I do not, however, expect DeSantis to learn from this experience and to change his behavior as a result.
Anyone who has been willing to hurt (immigrants,women, children) and kill ( Covid policy, denial of reproductive rights) people for his self aggrandizement has an addiction to power that is immutable.
Morally, DeSantis is no better than Trump. He is equally as selfish and ruthless, equally as incapable of self evaluation and change, equally as unfit for office.
To me, in some ways, he seems even more dangerous than Trump. He's not as dumb and maybe not quite as ego-driven, so his cruelty seems even more for the sake of cruelty, itself, and he seems more capable of being puposely crafty and devious. The only hope is that he might be capable of changing his mind. Slim hope. Shudder.
While DeSantis sticks to the script, be it the Gop or trump's message, he did "speak" with Biden about relief efforts. I would LOVE to hear that conversation. While the shameful comments & actions of the MAGA Rs may be part of the messaging they are required to promote, this small bit of information may show that it IS partly for the BIG SHOW. They become so attached to the theme & character they play, it becomes part of their personality. Or maybe they were born that way... Trying to see the good in some people is hard.
I've been reading only a few comments so far and keep thinking " true so true", how do people like DeSantis and Trump expect not to get caught in their evil self centered actions? Yes, they have been working on the most negative evil nature's of many for years but more and more their true self serving actions are being made visible and people are beginning to realize "I've been screwed by keeping my head stuck like an ostrich in the ground."
Maybe some clever person can manage to stand DeDickhead's religious nonsense on it's ear, by citing the religious doctrine claiming the god he would have us all believe in destroyed Israel twice for its shameless, unrepentant arrogance - that even the god DeDickhead preaches holds him and those who support him in same utter contempt it had for Israel each time it was destroyed.
So, along with teaching how campfire legends dating from some time before the pyramid builders somehow explains reality, "DeDickhead" wants to teach how it's wrong to compel him and who he serves pay their friggin' tax commensurate with their friggin' bloated incomes, or prohibiting centa-billionaire business owners, their businesses, and $trillion >multinational< corporate conglomerates from extorting US citizens to vote >their< interests - like Putin holding sham referenda in captive lands - by adjusting the cost of living, to punish or reward the US citizenry, based on who those voters choose to elect to govern, is it ‽ That's not fighting what >real< socialists believe. It friggin' >justifies< it!
On a human level, I would be remiss if I ignore the human tragedy Floridians must endure as I write this. I just couldn't quite get past the first paragraph of Dr Reich's comment, this morning. Besides, I see no point in belaboring the obnoxiously obvious. I have no bullshit bromides to give.
That's because even DeDickhead has enough remaining grasp on objective reality - rather than the campfire fantasy bullshit he would teach in FL schools - to realize his goddam "thoughts and prayers" are, and always have been utter bullshit bromides translating - in said objective reality - "you're on your friggin' own, 'untermenschlich.'" He >knows< no fairytale phantoms >ever< intercede. Besides, a few coins out of pocket called "philanthropy" is >always< good public relations for those who back him. (Indeed, he and his backers also >know< they can't make a goddam dime off a destitute consumer base!) Indeed, he >knows< he must be seen as >doing< something! Of course, everyone here is likely sophisticated enough to realize that what he >will< do is predictable - in >this< objective reality. Like ol' Tweety & his ilk, he will congratulate himself on mobilizing the economic and "sweat equity" assistance that - in said objective reality - will be provided by those self-same "socialists" he would teach the Floridian children to despise. Ask any Californian how much assistance, in their time of need, they ever got from his Mar-A-Lago "mentor" and phyc-buddy! That scum brandishes dispensing and withholding critical assistance as an economic weapon to unleash, not only on pariah states, but the US citizenry, as well.
If he gleans that he can be >really< clever, he'll characterize the assistance, that he'll have no hand in providing, as the virtue of a Christian society, without mentioning, on the other hand, that it's the work of what those he'd otherwise deride as "socialists" stand for - as a prime model of their political and economic ideals >in action.< (Somehow, a saying dating back to the Civil War comes to mind: "It's a >rich< man's war, but a >poor< man's fight.)
In addition... one thing I haven't seen discussed is how many of Biden's/our dollars the governor might divert for personal use. I believe I've read about "someone" engaging in that sort of activity.
I like the Cvil Wur quote, I'll remember it if anyone warns on social media of the impending threat of violence if we call for justice. I'm sure those folks are not the rich but think they are warriors fighting the good fight.
Then you may appreciate this old slogan from around WWI, that - unless someone corrects me - I'll attribute to the socialists: "The bayonet is a weapon of war having a worker impaled on each end."
I like a comment I heard on a long-running British series called "Have I Got News for You" a few days ago you may appreciate. The question asked was something like: "What is the first sign you've contracted long covid?" One of the guests, a female impersonator dressed as Margaret Thatcher responded: "Losing your sense of humor?" LOL!
Look around you. You may find that bit of wit isn't without a bit of truth! I consider a day I don't contribute some wisecrack or humorous link here a day wasted.
I agree with all of this 100%. But I would urge that the same kinds and levels of help being given to Floridians be given to the people of Puerto Rico. They are Americans too and deserve the same level of care and help given to citizens on the mainland but did not get it five years ago with Hurricane Maria nor today.
I've never understood that or the Cubans either. I realize the Cubans are voting against the Castro dictatorship, but how is that going to be worse than the de santis-trump dictatorship?
"By voting Republican they have no impact on Cuba." Not true.
The Batisianos have been effectively starving Cuba through US foreign policy.
Arguably, Castro was able to send us his liabilities, while forcing us to accept the kind of enemy to justify his existence. He was able to scapegoat the US to consolidate his power.
Florida gave us Nixon, GHW Bush, two of Castro's archenemies. About 20% of the population here has wanted Fascism for a long time. DeSantis plays to them.
Puerto Rico is a U S. 'possession' ; because we can't have 'colonies' yet it seems that is how it is treated. I hear about desire for statehood by some, but it is not clear who, and why it does not happen. Their electrical grid, for example was taken over by an entity that makes money? But has not actually improved it. Exploitation by a few wealthy seems to be the name of the game.
Daniel Solomon : as a former resident of Holyoke, MA I have watched the Puerto Rican community grow to its present 80% of that city's population. They now have a Puerto Rican mayor, and are represented in many public occupations, like police, fire and agencies, businesses in town, as it should be.
The current population of Puerto Rico is 2,694,698. 4.2 million Puerto Ricans living on the mainland U.S.
If they are patriotic, consider moving to a red state like Wyoming. Wyoming has a total population of 600,000. Far more Boricuas than that in mainland. Enough to take the Dakotas. Could make a hostile takeover. 2 senators. Enough to bring statehood to PR and DC.
Thank you Adam! Agree. Biden did mention them in his speech and he will follow through, I’m sure. Maybe the timing of this hurricane will be good to show people who helps without vindictive selection and who helps ALL citizens during his presidency.
I was going to post the same thing = Puerto Rico IS an American Protectorate and deserves the
same recognition, via news media, and assistance that DeSantis is "requesting" for Floridians.
It seems to me that - the media - gave the situation in Puerto Rico following hurricane Fiona, short shrift - and then came Ian to - mainland U.S.ofA. Nada about the needs of P.R. since ~
Americans misunderstand socialism. Having experienced real socialism, growing up in England in the 1960s, I can attest to its sterility. But socialism UK-style (or Soviet Lite) meant government ownership of key industries, such as automobiles, computers, etc. The result was a disaster. For example, the Mini Cooper, which Dr. Reich drives, was a brilliant product of capitalism, in 1959. After the government takeover of the auto industry, its descendants ended up in the wretched claptrap known as the Mini Metro - hardly better than a Trabant.
Now take the famous experiment of dividing Germany up into East and West after WWII. A north-south line was drawn from the Baltic to the Alps. To the east there was socialism, to the west there was enlightened capitalism. Same people, same language, same history, same awful food. Take the lid off in 1970, say, and to the west people were driving Mercedes, Porsche, BMW and Audi. To the east, people had only one choice, the Trabant, which let water in when it rained.
This proves beyond reasonable doubt that capitalism is superior in economic terms to socialism. But there is a modifier, "enlightened." In Germany and the Nordic states (and to some extent the UK) there has been a return to the founding principles of capitalism, as laid out by Adam Smith, namely that some government is good. Good for collecting taxes from the wealthy. Good for redistributing those taxes for the benefit of all (such as providing universal healthcare, paid maternity leave, education, etc.), good for things that the capitalist has little interest in. Such a form of capitalism was seen in America from 1950 to 1980.
So what do we have in America today? Well, it's certainly not socialism for the common man. One could, perhaps, call it socialism for the wealthy. For what is not paying your taxes other than government welfare for rich people? Seen this way, Bezos and Musk are the new Welfare Queens.
However, perhaps the best description of the system we have currently in America, is aristocracy, a system where a tiny group of people own, and control, most of the wealth and then pass it on to their children. It is a primitive system which goes back to Babylon. It is not the enlightened system of Smith.
But isn't America innovative, and doesn't that come from this system of vast inequality? I would argue not, taking the point Dr. Reich made yesterday, that if money spurs innovation, then this is in the amount of millions rather than billions. And I would argue that America is perhaps less innovative now than in the past. What do we have today as innovations? Products of the internet (which was invented outside of America). Facebook is not really innovative, it is merely a digitization of an existing product - and it has brought out the worst in us. Tesla makes EVs, but these are dependent on battery technology that dates back to the 1960s. Amazon is truly innovative, although it has caused big disruptions. Healthcare has become an expensive and cruel joke.
What did America invent prior to Reagan? Massive improvements in automobile, computing, and aeronautic technology. The laser, the transistor, CT, MRI, universal healthcare of great quality, massive improvements in rocketry which made possible the moon landings. And on.
So, when Desantis criticizes socialism he is blowing a dog whistle to a brainwashed group of middle Americans. He is doing this because he is funded by the real socialists, the Welfare Queens of the new aristocracy.
This is an excellent, concise post, Michael, one which could only be found in the comments section of writings by Robert Reich or Heather Cox Richardson or other enlightened thinkers like them. So much so, I am much inclined to print your post on a few cards to have handy when and if I encounter a friend who stands up for today's Republican party. Can't have a civil discussion with most. I would just hand them the card. Kudos to you. (Yes, it would have to be a big card. I'll figure something out.)
Corporatocracy occurs when companies accumulate enough power so as to deform the very economy in which they exist. Like black holes, wal-Mart and Amazon gobble up small companies every day. The billionaires eat up the millionaires, not from “economy of scale” but raw moral hazard.
Thank you for this. After watching the devastation through the media on Florida my next thought was, "well, this should give De Santis something to do, get a real problem." Maybe he won't have the money and time to foment division and fighting between our states for political expediency. Maybe Floridians will refocus attention (just before the midterms) on the quality of their lawmakers, who they vote into office to run their state.
Of course. I wasn't saying that there has been no innovation since Reagan. While I can't speak with any authority about new farming techniques, or alternative energy sources (except to say that much of it may be old inventions that are only now being put into practice), I can speak about advances in Medicine between 1948 and 1980. Antibiotics, mass vaccinations for polio and other devastating viral infections, hemodialysis, CT, MRI, coronary bypass, coronary stenting, in vitro fertilization. I can think of only a few things that have emerged in the last 40 years, chief amongst them the recent development of mRNA vaccines. I know I will think of others, but it's quite interesting that so much innovation of great value emerged from the decades when the super-rich were taxed appropriately. So much for the idea that allowing the rich to become super-rich would spur innovation.
Excellent summary. We ceryainly do have socialism for the wealthy and Bezos, Musk, et al as Welfare Queens. I'm interested in your mention of the Internet as having been invented outside of the U.S. When I spoke with Noam Chomsky, as I recall, he mentioned the Internet having been invented at MIT in conjunction, I think, with the military. And that great authority, Wiki, credits the invention to two U.S. men, one of whom did work at MIT. But you have different information? Or do I misread -- does the content of your parens refer to "products" rather than "internet"? Just curious about whom to thank, as my life seems to be hopelessly dependent on the invention.
I was thinking of the world wide web, the basis for what we call the internet, which was invented in the UK by Tim Berners-Lee. I see now that the idea of communications between computers was explored in America, in the 1970s, by Robert Kahn and Vincent Cerf.
But it serves to make my point, that another key technology emerged from the era when the wealthy actually paid their taxes. My point was just that the Friedman-Reagan trickledown theory, which was, I think, based on the bullshit of Ayn Rand - namely that if you just let the rich become ultra rich, it will spur innovation - is in fact nothing more than the bullshit of Ayn Rand. See my comment to Jeanne Blum Lesinski.
Not naive, Jean. Not at all. I share your feeling of despondency. This Republican/Trump/authoritarian matter is a national mental health issue. My counselor [shouldn't we all have one? :-)] tells me this, saying 80% of her patients talk mostly about this depressing situation to which we all awake every day. I am so concerned about my daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren having to deal with this affecting their daily lives in the future. There are precedents to this calamity in American history, but they pale in comparison. Our situation today is alarming on steroids.
I too have a marvelous community of health workers( healer, therapist, acupuncturist, chiropractor) ha ha!!! When I see one or the other I feel better as they also share that their clientele has increased two-fold.
Now how to get the definition of what Capitalism-Socialism is and isn’t.
How wonderful if any journalist asked on site what these people mean when they spew the word.
Few young people understand that social security is paid for with our payroll taxes. As are our other benefits. A “savings” account by any definition. Much like sinking money into a stock market..... and yet! So little knowledge, so little time!!
Thank you again. You have given me sunshine... your children and grandchildren can only benefit because they have your knowledge.
Thank you, Jean, for your words. We support each other, and goodness knows our thoughts need to be heard far and wide. No more of this "rugged individualism" that has been captured and abused by those without a soul.
Naive? Imo you're totally realistic. When I see someone saying "Socialism bad, capitalism good" I reply with "So you're in favor of defunding the police, right?" I don't suppose it does any good, but it makes me feel better. 😉
Yes Keith. Exactly! Similar meaning to liberal…for the people. But for so long, Rs used it as a dirty word. Now we know how suitable that is coming from them. Yet so stupid for their dupes, errr, followers.
Hurricane Ian reminds me not only of DeSantis's rank hypocrisy but of Trump tossing rolls of paper towels to the masses in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. My, oh my, how the Republican approach to helping other Americans differs from the Democrat approach. It's a mystery to me why so many ordinary Americans who profess Christian values and who wouldn't hesitate to lend their fellow citizens a hand continue to support Republican politicians like these.
Beautiful and brilliant. I hope it is read and quoted often and everywhere, not with credit and gratitude directed at Democrats, but at the essential and righteous GOOD that government does (which is all of us working for all of us, not "us vs them"). The damage done by the decades-long diatribe against government performed by Republicans so eager to get INTO the government they so disgenuously claimed to rebuke continues to undermine our country to this day. We see it in the Dejoy sabotage of the USPS. We see it in the chronically underfunding of all of our institutions. The Republicans will gladly exploit government when it benefits THEM, but if it helps the very populace that funds it and pays them? Then it's socialism and their dishonest corollary that socialism is communism and both are bad. Democrats would do all of us a world of good if they would speak up and speak out for the marvelous good, the essential value of GOOD government to a civilized society.
Dr. Reich, you don't want to call DeSantis hypocritical, so I'll do it for you. (And, there's more republican governors in states which are subject to the most cruel effects of the Climate Crisis who are, in my view, in the same "boat") These Hurricanes are TOTALLY predictable - everyone paying attention knew it was just a matter of time until a catastrophic one showed up (and, who knows, there could be another one on the way before the Hurricane "season" is over), yet DeSantis and his republican controlled legislature has presided over the near collapse of the property insurance market in Florida. From what I understand there's a lot of Floridians who will be thankful we live in a nation (despite all our flaws) where coming together to help victims of these GROWING natural disasters is simply our nature. And, a lot of the funding source for the help which will go to Floridians will be coming from so-called "blue states." With not an "ounce" of remorse. Hopefully, at some point, the people of Florida will understand which of us believes "when our neighbor asks for help we give them what we can." I can imagine not only will our government be reaching out to the people of Florida, but an untold number of non-profit organizations will as well - plus many of us will simply be donating money to the organization we believe will be doing the most good. (ie the Red Cross, etc. etc.) This response is like a broken record - Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Sandy, etc. You're right, in the last couple of days, DeSantis "tune" has changed 180 degrees! To me, that makes him a hypocrit! (Maybe I should just say a typical republican)
I have to add, I hope "we the people" are providing the assistance needed in Puerto Rico as well - a Caribbean island which could someday become a state. They also desperately need our assistance - although, I haven't seen as much reporting on the devastation they endured just a few weeks ago. I'm going to send what little money I can afford in that direction.
I would like to add that our state, California, has sent a task force of experienced emergency workers to help Floridians. Despite how low we are held by the southeastern states.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area which includes Berkeley where Prof. Reich lives. A huge earthquake is entirely predictable we just don’t know when. We have done a lot in SF to make the transport system more secure. But very few homeowners have earthquake insurance because it is very expensive which speaks to the ongoing danger. I would be curious to know if Prof. Reich has earthquake insurance for his his house , assuming he has one. What should the Fed. Gov. do in case of a catastrophic earthquake which is entirely predictable?
Excellent question. Catastrofies arrive in a number of ways, much more frequently lately, and in many cases very predictably. It take a village as they say to make a community.
These "anti-socialism" Republicans will explain their use of federal funding for disaster relief as 'using the law as it is written' and 'taking back what the socialists stole from them.' They have a story for everything....
Ronald Reagan was his generation’s leader against the evils of socialism. He railed against the federal government, saying the nine worst words in the English language were “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” tRUMP, deSantis, Abbott and the rest of that ilk ride on his coattails. When disaster hits a blue state they rail against socialism. When disaster hits a red state they don’t turn down the federal aid, do they?
It is NOT that they "don't turn down the federal aid". They BEG for the Federal Aid when THEY need it. Why haven't THEY prepared better so they do NOT have to RELY ON "SOCIALIST" SUPPORT (an argument THEY would use to NOT provide for other States when they faced an emergency situation.) Reagan, DeSantis, Trump ARE hypocrites and soulless in regard to their fellow man. The continued tax cuts for their wealthy campaign donors have, if you have been watching our Federal, State, City financial situation and your local community over the past few decades, have decimated our communities. The truth is they have been DEFUNDING OUR GOVERNMENT which is there to provide essential safety nets and assure important infrastructure is maintained among many other objectives. After they have "starved" our country of the necessary tax dollars it needs to function (including the obvious - defunding the IRS!!), they scream that privatization of government services is the "solution" to the problem that THEY HAVE CREATED. Space exploration, the post office, and most glaringly the healthcare system (which SHOULD prioritize people's health and well-being over obscene PROFIT the insurance (mandatory extortion) industry is by far the worst example of the CONTEMPT these people have for the citizens of this country.)
Thank you for your kind words. It is a thought I have pondered. Maybe a YouTube post from time to time. Meanwhile, I do enjoy having Professor Reich's Comment section to express my observations over the past sixty plus years. We MUST vote OUT the Republicans this November. That party has completely "lost their way" and I feel so concerned for the young people of today trying to "make it" in a Republican envisioned environment.
The R’s view of government to control our lives- they want to be in our bedrooms, tell us who we can love and which god we must worship and what we can read. They are a people afraid. Democratic socialism essentially controls the excesses of capitalism and helps the people of our nation develop better lives. Our economy thrives in blue states.
The elephant in the room is climate change which already is drastically increasing the demand for government services in response, not only to stronger hurricanes, but also to more frequent wildfires and flash flooding events.
Climate change has drastically shortened the intervals between catastrophic weather events, thus totally upending the actuarial basis of homeowners and other property-damage insurance coverage. This translates directly to an increasing demand for government services nationwide, with the federal government increasingly serving as the insurer of last resort.
It’s already absurd to believe that future conditions will allow anything similar to the libertarian worldview. On the contrary, government spending to address climate change impacts will compel allocating ever-rising portions of federal, state and local government budgets for disaster preparedness and management. Regardless of the outcry from conservatives, big, fat socialism is the only thing we see emerging today on our national horizon.
I hope you are right but they have built an alternate universe where facts mean nothing. They create their own version of reality. I never thought anyone would follow AQnon but many millions swear by it and now trump is endorsing it which means the republican party will endorse it.
It's hard to understand how they can ignore something like climate change but they are still doing it.
Much of everything happening on the right is pulled together by the fundamentalist's view of religion. I'm reading the book Shadow Network by Anne Nelson. I always knew there was a lot of money there but I'm amazed at the amount of organization they've done over the years and the huge amounts of money involved. Religion is the unifying substance for the many diverse organizations they have. They realized that if they get all the fundamentalists to vote they can have a huge impact on the electoral college and congress.
yes that will happen..the alternative is complete collapse.the concern: resources for disaster relief and adaptation will have political preference over resources for mitigation.
My conservative parents derided Medicare as socialism in the 1960s and relied heavily on it thirty years later. Sharing of risk underlies all insurance, public or private, and socialism is only a word describing public insurance, generally a more efficient way of paying bills in a civilized world.
Thank you for articulating what many of us are thinking. It’s shocking to me that anyone who knows anything about the life of Jesus of Nazareth (such as so many Republican Party members claim) would be against working for the common good. That these right wing religious zealots miss the core teaching of their supposed messiah is the ultimate hypocrisy. You might not want to call them out for it, but I’m happy to. The real harm those of DeSantis’s ilk do to people is the antithesis of the Jesus they so blasphemously claim. We will know them by their fruit.
My neighbors are all "good Christians." I have normal Christians, good Catholics, and evangelicals. The evangelicals have been the worst. The Catholics have been a very close second.
It's amazing how hypocritical they are. It's sickening.
It is the ranting and raving about "socialism," usually based on no knowledge of what socialism actually is, that keeps Americans from having the same social health that other democratic countries have. Of course, the ranting and raving is always orchestrated by very wealthy people who benefit from keeping other people poor. European and Canadian social democracy (considered in those places to be mainstream, but in the US to be radical left even by many, many Democrats) would be a great blessing to the United States. Take from someone who was born and raised in the US, took a job in Canada at age 37 and has now lived the last 37 years in Canada. Sadly, the virus of Trumpism is spreading North, so we have work to do here.
DeSantis is a perfect illustration of what is wrong with the Republican brain. No in-depth thought. “If it’s the people who elect ME, give them all the help possible. If it’s the people 1,000 miles away, it’s a boondoggle.”
DeSantis doesn’t belong in any public office. Nor do Trump or many other one-dimensional thinkers. No empathy, no compassion, no sense of being a member of our society as a whole. Our federal government is US, and we establish and maintain it to be, among other things, the ready arms of all of us when any of us is hit with disaster. That’s what a SOCIETY does! What do these people THINK humans form societies for? Not to enrich THEM and hand them power over people. They are elected to see that things get done to serve and benefit all of us.
Right as usual, Robert.
I do not, however, expect DeSantis to learn from this experience and to change his behavior as a result.
Anyone who has been willing to hurt (immigrants,women, children) and kill ( Covid policy, denial of reproductive rights) people for his self aggrandizement has an addiction to power that is immutable.
Morally, DeSantis is no better than Trump. He is equally as selfish and ruthless, equally as incapable of self evaluation and change, equally as unfit for office.
To me, in some ways, he seems even more dangerous than Trump. He's not as dumb and maybe not quite as ego-driven, so his cruelty seems even more for the sake of cruelty, itself, and he seems more capable of being puposely crafty and devious. The only hope is that he might be capable of changing his mind. Slim hope. Shudder.
>And< he knows how government works and how to govern. That's what makes him >really< dangerous.
While DeSantis sticks to the script, be it the Gop or trump's message, he did "speak" with Biden about relief efforts. I would LOVE to hear that conversation. While the shameful comments & actions of the MAGA Rs may be part of the messaging they are required to promote, this small bit of information may show that it IS partly for the BIG SHOW. They become so attached to the theme & character they play, it becomes part of their personality. Or maybe they were born that way... Trying to see the good in some people is hard.
Do not be fooled by this wolf in sheep clothing. He however is far more dangerous than any wolf.
I've been reading only a few comments so far and keep thinking " true so true", how do people like DeSantis and Trump expect not to get caught in their evil self centered actions? Yes, they have been working on the most negative evil nature's of many for years but more and more their true self serving actions are being made visible and people are beginning to realize "I've been screwed by keeping my head stuck like an ostrich in the ground."
Very slim.
Subjected Floridians to the failed herd experiment.
We might also want to add the most alarming trait of these folks . . . Vindictive need for vengence upon those who dein to disagree with them.
Maybe some clever person can manage to stand DeDickhead's religious nonsense on it's ear, by citing the religious doctrine claiming the god he would have us all believe in destroyed Israel twice for its shameless, unrepentant arrogance - that even the god DeDickhead preaches holds him and those who support him in same utter contempt it had for Israel each time it was destroyed.
So, along with teaching how campfire legends dating from some time before the pyramid builders somehow explains reality, "DeDickhead" wants to teach how it's wrong to compel him and who he serves pay their friggin' tax commensurate with their friggin' bloated incomes, or prohibiting centa-billionaire business owners, their businesses, and $trillion >multinational< corporate conglomerates from extorting US citizens to vote >their< interests - like Putin holding sham referenda in captive lands - by adjusting the cost of living, to punish or reward the US citizenry, based on who those voters choose to elect to govern, is it ‽ That's not fighting what >real< socialists believe. It friggin' >justifies< it!
On a human level, I would be remiss if I ignore the human tragedy Floridians must endure as I write this. I just couldn't quite get past the first paragraph of Dr Reich's comment, this morning. Besides, I see no point in belaboring the obnoxiously obvious. I have no bullshit bromides to give.
That's because even DeDickhead has enough remaining grasp on objective reality - rather than the campfire fantasy bullshit he would teach in FL schools - to realize his goddam "thoughts and prayers" are, and always have been utter bullshit bromides translating - in said objective reality - "you're on your friggin' own, 'untermenschlich.'" He >knows< no fairytale phantoms >ever< intercede. Besides, a few coins out of pocket called "philanthropy" is >always< good public relations for those who back him. (Indeed, he and his backers also >know< they can't make a goddam dime off a destitute consumer base!) Indeed, he >knows< he must be seen as >doing< something! Of course, everyone here is likely sophisticated enough to realize that what he >will< do is predictable - in >this< objective reality. Like ol' Tweety & his ilk, he will congratulate himself on mobilizing the economic and "sweat equity" assistance that - in said objective reality - will be provided by those self-same "socialists" he would teach the Floridian children to despise. Ask any Californian how much assistance, in their time of need, they ever got from his Mar-A-Lago "mentor" and phyc-buddy! That scum brandishes dispensing and withholding critical assistance as an economic weapon to unleash, not only on pariah states, but the US citizenry, as well.
If he gleans that he can be >really< clever, he'll characterize the assistance, that he'll have no hand in providing, as the virtue of a Christian society, without mentioning, on the other hand, that it's the work of what those he'd otherwise deride as "socialists" stand for - as a prime model of their political and economic ideals >in action.< (Somehow, a saying dating back to the Civil War comes to mind: "It's a >rich< man's war, but a >poor< man's fight.)
In addition... one thing I haven't seen discussed is how many of Biden's/our dollars the governor might divert for personal use. I believe I've read about "someone" engaging in that sort of activity.
Good Morning DZ!!! Do I detecta little disatisfaction here?? Well said my friend, you have just VENTED for a lot of people here.
I like the Cvil Wur quote, I'll remember it if anyone warns on social media of the impending threat of violence if we call for justice. I'm sure those folks are not the rich but think they are warriors fighting the good fight.
Then you may appreciate this old slogan from around WWI, that - unless someone corrects me - I'll attribute to the socialists: "The bayonet is a weapon of war having a worker impaled on each end."
If you liked that Civil War quote, you may appreciate Stephen Colbert's little swipe, last night, at PAs Mastriano: https://youtu.be/FFyavk1m2kE
Stephen Colbert was fantastic ! Genius and right on. We need to be able to laugh. Otherwise….. 100% rain( tears)!
I like a comment I heard on a long-running British series called "Have I Got News for You" a few days ago you may appreciate. The question asked was something like: "What is the first sign you've contracted long covid?" One of the guests, a female impersonator dressed as Margaret Thatcher responded: "Losing your sense of humor?" LOL!
Look around you. You may find that bit of wit isn't without a bit of truth! I consider a day I don't contribute some wisecrack or humorous link here a day wasted.
Imo it was a pretty good-sized swipe (and more fun than a little one). 😉
I feeling the healing! Thank you. You said it just like I feel it. 🤗👏🏻
https://youtu.be/0o_63wk_NiI
I agree with all of this 100%. But I would urge that the same kinds and levels of help being given to Floridians be given to the people of Puerto Rico. They are Americans too and deserve the same level of care and help given to citizens on the mainland but did not get it five years ago with Hurricane Maria nor today.
We must treat Puerto Rico the way we would treat any of the 50 states.
Ironically, many Puerto Ricans are permanent Florida residents, especially in the Orlando area. Many vote Republican. Go figure!
I've never understood that or the Cubans either. I realize the Cubans are voting against the Castro dictatorship, but how is that going to be worse than the de santis-trump dictatorship?
By voting Republican they have no impact on Cuba.
"By voting Republican they have no impact on Cuba." Not true.
The Batisianos have been effectively starving Cuba through US foreign policy.
Arguably, Castro was able to send us his liabilities, while forcing us to accept the kind of enemy to justify his existence. He was able to scapegoat the US to consolidate his power.
Florida gave us Nixon, GHW Bush, two of Castro's archenemies. About 20% of the population here has wanted Fascism for a long time. DeSantis plays to them.
I've been writing about this for a long time.
https://havanatimes.org/features/breaking-up-with-cuba-book-review/
go educate.
90 R's voted Against funding hurricane disaster relief for Puerto Rico HR601
mine did; IDK bout R's in FL https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/23538/61004/136083/continuing-appropriations-act-2018-and-supplemental-appropriations-for-disaster-relief-requirements-act-2017#61004
It’s called “ go figure how to not pay taxes”!
It must 'pay' to be a Republican somehow, for them.
Puerto Rico is a U S. 'possession' ; because we can't have 'colonies' yet it seems that is how it is treated. I hear about desire for statehood by some, but it is not clear who, and why it does not happen. Their electrical grid, for example was taken over by an entity that makes money? But has not actually improved it. Exploitation by a few wealthy seems to be the name of the game.
And how can they 'owe' $72 billion ?
Millions of Puerto Ricans now live on the mainland, in part because SSI is not portable and is not available to those domiciled on the island.
Daniel Solomon : as a former resident of Holyoke, MA I have watched the Puerto Rican community grow to its present 80% of that city's population. They now have a Puerto Rican mayor, and are represented in many public occupations, like police, fire and agencies, businesses in town, as it should be.
The current population of Puerto Rico is 2,694,698. 4.2 million Puerto Ricans living on the mainland U.S.
If they are patriotic, consider moving to a red state like Wyoming. Wyoming has a total population of 600,000. Far more Boricuas than that in mainland. Enough to take the Dakotas. Could make a hostile takeover. 2 senators. Enough to bring statehood to PR and DC.
me South Hadley, formerly . Lived in PR growing up.
Thank you Adam! Agree. Biden did mention them in his speech and he will follow through, I’m sure. Maybe the timing of this hurricane will be good to show people who helps without vindictive selection and who helps ALL citizens during his presidency.
I was going to post the same thing = Puerto Rico IS an American Protectorate and deserves the
same recognition, via news media, and assistance that DeSantis is "requesting" for Floridians.
It seems to me that - the media - gave the situation in Puerto Rico following hurricane Fiona, short shrift - and then came Ian to - mainland U.S.ofA. Nada about the needs of P.R. since ~
Boy am I with you on that! We need to give Puerto Rico a full statehood and take care of these people.
Americans misunderstand socialism. Having experienced real socialism, growing up in England in the 1960s, I can attest to its sterility. But socialism UK-style (or Soviet Lite) meant government ownership of key industries, such as automobiles, computers, etc. The result was a disaster. For example, the Mini Cooper, which Dr. Reich drives, was a brilliant product of capitalism, in 1959. After the government takeover of the auto industry, its descendants ended up in the wretched claptrap known as the Mini Metro - hardly better than a Trabant.
Now take the famous experiment of dividing Germany up into East and West after WWII. A north-south line was drawn from the Baltic to the Alps. To the east there was socialism, to the west there was enlightened capitalism. Same people, same language, same history, same awful food. Take the lid off in 1970, say, and to the west people were driving Mercedes, Porsche, BMW and Audi. To the east, people had only one choice, the Trabant, which let water in when it rained.
This proves beyond reasonable doubt that capitalism is superior in economic terms to socialism. But there is a modifier, "enlightened." In Germany and the Nordic states (and to some extent the UK) there has been a return to the founding principles of capitalism, as laid out by Adam Smith, namely that some government is good. Good for collecting taxes from the wealthy. Good for redistributing those taxes for the benefit of all (such as providing universal healthcare, paid maternity leave, education, etc.), good for things that the capitalist has little interest in. Such a form of capitalism was seen in America from 1950 to 1980.
So what do we have in America today? Well, it's certainly not socialism for the common man. One could, perhaps, call it socialism for the wealthy. For what is not paying your taxes other than government welfare for rich people? Seen this way, Bezos and Musk are the new Welfare Queens.
However, perhaps the best description of the system we have currently in America, is aristocracy, a system where a tiny group of people own, and control, most of the wealth and then pass it on to their children. It is a primitive system which goes back to Babylon. It is not the enlightened system of Smith.
But isn't America innovative, and doesn't that come from this system of vast inequality? I would argue not, taking the point Dr. Reich made yesterday, that if money spurs innovation, then this is in the amount of millions rather than billions. And I would argue that America is perhaps less innovative now than in the past. What do we have today as innovations? Products of the internet (which was invented outside of America). Facebook is not really innovative, it is merely a digitization of an existing product - and it has brought out the worst in us. Tesla makes EVs, but these are dependent on battery technology that dates back to the 1960s. Amazon is truly innovative, although it has caused big disruptions. Healthcare has become an expensive and cruel joke.
What did America invent prior to Reagan? Massive improvements in automobile, computing, and aeronautic technology. The laser, the transistor, CT, MRI, universal healthcare of great quality, massive improvements in rocketry which made possible the moon landings. And on.
So, when Desantis criticizes socialism he is blowing a dog whistle to a brainwashed group of middle Americans. He is doing this because he is funded by the real socialists, the Welfare Queens of the new aristocracy.
This is an excellent, concise post, Michael, one which could only be found in the comments section of writings by Robert Reich or Heather Cox Richardson or other enlightened thinkers like them. So much so, I am much inclined to print your post on a few cards to have handy when and if I encounter a friend who stands up for today's Republican party. Can't have a civil discussion with most. I would just hand them the card. Kudos to you. (Yes, it would have to be a big card. I'll figure something out.)
I think corporatocracy captures our situation better than aristocracy,though corporatocracy gives rise to an aristocracy.
whatever you call it we're in a boatload of trouble
Corporatocracy occurs when companies accumulate enough power so as to deform the very economy in which they exist. Like black holes, wal-Mart and Amazon gobble up small companies every day. The billionaires eat up the millionaires, not from “economy of scale” but raw moral hazard.
Thank you for this. After watching the devastation through the media on Florida my next thought was, "well, this should give De Santis something to do, get a real problem." Maybe he won't have the money and time to foment division and fighting between our states for political expediency. Maybe Floridians will refocus attention (just before the midterms) on the quality of their lawmakers, who they vote into office to run their state.
Fantastic! I especially like your pointing out the REAL welfare queens - the ultra wealthy parasites. Thank you for this post.
Advances in medicine, farming techniques, alternative energy count for nothing?
Of course. I wasn't saying that there has been no innovation since Reagan. While I can't speak with any authority about new farming techniques, or alternative energy sources (except to say that much of it may be old inventions that are only now being put into practice), I can speak about advances in Medicine between 1948 and 1980. Antibiotics, mass vaccinations for polio and other devastating viral infections, hemodialysis, CT, MRI, coronary bypass, coronary stenting, in vitro fertilization. I can think of only a few things that have emerged in the last 40 years, chief amongst them the recent development of mRNA vaccines. I know I will think of others, but it's quite interesting that so much innovation of great value emerged from the decades when the super-rich were taxed appropriately. So much for the idea that allowing the rich to become super-rich would spur innovation.
Hello, trickle-down.
From onset, we have had a "mixed" economy.
Excellent summary. We ceryainly do have socialism for the wealthy and Bezos, Musk, et al as Welfare Queens. I'm interested in your mention of the Internet as having been invented outside of the U.S. When I spoke with Noam Chomsky, as I recall, he mentioned the Internet having been invented at MIT in conjunction, I think, with the military. And that great authority, Wiki, credits the invention to two U.S. men, one of whom did work at MIT. But you have different information? Or do I misread -- does the content of your parens refer to "products" rather than "internet"? Just curious about whom to thank, as my life seems to be hopelessly dependent on the invention.
I was thinking of the world wide web, the basis for what we call the internet, which was invented in the UK by Tim Berners-Lee. I see now that the idea of communications between computers was explored in America, in the 1970s, by Robert Kahn and Vincent Cerf.
But it serves to make my point, that another key technology emerged from the era when the wealthy actually paid their taxes. My point was just that the Friedman-Reagan trickledown theory, which was, I think, based on the bullshit of Ayn Rand - namely that if you just let the rich become ultra rich, it will spur innovation - is in fact nothing more than the bullshit of Ayn Rand. See my comment to Jeanne Blum Lesinski.
Touché.
Thank you Mr.Hutchinson,
Your article is clear and totally true.
I am so worried over the control Mitch McConnell has over all our legislation .
How do we flood the media outlets with definitions of what Socialism actually does when working for the people?
I am despondent! I am waiting for the storm to pass. But, am I just naive?
Keep us informed. Again to all who keep us factually informed, THANK YOU!!
Not naive, Jean. Not at all. I share your feeling of despondency. This Republican/Trump/authoritarian matter is a national mental health issue. My counselor [shouldn't we all have one? :-)] tells me this, saying 80% of her patients talk mostly about this depressing situation to which we all awake every day. I am so concerned about my daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren having to deal with this affecting their daily lives in the future. There are precedents to this calamity in American history, but they pale in comparison. Our situation today is alarming on steroids.
Thank you Robert,
I too have a marvelous community of health workers( healer, therapist, acupuncturist, chiropractor) ha ha!!! When I see one or the other I feel better as they also share that their clientele has increased two-fold.
Now how to get the definition of what Capitalism-Socialism is and isn’t.
How wonderful if any journalist asked on site what these people mean when they spew the word.
Few young people understand that social security is paid for with our payroll taxes. As are our other benefits. A “savings” account by any definition. Much like sinking money into a stock market..... and yet! So little knowledge, so little time!!
Thank you again. You have given me sunshine... your children and grandchildren can only benefit because they have your knowledge.
Share, share, share.
Thank you, Jean, for your words. We support each other, and goodness knows our thoughts need to be heard far and wide. No more of this "rugged individualism" that has been captured and abused by those without a soul.
Naive? Imo you're totally realistic. When I see someone saying "Socialism bad, capitalism good" I reply with "So you're in favor of defunding the police, right?" I don't suppose it does any good, but it makes me feel better. 😉
Definition of Socialism ( a Government of the People, by the People, FOR THE PEOPLE! )
Yes Keith. Exactly! Similar meaning to liberal…for the people. But for so long, Rs used it as a dirty word. Now we know how suitable that is coming from them. Yet so stupid for their dupes, errr, followers.
Hurricane Ian reminds me not only of DeSantis's rank hypocrisy but of Trump tossing rolls of paper towels to the masses in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. My, oh my, how the Republican approach to helping other Americans differs from the Democrat approach. It's a mystery to me why so many ordinary Americans who profess Christian values and who wouldn't hesitate to lend their fellow citizens a hand continue to support Republican politicians like these.
Racist collective subconscious.
Beautiful and brilliant. I hope it is read and quoted often and everywhere, not with credit and gratitude directed at Democrats, but at the essential and righteous GOOD that government does (which is all of us working for all of us, not "us vs them"). The damage done by the decades-long diatribe against government performed by Republicans so eager to get INTO the government they so disgenuously claimed to rebuke continues to undermine our country to this day. We see it in the Dejoy sabotage of the USPS. We see it in the chronically underfunding of all of our institutions. The Republicans will gladly exploit government when it benefits THEM, but if it helps the very populace that funds it and pays them? Then it's socialism and their dishonest corollary that socialism is communism and both are bad. Democrats would do all of us a world of good if they would speak up and speak out for the marvelous good, the essential value of GOOD government to a civilized society.
Dr. Reich, you don't want to call DeSantis hypocritical, so I'll do it for you. (And, there's more republican governors in states which are subject to the most cruel effects of the Climate Crisis who are, in my view, in the same "boat") These Hurricanes are TOTALLY predictable - everyone paying attention knew it was just a matter of time until a catastrophic one showed up (and, who knows, there could be another one on the way before the Hurricane "season" is over), yet DeSantis and his republican controlled legislature has presided over the near collapse of the property insurance market in Florida. From what I understand there's a lot of Floridians who will be thankful we live in a nation (despite all our flaws) where coming together to help victims of these GROWING natural disasters is simply our nature. And, a lot of the funding source for the help which will go to Floridians will be coming from so-called "blue states." With not an "ounce" of remorse. Hopefully, at some point, the people of Florida will understand which of us believes "when our neighbor asks for help we give them what we can." I can imagine not only will our government be reaching out to the people of Florida, but an untold number of non-profit organizations will as well - plus many of us will simply be donating money to the organization we believe will be doing the most good. (ie the Red Cross, etc. etc.) This response is like a broken record - Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Sandy, etc. You're right, in the last couple of days, DeSantis "tune" has changed 180 degrees! To me, that makes him a hypocrit! (Maybe I should just say a typical republican)
I have to add, I hope "we the people" are providing the assistance needed in Puerto Rico as well - a Caribbean island which could someday become a state. They also desperately need our assistance - although, I haven't seen as much reporting on the devastation they endured just a few weeks ago. I'm going to send what little money I can afford in that direction.
I would like to add that our state, California, has sent a task force of experienced emergency workers to help Floridians. Despite how low we are held by the southeastern states.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area which includes Berkeley where Prof. Reich lives. A huge earthquake is entirely predictable we just don’t know when. We have done a lot in SF to make the transport system more secure. But very few homeowners have earthquake insurance because it is very expensive which speaks to the ongoing danger. I would be curious to know if Prof. Reich has earthquake insurance for his his house , assuming he has one. What should the Fed. Gov. do in case of a catastrophic earthquake which is entirely predictable?
Excellent question. Catastrofies arrive in a number of ways, much more frequently lately, and in many cases very predictably. It take a village as they say to make a community.
Brilliant, Robert!
These "anti-socialism" Republicans will explain their use of federal funding for disaster relief as 'using the law as it is written' and 'taking back what the socialists stole from them.' They have a story for everything....
For DeSantis the shoe is on the other foot. Florida is a mangrove swamp that should have been left that way. The water is coming.
Molly, apparently we, especially blue states will have to paid for it.
I think we should make state governors opt in or out of FEMA help. Like they did for Obama care. Let's see what DeSantis does then.
That’s terrific idea. Because it is the blue states that support the red states in these catosttophies.
I predict that very soon people will no longer be able to get hurricane insurance, except for the very wealthy.
Ronald Reagan was his generation’s leader against the evils of socialism. He railed against the federal government, saying the nine worst words in the English language were “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” tRUMP, deSantis, Abbott and the rest of that ilk ride on his coattails. When disaster hits a blue state they rail against socialism. When disaster hits a red state they don’t turn down the federal aid, do they?
It is NOT that they "don't turn down the federal aid". They BEG for the Federal Aid when THEY need it. Why haven't THEY prepared better so they do NOT have to RELY ON "SOCIALIST" SUPPORT (an argument THEY would use to NOT provide for other States when they faced an emergency situation.) Reagan, DeSantis, Trump ARE hypocrites and soulless in regard to their fellow man. The continued tax cuts for their wealthy campaign donors have, if you have been watching our Federal, State, City financial situation and your local community over the past few decades, have decimated our communities. The truth is they have been DEFUNDING OUR GOVERNMENT which is there to provide essential safety nets and assure important infrastructure is maintained among many other objectives. After they have "starved" our country of the necessary tax dollars it needs to function (including the obvious - defunding the IRS!!), they scream that privatization of government services is the "solution" to the problem that THEY HAVE CREATED. Space exploration, the post office, and most glaringly the healthcare system (which SHOULD prioritize people's health and well-being over obscene PROFIT the insurance (mandatory extortion) industry is by far the worst example of the CONTEMPT these people have for the citizens of this country.)
Great post. I really wish talk radio would tell the truth as you do.
Thank you for your kind words. It is a thought I have pondered. Maybe a YouTube post from time to time. Meanwhile, I do enjoy having Professor Reich's Comment section to express my observations over the past sixty plus years. We MUST vote OUT the Republicans this November. That party has completely "lost their way" and I feel so concerned for the young people of today trying to "make it" in a Republican envisioned environment.
The R’s view of government to control our lives- they want to be in our bedrooms, tell us who we can love and which god we must worship and what we can read. They are a people afraid. Democratic socialism essentially controls the excesses of capitalism and helps the people of our nation develop better lives. Our economy thrives in blue states.
The elephant in the room is climate change which already is drastically increasing the demand for government services in response, not only to stronger hurricanes, but also to more frequent wildfires and flash flooding events.
Climate change has drastically shortened the intervals between catastrophic weather events, thus totally upending the actuarial basis of homeowners and other property-damage insurance coverage. This translates directly to an increasing demand for government services nationwide, with the federal government increasingly serving as the insurer of last resort.
It’s already absurd to believe that future conditions will allow anything similar to the libertarian worldview. On the contrary, government spending to address climate change impacts will compel allocating ever-rising portions of federal, state and local government budgets for disaster preparedness and management. Regardless of the outcry from conservatives, big, fat socialism is the only thing we see emerging today on our national horizon.
I hope you are right but they have built an alternate universe where facts mean nothing. They create their own version of reality. I never thought anyone would follow AQnon but many millions swear by it and now trump is endorsing it which means the republican party will endorse it.
It's hard to understand how they can ignore something like climate change but they are still doing it.
Much of everything happening on the right is pulled together by the fundamentalist's view of religion. I'm reading the book Shadow Network by Anne Nelson. I always knew there was a lot of money there but I'm amazed at the amount of organization they've done over the years and the huge amounts of money involved. Religion is the unifying substance for the many diverse organizations they have. They realized that if they get all the fundamentalists to vote they can have a huge impact on the electoral college and congress.
yes that will happen..the alternative is complete collapse.the concern: resources for disaster relief and adaptation will have political preference over resources for mitigation.
Hear Hear!!!
My conservative parents derided Medicare as socialism in the 1960s and relied heavily on it thirty years later. Sharing of risk underlies all insurance, public or private, and socialism is only a word describing public insurance, generally a more efficient way of paying bills in a civilized world.
Wes Gordon ; If it can't be privatized and making someone wealthier, it is 'socialism'.
Thank you for articulating what many of us are thinking. It’s shocking to me that anyone who knows anything about the life of Jesus of Nazareth (such as so many Republican Party members claim) would be against working for the common good. That these right wing religious zealots miss the core teaching of their supposed messiah is the ultimate hypocrisy. You might not want to call them out for it, but I’m happy to. The real harm those of DeSantis’s ilk do to people is the antithesis of the Jesus they so blasphemously claim. We will know them by their fruit.
My neighbors are all "good Christians." I have normal Christians, good Catholics, and evangelicals. The evangelicals have been the worst. The Catholics have been a very close second.
It's amazing how hypocritical they are. It's sickening.
I think many of them would say that's what churches R4 and other voluntary organizations.
Well Said. Succinct and clear.
DeSantis is amoral
It is the ranting and raving about "socialism," usually based on no knowledge of what socialism actually is, that keeps Americans from having the same social health that other democratic countries have. Of course, the ranting and raving is always orchestrated by very wealthy people who benefit from keeping other people poor. European and Canadian social democracy (considered in those places to be mainstream, but in the US to be radical left even by many, many Democrats) would be a great blessing to the United States. Take from someone who was born and raised in the US, took a job in Canada at age 37 and has now lived the last 37 years in Canada. Sadly, the virus of Trumpism is spreading North, so we have work to do here.
DeSantis is a perfect illustration of what is wrong with the Republican brain. No in-depth thought. “If it’s the people who elect ME, give them all the help possible. If it’s the people 1,000 miles away, it’s a boondoggle.”
DeSantis doesn’t belong in any public office. Nor do Trump or many other one-dimensional thinkers. No empathy, no compassion, no sense of being a member of our society as a whole. Our federal government is US, and we establish and maintain it to be, among other things, the ready arms of all of us when any of us is hit with disaster. That’s what a SOCIETY does! What do these people THINK humans form societies for? Not to enrich THEM and hand them power over people. They are elected to see that things get done to serve and benefit all of us.