Except if she still is allowed to vote. Except if that vote is counted. Except if her elected representative sells her out Sinema style (and as Obama did his progressive electorate, with Biden at his right hand, time was). Except if a corrupted Federal judiciary says anything it pleases (because their word is, literally, law). Except if Big Carbon, Big Pharma, Big Tech, or Big Finance simply ignores the letter and spirit of the law and does as it damn well pleases, as just right now this past generation.
So voting is a good thing, and a start. But this will take more than voting. And one should never be in the position of letting oneself be backed in to the corner in the first place, so ideally that will be a lesson learned in this full frontal encounter with fascism.
I'm having an argument with my brother, a right-winger. He wrote "America defines rights as god given." And here we see the intrusion of religion into politics. The religious right fundamental Christian nationalists want to impose their religious agenda on America. <They> can intrude but government may not interfere with their speech.
Personally, I don't believe that a loving all-powerful god could have favorite countries, or favorite species, or favorite planets, or favorite asteroids, or favorite anythings. In my opinion...OPINION, god (IF there is one...or two, or more) is detached from human results.
Calling secular-loving citizens to stand up to and resist/oppose the Christian nationalists office seekers and their initiatives at the polls!
Mark, I am sorry for your impossible discussion with the right-wing religious zealot. Those guys really do think they have god's ear and want to force whatever comes to their mind on others as though from god. What nonsense, but those guys want to feel important, that they have what they have because they are favored by god. They push their prosperity gospel so they can gloat that those have nots are not living right or god would give them stuff. So their god is like Santa Claus who gives goodies to "good" little boys and girls and coal to the "bad" little boys and girls. That is such a childish view, but the truth is that Republicans act like little kids whining they didn't get what they want so throw tantrums. I see the overthrow of Roe as a kind of tantrum by scared Catholics who are losing their patriarchal mojo. Forcing pregnancy no matter what is their punishment of women for being out in the world, having sex, and taking the jobs that are supposed to be only for men. I am sure there are other reasons too. They claim "pro-life" but we know it is really pro-male-power.
I agree with most of what you say, Ruth, except for singling out Catholics. I find the fundamentalist Mega churches to be just as bigoted, anti-woman, anti-child as the most rabid Catholic. I am a 'devout' atheist, I have no gods. But I find some ridiculous bigotry in many different religious precepts.
I am an atheist too. I am not sure that it is just the religious thumpers that are driving the entitlement in Republicans because the same thing can be said for guns and taxes. The Republican party attracts the kind of individual that wants his/her freedoms to override anyone else and their freedoms. They cannot even see the hypocrisy.
Although I am glad that women see this as male domination and are fighting back, I have to ask, where were they in the ongoing fight and why is it that they NOW have to register? They are up against a religious belief and people that believe they have to change the world before they die. They are relentless. If anyone does not want them to be successful then they have to be equally relentless and not drop the ball. I saw this coming during NARAL operations when there was a problem with coverage and it was clear that there were no counter-protests.
The arguments against the pro-life movement are becoming clearer now with the consequences of our dropping the ball. True,they are not pro-life as they claim. They only want to save souls long enough to get them involved with the church and if you don't believe in souls then... BS.
But they are totally wrong. The fetus is not an individual human being if it needs the mother's respiratory system to provide oxygen and even God would kill it if removed for any reason. Sometimes God will terminate the fetus even without any removal. The fetus was never an individual human being and it was never "murder" for millions of years of history. In this day and age of over population (something they will never admit) saving an unwanted fetus will only create starving humans down the road and compound an already existing problem.
We need to tax the Christian Church (all of them) to pay for the necessary adoption costs that the tax payer will have to pay. These are Christian entitlements that would likely clash with the average Republican tax entitlements but they will still fight it. Can we?
Try Deism. Reason and compassion will save the world. Thomas Paine is the father of the Age of Reason. A man way ahead of his time. In Nature's God We Trust.
Gee, what a great idea! I live in a Senior Living apartment and they don't have an orb, we have mallard ducks though, do you suppose I could worship a drake instead? Of course my cat, who is the queen of the universe, which she reminds me frequently, would probably object. Guess I'll just have to envy your "orb"
Just like Republicans not condemning Trump's treasonous theft of government secrets to use for blackmail, sell to tyrants like Putin & MBS (who reportedly has already acknowledged receiving & paying for classified information). Just ignore or deny inconvenient truths while trying to divert our attention to other grievances they've contrived. Republofascists are such close allies with christofascists (& russofascists) because they think & act alike, spewing out lies & hypocritical blame in their nonstop effort to dismantle democracy & take complete control over our lives.
Preachin' to the choir with me, here. I'd begin by abolishing charter schools, the most insidious ploy of all.
Here, there is a Roman HS across the street from what was formerly a city school system public HS. The public HS was one of the city's best. For mysterious reasons, the city decided to close it, although they claimed it was for budgetary reasons. The next year, the Roman HS upgraded and remodeled it's whole campus. What was formerly the city HS campus is now a private, charter school. I'll let you draw your own conclusions. I've already drawn mine.
Since I don't give two whoops in hell for either, what's your point? Please don't include >me< in that "we." I support a sound, public education system. Not systematic religious indoctrination. I think the only way >"private schools"< - and that's the issue here - should be allowed to practice is if they at least conform to the standards set for public schools. Otherwise, parents have the freedom to spend their money any idiotic way they see fit, but at the end of the day, their kids should be required to have at least what they'd get at the public schools. I'm running out of patience with moronic parents that >believe< from blogs - or whatever - they know better about specialized disciplines like medicine and education, than the highly trained, highly experienced professionals who have devoted their lives to their discipline. If these clowns want to cram religion down their kids' throats, that's what the churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. are for. They can damn-well get their education from >those< specialists - at their own goddam expense.
Abolishing charter schools is a great idea. The gop agenda is to destroy our public schools & they’ve been manipulating parents to send their kids to Charter schools for several decades. The whole point of charter schools is to “dumb down’
the population. The reason for having a dumb population is because it makes it easier for fascism to thrive.
That, as well as get them comfortable with swallowing unsupported claims and cultivating unquestioning belief. It's >exactly< what the Age of Enlightenment stood against - as long as the conservative "originalists" would have us all believe they can think the thoughts of the founders for them, and interpret The Constitution the way those 18th century British men meant it to be interpreted. (Yes! Dirty little secret. The guys who wrote The Constitution were British subjects promoting Age of Enlightenment values up to that time!)
Education was an important part of my life and I worked at a University. It's infuriating these these dummies think they know what the curricula should be. Their kids will be as uneducated as they are.
I'm not sure which State you're in DZK, but, in California, charter schools are public, not private schools and cannot be associated with any religion. Charter Schools arr specialty schools, like theater arts, science, gifted (higher IQ). I think, but I'm not sure , parents may have to pay a fee for some of the charter schools. I do know the parents have to apply for their child, or the child may be recommended by faculty. The major thing charter schools offer is smaller class sizes. When I taught here in junior High I had class sizes as low as 32 and as high as 48 (for physical sciences - chemistry, physics and astronomy). Some school districts, when they are shrinking in students, will sell school property and they may sell to religious organizations, But the sale is outright with no ties to the public school system
The evangelical right have forfeited their right to think rationally. They have chosen the lazy path of parroting slogans, and parroting scripture that someone else interpreted for them.
I'm never sure who the evangelicals are following at any given moment. The OT god or NT jesus. They can't have both, but they do.
I prefer the Founders’ beliefs that it is more important to do good:
“ I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and in endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.”
You bring up a point that's near and dear to me. Although I object as strenuously as you probably do, to cramming religion down students' throats, I just as strenuously advocate requiring coursework in theology - a subtle, but important difference. Theology is the study of religion generally - what it is, where it came from, and what kinds of doctrines different religions preach, without preference for any particular religious doctrine.
You may be surprised to realize that you are more like religious people than even >they< would willingly admit. I'll just bet, that if you start asking around you'll find that if you ask an ordinary Christian about Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, etc, they can't tell you a lick about any of them that isn't wrong. And don't even bother with their historic precedents! I advise you do yourself a favor. Go to the library and investigate their religion & theology section and get up to speed on said doctrines - just as a matter of personal edification, rather than as a proselyte. Knowing what people say they believe doesn't require you believe it. It just makes things a bit less confounding. To me, it's fundamental knowledge & understanding for any self-respecting atheist. It's >self defense.<
I agree with DZK. I took a 'Great Religions of the World' course in college. It surveyed all the big ones. Huston Smith wrote the textbook, 'The World's Religions.' 40 years later I remember some of the the main teachings.
I disagree that women’s response to the Dobbs decision was the product of group deliberation.
The reaction was immediate and visceral. “The government is not going to tell me what to do with my body!”
When a group of Trump whiners said the same thing about wearing masks to protect the public from becoming sick or dying, so, for a public good,
the Republican response was, “ There. There. The mean old government can’t tell you what to wear on your oh-so-sensitive face. How very outrageous! Let’s trash Dr. Fauci and threaten his family for the mere suggestion!”
When women object to government control of their private, unseen bodily functions that effect no one but themselves, then Republicans say,
“ Your body is not your own. You must risk death, illness, economic ruin and possibly harm to your marriage and family because we say so. Also the laws of the 1800’s say so, and people that burned witches say so, and MY GOD says so. “ ( Cue Clarence Thomas rubbing his hands and chuckling evilly in the background.)
This male reactionary “thinking” isn’t rooted in an intellectual parsing of the law. It isn’t thinking at all.
It comes from a deep seated hatred and fear of women, the same emotional reaction that caused men to burn women as witches, that today causes men to rape them, to try to own them
as property, and to control their bodies using tricks of the law as old as men’s fear and anger. It is visceral. Misogyny is visceral.
Women can FEEL this hatred and fear. It can’t be hidden by black robes or a nice suit. Hell, women can SMELL its emanation from as far away as the Supreme Court.
That’s why I said our reaction was immediate and visceral. No discussion or deliberation needed.
Please alter this to some men, or a few men, or bigoted men. Most of the men I know are very adamant on the rights of women to do whatever they want with their bodies. You will notice a large number of men marching side by side with women to declare pro women, pro choice.
I thought I was clear at aiming my message toward Republican men, and more specifically, toward those on the Supreme Court and state legislators. Anyway, that was my intent.
My son marches with his wife. My husband is furious at the Dobbs decision.
I know many women who have the so called misogynistic attitude that is mentioned on this subject, so this should not be blamed on men. It is more of a warped religious attitude from zealots of the church.
In the 1800s the fetus had no rights. This is a new radical view that the fetus has a soul that needs saving. Unfortunately it is one that will not go away back to 1800 thinking and will have to be fought every day of the future. The thumpers are not the only people with freedom rights. It is time to fight back if you haven't been and if anyone has not been voting, get with it.
I am a long retired psychotherapist. There is a concept I learned that explains the behavior you describe for at least some of those women.
It is called “identification with the aggressor” and is a psychological defense that is typically used to explain the continuation of abuse in families. For example, a child witnesses a parent abusing a sibling. As a way of trying to avoid the same fate, she learns to adopt the personality traits and behavior of the abusive parent.
This may or may not have the desired effect of providing protection from the parent, but it will interfere with the development of empathy in that child. She may go on to abuse one or all of her children.
Simply translated to our discussion: women see that men have advantages and decide that acting like men will give them the same advantages.
Those women, of course, lose a part of themselves.
Yes, that was me. It was part of a response to Robert’s praise for his
teacher.
You separated from your parents by going to college ( as did I) where you were able to develop as an independent person.
Your sister did not do that.
I am sorry that your relationship has turned out the way you describe. I grew up as an only child, but have witnessed similar situations with high school friends and among my cousins. The fact that your situation isn’t unusual doesn’t make it less heartbreaking.
What worries me is this latest trend of Republicans scrubbing their web sites, campaign ads, et al. Even going so far as to declare themselves pro-choice, in some instances. I just read about a doctor (can’t remember his name, but wasn’t Oz), that literally changed his entire campaign messaging from pro-life to pro-choice when he realized how unpopular his position was. Anything to win.
For people that have been paying attention since at least January 6th, 2021, we know what these criminal wannabes have been saying, what their campaign sites have declared and more.
However, the people that don’t start paying attention to elections until just a few months prior, will see and hear vastly different campaign promises from Republicans. It makes me livid, but this is how they operate. Republicans can no longer win elections legally, so they lie, cheat and steal them.
I hope and pray everyone who opposes the degradation of our democracy, VOTES! We thought 2020 was the most important election of our time, and it was, until now.
As I read in an article somewhere: “Vote like your life depends on it, because it does!”
Sam, You are right, it is critical to get people to vote and realize that this time, our lives do depend on it. Yes, Republicans have become master liars, cheaters, deceivers because that is what their party leaders want. I am not sure how to get the message out that these are lies. One House candidate in Pennsylvania, Susan Wilde has an honest ad about her Republican opponent that proves the last line of the ad, "When her mouth is open, she is lying." I think that would work for that doctor you mentioned too.
I don’t know why that should matter, but I was born and raised deep southeast Texas.
And yes, every day I ruminate on how nice it would be to live in a state where the majority population isn’t in thrall to a lying, disgusting, con artist who also happens to be an egomaniacal sociopath.
I know that women of all ages know everything there is to know about getting pregnant without intending to. Even a woman who does not read much knows about a friend, sister, aunt or daughter, a former classmate who had to leave school because of an unwanted pregnancy. The physical, economic, social and psychological stresses were nothing compared to the pain of being judged and even ostracized, even if a victim of rape. This is a third rail of sorts in the center of our being.
Laurie, you are right about pregnancy, particularly unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. The sad thing for me is that other women do at least as much of the shaming as men do. Women get coopted from an early age to judge other females on just about everything. It is amazing that so many women choose not to do that despite the early modeling. One of the biggest and most popularized anti-abortion proponents was a professional woman, Phyllis Schlafly. She had her public life but wanted every other woman to be barefoot and pregnant cooking and cleaning for hubby. She was such a hypocrite, but those who called her out on it were yelled down by the women who were trying hard to buy the BS she was selling. The big fish in a little pond women did a lot of harm and oh wait, still are.
Ruth Sheets ; It is true that there was a 'girls club' mentality in our suburbs. I never joined, possibly because I was not one of them. The 'painted bird syndrome' of being different makes them attack anyone who did not fit their narrow qualifications of 'OK ness' ; Money, a 'good' family, and knowing the 'right people'.
The fascist first moved to take procreation from women. Now they are trying to squeeze hope from the testicles of lower and middle classes. They want to herd us like animals. We won’t procreate if they are allowed to continue. Then who will do the jobs to support them. We need free education, universal healthcare, and a living wage to continue hope. Otherwise our population will fall below sustainable levels. Florida may be first.
I totally agree with most of what you are saying, but I think "who will do the jobs to support them" can be too easily answered by technology and AI. Notice the wholesale attack on education at all levels; they want to save the few good jobs that can't be automated for their kids.
Not in your lifetime. There are many skilled jobs that only humans and not robots can perform. As a scientist, and a consultant for many different computer programs I agree there are numerous, phenomenal, advances in the digital, AI, and quad computer world that will come into existence in a short time frame, but we humans will not be out of work. As to saving a few good jobs for "their kids", If you're referring to the top 10%, their kids don't work, It would take a single family, with at least a thousand children to spend just the daily interest on their fortunes. I doubt even Elon Musk could father that many kids.
I just heard on the morning news that the new Intel plant outside of Columbus, OH, will be offering 3000 jobs. Most of the jobs are high paying. Dope >that< out as to who gets hired. On the other hand, it could give rise to other businesses offering jobs that don't require advanced degrees and/or years of experience. Could'a, should'a, would'a ought'a make us question our assumptions.
There will be more technical jobs, requiring at least an Associates Degree, or diploma at a technical school for electronics. Most of the semiconductor jobs have technicians running production (mostly automated) who can set up and fix equipment. Companies still want the most bang for their bucks.
The drive to build production here in the U.S. is driven by automation and the companies are deciding that even Chinese labor is too expensive. I would not hold my breath for all those jobs coming back in any meaningful numbers. The so-called "job creators" are anything but.
I highly doubt our population numbers will fall below sustainable levels. Over-population is a given. However, because of over-population and global warming our children will be fighting wars for fresh water.
Sep 9, 2022·edited Sep 9, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
Sorry, Dr. Reich, this time I agree with your students, if you really want to accomplish something, an end run around politics is the best bet. Especially with the Senate, and looming nutcase take over of State elections. I still strongly believe in a Representative Democracy, but you have to have honest politicians to achieve it. Right now I doubt the integrity of the majority of Republican politicians to accomplish anything, even small, for the good of the Country as a whole.
Yes, I am and have been for many years aware that we are a Constitutional Republic, but we are a representative democratic form of the Constitutional Republic. That is, our only Constitutional right for input into the running of our government is the right (and duty) to vote. The framers of the Constitution were aware of this which is why that right and privilege was granted ONLY "landed white men" they did not consider the rest of the citizens to have sufficient intelligence to choose their representatives for themselves. Frankly, looking at the demonic presidency of the "trumpster" I could almost agree with them. However I am not such a snob as to think ALL Citizens to be incapable of thoughtful voting. I do think the greatest damage to the Constitutional Republic has been the use of television advertisements to persuade the less thoughtful to cast their votes for outright scoundrels. Citizens United merely completed this curse.
As far as I’m concerned, both parties I would consider to be a uni-party. As for demonic, the Biden speech a last week checked that box! I threw my television out nearly 20 years ago-pure propaganda. The Republic has been gone for at least a hundred years, since 1913. The system does not belong to the People any longer.
In noting John Dewey’s beliefs regarding the relationship between education and democracy you have hit the nail squarely on the head. Over the past half century we have witnessed the utter bastardization of American education by the libertarian right. The purpose of public schooling in a democratic society is the nurturing of the critical thinking skills of the young so they may lead meaningful lives and to understand and appreciate their responsibilities in a democratic culture. It is not, as it has become, another form of corporate welfare wherein society prepares the young to become amoral,non-thinking cogs in a commercial machine. One need only look to the purposes of schooling articulated by president explaining the goals of the GI Bill by President Truman following WWII to see this. A major factor that makes the U.S. such a fertile place for fascism to take root is that U.S. students are well schooled but poorly educated in the liberal arts — civics, history, literature, three of the most important disciplines that encourage critical thought. This is why corporate America hates liberal arts— students who are actually educated ask too many hard questions about who gets what and why in society. No where is our deficit in this area more well displayed than what we see in the Republican base and on the part of some on the non Marxist-based left both of which exploit American’s historically and civic illiteracy to their advantage.
On the issue of critical thinking, I have to share my dad‘s advice to me. I was ready to graduate from high school as Vietnam was raging. dad was a veteran of World War II and Korea. Mom was very hawkish so he left it to me to read between the lines as follows: “boys should be drafted right out of high school. A soldier is a killer. When you tell someone to kill someone you don’t want them thinking about it.“
I agree which is why I would like to see community college and vocational school as part of required public school and see many more apprentice programs. From a neurological point of view the human brain has not developed enough for critical thinking (being able to evaluate all the possible consequences of my actions) until they are 25. That is why it is so easy to get young boy/men to go to war.
Jim Giardina hello. While I agree with a lot of what you say, I would point out that some of the most "well-educated" members of German society during WWII were Nazis. Perhaps the point is that they were "well-educated" in their knowledge of the "liberal arts" i.e., literature, classical music, etcetera but not in the area of critical thinking. We must not forget the role of nationalism as well. Dunno. Guess we are still trying to unravel that particular Gordian knot.
Hello back. Good Post. You make an excellent point regarding how the educational attainment of the Nazi’s had no effect on their immorality. I have no answer to that other than to note your reference to nationalism. I think you are definitely on to something there. Fascism thrives on racism and hyper nationalism, as well the amorality of business values, all three of which the U.S. has in spades. This means the siren song of right wing extremism would be difficult to resist under the best of circumstances. But we don’t have anything approaching that. All American students should have to take some level of U.S. history and civics every year beginning around grade five. These should be age-appropriate but challenging courses ones that are grounded in verifiable facts and which encourage critical thinking and debate. Ostensibly educated Americans are horribly ignorant of both the nation’s history of their country, and the ideas behind and the mechanics of their governing institutions as well. Like I said, taking more classes in these areas may not work but as far as I’m concerned it’s worth a shot.
My great grandmother marched on the streets of New York as a suffragette. My grandmother told me that when her mother came home from the march, her calves were bruised by having been kicked by the bystanders on the sides of the streets - men who opposed women gaining the right to vote. I think of this now with the struggles over abortion rights. Women have waited a long time for decent rights and they won't give them up without a very big fight.
Jeffrey, we are all worried, but speaking as a woman now, I feel the magnitude of this wrong - I feel it in a very visceral way. I know I am not alone. The outrage goes beyond words and I don't believe the co-opting of our rights to privacy and to proper medical care will be forgotten. Women deserve better, and our country also deserves better.
In MI we will have citizen led initiatives on the ballot to protect voting rights and reproductive rights. Lots of effort to collect some 700,000 signatures for each. Then the board of canvassers deadlocked on party lines, but the court ruled for the proposed changes to the MI Constitution to be on the ballot. Fair judges at all levels can have an impact on the ballot.
Let’s hope Dewey was right, otherwise the willfully ignorant sheep that blindly follow Fox Noise and their ilk will become the easily led majority . . .
Dewey was right: hence the right-wing attacks on education at all levels. If democracy is to survive, public education, including post-secondary education, must be adequately funded--ideally federally.
No, there has been no surprise in women’s reaction to Dobbs. There has never been an indication that a majority of women want to turn over control of any part of their lives to men.
Women didn’t have to consult with each other to realize that this Court, and the majority of the GOP wants to cut women off at the knees, in terms of rights.
I object to the title of your article, but not the accuracy of its substance. Did you find the reaction to Dobbs surprising? Did you find the recent election result in Kansas contrary to your prediction? I believe you lived through 1950s and the decades thereafter, and you were aware of changes, significant changes in the lives of women and our society. Nothing is astounding about women’s strong reaction to losing a huge Constitutional right and the portent of future losses.
Thanks for your historical and intellectual input. I enjoy your publication!
That struck me, too. It shouldn't be astounding. Maybe because pro-choice (or more broadly, pro-women's rights) people had been relatively quiet for so long, the widespread reaction may have surprised many, but it shouldn't have, considering how fundamental a right this is.
Democracy does not guarantee beneficial outcomes for the mass of people, as a quick glance at history since the final expansion of voting via the 26th Amendment, in 1971, makes clear. While Dewey's manner of reconciling democracy with reasonability is sound, it is not possible to implement in practice. Not only do people forget what they learn in school, but often times they do not trust it as much as what they learn from friendships, family, (now) social media, talk radio or any number of sources that appeal to emotion, reason or both. Therefore, we have to always be persuading, working to gain trust so that rational ideas based on data or logic or both become the most influential with the most numbers of people who actually vote.
For the short term, we have to use both an emphasis on the benefits attained via Democratic control of Congress and the Presidency in the last two years as well as a pointed and unwavering critique of Republican politics, policies, and corruption - including in the judicial decisions made by their appointees, including Dobbs but Shelby County, Citizen's United and others - that are anti-democratic and do not serve the interests and desires of the people. Electing Democrats for the foreseeable future is paramount. Work to persuade the voters to actuate that imperative, Mr. Reich and others who are members of his community of readers and commentators!!
"Power to the People!" Yes, BUT only if the people—ALL the people!—are well-educated, well-informed, capable of well-reasoned thinking and debating, and open-minded, taking part in our democracy with a good will. John Dewey was right! But not even Dewey grasped the dangers in a democratic system where an unregulated capitalism and the power of money dominate; nor did he anticipate the total technologisation of social media and social relations.
If you back a woman into a corner she will come out voting
ooohhh, you are SO right!!! Delightful quip; thanks for the support and cheery outlook
Field Team Six has a database of unregistered women Contact Mervis Reissig
merv4peace@gmail.com
Except if she still is allowed to vote. Except if that vote is counted. Except if her elected representative sells her out Sinema style (and as Obama did his progressive electorate, with Biden at his right hand, time was). Except if a corrupted Federal judiciary says anything it pleases (because their word is, literally, law). Except if Big Carbon, Big Pharma, Big Tech, or Big Finance simply ignores the letter and spirit of the law and does as it damn well pleases, as just right now this past generation.
So voting is a good thing, and a start. But this will take more than voting. And one should never be in the position of letting oneself be backed in to the corner in the first place, so ideally that will be a lesson learned in this full frontal encounter with fascism.
Big sigh...Yes, thanks for the reality check. Terrible but true.
You are correct. Many women do not believe in murdering innocent babies.
Murder.....what are you talking about or are you a troll?
I'm having an argument with my brother, a right-winger. He wrote "America defines rights as god given." And here we see the intrusion of religion into politics. The religious right fundamental Christian nationalists want to impose their religious agenda on America. <They> can intrude but government may not interfere with their speech.
Personally, I don't believe that a loving all-powerful god could have favorite countries, or favorite species, or favorite planets, or favorite asteroids, or favorite anythings. In my opinion...OPINION, god (IF there is one...or two, or more) is detached from human results.
Calling secular-loving citizens to stand up to and resist/oppose the Christian nationalists office seekers and their initiatives at the polls!
Mark, I am sorry for your impossible discussion with the right-wing religious zealot. Those guys really do think they have god's ear and want to force whatever comes to their mind on others as though from god. What nonsense, but those guys want to feel important, that they have what they have because they are favored by god. They push their prosperity gospel so they can gloat that those have nots are not living right or god would give them stuff. So their god is like Santa Claus who gives goodies to "good" little boys and girls and coal to the "bad" little boys and girls. That is such a childish view, but the truth is that Republicans act like little kids whining they didn't get what they want so throw tantrums. I see the overthrow of Roe as a kind of tantrum by scared Catholics who are losing their patriarchal mojo. Forcing pregnancy no matter what is their punishment of women for being out in the world, having sex, and taking the jobs that are supposed to be only for men. I am sure there are other reasons too. They claim "pro-life" but we know it is really pro-male-power.
I agree with most of what you say, Ruth, except for singling out Catholics. I find the fundamentalist Mega churches to be just as bigoted, anti-woman, anti-child as the most rabid Catholic. I am a 'devout' atheist, I have no gods. But I find some ridiculous bigotry in many different religious precepts.
I am an atheist too. I am not sure that it is just the religious thumpers that are driving the entitlement in Republicans because the same thing can be said for guns and taxes. The Republican party attracts the kind of individual that wants his/her freedoms to override anyone else and their freedoms. They cannot even see the hypocrisy.
Although I am glad that women see this as male domination and are fighting back, I have to ask, where were they in the ongoing fight and why is it that they NOW have to register? They are up against a religious belief and people that believe they have to change the world before they die. They are relentless. If anyone does not want them to be successful then they have to be equally relentless and not drop the ball. I saw this coming during NARAL operations when there was a problem with coverage and it was clear that there were no counter-protests.
The arguments against the pro-life movement are becoming clearer now with the consequences of our dropping the ball. True,they are not pro-life as they claim. They only want to save souls long enough to get them involved with the church and if you don't believe in souls then... BS.
But they are totally wrong. The fetus is not an individual human being if it needs the mother's respiratory system to provide oxygen and even God would kill it if removed for any reason. Sometimes God will terminate the fetus even without any removal. The fetus was never an individual human being and it was never "murder" for millions of years of history. In this day and age of over population (something they will never admit) saving an unwanted fetus will only create starving humans down the road and compound an already existing problem.
We need to tax the Christian Church (all of them) to pay for the necessary adoption costs that the tax payer will have to pay. These are Christian entitlements that would likely clash with the average Republican tax entitlements but they will still fight it. Can we?
The "freedom" they crave most is to deny others their freedom(s).
Excellent post, Glenn!
Try Deism. Reason and compassion will save the world. Thomas Paine is the father of the Age of Reason. A man way ahead of his time. In Nature's God We Trust.
https://www.deism.com/about
I personally prefer Buddhism/Einstein. Life is a very persistent illusion.
I worship the "Great Orb" in my backyard. The "Orb" is always available and never asks for money.
Gee, what a great idea! I live in a Senior Living apartment and they don't have an orb, we have mallard ducks though, do you suppose I could worship a drake instead? Of course my cat, who is the queen of the universe, which she reminds me frequently, would probably object. Guess I'll just have to envy your "orb"
Just like Republicans not condemning Trump's treasonous theft of government secrets to use for blackmail, sell to tyrants like Putin & MBS (who reportedly has already acknowledged receiving & paying for classified information). Just ignore or deny inconvenient truths while trying to divert our attention to other grievances they've contrived. Republofascists are such close allies with christofascists (& russofascists) because they think & act alike, spewing out lies & hypocritical blame in their nonstop effort to dismantle democracy & take complete control over our lives.
Mark's brother may believe in human sacrifice, want a theocracy, and still reject the BIG LIE.
Boy, you nailed them Ruth. Exactly.
system won't let me heart your comment..
You may have to make a few taps and then wait a couple minutes.
Preachin' to the choir with me, here. I'd begin by abolishing charter schools, the most insidious ploy of all.
Here, there is a Roman HS across the street from what was formerly a city school system public HS. The public HS was one of the city's best. For mysterious reasons, the city decided to close it, although they claimed it was for budgetary reasons. The next year, the Roman HS upgraded and remodeled it's whole campus. What was formerly the city HS campus is now a private, charter school. I'll let you draw your own conclusions. I've already drawn mine.
We laud charter schools and rage against Islamic madrassas. What's the difference here?
Since I don't give two whoops in hell for either, what's your point? Please don't include >me< in that "we." I support a sound, public education system. Not systematic religious indoctrination. I think the only way >"private schools"< - and that's the issue here - should be allowed to practice is if they at least conform to the standards set for public schools. Otherwise, parents have the freedom to spend their money any idiotic way they see fit, but at the end of the day, their kids should be required to have at least what they'd get at the public schools. I'm running out of patience with moronic parents that >believe< from blogs - or whatever - they know better about specialized disciplines like medicine and education, than the highly trained, highly experienced professionals who have devoted their lives to their discipline. If these clowns want to cram religion down their kids' throats, that's what the churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. are for. They can damn-well get their education from >those< specialists - at their own goddam expense.
Abolishing charter schools is a great idea. The gop agenda is to destroy our public schools & they’ve been manipulating parents to send their kids to Charter schools for several decades. The whole point of charter schools is to “dumb down’
the population. The reason for having a dumb population is because it makes it easier for fascism to thrive.
I'm so happy to see other people realize that this is going on. You stated it perfectly, Susan.
Thank you! I agree, it’s comforting to know other people understand what’s
going on. These are scary times.
That, as well as get them comfortable with swallowing unsupported claims and cultivating unquestioning belief. It's >exactly< what the Age of Enlightenment stood against - as long as the conservative "originalists" would have us all believe they can think the thoughts of the founders for them, and interpret The Constitution the way those 18th century British men meant it to be interpreted. (Yes! Dirty little secret. The guys who wrote The Constitution were British subjects promoting Age of Enlightenment values up to that time!)
Education was an important part of my life and I worked at a University. It's infuriating these these dummies think they know what the curricula should be. Their kids will be as uneducated as they are.
I'm not sure which State you're in DZK, but, in California, charter schools are public, not private schools and cannot be associated with any religion. Charter Schools arr specialty schools, like theater arts, science, gifted (higher IQ). I think, but I'm not sure , parents may have to pay a fee for some of the charter schools. I do know the parents have to apply for their child, or the child may be recommended by faculty. The major thing charter schools offer is smaller class sizes. When I taught here in junior High I had class sizes as low as 32 and as high as 48 (for physical sciences - chemistry, physics and astronomy). Some school districts, when they are shrinking in students, will sell school property and they may sell to religious organizations, But the sale is outright with no ties to the public school system
The evangelical right have forfeited their right to think rationally. They have chosen the lazy path of parroting slogans, and parroting scripture that someone else interpreted for them.
I'm never sure who the evangelicals are following at any given moment. The OT god or NT jesus. They can't have both, but they do.
There's an old saying that comes to mind here - "Even the devil can quote scripture for their own benefit"
I prefer the Founders’ beliefs that it is more important to do good:
“ I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and in endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.”
-Thomas Paine
What a thoughtful fig leaf for a slave state.
Poor brother needs psychedelics. And a mirror.
Nothing in the Constitution about "God Given Rights".
You bring up a point that's near and dear to me. Although I object as strenuously as you probably do, to cramming religion down students' throats, I just as strenuously advocate requiring coursework in theology - a subtle, but important difference. Theology is the study of religion generally - what it is, where it came from, and what kinds of doctrines different religions preach, without preference for any particular religious doctrine.
You may be surprised to realize that you are more like religious people than even >they< would willingly admit. I'll just bet, that if you start asking around you'll find that if you ask an ordinary Christian about Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, etc, they can't tell you a lick about any of them that isn't wrong. And don't even bother with their historic precedents! I advise you do yourself a favor. Go to the library and investigate their religion & theology section and get up to speed on said doctrines - just as a matter of personal edification, rather than as a proselyte. Knowing what people say they believe doesn't require you believe it. It just makes things a bit less confounding. To me, it's fundamental knowledge & understanding for any self-respecting atheist. It's >self defense.<
I agree with DZK. I took a 'Great Religions of the World' course in college. It surveyed all the big ones. Huston Smith wrote the textbook, 'The World's Religions.' 40 years later I remember some of the the main teachings.
Do unto others then split.
I disagree that women’s response to the Dobbs decision was the product of group deliberation.
The reaction was immediate and visceral. “The government is not going to tell me what to do with my body!”
When a group of Trump whiners said the same thing about wearing masks to protect the public from becoming sick or dying, so, for a public good,
the Republican response was, “ There. There. The mean old government can’t tell you what to wear on your oh-so-sensitive face. How very outrageous! Let’s trash Dr. Fauci and threaten his family for the mere suggestion!”
When women object to government control of their private, unseen bodily functions that effect no one but themselves, then Republicans say,
“ Your body is not your own. You must risk death, illness, economic ruin and possibly harm to your marriage and family because we say so. Also the laws of the 1800’s say so, and people that burned witches say so, and MY GOD says so. “ ( Cue Clarence Thomas rubbing his hands and chuckling evilly in the background.)
This male reactionary “thinking” isn’t rooted in an intellectual parsing of the law. It isn’t thinking at all.
It comes from a deep seated hatred and fear of women, the same emotional reaction that caused men to burn women as witches, that today causes men to rape them, to try to own them
as property, and to control their bodies using tricks of the law as old as men’s fear and anger. It is visceral. Misogyny is visceral.
Women can FEEL this hatred and fear. It can’t be hidden by black robes or a nice suit. Hell, women can SMELL its emanation from as far away as the Supreme Court.
That’s why I said our reaction was immediate and visceral. No discussion or deliberation needed.
Please alter this to some men, or a few men, or bigoted men. Most of the men I know are very adamant on the rights of women to do whatever they want with their bodies. You will notice a large number of men marching side by side with women to declare pro women, pro choice.
Hi Fay,
I thought I was clear at aiming my message toward Republican men, and more specifically, toward those on the Supreme Court and state legislators. Anyway, that was my intent.
My son marches with his wife. My husband is furious at the Dobbs decision.
All the men I know are also “adamant….”
as you said.
Thank you for clarifying. I sometimes find myself generalizing also, when I have no intention of being all inclusive
I know many women who have the so called misogynistic attitude that is mentioned on this subject, so this should not be blamed on men. It is more of a warped religious attitude from zealots of the church.
Certainly Amy Coney Barrett fits your description.
In the 1800s the fetus had no rights. This is a new radical view that the fetus has a soul that needs saving. Unfortunately it is one that will not go away back to 1800 thinking and will have to be fought every day of the future. The thumpers are not the only people with freedom rights. It is time to fight back if you haven't been and if anyone has not been voting, get with it.
A male opinion.
Great comments
Amen!
I am a long retired psychotherapist. There is a concept I learned that explains the behavior you describe for at least some of those women.
It is called “identification with the aggressor” and is a psychological defense that is typically used to explain the continuation of abuse in families. For example, a child witnesses a parent abusing a sibling. As a way of trying to avoid the same fate, she learns to adopt the personality traits and behavior of the abusive parent.
This may or may not have the desired effect of providing protection from the parent, but it will interfere with the development of empathy in that child. She may go on to abuse one or all of her children.
Simply translated to our discussion: women see that men have advantages and decide that acting like men will give them the same advantages.
Those women, of course, lose a part of themselves.
Hi Janet,
Yes, that was me. It was part of a response to Robert’s praise for his
teacher.
You separated from your parents by going to college ( as did I) where you were able to develop as an independent person.
Your sister did not do that.
I am sorry that your relationship has turned out the way you describe. I grew up as an only child, but have witnessed similar situations with high school friends and among my cousins. The fact that your situation isn’t unusual doesn’t make it less heartbreaking.
I firmly hope Dewey is correct!
What worries me is this latest trend of Republicans scrubbing their web sites, campaign ads, et al. Even going so far as to declare themselves pro-choice, in some instances. I just read about a doctor (can’t remember his name, but wasn’t Oz), that literally changed his entire campaign messaging from pro-life to pro-choice when he realized how unpopular his position was. Anything to win.
For people that have been paying attention since at least January 6th, 2021, we know what these criminal wannabes have been saying, what their campaign sites have declared and more.
However, the people that don’t start paying attention to elections until just a few months prior, will see and hear vastly different campaign promises from Republicans. It makes me livid, but this is how they operate. Republicans can no longer win elections legally, so they lie, cheat and steal them.
I hope and pray everyone who opposes the degradation of our democracy, VOTES! We thought 2020 was the most important election of our time, and it was, until now.
As I read in an article somewhere: “Vote like your life depends on it, because it does!”
Sam, You are right, it is critical to get people to vote and realize that this time, our lives do depend on it. Yes, Republicans have become master liars, cheaters, deceivers because that is what their party leaders want. I am not sure how to get the message out that these are lies. One House candidate in Pennsylvania, Susan Wilde has an honest ad about her Republican opponent that proves the last line of the ad, "When her mouth is open, she is lying." I think that would work for that doctor you mentioned too.
I’d love to know what state and city you’re in.
I don’t know why that should matter, but I was born and raised deep southeast Texas.
And yes, every day I ruminate on how nice it would be to live in a state where the majority population isn’t in thrall to a lying, disgusting, con artist who also happens to be an egomaniacal sociopath.
Aren’t you a Liberal? I can only imagine what you’re told. And maybe I’m wrong.
I know that women of all ages know everything there is to know about getting pregnant without intending to. Even a woman who does not read much knows about a friend, sister, aunt or daughter, a former classmate who had to leave school because of an unwanted pregnancy. The physical, economic, social and psychological stresses were nothing compared to the pain of being judged and even ostracized, even if a victim of rape. This is a third rail of sorts in the center of our being.
Laurie, you are right about pregnancy, particularly unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. The sad thing for me is that other women do at least as much of the shaming as men do. Women get coopted from an early age to judge other females on just about everything. It is amazing that so many women choose not to do that despite the early modeling. One of the biggest and most popularized anti-abortion proponents was a professional woman, Phyllis Schlafly. She had her public life but wanted every other woman to be barefoot and pregnant cooking and cleaning for hubby. She was such a hypocrite, but those who called her out on it were yelled down by the women who were trying hard to buy the BS she was selling. The big fish in a little pond women did a lot of harm and oh wait, still are.
I remember Phyllis Schlafly, she was disgusting. But you are right she had as many women following her as men.
Anti woman women-- anti gay with a gay son. Stockholm syndrome at work.
Ruth Sheets ; It is true that there was a 'girls club' mentality in our suburbs. I never joined, possibly because I was not one of them. The 'painted bird syndrome' of being different makes them attack anyone who did not fit their narrow qualifications of 'OK ness' ; Money, a 'good' family, and knowing the 'right people'.
The fascist first moved to take procreation from women. Now they are trying to squeeze hope from the testicles of lower and middle classes. They want to herd us like animals. We won’t procreate if they are allowed to continue. Then who will do the jobs to support them. We need free education, universal healthcare, and a living wage to continue hope. Otherwise our population will fall below sustainable levels. Florida may be first.
I totally agree with most of what you are saying, but I think "who will do the jobs to support them" can be too easily answered by technology and AI. Notice the wholesale attack on education at all levels; they want to save the few good jobs that can't be automated for their kids.
Not in your lifetime. There are many skilled jobs that only humans and not robots can perform. As a scientist, and a consultant for many different computer programs I agree there are numerous, phenomenal, advances in the digital, AI, and quad computer world that will come into existence in a short time frame, but we humans will not be out of work. As to saving a few good jobs for "their kids", If you're referring to the top 10%, their kids don't work, It would take a single family, with at least a thousand children to spend just the daily interest on their fortunes. I doubt even Elon Musk could father that many kids.
I agree: not in my lifetime--I'm 76.
Hi youngster, I'm closer to 90 (:-)
Not in your lifetime, either, then, I guess,
I just heard on the morning news that the new Intel plant outside of Columbus, OH, will be offering 3000 jobs. Most of the jobs are high paying. Dope >that< out as to who gets hired. On the other hand, it could give rise to other businesses offering jobs that don't require advanced degrees and/or years of experience. Could'a, should'a, would'a ought'a make us question our assumptions.
There will be more technical jobs, requiring at least an Associates Degree, or diploma at a technical school for electronics. Most of the semiconductor jobs have technicians running production (mostly automated) who can set up and fix equipment. Companies still want the most bang for their bucks.
The drive to build production here in the U.S. is driven by automation and the companies are deciding that even Chinese labor is too expensive. I would not hold my breath for all those jobs coming back in any meaningful numbers. The so-called "job creators" are anything but.
I stand corrected. With or without experience? High paying jobs for AAs?
Good point
Thank you.
I highly doubt our population numbers will fall below sustainable levels. Over-population is a given. However, because of over-population and global warming our children will be fighting wars for fresh water.
I didn't say population numbers would drop--just that good jobs will.
Sorry, Dr. Reich, this time I agree with your students, if you really want to accomplish something, an end run around politics is the best bet. Especially with the Senate, and looming nutcase take over of State elections. I still strongly believe in a Representative Democracy, but you have to have honest politicians to achieve it. Right now I doubt the integrity of the majority of Republican politicians to accomplish anything, even small, for the good of the Country as a whole.
Well stated! And I agree...
I would think at your age you would know that the United States of America is a Constitutional Republic (at least it was), not a Democracy.
Yes, I am and have been for many years aware that we are a Constitutional Republic, but we are a representative democratic form of the Constitutional Republic. That is, our only Constitutional right for input into the running of our government is the right (and duty) to vote. The framers of the Constitution were aware of this which is why that right and privilege was granted ONLY "landed white men" they did not consider the rest of the citizens to have sufficient intelligence to choose their representatives for themselves. Frankly, looking at the demonic presidency of the "trumpster" I could almost agree with them. However I am not such a snob as to think ALL Citizens to be incapable of thoughtful voting. I do think the greatest damage to the Constitutional Republic has been the use of television advertisements to persuade the less thoughtful to cast their votes for outright scoundrels. Citizens United merely completed this curse.
As far as I’m concerned, both parties I would consider to be a uni-party. As for demonic, the Biden speech a last week checked that box! I threw my television out nearly 20 years ago-pure propaganda. The Republic has been gone for at least a hundred years, since 1913. The system does not belong to the People any longer.
And later someone observed that it turned a red/pink color. I guess the lighting guy screwed up! Lol!
Agree!
In noting John Dewey’s beliefs regarding the relationship between education and democracy you have hit the nail squarely on the head. Over the past half century we have witnessed the utter bastardization of American education by the libertarian right. The purpose of public schooling in a democratic society is the nurturing of the critical thinking skills of the young so they may lead meaningful lives and to understand and appreciate their responsibilities in a democratic culture. It is not, as it has become, another form of corporate welfare wherein society prepares the young to become amoral,non-thinking cogs in a commercial machine. One need only look to the purposes of schooling articulated by president explaining the goals of the GI Bill by President Truman following WWII to see this. A major factor that makes the U.S. such a fertile place for fascism to take root is that U.S. students are well schooled but poorly educated in the liberal arts — civics, history, literature, three of the most important disciplines that encourage critical thought. This is why corporate America hates liberal arts— students who are actually educated ask too many hard questions about who gets what and why in society. No where is our deficit in this area more well displayed than what we see in the Republican base and on the part of some on the non Marxist-based left both of which exploit American’s historically and civic illiteracy to their advantage.
On the issue of critical thinking, I have to share my dad‘s advice to me. I was ready to graduate from high school as Vietnam was raging. dad was a veteran of World War II and Korea. Mom was very hawkish so he left it to me to read between the lines as follows: “boys should be drafted right out of high school. A soldier is a killer. When you tell someone to kill someone you don’t want them thinking about it.“
I agree which is why I would like to see community college and vocational school as part of required public school and see many more apprentice programs. From a neurological point of view the human brain has not developed enough for critical thinking (being able to evaluate all the possible consequences of my actions) until they are 25. That is why it is so easy to get young boy/men to go to war.
There’s an old saying: “The most dangerous weapon in the American military is an 18 year old boy with a rifle”
Jim Giardina hello. While I agree with a lot of what you say, I would point out that some of the most "well-educated" members of German society during WWII were Nazis. Perhaps the point is that they were "well-educated" in their knowledge of the "liberal arts" i.e., literature, classical music, etcetera but not in the area of critical thinking. We must not forget the role of nationalism as well. Dunno. Guess we are still trying to unravel that particular Gordian knot.
Hello back. Good Post. You make an excellent point regarding how the educational attainment of the Nazi’s had no effect on their immorality. I have no answer to that other than to note your reference to nationalism. I think you are definitely on to something there. Fascism thrives on racism and hyper nationalism, as well the amorality of business values, all three of which the U.S. has in spades. This means the siren song of right wing extremism would be difficult to resist under the best of circumstances. But we don’t have anything approaching that. All American students should have to take some level of U.S. history and civics every year beginning around grade five. These should be age-appropriate but challenging courses ones that are grounded in verifiable facts and which encourage critical thinking and debate. Ostensibly educated Americans are horribly ignorant of both the nation’s history of their country, and the ideas behind and the mechanics of their governing institutions as well. Like I said, taking more classes in these areas may not work but as far as I’m concerned it’s worth a shot.
As you say, a hopeful sign. Perhaps American democracy will be saved by its women members!
My great grandmother marched on the streets of New York as a suffragette. My grandmother told me that when her mother came home from the march, her calves were bruised by having been kicked by the bystanders on the sides of the streets - men who opposed women gaining the right to vote. I think of this now with the struggles over abortion rights. Women have waited a long time for decent rights and they won't give them up without a very big fight.
I certainly hope so, but have my doubts...
Jeffrey, we are all worried, but speaking as a woman now, I feel the magnitude of this wrong - I feel it in a very visceral way. I know I am not alone. The outrage goes beyond words and I don't believe the co-opting of our rights to privacy and to proper medical care will be forgotten. Women deserve better, and our country also deserves better.
In MI we will have citizen led initiatives on the ballot to protect voting rights and reproductive rights. Lots of effort to collect some 700,000 signatures for each. Then the board of canvassers deadlocked on party lines, but the court ruled for the proposed changes to the MI Constitution to be on the ballot. Fair judges at all levels can have an impact on the ballot.
Let’s hope Dewey was right, otherwise the willfully ignorant sheep that blindly follow Fox Noise and their ilk will become the easily led majority . . .
Let's hope Dewey was right AND PROTECT AND IMPRIOVE AMERICAN EDUCATION.
Dewey was right: hence the right-wing attacks on education at all levels. If democracy is to survive, public education, including post-secondary education, must be adequately funded--ideally federally.
“Astounding reaction to Dobbs”??
No, there has been no surprise in women’s reaction to Dobbs. There has never been an indication that a majority of women want to turn over control of any part of their lives to men.
Women didn’t have to consult with each other to realize that this Court, and the majority of the GOP wants to cut women off at the knees, in terms of rights.
I object to the title of your article, but not the accuracy of its substance. Did you find the reaction to Dobbs surprising? Did you find the recent election result in Kansas contrary to your prediction? I believe you lived through 1950s and the decades thereafter, and you were aware of changes, significant changes in the lives of women and our society. Nothing is astounding about women’s strong reaction to losing a huge Constitutional right and the portent of future losses.
Thanks for your historical and intellectual input. I enjoy your publication!
That struck me, too. It shouldn't be astounding. Maybe because pro-choice (or more broadly, pro-women's rights) people had been relatively quiet for so long, the widespread reaction may have surprised many, but it shouldn't have, considering how fundamental a right this is.
Democracy does not guarantee beneficial outcomes for the mass of people, as a quick glance at history since the final expansion of voting via the 26th Amendment, in 1971, makes clear. While Dewey's manner of reconciling democracy with reasonability is sound, it is not possible to implement in practice. Not only do people forget what they learn in school, but often times they do not trust it as much as what they learn from friendships, family, (now) social media, talk radio or any number of sources that appeal to emotion, reason or both. Therefore, we have to always be persuading, working to gain trust so that rational ideas based on data or logic or both become the most influential with the most numbers of people who actually vote.
For the short term, we have to use both an emphasis on the benefits attained via Democratic control of Congress and the Presidency in the last two years as well as a pointed and unwavering critique of Republican politics, policies, and corruption - including in the judicial decisions made by their appointees, including Dobbs but Shelby County, Citizen's United and others - that are anti-democratic and do not serve the interests and desires of the people. Electing Democrats for the foreseeable future is paramount. Work to persuade the voters to actuate that imperative, Mr. Reich and others who are members of his community of readers and commentators!!
"Power to the People!" Yes, BUT only if the people—ALL the people!—are well-educated, well-informed, capable of well-reasoned thinking and debating, and open-minded, taking part in our democracy with a good will. John Dewey was right! But not even Dewey grasped the dangers in a democratic system where an unregulated capitalism and the power of money dominate; nor did he anticipate the total technologisation of social media and social relations.