Throughout our history, the wealthy elites have incited racial animus to maintain their power. This is nothing new in our country. I think Trump's election was in part a backlash to the fact that a Black man was elected and reelected president. According to Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, Trump's star rose in the Republican Party when he began vociferously promoting so-called birtherism, the notion that President Obama was not born in this country, and was therefore illegitimate. The wealthy Republican elites also don't like Black people demanding equal treatment. As police are starting to be held to account for gratuitous violence against Black people, White Supremacist thugs with guns are becoming a convenient tool to keep Black people in their place.
President Biden and other Democratic Party leaders could find a compelling way to call out wealthy elitist Republicans on their persistent playing the race card to maintain power and accumulate more and more wealth. Instead, the Democratic Party establishment has decided to make progressives the bogeymen. The New York Times published an interview yesterday with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She said that she and other progressives were explicitly commanded by party leaders to stay away from the 2021 Virginia elections. They were then blamed for the losses.
I agree with you Carolyn, but I also believe that merely pointing out how Republicans have stoked the fires of racial resentment would be insufficient. Over the past several decades, Democrats have left working class voters of all races behind by failing to pass policies that deal with core economic concerns (wages, childcare, etc.).
The Build Back Better agenda--even in its shrunken form--represents a meaningful investment in America's working class, so we can hope that when the legislation passes, it somewhat moves the political needle.
Yes, passing Build Back Better is crucial. As AOC pointed out in the interview that I referenced, if Democrats don't keep the promises they made, there is no reason to vote for them. But the political side is critically important as well. If Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress and the presidency, they will immediately try to repeal BBB, as they did with Obamacare.
Listen to Bob Dylan's song 'Only A Pawn in the Game' that describes the exploitation of fear and hatred in working class whites to use them against Blacks, and people of color.
Why can't Biden do what the President of New Zealand did a few years ago after a shooting incident? She banned the ownership of assault weapons by the public. I guess their country has a different legal system. We are tied in knots here, it seems.
Wishful thinking, I know. 2nd amendment and most likely plenty I do not know about all the rules governing the President's powers. probably a good thing too.
Congress passed, in 1934, a law that placed a heavy tax on the purchase of submachine guns (Tommy Guns), which required buyers of these lethal weapons to be fingerprinted. After passage of the law, anyone caught with an unregistered Tommy Gun could be prosecuted for tax evasion like Al Capone. In 1934, the USA was being terrorized by Bonnie & Clyde, Machine Gun Kelly, Alvin Karpis and others. Today, we are being terrorized by rogue shooters. But in contrast with 1934, there's no will in Congress to ban AR-15s and other assault weapons.
I agree with this - President Biden and other Democratic Party leaders could find a compelling way to call out wealthy elitist Republicans on their persistent playing the race card to maintain power and accumulate more and more wealth. Instead, the Democratic Party establishment has decided to make progressives the bogeymen. This is why people like me start wondering if there are legitimately two parties here or just one. Would love to discuss why people think this is happening.
Perhaps we will split off into multiple parties more like England. Three never works because the big two can kill it. But they can’t necessarily kill off several, if enough people abandon (and I think we’re ripe for this). We have some big wins by the Dems. With so much more to go. But why aren’t we seeing the punishment of murderers and traitors who attempted a coup on our country? Murderers wait for trial while in prison all the time. Has Putin threatened us and we don’t know it? Have a few countries threatened us? Are we unable to depend on enough police and military to back the constitution from domestic enemies?
Non-answers and snail-paced actions are very much hurting the Democrats. Leaving us to imagine what is happening is not a good idea.
I think we’ll be forced into civil disobedience and boycotts on the scale of pre-civil rights.
Boycotts. civil disobedience, Taxation without representation. Maybe it's time for our own 'tea party'. Or pushback of some kind. The insurrectionists/terrorists should be dealt with effectively. Are the judiciary and the military also tainted by traitors? What is our commander in chief doing? who are his advisors? The former guy let all the criminals off with pardons in a way that I never would have believed could be allowed. They are all at it still People like Flynn, whose brother was involved with the insurrection. WTF is going on?!?
So true Laurie. I have said many times…how can that be legal, constitutional etc! It’s like we have found out we just another mafia nit a country at all. Nightmare!
Very good question. If they are not being democratic why are their salaries being paid? why are they drawing pay and benefits from us, the taxpayers? We are definitely not getting what they are supposed to do for us! Our government is not working! Oaths of office are a silly meaningless ceremony! Corruption rules! Our 'representatives' are bribed to work for someone else. The powerful are getting what they want and are fine with this arrangement! Something has got to give! Nothing here is sustainable!
I feel the frustration positively dripping off you, Laurie. You’re expressing what I think we’re all feeling: how can this be and why doesn’t someone do something about it already? I wish I had some answers.
Laurie, you said it exactly correctly. But, you've heard it here from me: Just watch when Trump wins in 2024. How? Why? Because everybody in power on all sides is allowing it to happen. The courts cannot withstand the constant fights of those that are ruining our vote by putting in stipulations that the GOP governors can put in place their own election certifiers if they don't like how a vote will turn out. The GOP no longer cares if the Public sees their dishonesty and manipulation of the law, they are plowing forward with the backing of Bezos, Mercer, and the like. As well, with the backing of right-wing owned media. I see it all coming.
And they have their eyes open and take their master's money. Hey, what about a class action lawsuit!? We, the people sue the Supreme Court for allowing this travesty?
I like the idea. But, at best it would be very difficult due to judicial immunity. It appears the case would have to be filed as judicial misconduct. What legal team would file the case and what court would hear the case is questionable.
Democratic Supreme Court justices have done themselves and the country a disservice throughout the years by remaining in office until death. This has given the Republicans the opportunity of filling the position vacated by a Democrat with a Republican justice. Republican Supreme Court justices on the other hand have retired when a Republican president was in office affording the Republican president the opportunity to elect a Republican replacement. This, and Mitch McConnells gamesmanship, has stacked the Supreme Court in the Republicans favor.
When one side plays by the rules and the other side continually bends the rules there can be no fair outcome.
So, now what? Where do we go from here?
I think (I’m hoping!) the outcome of the 1/6 select committee will bring some resolution to the larger issues we’re facing today. Which, ultimately, may force the Republican Party to separate from Trump and act more responsibly. But, as long as Trump continues to bring big money to the Party, the Party will continue to follow Trump. Ending that cash flow will separate Trump from the Party. I believe holding Trump legally responsible for the 1/6 riot (insurrection) will accomplish this. This appears to be the 1/6 committee’s goal. They just need to get through the frivolous Trump lawsuits and come to a determination before the ‘22 midterms. 🤞
They were not elected to work with the Dems. They represent those constituents who weren't dissuaded to vote. And, those voters want them to block the Dems and regain GOP power ASAP, by any means necessary
Not entirely. My so-called rep in CA-25 won by 333 votes—not exactly a mandate. There are many in this district who do not want him to behave as he does. I sincerely hope the bum is thrown out next time.
Paula: My comment was about Lucy's comment about McConnell & (implicitly, I felt) GOP Senators. Of course, their elections are statewide, often the SUM of <dissuaded voters in gerrymandered districts>, with little control over their House Rep.
The GOP Senate bloc is united to oppose Biden accomplishing ANYthing that might help the jack-arse party in the midterms. Opposing the debt limit, destroying the economy short-term, thwarting fair elections, and anything else is fine for them, because it gives them a greater chance to regain power for their base in 2022
True, it seems, at this point. But what about the Constitution and the rule of law? Only a 'gentlemen's agreement'? What happened to 'statesmanship' and 'honor'? Treachery is now legal, I guess.
Responsible citizens must be courageous & nonviolent to best combat the fear, violence, & racism of the GOP. Courage is grace under pressure. So we must gracefully pass the BBB Act, & then end the filibuster. This will be difficult, due to the millions GOP donors are giving to Manchin & Sinema. But this legislation is essential to win the 2022 elections. I do not even want to think of a United States with Kevin McCarthy as Speaker.
I don’t imagine anyone doesn’t want to see Dems get more aggressive. In this regard, I see an opening for Dems to take on BBB detractors. Dems should be prevailed upon to demand that its detractors explain not what they oppose, but what they are in favor of for their communities. For instance, are they for extending the child tax credit, for universal child care, for universal pre-K, for investments in housing, in elder care, in home and community-based care, in ACA subsidies, in climate, and so forth.
I fear if Dems don’t get more aggressive on a host of issues, that last Monday’s BIF signing ceremony could be the last opportunity of any President to stand in front of a bipartisan audience and say this is how Washington should work.
Sadly corporate Dems are sabotaging their own messaging around BBB with tax cuts for their wealthy donors by repealing the SALT limits. Giving tax cuts to the wealthy while campaigning on having the wealthy pay their fair share exposes their own corruption and hypocrisy.
Peter— Were I to rewrite, I would have called on the 48 Democratic Senators whom I believe largely support the House’s version of the BBB bill aggressively to challenge the two Democratic Senate holdouts by demanding they explain not what they oppose but what they are in favor of for their communities. Additionally, I would have pressed Senate Democrats to be far more aggressive in challenging the few in their Party, who refuse, without support from Republicans, to pass voter protection legislation, while GOP controlled state legislatures unilaterally continue to pass bill after bill that restricts voting and nullifies votes at will.
With things like the electoral college, gerrymandering, the filibuster, politicians for sale and a supreme court stacked with Trump stooges, the odds against America as we know it are strongly unfavorable.
The Democrats must win an overwhelming majority just to implement popular policies that the rich and powerful oppose.
The similarities to the rise of authoritarian fascism in Germany in 1932 are too strong to overlook.
Giving more money to Act Blue and Democratic candidates who accept corporate money and huge PAC money from unidentified donors is just a waste of money better spent locally.
Bernie, Mayor Pete. AOC and other progressive politicians will never be allowed to rise to meaningful positions of power. Should a fluke happen, it is likely they will be assassinated as was JFK, RFK, MLK and other politicians who have paid with their lives for their beliefs in a more perfect union.
The only viable solution is to start planning to leave the failing Disunited States. Take the money you are wasting on political contributions and start saving so you can escape the sinking ship.
Sorry to be so blunt and pessimistic but changing America is simply not possible.
Maybe if the country was slit up, there might be some hope, but that will never happen.
Kurt Vonnegut envisioned an eventual breakup of the USA. It happened in 1861, and there's no reason it can't happen again. One solution is for Democrats and lefties to migrate into blue states; ditto for red Republicans, who can migrate to red states. And then a constitutional convention leading to the breakup. One definition of a nation is a country that is comprised of people who see life in basically the same way. Migration could be a first step in achieving non-neurotic nationhood.
Yeah but they could be reminded that nukes affect a very large area where they are deployed. Also, there may be those who are expecting. Would they want to kill the unborn? I don't see them marching against war though, during recent conflicts. I guess it's when they want to control the local source of 'human resources'.
i don't think this is a horrible idea except a few issues: (1) peace is easier to achieve when we are one country (2) China benefits -- not sure that's a terrible thing but not sure what their future agenda is and they don't have a great human rights / animal rights history (3) too many people will lose things (money, land, jobs) etc. so not sure it can happen.
I look deep into the soul of McConnell and find bad faith. Ditto for too many denizens of the Reptilian party. To use a sports analogy, when only one team plays by the rules and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, that admirable team loses. But I do agree with you insofar as acting ethically goes; it's the results that bother me.
I agree. I did not mean looking deep in the lost souls of the Republican party but looking deep in ourselves to find the resources we need to build back better. To my mind, this is inherently inclusive. On the other hand, it does not mean at all that we should assume Mitch McConnell is potentially ready to collaborate for the common good in a bi-partisan way. This is just the lame excuse given by corporate democrats to keep getting bribes.
If I may: Have faith. There are way more well-meaning people than crazed bigots. Our inability to see right now how things can change is rooted in two facts, one being that politicians are bought with the Supreme Court's blessing, the other that the media's business model runs against speaking truth to power. All of us are needed to provide the alternative to both.
In the United States at present the majority is ruled by the minority. State borders are totally artificial constructs. We can even add States. To give a state, an artificial hunk of land, so much power is anti-democratic.
Why should a citizen of Montana have 100 or thousand or 1 million times more say in the operation and laws of the United States than say a citizen of Texas, California or New York?
Until we fix or eliminate the Senate so that it is one person, one vote we will never be able to accomplish the things that we desire.
The Democrats could play better poker and go all in and eliminate the filibuster, then pass the kinds of laws that themajority want enacted
The Founding Fathers were fearful of the people, whom they saw as irremediably ignorant and unruly. They consequently set the template of a republic, not a democracy, and made sure that one man one vote could not exist. A few more amendments to the Constitution might be in order.
They were all white males. Many were slave owners.
Only property owners could vote, so the uneducated and unsuccessful had no vote. Certainly slaves were merely property and in the census counted as 3/5 of a person.
Women had no rights to vote at all no mater how much property they owned.
Money was the determining factor in who had political power. Still is.
The Founding Fathers never envisioned political parties or allowing the uneducated the right to vote.
The idea of a Senate may have worked with only 13 states and most people stayed put in the same state from birth to death.
The provisions on how to chage the constitution are so odious as to be an impossibility.
We cannot even ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
When something is as broken as is America, can it ever really be “fixed”?
I only wish that all Americans went beyond the Founding Fathers myth as you do. At the same time, we have to recognize they have the huge merit of having crafted a functional form of government that is secular. To your point, they also made sure to elaborate an electoral system guaranteeing that the country could never become a definite democracy. Our arcane electoral rules have long become obsolete and it is a wonder to the rest of the world why they are still in place. Most importantly, the Founding Fathers locked up the Constitution, making it next to impossible to amend, at least in my understanding (I am a recent American citizen). The problem is that the way they saw humanity is a bit dated. I am sure Robert Reich has many suggestions about what could be done and how in order to change the Constitution toward a democratic form of government.
Back then, most working people did not have the ability to read and write. It was important that those who were not educated not be able to vote for a charlatan or demagogue. That is how it was explained to me in civics class a long time ago. nobody saw Fox news and other misinformation sources coming. But the electoral college and the senate give the wealthy an advantage, too.
The American "revolution" consisted in departing from monarchy to establish a republic. A genuine revolution would have consisted in guaranteeing access to education to all people. Assuming, on the contrary, that poor illiterate people will always remain this way and thus cannot participate in politics is not precisely forward-thinking. By the same token, the French revolution did not take place on Bastille Day; it was achieved one hundred later with the institution of free (money-wise) and mandatory education for all children, as well as with the definite separation of church and state. No kidding. A revolution does not consist in declaring all people free and then doing as if some people are through their right of birth freer than others; it consists in effectively guaranteeing a fighting chance to all. Interestingly and back to the topic of who benefits from a nation coming apart over fear, violence, and racism, Republicans have nothing more urgent than de-financing public education and bringing Allah into government.
But still the nagging question. Where to go? Climate destruction is everywhere. In the 60's the song was "the air, the air is everywhere!". it's worse now.
Get money out of politics. That will clear up the path forward. Republicans and corporate-bribed Democrats do not favor genuine debates. Have you noticed?
What's on trial right now in the back-to-back Arbery and Rittenhouse cases is not only the "self-defense" defense, but also vigilantism. The three men accused of Arbery's murder could easily have called police to investigate what they thought was suspicious activity. Instead, something (take a guess) motivated them to make a "citizens arrest." In that case, it was Arbery, not the murderer, who acted in self defense. Rittenhouse apparently wanted to prove his manhood by strutting around in a volatile protest and brandishing an assault rifle as a self-appointed security guard in Kenosha. There was no way that was going to end well. How many other racists, extremists, conspiracy theorists, pretend soldiers, and militia members will take it upon themselves to threaten people, provoke them, kill them, and claim they acted in self-defense? We might want to add flak jackets to our Christmas lists.
One of the Kardashian sisters sells cosmetics on the Internet. She has millions of followers. Greta Thumberg has hundreds of thousands. Humanity very much prefers to be distracted from reality. We are like the water spider, so light it can walk on the surface of the water. However, to reproduce, it has to pierce the water membrane an swim down to the bottom of the river to lay her eggs. So we will continue walking on the water as long as we can, living in distractions and illusions. The propaganda machine loves this human predisposition. We are in a bad way.
Also Margaret Mead's quote “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Not sure we can wait around for the folks who only want to buy cosmetics and we may need to move forward and save our world without them.
This may sound provocative to many but I do not think that the country is divided, at least not in the sense usually referred to. The Trump faultline does exist only because most people who form the Republican base are utterly misinformed. When polled about what is in the BBB without mentioning the bill itself, they overwhelming favor its proposed reforms. Most people know what they need. So, no, the country is not divided that much. What divides us is that some (or many) fall prey to the divide and conquer technique used throughout history by those who stoke fear and anger to profit from gullible masses.
As of today, this division in the U.S. will remain as long as "moderate" democrat reps will not be called out for being, in reality, bribed democrats (legally but bribed nevertheless) with a huge conflict of interest when it comes to representing the people. Trump or Murdoch are just fanning the flames of division. They could not be able to do it with such a facility if those who are supposed to be the good guys did their job and had the moral courage to stand for the truth. When someone fights for the American people instead of for the interests of corporate donors, people in Trump's country tend to trust him or her. Ask Bernie Sanders.
Our division is just superficial. Ignorance and stupidity can turn deadly but their primary enablers are those who refuse to get money out of politics.
As long as it is a win for them they will continue to be unethical and greedy. Calling them out is a good strategy! Everyone wants to be liked. It's hard to win if people will not vote for you, because they have your number!
There are many entities that benefit. Corporations, power hungry politicians and adversaries throughout the world, to name a few. Racists fear they're being replaced, religious zealots fear they're losing control of their flock and political influence and we can't forget hate groups that feel empowered by the fear they help create. We also must include people who perform racist, hate and discrimination against fellow Americans. Where will this end up, especially with a judicial system that is failing us, will depend on how the American people stand up and fight to change the atrocities happening here every day. We must act now.
There are divisions but they are exaggerated. I am an independent and the news media portray nothing about my interests. Everything is Dem vs Rep and only the extremes are reported. No poll shows where those of us who are not affiliated with a political party fit in the conversation. And we represent about 1/3 of the country. Division is also being exaggerated by the gerrymandering and voter suppression laws being passed. Those actions create an unjust distribution of votes and voter preferences. And also Democrats have contributed a lot to the division by being radical about policy. There is very little common ground in the party and that contributes to endless debates about how to move forward, how to progress. The one issue that all Dems should get behind, and Indies as well, is the influence of "big money" in our political system. Attack that, and a lot of the power to control the political agenda becomes minimized. Campaign contributions, lobbying and the connection to contributions, limitless terms, gains from insider info, all contribute to the Repugnants control and should be the first priority and anyone who sees themselves as a protector of our Democracy.
i agree that this should be a top issue, and I agree that everything is Dem vs. Rep instead of the actual issues and some solutions. This is yet another reason I sometimes get the impression that maybe we just have one party in this country. It's this kind of ineffectiveness that makes me wonder. That said, I continue to assume there are really two parties maybe because that makes me feel better. I agree this should be the number one issue and that the rest of the issues might take care of themselves if we resolve this issue. That said, I don't think we need to limit ourselves to this one issue. It should be our top issue, but not the only issue. We should be able to accomplish more than this.
I agree that we should be able to address multiple issues, but i believe as I think you do, that eliminating big money in politics would pave the way for a lot of progress.
I have thought that because of money in politics Democrat and Republican are really two sides of the coin of the realm. I have heard some say that they both take money from donors who give to both parties. The donors want their influence no matter who wins. Plus, it used to be there was some bipartisanship, unlike today, there is very little, So evil, too that the Republicans that did join in the vote are getting death threats! There are some who believe that nobody in government, including most Democrats really want to end voter confusion because the gravy train they are on is what it's all about. As long as things continue as they are, they're good! The media agrees!
The big difference, in my opinion, is that the Democratic party and a good percentage of independents support policies that benefit the good of the people. They accept money to influence legislation, but ultimately, answer to the people. The Republican party since Ronald Regan has been the party of transferring wealth to the wealthy. Their idea of capitalism is that value flows to the top first (the capital holders) and they deploy some of it wisely to create more value, mostly by employing those that don't have capital. Therefore, most of the wealth (value) stays at the top, and what they trickle down is in just enough proportion to keep the system working for them. Distributing value to the non-capital holders never occurs to them, and frankly is anathema . Only a small percentage of the productivity gains of this country of the past 40 years had been shared with 90 percent.
The Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment in 2008, which for the first time in over 200 years said the amendment was about individual gun rights and not "well regulated militias," also allows states to ban the carrying of guns in public places (pp, 55-56.) New York State is legally right to regulate this. I can't believe the colssal ignorance of the SCOTUS decison in this country, which also allows states to ban guns to felons and the mentally ill, to regulate gun sales, and to ban "dangerous weapons." The NRA and gun rights advocates are completely wrong on these issues.
Those of us old enough to remember the diagramming of sentences in 8th grade English class will appreciate the fact that the 2nd Amendment cannot be diagrammed. It's a prime example of unnecessary ambiguity in law, and this ungrammatical amendment has led us to where we are today: mass shootings, vigilantism, and the Rittenhouse verdict.
The right wing of the Republican Party really studied Lenin’s vanguard party success during the Cold War. What they have developed within the Republican Party umbrella is a vanguard party model where the policy is developed hierarchically around laissez Faire economics and then transmitted to the people who emotionally need a right wing cause to explain why they can’t get ahead in society or to protect what they have against the people who might take it away who are obviously in this world minorities favored by liberals.
So the idea that we should come together presupposes common interests when what is really going on is that the middle stratum of the working class and even the sons and daughters of the educated white collar upper middle class are being declassed and are losing their entitlement to a bourgeois existence. This is the mass base for Fascism.
So without resolving the underlying economic problems you cannot get the unity you are looking for. You have to undermine the appeal of the highly organized billionaire funded technologically adept vanguard party organized right to those being ground up by modern capitalism.
So this is why reforms that restore the middle class as embodied in the original BBB are so important.
People do not naturally gravitate toward violence stirred up by right wing fanatics. But Washington Democrats are so corrupt they won’t get the message.
We need reforms now or we are definitely headed towards fascism. You can’t put lipstick on a pig and sell it to the public. What the donor class in Washington is doing to the Democratic Party needs to be recognized and stopped. Where are the party elders to make this happen before it’s too late?
I agree with you but wanted to delve into something a little deeper. The statement "middle stratum of the working class and even the sons and daughters of the educated white collar upper middle class are being declassed and are losing their entitlement to a bourgeois existence" is one I wanted to discuss. It is my sense that these folks vote democrat not republican. Do you disagree? It is my sense that it's the poor white rural folks that vote Republican PLUS the very very wealthy at the top / corporate interests. Anyone know if this is the case? This is important because we need to properly understand who it is that we need to unite.
My sense is that blue collar workers that moved into the middle class and now see their gains threatened are voting Republican but will switch back if real reforms come out of Washington, the suburban upper middle class will vote Republican unless their children convince them otherwise (global warming) and the big problem for Democrats will be younger voters and those disgusted with corporate Democrats and the obvious corruption of Washington not showing up at the polls. You can’t expect miracles. If those voter rights bills don’t pass we have nothing to talk about. Otherwise it’s all about reforms.
You have crazy Carville and self satisfied Dems still running around attacking reform and thinking that fiscal stimulus is either more than enough or about to produce general prosperity. Biden needs to go after inflation not by yielding to austerity but by going after speculation. Fed induced austerity measures will be fatal to Democrats. New generation candidates are needed. The roadmap is there if there is any leadership left in the Democratic Party.
to challenge this thinking a bit so we can get this right: it is my sense that suburban upper middle class vote democrat, at least on the coasts (CA and NY). I agree with the blue collar workers feeling threatened (and believe we need to address these concerns because they're human concerns) and hope you are right about them switching back if we see real reforms. Yes, new generation candidates are needed that can unite those in the bottom 95%.
Is it possible that those who invest in stocks are voting Republican? I have family members who say they are opposed to the extreme right (as in Trump followers), yet they seem to believe that the stock market is stronger when they are in power. this is my own limited theory based on a few family members and clients.
You have discovered one of the ways working people believe that Republicans will help them get ahead—- investing in the stock market. But doing that and assuming Republicans will make you more money when they are in power is an illusion. Republicans in power work for the top 1%. Look at their tax cuts, look at carried interest, look at the tax loopholes for getting the companies they control to give them stock options which they can use to become extremely wealthy with no risk whatsoever. There are billionaires that pay a lower tax rate than your family members because all of their income is capital gains not salary. So the idea that helping Republicans to get into power is good for your investments is an illusion. The stock market is a casino. Almost every company has hundreds of millions to billions of shares. How many do your friends and relatives own? I’ll bet that most of them are living off their labor which is the only asset they have to sell. They are working people and they do not belong to the 1% that own this country and live off of allocating capital.
I do not believe that the stock market is a good deal for myself or any small investor. Never have. But I have a conservative brother who has made significant money that he needs for his present retirement status. He is a believer. Also a staunch Catholic. I know that 2008 hurt him. But he worships the 'free market' and is a true believer, even though it hurts. Go figure!
You can ask your brother why he has to invest in the stock market? Is it because he knows he will need money for medical care as he ages? Is it because if he lives long enough he will need someone to assist him in preparing meals and continuing to live as he is accustomed. Then tell him about the rest of the “civilized” world. Take Israel, just as an example. A 90 year old there can get someone to live in their house and provide them with care with state sponsorship so that the cost is minimal and can come out of their pension. Here in the US no pensions only casino 401ks, no advanced healthcare so no assisted living so you pay it out of your pocket. So good luck to your brother with the free market in his old age. You might point out to him that Inc free market system once you cannot produce through your labor for your employer you are a cost on the balance sheet. You are a liability to a capitalist system. Our fee for service s healthcare system is only interested in depleting your assets. Stealing your money basically. So good luck to him with his current strategy for survival. In Israel, hardly a socialist state, you can live to be 97 with all of this assistance and not deplete any of your assets for medical care. Your brother should understand this before he finds out the hard way. Our current system if healthcare care has only one objective—take away your money. Our economic system wants your brother to think he can survive on his own resources. The fact is he can’t. Take away social security and Medicare, which the Republicans will do and he will have nothing to give his descendants. One major illness without Medicare and you go broke. In Israel when the 97?year old does he can leave his i encumbered house to his children. And by the way there is no student debt in Israel because college education is practically free. And that is just one example from a capitalist country which has its problems but hasn’t turned its working class into free market zealots eager to give their billionaires all of their assets to “preserve their liberty”.
My brother retired a few years ago as did his wife. One of the reasons he is 'conservative', in addition to his financial outlook, is that he is 'pro- life' and will support any candidate with that platform.
There are only the Trump extremists in lock step and the currently in 'power' compromised Democrats (and some Independents and decent Republicans) who are stymied by the legal system that has been apparently compromised by legions of criminal lawyers. Justice does not seem to exist. What about Presidential powers? What are his options? Can he ,(will he) use executive privilege to pull this out of the fire?
It seems Trump used presidential power like it was an eat-all-you-can buffet! Why isn’t Biden doing this! Biden has reversed a lot of presidential proclamations by Trump. But that’s not enough. I am for packing the Supreme Court. People worry that it could have no end but it can be reduced or expanded as far as I know. These are desperate times.
Well forgiving student loans, aggressive anti-trust, civil rights charges against shooters, open up the oil reserves, hard talks to Democrats impeding legislation. Joe has to get it together. And all elements of the liberal wing of the party have to throw in their lot with the progressives at least as far as civil and voters rights.
I am very scared. Everyone seems to have a vocal, harsh opinion. How far is this country going to go before we fall off the edge? Do people really understand what the consequences will be?!?
For my part, and in this newsletter as well, I try to avoid overtly inflammatory words and characterizations. But I too am very scared at what may be coming as we head into the mid-terms.
I think the solution has been presents here. We need a coalition built peaceful mass movement around the economic guts of BBB. Only the people can make the political system move. Study Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement. I think every segment of the Democratic Party can get behind the Lewis bill and the voter rights bill and the President has to take on th filibuster for those bi
The main problem I have with pro life adherents is how can you encourage young people to have children when they get pregnant and then oppose all of the measures that would make that child thrive after birth. Paid Childcare, paid family leave, free education, a livable wage are all necessary to support a family and yet the same people who are pro life are against the measures that would make children thrive. I don’t get it. Telling someone what to do with as personal a decision as bearing children isn’t something I feel anyone other than that person has the right to do. How can you do that if you take no responsibility for that child after birth?
Throughout our history, the wealthy elites have incited racial animus to maintain their power. This is nothing new in our country. I think Trump's election was in part a backlash to the fact that a Black man was elected and reelected president. According to Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson, Trump's star rose in the Republican Party when he began vociferously promoting so-called birtherism, the notion that President Obama was not born in this country, and was therefore illegitimate. The wealthy Republican elites also don't like Black people demanding equal treatment. As police are starting to be held to account for gratuitous violence against Black people, White Supremacist thugs with guns are becoming a convenient tool to keep Black people in their place.
President Biden and other Democratic Party leaders could find a compelling way to call out wealthy elitist Republicans on their persistent playing the race card to maintain power and accumulate more and more wealth. Instead, the Democratic Party establishment has decided to make progressives the bogeymen. The New York Times published an interview yesterday with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She said that she and other progressives were explicitly commanded by party leaders to stay away from the 2021 Virginia elections. They were then blamed for the losses.
I agree with you Carolyn, but I also believe that merely pointing out how Republicans have stoked the fires of racial resentment would be insufficient. Over the past several decades, Democrats have left working class voters of all races behind by failing to pass policies that deal with core economic concerns (wages, childcare, etc.).
The Build Back Better agenda--even in its shrunken form--represents a meaningful investment in America's working class, so we can hope that when the legislation passes, it somewhat moves the political needle.
Yes, passing Build Back Better is crucial. As AOC pointed out in the interview that I referenced, if Democrats don't keep the promises they made, there is no reason to vote for them. But the political side is critically important as well. If Republicans gain control of both houses of Congress and the presidency, they will immediately try to repeal BBB, as they did with Obamacare.
Listen to Bob Dylan's song 'Only A Pawn in the Game' that describes the exploitation of fear and hatred in working class whites to use them against Blacks, and people of color.
Yep -- the times ain't a-changing.
Why can't Biden do what the President of New Zealand did a few years ago after a shooting incident? She banned the ownership of assault weapons by the public. I guess their country has a different legal system. We are tied in knots here, it seems.
If you think it through, you'll probably realize why Biden can not.
Wishful thinking, I know. 2nd amendment and most likely plenty I do not know about all the rules governing the President's powers. probably a good thing too.
Congress passed, in 1934, a law that placed a heavy tax on the purchase of submachine guns (Tommy Guns), which required buyers of these lethal weapons to be fingerprinted. After passage of the law, anyone caught with an unregistered Tommy Gun could be prosecuted for tax evasion like Al Capone. In 1934, the USA was being terrorized by Bonnie & Clyde, Machine Gun Kelly, Alvin Karpis and others. Today, we are being terrorized by rogue shooters. But in contrast with 1934, there's no will in Congress to ban AR-15s and other assault weapons.
Very slowly the consciousness grows. But it does grow.
And then it seems to wane, unfortunately. Just when you think you have gotten through to people, they disappoint you. Aaugh!
I agree with this - President Biden and other Democratic Party leaders could find a compelling way to call out wealthy elitist Republicans on their persistent playing the race card to maintain power and accumulate more and more wealth. Instead, the Democratic Party establishment has decided to make progressives the bogeymen. This is why people like me start wondering if there are legitimately two parties here or just one. Would love to discuss why people think this is happening.
Perhaps we will split off into multiple parties more like England. Three never works because the big two can kill it. But they can’t necessarily kill off several, if enough people abandon (and I think we’re ripe for this). We have some big wins by the Dems. With so much more to go. But why aren’t we seeing the punishment of murderers and traitors who attempted a coup on our country? Murderers wait for trial while in prison all the time. Has Putin threatened us and we don’t know it? Have a few countries threatened us? Are we unable to depend on enough police and military to back the constitution from domestic enemies?
Non-answers and snail-paced actions are very much hurting the Democrats. Leaving us to imagine what is happening is not a good idea.
I think we’ll be forced into civil disobedience and boycotts on the scale of pre-civil rights.
Boycotts. civil disobedience, Taxation without representation. Maybe it's time for our own 'tea party'. Or pushback of some kind. The insurrectionists/terrorists should be dealt with effectively. Are the judiciary and the military also tainted by traitors? What is our commander in chief doing? who are his advisors? The former guy let all the criminals off with pardons in a way that I never would have believed could be allowed. They are all at it still People like Flynn, whose brother was involved with the insurrection. WTF is going on?!?
So true Laurie. I have said many times…how can that be legal, constitutional etc! It’s like we have found out we just another mafia nit a country at all. Nightmare!
If McConnell won't allow any republican to vote with Dems, why are they even there?
Very good question. If they are not being democratic why are their salaries being paid? why are they drawing pay and benefits from us, the taxpayers? We are definitely not getting what they are supposed to do for us! Our government is not working! Oaths of office are a silly meaningless ceremony! Corruption rules! Our 'representatives' are bribed to work for someone else. The powerful are getting what they want and are fine with this arrangement! Something has got to give! Nothing here is sustainable!
I feel the frustration positively dripping off you, Laurie. You’re expressing what I think we’re all feeling: how can this be and why doesn’t someone do something about it already? I wish I had some answers.
refuse to pay taxes!
Laurie, you said it exactly correctly. But, you've heard it here from me: Just watch when Trump wins in 2024. How? Why? Because everybody in power on all sides is allowing it to happen. The courts cannot withstand the constant fights of those that are ruining our vote by putting in stipulations that the GOP governors can put in place their own election certifiers if they don't like how a vote will turn out. The GOP no longer cares if the Public sees their dishonesty and manipulation of the law, they are plowing forward with the backing of Bezos, Mercer, and the like. As well, with the backing of right-wing owned media. I see it all coming.
Yikes!
So much for representing your constituents.
Paula, sadly, that is getting rarer and rarer.
Because they are blind followers and do their masters bidding.
And they have their eyes open and take their master's money. Hey, what about a class action lawsuit!? We, the people sue the Supreme Court for allowing this travesty?
I like the idea. But, at best it would be very difficult due to judicial immunity. It appears the case would have to be filed as judicial misconduct. What legal team would file the case and what court would hear the case is questionable.
Democratic Supreme Court justices have done themselves and the country a disservice throughout the years by remaining in office until death. This has given the Republicans the opportunity of filling the position vacated by a Democrat with a Republican justice. Republican Supreme Court justices on the other hand have retired when a Republican president was in office affording the Republican president the opportunity to elect a Republican replacement. This, and Mitch McConnells gamesmanship, has stacked the Supreme Court in the Republicans favor.
When one side plays by the rules and the other side continually bends the rules there can be no fair outcome.
So, now what? Where do we go from here?
I think (I’m hoping!) the outcome of the 1/6 select committee will bring some resolution to the larger issues we’re facing today. Which, ultimately, may force the Republican Party to separate from Trump and act more responsibly. But, as long as Trump continues to bring big money to the Party, the Party will continue to follow Trump. Ending that cash flow will separate Trump from the Party. I believe holding Trump legally responsible for the 1/6 riot (insurrection) will accomplish this. This appears to be the 1/6 committee’s goal. They just need to get through the frivolous Trump lawsuits and come to a determination before the ‘22 midterms. 🤞
They were not elected to work with the Dems. They represent those constituents who weren't dissuaded to vote. And, those voters want them to block the Dems and regain GOP power ASAP, by any means necessary
Not entirely. My so-called rep in CA-25 won by 333 votes—not exactly a mandate. There are many in this district who do not want him to behave as he does. I sincerely hope the bum is thrown out next time.
Paula: My comment was about Lucy's comment about McConnell & (implicitly, I felt) GOP Senators. Of course, their elections are statewide, often the SUM of <dissuaded voters in gerrymandered districts>, with little control over their House Rep.
The GOP Senate bloc is united to oppose Biden accomplishing ANYthing that might help the jack-arse party in the midterms. Opposing the debt limit, destroying the economy short-term, thwarting fair elections, and anything else is fine for them, because it gives them a greater chance to regain power for their base in 2022
Understood. 😀
Makes sense that they want what they legally paid for!
True, it seems, at this point. But what about the Constitution and the rule of law? Only a 'gentlemen's agreement'? What happened to 'statesmanship' and 'honor'? Treachery is now legal, I guess.
Responsible citizens must be courageous & nonviolent to best combat the fear, violence, & racism of the GOP. Courage is grace under pressure. So we must gracefully pass the BBB Act, & then end the filibuster. This will be difficult, due to the millions GOP donors are giving to Manchin & Sinema. But this legislation is essential to win the 2022 elections. I do not even want to think of a United States with Kevin McCarthy as Speaker.
For many, Thanksgiving dinner will provide an opportunity for responsible citizens to be courageous with our families and friends.
As long as we don't get them so mad they won't feed us!
Yes, with families, friends, and narcissists.
I don’t imagine anyone doesn’t want to see Dems get more aggressive. In this regard, I see an opening for Dems to take on BBB detractors. Dems should be prevailed upon to demand that its detractors explain not what they oppose, but what they are in favor of for their communities. For instance, are they for extending the child tax credit, for universal child care, for universal pre-K, for investments in housing, in elder care, in home and community-based care, in ACA subsidies, in climate, and so forth.
I fear if Dems don’t get more aggressive on a host of issues, that last Monday’s BIF signing ceremony could be the last opportunity of any President to stand in front of a bipartisan audience and say this is how Washington should work.
Sadly corporate Dems are sabotaging their own messaging around BBB with tax cuts for their wealthy donors by repealing the SALT limits. Giving tax cuts to the wealthy while campaigning on having the wealthy pay their fair share exposes their own corruption and hypocrisy.
Peter— Were I to rewrite, I would have called on the 48 Democratic Senators whom I believe largely support the House’s version of the BBB bill aggressively to challenge the two Democratic Senate holdouts by demanding they explain not what they oppose but what they are in favor of for their communities. Additionally, I would have pressed Senate Democrats to be far more aggressive in challenging the few in their Party, who refuse, without support from Republicans, to pass voter protection legislation, while GOP controlled state legislatures unilaterally continue to pass bill after bill that restricts voting and nullifies votes at will.
They most likely had to bribe them. Payola is how it works, isn't it?
I share your comments!
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If a person of your stature fears.... I am NOW TRULY WORRIED!
I am usually a positive person but we have reached a tipping point.
This just may be historically the "downside of capitalism" .., very sad.
The rich get richer ,.. more powerful, more corrupt.
History is full of nations that rise and fall.
"The grandeur that was Rome!"
Plenty of hubris on the upper deck, that's for sure!
With things like the electoral college, gerrymandering, the filibuster, politicians for sale and a supreme court stacked with Trump stooges, the odds against America as we know it are strongly unfavorable.
The Democrats must win an overwhelming majority just to implement popular policies that the rich and powerful oppose.
The similarities to the rise of authoritarian fascism in Germany in 1932 are too strong to overlook.
Giving more money to Act Blue and Democratic candidates who accept corporate money and huge PAC money from unidentified donors is just a waste of money better spent locally.
Bernie, Mayor Pete. AOC and other progressive politicians will never be allowed to rise to meaningful positions of power. Should a fluke happen, it is likely they will be assassinated as was JFK, RFK, MLK and other politicians who have paid with their lives for their beliefs in a more perfect union.
The only viable solution is to start planning to leave the failing Disunited States. Take the money you are wasting on political contributions and start saving so you can escape the sinking ship.
Sorry to be so blunt and pessimistic but changing America is simply not possible.
Maybe if the country was slit up, there might be some hope, but that will never happen.
Kurt Vonnegut envisioned an eventual breakup of the USA. It happened in 1861, and there's no reason it can't happen again. One solution is for Democrats and lefties to migrate into blue states; ditto for red Republicans, who can migrate to red states. And then a constitutional convention leading to the breakup. One definition of a nation is a country that is comprised of people who see life in basically the same way. Migration could be a first step in achieving non-neurotic nationhood.
Do you really think the Anti-Abortion half wouldn't use its nukes on the Pro-Choice half?
Yeah but they could be reminded that nukes affect a very large area where they are deployed. Also, there may be those who are expecting. Would they want to kill the unborn? I don't see them marching against war though, during recent conflicts. I guess it's when they want to control the local source of 'human resources'.
i don't think this is a horrible idea except a few issues: (1) peace is easier to achieve when we are one country (2) China benefits -- not sure that's a terrible thing but not sure what their future agenda is and they don't have a great human rights / animal rights history (3) too many people will lose things (money, land, jobs) etc. so not sure it can happen.
Us vs. them, or away from them, is exactly what Trump is about. We have to look deeper.
I look deep into the soul of McConnell and find bad faith. Ditto for too many denizens of the Reptilian party. To use a sports analogy, when only one team plays by the rules and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, that admirable team loses. But I do agree with you insofar as acting ethically goes; it's the results that bother me.
I agree. I did not mean looking deep in the lost souls of the Republican party but looking deep in ourselves to find the resources we need to build back better. To my mind, this is inherently inclusive. On the other hand, it does not mean at all that we should assume Mitch McConnell is potentially ready to collaborate for the common good in a bi-partisan way. This is just the lame excuse given by corporate democrats to keep getting bribes.
If I may: Have faith. There are way more well-meaning people than crazed bigots. Our inability to see right now how things can change is rooted in two facts, one being that politicians are bought with the Supreme Court's blessing, the other that the media's business model runs against speaking truth to power. All of us are needed to provide the alternative to both.
In the United States at present the majority is ruled by the minority. State borders are totally artificial constructs. We can even add States. To give a state, an artificial hunk of land, so much power is anti-democratic.
Why should a citizen of Montana have 100 or thousand or 1 million times more say in the operation and laws of the United States than say a citizen of Texas, California or New York?
Until we fix or eliminate the Senate so that it is one person, one vote we will never be able to accomplish the things that we desire.
The Democrats could play better poker and go all in and eliminate the filibuster, then pass the kinds of laws that themajority want enacted
The Founding Fathers were fearful of the people, whom they saw as irremediably ignorant and unruly. They consequently set the template of a republic, not a democracy, and made sure that one man one vote could not exist. A few more amendments to the Constitution might be in order.
I am sick of the myth of the Founding Fathers.
They were all white males. Many were slave owners.
Only property owners could vote, so the uneducated and unsuccessful had no vote. Certainly slaves were merely property and in the census counted as 3/5 of a person.
Women had no rights to vote at all no mater how much property they owned.
Money was the determining factor in who had political power. Still is.
The Founding Fathers never envisioned political parties or allowing the uneducated the right to vote.
The idea of a Senate may have worked with only 13 states and most people stayed put in the same state from birth to death.
The provisions on how to chage the constitution are so odious as to be an impossibility.
We cannot even ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
When something is as broken as is America, can it ever really be “fixed”?
I only wish that all Americans went beyond the Founding Fathers myth as you do. At the same time, we have to recognize they have the huge merit of having crafted a functional form of government that is secular. To your point, they also made sure to elaborate an electoral system guaranteeing that the country could never become a definite democracy. Our arcane electoral rules have long become obsolete and it is a wonder to the rest of the world why they are still in place. Most importantly, the Founding Fathers locked up the Constitution, making it next to impossible to amend, at least in my understanding (I am a recent American citizen). The problem is that the way they saw humanity is a bit dated. I am sure Robert Reich has many suggestions about what could be done and how in order to change the Constitution toward a democratic form of government.
Back then, most working people did not have the ability to read and write. It was important that those who were not educated not be able to vote for a charlatan or demagogue. That is how it was explained to me in civics class a long time ago. nobody saw Fox news and other misinformation sources coming. But the electoral college and the senate give the wealthy an advantage, too.
The American "revolution" consisted in departing from monarchy to establish a republic. A genuine revolution would have consisted in guaranteeing access to education to all people. Assuming, on the contrary, that poor illiterate people will always remain this way and thus cannot participate in politics is not precisely forward-thinking. By the same token, the French revolution did not take place on Bastille Day; it was achieved one hundred later with the institution of free (money-wise) and mandatory education for all children, as well as with the definite separation of church and state. No kidding. A revolution does not consist in declaring all people free and then doing as if some people are through their right of birth freer than others; it consists in effectively guaranteeing a fighting chance to all. Interestingly and back to the topic of who benefits from a nation coming apart over fear, violence, and racism, Republicans have nothing more urgent than de-financing public education and bringing Allah into government.
But still the nagging question. Where to go? Climate destruction is everywhere. In the 60's the song was "the air, the air is everywhere!". it's worse now.
Get money out of politics. That will clear up the path forward. Republicans and corporate-bribed Democrats do not favor genuine debates. Have you noticed?
I have mentioned money in politics many times in this forum, and I agree it is not a good thing.
What's on trial right now in the back-to-back Arbery and Rittenhouse cases is not only the "self-defense" defense, but also vigilantism. The three men accused of Arbery's murder could easily have called police to investigate what they thought was suspicious activity. Instead, something (take a guess) motivated them to make a "citizens arrest." In that case, it was Arbery, not the murderer, who acted in self defense. Rittenhouse apparently wanted to prove his manhood by strutting around in a volatile protest and brandishing an assault rifle as a self-appointed security guard in Kenosha. There was no way that was going to end well. How many other racists, extremists, conspiracy theorists, pretend soldiers, and militia members will take it upon themselves to threaten people, provoke them, kill them, and claim they acted in self-defense? We might want to add flak jackets to our Christmas lists.
There are a lot of gun owners who can't wait to use them on people they perceive as "others".
One of the Kardashian sisters sells cosmetics on the Internet. She has millions of followers. Greta Thumberg has hundreds of thousands. Humanity very much prefers to be distracted from reality. We are like the water spider, so light it can walk on the surface of the water. However, to reproduce, it has to pierce the water membrane an swim down to the bottom of the river to lay her eggs. So we will continue walking on the water as long as we can, living in distractions and illusions. The propaganda machine loves this human predisposition. We are in a bad way.
you are spot on. this thread and a few others like it might be our only hope.
At least good sharing and support. Maybe some good ideas. some things to learn.
Also Margaret Mead's quote “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Not sure we can wait around for the folks who only want to buy cosmetics and we may need to move forward and save our world without them.
This may sound provocative to many but I do not think that the country is divided, at least not in the sense usually referred to. The Trump faultline does exist only because most people who form the Republican base are utterly misinformed. When polled about what is in the BBB without mentioning the bill itself, they overwhelming favor its proposed reforms. Most people know what they need. So, no, the country is not divided that much. What divides us is that some (or many) fall prey to the divide and conquer technique used throughout history by those who stoke fear and anger to profit from gullible masses.
As of today, this division in the U.S. will remain as long as "moderate" democrat reps will not be called out for being, in reality, bribed democrats (legally but bribed nevertheless) with a huge conflict of interest when it comes to representing the people. Trump or Murdoch are just fanning the flames of division. They could not be able to do it with such a facility if those who are supposed to be the good guys did their job and had the moral courage to stand for the truth. When someone fights for the American people instead of for the interests of corporate donors, people in Trump's country tend to trust him or her. Ask Bernie Sanders.
Our division is just superficial. Ignorance and stupidity can turn deadly but their primary enablers are those who refuse to get money out of politics.
As long as it is a win for them they will continue to be unethical and greedy. Calling them out is a good strategy! Everyone wants to be liked. It's hard to win if people will not vote for you, because they have your number!
There are many entities that benefit. Corporations, power hungry politicians and adversaries throughout the world, to name a few. Racists fear they're being replaced, religious zealots fear they're losing control of their flock and political influence and we can't forget hate groups that feel empowered by the fear they help create. We also must include people who perform racist, hate and discrimination against fellow Americans. Where will this end up, especially with a judicial system that is failing us, will depend on how the American people stand up and fight to change the atrocities happening here every day. We must act now.
There are divisions but they are exaggerated. I am an independent and the news media portray nothing about my interests. Everything is Dem vs Rep and only the extremes are reported. No poll shows where those of us who are not affiliated with a political party fit in the conversation. And we represent about 1/3 of the country. Division is also being exaggerated by the gerrymandering and voter suppression laws being passed. Those actions create an unjust distribution of votes and voter preferences. And also Democrats have contributed a lot to the division by being radical about policy. There is very little common ground in the party and that contributes to endless debates about how to move forward, how to progress. The one issue that all Dems should get behind, and Indies as well, is the influence of "big money" in our political system. Attack that, and a lot of the power to control the political agenda becomes minimized. Campaign contributions, lobbying and the connection to contributions, limitless terms, gains from insider info, all contribute to the Repugnants control and should be the first priority and anyone who sees themselves as a protector of our Democracy.
i agree that this should be a top issue, and I agree that everything is Dem vs. Rep instead of the actual issues and some solutions. This is yet another reason I sometimes get the impression that maybe we just have one party in this country. It's this kind of ineffectiveness that makes me wonder. That said, I continue to assume there are really two parties maybe because that makes me feel better. I agree this should be the number one issue and that the rest of the issues might take care of themselves if we resolve this issue. That said, I don't think we need to limit ourselves to this one issue. It should be our top issue, but not the only issue. We should be able to accomplish more than this.
I agree that we should be able to address multiple issues, but i believe as I think you do, that eliminating big money in politics would pave the way for a lot of progress.
I have thought that because of money in politics Democrat and Republican are really two sides of the coin of the realm. I have heard some say that they both take money from donors who give to both parties. The donors want their influence no matter who wins. Plus, it used to be there was some bipartisanship, unlike today, there is very little, So evil, too that the Republicans that did join in the vote are getting death threats! There are some who believe that nobody in government, including most Democrats really want to end voter confusion because the gravy train they are on is what it's all about. As long as things continue as they are, they're good! The media agrees!
The big difference, in my opinion, is that the Democratic party and a good percentage of independents support policies that benefit the good of the people. They accept money to influence legislation, but ultimately, answer to the people. The Republican party since Ronald Regan has been the party of transferring wealth to the wealthy. Their idea of capitalism is that value flows to the top first (the capital holders) and they deploy some of it wisely to create more value, mostly by employing those that don't have capital. Therefore, most of the wealth (value) stays at the top, and what they trickle down is in just enough proportion to keep the system working for them. Distributing value to the non-capital holders never occurs to them, and frankly is anathema . Only a small percentage of the productivity gains of this country of the past 40 years had been shared with 90 percent.
The Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment in 2008, which for the first time in over 200 years said the amendment was about individual gun rights and not "well regulated militias," also allows states to ban the carrying of guns in public places (pp, 55-56.) New York State is legally right to regulate this. I can't believe the colssal ignorance of the SCOTUS decison in this country, which also allows states to ban guns to felons and the mentally ill, to regulate gun sales, and to ban "dangerous weapons." The NRA and gun rights advocates are completely wrong on these issues.
Those of us old enough to remember the diagramming of sentences in 8th grade English class will appreciate the fact that the 2nd Amendment cannot be diagrammed. It's a prime example of unnecessary ambiguity in law, and this ungrammatical amendment has led us to where we are today: mass shootings, vigilantism, and the Rittenhouse verdict.
There is a way to look at this that makes sense.
The right wing of the Republican Party really studied Lenin’s vanguard party success during the Cold War. What they have developed within the Republican Party umbrella is a vanguard party model where the policy is developed hierarchically around laissez Faire economics and then transmitted to the people who emotionally need a right wing cause to explain why they can’t get ahead in society or to protect what they have against the people who might take it away who are obviously in this world minorities favored by liberals.
So the idea that we should come together presupposes common interests when what is really going on is that the middle stratum of the working class and even the sons and daughters of the educated white collar upper middle class are being declassed and are losing their entitlement to a bourgeois existence. This is the mass base for Fascism.
So without resolving the underlying economic problems you cannot get the unity you are looking for. You have to undermine the appeal of the highly organized billionaire funded technologically adept vanguard party organized right to those being ground up by modern capitalism.
So this is why reforms that restore the middle class as embodied in the original BBB are so important.
People do not naturally gravitate toward violence stirred up by right wing fanatics. But Washington Democrats are so corrupt they won’t get the message.
We need reforms now or we are definitely headed towards fascism. You can’t put lipstick on a pig and sell it to the public. What the donor class in Washington is doing to the Democratic Party needs to be recognized and stopped. Where are the party elders to make this happen before it’s too late?
I agree with you but wanted to delve into something a little deeper. The statement "middle stratum of the working class and even the sons and daughters of the educated white collar upper middle class are being declassed and are losing their entitlement to a bourgeois existence" is one I wanted to discuss. It is my sense that these folks vote democrat not republican. Do you disagree? It is my sense that it's the poor white rural folks that vote Republican PLUS the very very wealthy at the top / corporate interests. Anyone know if this is the case? This is important because we need to properly understand who it is that we need to unite.
My sense is that blue collar workers that moved into the middle class and now see their gains threatened are voting Republican but will switch back if real reforms come out of Washington, the suburban upper middle class will vote Republican unless their children convince them otherwise (global warming) and the big problem for Democrats will be younger voters and those disgusted with corporate Democrats and the obvious corruption of Washington not showing up at the polls. You can’t expect miracles. If those voter rights bills don’t pass we have nothing to talk about. Otherwise it’s all about reforms.
You have crazy Carville and self satisfied Dems still running around attacking reform and thinking that fiscal stimulus is either more than enough or about to produce general prosperity. Biden needs to go after inflation not by yielding to austerity but by going after speculation. Fed induced austerity measures will be fatal to Democrats. New generation candidates are needed. The roadmap is there if there is any leadership left in the Democratic Party.
to challenge this thinking a bit so we can get this right: it is my sense that suburban upper middle class vote democrat, at least on the coasts (CA and NY). I agree with the blue collar workers feeling threatened (and believe we need to address these concerns because they're human concerns) and hope you are right about them switching back if we see real reforms. Yes, new generation candidates are needed that can unite those in the bottom 95%.
Is it possible that those who invest in stocks are voting Republican? I have family members who say they are opposed to the extreme right (as in Trump followers), yet they seem to believe that the stock market is stronger when they are in power. this is my own limited theory based on a few family members and clients.
You have discovered one of the ways working people believe that Republicans will help them get ahead—- investing in the stock market. But doing that and assuming Republicans will make you more money when they are in power is an illusion. Republicans in power work for the top 1%. Look at their tax cuts, look at carried interest, look at the tax loopholes for getting the companies they control to give them stock options which they can use to become extremely wealthy with no risk whatsoever. There are billionaires that pay a lower tax rate than your family members because all of their income is capital gains not salary. So the idea that helping Republicans to get into power is good for your investments is an illusion. The stock market is a casino. Almost every company has hundreds of millions to billions of shares. How many do your friends and relatives own? I’ll bet that most of them are living off their labor which is the only asset they have to sell. They are working people and they do not belong to the 1% that own this country and live off of allocating capital.
I do not believe that the stock market is a good deal for myself or any small investor. Never have. But I have a conservative brother who has made significant money that he needs for his present retirement status. He is a believer. Also a staunch Catholic. I know that 2008 hurt him. But he worships the 'free market' and is a true believer, even though it hurts. Go figure!
You can ask your brother why he has to invest in the stock market? Is it because he knows he will need money for medical care as he ages? Is it because if he lives long enough he will need someone to assist him in preparing meals and continuing to live as he is accustomed. Then tell him about the rest of the “civilized” world. Take Israel, just as an example. A 90 year old there can get someone to live in their house and provide them with care with state sponsorship so that the cost is minimal and can come out of their pension. Here in the US no pensions only casino 401ks, no advanced healthcare so no assisted living so you pay it out of your pocket. So good luck to your brother with the free market in his old age. You might point out to him that Inc free market system once you cannot produce through your labor for your employer you are a cost on the balance sheet. You are a liability to a capitalist system. Our fee for service s healthcare system is only interested in depleting your assets. Stealing your money basically. So good luck to him with his current strategy for survival. In Israel, hardly a socialist state, you can live to be 97 with all of this assistance and not deplete any of your assets for medical care. Your brother should understand this before he finds out the hard way. Our current system if healthcare care has only one objective—take away your money. Our economic system wants your brother to think he can survive on his own resources. The fact is he can’t. Take away social security and Medicare, which the Republicans will do and he will have nothing to give his descendants. One major illness without Medicare and you go broke. In Israel when the 97?year old does he can leave his i encumbered house to his children. And by the way there is no student debt in Israel because college education is practically free. And that is just one example from a capitalist country which has its problems but hasn’t turned its working class into free market zealots eager to give their billionaires all of their assets to “preserve their liberty”.
My brother retired a few years ago as did his wife. One of the reasons he is 'conservative', in addition to his financial outlook, is that he is 'pro- life' and will support any candidate with that platform.
There are only the Trump extremists in lock step and the currently in 'power' compromised Democrats (and some Independents and decent Republicans) who are stymied by the legal system that has been apparently compromised by legions of criminal lawyers. Justice does not seem to exist. What about Presidential powers? What are his options? Can he ,(will he) use executive privilege to pull this out of the fire?
It seems Trump used presidential power like it was an eat-all-you-can buffet! Why isn’t Biden doing this! Biden has reversed a lot of presidential proclamations by Trump. But that’s not enough. I am for packing the Supreme Court. People worry that it could have no end but it can be reduced or expanded as far as I know. These are desperate times.
We’re wasting very precious time.
Well forgiving student loans, aggressive anti-trust, civil rights charges against shooters, open up the oil reserves, hard talks to Democrats impeding legislation. Joe has to get it together. And all elements of the liberal wing of the party have to throw in their lot with the progressives at least as far as civil and voters rights.
I am very scared. Everyone seems to have a vocal, harsh opinion. How far is this country going to go before we fall off the edge? Do people really understand what the consequences will be?!?
For my part, and in this newsletter as well, I try to avoid overtly inflammatory words and characterizations. But I too am very scared at what may be coming as we head into the mid-terms.
Reading this blog, and the comments, I’m concerned that so many of us feel jaded and powerless right now.
How would you suggest everyday people mobilize and what would you suggest we do to counteract the movement against voters’ rights?
Thank you.
Christine
I think the solution has been presents here. We need a coalition built peaceful mass movement around the economic guts of BBB. Only the people can make the political system move. Study Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement. I think every segment of the Democratic Party can get behind the Lewis bill and the voter rights bill and the President has to take on th filibuster for those bi
Ready to peacefully march!
wear a protective vest!
👍🏻
The main problem I have with pro life adherents is how can you encourage young people to have children when they get pregnant and then oppose all of the measures that would make that child thrive after birth. Paid Childcare, paid family leave, free education, a livable wage are all necessary to support a family and yet the same people who are pro life are against the measures that would make children thrive. I don’t get it. Telling someone what to do with as personal a decision as bearing children isn’t something I feel anyone other than that person has the right to do. How can you do that if you take no responsibility for that child after birth?