Nov 3, 2023·edited Nov 3, 2023Liked by Robert Reich
professor reich: this comment of yours cannot be repeated often enough: "those spending cuts will harm Americans dependent on such spending. Besides, the budget deficit and debt are largely the products of the Trump, George W. Bush, and Reagan tax cuts, all of which have mainly benefited big corporations and wealthy Americans (and almost none of which “trickled down” to average working people)."
besides, what is the purpose of government, if not to uplift the vulnerable, educate the masses and to protect the environment? taxes are the price we pay, as a civilised nation, for the privilege of social stability, economic equality and a healthy populace.
Nov 3, 2023·edited Nov 3, 2023Liked by Robert Reich
I believe it's imperative young voters (along with progressives, independents, and "never Trumper" republicans) band together to purge these right wing republicans from public office - into the history books right next to Benedict Arnold where they belong. This will require voting into the "White House" a Democratic president for the next SEVERAL presidential elections along with enough democratic members of both the House and Senate to get legislation passed which is aimed at strengthening as opposed to weakening our democratic republic. Remember, the THREE right wing members of the Supreme Court are there because enough progressives voted for Jill Stein, and other "third party" candidates or didn't vote in 2016. The Supreme Court as it;'s constituted will be a threat to our republic for a generation. Just imagine if they get another right wing judge on that court?! Those of us who have benefited for years from the great Middle Class created in America after WW II and who are progressives (I'm 76) SHOULD be doing all we can to encourage young people to vote and to not waste their votes on the fringe candidates republicans will be funding - in order to peel off votes from Joe Biden. "We the people" SHOULD be able to understand the importance of voting AGAINST republicans! Full Stop!!
Professor Reich, often I think that you have hit the nail right on the head and once again you have hit the nail right on the head! Of the unholy alliance of the four you have just mentioned, two are Americans. You are correct that we must do everything we can to prevent the rush to authoritarianism from taking further hold in the United States.
I doubt that any on this forum will refuse to vote for Biden and Democrats in next year’s elections but we risk being the choir singing loudly to ourselves. Biden, however is going out to the picket lines and the homeland of the small farmers to preach the gospel that to the working people and middle class of Americans that must be reached. Meanwhile the Republicans in the house fiddle while democracy burns. We should each follow Biden’s example in our own lives if we wish to keep the ship of Democracy from sinking even lower in the water. We must work ceaselessly to keep it not only afloat, but buoyant.
Mr.Reich , I’m seriously afraid that we will be drawn into WW 3 or wre will continue to destroy our Planet and have noting left to Live on all you mentioned are horrible greedy men who disregard the will of their own people we cannot as you said let the bastards win !
This should include the media taking more of a responsibility to call out the lies and inconsistencies of these neofascists candidates.
This week, I saw a CNN reporter asking Chris Christie if Trump should be disqualified from the ballot due to his documented Jan 6 negligence. He said ‘no’, the only way to defeat Trump is at the ballot box. Instead of challenging Christie by asking him what he thought the 2020 result was, if not a voter repudiation of Trump, the reporter just moved on to another question. Arghhhh!
All four men indeed are bullies and lack the compassion of democratic values and clear thinking that can lead to a just and better world peace and.freedom to live free of fear.
I would like to finally make one distinction. Hamas' leader has said that the "blood of the elderly and the children are needed to inspire the warrior. " Consider that for a moment. He is calling for the Holocaust of his own people in order to prepare for a Holocaust in the world of the Jews. I therefore see that it is not the suffering in Gaza that is causing more Islamic militants and radicals NOT at all. It is the evil itself of Hamas that they are glorifying.
The USA needs to take a time out. I suggest about 100 years. Stop fuelling wars in the world. Tax your billionaires. War crimes are being committed in Gaza. Support the effort to prosecute war criminals.
Agree with you very much. One note: Michael Johnson's puppet master may be Donald Dump, but in reality Dump's puppet masters have been Putin and Xi. Ever notice how SMUG Putin or Xi look when filmed in connection with Dump/USA? There was that famous incident in the White House when Dump met with Russian emissaries but refused to allow US press or staff into the room... I can assure you that Dump's #1 foreign policy concern visa vis Russia was to build a giant Dump Tower in Moscow, regardless of any cost to the US, NATO, or EU. One other point: we can certainly talk about the 1% oligarchs who own well over 90% of US capital... However, I'd like to know (can you tell us, Bob?) what percentage of those oligarchs (stock holders in corporations with US interests) are by now foreigners? Look at the publishing industry in New York... most of it owned by Europeans. That's Germans (Bertelsmann, Holtzbrinck, Springer) and one French outfit (Hachette); the Brits tried but failed (Penguin USA) so they sold to Bertelsmann; and finally the Australian muckraker whose Korporate Republikan allies handed him US citizenship only so he (Murderdork) could acquire billions of dollars worth of satellite network(s). Tell us more, Professor Bob. Ever your fan. JTC
As my mom use to say, "The world is going to hell in a hand basket!" That is how I feel today while reading Professor Reich's essay. Yes, I can see what is happening and others who value our Democracy can see what is happening. It feels to me like a steam roller heading down hill mowing down everything in its path. I don't like war and I am frightened that we are heading even closer to WWIII! I pray to God there are enough people here in the United States that will prevent Mr. Trump and others like him from taking over our country.
I have asked my congressional delegation, all republicans, why cut the money making agency and the safety net but help the rich. Of course I got no answers. Democracy? Not us!
To Mohammed Deif: You make sure to make what you (and your fighters) do seem like justification because you are an old hand at indoctrination and manipulation. But it is not for pity of the oppressed that you do what you do but for the glorification of evil. Not for poor Palestinians but to uphold an orgy of hatred. For hatred's sake.
I agree with most of what you said. The republicans are really full of it. People have to realize this and VOTE THEM OUT. They will not change on their own. On Israel, Hamas uses civilians to hide. If Israel wants to destroy them, how can they do it without killing civilians at the same time?
I don't hate many things. In fact, I can only think of two, lima beans and the word, "strongman". I know Robert Sir, that you did not come up with the word but I feel compelled to object to its use. The compound word states a strong man. It does not take strength but rather weakness, for a tyrant to be an extremely violent, cruel, abusive, deadly, poisonous, murderous monster. It takes strength to be kind.
Yes, we can argue that they get compliance through force so the word is acceptable. But it isn't. I imagine every tryant dictator and their followers around the world love the words, strong man. It is time to throw this misleading, tryant dictator complimenting word in the garbage forever.
And let us not forget that the Biden administration is alienating the youth vote (and significant others) with its unconscionable stance against calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East. Those desperately needed voters may either sit out the 2024 election or only vote down ballot when we need every vote to combat the neo-fascist tendencies ready to take over the U.S. government.
professor reich: this comment of yours cannot be repeated often enough: "those spending cuts will harm Americans dependent on such spending. Besides, the budget deficit and debt are largely the products of the Trump, George W. Bush, and Reagan tax cuts, all of which have mainly benefited big corporations and wealthy Americans (and almost none of which “trickled down” to average working people)."
besides, what is the purpose of government, if not to uplift the vulnerable, educate the masses and to protect the environment? taxes are the price we pay, as a civilised nation, for the privilege of social stability, economic equality and a healthy populace.
I believe it's imperative young voters (along with progressives, independents, and "never Trumper" republicans) band together to purge these right wing republicans from public office - into the history books right next to Benedict Arnold where they belong. This will require voting into the "White House" a Democratic president for the next SEVERAL presidential elections along with enough democratic members of both the House and Senate to get legislation passed which is aimed at strengthening as opposed to weakening our democratic republic. Remember, the THREE right wing members of the Supreme Court are there because enough progressives voted for Jill Stein, and other "third party" candidates or didn't vote in 2016. The Supreme Court as it;'s constituted will be a threat to our republic for a generation. Just imagine if they get another right wing judge on that court?! Those of us who have benefited for years from the great Middle Class created in America after WW II and who are progressives (I'm 76) SHOULD be doing all we can to encourage young people to vote and to not waste their votes on the fringe candidates republicans will be funding - in order to peel off votes from Joe Biden. "We the people" SHOULD be able to understand the importance of voting AGAINST republicans! Full Stop!!
Professor Reich, often I think that you have hit the nail right on the head and once again you have hit the nail right on the head! Of the unholy alliance of the four you have just mentioned, two are Americans. You are correct that we must do everything we can to prevent the rush to authoritarianism from taking further hold in the United States.
I doubt that any on this forum will refuse to vote for Biden and Democrats in next year’s elections but we risk being the choir singing loudly to ourselves. Biden, however is going out to the picket lines and the homeland of the small farmers to preach the gospel that to the working people and middle class of Americans that must be reached. Meanwhile the Republicans in the house fiddle while democracy burns. We should each follow Biden’s example in our own lives if we wish to keep the ship of Democracy from sinking even lower in the water. We must work ceaselessly to keep it not only afloat, but buoyant.
Mr.Reich , I’m seriously afraid that we will be drawn into WW 3 or wre will continue to destroy our Planet and have noting left to Live on all you mentioned are horrible greedy men who disregard the will of their own people we cannot as you said let the bastards win !
This should include the media taking more of a responsibility to call out the lies and inconsistencies of these neofascists candidates.
This week, I saw a CNN reporter asking Chris Christie if Trump should be disqualified from the ballot due to his documented Jan 6 negligence. He said ‘no’, the only way to defeat Trump is at the ballot box. Instead of challenging Christie by asking him what he thought the 2020 result was, if not a voter repudiation of Trump, the reporter just moved on to another question. Arghhhh!
All four men indeed are bullies and lack the compassion of democratic values and clear thinking that can lead to a just and better world peace and.freedom to live free of fear.
I would like to finally make one distinction. Hamas' leader has said that the "blood of the elderly and the children are needed to inspire the warrior. " Consider that for a moment. He is calling for the Holocaust of his own people in order to prepare for a Holocaust in the world of the Jews. I therefore see that it is not the suffering in Gaza that is causing more Islamic militants and radicals NOT at all. It is the evil itself of Hamas that they are glorifying.
If Ukraine loses the war Putin will push into Poland and the Baltic states...
Seriously....?
The USA needs to take a time out. I suggest about 100 years. Stop fuelling wars in the world. Tax your billionaires. War crimes are being committed in Gaza. Support the effort to prosecute war criminals.
Agree with you very much. One note: Michael Johnson's puppet master may be Donald Dump, but in reality Dump's puppet masters have been Putin and Xi. Ever notice how SMUG Putin or Xi look when filmed in connection with Dump/USA? There was that famous incident in the White House when Dump met with Russian emissaries but refused to allow US press or staff into the room... I can assure you that Dump's #1 foreign policy concern visa vis Russia was to build a giant Dump Tower in Moscow, regardless of any cost to the US, NATO, or EU. One other point: we can certainly talk about the 1% oligarchs who own well over 90% of US capital... However, I'd like to know (can you tell us, Bob?) what percentage of those oligarchs (stock holders in corporations with US interests) are by now foreigners? Look at the publishing industry in New York... most of it owned by Europeans. That's Germans (Bertelsmann, Holtzbrinck, Springer) and one French outfit (Hachette); the Brits tried but failed (Penguin USA) so they sold to Bertelsmann; and finally the Australian muckraker whose Korporate Republikan allies handed him US citizenship only so he (Murderdork) could acquire billions of dollars worth of satellite network(s). Tell us more, Professor Bob. Ever your fan. JTC
As my mom use to say, "The world is going to hell in a hand basket!" That is how I feel today while reading Professor Reich's essay. Yes, I can see what is happening and others who value our Democracy can see what is happening. It feels to me like a steam roller heading down hill mowing down everything in its path. I don't like war and I am frightened that we are heading even closer to WWIII! I pray to God there are enough people here in the United States that will prevent Mr. Trump and others like him from taking over our country.
I have asked my congressional delegation, all republicans, why cut the money making agency and the safety net but help the rich. Of course I got no answers. Democracy? Not us!
To Mohammed Deif: You make sure to make what you (and your fighters) do seem like justification because you are an old hand at indoctrination and manipulation. But it is not for pity of the oppressed that you do what you do but for the glorification of evil. Not for poor Palestinians but to uphold an orgy of hatred. For hatred's sake.
I agree with most of what you said. The republicans are really full of it. People have to realize this and VOTE THEM OUT. They will not change on their own. On Israel, Hamas uses civilians to hide. If Israel wants to destroy them, how can they do it without killing civilians at the same time?
I don't hate many things. In fact, I can only think of two, lima beans and the word, "strongman". I know Robert Sir, that you did not come up with the word but I feel compelled to object to its use. The compound word states a strong man. It does not take strength but rather weakness, for a tyrant to be an extremely violent, cruel, abusive, deadly, poisonous, murderous monster. It takes strength to be kind.
Yes, we can argue that they get compliance through force so the word is acceptable. But it isn't. I imagine every tryant dictator and their followers around the world love the words, strong man. It is time to throw this misleading, tryant dictator complimenting word in the garbage forever.
And let us not forget that the Biden administration is alienating the youth vote (and significant others) with its unconscionable stance against calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East. Those desperately needed voters may either sit out the 2024 election or only vote down ballot when we need every vote to combat the neo-fascist tendencies ready to take over the U.S. government.