Trumper candidates for state secretaries of state.
1. Get them on the record. Ask whether the Biden administration is legitimate.
2. Establish that they were part of the Trump post election "stop the steal" campaign.
3. A criminal conspiracy exists when two or more people agree to commit almost any unlawful act, then take some action toward its completion. The action taken need not itself be a crime, but it must indicate that those involved in the conspiracy knew of the plan and intended to break the law.
18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government
Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 2, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 87–486, June 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab constructed a timeline of key events, both online and offline, centered on the coordination of “Stop the Steal” efforts that escalated to violence and threatened the transition of power core to American democracy. Most of the material found in this report was posted in plain sight on social media platforms and online forums, designed to convince more Americans of falsehoods about the 2020 elections. The Stop the Steal movement was far from monolithic, though, and included groups across a spectrum of radicalization: hyperpartisan pro-Trump activists and media outlets; the neo-fascist Proud Boys, a group with chapters committed to racism and the promotion of street violence; unlawful militias from around the country with a high degree of command and control, including the so-called Three Percenters movement; adherents to the collective delusion of QAnon; individuals identifying with the Boogaloo Boys, a loosely organized anti-government group that has called for a second civil war; and ideological fellow travelers of the far-right, who wanted to witness something they believed would be spectacular. https://www.justsecurity.org/74622/stopthesteal-timeline-of-social-media-and-extremist-activities-leading-to-1-6-insurrection/
If the Justice Department is asleep at the switch, does the Democratic Party have standing to bring a civil action? As a predicate, establish that each candidate denies that Biden is the legitimate president and that the candidates were part of his "stop the steal" campaign..
Other applicable statutes.
Governed by 18 USC Ch. 73, Obstruction of justice: The Omnibus Clause,18 U.S.C. §1503, or Omnibus Provision, provides that anyone who corruptly... obstructs or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct or impede, the due administration of justice", is guilty of the crime of obstruction of justice.
See also: 18 U.S. Code § 595 - Interference by administrative employees of Federal, State, or Territorial Governments
Whoever, being a person employed in any administrative position by the United States, or by any department or agency thereof, or by the District of Columbia or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States, or any political subdivision, municipality, or agency thereof, or agency of such political subdivision or municipality (including any corporation owned or controlled by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States or by any such political subdivision, municipality, or agency), in connection with any activity which is financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States, or any department or agency thereof, uses his official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
This section shall not prohibit or make unlawful any act by any officer or employee of any educational or research institution, establishment, agency, or system which is supported in whole or in part by any state or political subdivision thereof, or by the District of Columbia or by any Territory or Possession of the United States; or by any recognized religious, philanthropic or cultural organization.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 91–405, title II, § 204(d)(6), Sept. 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 853; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
See also: 18 U.S. Code § 610 - Coercion of political activity
It shall be unlawful for any person to intimidate, threaten, command, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, command, or coerce, any employee of the Federal Government as defined in section 7322(1) of title 5, United States Code, to engage in, or not to engage in, any political activity, including, but not limited to, voting or refusing to vote for any candidate or measure in any election, making or refusing to make any political contribution, or working or refusing to work on behalf of any candidate. Any person who violates this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
(Added Pub. L. 103–94, § 4(c)(1), Oct. 6, 1993, 107 Stat. 1005; amended Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(1), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3497.)
so how do we get these laws and statutes acted upon and enforced when Trump elected judges and, especially, The Supreme Court (which is already providing room for states to do their own thing in many issues from voting to abortion rights) are making the rulings???
On top of that, we have an entire party (GOP/Trump) who continue to feed their "base" of 74-75 Million people who, as "the court of public opinion," SUPPORT an overthrow and/or "radical change" of the government??? Included in this toxic relationship of the GOP/Trump and The Base is the 24/7 misinformation (aka propaganda) machines of social media and "news" networks that is the glue that holds all of this together (and has been since Fox News started airing in the 1980's)!
Precedent was set, in my opinion, when President Ford pardoned Nixon. This put the President beyond indictment for crimes. The useless investigation into Trump's collusion with Russia proved that once and for all.
When the Department of Justice can be use politically from Nixon through Trump, then, in effect, there is NO LAW in this country and, thus, no nation of self governance.
We have seen that up close for 4 years under Trump. It will continue, unabated, when (not if) the Fascist State of the GOP takes control in the next two years. Remember, Hitler controlled his own Courts for many years before he forced the war upon Europe. The same thing is happening here!!!
I’m not so sure that the Reptilians will win in November. The media and the pollsters who feed the media love a close horse race, of course. However, the Reptilians have committed to many crimes that I predict the voters will send in Democrats, as they did in the US senatorial races in Georgia.
I have seen way too many "polls" to believe in that got it, not only wrong, but DRASTICALLY WRONG. How many can we think of? Truman is always a good start. Then there is Reagan and the revival from the post-Watergate "dead" GOP party in 1980. There is Clinton winning (not that it was a good thing, he destroyed the Union based Democrat Party...). There is Bush Junior's re-election. There is the shock of a black man winning the Presidency. And, of course, Hillary's big egg in 2016 that "shocked" everyone (except the rest of the world looking in from the outside). Those same polls had Truman rated as THE WORSE President in our history when he retired in 1952. Ha! Where is he now in the polls? Consistently in the top 10.
(PS- I don't think your average Trump voter is going to be honest, much less participate in, their view, a "fake news" NBC poll. Just say'n. I wonder what an AON, NewsMax or Fox News "poll" would "prove"???)
There was indeed “The Big Lie:” But it happened in 2016. Russian influence and interference was finally proven, but Bill Barr quashed it. He should fess up, finally. Save the country from immanent Fascism.
Most of the witnesses against Trump in the impeachment trials were neoliberal card carrying Republicans who told the truth contrary to their political philosophies. Bolton didn't get to testify, but he is a prime example. Although he is an acknowledged ideologue, he told the truth about Trump.
You preach the BIG PICTURE! You might well live in an intellectual bubble with other intellectuals that mostly agree with you. I live in Texas, and I am surrounded by intelligent people who support Trump. They are 70+ years old and can tell you the combination to their school locker from the first grade. They can fix something that is broken and leave my head spinning with amazement. They can describe thing that happened 60 yrs ago in intimate detail. They ain't dumb!!! But they are victims of RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA!! Smart people can be duped! Our fast-thinking brain likes to think of conservatives as either dumb or crooked. There are dumb and crooked conservatives, but the majority are neither dumb nor crooked. 44% of Americans get their news from Facebook! That leaves them subjected to millions of transmissions from Russian bots that shape how they think. The public needs to know specifics about how they have been influenced and manipulated by propaganda on social media. Good and intelligent people have been manipulated by Russian propaganda and don't know it. Trump setting us up for this was no accident!!! To them it is like having coffee with you on Saturday morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZWqhrR5tPc
I'm deeply concerned about the weaponization of lies on social media. It's important to keep in mind that most people who call themselves "conservatives" or "Republicans" or even supporters of Donald Trump are not stupid people, as you say. They have been fed a steady diet of lies from Fox News, rightwing radio, and social media, and from politicians (mostly Republican) who pander to Trump and to the lies, propaganda, and paranoia. What do we do about it? Spread the truth with every tool at our disposal. Share the facts. Don't be intimidated. Stand up to the lies. (That's what I've tried to do here on these pages, and with Inequality Media.)
The public needs to be taught about propaganda in the same way you are teaching us about inequality. You don't tell us inequality is bad; you show us it's bad in a million ways. That's what needs to be done with the word propaganda.
prop·a·gan·da
[ˌpräpəˈɡandə]
NOUN
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view:
Dare to be that one person who has to say the least popular, unhelpful thing but... it is possible that social media is not actually at our disposal.
Much as computer scientists draw the distinction between "free as in speech" and "free as in beer" & veterans say "freedom isn't free", even the arc of moral history bending towards justice cannot entirely conceal the fact of free speech which isn't truly free; granted, it could prove to be an arcane point - but at the risk of being unpopular one should stress that it is the *truth* that makes for freedom. (Sorry to be a "wet blanket" professor!)
Most of the people that I come in contact with are ultra conservative regarding the social issues. I have been actively involved in getting candidates elected. Currently I am involved with a candidate running as a state representative in Florida. She has a good chance of winning; however, she will basically be a voice, and a minority vote. I am helping because she can be a voice within the Latino community that will be listen to.
On December of 1966 three military friends (we met during training) and I rented a car in San Antonio and began our trip home to Ohio for the Christmas holiday. Two of my friends were white, one was black, and the other was the brown Latino. During our long haul to Ohio, around dinner time we stopped at a local restaurant in Texas. To our surprise my black friend and I were refused service. One of the reasons, I was surprised is that we were all wearing our formal Army uniform and the other was that being from Ohio I had never experienced this type of racism. Needless to say, we all got into our car and left. We stop at a gas station fueled the car, bought snacks and got the hell out of Texas. I would say that one of the reasons that many Texans support Trump, is because many of these people are bigots, others are afraid of how the country is changing. They see the increasing number of people coming across the border from Latin America and believe that Trump will solve the problem by building the WALL. I will agree that there are also many Christians that support Trump because of the abortion and the gay marriage issue. Issues that were approved by Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices. I am just wondering how many of Trump supporters also support Putin, Trump's friend.
Your story was probably so common back then & still exists for the most part. On the first campaign, I can believe some people were fooled/mislead. But then they can clearly determine what a psychopathic nut Trump is. Simply listen to the way he speaks! He’s disrespectful, ignorant and egotistical. The rubes who follow him are not good people, not intelligent! They’re driven by racism and insecurities. We know the Trumpers support Putin. You are correct that these people don’t want to be the new minority. Their religion is cultish and irrelevant in the world today. Time to quit treating it as if it is real. What else do you read that’s over 2000 years old and think, I’ll follow this info! There is a long history of inequality everywhere in the world. Definitely in the US. Those in charge don’t want things to change. But it will.
I have been scouring the New Testament for Jesus’ opinion on contraception, abortion, and the marriage between homosexuals. Surprise: Jesus said nothing about these topics, which form the Kulturkrieg of the Reptilian Party. Jesus was a creative philosopher who preached against narrow, traditional provincialism, who supported the least fortunate people, and who was willing to die for his beliefs. It sounds like none of the so-called Christians that you refer to actually support Jesus.
Remember Jesus was a Jewish man, he subscribed to many of the Jewish values. The difference was that he was compassionate. Remember the woman that was going to be stoned when she was caught in sexual acts. He didn't criticize her. He save her from being stoned, but he told her to go but not to continue sinning.
Spot on!!! I live in Missouri, Kansas City suburb surrounded by similar GOP/Trump loyalist. I don't think progressives and Democrats, in general, do not understand the POWER of misinformation (aka propaganda) that has deluged our public since Reagan and the beginning of private "news" outlets and social media.
This power has had nearly 40 years, two generations, to groom and prepare millions of people to mistrust/hate federal government. Ironically, it has been the economic concentration of wealth through "Supply Side" during this same span of time that has been used by these propaganda powers to stoke hate and paranoia.
Until the so-called liberals get real about their participation in the 40 years economic downturn for the majority of Americans, their political promises will sound hollow and more empty promises.
I agree with you and David Richardson but I think we can chip away at outright lies that affect people personally.
Our best issue is benefits, as virtually everyone in the senior category receives Medicare and Social Security and both are in jeopardy. Stick to that subject.
I also think that as the big lie is exposed the base will diminish.
Statistics show that younger people and renters are 70% more likely to trend Democratic. Consider the numbers of parents affected when they lost the $300 per child tax credit. We need to find these folks.
Many high-functioning people rely on what’s been called the “monkey brain,” meaning very good attention to concrete problem-solving, as your examples show (“they ain’t dumb). However, the people you’re interacting with miss the Big Picture. IMHO, the Big Picture reveals the intersection of politics and economics — in other words, political economy. This may sound like an odd phrase because it’s not used in the USA because it says that politics sets the stage for economic activity: enforcement of contracts, the nature of corporations, what’s legal and illegal to trade (I’ve noticed that since 1863, no one can buy another person in the USA). In the weird media world we live in, someone like Dr. Reich must be the truth-teller, and he does a fine job of it.
They really can’t support Trump if they are intelligent. Intelligent people know lies when they hear them, see racism when it confronts them, understand attempted coups on the government when it occurs— as it did on Jan 6.
The fact is they know that if they do NOT support Trump, they will lose the voters they need to stay in power. This is ALL about the need to stay in office! Intelligence has NOTHING to do with it. Justice, doing the right thing, honor, et al, all go out the window....
First, I said 40 years ago. I can say that because I was a witness to it all. Second, read The Lewis Powell Memo. That profound piece of political warfare rhetoric says, in their own words, what they (the GOP) "needed to do" to "get power back" from the "socialist" Democrats and socialist young people in the "socialist colleges." This was, in essence, to dismantle government helping unions and the working class which it had done from 1932 - 1970 and replace it with a Corporate/Wall Street run and controlled government. Basically a manifesto.
Third. Reagan, in his run for President in 1979, famously and intentionally used soundbites like, "The Government is bad," and"The Government is your enemy." He also said, "The last thing anyone wants to hear is a knock at the door with a government official saying, "Hi! We're from the government and we are here to help you!""
This was the beginning of the VILIFICATION of the Federal Government in the hands of "the enemy" aka The Democrat Party. Up until then, the favor-ability polling rate for the government was in the 70-80% range. It went into free fall since. NOT a coincidence.
Four. This fundamental change in political rhetoric by the GOP was exponentially messaged, 24/7, to the masses through the "new" advent of "cable" TV such as the intentional right-wing affiliate, Fox News under former Nixon man, Murdoch. This was also the beginning of a totally new economic system, also introduced by Reagan: Trickle Down. Five. Supply-side economics ended the successful 50 year run of Keynesian Economics that created the greatest and most successful Middle Class in history. Reagan began the war on Unions which created the middle class.
In short, I (and many others my age) have seen, with our own eyes, this steady but sure GOP/Wall Street 40 year march to dismantle The New Deal of American Economics and replace it with A Corporate/Wall Street run and operated Government.
As Warren Buffett stated some years ago: "Yes, there is a class (economic) war in America. And we (the 1% Corporate/Wall Street class) have WON!"
For me, a child of a blue collar family whose fathers and mothers defeated Fascism abroad in WW2, it has been like watching a small tumor in Reagan grow into this pervasive cancer that is, literally, choking our country to death. What would have been considered totally unacceptable 50 years ago by the public AND our government (Like Nixon's break-in of the DNC HQ at Watergate) is now child's play. What has transpired since 1980 to the present (and, especially with Trump-ism) is now considered almost "normal political shenanigans."
50 years ago, Trump would not only have been impeached and kicked out of office by BOTH parties, he probably would have gone straight to jail for sedition, at the very least.
Bob was right in the 60s, and into the 70s. Then came Disco. The world has never been the same since! (Not so TIC as you might imagine!) Anyways, I am in my 70s, and I do not support Conservative/Repuglican policies anywhere. Not all senior citizens believe the world should go backwards.
my deep apologies SeekingReason! These lines (like some genealogical graphs) that link conversations are very confusing for old people like myself. Carry on and cheers. PS- my shirts are none of your business!!! :D
Re: Starbucks workers "partners" unionizing, I used to go to Starbucks nearly every day. But since the workers started trying to form unions, and Starbucks did everything to stop them, I've quit going. I'll only go to a union store now. I think it's important to back up our convictions with our actions.
Workers at the site filed for a union election in February 2022.[5]
[5] Stewart, Jade Yamazaki (2022-02-14). "Workers at the Seattle Starbucks Reserve Roastery Join Nationwide Unionization Push". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
Another great "coffee klatch!" touching on several issues on all of our minds. With everything happening around the world, including the U.S., I too have forced myself to take a break from all of it now and then. Yesterday I painted my kitchen, a task that gave me immediate gratification :) and did some volunteer work.
Regarding "Trumpers," I have stopped trying to talk facts and truth to them, they don't care and won't listen so it's a waste of time. What we can do is talk to everyone else and implore them to get involved, spread facts and pledge to vote in November. Thanks for letting us listen in today!
I agree Susan. Some aren’t reachable and none can be called intelligent if they support TFG monster after hearing him speak multiple times. That should clue people in. If they don’t find his manner & character to be of concern, we can call them wilfully ignorant. But letting people overhear conversations and putting more talk out there is good to do.
Yes happy put put! Put put reminds me of trump. Easy course with garish cartoon scenery. The democrats are now holding training camps to help organize wins! I think the party needs to intensify its efforts about ten fold. The same for our arming efforts in Ukraine.
I believe a significant cause of the steady rise in the stock market has been that people have no other place to put their money. As you may know, banks used to pay interest, and corporations and municipalities used to issue bonds at interest. And there were such things as bond funds. Conventional wisdom was that as we grow older, we should direct more of our savings into fixed income instruments and less into equities and equity funds.
The media's only reference to interest concerns large businesses' apparent need for capital, and occasionally the cost of a home mortgage or car loan. My point is that no one in the public sphere seems concerned about fixed income investment. But now with Mr. Powell's indication that interest rates will be raised from near zero, we who have savings from a lifetime of work become hopeful that our money can receive interest at a semi-decent rate.
I know that increased interest rates for borrowing will likely lead
to at least a temporary decline in the stock market, but how did that market survive when we actually had interest rates of 6,7,8,9 percent. The media indicates no concern about interest rates for those of us with savings.
The theme was mentioned during the financial crisis (i.e. that policymakers had sided with spenders at the expense of savers)... but it's not the simple: bonds have had an historic bull run over 40 years, junk yields have never been lower, and tax structures are as advantageous as ever for the wealthy; what sort of concern would be appropriate - a dinner mint?
PS: The capital markets are full of innovation; there are *plenty* of places that wealthy folks can earn a healthy fixed rate of return.
Here's a thought that connects to David Richardson's description of people led by propaganda and out-and-out lies, intelligent individuals who are led astray by the constant flow of lies given them by politicized, media, self-seeing malevolent forces, and the very elected officials of the government: In the series on netflix.com (The Servant of the People, starring Volodyrmyr Zelenskyy as a tenth-grade history teacher elected to the presidency of Ukraine). Vasya (the teacher) is asked how he plans to govern his people. I guess the press representative expected either a confused, bewildered answer, a pleasant list of promises and lies, or some sort of cover-up for the usual corruption and wheeling/dealing. Instead, Vasya came up with something much simpler, more elegant, more matter-of-fact: By Hard Work and Honesty. Would that our own "servants of the people" could come up with such a simple and honest plan and carry it through. At least, the Ukrainian people have an idea of what real democracy looks like and what it takes to create that democracy (Hard Work and Honesty). They have also paid a heavy price--in many cases, the ultimate price--to restore what we and our representatives in government (top to bottom) so casually throw away in order to achieve our own personal gain.
David Richardson raises a good point, one I have tried to make in a variety of ways, one of which touches on the intersection of my private life and what is going on in the world and how these international/national/local events affect me personally. Those in the Ivory Tower tend to forget that there are real people experiencing real problems that are interconnected in various ways with what others are experiencing--and I like to believe I am one of them. I may very well have been educated to assume a role in Academe (and for a very short while at the University of Wisconsin--Madison, I played that role well) but most of my working life has played out in such public spaces as Macy*s and Nordstrom. I do not believe that it is to anyone's benefit for me to hide and not share what I know about the Real World and I am entirely open to do so. I do my part in informing people how public and private policies have affected me, what gains I have made (however few) and what obstacles I have met in trying to navigate the world. (Of course these are private situations but as the poet John Dunne (I think) put it: "No man is an island; each man is a part of the main." Right now, I am trying to find out about SSI (Supplemental Security Income) since inflation has devoured any sort of COLA increase I received; of course, this is a private situation but it is also one shared by many others. I put a face on it and that is what David has done by suggesting that his friends have been manipulated and controlled by propaganda. And as soon as I succeed (I hope) in straightening out my finances, I will try to figure out how I can increase my help to President Zelenskyy and Ukraine. You see, all of us live in both a private and a public world and these two worlds are NOT distinct, they intertwine. (I would say that most academic people come close to living in a private world (the bubble David describes) as they do not experience the world of many of the invisible people who work for them. They do not experience the panic of running out of money or trying to finagle the money they do have to go further. It would be better for all of us if their incessant and relatively safe "book-larnin'" shared something in common with their own reality-based "life-larnin'". But now I turn to my really fun project which deals with music performance during the pandemic...and my clarinet and, then, work with all sorts of music-making groups, pro and amateur alike. That's my Saturday dominated by a piece by the Swedish clarinetist Crusell, checking out videos with the SFSymphony's Currents! program, and wondering how I can squeeze out some financial help for Unicef Ukraine...you see, the private and public worlds I experience are not distinct but part of the entirety of the life I'm leading....and I believe this is true for all of us except those academic types who prefer a rather more distant and discrete view from their tower.
Your emotion-filled comments about ending your teaching brought tears to my eyes. I taught my last class a short time ago. Not teaching leaves a great void in my life, I loved teaching and can't imagine not doing that, even though that's what my life is supposed to be now. I greatly miss the interaction with students and other profs. Teaching has been the best way I could address the problems of life. Thank you for letting we who aren't UC Berkeley students take your class. It's a great help for adjusting to the absence of my own teaching, and so far it's been pure fun!
The "they ain't dumb" are quite capable of seeing the Big Picture. They choose not to because emotion trumps reason (no pun intended). They reflectively employ what Dr Kahneman refers to as "fast thinking."
Trumper candidates for state secretaries of state.
1. Get them on the record. Ask whether the Biden administration is legitimate.
2. Establish that they were part of the Trump post election "stop the steal" campaign.
3. A criminal conspiracy exists when two or more people agree to commit almost any unlawful act, then take some action toward its completion. The action taken need not itself be a crime, but it must indicate that those involved in the conspiracy knew of the plan and intended to break the law.
18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government
Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 2, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 87–486, June 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab constructed a timeline of key events, both online and offline, centered on the coordination of “Stop the Steal” efforts that escalated to violence and threatened the transition of power core to American democracy. Most of the material found in this report was posted in plain sight on social media platforms and online forums, designed to convince more Americans of falsehoods about the 2020 elections. The Stop the Steal movement was far from monolithic, though, and included groups across a spectrum of radicalization: hyperpartisan pro-Trump activists and media outlets; the neo-fascist Proud Boys, a group with chapters committed to racism and the promotion of street violence; unlawful militias from around the country with a high degree of command and control, including the so-called Three Percenters movement; adherents to the collective delusion of QAnon; individuals identifying with the Boogaloo Boys, a loosely organized anti-government group that has called for a second civil war; and ideological fellow travelers of the far-right, who wanted to witness something they believed would be spectacular. https://www.justsecurity.org/74622/stopthesteal-timeline-of-social-media-and-extremist-activities-leading-to-1-6-insurrection/
If the Justice Department is asleep at the switch, does the Democratic Party have standing to bring a civil action? As a predicate, establish that each candidate denies that Biden is the legitimate president and that the candidates were part of his "stop the steal" campaign..
Other applicable statutes.
Governed by 18 USC Ch. 73, Obstruction of justice: The Omnibus Clause,18 U.S.C. §1503, or Omnibus Provision, provides that anyone who corruptly... obstructs or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct or impede, the due administration of justice", is guilty of the crime of obstruction of justice.
See also: 18 U.S. Code § 595 - Interference by administrative employees of Federal, State, or Territorial Governments
Whoever, being a person employed in any administrative position by the United States, or by any department or agency thereof, or by the District of Columbia or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States, or any political subdivision, municipality, or agency thereof, or agency of such political subdivision or municipality (including any corporation owned or controlled by any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States or by any such political subdivision, municipality, or agency), in connection with any activity which is financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States, or any department or agency thereof, uses his official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
This section shall not prohibit or make unlawful any act by any officer or employee of any educational or research institution, establishment, agency, or system which is supported in whole or in part by any state or political subdivision thereof, or by the District of Columbia or by any Territory or Possession of the United States; or by any recognized religious, philanthropic or cultural organization.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 91–405, title II, § 204(d)(6), Sept. 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 853; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
See also: 18 U.S. Code § 610 - Coercion of political activity
It shall be unlawful for any person to intimidate, threaten, command, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, command, or coerce, any employee of the Federal Government as defined in section 7322(1) of title 5, United States Code, to engage in, or not to engage in, any political activity, including, but not limited to, voting or refusing to vote for any candidate or measure in any election, making or refusing to make any political contribution, or working or refusing to work on behalf of any candidate. Any person who violates this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
(Added Pub. L. 103–94, § 4(c)(1), Oct. 6, 1993, 107 Stat. 1005; amended Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(a)(1), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3497.)
so how do we get these laws and statutes acted upon and enforced when Trump elected judges and, especially, The Supreme Court (which is already providing room for states to do their own thing in many issues from voting to abortion rights) are making the rulings???
On top of that, we have an entire party (GOP/Trump) who continue to feed their "base" of 74-75 Million people who, as "the court of public opinion," SUPPORT an overthrow and/or "radical change" of the government??? Included in this toxic relationship of the GOP/Trump and The Base is the 24/7 misinformation (aka propaganda) machines of social media and "news" networks that is the glue that holds all of this together (and has been since Fox News started airing in the 1980's)!
Precedent was set, in my opinion, when President Ford pardoned Nixon. This put the President beyond indictment for crimes. The useless investigation into Trump's collusion with Russia proved that once and for all.
When the Department of Justice can be use politically from Nixon through Trump, then, in effect, there is NO LAW in this country and, thus, no nation of self governance.
We have seen that up close for 4 years under Trump. It will continue, unabated, when (not if) the Fascist State of the GOP takes control in the next two years. Remember, Hitler controlled his own Courts for many years before he forced the war upon Europe. The same thing is happening here!!!
I’m not so sure that the Reptilians will win in November. The media and the pollsters who feed the media love a close horse race, of course. However, the Reptilians have committed to many crimes that I predict the voters will send in Democrats, as they did in the US senatorial races in Georgia.
1. Never up, never in. 2. The Trump/Russia matter is still ongoing. 3. That "base" of 74-75 million people is more like half of that now. Trump’s recent favorable/unfavorable rating in the polls (36 percent positive, 50 percent negative). https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/bidens-troubles-s-still-popular-trump-nbc-news-poll-rcna22531
I have seen way too many "polls" to believe in that got it, not only wrong, but DRASTICALLY WRONG. How many can we think of? Truman is always a good start. Then there is Reagan and the revival from the post-Watergate "dead" GOP party in 1980. There is Clinton winning (not that it was a good thing, he destroyed the Union based Democrat Party...). There is Bush Junior's re-election. There is the shock of a black man winning the Presidency. And, of course, Hillary's big egg in 2016 that "shocked" everyone (except the rest of the world looking in from the outside). Those same polls had Truman rated as THE WORSE President in our history when he retired in 1952. Ha! Where is he now in the polls? Consistently in the top 10.
(PS- I don't think your average Trump voter is going to be honest, much less participate in, their view, a "fake news" NBC poll. Just say'n. I wonder what an AON, NewsMax or Fox News "poll" would "prove"???)
There was indeed “The Big Lie:” But it happened in 2016. Russian influence and interference was finally proven, but Bill Barr quashed it. He should fess up, finally. Save the country from immanent Fascism.
Most of the witnesses against Trump in the impeachment trials were neoliberal card carrying Republicans who told the truth contrary to their political philosophies. Bolton didn't get to testify, but he is a prime example. Although he is an acknowledged ideologue, he told the truth about Trump.
Bolton CHOSE not to share or testify (which he could have voluntarily done) until AFTER the fact. He's a coward... and wanted to sell his book!!!
You preach the BIG PICTURE! You might well live in an intellectual bubble with other intellectuals that mostly agree with you. I live in Texas, and I am surrounded by intelligent people who support Trump. They are 70+ years old and can tell you the combination to their school locker from the first grade. They can fix something that is broken and leave my head spinning with amazement. They can describe thing that happened 60 yrs ago in intimate detail. They ain't dumb!!! But they are victims of RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA!! Smart people can be duped! Our fast-thinking brain likes to think of conservatives as either dumb or crooked. There are dumb and crooked conservatives, but the majority are neither dumb nor crooked. 44% of Americans get their news from Facebook! That leaves them subjected to millions of transmissions from Russian bots that shape how they think. The public needs to know specifics about how they have been influenced and manipulated by propaganda on social media. Good and intelligent people have been manipulated by Russian propaganda and don't know it. Trump setting us up for this was no accident!!! To them it is like having coffee with you on Saturday morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZWqhrR5tPc
I'm deeply concerned about the weaponization of lies on social media. It's important to keep in mind that most people who call themselves "conservatives" or "Republicans" or even supporters of Donald Trump are not stupid people, as you say. They have been fed a steady diet of lies from Fox News, rightwing radio, and social media, and from politicians (mostly Republican) who pander to Trump and to the lies, propaganda, and paranoia. What do we do about it? Spread the truth with every tool at our disposal. Share the facts. Don't be intimidated. Stand up to the lies. (That's what I've tried to do here on these pages, and with Inequality Media.)
The public needs to be taught about propaganda in the same way you are teaching us about inequality. You don't tell us inequality is bad; you show us it's bad in a million ways. That's what needs to be done with the word propaganda.
prop·a·gan·da
[ˌpräpəˈɡandə]
NOUN
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view:
Professor Reich, IMHO providing the truth to the GOP base is a waste of time…the only thing that will make a difference is Amendment 14 Section 3
Dare to be that one person who has to say the least popular, unhelpful thing but... it is possible that social media is not actually at our disposal.
Much as computer scientists draw the distinction between "free as in speech" and "free as in beer" & veterans say "freedom isn't free", even the arc of moral history bending towards justice cannot entirely conceal the fact of free speech which isn't truly free; granted, it could prove to be an arcane point - but at the risk of being unpopular one should stress that it is the *truth* that makes for freedom. (Sorry to be a "wet blanket" professor!)
Unfortunately truth is in the eyes of the beholder….the GOP has its own view of truth or untruth
Hard to maintain a reputation with a regard for truth which is so - uh - subjective...
Most of the people that I come in contact with are ultra conservative regarding the social issues. I have been actively involved in getting candidates elected. Currently I am involved with a candidate running as a state representative in Florida. She has a good chance of winning; however, she will basically be a voice, and a minority vote. I am helping because she can be a voice within the Latino community that will be listen to.
The hard core base is a cult that hears a racist's dog whistle to its collective subconscious. Got to detect and mute that dog whistle.
This!!
On December of 1966 three military friends (we met during training) and I rented a car in San Antonio and began our trip home to Ohio for the Christmas holiday. Two of my friends were white, one was black, and the other was the brown Latino. During our long haul to Ohio, around dinner time we stopped at a local restaurant in Texas. To our surprise my black friend and I were refused service. One of the reasons, I was surprised is that we were all wearing our formal Army uniform and the other was that being from Ohio I had never experienced this type of racism. Needless to say, we all got into our car and left. We stop at a gas station fueled the car, bought snacks and got the hell out of Texas. I would say that one of the reasons that many Texans support Trump, is because many of these people are bigots, others are afraid of how the country is changing. They see the increasing number of people coming across the border from Latin America and believe that Trump will solve the problem by building the WALL. I will agree that there are also many Christians that support Trump because of the abortion and the gay marriage issue. Issues that were approved by Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices. I am just wondering how many of Trump supporters also support Putin, Trump's friend.
Your story was probably so common back then & still exists for the most part. On the first campaign, I can believe some people were fooled/mislead. But then they can clearly determine what a psychopathic nut Trump is. Simply listen to the way he speaks! He’s disrespectful, ignorant and egotistical. The rubes who follow him are not good people, not intelligent! They’re driven by racism and insecurities. We know the Trumpers support Putin. You are correct that these people don’t want to be the new minority. Their religion is cultish and irrelevant in the world today. Time to quit treating it as if it is real. What else do you read that’s over 2000 years old and think, I’ll follow this info! There is a long history of inequality everywhere in the world. Definitely in the US. Those in charge don’t want things to change. But it will.
I have been scouring the New Testament for Jesus’ opinion on contraception, abortion, and the marriage between homosexuals. Surprise: Jesus said nothing about these topics, which form the Kulturkrieg of the Reptilian Party. Jesus was a creative philosopher who preached against narrow, traditional provincialism, who supported the least fortunate people, and who was willing to die for his beliefs. It sounds like none of the so-called Christians that you refer to actually support Jesus.
Remember Jesus was a Jewish man, he subscribed to many of the Jewish values. The difference was that he was compassionate. Remember the woman that was going to be stoned when she was caught in sexual acts. He didn't criticize her. He save her from being stoned, but he told her to go but not to continue sinning.
Spot on!!! I live in Missouri, Kansas City suburb surrounded by similar GOP/Trump loyalist. I don't think progressives and Democrats, in general, do not understand the POWER of misinformation (aka propaganda) that has deluged our public since Reagan and the beginning of private "news" outlets and social media.
This power has had nearly 40 years, two generations, to groom and prepare millions of people to mistrust/hate federal government. Ironically, it has been the economic concentration of wealth through "Supply Side" during this same span of time that has been used by these propaganda powers to stoke hate and paranoia.
Until the so-called liberals get real about their participation in the 40 years economic downturn for the majority of Americans, their political promises will sound hollow and more empty promises.
I agree with you and David Richardson but I think we can chip away at outright lies that affect people personally.
Our best issue is benefits, as virtually everyone in the senior category receives Medicare and Social Security and both are in jeopardy. Stick to that subject.
https://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/seniors-programs-in-jeopardy-if-republicans-retake-majority/
I also think that as the big lie is exposed the base will diminish.
Statistics show that younger people and renters are 70% more likely to trend Democratic. Consider the numbers of parents affected when they lost the $300 per child tax credit. We need to find these folks.
It's our task to outnumber Republicans. To start register Democrats. https://www.fieldteam6.org/https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Many high-functioning people rely on what’s been called the “monkey brain,” meaning very good attention to concrete problem-solving, as your examples show (“they ain’t dumb). However, the people you’re interacting with miss the Big Picture. IMHO, the Big Picture reveals the intersection of politics and economics — in other words, political economy. This may sound like an odd phrase because it’s not used in the USA because it says that politics sets the stage for economic activity: enforcement of contracts, the nature of corporations, what’s legal and illegal to trade (I’ve noticed that since 1863, no one can buy another person in the USA). In the weird media world we live in, someone like Dr. Reich must be the truth-teller, and he does a fine job of it.
They really can’t support Trump if they are intelligent. Intelligent people know lies when they hear them, see racism when it confronts them, understand attempted coups on the government when it occurs— as it did on Jan 6.
The fact is they know that if they do NOT support Trump, they will lose the voters they need to stay in power. This is ALL about the need to stay in office! Intelligence has NOTHING to do with it. Justice, doing the right thing, honor, et al, all go out the window....
The world is full of intelligent people ruled by their emotions. There are many wise people mistaken for intelligent.
Hmmm. How do you know they describing something perfectly from 60 years ago?
First, I said 40 years ago. I can say that because I was a witness to it all. Second, read The Lewis Powell Memo. That profound piece of political warfare rhetoric says, in their own words, what they (the GOP) "needed to do" to "get power back" from the "socialist" Democrats and socialist young people in the "socialist colleges." This was, in essence, to dismantle government helping unions and the working class which it had done from 1932 - 1970 and replace it with a Corporate/Wall Street run and controlled government. Basically a manifesto.
Third. Reagan, in his run for President in 1979, famously and intentionally used soundbites like, "The Government is bad," and"The Government is your enemy." He also said, "The last thing anyone wants to hear is a knock at the door with a government official saying, "Hi! We're from the government and we are here to help you!""
This was the beginning of the VILIFICATION of the Federal Government in the hands of "the enemy" aka The Democrat Party. Up until then, the favor-ability polling rate for the government was in the 70-80% range. It went into free fall since. NOT a coincidence.
Four. This fundamental change in political rhetoric by the GOP was exponentially messaged, 24/7, to the masses through the "new" advent of "cable" TV such as the intentional right-wing affiliate, Fox News under former Nixon man, Murdoch. This was also the beginning of a totally new economic system, also introduced by Reagan: Trickle Down. Five. Supply-side economics ended the successful 50 year run of Keynesian Economics that created the greatest and most successful Middle Class in history. Reagan began the war on Unions which created the middle class.
In short, I (and many others my age) have seen, with our own eyes, this steady but sure GOP/Wall Street 40 year march to dismantle The New Deal of American Economics and replace it with A Corporate/Wall Street run and operated Government.
As Warren Buffett stated some years ago: "Yes, there is a class (economic) war in America. And we (the 1% Corporate/Wall Street class) have WON!"
For me, a child of a blue collar family whose fathers and mothers defeated Fascism abroad in WW2, it has been like watching a small tumor in Reagan grow into this pervasive cancer that is, literally, choking our country to death. What would have been considered totally unacceptable 50 years ago by the public AND our government (Like Nixon's break-in of the DNC HQ at Watergate) is now child's play. What has transpired since 1980 to the present (and, especially with Trump-ism) is now considered almost "normal political shenanigans."
50 years ago, Trump would not only have been impeached and kicked out of office by BOTH parties, he probably would have gone straight to jail for sedition, at the very least.
Reagan was so wrong about so much.
Yes, at 70+ years, I know that my father’s generation would be incredulous at what passes for politics today. Ditto for public behavior (the Academy
Awards fiasco). Sorry, Bob Dylan, but the times have changed for the worse.
Bob was right in the 60s, and into the 70s. Then came Disco. The world has never been the same since! (Not so TIC as you might imagine!) Anyways, I am in my 70s, and I do not support Conservative/Repuglican policies anywhere. Not all senior citizens believe the world should go backwards.
My comment was in response to Richard, not you! So keep your shirt on.
my deep apologies SeekingReason! These lines (like some genealogical graphs) that link conversations are very confusing for old people like myself. Carry on and cheers. PS- my shirts are none of your business!!! :D
*Richardson
Re: Starbucks workers "partners" unionizing, I used to go to Starbucks nearly every day. But since the workers started trying to form unions, and Starbucks did everything to stop them, I've quit going. I'll only go to a union store now. I think it's important to back up our convictions with our actions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks_Reserve_Roastery_(Seattle)
Workers at the site filed for a union election in February 2022.[5]
[5] Stewart, Jade Yamazaki (2022-02-14). "Workers at the Seattle Starbucks Reserve Roastery Join Nationwide Unionization Push". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
Another great "coffee klatch!" touching on several issues on all of our minds. With everything happening around the world, including the U.S., I too have forced myself to take a break from all of it now and then. Yesterday I painted my kitchen, a task that gave me immediate gratification :) and did some volunteer work.
Regarding "Trumpers," I have stopped trying to talk facts and truth to them, they don't care and won't listen so it's a waste of time. What we can do is talk to everyone else and implore them to get involved, spread facts and pledge to vote in November. Thanks for letting us listen in today!
I agree Susan. Some aren’t reachable and none can be called intelligent if they support TFG monster after hearing him speak multiple times. That should clue people in. If they don’t find his manner & character to be of concern, we can call them wilfully ignorant. But letting people overhear conversations and putting more talk out there is good to do.
Yes happy put put! Put put reminds me of trump. Easy course with garish cartoon scenery. The democrats are now holding training camps to help organize wins! I think the party needs to intensify its efforts about ten fold. The same for our arming efforts in Ukraine.
I believe a significant cause of the steady rise in the stock market has been that people have no other place to put their money. As you may know, banks used to pay interest, and corporations and municipalities used to issue bonds at interest. And there were such things as bond funds. Conventional wisdom was that as we grow older, we should direct more of our savings into fixed income instruments and less into equities and equity funds.
The media's only reference to interest concerns large businesses' apparent need for capital, and occasionally the cost of a home mortgage or car loan. My point is that no one in the public sphere seems concerned about fixed income investment. But now with Mr. Powell's indication that interest rates will be raised from near zero, we who have savings from a lifetime of work become hopeful that our money can receive interest at a semi-decent rate.
I know that increased interest rates for borrowing will likely lead
to at least a temporary decline in the stock market, but how did that market survive when we actually had interest rates of 6,7,8,9 percent. The media indicates no concern about interest rates for those of us with savings.
The theme was mentioned during the financial crisis (i.e. that policymakers had sided with spenders at the expense of savers)... but it's not the simple: bonds have had an historic bull run over 40 years, junk yields have never been lower, and tax structures are as advantageous as ever for the wealthy; what sort of concern would be appropriate - a dinner mint?
PS: The capital markets are full of innovation; there are *plenty* of places that wealthy folks can earn a healthy fixed rate of return.
Here's a thought that connects to David Richardson's description of people led by propaganda and out-and-out lies, intelligent individuals who are led astray by the constant flow of lies given them by politicized, media, self-seeing malevolent forces, and the very elected officials of the government: In the series on netflix.com (The Servant of the People, starring Volodyrmyr Zelenskyy as a tenth-grade history teacher elected to the presidency of Ukraine). Vasya (the teacher) is asked how he plans to govern his people. I guess the press representative expected either a confused, bewildered answer, a pleasant list of promises and lies, or some sort of cover-up for the usual corruption and wheeling/dealing. Instead, Vasya came up with something much simpler, more elegant, more matter-of-fact: By Hard Work and Honesty. Would that our own "servants of the people" could come up with such a simple and honest plan and carry it through. At least, the Ukrainian people have an idea of what real democracy looks like and what it takes to create that democracy (Hard Work and Honesty). They have also paid a heavy price--in many cases, the ultimate price--to restore what we and our representatives in government (top to bottom) so casually throw away in order to achieve our own personal gain.
David Richardson raises a good point, one I have tried to make in a variety of ways, one of which touches on the intersection of my private life and what is going on in the world and how these international/national/local events affect me personally. Those in the Ivory Tower tend to forget that there are real people experiencing real problems that are interconnected in various ways with what others are experiencing--and I like to believe I am one of them. I may very well have been educated to assume a role in Academe (and for a very short while at the University of Wisconsin--Madison, I played that role well) but most of my working life has played out in such public spaces as Macy*s and Nordstrom. I do not believe that it is to anyone's benefit for me to hide and not share what I know about the Real World and I am entirely open to do so. I do my part in informing people how public and private policies have affected me, what gains I have made (however few) and what obstacles I have met in trying to navigate the world. (Of course these are private situations but as the poet John Dunne (I think) put it: "No man is an island; each man is a part of the main." Right now, I am trying to find out about SSI (Supplemental Security Income) since inflation has devoured any sort of COLA increase I received; of course, this is a private situation but it is also one shared by many others. I put a face on it and that is what David has done by suggesting that his friends have been manipulated and controlled by propaganda. And as soon as I succeed (I hope) in straightening out my finances, I will try to figure out how I can increase my help to President Zelenskyy and Ukraine. You see, all of us live in both a private and a public world and these two worlds are NOT distinct, they intertwine. (I would say that most academic people come close to living in a private world (the bubble David describes) as they do not experience the world of many of the invisible people who work for them. They do not experience the panic of running out of money or trying to finagle the money they do have to go further. It would be better for all of us if their incessant and relatively safe "book-larnin'" shared something in common with their own reality-based "life-larnin'". But now I turn to my really fun project which deals with music performance during the pandemic...and my clarinet and, then, work with all sorts of music-making groups, pro and amateur alike. That's my Saturday dominated by a piece by the Swedish clarinetist Crusell, checking out videos with the SFSymphony's Currents! program, and wondering how I can squeeze out some financial help for Unicef Ukraine...you see, the private and public worlds I experience are not distinct but part of the entirety of the life I'm leading....and I believe this is true for all of us except those academic types who prefer a rather more distant and discrete view from their tower.
well said.
Your emotion-filled comments about ending your teaching brought tears to my eyes. I taught my last class a short time ago. Not teaching leaves a great void in my life, I loved teaching and can't imagine not doing that, even though that's what my life is supposed to be now. I greatly miss the interaction with students and other profs. Teaching has been the best way I could address the problems of life. Thank you for letting we who aren't UC Berkeley students take your class. It's a great help for adjusting to the absence of my own teaching, and so far it's been pure fun!
The "they ain't dumb" are quite capable of seeing the Big Picture. They choose not to because emotion trumps reason (no pun intended). They reflectively employ what Dr Kahneman refers to as "fast thinking."
It is all part of the same tapestry! THEY are strategic. We are philosophical and reactive. Very frustrating.
And Ohio says Putt Putt, FYI. We aren’t south, but we are crazy red…it’s rubbed off. You guys were great today. Thanks!