395 Comments
7hEdited

Every day that goes by, I become more convinced that we are simply a nation of prostitutes. From the greenwashing and formerly LGBTQ supporting businesses to the politicians who claim to care about equality and the working class while insisting they should be able to trade stocks and become rich while in office, the last several years have revealed that America's harshest critics may have been going easy on us.

Sure, there are many wonderful people fighting the good fight, but at the end of the day, we have to reckon with just how many Americans, both people and institutions, are selfish, lazy, greedy, or filled with fear. America's greatest contribution to the world may be demonstrating that you don't really stand for anything if you'll lie down for anyone if the price is right.

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Take heart. There are many people still fighting the good fight. Public servants like me will undermine Trump from within the government. The final stage of grief over Trump is resistance, not acceptance: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/trump-resist-five-stages-of-grief

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I am definitely not accepting things as they are, but to overcome a challenge, we have to properly identify it. I believe there are millions of well-meaning and left-leaning people who have, from W through Agent Orange, had the time, energy and other resources to be more active in this fight for democracy, but continue to stay on the sidelines doing little more than complaining. I think we have to light a fire under those who have remained comfortable enough to sit back and watch this dumpster fire of a corporate coup happen, and to me, that starts with calling them out for their passivity. Thanks for whatever you can do from the inside!

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Ian- I'm 77 years old & I can hardly walk. I'm also living on SS & am just 'getting by'. I grew up in NJ & we got the News about TFG everyday. We knew who & what he was but Nothing seemed to stop him. I've voted against him twice now. I've written Opinions & Comments about him & have a 'following'. I donate to the Dems. I'm very depressed about how the 'cards' seem to have been stacked against us for a Long Time. And even the Media is kow towing!

Tell me what else I as a disabled Senior can do?

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Well, one thing you can do is avoid what the forces against us are hoping for...to become silent. I mean hey, you posted here, and now I'll be checking your substack and would love to hear what you have to say. More than anything, I think we must support independent media and become the media ourselves. I truly believe that we have to improve our standing in the information war in order to have any hope of winning every other war. And while many think the answer is some grand liberal versions of Joe Rogan or Fox News, I don't think left-leaning people will ever have the money or the organizational skills to make those things happen.

I think the only realistic way to fight back is thousands of decentralized groups that ensure the truth makes it to citizens while corporate powers and corrupt politicians try to drown their minds with lies. So for what it's worth, it sounds like you're already on the right track and I would just encourage you to keep putting your voice out in your papers, your community, and any online forums where people are looking to connect and fight back.

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Ian, I am a person who: a) believed what i wanted to believe or b) did not confirm my info with at least one other source or c) thought my source was too integritous to not be trustworthy or d) relied on faulty memory. In doing so I have from time to time, (usually when I'm really pissed off and in a hurry to spread my truth) disseminated faulty and/or inaccurate info. If we are to become media ourselves, I at least really need to take the time and energy to get it right, to authenticate from multiple sources with multiple viewpoints. I often believe myself or my thinking which can get me in trouble.

But I still think the election was stolen by the oligarchs who are paying respects (or demanding their pound of flesh?) to/from dumpster.

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4hEdited

They are putting the MRNA covid vax in your food you need to

do this right now visit.......... https://t.co/K2mXQiCZiT

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kim, if they put the covid vax in your food the hydrochloric acid in your stomach would degrade the mrna and render it useless. however, you should be aware that the microbots that elon puts in those vaxxines are impermeable to acids or bases, so they will still migrate to and install in the synapses in your brain. that is the real danger, especially for those with high IQ as the more synapses, the more bots are installed to manipulate our thinking. please beware, you are especially at risk

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Who are "they" and why would "they do that." That's stupid.

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I've lived in NJ since 1973 (Canadian transplant). There were many people in the area where I live who were affected by Trump when he didn't pay his contractors while building his casinos. Many of them are gone now. People either have forgotten, are ignorant as to what he did, or just don't care! His diehard supporters will make excuses for him and blow it off. Many are happy that he hates the same things they do! They all seem to think he's "one of them" because they like the way he talks (trash)! They don't realize that he considers them "basement dwellers"!

There are many Catholics who voted for him because they're convinced he will stop abortion! I know some nuns, though, who would never ever vote for him!

I agree, it is so frustrating! How does anybody counter the lies?

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All we are doing is kvetching about the known. All the CEO's, all the Billionaires, and politicians who care about political and personal survival are and will fold into the Mar a Lago landscape. Jimminy Crickets we know what awaits us, it is not as if it is a secret, that we haven't been told, the CEO"s, the Bilionaires, the politicians who are and will be folding, suffer no illusions.

Project 2025 has laid it all out, nothing should surprise us, and all we have left it seems is gossip,

What we need to be doing is planning and organizing a resistance and our personal survival.

I fully expect chaos,following chaos, hair on fire news, followed by earth shattering news about what Trump is doing and saying and what he plans to do.

rrankly I am not interested in gossip, as I can do nothing about it,and neither can any of us. We need to spend our time, game planning how to survive the theocratic autocracy that awaits.

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Luigi did more to wake up the wealthy than anyone or anything so far. It's interesting that the only thing all sides have agreed on in the last decade is the assassination of a CEO.

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That's thought provoking for sure.

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So you think it’s justified to kill a CEO of a company you don’t like? If so, you are the problem.

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Check out Indivisible, a nationwide grassroots resistance organization that started in 2016-17. Their new Indivisible Guide is worth reading and using - and they even advise how to start your own group and get it going to save our democracy. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o1gSdFWIUpw41O5zbaxedVsr6Xik5XpPd9FwqvXYu40/preview?tab=t.0

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Thanks Laurie

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My pleasure. it's going to take all of us to keep our country and communities safe.

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I co-founded an Indivisible chapter in 2017 during Trump 1.0, so I'm somewhat amenable to Indivisible 2.0. I've skimmed the first chapter of this new guide, though, and they don't even mention racism as a cause for our defeat. Why not? This is very off-putting for me. We absolutely must consider racism and misogyny as factors in these horrible election results.

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hi Deb Pierce - One thing I admire about Indivisible's approach to defending democracy is their focus on what can be done to resist Trump. Like everyone, they tried to assess why Trump won, and like everyone, realized there are a jillion factors, from racism and misogyny to low-information and misinformation-voters, plus the 89 million people who didn't care enough to vote.

You and I could write pages and pages about causes, but I think it's more helpful at this point to do everything we can to prevent Trump and his allies from inflicting the damage they're threatening to do. Later on, there will be time, more information, and perspective to figure out why people elected Trump twice. In the meantime, my local Indivisible group meets tomorrow to see what Indivisible suggestions we want to use in 2025. Onward!

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That's helpful!

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"Hair on fire news"? I don't think so. What I fully expect is a bunch of very serious print and broadcast journos to go on as they have been, reporting on trump and his doings as if nothing is really out of the ordinary

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The resistance already exists and is organized. Join with any existing group, don’t waste your good energy reinventing the wheel. We get more done when we act in numbers.

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You are right we have to get fully organized and not sit on our duffs and bitch and moan. What Trump is doing is not in any way NORMAL or possibly even legal. When has legal ever been an issue with Trump? He has been allowed to get away with crime after crime when any other person would be cooling their heels in prison! The courts and justice (where has that been) have given him a blank sheet to do what ever he wants! WHY? There is nothing special about this guy, he’s a criminal, a liar, a cheat, a rapist, a racist, he’s had how many bankruptcies? Why are people falling at his feet? It makes no sense. Does he have something on all these people that makes them bow and scrap before him? I just don’t get it. He’s committed so many crimes that would prevent anyone else from ever being considered Presidential material so what is it that makes this ok? He’s like the son of Adolph.

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Unfortunately, this is our new norm..Trump and MAGA have taken over..it scares me for all of us now, our children and grandchildren will inherit a planet with more pollution and all regulation absolved..water, air, insecticides, pesticides, etc..some countries will not import our food because of...it scares me..here Kamala had crowds of 75,000 and Trump was in a Gymnasium

.WHAT HAPPENED? Do we really think prices are going down? That is being delusional..tariffs will increase our prices..becoming an isolationist nation during these times is dangerous..pre WWII mentality..I am in despair but have to hope the midterms may give sensible people a chance to be elected..🙏

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Again Ian, right on!!!! Totally agree with you and Public Servant.

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I hear what you are saying, and I'm right there with you about resistance, not acceptance. However, I also see what Ian is saying because all these people "bending the knee" to Trump is really pissing me off. It's truly unimaginable that this is happening. I think once Trump gets into office, and starts messing/fucking up, and pisses people off, things may change. I can only hope.

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The only way those “bending the knee” would change is if/when their fortunes are threatened. They are all greedy and focused on wealth & more wealth at any cost. The cost is “us” .

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Yes 🙌

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Keep up that good work!!! It may be our only hope. GH

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Resistance - proper noun. 😊

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F*** k YEAh 👍

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Craig - if we capitalize it, they'll shut us down.

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Agree that resistance is the necessary key to topple Trump and his completely illegal and ruthless crony empire. Resistance must be large, strong, and relentless. Trump in reality has the legacy of a true mobster in the mold of the Genovese, Gotti, and Gambino crime syndicates. He made deals with Gambino and Genovese associates to favor his development projects in return for huge kickbacks. Who other than the wicked mob lawyer Roy Cohn would have substantiated these deals? When the feds indicted the reputed mobsters, Donald skated like he always has, by his bottomless well of treachery, playing the two sides to a stand-off. He has learned from the best of the long cons and sleazes how to profit from massive corruption, and with the complicity of the captains of capital, how to realize the mobster's greatest dream, to topple the U.S. Government. He just made it look so easy! Read Olear's incisive take from 2020.

https://gregolear.substack.com/p/tinker-tailor-mobster-trump?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

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How can "many people still fighting the good fight" win back their fair share of America . . . when the 2% millionaires/billionaires own 60% of America?

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Please remain within the government, as we need many people to do this. Thank you for this. We will prevail.

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🧨🧨🧨🧨Don't give up in advance. I read some fascinating information about how the federal bureaucracy—the hated and feared Deep State—can help stop Trump's henchmen from getting anywhere fast. Give yourself reasons to hope!

https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/resistance-is-silent

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That was a great read, thank you for sharing the link!

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The CEOs are sucking up to Trump. Of course they are. That's how fascism works.

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They have bent the knee for their own gain! At some point karma will come knocking

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You are absolutely right. You can take your condemnations into the world of sports where every sport and almost every player has become a groveling whore willing to sell his soul for the highest bidder. A thing I grew up loving called loyalty has flown on the wings of the highest offer and the most money. Nowhere is this more blatant than in college football. Baseball isn't far behind. Soto and Ohtani have signed for such an obscene amount of money that I don't even want to type it out. The old adage that it's never enough has proven to be true. When did this start happening? I must have been asleep. The danger inherent in this way of life has no bounds. When will it all explode in everybody's faces. Soon, I suspect.

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Charlie Jervis, they didn't get the memo that they can't take it with them......⚰️

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They can't take it with them... but they can sure try to take all of ours while they are here. GH

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You may have heard Lenny Bruce's lament about how prostitution became so widespread in modern times. He related that he checked into a hotel and asked the bellhop assisting him into his room how he might find a prostitute. The bellhop indicated that he could handle the request in no time. Bruce says about an hour later a man with a beard but neatly dressed showed up and said something like, "I'm a serious novelist but to make ends meet I write for men's magazines."

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You hit the nail on the head! Thank you. So very true and so pathetic.

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And those who listened to trump’s violent, and cruel rhetoric, and still voteed for him.

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My only hope is that the bumbling fools who surround tRump will cause the government to implode, hopefully not taking the world with it.

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Unfortunately, this is very true

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'Government of the billionaires': Trump's new pitch triggers explosive outcry

President-elect Donald Trump's proposed new arrangement for any company looking to expand in America garnered immediate suspicion and criticism Tuesday on social media.

In a post to his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump said: "Any person or company investing ONE BILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals. GET READY TO ROCK!!!"

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/government-of-the-billionaires-trump-s-new-pitch-triggers-explosive-outcry/ar-AA1vCJNR?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ASTS&cvid=7b3d4c68d1a54f69e43e30ab3474683e&ei=8

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This is simple. America's OLIGARCHS are about one thing: MONEY. We've been trending towards becoming a fascist state for 40 years. Trump is simply the "cherry on top" for the OLIGARCHS. And, many of them are responsible for Project 2025, are still "hiding in the weeds," and have a big surprise coming even for Trump's MAGA voters!

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In order to participate in the kleptocracy, billionaire buy-in was essential.

It’s all part of the Republican mantra:

“Move all the money to us!”

And for the rest of America, it’s:

“Let them eat bootstraps!”

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Right !

Can’t wait to see the menu for the inaugural feast in Panem ( Washington DC ? ) .

I’ll keep an eye out for the festivities in my

seat at Jack-In - the Box .

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I'm looking forward to comparisons of pictures that are later posted of the Inauguration crowds - 2017 versus 2025. I'm not planning to be in the audience, either physically or digitally. I have my standards.

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The inauguration will be Joe's last chance save our country. The hour before the ceremony he should have the National Guard show up and start arresting all the MAGA traitors. They will all be in the same place waiting for their fascist rapist-in-chief to start talking. Just hoping... GH

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Wow, that was thoughtful. A real patriot. So, if one voted for Trump they are a traitor? I took the oath and voted for Trump.

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I think he meant the legislators who promoted the big lie that the election was stolen & have continued that nonsense.

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Yes. The #SeditionCaucus will all be there. Sounds like a fun time to go home 14th amendment on their asses and tell them they can’t take their seats in Congress until they prove they didn’t violate the Constitution when they voted again accepting electoral college votes. That would be interesting.

Suddenly, Democrats could hold both sides of Congress. Trump would get sworn in and new Speaker of the House Hakeem Jeffries would immediately start #Impeachment3 for the tens of millions in emoluments violations that Trump has already accrued.

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I’m just ducking for cover in District 13

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Same! I don't have the stomach for it or care to see him gloat.

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I’ll let you know after we Womenfolk Descend upon Washington for the Pre Inaugural Women’s March on Washington - and I cannot believe no one has posted much but since we are all Women and Busy and getting Shit done - we don’t have time to hang out on social media all day

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more like boogers, bootstraps are too nutritional

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💯🎯

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Amount of wealth possessed is inversely proportional to the amount of moral character possessed. My working assumption is that those who are obscenely wealthy got there by exploiting others, so no surprise, unfortunately.

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Some of them simply inherited it, but it does seem to me to be true in most situations. Bullying and greed seem to rule these days, kindness, understanding and charity are simply way out of style.

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So true

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“Behind every great fortune lies a great crime”- Balzac

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Carolyn Herz, 💯🎯

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This is how Hitler became a dictator. The moneyed oligarchs thought they could control him. I suspect American oligarchs have the same delusion.

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If the Oligarchs think they can control Trump, they should learn how Putin controls Oligarchs in Russia. Seems they have an affinity for falling out of high windows.

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Koolkankat, don't forget too, Putin put out in the news that he expects repayment for the services of getting him (the mango wanker ) reelected. If O'Mussolini doesn't comply with Putin's desires, he might find himself eating a Double plutonium Mac with cheese....he can't accidentally fall out of a window because he's too friggin' fat to fit through the window..... unless it's a mega window from some monster skyscraper. Trump Tower Moscow perhaps....?

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Diane - If you don’t mind I would like to steal your pet name of “mango wanker” and use it myself….;)

At Christmas dinner it will really rile up some of my in-laws.

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The next 4 years is going to see a bigger divide between the haves and have nots. They’re making sure to get in on the action, imo.

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Just drive the Crypto truck up to Fort Knox.

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There's a story that's what will happen.

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Could have all been prevented. So many failed institutions. Kleptocracy, theocracy, kakistocracy.

And watch the Democrats fall in line rather than resist. Fetterman, Clyburn, Sinema. Reprehensible.

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Fetterman & Clyburn..... both, disappointments.... Pardoning 45? After what he caused since 2015? Here are a few highlights:

1. Good ppl on both sides comment,

2. the 2016 Muslim Ban,

3. the accusations & lies about rapists, drug dealers, prostitutes, and murders from

Mexico,

4. Wanting ppl to immigrate here who aren't from "shit-hole" countries,

5. insulting our military calling them suckers and losers, or asking a US retired Marine

Corps general while standing over his son's grave at Arlington Cemetary,

"What's in it for them?"

6. and so many other egregious comments & moves.......

If people are truly sorry for their behavior, I get it.

But until this guy dies he will never admit any wrongdoing. Looking through his glasses, He hasn't ever done anything wrong.

Sinema, seriously? It's always been about $$$$$$.

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Jazz, absolutely correct 💯🎯

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A pack of sycophantic, greedy cowards.

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Philip Miller, 💯🎯. I still can't believe Clyburn's opinions on pardoning that orange POS. What a let down. I had respect for that man. 😞

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Be sure to use the Goods Unite US app to decide which companies deserve your money, based on how they donate politically.

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No need for me! Anything extra goes straight to the local animal shelter, where all our kitties come from! Give locally!!

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Kathi - Double like! Our little tortoise short haired kitty came from a wonderful no kill shelter and she turns 3 in four days. My spouse tried not to love her but now I think she is ranked higher than me. We had a boy kitty who died during a tooth extraction during the pandemic. We missed him so much so we went to this shelter and fell in love. Never knew that tortie’s were so chatty but she is also a good listener.

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Oh yes, I'm all about local too and support our shelters as well! I meant for necessities, when you have a choice of what companies to support.

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Kathi Williams, thank you and many blessings to you 🙏💕🐾

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Great idea!

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Can anybody say, "1930's German Industrialists"? But maybe it's not worth asking, because a lot of Americans wouldn't know or care what it refers to.

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I've been rereading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. It's almost a blueprint for what MAGA is doing.

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Frighteningly similar. What the hell did those R voters think would happen!?!? The world's biggest grifter that adores Putin would do ANYTHING for them???? What a horrible and scary mess this is, and everyone kissing up...what are they afraid of?? No one will stand up to him! Just sickening.🤮🤯

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It is so sick and all about GREED! I have read so much about what happened in Germany after Hitler took over and this is very familiar! Trump is truly evil there is no doubt! He doesn’t give a rats behind for any one but himself, what I don’t understand is what others even see in him? He’s rude, selfish, nasty, extremely unkind and hasn’t an ounce of human kindness! He should be in prison for his crimes like any other person would be, I don’t understand why he isn’t?

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Agree totally. I couldn't believe that he was allowed to run for President. It's absolutely insane!

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TRUE

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I know exactly what you mean. It’s history repeating itself because no one ever seems to learn and greed is ever with us. I just hope our cities don’t look like Dresden and Berlin did after the war.

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Mandatory reading: "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder. He wrote this 126-page gem in 2017, so, yes, it is current. Too bad they don't teach history any more...

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Doug Fay, 💯🎯

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Makes me sick to think being an American means folding like a cheap suit when a crass, bloated, mealy mouthed, traitorous liar holds power!

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Jamie Dimon, the so-called Master of the Universe, seems to have forgotten that Herbert Hoover Trump was the first president since Hoover to have a net number of jobs loss in his first term! With his starting a trade war, he will repeat his first term job performance! MAGA, MAKING AMERICA GRIFT ALWAYS!!!

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Morons Against Good Americans GH

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Love it!!!

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Gary Harmon, 💯🎯. Outstanding!!

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❤️

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❤️

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Dimon kissed Trump's ring, not his backside, because Trump knows the danger of turning his back to the financiers.

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I never imagined such cowardice by so-called leaders in this country. Now I finally realize the only thing the wealthy care about is becoming richer. They feed their own greed by stomping and treading on the less fortunate. I hope they meet their demise.

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Bongo-1, VT, and sooner rather than later. 💯🎯

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Tomorrow would be good

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The CEOs and Republicans are normalizing Trumps behavior and lies. This is how Hitler started.

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Trump won because the legacy media sanewashed him.

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As Timothy Snyder said, don't obey in advance and we see all of them obeying in advance.

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As well as the $$$ signs in their eyes (corporate tax cuts)

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And we are fucked…American Oligarchs!

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Carrie Lingle, and that's an understatement. 💯🎯

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Predatory capitalism is filled with predators - like Musk, Diamon, Bezos, Suckupperberg, trump and 1000s of other cowards who refer to themselves as business "leaders" are anything but leaders. These predators simply lie, cheat, steal and prey on the 99.9% of us so they can play their game of "who makes ther most money." Screw everyone else. Perhaps it will take the next 4 years for enough Americans to wake up and say, "enough" - get these crooks outta here, now.

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Elliot - Sounds like you are describing (doesn’t) trickle down economics, right? ;)

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Pissed on is more like it.

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Gregg - True

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