I believe Robert Reich is correct. The Democrats lost their ability to speak cogently to all Americans, but instead chose to speak to “people like themselves.” And in doing so left out a large part of the population.
Yesterday, at the Brookings Institution President Biden gave a very convincing talk about all of the accomplishments of his administration, comparing those accomplishments to what the agenda of the Republicans has been and will be. However, he was speaking to an audience of people highly educated like himself while clearly not speaking to those who have been economically suffering the most. You can use terms such as “growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up,” and there may be some clear truth in that, but this does not lay out an inspiring vision of being there for all Americans.
It is clear that Kamala Harris entering the race so late did not give her the opportunity to bring clarity and power to what she proposed, and she was up against a powerful freight train, already roaring down the tracks. But also, she was constrained by the path previously laid down by Joseph Biden, and the Democratic agenda as defined by the DNC. “Wokeness”may have simply been generalized as a way to criticize the intellectuals being out of touch with those who take their lunch pails to work every day and do not have the extra money to stop at Starbucks and bring their lattes to work.
Marc, we are close. I did print the speech of Biden in Brookings and think it is an important one. Kamala did nothing wrong, indeed limited by the silly campaigning of Trump for more then a year. The rational and sunny talks did not resonate in "fly over" country, but she almost won.
Is the US stupid and conservative? I think the devatation of the Trump goverment will bring back decency and real goverment soon. But the treason and insurgency had to be punished years ago.
Carolyn, I agree but it does not matter. We should be analytical. The Republicans are the voice of big money and the words solidarity or decency are unknown to them. But this is a long historic line in the struggle between workers and millionaires.
Robert and other professional Democrats and MSNBC Pundits talk like we can comeback in 2028, if only we get our shite together. I wish, oh I wish that this was true.
But how are we going to do that, when Trump's Agenda 47 and his Project 2025 have clearly laid out the roadmap, the play book, for a theocratic Right Wing Dictatorship.
And it is not hyperbole either, his cabinet choices will destroy the Republic, shred the constitution and is supported by the Judiciary, not only SCOTUS, but 1500 Judges vetted by the Federalist Society in Trumps first term.
Even if his cabinet choices go before the Senate, the Senate is majority Republican, and if the Democrats even try to filibuster, the Republicans will exercise the nuclear option.
Trump told his cult, Vote for me and you want have to vote again.
I believe him, why doesn't the Democratic leadership.
Rather than planning for election in 2028, that even if it happened would be as honest as an election in Russia and Hungary we should be planning and organizing for the resistance. Let us face reality and not promote false hope.
Brazil has a stronger democracy than America, it is prosecuting an ex President, Israel has a stronger Democracy than America, Netanyahu is testifying at his own trial.
Imagine the leader of Israel is being tried,, while in America all charges against Trump are being dropped or suspended, and though convicted of felonies he has not been punished, and never will be.
I ask for some years now in this colums: why is insurgent Trump not arrested, why are his treasonous friendships not tested?
Good system in Israel, trying the MP; that is what should be done.
Still, dark times ahead, but half America is not totally stupid. But the voters should find out what their strongman and hero does and suffer under his damage. Then checks and balances will work.
We stand at the gates of hell. IDK how far we will enter but many signs say- a very long way.
I expect Trump will pardon the Jan6 rioters, maybe have a Whitehouse reception for them, and quite possibly get them jobs in the government to expedite corruption as other autocrats have done.
If Hegseth gets approved, an in your face threat to our national security, that is another sign that we have truly crossed the rubicon and that there is almost nothing the GOP will do to oppose him.
It is a sad commentary on America that the felon was allowed to run for the presidency AND WIN! Now none of his misdeeds of the past will be punished and he will destroy America for retribution for his perceived attacks by democrats! It would never occur to him that the democrats are standing up for America and the rule of law! Trump does not believe in the rule of law. Go read Project 2025 and see what the next four years may bring!
Right you are, William! The people who voted for Trump don't care about the Constitution and the rule of law. To assume that we will return back to "normal" two years from now is delusional.
I could not agree with you more, William. Every newsletter I read has taken Reich's sunny future position. People on this newsletter do the same. Hubbell, Vance, the democratic congress etc. We all would like to avoid the inevitable. That's why I've been advocating any theory i.e. Spoonamore, tRump's blueprint and repeated mantra that his election was stolen, all to avoid what's to come. The democratic nuclear option should call for a hand recount includeing the 3/4 of the provisional ballots that had not been counted in the last election.
And don't forget Nicolas Sarkosy. Yes, the French also punish corrupt people, even if he has/ had the rank of President. He is not done yet and has another trial coming up in 2025. We should not treat our politicians like Gods.
I disagree that Israel's democracy is stronger than ours. 1) It oppresses non-Jewish people anywhere within its orbit. 2) I'm glad Netanyahu is forced to testify, but it says nothing about his fascist leadership. You are right, however, that there is a big contrast between the way we've been treating Trump and the way Israel treats Nutsy Yahoo in terms of the charges brought against him. Perhaps Trump will be tried and imprisoned after his presidency; I have some hope there.
Democrats are living in the past, with the hope things will change. We stopped resisting when Harris folded, while the vote was still being counted. Can you imagine tRump doing that?
Unions, public schools, Social Security, etc. has an ideological problem that is never discussed. They are based on the unacceptable principle of solidarity, which private power dislikes. Solidarity means concern for the fate of others. The institution that's built on solidarity is the labor movement. If you're alone, standing against concentrated power, you don't have a chance. It's important for people to protect themselves, defend themselves. Without solidarity, society disintegrates.
The very idea that we're in it together, that we have responsibility for one another, is frightening to those who want a society which is dominated by power, authority, wealth, in which people are passive and obedient. You're only supposed to care about yourself, not care about other people. Social solidarity is dangerous. It can undermine preferred doctrines and can even lead to action, which could change the way the world works. So we don't want that.
I would suggest the Baby Boomers and their progeny, who have the most wealth of any prior generation to pass on, are most likely to take the rest of us solidarity types down the sh-tter because of their insatiable GREED.
Tom, I would like that to be the message for any candidate going forward. Republicans are indeed the voice of big money, greed, power and corruption; however, Democrats need to move away from those big money donors and return to grass roots America. If the Democrats are going to support and work for the working middle and lower classes, then they have to show that. It isn't enough to repeat the platitudes "We are here for you", "We understand what you are going through", "We care about helping you" and so on and so on. Talk is talk but these leaders need to show with action they mean what they say.
Bernie showed them the way, refusing corporate money, & a few other progressives successfully followed his example, but the bulk of the party remains reliant on rich donors. Gotta wean their way off corporate & billionaire donors if they want to connect with ordinary people.
I wish I could give you 100 likes as this is also what I've observed. Dems lost the blue collar workers. In 2016 Hillary said of them :"Who else are they going to vote for?"
Dems, especially starting with the Clintons, have courted Wall Street for money when they should have gotten closer to Unions: They vote and they work together to make things happen!
Even now, they don't seem to have gotten the memo and keep talking about the uneducated. The plain fact is, they have not talked to blue collar workers for a very long time.
Yes Peggy, I wrote a lot about small scale, banning big money out of politics and the media, changing elections, reconsider central and decentral. Let Mayors rule the world. It needs a lot of work, but the goals are clear enough.
I would add another US story that is repugnants in origin but demmies adopt it too. Poor people, disabled folk CHOOSE this. It is their fault. Especially as the human wrought destruction of the Natural world progresses, they do not want to believe they are the origins of the hell .
Hmmm. Nope. Those who make our "economic weather" are the legislatures in all 50 States: they are the ones who pick winners and losers. I kinda agree with your last sentence, though, that we all have a hand in what's happened and what will happen.
It is admirable work, especially for an economist. I did make a few remarks from a different epistemologic culture: history and political science in the Netherlands.
"Harris Stayed Silent On Khan Amid Probe Of Top Adviser's Firm
The presidential candidate declined to defend Lina Khan while the antitrust regulator was investigating the employer of Harris’ brother-in-law and chief advisor..."
Danny - that almost made me not vote for her. my vote for her became in my opinion a vote for the lesser of two evils. but i realized that if i abstained, it was a de facto vote for dumpster.
I took my lunchbox to work everyday for 50 years and never felt that the democrats were out of touch. Democrats work for the benefit of all the people, especially for the poor, to have a better life. The republicans are always trying to take away the benefits you have. I do blame Biden's ego for not stepping aside at least a year before the election. Just like sick RBG on the "supreme" court.
I agree, what has happened is that the republicans have become so atrocious over the last 40-50 yrs & Dems have just been reactionary… and always trying to “work in a bipartisan” fashion to get things done ( and they do get things done) but they don’t disparage the gop like the gop does the Dems… so they gop controls the narrative, looks strong & Dems “fix & save” without the public knowing it -end up looking weak. They also are more corporate minded than they should be… trying to be the “ middle ground” . It’s difficult- imagine if both sides acted as horribly as the gop & trump- what an f’ing joke the US would look like. But we can’t continue the “ when they go low, we go high” we have to do both… go low & high - become braggadocious,( sp?) point the finger, work to get things done, while saying how bad the republicans are.
Repubs always say “ the leftist dems… all dems are ( insert whatever) “ while dems say “SOME of the repubs are maga” with the caveat “ not all repubs are “ you get my point.
I'm thinking, the Democrats are always in a no-win situation here. No matter what they do the Republicans make them look like dogshit and the Republicans end up smelling like a rose no matter what they do. You know what the Dems should do? Tell the GOP, "You want full control of everything? Fine. We're leaving. You can clean up your own messes from now on. It's the Pottery Barn rule: you broke it, you bought it!" And then the Dems dissolve the party and hang it up, forever. It beats being arrested at their political offices, party headquarters and posh consultancies.
Jim, I may have missed it, but I never heard Joe or Kamala talk of the problems of “the working class.” I heard a lot of talk of the “middle class.” In past decades the Democrats spoke for and cared for the working class in the United States, but in the past few election cycles they seemed more focused on the “middle class." Might this shift have been caused by their focus on fundraising concerns? Although I voted for Kamala and Tim, I am feeling more and more that the Democratic party as a whole is losing touch with the people it is supposed to represent. The non-participation of one third of the electorate speaks quite loudly. What is it they are saying?
Chuck Schumer, Jeffries and Harrison don't connect with voters. I don't know if I've ever seen them attempt to address the middle class, or the working class, or the working poor. They're always dressed up like they are going somewhere fancy. I have noticed that the new Democratic Senator from PA wears sweatshirts.
Tim Walz does connect, IMO. But for some reason he was almost absent in the news after the convention. Big mistake.
A lot of attention was directed to the high price of eggs to explain how bad inflation is now. I wonder if the high price of eggs is more about the bird flu than inflation?
I know this is off the subject you're aiming at but here's a thought. A person can have their own chickens in a predator protected coop in the backyard. It won't work in the city to have a cow in the backyard but chickens and maybe a goat would work for homeowners in some cities. (my neighbor used to have a goat.). You can sell the eggs to neighbors and chickens are quite fun and delightful. They also provide good fertilizer for an edible garden out back or even in the front. It would be helpful to know how to be more self sufficient. Disease is more prevalent with large populations whether it be birds or people. Cramming chickens into cages and pumping them up with drugs to get them fatter for slaughter is what we find where we all shop or go out to eat. Recently the old orange guy talked about 'groceries'. When the food on the table is the topic, that can be a big driver of votes. We are a dependent society and that makes us vulnerable. So maybe each of us can figure out what we can do to become more self sufficient and even share that when there are excesses. Starting where you are is the first step in change. These thoughts came up when you mentioned the cost of eggs.
I rarely eat eggs. I don't mind the cost of food. I'm a smarter shopper. I think Americans eat way too much processed junk food, so I have little sympathy for people complaining about the price of food.
I was only making a point that the whining about the cost of eggs is probably more related to the bird flu than inflation. With the cramped chicken conditions at factory farms, a flu will spread like wild fire. I won't buy those eggs for ethical reasons. If I want to buy humane, free range eggs, I pay $5/dozen at the farmers market. And I'm thankful.
Jim, I agree with your basic assessment of Dems vs. Repubs, historically. This view is shaped by my personal experiences since childhood. Both of my parents and countless of their contemporaries benefitted from FDR's New Deal, and from his and our Allies in WWII displaying the courage and fortitude to stave off the destruction of the world by tyranny, and they always voted Democratic, and they never even voted for 'Ike'. As history relates, the reactionary powers in U.S. government of the day, their vision blinded, would have had us isolated, and subjected to a potential world dictatorship. The Democrats may have lost their messaging power in recent times, but this does not change the impression based upon the historical record, that the Republicans led by Trump are even worse than the isolationist, crony capitalists who would have abrogated 'liberty' in favor of 'greed' in the century passed. Their ultimate messaging is that they hold the key to salvation for the masses, when in fact they are reaching for the levers of absolute desolation. Wha... Time Person of the Year???
Nukes and Climate are the knawing Suicidal Kool-Aide killing Hope with suppressed Fear.
Anti-Vaxxers' suicidality is a recent stark example of our blindness to our lack of EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL MATURITY:
Up to 60% of anxious people (aka Americans) are cured by Placebo (aka BS).
Mnemonic: "NO AMERICAN FOLLOWS THE SCIENCE OF ANXIETY, ALL AMERICANS KNOW THE WORD VALIUM."
FDR:"Go Kill Hitler and I'll give you FREEDOM FROM FEAR. "
💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
MsFDR:"Do one thing every day that scares you. "(aka the science of Freedom from Fear)💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
Purdue Pharma:" You don't have to face your fear, just keep popping our Valiums."(ignore the science and the placebo effect... our pills aren't habit forming)
Valiums were the most prescribed medication for13 years (2.3 billion in ONE YEAR).
No Shrink that cures 60% of their clients' anxiety will tell you they don't beat sugar pill.
But Evangelicals face their fear by Evangelizing, thus they became the BEST ASSERTERS in America.
The Democratic Party has not been able to talk to the average person for a long time. Kamala Harris being a black woman did not help her cause unfortunately. The country is still racist and the white male population is afraid of strong women just as Trump is.
Unfortunately the Democrats did not admit nor convince Joe Biden was too old to run again. Also, the Dems didn’t get nor focus their messages on mid America not participating in benefits of the big infrastructure projects in an easily identifiable way. Those projects were big like fixing bridges and tunnels but couldn’t fix local potholes we hit going to work or grocery store every day.
The government’s and Fed’s measure and expression of Inflation was simply not that felt in the average home where COVID and corporate greed sent the cost of eggs and housing flying while take home pay didn’t keep up. Two different measures!
Add that the Democratic Party chiefs were not tuned into mid America, who after Hillary were simply still not ready for a first woman President, let alone one of color; especially against Trump and Big Dark Money!
The Dems lost the election by waiting too late with Aging Biden, being too inclusive in choice. Trump and his Sycophant Congress and Corporate Exec buddies were ready and took advantage of a Democratic Party out of tune! We will now pay the price of ‘Rump’s Wrecking Ball Cabinet and approach to governing.
Interesting. I suspect that the Biden team* did not want to give in and get replaced. With Harris, the team basically stayed the same.
Right before the 1st debate with Biden, the DNC held an on-line training. It was very unprofessional and lasted about 30 min. It was awful.
Biden stepped down during the RNC convention. In no time, the Reach app was rolled out. Then real trainers were giving very good lessons. Was it all a coincidence? Was it the plan all along to have Harris step up during the RNC convention? You decide.
In hindsight, the DNC should've held a real primary starting in February because it's would've framed the debate and generated a lot of free media. With Harrison hiding in "an undisclosed location" like Dick Cheney after 9/11, they totally blew it. Perhaps they should try controlling the message as much as their rank and file supporters?
WaPo, nytimes, La times are all led by billionaires. The Fourth Estate that used to be worthy of good journalism has not lost its title yet, but devestated Bidenomics. Refused to praise . Criticized based on small points while the blockbuster issues of repugnants were normalized. I would throw all of them under and raise up a new group. One of the keys of resistance is NOT to normalize the Mobsters.
It's reported that Obama's team was afraid of being seen as "an angry black man." I have not heard this about Harris. Her tone was serious, and at times light-hearted. I found it appropriate. However, I wonder if most voters, especially the undecided* voters, like angry these days, even if it's not very Presidential?
In fairness, I don't think everyone likes the same tone. I like serious because it's more Presidential. I know some people are different. Some may like a little anger because it sounds stronger, tough and mean.
It could be that economic times are so difficult that some voters want anger. It's a sound byte environment, so perhaps anger resonates more with voters? The voters are not going to hear a full speech on the dynamics of inflation and their 10 point plan to curb inflation.
If voters are only hearing 20 seconds of a speech, maybe anger seems more serious and memorable?
Biden is an incrementalist--most of his legislation favored business investments, including credits and tax breaks with crumbs for citizens, like the laughable reduction of Rx prices starting with ten still not available. He's no Johnson or FDR! He's a player still for his own interests, like pardoning his own son out of fear. America can do better than the Biden team.
Kamala Harris Ignored Big Corporate Monopolies. It May Have Cost Her the Election
Americans are angry about corporations screwing them over - and guess what? House Dems who ran against Big Utilities and Big Pharma actually won.
Last April, the Rural Democracy Initiative commissioned a wide-ranging poll of swing voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. They found a surprising result: 81% of those polled said they agreed with the statement a small handful of “corporate monopolies now run our entire economy.” Some of the policy proposals swing voters liked the most were proposals designed to stop monopoly abuse and curtail their power, like the right to repair, or efforts to take on meat-packing monopolies.
In August, More Perfect Union commissioned a poll of likely voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, slightly oversampling Black and Latino voters. When they were asked to give their views on seven different institutions, including the federal government and Project 2025, voters responded by singling out “corporate monopolies” as the most hated, with 79% having an unfavorable view.
So, the repugnants managed to make themselves look like the good guys while screaming hatred and division all day long on fox. I would rip those satellites right out of the sky or bomb them.
We’ve known for a long time Democrats fail to tell their story and give people something to vote for; instead they get defensive and let the Republicans and their multi-media propaganda machine control the narrative. Biden, unfortunately, counted on his “good governance” efforts to speak for themselves. By the time the economic indicators swung positively, the Republicans already branded Biden with “worst inflation in history” and “worst President ever.” The Biden speech at the end of his presidency is just pathetic in hindsight. Too little, way too late. There was no effort to control the narrative; all we got was Trump is bad, don’t vote for Trump. To the voter, Biden passed some complex and expensive legislation I don’t understand. So what? Gas is expensive. Eggs are expensive. Democrats are lost in the woods, don’t even know which bathroom to use, and aren’t helping me. Everyone I know is voting for Trump. So I will, too. End of story.
Yep. It's proven that people want to be for something, not against something.
Mother Theresa said, "I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."
Mark, stop misinforming the populace. We ALL know why the dumbocrats lost. It's because they were caught red handed lying about everything. Maybe you should just admit it. It would make you look less suspicious.😅😂🤗🤔👏🤡🌍
Marc, you are repeating what Trump has been saying about "the elites." You state that Harris was facing "a powerful freight train," surely a euphemism for xenophobia. How do you counteract that?
Marc, I couldn’t agree more. Hence my reason for drafting a letter urging influential elected officials and organizations to consider endorsing Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler, who is running for Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Unlike the other candidates who, in my view, would perpetuate the status quo in national politics, Wikler would firmly position Democrats as advocates for working families across the country. He also would focus on improving the Party’s messaging, training and deploying effective communicators to reach voters on every platform, in every place.
I hope others join my campaign to urge those with influence to press the 448 DNC voting members to support Ben Wikler, the leader who can guide the party to victory in 2026 and beyond.
Peggy, Thanks for writing. I would add that Wikler is deeply engaged in the grassroots work across Wisconsin. His hands-on approach and commitment to going door-to-door, listening to voters in every neighborhood, has made him a skilled organizer and “vote-getting guru.” His activism spans both the ground and online, connecting with people year-around.
This is especially important given the Democratic National Committee’s history as primarily a fundraising entity, largely driven by the big-money interests of billionaires, large corporations, and Wall Street. The Party cannot truly represent working people if it is unwilling to challenge these powerful donors.
Barbara Jo, I have said it before and it bears repeating. We need candidates like Ben Wikler that are willing to go door-to-door and LISTEN to voters concerns and issues. We need candidates that are engaged with a hands-on approach and are willing to speak out and fight for what their constituents have told them they want in our government! We need candidates that are not afraid to take on the wealthy and greedy corporations. I hope more "Ben Wiklers" are out there and ready to work for the American people.
Peggy, While I wholeheartedly agree with every one of your points, currently our party is leaderless. Wikler, who expressed in a recent New York Times interview that his goal is to bring the same kind of transformation to the national Democratic Party that he brought to Wisconsin, could fill that void.
The DNC delegates will vote on February 1st. In the interim, I’m doing all I can to urge everyday folks to write their representatives up and down the ballot, many of whom are DNC delegates, urging them to endorse Wikler for DNC Chair.
I have written to mine, Barbara Jo; however, my representatives have not acknowledged whether they received what I sent. My representatives here in Florida are not messaging very well. I hope if Wikler becomes the DNC Chair, that will change under his leadership.
It is wonderful to think that writing to your representatives will be helpful, but I have never found it to be. They have staff to read the letters (if they bother) and send out form letters in reply. The system is corrupt.
Elections have been commercialized to the point where the very media expectation of candidates is determined by how much money they've raised in every quarter. It's almost like a corporation. What is the quarterly report? Money from commercial interests, with their 10,000 political action committees, comes heavily in terms of quid pro quo.
Good comment Barbara Jo. I have this: "The lesson is, it doesn't really matter, if the power structure persists, it doesn't matter who's in office, it doesn't matter what ethnic, racial background, it doesn't matter how much they know, how much they don't know, they're all molded by the corporate power structure that controls Washington from Wall Street." --- Ralph Nader
Ben is great. O'Malley brings a lot to the table too. Perhaps he should be a co-chair or head the Governors at DGA. Having a sitting Gov run the group is not effective or efficient because a Gov too much on his/her plate as a Gov, IMO.
Actually, I like the idea of having male and female Co-Chairs, like IL.
Marc, I agree, but the question is why. In the 1960s, the nation as a whole shifted towards the Republican party, partly because of Vietnam but mainly because of Civil Rights. White southerners abruptly switched their voting preferences from Democrat to Republican. Dixiecrats were racist but voted for high taxes, while Republicans always wanted lower taxes.
This massive shift of tens of millions of votes led quickly to the Heritage Foundation and from there to Reagan - the first president to say out loud that tax cuts on the wealthiest would be to the benefit of all. IMHO, the Democrats perceived this shift to the right and unconsciously moved in the same direction.
The DNC must remake itself by promoting charismatic populist leaders, and go back to Reich's story of Rot at the Top.
DJT received about 1/3 of the eligible 2024 Votes... Kamala received about 1/3 of the eligible Votes... About 1/3rd of the Voters stayed home... Were the missing 1/3rd Apathetic Disillusioned, Cynical? Did 'Gaza' play a part in the Disillusionment?... The De-Industrialization of the U.S. started under Reagan, and continued thru Trump... Obama ran a good Campaign with simple Slogans such as "Hope", "Hope You Can Believe In"... A Reinvigorated Democratic Party needs similar Mantras appealing to the Broadest Base... THEN IT NEEDS TO DELIVER RESULTS THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!...
The only way to deliver is by getting money out of politics which the politicians are not willing to do. They are in government to make themselves rich!
Have you noticed that the issue is never discussed in the media?
The media is the recipient of all of that money, except what consultants are paid. Heck, the media didn't even mention when the PA Senate race cost about 1/3 of a BILLLION dollars.
Election season is an enormous windfall for media outlets, including social media. No wonder the media has no outrage about the obscure amount of money buying politicians and access to power.
Ever wonder why the media doesn't report on legislators' contributors and the subsequent legislator's vote for the industry? It's taboo.
The media is getting money from the corporations with commercials. It's a big money game. If it were not for Union's, nobody would be standing up for labor.
It doesn't get nearly enough attention, but I think what turned off people most about this administration was its failure to carry out its most important mission: to hold Trump & his seditious accomplices accountable for their crimes against the state & subversion of our democracy. This administration is partly responsible for this traitor who is constitutionally ineligible to be President coming back into power.
The Original Framers of the Constitution could not Conceive a person like DJT running for, and winning the Presidency... How can a Felon be allowed to run for President... DJT, who has very few constraints, will always challenge any restraints... The Institutionists should have defended the Rule-Of-Law more vigorously... Merrick Garland failed Us...
The "people like themselves" are the normal, average Americans. How much do Democrats have to dumb it down for the stupid Americans to understand it? Vote for your best interests, not for liars, grifters, millionaires, and billionaires that want to take away your Social Security, Medicare, healthcare, livable wage, right to love who you want to love, birth control, ban books, make the United States a Christian nation only, etc.
And yet they believe trump spoke like, and for them. I think the blame is on the public, not the democrats, who wouldn’t know how to think rationally, or maybe even to think at all.
This is the most clueless piece I've seen Reich write and ironic that it came out when Biden gave his speech on the economy. Biden's "From the middle out and from the bottom up" is a good and sound message. Why does it get ignored on the media and fall on deaf ears? Why has social morality come down to a cult of the fertilized egg? How were the Republicans able to make being woke, which is a virtue of being tolerant of differences of and supportive of the weak, and honest about racism which is stronger in the country now than at any time since before the '60s, into a vice? The problem is Republicans' incessant lying, repeated by right wing media. Republicans electoral successes in presidential elections since the '60s has not been based on their policies, but on how good of a con man and demogogue their candidate is. Reagan and Trump won because they were con men and demagogues. Goldwater, Nixon, Mitt Romney, Bush, McCain, not do much. The presidential election is a popularity contest, like our grade school student counsel elections, but with real world consequences. Can the Democrats do anything about the rise of the Republican demogogue and the spread of right wing media with the utter collapse of legacy media?
Democrats hardly speak on the richt wing media braying machine, with the exception of Pete Buttegieg, and when he does the odious "hosts" still try to talk over him and spread their billionaire-fed garbage.
The problem is people want to hear hate and mocking, because they're mad and want to blame the people smarter than they are. And for those educated after Reagan, it's most everyone.
It's all about the rage, and the democrats pulled too many punches in calling out the problem.
People know so little they have no idea what trickle down is, and no idea thst the billionaires dumpty will empower are the problem. And they own the media that red state folks listen to.
Interesting post. You have led me to think about the thoroughly debunked GOP paternalistic/infantilistic lie that the wealthy know best what is good for the country; and making them wealthier will, through the false trickle down theory bring prosperity to all. The concomitant GOP lie is that government is the problem because it hamstrings the wealthy from becoming even wealthier through taxation, regulation and corruption.
Paula Mandell : The present day "GOP" certainly don't care about the Common Good now, and if they ever tried to give that impression, they don't even try these days. They 'just' want to get what they want : Which is everything of value, and only for themselves.
No they don’t care and never have in my long life. They employ sleight-of-hand distractions: “wokism,” grooming by LGBTQI people, book banning, invasion of criminal immigrants, the “deep state,” “stolen elections,” etc., which are designed to distract people from the real sources of economic distress and inequality.
Paula ; Yes : Hitler and his crew used the homosexualty thing, too. Culture war shaming and fear mongering, to distract from what They were doing ; destroying the Common Good so they could control everyone and steal any wealth produced.
Bill, you’re absolutely right! The way I see it, before the internet, the vast majority of Americans relied on relatively responsible journalists for their information. This created a shared foundation of facts and truths, allowing people to debate solutions and policies while still agreeing on the basic realities. Today, that’s no longer the case. A significant portion of the population is being inundated with propaganda from internet sources, with the effects spreading directly and indirectly through those influenced by it. Right-wing propaganda, in particular, is so effective because it taps into people’s base fears and hatred, which are the most powerful motivators.
I think clueless is wrong. Robert tells the stories many never learned, or forgot. I think your comments about the media are correct. This, in addition to Robert's stories, further explains where we are now. He could write a book about lying and cons in politics. Another about media colluding with the 10%. There is more to the story.
I don't think that's how R's define woke. They see it as more like rot at the top of government with unfair and idiotic social engineering. Your definition puts woke in a positive light. R's don't see anything positive in it.
You've got to admit, letting transgirls compete against girls is unfair to girls... And girls to transgirls are probably 1000:1.
If Dems were smart, they would defer to Olympic rules and suggest a new category. Let local school boards decide if trans should compete in the same heat or separate heat, but give different awards. Two categories, like 1st place in transgirl and 1st place in girl categories are the only fair way to settle the matter.
I have to admit that I could care less about about trans girls (not even sure is that's the proper term) in sports when Trump wants to cut taxes for the rich and businesses and then use the resulting budget deficits to gut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the ACHA. Trump's getting so many people riled up about an issue that affects so few is a masterclasses in misdirection.
Absolutely. Men would NEVER allow an advantaged competitor in their games!!! It took us centuries to have a game!!!! Children bathed in testosterone, like it or not, are factually stronger. But, science and truth, be gone!!!!
Not sure what the answer is but don't think it's to let someone to switchover from a ho-hum male swimmer and set new national women's swimming records. It would seem to me to depend on some physiological tests, but I don't really know. I sure don't want my MO supermajority GOP state legislature anywhere near the issue.
That's how I'd settle this issue. That this contrived controversy wasn't settled & put away long ago shows the present lack of imagination & ability to solve problems that was the hallmark of America 60-90 years ago.
Bill - sorry, but it seems you missed the point. Did you ever hear Joan Didion’s famous quote - “We live by the stories we tell”? Reich has given us the major plot lines of those stories that have shaped American politics for decades. The points you mentioned are all relevant, yet they fit within these larger stories or reflect the absence of the story - hence, an absence of meaning. Without meaning, a political vacuum is created into which meaningless messages and mean-spirited attacks can thrive. Reich has provided historical context for how this happened. Please reconsider his purpose.
It’s the vacuum created by the democrats that allow the GOP to fill the void with lies, so yes, democrats are guilty by allowing the void to form in the first place
Had Congressional "persons" not allowed big business and big money interests to take over the government...we wouldn't have big business and big money people running "our/the peoples" government.
If we had not allowed for misinformation, lies, and conspiracy nut cases to flood our airwaves, internet, and media platforms and single malevolent bad actors controlling the output of information across most forms of influential media...we wouldn't be where we are today. Trump and the corrupt MAGA Republicans wouldn't have been heard by anyone outside of a "small circle of friends".
Running a country is hard enough without having to contend with corrupt and malevolent actors. We have...did have, laws that protected us but they were not implemented effectively. Common sense laws that got overridden and diluted by the greed and laziness of our leadership. The 10+% of the good guys in government who maintained their integrity got pounded. The population was educationally unaware of reality and blinded by "The Light". "The Light" was so intense, overwhelming and alluring... the lies flooded our population and still ...our leadership cared more about the money and power of which they needed to hold onto.
We as a nation will not solve our "number one problem" until we solve our number one problem...taking Business/Big money out of our government.
The people that lead us... have to lead us for the right reasons and have the intelligence to know the difference between serving their masters and themselves versus serving the country and should have a general knowledge of the difference between right and wrong...in all things.
Republicans. Unfortunately for the country the luck of timing for SCOTUS appointments fell in favor of the GOP for the last 40 years and our country will all pay the price for the next 40 years. GH
Not just luck, but the outright stealing of a nomination that belonged to Obama, the ramming through without proper investigation of a nominee credibly accused of sexual assault, & rushing through another unqualified nominee that should've waited until the next (Biden) presidency.
I fear a terrible price, such that we may never recover... along with the rest of the world perhaps. Between oligarchs and their support of climate destruction and lack of concern over the biosphere...I am concerned about their obvious lack of concern and comprehension of the big picture consequences...as has been proven time and time again.
It was a problem even before Roberts joined the court, although made much worse by his court. We haven't had a Supreme Court that wasn't majority corporatist in half a century. One reason why we're hardly getting anywhere in solving the climate & environmental crises, or reversing the ever worsening, destabilizing disparity in wealth & power between rich & poor & concomitant erosion of democracy.
To take big business or billionaire money out of government, we need a new Supreme Court, a court without a conservative majority. It is decisions by conservative justices like Citizen's United and McCutcheon that make it "unconstitutional" for Congress or the President to do anything to limit big business or billionaire spending on elections or political issues.
While still in office and with the immunity clause, Biden or Harris (if 25th is enacted) can do anything in the protection of the Constitution's intent and the country...which doesn't recognize any legitimacy of the Citizens United ruling. Harris or Biden can put out warrants for the arrest of specific Congressional members and Trump and associates, as a threat to democracy based on their statements and activities alone throughout Trump's first term and all of his on air recorded rallies and interviews along with his attempted insurrection, which by the way was ruled, just that, by a state supreme court which deemed him an unacceptable candidate for the office of president.
Biden and Harris can do a lot if they wanted to...Wray, should also before he resigns, Jack smith should also continue with his cases...Trump is not in office yet. Biden has immunity. When he is out of office... it will be too late...Trump will have the military and he will not hesitate to use it domestically to quell protests when he begins to enact his program to do what he does, disrupt and destroy any protections for the general citizenry to support the demands of our new oligarchs.
It seems that they have all given up or made deals... when the option to do what needs to be done is slipping away into the abyss. Biden still has control of the military and that is what matters in the end. When that control option goes to Trump and associates there's no option to save us from becoming a Russia clone.
History is the lesson that needs to be recognized and respected.
The US is a big and vastly complicated ship but not so complicated that it can't be taken apart piece by piece in less than a month to a 1 year and handed over to the monied interests that took over the election for less than 10 billion dollars during the last 12 months of the process. This is their last step before solidifying control over the country.
I agree Henry. They should have acted against DT and the other traitors the day after they were sworn in... four years ago. You can include the Murdochs in that group too. I do think Joe is a good person and has done a lot for working folks over the length of his career. But he is an old school pol he believes in the institutional norms of bygone days. I really got sick of him constantly talking about bipartisanship and Michelle Obama saying "When they go low, we go high". Bullshit. When the opposition starts a mud fight, one better be prepared to get down and dirty too. Standing on the sidelines and talking about "the rules" or looking your nose down on them because you don't want to get your get your clothes dirty isn't going to cut it. GH
[I started to write a comment and tried to reference something, and ended up losing three paragraphs... so, hopefully, i can recall my thoughts]
America has always been the champion of democracy, even if some of the means of achieving democracy haven't always been democratic. Being this shining beacon in the world spurred other countries to do likewise. The American Dream was infectious. People sang our songs. They emulated our celebrities, recited lines from our movies. People around the world knew America was the land of opportunity.
So what happens when the vanguard of democracy ceases to be that symbol. What happens when the champions decide they don't want to be the champions? Does democracy lose? Who picks up the banner? Who waves it in angry defiance?
What do i know? I'm just a kid who read a lot of books growing up. I watched a lot of movies, and listened to a lot of people who dreamed a little bigger than me. I imagined what heaven looked like. And when I had the courage to look in the other direction, I saw many version of hell.
Where we are, today, is unprecedented. I'm sure people will read this and think, "We've been here before." America has never been here. To be honest, most of us don't even realize where here is. And I struggle to put it into words.
The people in the know have already taken the knee. Others make their unholy pilgrimage to Mar-a-lago (or how ever it's spelled) to pledge loyalty to His Majesty. We haven't even seen the carnage. The metaphorical public executions haven't even started.
I have lived in Scotland for over 30 years now & so agree. People used to look to America as the world leader, they wanted to emulate American Culture & our politicians even copied American politics. But now since rump, I’m finding most people look to the US with a mixture of confusion & distaste. Albeit, there are those right wingers who have been emboldened by the rump republican rhetoric. Personally, I find myself embarrassed by having been born in a country that is now so messed up. My parents were immigrants who believed in the American dream & benefitted from it. They would be so sad to see what it’s become, as am I. The narrative needs to change & quickly because from here, America under rump looks no different than any other corrupt authoritarian country in the world. So Sad, never thought I’d see this happen to the USA, but if Money & Fame become the goal then it was inevitable. Reagan started the rot at the top, I thought Obama would curb it but all his presidency did was produce a harder kick back from the right wing racists!
The sad part is the first thing I wrote was better than this comment. Dissent and rebellion will always exist (in theory). With the dawn of A.I. and the proliferation of social media, maybe we're seeing the end of democracy.
I wouldn't think much of any of it. I would limit my thoughts to "well, it's just 4 years." However, when i see this guy's opponents rushing to atone themselves before him, it conjures a visions of a long, grim future.
America has not been the champion of Democracy, that is the story that is generally propagated. America has been responsible for the overthrowing of fledgling Democracies, Guatamala, Iran,
in 1954, recently Bolivia. We want to control the resources of these countries in favor of corporate control over the self determination of the people of this nations. If we had been truly concerned about fostering Democracy around the world maybe we not be in the current position of loosing it ourselves.
The problem is: None of these four stories tell the truth. The actual story of the US begins with the genocide of the Natives and the enslavement of the Africans. As long as we insist on telling ourselves self-congratulatory fairy tales we remain infantile, individually and politically. Only an honest recognition of our real history can lead to maturity and a chance to build a society that can fulfill the potential that the false stories are meant to serve but actually prevent. Psych 101.
So true, the myths of America. The truth is not palatable. Therefore, kept hidden & I’m afraid will be hidden even further by certain states erasing of history in their educational curriculum.
Agree. Everyone should start with the 1619 Project Book. Once you finish it you will know why the "right" want's to ban it everywhere. The truth hurts! GH
White and male focused, which of course it has been. As Marc points out, there is a clear bottom- dirty group who are left out of economic recourse and for whom hope will be even more elusive under this new authoritarian administration.
So how do you use these insights with people withholding votes because the government is helping Israel? With men who are too insecure to vote for a woman? With greedy special-interest groups eager to profit from everyone else's pain? With religious fanatics who have lost any concept of a moral compass? With entitled apathy?
"It’s the story of self-made people who buck the odds, spurn the naysayers, and show what can be done with enough gumption and guts. They’re plainspoken, self-reliant, and uncompromising in their ideals — underdogs who make it through hard work and faith in themselves." Kamala Harris spoke often about being an underdog, The child of immigrant parents of color, who worked hard in school and succeeded in law, to be the top Prosecutor in A major city, San Fan Francisco, being re-elected, then to Be Attorney General of a state with the largest economy in the Country, also re-elected, Then on to be a Senator and then Vice President. I think Democrats have and had an excellent message ; But the billionaire propaganda machine that is our modern day media, favoring stories about the Orange stain, often obscured that message. tRUMP likes to superimpose himself onto the media's messaging, to dominate the view, and distract from the messages of his opponents. I don't blame the Democrats' messaging at all.
Listen to us—the Democrats lost because they did not tell the “best” anecdotes and myths. Just the fact the argument centers around fairy tales and not actual history should tell us that something is definitely wrong with the American electorate. The proliferation of anti-vaxers, Christian Nationalists, creationists, conspiracies, etc., all indicate an anti-science and math-phobic “bent” in a country that used to pride itself on public education for all.
Yes—a large part of America has been “left out” and the wackos have always existed. But Trump’s rise to power (MAGA) has made it OK for the uneducated, functionally illiterate, racists, Christian Taliban, etc.,(these groups are not mutually exclusive), to rise, rant, and be entitled—and apparently there were more people like this in America than we ever imagined.
Is this solvable? Unfortunately, it has the makings of a new Civil War—or at least civil strife for the foreseeable future…..
Best post I've read today. Yours is the first one that is closest to the mark.
President Kennedy gave an address where he said that the enemy of the truth was not the lie, but the myth. Sooner or later, we're going to have to start grappling with some very hard truths.
This was a good read. The four stories resonate. Perhaps the "rot at the top" will dominate for the immediate future. trump and co. will claim they are cleaning out the rot, while they bring in a far stinkier rot from the corporate and conservative "talking head" world of media and finance. There is something missing in the 4 stories that we require. It underlies the others and does not speak loudly in schools or media. We have a beautiful land, and wise people connected to it in ways that do not bring wealth or fame, rather they show health and good being. Our national myths often leave environment and certain people out. Where are the native peoples, slaves, small farmers, immigrants who built our railways, migrants who pick our crops? We need their stories too. Without that we fall prey to those who wish to boot them out because they refuse to sort the wheat from the chaff, even though the chaff is smaller, and most of it falls from the people doing the sorting.
The problem isn’t just the language — and it’s central to Republicans’ playbook that they always attempt to control the language of any debate (one need look no further than their insistence on calling the Democratic Party — its official name at least as far back as Andrew Jackson’s day — the “Democrat Party,” with the clear implication that the Democratic Party is undemocratic) — but the mechanism by which the message is delivered.
Just as one of the functions of the good bacteria in a person’s gut is to displace bad bacteria and not give it the space it needs to proliferate, a message needs to get there first to keep the counter-message from taking hold.
For all the post-mortems we’ve read over the past five weeks as to why the election went the way it did, what seems most obvious is that, for lack of a mechanism to place a steady stream of verifiable, factual information in front of the American people as to how Democratic policies were improving their lives, it can be said that this election was lost the day Joe Biden entered the White House.
A White House Press Office, with handouts to news organizations, that holds the occasional news conference and operates a website isn’t nearly enough. What they need, what they should have had, is an ad agency, directly analogous to what we used to see every week on “Mad Men,” dedicated to crafting simple, easily-understood stories about the benefits of those policies, and placing them in the media and before the public BEFORE the opposition and poison opinion with its wildly false narrative.
Such an operation needs to run 24/7, fifty-two weeks a year. Such an operation would be terribly expensive to operate, but the cost of NOT operating it is, well, we saw it five weeks ago.
Professor Reich: fascinating! i found this piece resonated strongly with me and how i view the country (and the world). it gives me much to think about. i look forward to your second tomorrow's instalment of this story.
Part of the problem is that Republicans have been working a real plan for over 40 years......while the Democrats have not been paying attention and have not developed and worked an overall long-term plan themselves. A great book "Dismantling Democracy: The forty-year attack on government, and the long game for the common good" by Donald Cohen speaks to this. The Republicans have just kept grinding away and putting themselves in position to take over locally, statewide, and nationally. You cannot play whack-a-mole and be successful. There is a great chart, with explanations, in the middle of the book (p. 38) that shows the overall Republican strategy to make people (1) Be Discontent with government, and (2) Disconnect from government through 5 areas: Austerity, Privatization, Financialization, Deregulation, De-Democratize, Impact: Eviscerating Public Purpose. Also heard a great talk last night from Sam Daley-Harris, author of "Reclaiming Our Democracy" who reminded people "Cynicism is Obedience", "we are not passengers on our planet - we are the crew", "we are not residents of America, we are citizens". We do not have to just accept what is before us, we can do something(s) about it
Thank you for the tip, Murray. I just bought the book. I'm hoping the insights into what the Republicans have done will help me write our own plan. I realize that anything I put together will probably go nowhere but someone has to do it, right?
I was a tv writer/producer for many years, and learned the craft of story-telling on major network and streaming procedurals. The KISS principle is, i believe, not quite accurate, because part of the audience actually wants it complex, not simple, although other segments of your audience indeed want and need it simple. So the trick is to write to both segments simultaneously, and the way to do that is the KIVS principle - keep it visceral, stupid: make the story immediately and imminently viscerally apparent, so that the audience has no time to disengage. But the dems present a meta-analysis, the audience’s mind wanders, and they see the Orange Buffoon waiving raw meat, and the visceral reaction is, “yes!” And Harris loses to Trump. And, yes, Trump is the idiot-savant of this method, perhaps the greatest since Hitler, so maybe his come-back was predictable against the chart-waive dems…. In any event, as I often say, the dems couldn’t explain the movie JAWS to a rooful of New England fishermen……
An American Indian chief once said to me that his philosophy of life
was guided by the judgement of whether something would grow corn or not.
Practical significance.
This is not about identity politics, this is about what is significant.
Dems often have it backwards and why they lose on the gameboard of power.
We must speak to powerful significance, powerful stories, not be afraid of power.
Why? Because we are in touch with what is significant in our life and people's lives.
If you want to know why people make the decisions they do, understand what is significant to them. If you want to influence them, first know how they organize around what they believe is significant.
I really resonate with what you’ve written, Steven, that we are self organising systems. And the stories we hold in our heads are the animating template that shapes the external realities we create.
One must "Dance to the tune played by those what brung them", In other words, the price of admission is often costly if relying on corporate money for their campaign.
Paula, that is the 65billion dollar question. We could stage a general strike like the French have been known to to do, Have a "Tea party", (although it would be harder to do if you don't have much money in reserve), or fight back like the desperate who destroy themselves in violent acts. Or , we can be patient and allow time to inform our oppressors as they harm our culture and environment and make US sick, until we can be less useful for them to exploit. They don;t really have the long view, in my view.
I believe Robert Reich is correct. The Democrats lost their ability to speak cogently to all Americans, but instead chose to speak to “people like themselves.” And in doing so left out a large part of the population.
Yesterday, at the Brookings Institution President Biden gave a very convincing talk about all of the accomplishments of his administration, comparing those accomplishments to what the agenda of the Republicans has been and will be. However, he was speaking to an audience of people highly educated like himself while clearly not speaking to those who have been economically suffering the most. You can use terms such as “growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up,” and there may be some clear truth in that, but this does not lay out an inspiring vision of being there for all Americans.
It is clear that Kamala Harris entering the race so late did not give her the opportunity to bring clarity and power to what she proposed, and she was up against a powerful freight train, already roaring down the tracks. But also, she was constrained by the path previously laid down by Joseph Biden, and the Democratic agenda as defined by the DNC. “Wokeness”may have simply been generalized as a way to criticize the intellectuals being out of touch with those who take their lunch pails to work every day and do not have the extra money to stop at Starbucks and bring their lattes to work.
Marc, we are close. I did print the speech of Biden in Brookings and think it is an important one. Kamala did nothing wrong, indeed limited by the silly campaigning of Trump for more then a year. The rational and sunny talks did not resonate in "fly over" country, but she almost won.
Is the US stupid and conservative? I think the devatation of the Trump goverment will bring back decency and real goverment soon. But the treason and insurgency had to be punished years ago.
Republicans do not know the meaning of Conservative, they are actually hypocrites in sheep's clothing.
Carolyn, I agree but it does not matter. We should be analytical. The Republicans are the voice of big money and the words solidarity or decency are unknown to them. But this is a long historic line in the struggle between workers and millionaires.
Robert and other professional Democrats and MSNBC Pundits talk like we can comeback in 2028, if only we get our shite together. I wish, oh I wish that this was true.
But how are we going to do that, when Trump's Agenda 47 and his Project 2025 have clearly laid out the roadmap, the play book, for a theocratic Right Wing Dictatorship.
And it is not hyperbole either, his cabinet choices will destroy the Republic, shred the constitution and is supported by the Judiciary, not only SCOTUS, but 1500 Judges vetted by the Federalist Society in Trumps first term.
Even if his cabinet choices go before the Senate, the Senate is majority Republican, and if the Democrats even try to filibuster, the Republicans will exercise the nuclear option.
Trump told his cult, Vote for me and you want have to vote again.
I believe him, why doesn't the Democratic leadership.
Rather than planning for election in 2028, that even if it happened would be as honest as an election in Russia and Hungary we should be planning and organizing for the resistance. Let us face reality and not promote false hope.
Brazil has a stronger democracy than America, it is prosecuting an ex President, Israel has a stronger Democracy than America, Netanyahu is testifying at his own trial.
Imagine the leader of Israel is being tried,, while in America all charges against Trump are being dropped or suspended, and though convicted of felonies he has not been punished, and never will be.
William, we see it very much alike.
I ask for some years now in this colums: why is insurgent Trump not arrested, why are his treasonous friendships not tested?
Good system in Israel, trying the MP; that is what should be done.
Still, dark times ahead, but half America is not totally stupid. But the voters should find out what their strongman and hero does and suffer under his damage. Then checks and balances will work.
We stand at the gates of hell. IDK how far we will enter but many signs say- a very long way.
I expect Trump will pardon the Jan6 rioters, maybe have a Whitehouse reception for them, and quite possibly get them jobs in the government to expedite corruption as other autocrats have done.
If Hegseth gets approved, an in your face threat to our national security, that is another sign that we have truly crossed the rubicon and that there is almost nothing the GOP will do to oppose him.
It is a sad commentary on America that the felon was allowed to run for the presidency AND WIN! Now none of his misdeeds of the past will be punished and he will destroy America for retribution for his perceived attacks by democrats! It would never occur to him that the democrats are standing up for America and the rule of law! Trump does not believe in the rule of law. Go read Project 2025 and see what the next four years may bring!
Right you are, William! The people who voted for Trump don't care about the Constitution and the rule of law. To assume that we will return back to "normal" two years from now is delusional.
I could not agree with you more, William. Every newsletter I read has taken Reich's sunny future position. People on this newsletter do the same. Hubbell, Vance, the democratic congress etc. We all would like to avoid the inevitable. That's why I've been advocating any theory i.e. Spoonamore, tRump's blueprint and repeated mantra that his election was stolen, all to avoid what's to come. The democratic nuclear option should call for a hand recount includeing the 3/4 of the provisional ballots that had not been counted in the last election.
And don't forget Nicolas Sarkosy. Yes, the French also punish corrupt people, even if he has/ had the rank of President. He is not done yet and has another trial coming up in 2025. We should not treat our politicians like Gods.
https://www.politico.eu/article/appeals-court-uphold-prison-sentence-former-french-president-nicolas-sarkozy/
See 💓💓💓💓💓 below
I disagree that Israel's democracy is stronger than ours. 1) It oppresses non-Jewish people anywhere within its orbit. 2) I'm glad Netanyahu is forced to testify, but it says nothing about his fascist leadership. You are right, however, that there is a big contrast between the way we've been treating Trump and the way Israel treats Nutsy Yahoo in terms of the charges brought against him. Perhaps Trump will be tried and imprisoned after his presidency; I have some hope there.
Democrats are living in the past, with the hope things will change. We stopped resisting when Harris folded, while the vote was still being counted. Can you imagine tRump doing that?
Republicans have such a small majority in the House. It will be virtually impossible to pass laws supporting Project 2025.
Unions, public schools, Social Security, etc. has an ideological problem that is never discussed. They are based on the unacceptable principle of solidarity, which private power dislikes. Solidarity means concern for the fate of others. The institution that's built on solidarity is the labor movement. If you're alone, standing against concentrated power, you don't have a chance. It's important for people to protect themselves, defend themselves. Without solidarity, society disintegrates.
The very idea that we're in it together, that we have responsibility for one another, is frightening to those who want a society which is dominated by power, authority, wealth, in which people are passive and obedient. You're only supposed to care about yourself, not care about other people. Social solidarity is dangerous. It can undermine preferred doctrines and can even lead to action, which could change the way the world works. So we don't want that.
Noam Chomsky, MIT, University of Arizona
I would suggest the Baby Boomers and their progeny, who have the most wealth of any prior generation to pass on, are most likely to take the rest of us solidarity types down the sh-tter because of their insatiable GREED.
Tom, I would like that to be the message for any candidate going forward. Republicans are indeed the voice of big money, greed, power and corruption; however, Democrats need to move away from those big money donors and return to grass roots America. If the Democrats are going to support and work for the working middle and lower classes, then they have to show that. It isn't enough to repeat the platitudes "We are here for you", "We understand what you are going through", "We care about helping you" and so on and so on. Talk is talk but these leaders need to show with action they mean what they say.
Bernie showed them the way, refusing corporate money, & a few other progressives successfully followed his example, but the bulk of the party remains reliant on rich donors. Gotta wean their way off corporate & billionaire donors if they want to connect with ordinary people.
I wish I could give you 100 likes as this is also what I've observed. Dems lost the blue collar workers. In 2016 Hillary said of them :"Who else are they going to vote for?"
Dems, especially starting with the Clintons, have courted Wall Street for money when they should have gotten closer to Unions: They vote and they work together to make things happen!
Even now, they don't seem to have gotten the memo and keep talking about the uneducated. The plain fact is, they have not talked to blue collar workers for a very long time.
Yes Peggy, I wrote a lot about small scale, banning big money out of politics and the media, changing elections, reconsider central and decentral. Let Mayors rule the world. It needs a lot of work, but the goals are clear enough.
Johnathan Haidt’s book The Righteous Mind will aid understanding here.
The book is on my desk...
Admit it, you were caught lying to the American people. Stop trying to deny liability for your own stupidity. You look less guilty that way.
Or the tempting serpent. See the shiny apple?
I find this four point structure to be very helpful in terms of providing a story and framework for going forward. Thank you, Robert Reich.
I would add another US story that is repugnants in origin but demmies adopt it too. Poor people, disabled folk CHOOSE this. It is their fault. Especially as the human wrought destruction of the Natural world progresses, they do not want to believe they are the origins of the hell .
Hmmm. Nope. Those who make our "economic weather" are the legislatures in all 50 States: they are the ones who pick winners and losers. I kinda agree with your last sentence, though, that we all have a hand in what's happened and what will happen.
Let's make better choices then.
I am afraid that you are right, Vicky. All of us may be complicit.
It is admirable work, especially for an economist. I did make a few remarks from a different epistemologic culture: history and political science in the Netherlands.
"Harris Stayed Silent On Khan Amid Probe Of Top Adviser's Firm
The presidential candidate declined to defend Lina Khan while the antitrust regulator was investigating the employer of Harris’ brother-in-law and chief advisor..."
https://www.levernews.com/harris-stayed-silent-on-khan-amid-probe-of-top-advisers-firm/?action=signin&success=true
Danny - that almost made me not vote for her. my vote for her became in my opinion a vote for the lesser of two evils. but i realized that if i abstained, it was a de facto vote for dumpster.
Her campaign of joy seems to have taken some inspiration from similar slogan of a political movement that removed Pinochet.
I took my lunchbox to work everyday for 50 years and never felt that the democrats were out of touch. Democrats work for the benefit of all the people, especially for the poor, to have a better life. The republicans are always trying to take away the benefits you have. I do blame Biden's ego for not stepping aside at least a year before the election. Just like sick RBG on the "supreme" court.
I agree, what has happened is that the republicans have become so atrocious over the last 40-50 yrs & Dems have just been reactionary… and always trying to “work in a bipartisan” fashion to get things done ( and they do get things done) but they don’t disparage the gop like the gop does the Dems… so they gop controls the narrative, looks strong & Dems “fix & save” without the public knowing it -end up looking weak. They also are more corporate minded than they should be… trying to be the “ middle ground” . It’s difficult- imagine if both sides acted as horribly as the gop & trump- what an f’ing joke the US would look like. But we can’t continue the “ when they go low, we go high” we have to do both… go low & high - become braggadocious,( sp?) point the finger, work to get things done, while saying how bad the republicans are.
Repubs always say “ the leftist dems… all dems are ( insert whatever) “ while dems say “SOME of the repubs are maga” with the caveat “ not all repubs are “ you get my point.
I'm thinking, the Democrats are always in a no-win situation here. No matter what they do the Republicans make them look like dogshit and the Republicans end up smelling like a rose no matter what they do. You know what the Dems should do? Tell the GOP, "You want full control of everything? Fine. We're leaving. You can clean up your own messes from now on. It's the Pottery Barn rule: you broke it, you bought it!" And then the Dems dissolve the party and hang it up, forever. It beats being arrested at their political offices, party headquarters and posh consultancies.
Jim, I may have missed it, but I never heard Joe or Kamala talk of the problems of “the working class.” I heard a lot of talk of the “middle class.” In past decades the Democrats spoke for and cared for the working class in the United States, but in the past few election cycles they seemed more focused on the “middle class." Might this shift have been caused by their focus on fundraising concerns? Although I voted for Kamala and Tim, I am feeling more and more that the Democratic party as a whole is losing touch with the people it is supposed to represent. The non-participation of one third of the electorate speaks quite loudly. What is it they are saying?
Chuck Schumer, Jeffries and Harrison don't connect with voters. I don't know if I've ever seen them attempt to address the middle class, or the working class, or the working poor. They're always dressed up like they are going somewhere fancy. I have noticed that the new Democratic Senator from PA wears sweatshirts.
Tim Walz does connect, IMO. But for some reason he was almost absent in the news after the convention. Big mistake.
The PA senator is a boisterous libertarian
A lot of attention was directed to the high price of eggs to explain how bad inflation is now. I wonder if the high price of eggs is more about the bird flu than inflation?
I know this is off the subject you're aiming at but here's a thought. A person can have their own chickens in a predator protected coop in the backyard. It won't work in the city to have a cow in the backyard but chickens and maybe a goat would work for homeowners in some cities. (my neighbor used to have a goat.). You can sell the eggs to neighbors and chickens are quite fun and delightful. They also provide good fertilizer for an edible garden out back or even in the front. It would be helpful to know how to be more self sufficient. Disease is more prevalent with large populations whether it be birds or people. Cramming chickens into cages and pumping them up with drugs to get them fatter for slaughter is what we find where we all shop or go out to eat. Recently the old orange guy talked about 'groceries'. When the food on the table is the topic, that can be a big driver of votes. We are a dependent society and that makes us vulnerable. So maybe each of us can figure out what we can do to become more self sufficient and even share that when there are excesses. Starting where you are is the first step in change. These thoughts came up when you mentioned the cost of eggs.
I rarely eat eggs. I don't mind the cost of food. I'm a smarter shopper. I think Americans eat way too much processed junk food, so I have little sympathy for people complaining about the price of food.
I was only making a point that the whining about the cost of eggs is probably more related to the bird flu than inflation. With the cramped chicken conditions at factory farms, a flu will spread like wild fire. I won't buy those eggs for ethical reasons. If I want to buy humane, free range eggs, I pay $5/dozen at the farmers market. And I'm thankful.
Jim, I agree with your basic assessment of Dems vs. Repubs, historically. This view is shaped by my personal experiences since childhood. Both of my parents and countless of their contemporaries benefitted from FDR's New Deal, and from his and our Allies in WWII displaying the courage and fortitude to stave off the destruction of the world by tyranny, and they always voted Democratic, and they never even voted for 'Ike'. As history relates, the reactionary powers in U.S. government of the day, their vision blinded, would have had us isolated, and subjected to a potential world dictatorship. The Democrats may have lost their messaging power in recent times, but this does not change the impression based upon the historical record, that the Republicans led by Trump are even worse than the isolationist, crony capitalists who would have abrogated 'liberty' in favor of 'greed' in the century passed. Their ultimate messaging is that they hold the key to salvation for the masses, when in fact they are reaching for the levers of absolute desolation. Wha... Time Person of the Year???
Nukes and Climate are the knawing Suicidal Kool-Aide killing Hope with suppressed Fear.
Anti-Vaxxers' suicidality is a recent stark example of our blindness to our lack of EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL MATURITY:
Up to 60% of anxious people (aka Americans) are cured by Placebo (aka BS).
Mnemonic: "NO AMERICAN FOLLOWS THE SCIENCE OF ANXIETY, ALL AMERICANS KNOW THE WORD VALIUM."
FDR:"Go Kill Hitler and I'll give you FREEDOM FROM FEAR. "
💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
MsFDR:"Do one thing every day that scares you. "(aka the science of Freedom from Fear)💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
Purdue Pharma:" You don't have to face your fear, just keep popping our Valiums."(ignore the science and the placebo effect... our pills aren't habit forming)
Valiums were the most prescribed medication for13 years (2.3 billion in ONE YEAR).
No Shrink that cures 60% of their clients' anxiety will tell you they don't beat sugar pill.
But Evangelicals face their fear by Evangelizing, thus they became the BEST ASSERTERS in America.
Click the💓 below to join our Focus Group
The Democratic Party has not been able to talk to the average person for a long time. Kamala Harris being a black woman did not help her cause unfortunately. The country is still racist and the white male population is afraid of strong women just as Trump is.
Unfortunately the Democrats did not admit nor convince Joe Biden was too old to run again. Also, the Dems didn’t get nor focus their messages on mid America not participating in benefits of the big infrastructure projects in an easily identifiable way. Those projects were big like fixing bridges and tunnels but couldn’t fix local potholes we hit going to work or grocery store every day.
The government’s and Fed’s measure and expression of Inflation was simply not that felt in the average home where COVID and corporate greed sent the cost of eggs and housing flying while take home pay didn’t keep up. Two different measures!
Add that the Democratic Party chiefs were not tuned into mid America, who after Hillary were simply still not ready for a first woman President, let alone one of color; especially against Trump and Big Dark Money!
The Dems lost the election by waiting too late with Aging Biden, being too inclusive in choice. Trump and his Sycophant Congress and Corporate Exec buddies were ready and took advantage of a Democratic Party out of tune! We will now pay the price of ‘Rump’s Wrecking Ball Cabinet and approach to governing.
Interesting. I suspect that the Biden team* did not want to give in and get replaced. With Harris, the team basically stayed the same.
Right before the 1st debate with Biden, the DNC held an on-line training. It was very unprofessional and lasted about 30 min. It was awful.
Biden stepped down during the RNC convention. In no time, the Reach app was rolled out. Then real trainers were giving very good lessons. Was it all a coincidence? Was it the plan all along to have Harris step up during the RNC convention? You decide.
In hindsight, the DNC should've held a real primary starting in February because it's would've framed the debate and generated a lot of free media. With Harrison hiding in "an undisclosed location" like Dick Cheney after 9/11, they totally blew it. Perhaps they should try controlling the message as much as their rank and file supporters?
WaPo, nytimes, La times are all led by billionaires. The Fourth Estate that used to be worthy of good journalism has not lost its title yet, but devestated Bidenomics. Refused to praise . Criticized based on small points while the blockbuster issues of repugnants were normalized. I would throw all of them under and raise up a new group. One of the keys of resistance is NOT to normalize the Mobsters.
It's reported that Obama's team was afraid of being seen as "an angry black man." I have not heard this about Harris. Her tone was serious, and at times light-hearted. I found it appropriate. However, I wonder if most voters, especially the undecided* voters, like angry these days, even if it's not very Presidential?
In fairness, I don't think everyone likes the same tone. I like serious because it's more Presidential. I know some people are different. Some may like a little anger because it sounds stronger, tough and mean.
It could be that economic times are so difficult that some voters want anger. It's a sound byte environment, so perhaps anger resonates more with voters? The voters are not going to hear a full speech on the dynamics of inflation and their 10 point plan to curb inflation.
If voters are only hearing 20 seconds of a speech, maybe anger seems more serious and memorable?
Biden is an incrementalist--most of his legislation favored business investments, including credits and tax breaks with crumbs for citizens, like the laughable reduction of Rx prices starting with ten still not available. He's no Johnson or FDR! He's a player still for his own interests, like pardoning his own son out of fear. America can do better than the Biden team.
Yeah. Where is the extra $200/month he promised to seniors? Will never happen now if we even get to keep our Social Security.🤬
Kamala Harris Ignored Big Corporate Monopolies. It May Have Cost Her the Election
Americans are angry about corporations screwing them over - and guess what? House Dems who ran against Big Utilities and Big Pharma actually won.
Last April, the Rural Democracy Initiative commissioned a wide-ranging poll of swing voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. They found a surprising result: 81% of those polled said they agreed with the statement a small handful of “corporate monopolies now run our entire economy.” Some of the policy proposals swing voters liked the most were proposals designed to stop monopoly abuse and curtail their power, like the right to repair, or efforts to take on meat-packing monopolies.
In August, More Perfect Union commissioned a poll of likely voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, slightly oversampling Black and Latino voters. When they were asked to give their views on seven different institutions, including the federal government and Project 2025, voters responded by singling out “corporate monopolies” as the most hated, with 79% having an unfavorable view.
https://open.substack.com/pub/adamparkhomenko/p/turd-alert?r=401c2q&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
So, the repugnants managed to make themselves look like the good guys while screaming hatred and division all day long on fox. I would rip those satellites right out of the sky or bomb them.
We’ve known for a long time Democrats fail to tell their story and give people something to vote for; instead they get defensive and let the Republicans and their multi-media propaganda machine control the narrative. Biden, unfortunately, counted on his “good governance” efforts to speak for themselves. By the time the economic indicators swung positively, the Republicans already branded Biden with “worst inflation in history” and “worst President ever.” The Biden speech at the end of his presidency is just pathetic in hindsight. Too little, way too late. There was no effort to control the narrative; all we got was Trump is bad, don’t vote for Trump. To the voter, Biden passed some complex and expensive legislation I don’t understand. So what? Gas is expensive. Eggs are expensive. Democrats are lost in the woods, don’t even know which bathroom to use, and aren’t helping me. Everyone I know is voting for Trump. So I will, too. End of story.
Yep. It's proven that people want to be for something, not against something.
Mother Theresa said, "I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."
Propaganda is powerful.
Mark, stop misinforming the populace. We ALL know why the dumbocrats lost. It's because they were caught red handed lying about everything. Maybe you should just admit it. It would make you look less suspicious.😅😂🤗🤔👏🤡🌍
Marc, you are repeating what Trump has been saying about "the elites." You state that Harris was facing "a powerful freight train," surely a euphemism for xenophobia. How do you counteract that?
Marc, I couldn’t agree more. Hence my reason for drafting a letter urging influential elected officials and organizations to consider endorsing Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler, who is running for Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Unlike the other candidates who, in my view, would perpetuate the status quo in national politics, Wikler would firmly position Democrats as advocates for working families across the country. He also would focus on improving the Party’s messaging, training and deploying effective communicators to reach voters on every platform, in every place.
I hope others join my campaign to urge those with influence to press the 448 DNC voting members to support Ben Wikler, the leader who can guide the party to victory in 2026 and beyond.
I agree, Barbara Jo, and I really like Ben Wikler. His message is spot on!
Peggy, Thanks for writing. I would add that Wikler is deeply engaged in the grassroots work across Wisconsin. His hands-on approach and commitment to going door-to-door, listening to voters in every neighborhood, has made him a skilled organizer and “vote-getting guru.” His activism spans both the ground and online, connecting with people year-around.
This is especially important given the Democratic National Committee’s history as primarily a fundraising entity, largely driven by the big-money interests of billionaires, large corporations, and Wall Street. The Party cannot truly represent working people if it is unwilling to challenge these powerful donors.
Barbara Jo, I have said it before and it bears repeating. We need candidates like Ben Wikler that are willing to go door-to-door and LISTEN to voters concerns and issues. We need candidates that are engaged with a hands-on approach and are willing to speak out and fight for what their constituents have told them they want in our government! We need candidates that are not afraid to take on the wealthy and greedy corporations. I hope more "Ben Wiklers" are out there and ready to work for the American people.
Peggy, While I wholeheartedly agree with every one of your points, currently our party is leaderless. Wikler, who expressed in a recent New York Times interview that his goal is to bring the same kind of transformation to the national Democratic Party that he brought to Wisconsin, could fill that void.
The DNC delegates will vote on February 1st. In the interim, I’m doing all I can to urge everyday folks to write their representatives up and down the ballot, many of whom are DNC delegates, urging them to endorse Wikler for DNC Chair.
I have written to mine, Barbara Jo; however, my representatives have not acknowledged whether they received what I sent. My representatives here in Florida are not messaging very well. I hope if Wikler becomes the DNC Chair, that will change under his leadership.
It is wonderful to think that writing to your representatives will be helpful, but I have never found it to be. They have staff to read the letters (if they bother) and send out form letters in reply. The system is corrupt.
Elections have been commercialized to the point where the very media expectation of candidates is determined by how much money they've raised in every quarter. It's almost like a corporation. What is the quarterly report? Money from commercial interests, with their 10,000 political action committees, comes heavily in terms of quid pro quo.
Good comment Barbara Jo. I have this: "The lesson is, it doesn't really matter, if the power structure persists, it doesn't matter who's in office, it doesn't matter what ethnic, racial background, it doesn't matter how much they know, how much they don't know, they're all molded by the corporate power structure that controls Washington from Wall Street." --- Ralph Nader
Ben is great. O'Malley brings a lot to the table too. Perhaps he should be a co-chair or head the Governors at DGA. Having a sitting Gov run the group is not effective or efficient because a Gov too much on his/her plate as a Gov, IMO.
Actually, I like the idea of having male and female Co-Chairs, like IL.
Agreed. Rahm Emanuel may be the worst possible choice. Mean-spirited and corrupt.
Anybody associated with Teams Obama and Clinton do not seem in vogue. The "changing of the guard" is in vogue.
Show Rahm Emanuel, David Plouffe, and Stephanie Cutter the door. Or keep losing.
Indeed! His interview with Jon Steward was wonderful!
Marc, I agree, but the question is why. In the 1960s, the nation as a whole shifted towards the Republican party, partly because of Vietnam but mainly because of Civil Rights. White southerners abruptly switched their voting preferences from Democrat to Republican. Dixiecrats were racist but voted for high taxes, while Republicans always wanted lower taxes.
This massive shift of tens of millions of votes led quickly to the Heritage Foundation and from there to Reagan - the first president to say out loud that tax cuts on the wealthiest would be to the benefit of all. IMHO, the Democrats perceived this shift to the right and unconsciously moved in the same direction.
The DNC must remake itself by promoting charismatic populist leaders, and go back to Reich's story of Rot at the Top.
DJT received about 1/3 of the eligible 2024 Votes... Kamala received about 1/3 of the eligible Votes... About 1/3rd of the Voters stayed home... Were the missing 1/3rd Apathetic Disillusioned, Cynical? Did 'Gaza' play a part in the Disillusionment?... The De-Industrialization of the U.S. started under Reagan, and continued thru Trump... Obama ran a good Campaign with simple Slogans such as "Hope", "Hope You Can Believe In"... A Reinvigorated Democratic Party needs similar Mantras appealing to the Broadest Base... THEN IT NEEDS TO DELIVER RESULTS THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!...
The only way to deliver is by getting money out of politics which the politicians are not willing to do. They are in government to make themselves rich!
Have you noticed that the issue is never discussed in the media?
The media is the recipient of all of that money, except what consultants are paid. Heck, the media didn't even mention when the PA Senate race cost about 1/3 of a BILLLION dollars.
Election season is an enormous windfall for media outlets, including social media. No wonder the media has no outrage about the obscure amount of money buying politicians and access to power.
Ever wonder why the media doesn't report on legislators' contributors and the subsequent legislator's vote for the industry? It's taboo.
The media is getting money from the corporations with commercials. It's a big money game. If it were not for Union's, nobody would be standing up for labor.
Us mainstream media is now propaganda by Billionaires or hate by repugnants. Even NPR in its survival struggle eats too much crow and commercialism.
Last Sentence '' TRUE""
It doesn't get nearly enough attention, but I think what turned off people most about this administration was its failure to carry out its most important mission: to hold Trump & his seditious accomplices accountable for their crimes against the state & subversion of our democracy. This administration is partly responsible for this traitor who is constitutionally ineligible to be President coming back into power.
The Original Framers of the Constitution could not Conceive a person like DJT running for, and winning the Presidency... How can a Felon be allowed to run for President... DJT, who has very few constraints, will always challenge any restraints... The Institutionists should have defended the Rule-Of-Law more vigorously... Merrick Garland failed Us...
My mantra would be “Better woke than wack.”
The "people like themselves" are the normal, average Americans. How much do Democrats have to dumb it down for the stupid Americans to understand it? Vote for your best interests, not for liars, grifters, millionaires, and billionaires that want to take away your Social Security, Medicare, healthcare, livable wage, right to love who you want to love, birth control, ban books, make the United States a Christian nation only, etc.
The problem is that the "people like themselves" were, by that time, the Wall Street moguls.
And yet they believe trump spoke like, and for them. I think the blame is on the public, not the democrats, who wouldn’t know how to think rationally, or maybe even to think at all.
Bravo Mary! The progressives do reflect closely of themselves . Repugnants look in the mirror of pride and see balloons of themselves.
And thusly, Bunkerboy displayed the ONLY skill he was gifted at birth: making stupid people feel smart.
Great line Daniel! GH
On PH, "I said you're not TV guy. You're a military guy." Lol.
No, they just don't know how to do anything correctly. Other than steal from their own neighbors. That's why they lost.
This is the most clueless piece I've seen Reich write and ironic that it came out when Biden gave his speech on the economy. Biden's "From the middle out and from the bottom up" is a good and sound message. Why does it get ignored on the media and fall on deaf ears? Why has social morality come down to a cult of the fertilized egg? How were the Republicans able to make being woke, which is a virtue of being tolerant of differences of and supportive of the weak, and honest about racism which is stronger in the country now than at any time since before the '60s, into a vice? The problem is Republicans' incessant lying, repeated by right wing media. Republicans electoral successes in presidential elections since the '60s has not been based on their policies, but on how good of a con man and demogogue their candidate is. Reagan and Trump won because they were con men and demagogues. Goldwater, Nixon, Mitt Romney, Bush, McCain, not do much. The presidential election is a popularity contest, like our grade school student counsel elections, but with real world consequences. Can the Democrats do anything about the rise of the Republican demogogue and the spread of right wing media with the utter collapse of legacy media?
I agree. Reich is usually better.
Democrats hardly speak on the richt wing media braying machine, with the exception of Pete Buttegieg, and when he does the odious "hosts" still try to talk over him and spread their billionaire-fed garbage.
The problem is people want to hear hate and mocking, because they're mad and want to blame the people smarter than they are. And for those educated after Reagan, it's most everyone.
It's all about the rage, and the democrats pulled too many punches in calling out the problem.
People know so little they have no idea what trickle down is, and no idea thst the billionaires dumpty will empower are the problem. And they own the media that red state folks listen to.
Interesting post. You have led me to think about the thoroughly debunked GOP paternalistic/infantilistic lie that the wealthy know best what is good for the country; and making them wealthier will, through the false trickle down theory bring prosperity to all. The concomitant GOP lie is that government is the problem because it hamstrings the wealthy from becoming even wealthier through taxation, regulation and corruption.
Paula Mandell : The present day "GOP" certainly don't care about the Common Good now, and if they ever tried to give that impression, they don't even try these days. They 'just' want to get what they want : Which is everything of value, and only for themselves.
No they don’t care and never have in my long life. They employ sleight-of-hand distractions: “wokism,” grooming by LGBTQI people, book banning, invasion of criminal immigrants, the “deep state,” “stolen elections,” etc., which are designed to distract people from the real sources of economic distress and inequality.
Paula ; Yes : Hitler and his crew used the homosexualty thing, too. Culture war shaming and fear mongering, to distract from what They were doing ; destroying the Common Good so they could control everyone and steal any wealth produced.
Bill Ejzak ; True , money is speech , and therefore, it talks. Those with more money make the rules, and get out their message with a louder voice.
“Money doesn’t talk, it swears.” (Bob Dylan)
"Obscenity, who really cares? Propaganda ; All is phoney" .(Bob Dylan).
"It's free speech Ralph." "Sure, money talks freely, doesn't it." --- Ralph Nader
Who coined the phrase about the New Golden Rule. "Those who have the gold make the rules". It applies more now than ever. GH
Gary ; it isn't new, but it is true.
Bill, you’re absolutely right! The way I see it, before the internet, the vast majority of Americans relied on relatively responsible journalists for their information. This created a shared foundation of facts and truths, allowing people to debate solutions and policies while still agreeing on the basic realities. Today, that’s no longer the case. A significant portion of the population is being inundated with propaganda from internet sources, with the effects spreading directly and indirectly through those influenced by it. Right-wing propaganda, in particular, is so effective because it taps into people’s base fears and hatred, which are the most powerful motivators.
There is no longer a shared narrative! Ugly Gingrich pushed that with foxy . Babel
Agreed
I think clueless is wrong. Robert tells the stories many never learned, or forgot. I think your comments about the media are correct. This, in addition to Robert's stories, further explains where we are now. He could write a book about lying and cons in politics. Another about media colluding with the 10%. There is more to the story.
I don't think that's how R's define woke. They see it as more like rot at the top of government with unfair and idiotic social engineering. Your definition puts woke in a positive light. R's don't see anything positive in it.
You've got to admit, letting transgirls compete against girls is unfair to girls... And girls to transgirls are probably 1000:1.
If Dems were smart, they would defer to Olympic rules and suggest a new category. Let local school boards decide if trans should compete in the same heat or separate heat, but give different awards. Two categories, like 1st place in transgirl and 1st place in girl categories are the only fair way to settle the matter.
I have to admit that I could care less about about trans girls (not even sure is that's the proper term) in sports when Trump wants to cut taxes for the rich and businesses and then use the resulting budget deficits to gut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the ACHA. Trump's getting so many people riled up about an issue that affects so few is a masterclasses in misdirection.
Absolutely. Men would NEVER allow an advantaged competitor in their games!!! It took us centuries to have a game!!!! Children bathed in testosterone, like it or not, are factually stronger. But, science and truth, be gone!!!!
Not sure what the answer is but don't think it's to let someone to switchover from a ho-hum male swimmer and set new national women's swimming records. It would seem to me to depend on some physiological tests, but I don't really know. I sure don't want my MO supermajority GOP state legislature anywhere near the issue.
That's how I'd settle this issue. That this contrived controversy wasn't settled & put away long ago shows the present lack of imagination & ability to solve problems that was the hallmark of America 60-90 years ago.
Bill - sorry, but it seems you missed the point. Did you ever hear Joan Didion’s famous quote - “We live by the stories we tell”? Reich has given us the major plot lines of those stories that have shaped American politics for decades. The points you mentioned are all relevant, yet they fit within these larger stories or reflect the absence of the story - hence, an absence of meaning. Without meaning, a political vacuum is created into which meaningless messages and mean-spirited attacks can thrive. Reich has provided historical context for how this happened. Please reconsider his purpose.
Mr. Ejzak, thank you for this comment. You've relayed my thoughts much more eloquently than I could have.
It’s the vacuum created by the democrats that allow the GOP to fill the void with lies, so yes, democrats are guilty by allowing the void to form in the first place
Focus on the Rot at the Top.
KISS.
Had Congressional "persons" not allowed big business and big money interests to take over the government...we wouldn't have big business and big money people running "our/the peoples" government.
If we had not allowed for misinformation, lies, and conspiracy nut cases to flood our airwaves, internet, and media platforms and single malevolent bad actors controlling the output of information across most forms of influential media...we wouldn't be where we are today. Trump and the corrupt MAGA Republicans wouldn't have been heard by anyone outside of a "small circle of friends".
Running a country is hard enough without having to contend with corrupt and malevolent actors. We have...did have, laws that protected us but they were not implemented effectively. Common sense laws that got overridden and diluted by the greed and laziness of our leadership. The 10+% of the good guys in government who maintained their integrity got pounded. The population was educationally unaware of reality and blinded by "The Light". "The Light" was so intense, overwhelming and alluring... the lies flooded our population and still ...our leadership cared more about the money and power of which they needed to hold onto.
We as a nation will not solve our "number one problem" until we solve our number one problem...taking Business/Big money out of our government.
The people that lead us... have to lead us for the right reasons and have the intelligence to know the difference between serving their masters and themselves versus serving the country and should have a general knowledge of the difference between right and wrong...in all things.
I believe it was the Roberts court that allowed billionaires to take over the government, not congress.
Ah yes...but who was responsible to allowing Roberts and all others to ascend to the Supreme court?
Republicans. Unfortunately for the country the luck of timing for SCOTUS appointments fell in favor of the GOP for the last 40 years and our country will all pay the price for the next 40 years. GH
Not just luck, but the outright stealing of a nomination that belonged to Obama, the ramming through without proper investigation of a nominee credibly accused of sexual assault, & rushing through another unqualified nominee that should've waited until the next (Biden) presidency.
I fear a terrible price, such that we may never recover... along with the rest of the world perhaps. Between oligarchs and their support of climate destruction and lack of concern over the biosphere...I am concerned about their obvious lack of concern and comprehension of the big picture consequences...as has been proven time and time again.
A preference for the elite and corporate America with management over labor is clear.
It was a problem even before Roberts joined the court, although made much worse by his court. We haven't had a Supreme Court that wasn't majority corporatist in half a century. One reason why we're hardly getting anywhere in solving the climate & environmental crises, or reversing the ever worsening, destabilizing disparity in wealth & power between rich & poor & concomitant erosion of democracy.
To take big business or billionaire money out of government, we need a new Supreme Court, a court without a conservative majority. It is decisions by conservative justices like Citizen's United and McCutcheon that make it "unconstitutional" for Congress or the President to do anything to limit big business or billionaire spending on elections or political issues.
While still in office and with the immunity clause, Biden or Harris (if 25th is enacted) can do anything in the protection of the Constitution's intent and the country...which doesn't recognize any legitimacy of the Citizens United ruling. Harris or Biden can put out warrants for the arrest of specific Congressional members and Trump and associates, as a threat to democracy based on their statements and activities alone throughout Trump's first term and all of his on air recorded rallies and interviews along with his attempted insurrection, which by the way was ruled, just that, by a state supreme court which deemed him an unacceptable candidate for the office of president.
Biden and Harris can do a lot if they wanted to...Wray, should also before he resigns, Jack smith should also continue with his cases...Trump is not in office yet. Biden has immunity. When he is out of office... it will be too late...Trump will have the military and he will not hesitate to use it domestically to quell protests when he begins to enact his program to do what he does, disrupt and destroy any protections for the general citizenry to support the demands of our new oligarchs.
It seems that they have all given up or made deals... when the option to do what needs to be done is slipping away into the abyss. Biden still has control of the military and that is what matters in the end. When that control option goes to Trump and associates there's no option to save us from becoming a Russia clone.
History is the lesson that needs to be recognized and respected.
The US is a big and vastly complicated ship but not so complicated that it can't be taken apart piece by piece in less than a month to a 1 year and handed over to the monied interests that took over the election for less than 10 billion dollars during the last 12 months of the process. This is their last step before solidifying control over the country.
I agree Henry. They should have acted against DT and the other traitors the day after they were sworn in... four years ago. You can include the Murdochs in that group too. I do think Joe is a good person and has done a lot for working folks over the length of his career. But he is an old school pol he believes in the institutional norms of bygone days. I really got sick of him constantly talking about bipartisanship and Michelle Obama saying "When they go low, we go high". Bullshit. When the opposition starts a mud fight, one better be prepared to get down and dirty too. Standing on the sidelines and talking about "the rules" or looking your nose down on them because you don't want to get your get your clothes dirty isn't going to cut it. GH
Further, we were working TWO jobs to SURVIVE, thanks to trickle down. No time!
[I started to write a comment and tried to reference something, and ended up losing three paragraphs... so, hopefully, i can recall my thoughts]
America has always been the champion of democracy, even if some of the means of achieving democracy haven't always been democratic. Being this shining beacon in the world spurred other countries to do likewise. The American Dream was infectious. People sang our songs. They emulated our celebrities, recited lines from our movies. People around the world knew America was the land of opportunity.
So what happens when the vanguard of democracy ceases to be that symbol. What happens when the champions decide they don't want to be the champions? Does democracy lose? Who picks up the banner? Who waves it in angry defiance?
What do i know? I'm just a kid who read a lot of books growing up. I watched a lot of movies, and listened to a lot of people who dreamed a little bigger than me. I imagined what heaven looked like. And when I had the courage to look in the other direction, I saw many version of hell.
Where we are, today, is unprecedented. I'm sure people will read this and think, "We've been here before." America has never been here. To be honest, most of us don't even realize where here is. And I struggle to put it into words.
The people in the know have already taken the knee. Others make their unholy pilgrimage to Mar-a-lago (or how ever it's spelled) to pledge loyalty to His Majesty. We haven't even seen the carnage. The metaphorical public executions haven't even started.
I have lived in Scotland for over 30 years now & so agree. People used to look to America as the world leader, they wanted to emulate American Culture & our politicians even copied American politics. But now since rump, I’m finding most people look to the US with a mixture of confusion & distaste. Albeit, there are those right wingers who have been emboldened by the rump republican rhetoric. Personally, I find myself embarrassed by having been born in a country that is now so messed up. My parents were immigrants who believed in the American dream & benefitted from it. They would be so sad to see what it’s become, as am I. The narrative needs to change & quickly because from here, America under rump looks no different than any other corrupt authoritarian country in the world. So Sad, never thought I’d see this happen to the USA, but if Money & Fame become the goal then it was inevitable. Reagan started the rot at the top, I thought Obama would curb it but all his presidency did was produce a harder kick back from the right wing racists!
Thanks for your thoughts Jersey Girl.
Be smart... stay In Scotland! Best wishes to you and your family.
GH
I was gonna write my own comment but you summed it up so completely.
This is exactly what I was going to say.
America has always been a model for Democracy since its founding. Our American Revolution even spurred the French Revolution.
Now what will the world do when America falls? It's a scary thing to think about and we've never been here before.
The sad part is the first thing I wrote was better than this comment. Dissent and rebellion will always exist (in theory). With the dawn of A.I. and the proliferation of social media, maybe we're seeing the end of democracy.
I wouldn't think much of any of it. I would limit my thoughts to "well, it's just 4 years." However, when i see this guy's opponents rushing to atone themselves before him, it conjures a visions of a long, grim future.
About AI and off-topic: AI is a clever agent without a moral core, a psychopath. It could doom us all.
We need to REGULATE AI and ALL MEDIA to work for the ‘common good’.
the world needs a policeman-who should it be-china,Russia,the e.u.,Iran,India,south africa-or the u.s.
Of the ones you listed, only the EU makes sense at this point.
I was being satirical-to me,only the u.s. makes sense-with all our blights and problems
America has not been the champion of Democracy, that is the story that is generally propagated. America has been responsible for the overthrowing of fledgling Democracies, Guatamala, Iran,
in 1954, recently Bolivia. We want to control the resources of these countries in favor of corporate control over the self determination of the people of this nations. If we had been truly concerned about fostering Democracy around the world maybe we not be in the current position of loosing it ourselves.
The problem is: None of these four stories tell the truth. The actual story of the US begins with the genocide of the Natives and the enslavement of the Africans. As long as we insist on telling ourselves self-congratulatory fairy tales we remain infantile, individually and politically. Only an honest recognition of our real history can lead to maturity and a chance to build a society that can fulfill the potential that the false stories are meant to serve but actually prevent. Psych 101.
So true, the myths of America. The truth is not palatable. Therefore, kept hidden & I’m afraid will be hidden even further by certain states erasing of history in their educational curriculum.
All the colonial powers suffer from the same problem in varying degrees.
So, time for revision of the ‘lying to themselves and each other’, colonial powers.
Thanks for remembering and reminding us of the real and rest of thw story.
Agree. Everyone should start with the 1619 Project Book. Once you finish it you will know why the "right" want's to ban it everywhere. The truth hurts! GH
I hate to tell you but it all sounds pretty white to me. Seriously.
Then change it. Make it right. No point in being only white!!!!!
For starters, everyone read The Message, by Ta-Nahesi Coates!
White and male focused, which of course it has been. As Marc points out, there is a clear bottom- dirty group who are left out of economic recourse and for whom hope will be even more elusive under this new authoritarian administration.
It is pretty white and doesn’t anchor itself in the truth of being born into preexisting restrictions more pervasive as to be invisible.
So how do you use these insights with people withholding votes because the government is helping Israel? With men who are too insecure to vote for a woman? With greedy special-interest groups eager to profit from everyone else's pain? With religious fanatics who have lost any concept of a moral compass? With entitled apathy?
Civil War 2 May need to happen. Those who are soft, may have to toughen up and actually do something!!
Good questions, Andrew!
"It’s the story of self-made people who buck the odds, spurn the naysayers, and show what can be done with enough gumption and guts. They’re plainspoken, self-reliant, and uncompromising in their ideals — underdogs who make it through hard work and faith in themselves." Kamala Harris spoke often about being an underdog, The child of immigrant parents of color, who worked hard in school and succeeded in law, to be the top Prosecutor in A major city, San Fan Francisco, being re-elected, then to Be Attorney General of a state with the largest economy in the Country, also re-elected, Then on to be a Senator and then Vice President. I think Democrats have and had an excellent message ; But the billionaire propaganda machine that is our modern day media, favoring stories about the Orange stain, often obscured that message. tRUMP likes to superimpose himself onto the media's messaging, to dominate the view, and distract from the messages of his opponents. I don't blame the Democrats' messaging at all.
Listen to us—the Democrats lost because they did not tell the “best” anecdotes and myths. Just the fact the argument centers around fairy tales and not actual history should tell us that something is definitely wrong with the American electorate. The proliferation of anti-vaxers, Christian Nationalists, creationists, conspiracies, etc., all indicate an anti-science and math-phobic “bent” in a country that used to pride itself on public education for all.
Yes—a large part of America has been “left out” and the wackos have always existed. But Trump’s rise to power (MAGA) has made it OK for the uneducated, functionally illiterate, racists, Christian Taliban, etc.,(these groups are not mutually exclusive), to rise, rant, and be entitled—and apparently there were more people like this in America than we ever imagined.
Is this solvable? Unfortunately, it has the makings of a new Civil War—or at least civil strife for the foreseeable future…..
Best post I've read today. Yours is the first one that is closest to the mark.
President Kennedy gave an address where he said that the enemy of the truth was not the lie, but the myth. Sooner or later, we're going to have to start grappling with some very hard truths.
This was a good read. The four stories resonate. Perhaps the "rot at the top" will dominate for the immediate future. trump and co. will claim they are cleaning out the rot, while they bring in a far stinkier rot from the corporate and conservative "talking head" world of media and finance. There is something missing in the 4 stories that we require. It underlies the others and does not speak loudly in schools or media. We have a beautiful land, and wise people connected to it in ways that do not bring wealth or fame, rather they show health and good being. Our national myths often leave environment and certain people out. Where are the native peoples, slaves, small farmers, immigrants who built our railways, migrants who pick our crops? We need their stories too. Without that we fall prey to those who wish to boot them out because they refuse to sort the wheat from the chaff, even though the chaff is smaller, and most of it falls from the people doing the sorting.
The problem isn’t just the language — and it’s central to Republicans’ playbook that they always attempt to control the language of any debate (one need look no further than their insistence on calling the Democratic Party — its official name at least as far back as Andrew Jackson’s day — the “Democrat Party,” with the clear implication that the Democratic Party is undemocratic) — but the mechanism by which the message is delivered.
Just as one of the functions of the good bacteria in a person’s gut is to displace bad bacteria and not give it the space it needs to proliferate, a message needs to get there first to keep the counter-message from taking hold.
For all the post-mortems we’ve read over the past five weeks as to why the election went the way it did, what seems most obvious is that, for lack of a mechanism to place a steady stream of verifiable, factual information in front of the American people as to how Democratic policies were improving their lives, it can be said that this election was lost the day Joe Biden entered the White House.
A White House Press Office, with handouts to news organizations, that holds the occasional news conference and operates a website isn’t nearly enough. What they need, what they should have had, is an ad agency, directly analogous to what we used to see every week on “Mad Men,” dedicated to crafting simple, easily-understood stories about the benefits of those policies, and placing them in the media and before the public BEFORE the opposition and poison opinion with its wildly false narrative.
Such an operation needs to run 24/7, fifty-two weeks a year. Such an operation would be terribly expensive to operate, but the cost of NOT operating it is, well, we saw it five weeks ago.
Professor Reich: fascinating! i found this piece resonated strongly with me and how i view the country (and the world). it gives me much to think about. i look forward to your second tomorrow's instalment of this story.
Part of the problem is that Republicans have been working a real plan for over 40 years......while the Democrats have not been paying attention and have not developed and worked an overall long-term plan themselves. A great book "Dismantling Democracy: The forty-year attack on government, and the long game for the common good" by Donald Cohen speaks to this. The Republicans have just kept grinding away and putting themselves in position to take over locally, statewide, and nationally. You cannot play whack-a-mole and be successful. There is a great chart, with explanations, in the middle of the book (p. 38) that shows the overall Republican strategy to make people (1) Be Discontent with government, and (2) Disconnect from government through 5 areas: Austerity, Privatization, Financialization, Deregulation, De-Democratize, Impact: Eviscerating Public Purpose. Also heard a great talk last night from Sam Daley-Harris, author of "Reclaiming Our Democracy" who reminded people "Cynicism is Obedience", "we are not passengers on our planet - we are the crew", "we are not residents of America, we are citizens". We do not have to just accept what is before us, we can do something(s) about it
Thank you for the tip, Murray. I just bought the book. I'm hoping the insights into what the Republicans have done will help me write our own plan. I realize that anything I put together will probably go nowhere but someone has to do it, right?
I was a tv writer/producer for many years, and learned the craft of story-telling on major network and streaming procedurals. The KISS principle is, i believe, not quite accurate, because part of the audience actually wants it complex, not simple, although other segments of your audience indeed want and need it simple. So the trick is to write to both segments simultaneously, and the way to do that is the KIVS principle - keep it visceral, stupid: make the story immediately and imminently viscerally apparent, so that the audience has no time to disengage. But the dems present a meta-analysis, the audience’s mind wanders, and they see the Orange Buffoon waiving raw meat, and the visceral reaction is, “yes!” And Harris loses to Trump. And, yes, Trump is the idiot-savant of this method, perhaps the greatest since Hitler, so maybe his come-back was predictable against the chart-waive dems…. In any event, as I often say, the dems couldn’t explain the movie JAWS to a rooful of New England fishermen……
Significance
What do things mean to me, who is significant in our life?
These shape our identity. And our decisions and votes.
The stories - as Robert Reich has described, the significant stories that give meaning to our life and that we tell and that matter to us.
We organize our self identity around significance
We are self organizing systems.
Dems must learn to speak to what is significant, not insignificant notions.
Food, Water, Air, Shelter, Survival, Belonging, Caring
An American Indian chief once said to me that his philosophy of life
was guided by the judgement of whether something would grow corn or not.
Practical significance.
This is not about identity politics, this is about what is significant.
Dems often have it backwards and why they lose on the gameboard of power.
We must speak to powerful significance, powerful stories, not be afraid of power.
Why? Because we are in touch with what is significant in our life and people's lives.
If you want to know why people make the decisions they do, understand what is significant to them. If you want to influence them, first know how they organize around what they believe is significant.
Will Dems grow corn?
I really resonate with what you’ve written, Steven, that we are self organising systems. And the stories we hold in our heads are the animating template that shapes the external realities we create.
I’ll bet you speak to significance everyday in your work.
What about when, following Reagan, the Democrats from Clinton to Obama embraced the Rot at the Top?
One must "Dance to the tune played by those what brung them", In other words, the price of admission is often costly if relying on corporate money for their campaign.
And, how do we function by the rule of law when the other side operates by the “rule of might?”
Paula, that is the 65billion dollar question. We could stage a general strike like the French have been known to to do, Have a "Tea party", (although it would be harder to do if you don't have much money in reserve), or fight back like the desperate who destroy themselves in violent acts. Or , we can be patient and allow time to inform our oppressors as they harm our culture and environment and make US sick, until we can be less useful for them to exploit. They don;t really have the long view, in my view.