The supreme Court has saddled this country with decisions that imperil our democracy. Citizens United ended any attempt to control political spending. The Heller decision unleashed a flood of guns into the country which has destroyed the peace and security we used to enjoy. The Dobbs decision has killed women. God save our country from this Supreme Court.
Couldn't be stated any better. Don't count on the supernatural to intervene in our petty contretemps on this cosmic grain of sand. It is narcissistic and anthropocentric - anachronisms in this age of technological enlightenment - to think that the Creator of Universes dallies with what in the whole scheme of things are such trivialities. The only time prayer works is when it changes people enough to prod them to action.
"The Creator" focuses on actual love. Mother Teresa is my guru: she invites people who want to help, to "come and see ... what there is to do ... and do it." I see a lot to do. "My thugs" at Maxey MI gave me a career.
The title of this morning’s Coffee Klatch is “The Billionaire Takeover of America?” and I would say emphatically “YES!” Behind all of the ills we are discussing there is something powering the decline of functional democracy. Unless called out, it lies hidden powering all of the dysfunction. It is not Donald Trump, it is not the crazy ultra-right members of the Republican party and it is not the unfortunate ignorant people who ingest and support all of the lies and misinformation. Quietly, in the background it is the billionaire class that benefits from the chaos. Only a few of them constantly make the news, but there at least 600 others not in the news but who work quietly and effectively behind the scenes.
Is this the “Second Gilded Age?” If it is then we must consider seriously how the first gilded age ended in The Great Depression. Only after that catastrophic collapse of Capitalism were reforms instituted that might control rampant and reckless capitalism only to have the carefully crafted “guardrails” dismantled. Are we doomed to repeat the cycle of boom and bust?
With all of the purchasing power of the population being concentrated into the pockets of these 600 billionaires soon the consumers will run out of purchasing power and the house of cards can then again crumble. We need to replace the ancient defective system of capitalism with something better that insures that all have sufficient purchasing power for food, clothing, appropriate housing, excellent medical care and a full education before any wealth accumulation is permitted. Communism has failed, and Socialism is inadequate as it only deals with a controlled economy but we have little knowledge of a new paradigm for effective governance. We must create and implement a new system that will support rational distribution of resources and insures that citizens will always have an equal say in decision making and governance. One such innovative system is “Economic Democracy” and it deserves our careful study and consideration.
Marc Nevas: I want consumers to form a union like the corporations obviously have. I know how impossible it will be to get us consumers to act in one voice, but, I really want the voice of the consumer to become the loudest, most powerful one.
Unions help with this, up to the point they represent a different power consolidation- then you still have the issue of governance- within unions. Jimmy Hoffa rip please!
One needs to think out of the box about new governance options, necessities, and hazards in a fast, high risk, virtual and disinformed age.
(segue)
Democracy is always an unstable equilibrium; but the instability is on steroids now.
I think we need some moderation of unlimited amplification and acceleration of "if it BLEEDS IT LEADS" media, and "disinfotainment" in general. (Need a word for it to talk about it efficiently.)
1776 (1790?) Free speech applied to one voice in a room, village square, town hall, or auditorium if you’ve established the credentials to draw the crowd.
But today, perhaps an internet driving test and ID should be a prerequisite to do what we do here - a license that can be given ‘points’, revoked/qualified for an interval, for reckless driving - such as the coup I advocated elsewhere on this stack. (One only tests the waters while one thinks one can still get out.)
But free speech should never apply to computer mass-produced, internet globally-distributed, and AI personally-targeted, disinfotainment!
AI ‘free speech’ is the bastard child of 1$ =1vote Citizens United (et al), and is the instrument of the end of all your freedoms.
I absolutely agree! The resources of the world are for every creature, plant, bacterium and all living things. The planet does not revolve around us just like the sun doesn’t revolve around us.
On a totally separate note I would like to call out Heather on a couple of comments she made in Saturday’s Klatch. Heather, you referred to Trump and his followers as “disgusting” and “horrific”, and while I completely agree, I firmly believe that we need to keep our discourse at a higher level. It reminded me of when Hillary referred to Trump supporters as “those deplorables.”
I am a nurse, and have worked in jails and taken care of rapists, murderers, pedophiles and all manner of people who have committed horrible crimes. I have no idea what brought them to the point where they would do such things, so I treat them with as much dignity and respect as any other patient that, as far as I know, are law abiding citizens. Same goes for Trump and his supporters. I have no idea why they believe in him, but calling them out, on such a public forum, as disgusting and horrific does not serve the conversation well, but it does serve to bring you down to a very in appropriate base level. Stand above the fray Heather. You are better than that.
Acknowledging that there currently exists no alternate economic system with widespread “field testing,” how anyone imagines capitalism is repairable is beyond me. Have we not already re-confirmed that human nature being what it is, a method of distribution that so limitlessly rewards greed is doomed to end us up right where we are. Greed is not a bug of capitalism but it’s crucial feature. It is far past time to contemplate and test and then implement a system or systems that are scalable while still not incentivizing greed, because that appears to be a feature—and a bug-of humanity.
I agree but we don’t have to wait for a catastrophic collapse of Capitalism. Our first antitrust law was written in 1890 followed by laws in 1914. Perhaps we could do a better job of enforcement (Sinclair Media).
Read Doughnut Economics: 7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist. The inside of the doughnut is a regenerative and distributive economy that is a safe and just space for humanity. The doughnut hole is a shortfall of water, food, health ,energy, education, income & work, peace & justice, social equity, political voice, gender equality, housing and networks. Overshooting the doughnut results in climate change, ozone depletion, air pollution, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, chemical pollution, nitrogen & phosphorus loading, freshwater withdrawals and land conversion. Amsterdam has already adopted a Doughnut Economics plan.
The first step is electing a Democratic president and Congress.
Have listened to the audible blurb on Amazon. I really enjoyed Macro, and her ideas sound very intriguing, & it was well received by readers…and Like it when the author reads her own book, the cadences are right! May note more in a future thread.
I signed up to volunteer for field team 6 but haven't heard from them.
I think a Constitutional Amendment is the best bet because most people understand that it is ludicrous that corporations are the same as people and would should have the rights of people and that money equals speech. A movement can be created that most people will support.
Full disclosure won't work because most working people don't take the time to follow the news that well, don't have the time to find out where the money comes from, and don't understand the implications anyway.
And a two-thirds majority of each house of Congress before that.
What red states, supported by billionaires, are currently trying to do is to get the legislatures of two-thirds of the states to apply for a constitutional convention under Article V to amend the Constitution without Congress in many, unknown ways. They are not too far away from the number of states they need. That is a scary thought. I can imagine, for example, an amendment declaring life begins at conception and another repealing the First Amendment Establishment Clause. They would still need three fourths of the states to pass any amendment, so your votes for state legislators are very important.
Good point. But a movement for an amendment to get big money out of politics would put the issue on the table for the people to examine and debate. A voter could ask their representative, "why are you for big money in politics? what's in it for you?"
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling and other related cases, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
Move to Amend is a citizens’ initiative to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling that corporations have the rights of people. In February 2024 the Move to Amend petition had more than 500,000 signatures.
Seems you believe you live in a democracy. Last (27th) Constitutional Amendment was passed in 1992, 202 years after it was proposed. It was about congressional salaries.
I believe you live in a plutocratic oligarchy, and that both election and legislative votes are for sale to those who buy the most and most effective media (disinfotainment) and lawyers. And congresspersons. And judges. And tfg.
Please, Gloria, read Walter Scheidel’s, “The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century“.
Not scary. 3/4ths of states must pass any convention amendments.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Everyone who thinks a new constitutional amendment is the solution, please write here what you believe is the way to get a new constitutional amendment. Write how probable you believe this to be. Write how old you are. Write whether you think you will see your dream come true. Write whether you think the earth will survive until your dream comes true. Show your reasoning,
At age 94 there is no possibility that any redress to the issue of Citizens United will happen in my lifetime. I am not sanguine it will happen in the lifetime of my grandchildren either. As for the earth, I can only hope enough people will realize the threats to our existence need to be addressed. before it's too late.
Hey Jean! Sadly, I'm sure all our grandchildren WILL realize it.
It's never too late for life, but human tech (and power consolidations) will peak within our children's lives - looking at extinction rates, ocean death, toxic soil, warming, democratization of WMD instead of good governance, starvation, etc., as drivers of mass migrations and societal collapse.
The species? depends on whether we dare solve for a soft landing, or prefer to flex, or to prove someone wrong.
Actually, think we're about ready for a (normal, not manly) female leader.
Like Navalny, we take action because it is the right thing to do.
Oligarchy is just as bad for the earth’s survival as it is for the survival of democracy. As “Daring Democracy” by Frances Moore Lappe & Adam Eichen says, it’s a movement of movements supporting each other. Solidarity!
Martha, at 75 years old, the only way I can see to permanently remove corporate interests from our politics is by constitutional amendment, however likely it is to ever be seen. We can get a different supreme court in the meantime, by expanding the membership or either removing or assassinating some, but their decisions can be overturned. At my age I've grown used to not seeing what I plant grow to fruition. I'm fine with that now.
It's a political move for sure, and probably inappropriate for the Justice Dept to act on it for that reason alone. I do, however, also find it inappropriate for justices to serve until they die of old age without any annual review of their capabilities by an independant board of health. They are our final legal voice; there's no higher court. They need to be completely up to it.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Congress is broken and will not pass an Amendment.
We need a Constitutional Convention called by states.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Full disclosure first, so everyone can see what they’re doing and how they do it. That would disempower them enough that we could get a Constitutional amendment passed.
My sentiments exactly. Add that as a senior citizen with health conditions I fear losing Social Security to pay billionaires’ should-be taxes. I love life, but am distant from family members, my husband had bad treatment & delays leading to one-quarter heart death. His head ♥️ doc stunned he, lifelong athlete, is not on oxygen 24/7, but cycling 🚴 in Michigan when weather permits, perhaps just over half days in year. 6000 miles since 2021 Cmas in Kulu. While our future is uncertain, former ADA resident
B. DeVos employed a🏴☠️yacht scheduler. Don’t know how many to keep track of, nor how many homes, security. Less security bc her kids had one thru college or more since SecEd?
Thanks for the like. As a former teacher for preK-12 , nearly a decade as Family Literacy which grew to 1400+ families. Also a grant writer , best grant was to buy and outfit a large van as bookmobiles for 26 sites & buying books from nearby Scholastic warehouse sales by the skid.
I am not a betting person but think I would win against anyone who said that Betsy stepped over a public school threshold b4 her cabinet appointment (only knew Christian schools for her families and the charter schools they fund that undermine public school education hereabouts).
Known members of the Supreme Court of the United States have obviously sealed their fate for all posterity by opposing the majority will of the people and their failing to resist to be corrupted. Also, to mention, by not excluding themselves when engaged in an obvious compromise in decision making when representing the American people.
I picked other because the last three choices were all good. We definitely need to get rid of Citizens United, get rid of the justices on the Supreme Court who are corrupted and have caused Americans to lose respect and faith, and full disclosure and transparency with money going to our politicians. Until, we get a handle on the fact that money and corporations are NOT in fact, people, our country will continue to spiral out of control. Listening to the Coffee Klatch this morning, I began to feel so helpless!! Not because of Professor Reich or Ms. Lofthouse but because it seems sometimes that the little orange man and all the evil people are absolutely getting away with their crap!! For every step we take in cleaning up the corruption, it seems they knock us back three!!! Like Professor Reich, I am old enough to remember when politicians had a sense of decorum, class, and dignity to handle losing and the peaceful transfer of power. One spoiled rotten arse-hole took that away and continues to stomp his little toddler feet all over our Democracy!!! We are teaching our children that if you don't win, then you lie, cheat and scream unfair at the top of your voice to get your way. That's some kind of lesson to be teaching our children!! Instead of teaching how to lose gracefully, we're teaching them how to lie, cheat, and steal to win at all costs!!! How did this happen? What the hell has happened to our country? It seems sometimes that I blinked and everything was out of control!! Were we so secure in our Democracy that we did not notice things changing? Professor Reich and Ms. Lofthouse talked about the poll where the response was the election decision would be taken to the streets. It is a scary thought. This TikTok business is also a little concerning. They have voted to ban it here in the United States. How? How? How? Some of these laws they are passing I honestly do not know how they will enforce them!!!! How are you going to check to see if every single person has stopped using TikTok?? How will you be able to enforce laws concerning abortion with every single woman in America?? How will you determine if a child is reading a banned book with every single child in America?? I don't know, I'm just sounding off.
And had babies thrown in cages and called our military losers and suckers and had his whole base laughing at his mocking of President Biden's stutter and talked about grabbing women in a not so nice place and.......oh Lordy! I need to stop now!
Deep breaths! Good things happened this week: Chuck Schumer called for new elections in Israel. Dick Cheney openly opposed the orange menace. Reaction to Senator Britt's response to the State of the Union is still widely the topic of comedy. Kamela Harris is gaining traction.
The Supreme Court has become totally corrupt. Most of them are proven liars and have been on the take for decades. This group decided that laws or ethics don’t apply to them. They think they are accountable to no one but they can decide who has babies, has a gun, gets to vote, gets to degrade our environment, and that profits are always more important than people. Yes, we need to take to the streets and show them they are accountable to us, the people. If they don’t listen they should resign or we will expand the court. They are Trumps court and I fear they will help him win the election.
Peggy, I’ve thought a lot about last Wednesday’s poll, and, while I’m as horrified as you by the prospect that disputes over the election could take to the streets, I am as much, if not more, fearful that only 10% voted “In the House.” That small percentage suggests, at least to me, that not enough of us are following what is happening now legally, if not ethically, to lay the groundwork for Trump and his allies to hold power whether or not they win enough votes.
As we speak, House Republicans are devising a plan not to seat newly-elected Democrats (permissible under House rules) before Jan 6, 2025 to retain their majority and Mike Johnson as Speaker when Congress meets to count the certified electors. The strategy is to challenge the legitimacy of enough votes to deprive Biden of the requisite 270 electoral votes to become president. House members, unlike in 2000, will have a plethora of Republican Senators who gladly will co-sign.
My point is that we have no institutional guardrails to prevent Congress from tossing the presidential election to the House, where Republicans control 25 House delegations, Democrats 23, and 2 (MN & NC) are tied, with each delegation getting 1 vote. Hence, though it’s no guarantee, it won’t be enough simply to retake the House, hold a Senate majority, and hold the White House. We will have to deliver an historically crushing defeat if we’re to have a shot at rescuing our democracy from the clutches of a monster who already has absorbed Congress and largely the judiciary.
As a final point, note I haven’t even mentioned how GOP-controlled state legislatures across the country continue to change state election rules to change who can be in charge, how votes are counted, and how they’re certified, let alone efforts underway to remove election officials who didn’t submit to directives in 2020 aimed at decertifying votes.
While I’m not prepared to presume the situation is hopeless, I am concerned that our grassroots engagement, as impactful as it is, has remained largely invisible to the public-at-large, many of whom believe our institutions are holding.
Barbara Jo, reading your comments only intensified my dread at what will happen once President Biden is reelected. If these republicans are deviously plotting to remain in power and not certify President Biden, then yes, I guess it will be taken to the streets because that abuse and willful cheating simply cannot be allowed to continue!! If not certifying because it is legal becomes the norm, we will have lost our Democracy for sure!
Peggy, To hold myself together, I don’t think about what will happen… I’m laser-focused on the nearly 8 months left to drive home what it would mean to lose our democracy and have our rights and freedoms ripped away.
For example, I frequently speak about a High Court that would ignore 50 years of settled precedent in Roe, and would overturn a fundamental right relied upon by tens of millions every year. Surely a court willing to do that with a protection, over and over again reaffirmed, would do it to other fundamental protections.
Paul, While the 3 liberal justices voted with the 6 conservatives to exclude states from removing federal candidates from their ballots, the liberals issued a dissent to the egregious expansion of the ruling that requires Congress to execute all disqualifications. It’s this heinous expansion that essentially has voided Section 3 from the 14th.
Barbara, but why wouldn't the states have the right to exclude insurrectionists from their ballots? doesn't the constitution apply to the states? it makes no sense to me that the court has the right to void a part of an amendment. it's especially ironic to me that all of the witnesses to j6 committee hearings were republicans, and all the coconspirators are republicans, and the law is being essentially used to shield them from accountability because they haven't been "convicted" yet. the 3 liberal justices should know better than to succumb to this judicial chicanery.
Mark, I agree. Democrats are well-behaved. We are also tolerant, compassionate, empathetic, and willing to discuss differences of opinion without shouting, intimidating, threatening or craziness. I would bet, though, if faced with the choice of defending our Democracy, we might have to not be so nice!!
Peggy, I think we’ve long passed that point and have failed to take EFFECTIVE definitive action.
Once you live in an oligarchy, a revolution is required for change , NOT votes.
One must level the playing field, as RR intimates, repeatedly. Bernie is a bit clearer. But I fear all of us are still too comfortable and civil and empathetic, to do the necessary.
The necessary would entail no chance of a tfg run or win.
The voters failed, congress failed to impeach, the special counsel failed to indict, the judiciary is failing to even try, much less convict, the suckered voters swell, … perhaps we should pray more?
Thank you, Stephanie! I think today is one of my slow fight days. I start to feel overwhelmed and begin to think those right-wing morons are going to take over!! That's when I shut everything down, go for a walk with my four-legged companion, work in my garden, go for a swim, and call family and friends. I'll be back in fighting form in no time!!
Me too! I agree with everything Peggy wrote and said! We also need to elect more progressive candidates, not just any old Democrats like Joe Manchin! Hey, I haven’t heard anything from him lately?
Lisa, we definitely need more progressive, younger, and female candidates! I just turned 75 myself, but I’m so tired of old males who are hesitant to tell it like it is. The less we hear from Manchin and his ilk the better.
Bernie Sanders tells it like it is! Do you really mean younger make politicians who cower in front if big money and trim their every utterance to court hardliners neo fascists who would never vote their way anyway!
OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED WITH A STACKED SCOTUS AFTER THE DEMOCRATS WIN 2024, assuming we get to an election, of course. Best of all case scenarios: lose a few more MAGA or simple GOP House Members and move quickly before replacements are sworn in. My dream 💭!
Agree, we have so many problems in terms of a responsive democracy: Supreme Court picks were due to electoral college, which in term was effected by other problems: gerrymandering, dark money, and a voting public uneducated about how government even works (for instance they think whomever is President is able to change policy without Congress). Then we had a President who promised "He alone can fix it" and lies about his successes (none) and failures (many). We're in a quagmire and it will be difficult to climb out. Meanwhile those with money seem content to let middle/lower classes fight it out. Even they don't see where this is headed: complete destruction of civility and a working society.
Blimey, David!! When you put it like that, I can't help but wonder if this train wreck will ever be worked out!! I only hope and pray that in November, America will decide not to let the little orange man back into the White House. If we think things are bad now, it will be nothing compared to that!!
Peggy, You are not just sounding off. You are hearing and seeing the facts. Letting it all appear outside yourself helps others to hear and see! Thank you!!
Rewrite The Constitution via a National convention. Ad Corporations are NOT People. Abortion is a right. If you can’t have abortions as a right get mandatory financial support to feed cloth and house every child born abolish the the Electorial college direct elections. Make buying a Supream court judges transparent by holding live on line bidding with the no corporation allowed to bid. Tax laws are universal meaning your total tax rate is equal through all income levels .
What the Supreme Court has decided is that America should be a Feudal System run by the ultra wealthy Aristocratic Overlords according to their dogma. The Citizens United decision paved the way for the takeover of our democracy. The common people are priced out of free speech and denied the truth. They are drowned out by the big money. The path to the destruction of our democracy is no accident.
My son co-founded American Promise. It's an organization devoted to bringing an Amendment to reform campaign finance. Nearly every solution to our myriad problems begins with getting money out of politics. https://americanpromise.net/
I totally agree!! Politicians should only receive any donations from their constituents and there should be a cap on how much. No wealthy billionaire muckety muck would be allowed to give more than $500.00 AND only to the politician running in that muckety muck's district. I'm old enough to remember how candidates walked around their districts shaking hands, talking to the people, kissing babies, and finding out what they could do once elected. Holding office was like teaching, firefighting, or policing, a calling not a moneymaker.
We don't have enough representives for the size of the population. Other countries have many times more per number of citizens. In 1929 the Permanent Apportionment Act became law setting the numer of representatives at 436.
If there isn't room in the Capitol for a more reasonable number of representatives, we should build a new Capitol, hopefully more in the middle of the country for convenience. Otherwise, we could use technology such as Zoom. A more reasonable number of representatives could possible solve the gerrymandering problem. It's rare that the current "Leo" courts do.
My son is currently the vp of a climate change non-profit, and he's initiating an action fund to enter the arena. He's a very busy guy, introducing a bill this week, and organizing ground forces for November in a few locales.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
America’s biggest corporations have been the marionette masters throughout the century, having Republican leadership dance to their continual parade of billionaires tax cuts at the expense of the middle class’s financial security.
This fervor to appease their donors demonstrates that the “family values” party doesn’t value families in the slightest - unless they are white and likely GOP voters. And that value is only in their gleeful susceptibility to manipulation.
In fact, all the GOP’s policies prove them to be #ProSTRIFE - even with 95% of their supporters. They are willing to inflict economic and physical harm if that furthers their goals.
They are not conservative, they are #CORPservative; in servitude to their corporate and billionaire donors. And now, well outside the bounds of popular opinion, they must dump democracy for #RepubloFascism.
And in doing so, all will see their willingness to squander America’s greatness to plunder the bottom 90%.
Yes, Daniel. Ever since the Citizens United decision #SCOTUS has put their big black thumb on the scales of democracy in favor of corporations and billionaires.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has made a brilliant contribution on how to move forward with cleaning up the mess left by a corrupted court. His analysis is that many decisions, e.g. Dobbs, Citizens' United, etc., are based on a "false facts" or made-up ideas about history. https://youtu.be/hFIq3LypWSw?si=ODD2QueFhO8LDMu8
Appellate legal processes are not designed to do fact finding. That is the job of the trial court and should be done at that level using the rules of evidence.
Expanding the court to perhaps 15 members, instituting term limits, and imposing a strict code of ethics would allow reconsideration of the numerous "false facts" cases through more neutral jurists.
When that starts to happen, things like the intended meaning of a "person" for equal protection as a natural person not a legal fiction come out. Also the true intent of the 2nd Amendment to protect slave patrols comes out. Textualism also goes into the waste can because its very intent is to open the door for false facts of historical fiction.
Getting to a better judiciary should be a key goal of electing the right people.
Whitehouse is the best. About 2:30 in the video he talks about in Citizens United the injustices stated that their decision rested upon their belief that campaign donations would be transparent to the public. Despite this being patently false, the court has not seen fit to revisit CU.
I vote other. Heather and Robert should be obsessive compulsive,
We can have all we want. First we have to win BIG. We have the capacity to overwhelm the forces of evil. In my state approximately 900,000 women, who heavily trend Democratic are unregistered,
Daniel, what would it take for the SCOTUS to make a decision that would reverse CU , knowing the implausibility of that any time soon?
Whitehouse is the best. About 2:30 in the video he talks about in Citizens United the injustices stated that their decision rested upon their belief that campaign donations would be transparent to the public. Despite this being patently false, the court has not seen fit to revisit CU.
I believe the cure for Citizens United is a blue Congress and a second Biden presidency. Reversing CU can be part of the next version of the Freedom to Vote Act.
Hopefully in the first week of January, Democrats will be in position to - and of the inclination to - send the filibuster to the dumpster of time. Of course, if Republicans sweep things using all the dirty tricks we know about and a few more that we don’t, then it will be democracy in the dumpster instead. #RepubliFascism will reign supreme and my Social Security benefits will instead be replaced by vouchers for gun manufacturers…
I volunteer. I just want to win. I started working with them in 2020. I've never seen anything like it. If I had the money, I'd fully fund them -- expand to every state. The statistics are compelling.
I've also been in a veteran's group through the DNC -- which targets a completely different demographic. I am the "not suckers or losers" guy. The "Trump stole from disabled vets" guy.
Whereas Field Team 6 is growing our base, out vet group takes on MAGATs and lumpen vets and military families. 16 million vets.
How did you find out who was unregistered? I am trying to find that information. My city clerk (Troy, MI) said I would have to pay for the registered list, they ‘don’t have unregistered information.’ And it would only be for Troy.
There is just no way to regulate this. We need an educated electorate. There will always be money out there to flood the airwaves and social media. The real effort needs to be to block lobbyists from using money and influence for pork barrel projects or favored rulings or to create laws that advantage certain groups unfairly. Dark money of that type is the real problem in my opinion.
Agreed. As a retired public school teacher (who had an excellent government class in high school), it is appalling that so many students don't understand even the basics of how government works. There are so many ignorant voters.
I believe that campaigning should be free as a public service and that way it would really be on the issues not money! JUST IMAGINE WHAT COULD BE DONE WITH THE MONEY INSTEAD!! Money for health care, money for Ukraine but not Israel, education etc. You get my point!
Bobs said it beautifully. Bernie sounds radical until people stop to think about his ideas.
Not stopping to think, not having the time nor inclination nor thinking skills makes Americans too dumb too reactionary for decent democratic decisions. A four-day work week would give more leisure time-free time for Americans to engage in civics. This coupled with better public education on civics would go a long way. Celebrating Democracy with a day off work-National Election Day every four years on the first Tuesday in November would be a good start, increasing the chances of making American Democracy more participatory.
At the hospital employees opted for 4, 10 hour shifts. They were not productive and were tired. I tried it but I couldn’t get my exercise in so reverted to 5, 8 hour shifts.
I don’t think that would work in the hospital where they struggle to pay their employees properly, particularly the non nurses.
4 10-hour shifts equal 40 hours not 32. Here you are making a case for more nurses more nurses' aides...public funded hospitals...better pay and working conditions all things Sanders would support.
I know. I am saying at the hospital, I don’t think it is feasible. Most hospitals not unionized. They also have “at will” policies, meaning they can fire you for whatever reason.
""The Billionaire takeover of America" is pretty much an insurrection! From Federalist Society judges on the Supreme Court and other courts to the former ,'president' who is running Congress through his sycophants. I say it's time for President Biden to invoke the Insurrection Act! They have telegraphed that they Intend to fight their way back into power, even if they lose in a landslide! They want to be dictators on day one, and plan to ride roughshod all over US with retribution! Why not defend US and Democracy while President Biden is still in office!?? They don't care if their policies are killing women and girls! That affects more than half of our population!
And yes, "WTRX" would be the Flint station's "call sign." (Stations east of the Mississippi are assigned "W" --and those west "K." -- after 1923.) There are about a dozen stations in the west that start with W.
In March of 64, a band from Liverpool would have been hitting the charts heavily. Motown was on the rise too. It was a fun time for music.
Professor Reich and Heather Lofthouse: your discussion of your first jobs has motivated me to tell you about my first job: i was a groom and exercise girl at the local racetrack. one of my horses was the winner of the governor's speed handicap -- a great source of pride for me at the time, despite the fact that i was most interested in longer distance races. this was the most interesting and enjoyable job i'd had before i got my graduate degree.
The supreme Court has saddled this country with decisions that imperil our democracy. Citizens United ended any attempt to control political spending. The Heller decision unleashed a flood of guns into the country which has destroyed the peace and security we used to enjoy. The Dobbs decision has killed women. God save our country from this Supreme Court.
Only PEOPLE can save a country. Nothing fails like prayer.
Couldn't be stated any better. Don't count on the supernatural to intervene in our petty contretemps on this cosmic grain of sand. It is narcissistic and anthropocentric - anachronisms in this age of technological enlightenment - to think that the Creator of Universes dallies with what in the whole scheme of things are such trivialities. The only time prayer works is when it changes people enough to prod them to action.
"The Creator" focuses on actual love. Mother Teresa is my guru: she invites people who want to help, to "come and see ... what there is to do ... and do it." I see a lot to do. "My thugs" at Maxey MI gave me a career.
👍🏼
Peter: people who share our goals are serving our need for love. I can't do anything without others.
A good book describing how the billionaire right wingers took over the court system is The Scheme by Sheldon Whitehouse.
Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator, is a great advocate for the people. Thank you for this reference. Plan to acquire and read.
on audio also
Sheldon Whitehouse is clearly one of my supporters.
Love Sheldon Whitehouse & Eric Swalwell & Katie Porter and others who take zero shit from these rescumliCons
The title of this morning’s Coffee Klatch is “The Billionaire Takeover of America?” and I would say emphatically “YES!” Behind all of the ills we are discussing there is something powering the decline of functional democracy. Unless called out, it lies hidden powering all of the dysfunction. It is not Donald Trump, it is not the crazy ultra-right members of the Republican party and it is not the unfortunate ignorant people who ingest and support all of the lies and misinformation. Quietly, in the background it is the billionaire class that benefits from the chaos. Only a few of them constantly make the news, but there at least 600 others not in the news but who work quietly and effectively behind the scenes.
Is this the “Second Gilded Age?” If it is then we must consider seriously how the first gilded age ended in The Great Depression. Only after that catastrophic collapse of Capitalism were reforms instituted that might control rampant and reckless capitalism only to have the carefully crafted “guardrails” dismantled. Are we doomed to repeat the cycle of boom and bust?
With all of the purchasing power of the population being concentrated into the pockets of these 600 billionaires soon the consumers will run out of purchasing power and the house of cards can then again crumble. We need to replace the ancient defective system of capitalism with something better that insures that all have sufficient purchasing power for food, clothing, appropriate housing, excellent medical care and a full education before any wealth accumulation is permitted. Communism has failed, and Socialism is inadequate as it only deals with a controlled economy but we have little knowledge of a new paradigm for effective governance. We must create and implement a new system that will support rational distribution of resources and insures that citizens will always have an equal say in decision making and governance. One such innovative system is “Economic Democracy” and it deserves our careful study and consideration.
Marc Nevas: I want consumers to form a union like the corporations obviously have. I know how impossible it will be to get us consumers to act in one voice, but, I really want the voice of the consumer to become the loudest, most powerful one.
We can always boycott. The table grape boycott worked for Chavez and Delores Huerta.
We could be boycotting companies that have raised prices above inflation. Inflation profiteering.
I boycotted table grapes for 6 years — including fruit cocktail which had table grapes. The boycott worked! Money talks.
Voter/worker Coherence is a big challenge.
Unions help with this, up to the point they represent a different power consolidation- then you still have the issue of governance- within unions. Jimmy Hoffa rip please!
One needs to think out of the box about new governance options, necessities, and hazards in a fast, high risk, virtual and disinformed age.
(segue)
Democracy is always an unstable equilibrium; but the instability is on steroids now.
I think we need some moderation of unlimited amplification and acceleration of "if it BLEEDS IT LEADS" media, and "disinfotainment" in general. (Need a word for it to talk about it efficiently.)
1776 (1790?) Free speech applied to one voice in a room, village square, town hall, or auditorium if you’ve established the credentials to draw the crowd.
But today, perhaps an internet driving test and ID should be a prerequisite to do what we do here - a license that can be given ‘points’, revoked/qualified for an interval, for reckless driving - such as the coup I advocated elsewhere on this stack. (One only tests the waters while one thinks one can still get out.)
But free speech should never apply to computer mass-produced, internet globally-distributed, and AI personally-targeted, disinfotainment!
AI ‘free speech’ is the bastard child of 1$ =1vote Citizens United (et al), and is the instrument of the end of all your freedoms.
I absolutely agree! The resources of the world are for every creature, plant, bacterium and all living things. The planet does not revolve around us just like the sun doesn’t revolve around us.
On a totally separate note I would like to call out Heather on a couple of comments she made in Saturday’s Klatch. Heather, you referred to Trump and his followers as “disgusting” and “horrific”, and while I completely agree, I firmly believe that we need to keep our discourse at a higher level. It reminded me of when Hillary referred to Trump supporters as “those deplorables.”
I am a nurse, and have worked in jails and taken care of rapists, murderers, pedophiles and all manner of people who have committed horrible crimes. I have no idea what brought them to the point where they would do such things, so I treat them with as much dignity and respect as any other patient that, as far as I know, are law abiding citizens. Same goes for Trump and his supporters. I have no idea why they believe in him, but calling them out, on such a public forum, as disgusting and horrific does not serve the conversation well, but it does serve to bring you down to a very in appropriate base level. Stand above the fray Heather. You are better than that.
Mark, I totally agree with all you have said above.
Thanks Marc!
Acknowledging that there currently exists no alternate economic system with widespread “field testing,” how anyone imagines capitalism is repairable is beyond me. Have we not already re-confirmed that human nature being what it is, a method of distribution that so limitlessly rewards greed is doomed to end us up right where we are. Greed is not a bug of capitalism but it’s crucial feature. It is far past time to contemplate and test and then implement a system or systems that are scalable while still not incentivizing greed, because that appears to be a feature—and a bug-of humanity.
I agree but we don’t have to wait for a catastrophic collapse of Capitalism. Our first antitrust law was written in 1890 followed by laws in 1914. Perhaps we could do a better job of enforcement (Sinclair Media).
Read Doughnut Economics: 7 Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist. The inside of the doughnut is a regenerative and distributive economy that is a safe and just space for humanity. The doughnut hole is a shortfall of water, food, health ,energy, education, income & work, peace & justice, social equity, political voice, gender equality, housing and networks. Overshooting the doughnut results in climate change, ozone depletion, air pollution, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, chemical pollution, nitrogen & phosphorus loading, freshwater withdrawals and land conversion. Amsterdam has already adopted a Doughnut Economics plan.
The first step is electing a Democratic president and Congress.
Weelll, we do have donut candidates...?
Sorry, appreciate your constructive thrust, generally, & will check out this book - I see that it’s on audible! 👍
Have listened to the audible blurb on Amazon. I really enjoyed Macro, and her ideas sound very intriguing, & it was well received by readers…and Like it when the author reads her own book, the cadences are right! May note more in a future thread.
You're right. https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
I signed up to volunteer for field team 6 but haven't heard from them.
I think a Constitutional Amendment is the best bet because most people understand that it is ludicrous that corporations are the same as people and would should have the rights of people and that money equals speech. A movement can be created that most people will support.
Full disclosure won't work because most working people don't take the time to follow the news that well, don't have the time to find out where the money comes from, and don't understand the implications anyway.
(Check requirements for constitutional amendment, then count red states.)
And a two-thirds majority of each house of Congress before that.
What red states, supported by billionaires, are currently trying to do is to get the legislatures of two-thirds of the states to apply for a constitutional convention under Article V to amend the Constitution without Congress in many, unknown ways. They are not too far away from the number of states they need. That is a scary thought. I can imagine, for example, an amendment declaring life begins at conception and another repealing the First Amendment Establishment Clause. They would still need three fourths of the states to pass any amendment, so your votes for state legislators are very important.
Good point. But a movement for an amendment to get big money out of politics would put the issue on the table for the people to examine and debate. A voter could ask their representative, "why are you for big money in politics? what's in it for you?"
Move to Amend ~ Sign the Petition
We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling and other related cases, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
Move to Amend is a citizens’ initiative to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling that corporations have the rights of people. In February 2024 the Move to Amend petition had more than 500,000 signatures.
https://www.movetoamend.org/motion
Does the US Constitution grant person-hood to corporations? If not, is an amendment needed?
Just signed, Nick. But I expect a revolution is required.
Seems you believe you live in a democracy. Last (27th) Constitutional Amendment was passed in 1992, 202 years after it was proposed. It was about congressional salaries.
I believe you live in a plutocratic oligarchy, and that both election and legislative votes are for sale to those who buy the most and most effective media (disinfotainment) and lawyers. And congresspersons. And judges. And tfg.
Please, Gloria, read Walter Scheidel’s, “The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century“.
Will find that. Michael Hudson writes about the history of economics from antiquity.
Not scary. 3/4ths of states must pass any convention amendments.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Everyone who thinks a new constitutional amendment is the solution, please write here what you believe is the way to get a new constitutional amendment. Write how probable you believe this to be. Write how old you are. Write whether you think you will see your dream come true. Write whether you think the earth will survive until your dream comes true. Show your reasoning,
At age 94 there is no possibility that any redress to the issue of Citizens United will happen in my lifetime. I am not sanguine it will happen in the lifetime of my grandchildren either. As for the earth, I can only hope enough people will realize the threats to our existence need to be addressed. before it's too late.
Hey Jean! Sadly, I'm sure all our grandchildren WILL realize it.
It's never too late for life, but human tech (and power consolidations) will peak within our children's lives - looking at extinction rates, ocean death, toxic soil, warming, democratization of WMD instead of good governance, starvation, etc., as drivers of mass migrations and societal collapse.
The species? depends on whether we dare solve for a soft landing, or prefer to flex, or to prove someone wrong.
Actually, think we're about ready for a (normal, not manly) female leader.
We are of the same mind.
Like Navalny, we take action because it is the right thing to do.
Oligarchy is just as bad for the earth’s survival as it is for the survival of democracy. As “Daring Democracy” by Frances Moore Lappe & Adam Eichen says, it’s a movement of movements supporting each other. Solidarity!
It’s very nice. In planning the change, how do you envision proceeding?
Martha, at 75 years old, the only way I can see to permanently remove corporate interests from our politics is by constitutional amendment, however likely it is to ever be seen. We can get a different supreme court in the meantime, by expanding the membership or either removing or assassinating some, but their decisions can be overturned. At my age I've grown used to not seeing what I plant grow to fruition. I'm fine with that now.
Do you remember what happened when FDR tried to expand the Supreme Court?
It's a political move for sure, and probably inappropriate for the Justice Dept to act on it for that reason alone. I do, however, also find it inappropriate for justices to serve until they die of old age without any annual review of their capabilities by an independant board of health. They are our final legal voice; there's no higher court. They need to be completely up to it.
Constitutional Convention called by States.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Mmm. How much money would you bet on the probability of this happening within 2 years?
$100. Common Cause says we are 5 states away. So 8.0% probability
Congress is broken and will not pass an Amendment.
We need a Constitutional Convention called by states.
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
And for reasons you stated explain why the uninformed are supporting Trump. The other half are doing it for greed.
Full disclosure first, so everyone can see what they’re doing and how they do it. That would disempower them enough that we could get a Constitutional amendment passed.
You have more belief than I do that people will pay attention to disclosures.
Add enforcement of said disclosure. IMO corporations are perpetually negligent in
offering/giving/providing FULL disclosure to their intentions, policies, and mechanisms that 'run' their - corporations...
Janet Nevins, Excellent talking points to promote Democrats who appoint sane Justices, and to promote some revised rules for the Court.
My sentiments exactly. Add that as a senior citizen with health conditions I fear losing Social Security to pay billionaires’ should-be taxes. I love life, but am distant from family members, my husband had bad treatment & delays leading to one-quarter heart death. His head ♥️ doc stunned he, lifelong athlete, is not on oxygen 24/7, but cycling 🚴 in Michigan when weather permits, perhaps just over half days in year. 6000 miles since 2021 Cmas in Kulu. While our future is uncertain, former ADA resident
B. DeVos employed a🏴☠️yacht scheduler. Don’t know how many to keep track of, nor how many homes, security. Less security bc her kids had one thru college or more since SecEd?
Thanks for the like. As a former teacher for preK-12 , nearly a decade as Family Literacy which grew to 1400+ families. Also a grant writer , best grant was to buy and outfit a large van as bookmobiles for 26 sites & buying books from nearby Scholastic warehouse sales by the skid.
I am not a betting person but think I would win against anyone who said that Betsy stepped over a public school threshold b4 her cabinet appointment (only knew Christian schools for her families and the charter schools they fund that undermine public school education hereabouts).
Known members of the Supreme Court of the United States have obviously sealed their fate for all posterity by opposing the majority will of the people and their failing to resist to be corrupted. Also, to mention, by not excluding themselves when engaged in an obvious compromise in decision making when representing the American people.
Today's flatch reminds me that the problem is not the less-that-supreme-court. It's its Big Money that runs the show.
I picked other because the last three choices were all good. We definitely need to get rid of Citizens United, get rid of the justices on the Supreme Court who are corrupted and have caused Americans to lose respect and faith, and full disclosure and transparency with money going to our politicians. Until, we get a handle on the fact that money and corporations are NOT in fact, people, our country will continue to spiral out of control. Listening to the Coffee Klatch this morning, I began to feel so helpless!! Not because of Professor Reich or Ms. Lofthouse but because it seems sometimes that the little orange man and all the evil people are absolutely getting away with their crap!! For every step we take in cleaning up the corruption, it seems they knock us back three!!! Like Professor Reich, I am old enough to remember when politicians had a sense of decorum, class, and dignity to handle losing and the peaceful transfer of power. One spoiled rotten arse-hole took that away and continues to stomp his little toddler feet all over our Democracy!!! We are teaching our children that if you don't win, then you lie, cheat and scream unfair at the top of your voice to get your way. That's some kind of lesson to be teaching our children!! Instead of teaching how to lose gracefully, we're teaching them how to lie, cheat, and steal to win at all costs!!! How did this happen? What the hell has happened to our country? It seems sometimes that I blinked and everything was out of control!! Were we so secure in our Democracy that we did not notice things changing? Professor Reich and Ms. Lofthouse talked about the poll where the response was the election decision would be taken to the streets. It is a scary thought. This TikTok business is also a little concerning. They have voted to ban it here in the United States. How? How? How? Some of these laws they are passing I honestly do not know how they will enforce them!!!! How are you going to check to see if every single person has stopped using TikTok?? How will you be able to enforce laws concerning abortion with every single woman in America?? How will you determine if a child is reading a banned book with every single child in America?? I don't know, I'm just sounding off.
Great. Take THEM to the streets.
Get what we want. Need to win. Register one unregistered person Democratic today, https://www.fieldteam6.org/voter-drive-in-a-box
And tell everybody that Trump hates dogs and took money from children with cancer.
And had babies thrown in cages and called our military losers and suckers and had his whole base laughing at his mocking of President Biden's stutter and talked about grabbing women in a not so nice place and.......oh Lordy! I need to stop now!
Deep breaths! Good things happened this week: Chuck Schumer called for new elections in Israel. Dick Cheney openly opposed the orange menace. Reaction to Senator Britt's response to the State of the Union is still widely the topic of comedy. Kamela Harris is gaining traction.
Yes, progwoman, we need to beat the drums about the good things!!
Despair is a killer, and I don't think it motivates people.
His voters know that and that’s why they like him.
The Supreme Court has become totally corrupt. Most of them are proven liars and have been on the take for decades. This group decided that laws or ethics don’t apply to them. They think they are accountable to no one but they can decide who has babies, has a gun, gets to vote, gets to degrade our environment, and that profits are always more important than people. Yes, we need to take to the streets and show them they are accountable to us, the people. If they don’t listen they should resign or we will expand the court. They are Trumps court and I fear they will help him win the election.
And dogs hate him, as well. They’re intuitive like that.
Haha
White narcists totally identify with Trump, and they are shameless.
Peggy, I’ve thought a lot about last Wednesday’s poll, and, while I’m as horrified as you by the prospect that disputes over the election could take to the streets, I am as much, if not more, fearful that only 10% voted “In the House.” That small percentage suggests, at least to me, that not enough of us are following what is happening now legally, if not ethically, to lay the groundwork for Trump and his allies to hold power whether or not they win enough votes.
As we speak, House Republicans are devising a plan not to seat newly-elected Democrats (permissible under House rules) before Jan 6, 2025 to retain their majority and Mike Johnson as Speaker when Congress meets to count the certified electors. The strategy is to challenge the legitimacy of enough votes to deprive Biden of the requisite 270 electoral votes to become president. House members, unlike in 2000, will have a plethora of Republican Senators who gladly will co-sign.
My point is that we have no institutional guardrails to prevent Congress from tossing the presidential election to the House, where Republicans control 25 House delegations, Democrats 23, and 2 (MN & NC) are tied, with each delegation getting 1 vote. Hence, though it’s no guarantee, it won’t be enough simply to retake the House, hold a Senate majority, and hold the White House. We will have to deliver an historically crushing defeat if we’re to have a shot at rescuing our democracy from the clutches of a monster who already has absorbed Congress and largely the judiciary.
As a final point, note I haven’t even mentioned how GOP-controlled state legislatures across the country continue to change state election rules to change who can be in charge, how votes are counted, and how they’re certified, let alone efforts underway to remove election officials who didn’t submit to directives in 2020 aimed at decertifying votes.
While I’m not prepared to presume the situation is hopeless, I am concerned that our grassroots engagement, as impactful as it is, has remained largely invisible to the public-at-large, many of whom believe our institutions are holding.
Barbara Jo, reading your comments only intensified my dread at what will happen once President Biden is reelected. If these republicans are deviously plotting to remain in power and not certify President Biden, then yes, I guess it will be taken to the streets because that abuse and willful cheating simply cannot be allowed to continue!! If not certifying because it is legal becomes the norm, we will have lost our Democracy for sure!
Peggy, To hold myself together, I don’t think about what will happen… I’m laser-focused on the nearly 8 months left to drive home what it would mean to lose our democracy and have our rights and freedoms ripped away.
For example, I frequently speak about a High Court that would ignore 50 years of settled precedent in Roe, and would overturn a fundamental right relied upon by tens of millions every year. Surely a court willing to do that with a protection, over and over again reaffirmed, would do it to other fundamental protections.
Agreed!
Barbara - note also that the supremes also just rewrote the 14th amendment. where were the 3 "liberal" justices? why no outcry? See
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w4nObwDw1A
Paul, While the 3 liberal justices voted with the 6 conservatives to exclude states from removing federal candidates from their ballots, the liberals issued a dissent to the egregious expansion of the ruling that requires Congress to execute all disqualifications. It’s this heinous expansion that essentially has voided Section 3 from the 14th.
Barbara, but why wouldn't the states have the right to exclude insurrectionists from their ballots? doesn't the constitution apply to the states? it makes no sense to me that the court has the right to void a part of an amendment. it's especially ironic to me that all of the witnesses to j6 committee hearings were republicans, and all the coconspirators are republicans, and the law is being essentially used to shield them from accountability because they haven't been "convicted" yet. the 3 liberal justices should know better than to succumb to this judicial chicanery.
Unfortunately Ds are too well-behaved to win an alley fight.
Read Walter Scheidel’s, “The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century“.
Mark, I agree. Democrats are well-behaved. We are also tolerant, compassionate, empathetic, and willing to discuss differences of opinion without shouting, intimidating, threatening or craziness. I would bet, though, if faced with the choice of defending our Democracy, we might have to not be so nice!!
Peggy, I think we’ve long passed that point and have failed to take EFFECTIVE definitive action.
Once you live in an oligarchy, a revolution is required for change , NOT votes.
One must level the playing field, as RR intimates, repeatedly. Bernie is a bit clearer. But I fear all of us are still too comfortable and civil and empathetic, to do the necessary.
The necessary would entail no chance of a tfg run or win.
The voters failed, congress failed to impeach, the special counsel failed to indict, the judiciary is failing to even try, much less convict, the suckered voters swell, … perhaps we should pray more?
Sorry, but think we need a Plan C.
The big question for me, now, Mark, is can we fix it? Can we turn it around?
Peggy, I agree wholeheartedly with your sound off.
Thank you, Stephanie! I think today is one of my slow fight days. I start to feel overwhelmed and begin to think those right-wing morons are going to take over!! That's when I shut everything down, go for a walk with my four-legged companion, work in my garden, go for a swim, and call family and friends. I'll be back in fighting form in no time!!
Peggy, more power to you!👍
Me too! I agree with everything Peggy wrote and said! We also need to elect more progressive candidates, not just any old Democrats like Joe Manchin! Hey, I haven’t heard anything from him lately?
Lisa, we definitely need more progressive, younger, and female candidates! I just turned 75 myself, but I’m so tired of old males who are hesitant to tell it like it is. The less we hear from Manchin and his ilk the better.
Bernie Sanders tells it like it is! Do you really mean younger make politicians who cower in front if big money and trim their every utterance to court hardliners neo fascists who would never vote their way anyway!
He is retiring on his millions from the fossil industry.
Margaret; are you saying Bernie has sold out to the fossil fuel industry?
I was referring to Manchin. They moved my reply for some reason.
Oops I think you were referring to Manchin. Sorry
Well said! It is very frustrating!
OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED WITH A STACKED SCOTUS AFTER THE DEMOCRATS WIN 2024, assuming we get to an election, of course. Best of all case scenarios: lose a few more MAGA or simple GOP House Members and move quickly before replacements are sworn in. My dream 💭!
Agree, we have so many problems in terms of a responsive democracy: Supreme Court picks were due to electoral college, which in term was effected by other problems: gerrymandering, dark money, and a voting public uneducated about how government even works (for instance they think whomever is President is able to change policy without Congress). Then we had a President who promised "He alone can fix it" and lies about his successes (none) and failures (many). We're in a quagmire and it will be difficult to climb out. Meanwhile those with money seem content to let middle/lower classes fight it out. Even they don't see where this is headed: complete destruction of civility and a working society.
Blimey, David!! When you put it like that, I can't help but wonder if this train wreck will ever be worked out!! I only hope and pray that in November, America will decide not to let the little orange man back into the White House. If we think things are bad now, it will be nothing compared to that!!
Peggy, You are not just sounding off. You are hearing and seeing the facts. Letting it all appear outside yourself helps others to hear and see! Thank you!!
Thanks, Jean. I do tend to get carried away sometimes!
Rewrite The Constitution via a National convention. Ad Corporations are NOT People. Abortion is a right. If you can’t have abortions as a right get mandatory financial support to feed cloth and house every child born abolish the the Electorial college direct elections. Make buying a Supream court judges transparent by holding live on line bidding with the no corporation allowed to bid. Tax laws are universal meaning your total tax rate is equal through all income levels .
What the Supreme Court has decided is that America should be a Feudal System run by the ultra wealthy Aristocratic Overlords according to their dogma. The Citizens United decision paved the way for the takeover of our democracy. The common people are priced out of free speech and denied the truth. They are drowned out by the big money. The path to the destruction of our democracy is no accident.
It started way before Citizens U
- w/ the Buckley decision . The
accident was well planned by folks like Louis Powell . The rich made sure we have no democracy-
otherwise we might actually make them pay higher marginal tax rates .
Rather than investing in American
industry and middle class prosperity,
they set out to create the Guilded
Age 2.0
Not sure there ever was full democracy in America, but for a time in the turbulent 60’s we got close…
We need to win at the polls. https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
Not only get people registered but with absentee ballots so they are more apt to vote!
Also: run by nepo babies that were born with money and are mentally incapable of tying their own shoes!
Read Walter Scheidel’s, “The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century“.
My son co-founded American Promise. It's an organization devoted to bringing an Amendment to reform campaign finance. Nearly every solution to our myriad problems begins with getting money out of politics. https://americanpromise.net/
I totally agree!! Politicians should only receive any donations from their constituents and there should be a cap on how much. No wealthy billionaire muckety muck would be allowed to give more than $500.00 AND only to the politician running in that muckety muck's district. I'm old enough to remember how candidates walked around their districts shaking hands, talking to the people, kissing babies, and finding out what they could do once elected. Holding office was like teaching, firefighting, or policing, a calling not a moneymaker.
We don't have enough representives for the size of the population. Other countries have many times more per number of citizens. In 1929 the Permanent Apportionment Act became law setting the numer of representatives at 436.
If there isn't room in the Capitol for a more reasonable number of representatives, we should build a new Capitol, hopefully more in the middle of the country for convenience. Otherwise, we could use technology such as Zoom. A more reasonable number of representatives could possible solve the gerrymandering problem. It's rare that the current "Leo" courts do.
In the near future we must get Biden reelected.
And more Senators in states with larger populations. Everyone should be represented.
Some countries have an advisory committee instead of a Senate.
@ Kerry Truchero
Ask your son to partner with Field Team 6, https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
My son is currently the vp of a climate change non-profit, and he's initiating an action fund to enter the arena. He's a very busy guy, introducing a bill this week, and organizing ground forces for November in a few locales.
He can get help. Strength in numbers.
Daniel, he's pretty amazingly well networked. I don't presume to give advice unless asked.
I just sent them a request. https://www.fieldteam6.org/partner-with-us
Here is why NOT to fear a runaway Constitutional Convention.
“Much of the fear surrounding a convention is unfounded. The Convention Clause’s text and history indicate that it grants power to the States to limit the scope of any such convention. In addition, the States have the ability to reject any amendments proposed by a convention through the (3/4th of States) ratification process.”
– The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vol. 30, Issue 3
Here are the arguments for holding a limited Constitutional Convention NOW.
1. Our democracy is broken, specifically, because of capitalism.
2. Our democracy can be fixed if we limit corporate and group campaign spending.
3. We can limit corporate and group campaign spending by changing the US Constitution.
4. Because Congress is broken, we can change the US Constitution via a Constitutional Convention called by states.
5. Congress has the power to change the constitution and thus set Constitutional Convention rules.
6. Constitutional Convention rules, such as those in 1973 SB 1272 and 1985 SB 40, would eliminate the fear of a runaway convention.
7. Congress will resist giving up its Constitutional powers
a. By passing its own amendment as the number of states calling for a convention nears 2/3rds which has happened four times.
b. Otherwise, by setting rules to avoid a runaway convention, if it cannot pass an amendment. This prevents "everything on the table".
8. Calls for a Constitutional Convention will jump when the rules are in place.
9. Constitutional Convention proposed amendments must come only from the subjects of the state applications per the above SB rules.
10. Each Constitutional Convention proposed amendment must be a merger of the state texts of the same subject.
11. Three-fourths of states must ratify any Convention approved amendments.
a. This prevents a Constitution rewrite.
b. The Convention cannot lower the approval bar of the states because the Constitution was approved after the Philadelphia Convention and requires an amendment approved by three-fourths of states to be lowered.
Overturn Citizens United for starters.
Swamp them to make changes.
That start honestly may be good enough I think! Well, that and HARD ENFORCEMENT. FEDERAL PRISON HARD TIME.
2 musts: higher taxes on wealthy both individuals and corporations, and more restrictive antitrust laws rigorously enforced
I'm not having coffee this morning on this topic. I'm going to drink the rest of last night's wine...
Benjamin, cognac in my decaf!
Helps a little!
America’s biggest corporations have been the marionette masters throughout the century, having Republican leadership dance to their continual parade of billionaires tax cuts at the expense of the middle class’s financial security.
This fervor to appease their donors demonstrates that the “family values” party doesn’t value families in the slightest - unless they are white and likely GOP voters. And that value is only in their gleeful susceptibility to manipulation.
In fact, all the GOP’s policies prove them to be #ProSTRIFE - even with 95% of their supporters. They are willing to inflict economic and physical harm if that furthers their goals.
They are not conservative, they are #CORPservative; in servitude to their corporate and billionaire donors. And now, well outside the bounds of popular opinion, they must dump democracy for #RepubloFascism.
And in doing so, all will see their willingness to squander America’s greatness to plunder the bottom 90%.
Unfortunately so are all members of SCOTUS.
Yes, Daniel. Ever since the Citizens United decision #SCOTUS has put their big black thumb on the scales of democracy in favor of corporations and billionaires.
Todd Telford, I like that --CORPservative.
Please use that word with the hashtag at will! That association needs to become viral between now and November…
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has made a brilliant contribution on how to move forward with cleaning up the mess left by a corrupted court. His analysis is that many decisions, e.g. Dobbs, Citizens' United, etc., are based on a "false facts" or made-up ideas about history. https://youtu.be/hFIq3LypWSw?si=ODD2QueFhO8LDMu8
Appellate legal processes are not designed to do fact finding. That is the job of the trial court and should be done at that level using the rules of evidence.
Expanding the court to perhaps 15 members, instituting term limits, and imposing a strict code of ethics would allow reconsideration of the numerous "false facts" cases through more neutral jurists.
When that starts to happen, things like the intended meaning of a "person" for equal protection as a natural person not a legal fiction come out. Also the true intent of the 2nd Amendment to protect slave patrols comes out. Textualism also goes into the waste can because its very intent is to open the door for false facts of historical fiction.
Getting to a better judiciary should be a key goal of electing the right people.
Dr. Doug, I would add to your third paragraph that the code of ethics must be enforceable. It’s clear that we can’t trust SCOTUS to police themselves.
Whitehouse is the best. About 2:30 in the video he talks about in Citizens United the injustices stated that their decision rested upon their belief that campaign donations would be transparent to the public. Despite this being patently false, the court has not seen fit to revisit CU.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFIq3LypWSw
I vote other. Heather and Robert should be obsessive compulsive,
We can have all we want. First we have to win BIG. We have the capacity to overwhelm the forces of evil. In my state approximately 900,000 women, who heavily trend Democratic are unregistered,
It's March. We have to start NOW.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/actions
Daniel, what would it take for the SCOTUS to make a decision that would reverse CU , knowing the implausibility of that any time soon?
Whitehouse is the best. About 2:30 in the video he talks about in Citizens United the injustices stated that their decision rested upon their belief that campaign donations would be transparent to the public. Despite this being patently false, the court has not seen fit to revisit CU.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFIq3LypWSw
I've speculated that Thomas was bribed. Doesn't mean they'd come up with a different result.
I believe the cure for Citizens United is a blue Congress and a second Biden presidency. Reversing CU can be part of the next version of the Freedom to Vote Act.
Hopefully in the first week of January, Democrats will be in position to - and of the inclination to - send the filibuster to the dumpster of time. Of course, if Republicans sweep things using all the dirty tricks we know about and a few more that we don’t, then it will be democracy in the dumpster instead. #RepubliFascism will reign supreme and my Social Security benefits will instead be replaced by vouchers for gun manufacturers…
Won't get past SCOTUS. Need an amendment.
Daniel, are you part of Field Team 6?
I volunteer. I just want to win. I started working with them in 2020. I've never seen anything like it. If I had the money, I'd fully fund them -- expand to every state. The statistics are compelling.
I've also been in a veteran's group through the DNC -- which targets a completely different demographic. I am the "not suckers or losers" guy. The "Trump stole from disabled vets" guy.
Whereas Field Team 6 is growing our base, out vet group takes on MAGATs and lumpen vets and military families. 16 million vets.
How did you find out who was unregistered? I am trying to find that information. My city clerk (Troy, MI) said I would have to pay for the registered list, they ‘don’t have unregistered information.’ And it would only be for Troy.
Field Team 6 has a subcontractor that gets that info. If you watch their summit video, they were on after Robert Hubbell.
There is just no way to regulate this. We need an educated electorate. There will always be money out there to flood the airwaves and social media. The real effort needs to be to block lobbyists from using money and influence for pork barrel projects or favored rulings or to create laws that advantage certain groups unfairly. Dark money of that type is the real problem in my opinion.
We can outnumber them. Check out Simon Rosenberg. https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/my-march-2024-election-overview-with
Agreed. As a retired public school teacher (who had an excellent government class in high school), it is appalling that so many students don't understand even the basics of how government works. There are so many ignorant voters.
I believe that campaigning should be free as a public service and that way it would really be on the issues not money! JUST IMAGINE WHAT COULD BE DONE WITH THE MONEY INSTEAD!! Money for health care, money for Ukraine but not Israel, education etc. You get my point!
Bobs said it beautifully. Bernie sounds radical until people stop to think about his ideas.
Not stopping to think, not having the time nor inclination nor thinking skills makes Americans too dumb too reactionary for decent democratic decisions. A four-day work week would give more leisure time-free time for Americans to engage in civics. This coupled with better public education on civics would go a long way. Celebrating Democracy with a day off work-National Election Day every four years on the first Tuesday in November would be a good start, increasing the chances of making American Democracy more participatory.
At the hospital employees opted for 4, 10 hour shifts. They were not productive and were tired. I tried it but I couldn’t get my exercise in so reverted to 5, 8 hour shifts.
I don’t think that would work in the hospital where they struggle to pay their employees properly, particularly the non nurses.
4 10-hour shifts equal 40 hours not 32. Here you are making a case for more nurses more nurses' aides...public funded hospitals...better pay and working conditions all things Sanders would support.
I know. I am saying at the hospital, I don’t think it is feasible. Most hospitals not unionized. They also have “at will” policies, meaning they can fire you for whatever reason.
That is so sad. A terrible predicament. Is your hospital owned by a private equity firm?
It’s a non profit.
""The Billionaire takeover of America" is pretty much an insurrection! From Federalist Society judges on the Supreme Court and other courts to the former ,'president' who is running Congress through his sycophants. I say it's time for President Biden to invoke the Insurrection Act! They have telegraphed that they Intend to fight their way back into power, even if they lose in a landslide! They want to be dictators on day one, and plan to ride roughshod all over US with retribution! Why not defend US and Democracy while President Biden is still in office!?? They don't care if their policies are killing women and girls! That affects more than half of our population!
And yes, "WTRX" would be the Flint station's "call sign." (Stations east of the Mississippi are assigned "W" --and those west "K." -- after 1923.) There are about a dozen stations in the west that start with W.
In March of 64, a band from Liverpool would have been hitting the charts heavily. Motown was on the rise too. It was a fun time for music.
Heather, I know you know this, but the reason they got the term “disk jockey” is because they were spinning disks (vinyl records). Silly.
Professor Reich and Heather Lofthouse: your discussion of your first jobs has motivated me to tell you about my first job: i was a groom and exercise girl at the local racetrack. one of my horses was the winner of the governor's speed handicap -- a great source of pride for me at the time, despite the fact that i was most interested in longer distance races. this was the most interesting and enjoyable job i'd had before i got my graduate degree.