Professor, Along with your suggestion that we “know the truth and share it,” I would advise writing to Democratic leadership, pressing the Party establishment to urge our candidates to go on the offensive and take the fight to Republicans rather than allowing Republican lies and distortions to go unanswered. I imagine we could use today’s newsletter as a framework for drafting such letters.
My hometown paper -- the Miami Herald -- doesn't even cover national news. From the ACLU:
Get Published...
Writing a Letter to the Editor is Easier Than You Think!
Letters to the editor are great advocacy tools. After you write letters to your members of Congress, sending letters to the editor can achieve other advocacy goals because they:
- Reach a large audience.
-Often monitored by elected officials.
-Can bring up information not addressed in a news article.
-Create an impression of widespread support for or opposition to an issue.
Tips on Writing Letters to the Editor
Keep it short and on one subject. Many newspapers have strict limits on the length of letters and have limited space to publish them. Keeping your letter brief will help assure that your important points are not cut out by the newspaper. Use the "Tips on Writing to Your Elected Officials" as a guide.
Make it legible.Your letter doesn't have to be fancy, but you should use a typewriter or computer word processor if your handwriting is difficult to read.
Send letters to weekly community newspapers too. The smaller the newspaper's circulation, the easier it is to get your letter printed.
Be sure to include your contact information. Many newspapers will only print a letter to the editor after calling the author to verify his or her identity and address. Newspapers will not give out that information, and will usually only print your name and city should your letter be published.
Make references to the newspaper. While some papers print general commentary, many will only print letters that refer to a specific article.
Dan....here in Florida where we live we are in deep doo, doo. This state is ruled by republicans. Have you checked out the statements of some of these county sheriffs who are 90% republican? Polk County sheriff wants to execute those who resist police. He repeats that over and over and recently said it again.
The lack of specific rebuttals of Republican lies on media is of real concern: Democratic leadership appears to be asleep at the switch on this glaring issue.
@ O. Amundsen Jr., From what I’ve observed, I sense Dems are banking on a working families agenda as their biggest issue to win over voters. At the same time, democracy and abortion care also are front burner issues. That said, borrowing a phrase from Bernie Sanders, I consider it “political malpractice” to allow an adversary’s lies and distortions to go unanswered. Hence, my reason for seeking ways all of us can become more proactive.
Janet, Given that so many of us want the impossible, we have to find another way. For me, in part, it’s carrying everything I learn from these exchanges into my political work in hope of becoming increasingly more effective.
O, you are so right. However, I have discovered through watching various media that it is not so much the Democrats that are not on top of the issues and calling out the lies, it is the media, fearing criticism, refusing to play the rebuttals. Maybe Democrats need to do something wild to just get notice. Republican lies seem to be enough to get them noticed. It shouldn't be lies, though. Republicans are better at it than Dems will ever be.
If the Democrats lose, please do not blame "Democratic Messaging". The facts laid out by Professor Reich are ones I already know and most people with whom I would share this likely know as well. The fault for Republican electoral successes lies only in the people themselves, those confused, manipulated, inattentive, cynical, lazy, fearful and ignorant souls who let themselves believe lies because they have not studied economics, politics, government and sociology enough to understand the dynamics occurring in our world. They have never become cognizant that the failure of democratic governance is THEIR failure. They want less stress and good times. Well, if the Republicans win in 2022 and 2024, they will either align themselves with the Devil, compromising their souls, or they will learn what real stress and dire situations are - and more importantly, so will their children and grandchildren.
@Scott Emery. I agree with you, and I'd like to pile on. Many of what Hillary Clinton called "the deplorables" are not really as hateful as they seem. But they are single issue voters. I saw that woman on TV who said she knows that Herschel Walker is unqualified but she is voting for him because she wants the Senate to be controlled by Republicans! Many other voters, say the Christian Right, are disgusted by the lies and fakery from Republican politicians, but, in that case, they want to have their way on abortion rights. So they overlook the stuff that disgusts them as much as it might disgust you; they overlook that fact that Republicans are advancing policies that are against that voter's own best interests, they overlook the pussy grabbing, they overlook the litany of crimes, they overlook those who consort with Jeffry Epstein, they overlook it all, and they vote for the Republican anyway.
Many Christians don't even know what Pro-life means. For example, the Catholic Church which is the largest Christian denomination in the United States and several Protestant denominations have established that life begins at conception, therefore how can a catholic and some protestants be a pro-life republican in Florida where the state Republicans have passed a law that allows abortion if performed any time before fifteen weeks. These individuals have no idea that Florida would be consider a pro-abortion state base on the Catholic Church's and some Protestant's definition of when life begins. This is why we must educate ourselves and start challenging Republican Christians in some of the states as to what is their definition of pro-life. In some states abortion is not allowed at any time because they believe that life starts at conception. My point being that there is great confusion within Republican Christians and those being converted to become Republican. These are people that need to be educated, and not be deceived.
Scott, While theoretically, in a democracy it’s us that have to become engaged, if Dems incur steep losses, for my part, no one is off the hook. That said, the one certainty to which I cling is my commitment, despite the outcome, to stay in the fight because I believe our cause is right and just and moral and necessary.
You have to be careful about talking bad about white working class since we need them. They used to vote democratic, but abandoned by democrats in the 80's and 90's they shifted over to republican party. Yes, many Americans are racist and ignorant. We need to educate them by acts and not just words. If you listen to corporate media who would not be confused.
I did not use the word stupid or stupidity, sir. I used the word ignorant, which means ill-informed or poorly informed. Nor do I recall referring to you or anyone else directly with my comments. If in fact you are going to vote for Republicans in 2022, I would like to hear your logic and your sense of prioritization for doing so. And please, do not just say inflation, because that is a worldwide phenomenon that appears to have many different causes that are not yet clear or agreed-upon by economists.
In other words, explain what you think regarding the problems of American and the world, what you believe are the political solutions to those and why you believe Republicans have better ideas regarding how to solve those problems.
I am a committed Democrat, particularly of the Elizabeth Warren type. I do not consider myself "woke" and I do not advocate rigid cancel culture from the left, but there are nuances within that perspective regarding which I will not elaborate at this point.
Also, Mr. Velten, I would like to know your sources of information for your opinions and what you have recently been reading about our country. Here is what I read and view regularly, for which I make no apologies.
The New York Times
The Washington Post
MSNBC (with a critical eye)
The New York Review of Books (about every two weeks)
National Geographic (monthly)
Letter from An American, a daily Substack article from Professor Heather Cox Richardson of
Boston College
Professor Reich's letters, about 4 times a week (though I have become annoyed that he does not advocate as a partisan, the logical conclusion of his arguments).
I skim my local paper, which has become a shadow of its former self, The Chicago Tribune
Recent books I have read that I have regarded as informative:
The Destructionists by Dana Milbank
Partisans, by Nicole Hemmer
The Paradox of Democracy, by Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing
The Water Will Come, by Jeff Goodell
I am currently reading The Anti-Oligarchy Constitution, by Joseph Fishkin and William Forbath.
Respond as you see fit, but know that I am not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince anyone of anything. Your mind, as I am sure you will agree, is your own.
No, it's not stupidity, nor are you any of those things you listed. The problem lies with corporations and stockholders. Most Americans work long days inside the home, outside the home, or both. We are kept too busy to chase down valid news. The absurd and crazy stuff sells, but real news does not.
Approximately 15 billionaires and 6 corporations own the digital and print media that our country consumes. There are 6,300+ newspapers nationwide that roll up into these 6 corporations/15 billionaires and this does not even account for social media/tv numbers. They want to make profits and harsh truth does not make money. Corporations will always focus on lining their profits.
P.S. I wish there were laws that prevented our elected officials from gaslighting and that the basic truth had to be printed or told. However, our politicians are funded by corporations!
P.P.S. Most corporations made excessive profits since the pandemic and still raised prices. Kroger supermarket just announced a cash deal to buy Albertson's for $24.6 million says it all. They can't afford to pay workers well, keep employees healthy, give us fresh produce, but of course they have money to buyout their competition.
Corporations are for corporations and they run the media.
I hoped that people around me would start to see everything that’s at stake. It seems like peoples priorities are changing, without observing that the whole world is either at war, severe financial situations, peoples basic human rights are at risk, or climate change issues.
Barbara Jo, I like your idea of "going on the offensive." We have gone a long time barely calling out the lies being perpetrated every day by Trump and Kump. For the most part, our media have left the calling out of lies alone telling us all, whether they said it or not, that the lies were just what politicians do and oh well . . . They show only the parts of Trump's rally speeches that sort of make sense. Even though a candidate may have a record, positive or negative related to the particular state, the media in my experience will rarely point it out. We the People do need to stand up to the lying and cheating or it will become the norm for all of us since to just survive, we will end up having to play their stupid cynical games. It is already the norm for Republicans.
Ruth, Because one can’t rely on media to expose deception and reveal the truth, in my view, those wishing to hold office must act as filters for us, sifting the truth from the propaganda, subjecting their opponents’ words and deeds to critical scrutiny, holding them accountable for their allegations, demanding their claims be nailed to the post with confirming evidence….
Something I’ve observed about the radical right is that the one thing they loathe more than Democrats is the truth. And the quickest way to be damned by them as socialists is to tell the truth. Hence, instead of banking on the media, as I stated at the outset, our representatives have to go on the offensive and take the fight to our adversaries. Our leaders can’t allow their lies and distortions to go unanswered.
The FPOTUS who taught the GOP how to deceive us received over 74 million votes in the previous Presidential election. How could this happen?
Our Government, for the most part, has ignored the common working men and women. Our elected officials are not working for us. They are working for the rich!
All of us common people need to start pressuring them while we still have the power.
Talk to your families, friends, neighbors and acquaintances about registering as independent. The present political parties are not going to change their ways unless we make them! Leaving the party and making sure they know why you left will be a wake up call.
TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS aka REAGANOMICS has never worked for the common men and women!
Flow Up Economics has been the standard since Ronald Reagan signed into law the (Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981)
Right on, Keith! The rich have the money to buy politicians cheaper by the dozen. I think Koch and his buddies have bought the republican party lock, stock and barrel.
I hear you bout the government. but Biden is trying to turn the ship around and make the government work for the little guy.so even if I we're an independent I would be voting for Biden on November 8th.The percentage of Voters who identify as independent has been growing larger for some time.
I whole heartedly agree. I voted for President Biden as well. I plan to vote for Democrats in the Roevember elections even though I am unaffiliated. They are trying to preserve our democracy.
If you don't vote for Biden you are voting for a republican. You think Biden is bad? He is a towering genius compared to republicans who believe the election was stolen by a giant lizard.
At this point, anything that comes out of a Republican’s mouth that isn’t a lie (or at the very least leaves out important details) might as well be as rare as a unicorn.
Right. The biggest crime in the history of the US may have been the Civil War. But the 1/6 insurrection is second. If there is a rise in crime, it is particularly worse in red states.
Inflation is world wide and the US is not experiencing more inflation than other industrialized countries. Give us the means to sue price fixers and price gougers and inflation will subside.
That disinformation about the IRS is spread by tax cheats.
The one I hear the most is about the border. This issue goes straight to the racist collective subconscious of MAGAts. Most refugees were brought by Republicans who beg Cubans and Venezuelans and others to leave their countries -- and disparage them when they get here. More Cubans are on the border than left during Mariel. How do impoverished Africans afford to pay to get to Juarez? Ukrainians?
Meanwhile, who hires illegals? Poster boy was Trump who had to pay a fine $2M for using them on job sites, Dr. Oz. Koch bros.
The level of hypocrisy is astounding, yet just like the lies themselves It doesn’t bother them one bit as long it suits their agenda and riles up their base.
Yeah, Derek, the Republican supposedly "Christian" base does not seem to care much for the truth or honesty of any kind. It seems to be all about "feelings." Unfortunately, feelings are unreliable and can take people in an entirely wrong direction.
My mother was an immigrant as was my grandfather. We are all immigrants. These hypocrite republicans spread lies and scare tactics to the ignorant public. It is disgusting.
John, you are right, disgusting is a good word but really doesn't describe how bad it is to have such a large part of our population willing to remain ignorant about everything but what makes them "feel" good. They have forgotten their families also were immigrants and think whiteness is some kind of honor rather than an evolutionary trait (oh hell, they don't even think evolution is real). I do not know how to reach these bubble people who live in their own little world with their own pathetic media with their white neighborhoods, white-owned businesses that never question their right to be there, their mostly white schools with everything they need for educating their kids whom they believe should run the world, with no books or lessons to challenge their kids' white supremacist thinking (or theirs). White Cubans are trying hard to be American white so they can share more in the spoils that go to the white victors, so now go along with the Republican lying, cheating, and fearmongering. Disgusting!
@Daniel. Right. One of the reasons Hispanics and other people of color are drifting to the Republican camp is because of their visceral reaction against illegal immigration and exploitation of guest workers. If we had a humane and vigorous immigration policy that included allocation of legal guest workers and a path to citizenship for legal immigrants we could attract a lot of Hispanics back under the Democratic tent. Likely there is a problem that demand for immigration and itinerant work exceeds the available slot. Though it can never be perfect it could be a lot better. Particularly it could be a lot better if corporations and other labor exploiters were regulated and disciplined. This would both reduce demand and ensure more humanitarian conditions, and increase legality overall.
If employers did not hire illegal immigrants they would not come here because contrary to the propaganda they don't get welfare, free food and housing.
Daniel, you have put forward actual facts. Republicans can't dispute them so they distract with even more lies and Willy Horton style ads to scare racist white people that Dems will release dangerous criminals to go after them. There is an ad in PA that comes just a tiny bit short of actually saying that, put out by a PAC supporting Dr. Oz who, himself has no clue about crime in PA or anywhere else which is why they use PACs. Republican voters don't even pretend to ask him how he knows or where he got his information. The police union in Philadelphia didn't ask either when they endorsed him over Fetterman who has supported police through most of his career, but admittedly, honesty in policing. How do we reach the scared white folks who are so easily manipulated? Or, how do we get enough Democratic voters out to counter the scared white vote?
My problem with Philadelphia is that Black voters aren't motivated. Reminds me of 2016. 800,000 in Philly did not vote. That's how HRC lost Pennsylvania.
Fetterman should sweep most of western Pa. He says "yinz" and "stillers" like a majority of the electorate. The real test is to pronounce "Youghiogheny " or "Laughlin" like they do. Pennsyltucky went from a reliable Democratic area to MAGatland starting in 1980, when our Congressman, Eugene Atkinson switched parties. The mills went down. Republicans used tactics like busing to split the old Democratic coalition. Philadelphia, Alleghany counties remain Democratic but not to the extent that they once did. The rest of the state is mostly rural.
I think most people vote for visceral, gut reasons. A debate is scheduled. Fetterman is taller. Can beat Oz in a fight. Get Oz to try to say "Eagles" or Steelers." Ask him if he supports Mastriano's calls for a Christian nation.
One on one I never speak about Trump/politics to MAGats.
I speak fluent benefits. I worked 10 years for SSA. Most MAGats do not want to lose benefits and our senator/ex-governor is promoting susetting retirement benefits, Medicare, even VA benefits. Most don't want to lose what they have and if Republicans retake the government, they lose.
Republican type 1 diabetics, Republicans on SSA and Medicare do well under this administration. Getting an 8% bump on retirement benefits.
Obamacare used to be an anathema to MAGAts but now they love it. Republicans still want to kill it. What will happen to those MAGAts who need it? Ans. Die.
Oh yeah, the MAGA's want their SSA, Medicare and VA benefits. They just don't want to pay for them. You have to be at least 50% service connected to get "free" benefits from the VA. I earned mine and not going to give them up without a fight. This republican scum want to sunset SSA and Medicare. Next they will want to sunset VA benefits. How in the world do they think they will get youngsters to enlist in the military if they sunset their vet benefits?
Yes, but unless you are at least 50% service connected you pay a copay for services. You pay a copay for any drugs you get unless you are 50%. Some very poor vets can get non-service connected pensions. They would count any SSI or SSDI against you. I am 100% service connected and VA tried to charge my insurance for services. I have eight disabilities and VA still tried to charge me. They finally gave up on that when I called my congressman.
It is appalling but true that the Repugnicant Party has _NO_ political program of any kind at all; except to cut taxes for the rich, which isn't as popular as it used to be. They have nothing but lies to disseminate since they have nothing of value to offer; or seemingly. It's astounding that such a large share of the country's population is prepared to vote for members of that party regardless, an indication of how well both social bigotry propaganda has worked for the Repugnicants for decades.
As an example which explains much of that phenomena, however, I don't own a TV but happened to be watching one elsewhere last week when one of those 'soft on crime' PAC adds was shown (on a national broadcast). EVERY PUTATIVE PERPETRATOR WAS _BLACK_! That is what the 'soft on crime' message is really about: straightforward racism and fear of losing at the ballot box to diverse opponents. This isn't new, but it's all too obvious yet again now. In that context, it is easy to see why a large slice of the American public votes Red: they're bigots, and terrified ones, that their privilege seems to be slipping away. Barnes in Wisconsin is clearly taking something of a beating because he is black, not because of his record; an odious situation but a campaign reality in this country.
That is a belief hard to counter, and certainly which can't be taken on indirectly by facts about crime because the belief isn't about crime it's about white privilege. This is also why 'talking about the economy' only goes so far for Democrats. It may mobilize some of their soft voter support, but it operates in another dimension from the bigotry which drives a major share of the Repugnicant electorate. Of course they lie about that; it isn't truly socially acceptable to be openly racist now (thankfully) outside of nativist enclaves where the practice is a tribal signifier. Even Rump has always dogwhistles his bigotry. I don't have a final opinion as to whether this racism should be taken on face front by the Blue Party or not, although clearly the Democratic Party doesn't _want_ to take the issue on upfront. Democratic pollyanna "We're above that" delusions don't place that party as well to fight and win as one would like. However, much of this election comes down to veiled white nativist bigotry campaigning against _anything_ other. THAT is in fact what the Repugnicant Party has as a program to offer, and as we see it appeals to a broad if non-majority stripe of the American electorate. Neither party will say that openly, which is an active aid to the MAGAt crowd. It's too late in this election cycle to do much about this, and this election won't be dominated by that factor. But it is still disheartening nonetheless to see the Blue Ties so unwilling and ill-prepared to take on white racism face front. THAT is the campaign program of the Republican Party, and it still gains much traction because its opponents won't say its name and condemn its namers to their face _every single time_ as who and what they are.
Ah Derek, you are so right about Republicans' truths being as rare as unicorns. My blog for the week is about that very issue and how even religious people who are supposed to be against lying are lying with the best of Satan's crowd. It's remarkable!
This is not our grandparents' Republican Party. It is a conspiracy of predators, many of whom cannot claim even one ancestor who shed a drop of sweat to build this country or a drop of blood to defend it. The members of ALEC and the Club for Growth are cases in point. My Republican ancestors, who fought for Lincoln and the Union, would have deported this batch of amoral predators. The symbol of the contemporary Republican Party should be a hyena, not an elephant..
Laurie, here's another visualisation for you to consider . . . A large elephant wearing a MAGA hat and an NRA t-shirt driving a farm tracter pulling a manure spreader bearing the GOP sign on it"s side. Wish I coud draw that cartoon!!
Rebekah, I like the manure spreader image. How to show that it is a manure spreader might be challenging. I suspect there is a talented cartoonist who could meet the challenge, though.
Yes Laurie, an insult to hyenas. I can't think of an animal they should use. Maybe a hundred-dollar bill and a gavel would work to display the only things that matter to them. There are no animals that could represent that.
Ruth Sheets ; or perhaps a jail cell would be a good symbol for them. The present Republican party has been purged of all those who have resisted being brainwashed! They are certainly not the party of freedom (for the human people). They are the party of bullies, cheats and liars ; the party of Tyranny! Add an image of an automatic weapon too! They are the party of terror!
Will......that really makes the case! A conspiracy of predators and parasites I call them. Dark money is ruling our political system. I might give $100 to a candidate while the Koch Brothers can slide millions to a PAC to do their bidding. These creatures believe that have a God given right to rule over us and make us their slaves.
John, yes, those Republicans in power do want slaves. They have always wanted slaves to control once they lost the power to directly own Black people. Our government has been the means to keep their greed and bad behavior in check. We need to see that those checks are always in place. These mostly white men have no scruples. We have seen in China what happens when a group in power decides it needed slave labor to boost its economy. It imprisoned the Uigurs of western China and forced them to be the nation's and corporate slaves. There are others too. We do have immigrants who are treated like slaves because our government has not taken up their cause yet. That needs to happen soon.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries our immigrant ancestors were the working slaves of the robber barons. They toiled in mines and factories for starvation wages. This was fine for the rulers of capital. My ancestors are from Ireland and Russia. They fled intolerable conditions to come here and have a crack at freedom and opportunity. Now over 100 years later we are about to lose all they suffered for and I say "NO".
William, Oh, you are so right about this Republican Party being nothing like the party founded in the mid 19th Century, but it has been brewing its mixture of lies, innuendos, smears, sneakiness and more for decades. They stood almost to a person against Roosevelt's attempts to bring our nation out of the Great Depression, then joined the anti-Communist movement in this nation that led to the rise of HUAC (House Unamerican Activities Committee) that led to Joe McCarthy and the destruction of many people's lives through the '40s and '50s and beyond. Democrats, unfortunately, always seemed to have to be even more bellicose than Republicans to prove their manhood, I guess, so got us into 2 wars (Korea and Vietnam) neither of which was really thought out and gained our nation nothing valuable. Things for Republicans really got moving when Nixon sabotaged the Vietnam Peace Talks and ended up winning the 1968 election and things went down from there, never actually gaining positive ground afterward. So, here we are with a political party, Republicans, that has nothing good to offer anyone but themselves, rich white straight men. The rest of us are just to be used for their purposes, mostly to get more money and power.
Another contributor to crime increases had been Trump's violent encouraging rhetoric, which can take years to dissipate. Mr Reich needs to amend his column to include this
Great post, but you're preaching to the choir here, plus I've already voted. It's the DNC and the Democratic candidates that need to somehow get the courage to tell the truth. To my shame, Kevin McCarthy is running for re-election here in Bakersfield California. McCarthy has the courage and integrity of a dead slug. Why isn't every Democratic front-liner in the State from our Governor on down to the local candidates getting out there to support his Democratic adversary. I live in Sacramento County and all I know is one candidate dropped out, in McCarthy's 20th Congressional District. Hello, California is one of the easiest States to get a front liner out there, they don't even need to live in the district they represent, And we're a solidly Blue State
The highest corporate profits since the 1950s is the reason so much money is goes into election campaigns and threatens our democracy. It also hires the lawyers who hide the profits from the IRS, and it causes the stagnation of wages and public programs so that people are driven to crime and violence.
Here in the Missouri 2nd District the biggest contributor to the incumbent Republican ann Wagner is Crawford Group,which supplies personnel solely to marketers. Is this a great country or what? Billionaires United is a yoke the Supreme Court put around all of our necks. https://www.annwagnerforcongress.net/corruptioncycle
Alan, yes, it is all of a piece, stagnant wages, corporate power, campaign contributions, fewer regulations, hiring fewer people to do more work, stagnant wages, and the circle keeps rolling, unbroken until Democrats get the will to actually do something to stop it, like vote in enough people to stand against Republican greed, lies, and deceptions.
The biggest crime wave is what the MAGATs are doing all over the country. Election deniers should not be running for any public office. They have made it clear that they have no intention of following the rule of law. They openly state that they will win because THEY will control the election machinery and process. They have pretty much guaranteed that if they don't 'win', it's fraud. Actual votes do not matter to them. None of them can honestly pledge any Oath of Office.
Laurie, you are right about this Republican disregard for our Constitution and laws. The 14th amendment clearly states that anyone involved in an insurrection cannot ever hold public office. That, of course is why Republicans are trying so hard to not call January 6th an insurrection which it clearly was. They know it but want power. They are traitors speaking about overturning our government. They are couching it in words like "control the voting process in the state." They don't even hide their meaning anymore. Mastriano in PA says right out he will force every voter in PA to reregister and will exclude the votes from any voting machines he wants to and appoint a Secretary of State who will give the election to Trump in 2024, and one can guess he means any Republican. This is insurrection yet he is still on the ballot. That is unacceptable!
Sadly, Steve you have unintentionally discounted the religeous doctrin of a goodly number of other religions. It would be kinder and probably more pertinant to allow that others my embrace other beliefs than those of chrisendome alone. Religious Freedom was and always should be a key premis of tolerance in a community. Please understand that I mean no disrespect to you or the religious doctrin you embrace.
In N H ,Dems have their claws out. The influx of city-leaving want their trash picked up and their family choices intact. This state could go solid blue! Lies don't work in an educated decently paid, free, environment. God Bless Joe!
Is it possible that big corporations rose their prices so high this past year in order to make the Democrats look bad in an effort to help Republicans win in November??
I don't know how the Democrats can stop this firehose of lies. The Rethugs have no plans to fix anything if they retake the House. Can't Americans see that? I'm getting very depressed and just want this election to be over. Any good news out there?
My granddaughter in Arkansas turned 18 in January and immediately went to register to vote. She lives in a blue dot in a red state and will be voting Democrat across the ballot (even tho it does no good there).
The democrats need to wake up. Here in Lousiana we need to get rid of Sen Kennedy so of course they took the best candidate and put that candidate forward. My bad, there are 3 running and the one they supported does not have the best chance. If state parties do this what is the national one doing? Lies are not the only thing against us,
Very true about the 3 biggest Republican lies plus the “Big Lie”. Republicans have told so many lies it’s impossible to keep track, but no questions their lies are used to create fear, confuse and they are experts at using reverse psychology for their purpose. In other words everything they have done and keep doing they turn it around and declare that’s what the Democrats have been or are doing. I sure hope there are enough Americans that realize this trickery because it sure isn’t no treat!
You wouldn't want to live in a world as envisioned by libertarians, hyper-religious people, corporate oligarchs and other tax dodgers. The anti-tax crowd don't believe in the public sector - rather, they are selfish and narcissistic. In some parts of India they have trucks that go around in the morning, but they are picking up dead people, the homelessness and starvation are so bad. In some parts of Africa a mother has delivered 5 children, but only 3 of them lived past childhood. In some parts of South America the streets of the towns are so dirty that only the poorest slum people will live there. They make their living scavenging out of what the richer people send to the dump. In most countries there are no curbs on the streets, no sidewalks, no regular trash service. In most countries, an earthquake kills hundreds/thousands of people - they have no building codes. In many countries, girls don't get educated at all and boys must pay tuition even in grammar school. The real conditions that people live in - TODAY - in this world are worse than some of the apocalyptic movies you have seen. A homeless person in San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles has more annual income and eats better, sleeps better than about 2.5 BILLION other people on this planet. If you know what the reality of this world is, if you know how selfish, callous and uncaring the oligarchs really are, if you understand what Bolsonaro, for example, is taking away from his own people, if you are familiar with the phrase "first world problems" then you also know why you grit your teeth and write that check when taxes come due.
It boggles my mind that republicans can’t or don’t want to see the truth, after four years of lies it should jump out at you like a monster from hell. I have been told by friends that you can’t tell who’s telling the truth anymore, what rubbish is that the whole knows who the liars are and what destruction they can wield when our nation is willing to accept their rhetoric. It’s time for the intelligent,to put their mind to work building a bright and better future for America, clothed in love and truth, and garnished with integrity. God help our leaders to fulfill their oaths
I phonebank. A lot. And not one of the undecided voters I’ve talked to in the past months has mentioned these factors as involved in their voting. What has worked repeatedly to get them to vote Dem is to talk about abortion. Jailed doctors and nurses. Women and men being forced to be parents. It is the most persuasive matter for women, but also for young men who don’t like it that freedom is being taken away from women. They’re afraid that Republicans will go after birth control next. They’re not ready to be parents. The biggest lie related to that is Republicans saying Democrats want to kill babies right up to birth. I have had to argue that point on a number of occasions. Abortion IS the persuasion point for the midterms. Second to abortion, they care that their votes count. They don’t like hearing that someone wants to take away their right to vote. Democracy matters when we frame it properly.
I know that the lies Robert mentions are out there and that this is a great essay I can use to refute them. I just wanted to say that voters aren’t making decisions based on these lies this time around. At least not the ones I’ve talked to in CA, AZ, NV, OH and PA.
Also I’d like to say to some of the commenters that the Dems are in target and on point. We have amazing candidates running at all levels. Get out there and help them.
where r u ? this is encouraging because we just put up 2 big billboards Trish Gumby for US Congress with a byline Protect Reproductive Rights. others like this also going up in the region, MO Second District. this is a district that got gerrymandered to include new rural areas that vote heavily Republican.Republicans in Missouri have a supermajority in the House and Senate,and the governor is Republican and all but one Statewide office is Republican.
Professor, Along with your suggestion that we “know the truth and share it,” I would advise writing to Democratic leadership, pressing the Party establishment to urge our candidates to go on the offensive and take the fight to Republicans rather than allowing Republican lies and distortions to go unanswered. I imagine we could use today’s newsletter as a framework for drafting such letters.
Also letters to the media.
My hometown paper -- the Miami Herald -- doesn't even cover national news. From the ACLU:
Get Published...
Writing a Letter to the Editor is Easier Than You Think!
Letters to the editor are great advocacy tools. After you write letters to your members of Congress, sending letters to the editor can achieve other advocacy goals because they:
- Reach a large audience.
-Often monitored by elected officials.
-Can bring up information not addressed in a news article.
-Create an impression of widespread support for or opposition to an issue.
Tips on Writing Letters to the Editor
Keep it short and on one subject. Many newspapers have strict limits on the length of letters and have limited space to publish them. Keeping your letter brief will help assure that your important points are not cut out by the newspaper. Use the "Tips on Writing to Your Elected Officials" as a guide.
Make it legible.Your letter doesn't have to be fancy, but you should use a typewriter or computer word processor if your handwriting is difficult to read.
Send letters to weekly community newspapers too. The smaller the newspaper's circulation, the easier it is to get your letter printed.
Be sure to include your contact information. Many newspapers will only print a letter to the editor after calling the author to verify his or her identity and address. Newspapers will not give out that information, and will usually only print your name and city should your letter be published.
Make references to the newspaper. While some papers print general commentary, many will only print letters that refer to a specific article.
Thank you, Daniel, both for your excellent suggestion and for reprinting truly helpful guidelines.
Agreed!! Brevity is a concentrated dose of truth. Rhetoric : Talk too much say not enough!!
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Dan....here in Florida where we live we are in deep doo, doo. This state is ruled by republicans. Have you checked out the statements of some of these county sheriffs who are 90% republican? Polk County sheriff wants to execute those who resist police. He repeats that over and over and recently said it again.
I wrote Miami '90. https://www.amazon.com/Miami-90-2Paths2-Murder-Novel/dp/1977222374
City police accused of being commies and vice versa. Jury nullification.
The lack of specific rebuttals of Republican lies on media is of real concern: Democratic leadership appears to be asleep at the switch on this glaring issue.
@ O. Amundsen Jr., From what I’ve observed, I sense Dems are banking on a working families agenda as their biggest issue to win over voters. At the same time, democracy and abortion care also are front burner issues. That said, borrowing a phrase from Bernie Sanders, I consider it “political malpractice” to allow an adversary’s lies and distortions to go unanswered. Hence, my reason for seeking ways all of us can become more proactive.
Janet, Given that so many of us want the impossible, we have to find another way. For me, in part, it’s carrying everything I learn from these exchanges into my political work in hope of becoming increasingly more effective.
O, you are so right. However, I have discovered through watching various media that it is not so much the Democrats that are not on top of the issues and calling out the lies, it is the media, fearing criticism, refusing to play the rebuttals. Maybe Democrats need to do something wild to just get notice. Republican lies seem to be enough to get them noticed. It shouldn't be lies, though. Republicans are better at it than Dems will ever be.
If the Democrats lose, please do not blame "Democratic Messaging". The facts laid out by Professor Reich are ones I already know and most people with whom I would share this likely know as well. The fault for Republican electoral successes lies only in the people themselves, those confused, manipulated, inattentive, cynical, lazy, fearful and ignorant souls who let themselves believe lies because they have not studied economics, politics, government and sociology enough to understand the dynamics occurring in our world. They have never become cognizant that the failure of democratic governance is THEIR failure. They want less stress and good times. Well, if the Republicans win in 2022 and 2024, they will either align themselves with the Devil, compromising their souls, or they will learn what real stress and dire situations are - and more importantly, so will their children and grandchildren.
@Scott Emery. I agree with you, and I'd like to pile on. Many of what Hillary Clinton called "the deplorables" are not really as hateful as they seem. But they are single issue voters. I saw that woman on TV who said she knows that Herschel Walker is unqualified but she is voting for him because she wants the Senate to be controlled by Republicans! Many other voters, say the Christian Right, are disgusted by the lies and fakery from Republican politicians, but, in that case, they want to have their way on abortion rights. So they overlook the stuff that disgusts them as much as it might disgust you; they overlook that fact that Republicans are advancing policies that are against that voter's own best interests, they overlook the pussy grabbing, they overlook the litany of crimes, they overlook those who consort with Jeffry Epstein, they overlook it all, and they vote for the Republican anyway.
Many Christians don't even know what Pro-life means. For example, the Catholic Church which is the largest Christian denomination in the United States and several Protestant denominations have established that life begins at conception, therefore how can a catholic and some protestants be a pro-life republican in Florida where the state Republicans have passed a law that allows abortion if performed any time before fifteen weeks. These individuals have no idea that Florida would be consider a pro-abortion state base on the Catholic Church's and some Protestant's definition of when life begins. This is why we must educate ourselves and start challenging Republican Christians in some of the states as to what is their definition of pro-life. In some states abortion is not allowed at any time because they believe that life starts at conception. My point being that there is great confusion within Republican Christians and those being converted to become Republican. These are people that need to be educated, and not be deceived.
Scott, While theoretically, in a democracy it’s us that have to become engaged, if Dems incur steep losses, for my part, no one is off the hook. That said, the one certainty to which I cling is my commitment, despite the outcome, to stay in the fight because I believe our cause is right and just and moral and necessary.
You have to be careful about talking bad about white working class since we need them. They used to vote democratic, but abandoned by democrats in the 80's and 90's they shifted over to republican party. Yes, many Americans are racist and ignorant. We need to educate them by acts and not just words. If you listen to corporate media who would not be confused.
I did not use the word stupid or stupidity, sir. I used the word ignorant, which means ill-informed or poorly informed. Nor do I recall referring to you or anyone else directly with my comments. If in fact you are going to vote for Republicans in 2022, I would like to hear your logic and your sense of prioritization for doing so. And please, do not just say inflation, because that is a worldwide phenomenon that appears to have many different causes that are not yet clear or agreed-upon by economists.
In other words, explain what you think regarding the problems of American and the world, what you believe are the political solutions to those and why you believe Republicans have better ideas regarding how to solve those problems.
I am a committed Democrat, particularly of the Elizabeth Warren type. I do not consider myself "woke" and I do not advocate rigid cancel culture from the left, but there are nuances within that perspective regarding which I will not elaborate at this point.
Also, Mr. Velten, I would like to know your sources of information for your opinions and what you have recently been reading about our country. Here is what I read and view regularly, for which I make no apologies.
The New York Times
The Washington Post
MSNBC (with a critical eye)
The New York Review of Books (about every two weeks)
National Geographic (monthly)
Letter from An American, a daily Substack article from Professor Heather Cox Richardson of
Boston College
Professor Reich's letters, about 4 times a week (though I have become annoyed that he does not advocate as a partisan, the logical conclusion of his arguments).
I skim my local paper, which has become a shadow of its former self, The Chicago Tribune
Recent books I have read that I have regarded as informative:
The Destructionists by Dana Milbank
Partisans, by Nicole Hemmer
The Paradox of Democracy, by Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing
The Water Will Come, by Jeff Goodell
I am currently reading The Anti-Oligarchy Constitution, by Joseph Fishkin and William Forbath.
Respond as you see fit, but know that I am not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince anyone of anything. Your mind, as I am sure you will agree, is your own.
No, it's not stupidity, nor are you any of those things you listed. The problem lies with corporations and stockholders. Most Americans work long days inside the home, outside the home, or both. We are kept too busy to chase down valid news. The absurd and crazy stuff sells, but real news does not.
Approximately 15 billionaires and 6 corporations own the digital and print media that our country consumes. There are 6,300+ newspapers nationwide that roll up into these 6 corporations/15 billionaires and this does not even account for social media/tv numbers. They want to make profits and harsh truth does not make money. Corporations will always focus on lining their profits.
P.S. I wish there were laws that prevented our elected officials from gaslighting and that the basic truth had to be printed or told. However, our politicians are funded by corporations!
P.P.S. Most corporations made excessive profits since the pandemic and still raised prices. Kroger supermarket just announced a cash deal to buy Albertson's for $24.6 million says it all. They can't afford to pay workers well, keep employees healthy, give us fresh produce, but of course they have money to buyout their competition.
Corporations are for corporations and they run the media.
I really hope so too. But at this point I’m pessimistic about the midterm elections.
I hoped that people around me would start to see everything that’s at stake. It seems like peoples priorities are changing, without observing that the whole world is either at war, severe financial situations, peoples basic human rights are at risk, or climate change issues.
Thank you so much for the info re: Michael Moore
Barbara Jo, I like your idea of "going on the offensive." We have gone a long time barely calling out the lies being perpetrated every day by Trump and Kump. For the most part, our media have left the calling out of lies alone telling us all, whether they said it or not, that the lies were just what politicians do and oh well . . . They show only the parts of Trump's rally speeches that sort of make sense. Even though a candidate may have a record, positive or negative related to the particular state, the media in my experience will rarely point it out. We the People do need to stand up to the lying and cheating or it will become the norm for all of us since to just survive, we will end up having to play their stupid cynical games. It is already the norm for Republicans.
Ruth, Because one can’t rely on media to expose deception and reveal the truth, in my view, those wishing to hold office must act as filters for us, sifting the truth from the propaganda, subjecting their opponents’ words and deeds to critical scrutiny, holding them accountable for their allegations, demanding their claims be nailed to the post with confirming evidence….
Something I’ve observed about the radical right is that the one thing they loathe more than Democrats is the truth. And the quickest way to be damned by them as socialists is to tell the truth. Hence, instead of banking on the media, as I stated at the outset, our representatives have to go on the offensive and take the fight to our adversaries. Our leaders can’t allow their lies and distortions to go unanswered.
Ruth.....we need to take it to them.
The FPOTUS who taught the GOP how to deceive us received over 74 million votes in the previous Presidential election. How could this happen?
Our Government, for the most part, has ignored the common working men and women. Our elected officials are not working for us. They are working for the rich!
All of us common people need to start pressuring them while we still have the power.
Talk to your families, friends, neighbors and acquaintances about registering as independent. The present political parties are not going to change their ways unless we make them! Leaving the party and making sure they know why you left will be a wake up call.
TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS aka REAGANOMICS has never worked for the common men and women!
Flow Up Economics has been the standard since Ronald Reagan signed into law the (Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981)
Right on, Keith! The rich have the money to buy politicians cheaper by the dozen. I think Koch and his buddies have bought the republican party lock, stock and barrel.
I hear you bout the government. but Biden is trying to turn the ship around and make the government work for the little guy.so even if I we're an independent I would be voting for Biden on November 8th.The percentage of Voters who identify as independent has been growing larger for some time.
I whole heartedly agree. I voted for President Biden as well. I plan to vote for Democrats in the Roevember elections even though I am unaffiliated. They are trying to preserve our democracy.
If you don't vote for Biden you are voting for a republican. You think Biden is bad? He is a towering genius compared to republicans who believe the election was stolen by a giant lizard.
At this point, anything that comes out of a Republican’s mouth that isn’t a lie (or at the very least leaves out important details) might as well be as rare as a unicorn.
Right. The biggest crime in the history of the US may have been the Civil War. But the 1/6 insurrection is second. If there is a rise in crime, it is particularly worse in red states.
Inflation is world wide and the US is not experiencing more inflation than other industrialized countries. Give us the means to sue price fixers and price gougers and inflation will subside.
That disinformation about the IRS is spread by tax cheats.
The one I hear the most is about the border. This issue goes straight to the racist collective subconscious of MAGAts. Most refugees were brought by Republicans who beg Cubans and Venezuelans and others to leave their countries -- and disparage them when they get here. More Cubans are on the border than left during Mariel. How do impoverished Africans afford to pay to get to Juarez? Ukrainians?
Meanwhile, who hires illegals? Poster boy was Trump who had to pay a fine $2M for using them on job sites, Dr. Oz. Koch bros.
The level of hypocrisy is astounding, yet just like the lies themselves It doesn’t bother them one bit as long it suits their agenda and riles up their base.
Yeah, Derek, the Republican supposedly "Christian" base does not seem to care much for the truth or honesty of any kind. It seems to be all about "feelings." Unfortunately, feelings are unreliable and can take people in an entirely wrong direction.
My mother was an immigrant as was my grandfather. We are all immigrants. These hypocrite republicans spread lies and scare tactics to the ignorant public. It is disgusting.
Foreign intrigue? DeSantis may have used COVID funds to ship Venezuelans from Tejas to El Norte. Operated a shell game.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article266767796.html?ac_cid=DM712662&ac_bid=1130480755
Putin and Cuba are co-dependents (and should be co-defendants.) . https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article267329272.html
I'm hoping that Cuban and Venezuelan Americans wise up. The enemy of their enemy is not Biden. https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-venezuela-donald-trump-mexico-409a67bb33d547bc5438a4d7160576f6
@Daniel. Co-defendants/Co-dependents. Nice...
Daniel Solomon ; Wow!
John, you are right, disgusting is a good word but really doesn't describe how bad it is to have such a large part of our population willing to remain ignorant about everything but what makes them "feel" good. They have forgotten their families also were immigrants and think whiteness is some kind of honor rather than an evolutionary trait (oh hell, they don't even think evolution is real). I do not know how to reach these bubble people who live in their own little world with their own pathetic media with their white neighborhoods, white-owned businesses that never question their right to be there, their mostly white schools with everything they need for educating their kids whom they believe should run the world, with no books or lessons to challenge their kids' white supremacist thinking (or theirs). White Cubans are trying hard to be American white so they can share more in the spoils that go to the white victors, so now go along with the Republican lying, cheating, and fearmongering. Disgusting!
@Daniel. Right. One of the reasons Hispanics and other people of color are drifting to the Republican camp is because of their visceral reaction against illegal immigration and exploitation of guest workers. If we had a humane and vigorous immigration policy that included allocation of legal guest workers and a path to citizenship for legal immigrants we could attract a lot of Hispanics back under the Democratic tent. Likely there is a problem that demand for immigration and itinerant work exceeds the available slot. Though it can never be perfect it could be a lot better. Particularly it could be a lot better if corporations and other labor exploiters were regulated and disciplined. This would both reduce demand and ensure more humanitarian conditions, and increase legality overall.
If employers did not hire illegal immigrants they would not come here because contrary to the propaganda they don't get welfare, free food and housing.
Daniel Solomon ; All good points!
So well said
Daniel, you have put forward actual facts. Republicans can't dispute them so they distract with even more lies and Willy Horton style ads to scare racist white people that Dems will release dangerous criminals to go after them. There is an ad in PA that comes just a tiny bit short of actually saying that, put out by a PAC supporting Dr. Oz who, himself has no clue about crime in PA or anywhere else which is why they use PACs. Republican voters don't even pretend to ask him how he knows or where he got his information. The police union in Philadelphia didn't ask either when they endorsed him over Fetterman who has supported police through most of his career, but admittedly, honesty in policing. How do we reach the scared white folks who are so easily manipulated? Or, how do we get enough Democratic voters out to counter the scared white vote?
My problem with Philadelphia is that Black voters aren't motivated. Reminds me of 2016. 800,000 in Philly did not vote. That's how HRC lost Pennsylvania.
Fetterman should sweep most of western Pa. He says "yinz" and "stillers" like a majority of the electorate. The real test is to pronounce "Youghiogheny " or "Laughlin" like they do. Pennsyltucky went from a reliable Democratic area to MAGatland starting in 1980, when our Congressman, Eugene Atkinson switched parties. The mills went down. Republicans used tactics like busing to split the old Democratic coalition. Philadelphia, Alleghany counties remain Democratic but not to the extent that they once did. The rest of the state is mostly rural.
I think most people vote for visceral, gut reasons. A debate is scheduled. Fetterman is taller. Can beat Oz in a fight. Get Oz to try to say "Eagles" or Steelers." Ask him if he supports Mastriano's calls for a Christian nation.
Best ad (reprise). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6T9OrtuhZM
Thanks Daniel Solomon for this.
One on one I never speak about Trump/politics to MAGats.
I speak fluent benefits. I worked 10 years for SSA. Most MAGats do not want to lose benefits and our senator/ex-governor is promoting susetting retirement benefits, Medicare, even VA benefits. Most don't want to lose what they have and if Republicans retake the government, they lose.
Republican type 1 diabetics, Republicans on SSA and Medicare do well under this administration. Getting an 8% bump on retirement benefits.
Obamacare used to be an anathema to MAGAts but now they love it. Republicans still want to kill it. What will happen to those MAGAts who need it? Ans. Die.
Oh yeah, the MAGA's want their SSA, Medicare and VA benefits. They just don't want to pay for them. You have to be at least 50% service connected to get "free" benefits from the VA. I earned mine and not going to give them up without a fight. This republican scum want to sunset SSA and Medicare. Next they will want to sunset VA benefits. How in the world do they think they will get youngsters to enlist in the military if they sunset their vet benefits?
Actually even 10% VA disability generates VA medical benefits. Also a category of non service connected benefits based on need.
They tried to sink the SS Disability Fund into default a few years ago. This is historical. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/naalj/vol36/iss1/4/
Yes, but unless you are at least 50% service connected you pay a copay for services. You pay a copay for any drugs you get unless you are 50%. Some very poor vets can get non-service connected pensions. They would count any SSI or SSDI against you. I am 100% service connected and VA tried to charge my insurance for services. I have eight disabilities and VA still tried to charge me. They finally gave up on that when I called my congressman.
It is appalling but true that the Repugnicant Party has _NO_ political program of any kind at all; except to cut taxes for the rich, which isn't as popular as it used to be. They have nothing but lies to disseminate since they have nothing of value to offer; or seemingly. It's astounding that such a large share of the country's population is prepared to vote for members of that party regardless, an indication of how well both social bigotry propaganda has worked for the Repugnicants for decades.
As an example which explains much of that phenomena, however, I don't own a TV but happened to be watching one elsewhere last week when one of those 'soft on crime' PAC adds was shown (on a national broadcast). EVERY PUTATIVE PERPETRATOR WAS _BLACK_! That is what the 'soft on crime' message is really about: straightforward racism and fear of losing at the ballot box to diverse opponents. This isn't new, but it's all too obvious yet again now. In that context, it is easy to see why a large slice of the American public votes Red: they're bigots, and terrified ones, that their privilege seems to be slipping away. Barnes in Wisconsin is clearly taking something of a beating because he is black, not because of his record; an odious situation but a campaign reality in this country.
That is a belief hard to counter, and certainly which can't be taken on indirectly by facts about crime because the belief isn't about crime it's about white privilege. This is also why 'talking about the economy' only goes so far for Democrats. It may mobilize some of their soft voter support, but it operates in another dimension from the bigotry which drives a major share of the Repugnicant electorate. Of course they lie about that; it isn't truly socially acceptable to be openly racist now (thankfully) outside of nativist enclaves where the practice is a tribal signifier. Even Rump has always dogwhistles his bigotry. I don't have a final opinion as to whether this racism should be taken on face front by the Blue Party or not, although clearly the Democratic Party doesn't _want_ to take the issue on upfront. Democratic pollyanna "We're above that" delusions don't place that party as well to fight and win as one would like. However, much of this election comes down to veiled white nativist bigotry campaigning against _anything_ other. THAT is in fact what the Repugnicant Party has as a program to offer, and as we see it appeals to a broad if non-majority stripe of the American electorate. Neither party will say that openly, which is an active aid to the MAGAt crowd. It's too late in this election cycle to do much about this, and this election won't be dominated by that factor. But it is still disheartening nonetheless to see the Blue Ties so unwilling and ill-prepared to take on white racism face front. THAT is the campaign program of the Republican Party, and it still gains much traction because its opponents won't say its name and condemn its namers to their face _every single time_ as who and what they are.
Ah Derek, you are so right about Republicans' truths being as rare as unicorns. My blog for the week is about that very issue and how even religious people who are supposed to be against lying are lying with the best of Satan's crowd. It's remarkable!
Indeed remarkable, also deeply disturbing given their supposed beliefs.
This is not our grandparents' Republican Party. It is a conspiracy of predators, many of whom cannot claim even one ancestor who shed a drop of sweat to build this country or a drop of blood to defend it. The members of ALEC and the Club for Growth are cases in point. My Republican ancestors, who fought for Lincoln and the Union, would have deported this batch of amoral predators. The symbol of the contemporary Republican Party should be a hyena, not an elephant..
An insult to hyenas
Laurie, here's another visualisation for you to consider . . . A large elephant wearing a MAGA hat and an NRA t-shirt driving a farm tracter pulling a manure spreader bearing the GOP sign on it"s side. Wish I coud draw that cartoon!!
Rebekah, I like the manure spreader image. How to show that it is a manure spreader might be challenging. I suspect there is a talented cartoonist who could meet the challenge, though.
@Ruth. It's the inmate from the Monopoly game with a shovel and a wheel barrow full of manure...
Or maybe just
💩
Hahaha!
Yes Laurie, an insult to hyenas. I can't think of an animal they should use. Maybe a hundred-dollar bill and a gavel would work to display the only things that matter to them. There are no animals that could represent that.
Ruth Sheets ; or perhaps a jail cell would be a good symbol for them. The present Republican party has been purged of all those who have resisted being brainwashed! They are certainly not the party of freedom (for the human people). They are the party of bullies, cheats and liars ; the party of Tyranny! Add an image of an automatic weapon too! They are the party of terror!
@Laurie. The inmate from the Monopoly game holding an automatic weapon and wearing a dunce's cap.
Hahaha! Yes!
@William. It's an insult to elephants already! Maybe their icon could be that inmate from the Monopoly game?
Will......that really makes the case! A conspiracy of predators and parasites I call them. Dark money is ruling our political system. I might give $100 to a candidate while the Koch Brothers can slide millions to a PAC to do their bidding. These creatures believe that have a God given right to rule over us and make us their slaves.
John, yes, those Republicans in power do want slaves. They have always wanted slaves to control once they lost the power to directly own Black people. Our government has been the means to keep their greed and bad behavior in check. We need to see that those checks are always in place. These mostly white men have no scruples. We have seen in China what happens when a group in power decides it needed slave labor to boost its economy. It imprisoned the Uigurs of western China and forced them to be the nation's and corporate slaves. There are others too. We do have immigrants who are treated like slaves because our government has not taken up their cause yet. That needs to happen soon.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries our immigrant ancestors were the working slaves of the robber barons. They toiled in mines and factories for starvation wages. This was fine for the rulers of capital. My ancestors are from Ireland and Russia. They fled intolerable conditions to come here and have a crack at freedom and opportunity. Now over 100 years later we are about to lose all they suffered for and I say "NO".
Love your symbolism!!!
William, Oh, you are so right about this Republican Party being nothing like the party founded in the mid 19th Century, but it has been brewing its mixture of lies, innuendos, smears, sneakiness and more for decades. They stood almost to a person against Roosevelt's attempts to bring our nation out of the Great Depression, then joined the anti-Communist movement in this nation that led to the rise of HUAC (House Unamerican Activities Committee) that led to Joe McCarthy and the destruction of many people's lives through the '40s and '50s and beyond. Democrats, unfortunately, always seemed to have to be even more bellicose than Republicans to prove their manhood, I guess, so got us into 2 wars (Korea and Vietnam) neither of which was really thought out and gained our nation nothing valuable. Things for Republicans really got moving when Nixon sabotaged the Vietnam Peace Talks and ended up winning the 1968 election and things went down from there, never actually gaining positive ground afterward. So, here we are with a political party, Republicans, that has nothing good to offer anyone but themselves, rich white straight men. The rest of us are just to be used for their purposes, mostly to get more money and power.
Another contributor to crime increases had been Trump's violent encouraging rhetoric, which can take years to dissipate. Mr Reich needs to amend his column to include this
https://www.vox.com/21506029/trump-violence-tweets-racist-hate-speech
I read the article. Astounding
Great post, but you're preaching to the choir here, plus I've already voted. It's the DNC and the Democratic candidates that need to somehow get the courage to tell the truth. To my shame, Kevin McCarthy is running for re-election here in Bakersfield California. McCarthy has the courage and integrity of a dead slug. Why isn't every Democratic front-liner in the State from our Governor on down to the local candidates getting out there to support his Democratic adversary. I live in Sacramento County and all I know is one candidate dropped out, in McCarthy's 20th Congressional District. Hello, California is one of the easiest States to get a front liner out there, they don't even need to live in the district they represent, And we're a solidly Blue State
you got me
The highest corporate profits since the 1950s is the reason so much money is goes into election campaigns and threatens our democracy. It also hires the lawyers who hide the profits from the IRS, and it causes the stagnation of wages and public programs so that people are driven to crime and violence.
Here in the Missouri 2nd District the biggest contributor to the incumbent Republican ann Wagner is Crawford Group,which supplies personnel solely to marketers. Is this a great country or what? Billionaires United is a yoke the Supreme Court put around all of our necks. https://www.annwagnerforcongress.net/corruptioncycle
Alan, yes, it is all of a piece, stagnant wages, corporate power, campaign contributions, fewer regulations, hiring fewer people to do more work, stagnant wages, and the circle keeps rolling, unbroken until Democrats get the will to actually do something to stop it, like vote in enough people to stand against Republican greed, lies, and deceptions.
The biggest crime wave is what the MAGATs are doing all over the country. Election deniers should not be running for any public office. They have made it clear that they have no intention of following the rule of law. They openly state that they will win because THEY will control the election machinery and process. They have pretty much guaranteed that if they don't 'win', it's fraud. Actual votes do not matter to them. None of them can honestly pledge any Oath of Office.
Laurie, you are right about this Republican disregard for our Constitution and laws. The 14th amendment clearly states that anyone involved in an insurrection cannot ever hold public office. That, of course is why Republicans are trying so hard to not call January 6th an insurrection which it clearly was. They know it but want power. They are traitors speaking about overturning our government. They are couching it in words like "control the voting process in the state." They don't even hide their meaning anymore. Mastriano in PA says right out he will force every voter in PA to reregister and will exclude the votes from any voting machines he wants to and appoint a Secretary of State who will give the election to Trump in 2024, and one can guess he means any Republican. This is insurrection yet he is still on the ballot. That is unacceptable!
Hear Hear!!
Sadly, Steve you have unintentionally discounted the religeous doctrin of a goodly number of other religions. It would be kinder and probably more pertinant to allow that others my embrace other beliefs than those of chrisendome alone. Religious Freedom was and always should be a key premis of tolerance in a community. Please understand that I mean no disrespect to you or the religious doctrin you embrace.
In N H ,Dems have their claws out. The influx of city-leaving want their trash picked up and their family choices intact. This state could go solid blue! Lies don't work in an educated decently paid, free, environment. God Bless Joe!
Is it possible that big corporations rose their prices so high this past year in order to make the Democrats look bad in an effort to help Republicans win in November??
Ya think? 😈
Why is it that no one seems to connect rising poverty to rising crime?
Excellent question. A point that needs to be expanded frequently.
I don't know how the Democrats can stop this firehose of lies. The Rethugs have no plans to fix anything if they retake the House. Can't Americans see that? I'm getting very depressed and just want this election to be over. Any good news out there?
If young people vote we can sweep the midterms. Still time to register more voters in some states.
My granddaughter in Arkansas turned 18 in January and immediately went to register to vote. She lives in a blue dot in a red state and will be voting Democrat across the ballot (even tho it does no good there).
gas prices in St Louis don't seem to be rising much.
The democrats need to wake up. Here in Lousiana we need to get rid of Sen Kennedy so of course they took the best candidate and put that candidate forward. My bad, there are 3 running and the one they supported does not have the best chance. If state parties do this what is the national one doing? Lies are not the only thing against us,
Very true about the 3 biggest Republican lies plus the “Big Lie”. Republicans have told so many lies it’s impossible to keep track, but no questions their lies are used to create fear, confuse and they are experts at using reverse psychology for their purpose. In other words everything they have done and keep doing they turn it around and declare that’s what the Democrats have been or are doing. I sure hope there are enough Americans that realize this trickery because it sure isn’t no treat!
You wouldn't want to live in a world as envisioned by libertarians, hyper-religious people, corporate oligarchs and other tax dodgers. The anti-tax crowd don't believe in the public sector - rather, they are selfish and narcissistic. In some parts of India they have trucks that go around in the morning, but they are picking up dead people, the homelessness and starvation are so bad. In some parts of Africa a mother has delivered 5 children, but only 3 of them lived past childhood. In some parts of South America the streets of the towns are so dirty that only the poorest slum people will live there. They make their living scavenging out of what the richer people send to the dump. In most countries there are no curbs on the streets, no sidewalks, no regular trash service. In most countries, an earthquake kills hundreds/thousands of people - they have no building codes. In many countries, girls don't get educated at all and boys must pay tuition even in grammar school. The real conditions that people live in - TODAY - in this world are worse than some of the apocalyptic movies you have seen. A homeless person in San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles has more annual income and eats better, sleeps better than about 2.5 BILLION other people on this planet. If you know what the reality of this world is, if you know how selfish, callous and uncaring the oligarchs really are, if you understand what Bolsonaro, for example, is taking away from his own people, if you are familiar with the phrase "first world problems" then you also know why you grit your teeth and write that check when taxes come due.
@Janet R. Yes, disgusting. I even hate myself when I'm having too much fun...
;-D
It boggles my mind that republicans can’t or don’t want to see the truth, after four years of lies it should jump out at you like a monster from hell. I have been told by friends that you can’t tell who’s telling the truth anymore, what rubbish is that the whole knows who the liars are and what destruction they can wield when our nation is willing to accept their rhetoric. It’s time for the intelligent,to put their mind to work building a bright and better future for America, clothed in love and truth, and garnished with integrity. God help our leaders to fulfill their oaths
I phonebank. A lot. And not one of the undecided voters I’ve talked to in the past months has mentioned these factors as involved in their voting. What has worked repeatedly to get them to vote Dem is to talk about abortion. Jailed doctors and nurses. Women and men being forced to be parents. It is the most persuasive matter for women, but also for young men who don’t like it that freedom is being taken away from women. They’re afraid that Republicans will go after birth control next. They’re not ready to be parents. The biggest lie related to that is Republicans saying Democrats want to kill babies right up to birth. I have had to argue that point on a number of occasions. Abortion IS the persuasion point for the midterms. Second to abortion, they care that their votes count. They don’t like hearing that someone wants to take away their right to vote. Democracy matters when we frame it properly.
I know that the lies Robert mentions are out there and that this is a great essay I can use to refute them. I just wanted to say that voters aren’t making decisions based on these lies this time around. At least not the ones I’ve talked to in CA, AZ, NV, OH and PA.
Also I’d like to say to some of the commenters that the Dems are in target and on point. We have amazing candidates running at all levels. Get out there and help them.
where r u ? this is encouraging because we just put up 2 big billboards Trish Gumby for US Congress with a byline Protect Reproductive Rights. others like this also going up in the region, MO Second District. this is a district that got gerrymandered to include new rural areas that vote heavily Republican.Republicans in Missouri have a supermajority in the House and Senate,and the governor is Republican and all but one Statewide office is Republican.
You made me feel better. If this is representative of voters around the country, there is hope.
"We have amazing candidates running at all levels. Get out there and help them." 👏