You have to be able to live with yourself, if you have a conscience. If you can tell yourself that nothing matters, that other people's lives are up to them, and that you have no responsibility to others or that you are simply powerless, CONGRATULATIONS! You're one of the many, many unfeeling humans who are ruining our planet and our civilization. You'll survive as well as you can giving no thought to the suffering of others. I wish I could live like you. I wish I could get all that injustice and misery out of my thoughts. I wish I didn't feel mortally offended by the sadistic idiots my fellow countrymen have chosen to lead us.
Unfortunately, we often control others without being aware.
If we are male, we are statistical participants in women being paid less, even if we may not be aware. (Not to mention countless other social stereotypes controlling non-males.)
If we are white, our all too real privilege elevates us above people of color (and now and in (at least) the near future), very likely more than ever before in our lifetimes.
And don't get me started on the disabled, non-Christian and anyone not meeting the current standard of beauty, male or female.
None of these are new with Trump, but all will be worse now.
Knowledge is power to change what is not working. This must change. We cannot abide this intolerance and lack of caring. It goes against our human nature.
A slight correction Mr Reich. Putin isn't waging just a horrendous war against Ukraine, but a genocidal war against Ukraine. He has declared that the Ukrainiian language culture are false and illegit and wants to replace them with Russian.
That is the very definition of genocide., intent, per art 2 of the UN Convention on Prevention of Genocide.
The same is happening in the Israel-Palestinian war, One side is obviously trying to wage a genocidal war against many innocent people by damaging their country and starving them to death as well. I would say that both the Ukranian-Russia war isn't all that different from the one I mentioned above. Both rulers aren't paying any attention to what people are saying when they are talking about peace. They give them a few hours of ceasefire and then go back to bombing once again.
And the other side feeds the ethnic cleansing group, by pledging and declaring that they will keep coming back, again and again until they have obliterated (genocide) Israel.
Did you know that just yesterday 22 Arab nations have told HAMAS to disarm and disband. Eliminate the HAMAS threat and then you will have a leg to stand on.
If you pay attention to the corporate media,and especially the liberal media, there is only one genocide: Gaza. Could be because the corporate media is bought and paid for, and the liberal media is caught up in the nostalgia of old guard Marxist Russophilic sentiment.
The Soviet Union lives on , under a different flag and name, the only difference is that instead of the state owning the resource sectors (like human, gas, agriculture. forestry, mining, industry) they are owned by friends of Vlad, the oligarchs.
Human nature is tricky. Hitler had many willing executioners, and so did other dictators. Knowledge is power only when we organize to put it into action. Knowledge is never complete; hence we must listen to others, even those we disagree with, and we must be willing to compromise to the extent our core values allow it. Know thyself, and know those you find intolerable. Confirmation bias is part of human nature, and so is our susceptibility to fear and anger. It is a never ending struggle.
I also am a cis-male, WASP (remember those?) of a certain age and thus a part of that controlling group. As a non-flamboyant gay male, I am adept at “passing” to the world at large. But having already attacked trans people, and now a wholesale roundup of brown people, I know that since the slightest bit of research would yield the fact of my sexuality, history suggests that I am next on the list. Perhaps not a stay in Alligator Auschwitz, but marriage, employment, housing and more rights are in danger.
Perhaps I should wear that old button, “How dare you presume I’m Straight?”
I know it means little, but it's important to me. SInce I suspect none of us are really safe, I at least like to feel that I may be a little in control my own narrative. I've also noticed that alone or in pairs, MAGAts seems to fear small, and even pointless and silly displays of courage.
Sound's like me, right up to the occupations of your parents.
First I'd like to say that few of us actually SEE the privilege that straight, Christian, white males experience in America, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's absent. When Black workers/slaves in America produced buildings and crops that in today's dollars might register billions of dollars annually, and that practice continued, depending on location, up to 225 years more, yet not one cent ever went into the pockets of Black laborers... It's hard not to consider how many of today's racial injustices may never have existed (or hopefully to a lesser degree) in a more caring (dare I say, Christian?) America?
One of my early memories remains one of my most vivid: attending a movie in a small town in a legally segregated Deep South. When life starts with such shame, it's hard not to see many things through the economic, employment, educational and social limitations placed on Black people in America since their earliest arrival, and still systemic in America.
Carlton, I appreciate your interest in participating in the idea I presented. Perhaps this will help clarify the (still mostly anonymous) POV of the rare Deep South American Liberal:
"Every “white payroll dollar” in America’s history to this day comes substantially from the pockets of slaves and their descendants."
Carlton, FWIW, I don't really think anyone really cares much what I think, so no worries there. Nonetheless, I thank you for the kind generosity of your time.
It means so much more, but at the bare minimum, it means being a social, rather than a solitary, animal. Cooperation, rather than competition, is a much more effective species survival mechanism for social animals. "Rogue" animals are either killed or driven out of the herd. Perhaps that why so many people seem to have a problem with diversity--their natural, biological survival instincts are kicking in as rapid cultural changes have made comfort and security less achievable for the masses.
To be a "human" animal is to be a moral animal, not merely a predatory survivalist. The ability of complex reasoning also sets us apart from other species. Perhaps we are more correctly defined as human "becomings" than as human "beings", since life-threatening circumstances can bring out the "best" in some people and the "worst" in others, both individually and collectively.
Early childhood experiences apparently play an important, but not a 100% predictable, role in individual human development. Trusting one's fellows, and life in general, to care for us depends a lot on our immediate post-birth experiences.
Both poverty and combat experiences inflict "moral injury" that result in PTSD and unhealthy social coping behaviors.
What it means to be fully human is still a deep mystery and will probably always remain so. When we cease to respect the "mystery of the person" and use labels as "boxes", rather than as a broad spectrum, to define others, we seem more often to devalue, rather than value each another and, sometimes, even oneself.
3. If I give up control of myself, then shame on me.
I will show up and be counted. I will stand up whether alone or with my fellow beings. I will speak up for myself and let my voice be heard. Show up; stand up; speak up!
We have no control over how others treat us, but we do control our response to them. Our response may make all the difference between whether the *issue* either intensifies or simply "fizzles out."
There is a difference between grief anger and revenge anger.
I truly believe that the occupation of Los Angeles was a test by this administration. It was provoking behavior, but the people of LA didnt take the bait (thank goodness). The current Army situation at the Mexican border in Arizona and New Mexico right now is the same sort of thing, although directed at those trying to cross illegally. And we dont have mass media reporting it all. But they are wanting our protests to devolve into a fight so that they can bring in the military; it's like they're itching for it. Yet we must stay peaceful, and fully compassionate humans! Stand up, speak out and stay peaceful!
Anger, like most emotions,is in support of survival. It is a ‘call to action’ emotion. We are fortunate if we can use our anger to empower our values. We are unfortunate if our anger uses us. 💫
By "grief anger" you seem to imply anger directed at the self, while"revenge anger" is directed at the other. In both instances anger is destructive. It can yeld positive results if directed and controlled by reason.
Well said, Kerry! Like you, I simply cannot let the injustice and misery even in other people's lives go unanswered. It is offensive to sit back and do absolutely nothing to help victims of this regime as well as others around the world. That is exactly why we fight and resist. To let it continue would be like those unfeeling humans ruining our planet and civilization! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
G'morning Peggy! Thank you for standing up to injustice in the world, and special thanks to Prof. Reich for revealing the treachery of the devious humans who have seized control of once-great nations such as ours. Let me supplement your thought, Robert, about war criminals, and submit that our supreme bully-in-chief is a war criminal against his own nation, a "snake swaddled in lambswool" to be sure, as well as complicit with the monsters you mention who wage absolute torment upon civilian populations, acts of genocide. His dictums are lifted straight from the great evil Mein Kampf, pure Nazi-speak such as "criminal invaders poisoning the blood of our country" and "living like vermin within the confines of our country". He has already intimidated or indoctrinated most citizens either to clam up or profess his glories, and I am sick to death of his ceaseless stream of shit polluting every main news outlet that one turns to, every single day. He is one with the world destroyers, from the ancient to the present, who, should we submit to him, will destroy us. We herein appreciate your courage to articulate the increasing dangers which we all face.
Yet, despite all of the destructive, hurtful, criminal things he himself has done, he still talks about “crime” and “justice“. We don’t really know what he means by those words. He never actually defines the words he uses, like “socialist” or “woke”. It’s like Newspeak in the book 1984, the only words available to comment on something are “good “ and “ungood“, unless it’s “double plus ungood”. It seems like the meaning of “criminal” in Trumpworld is: Anything He dislikes or that interferes with His plans.
'trumpspeak' being a very limited vocabulary and endlessly repeating those same words and phrases showing little to no understanding of what he's said OR what the/any consequences of what he's said (other than his own self gratification) might be or are ~ ~ ~ I also don't call him a 'liar' because IMO to 'lie' one has to have an "honest knowledge" what "honest truth" really is. And he does not. He's a 'truth fabricator' (i.e. his 'Truth Social') from whatever wild hair he has up his bigly butt ` ~ ~
Dale, I believe you have drumpler's number. I would refer to him as a fabricator of fallacies for his personal glorification, designed to propel him to superstardom in the eyes of his rapt cult followers. He is doomed never to grasp the truth, because that would have revealed to him by now the puny, enfeebled man that he is and he would have shot himself. Professionals have diagnosed him remotely to be a malignant narcissist exhibiting extreme sadistic behavior, and it would be wise for them to keep their distance from him, because he's the zombified version of his mythical idol, Hannibal Lecter. He falls into the line of the world's most destructive fascists in this way. Should he be confined to the asylum, a fistful of antipsychotics would be recommended daily to prevent him from tearing off his face.
Excellent, Dennis! Good morning to you! You stated exactly what is true about the orange man! When he is brought to account, I believe the world will breathe a sigh of relief before we move on and tackle the next wannabe dictator!
Well said (unfortunately true) I’m very disappointed in many politicians either for following and engaging in the breaking of our country and those who have been silent. We need to see MORE people in government (republicans and democrats)speaking out. They took the oath to follow the constitution and move the country forward. Did they lose sight of what’s at stake? Is it fear? Or are they also benefiting financially? This will affect their children and grandchildren for generations. I Have been pleasantly surprised by the number or regular folks at the peaceful protest but we need our leaders. ..
Diane, you have posed some legitimate concerns about the level of integrity and degree of courage displayed by our elected officials, and it appears that the scale has tilted away from justice and equitability among peoples and toward tyranny underpinned by malice and born of greed. This is seen in the behavior of the fascist regime in place now for six months, but whose lack of principle has festered for many years. The next steps to remedy our national plight must include rooting out our corrupted politicians and voting in new ones who are guided by character and commitment to public service. The trump regime is actively conspiring to destroy the legitimacy of the popular vote, and if they are successful, we stand to lose our cherished freedoms including that to choose our leaders in a free and fair manner. Thank you for your services as an educator and as a therapist.
Interesting, but perhaps the ONLY stories reported (semi-)accurately across the board may be those of immigration snatching horrors.
Fox assumed their viewers would LOVE stories about an Iranian woman, guiltless of any crime while in America for 47 years, then grabbed while in her own yard. What's not for heartless xenophobes to love?
A lot, apparently.
It seems that even many Foxers haven't embraced the "Trump as Savior with America as white heaven" concept as fully as was expected.
I hope those same people never hear the word "Epstein"...
Kerry, I bet you really don't wish you could be like those unfeeling folks. They have made a choice that whatever they do, someone else will clean up after them because they are so special; they're not. We could wish for better than what we are now facing, but not that we feel nothing for the needs and suffering of others. That would be such an empty life I don't even want to imagine it. I do see it however every single time Trump, Miller, Vought, Musk, and the rest of that corrupt crew is heard, interviewed, or given attention they do not deserve, to distract us from what they are doing to us and this world we share. It seems throughout the world right now, that group of creeps is gaining ascendence, but I do hope people will realize they have nothing to offer anyone but rich men whose souls are dead or nearly so.
Ruth, maybe we should organize a contest for the search of JD Vance's soul. Back in 2016 he warned voters that Trump was leading them into a "dark place." Not long afterwards he joined Trump. Clearly, Vance lost his soul at about that time. What prize should we offer to whoever finds Vance's soul? Clue: ask the priest of the church Vance attends (Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019).
It’s really simple. In the Christian Nationalist Bible the only beings with souls are Republicans, wealthy people, or the powerful. … including their wives and children.
The term is "sociopathy". It is a personality disorder. No cure. I don't think you would want to live like them. Donald Trump is the poster boy for sociopathy. And I do mean BOY. His "personal lawyer", Emil Evil Bove is another specimen.
Mommadillo, OMG! What a thin skin you have! Telling folks to "f off" is so childish because it means the other person has offered you something you don't want to face. Sad! I think you could handle it, though, if you stop for a moment and hear the person's POV, then share your own if it is based on fact/reason.
Kerry, I'm with you. I am appalled to see our country governed by a cruel, vindictive, lying wouldbe autocrat. He has surrounded himself with incompetent, lying sycophants. He has also surrounded himself with advisors who are as cruel as he is. I don't need to name any of these individuals; you know who they are.
His loyal supporters are as cruel and ugly as he is. I never thought I would see a presidential candidate or a president who would mock the disabled or denigrate a war hero. His loyal supporters laugh and cheer! I'm afraid we are becoming a sick country or, we already are there.
Of all the painful things that have happened to me in my life, and I have been more fortunate than most, one of the worst is the destruction of my faith in the basic intelligence and goodness of the American people. Of course, many, many millions are outside that grouping. But I long assumed that an ample majority would never allow our politics to descend to this level. And I'm holding my breath as to what depth of descent will still be tolerated - or cheered!
I’ve often wondered how people approach the calculus you just described; I agree with you, by the way. But I think it’s this oddly benign and ignorant computation that essentially boils down to, “it’d be nice if we could help everyone, but we can’t so my responsibility is to protect my family/the people I care about.” And you’d be surprised what people can tolerate once they don that lens
Problem is we are all being abused by the wealthy who buy politicians who pass laws to give them even more wealth! We must learn all we can so we can get together to vote these people out!! Ordinary people are not being represented. Read Robert Reich’s books: Coming up Short to learn how this latest scam is set up!!
But being a politician in today's world means not worrying about having a conscience... or caring about anyone other than yourself. Such is out life, and such is our darkening future.
I agree completely and I know too many people who just look away and go about their business don’t know what to do and it’s too painful to even think about.
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Megan, your spreadsheet is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for all the work you do to keep this updated. I have used it myself, and I have shared it with the people in my postcard writing group. It’s a very easy way to know how to approach legislators without having to look up all the information yourself. It’s a monumental task. I commend you for doing this work for the rest of us. You are a true patriot, and your work is valuable. I know everyone here would agree with that. Thank you again for all that you do, and all that you do in such a positive way.
Professor Reich: sadly, the age of bullies began when i was a child. i was relentlessly bullied at school. i could never figure out how to make that stop (hitting back ended up with a dogpile of the bully's friends sitting on me, face down on the playground, all recess). at home, my parents joined the bullying. could i do anything to escape? well, i could run away. and so i did. often. but then the parental units enlisted the police in their bullying scheme: i was locked up in juvenile hall more than once.
that said, i tried to be a decent kid, and now, a decent adult, but is this the answer? putin is murdering thousands of ukrainians because he wants to steal their homeland, their culture and wipe out their language, and they are fighting back, but ... still the murders of the ukrainians continue unabated.
netanyahu is murdering and starving thousands of palestiniains in gaza because he wants to steal their homeland, and wipe out their culture and language, so he and his goons can build a waterfront resort on their land and no one does anything but stand around, watching, twiddling their thumbs, and still ... the murders of the palestinans continues unabated.
i watch all this, send money where and when i can to help, but i am sick of these evil people in power. it's horrifying. and it makes me feel, AGAIN, like that helpless kid that i once was.
GrrlScientist, it makes me so sad to know of the pain you have endured in your lifetime. From your comments on this substack, I find you to be so intelligent and your comments are very enlightening. I would wager that bullies are in just about every person's memories of their childhoods. It must have been doubly hard to endure it not just at school but at home as well! You are a decent, kind human being, GrrlScientist, and don't ever doubt that. Please know that putin, netanyahu and the orange man will lose in the end and I say that with 100% certainty. Why? Because their kind of evil and cruelty can never last. It's like what they say about cornered animals. When we all get enough, we come out swinging and it is NOT pleasant! Your contributions are helping. Keep up the fight, GrrlScientist, and know that I've got your back!
Oh, Peggy, you expressed that so beautifully, and yes, we all care and hurt in knowing anyone is being or has been bullied, and we especially care about and appreciate GrrrScientist. I love reading your encouragement that the bullies will not last. Thank you for all you do!
Grrlscientist, I am so very sorry you had such horrific, totally dispicable and undue treatment in earlier years! You are a gem for being a caring person, your dedicated work,and especially for the way you have come through to the present time, recognizing your self-worth and helping other people. I am sure I am not alone in appreciating your kindness and the good things you do by sharing here and other places online, as you help make the world a better place! Thank you.
I feel that too. I still cannot abide a bully or keep my mouth shut in the presence of one. Karma demands the crimes of Netanyahu and Putin be paid for ... hopefully in this lifetime.
Thanks, GrrlScientist, and Peggy too, for your compassion. I'm with you. We can only do so much on this website, except to keep it clean, passionate, supportive and
Honest. We do the best we can in the rest of our lives, myself as an Artist/musician, and always worked with young people. I believe in them. We must.
Hey Robert - i ordered your new book! Lookin' forward. 💕🌈
Your comment about putin immediately made me think of trump and his minions. I’d say sending undocumented immigrants to Sudan is on par with murdering them. They were returned but the intent was there. And how about alligator Alcatraz? Living in mosquito infested tents in a swamp in unendurable heat. Or dying in ICE custody. They seems pretty similar to me.
Yespat, I see that person’s intent as you stated it. I wish we could find a way to help each person immediately and end the cruelty, the hatreds, and the disrespect for life.
It's human trafficking by the UN definition: "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit."
Trump and his vile cronies profit by abusing their power to cheer on their violent base, and the companies providing the prisons and transports all profit (no doubt with massive kickbacks going to Don the Con and pals).
While the United States status on the UN security council might block UN resolutions to that effect, it can't stop individual nations or the EU from drawing the conclusion and implementing appropriate policies, like travel warnings and sanctions.
This rings so true to me. Once one bully smells blood in the water my experience in this lifetime is that other bullies come in to support them and more often than not most others choose to be ‘objective’, which simply translates as complicit in such criminal behaviour. The social pressure to conform to our Winner/Loser mass culture brutalises many through the fear and shame of ‘standing out’ from or against social convention. So that once bullying becomes normalised in the highest circles of ruling class power the majority will just copy their ‘betters’. Of course, any abuse of power crime against any other individual should be recognised as a crime against all of us in a shared civil society. A new collective response could do worse than using this simple truth as a founding principle.
Dear Grrl: I was bullied too. In school but fortunately not at home. Then came the state that counted me as meat for canon in its colonial wars. And I did like you and “voted with my feet”.
I chose a different part of EU that is closer to Ukraine and that left me in a state of mind when I saw it’s invasion coming. In the meantime there where all the tragedies in Africa, no less in those ex-colonies in whose domination I refused to collaborate. And that’s when I was anew made aware of Gaza. It shattered me.
Fortunately I was finding a way out of this depressing state when your President came to power again. I have a distinct dislike for the person in question and have long asked myself how I could possibly relate to all this abuse.
This is the background that I found necessary to go on to tell you that I now see those men as bringing an advancement in human development.
Most certainly not by their design but on the contrary totally against their plans.
I am aware of two things: first, the immense price paid by billions of humans as well as non-humans up to literally the very bones of the planet for this development to be brought about.
Secondly, of the necessity of a device that makes this Apollonian distancing possible. For me, the fact that I am retired and live in a country in peace since 1814 is a fundamental part of that device.
Furthermore I wonder if the bullying is increasing or if it’s more intolerable. You see, when I was dealing with this matter as a teenager and talking with members of the regime about the part they played on it, it became apparent that several of them and many more of their wives and children, my friends, did not flinch with the same things that I did. And now all of them and their friends, employees, colleagues, everybody they know and heard about as been carried by the flows of change that is impossible to ignore.
That’s progress. Payed for in blood, suffering and debt of all sorts.
“Progress is progress,”, although I don’t know who said it first. Thank you, GrrrlScientist. We certainly need more progress, more peace, more recognition of needs and of what is right, and more caring. Like one song I have mentioned before says, “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, not just for you and me, but for everyone.” That song made sense when I first heard it, long ago, and now it seems more crucial than ever.
Agent Orange continues ignoring Russia’s role in attacking civilians and continuing to arm Israel with weapons to attack Gaza and Iran. After our beautiful raid on Iran are we of now at war with them? I doubt that anything he does will result in a Nobel Prize in the face of these actions.
I only got my butt kicked once. A Black fellow student out boxed me and I was convinced that every Black kid could fight like that, lol. Man his fists came at me so fast. He must have been training in Golden Gloves boxing.
I'm usually the one sticking up for other people. I might faint if a man ever stuck up for me. I usually get " I'm pretty sure you can handle this." I can, but it would be nice, is all I'm saying.
This is a diagnostic of democratic erosion and the normalization of institutional cruelty. It catalogs a pattern: when concentrated power escapes meaningful accountability—whether wielded by political leaders, corporations, or media voices—the guardrails that define a civil society begin to buckle.
The core assertion isn’t partisan. It’s structural. Abuses cited here—war crimes, erosion of due process, economic exploitation, suppression of rights—aren’t merely excesses of individuals. They reflect systemic breakdowns where legal, ethical, and democratic constraints no longer deter impunity.
Leading a moral life in such a climate is reframed as a collective, civic obligation. It requires restoring accountability, protecting the vulnerable, and rejecting apathy. Not because it’s left or right. Because without that resistance, the distinction between governance and brute force dissolves.
8d, I can't, and won't, argue with your conclusions of his personal responsibility. I'm from a state where we knew him waaaaay before he was on "The Apprentice" and way before the the 2016 election. And we have known all along he was not a decent human being. He illegally redlined mortgage applicants and renters, failed to pay contractors, (including mom and pop companies). Multiple bankruptcies. Couldn't figure out how to make money in the casino business (?!) Inflated or deflated his monetary worth to get fraud loans. I will leave alone the serial cheating on spouses.
What I'm saying, even if he leaves in the next hour, there's cleanup to do.
2. And I'm glad you believe in the goodness of most people. And I know he's a festering, fly-laden piece of shit
3. Our system was designed to prevent these abuses. But the American Constitution is still just a piece of paper. It can still be torn apart by those that betray their oaths.
4. Hey, have a great day! I think it may be noon now near you.
It's all harder in a set of societies tacitly dominated by an unspoken notion that hierarchy is essential to all human living-- who rules whom, who merits more than whom. It means that struggle always gets understood as a scramble to climb the ranks-- and that often that's the only way people can perceive to struggle.
Bullying is of course both status claim and status abuse.
That it is hierarchy is a silent understanding makes it more powerful. So we can label it briefly, and talk about non-hierarchical relationship while we enact egalitarian society and struggle for it.
Mary Ann, you are one of very few to understand this key force in the 'divine' plan of all mammalian societies - the competition for Status, Prestige & Hierarchy, likely for the right to reproduce (Darwin's "survival of the fittest").
I learned this on a cbc.ca/ideas radio show ~30years ago asking sociologists, What causes longevity?
I now look at everyone -leaders, workers, friends, family- to evaluate their personal method of gaining Status.
There was a time when old age conferred status. Why? Because the old usually were more knowledgeable and wiser. No more. Knowledge can be translated into power, the ultimate status giver.
A very true observation on our obsession with hierarchy.
Something that I've always found curious is why do societies that function democratically still choose to appoint a single person as a leader, and grant that person significant individual power?
I suspect that a couple of factors are involved. (I'm not saying that it's all down to these two factors.)
1. Genuine internalization of network communication and decision-making costs-- which get exhausted earlier than the power gets as consolidated as it typically is.
2. Human laziness and reluctance to pay attention.
You wrote: 'Putin and Netanyahu are war criminals whose criminality must be stopped. Trump is a dictator who must be deposed.' but Trump is a war criminal too, Trump ordered the most air attacks from any president.
A most excellent post today, Professor Reich! Every single thing you wrote about is such powerful truth! I have always loathed a bully since I was a young girl in elementary school. On the playground one day, two boys were picking on this little dog. When I saw them teasing and poking and laughing at that little dog's terror, I became so angry! I didn't stop or think. I just exploded on both of them! I gave them everything I could. I just started hitting, pushing and shoving and screaming 'NO' at the top of my lungs! The teacher pulled me off and all three of us went to the principal's office. I do remember crying and telling the principal they were hurting a little dog. Ever since then, when I encounter a bully, that rage I felt back then comes sweeping to the front again. I've learned not to let it take over; however, it does help me in this fight, this resistance. I refuse to let a bully strike terror in my heart! The orange man is a coward. He is vulgar, hateful, spiteful and full of resentment. He takes those feelings out on everyone. He does not care about America or anything else except satisfying his need for revenge and chaos. Every single day when my feet hit the floor, I grab my coffee and begin my work writing letters, postcards, signing petition after petition, making phone call after phone call. I will not stop until we have gotten every single one of those bullies out of our government! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Applause. Same. Middle school, group of athletes abusing a 7th grader outside boys room, wedges and a threatened swirlie. The were dragging him screaming into the restroom and I shouted No and reminded the group of my family relation to one of the counseling staff and vice principal. They dropped the child and I thought it was over. Next day walking to the same class, as I turned the corner I was grabbed and pulled behind a locker, by friends, thankfully. They bully and his minions made it clear today was my turn, I would get payback for stopping their fun. Don't go down the hall they begged, wait here for the teacher.
Fuck that. I don't hide or cower. And if they had water, I had a weapon too. I had shelled sunflower seeds. Dumped the entire bag, meant for a walk home snack, in my mouth and let the salt do it's thing.
Stepped into the hall and started my long walk ... shoot out at the OK corral with out the tumbleweeds. Bully and his jock friends behind him on one side, me with girls, needs and the rest of us behind me. Step by step we walked the hall, coming face to face. I could see his arrogant grin and water trickling out the side of his mouth. I anticipated a shower ... but he spit all over my shoes instead, suede Roots. He lifted his head in triumph, just long enough to get machine gunned by my now slimy mouthful of seeds.
He screamed 'she spat at me' and ran away to his muscled cohort. Battle over ... for that day ay least. He hounded me for the next four years but I never saw him touch an underclassmen again.
Kudos, Jenn! When people think they don't have the courage to stand up to a bully, I usually tell them to wait and see what happens when a bully starts in on them. It is amazing to many how they do react. Bullies are cowards who use false bravado along with tag-along sycophants to harass and intimidate those who they perceive as weaker and can't or won't fight back. The thing is, when you are backed into a corner, your body takes over with the 'fight or flight' syndrome. Whichever you choose to do is entirely up to you. I had to laugh at the thought of that bully screaming that you spit at him and ran for cover! When a bully cowers or runs, his sycophants tend to see him in a totally different light!
Too much power in too few hands exposes us all to the weaknesses and frailties of the few. Like a bundle of sticks, the group is stronger for their shared bond.
Yes, of course, Robert. I say again: We must fight without giving up. As Tennyson says at the end of his great poem "Ulysses": "To strive,, to seek, to find, and not to yield." He is speaking of Ulysses embarking upon one last great quest, and he knows not how it will end. But we must do all he says in that last line, not yielding. Trump is so awful that he has to meet his downfall soon. We must look for all the ways we can of sustaining people whose support has been cut off, and punish those responsible. We must oppose the stated determination of many Republicans to employ only White American-born people for jobs; their hideous racism and false patriotism are obvious. We must not treat any immigrant like a criminal, but as a friend; few indeed of them have done any wrong, nor will they. We must sustain the people Trump wants to jail or deport or starve. Onward!
Thank you, Carol, for those lines. Ulysses is a wonderful image for us to think on. And our work is surely, right now, doing all we can to alleviate the suffering. Every day we creep one day closer to the midterms.
I was raised from birth in north Texas that if you see wrong you say something. It worked when I was 6 against kids who were being cruel to a classmate, and they were shamed and joined me to help instead. And it damn well works now. Each person standing up becomes a wave. And that’s what we as individuals should do. Not a call against this party or that a call for basic kindness that people on both sides actually agree with. That’ll be a tsunami
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
And when MAGA Republicans are destroying your country and the rest of the world, don't pile on the Democrats for not being perfect! NYT is full of articles about what's wrong with the Democrats, and that blood sport seems to be echoed all over (Dr. Reich's articles excepted). The people who should be fighting Republicans have turned against their best hope. They think that the Democratic Party is deeply flawed, and if they had done things differently, they would have won the election. WAKE UP! The people voted for Trumpublicans, not the Democrats. Destroying the credibility of the Democrats is part of the problem, not part of the solution. If you were in Nazi-occupied France, do you think the best way forward would be to dump on the Resistance? If you wanted to live a moral life, you would join them, not help to destroy them.
Yours is an expert, no-holds-barred description of the new world we are confronted with, and by we I mean the unbilionaires and the unempowered constutuents of insane narcissitic power-hungry politicians and would-be kings. But they too will have their heinous acts recorded for posterity and their names listed among the villains of humanity like Nero, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, etc. We in the meantime are the witnesses, and the generations who follow us will be, we hope, even more enlightened by the results of man's inhumanity.
Humans are innately fallible. I say this not to excuse fallibility, but to point out that it's baked into us. We all have both good and evil within us. The role of civilization (IMO) is to get us to use our good sides to help each other thrive, and to control our bad sides so we can accomplish that.
The situation we now face reminds me of a Star Trek (original version) episode in which Captain Kirk was split in two by the transporter (IIRC). The split completely separated his good side from his bad side. The good side became overwhelmingly compassionate, kind, indecisive when faced with difficult decisions, and, well, weak.
The bad side became intolerant, violent, loud, angry, whiny (prescient, wasn't it?), and, well, weak. The problem was that the good side was so compassionate and kind that it struggled to deal with the bad side. It wanted to empathize with the bad side, while the bad side only wanted to win. But the stark point of the story was that neither side was strong without the other side. Eventually this was all worked out (in the 43 minute window between commercial breaks), and the good side won with kindness and love. But winning meant embracing the evil side, rejoining with it, and controlling it. It was a remarkable story, really.
But this was a TV show (by Gene Roddenberry, who had some rather unpleasant faults of his own), and life isn't a TV show.
The MAGA leaders who are attempting to wipe out empathy, kindness, fairness, equality, justice, and truth are NOT going to be won over with love and kindness. They will not give up without a fight. And right now they have a massive arsenal, and they have already declared war on the American people. They are already committing violence against immigrants and there is no reason to believe they won't spread their violence to all American citizens. It will cost us more than money, time, protests, elections, and good intentions to win this battle.
You have to be able to live with yourself, if you have a conscience. If you can tell yourself that nothing matters, that other people's lives are up to them, and that you have no responsibility to others or that you are simply powerless, CONGRATULATIONS! You're one of the many, many unfeeling humans who are ruining our planet and our civilization. You'll survive as well as you can giving no thought to the suffering of others. I wish I could live like you. I wish I could get all that injustice and misery out of my thoughts. I wish I didn't feel mortally offended by the sadistic idiots my fellow countrymen have chosen to lead us.
Most people do not realize that we cannot dehumanize others without dehumanizing ourselves.
Very true!
Unfortunately, we often control others without being aware.
If we are male, we are statistical participants in women being paid less, even if we may not be aware. (Not to mention countless other social stereotypes controlling non-males.)
If we are white, our all too real privilege elevates us above people of color (and now and in (at least) the near future), very likely more than ever before in our lifetimes.
And don't get me started on the disabled, non-Christian and anyone not meeting the current standard of beauty, male or female.
None of these are new with Trump, but all will be worse now.
Knowledge is power to change what is not working. This must change. We cannot abide this intolerance and lack of caring. It goes against our human nature.
A slight correction Mr Reich. Putin isn't waging just a horrendous war against Ukraine, but a genocidal war against Ukraine. He has declared that the Ukrainiian language culture are false and illegit and wants to replace them with Russian.
That is the very definition of genocide., intent, per art 2 of the UN Convention on Prevention of Genocide.
The same is happening in the Israel-Palestinian war, One side is obviously trying to wage a genocidal war against many innocent people by damaging their country and starving them to death as well. I would say that both the Ukranian-Russia war isn't all that different from the one I mentioned above. Both rulers aren't paying any attention to what people are saying when they are talking about peace. They give them a few hours of ceasefire and then go back to bombing once again.
And the other side feeds the ethnic cleansing group, by pledging and declaring that they will keep coming back, again and again until they have obliterated (genocide) Israel.
Did you know that just yesterday 22 Arab nations have told HAMAS to disarm and disband. Eliminate the HAMAS threat and then you will have a leg to stand on.
If you pay attention to the corporate media,and especially the liberal media, there is only one genocide: Gaza. Could be because the corporate media is bought and paid for, and the liberal media is caught up in the nostalgia of old guard Marxist Russophilic sentiment.
The Soviet Union lives on , under a different flag and name, the only difference is that instead of the state owning the resource sectors (like human, gas, agriculture. forestry, mining, industry) they are owned by friends of Vlad, the oligarchs.
Human nature is tricky. Hitler had many willing executioners, and so did other dictators. Knowledge is power only when we organize to put it into action. Knowledge is never complete; hence we must listen to others, even those we disagree with, and we must be willing to compromise to the extent our core values allow it. Know thyself, and know those you find intolerable. Confirmation bias is part of human nature, and so is our susceptibility to fear and anger. It is a never ending struggle.
intolerance and lack of caring is essential to magas. Cruelty to all but themselves is their philosophy. Hypocrisy is their calling card.
I was under paid for years and when I asked about it, a man has family to take care of and I didn't - a least that was the jest of the subject.
The second saddest aspect is that they may actually believe it.
Yeah, I've heard that. And it's just one more lie that already ignorant people have been told, and have heard, until they believe.
I also am a cis-male, WASP (remember those?) of a certain age and thus a part of that controlling group. As a non-flamboyant gay male, I am adept at “passing” to the world at large. But having already attacked trans people, and now a wholesale roundup of brown people, I know that since the slightest bit of research would yield the fact of my sexuality, history suggests that I am next on the list. Perhaps not a stay in Alligator Auschwitz, but marriage, employment, housing and more rights are in danger.
Perhaps I should wear that old button, “How dare you presume I’m Straight?”
🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍. I will defend your right to be you any chance I get.
Matthew,
May I suggest a new button I've been pondering for the world at large?
"Are you SURE you weren't born intersex?"
It may raise a question or two among MAGAts, and at the very least the question of where the letter "I" lies in the dictionary.
But in reality I closely physically resemble that most testestable of lizard-brain creatures: the Trump cultist. And that won't do for me...
"Can wearing progressive messages EVERY DAY for FIVE YEARS make a difference? I hope so…"
https://medium.com/@foofaraw/many-more-people-will-die-because-of-trump-i-hope-i-wont-be-one-of-them-41b2f1493036
I know it means little, but it's important to me. SInce I suspect none of us are really safe, I at least like to feel that I may be a little in control my own narrative. I've also noticed that alone or in pairs, MAGAts seems to fear small, and even pointless and silly displays of courage.
Totally agree with you but the ones responsible will never take credit for any of it!
Sound's like me, right up to the occupations of your parents.
First I'd like to say that few of us actually SEE the privilege that straight, Christian, white males experience in America, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's absent. When Black workers/slaves in America produced buildings and crops that in today's dollars might register billions of dollars annually, and that practice continued, depending on location, up to 225 years more, yet not one cent ever went into the pockets of Black laborers... It's hard not to consider how many of today's racial injustices may never have existed (or hopefully to a lesser degree) in a more caring (dare I say, Christian?) America?
One of my early memories remains one of my most vivid: attending a movie in a small town in a legally segregated Deep South. When life starts with such shame, it's hard not to see many things through the economic, employment, educational and social limitations placed on Black people in America since their earliest arrival, and still systemic in America.
Carlton, I appreciate your interest in participating in the idea I presented. Perhaps this will help clarify the (still mostly anonymous) POV of the rare Deep South American Liberal:
"Every “white payroll dollar” in America’s history to this day comes substantially from the pockets of slaves and their descendants."
https://medium.com/@foofaraw/reparations-inheritance-done-ethically-56f42083470e
Carlton, FWIW, I don't really think anyone really cares much what I think, so no worries there. Nonetheless, I thank you for the kind generosity of your time.
Carol, you raise a fundamental question: what is a human being? What does it mean being "human"?
It means so much more, but at the bare minimum, it means being a social, rather than a solitary, animal. Cooperation, rather than competition, is a much more effective species survival mechanism for social animals. "Rogue" animals are either killed or driven out of the herd. Perhaps that why so many people seem to have a problem with diversity--their natural, biological survival instincts are kicking in as rapid cultural changes have made comfort and security less achievable for the masses.
To be a "human" animal is to be a moral animal, not merely a predatory survivalist. The ability of complex reasoning also sets us apart from other species. Perhaps we are more correctly defined as human "becomings" than as human "beings", since life-threatening circumstances can bring out the "best" in some people and the "worst" in others, both individually and collectively.
Early childhood experiences apparently play an important, but not a 100% predictable, role in individual human development. Trusting one's fellows, and life in general, to care for us depends a lot on our immediate post-birth experiences.
Both poverty and combat experiences inflict "moral injury" that result in PTSD and unhealthy social coping behaviors.
What it means to be fully human is still a deep mystery and will probably always remain so. When we cease to respect the "mystery of the person" and use labels as "boxes", rather than as a broad spectrum, to define others, we seem more often to devalue, rather than value each another and, sometimes, even oneself.
why I grow my own veggies and why I buy meat from my massage therapist!
1. I control no one but me.
2. No one else can control me unless I allow it.
3. If I give up control of myself, then shame on me.
I will show up and be counted. I will stand up whether alone or with my fellow beings. I will speak up for myself and let my voice be heard. Show up; stand up; speak up!
We have no control over how others treat us, but we do control our response to them. Our response may make all the difference between whether the *issue* either intensifies or simply "fizzles out."
There is a difference between grief anger and revenge anger.
you got that right!
I truly believe that the occupation of Los Angeles was a test by this administration. It was provoking behavior, but the people of LA didnt take the bait (thank goodness). The current Army situation at the Mexican border in Arizona and New Mexico right now is the same sort of thing, although directed at those trying to cross illegally. And we dont have mass media reporting it all. But they are wanting our protests to devolve into a fight so that they can bring in the military; it's like they're itching for it. Yet we must stay peaceful, and fully compassionate humans! Stand up, speak out and stay peaceful!
Anger, like most emotions,is in support of survival. It is a ‘call to action’ emotion. We are fortunate if we can use our anger to empower our values. We are unfortunate if our anger uses us. 💫
You have defined my concept of the difference between "grief anger" and "revenge anger."
Thank you.
By "grief anger" you seem to imply anger directed at the self, while"revenge anger" is directed at the other. In both instances anger is destructive. It can yeld positive results if directed and controlled by reason.
Linda, that should be a song!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A27BMlAagFE
Beat me to it, CK….love Bob M!!!!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(Bob_Marley_song)
There is a song " Fighter " - Christina Aguilera
https://youtu.be/PstrAfoMKlc?feature=shared
Bob Marley and Peter Tosh wrote the song. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Up,_Stand_Up
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Well said, Kerry! Like you, I simply cannot let the injustice and misery even in other people's lives go unanswered. It is offensive to sit back and do absolutely nothing to help victims of this regime as well as others around the world. That is exactly why we fight and resist. To let it continue would be like those unfeeling humans ruining our planet and civilization! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
G'morning Peggy! Thank you for standing up to injustice in the world, and special thanks to Prof. Reich for revealing the treachery of the devious humans who have seized control of once-great nations such as ours. Let me supplement your thought, Robert, about war criminals, and submit that our supreme bully-in-chief is a war criminal against his own nation, a "snake swaddled in lambswool" to be sure, as well as complicit with the monsters you mention who wage absolute torment upon civilian populations, acts of genocide. His dictums are lifted straight from the great evil Mein Kampf, pure Nazi-speak such as "criminal invaders poisoning the blood of our country" and "living like vermin within the confines of our country". He has already intimidated or indoctrinated most citizens either to clam up or profess his glories, and I am sick to death of his ceaseless stream of shit polluting every main news outlet that one turns to, every single day. He is one with the world destroyers, from the ancient to the present, who, should we submit to him, will destroy us. We herein appreciate your courage to articulate the increasing dangers which we all face.
Yet, despite all of the destructive, hurtful, criminal things he himself has done, he still talks about “crime” and “justice“. We don’t really know what he means by those words. He never actually defines the words he uses, like “socialist” or “woke”. It’s like Newspeak in the book 1984, the only words available to comment on something are “good “ and “ungood“, unless it’s “double plus ungood”. It seems like the meaning of “criminal” in Trumpworld is: Anything He dislikes or that interferes with His plans.
Agreed, Bill, that's trumpworld for us, filled with 'trumpspeak'.
'trumpspeak' being a very limited vocabulary and endlessly repeating those same words and phrases showing little to no understanding of what he's said OR what the/any consequences of what he's said (other than his own self gratification) might be or are ~ ~ ~ I also don't call him a 'liar' because IMO to 'lie' one has to have an "honest knowledge" what "honest truth" really is. And he does not. He's a 'truth fabricator' (i.e. his 'Truth Social') from whatever wild hair he has up his bigly butt ` ~ ~
Dale, I believe you have drumpler's number. I would refer to him as a fabricator of fallacies for his personal glorification, designed to propel him to superstardom in the eyes of his rapt cult followers. He is doomed never to grasp the truth, because that would have revealed to him by now the puny, enfeebled man that he is and he would have shot himself. Professionals have diagnosed him remotely to be a malignant narcissist exhibiting extreme sadistic behavior, and it would be wise for them to keep their distance from him, because he's the zombified version of his mythical idol, Hannibal Lecter. He falls into the line of the world's most destructive fascists in this way. Should he be confined to the asylum, a fistful of antipsychotics would be recommended daily to prevent him from tearing off his face.
Excellent, Dennis! Good morning to you! You stated exactly what is true about the orange man! When he is brought to account, I believe the world will breathe a sigh of relief before we move on and tackle the next wannabe dictator!
Brought to account the sooner the better, Peggy, thank you! Snake-world has a deep nest!
Donald Trump harvested what Rupert Murdoch has been sowing for decades. This is why nearly his entire cabinet is composed of Fox News bimbos.
Hear, hear👏👏
Well said (unfortunately true) I’m very disappointed in many politicians either for following and engaging in the breaking of our country and those who have been silent. We need to see MORE people in government (republicans and democrats)speaking out. They took the oath to follow the constitution and move the country forward. Did they lose sight of what’s at stake? Is it fear? Or are they also benefiting financially? This will affect their children and grandchildren for generations. I Have been pleasantly surprised by the number or regular folks at the peaceful protest but we need our leaders. ..
Diane, you have posed some legitimate concerns about the level of integrity and degree of courage displayed by our elected officials, and it appears that the scale has tilted away from justice and equitability among peoples and toward tyranny underpinned by malice and born of greed. This is seen in the behavior of the fascist regime in place now for six months, but whose lack of principle has festered for many years. The next steps to remedy our national plight must include rooting out our corrupted politicians and voting in new ones who are guided by character and commitment to public service. The trump regime is actively conspiring to destroy the legitimacy of the popular vote, and if they are successful, we stand to lose our cherished freedoms including that to choose our leaders in a free and fair manner. Thank you for your services as an educator and as a therapist.
Level of Integrity? You are being too nice. They do not have any integrity if we are experiencing what we are right now because of their cowardice.
I yield the point to you, Joanne - better to have said the "dearth of integrity" and "abandonment of courage".
"I'm with a very special guy tonight, a very brilliant man" Pres.*^$#^? told members of one of his golf clubs five weeks ago, "Sam Altman".
https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=501423&post_id=169487861&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1l3a85&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Not sure what's worse. The trump administration taking an influential role in AI or private industry left to their own devices.
No good choice here, Steve.
Interesting, but perhaps the ONLY stories reported (semi-)accurately across the board may be those of immigration snatching horrors.
Fox assumed their viewers would LOVE stories about an Iranian woman, guiltless of any crime while in America for 47 years, then grabbed while in her own yard. What's not for heartless xenophobes to love?
A lot, apparently.
It seems that even many Foxers haven't embraced the "Trump as Savior with America as white heaven" concept as fully as was expected.
I hope those same people never hear the word "Epstein"...
I would never want to feel that way. I cherish my empathy and caring soul. Not always the easiest route but I live with myself and like me.
Thank you Barb for your beautiful comment. I can live with myself too and like my empathy and caring soul as well.
Kerry, I bet you really don't wish you could be like those unfeeling folks. They have made a choice that whatever they do, someone else will clean up after them because they are so special; they're not. We could wish for better than what we are now facing, but not that we feel nothing for the needs and suffering of others. That would be such an empty life I don't even want to imagine it. I do see it however every single time Trump, Miller, Vought, Musk, and the rest of that corrupt crew is heard, interviewed, or given attention they do not deserve, to distract us from what they are doing to us and this world we share. It seems throughout the world right now, that group of creeps is gaining ascendence, but I do hope people will realize they have nothing to offer anyone but rich men whose souls are dead or nearly so.
Ruth, maybe we should organize a contest for the search of JD Vance's soul. Back in 2016 he warned voters that Trump was leading them into a "dark place." Not long afterwards he joined Trump. Clearly, Vance lost his soul at about that time. What prize should we offer to whoever finds Vance's soul? Clue: ask the priest of the church Vance attends (Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019).
It’s really simple. In the Christian Nationalist Bible the only beings with souls are Republicans, wealthy people, or the powerful. … including their wives and children.
The term is "sociopathy". It is a personality disorder. No cure. I don't think you would want to live like them. Donald Trump is the poster boy for sociopathy. And I do mean BOY. His "personal lawyer", Emil Evil Bove is another specimen.
magas want that word: "conscience" removed from the dictionary...already gone from their lives.
Cockroaches will always inhabit the earth. But we always must try to keep them out of our houses.
Your “civilization” - such as it is - was ruined long before I came along.
You ain’t pinning this on me, pal.
If the shoe fits, wear it. If not, then move along and leave it for others.
Don’t tell me what to do.
Ditto.
Well, how about this, then? Fuck off. Is that better?
It fits what I expected as your response.
Mommadillo, OMG! What a thin skin you have! Telling folks to "f off" is so childish because it means the other person has offered you something you don't want to face. Sad! I think you could handle it, though, if you stop for a moment and hear the person's POV, then share your own if it is based on fact/reason.
Is anyone “ pinning” this on you? Paranoid much? And whose “civilization” is it…
You owe your life to civilization, no matter how imperfect and unjust it may be. Cherish it!
I give it all the respect a bunch of monkeys with delusions of grandeur deserves. More, really.
Oh, so you want one too? Screw that. I’m gonna start charging.
Fantastic! Go Kerry Truchero. Realistic wisdom from a young head!
I’m a septuagenarian. 😃
It must be the Mariachi Hat!
It’s Emiliano Zapata
Kerry, I'm with you. I am appalled to see our country governed by a cruel, vindictive, lying wouldbe autocrat. He has surrounded himself with incompetent, lying sycophants. He has also surrounded himself with advisors who are as cruel as he is. I don't need to name any of these individuals; you know who they are.
His loyal supporters are as cruel and ugly as he is. I never thought I would see a presidential candidate or a president who would mock the disabled or denigrate a war hero. His loyal supporters laugh and cheer! I'm afraid we are becoming a sick country or, we already are there.
Of all the painful things that have happened to me in my life, and I have been more fortunate than most, one of the worst is the destruction of my faith in the basic intelligence and goodness of the American people. Of course, many, many millions are outside that grouping. But I long assumed that an ample majority would never allow our politics to descend to this level. And I'm holding my breath as to what depth of descent will still be tolerated - or cheered!
I’ve often wondered how people approach the calculus you just described; I agree with you, by the way. But I think it’s this oddly benign and ignorant computation that essentially boils down to, “it’d be nice if we could help everyone, but we can’t so my responsibility is to protect my family/the people I care about.” And you’d be surprised what people can tolerate once they don that lens
Problem is we are all being abused by the wealthy who buy politicians who pass laws to give them even more wealth! We must learn all we can so we can get together to vote these people out!! Ordinary people are not being represented. Read Robert Reich’s books: Coming up Short to learn how this latest scam is set up!!
But being a politician in today's world means not worrying about having a conscience... or caring about anyone other than yourself. Such is out life, and such is our darkening future.
Apparently.
I agree completely and I know too many people who just look away and go about their business don’t know what to do and it’s too painful to even think about.
Hi Kerry,
People's responses DO matter.
I posted recently on the topic. I hope that it might be useful to you and others when they see and reflect on bullying behavior.
https://longcovidjourney2wellness.substack.com/p/bullying
Collective action resource ☺️ Be loud!!
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Megan, your spreadsheet is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for all the work you do to keep this updated. I have used it myself, and I have shared it with the people in my postcard writing group. It’s a very easy way to know how to approach legislators without having to look up all the information yourself. It’s a monumental task. I commend you for doing this work for the rest of us. You are a true patriot, and your work is valuable. I know everyone here would agree with that. Thank you again for all that you do, and all that you do in such a positive way.
Thank you so much for your kind words Donna. And thank you for having a postcard writing group! Way to go!
Thanks for posting--that is extremely helpful!
You’re welcome! Thanks for speaking up right now!
Professor Reich: sadly, the age of bullies began when i was a child. i was relentlessly bullied at school. i could never figure out how to make that stop (hitting back ended up with a dogpile of the bully's friends sitting on me, face down on the playground, all recess). at home, my parents joined the bullying. could i do anything to escape? well, i could run away. and so i did. often. but then the parental units enlisted the police in their bullying scheme: i was locked up in juvenile hall more than once.
that said, i tried to be a decent kid, and now, a decent adult, but is this the answer? putin is murdering thousands of ukrainians because he wants to steal their homeland, their culture and wipe out their language, and they are fighting back, but ... still the murders of the ukrainians continue unabated.
netanyahu is murdering and starving thousands of palestiniains in gaza because he wants to steal their homeland, and wipe out their culture and language, so he and his goons can build a waterfront resort on their land and no one does anything but stand around, watching, twiddling their thumbs, and still ... the murders of the palestinans continues unabated.
i watch all this, send money where and when i can to help, but i am sick of these evil people in power. it's horrifying. and it makes me feel, AGAIN, like that helpless kid that i once was.
GrrlScientist, it makes me so sad to know of the pain you have endured in your lifetime. From your comments on this substack, I find you to be so intelligent and your comments are very enlightening. I would wager that bullies are in just about every person's memories of their childhoods. It must have been doubly hard to endure it not just at school but at home as well! You are a decent, kind human being, GrrlScientist, and don't ever doubt that. Please know that putin, netanyahu and the orange man will lose in the end and I say that with 100% certainty. Why? Because their kind of evil and cruelty can never last. It's like what they say about cornered animals. When we all get enough, we come out swinging and it is NOT pleasant! Your contributions are helping. Keep up the fight, GrrlScientist, and know that I've got your back!
Oh, Peggy, you expressed that so beautifully, and yes, we all care and hurt in knowing anyone is being or has been bullied, and we especially care about and appreciate GrrrScientist. I love reading your encouragement that the bullies will not last. Thank you for all you do!
Thank you, JP4M!
Grrlscientist, I am so very sorry you had such horrific, totally dispicable and undue treatment in earlier years! You are a gem for being a caring person, your dedicated work,and especially for the way you have come through to the present time, recognizing your self-worth and helping other people. I am sure I am not alone in appreciating your kindness and the good things you do by sharing here and other places online, as you help make the world a better place! Thank you.
Well said! 100% agree!
I feel that too. I still cannot abide a bully or keep my mouth shut in the presence of one. Karma demands the crimes of Netanyahu and Putin be paid for ... hopefully in this lifetime.
Thanks, GrrlScientist, and Peggy too, for your compassion. I'm with you. We can only do so much on this website, except to keep it clean, passionate, supportive and
Honest. We do the best we can in the rest of our lives, myself as an Artist/musician, and always worked with young people. I believe in them. We must.
Hey Robert - i ordered your new book! Lookin' forward. 💕🌈
Your comment about putin immediately made me think of trump and his minions. I’d say sending undocumented immigrants to Sudan is on par with murdering them. They were returned but the intent was there. And how about alligator Alcatraz? Living in mosquito infested tents in a swamp in unendurable heat. Or dying in ICE custody. They seems pretty similar to me.
Yespat, I see that person’s intent as you stated it. I wish we could find a way to help each person immediately and end the cruelty, the hatreds, and the disrespect for life.
It's human trafficking by the UN definition: "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit."
Trump and his vile cronies profit by abusing their power to cheer on their violent base, and the companies providing the prisons and transports all profit (no doubt with massive kickbacks going to Don the Con and pals).
While the United States status on the UN security council might block UN resolutions to that effect, it can't stop individual nations or the EU from drawing the conclusion and implementing appropriate policies, like travel warnings and sanctions.
GrrlScientist - I always read your comments and I think you turned out pretty great!
This rings so true to me. Once one bully smells blood in the water my experience in this lifetime is that other bullies come in to support them and more often than not most others choose to be ‘objective’, which simply translates as complicit in such criminal behaviour. The social pressure to conform to our Winner/Loser mass culture brutalises many through the fear and shame of ‘standing out’ from or against social convention. So that once bullying becomes normalised in the highest circles of ruling class power the majority will just copy their ‘betters’. Of course, any abuse of power crime against any other individual should be recognised as a crime against all of us in a shared civil society. A new collective response could do worse than using this simple truth as a founding principle.
Dear Grrl: I was bullied too. In school but fortunately not at home. Then came the state that counted me as meat for canon in its colonial wars. And I did like you and “voted with my feet”.
I chose a different part of EU that is closer to Ukraine and that left me in a state of mind when I saw it’s invasion coming. In the meantime there where all the tragedies in Africa, no less in those ex-colonies in whose domination I refused to collaborate. And that’s when I was anew made aware of Gaza. It shattered me.
Fortunately I was finding a way out of this depressing state when your President came to power again. I have a distinct dislike for the person in question and have long asked myself how I could possibly relate to all this abuse.
This is the background that I found necessary to go on to tell you that I now see those men as bringing an advancement in human development.
Most certainly not by their design but on the contrary totally against their plans.
I am aware of two things: first, the immense price paid by billions of humans as well as non-humans up to literally the very bones of the planet for this development to be brought about.
Secondly, of the necessity of a device that makes this Apollonian distancing possible. For me, the fact that I am retired and live in a country in peace since 1814 is a fundamental part of that device.
Furthermore I wonder if the bullying is increasing or if it’s more intolerable. You see, when I was dealing with this matter as a teenager and talking with members of the regime about the part they played on it, it became apparent that several of them and many more of their wives and children, my friends, did not flinch with the same things that I did. And now all of them and their friends, employees, colleagues, everybody they know and heard about as been carried by the flows of change that is impossible to ignore.
That’s progress. Payed for in blood, suffering and debt of all sorts.
But it’s progress.
“Progress is progress,”, although I don’t know who said it first. Thank you, GrrrlScientist. We certainly need more progress, more peace, more recognition of needs and of what is right, and more caring. Like one song I have mentioned before says, “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, not just for you and me, but for everyone.” That song made sense when I first heard it, long ago, and now it seems more crucial than ever.
Agent Orange continues ignoring Russia’s role in attacking civilians and continuing to arm Israel with weapons to attack Gaza and Iran. After our beautiful raid on Iran are we of now at war with them? I doubt that anything he does will result in a Nobel Prize in the face of these actions.
Interesting. I often picked on bullies. I was fearless. When the need arose.
I could use a friend like that.
I only got my butt kicked once. A Black fellow student out boxed me and I was convinced that every Black kid could fight like that, lol. Man his fists came at me so fast. He must have been training in Golden Gloves boxing.
I'm usually the one sticking up for other people. I might faint if a man ever stuck up for me. I usually get " I'm pretty sure you can handle this." I can, but it would be nice, is all I'm saying.
This is a diagnostic of democratic erosion and the normalization of institutional cruelty. It catalogs a pattern: when concentrated power escapes meaningful accountability—whether wielded by political leaders, corporations, or media voices—the guardrails that define a civil society begin to buckle.
The core assertion isn’t partisan. It’s structural. Abuses cited here—war crimes, erosion of due process, economic exploitation, suppression of rights—aren’t merely excesses of individuals. They reflect systemic breakdowns where legal, ethical, and democratic constraints no longer deter impunity.
Leading a moral life in such a climate is reframed as a collective, civic obligation. It requires restoring accountability, protecting the vulnerable, and rejecting apathy. Not because it’s left or right. Because without that resistance, the distinction between governance and brute force dissolves.
Hear! Hear!
Exactly!
Professor Reich,
"Trump is not the cause. He’s the culmination." Truer words have never been spoken. He is just the perfect poster child for this moment.
He could resign tomorrow after getting caught cheating at golf again. But we'd still be left with the rot.
I will try to keep my chin up.
8d, I can't, and won't, argue with your conclusions of his personal responsibility. I'm from a state where we knew him waaaaay before he was on "The Apprentice" and way before the the 2016 election. And we have known all along he was not a decent human being. He illegally redlined mortgage applicants and renters, failed to pay contractors, (including mom and pop companies). Multiple bankruptcies. Couldn't figure out how to make money in the casino business (?!) Inflated or deflated his monetary worth to get fraud loans. I will leave alone the serial cheating on spouses.
What I'm saying, even if he leaves in the next hour, there's cleanup to do.
1. You did not go off topic.
2. And I'm glad you believe in the goodness of most people. And I know he's a festering, fly-laden piece of shit
3. Our system was designed to prevent these abuses. But the American Constitution is still just a piece of paper. It can still be torn apart by those that betray their oaths.
4. Hey, have a great day! I think it may be noon now near you.
It's all harder in a set of societies tacitly dominated by an unspoken notion that hierarchy is essential to all human living-- who rules whom, who merits more than whom. It means that struggle always gets understood as a scramble to climb the ranks-- and that often that's the only way people can perceive to struggle.
Bullying is of course both status claim and status abuse.
That it is hierarchy is a silent understanding makes it more powerful. So we can label it briefly, and talk about non-hierarchical relationship while we enact egalitarian society and struggle for it.
Mary Ann, you are one of very few to understand this key force in the 'divine' plan of all mammalian societies - the competition for Status, Prestige & Hierarchy, likely for the right to reproduce (Darwin's "survival of the fittest").
I learned this on a cbc.ca/ideas radio show ~30years ago asking sociologists, What causes longevity?
I now look at everyone -leaders, workers, friends, family- to evaluate their personal method of gaining Status.
What's Yours ?
Methinks mine is to appear wise.
I gain status by nurturing others.
There was a time when old age conferred status. Why? Because the old usually were more knowledgeable and wiser. No more. Knowledge can be translated into power, the ultimate status giver.
A very true observation on our obsession with hierarchy.
Something that I've always found curious is why do societies that function democratically still choose to appoint a single person as a leader, and grant that person significant individual power?
I suspect that a couple of factors are involved. (I'm not saying that it's all down to these two factors.)
1. Genuine internalization of network communication and decision-making costs-- which get exhausted earlier than the power gets as consolidated as it typically is.
2. Human laziness and reluctance to pay attention.
because the buck has to stop with someone
You wrote: 'Putin and Netanyahu are war criminals whose criminality must be stopped. Trump is a dictator who must be deposed.' but Trump is a war criminal too, Trump ordered the most air attacks from any president.
A most excellent post today, Professor Reich! Every single thing you wrote about is such powerful truth! I have always loathed a bully since I was a young girl in elementary school. On the playground one day, two boys were picking on this little dog. When I saw them teasing and poking and laughing at that little dog's terror, I became so angry! I didn't stop or think. I just exploded on both of them! I gave them everything I could. I just started hitting, pushing and shoving and screaming 'NO' at the top of my lungs! The teacher pulled me off and all three of us went to the principal's office. I do remember crying and telling the principal they were hurting a little dog. Ever since then, when I encounter a bully, that rage I felt back then comes sweeping to the front again. I've learned not to let it take over; however, it does help me in this fight, this resistance. I refuse to let a bully strike terror in my heart! The orange man is a coward. He is vulgar, hateful, spiteful and full of resentment. He takes those feelings out on everyone. He does not care about America or anything else except satisfying his need for revenge and chaos. Every single day when my feet hit the floor, I grab my coffee and begin my work writing letters, postcards, signing petition after petition, making phone call after phone call. I will not stop until we have gotten every single one of those bullies out of our government! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Applause. Same. Middle school, group of athletes abusing a 7th grader outside boys room, wedges and a threatened swirlie. The were dragging him screaming into the restroom and I shouted No and reminded the group of my family relation to one of the counseling staff and vice principal. They dropped the child and I thought it was over. Next day walking to the same class, as I turned the corner I was grabbed and pulled behind a locker, by friends, thankfully. They bully and his minions made it clear today was my turn, I would get payback for stopping their fun. Don't go down the hall they begged, wait here for the teacher.
Fuck that. I don't hide or cower. And if they had water, I had a weapon too. I had shelled sunflower seeds. Dumped the entire bag, meant for a walk home snack, in my mouth and let the salt do it's thing.
Stepped into the hall and started my long walk ... shoot out at the OK corral with out the tumbleweeds. Bully and his jock friends behind him on one side, me with girls, needs and the rest of us behind me. Step by step we walked the hall, coming face to face. I could see his arrogant grin and water trickling out the side of his mouth. I anticipated a shower ... but he spit all over my shoes instead, suede Roots. He lifted his head in triumph, just long enough to get machine gunned by my now slimy mouthful of seeds.
He screamed 'she spat at me' and ran away to his muscled cohort. Battle over ... for that day ay least. He hounded me for the next four years but I never saw him touch an underclassmen again.
Kudos, Jenn! When people think they don't have the courage to stand up to a bully, I usually tell them to wait and see what happens when a bully starts in on them. It is amazing to many how they do react. Bullies are cowards who use false bravado along with tag-along sycophants to harass and intimidate those who they perceive as weaker and can't or won't fight back. The thing is, when you are backed into a corner, your body takes over with the 'fight or flight' syndrome. Whichever you choose to do is entirely up to you. I had to laugh at the thought of that bully screaming that you spit at him and ran for cover! When a bully cowers or runs, his sycophants tend to see him in a totally different light!
Too much power in too few hands exposes us all to the weaknesses and frailties of the few. Like a bundle of sticks, the group is stronger for their shared bond.
Yes, of course, Robert. I say again: We must fight without giving up. As Tennyson says at the end of his great poem "Ulysses": "To strive,, to seek, to find, and not to yield." He is speaking of Ulysses embarking upon one last great quest, and he knows not how it will end. But we must do all he says in that last line, not yielding. Trump is so awful that he has to meet his downfall soon. We must look for all the ways we can of sustaining people whose support has been cut off, and punish those responsible. We must oppose the stated determination of many Republicans to employ only White American-born people for jobs; their hideous racism and false patriotism are obvious. We must not treat any immigrant like a criminal, but as a friend; few indeed of them have done any wrong, nor will they. We must sustain the people Trump wants to jail or deport or starve. Onward!
Thank you, Carol, for those lines. Ulysses is a wonderful image for us to think on. And our work is surely, right now, doing all we can to alleviate the suffering. Every day we creep one day closer to the midterms.
'This isn’t a matter of “left” or “right.' How true.
And France separated church and state in 1905. Good thing.
I was raised from birth in north Texas that if you see wrong you say something. It worked when I was 6 against kids who were being cruel to a classmate, and they were shamed and joined me to help instead. And it damn well works now. Each person standing up becomes a wave. And that’s what we as individuals should do. Not a call against this party or that a call for basic kindness that people on both sides actually agree with. That’ll be a tsunami
Yes! Lauramac - basic kindness. The tsunami is coming ....
Project 2026
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (Official Audio)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVhn1edWaDA
Win the Senate and House, Impeach and Prosecute
ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE!!!!!
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
And when MAGA Republicans are destroying your country and the rest of the world, don't pile on the Democrats for not being perfect! NYT is full of articles about what's wrong with the Democrats, and that blood sport seems to be echoed all over (Dr. Reich's articles excepted). The people who should be fighting Republicans have turned against their best hope. They think that the Democratic Party is deeply flawed, and if they had done things differently, they would have won the election. WAKE UP! The people voted for Trumpublicans, not the Democrats. Destroying the credibility of the Democrats is part of the problem, not part of the solution. If you were in Nazi-occupied France, do you think the best way forward would be to dump on the Resistance? If you wanted to live a moral life, you would join them, not help to destroy them.
Well said, Andrew!
Yours is an expert, no-holds-barred description of the new world we are confronted with, and by we I mean the unbilionaires and the unempowered constutuents of insane narcissitic power-hungry politicians and would-be kings. But they too will have their heinous acts recorded for posterity and their names listed among the villains of humanity like Nero, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, etc. We in the meantime are the witnesses, and the generations who follow us will be, we hope, even more enlightened by the results of man's inhumanity.
Humans are innately fallible. I say this not to excuse fallibility, but to point out that it's baked into us. We all have both good and evil within us. The role of civilization (IMO) is to get us to use our good sides to help each other thrive, and to control our bad sides so we can accomplish that.
The situation we now face reminds me of a Star Trek (original version) episode in which Captain Kirk was split in two by the transporter (IIRC). The split completely separated his good side from his bad side. The good side became overwhelmingly compassionate, kind, indecisive when faced with difficult decisions, and, well, weak.
The bad side became intolerant, violent, loud, angry, whiny (prescient, wasn't it?), and, well, weak. The problem was that the good side was so compassionate and kind that it struggled to deal with the bad side. It wanted to empathize with the bad side, while the bad side only wanted to win. But the stark point of the story was that neither side was strong without the other side. Eventually this was all worked out (in the 43 minute window between commercial breaks), and the good side won with kindness and love. But winning meant embracing the evil side, rejoining with it, and controlling it. It was a remarkable story, really.
But this was a TV show (by Gene Roddenberry, who had some rather unpleasant faults of his own), and life isn't a TV show.
The MAGA leaders who are attempting to wipe out empathy, kindness, fairness, equality, justice, and truth are NOT going to be won over with love and kindness. They will not give up without a fight. And right now they have a massive arsenal, and they have already declared war on the American people. They are already committing violence against immigrants and there is no reason to believe they won't spread their violence to all American citizens. It will cost us more than money, time, protests, elections, and good intentions to win this battle.