry denunciations of conservative judges who have simply demanded qualified replacements.
Another possible example might come for the Kennedy clan who could demand the removal of JFK's name from the Kennedy Center so that Trump would no longer be able to bathe in the reflected glory of a truly great American president. This would be an act of opposition that might deeply wound this egotistical man.
Those professional associations have presided over your deeply unfair and unequal legal and health systems for decades without a murmur of recognition of their deficiencies.
You don't have an official opposition in your federal political system. It's possibly why the Democratic Party often seems leaderless and rudderless (although there are probably other reasons for that too). An opposition leader will only appear after the primaries to your election, after what can be a bruising and damaging audition. It's at least arguable that if the party chose a leader now, who would be the presumptive nominee, it could oppose this administration more effectively both inside and outside Congress.
Democrats should be choosing "leaders" now. Plural.
Many of us have asked for a "Shadow Cabinet" that could respond to each outrageous move by the MAGA Nazi administration - department by department. That could be the kind of "audition" that would show the public who has the speaking skills, understanding of key topics and all around required "charisma" - without demonizing each other.
Opposition may do more, but resistance still has value.
Opposition: Those neighbors getting in the face of ICE thugs (aka "Schutzstaffel") and recording their abusive behavior toward nonviolent people. People bringing costly lawsuits against Trump admin actions. That church that put the "ICE took them notice" in place of Mary Joseph and the baby in their crèche.*
Resistance: Slow-walking tasks and "losing" documents that the higher-ups order.
I'm not sure how to classify the Underground Railroad types, who are both active and secret.
________________
*The Boston Archdiocese's chastisement of that church falls under the category →collaboration←. Maybe they're just in favor of Trump's pro-pedophile position.
Of course, Stephen: history goes on.
But opposition or resistance is not an easy choice. I'm flabbergasted by the simple lack of quality of the representatives. Spinelessness, lacking autonomy in thinking, loyalty to an authority seem the big selectors in the selection process of your politics.
In Russia the elect the Duma with this candidates, but the US is the land of the free!
Now there seems a shift to impeachment, because some old men think that can be a solution. But the disgrace is for all sitting Rep's who let the Trump regime do its work.
My take on the word and the action...
https://jaynasheats.substack.com/p/resistance-is-not-futile
Might it be that they want us to think that while they scheme with the regime?
why are they afraid???
Thank you so very much, Dr. Reich. Isn't there also a measles outbreak? I don't think the Secretary of Health and Human Services realize what he is doing is quite evil. Merry Christmas.
Caroline Kennedy warned us about what a sociopath her cousin is...
Rather late, unfortunately. Not that it would have mattered to Cheeto.
The most defining characteristic of the entire Trump regime is a total lack of empathy.
That might be a close second to ineptitude
Agreed. I don't think that anyone who knows how to do the job would work for Trump. We saw some of that during his first term.
Both of which come after the primary characteristic: a deep, wicked, horrendous evil.
He doesn't care
Error correction: I don't think Secretary Kennedy realizes what he is doing is quite evil. Third person singular.
About ten years ago, I had a chiropractor who was anti-vaccine. He did talks about the evils of vaccines. I listened. I became convinced vaccines were a scam by the pharmeceutical companies to make millions. He seemed to have science behind him- science that was being "suppressed." Then I started doing my own research. The stats he touted about how Infant death syndrome went down in Japan after then reduced the number of vaccines babies received. Not really true. How European countries had banned the HPV vaccine. Not true. I could go on, but you get the idea. Did he think he was evil? No- he thought he was the hero, warning innocent people about certain danger. I checked on his Facebook page last week- He is still sounding his alarms. He hasn't seen that much of his research is specious. He still thinks he is a misunderstood hero.
Putting peoples health and lives in danger by intentionally misrepresenting vaccine information in order to make himself a hero is insane. Why give him a pass by saying that he hasn’t seen that much of his “research” is specious? If you can read the scientific evidence so can he. If RFK Jr and your chiropractor don’t think that they are evil it is proof of their derangement. Unfortunately neither has a license that the AMA can take away.
Good share. This is the conundrum we all face. How to begin a conversation which can become a discussion vs an argument. And I as type this I realize that a commitment to the work of understanding is needed. Like "I like you. Can we meet once a week to discuss this in further depth?". You got me thinking. Thank you.
I pitched our local county political parties on a program I wanted them to support. We get volunteer teams- 2 to a team. One Republican, one Democrat but they LIKE each other. They get booked into Rotary meetings, churches, anywhere people are looking for speakers. And we tell our story- how we never vote for the same people but we really like each other. There was no interest. And I would have done all the work. So no cost to them.
In his intriguing book, The Practice of Autonomy, Schneider writes that, "People generally and patients particularly persuade themselves they have control where they do not." He then goes on to describe different ways that patients gain a sense of control. Schneider does not mention denial or inventing facts, but maybe these are ways some people "gain a sense of control without the reality." In crazy and uncertain times, we all look for a sense of control.
At the beginning of the pandemic I was aware that I was seeking control and was relieved to get vaccinated. But why seek control from con artists when we have brilliant scientists who dedicate their lives to the public good like Anthony Fauchi? Does believing in a conspiracy make them feel superior?
One of our doctors, Andrew Wakefield, was kicked out of the profession for professional misconduct related to false claims he made about the safety of the MMR vaccine. He's now making a nice living in the US as part of the MAHA anti-vaccine movement.
Big measles outbreak in Canada too. Not to let HHS off the hook, however...
Damn, but we oldsters look great! and also think pretty good too. I have been very puzzled over the lack of action by the professional associations and by the many Democratic congressmen/women who are also lawyers who have not advocated for their professions. We need a few more matches to light the fire under this matter. Merry Christmas.
Many caved early due to the blitzkrieg effect, the fear like Germany 1930’s was evoked fearing violence and retribution, the strong arming. I’m probably being too charitable but fear was more contagious then than courage at that time.
Where's the American Psycholological Association when it comes to Trumps dangerously declining mental capacity???!!!!
Health care professionals aren't supposed to diagnose people who aren't their patients, and an organization of such professionals wouldn't be doing that as one of their normal functions as far as I know.
However, individual psychologists have spoken up.
A major disagreement exists between those professionals who claim one must see an individual patient in order to diagnose, and those opposing them who have formed the organisation Duty to Warn, which does everything to try to inform the public about psychopathy in politicians and public officials that is likely to endanger the general public and undermine democratic systems.
I fail to comprehend why anyone today should try to restrict fundamental, essential knowledge in any field. Elitist self-interest and restricted membership in order to control high incomes seems to be the real reason for the conservative side's stance.
How would you feel if an air hostesses' or pilots' association tried to ban members from advising the public about air safety?
The old reasons for secrecy in professional associations went out the door when the separation of Church and State meant doctors no longer needed to fear the Church when practising their profession. How long ago was that?
Silently deep in thought?
To your examples of medical professional misconduct one can add the behavior of regime officials (with medical degrees) toward transgender people. "Dr. Oz" (who is a licensed physician) recently stated in a public forum that the cost of a phalloplasty is $150,000 (actual cost - in the US, not a foreign country - is between $35,000 and $50,000, per several actual provider quotations). Similar lies were stated regarding vaginoplasty, not quite as far from the truth. This same "doctor" is actively pushing legal prohibition of professionally vetted gender-affirming care. That will kill people. Hippocratic oath? Actual government oath? Not for them.
And where are all the state bar associations? The fact is that ethics in this country mean nothing anymore. The only thing that is important here is making more and more money.
As we continue to see the erosion of trust in our government, our courts, our legal system and our healthcare and education systems - I wonder, where will we be next year at this time if there is no accountability?
With people of color (citizens), homeless veterans & others incarcerated in camps ran by private corporations, lots of medical bankruptcies, the list of losses increases daily.
I fear for what and who we might be "urged" to celebrate on next year's 4th of July.
Project 2026 If Brazil can do it, so can we!
Win the Senate and House, Impeach and Prosecute.
ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE!!!!!
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (Official Audio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY
The Fascist has basically given them permission to act and speak however they want.
I have never been a member of the AMA, but I've been a long time member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The current president of AAP has done an outstanding job of advocating for children's healthcare, and more importantly speaking out loud and proud against the horrific MAHA debacle. Dr Kressly's work and that of Peter Hotez, another AAP member, have made me proud of my professional organization. Vaccinate against MAGA!
Great questions. Seems like we have a problem getting those in power to do their jobs. Case in point - Congress. Any ideas on how to get the ABA and AMA to do their s?
Thank you for wondering and expressing what I have been contemplating. What the hell has happened to all these organizations that allegedly oversee the upholding of very specific professional standards? While the supposed professionals in those fields in the current administration blatantly ignore or violate those standards on a daily basis, the professional organizations have been silent. Are there no standards to be upheld these days?
You look great too😍
Thanks to his piece on this “You Look Great” habit that many of us share, I’m working on restraining the auto-statement. Still seeking a replacement. You look alive (if true)….You appear happy (assuming they are smiling)…Nice to see you (though that one too is over used). 🤣
Smile! As a request and a suggestion
That works even with total strangers in a supermarket parking lot. They may need a smile from someone. You may be the one they have been looking for.
How about, "Good God!" With any facial expression that seems appropriate...
It’s been my experience that when people behave in unexpected ways, it’s for a reason that benefits them. Per Google AI, “The American Medical Association (AMA) has faced significant criticism and controversy, notably for its historical racism, including excluding Black physicians and supporting segregation, for actions deemed anti-competitive by limiting medical school access and residencies, and for strong opposition to socialized medicine like Medicare; more recently, debates involve its influence on healthcare costs, insurance issues, and ongoing efforts to address its problematic past, including apologies for racism.”
Canadian here. Warning: I am about to go off on a tangent.
"Socialized medicine". What a totally ridiculous US misnomer! When will Americans in general move past the terminology of the notorious McCarthy Era red scare? The AMA has you thoroughly brainwashed, it seems to me, if this term is still in common usage by thoughtful. commentators.
Socialized medicine. Oh, you mean all the types of medical care for taxpayers that is provided free by ALL OTHER OECD countries because taxpayers are voters and citizens and our working lives are the foundation of our country's economic well-being...
Oh, and it is also provided because free medical care not only IMPROVES economic productivity. It also makes national populations happier and raises quality of life.
Just saying. Beware the profit motive.
Some people in the US do have access to socialized medicine. It's available to military veterans who served in active duty and certain of their family members. One of the main reasons for the extraordinarily high cost of healthcare in the US is that we have many different systems, thus creating an administrative nightmare.
The entire congress has access to socialized medicine, platinum level-coverage, which we pay for with our taxes. As for the VA, this regime is busy privatizing it, and thus insuring that it will be inefficient and costly. But we're off on a tangent. RR's question is the on the reason for the lack of accountability by the professional associations. To my mind, they suffer from the same helplessness and confusion infecting so many of us: the occasional No Kings protest, sure, but where is the active resistance or opposition to the attack on immigrants? As the Nazis did to the Jews so this regime is attacking immigrants. As the Germans quietly accepted the removal of the Jews, so we are mostly accepting the sweeps,exception Chicago. But no huge surge of people out in the state legislatures (since we don't have a single place to gather for the whole country). The resistance and opposition are left to the communities to stand up for their own. We need more than peace on earth just on Christmas Day.
Answer--neither organization will stand up to Trump because they're scared of him.
Well then, we need better leaders of these organizations. The current ones are too comfortable and complacent and are not ethical LEADERS who have the balls to stand up for our country. What exhausting cowardly bullshit these well-paid organizations are. More yelling please.