I remember all of this, just not as vividly as Dr. Reich. At the time, I was considered a "long haired hippie" and the backlash to "baby boomers" protesting the war is what led me to lose trust in police and government. In fact, my thoughts, today, relating to my HOPE that Donald Trump will face indictment mirrors what I remember about as I followed the evolution of the Watergate scandal and my anxiousness for Nixon's impeachment. (I felt Nixon's pardon was a terrible mistake) Of course, Trump is far more dangerous and corrupt than Nixon - but I was/have been "glued" to the investigation of both CORRUPT presidencies. (Just as in Watergate, there are MANY co-conspirators with Trump) Regarding how I felt about the police and government - then and now - I see a lot of similarities between the two "eras." I suppose that confirms Dr. Reich's thesis in this posting. I just wrote about taking "white privilege" for granted most of my life in response to yesterday's post about "how are you feeling" - and, thinking about what transpired in the 60's and 70's pretty much confirms those feelings. I was the recipient of some of the treatment mentioned in this posting - just nothing serious enough to send me to the hospital - but, as a white person, still had that "privilege" I took for granted. (Have a roof over my head and plenty to eat) The emergence of the "Tea Party" is what first caused me to think, fundamentally, not much has changed. I believe this is why I've felt, since January 6th, 2021, that purging the police forces and military of sympathisers with the INSURRECTIONISTS appears to be a "pipe dream." Additionally, that Trump facing accountability is a MUST for the future of our republic overwhems my thinking. (Nixon, Reagan, and both Bushes avoided accountabilty for blatant illegality - it keeps getting worse) The election of Nixon was the "birth" of the "Southern Strategy" connecting the republican party with sympathisers of the "lost cause" and Trump has masterfully exploited this division in society which was "simmering" - kind of "under the rocks" for years - until the election of Barack Obama. To me, the backlash to Obama's election is what has brought this racist "underbelly" America can't rid herself from to the "surface." As an aside: This is why teaching the TRUTH about American History is so critical for our public schools. Sadly, as a former teacher, I believe the assault on our democracy is fueled by IGNORANCE and republicans want to keep it that way. Reminding me that "those who choose to ingnore history are bound to repeat it."
So you can be a little bit traitorish??? I thought it was like being pregnant, you are or you’re not. I guess you can be a passive traitor, turning a blind eye, or actively so by handing over Top Secret info.
Reagan should have been impeached and removed from office. I am not sure had he been removed from office we would have been spared all he did to undo civil righs and labor rights and retard the environmental movement.
@Daniel. You are well wired in sir. Nixon was a criminal AND a traitor, but I think the point from Goodman was to emphasize Trump is a traitor AND a criminal. And for those who say Nixon wasn't as bad as Trump, we still don't know who was actually behind the Kennedy murders. When I think of Bebe Rebozo, the Cuban diaspora in Florida with their anti-Castro, anti-Kennedy sentiments, the way Nixon was playing the game after he lost to JFK, the way he was intimidated by RFK...
Well, anyway, I don't think we can say on evidence that Nixon was better than Trump....
Nixon was certainly no angel. He was a crook. I campaigned against him. However, he didn't want to fire all of our civil service workers. He didn't have a constant stream of key positions in gov't. up for grab. He did not want to withdraw from NATO. He didn't want to turn our democracy into a full blown dictatorship. He did eventually resign, something our former President hasn't done yet!
Actually, as espoused by William F Buckley, he was a traitor. Specifically, Johnson had arranged a peace conference in October 1968, which would have ended the Viet Nam war on mutually agreed upon terms. Nixon was captured on tape (BBC broke the story in the 90s) offering the South Vietnamese government a better deal.
Nixon was a criminal and capable of killing within the Vietnam war. I don't think Trump would be capable of pushing the nuke buttons, he is a coward. But, he could con someone to do it. Conmen always get a fall guy.
Trump is llke the schoolyard czar who gets the bullies to take the other kids' lunch money. He's too chickens--t to get involved himself, but he will go around whispering bad things about those who oppose him to his crew of goons, with which he promises to share the spoils of his depradations - and then does the same thing to the goons who demand he pay up.
David, as a retired teacher who experienced in a small way the anti-everyone but rich white men syndrome that was already well-developed by 1970, I noticed the young "hippies" were challenging that hierarchy and those guys didn't like it. There was white privilege among the hippies, but also a lot of inclusion too, another sin in the book of the Right. Diversity is not what those rich white men want because it will show them for the fools they often are and that their privilege didn't do much for them as human beings, which is why they hide in gated communities and on yachts. They have the money and the media but that's about it. Like Trump, they get others to do their dirty work while they egg them on. I wish we could get the cult to see it, but alas, I guess that's the definition of cult.
@Ruth. I understand you. But I gotta push back a little. When we dump all people of a certain economic class into one category we are making the "group attribution error" and losing a lot of information. Understanding that MOST upper middle class and even quite a few wealthy folks are Democrats is an important part of putting together the Democratic coalition should help us preserve and expand that coalition. We must be careful not to paint everyone with the same brush! Democrats are a majority in this country. Only the Senate, the Electoral College and Citizens United give the troglodytes a chance at power.
Even categorizing the hardhats as construction workers and as anarchists, or ready-recruits, or Republicans, or pro American (for the sake of argument, say 80% took the day off and went home...)--is using that too-broad a brush, attribution error. And characterising war protestors as peaceful, or hippies (mean and self-admiring when high or drunk), or students, or poor, or as Alex Keaton’s parents--the anti war protestors were not homogeneous either. Hardhats and anti Vietnam protestors were Americans with same number of reasons to attend, fight, or fight back, as individuals they were. Death (war stats) and honor (if you don’t have possessions, there’s nothing to lose in fighting contrarians) galvanized individuals to show up and so it becomes an us versus them scenario.
When you say the Senate you are (to use your words) " we dump all people of a certain economic class" in this case the Senate. Remember the Senate is composed of two parties!
@Katherine. However, what I was saying is that structurally the fact we have 2 senators from each state, 2 from Wyoming (just over 500,000 people) and 2 senators from California, (just over 39 Million people) means that small, rural populations are over represented in the Senate. Similarly the Electoral College is not proportionate to the population. Finally, the use of dark money and unlimited amounts of money means that moneyed interests, whether they are from this country or not, can deploy lawyers, "think tanks", lobbyists and campaign donations that far out strip what honest politicians can bring in from small donors and honest contributors. But lots of wealthy people contribute to Democrats and vote Democratic. Democrats have a majority in this country and, in spite of our worries, Democrats have had the upper hand in Congress and have some reasonable prospects this coming election. Fingers Crossed!
It was just then that the GOP saw the GI Bill was turning out well-educated (thus liberal) students who were challenging their supremacy, and they set out to dismantle affordable college education.... read Will Bunch's excellent new book that is a compliment to Reich's piece today, "After the Ivory Tower Falls"
This morning, after I heard the newscaster call today "Fri-YAY!" I was struck by a profound insight, that once the Tweety-wanker-publicans kill this democracy, they'll bury it under a mountain of inanity - along with garden gnomes and porch-jockeys!
It could be a ‘thing’ or it’s the fact that most local radio and TV stations are now controlled by one entity that scripts them all. Gray, Sinclair and Fox are the top three.
Perhaps I am slow to keep up, but I listened to my first podcast yesterday and I was delighted. Like radio shows of old, it included snips from commentaries, and even a little melodramatic music. My point is podcasts are the future of radio, as streaming is the now and future of TV. Many of us are tuning out of traditional media. Not saying folks won't select what they want to hear, but at least there are great alternatives and small town reporters.
The question is ; 'with what?' A mountain of inanity-along with garden gnomes and porch jockeys...Because for many people Friday is not necessarily "Fri-YAY!"
David Piper : I can't help but notice that " this racist 'underbelly' America can't rid herself from" has a female pronoun. Is it that it is common to call boats, nation's: just about anything 'she' and 'her' to suit a negative , or at best inert connotation? Way to push it onto the 'weaker' sex? Somehow not fair, or true.
The racist collective subconscious may be gender neutral, but the draft was the reason for the resentment and no women were drafted.
In order to firm up his base, Nixon ended the draft. Many of his policies were designed to enlist sectors identified with FDR Democrats and divide us further. He supported the EPA. Wage and price controls. Opening to China. All while he had malice in his heart -- not just for us but for "limousine Republican liberals" like the Rockefellers. He despised Kissinger but hired him "to fight fire with fire." Privately he was a racist, misogynist, anti Semite. We know that from the tapes.
David Solomon : do you suggest that general misogyny exists because women were not drafted? We now, once again must supply 'human resources' in a way that imposes a 'draft'. We have no choice : even if the pregnancy threatens our very lives. Unlike the draft, there seems to be no age limit either. I hope the MAGATs lose!
@Laurie. Traditionally, in Western culture, the female was the noble sex. Ships and countries and other noble enterprises were designated "her" out of pride and respect. The ugly misogynist trends in our culture have undermined that long tradition...
I'm sorry you took it that way - certainly not my intention. To me, the "racist underbelly" comment and referring to America with the pronoun "her" are not connected. But, obviously, that's not how you saw it. My apologies and I'll leave it at that.
David, I was in Chicago at grad school for two years with the murderous specter of Vietnam hanging over me and with a student deferment that would end in 1968, at which point I would be drafted and sent to Vietnam to fight and kill people who were not my enemy and who had never done anything against my country or against me whatsoever. It was in Chicago that I experienced the savagery, hatred and violence of Mayor Daley's police thugs, out to bash as many heads as possible and stop every demonstration against the war. Violent police riots were commonplace, and I lived in constant fear of the future.
It was one of the worst periods of my life and coming after the horrible assassinations in fairly quick order of Jack, Martin and Bobby and after the accession of Richard Nixon, who promised he would end the war, to the White House, a hatred grew within me of not just the Republican leadership but the Democratic leadership (Hubert Humphrey for President? Really?) and the mindless middle-Americans who waved the flag, proclaimed their love of God and Jesus and couldn't care a lick if my entire generation was wiped out in to save Vietnam from communism, as they waved the flags and pledged allegiance to a Constitution they had never read (above their grade level, I suppose) and probably wouldn't understand if they had.
I was lucky in that my mother had been in the Democratic Party of Bronx County, New York for many years, knew the Bronx Borough President, and thereby got me a deferment from the ultra-right-wing draft board to go into U.S. Peace Corps in Africa for two years, which would put me beyond age 26 and thus ineligible for instant drafting into our fascist entanglement in Vietnam. I was so disgusted with America and couldn't wait to get out of what I considered to be an awful, dangerous and violent country.
While I was in Africa having two of the best years of my life, I didn't miss the constant drumbeat of war and death on American media, and thus had no idea that the President who had promised to end the war had instead expanded it dramatically, leading not only to untold death and destruction in Vietnam itself but to the demise of the government in Cambodia, the installation of the Khmer Rouge and the death of fully one-third of the entire population of that lovely country.
Racism, intolerance, the love of violence and basic cultural divisions in our populace didn't begin in the late 1960's. They were baked into the psyche of America going back well before the founding of our supposedly-democratic republic in 1776, way back to 1619 when the first slaves arrived on our shore and to 1664 when the class structure of England was imposed on the Dutch colony that became New York. We have such short memories. You won't learn the true history of America because the underside of our nation's history was never taught to you in school.
The cultural divisions that today's Republicans are exploiting for personal gain were there long before the Vietnam period, ready for Republicans in the 60's and 70's to stoke the fires into a culture-war blaze. The only way those cultural divisions might be healed is through a factual re-telling of the true history of America in every school in the land. Like France and England, Germany and Russia and most every country in the world, we have terrible things in our history that we continue to gloss over, claiming we're doing so because we don't want to upset our young children and young adults with the truth of our past and how that past affects our present society and government. But it's my firm belief that only education can remedy our basic problems and bring us together as a truly united country.
Well put - I taught 6th graders for 23 years and, for half of it, my teaching partner was a wonderful African American who grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. The stories he shared with me about his early years always made me angry - at what he had endured and at my own ignorance. He's no longer with us, but in today's environment (I didn't even know what "CRT" was when I first heard the commotion) we'd both be fired in the first trimester if we were teaching in Florida. I TOTALLY agree, a true education for our children (when it comes to American History) is the only way out of this present climate. I recently read a book about the aftermath of the Civil War and the "birth" of the "lost cause" and it really reminded me of what I see happening today. I forget a lot of stuff these days, but the 1968 democratic convention, with the student protests, is still vivid in my memory - I only watched it on TV. And, when I see members of the "militia" movement
these days attempting to bully and threaten "liberals" I'm reminded of the thugs opponents of the Viet Nam war had to endure back then. I fear a rough road ahead for my children and grandchildren.
Well said, David, and I totally agree. Personally, I was lucky to get out of Chicago right before the Days of Rage, although I saw snippets - all I could stand, actually - of it on television as some volunteers would watch it during our Peace Corps training in Tucson. It was all too raw for me to watch; my immediate future lay in another country very far away from the noise, the violence, the insanity and hopelessness of it all.
I fear for my country even more now than I did back in 1968 when all I could think of it was leaving it behind. Now I realize that the America of 1968 is in many ways the America of today, infected with the same poisons that have now metastasized throughout our body politic. Will we and our descendants ever be able to heal our nation? What will we bequeath to our children and grandchildren a sane and healthy America, or one that feeds on inequality, hatred, ignorance, bigotry and despair?
I was a working class college student. I was perplexed by the enthusiasm for the War by some of my fellow students but was not aware enough to read beneath the veneer of patriotism to see the underlying corruption and lies. Toward the end of Viet Nam I had wised up. I pondered the wisdom of exporting democratic concepts to countries that had no history or inkling as to what that meant under leaders who would still pursue "business as usual." Like you, I was outraged that Nixon was pardoned and saw it as a mistake. It didn't foster the healing of the nation that Ford maintained. If anything it justified in the minds of die hard Nixonites that he was innocent. It opened the door to the era of Trump via Reagan and his obtuseness. You have summed up clearly my perspectives on the culture wars, including the watering down of education, the attempt to deny critical parts of our history and distortion of the issues that continue to separate us.
"Nixon, Reagan, and both Bushes avoided accountabilty for blatant illegality - it keeps getting worse"
It's getting worse BECAUSE they keep avoiding accountability. And it will continue to get worse unless and until we show that those in charge are not above the law.
There are many things I could write about the Hard Hat riot, but I'll mention only two. First, the hats fought and the students didn't. And that's gone on and down for over fifty years. Which is part of why the left has been and still is literally on the back foot. Look, muscle decides things, all the crap about 'violence never settled anything' which you still here notwithstanding. I'm not posing that as a call to violence, but if one side is prepared to fight and the other isn't you can read who's going to have the upper hand. Antifa for all their issues understand that dynamic, and are a welcome breath of the spirit. If you're going to demonstrate, you should understand that it _may_ be a fight and that the confrontation embodied is very definitely a fight. So you'd better fight well if you mean to win, if it comes to that. I suggest everyone think about that.
The other issue is that a particular period of societal focus saw a recurrent transition point c. 1975, from one era to another. Individual trajectories can transform at different time points within a window of effect near to that time. The Hard Hat riot occurred at the very lip of the event horizon of that transition, as I model historical periodization. The riot's aspect as a precursor to, for example, Reaganism and Repugnicant repression in the decades since, noted by RR in the post here, is real, a first tremor of a social 'moment' which gained coherence and momentum subsequently. Now, the period most typified by the moment is long over, so in principle a transition to a different, period-defined, social moment could have and should have occurred. And weakly, it has, as for example in the election of Obama to the other side of an ensuing structural window of transformation in primary American society; a weak signal indeed, but one of a different perspective. But liberals won't fight, their leadership is sold out, and they keep getting their butts kicked when it's time, structurally, for their message to predominate. I suggest we all think about that over the next few, maximally stressful, weeks.
I don't find the Russo-Ukrainian War stressful, personally, or the 'nuclear noise' associated with it, or even the prospect of wealth class induced recession (though inflation bites me like everyone else). The pathetic weakness of liberal leadership in a moment of long term societal peril _within_ DOES stress me no end, though, I can say that. I feel not unlike a radical scholar in Weimar Germany in Autumn, 1932. The historical parallels aren't exact, structurally or functionally, but emotionally they are all too similar, I feel sure. Watching a chunk of the 'independent' electorate dumb enough to genuflect to Repugnicant slogans while dithering liberals just can't even get their own pathetic 'messaging' in order or do anything far more substantive leaves me so actively nauseous I've curtailed my reading of current affairs which I otherwise maintain to follow specific societal trajectories in process, here and elsewhere. I'll believe the center and left of American society are prepared to fight for their civilization, so to speak, when I see it, but I'll never see the day when their current self-imposed 'leaders [sic]' are competent or even capable of doing so. Instead, they'll get their asses kick in the aisles of Congress and run out of the place, all but literally. Not anything I want to see per se, but those aren't shots I call.
Great comment. On the rare occasions when an elected Democrat actually "fights" (speaks strongly, that is), there's a very positive reaction from us in the Dem backwaters. Great, why can't they all do this, we ask? But they don't, and they lose.
What so many people like about the former guy is that he's a loudmouth and says, or yells, nasty yet very pointed stuff all the time, and people stand up and cheer. His supporters know he's not afraid and have the belief that he'll fight for them. Of course, he doesn't, but at rallies he puts out the message, loudly and forcefully, that he will, and people eat it up.
The last time we saw so-called "lefties" fight it out was back in the heavy unionization days of the early 20th century in response to corporate abuses of working men and women. They're the reason we have the 40-hour work week, weekends, safer working conditions and all the benefits brought to us by the IWW - the International Workers of the World ("Wobblies") - the ILGWU (International Ladies' Garment Workers Union), the Teamsters and the other big unions that weren't afraid to gather and protest loudly and frequently, and to fight physically if necessary to get decent wages and working conditions. And they meant to win, despite physical injuries and outrages. When you're up against the mindless pagan right and the militias, that's probably what it will take for us to move forward.
I too hope every day and night that Trump and his supporters be charged. We will lose our last hope if he and they are not.
Every police officer and every veteran who still believes in a semblance of law and order must be supported by making those who do not be held accountable.
Thank you David for voicing my fears and my hopes.
I too lived through all of that and now reflect on the privilege that a degree afforded us.
HOW do we rise to the top of this boiling cauldron of anger and begin to heal our nation? Perhaps Mother Nature will prevail?
Just to correct a petty fact in your comment, Robert isn't technically "Dr. Reich" unless you were giving him a deserved promotion for all that he has contributed to the world of politics and economics. Lawyers aren't considered doctors, even with the JD degree.
I write because, whenever circumstances permit, I underscore, that while abortion care, let alone democracy, must remain on the front burner, Dems need to focus more on a pro-worker agenda—$15 hourly minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, the child tax credit, affordable, quality childcare, universal healthcare, investments in housing, in eldercare, and more—all of which have received zero Republican support. Similarly, in a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when the American people want billionaires to start paying their fair share of taxes, not one Republican has supported the legislation.
With 60% of the people in this country living paycheck to paycheck and millions working for starvation wages, it should surprise no one that the American people in poll after poll report that the economy and inflation are their two major issues. Hence, not only should we not ignore these issues; we should make it clear to working families throughout this country, many of whom are prepared to vote Republican, that if they vote Republican they are voting for a Party, which on every single issue economically runs counter to their interests and concerns.
While I don’t expect taking the fight to the Republican Party will have much, if any, impact on MAGA-GOP, I imagine there are sufficient numbers of “persuadables,” who could help Dems hold the House, pick up some Senates seats, and also win contests in battleground state and local elections.
Less than three weeks out from midterms, I do believe we’re primed both to learn and to implement the lessons gleaned over the past 50 years. But first we need to summon every means to position our leaders to do the work.
But they don't and that's the problem. Also the right wing owned media refuses to tell the real stories regarding the GOP. They literally control the narrative. Why wasn't that GOP politician just caught masturbating in his car by the school all over the news? Why isn't the real causes of inflation ever mentioned on tv? Corporations control every aspect of the US and it's really disgusting. Consumerism is a disease and people need to stop feeding it. Corporations will never feel the pain until they stop being fed our money. A consumer based economy is a sign of a weak country.
Add to this dismal equation the fact that Republicans have been given illegal access to voting machines by Republicans in every battleground state, and these are just the instances we know about in what is clearly a national effort to infiltrate the source code of voting machines. They have the source code. No changes have been made to source code that I've seen written about. Republican officials overseeing elections in GA of course see nor problem at all. They're just a'gonna swap out the machines! With identical machines that have the exact same source code. In this light, the NY Times telling us that women have dramatically shifted support to the party that asserts control over their bodies starts to make sense. If races are made to look closer than they are, the improbable come-from-behind, miracle MAGA victories can be explained. Garnish with a healthy serving of "time to move on" and a sudden lack of interest in stories regarding election fraud from the dishonest Plutocratic Press, and I think there you have the Republican recipe for November. As if having the means to infiltrate voting machines wasn't enough, the Enabling Acts red states have passed ensure Republican victories in enough contests to decide control of both houses of Congress. They are going to steal the election, and our billionaire-acquired press is going to tell us to move on and accept the results. And this says nothing of fascism's favorite tool: Facebook.
Corporate news blacked out the President of the United States when he gave a powerful speech warning of the dangers of authoritarianism in Philadelphia, demonstrating that they are part of that authoritarian problem. The most recent Jan. 6 Select Committee Hearings? Blacked out. Willfully, intentionally downplayed and ignored. Not covered. Corporate "news" is running out the clock on Democracy, willfully obscuring instead of informing.
If one accepts that definition of fascism that describes it as the merger of political and corporate power, well, Republicans have made that deal. Corporate America is all-in for fascism.
Cakeeater, your definition of fascism as the "merger of political and corporate power" is accurate, but to me there are at least more four faces of fascism in America (and elsewhere):
(1) so-called "populist" demagogues who exploit the emotions, prejudices, and ignorance of an aggrieved majority, and leverage the deep fears and hatreds of a small minority into a fanatical following with power out of all proportion to their numbers.
(2) The Politics of Resentment, appealing to those who feel left behind, left out, and betrayed, and blaming scapegoats: Jews, Muslims, Mexicans, immigrants, globalists (especially, of course, international Jewish bankers like George Soros), socialists, liberals (with their “radical” liberal agenda), elites, intellectuals, LGBQ folks and blacks and even “traitors" like Liz Cheney. Madeleine Albright, in her 2018 Fascism: A Warning, said "in the end, it is always about giving them someone to hate."
(3) Hyper-nationalism: It has often been asked how people can vote against their own self-interest. But the appeal of fascism is not about "economic" self-interest. On a much deeper level, fascism appeals to one's identity and status as a true American. That's why Trump supporters wear clothes festooned with American symbols - loudly proclaiming one simple but potent message: “WE are the true Americans!” Hyper-nationalism transforms personal grievances into fervent patriotic duty to "save our country" (and ourselves).
(4) Attack on Democratic Institutions. Long before Jan. 6, the attack on democratic institutions was in high gear: the free press is an “enemy of the people,” the justice system is part of a “Deep State,” elections are “rigged” whenever a Republican loses. Anything that questions or contradicts the leader is “fake news” and sycophantic enablers and apologists proclaim “alternative facts” to justify the dishonesty and corruption of their leader.
I call the ideology and methods of today's political right - Neo-Fascism, the same old poison in shiny new bottles. All wrapped up in the American flag.
Robin, While nearly every point you make—I don’t agree with your last statement—is valid, I, and everyone I can convince, have prevailed upon our leaders to go on the offensive, take the fight to Republicans, and not allow their lies and distortions to go unanswered.
But they have not gone on the offensive. When there is a huge chance a guy like Herchel Walker and JD Vance can get into political office nothing will convince me otherwise.
Robin, Though I expect my efforts to be met with repeated frustration and failure, I’ve never stopped heeding the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who once wrote, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.” I imagine only in retrospect may we sense that our individual efforts might have mattered.
@Liberty, Though your reply is not addressed to me, I would note, considering the number of far-right justices, that Congress would have to expand the Court to overturn the Citizens’ ruling.
I was thinking of a constitutional amendment as the House already passed but is blocked from debate in the Senate by the filibuster. Packing the court is a possibility, however I’m a believer in passing legislation to set policy instead of trusting the rulings of unaccountable activist justices of either political persuasion.
Democrats should also point out, repeatedly, that Republicans have promised that if they take over even one house of Congress, they will blow up the world economy and take away Social Security and Medicare. Many of the voters who reliably vote for Republicans are receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits. If people think their financial lives are difficult now, with Republicans leading Congress they will get a whole lot worse.
Carolyn, While, indeed, you’re right, despite the promise, unless Republicans have an iron clad plan (which they might) for winning in 24 whether or not they receive the most votes, I imagine whatever chaos they have in mind only will be implemented in a way that allows them to blame Democrats.
Yes, Republicans will blame Biden for the chaos they create, but I guess my point is not the political blame, but the real, substantive harm they will do. That is why it's Democratic candidates' job right now to prevent Republicans from gaining this power. In the final weeks of this election, they should relentlessly hammer the fact that Republicans are planning to take away Social Security and Medicare. Florida and Arizona should be particularly targeted because they have high concentrations of retirees who vote.
Carolyn, Admittedly, I fear not only the chaos that would ensue were Republicans to retake even one of the chambers but also the resistance to advancing any new legislation, all of which would impact 24. As for the chaos, like you, I dread the protections that would be held hostage— Social Security, Medicare, the Inflation Reduction Act, funding for Ukraine—for fear of the economic calamity that would ensue were we to default on the nation’s debt. Hence, presently, I’m focused on a host of races based on a list from a trusted friend.
Ms. Krieger, I agree with you, and would like to suggest that "moderate" democrats are as much to blame as republicans in thwarting "progressive" ideas such as $15 wage. An astonishingly depressing number of good-for-working-class policies are identified in the media and small minds with Bernie and progressives, who are just a buncha commies (kill 'em for christ} as they said in vietnam (a remarkably successful capitalist country). I've been watching some clips of Bernie from the last 40 years, and his message was prescient and consistent, but again, that socialist or commie label. By the way, notice that pfizer is raising the cost of covid shots to $130 for uninsured. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/10/21/daylight-robbery-pfizer-condemned-hiking-us-covid-vaccine-price-10000-above-cost
Paul, While Bernie Sanders, in particular, is the touchstone for much of my thinking, I would note that “moderate” Dems don’t bother me nearly as much as “corporate” Dems.
Barbara, in my cynicism, I was equating the two. But I shouldn't, I guess, because here in Oregon we had a moderate dem in Peter DeFazio, (who voted against Iraq war) but he's retiring, and if we get a dem elected, it'll be a corporate one. But the repugnants are pouring so much money into Oregon politics (phil knight nikeman for example) that I don't see how any dem can win. i hope i'm wrong.
Barbara Jo Krieger ; There is a reason that a woman giving birth is said to be in 'labor'. It is an hours long 'marathon' as my daughter recently described her birthing experience. When human beings are described as "human resources" and now have little to no control over 'production', this is, at least, partly, a labor issue! Do we have to wait to see 'human resources' traded on the stock exchange before the connection is obvious? Support the passage of the ERA! (Equal Rights Amendment for women ). Let's see slavery for what it is.
Laurie, I haven’t the slightest idea how your reply relates to my comment, wherein I have labored to respond to the anger and frustrations exhibited in the 70s that the Professor has so elegantly tracked to the present.
Some of the anger and resentment that was exhibited in the 70's was about the right to choose. Even contraceptive care was banned (unless the woman was married). Many babies were born who were not planned for and unwanted. It guaranteed poverty for many. And robbed others of their own flesh and blood.
Unwanted children who become a burden to their mothers is behind many of our worst social problems. Why do youngsters become gang members? It gives them an identity.
I do see a connection that affects all women (and their loved ones) across all races and faith viewpoints. Of course, Barbara Jo Krieger, you have a right to your opinion.
Laurie, It just occurred to me, the confusion might rest in my use of the adverb “more” in the fourth line of my original comment. I didn’t mean more than abortion care; I meant more attention to a pro-worker agenda than currently given.
Women comprise more than half of the population and cover all races and ethnicities. I think I covered it. If childbearing had no effect on labor issues involved, I don't know what would. If the rights of more than half of us are not relevant, I don't know what else would be.
Laurie, Repeating an earlier reply from this thread, I sense the confusion might rest with my use of the adverb “more” in the fourth line of my original comment. I didn’t mean “more” than abortion care; I meant “more” attention to a pro-worker agenda than currently given.
Barbara, I agree with your statements. Have you addressed your concern to your elected leaders, made comments on social media, or connected with your local Democrat headquarters to see what you can do?
Katherine, Aside from consistently writing and, on occasion, meeting with my state’s leaders, over time, I repeatedly have written to the White House and to Democratic leadership in both chambers regarding a host of issues. Though I’m not on Facebook, this particular comment, plus several others, are posted on people’s Pages. Additionally, I am fortunate to be involved with local groups who have contributed immeasurably to my political work. Thank you for asking.
The 'draft dodgers' were seen as having an advantage because they could afford to go to college and avoid being drafted. This was exploited to the hilt by the 'right'. the simple minded "America ; Love it or leave it" did not examine why 'we' were in Vietnam or question authority in any way. It was simplistic and dangerous for a country that was supposed to be 'self ruled' by the people. Media was not informing the public very much then either.
Those who couldn't afford college to avoid the draft could get married and get a deferment that way. There was a huge rush to get married for this to happen.
Thank you for connecting the dots. Easy to lose track of these historical events & their connections to today’s problems while just trying to get through my ADLs (social work- speak for activities of daily living). I am so grateful to be able to access your lessons Professor Reich.
A small town has one major employer. That company had employed multiple generations of workers building washing machines or autos or widgets. You grew up seeing your father work hard every day and then retire with a pension. Not a lot of money. But enough to support the family - a house or rent, food, clothing and a TV. Back yard barbecues, sports. A beer with buddies. A good life.
But the company didn't give a shit about any of that. In fact, it just considered those employees an expense. The first thing a manager looks at when reducing expenses is payroll. So the company moved it's production somewhere else where they could pay the workers a fraction of the pay. Where environmental regulations were not so stringent. Poof. Thousands of lives ruined in the small town.
In an America that valued its citizens, that company would have worked in coordination with state and federal resources to provide financial support for all those workers. And for all the people in town whose livelihoods were smashed. The breakfast joint, the small hardware store, the barber shop....
Retraining money, relocation money, rent money. Generations of workers had lined the pockets of the shareholders of that company. Without those workers, there would have been no company, no product, no profits. But the workers were disposed of as if they were just shop floor scraps and debris to disposed of.
The political party that required corporate responsibility for those workers could have been instrumental in building a society where the worker is an important stakeholder - equal in the board room with investors and managers. The fact that we have a President that is in full support of unions should be pushing his poll numbers through the roof. But guess what? Too many of those workers have been sold poppycock and bullshit by racist Republicans. The GQP is throwing gasoline on the culture war.
And we Democrats are just as guilty. Bill Clinton gave us NAFTA which could have been fruitful if it had been designed to protect those workers. After all, Mexicans deserve a good life, too. But what seemed like "free trade" was really a freebie for Wall Street.
Time for some Norma Rae, folks. Time to recognize who has shipped those jobs out of town. Time to talk about employee value and power. Time to claw back some of the riches accumulated off the backs of the indentured servants of the US of A. That town was built by hard work. It was destroyed by greed.
You are so spot on!! And yes Clinton helped Wall St. He was no democrat, he was a center right republican posing as a Dem. He also militarized our police forces and helped the for profit prison system. The incarceration rate of minorities went through the roof under him. He is a terrible human being and was a terrible president.
Exactly. My Dad worked for a carpet company that packed up. left a small New England town and went south. Big brick empty buildings. Oh, and the company sold itself and resold itself until his pension was somehow lost in the shuffle. The Feds came in and rescued a portion of the pension - but it was a fraction of what was promised.
That is a story with a thousand or more retellings. New England was first, when the millowners went South; then the millowners went international (Asia and Mexico) with nothing much left in place to help or retrain the workers left twisting in the wind.
Short-sighted greed seems always to come out ahead of long-term planning.
What if you make the minimum welfare check high enough to prevent poverty, and the basic minimum wage for working 40 hours a week sufficient to ensure a decent standard of living? Would this take the heat from the fire?
I too, remember that time well. I was still in college, got my Bachelors that month and started on my masters in the fall. It was an appalling time for college students. Although I was at least 10 years older than my classmates I fully supported their stance. The Vietnam war was not a war the Real America belonged in. The people in North Vietnam and even some in South Vietnam were fighting against autocracy and corruption, the legacy of French Colonialism, and here we were killing them for no good reason at all. The police forces, even in California seemed to hate young men, even their own kids. I could not understand why they couldn't see the injustice of that war, any more than the Iraqi war when we attacked them. We weren't protecting our liberty, the liberty of the Vietnamese citizens or Iraqi citizens 30+ years later. We seemed to be fighting for the weapons manufacturers and first Johnson , then the GOP. The only rationale I can imagine is the people in the working class were lied to about why and for whom we were fighting and had never been taught to analyze. Back then, I still believed the Nation and Constitution would survive. Now I'm beginning to doubt.
Populism and riots are not new to this country or elsewhere. It has been said that history does not repeat itself but it sure rhymes. I'm going to explore several areas where Professor Reich has probably already written about much of this. Bear with me if this interests you.
Where is this all going, and what is driving it? Culture wars and their exploitation are a way of building a political base and even a revolutionary movement. Some conservatives are now saying that conservatism is dead; they are participating in a revolution.
Many pieces seem to fit together. Behind all of this are big money interests. The truth inoculation propaganda of populist autocrats to blame others for what they're doing points to the usual anti-Semitic prejudices and weird conspiracy theories, like Q-anon. But I believe that's a cover for real conspiracies of ultra-rich people, monopolists, and autocrats and dictators. Within the last couple of years there was a leak that revealed that people like the king of Jordan, Russian oligarchs and Putin, and families of dictators from third world states were hiding their money in offshore accounts. This is no surprise. These days the old USA is the main repository of this hidden wealth. Top corporate executives make such huge fortunes that I suppose many gain entrance into that elite and hide their money from taxation, even if it is done for them and the investments flow as sophisticated financial instruments. I don't wish to target a shadow group for collective hatred but only to say that it looks to me like we are caught in the grip of worldwide corruption of money and power. That corruption and with it, media control, is really what's taking over, using class wars to divide us, mobilize support and cause chaos.
How did Trump become part of that crowd? Real estate and casinos are well-known vehicles for laundering money, to start. With the presidency he could give access to the nation's secrets to anyone who would build his business interests or stroke his ego. I believe the Russian connection to Trump is real. Otherwise why would Trump want so much to meet Putin, leaving his translator behind and celebrate in the oval office with Russian officials? Length limit? Continued below.
It's interesting that MAGA adherents now have been persuaded that Russia is not our enemy and we should cease resisting them.
Russia and Opec+ are squeezing western democracies, using social media to divide people in those countries and causing autocrats to be elected. The threat to the post World War II alliance and the overthrow of democratic governance will further empower monopolists, oligarchs and dictators. It's in their interest to keep most of us either satiated and entertained for now or struggling so much that too many believe the facile blaming of political and legal forces that would try to take them down. So, Republican politicians are taking Viktor Orban as a model and are turning against support for Ukraine.
Add to this mix the increasing hardships of climate change, food shortages in many nations, and the rise of a militaristic China whose dictator can't deliver continuing growth. When people struggle you can lead them where you will.
I wonder what can be done to challenge this vortex. Is it citizens coming together to resist MAGA officials and edicts? Blue states cooperating along similar lines? Workers forming companies that benefit all as shareholders? Is it support of local agriculture? Voluntary retooling to deal with climate change? Alternate media that isn't owned by Google or Facebook?
We are certainly caught in a time of change. What are our options and how do we get together with a minimum of dogmatism, with goodwill, integrity and public service?
I saw a summary of the recent Times/Siena poll finding that corruption is at the top of people's minds of the threat to democracy, and that the attack in our country on free and fair elections isn't a priority. But voters in the two parties see corruption on the other side, although I am not arguing for both-side-ism and only suggesting that even Democratic politicians cannot challenge corporate interests and stay in office. It costs too much to run a campaign.
Something that autocrats do to unify people and attract attention under the guise of patriotism is to start wars, whether it's a war on crime and illegal immigration internally or a war on countries south of the border who are blamed for sending fentanyl and other drugs into our country. Could the federal government under MAGA rule go to war against inner cities, just as Trump mobilized federal troops against Portland demonstrators, inflaming those conflicts?
I hope that the mid-terms go better than expected and that our legal system can halt some of the worst actors. I'm not optimistic. I haven't seen the movie yet, but perhaps the metaphor fits. Don't look up.
More demonic genius to somehow make your cult believe that everything you have been taught in school and discussed with your friends and enemies (at every socioeconomic level) over the last 60 years was wrong and now you should embrace (suck up to) Vladmir Putin, one of the most dangerous, murderous, despots in the history of the world.
Too little attention has been paid to the condo sales in Florida - Russians paying way over market value to buy Trump properties. Some in order to have their babies and establish a citizenship for them in the US. Think about that as money laundering and long term strategy....
Nixon, Buchannan, demagogued it. Southern strategy pit the FDR Democratic coalition groups against each other. Infiltrated liberal groups. Dirty tricks.
I was on the front lines. First, although I flunked my ROTC physical, I was drafted, sent to the front lines in Viet Nam. Most of the troops felt like those construction workers. By the time of this riot, and Kent State, the lines had been drawn.
By the time I got back, the south was in passive resistance to the federal government over segregation. In 1968 our cities burned when REAL riots occurred. How about that police riot at the Democratic Convention?
Later, I was back in school for the student strikes. For mass protests against the war.
And I represented school districts when they were attacked by a Republican Human Relations Commission in Pa. to further split the coalition racially.
E and A with some riffing. Pretty simple if only playing one of the three guitar parts. Rock ON!!! We all must stay sane in these silly, f'ed up times...
Thanks... Noodling the melody I thought it was staying in one key but alternating between major and minor. But I'll give your chords a look -- in fact, right now! Supplemental: Gave it a try. Even pulled up lyrics to work the whole song. You're right! A big surprise that it could be so simple. I think it may drop to minors in the refrain. Or start E major to minor followed by A major to minor. So still scratching my head a bit.
And we still have not learned. Most of congress is wealthy and making money from corporations that they should be protecting us from. The wealthy won't allow a crumb to go to those who need it most. Winter is coming and DC parks and overpasses are not the only places full of tent cities. It really is too bad. I'm listening to Maddow's Ultra, now.
Democrats should be less bashful about their efforts for the middle class; though the help may never be help enough, it's better than deliberately making things worse (e.g. with idiot ideas about "trickle-down" economics & candidates whose administrations invariably embrace such things).
Further, health politics was mentioned a couple days ago; Democrats should find a way to send a message about not letting communities be destroyed by uncontrolled rent-seeking behavior (as has been the case with both oxycodone and fentanyl).
I was in college then and actively anti-Vietnam but I don’t remember that riot. So many things have slipped by us when we could have done something had we understood the historical significance. I happened to come across this as I was researching something else. This was evidently the turning point in making education out of reach for the non-elite. I thought you might be interested in it. It seems the GOP have been making these kind of plans for decades, certainly not for the common good.
“Sundial (Northridge, Los Angeles, Calif.) 1966-10-14 - Daily Sundial - CSUN University Library Digital Collections: A. S. President John Cagle, along with 14 student leaders from Southern California have come out against gubematorial candidate Ronald Reagan's proposal to charge tuition in the State's colleges and universities.”
“A. S. President John Cagle, along with 14 student leaders from Southern California have come out against gubematorial candidate Ronald Reagan's proposal to charge tuition in the State's colleges and universities. Cagle emphasized that he was not against Reagan as a candidate, but only on his stand to charge tuition.
•That could be the final step that puts a college education beyond the reach of hundreds of young people in this state,* they charged.
*I am definitely opposed to any levy of this sort for students, Cagle emphasized.“
"As the journalist Pete Hamill observed at the time, the workingman “feels trapped and, even worse, in a society that purports to be democratic, ignored.”"
Excuse all hell out of me, but we hippies and lefties felt ignored - WERE ignored - for decades in our patriotic critique of the USA into which we were born, whose ideals we were taught to believe, and whose hypocricies we were taught we should point out, to correct our course. Instead, we got rampant capitalism, racism, sexism, environmental destruction, colonialist wars, and Pete Hamill's people beating us up.
So let's all agree that we love the ideals of the USA, and that we are all ignored.
Next, we read in Axios today that Lo, the Midwesterners think what we lefties think:
Between the lines: Strong feelings about corporate America help drive Midwest mistrust.
70% of Midwesterners — more than any other region — believe businesses should serve their customers' and employees' interests, not just the interests of their investors.
87% of Midwesterners believe businesses should invest in their communities — and less than half believe businesses actually do so.
Pete Hamill was one terrific writer, but sentimentality tripped him up when it came to anything Irish, and many if not most of those union guys were from recent Irish immigrant families.
“The nation could have responded, but did not”…to the concerns and needs of the white, working class workers. Corporate, Wall Street Democrats are still not responding in meaningful ways. Schumer and Pelosi feel more comfortable working with Sinema, Manchin and Cuellar than they do with Bernie and AOC now. And it was under Bill Clinton that The final nail was put in the coffin for Glass-Stegall, and it was under Barack Obama that the Wall Street banks were declared “too big to fail.” Is it any wonder that working class, Blacks, Hispanics, young and progressive people are not inspired by these milquetoast Dems, and won’t turn out in sufficient numbers to vote against the authoritarian, plutocratic candidates put up by the Republicans?
I remember all of what you wrote. One of my most vivid memories was Pat Buchanan's speech to the Republican National Convention (I forget the exact year). I thought I was watching a speech at the 1934 Nuremberg Nazi party rally. It was appalling and very frightening.
Molly Ivins wrote about that speech; it was the Republican Convention of 1992...she remarked that that it "probably sounded better in the original German." Great line in a column about the ongoing culture wars.
I remember all of this, just not as vividly as Dr. Reich. At the time, I was considered a "long haired hippie" and the backlash to "baby boomers" protesting the war is what led me to lose trust in police and government. In fact, my thoughts, today, relating to my HOPE that Donald Trump will face indictment mirrors what I remember about as I followed the evolution of the Watergate scandal and my anxiousness for Nixon's impeachment. (I felt Nixon's pardon was a terrible mistake) Of course, Trump is far more dangerous and corrupt than Nixon - but I was/have been "glued" to the investigation of both CORRUPT presidencies. (Just as in Watergate, there are MANY co-conspirators with Trump) Regarding how I felt about the police and government - then and now - I see a lot of similarities between the two "eras." I suppose that confirms Dr. Reich's thesis in this posting. I just wrote about taking "white privilege" for granted most of my life in response to yesterday's post about "how are you feeling" - and, thinking about what transpired in the 60's and 70's pretty much confirms those feelings. I was the recipient of some of the treatment mentioned in this posting - just nothing serious enough to send me to the hospital - but, as a white person, still had that "privilege" I took for granted. (Have a roof over my head and plenty to eat) The emergence of the "Tea Party" is what first caused me to think, fundamentally, not much has changed. I believe this is why I've felt, since January 6th, 2021, that purging the police forces and military of sympathisers with the INSURRECTIONISTS appears to be a "pipe dream." Additionally, that Trump facing accountability is a MUST for the future of our republic overwhems my thinking. (Nixon, Reagan, and both Bushes avoided accountabilty for blatant illegality - it keeps getting worse) The election of Nixon was the "birth" of the "Southern Strategy" connecting the republican party with sympathisers of the "lost cause" and Trump has masterfully exploited this division in society which was "simmering" - kind of "under the rocks" for years - until the election of Barack Obama. To me, the backlash to Obama's election is what has brought this racist "underbelly" America can't rid herself from to the "surface." As an aside: This is why teaching the TRUTH about American History is so critical for our public schools. Sadly, as a former teacher, I believe the assault on our democracy is fueled by IGNORANCE and republicans want to keep it that way. Reminding me that "those who choose to ingnore history are bound to repeat it."
"Of course Trump is far more dangerous and corrupt than Nixon."
Trump is probably the most dangerous man in history (Hitler didn't have nukes).
Nixon was a criminal, he wasn’t a traitor.
He was also a traitor. https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/this-is-treason
I guess in an absolute sense you could say that. Same with Reagan and Iran/Contra.
Not as much. You can say it about the October Surprise of 1980.
So you can be a little bit traitorish??? I thought it was like being pregnant, you are or you’re not. I guess you can be a passive traitor, turning a blind eye, or actively so by handing over Top Secret info.
Reagan should have been impeached and removed from office. I am not sure had he been removed from office we would have been spared all he did to undo civil righs and labor rights and retard the environmental movement.
Not to mention Iran Contra
Absolutely.
@Daniel. You are well wired in sir. Nixon was a criminal AND a traitor, but I think the point from Goodman was to emphasize Trump is a traitor AND a criminal. And for those who say Nixon wasn't as bad as Trump, we still don't know who was actually behind the Kennedy murders. When I think of Bebe Rebozo, the Cuban diaspora in Florida with their anti-Castro, anti-Kennedy sentiments, the way Nixon was playing the game after he lost to JFK, the way he was intimidated by RFK...
Well, anyway, I don't think we can say on evidence that Nixon was better than Trump....
It’s a shame we even have to have this discussion as to who can squeak under the lowest bar.
We also got the EPA OSHA and ERISA under Nixon’s administration. Imagine that under the Trump or any if his apostles.
Like button doesn't work. Agree wholeheartedly
Nixon was certainly no angel. He was a crook. I campaigned against him. However, he didn't want to fire all of our civil service workers. He didn't have a constant stream of key positions in gov't. up for grab. He did not want to withdraw from NATO. He didn't want to turn our democracy into a full blown dictatorship. He did eventually resign, something our former President hasn't done yet!
Actually, as espoused by William F Buckley, he was a traitor. Specifically, Johnson had arranged a peace conference in October 1968, which would have ended the Viet Nam war on mutually agreed upon terms. Nixon was captured on tape (BBC broke the story in the 90s) offering the South Vietnamese government a better deal.
He was the presidential candidate but private citizen and every death after 1968 is
On him. Interfering as he did was treason
Well now, I think criminal and traitor are the same.
Either Trump or his puppetmaster Putin
Nixon was a criminal and capable of killing within the Vietnam war. I don't think Trump would be capable of pushing the nuke buttons, he is a coward. But, he could con someone to do it. Conmen always get a fall guy.
Trump is llke the schoolyard czar who gets the bullies to take the other kids' lunch money. He's too chickens--t to get involved himself, but he will go around whispering bad things about those who oppose him to his crew of goons, with which he promises to share the spoils of his depradations - and then does the same thing to the goons who demand he pay up.
Nazi Germany was very close to having a nuclear weapon. There were certain facilities the Allies had to bomb into oblivion to prevent this.
Who are his domestic puppet masters? Bannon, Pompeo, Flynn?
David, as a retired teacher who experienced in a small way the anti-everyone but rich white men syndrome that was already well-developed by 1970, I noticed the young "hippies" were challenging that hierarchy and those guys didn't like it. There was white privilege among the hippies, but also a lot of inclusion too, another sin in the book of the Right. Diversity is not what those rich white men want because it will show them for the fools they often are and that their privilege didn't do much for them as human beings, which is why they hide in gated communities and on yachts. They have the money and the media but that's about it. Like Trump, they get others to do their dirty work while they egg them on. I wish we could get the cult to see it, but alas, I guess that's the definition of cult.
@Ruth. I understand you. But I gotta push back a little. When we dump all people of a certain economic class into one category we are making the "group attribution error" and losing a lot of information. Understanding that MOST upper middle class and even quite a few wealthy folks are Democrats is an important part of putting together the Democratic coalition should help us preserve and expand that coalition. We must be careful not to paint everyone with the same brush! Democrats are a majority in this country. Only the Senate, the Electoral College and Citizens United give the troglodytes a chance at power.
Even categorizing the hardhats as construction workers and as anarchists, or ready-recruits, or Republicans, or pro American (for the sake of argument, say 80% took the day off and went home...)--is using that too-broad a brush, attribution error. And characterising war protestors as peaceful, or hippies (mean and self-admiring when high or drunk), or students, or poor, or as Alex Keaton’s parents--the anti war protestors were not homogeneous either. Hardhats and anti Vietnam protestors were Americans with same number of reasons to attend, fight, or fight back, as individuals they were. Death (war stats) and honor (if you don’t have possessions, there’s nothing to lose in fighting contrarians) galvanized individuals to show up and so it becomes an us versus them scenario.
@VJ. Ah yes. Humanity - it's always us vs them, and "us" depends on who is talking...
I'm reminded of the meme, "Humans don't like each other very much." Even within clans and families we break apart.
When you say the Senate you are (to use your words) " we dump all people of a certain economic class" in this case the Senate. Remember the Senate is composed of two parties!
@Katherine. However, what I was saying is that structurally the fact we have 2 senators from each state, 2 from Wyoming (just over 500,000 people) and 2 senators from California, (just over 39 Million people) means that small, rural populations are over represented in the Senate. Similarly the Electoral College is not proportionate to the population. Finally, the use of dark money and unlimited amounts of money means that moneyed interests, whether they are from this country or not, can deploy lawyers, "think tanks", lobbyists and campaign donations that far out strip what honest politicians can bring in from small donors and honest contributors. But lots of wealthy people contribute to Democrats and vote Democratic. Democrats have a majority in this country and, in spite of our worries, Democrats have had the upper hand in Congress and have some reasonable prospects this coming election. Fingers Crossed!
While there is still hope, we vote!
Liberty-cookies.com even if hope is 'weak,' we vote!
@Katherine. I frequently use the group attribution error! LOL
B.S. ; If one is voting for only one party, which is the usual, legal way, group attribution rules when discussing said vote/party
Ruth Sheets ; Who would want to see what they really are? In their bubble, they can be whomever they wish. Obscene wealth is the ultimate 'escape'.
It was just then that the GOP saw the GI Bill was turning out well-educated (thus liberal) students who were challenging their supremacy, and they set out to dismantle affordable college education.... read Will Bunch's excellent new book that is a compliment to Reich's piece today, "After the Ivory Tower Falls"
https://www.harperacademic.com/book/9780063076990/after-the-ivory-tower-falls/
This morning, after I heard the newscaster call today "Fri-YAY!" I was struck by a profound insight, that once the Tweety-wanker-publicans kill this democracy, they'll bury it under a mountain of inanity - along with garden gnomes and porch-jockeys!
DZK : I have heard that on our local radio/ TV too. Must be a thing now with some broadcasters.
It could be a ‘thing’ or it’s the fact that most local radio and TV stations are now controlled by one entity that scripts them all. Gray, Sinclair and Fox are the top three.
🪓
Perhaps I am slow to keep up, but I listened to my first podcast yesterday and I was delighted. Like radio shows of old, it included snips from commentaries, and even a little melodramatic music. My point is podcasts are the future of radio, as streaming is the now and future of TV. Many of us are tuning out of traditional media. Not saying folks won't select what they want to hear, but at least there are great alternatives and small town reporters.
Bingo!
Yep. They all suck.
I believe they think they're being "with it" - like >my< grandma used to say!
The question is ; 'with what?' A mountain of inanity-along with garden gnomes and porch jockeys...Because for many people Friday is not necessarily "Fri-YAY!"
Besides, Inanna is an ancient Akkadian goddess, anyway! Inanity on Friday? Most inappropriate indeed!
Then there is Satyr day! Look out! 👹👺💥💣
Clearly!
Ooookay!
David Piper : I can't help but notice that " this racist 'underbelly' America can't rid herself from" has a female pronoun. Is it that it is common to call boats, nation's: just about anything 'she' and 'her' to suit a negative , or at best inert connotation? Way to push it onto the 'weaker' sex? Somehow not fair, or true.
The racist collective subconscious may be gender neutral, but the draft was the reason for the resentment and no women were drafted.
In order to firm up his base, Nixon ended the draft. Many of his policies were designed to enlist sectors identified with FDR Democrats and divide us further. He supported the EPA. Wage and price controls. Opening to China. All while he had malice in his heart -- not just for us but for "limousine Republican liberals" like the Rockefellers. He despised Kissinger but hired him "to fight fire with fire." Privately he was a racist, misogynist, anti Semite. We know that from the tapes.
David Solomon : do you suggest that general misogyny exists because women were not drafted? We now, once again must supply 'human resources' in a way that imposes a 'draft'. We have no choice : even if the pregnancy threatens our very lives. Unlike the draft, there seems to be no age limit either. I hope the MAGATs lose!
The reason for that riot was up close and personal to a class of people that excluded women. Different concept.
By the ERA you should know them. Same period Equal Rights Amendment. Before that virtually no women in power.
Daniel Solomon : That was my thought too.
@Laurie. Traditionally, in Western culture, the female was the noble sex. Ships and countries and other noble enterprises were designated "her" out of pride and respect. The ugly misogynist trends in our culture have undermined that long tradition...
Along with the 'rape culture'.
Agree! Language matters. America can't rid itself... Similarly, humankind should replace mankind. Just for starters.
I'm sorry you took it that way - certainly not my intention. To me, the "racist underbelly" comment and referring to America with the pronoun "her" are not connected. But, obviously, that's not how you saw it. My apologies and I'll leave it at that.
This is the second time we've met over this. Yikes!!!
Of course, there’s Vaterland.
David, I was in Chicago at grad school for two years with the murderous specter of Vietnam hanging over me and with a student deferment that would end in 1968, at which point I would be drafted and sent to Vietnam to fight and kill people who were not my enemy and who had never done anything against my country or against me whatsoever. It was in Chicago that I experienced the savagery, hatred and violence of Mayor Daley's police thugs, out to bash as many heads as possible and stop every demonstration against the war. Violent police riots were commonplace, and I lived in constant fear of the future.
It was one of the worst periods of my life and coming after the horrible assassinations in fairly quick order of Jack, Martin and Bobby and after the accession of Richard Nixon, who promised he would end the war, to the White House, a hatred grew within me of not just the Republican leadership but the Democratic leadership (Hubert Humphrey for President? Really?) and the mindless middle-Americans who waved the flag, proclaimed their love of God and Jesus and couldn't care a lick if my entire generation was wiped out in to save Vietnam from communism, as they waved the flags and pledged allegiance to a Constitution they had never read (above their grade level, I suppose) and probably wouldn't understand if they had.
I was lucky in that my mother had been in the Democratic Party of Bronx County, New York for many years, knew the Bronx Borough President, and thereby got me a deferment from the ultra-right-wing draft board to go into U.S. Peace Corps in Africa for two years, which would put me beyond age 26 and thus ineligible for instant drafting into our fascist entanglement in Vietnam. I was so disgusted with America and couldn't wait to get out of what I considered to be an awful, dangerous and violent country.
While I was in Africa having two of the best years of my life, I didn't miss the constant drumbeat of war and death on American media, and thus had no idea that the President who had promised to end the war had instead expanded it dramatically, leading not only to untold death and destruction in Vietnam itself but to the demise of the government in Cambodia, the installation of the Khmer Rouge and the death of fully one-third of the entire population of that lovely country.
Racism, intolerance, the love of violence and basic cultural divisions in our populace didn't begin in the late 1960's. They were baked into the psyche of America going back well before the founding of our supposedly-democratic republic in 1776, way back to 1619 when the first slaves arrived on our shore and to 1664 when the class structure of England was imposed on the Dutch colony that became New York. We have such short memories. You won't learn the true history of America because the underside of our nation's history was never taught to you in school.
The cultural divisions that today's Republicans are exploiting for personal gain were there long before the Vietnam period, ready for Republicans in the 60's and 70's to stoke the fires into a culture-war blaze. The only way those cultural divisions might be healed is through a factual re-telling of the true history of America in every school in the land. Like France and England, Germany and Russia and most every country in the world, we have terrible things in our history that we continue to gloss over, claiming we're doing so because we don't want to upset our young children and young adults with the truth of our past and how that past affects our present society and government. But it's my firm belief that only education can remedy our basic problems and bring us together as a truly united country.
Well put - I taught 6th graders for 23 years and, for half of it, my teaching partner was a wonderful African American who grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. The stories he shared with me about his early years always made me angry - at what he had endured and at my own ignorance. He's no longer with us, but in today's environment (I didn't even know what "CRT" was when I first heard the commotion) we'd both be fired in the first trimester if we were teaching in Florida. I TOTALLY agree, a true education for our children (when it comes to American History) is the only way out of this present climate. I recently read a book about the aftermath of the Civil War and the "birth" of the "lost cause" and it really reminded me of what I see happening today. I forget a lot of stuff these days, but the 1968 democratic convention, with the student protests, is still vivid in my memory - I only watched it on TV. And, when I see members of the "militia" movement
these days attempting to bully and threaten "liberals" I'm reminded of the thugs opponents of the Viet Nam war had to endure back then. I fear a rough road ahead for my children and grandchildren.
Well said, David, and I totally agree. Personally, I was lucky to get out of Chicago right before the Days of Rage, although I saw snippets - all I could stand, actually - of it on television as some volunteers would watch it during our Peace Corps training in Tucson. It was all too raw for me to watch; my immediate future lay in another country very far away from the noise, the violence, the insanity and hopelessness of it all.
I fear for my country even more now than I did back in 1968 when all I could think of it was leaving it behind. Now I realize that the America of 1968 is in many ways the America of today, infected with the same poisons that have now metastasized throughout our body politic. Will we and our descendants ever be able to heal our nation? What will we bequeath to our children and grandchildren a sane and healthy America, or one that feeds on inequality, hatred, ignorance, bigotry and despair?
I was a working class college student. I was perplexed by the enthusiasm for the War by some of my fellow students but was not aware enough to read beneath the veneer of patriotism to see the underlying corruption and lies. Toward the end of Viet Nam I had wised up. I pondered the wisdom of exporting democratic concepts to countries that had no history or inkling as to what that meant under leaders who would still pursue "business as usual." Like you, I was outraged that Nixon was pardoned and saw it as a mistake. It didn't foster the healing of the nation that Ford maintained. If anything it justified in the minds of die hard Nixonites that he was innocent. It opened the door to the era of Trump via Reagan and his obtuseness. You have summed up clearly my perspectives on the culture wars, including the watering down of education, the attempt to deny critical parts of our history and distortion of the issues that continue to separate us.
"Nixon, Reagan, and both Bushes avoided accountabilty for blatant illegality - it keeps getting worse"
It's getting worse BECAUSE they keep avoiding accountability. And it will continue to get worse unless and until we show that those in charge are not above the law.
There are many things I could write about the Hard Hat riot, but I'll mention only two. First, the hats fought and the students didn't. And that's gone on and down for over fifty years. Which is part of why the left has been and still is literally on the back foot. Look, muscle decides things, all the crap about 'violence never settled anything' which you still here notwithstanding. I'm not posing that as a call to violence, but if one side is prepared to fight and the other isn't you can read who's going to have the upper hand. Antifa for all their issues understand that dynamic, and are a welcome breath of the spirit. If you're going to demonstrate, you should understand that it _may_ be a fight and that the confrontation embodied is very definitely a fight. So you'd better fight well if you mean to win, if it comes to that. I suggest everyone think about that.
The other issue is that a particular period of societal focus saw a recurrent transition point c. 1975, from one era to another. Individual trajectories can transform at different time points within a window of effect near to that time. The Hard Hat riot occurred at the very lip of the event horizon of that transition, as I model historical periodization. The riot's aspect as a precursor to, for example, Reaganism and Repugnicant repression in the decades since, noted by RR in the post here, is real, a first tremor of a social 'moment' which gained coherence and momentum subsequently. Now, the period most typified by the moment is long over, so in principle a transition to a different, period-defined, social moment could have and should have occurred. And weakly, it has, as for example in the election of Obama to the other side of an ensuing structural window of transformation in primary American society; a weak signal indeed, but one of a different perspective. But liberals won't fight, their leadership is sold out, and they keep getting their butts kicked when it's time, structurally, for their message to predominate. I suggest we all think about that over the next few, maximally stressful, weeks.
I don't find the Russo-Ukrainian War stressful, personally, or the 'nuclear noise' associated with it, or even the prospect of wealth class induced recession (though inflation bites me like everyone else). The pathetic weakness of liberal leadership in a moment of long term societal peril _within_ DOES stress me no end, though, I can say that. I feel not unlike a radical scholar in Weimar Germany in Autumn, 1932. The historical parallels aren't exact, structurally or functionally, but emotionally they are all too similar, I feel sure. Watching a chunk of the 'independent' electorate dumb enough to genuflect to Repugnicant slogans while dithering liberals just can't even get their own pathetic 'messaging' in order or do anything far more substantive leaves me so actively nauseous I've curtailed my reading of current affairs which I otherwise maintain to follow specific societal trajectories in process, here and elsewhere. I'll believe the center and left of American society are prepared to fight for their civilization, so to speak, when I see it, but I'll never see the day when their current self-imposed 'leaders [sic]' are competent or even capable of doing so. Instead, they'll get their asses kick in the aisles of Congress and run out of the place, all but literally. Not anything I want to see per se, but those aren't shots I call.
Great comment. On the rare occasions when an elected Democrat actually "fights" (speaks strongly, that is), there's a very positive reaction from us in the Dem backwaters. Great, why can't they all do this, we ask? But they don't, and they lose.
What so many people like about the former guy is that he's a loudmouth and says, or yells, nasty yet very pointed stuff all the time, and people stand up and cheer. His supporters know he's not afraid and have the belief that he'll fight for them. Of course, he doesn't, but at rallies he puts out the message, loudly and forcefully, that he will, and people eat it up.
The last time we saw so-called "lefties" fight it out was back in the heavy unionization days of the early 20th century in response to corporate abuses of working men and women. They're the reason we have the 40-hour work week, weekends, safer working conditions and all the benefits brought to us by the IWW - the International Workers of the World ("Wobblies") - the ILGWU (International Ladies' Garment Workers Union), the Teamsters and the other big unions that weren't afraid to gather and protest loudly and frequently, and to fight physically if necessary to get decent wages and working conditions. And they meant to win, despite physical injuries and outrages. When you're up against the mindless pagan right and the militias, that's probably what it will take for us to move forward.
I too hope every day and night that Trump and his supporters be charged. We will lose our last hope if he and they are not.
Every police officer and every veteran who still believes in a semblance of law and order must be supported by making those who do not be held accountable.
Thank you David for voicing my fears and my hopes.
I too lived through all of that and now reflect on the privilege that a degree afforded us.
HOW do we rise to the top of this boiling cauldron of anger and begin to heal our nation? Perhaps Mother Nature will prevail?
Great comment. Thank you.
Just to correct a petty fact in your comment, Robert isn't technically "Dr. Reich" unless you were giving him a deserved promotion for all that he has contributed to the world of politics and economics. Lawyers aren't considered doctors, even with the JD degree.
I write because, whenever circumstances permit, I underscore, that while abortion care, let alone democracy, must remain on the front burner, Dems need to focus more on a pro-worker agenda—$15 hourly minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, the child tax credit, affordable, quality childcare, universal healthcare, investments in housing, in eldercare, and more—all of which have received zero Republican support. Similarly, in a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when the American people want billionaires to start paying their fair share of taxes, not one Republican has supported the legislation.
With 60% of the people in this country living paycheck to paycheck and millions working for starvation wages, it should surprise no one that the American people in poll after poll report that the economy and inflation are their two major issues. Hence, not only should we not ignore these issues; we should make it clear to working families throughout this country, many of whom are prepared to vote Republican, that if they vote Republican they are voting for a Party, which on every single issue economically runs counter to their interests and concerns.
While I don’t expect taking the fight to the Republican Party will have much, if any, impact on MAGA-GOP, I imagine there are sufficient numbers of “persuadables,” who could help Dems hold the House, pick up some Senates seats, and also win contests in battleground state and local elections.
Less than three weeks out from midterms, I do believe we’re primed both to learn and to implement the lessons gleaned over the past 50 years. But first we need to summon every means to position our leaders to do the work.
But they don't and that's the problem. Also the right wing owned media refuses to tell the real stories regarding the GOP. They literally control the narrative. Why wasn't that GOP politician just caught masturbating in his car by the school all over the news? Why isn't the real causes of inflation ever mentioned on tv? Corporations control every aspect of the US and it's really disgusting. Consumerism is a disease and people need to stop feeding it. Corporations will never feel the pain until they stop being fed our money. A consumer based economy is a sign of a weak country.
Add to this dismal equation the fact that Republicans have been given illegal access to voting machines by Republicans in every battleground state, and these are just the instances we know about in what is clearly a national effort to infiltrate the source code of voting machines. They have the source code. No changes have been made to source code that I've seen written about. Republican officials overseeing elections in GA of course see nor problem at all. They're just a'gonna swap out the machines! With identical machines that have the exact same source code. In this light, the NY Times telling us that women have dramatically shifted support to the party that asserts control over their bodies starts to make sense. If races are made to look closer than they are, the improbable come-from-behind, miracle MAGA victories can be explained. Garnish with a healthy serving of "time to move on" and a sudden lack of interest in stories regarding election fraud from the dishonest Plutocratic Press, and I think there you have the Republican recipe for November. As if having the means to infiltrate voting machines wasn't enough, the Enabling Acts red states have passed ensure Republican victories in enough contests to decide control of both houses of Congress. They are going to steal the election, and our billionaire-acquired press is going to tell us to move on and accept the results. And this says nothing of fascism's favorite tool: Facebook.
Corporate news blacked out the President of the United States when he gave a powerful speech warning of the dangers of authoritarianism in Philadelphia, demonstrating that they are part of that authoritarian problem. The most recent Jan. 6 Select Committee Hearings? Blacked out. Willfully, intentionally downplayed and ignored. Not covered. Corporate "news" is running out the clock on Democracy, willfully obscuring instead of informing.
If one accepts that definition of fascism that describes it as the merger of political and corporate power, well, Republicans have made that deal. Corporate America is all-in for fascism.
Cakeeater, your definition of fascism as the "merger of political and corporate power" is accurate, but to me there are at least more four faces of fascism in America (and elsewhere):
(1) so-called "populist" demagogues who exploit the emotions, prejudices, and ignorance of an aggrieved majority, and leverage the deep fears and hatreds of a small minority into a fanatical following with power out of all proportion to their numbers.
(2) The Politics of Resentment, appealing to those who feel left behind, left out, and betrayed, and blaming scapegoats: Jews, Muslims, Mexicans, immigrants, globalists (especially, of course, international Jewish bankers like George Soros), socialists, liberals (with their “radical” liberal agenda), elites, intellectuals, LGBQ folks and blacks and even “traitors" like Liz Cheney. Madeleine Albright, in her 2018 Fascism: A Warning, said "in the end, it is always about giving them someone to hate."
(3) Hyper-nationalism: It has often been asked how people can vote against their own self-interest. But the appeal of fascism is not about "economic" self-interest. On a much deeper level, fascism appeals to one's identity and status as a true American. That's why Trump supporters wear clothes festooned with American symbols - loudly proclaiming one simple but potent message: “WE are the true Americans!” Hyper-nationalism transforms personal grievances into fervent patriotic duty to "save our country" (and ourselves).
(4) Attack on Democratic Institutions. Long before Jan. 6, the attack on democratic institutions was in high gear: the free press is an “enemy of the people,” the justice system is part of a “Deep State,” elections are “rigged” whenever a Republican loses. Anything that questions or contradicts the leader is “fake news” and sycophantic enablers and apologists proclaim “alternative facts” to justify the dishonesty and corruption of their leader.
I call the ideology and methods of today's political right - Neo-Fascism, the same old poison in shiny new bottles. All wrapped up in the American flag.
https://neofascism.substack.com/
Robin, While nearly every point you make—I don’t agree with your last statement—is valid, I, and everyone I can convince, have prevailed upon our leaders to go on the offensive, take the fight to Republicans, and not allow their lies and distortions to go unanswered.
But they have not gone on the offensive. When there is a huge chance a guy like Herchel Walker and JD Vance can get into political office nothing will convince me otherwise.
Robin, Though I expect my efforts to be met with repeated frustration and failure, I’ve never stopped heeding the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who once wrote, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.” I imagine only in retrospect may we sense that our individual efforts might have mattered.
Wonderful quotation! Thanks
We the people need to vote in more Senators that believe people don’t include corporations and are willing to overturn Citizens United. 🇺🇸♾
@Liberty, Though your reply is not addressed to me, I would note, considering the number of far-right justices, that Congress would have to expand the Court to overturn the Citizens’ ruling.
I was thinking of a constitutional amendment as the House already passed but is blocked from debate in the Senate by the filibuster. Packing the court is a possibility, however I’m a believer in passing legislation to set policy instead of trusting the rulings of unaccountable activist justices of either political persuasion.
Hear Hear!! Eyes Open!
Democrats should also point out, repeatedly, that Republicans have promised that if they take over even one house of Congress, they will blow up the world economy and take away Social Security and Medicare. Many of the voters who reliably vote for Republicans are receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits. If people think their financial lives are difficult now, with Republicans leading Congress they will get a whole lot worse.
Carolyn, While, indeed, you’re right, despite the promise, unless Republicans have an iron clad plan (which they might) for winning in 24 whether or not they receive the most votes, I imagine whatever chaos they have in mind only will be implemented in a way that allows them to blame Democrats.
Yes, Republicans will blame Biden for the chaos they create, but I guess my point is not the political blame, but the real, substantive harm they will do. That is why it's Democratic candidates' job right now to prevent Republicans from gaining this power. In the final weeks of this election, they should relentlessly hammer the fact that Republicans are planning to take away Social Security and Medicare. Florida and Arizona should be particularly targeted because they have high concentrations of retirees who vote.
Carolyn, Admittedly, I fear not only the chaos that would ensue were Republicans to retake even one of the chambers but also the resistance to advancing any new legislation, all of which would impact 24. As for the chaos, like you, I dread the protections that would be held hostage— Social Security, Medicare, the Inflation Reduction Act, funding for Ukraine—for fear of the economic calamity that would ensue were we to default on the nation’s debt. Hence, presently, I’m focused on a host of races based on a list from a trusted friend.
Ms. Krieger, I agree with you, and would like to suggest that "moderate" democrats are as much to blame as republicans in thwarting "progressive" ideas such as $15 wage. An astonishingly depressing number of good-for-working-class policies are identified in the media and small minds with Bernie and progressives, who are just a buncha commies (kill 'em for christ} as they said in vietnam (a remarkably successful capitalist country). I've been watching some clips of Bernie from the last 40 years, and his message was prescient and consistent, but again, that socialist or commie label. By the way, notice that pfizer is raising the cost of covid shots to $130 for uninsured. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/10/21/daylight-robbery-pfizer-condemned-hiking-us-covid-vaccine-price-10000-above-cost
Paul, While Bernie Sanders, in particular, is the touchstone for much of my thinking, I would note that “moderate” Dems don’t bother me nearly as much as “corporate” Dems.
Barbara, in my cynicism, I was equating the two. But I shouldn't, I guess, because here in Oregon we had a moderate dem in Peter DeFazio, (who voted against Iraq war) but he's retiring, and if we get a dem elected, it'll be a corporate one. But the repugnants are pouring so much money into Oregon politics (phil knight nikeman for example) that I don't see how any dem can win. i hope i'm wrong.
This!!!!!
Barbara Jo Krieger ; There is a reason that a woman giving birth is said to be in 'labor'. It is an hours long 'marathon' as my daughter recently described her birthing experience. When human beings are described as "human resources" and now have little to no control over 'production', this is, at least, partly, a labor issue! Do we have to wait to see 'human resources' traded on the stock exchange before the connection is obvious? Support the passage of the ERA! (Equal Rights Amendment for women ). Let's see slavery for what it is.
Laurie, I haven’t the slightest idea how your reply relates to my comment, wherein I have labored to respond to the anger and frustrations exhibited in the 70s that the Professor has so elegantly tracked to the present.
Some of the anger and resentment that was exhibited in the 70's was about the right to choose. Even contraceptive care was banned (unless the woman was married). Many babies were born who were not planned for and unwanted. It guaranteed poverty for many. And robbed others of their own flesh and blood.
Unwanted children who become a burden to their mothers is behind many of our worst social problems. Why do youngsters become gang members? It gives them an identity.
I do see a connection that affects all women (and their loved ones) across all races and faith viewpoints. Of course, Barbara Jo Krieger, you have a right to your opinion.
Laurie, It just occurred to me, the confusion might rest in my use of the adverb “more” in the fourth line of my original comment. I didn’t mean more than abortion care; I meant more attention to a pro-worker agenda than currently given.
Laurie, The issue is not a matter of my opinion, but a matter of focusing on the population that is the subject of the Professor’s Substack.
Women comprise more than half of the population and cover all races and ethnicities. I think I covered it. If childbearing had no effect on labor issues involved, I don't know what would. If the rights of more than half of us are not relevant, I don't know what else would be.
Laurie, Repeating an earlier reply from this thread, I sense the confusion might rest with my use of the adverb “more” in the fourth line of my original comment. I didn’t mean “more” than abortion care; I meant “more” attention to a pro-worker agenda than currently given.
As workers would say a hundred years ago when being beaten down by rich employers who cared little or nothing for their wellbeing, "ORGANIZE!"
yes, Democrats build for the future. Repubs steal from it.
Democrats sometimes sell out. Clinton and Glass Steagall ; Obama and the TPP for example.
I agree Laurie. it's meant as a bumper sticker slogan. Though I think it's more true than false.
Well said, again :)
Whenever I see your name in a comments thread I pay close attention.
Bill, Considering your thinking has affected my views, your words mean a great deal to me.
Well done Barbara. Eyes Open.
Barbara, I agree with your statements. Have you addressed your concern to your elected leaders, made comments on social media, or connected with your local Democrat headquarters to see what you can do?
Katherine, Aside from consistently writing and, on occasion, meeting with my state’s leaders, over time, I repeatedly have written to the White House and to Democratic leadership in both chambers regarding a host of issues. Though I’m not on Facebook, this particular comment, plus several others, are posted on people’s Pages. Additionally, I am fortunate to be involved with local groups who have contributed immeasurably to my political work. Thank you for asking.
The 'draft dodgers' were seen as having an advantage because they could afford to go to college and avoid being drafted. This was exploited to the hilt by the 'right'. the simple minded "America ; Love it or leave it" did not examine why 'we' were in Vietnam or question authority in any way. It was simplistic and dangerous for a country that was supposed to be 'self ruled' by the people. Media was not informing the public very much then either.
Those who couldn't afford college to avoid the draft could get married and get a deferment that way. There was a huge rush to get married for this to happen.
Believed in God and Senator Dodd [btw I went to school with Chris].:
"I hate Chou En Lai and I hope he dies
But one thing you gotta see
That someone's gotta go over there
And that someone isn't me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08DnYRJhHks
Thank you for connecting the dots. Easy to lose track of these historical events & their connections to today’s problems while just trying to get through my ADLs (social work- speak for activities of daily living). I am so grateful to be able to access your lessons Professor Reich.
A story repeated all across America:
A small town has one major employer. That company had employed multiple generations of workers building washing machines or autos or widgets. You grew up seeing your father work hard every day and then retire with a pension. Not a lot of money. But enough to support the family - a house or rent, food, clothing and a TV. Back yard barbecues, sports. A beer with buddies. A good life.
But the company didn't give a shit about any of that. In fact, it just considered those employees an expense. The first thing a manager looks at when reducing expenses is payroll. So the company moved it's production somewhere else where they could pay the workers a fraction of the pay. Where environmental regulations were not so stringent. Poof. Thousands of lives ruined in the small town.
In an America that valued its citizens, that company would have worked in coordination with state and federal resources to provide financial support for all those workers. And for all the people in town whose livelihoods were smashed. The breakfast joint, the small hardware store, the barber shop....
Retraining money, relocation money, rent money. Generations of workers had lined the pockets of the shareholders of that company. Without those workers, there would have been no company, no product, no profits. But the workers were disposed of as if they were just shop floor scraps and debris to disposed of.
The political party that required corporate responsibility for those workers could have been instrumental in building a society where the worker is an important stakeholder - equal in the board room with investors and managers. The fact that we have a President that is in full support of unions should be pushing his poll numbers through the roof. But guess what? Too many of those workers have been sold poppycock and bullshit by racist Republicans. The GQP is throwing gasoline on the culture war.
And we Democrats are just as guilty. Bill Clinton gave us NAFTA which could have been fruitful if it had been designed to protect those workers. After all, Mexicans deserve a good life, too. But what seemed like "free trade" was really a freebie for Wall Street.
Time for some Norma Rae, folks. Time to recognize who has shipped those jobs out of town. Time to talk about employee value and power. Time to claw back some of the riches accumulated off the backs of the indentured servants of the US of A. That town was built by hard work. It was destroyed by greed.
You are so spot on!! And yes Clinton helped Wall St. He was no democrat, he was a center right republican posing as a Dem. He also militarized our police forces and helped the for profit prison system. The incarceration rate of minorities went through the roof under him. He is a terrible human being and was a terrible president.
The company might have given a shit, but probably was sold by vulture capitalists,
Exactly. My Dad worked for a carpet company that packed up. left a small New England town and went south. Big brick empty buildings. Oh, and the company sold itself and resold itself until his pension was somehow lost in the shuffle. The Feds came in and rescued a portion of the pension - but it was a fraction of what was promised.
That is a story with a thousand or more retellings. New England was first, when the millowners went South; then the millowners went international (Asia and Mexico) with nothing much left in place to help or retrain the workers left twisting in the wind.
Short-sighted greed seems always to come out ahead of long-term planning.
Hell yeah!
What if you make the minimum welfare check high enough to prevent poverty, and the basic minimum wage for working 40 hours a week sufficient to ensure a decent standard of living? Would this take the heat from the fire?
I too, remember that time well. I was still in college, got my Bachelors that month and started on my masters in the fall. It was an appalling time for college students. Although I was at least 10 years older than my classmates I fully supported their stance. The Vietnam war was not a war the Real America belonged in. The people in North Vietnam and even some in South Vietnam were fighting against autocracy and corruption, the legacy of French Colonialism, and here we were killing them for no good reason at all. The police forces, even in California seemed to hate young men, even their own kids. I could not understand why they couldn't see the injustice of that war, any more than the Iraqi war when we attacked them. We weren't protecting our liberty, the liberty of the Vietnamese citizens or Iraqi citizens 30+ years later. We seemed to be fighting for the weapons manufacturers and first Johnson , then the GOP. The only rationale I can imagine is the people in the working class were lied to about why and for whom we were fighting and had never been taught to analyze. Back then, I still believed the Nation and Constitution would survive. Now I'm beginning to doubt.
Fay, as always you bring a concise and clear eyed view of the facts in history.
Thank you, that is very kind of you
President Johnson had a good domestic agenda, but it seems that he farmed out his foreign policy thinking to his military advisors. Big mistake.
Populism and riots are not new to this country or elsewhere. It has been said that history does not repeat itself but it sure rhymes. I'm going to explore several areas where Professor Reich has probably already written about much of this. Bear with me if this interests you.
Where is this all going, and what is driving it? Culture wars and their exploitation are a way of building a political base and even a revolutionary movement. Some conservatives are now saying that conservatism is dead; they are participating in a revolution.
Many pieces seem to fit together. Behind all of this are big money interests. The truth inoculation propaganda of populist autocrats to blame others for what they're doing points to the usual anti-Semitic prejudices and weird conspiracy theories, like Q-anon. But I believe that's a cover for real conspiracies of ultra-rich people, monopolists, and autocrats and dictators. Within the last couple of years there was a leak that revealed that people like the king of Jordan, Russian oligarchs and Putin, and families of dictators from third world states were hiding their money in offshore accounts. This is no surprise. These days the old USA is the main repository of this hidden wealth. Top corporate executives make such huge fortunes that I suppose many gain entrance into that elite and hide their money from taxation, even if it is done for them and the investments flow as sophisticated financial instruments. I don't wish to target a shadow group for collective hatred but only to say that it looks to me like we are caught in the grip of worldwide corruption of money and power. That corruption and with it, media control, is really what's taking over, using class wars to divide us, mobilize support and cause chaos.
How did Trump become part of that crowd? Real estate and casinos are well-known vehicles for laundering money, to start. With the presidency he could give access to the nation's secrets to anyone who would build his business interests or stroke his ego. I believe the Russian connection to Trump is real. Otherwise why would Trump want so much to meet Putin, leaving his translator behind and celebrate in the oval office with Russian officials? Length limit? Continued below.
It's interesting that MAGA adherents now have been persuaded that Russia is not our enemy and we should cease resisting them.
Russia and Opec+ are squeezing western democracies, using social media to divide people in those countries and causing autocrats to be elected. The threat to the post World War II alliance and the overthrow of democratic governance will further empower monopolists, oligarchs and dictators. It's in their interest to keep most of us either satiated and entertained for now or struggling so much that too many believe the facile blaming of political and legal forces that would try to take them down. So, Republican politicians are taking Viktor Orban as a model and are turning against support for Ukraine.
Add to this mix the increasing hardships of climate change, food shortages in many nations, and the rise of a militaristic China whose dictator can't deliver continuing growth. When people struggle you can lead them where you will.
I wonder what can be done to challenge this vortex. Is it citizens coming together to resist MAGA officials and edicts? Blue states cooperating along similar lines? Workers forming companies that benefit all as shareholders? Is it support of local agriculture? Voluntary retooling to deal with climate change? Alternate media that isn't owned by Google or Facebook?
We are certainly caught in a time of change. What are our options and how do we get together with a minimum of dogmatism, with goodwill, integrity and public service?
I saw a summary of the recent Times/Siena poll finding that corruption is at the top of people's minds of the threat to democracy, and that the attack in our country on free and fair elections isn't a priority. But voters in the two parties see corruption on the other side, although I am not arguing for both-side-ism and only suggesting that even Democratic politicians cannot challenge corporate interests and stay in office. It costs too much to run a campaign.
Something that autocrats do to unify people and attract attention under the guise of patriotism is to start wars, whether it's a war on crime and illegal immigration internally or a war on countries south of the border who are blamed for sending fentanyl and other drugs into our country. Could the federal government under MAGA rule go to war against inner cities, just as Trump mobilized federal troops against Portland demonstrators, inflaming those conflicts?
I hope that the mid-terms go better than expected and that our legal system can halt some of the worst actors. I'm not optimistic. I haven't seen the movie yet, but perhaps the metaphor fits. Don't look up.
Consider the "Hunky" communities in the rust belt. How can any Slavic American remain MAGA? Virtually all voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.
Because they are racist.
Rhetorical question.
True but they are breaking for Ryan in Ohio because the Republicans want to defund Ukraine.
Dead on, Gary
More demonic genius to somehow make your cult believe that everything you have been taught in school and discussed with your friends and enemies (at every socioeconomic level) over the last 60 years was wrong and now you should embrace (suck up to) Vladmir Putin, one of the most dangerous, murderous, despots in the history of the world.
Too little attention has been paid to the condo sales in Florida - Russians paying way over market value to buy Trump properties. Some in order to have their babies and establish a citizenship for them in the US. Think about that as money laundering and long term strategy....
We've had this discussion before. Biology? Culture? Demagoguery to a racist collective subconscious.
Why Trump? Con man. Master salesman.
Well Said !! Consentrated info for all to ponder and explore.
What’s that old saying about when we don’t learn from history? Ah yes, we are doomed to repeat it.
Mostly a resentment issue. Who got a deferment? It Ain't me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWijx_AgPiA
Nixon, Buchannan, demagogued it. Southern strategy pit the FDR Democratic coalition groups against each other. Infiltrated liberal groups. Dirty tricks.
I was on the front lines. First, although I flunked my ROTC physical, I was drafted, sent to the front lines in Viet Nam. Most of the troops felt like those construction workers. By the time of this riot, and Kent State, the lines had been drawn.
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life, it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line
The man come and take you away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQUj56sqicU
By the time I got back, the south was in passive resistance to the federal government over segregation. In 1968 our cities burned when REAL riots occurred. How about that police riot at the Democratic Convention?
Later, I was back in school for the student strikes. For mass protests against the war.
And I represented school districts when they were attacked by a Republican Human Relations Commission in Pa. to further split the coalition racially.
Thanks for jumpstarting my day with those classics! I’ll be singing all day now.
Your Buffalo Springfield lines make me want to get my guitar out to see if I can figure out the chords. So appropriate!
E and A with some riffing. Pretty simple if only playing one of the three guitar parts. Rock ON!!! We all must stay sane in these silly, f'ed up times...
Ya... Just tried it on a bass vi that I have... Very interesting. What a song! Live around Baltimore by any chance?
Indiana, sorry.
Thanks... Noodling the melody I thought it was staying in one key but alternating between major and minor. But I'll give your chords a look -- in fact, right now! Supplemental: Gave it a try. Even pulled up lyrics to work the whole song. You're right! A big surprise that it could be so simple. I think it may drop to minors in the refrain. Or start E major to minor followed by A major to minor. So still scratching my head a bit.
This guy is pretty good: https://youtu.be/x2IFZGMw4ok
Enjoy!
Hey! Nice video, too.
Very nicely written. I like the Buffalo Springfield (or was it CSNY?) tie in - very appropriate.
And I forgot to say “Welcome Home” Daniel
And we still have not learned. Most of congress is wealthy and making money from corporations that they should be protecting us from. The wealthy won't allow a crumb to go to those who need it most. Winter is coming and DC parks and overpasses are not the only places full of tent cities. It really is too bad. I'm listening to Maddow's Ultra, now.
When will they ever learn?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb2GiMSXJsg
Democrats should be less bashful about their efforts for the middle class; though the help may never be help enough, it's better than deliberately making things worse (e.g. with idiot ideas about "trickle-down" economics & candidates whose administrations invariably embrace such things).
Further, health politics was mentioned a couple days ago; Democrats should find a way to send a message about not letting communities be destroyed by uncontrolled rent-seeking behavior (as has been the case with both oxycodone and fentanyl).
I was in college then and actively anti-Vietnam but I don’t remember that riot. So many things have slipped by us when we could have done something had we understood the historical significance. I happened to come across this as I was researching something else. This was evidently the turning point in making education out of reach for the non-elite. I thought you might be interested in it. It seems the GOP have been making these kind of plans for decades, certainly not for the common good.
“Sundial (Northridge, Los Angeles, Calif.) 1966-10-14 - Daily Sundial - CSUN University Library Digital Collections: A. S. President John Cagle, along with 14 student leaders from Southern California have come out against gubematorial candidate Ronald Reagan's proposal to charge tuition in the State's colleges and universities.”
https://digital-collections.csun.edu/digital/collection/Sundial/id/4687/rec/510
“A. S. President John Cagle, along with 14 student leaders from Southern California have come out against gubematorial candidate Ronald Reagan's proposal to charge tuition in the State's colleges and universities. Cagle emphasized that he was not against Reagan as a candidate, but only on his stand to charge tuition.
•That could be the final step that puts a college education beyond the reach of hundreds of young people in this state,* they charged.
*I am definitely opposed to any levy of this sort for students, Cagle emphasized.“
Hear Hear !!!
I read everything you write and enjoy your thoughts on so many subjects, although I do not respond to a lot of them.
"As the journalist Pete Hamill observed at the time, the workingman “feels trapped and, even worse, in a society that purports to be democratic, ignored.”"
Excuse all hell out of me, but we hippies and lefties felt ignored - WERE ignored - for decades in our patriotic critique of the USA into which we were born, whose ideals we were taught to believe, and whose hypocricies we were taught we should point out, to correct our course. Instead, we got rampant capitalism, racism, sexism, environmental destruction, colonialist wars, and Pete Hamill's people beating us up.
So let's all agree that we love the ideals of the USA, and that we are all ignored.
Next, we read in Axios today that Lo, the Midwesterners think what we lefties think:
Between the lines: Strong feelings about corporate America help drive Midwest mistrust.
70% of Midwesterners — more than any other region — believe businesses should serve their customers' and employees' interests, not just the interests of their investors.
87% of Midwesterners believe businesses should invest in their communities — and less than half believe businesses actually do so.
Where do you get those stats?
https://www.axios.com/2022/10/21/trust-government-business-media
Pete Hamill was one terrific writer, but sentimentality tripped him up when it came to anything Irish, and many if not most of those union guys were from recent Irish immigrant families.
“The nation could have responded, but did not”…to the concerns and needs of the white, working class workers. Corporate, Wall Street Democrats are still not responding in meaningful ways. Schumer and Pelosi feel more comfortable working with Sinema, Manchin and Cuellar than they do with Bernie and AOC now. And it was under Bill Clinton that The final nail was put in the coffin for Glass-Stegall, and it was under Barack Obama that the Wall Street banks were declared “too big to fail.” Is it any wonder that working class, Blacks, Hispanics, young and progressive people are not inspired by these milquetoast Dems, and won’t turn out in sufficient numbers to vote against the authoritarian, plutocratic candidates put up by the Republicans?
I remember all of what you wrote. One of my most vivid memories was Pat Buchanan's speech to the Republican National Convention (I forget the exact year). I thought I was watching a speech at the 1934 Nuremberg Nazi party rally. It was appalling and very frightening.
Molly Ivins wrote about that speech; it was the Republican Convention of 1992...she remarked that that it "probably sounded better in the original German." Great line in a column about the ongoing culture wars.