Friends,
Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.
Today, we look at:
— The tragedy in Israel and Gaza. Who and what are responsible? Is Israel solving anything by bombing and mounting a ground invasion of Gaza? What’s the likely endgame here?
— The dysfunction of House Republicans, who have effectively stopped the U.S. government. Why Jim Jordan would be a disaster as speaker. Is there any way out of this Trumpish quagmire?
— The strikes by the UAW, SAG, and health workers at Kaiser Permanente. Why are we seeing this upsurge in labor action? How is it related to what the Biden administration has done? And why is this a good thing?
— Heather’s “I’m not surprised, but I’m fuming” segment — about Republican efforts around the country to repeal no-fault divorce. Why are Republicans doing this? How is this related to Republican efforts to stop abortions?
The GOP seems to be aiming at the establishment of a patriarchal system when all around them are examples of how this model is not working. One only needs to look at each current world mess and ask, "How would this be playing out if the women in that situation were equally empowered?" There are evil women. There are misguided and maniac women. But systematic male dominance over women has done nothing to make the world a better place to live.
Callie, you wrote one of the best summations of patriarchal failures I've read yet. One, patriarchy is NOT working. Patriarchy has made a mess of our world. Three, things would be playing out differently if women were equally empowered. :)
I am either the grandfather or godfather of free legal services based on income in several counties in Pa, before nofault. Legal services received federal and state grants. At the time, many local bar members objected, There were virtually no women lawyers. Many said that free services woud impoverish them. I was accused openly of being a communist.
Some of the same lawyers also objected that formerly all male colleges were going co-ed, as if I had something to do with it.
At the time, Pa had no alimony.
I discuss Pa: "Catholic" divorces in another post, below.
Although there was no provision for attorneys' fees in divorce per se, while it was pending, which could in practice be the life of the parties, "alimony pendente lite", pending litigation was possible. Some lawyers had a portfolio of clients who would never be divorced, but who were cash on the hoof.
After we became viable, some of the local judges would not co-operate.
Daniel Soloman, seems a historical pattern in our country, call everyone a communist who wants more equity and equality than you do,
Apparently Socialism has long been conflated with Communism. In the Vietnam War days, when I was a college student, I subscribed to the The Socialist Workers Party newsletter. It was a philosophy that struck me as more fair and just than Capitalism. I guess that was “radical” enough that I had my photo taken by the FBI. They weren’t surreptitious about it. A man in his thirties with shiny black shoes and an earpiece really stood out on a campus with long-haired hippie students.
Most people i knew in those days had such strange ideas about communists — like they all had a second head hidden under the collar of their shirt or something. The mere whisper of the word carried so much weight. And most people did not know, or did not want to know, what constituted being a communist in the first place. It was anything — economic, lifestyle, even stupid haircuts — that did not fit the local norm. You could be labeled a communist in Maryland for being a stay-at-home Dad, or be one in Iowa for growing an unusual crop!
A dollop of democratic socialism mixed in with our should-be-well-regulated capitalism would be a good thing. NOT classic government owernship of all the means of production. No rational person who sees how systems work wants THAT! But a touch of “the planet belongs to all of us” would be nice.
Pat, I like what you said here. I'm going to add my own take on similar issues: "We (humans, Homo Sapiens (allegedly sapient), do
not own anything ! We are - borrowing - from the future. But the way we are squandering (anything and everything in the here and now) there won't be a - future - worth surviving into ~ ~ ~ let alone
any other species of life on this planet, our only home ~ ~ ~
Yesss! How to wake people up to that reality — this is the struggle we face.
I agree with you!
I have a "funny" story to tell about FBI agents here in western North Carolina. I live in the area were Eric Rudolph the Olympic Bomber hid out in the woods for 5 years. We used to have an annual event called the Possum Drop here in Brasstown on New Years Eve. A local fun even that didn't hurt a Possum being lowered in a cage but that another story anyway. So the FBI was looking for Eric and they came to this community event. There were dressed in brand new Carhart overalls and had bright shiny black shoes and ear pieces. They stood out like a very very sore thumb.
Now I don't want anyone to think that I am in some way an Eric Rudolph fan and it was a good day when he was caught by the local police in Murphy, NC.
I grew up in the Midwest and I can dress like a local in my old Carhart's but if I open my mouth and speak no one thinks I am a local.
I take it you don’t wear shiny black shoes?!
Glad you didn’t hurt the possum. Here in Minnesota we are ecstatic if a possum adopts out yard because they eat deer ticks and yellow jacket ground nests. I’ve had Lyme four times due to tick bites and am seriously allergic to yellow jacket venom. So I was thrilled when a possum started living under my deck! I would never drop him/her anywhere, but I do drop offerings of fruit next to his/her entrance in hopes of a permanent residence!
Marge Wherley, and I agree they use those two "isms" interchangeably as strategy aimed at their supporters and perceived enemies.
Also, people today seem to know nothing about history. No wonder it keeps repeating!
Marge Wherley. someone told me yesterday, the quote, "The only thing we've learned from history is that we don't learn from history.." As someone who has always been curious and explored history, yours words and the quote aboove are a sad commentary.
Marge Wherley, your experience on campus would have scared me! Isn't it something, that people who want fairness and to share power with others is one of the things that frightens them the most?
I was too naive to realize what it could have meant. I just laughed. If the FBI was photographing me today, I would be much less oblivious. Also, I was probably high at the time! ;-)
Marge Wherley, must have been 4:20 or shortly thereafter. Makes sense. :-)
Anybody ever ask these Solons of wisdom to define the word "communist?"
Martha, I was raised Catholic, and so in the 50s and 60s was heavily indoctrinated in "anti-communism", though it was ill-defined. Later, as I grew older, probably in late high school, I started questioning when I realized that communism, (the theory or philosopy, not the totalitarianism practiced in the soviet union) seemed remarkably close to the early christianity described in Acts of the Apostles. It's a very interesting book in the bible. I'm not now christian, but it always surprises me, saddens me that "christians'' don't have a clue what their god was telling to do and how to live.
Here in Baghdad By the Sea, all Democrats are considered to be commies by the Batistianos.
However Maria Salazar, my representative to Congress who calls everyone who opposes her a commie, announced yesterday that she's willing to talk to us.
1. You should move. The psychic cost of staying in Florida is bad for your health.
2. Every one of these people who uses Commie as a pejorative needs to show how smart they are by defining Communist, in public and on the record.
That would be fascinating.
Also let them define socialism?
Martha, Exactly ! An "honest" definition of communism (derived from
commune, a group of individuals willing to work together toward a
common goal, i.e. The Arts and Crafts Communes of the early 1900's)
would be of benefit to REAL understanding of both the positives and
the negatives of the word communist//communism. IMO the main problem with 'communes' is that this rarely takes into account - the variability of human nature: some individuals work with and within the group, others work within but toward their own ends.
Are you sure it would work out better ? I believe it might but I do wonder as women obtain higher positions and more power what will happen? I want to think that they would have a higher standard and be less corrupt but I fear it would not and big business would figure out how to stick their hands into their pockets.
All I know for sure is that men are doing a lousy job of it. What's missing is experience that very few male leaders possess. The more constricted social mobility became, the more in-experience we've seen in decision making roles.
I see the solution as an 'all hands on deck" approach which means diversifying the people in decision making and power roles as soon and as much as possible.
I personally have felt for many years now that men need to get out of the way and allow women to have their shot at making our world a better place. We all know, at least I think we do that men have pretty much done a lousy job of making our country a place, a shining light, a bastion of what freedom and love stand for.
Evil and maniacal women are not given the power that evil, misguided, and maniacal men get with few exceptions, such MTG.
None of those countries to exclude women from the workforce or from public life are thriving, happy countries with thriving, happy families.
This may be a good time to remember Golda Meir. Let us pause to remember the war between Israel and Egypt when she was in charge. It lasted six days.
An unexpected benefit of the evil you describe: some years ago, while searching for a way to establish a new relationship with my mother, one based on two adult women rather than on the dysfunctional mother/child relationship, it occurred to me that we had in common $0.74 on the dollar - two adult working women whose labor was valued at less than their male coworkers' labor. It worked. The woman who had more issues than National Geographic was also possessor of a switchblade wit and much political insight.
Thank you for giving me a laugh today, Martha. "The woman who had more issues than National Geographic". Priceless.
Feel free to borrow - Ture's free quip library is open to all.
you should be a writer - very witty, very thoughtful.
Actually, I am a writer. Would you care to read my book? https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/joe-walker-martha-ture/1009014380
Sounds interesting. I need to read ebooks so I can enlarge the print, but it sounds like a subject my better-seeing friends would love, especially with your clever way of phrasing. I don't see it as an e-book.
Wonderful last sentence! I plan to steal it for my own purposes!
Janet, o so true!
I believe that this trend is the last gasp before real change in our society. The monetizing of all aspects of our lives is a real road block for the equity we seek. I believe that the inheritors of America have a better chance to enjoy a more level playing field.
As for me personally I have gotten the message long ago.
My wife and I share in the homework and always have since we started our relationship. I do most of the cooking because I like to cook and my wife likes what I make.
She does most of the dishes. We clean house together and garden together. I feed the dog at night. My wife feeds the dog in the morning. We both walk him and give him a bath. Hey, we love each other, that’s why we do it this way. Most importantly, we succeed together or miss the mark together. No one is to blame or the goat who feels guilty and inadequate. I find in the life we have built together there is room for personal growth and creativity without fear of mistakes. There is hope for a better world and I try lead by example.
Because they’re assholes.
They really want a theocracy and I'm afraid about 6 members of SCOTUS are all in. Alito and Thomas admit they apply "natural law" before the text of the Constitution. .To them natural law is Catholic dogma.
Daniel Soloman, it is frightening., I agree. Iran anyone? Came across a great quote recently, truthful --- "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious convictions." Blaise Pascal
If they violate the Constitution by making laws of religion,, isn't it a disqualification? They take away a previously enjoyed right based on religious beliefs. It sure looks like a serious violation to me. I guess the devil is in the details, and semantics. Religion is not 'natural'!, is it? A solemn oath to uphold the Constitution is what it is. So is a clear violation of that oath. My question is: Why have a Constitution if it is not followed? Why have a disqualification clause that cannot be enforced?
Scump wants to tear up the Constitution,I don't think a great many of his seriously delusional supporters 'get that' and what it (and he) would entail.I do believe the disqualification clause will be enforced,just by who and when.We've had tough times before and gotten past them,democracy WILL PREVAIL!
🤞
I object. An asshole serves a useful purpose.
Fair point.
David Reno: who are you responding to?
Understand my comment didn't go through. Which one?
I thought Janet Adams but it may have been misdirected.
LOL !
This was my first thought. I also consider they want to tear every fabric of society.
That’s an insult to assholes.
Obviously they are assholes! We women who actually think and challenge those assholes make their tiny egos scared, so they want to shut us (women) up, eveen if it hurts our country and our populace.
I hope the Red State women are beginning to feel the same way.
I think there are women everywhere who think as I do, even in Red States.
Nailed it!
No, Professor, you are not the last one to finally get Covid, I have not had it and I plan to get my next vaccination very soon when I go in for my flu shots.
You are right on the subject of Israel vs Hamas. The Hamas terrorists were absolutely wrong and as bad as anyone can get, On the other hand, Netanyahu has been trump before trump even came on the scene. I was sure he was done for when he was indicted on bribery and other nefarious charges and I really didn't think the Israelis would elect him again. There must be some Ben Gurion's or Golda Meir's left in Israel. I'll never understand why the UN cut out that stupid Gaza strip in the first place, even today, Israel could give them 143 square miles of Israel bordering Palestine and annex Gaza to Israel. It would give Israel more coastal access. I know a lot of our readers hate to hear me say this, but way back in 1948-1949 the UN and other countries offered agricultural assistance to Palestine as well as education and health. The then leaders refused it and any money they received they used to buy guns. The Palestinian leaders set up those "refugee" camps which I call concentration camps. The political leaders did not want the people to become self sufficient, they wanted to kill Jews. Yes over the years the Israelis have been more successful at war than their Muslim neighbors, but most of the wars have been retaliatory. Some Israelis have been greedy and wanted to get rid of the Palestinians and expand Israeli territory. My personal opinion is the Israelis are hated because they took poor land and turned it into a prosperous country where most citizens enjoy a better lifestyle than their Muslim neighbors.
On the subject of the extremists among the Republicans, I agree their only agreed upon doctrine is to destroy liberty, justice, the Constitution and Democracy. There goals are so obviously fascist I don't understand how anyone with an ounce of intellect can't see this. As I said on Heather Cox Richardson's Letters from an American - they are acting like toddlers in a tantrum and the 212 Democrats and 20 or so Republicans should send the lot of them home to their Districts with the admonition to have their constituents deal with their tantrums. Meanwhile the 230 adults can start legislating as they were elected to accomplish. And I still maintain the 'debt ceiling' is unconstitutional.
Yay for Unions!!!
And Heather I agree with you, the only reason to overturn no-fault divorce (dissolution of marriage as it is called in California) is an attempt to reassert male dominance. I had such a dissolution of my first marriage. My second marriage was fantastic, my husband was intelligent, witty and a joy to live with, the only bad thing he ever did was to die, before I was ready.
Fay Reid, Sorry, that your husband has passed on. I hope you had many years with your loving partner.
Thank you, we had 17 great years.
Fay Reid, wonderful!
Thank you
Fay Reid, you have said everything I believe but, somehow for me, the words and concepts never seem to flow correctly or easily. Thank you!
Thank you for the compliment, Stephanie, probably from retiring so late in life from a job that required continuous critical analysis.
Fay Reid: I am 81, been exposed to COVID on several occasions, but never caught it. Have had six shots, as of last month. Got Covid shot, flu shot and RSV shots all in the same visit. Had a sore arm for a while and a feeling of queasiness for about 3 hours on the afternoon of the 2nd day after.
Had similar experience to yours with spouses. My first couldn't hang on to a job, did very little around the house and did a more than rotten job with our children. My 2nd hubbie was a prince who supported me in every way possible. He too died too early...we were married a few weeks short of 30 years.
I share your sorrow in the loss of that 2nd spouse.
Thank you, Cathie, it seems we have a lot in common. I'm hoping the RSV is also available, I hate having to make extra trips. I'm 91, soon to be 92.
Thanks, Bobbe
When daytime television is full of Holy Rollers bellowing out yarns about some hairy prophet who came down from a mountain or walked up a mountain over 2,000 years ago, it isn't hard to discern the origin of current day madness. The numbers of the religious right may be declining but their intolerance is growing exponentially. They seem unable to parse the dis-ingenuousness and mendacious manipulations of their new Orange Messiah.
Catholic dogma opposes virtually all divorce.
Daniel Soloman, they are very, very patriarchial. But noticeable change within the congregation has been taking place over the past 50 years or so. Friends of mine, one being a former priest, famous catholics, outspoken nuns, and Pope Francis all give me hope. There are many who reject the traditional patriarchial teachings rooted in strict punishment. judgment, fear (lots of fear), and discrimination. All the people embracing the dignity of one another and sharing power is a big no, no, and threat to the traditional power in the church.
Pope Benedict was responsible for rolling back many reforms. A Catholic friend of mine in Minneapolis had ten siblings including three gay brothers. They attended mass at a church with a very welcoming and affirming priest. Benedict had him and many similar priests removed. He also cracked down on a group of progressive nuns:
The reform order was issued in 2012 under now-retired Pope Benedict XVI, after an investigation concluded the nuns' group had taken positions that undermined Roman Catholic teaching on the priesthood and homosexuality while promoting "radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith."
My friend and her family quit the Catholic Church. I’m not Catholic but it appears to me that whenever the authority of the old white men is challenged or even vaguely threatened, there is always a backlash. Church or State.
All religion is evil. There is no god, devil, heaven or hell. They are all make believe like Santa Claus.
Marge Wherley, wait, wasn"t that around the time, "The Nuns on a Bus" were traveling the country to sell people on the idea of The Affordable Care Act and the Vatican ordered the U.S. highest ranking church leaders to put those women "back in their place"?
Nuns on the Bus were still traveling in 2018, so I guess the patriarchy failed to put them in any one place.
Marge Wherley, a wonderful failure!
Marge Wherley, thanks I didn't know or had chose to forget Benedict's regression orders. (My friends belong to progressive catholic churches.) I 100% agree with the cycles of backlash against inclusive. progress and prosperity. They"re never-ending today and historically.
See my comments below.
Daniel Soloman, ok.
I agree and find it abhorrent also, but at least they don’t attempt to deny the fossil record.
Patrick, I experienced that when I (an Anthropology major) dated a man of the LDS (Mormon) faith. “Devolution” my ears and whiskers! 🤣
We have come close to the Reich's Ministry for Church Affairs (Reichsministerium für die Kirchliche Angelegenheiten) in the Bush II and Orange Messiah administrations.
What it did in Germany was to destroy the church. Now churches in Germany are often just museums that or tourist attractions.
Ending No fault divorce just adds to the oppression of women on top of the ban on their healthcare. It's another culture war distraction keeping our eyes off the billionaire's outsized power and wage theft. It is another 'divide and conquer' move as well. A woman seeking to leave a marriage is often daunted by simple financial hurdles, even with no fault divorce, or mutually agreed on divorce. With 9% interest rates, just having a roof over her head, and taking care of children's needs requires a good income. Most women do not have decent pay. Second class status is what the 'right' wants for women. tfg likes oppression of women; "treat them like $#it" he said. Look at Iran, and what they support. They have the capability to fund HAMAS, and are suspected to be behind the attacks on Israel, Tfg thinks Hezbollah is "Smart". I can't help but wonder what "my Kev" was doing in Israel recently. I bet he was up to no good. Netanyahu was having to face massive protests very recently. I am suspicious that he knew more about these assaults, may even have been complicit. He is a fascist, and can't be trusted.
I am suspicious that Netanyahu was complicit somehow.
That was my initial thought! He wanted to break the protesters because they were not going away, so hey, let Hamas do it for us.
Agree!
I am positive I have somehow crossed into the Upside Down/Twilight Zone. I am busy looking for the portal to the country that existed once upon a time--when Democrats and Republicans actually worked together.
Looking for the wormhole in space?
Yes, any idea where it might be? ;P Seriously, though, the news lately has been hard to bear
Irishcoda, PLEASE beam me up when you find it!
Until all of the people in our Congress who denied the validity of the 2020 election are removed, either by vote or via the 14th Amendment, we will continue to see this amount of dysfunction and will see continued assaults on the rights of all Americans but especially on the more than half of our population who are female.
Any woman that still votes [for any] Republican is not using the brain that evolution has provided.
Now it's no-fault divorce? This iteration of the Republican party wants control over areas where they have no business interfering, often in the name of religion or family values. And they establish relationships with the rich and powerful to support their ideas when only money can get the job done. Buy a Supreme Court Justice? Support elections of conservative politicians? Money talks, and the Supreme Court says that's just fine with them.
Meanwhile in Colorado, a judge has ruled that the trial of Trump's eligibility for the 2024 ballot must proceed. https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/trump-trial-election-2024-14th-amendment-rcna120270
Renowned physician and social critic Gabor Mate writes, “In the wake of the horrors of the Vietnam War and the unconscionable lies used to justify it, I…had to arrive…at the heartrending realization that the dream that had been a balm to my soul, that of a triumphant Jewish national rebirth in my people’s ancestral biblical home, had been achieved by imposing a nightmare on the Palestinian inhabitants of the land, a nightmare that continues to this day. When the truth struck home, I was once again astonished that my imagined universe could have been such a distorted version of the real one. Visiting the West Bank and Gaza, I wept every day for two weeks.”
https://twitter.com/hahussain/status/1712277203935760472?s=12&t=3aj0CFnc6OinEOS9i6cx5w&fbclid=IwAR3XKP8Ht8uxy9GD7943Ipl1VQ7pk9T4I9x5w9aiuwaXI7VvD-WagNvJvdQ
Thanks for this!
One thing I objected to, Robert and Heather, was your suggestion that Israel and the Palestinians are equally bad. You should know the true history, because there have been so many lies about this. Israel has been oppressive of the Palestinians from Day One. It drove out 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland at gunpoint. It certainly doesn’t stop there. israel has had vastly superior weaponry (including nuclear warheads), an army, navy and air force--which the Palestinians have never had--checkpoints, constant harassment of Palestinians, plus Israel’s nonstop grabbing of more and more of their land. They are an oppressed people. Don’t you dare say you can’t support them as a people. Not Hamas, which was encouraged by israel’s bullying and oppression--but the Palestinian people themselves need our help and love. They just want to live happily. The Israelis wouldn’t need all their technology, their weaponry, their surveillance and horrible fences, if they just had one thing--good will, and they can stop calling all Palestinians Nazi terrorists. Not a Jewish state ruling over others, but one state with equality for all, is what we must have.
Please reconcile what you say with the FACT that the Arab Legion sent more Jews TO Israel (ostensiby to die) in 1948, at the same time it told Arabs to flee because ther was an impending bloodbath to kill everyone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_exodus_from_the_Muslim_world#:~:text=In%20June%201948%2C%20soon%20after,left%20the%20country%20for%20Israel.
Republicans want a Christian theocracy, not just male dominance. If they were to succeed, we'd become another Ireland with Catholics versus Protestants. The founding fathers understood that religious tolerance is an oxymoron. Only a secular government can maintain coexistence.
Janet,
I agree... however, as a child I had the example laid out about women being equal and men being an equal partner in raising a family.
My Mother had a masters in math. She had her own money. My Father was an avid reader and educator and a clever, witty writer with a natural musical talent. He heard the music and then could play it on the piano by ear.
What they taught us: as a family: we all shared the work.... making the beds, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, doing our homework... all a family purpose. Then, on week-ends we got to hike or go to a movie or to a restaurant ( usually Chinese for good food at a reasonable price). We read together, we listened to music on the stereo system my Father built. We studied music and dance.
My Mother’s Father was an immigrant from Yugoslavia. He worked hard in the mines with union protections. He believed in two things above all else, education and unions.
My Father had a broken home after the age of six. He suffered polio and lost the entire muscle from the knee to the ankle on his left leg. He never once talked as tho’ he were crippled. He had a brilliant memory that remembered everything he read. He was a “fish culturist” for the state fish and game. He ran the fish hatchery and became a total environmentalist and teacher to three young daughters. He mad me believe that as a person I could do and become anything I chose. My Mother also believed this. Three daughters had college degrees as did she . One became a lawyer.
Both parents believed in the “New Deal” that FDR helped imagine. They believed in paying back into ones’ country . They believed in being “good citizens and neighbors”.
I am simply sharing that two people: a man and a woman can decide freely to be an equal part of the equation of being human. Of caring about the universe. They never believed that getting rich was a goal. They had lived through the Depression. They did believe in saving and in taking care of things.
Do I believe I am better than others? No, but I believe that educating one’s self can help one see that all together we are strong! But alone we just tread water..., man or woman.... we need one another and we need to decide what works and what doesn’t. This is called “CHOICE”!
Lovely story! Thanks for sharing it! ❤️
Republicans are so good at deflection... look over here!
While they are robbing the populace of basic rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Men who support women are real men. (Katalin Kariko discovered the Covid vaccines and saved humanity).
I agree, the R goal to do away with women's power in no fault divorce is maddening. It's patriarchy, white patriarchy, rearing its ugly head, as it has done so disgustingly for the past eight years, devouring the dignity and rights of women and girls and smashing to pieces all the progress we've made towards a more perfect union that exemplifies equity and equality for all.
Janet, I’m struck by the contradiction between the men that want women to stay home, barefoot and pregnant, and the men who can’t find enough women to fill their job openings. I guess they decided to compromise by trying to abolish child labor laws?
Janet Adams, if only the men of good will could have been the majority in power throughout history, there would have been a lot less suffering.
They exemplify the Desire to go backwards -as with every policy that GOP has on its agenda. Need to go backwards- to fight any social progress which ultimately leads to economic progress for the bottom 99%.
LaVelle, it seems as though their minds have never moved from the so-called “Good Old Days”.
I haven't a xlue. How many times has Trump been divorced? Elon Musk? Jeff Bezos?
(Pancha Chandra): We can just shine the torch and highlight the mistakes the Republicans are making. Watching the Republican theatre from Brussels show that the Republicans are not ready to govern. Biden will certainly get a second term and America will blaze a beautiful new trail.
(Pancha Chandra): ; I hope you are correct!
The oldest trick of terrorist groups making the enemy over reacht this way they allready have won the game of discrediting the garage verment of the enemy and making it more vulnerable to extortion
Agreed and worry this will cause more trouble. Biden made it clear the civilians were not to be purposeful targets and we see the result. Innocents on both sides pay the price.
The poor often pay the largest price.
Sometimes it seems that the Republicans (in general) are trying to reverse the tide of history to reestablish their golden era, which is the late 1800-early 1900s when male-dominated corporations could do whatever they wanted to increase their profits and reduce their costs. Part of that was dividing the labor force by excluding women and also thereby reducing the ability of labor to endure longer strikes (less net take-home pay means less savings). The other thread is the insertion of conservative Christianity, which tends to favor the patriarchal side of family relations. So, Republican policy is pegged to a past-oriented, regressive view of family relations, and repression of workers equity.
It’s just another component of the playbook sold to the cult to gain votes and fealty. That playbook of course hides the real agenda - continued enrichment of the oligarchs and their companies and families who truly run our country.
Sam Tennyson ; Don't forget the lawyer$ and private investigator$.
I was not aware of the move to stop "no fault divorce." In hearing J.D. Vance's coent on "like changing underwear", being an alumni of the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, I think that statement says a great deal.
The Ten Commandments tells of not "coveting one's neighbor wife, his ass or manservant" . TH
I always thought it was weird that coveting my neighbor's husband is o.k? What a joke.
Clever…
Important stuff all the way around this week. But the real danger of triggering an all out religious war based on the Israeli response to Hamas is absolutely HUGE! Israel is already triggering protest outpourings across the Middle East. These are not going to go away. Very dangerous. A stupid global religious holy war is a very real possibility.
Hamas/Iran opposed the pending Israel/Saudi/UAE treaties.
@Daniel Solomon, I wonder what you think of the view that Russia and Iran are using Hamas and Hezbollah to initiate repeated assaults on Israel in order to catalyze a war that they think can overpower The West in the other hemisphere.
Of course. Anything to hurt democracy.
Seems you don't have a Democracy Daniel?
All of the above!
And more that they thought of but we haven't.
Absolutely right, Robert and Heather, that some people are looking for a bright line between the “right” and the “wong”in Israel, and this situation carries right and wrong on both the official Israeli side and the official Palestinian side.
BUT, on both sides are also millions of human beings who deserve to find, finally, a measure of peace and safety living with and alongside each other.
This is EXACTLY what Netanyahu has said he will not abide — NO TWO-STATE SOLUTION ON HIS WATCH!
And EXACTLY what the radicals and extremists in Hamas have said they will not abide — ERADICATE THE ISRAELI STATE.
Having the Obstructionists in power for either or both sides in the struggle is hurting so many innocent people who would live side by side and go about their lives, if their rights were in tact and they had the power to govern themselves in the interests of The Common Good.
Ramping up the martial aspects of the issues that so many peaceful people have been trying to resolve for so long … this is the most heartbreaking eventuality, and one must wonder WHAT Hamas could seriously have hoped to bring about with this monstrous, obscene attack {and what Netanyahu hopes to bring about by raining fire down on Palestinian civilians and children who have no route to escape to safety …}.
It makes no rational sense.
They want to be seen as anti divorce and push the narrative that a marriage dissolution is akin to a sin. The practical nature of a successful marriage is viewed as seen as optional. They are showing an underlying hope that marriage is a big deal and means a very serious commitment.
The GOP wants to regress and maintain dominance over women in society. They are currently experiencing dysfunction and infighting due to allegations of corruption and bribery.
Off topic: COVID. Based on your age, I assume you were prescribed Paxlovid. You will test positive. Ask you providers. You are to isolate not until you test negative but for five days per the CDC. Pay attention to your symptoms not your test results. Check with your doctor.
Thank you Professor Robert (A chicken must be sacrificed for your wellbeing, chicken soup for you) & Thank you Heather, have a wonderful joyful weekend.
Framing the conflict as being between the Israelis and the Palestinians is not helpful, even though all Israelis and Palestinians are caught up in it, and have been for 75 years. But lumping everyone on each "side" together ignores that there are factions on each side and those factions are not all in agreement, nor are they all equally to blame for all the terribleness of these decades of strife and conflict. Here's a statement about this that I wrote soon after the recent invasion of Israel by Hamas:
The story of Israel and the Palestinians is truly a "both sides" story. Both sides have historically done "bad" things to each other. Both sides have historically done things to make a difficult situation worse. Both sides have factions that are primarily responsible for all of this – responsible for provoking and perpetrating "bad" things. Both sides also have factions that would just like to get along, live and let live. All factions on both sides suffer terribly when things blow up as they just have – again.
It is essentially impossible for the "live and let live" factions to help develop and maintain any lasting resolutions and peaceful coexistence due to the constant state of fear and frequent provocations perpetrated by the most disagreeable factions.
As in many if not most difficult cross-cultural relationships, there is a political advantage to the perpetrators of "bad" things – they can use the fear and the incursions from the other side to justify the need for them to be in power and to continue their policies – policies which serve both to "protect and defend" and to perpetuate the difficult situation that helps them stay in power.
And the "support" for either side from other countries – each with their own complex agendas – only serves to complicate and expand the difficulties, the strife, and the suffering far beyond the borders of Israel and Palestine. We all suffer.
-- -- --
Additional commentary for this post: Some people have objected to what I wrote because the "bad" things done on each side cannot be equated and, particularly from the Palestinian side, the Israelis have done far worse things than the Palestinians have. BUT, I never said both sides have done equally "bad" things or that both sides are equally responsible for the on going conflict. I simply described the general picture of how the conflict has been perpetuated and why a stable, peaceful resolution has never been implemented.
Note, also, that I mentioned in my statement that there are factions on both sides that see an advantage to not finding a peaceful resolution – because a peaceful resolution would remove one of their primary self-justifications for being in power and for implementing all of their policies, including many far right policies that are separate from the whole conflict. Fear of the other side is a pretty easy sell to get people to vote for the party that promises to deal with those who cause fear, even if they cannot or will not actually solve the problem.
The story is pogrom. Which side beheads babires and sends instructional videos to inflame their followers? Which side sends their own kids to die as suicide bombers?
Until Carl Karasti’s point is understood and acknowledged by the antagonists, I believe peace-ward policy will not happen.
If that means falsely incriminating all Jews Accepting the pogrom, count me out.
I support the two state solution. To do that, innocent Arabs should surrender to save themselves -- to the Palestinoan Authority.
In 1979, Edward Said, the famed Palestinian literary critic, declared himself “horrified at the hijacking of planes, the suicidal missions, the assassinations, the bombing of schools and hotels.” Rashid Khalidi, a Palestinian American historian, called the suicide bombings of the second intifada “a war crime.” I'd try to mobilize (and empower) the Palestinian Authority like the UN peace mission in Lebanon. Establish safe areas within Gaza, but an airlift vis a viz the Berlin Airlift to safety if Jordan, Egypt, etc will permit them. When Hamas took control, chased out virtually all Arab Christians and Al Fatah, and in some cases liquidated them as "collaborators" with Israel. Residents will need to be protected.
When I was in the army we had the capacity to relocate villiges in a day.. Every unit has a table of operations and equipment that includes medical services, potable warter, tents etc.
When the settlements surrounding Gaza were vacated in 2006, Hamas refused to take advantage. This land is still available.
https://twitter.com/hahussain/status/1712277203935760472?s=12&t=3aj0CFnc6OinEOS9i6cx5w&fbclid=IwAR3XKP8Ht8uxy9GD7943Ipl1VQ7pk9T4I9x5w9aiuwaXI7VvD-WagNvJvdQ
Appreciate your deep knowledge and comments David. And the apt link.
In my reading, Carl’s key point, which is often easily lost in our rapid generalizations, is that the militant right wings of most ‘nations’ or peoples, neither accurately represent, reflect, nor respond to that of the more moderate majority. It is easy to see this in our own congress… and can be confident it is similarly the case in Israel and Gaza.
The only way to ME peace as I see it, lies in drawing those meaningful distinctions between individuals at a much more granular level than Hamas v Israel, and then highlighting them, instead of clumping or minimizing them.
Like you, and most I expect, I foresee bigger ROIs in peace than in vengeance.
Most agree eye for an eye (or 10 eyes) isn’t far-sighted policy - particularly in an era where WMDs are rapidly becoming democratized. (My concerns are biological and informational, not nuclear or chemical.) Entropy: civilization is easier to break than make.
Everyone has extended family capable of hating forever those who killed one of their loved ones.
“Getting even” is a dead end. (I’m an interested party here - my family includes Hebrew, Arabic, German, Japanese, and Chinese speakers.)
Here’s the radical 2000 yo idea: The best strategic use of overwhelming tactical and material superiority in October of 2023, is to stall for time and opportunity to achieve granular knowledge, understanding, and to find appropriate ( if not creatively radical!) compassion, and then act on it.
Move boldly to assure every person has a much larger stake in peace than in chaos - something of durable and meaningful value: life, health, education, (land?), safety, dignity AND respect?
We did better with this reconstruct (v. oppress) strategy with Japan and Germany post WWII (as opposed to WWI), and intriguingly, eventually with Vietnam - 20 years after ‘losing’ the conflict we normalized relations, and in 20 more, they were a useful balancing ally (worked for you in Hanoi in 2015).
This is hard, but it is do-able.
As difficult and expensive as it IS, I expect it is the easiest and shortest - and only - road to peace.
Deals are all compromises. Takes 2 to get a deal. "The only way to ME peace as I see it, lies in drawing those meaningful distinctions between individuals at a much more granular level than Hamas v Israel, and then highlighting them, instead of clumping or minimizing them."
Already done. You (and Carl) are oblivious to the history.
Name is Dan. I am a Vietnam Veteran. We had a deal in 1968 -- sabotaged by Nixon. We were not really part of the Geneva Accords in 1954. Our State Department misrepresented the role of the Viet Minh.
We had a deal – Oslo Accords, sabotaged by essentially one actor – Hamas. The Israeli right wing was not as powerful as depicted. Israel has a parliamentary government and the Ultra orthodox comprise a small minority. The Palestinians should have been represented by the Al Fatah faction, which outnumbers Hamas 100 to 1. I want a stronger Palestinian Authority (PA) so that negotiations can resume.
I believe in the power of transactional analysis. The parties had a deal – can be reinstated. Land for peace worked. That’s how the PA was created.
This is just another part of their overall plan to take over and get rid of American democracy and cement their power from coast to coast. Read "Saving Democracy: A User's Manual For Every American" by David Pepper and see how this all works and even more importantly what you and everyone else can do to stop it. They are playing the long game. Do not rely on short term "victories" and feel like all is well. They never stop and they are playing the long game always................ "Democracy is fragile, not stable. It can be lost. And as always, it is under sustained attack. Not just in other countries, but here in the United States. In state after state. And it must be defended."
They are trying to go backwards, again, to a day where white men, particularly with wealth and power, controlled everything and women “were in their place “.
One of my favorite things is my divorce. It was inexpensive and quick. I only divorced once. He collected them like baseball cards.
If I was an awful person doing awful things like some members of the GOP, making divorce more difficult might sound good. I could hold on to my marriage a few more days. What sounds good in theory does not always work in practice. Nothing can match living with someone who does not respect or love you to suck away all joy or validation. No rules about divorce will prevent your not-true love from packing a suitcase and driving away. You can wave a marriage certificate that promises to be faithful in sickness or in health, but the only company you will have is that piece of paper. Love is grand, divorce is a 100 grand.
Not to be a smart-alec, but maybe it’s the Private Investigator Lobby that’s pushing a repeal of No Fault Divorce! My brother reminded me that people once needed “proof” of infidelity or some such to get a divorce, before no fault came along and divorce could be granted on the grounds that at least one of the parties DOES NOT WANT TO BE MARRIED TO THE OTHER ANY MORE.
And that Carnival Hillbilly Caricature JD Vance is holding forth on the idea? Egad.
Egad, egad, egad.
i strongly disagree with your comments on no fault divorce. it is a tool of the male dominated world to make is easy to walk away from children and marriage, and screw women our of their share of the wealth generated in the marriage, leave children in poverty and in a single parent home. divorce is war in the family, and it has been part of the loss of morals and rules at home.
Sorry to say, that, although you may be right in some cases, no fault divorce has been used by women for their own benefit as well, likely as often as men. Inequality of resource distribution following a divorce can go both ways, as I know from personal experience. In such cases, the issues arise from inattentive courts and inadequate laws regarding divorce, not from the fact that the divorce was "no fault." Going back to requiring evidence of some sort would be far for those being cheated. The more prosperous spouse would just hire better Private Investigators and lawyers.
Why all women don’t see this trend is so disappointing and scary..
This past Wednesday, I listened to Leeja Miller's Patreon piece about the Heritage Foundation. She does a great job of showing how Heritage is behind all manner of retrograde battlefronts, including the attack on no-fault divorce. [I strongly recommend that you give her a listen. Even if you're not a Patreon subscriber, you can find her on YouTube.] So my point is that, if she is correct - and, again, she makes a compelling case - these retrograde battles being fought are not disconnected and are not necessarily organic, but are coming from a tiny contingent of well-funded paleolithic patriarchal culture warriors who would love to see permanent minority rule in America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tty4ituwQcU&pp=ygUMbGVlamEgbWlsbGVy
Egotistical bullying makes them feel in control .Either sex can do it . But GOps have gone way to far . Look at the other countries where male dominance creates even bigger Egos. The reality is there's a keeper and a kept, the confusion on the two is really like a reading book . The keeper thinks he's the keeper ,yet the kept does everything to keep the keeper kept. So really the keeper is the kept and the kept keeps the keeper kept. Human instincts are in play ...women are the empathetic and carers, men the hunters . Over time women have figured out how to silently control the whole situation . Now men know it , and can't handle the reality and this is their way of trying to deny it. Some women fall for it because of fear , and have reason too. Egos are involved ....respecting each other's differences is a must in these times of human evolution .....the GOps aren't smart enough to see it ,say it ,or live it. Those stupid enough to fall for the game ....won't survive . VOTE 🔵 Blue for the women and our girls
Hey, professor Reich, I checked “other” in your poll because I believe there is even a more sinister plan here. They want more white babies. They are scared of losing their white power majority and are doing everything they can to get white families producing more babies. That’s what brings all of these seemingly individual political moves together for one sole purpose - white power!
The divorce issue was beneath my radar, and I think I follow the news carefully. This needs more attention.
I am pro Israel
Relating the discussion of Israel to the question regarding divorce in this country, Netanyahu's coalition partners have sought to impose very observant Judaism, which is extremely patriarchal, on the Israeli population, and to delegitimize the more liberal branches of Judaism. Arguably the Taliban of Judaism. Under strict Jewish law, a woman cannot remarry unless her husband agrees to the divorce.
It is possible that the Israeli government's focus on imposing strict Jewish law and on trying to push the Palestinians out of the West Bank distracted them from paying attention to what Hamas terrorists were doing. We in this country can take a lesson from that. We need to get our act together.
Speaking of extreme patriarchy, a Mormon woman can't be one of the many wives on her husband's given planet in the afterlife, unless he reaches through the veil cloth and calls her by the secret name he gave her when they were sealed within the temple during the marriage ceremony.
In Israel, civil no fault. The ultra orthodox are a minority.
"[O]n trying to push the Palestinians out of the West Bank" What they tried to do, starting in 1978, was let the Palestinian Authority govern. The West Bank was part of Jordan, residents had Jordanian passports, deeds, etc. Due to a combination of internal factors -- like Hamas-- they can't govern....and they haven't been able to negotiate.
The ultra Orthodox may be a minority, but they have significant power in the current coalition government. Netanyahu accedes to their demands because he needs them to remain prime minister. One reason they want to take independence and power away from the Israeli Supreme Court is so they can freely enact and impose strict Jewish law on all of Israeli society.
Netanyahu is a criminal this is his way of keeping out of Jail! Remind you of someone else?
The law applies to all citizens, Jews, Christians, Moslems, and the largest group, secularists.
Oops, they have their heads in the wrong place!
Up potoot?
Hey Robert, my thumb resting on my screen voted for "family values", but I didn't. My brain would have picked "increase male power".
It is too bad that all of these people weren't put in time out and then sent to bed without their supper. So much fear leads to so much anger leads to so much pain inflicted on others.
It reminds of the murder suicide Paradox. If only the perpetrator had used the gun on themselves first.
I read that some of the radical right are even talking about taking the vote from women! It's amazing how much some men hate women. I don't understand it.
Republican politicos are feeding their base for votes . I don't think there is another reason for promoting the restrictions they put forth. Its all about maintaining and attaining political power and job retention. I done think the majority of Republican politicians are concerned with the pressing needs the US now faces. Its a pathetic power grab at all costs.
There are registered Republicans who have always hated the existence of no-fault divorce. Instead of simply minding their own business and happily never choosing divorce, they want everybody else never to choose it either. The G.O.P. needs this sect for their votes. Abolishment of no-fault would throw red meat to them, ensuring that they would stay in the fold & vote Republican instead of sitting on their hands & not voting. The G.O.P. cannot not afford to lose any votes. The G.O.P. is comprised of “johns” who are willing to pay for votes from the religious right with this type of legislation.
I am trying to make sense out of the tragedy in the Middle East. I am a Jew, and I fully support Israel as a country while hating the Netanyahu government and the right wing and how it has tried to undermine democracy there, as well as the settlement movement that has diminished the possibility of a two state solution and peace. I am heartbroken for the losses of my people in Israel, men, women and children randomly cut down by Hamas. I in no way identify the Palestinian people with Hamas, which is a terrorist organization that cares nothing for the people they are supposed to govern. Yet I am also heartbroken by the Israeli response—-understanding the rage, but so many civilian deaths in Gaza! Why the air strikes on civilian targets? Why so many innocent Palestinian deaths? I am looking for answers, maybe there are none…
Ann Gluck, thank you for stating your position so clearly, succinctly, and compassionately. Being a Jew myself, I agree wholeheartedly.
Actually NO. 1 and No. 4 are the same thing, stated differently. It is the same reason they are trying to control women in every aspect of their lives, from personal medical decisions, keeping women's wages low; denying child care as other developed countries do, failing to renew the child credit, and denying women positions leadership positions in workplaces. More then ever, we see how weak their egos are.
Years ago, in Chicago, I had to drum up some "faults" for getting a divorce--my ex had left the marriage some time before--and two friends testified to "faults"--one lied and said she had witnessed abuse (she had, in a way) and the other said she had never seen any. It didn't matter. The judge didn't seem to be listening and granted the divorce.
Some of us were looking for any excuse......
On the other hand some judges never granted a single contested divorce. For many people in some counties near the Ohio border, the answer was to get residency there. I'm old enough to remember when Nevada was the divorce capitol, because most other states were strrict. For many years, adultery was the only permitted ground in NY.
I have no idea why Republican’ts do what they do or is it don’t do what the majority wants done…Negative energy SUCKS.
I don't think there is any way to logically reconcile the libertarian philosopy with theocracy. But the Republican party serves both.
Oh! Yes! We get it. Thank heavens some sanity left.
They are the party of "Republicants".
I grew up in a small, midwestern, mainly rural state. Nebraska, to be specific. I think it's safe to say that most men who grow up conservative are pretty insecure at their core. I believe it begins with their reliance a version of Christian theology that is inherently not Chirst like. At all. From there, it grows into a demand that your placate their belief system & their 'strength' of character. Most of them ignore their drinking, etc. by the way - goes with version of Christianity that they follow.
So, I definitely think these Republican's fall into the above category & want to 'strengthen' men. But I never found that they wanted women to be subservient, perse. If anything, the kids I grew up with wanted to 'best' women, and were willing to try & alter the playing field to justify doing that, which as I said above goes back to their religious doctrine. It's a fine difference, yes, but I think a significant one that is overlooked. Conservatives want to believe that they 'earned' their dominance.
It would seem to me the simple answer to the "no-fault" divorce issue would come in what's in the "contract" to begin with -- and to put terms in it that would allow for what the no-fault process currently does -- prior to entering into it.
The politicians are paid employees of those who spend billions on all manner of "conservative" causes all aimed at undoing any form of choice in all our lives and every form of democracy and legal rights we have - they want and like slavery pure and simple - please stop asking about single issues and using individual name calling - none of that is real as a stand alone issue but all are part of a strategy to simply get slavery allowed as the law of the land and the rich.
I am no supporter of the violence in Israel but where are the press analyses of Israeli apartheid as one set of laws all about slavery.
No fault divorce prohibited by the Feds by Republican promoted law really proves the fact that Republicans support state rights. Hah! What do the feds have to do or say about this anyway? Divorce proceedings are in lower courts, not Federal.
YES, to all of them but mostly the first one. The fuckers.
My question is how do we get main stream media to report on the advances the Biden administration has made? How do we get them to report the truth? How do we get them to give equal time to the truth?
Because of Western media is just as good at propaganda as is Russia's. Jenny, see Manufacturing Consent: The Western War Media’s Selective Outrage and Imperial Amnesia
BY PAUL STREET counterpunch OCTOBER 13, 2023
Other. I would have put pro-family but it would not have come off as the intended sarcasm. The repugnants boast about being pro-family when they are anything but.
Choices 1 and 4 are so similar that the results can be added together: 89 percent (as I write this). It is so obvious. What I don't understand is why so many women agree with the Republicans on those issues where they - women - are harmed. I understand that there will always be outliers, but not all women are Phyllis Schlaflys and their current-day descendants. Essentially this: I, a man, say "I want to take your rights away, and that's because I know better than you about yourself." And you, a woman, say, "You are right. I have no idea what I want or need, and you taking my rights away to decide those things for me is a good thing."
It's a related question to why people who agree with Trump and others around the world who are beginning to embrace authoritarianism. Essentially this: I say, to my fellow citizens, "You are not capable of making decisions for yourself, and so you need me to make them for you." And you say, "Yes, you are right, I am not worthy of my own agency. And to hell with any fancy and ridiculous ideas that came out of the enlightenment."
An excellent point. I recall the scene in Alice in Wonderland when the caterpillar smoking the hookah asks Alice "Who are you?" The answer is who defines you? To define yourself is a life long process which changes while we all change. When a girl becomes a women she has her "period." When they stop she goes through the "change." You need not have female physiology to go through periods and changes since the only constant in life is change.
Let's be honest here: just about ANYONE would be better and more qualified than Jim "Insurrection Baby" Jordan. Hell! An ACTUAL child would do better.
I'd just be happy with anyone who doesn't look the other way when it comes to sexual abuse and molestation.
They are just trying to create another hot-button topic to deflect visibility from their inability to govern.
To keep the evangelical base happy.
All of the above because they're stupid and think they can get away with it. How about an old, very rusty keyless chastity belt for these dimwits?
Why? They have nothing else to talk about. They have gone to far in the saying.."keep it simple stupid". What a mess 'these' hateful 8 have caused and now trolling to bring a mini me, Jim Jordan as the speaker. Somebody bring sanity to our government.
To your point Heather, the Evangelical Church is in lockstep with keeping women in check. Dr. Reich, here’s to a negative test soon!
It looks to me like tfg and his buds are in the same league with Iran. Netanyahu is not far from them as well. If the disqualification clause is not enforced we could see some of the horrors visited upon Israel, and other unfortunate populations. They are killing young women in Iran, for removing their headscarfs!!!! Another friend of tfg locks people up for 30 years just for opposing him, and running against him. That's no Democracy that Putin is running into the ground! Where are our defenders? Is our military might, that we pay dearly for only to enforce corporate interests in other countries!?!?? DEMAND JUSTICE! RAISE HELL AND PHONE/Text ; Send a handwritten letter to your Secretary of state, or whomever is in charge of ballots: even if in a blue state! 💙 keep traitors out of our government!
Vote Democrat!!!
WHY?
The GOP has to keep its base distracted. If they were to focus on the more consequential issues, there'd be some awkward 'splainin' to do. Recollect GWB making a huge issue of gay marriage - not even a federal issue - in a presidential election. Recollect Arnold's "girly men". It's a tactical feature.
It's a distraction move.
According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency:
“The Gaza Strip has a population of approximately 2.1 million people, including some 1.7 million Palestine Refugees. For at least the last decade and a half, the socioeconomic situation in Gaza has been in steady decline. ..A[n] Israel-imposed and US-backed] blockade on land, air and sea was imposed by Israel following the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007. There are now very few options left for the people of Gaza, who have been living under collective punishment as a result of the blockade that continues to have a devastating effect as people’s movement to and from the Gaza Strip, as well as access to markets, remains severely restricted….The blockade and related restrictions contravene international humanitarian law as they target and impose hardship on the civilian population, effectively penalizing them for acts they have not committed…Food security in Gaza has deteriorated with 63 per cent of people in the Gaza Strip being food insecure and dependent on international assistance. The continuing intra-Palestinian divisions exacerbate the humanitarian and service delivery crisis on the ground. With 81.5 per cent of the population living in poverty, an overall unemployment rate of 46.6 per cent (48.1 per cent for Palestine Refugees living in the camps) at the end of the third quarter of 2022 and an unemployment rate of 62.3 per cent among youth (15-29 years, refugees and non-refugees), the already fragile humanitarian situation in Gaza threatens to deteriorate further. The economy and its capacity to create jobs have been devastated, resulting in the impoverishment and de-development of a highly skilled and well-educated society. Access to clean water and electricity remains at crisis level and impacts nearly every aspect of life. Clean water is unavailable for 95 per cent of the population. Electricity is available up to an average of 11 hours per day as of July 2023. However, ongoing power shortage has severely impacted the availability of essential services, particularly health, water, and sanitation services, and continues to undermine Gaza’s fragile economy, particularly the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.” Turning Palestine into a concentration camp is excused by the Holocaust. In the last 75 years Israeli pain and suffering pales before that of the Palestinian people and the Gazans.
Important question. Why have the Western powers not been heeding the Geneva convention vis-a-vis Israel?
Hamas' military operation was a pogrom aimed at innocent people. Reminds of similar military strikes at the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, at delis in Paris, Rome, at the Olympic team in Munich in 1972. Not much different than the murders of 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh which you obviously support.
When aid was given to Gaza, it was used to fund suicide bombers and munitions. The rockets' targets are indiscriminate.
Gaza has had self determination since 2006. Their allies, like Iran could take care of all the social problems you describe but they send Hamas what they want -- more ammo.
Jordan won’t get the vote. A time for Jeffries to talk to the moderates on your idea. He probably is. Gaza is a pox in both sides but the Palestinians brutality stands out. Israel is in a quandary.
Oops! I didn't see the enriching lawyers option. Clearly a play for the legal vote. It's so good to see you looking healthy, Professor.
Actually fewer lawyers.
Thanks so much for this analysis, for keeping cool heads in these tragic times. You're both great. Thanks for being there.
I look at the pettiness and continuing calamity in the Republican side of the House of Representatives and I am reminded of the marvelous sea chanty, "The Walloping Windowblind."
Is anyone reading Prof Reich's blog prepared to offer a suitable modern version of the lyrics?
The recess until Monday is a reflection of the lines,
"The man at the wheel
was taught to feel
contempt for the wildest blow
and it often appeared
when the gale had cleared
that he'd been in his bunk below."
"A capital ship," indeed!
Fault divorces.
Before Pa had "dissolution" of divorce, had to prove fault. We had one form that was, in essence, a legal separation, a Catholic “divorce a mensa et toro," of bed and board.
When I was a kid I'd go to the race track with a priest who later became a monsignor. As a Jew, I could not be excommunicated, so as an adult, he considered me the house Jew for the Archdiocese in some matters. I was an advisor to The Blue Army. I also participated in a few canonical annulments.
The church threatened everyone involved with divorce with excommunication. Some priests clandestinely advised some of their parishioners to annul or divorce, risking excommunication to everyone involved. Some Catholic judges risked it. Lawyers. Therapists. Some Catholic judges would not grant a divorce.
I could not actually participate, but sometimes I'd attend. My clients, who included a couple of lawyers, could ask me for advice. "Telll them you had uncontrolable thoughts."
One of the lawyers got a canonical annulment, approved at the Vatican level after he had been married more than 30 years and had seven kids.
I also served as a master in divorce. At the time I had the record for 5 fastest divorces in one day. The questions:
Claimant: Did (s)he beat you?
Witness: Did you see it?
There are no witnesses to gaslighting and emotional abuse.
We had a catch group, "indignities to the person." Therapists, physicians were witnesses.
Daniel Soloman, what is "The Blue Army"? And thank you, you probably brought some wisdom to all the silliness.
https://www.bluearmy.com/the-apostolate-2/#:~:text=In%20the%20early%20years%20of,Union%20and%20their%20Red%20Army.
I also represented school districts and car dealers and one board member was a Chyrsler dealer who IMHO devised a scheme to sell blue cars. The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima were supposedly the spiritual force standing against the the Soviet Union and their Red Army. Members were expected to buy a blue Chrysler..
Daniel Soloman, thanks for the link. Their site includes the description that they formed to stand against the "atheist" Soviets. Thanks, I learned something.
Daniel Soloman,. good example of the irrationality rabbit holes people go down, to carry out their control over others and justify their belief in superiority .
At this point I am wondering why no one noticed Hamas practicing for the invasion. They were out there, in the open, practicing for two years.
Because they are complete idiotic assholes.
There are two entirely different ideologies operating in this dysfunctional may lay. The sickness in understanding lies with Hamas. They carry the desire to destroy Israel and the rest of the non-Muslim world. These backward thinking degenerates hold no quarter for anything found within the Christian religion. Hamas is a gruesome disease that has infected many Muslims buried within this sect of over 2 billion people that call Alia their God. This radical splinter group wants to kill everyone that doesn't share in their belief system, mainly all Christians. What God condones the murder of babies? Not one that can exist in any segment of the free world that I know. I would love to add a bit of humor to this thought in an attempt to soften the reality of what is happening in the Middle-East but sadly I can't. There is only one solution to this convoluted mess, crush and eradicate all that is Hamas.
Fay--Your personal accomplishments are impressive.
They have become a party of idiots.
seems Heather is voicing te views of the new(er) generations; Robert has the guidance that can come only from his life experience....VERY impressed (and grateful)!
Many Republican men want women to be subservient and they want to increase male power over women. Sadly, some men like to pretend women are brainless in order to feel better about themselves.
Plain irresponsibility and a cumulation of 'mass-stupidity'!
Sometimes a spouse behaves badly (e.g. commits adultery, irresponsibly spends savings, aggressive behavior, etc.) and this is a situation where that spouse is at fault and should be sued by the other spouse. The badly behaving spouse should be held accountable, and "no fault" is not appropriate here. In other cases, spouses just no longer are satisfying each other's needs, wants, and desires, and this is a good situation for "no fault." Every case is different.
It is just an indispensable part of their ideology in today's tribalistic culture wars.
I'm listening to Saturday's podcast and sorry you have covid. I'm hoping someone addressed this earlier. You may test positive for months however, once you don't have fever for 48 hours you are not contagious and you can go outside wearing a mask. I believe it is now 5 or 7 days of no fever and you can go mask free. Feel better .
No! Read the papers and even our own lame CDC clearly stats, “ if you’re feeling better” you may resume contact while using caution, masking if you feel better doing so. Re-testing is pointless, a person can test positive for weeks AND is not contagious! Gee whiz....you guys are promoting stupid behavior. How did we act 4 years ago when we had colds? We used common sense!
The religious beliefs seem to cause problems in any secular society. At least I hope we consider ourselves in America a secular country? It is one thing to state your religious views. It is another to force them on others! The Crusades and various other religious wars during the middle ages should taught us at least that basic concept? Personally I consider some our recent elections to have way to strong religious overtones if not outright religious bias. So much for separation of church and state!
Donnie Trumpet will sleep well because the Secret Service still has a plan to protect him and his family in the event of a nuclear war. He has no skin in this game of high stakes war brinkmanship.
What about his loyal trumpets? They’re on their own ...
Our congress republican trumpets 🎺 And others are playing grab ass political games, why the world is about to burn.🔥.
Chaos is trumpets 🎺 trademark He will not pack up his tent, show and go home, and his minions in Congress will follow his directives right into the next war...
The purpose of two USA Aircraft Carriers in the Eastern Mediterranean near Lebanon is To Prevent Russia From Taking Direct Action on the Arab Israel war. In 1973-1974 Arab Israeli war Russia declared their intention to join in the war on the anti American side. Dick Nixon and his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said oh No you don’t . And sent American forces land and sea to the mediterranean.
The Russians and American Forces played tag in the air . And the Carriers Armed and fueled Jet Fighters with actual nuke weapons including bombs and nuclear naval mines . The Fleet Commanders were operating with full war conditions of nuclear weapon release under the direct control of the fleet commander. No further permissions were necessary to commence a nuclear war, other than the fleet, commanders decision. After a month or so with this, the Russians decided not to push the issue here we are 50 years later, doing the same thing with the same people the Russians are our enemy...
“they want women to be subservient“ and “they want to increase male power“… Isn’t that the same thing? At this time, the votes on Professor Reich’s opinion poll are evenly split. Anyway, from my white woman point of view, this is exactly what’s going on.
I know this is a discussion about the GOP's ongoing misogynistic platform, but I HAVE to ask YOU why you are not acknowledging the candidacy of Marianne Williamson for President when she is drawing enthusiastic crowds wherever she goes, has well-thought out plans for turning our country around, is sharp as nails, honest, decent, an unbelievably hard worker, successful author and speaker, and most importantly, is offering the kind of message we are literally starving to hear!? She is being ignored by the media and this world doesn't have time for corporate players to be in charge! You have a respected voice............please add it to candidate conversation........and thank you! As a former journalist myself......and attorney and professor, I know that we cannot know what we cannot hear. Please do speak out on this!
The world is rapidly changing in so many ways. Men are looking in the rear view mirror and hoping they can keep the status quo, while women are looking through the windshield at what can, and should, be.
I've not heard that they're doing this. But if they are the last thing they care about is doing something good for women. Let them explain why they're doing this. I'll be ready with my BS flag!
For people who are desperate for hope, read this good man - Gershon Baskin. See what he says today, but to better understand where he is coming from, what he has devoted his life to achieving for ALL the people on the lands Between the River and the Sea, read about who he is — read his writings over the years.
Try to have hope.
< https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-day-after-tomorrow/?fbclid=IwAR0V1zOWkvoW0kvwF8lQYw6xJJxpwyYlfGBerjEgRv1HCVc2qO_EakhYQT0>
“Social ‘Conservatives’” seem to believe that they can stop social change by behaving as if it is not occurring. The behavior is infantile, and perhaps there are other ways of explaining it—social change is invariably complex, and it offers many factors to those who think they can stop it by attending to symptoms. Sad, sad, sad.
I think that the Republicans efforts around the country to repeal no-fault divorce are another culture war issue that is being used to prod their Christian Nationalist base, similar to attacks on reproductive rights, contraceptives and the LGBTQ community. It’s a multi pronged strategy. These rights and privileges that other citizens are due are being packaged as attacks that threaten the Christian right’s beliefs and to their way of life. It’s ironic that that they are trying to take away the rest of our rights and freedoms.
The Dobbs decision was the start of the rollback of women's rights. The general public doesn't seem to understand, that just like with the 15th amendment (which gave black men the right to vote), the GOP objective is ultimately to rollback franchise to the 18th century: only for white, male landowners. They have been very successful with legalizing voting restrictions and gerrymandering. So yes, the GOP is going after no-fault divorce. They will try to make rape illegal next, thereby taking away the most acceptable justification for legal abortion.
We’re going back in time for racial equality and gender equality. It’s darn frightening!
All of the above and more that we haven't thought of yet.
I am not able to read the four options.?
They want more consternation and make it difficult and force restraints on freedom of rights and flexibility to escape a negative environment.
Let’s acknowledge that the goal of many hardline Israeli conservatives is to simply eliminate Palestine and the Palestinian people. I suspect it’s a psychic reaction to the brutality and degradation suffered by German Jews during the Hitler era.
One would hope for a more enlightened response from those who have suffered so much under similar circumstances.
Sick, tired, angry.
There’s no use pointing fingers at who’s sick, tired and angry because mostly, we all are. We are wasting our time on the planet trying to make sense of that all because it can’t make sense; unless we look at the lack of undconditional love we render to ourselves and one another. It’s as if we are looking to excuse ourselves. Let’s just blame it on THEM. ...
I’m grateful that Dr Bob is feeling better and pursuing his passionate work again. If there is a time to love your work whether we get paid or not, the time is now. The time is NOW. THE TIME IS NOW. The place is HERE where our feet are.
Thank my badness we have a few devoted leaders who lead by their boundless energy and example to follow. Without them, we would be totally off course. I know I am SICK when I work for the money and no less. I grow into my better self when I am humbly ready to admit that I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired; while relinquishing anger and embracing love for myself and the ALL of divine creation, rather than just the chosen few.
I’m just another bozo on the experimental bus. And yes, our experiment could fail like most experiments do. As Gary Snyder sings with just words, “Stay together. Learn the flowers. Go light.”
I lived in Missouri in 2009, the year of my divorce. It is a no-fault state. Oh, oh how I would have loved seeing my ex and his multiple women have to sit there and testify. Plus all the people at his work who knew what was going on and thought I didn't have the right to know.
Their religion says women have no place but in the home.
If no fault divorce is being undone than all those no fault divorces already granted should be declared null and void and everyone should go back to her/his original spouse. That should make a lot of people delighted, including those supporting rescinding nofault.
I am convinced that Netanyahu deliberately allowed the Hamas invasion to occur (even though he was warned in advance) in a fashion very similar to FDR allowing Pearl Harbor to occur, with the expectation that the nation would be galvanized to back a military response that includes a ground invasion of Gaza, ostensibly to pursue Hamas, but really to wipe out Gaza and the Palestinians once and for all. And they have made the US and other nations complicit in their genocidal plans.
Given that Israel was given advance notice of the Hamas attack, I cannot help but assume that Netanyahu made a decision just like FDR did with respect to Pearl Harbor, that letting it happen would galvanize the nation behind going after the Palestinians and give justification to eliminating to Gaza permanently. And they have successfully pulled the wool over the eyes of the U.S. and many other countries in the world to back their effort of a ground invasion of Gaza under the pretext of pursueing Hamas, when their real goal is to so wipe out everything in Gaza so as to force the Palestinians to become refugees and abandon Gaza perman
There is Power and there is Life. Living things have power which they use for their own benefit. Power hates Life. Life loves Power sometimes more than Life. Capitalism only recognizes Power. Power loves violence, loves to win because power always survives whereas Life only has Power as long as it can breathe.
a, c, and d
Marriage is a civil contract. If the parties want out, they should, like in all contracts, be able to get out of it. Period. Imposing someone's religious beliefs on a civil contract is wrong. We should not return to the bad old days.
Regression of any kind benefits the GOP - their goal is to forestall all/any move toward a progressive society because societal progress ultimately leads to economic progress for the bottom 99% ( as we get further away from the nobleman / serf theory of economics.)
With regard to Israel and Palestine, whether with our own children or with one nation to another, any time we humans attempt to "teach them never to do that again," using some variation of punishment, we may seem to be successful, short term, but what we really accomplish is the creation of a psychological dysfunction and a programmed response in the one punished. While they may not routinely repeat the behavior we're trying to extinguish, under stress, they will ONLY be able to repeat that behavior, but with the limitations of understanding and emotional maturity they possessed at the time of their original punishment.
Instead of punishment used to "teach them never to do that again," a better approach would be to teach them a different, better way to react to that situation; to seek their cooperation in developing a set of strategies that address the issues at hand.
When the Israelis and Palestinians are both willing to give up some things, including demonstrating mutual respect for each other's rights, in order to regain peace and stability, giving up the delusional dream of Israel's conservatives to regain the Kingdom of Solomon from 3,000 years ago (and their willingness to oppress the Palestinians in order to do so), and the desire of the most radical Palestinians to wipe Israel off the map, there will be no long term peace, but only this tragic cycle of each side continuing to punish the other in response to the punishment from the other.
If Israel and the Palestinians don't find a way to take this non-punishing approach, they will destroy each other.
"When the Israelis and Palestinians are both willing to give up some things, including demonstrating mutual respect for each other's rights...."
Check out the Oslo Accords. The Israeli policy has been land for peace since 1967. Tell it to Hamas.
I find an interesting parallel between the republicans self destructive lack of unity in the house and the coming disqualification of Trump as president in the courts. This is going to leave the republicans with another poor quality (non-Trump) insurrectionist presidential candidate with no chance of winning the general election. When the endgame is solely the pursuit of power it is appropriate that they should fail so badly. I wish they would leave us out of it. Whether it be fear of their constituents, the almighty orange leader or their pursuit of power/reelection I dont believe there are enough Republicans to vote with Democrats to change the house. We have to try to appeal to the non insurrectionists. We dont have to give in to them.
Sometimes "rope a dope" works.
Dah!
In regards to Israel-Palestine issue and American student reactions, I think at base is a hard difference in compassionate and ethical beliefs. One the one hand is the history of the Jewish people and a hard line belief in retribution and for that. On the other, is a deep compassion for the treatment of the Palestinians since the 1950s, and deep beliefs in fairness. In addition, there seems to be little middle-ground between the two sides and their leaders.
Problem is worsened by despair of Palestinian families fighting back with family love and making 14+ kids, hoping to push Jews into the sea. Then religious Jews making 14+ kids to allow worst right wing religious people to take charge. Secular Jews, many of whom wanted peace with their neighbors, built the modern Jewish state. It has now been taken over by the fanatical right.😱🤨
If you want to make sense of tragedy and dysfunction, you can't do it reading the NYT or the Saturday Coffee Klatch. What they can do is make you think. They made me think this week of the frustrating paradox of war. That made me think of a book I had read some twenty years ago - James Hillman's "A Terrible Love of War." I googled that book and found this video. Enough said. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=a+terrible+love+of+war&mid=1E8A766AB739B6ED667A1E8A766AB739B6ED667A&FORM=VIRE
Years ago there was a wonderful book called The Origins of the Sacred: The Ecstasies of Love and War.
There have been many studies about the origins and causes of war. Look it up.
Also, my personal review of war...
https://www.knomochoicius.com/wisdom-stories/100th-anniversary-of-the-end-of-world-war-i
I say they're yielding to the demands of evangelical Christians. Male dominance went out in the 1980s with affirmative action.
All of the above except concern for families or anybody but themselves.
(Some) men love the patriarchy.
My congresswoman MO 2CD has told CNN she will not vote for Jordan. So that's one.
Re no fault divorce and other Republican attempts to roll back the clock. The relation of human sexuality and personality to fascism is something that does not get much open discussion.
Separately, keeping a moral ledger is not the way forward.
In Timothy Snyder's books he covers how Putin uses shame to control people and equates the west with Satan trying to rape Russia.
It’s all about keeping the patriarchy. Keeping women subservient is a key component of that.
Any complex emergent social phenomenon will have multiple foundational factors at "root."
I am anti Patriarchy and Pro Egalitarian!
Because facists use nostalgia to gain support . ( See Anne Applebaum’s “The Twilight of Democracy”)
Society will back to the good old days of the post war era.
Mum stayed home and raised babies and the Dad went to work. Everyone had a house and white kids filled good jobs. Blacks knew their place. Everyone went to church ( without guns, just sayin’) Make America great again, all those men whose skills aren’t needed any more will go back yo work while the little wife stays home vacating even more jobs.
Useful reading: https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/10/13/arab-perspectives-on-middle-east-crisis-pub-90774?utm_source=ctw&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=buttonlink&mkt_tok=ODEzLVhZVS00MjIAAAGOyiKX0UZrREpVWenHOnFPg0wJFy688VhysKw-2RWJWwCgiJdUozIyOYstyvcFNQ_0RG8CxRd_0XOyxG_e-7NqsyUGBU-MzS3L1sDTtPM
I think my idea is practical. Empower The Palestinian Authority to diminish Hamas. Resume negotiating land for peace. None of these people are threatened with harm by Israelis when they live outside the middle east. In 1979, Edward Said, the famed Arab literary critic, declared himself “horrified at the hijacking of planes, the suicidal missions, the assassinations, the bombing of schools and hotels.” Rashid Khalidi, a Palestinian American historian, called the suicide bombings of the second intifada “a war crime.” Jews can die at the hands of Hamas and Hezbollah for wanting to eat a corned beef sandwich, for attending services in Pittsburgh, for belonging to an olympic team, etc.
We asked Abu Marzouk if this bloody assault had achieved anything, aside from incurring devastating Israeli reprisals. “This is the first time that the Palestinians are crossing the borders and fighting in their historic land,” he insisted. “Israel used to wage war against us outside its borders, to kill us and imprison us. Now it’s the opposite. Now the future Israeli generations will know they can’t continue to occupy the Palestinians—they can’t continue their wars forever.” He added, “This is the biggest achievement.”
Abu Marzouk conceded that the new conflict would do little to stop Arab states from continuing to cultivate ties with Israel, the strongest power in the region, leaving the Palestinians even more isolated. At best, he admitted, it would merely delay Saudi Arabia’s recent moves in this direction. Sounding increasingly agitated, he pushed back at us with questions of his own. What would we do if we were forced to live in a cage? If committing this attack had been suicidal for Hamas, why weren’t Netanyahu and President Joe Biden celebrating? He had to be reminded that Hamas fighters and other militants had slaughtered more than a thousand Israelis.
More than twenty-five years ago, the New Yorker writer Mary Anne Weaver visited Abu Marzouk at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. He told her, “If you read history, you know that violence only breeds violence: imposing your will through muscle, through force, is no solution.” He added, “You’ve got to compromise; you’ve got to understand each other. If you use muscle alone, perhaps you’re a temporary winner, but in the long run you are a loser.” ♦
What Was Hamas Thinking?
One of the group’s senior political leaders explains its strategy.
By Adam Rasgon and David D. Kirkpatrick
New Yorker, today
They are full of shit. "This is the first time that the Palestinians are crossing the borders and fighting in their historic land," They sent more than 150 suicide bombers into the heart of Israel in 2014. They send infiltrators all the time.
Just as this country, competing narratives of reality.
Thank you for adding the article. Very interesting to read about other countries in the region.
to continue. the context says a great deal,.
Women were and are considered property for a long time. I don't agree but that seems to be the fact of the world. No insult, just fact.
When Bernie Madoff went to prison he lost his name and became a number.
Women lose their names when they get married.
Lesseee.. I think it's all but the pro-family one. I like your new photos, btw, very pondering, not too resigned, and working on.. something. Except your wide open mouth expression, Bob- you thunk on that too long!
Mary, the sister of Lazarus. The Samaritan woman at the well. The woman falsely accused of adultery (BTW, where was the man?) Jesus engaged with women respectfully.
Woman, you've got five husbands!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fan_Ew1OaFA
Republicans taking away no-fault divorce because the want women to be subservient? I don't get that answer. It seems to me no-fault divorce would do the opposite - give women more power to quickly get out of a bad marriage, such as with an abusive spouse. If that is the most popular quiz answer, then what am I missing?
Robert, even ChatGPT is able to quickly and accurately give you a detailed understanding of how repealing no-fault divorce primarily endangers women and children. It's embarrassing for a doctor to say something this tone-deaf without even doing the most cursory research, such as simply typing the question into ChatGPT or Google. Your homework is to do five minutes of research.
Church dogma.
They think that no fault divorce "undermines the institution of marriage". It seems to me that making it harder and more emotionally gut wrenching to get a divorce will actually encourage more people to NOT get married! I know several people who got married just for the tax benefits.
Tim Baldwin : I wonder how long before folks decide that some in our government should not get paid to destroy our country! Why pay taxes for services not rendered? Do we have to wait until they are coming to kill our grandbabies? Our aged parents? Our soldiers decapitated? How bad does it have to get before we revolt and stop enriching them? The anti Democracy traitors?
Tim, and I was one who didn’t get married because of financial issues! My partner and I lived together for 33 years and, fault or no fault, ended our relationship quite amicably.