Does America even know these days what true patriotism is? Somewhere we lost our way. A united America no longer exists. Why? How do we fix that?
It isn’t because there are fewer white people. It isn’t because we have been invaded from below the border. It isn’t because we don’t all worship the same faith or love the same way.
It’s because fewer and fewer have more and more, while the rest of us have to make do with less. And the rich and powerful turn us against each other.
It’s a deliberate distraction. And the only cure is to try to restore some measure of economic equality. The rich have too much and the rest of us have too little.
Fascism thrives on chaos and hate. Democracy needs an even break. The rich need to give back, not take more.
“True patriots don’t fuel racist, religious, or ethnic divisions.”
That is why it is a disease. Craving money just so you can have huge potfuls of the stuff is a sickness. I have been advocating for adding it to DSM as a personality disorder.
Please remember guys that for those possessing vast wealth it is all about CONTROL, and to build and preserve the power to CONTROL. I detest hitting "like" to all the excellent comments y'all are posting today, and would much prefer to hit a "Agree Dammit" button. I'd wear that sucker out! Best "4th" Wishes to you all!
The word intifada is associated with the Palestinian resistance, but translated it means Uprising. Zohran Mamdani called for a global intifada, I agree, a global uprising against dictators, tyrants, oligarchs, plutocrats that use their wealth to control and abuse their populations.
And it has to start here in the USA, We can kvetch all day long, whine and condemn Trump, MAGAts, billionaires, oligarchs, plutocats, capitalists and nothing will happen except venting our spleen.
Look at Russia, Hungary, Turkey, even Israel.
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog has the authority to issue Netanyahu a pardon, and Trump in a tweet called for the pardoning of Bibi, and that means a real possibility.
Israel has all aspects now, of a Managed Democracy, as does America
Sheldon Wolin was a political theorist with a long-celebrated body of work but his last book Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism (2008) may be his most important. Written during the Bush administration, it describes an authoritarian form of government that doesn’t replace democracy entirely, it uses the mechanisms and symbols of a democratic form of government while separating the dêmos, the people, from the krátos, the power
Here are some quotes from Wolin’s book on the concept of a managed democracy, a democracy in name only:
“Managed democracy is a political form in which governments are legitimated by elections that they have learned to control.”
“The genius of managed democracy lies in its ability to maintain the institutions and rituals of democracy while eliminating their democratic content.”
“It does not abolish elections, freedom of speech, or the rule of law; it manages them, rendering them compatible with elite governance and capitalist priorities.”
“Managed democracy is built on the illusion of consent, where the public is offered participation without power, and choice without consequence.”
“In managed democracy, corporate interests work through electoral and regulatory systems to ensure outcomes favorable to the status quo, often under the guise of public interest.”
I don't like Trump or Netanyahu, but your advocacy of an uprising against dictators, tyrants, etc ignores the reality of what intifada means in the Middle East. When Arafat rejected Israel's offer of a state for the Palestinians, which outraged Pres. Clinton, he responded with an intifada. In the intifada, over 1,000 Israelis were killed by bombs in cafes and buses. To globalize the intifada means to advocate for the murder of Jews around the world.
Yup. Power tends to corrupt, and money is a form of power, as is political position, and violence; and in a corrupted society they can be exchanged for one another. After the point that one can buy the biggest and best of everything it's all about empire, all about total domination. Even to the point that some of the hyper-rich conspire to make the poor even poorer. Third worlding.
"This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon “moderation” in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H.L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." -- Dwight Eisenhower
It's sick. (Incidentally: After the corrupt "Gilded Age", many policies were put in place to protect the public's interests, such as unions, voting rights, and antitrust; but we somehow got bamboozled into tossing them away).
These absolutist capitalist FASCISTS simply do not care about any "moderation" in ANYTHING which they feel constrains either their totally insatiable greed, their endlessly expansive wealth, or their quest for ultimate power 'uber alles' <-MOST befitting for that 4th Reich scumbag Peter Thiel.
Unfortunately, everything in this country seems to mainly focus around money, and under the current group in WA, it clearly IS the main focus. There are days when money feels equated to a worshipped god. So many of my high school students just want to "make a lot of money," their major goal, satisfaction in the career they choose based completely on money. Very depressing.
But of course that is no deterrent whatsoever to the ChristoFASCIST Nationalists or rightwing evangelicals to preclude them from worshiping and supporting their putrid orange demon and his evil, sadistic regime.
Patriotism requires “we the people” educate themselves on the federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) that makes insurrection a felony crime and demand Democrats in control of 15 states enforce the law against the ongoing insurrection by Trump, Republicans in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court.
Patriots must demand Democrats in control of 15 states should enact and then enforce a new state law to be modeled after the federal law against insurrection (18 U.S. Code § 2383). Democrats in 15 state governments have Democrats as governor, attorney general and a Democratic majority in the state House and state Senate.
If California acts in 90 days, Democrats can swing the House majority to Democratic in 2025, block some implementation of the Big Ugly Bill, and educate the public about the Big Ugly Bill with Medicaid cuts, SNAP cuts, tax cuts for billionaires, and a hundred other destructive parts of the Bill. If Colorado, Maryland and New Jersey act, they can remove 4 of Trump’s justices from the Supreme Court – Roberts, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch which disables the Court and empowers federal district courts and state courts.
Federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) defines the criminal actions of insurrection in language that is clear and easy to understand:
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”
Clear factual evidence of the insurrection exists in the multiple actions and statements in 2025 that the Trump administration, Republican in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court are engaging in or assisting rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States and the laws thereof. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed in 2025 against actions by Trump and his administration. Federal courts have ruled against Trump’s Executive Orders as illegal and issued stop and reversal orders. Federal court orders have not been obeyed by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress and the Supreme Court have not acted to force compliance and defend the Constitution.
Biden failed to stop Trump after the insurrection on Jan 6 which continued in the 2024 election. All votes for Trump were illegal. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was an insurrectionist. But the US Supreme Court violated federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) by (1) supporting Trump, who was a committed insurrectionist, to get elected in 2024 and become dictator on Day One, as he had said he would. And (2) ruling that states cannot enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which banned Trump as an insurrectionist from holding office. The SCOTUS decision incorrectly said that a law from Congress was needed to define the criteria for enforcing the law against an insurrectionist when a law did exist (18 U.S. Code § 2383) which was passed by Congress. The SCOTUS decision was an act by criminal felons (6 justices on SCOTUS appointed by Republican presidents) which supported Trump’s insurrection. As mentioned, the insurrection continued during the 2024 election, but Biden failed to invoke the Insurrection Act and reject all votes for Trump which were illegal.
Now that Trump is in office and the insurrection has continued, Democrats must begin to enforce the law against insurrection to save democracy.
Read my post to see WHAT ACTION must come from Democrats.
William I like the intent, motive and facts of your comment, But I refrain from using words like must or should, because the world is full of musts and should haves, I can waste my breathe all day long talking about how people should or must do this or that. The sentiments are meaningless like you should raise your child better, or you must eat your spinach.
Everyone has a wish list of musts and shoulds,including our MAGAt enemies,,
Saying people must do this or that is a waste of breath.
We need an national general strike, an uprising (intifada), but then I am also wasting my energy. typing those words. I am like a wolf howling at the moon.
I understand your frustration but I still think that for democracy to survive the law should be enforced. The current mess was caused by not enforcing the law and Trump is still playing a game with the legal system to avoid enforcement of the law. So obviously the legal system is weak and can be exploited.
And every hoarded dollar is one that no longer circulates through the economy. I wonder what would happen if we had more $$$ circulating, moving from hand-to-hand, getting out there and working. Money is only an abstraction, and a medium of exchange. If it's hoarded it becomes worthless after a while. I'll only mention once, my fear about all the different transactions that occur as just more electronic impulses.
Thanks Sandra. On a related note, it will be a real s*hit show when this whole fake Bitt-Coin thing blows up in everyone's face!
Those investors will have nothing but a blank computer screens to look at. When the Great Tulip Market crashed in the 1630's at least one still had some pretty flowers in their garden. GH
Acting to gain money is virtual necessity, and wanting to gain more is pretty universal; but an obsessive, conscienceless "love of money" can reinforce sociopathic behavior. Anti-Social Personality Disorder is already recognized, and Trump's Big Bad Bill illustrates that kind of cruelty.
I believe they will never be satisfied because they are literally "addicted" to money and power--not really different than being addicted to drugs or alcohol and their addiction is insatiable. It will never be enough unless it somehow brings personal pain to them which could cause an awakening and a realization that they are chasing empty values. They have to genuinely "want" to change and to find other "real" internal values and reclaim their souls. They have to want to value people over money and power. Addicts choose to change when they reach "their bottom" or when their behavior causes them enough pain.
Researchers Identify Area Of The Brain That Processes Empathy- this study provides the first evidence suggesting that the empathy deficits in patients with brain damage to the anterior insular cortex are surprisingly similar to the empathy deficits found in several psychiatric diseases, including autism spectrum disorders, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and conduct disorders, suggesting potentially common neural deficits in those psychiatric populations....https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2012/researchers-identify-area-of-the-brain-that-processes-empathy. Yes, conduct disorders. That's what we're dealing with.
skip the trials; they're too expensive and timeconsuming. we all saw what dumpster and his minions did - proceed to punishment which as dumpster has advocated is death.
You know, I have understood the power of Faith from a young age. But I had never gotten convinced about hope. It is now, as I face this regime that keeps destroying everything that matters that I am learning that hope is the tiny light within me that refuses to give up even when against all odds. And if that light goes off, I feel like a building collapsing. Like a huge ship slowly sinking into the dark waters. I have learned to seek beauty, community, solidarity and even faith in order to keep that tiny light on. And when it is on, it becomes my North Star.
A new Declaration Of Independence proclaiming our independence from the acceptance as 'fate' of this insidiously evil, sadistic fascism which is spreading across this country like a mass psychosis. ;)
We were, I suppose, technically ex-pat Americans for a few years while I was an eight year old, so I don't know exactly what had disgruntled my father when we left, but some of the same things he expressed as a reason for leaving the US were the same reasons he gave for leaving the country we were in to come back to the US.
No. This is a good example of implicit bias. Some who are rich have donated millions of dollars for the betterment of society. There have been wealthy patriots and wealthy do-gooders who are wise or creative or who distribute the wealth they made or earned. What we have here are rich people with no empathy, no understanding of the basic principles of democracy or, for that matter, decency. These rich people believe they have earned the right to rule the rest of us inferiors and to that I say, off with their f’n heads.
Yes. I don't like the phrase "Eat the rich" because it's a generalization. The group that took over power by buying the government with BIG MONEY is a very specific group of 100 billionaires. I am creating the list from several documents so that we can target them specifically. That is my response to the passing of the Big Brutal Betrayal Bill. I want to know their names. I want to see their faces. I want to know their business and how it makes profit. And they I want to give them back all the energy they have given us. I want them to know 1) how it feels, that 2)money is not the ultimate power and that 3)that We, the People are the power and the pillar of this democracy and we can take them down.
Mike and Michael, what you have said is true, and each and every point which Robert makes in order to distinguish true patriots from usurpers of the common good, as well. 250 years ago, the primal Document of this (once) Republic declared that "all men (extend this meaning to 'all humanity') are created equal" and that we all are guaranteed the benefits of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" equally. Twelve years later in 1788, these principles were demolished with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution which legalized chattel slavery for the benefit of morbidly wealthy slaveholders. These interlopers upon the land soon pressed the indigenous nations to near extinction, all for the benefit of massive wealth. During the U.S. Civil War, Pres. Lincoln declared that the eternal struggle "between Good and Evil" was engaged and drew the distinction between the common person and one of great wealth, "I work hard for my daily bread, and you eat it". Worth reflecting upon this July 4th is 'A Lincoln Portrait' as recited by James Earl Jones, to illustrate how deeply this nation has sunk into depravity since a great patriot observed upon the intractability of the national disease, the imposition of a false superiority of one race and one class of men over all the others. It was foreseen then that this could not end well.
I have read that there is enough food for Americans but also enough food for all the world if there were justice in the distribution of food. Can't check because I don't recall the source.
There is no global food shortage because we produce more than enough food to feed everyone in the world. We produce so much food globally yet one–third of it – 1.3 billion tons – is wasted. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), all that wasted food is enough to feed 1.26 billion people: almost twice the number of undernourished people across the globe.”
There's something deep in what you say, Mike. The greedy rich (a large percentage of them, anyway) are I believe addicted to their sense of specialness, and entitlement. It's an addiction no less, and possibly more encompassing and powerful as addiction to drugs like heroin or cocaine. And like drug addiction, it erodes your most human qualities in favor of greed for more and more, while in the end hollowing you of even the most rudimentary capacity for true joy. They are crazy, really and truly crazy and we must start calling a spade a spade instead of wishing we were rich like them. Crazy.
According to the Bible, they say they believe: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." If this is true, they are in for an awakening.
I've contemplated this teaching for decades, and it's only been since the rich and their wannabe enablers have so blatantly started reveling in their continual one-upping of each other and thoroughgoing lack of compassion that I've come to understand why Jesus put it out there. How could someone enter the Kingdom of Heaven so burdened by deeply disguised insecurity coupled with disdain rather than appreciation for others? The deep-dyed among the rich are not on skew lines vis a vis any kind of true humanity. They are living its polar opposite. Their hands and their hearts are clenched instead of open to love and compassion.
Not just that, but anyone who is that insanely rich has committed a multitude sins to become that rich or stay that rich. They are not beholden by the earthly laws like the rest of us. The only comfort I have is that most of them are deeply unhappy despite all their wealth. They don't know simple joys and true friendship. They have a hole in their hearts and are trying to fill with material wealth. They will never experience true happiness.
We somehow (again, not I, but this society in general) equate them with being 'good' or 'great' beings simply because of their wealth and 'success' (which not all of them have 'earned' whether by evil means or otherwise, many having inherited their vast fortunes), and adulate them for this, and hold them up on a pedestal.
NO, one does NOT become THAT wealthy without causing much harm to fellow human beings, PERIOD!
I’m a retired CPA and I have to agree with you. People who have made a better widget and financially benefitted from it, soon think they know best about everything. Years ago, I had a client who was going to have to tell his employees the company wouldn’t be making a contribution to their 401K that year, and we made a point of reminding him no to drive to the plant in his Rolls Royce!
I think you are correct. People who are financially successful tend to forget how much luck they had to get there. When society keeps telling you how great you are, you start to believe it. You live in a bubble.
Leigh, Your precis is good. And I think it also fits the British royalty, in its heyday. Zooming out, I think it also fits a historical struggle that has been going on for centuries. Our egalitarian era is the exception, and I sure hope it lasts.
Other than for brief periods and on a relatively small scale, it seems as if democracy, or government of the people, by the people and for the people has been a rarity. Someone much more acquainted with world history than me has pointed to the implementation of agriculture on a large scale as the start of social stratification and all its associated distortions of fellow feeling via greed. Perhaps not all rulers and aristocrats have been hollowed out, but the vast majority have. In modern times the US has made a short-lived effort, off and on, to enact the values espoused by our founders, but with the advent of slavery and industrialization everything went, as the Brits say, tits up. Only the social democracies, here and there and mainly in Scandinavia where there has been for centuries flickering of Democracy (I think of the Norse "THING" annual meetings, for example, and its pathways access rights which limit fenced estates from gobbling up every inch of open land) has anything like real democracy persisted for long. Fingers crossed what we're going through now will usher in something akin to that we can tweak to suit the angels of our better natures.
One glaring note of difference between those stronger Scandinavian 'social' democracies and our VERY flawed, unstable (and ultimately, as we are now finding out, WEAK) one is NO EFFING Electoral College (yes, as you have pointed out a strong, fully enabling, ally to slavery), and NO Corporations United (I REFUSE to call it "Citizens United"!).
Oh my Goddess, you are right. I had not seen the freaking irony in that title. Oligarchs United, more likely. That electoral college has to go. I can't stand another round of these two-equally-alienated-from the people parties. We need new parties! But without giving the vote to conservative. Did you notice that? Whenever the electoral vote is used, the results favor the conservative party. So definitely skewed, I would say!
You know, it just occurred to me that what Trump's motto meant was that after he finished with us and we defeated him, we would have to work hard to Make American Great Again. That's his legacy.
Just STOP deifying them and they cease to have the power of omnipotent gods.
IF we did not (I personally NEVER have!) adulate them for their out of control, psychotic GREED dressed up as 'ambition', they would lose their total control over U.S.
Sounds like a piece of the puzzle, but--a major problem is that Peter Thiel, at least, and probably several others among the tech broliarchs, seems to lack most human emotions, and to feel mainly things like resentment, envy, greed and arrogance. Meaning they are poster boyz for psychopathy and maybe autistic disorders, or, most likely a combination of both, given that Bill Gates appears to be on the spectrum but has empathy for the suffering of others. Anyway, Thiel et al probably are incapable of caring what anyone without direct power over them thinks or feels. And, along those lines, it might prove very important for 'normie' people to hold onto a gut sense of the really awful ways abnormal humans operate. I think people did not understand about Herr Hitler until it was too late.
The people with whom Trump surrounds himself as like him. They are sick. They are all cruel, lacking in empathy and seriously ignorant and stupid. That way he feels better about himself. But that makes the entire cabinet so useless as to be dangerous.
Sad, but true, Maria. I remember when Hilary Clinton made her infamous remark about Trump's voters being a 'basket of deplorables.' How ironic that it's more true of his cabinet and other appointees than it ever was about them!
Feed the poor—that actually sounds like Christianity. But judging by the BBB and its supporters, many of whom are Christian nationalists, I have news for them: they are the exact opposite of Christian.
Religions, like the rest of human culture, evolves. Many strains don't seem resemble their ancestors much: that is, many American variants of Christianity share the name, and some of the symbols, but little else. (This is from an outsider's perspective. Feel to correct me if I'm off).
Most of the problems we have in the USA could be solved if we carried out what you have just said in one sentence. Much of the problem is money. And it took the many years starting about the time of President Reagan to reach the state that it is now in. It took mostly republicans (and yes . . . a few democrats too,) corporate America and what I now call us having "the best politicians that money can buy". What I mean by that is many of our richest people in the country paying little or no taxes. Also our president's former friend Elon Musk buying him the presidency. Also highly paid lobbyists influencing in ways you and I could never do.
Citizen United, itself, was created by wealth because wealth put the Justices who decided it in place. John Roberts, over his tenure as Chief Justice, re-architected The Constitution, an architecture that the passage of Trump's bill funding his police state shows has definitely failed. If you don't believe that under our current circumstances free and fair elections are coming, then it's hard to see a Constitutionally way out of this mess.
And for some reason, every time our state wants to hold a constitutional convention, the cry is ALWAYS "It'll cooooooooooossssssssssstttttttt too much!"
Which is why, in the absence of truly progressive taxation of income and estates to keep the wealth differential small, a hereditary overclass was inevitable. Capitalism works well within a relatively narrow range of wealth inequality. Without that, black holes of wealth are sucking everything into their singularities.
We need to do away with big money out of politics. NOW. The only way I see to do this is from the bottom up, because they are not going to cede. This means that we have to reach a consensus that we do not vote for anyone with big money funding. And let it be known. So that would be a national movement campaign. What do you think?
The national movement is already happening as grassroots come together to coordinate events.
I'm tracking the about 100 oligarchs who are actively manipulating our political system. I'm putting together a list. It's not easy because articles tend to shy back from revealing names, but I found one list that I'm doing this week with the main names of big money in elections. That's a start.
I'm thinking of sending it to "Target Majority"--who focuses on boycotts and Indivisible, of which I'm a member. The later works with most other grassroots at a national level. They did Hands Off! and No King!, so they can work on developing a consensus and spreading the work. And they can create the national strike.
But I do know that they and other groups have said that doing a successful national strike it's not easy. That's why we are doing targeted boycotts now, to get people used and allow them time to sort it out.
Strikes means that you won't go to work. You are risking getting fired. That is a huge risk for some people. So that is the challenge there.
By the way, Target Majority is doing a DRY JULY boycott targetting Amazon, so you are invited! It started July 3 and goes on until July 30.
About oligarchy. I'm tracking the names, how much they gave, to what party and for what, their companies and state. With this we can get more information and begin to put together a web page where people can go to. That's where organizations that plan boycotts can enter.
Will be checking out "Target Majority" -- thanks for that.
As far as the "Dry July" boycott, I'll be passing along the info to friends and family. I do not buy from Amazon myself(not having a credit card), but I did attend our local No King! protest.
The work I do (part-time on a local family farm) isn't exactly something I'd need to "strike" over -- they're already suffering from Trump's actions. I do wonder how many other situations are like mine, and how that would work?
I keep thinking that of those in government, and their hangers-on, they certainly don't have the power of numbers behind them. If we can talk to our neighbors who voted Trump in, especially pointing out in economic terms just how harmful his policies are to them as well as to those they demonize, we could get more numbers.
Piketty, the economist, seems to have nailed it. Reagan re-established the positive feedback loop between wealth and power than had been broken by the Great Depression and WWII. The key change was tax rates that allowed which allowed high earners to invest larger amounts of money, since they consumed less of its proportionally to everyday wage workers. Once that was established, the compounding returns on the investments drove the rest. With greater wealth, greater power - larger shares of ownership of growing companies, and the companies that owned them obtaining greater tax breaks themselves.
When a tax break is given to a company, its indirectly another tax break to its owners whose growing investment wealth can further purchase companies. The math is a little like that of gravitation black holes. All of this was inevitable and clearly seen by some from the time of Reagan. Our situation was mathematically inevitable once Reagan broke unions. Professor Reich saw this and has been writing about this for decades.
Feed the poor, sound like christianianity. By the looks of the BBB and all of its supporters who are christian nationalist - I have news for them they are exactly the opposite of christian.
The working poor are held in Contempt by the Kingdom of Demented Donald Trump. Working Poor were put on Earth by god for the Rich , The King to Exploit. . .
They think that anyone who does not have money is stupid and lazy. (They have not seen themselves in the mirror lately, I guess)):
That's why they want to take all away so that the "lazy" poor get up and work. But, hey, Trump and many of his cabinet have seldom work a day on their lives. You can't call what they are doing work either. ):
Meanwhile, with their refusal to pay due taxes, they generate the conditions for that poverty.
I think we need to be clear and vocal loudly and prolifically about this message: "You have stole millions from us and we refuse to be your welfare any more."
Let's flip that perception so they are finally able to see themselves in the mirror... or break the mirrors, I don't care as long as they pay their fair share.
The appetite for wealth and power has destroyed this republic Mike! There’s never enough money to satisfy our transnational criminal syndicate overlords!!
We need to break the alliance between the corporations, the oligarchs and the Trump regime.
We need to march on Washington. We need a series of general strikes to show that we still have power, that we can shut the country down if necessary. We need an economic rights movement. Martin Luther King was heading in that direction when he was assassinated.
The rich invented class warfare and if they keep trying to destroy our democracy and take our rights away, they will pay a terrible price. But we’re going to have to prove it to them.
Fascism isn’t going to work in America. It will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs that the rich feast on.
Michael, I agree with you on all of your points. However, the strategies you mention start with grass roots organizing and with participating in that it builds a sense of empowerment. I suspect that with the passage of the Big Bad Bill many have a first reaction of disillusionment, discouragement and some bitterness. Some of the questions I hear are “Where do we go from here?” and “How do we get there.” Answering these questions is what occupies my mind the most.
Anti movements such as anti Vietnam war, Anti slavery, have been effective but “Pro” movements are more powerful and lasting such as pro Women’s right to vote, Pro LGBT rights and Pro Democracy movements in other parts of the planet. It is clear we are starting as an anti-fascism movement, but what is the vision for a better America and a better planet that will inspire the grass roots that are the heart of any successful movement?
A number of people have mentioned their age or physical impediments as limitations but in this and other Substacks Personally I am witnessing minds that are as sharp or even sharper than ever. Additionally we have the wisdom that comes from experience in many effective grass roots movements that we have been participants and taken leadership roles in past times. Plus we have the example of those like Robert Reich whose appeal and activities span generations.
So, what is the positive vision we can unitedly hold for the future that will motivate large masses of the population for change. I suspect it is in the direction of a true and modernized Democracy and an economy that serves all and is structured so that the Ultra Wealthy and the power crazed cult leaders can never lead us astray again.
Perhaps we can start with a linguistic clean up. Replace the deployment of the verb progress as a given noun in political discourse and replace it with something akin to inclusive sustainability ? 🐈⬛
Monnina, 'Thrivable' is a higher goal than sustainability--it means we go beyond mere metrics to something even better. I have been involved with the environmental movement for years, and thrivable is the new mantra for life on Earth in all its forms. America needs to become a thrivable nation for all.
You know, things are changing very fast. When Bernie launched his Fight Oligarchy Tour, he went to red states. People were terrified and confused and Republican reps were not addressing them. Bernie explained what is going on in his simple, no-nonsense way. And something began to shift. I think that progressives are now seen as allies. People are looking at the "left" and saying to themselves, "Hmm. The right betrayed me. These people are helping. Maybe they are not the boogeyman." JAJAJA!
Marc, our exchanges of views all circle around these themes and questions. I am an old man in Europe, but I can think and have studied all my life in social history.
It sounds maybe egocentric, but that is because of the matter at hand. How can we find a way out of this mess?
I was born in the last month of Hitler's life, 250 miles distant from the ruins of Berlin. My youth was one of poverty, inmoney, food, culture.
But we found our way out.
And this is where the US will be, long before the election to get rid of this robber regime; how to find the power?
Build it up local, yes, but educate the voters as well. How? Teach them social history, but how can that be done, without using these awfull words like socialist, social democrat, justice or solidarity?
I too am an old man - formerly American - living in Germany since 1969. I was born in Brooklyn three months before Germany was liberated. Yes. our predicament begins with the banning of "words like socialist, social democrat, justice or solidarity." We have to keep the true meaning of these words alive, against all the assaults by fanatical greed!
We have allowed the extreme REICHwing in this land to turn the words; socialist, justice, progressive, and liberal into filthy dirty words for their fascist base and devotees.
We must take them back, and display them as great descriptors of something inherently GOOD, NOT evil!
Fredric, what old men still can tell the younger. It must have been in the seventies, when I saw a moving film "Deutschland im Herbst".
The identification with the collective guilt of six million murders is not over. You cannot be a "German" when you don't recognise the existence of a Jewish national home. Did you sign a form like that?
You are right that teaching history is crucial in the development of discriminating voters, but in a country that has underfunded education for many decades, how do you see this happening? An educated electorate is the last thing the oligarchs want. That holds true around the world, anywhere we see the rise of the far right.
Tom and Fredric (hope he sees this), I have been involved with the sustainability of our environment but also doing course work with noted systems scientist and social development leader Dr. Annelose Smitsman, along with Dr. Jean Houston--revered for her decades work in international development. From them, I learned a wonderful replacement word for our views: 'thrivable'. This is the new buzz word to signify that all we do from agriculture, housing, economics, and social service to governance must be focused around the meaning of this word for the benefits of all! It is a simple word yet all encompassing and points to a better existence for life on Earth. Take care, Joan
I believe in the US the cash nexus is dominant: the basic model of social relations is what happens in a transaction. Your present president illustrates that. That is not social (only money matters) and not democratic (power is money), But I agree with all your terms...
When you research it, Catherine, you will find it aligns with our path forward. It is sometimes called Democratic Democracy, too. It is a philosophy that shifts ownership and decision-making powers from corporate shareholders and corporate managers like the board of directors to a larger group of public stakeholders that includes workers, consumers, suppliers, communities and the broader public. Note the difference - from shareholders to stakeholders. When we get our country back we need to push for stakeholder capitalism rather than shareholder capitalism.
The grassroots movement is already here. Together with Indivisible and 50501 there are about 10 other grassroots organization. Many of these organizations are national and have local groups throughout the 50 states. They work with dozens of non-profits and community leaders to generate massive events.
That's how we generated a 3.5 million people march for Hands Off! and a 5 million march for No Kings! Our way of thinking right now is that the first goal is to defeat Trump's regime. He has created divisions and we are unifying people by staying with this one goal: reclaiming our democracy. People are welcome with all kinds of priorities and they can express them. But the goal is simple and unifying. Democrats and independents as well as people who saw themselves as apolitical and did not vote attend and now about 8-10% of Republicans have began to attend. All our welcome.
We believe that once we are more united and have accomplished that goal then it is the time to move to our other goal: to create an evolved democracy; to look at all the flukes in our current democracy and address them. And we will ensure that it is done with the input of the grassroots movement, not from the top down again. Because we are training citizen leaders who are awake and will keep participating in democracy. Otherwise we'll have the same problem again.
Furthermore, Indivisible is very focused on training people in non-violent resistance. We follow the strategies of Professor Erica Chenoweth, (Harvard University's Ash Center and Kennedy School) in non-violent movement and civil resistance and there is ample training and resources. We meet weekly to discuss priorities and answer questions. Indivisible is excellent in training leaders that can then lead in their cities and communities.
I just created a group there. I was frustrated because, as you say, I am still recovering from a fall and I could not march for a long time. So I went through their resources, and when I realized that people were not aware of the movement's size and strength yet and many were disheartened, I decided to create a group. The name of the group is storytellers.Indivisible. If you are interested, write to storytellers.indivisible@gmail.com and we can talk some more.
If you are an activist, you may also love the non-violent resistance training that congresswoman Pramila Jayapal offers. It's called the Resistance Lab. I'm an old baby-boomer activist and I loved it. It gave me new tools for the current situation. You can sign up here: https://www.pramilaforcongress.com/the-resistance-lab
When I look at comments by magas on news feeds (I try not to do that too often) they say the "libs" are whining and crying about nothing with this bill. They blindly believe that this bill will only effect those people they want it to effect. I just shook my head because it started effecting me the moment it was passed. I know this because I have been going to a thyroid doctor for about two years. She was able to get my out of control thyroid stable with medication. Now to ensure the medication is working correctly, I go in every six months to have it checked. She does that by taking blood work and examining and comparing the results each time. Now, I am on Medicare and have a Medicare plan that covered the lab that does the blood work. I only did a copay of $5.00. When I went to make an appointment for blood work this time, even with my Medicare, the cost was now right at $200.00. Now that might not seem very much but for someone like me living on Social Security and a small retirement, they might as well have charged me $2,000.00! When this sudden rise in costs for everyone starts spreading across the country, our movement will increase ten-fold! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Peggy - I am sorry that you are having to deal with this. I understand your frustration and fears. I go every six months for an infusion that costs over a million dollars (blood work is also crazy expensive) and if it wasn’t for my insurance paying most all of it I’d be dead now. Don’t even get me started on my other medications. With what is coming I am pretty sure I won’t be around much longer unless I can finagle something. Sometimes I am not sure that I want to witness the destruction. Check with your state, local government, charities and other organizations who might be able to help you. If not for the medical bills maybe for your other expenses. Of course now they too might not have the funding, and paperwork sucks, but keep trying because you are needed.
My hope is that the next candidate who runs for president, and is who we need and want, reads verbatim what RR just wrote. It makes me wonder though if Harris read something like this if she could have won?Would people have seen past her sex and race? What is it going to take to make people want to fight for their rights, country, freedom, future or the planet where we can all live peacefully? Why is it so hard? How is hate and division so attractive to some people? They are questions that I am still trying to figure out.
These same questions I ask myself every single day, Anon! I have sent letters and made phone calls to Democratic representatives in Congress and asked them to record those conversations where maga politicians and the orange man and couch vance threaten, bully or intimidate them. Then, blast that recording out for everyone to hear. If politicians are afraid to do their job, our problem only worsens. I am sorry to hear about your health worries, too, Anon! I will keep hoping that everything will work out for you. Don't worry about me! My kids are the best and have told me to get whatever tests done that I need and they will help me take care of the cost. I don't know what I did to deserve such kind and caring children, but I am thankful for them! Family is what it is all about and why I fight and resist so damn hard! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Peggy - You wrote: “ I don't know what I did to deserve such kind and caring children, but I am thankful for them!”
While I do not know you personally I am pretty sure, and I think others here who have read your posts and interacted with you, know exactly what you did to deserve them. You also gave them the roadmap and showed them kindness and caring and they chose to follow the path and are thankfully returning that compassion to you. You do deserve it!
We must incorporate a Pharmacare program in the vision of an economic democracy. Net profit margins for pharmaceutical companies ranges between 15%-30%. The average net profit margin in other businesses is about 7%. This is why life saving drugs are so expensive. Obscene greed.
Lindsay - I fully agree with you. Just wish someone had proof and would show it. I don’t like saying that the election was stolen because that is the lie that helped the reelection of a criminal. I do wonder though especially after T said pretty much that it was.
The hateful fascists and racists are severely ADDICTED TO said hate and division, and it is constantly, incessantly forced down their throats via their confirmation biased, Goebbels Propaganda outlets they are compelled to view 24/7/365.
Ironic, isn't it, that a country (Germany) which brought to unfettered power THE most insidiously demonic, EVIL despot in history, with all of it's cruel patriarchal misogyny, has already had a woman leader, whereas we, the supposed 'shining city on the hill' beacon of democracy<-LOFL! just flat out refuse, collectively, to elect the same.
I agree with you Peggy. Enough people will only wake up exactly when their own personal bills and expenses for "needs", in order to survive, go up drastically. When this despicably cruel bill affects enough people economically that they don't have enough money to pay for basic survival needs like medicine, medical care and food, they just might feel enough pain to wake up and want to resist this evil regime. Pain can lead to anger which is moving energy that can propel us to take action and move us towards a real desire for change. This bill has so many inhumane, ugly parts to it and I doubt if it will take long for most Americans to begin feeling its painful effects in our own lives economically and emotionally. Unfortunately, too often, us humans only seem to learn through pain but hopefully, this time, the experience and threshold for pain needed will be enough for us to keep fighting and resisting and to work to create a different governing system which holds at its core the intrinsic values of people over money and power. We will ultimately not survive unless our core values become helping people, animals and nature survive and thrive in community. Thank you for sharing your own medical bill example Peggy.
Unfortunately, Lilla, they planned their scheme so the cuts in Medicaid are delayed by about 16 months. So, this gives Republicans the advantage to say how things are going great; then, the Dems may have a hard time even winning in 2026! This needs to be broadcast to more people. I am not certain when the SNAP cuts will begin. We'll see how this all unfolds. And of course there will be bad consequences with the cuts to the Pell education grants and Planned Parenthood! Hideous.
ALL of the Dems (even the effing ineffective, complacent, corporatist ones!) MUST start NOW in SCREAMING at the top of their lungs that this sadistically cruel BS death sentence is 200% the fault of all of the spineless, shaking in their boots, quisling Repugnaf**ks, solely and TOTALLY, PERIOD!!
DO NOT allow these MAGAtNAZI Congresscritter low lives to shift the blame for this crap bill's destruction and death onto the Dems in the very same way that they ALWAYS co-opt the credit for any great legislation brought about by Dems, and which they decisively voted AGAINST, which helps out their constituents immensely.
Peggy, thank you for sharing. I wish you and everyone safety and good, affordable health and health care.
A particular vision treatment needed at intervals for some people would cost nearly four thousand dollars each time if it were not for Medicare. How that help will change remains to be seen in the near future, and senators, who are aware of that and more, wisely voted NAY on the devastating bill. However, representatives did not stand up for the people yesterday.
Regular scans and fibro-scans also are concerns, as I am sure many other needed medical checks and procedures are for numerous people. Can you believe that some individuals, who are wrongly persuaded and not informed, insist that there will be no change and no effect on the medical needs many of us face?
I know this will be a horrible thing to say, JP4M, but when those individuals are suddenly hit with a huge change in their health needs, I will not feel sorry when they start screaming. I mean seriously, it does not take a genius to read what is in that bill and determine that is not what is best for American citizens. I'm sorry for saying I won't feel sorry for them, I know I will, but right now after being hit almost immediately after that bill passed, I am just simmering with anger! Thanks for letting me vent, JP4M!
Peggy, you are a blessing, and I thank you for listening! I am so grateful for all of the people on here, who are wise and understanding! There is so much more I would like to say, and I remain concerned for everyone. You are right. The individuals who refused to understand are not going to be immune to situations. Sometimes it could turn out for some people to be a choice of home with a shortened ailing life, or life for a while without a home. For some people life is already that way, and that is tragic. It also could be that fine doctors will no longer be available. Do you think anyone will fight and succeed in getting this situation reversed? I wish you and everyone the very best!
Remember when all the QAnon and MAGA nuts were hating on "Obamacare" while happy with the ACA? Then, upon encountering reality, were the fastest people to EVER leave a group chat?
Same now with all the different state-specific names for Medicaid:
"Many states' Medicaid programs have a different name, but local reporting is connecting the dots on One Big Beautiful Bill's massive cuts"
It allowed the racist, fascist rightwingnuts to wield it like a WEAPON against that administration, and the Dems who backed it, and then got it signed into law. :(
The issues that might be leaders for discussion 1) climate catastrophe is coming and needs immediate action, those who oppose fighting this together are enemies of the people. Remember that people who have not believed this in the past are not going to be turned by accusations but with acceptance. Perhaps they should be told that it was not clear before but now the information is clear, I.e., ask them to open their eyes slowly. 2) we need immigration reform and good people need a place to work and want to become Americans like almost all our ancestors. Etc. we need not make this a battle. It must be a partnership. Hopefully, the world can grow to be one world in truth, cooperation with enough for all to live with sufficient food and shelter, plus the freedom to have more if they want it.
I try to host one each year. Your ideas are perfect for a theme for this year's group. Thank you. It is much better than discussing traffic jams on local roads!
Thank you. I’m glad someone is listening. It is easy to find fault with things one sees with a different lens. The positive road less traveled may be harder, but the joy of joining together for a positive goal may be more difficult than using negative views to feel part of a tribe, but my belief is that is a bit like mercy as Portia described it without the religious overtones. I wish the discussions of those who founded our system of government were still taught so people would understand the reality of governance.
Miles Taylor; it’s only been a month since he came out about the retribution acted upon him by Trump for telling the truth. Keep our heroes against this tyranny in the spotlight. You too could be targeted by someone because you point out their criminality.
Marc, I have been hearing these questions too. So I created an Indivisible group called Storytellers.Indivisible. We are working to change those narratives so that people join the pro-democracy movement that is already here and is 5 million strong. The group is new and I'm looking for members. Want to give it a try?
What we do for now is to visit alternative news media in YT and participate in the comments threats below. We answer those questions. When people talk about no one doing anything and feeling despair, we talk about the grassroots organizations behind the Hands Off! and No Kings! marches. When they say they do not know what to do, we give them examples and links to resources. And we also inspire, uplift, empower and change the narrative.
I have been seeing a small but significant shift from No Kings! to now. Before there was a lot of asking what leader would help. Now they are beginning to understand that is up to us. So little by little, the narrative changes.
Agree. We may as well implode our beautiful Constitution Center and chuck the Liberty Bell right into the Schuylkill River. There’s nothing to celebrate today.
The thing to celebrate is that about 70% of the US does not agree with the MAGA fools. If just over half of that 70% shows up and votes in the midterms the GOP will be obliterated. So there's some hope.
I've been searching for a way to sum that concept up.
Every time I read about Curtis Yarvin & Peter Theil and their plans for neo-feudalism and a dictatorship of CEOs I wonder, 'don't they realize that disempowering, suppressing and empoverishing the workers/consumers that they're destroying the very free market they so greedily revere?' Haven't they read history? Don't they see how that turns out?
Same for that other sick righteous fuck Russell Vought, Kevin Roberts and the Christian Fascists and their nationalist theocracy. I wonder, 'Can't they see the inevitable collapse and chaos that eliminating, or attempting to, all non-white, non-(pseudo-perverse)-christians or forcefully suppressing and/or punishing them into uselessness will wreak upon the nation and the world?'
Even more absurdly, can't they see that ensuring, instigating the imminent deaths of millions and millions of people of all races and religions all around the world by ending USAID and any and all government provided assistance of any kind to fellow humans, is a sin far far greater than the allegedly 'left-captured' deep state he so vehemently despises and which doesn't exist except in his paranoid fantasies, but which he imagines is his enemy and his righteous goal to destroy?
*sigh*
🙄
As usual, I rambled on endlessly in compound sentences and probably indecipherable stream of consciousness as my mind reels at the madness fueled by caffeine. (My version of the weave! LOL)
You see how I value your clarity and succinct summation.
I am afraid that the big tech guys who are "accelerating" us towards the feudalistic states are delusional in their own power and removed from appreciating nature, biodiversity, and human life in general. They seem to look forward to a world of paved in concrete with robots replacing workers. They don't really think they will need market capitalism much longer. Meanwhile, the very extreme so-called Christian nationalist crowd believe they want to hasten the Second Coming regardless of what happens to everyone and every other living thing. Personally, I am hopeful that everyday Americans appreciate individual freedoms and do believe in a social covenant. We need to rebuild our personal community interactions in civic participation. Mutual respect and empathy will be the only path for us to build a better society.
If you think that violence is going to work, that guillotines are going to be a match for the United States military with Abrams tanks, attack aircraft, the XM7, howitzers, M240 machine guns, the Marine Expeditionary Units, the U.S. Army Rangers and so much more, you’re mistaken.
It seems that the confidential phone lines for G.I.s are overloaded with soldiers asking about things like refusing to follow unlawful orders, how to become a conscientious objector, etc. They're dreading the possibility that they will be asked to do things they know are wrong.
IF the putrid orange despot and his demonic regime currently has the U.S. military 100% at their backs, and if they have already totally violated their collective OATH to uphold and defend OUR Constitution, and are ready, willing and anxiously able to fully obey any blatantly inhuman, unlawful orders.
But yes, if the above is the case, it is an exercise in futile martyrdom to try and fight them guerilla style, a la The WW2 French Underground Resistance, or the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the evil fascists of that time.
Remember when Dems tried to have investigations into far-right membership in law enforcement and the military several tears ago and the GOP shot it down unanimously?
We weren't fooled even then. (For all the good it did.)
In this case, in a system based on capitalism, not hereditary monarchy, general strikes should do the trick. It's all about money, and consumer spending drives, or crashes, the economy.
Please remember the use of guillotines. They were part of the end of a trial of government that was corrupted by dystopian understanding of reality and loss of empathy leading to the government by a tyrant. In that case a tyrant who, to some degree valued the public good and effected some remaining steps forward in government. But, also was flawed by power and the need to maintain it. Remember the guillotine was designed by a physician/scientist that was used on its designer and another prominent scientist, Lavoisier. The elite threaten those who want change, science threatens those who do not want logic and reason to pertain.
End Carve outs from the tax code make the rich pay the same percentage of the income from all sources as the Working Poor. . .
Why doesn’t the minimum pay a living wage ???
Guys like Ray Crock (McDonalds) created less than the 35 hour work week no retirement , no health benefits .
A large contribution to Nixon’s Presidential slush fund and destruction of the workers chance for health benefits, Retirement benefits. As if high school kids will never grow up to be adults. . .
Ray crock also invented Office Cubical’s so office workers were treated like animals with the cube serving as Blinders to keep workers focused on their own desk top Fuck sun light🌞.
Made offices worse destroying team spirit along with individual spirits…
Yeap. The pro-democracy movement has been doing that already. 50501 is really good at boycotts. The Tesla movement has worked well. Now this month we are focusing on Amazon. Right now there is a boycott from buying in Amazon from yesterday to July 30. So join!
We are flexing our boycott muscles. It is not easy to get a national strike to succeed. So we have been practicing with smaller boycotts and blackouts. This is the longest one, I think-- for an entire month.
But I so badly want to do a national strike right now after that BBB. Anyway, we can work on focusing so we can target it well. But we may need to wait until we have double the 5 million that are participating now. Then I think we will be able to stop everything for 1-3 days. What do you think?
I love America for the beauty of its promise, even though that promise was never totally fulfilled, even though that promise has now been cast on the bonfire of violence, cruelty and fascism.
Marianne Williamson ran on the Democratic ticket in 2024 with an Economic Bill of Rights, Michael, based on FDRs work left undone due to his ill health. I realized that the MSM and oligarchy wouldn't allow Williamson's campaign or great platform to succeed. This is when I knew America was truly lost. I still grieve and now more than ever! Joan
As a musician not a touring one but one who ha written several ( oh just a few) songs about the madness in Washington, I firmly believe in the power of the song. One of my favorite albums of all time was a collection of songs and artists in performance at a little encampment called Resurrection City in Washington in 1968 founded by Martin Luther King before he was assassinated earlier that year. Pete Seeger had brought together the likes of Bernese Reagan, Revered Fredrick Douglass Kirkpatrick, Jimmy Collier and others. They have all passed now but the songs remain stirring. When I play it, I stop what I’m doing in order to listen. I cry. They continue to stir my soul. Go ahead and search on YouTube “Pete Seeger and Songs from Resurrection City”. You’ll see.
That’s what we need now across the nation. More concerts to save America. We have someone here in Connecticut who has produced them before Covid set in. I’m trying to get his ass out to do it again. I’ll add her momentarily one of my compositions.
Great song, Bill! Ah, and the ways things have played out. So, here's a song I wrote in 2022 and put in a new music lyric video in 2023. It's my first song, I'm not a musician. And here's the kicker---I had to find a Mexican to sing it! American vocalists were reluctant to have their voices associated with anything political. Though an American composed the melody--I didn't list his name though I love what he did with it----so it wouldn't impact his business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfaaZ4Z7lv4
The problem, as I saw it, was that Americans, particularly politicians (and vocalists), were clinging to outdated strategies, hoping for the same favorable outcomes. They failed, and many are still failing to rise to the challenge, as our democracy slips away.
We can still get it back---if there's a fair election next year. IF.
Hopeful and Bill Katz, thank you for the music and demonstrating yet another powerful force for our future. Musicians, writers and all types of artists can lead the way for our future. “We Shall Overcome” popularized by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez was a powerful song to lead movements of the recent past as was Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changing.” Now we need inspiring songwriters and singers for the growing moment of today.
The average idiot american cannot even properly conceive how much wealth a billion dollars actually is and how much has been stolen from them by the oligarchs in the last 50 years. Its genuinely easier for them to believe that their struggles are because of immigrants somehow because they can't even fathom how corrupt and evil the people at the top of the pyramid scheme that is America actually are. The billionaires are literally rubbing it in all of our faces that they won the class war and are now gleefully fucking us all out in the open and still some refuse to see it. On their own the white nationalists of MAGA could be defeated, but with the billionaires funding the largest propaganda machines on earth we are all fucking doomed to be trapped in a police state run by the dumbest people in the country. If the people don't start actually fighting back soon, there is going to be nothing good in this country left to save.
"...cannot even properly conceive how much wealth a billion dollars actually is.."
A commenter in the Guardian made this point about Jeff Bezos's wedding:
"Bezos spent around $40 million on the wedding and has a net worth of $220 billion. This is the equivalent of the average Brit (median net worth £125k) spending £22.73 on their wedding., "(Sokotox, 2 Jul 2025)
which puts the scale of Bezos's wealth into perspective.
Bezos is not trying to cripple the Ukraine or Enable Russia to Continue to Invade peaceful countries. Bezos invented Amazon made a ton of money and is enjoying spending it on his wedding; I’m disappointed I didn’t get invited to his wedding .
My comment was only repeating a way of making the concept of billionaire more tangible.
However, I don't think Bezos can be let off the hook so easily when he stopped the Washington Post editorial team from endorsing Kamala Harris and donated $1m to Trump's' inauguration fund. Beyond politics, he has a reputation for treating his workers badly, and although stating that "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet"*, Amazon's CO2 emissions have increased dramatically*. And having 96 private jets arriving at his wedding is hardly minimising his carbon footprint.
One commenter called for a general strike. I agree. Collective action that affects their bank accounts is all they will pay attention to. All the shaming words and appeals to common decency are laughed off. They believe that as long as we have all our shiny toys, we'll complain but otherwise go along as usual. We made a difference in Target's bottom line this spring. No new cars, no fancy restaurants, no trips, definitely no Amazon. Yes, strikes hurt, and I would hate the impact on small businesses, but collective economic action would hit them where it hurts.
Fighting back - just like the great young man in New York city: knocking on doors and speaking to people. Treating the electorate like human beings: Good human beings, even.
I see this crisis as not limited to the US nation state but as a global one. We are all experiencing a disintegration of anachronistic colonialist worldviews as their cruelties and limitations are being made transparent through their everywhere everyone all at once implementation by the Tech Bros top down imposition of societal boundary busting Wild West electronic social media. Our societies are suffering an emotional breakdown. We are in a similar historical period as the challenging intellectual discoveries of the Renaissance: it is a crisis of faith.
You’re certainly right, Monnina, in that democracies have been weakening for quite some time now. Freedom has been under assault across the planet. We don’t know as a species how to live within our means. Greed and power mongering is out of control. We’re destroying the biosphere on a planetary scale. Social and economic inequality are both growing. Hate and intolerance are encouraged by totalitarian regimes everywhere, including now in America.
It's time for a reset. The crud has finally risen to the top, we now know exactly what we're dealing with; a disgusting shit stew, concocted by evil. sick, soulless human beings, perverse throwbacks. It's been simmering and bubbling beneath the surface for decades, poisoning the atmosphere, the minds of the vulnerable, plotting its ascension to power.
There are more good people than bad, more smart people than stupid, more humane people than cruel. We will win in the end against these archaic, stunted regressive human beings. Their only winning strategies are oppression and violence. It's not enough....these "losers" will lose (as they usually do). The fight is on.
Yes, it did. I can not be alone in seeing the parallels between the mass mediated global spectacle of the insane cruelties of the MAGA movement and the artwork of Hieronymus Bosch (d.1516). Living in this timeline has gifted me with a deeper historical understanding of the realities which informed his shocking images of human depravity and suffering.
I disagree with Professor Reich's conclusion that "Our problem is that too many Americans, including the person who now holds the highest office in the land, don’t know the true meaning of patriotism." I think they know full well what patriotism is, and since it doesn't serve their needs, they wrap themselves in the flag and wrap the rest of us in the distractions you highlighted as well as other lies and projections.
I like your comment, "Fascism thrives on chaos and hate. Democracy needs an even break." But I'm not holding my breath waiting for the rich to give back. It's up to us to change the leadership to one that gives us all an even break, but holds us equally responsible for the common good.
Please don't believe that objection to the Israeli Fascist actions are anti-semetic. They are not. The Israeli government is grossly fascist, inhuman and insane.
My True Love’s comment yesterday: “Well Honey, we are no longer middle class, we are now poverty level. They’ll take Social Security next and most of us depending on it won’t survive.” The abject cruelty of Fascism deletes any facet of patriotism and that’s where Trump has carried America. That’s also where this Congress and SCOTUS have willingly removed it. The leaders of the free world have lead us into Fascism and taken away our freedoms one..by one…and we have not stood up patriotically yelling “Hell NO!”
Ladies and Gentlemen of the USA - PLEASE fight against these monsters. They are wrong, misguided, evil, self-obsessed, overly powerful and, at the very least, destructive. Vote them out.
Well written. Income inequality, broadly defined, is approaching a crisis. Those at the top are aware of that, and they will do everything they can to keep their perch. And that means they have to throw sand into the gears of democracy.
Well, the rich have too much MONEY and the rest of us have too much pride aAND too little money. Sadly, for the vast majority, it’s mostly about the money.
I’ve struggled with the word patriotism because it’s so often used to divide or exclude. But what you’ve shared here gets to something deeper. For me, real love of country means caring enough to want it to be fair, kind, and just for everyone. We’ve been pushed apart by fear and greed, but I believe we can still choose a different path — one rooted in mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Case in point - multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos $50 million dollar Venice wedding (over 90 private jets to haul in his illustrious guests) Every detail indicates a callous indifference toward the realities the rest of the world is facing. When everyone knows how much you have, flaunting it so flagrantly is insulting to the common person - even vulgar. People are struggling - emotionally, financially, and socially. Let them eat wedding cake, I guess.
Absolutely true, Michael. As far as the division in our country, we can work to try and reach common ground with those who have opposing political views; however, until that orange smear and his sycophants are removed and dealt with, magas will continue to hate us. He continuously stokes their hatred and no matter if we held out the olive branch, magas will follow the orange man. We can choose to just not engage to avoid continuous conflicts, but we must never stop fighting and resisting his regime. Right now, it seems that he and his ilk have the upper hand with the bill passing, immigrants continuing to be rounded up and laws being broken everyday by them but bringing down the hammer on anyone else. It would cause anyone to say 'I give up'. We can't give up though. We must double down, protests more and start general strikes not just in this little space or that little space but all across the country. Professor Reich infused in me a boost of fighting energy. We are true patriots, Michael. When the dust is settled on this chapter of America, history will say it was We the People, the patriots that fought so hard to keep our Democracy. Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Your framing of patriotism as a collective responsibility—not a performative gesture—is a timely reminder. True patriotism isn’t about flag-waving bravado or exclusionary rhetoric; it’s about defending democracy, paying our fair share, and strengthening the “we” in “we the people.” In an era of performative politics and billionaire tax evasion, this call to civic integrity couldn’t be more urgent.
Nothing WEAKENS the WE as being forced to tolerate a traitor representing us in our People's house -- the House of Representatives.
We have the right and obligation to remove that unfaithful member -- non-violently, working with the governor of the state, with thousands of registered voters signing a petition -- declaring the seat "Vacated." Especially if the member is petitioned to meet voters in a public town hall and they refuse. They have gone missing.
Defending our constitution as a civilian is just as patriotic as joining the armed forces. Time for this to be recognized and celebrated. And there’s nearly an infinite number of methods!
We know the feeling of this horror story unfolding in your home....
Never Ever Ever give up Hope, Compassion, Belief....
You are blessed...this is just a micro moment in time
Navalny's last message to us all was more than any words... the shape of a heart with his hands ... Across this war torn Planet please let us not give in...even to despair
Professor Reich: there are those who loudly proclaim "THIS IS NOT AMERICA! THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE!" but in fact, reality shows that yes, THIS IS WHO WE ARE as a nation: greedy, cruel, violent, money worshipping, vindictive narcissists. this in fact, is the america i grew up in, and was always excluded from. i cannot even begin to imagine the hell that someone of color or with a different ethnicity must have experienced growing up in a country where parts of it were closed to them and which became ever more closed to them and to anyone else who was "different".
hey, it's okay! thanks for the reply, too. I just really, really have to remind myself that more folks out there voted for this (even if they didn't realize it). I know people are going to be hurt (hell, folks have already died due to climate-change deniers, just look at Texas this weekend), and I hope and wish for them to actually realize it and use their vote for change in the future.
I think the time for poetic explanations of the meaning of patriotism has passed. A non-violent General Strike is probably the only vehicle left to force the utterly corrupted political parties to attend to the will and well-being of the people.
Although I just wrote a poetic explanation of why patriotism itself has passed, I do agree with you. For many years I have chosen to forego celebrations of the country's imperfect beginning. Let's strike.
Too many "patriots" equate patriotism with symbols like flags and fighting in wars for your country. Draft-dodger Trump is a patriot because he hugs flags on TV. His campaign staff asserts that he is a true patriot because he is sacrificing his billion-dollar business to serve his country as president. Then I read articles showing Trump was going broke until he ran for a second term. Now he is rich due to investor bribes and brazenly selling cars and other merch on TV. MAGAs continue to overlook that successful businessmen do not have 6 bankruptcies in their resume'.
MAGAs ignore Trump's litany of aspersions toward military heroes as losers - starting with the late Senator McCain. Being a retired Navy Captain with a total of 45 years of uniformed and civilian federal service, I am deeply offended by Trump, Musk, and the GOP legislators who characterize me and all civil servants as lazy incompetents who need to find "real" jobs. That simply does not jibe with my experience. Quite the opposite. The quality of leadership I experienced from Vietnam onward was exceptional. I had the privilege of providing direct support to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Joint Chiefs. When they blew their noses, the kleenex they tossed in the wastebasket contained more leadership than our current Secretary of Defense has shown.
Voters should keep in mind that studies show all federal jobs pay less than the private sector. That too reflects patriotism. How much less pay? Well, on several occasions, I was offered positions with private sector firms that were double my federal salary. The people offering such pay could not understand why I turned them down just because my job was more gratifying, knowing that I was daily making my government a bit better for everyone. That is one example of patriotism
After the Revolution, it is good to recall that 20 to 30% of the people living in the 13 states were still loyal to the king of England. There was no way these people were allowed to vote.
Trump talks about removing / revoking the citizenship of Americans. This should be done to MAGAts. They are traitors to this country
Being Stupid Is Not Yet A Crime , Elections in the USA are poorly planned and conducted, Our Elections are Simply Beauty Contests, Popularity, Test of Telegenic Power.
Ronald Regan, Trump, John F Kennedy are proof of the Unfortunate fact.
Perhaps a return to the smoke filled rooms of yesterday could end it.
Personally I favor a mandatory voting law with financial penalties of $500 for non voters. Additionally a Constitutional Convention to rewrite our ancient Constitution to Reflect the need of Today Citizens after mandatory voting .
State legislators should be eliminated from the process. . .
Many fear the outcome but I trust the population more than Supreme Court Crooks in robes…
Profoundest inspiration (and envy) for your government assisting in creating one of the happiest populations on the planet. (We want to know your secret!)
What American Patriotism requires is loyalty to the Constitution. There MUST be a national movement bringing the Constitution back to the center of all US politics. From my last post: https://dialector.substack.com/p/to-support-and-defend "To Make America Great Again, the culture war must die and the Constitution must rise. The Constitution must rise as the sacred bond that unites a free people across every difference of class, color, and creed. It must rise as the unwavering standard by which every leader, law, and movement is judged. It must rise as the shared inheritance of patriots who choose principle over party and courage over comfort. It must rise as the moral compass that guides our protest, our service, and our sacrifice. It must rise as the voice of our highest civic ideals, calling us to build a nation ruled by law, not ruled by partisan division. It must rise, not as a relic remembered, but as the living covenant of a people who refuse to be divided, and who will not be ruled by anything less than liberty and justice for all...It is this transformation, from culture war reactionaries to constitutional patriots, that makes peaceful protest powerful enough to call soldiers back to their oath and inspire a nation back to its founding covenant."
Well said, Max. Patriots do not betray their oath to uphold the Constitution. Donald Trump betrayed his oath on Jan 6, 2021. Those who support him are cowards, not patriots.
If you liked "To Support and Defend" as a call to disciplined, principled resistance, the companion essay gives the rational and philosophical grounding for that call and how to execute it with maximum clarity and resolve: E Pluribus Unum: Defending the Constitution, Conserving American Heritage - https://dialector.substack.com/p/e-pluribus-unum
I see a lot of patriots today. In fact, every night I send legions of angels to protect them. Here is the list:
Robert Reich,
Heather and the Inequality Media team
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Bernie Sanders
Greg Casar
Pramila Jayapal
Ilhan Omar
Jasmine Crocket
Jamie Raskin,
Biden. YES. Biden. He is the most pro-labor, pro-women and pro-African American president we've had in a long time and I don't think we appreciated him enough!
And thousands of veterans.
Kamala Harris,
Tim Walz,
Senators Schiff, Murray, Garcia, Padilla, McIver, Velazquez, and Van Hollen
Zohran Mamdani
Rachel Maddow
Katie Phang,
Leah and Ezra, the leaders of Indivisible
Laurie Woodward Garcia, organizer of PeoplePowerUnited
Rev. WIlliam Barber II
Pete Buttigieg
Alternative media, including
PoliticsGirl
Ben, Brett and Jordy Meiselas brothers, Meidas Touch
David Parkman,
Mary Trump,
Brian Tyler Cohen
Kyle (Secular Talk)
Thom Hartman (Hartman Report)
Marc Elias (Democracy Ducket)
Tim Miller (The Bulwark)
And many many others who practice free speech in dangerous time, including me.
5 million Americans who are marching in non-violent protests
I can't go on. I'm too tired. Got to go to bed.
Each one of these people sustains me in my fight against this regime. They inform, inspire, uplift, and educate me and let me know that I am not alone.
And this may sound odd, but so do many people who write comments below these alternative media presentations. Yes. You would think that taking a bit of time to write a comment sharing how you are feeling, inspiring others, asking a question-- that this is nothing.
But it is not nothing. I come after you and read your words and feel connected. Perhaps you inspire me. Perhaps I needed to cry and you sharing your feelings helps me do this. Perhaps I have the answer you need and I feel helpful.
Nothing is too small. We help each other. That's BIG!
But please, it is important that we SEE ourselves and VALUE what we do each day. It may seem small in the face of so much overwhelming evil. But it is not small. When we keep fighting and keep speaking and writing and showing up. We matter.
Only one remark: "the fear of loosing your job..." Is it the foundation of the new order?
Or is it much worse: using the threat of the fascist following of Trump and the risk of lethal violence? Thinking about that: is'nt the second Civil War in full swing?
I don't talk about ICE; but in Europe we still call it Gestapo. That were Hitlers goons, 80 years ago. This Trump regime will be in the history books, when we will still have them. But the Trump crimes will be in the minds of the peoples, when we still can remember.
"As long as he owns your tools he owns your job, and if he owns your job he is the master of your fate. You are in no sense a free man. You are subject to his interest and to his will. He decides whether you shall work or not. Therefore, he decides whether you shall live or die. And in that humiliating position anyone who tries to persuade you that you are a free man is guilty of insulting your intelligence. Eugene V. Debs
The owner of the tools is not master of your fate if a constitutional government protects your rights. This is why Trump and the businesses backing Project 2025 are demolishing our government. Make no mistake: this is a fascist takeover of America, and we will lose our freedom if they succeed.
WWG1WGA is the oath the President and his cult all took to destroy everything that you mentioned Professor Reich. These are not patriots, they are anti Americans.
Keith , what does WWG1WGA stand for? I just googled this and got this information from the Anti Defamation League : it means "where we go one, we go all," for a digital army used as a rallying cry by the online community of "digital soldiers" that support Q in the battle against the Deep State.
Continue to - Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly.
Use/share this spreadsheet as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, as well as those in others. Use your voice and make some “good trouble”
People who have never served anyone, except themselves, are in charge. Patriotism takes giving yourself to serve the needs of the people, not determining what needs they decide to provide in self and conflict of interests.
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Does America even know these days what true patriotism is? Somewhere we lost our way. A united America no longer exists. Why? How do we fix that?
It isn’t because there are fewer white people. It isn’t because we have been invaded from below the border. It isn’t because we don’t all worship the same faith or love the same way.
It’s because fewer and fewer have more and more, while the rest of us have to make do with less. And the rich and powerful turn us against each other.
It’s a deliberate distraction. And the only cure is to try to restore some measure of economic equality. The rich have too much and the rest of us have too little.
Fascism thrives on chaos and hate. Democracy needs an even break. The rich need to give back, not take more.
“True patriots don’t fuel racist, religious, or ethnic divisions.”
It’s not that we can’t feed the poor, it’s that we can’t satisfy the rich.
Absolutely true, Mike. We could feed everyone in America tomorrow. But we won’t. Because the rich will never be satisfied.
That is why it is a disease. Craving money just so you can have huge potfuls of the stuff is a sickness. I have been advocating for adding it to DSM as a personality disorder.
Please remember guys that for those possessing vast wealth it is all about CONTROL, and to build and preserve the power to CONTROL. I detest hitting "like" to all the excellent comments y'all are posting today, and would much prefer to hit a "Agree Dammit" button. I'd wear that sucker out! Best "4th" Wishes to you all!
The word intifada is associated with the Palestinian resistance, but translated it means Uprising. Zohran Mamdani called for a global intifada, I agree, a global uprising against dictators, tyrants, oligarchs, plutocrats that use their wealth to control and abuse their populations.
And it has to start here in the USA, We can kvetch all day long, whine and condemn Trump, MAGAts, billionaires, oligarchs, plutocats, capitalists and nothing will happen except venting our spleen.
Look at Russia, Hungary, Turkey, even Israel.
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog has the authority to issue Netanyahu a pardon, and Trump in a tweet called for the pardoning of Bibi, and that means a real possibility.
Israel has all aspects now, of a Managed Democracy, as does America
https://www.mind-war.com/p/late-stage-inverted-totalitarianism
Sheldon Wolin was a political theorist with a long-celebrated body of work but his last book Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism (2008) may be his most important. Written during the Bush administration, it describes an authoritarian form of government that doesn’t replace democracy entirely, it uses the mechanisms and symbols of a democratic form of government while separating the dêmos, the people, from the krátos, the power
Here are some quotes from Wolin’s book on the concept of a managed democracy, a democracy in name only:
“Managed democracy is a political form in which governments are legitimated by elections that they have learned to control.”
“The genius of managed democracy lies in its ability to maintain the institutions and rituals of democracy while eliminating their democratic content.”
“It does not abolish elections, freedom of speech, or the rule of law; it manages them, rendering them compatible with elite governance and capitalist priorities.”
“Managed democracy is built on the illusion of consent, where the public is offered participation without power, and choice without consequence.”
“In managed democracy, corporate interests work through electoral and regulatory systems to ensure outcomes favorable to the status quo, often under the guise of public interest.”
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It's like Coke vs Pepsi--they both make you fat and rot your teeth.
Agree Dammit
I don't like Trump or Netanyahu, but your advocacy of an uprising against dictators, tyrants, etc ignores the reality of what intifada means in the Middle East. When Arafat rejected Israel's offer of a state for the Palestinians, which outraged Pres. Clinton, he responded with an intifada. In the intifada, over 1,000 Israelis were killed by bombs in cafes and buses. To globalize the intifada means to advocate for the murder of Jews around the world.
Dante called it "giusto sdegno" - righteous indignation!
I like the idea of the "Agree Dammit" button. Perhaps if others share the same view, we can request a change.
Kindred spirit <3 ;-)
Yup. Power tends to corrupt, and money is a form of power, as is political position, and violence; and in a corrupted society they can be exchanged for one another. After the point that one can buy the biggest and best of everything it's all about empire, all about total domination. Even to the point that some of the hyper-rich conspire to make the poor even poorer. Third worlding.
"This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon “moderation” in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H.L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." -- Dwight Eisenhower
It's sick. (Incidentally: After the corrupt "Gilded Age", many policies were put in place to protect the public's interests, such as unions, voting rights, and antitrust; but we somehow got bamboozled into tossing them away).
These absolutist capitalist FASCISTS simply do not care about any "moderation" in ANYTHING which they feel constrains either their totally insatiable greed, their endlessly expansive wealth, or their quest for ultimate power 'uber alles' <-MOST befitting for that 4th Reich scumbag Peter Thiel.
Agree Dammit
I believe it *was* in an early version of the DSM - called the "Midas Syndrome" if I recall correctly. No surprise that it's been removed.
Reminds me of the Krishnamurti observation: "It is no sign of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society".
It's one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed. You don't need to add it to the DSM for people to recognize it as a problem.
I think it should be there, because it needs official standing. They need to be told that it is a sickness.
Psychosis of GREED.
Isn't hording of EVERYTHING else considered a mental disease??
Then WHY TF is hording MONEY not a disease as well?!?
Unfortunately, everything in this country seems to mainly focus around money, and under the current group in WA, it clearly IS the main focus. There are days when money feels equated to a worshipped god. So many of my high school students just want to "make a lot of money," their major goal, satisfaction in the career they choose based completely on money. Very depressing.
Chris and David.......Hasn't trump broken most of the seven deadly sins?
Pretty much ALL of them.
But of course that is no deterrent whatsoever to the ChristoFASCIST Nationalists or rightwing evangelicals to preclude them from worshiping and supporting their putrid orange demon and his evil, sadistic regime.
Thanks David. Greed is one of the original seven deadly sins but it seems that today's Christian Nationalists have forgotten that one.
And most of the other six too!!! GH
Patriotism requires “we the people” educate themselves on the federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) that makes insurrection a felony crime and demand Democrats in control of 15 states enforce the law against the ongoing insurrection by Trump, Republicans in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court.
Patriots must demand Democrats in control of 15 states should enact and then enforce a new state law to be modeled after the federal law against insurrection (18 U.S. Code § 2383). Democrats in 15 state governments have Democrats as governor, attorney general and a Democratic majority in the state House and state Senate.
If California acts in 90 days, Democrats can swing the House majority to Democratic in 2025, block some implementation of the Big Ugly Bill, and educate the public about the Big Ugly Bill with Medicaid cuts, SNAP cuts, tax cuts for billionaires, and a hundred other destructive parts of the Bill. If Colorado, Maryland and New Jersey act, they can remove 4 of Trump’s justices from the Supreme Court – Roberts, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch which disables the Court and empowers federal district courts and state courts.
Federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) defines the criminal actions of insurrection in language that is clear and easy to understand:
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”
Clear factual evidence of the insurrection exists in the multiple actions and statements in 2025 that the Trump administration, Republican in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court are engaging in or assisting rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States and the laws thereof. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed in 2025 against actions by Trump and his administration. Federal courts have ruled against Trump’s Executive Orders as illegal and issued stop and reversal orders. Federal court orders have not been obeyed by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress and the Supreme Court have not acted to force compliance and defend the Constitution.
Biden failed to stop Trump after the insurrection on Jan 6 which continued in the 2024 election. All votes for Trump were illegal. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was an insurrectionist. But the US Supreme Court violated federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) by (1) supporting Trump, who was a committed insurrectionist, to get elected in 2024 and become dictator on Day One, as he had said he would. And (2) ruling that states cannot enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which banned Trump as an insurrectionist from holding office. The SCOTUS decision incorrectly said that a law from Congress was needed to define the criteria for enforcing the law against an insurrectionist when a law did exist (18 U.S. Code § 2383) which was passed by Congress. The SCOTUS decision was an act by criminal felons (6 justices on SCOTUS appointed by Republican presidents) which supported Trump’s insurrection. As mentioned, the insurrection continued during the 2024 election, but Biden failed to invoke the Insurrection Act and reject all votes for Trump which were illegal.
Now that Trump is in office and the insurrection has continued, Democrats must begin to enforce the law against insurrection to save democracy.
Read my post to see WHAT ACTION must come from Democrats.
https://williamlmiller.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and
William I like the intent, motive and facts of your comment, But I refrain from using words like must or should, because the world is full of musts and should haves, I can waste my breathe all day long talking about how people should or must do this or that. The sentiments are meaningless like you should raise your child better, or you must eat your spinach.
Everyone has a wish list of musts and shoulds,including our MAGAt enemies,,
Saying people must do this or that is a waste of breath.
We need an national general strike, an uprising (intifada), but then I am also wasting my energy. typing those words. I am like a wolf howling at the moon.
William,
I understand your frustration but I still think that for democracy to survive the law should be enforced. The current mess was caused by not enforcing the law and Trump is still playing a game with the legal system to avoid enforcement of the law. So obviously the legal system is weak and can be exploited.
And every hoarded dollar is one that no longer circulates through the economy. I wonder what would happen if we had more $$$ circulating, moving from hand-to-hand, getting out there and working. Money is only an abstraction, and a medium of exchange. If it's hoarded it becomes worthless after a while. I'll only mention once, my fear about all the different transactions that occur as just more electronic impulses.
Thanks Sandra. On a related note, it will be a real s*hit show when this whole fake Bitt-Coin thing blows up in everyone's face!
Those investors will have nothing but a blank computer screens to look at. When the Great Tulip Market crashed in the 1630's at least one still had some pretty flowers in their garden. GH
Yes, Gary Harmon, I'm familiar with the Dutch tulip story. —sb
Acting to gain money is virtual necessity, and wanting to gain more is pretty universal; but an obsessive, conscienceless "love of money" can reinforce sociopathic behavior. Anti-Social Personality Disorder is already recognized, and Trump's Big Bad Bill illustrates that kind of cruelty.
I think a component of their disease is the relentless need to have all the money and taking pleasure in harming others to get it all.
Yes, and of course the Christian church has categorized Greed as a mortal sin.
Well not the evilgelical prosperity gospel types.
The motivation for money is often not "stuff," but control.
True. They are control freaks to a one.
I believe they will never be satisfied because they are literally "addicted" to money and power--not really different than being addicted to drugs or alcohol and their addiction is insatiable. It will never be enough unless it somehow brings personal pain to them which could cause an awakening and a realization that they are chasing empty values. They have to genuinely "want" to change and to find other "real" internal values and reclaim their souls. They have to want to value people over money and power. Addicts choose to change when they reach "their bottom" or when their behavior causes them enough pain.
Researchers Identify Area Of The Brain That Processes Empathy- this study provides the first evidence suggesting that the empathy deficits in patients with brain damage to the anterior insular cortex are surprisingly similar to the empathy deficits found in several psychiatric diseases, including autism spectrum disorders, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and conduct disorders, suggesting potentially common neural deficits in those psychiatric populations....https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2012/researchers-identify-area-of-the-brain-that-processes-empathy. Yes, conduct disorders. That's what we're dealing with.
I agree, but would add, soul denial.
Interesting...have bookmarked this. And THANK YOU! Perhaps there is a way through to others' with whom we disagree using these ideas.
that won't happen. Power will have to be taken away from them.
Sad that far too many forget the other part of having power: "With great power comes GREAT RESPONSIBILITY".
They have GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. To each other!!!
The King is back. Why are we celebrating Independence Day?
Celebrating our commitment to overthrowing the "king", his regime, and all the toady bastards complicit in it! Don't give up, dish it out!
I'll celebrate with you when the King and all his followers are having their "Corruption Trials" on national tv.
skip the trials; they're too expensive and timeconsuming. we all saw what dumpster and his minions did - proceed to punishment which as dumpster has advocated is death.
being hopeful, keep plugging away hoping and working toward a true democracy, get more Newsome's on a roll
is hope an expectation, in which being unfulfilled, leads to resentment?
is hope a fools errand?
does the practice of hope depend upon a god?
is hope anything other than wishful thinking?
is hope a failure of the imagination? or the culmination?
is hope connected to action?
are there degrees of hope?
is hope free?
is hope constrained by, or unshackled by time?
does hope persist after death?
can karma and hope coexist?
You know, I have understood the power of Faith from a young age. But I had never gotten convinced about hope. It is now, as I face this regime that keeps destroying everything that matters that I am learning that hope is the tiny light within me that refuses to give up even when against all odds. And if that light goes off, I feel like a building collapsing. Like a huge ship slowly sinking into the dark waters. I have learned to seek beauty, community, solidarity and even faith in order to keep that tiny light on. And when it is on, it becomes my North Star.
We need a new Independence Day now.
A new Declaration Of Independence proclaiming our independence from the acceptance as 'fate' of this insidiously evil, sadistic fascism which is spreading across this country like a mass psychosis. ;)
TBD
I think we should all wear black today.
LOL We are -- great minds THINK, right? ;)
Habit? Hoefulness?
Was tempted to hang our flag upside down...
DO IT! It would be patriotic to the real patriots.
Hubby beat me to it! LOL
Commemorate the Revolution Day of the Ungrateful Colonials! Beginning to wonder why I became a US Citizen 63 years ago🥺
Curious to know what has changed?
We were, I suppose, technically ex-pat Americans for a few years while I was an eight year old, so I don't know exactly what had disgruntled my father when we left, but some of the same things he expressed as a reason for leaving the US were the same reasons he gave for leaving the country we were in to come back to the US.
They haven't locked down the airports and shipping ports yet, you still have time to leave!!!
No. This is a good example of implicit bias. Some who are rich have donated millions of dollars for the betterment of society. There have been wealthy patriots and wealthy do-gooders who are wise or creative or who distribute the wealth they made or earned. What we have here are rich people with no empathy, no understanding of the basic principles of democracy or, for that matter, decency. These rich people believe they have earned the right to rule the rest of us inferiors and to that I say, off with their f’n heads.
While reading your last sentence, I heard Verna Felton's voice! LOL Thanks for this!
Roll those guillotines down Pennsyltucky Avenue!
(Down Wall Street as well!)
LOL I'd favor a permanent guillotine...maybe on the National Mall?
Yes. I don't like the phrase "Eat the rich" because it's a generalization. The group that took over power by buying the government with BIG MONEY is a very specific group of 100 billionaires. I am creating the list from several documents so that we can target them specifically. That is my response to the passing of the Big Brutal Betrayal Bill. I want to know their names. I want to see their faces. I want to know their business and how it makes profit. And they I want to give them back all the energy they have given us. I want them to know 1) how it feels, that 2)money is not the ultimate power and that 3)that We, the People are the power and the pillar of this democracy and we can take them down.
Mike and Michael, what you have said is true, and each and every point which Robert makes in order to distinguish true patriots from usurpers of the common good, as well. 250 years ago, the primal Document of this (once) Republic declared that "all men (extend this meaning to 'all humanity') are created equal" and that we all are guaranteed the benefits of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" equally. Twelve years later in 1788, these principles were demolished with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution which legalized chattel slavery for the benefit of morbidly wealthy slaveholders. These interlopers upon the land soon pressed the indigenous nations to near extinction, all for the benefit of massive wealth. During the U.S. Civil War, Pres. Lincoln declared that the eternal struggle "between Good and Evil" was engaged and drew the distinction between the common person and one of great wealth, "I work hard for my daily bread, and you eat it". Worth reflecting upon this July 4th is 'A Lincoln Portrait' as recited by James Earl Jones, to illustrate how deeply this nation has sunk into depravity since a great patriot observed upon the intractability of the national disease, the imposition of a false superiority of one race and one class of men over all the others. It was foreseen then that this could not end well.
The historical perspective is so important.
For the psychotically, compulsively GREEDY, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G is not even nearly 'enough'.
That is NOT 'ambition', that is batshit insanity, and a sick need to control all 'others' with less wealth.
I have read that there is enough food for Americans but also enough food for all the world if there were justice in the distribution of food. Can't check because I don't recall the source.
“Why We Don’t Have a Global Food Shortage
There is no global food shortage because we produce more than enough food to feed everyone in the world. We produce so much food globally yet one–third of it – 1.3 billion tons – is wasted. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), all that wasted food is enough to feed 1.26 billion people: almost twice the number of undernourished people across the globe.”
https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/is-there-global-food-shortage-whats-causing-hunger-famine-rising-food-costs-around-world/#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20global%20food,1.3%20billion%20tons%20–%20is%20wasted.
And this:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/feeding-9-billion/
There's something deep in what you say, Mike. The greedy rich (a large percentage of them, anyway) are I believe addicted to their sense of specialness, and entitlement. It's an addiction no less, and possibly more encompassing and powerful as addiction to drugs like heroin or cocaine. And like drug addiction, it erodes your most human qualities in favor of greed for more and more, while in the end hollowing you of even the most rudimentary capacity for true joy. They are crazy, really and truly crazy and we must start calling a spade a spade instead of wishing we were rich like them. Crazy.
According to the Bible, they say they believe: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." If this is true, they are in for an awakening.
I've contemplated this teaching for decades, and it's only been since the rich and their wannabe enablers have so blatantly started reveling in their continual one-upping of each other and thoroughgoing lack of compassion that I've come to understand why Jesus put it out there. How could someone enter the Kingdom of Heaven so burdened by deeply disguised insecurity coupled with disdain rather than appreciation for others? The deep-dyed among the rich are not on skew lines vis a vis any kind of true humanity. They are living its polar opposite. Their hands and their hearts are clenched instead of open to love and compassion.
Well said, Leigh, well said!
Not just that, but anyone who is that insanely rich has committed a multitude sins to become that rich or stay that rich. They are not beholden by the earthly laws like the rest of us. The only comfort I have is that most of them are deeply unhappy despite all their wealth. They don't know simple joys and true friendship. They have a hole in their hearts and are trying to fill with material wealth. They will never experience true happiness.
^^^THIS!!!
We somehow (again, not I, but this society in general) equate them with being 'good' or 'great' beings simply because of their wealth and 'success' (which not all of them have 'earned' whether by evil means or otherwise, many having inherited their vast fortunes), and adulate them for this, and hold them up on a pedestal.
NO, one does NOT become THAT wealthy without causing much harm to fellow human beings, PERIOD!
So glad I believe there’s a hell!
Mike Johnson and Trump along with Miller, Noem and all the rest of the idiots certainly are!
I'd kinda like to drag some of those stubborn people backwards through the eye of a very small needle...
I’m a retired CPA and I have to agree with you. People who have made a better widget and financially benefitted from it, soon think they know best about everything. Years ago, I had a client who was going to have to tell his employees the company wouldn’t be making a contribution to their 401K that year, and we made a point of reminding him no to drive to the plant in his Rolls Royce!
I think you are correct. People who are financially successful tend to forget how much luck they had to get there. When society keeps telling you how great you are, you start to believe it. You live in a bubble.
Tevyenomics as in "when you're rich, they think you know."
Tax the rich a flat 10 percent and we can then reinstate all the government plans that were trashed by trump clan.
100% tax on all income over 10 million dollars.
Leigh, Your precis is good. And I think it also fits the British royalty, in its heyday. Zooming out, I think it also fits a historical struggle that has been going on for centuries. Our egalitarian era is the exception, and I sure hope it lasts.
Other than for brief periods and on a relatively small scale, it seems as if democracy, or government of the people, by the people and for the people has been a rarity. Someone much more acquainted with world history than me has pointed to the implementation of agriculture on a large scale as the start of social stratification and all its associated distortions of fellow feeling via greed. Perhaps not all rulers and aristocrats have been hollowed out, but the vast majority have. In modern times the US has made a short-lived effort, off and on, to enact the values espoused by our founders, but with the advent of slavery and industrialization everything went, as the Brits say, tits up. Only the social democracies, here and there and mainly in Scandinavia where there has been for centuries flickering of Democracy (I think of the Norse "THING" annual meetings, for example, and its pathways access rights which limit fenced estates from gobbling up every inch of open land) has anything like real democracy persisted for long. Fingers crossed what we're going through now will usher in something akin to that we can tweak to suit the angels of our better natures.
One glaring note of difference between those stronger Scandinavian 'social' democracies and our VERY flawed, unstable (and ultimately, as we are now finding out, WEAK) one is NO EFFING Electoral College (yes, as you have pointed out a strong, fully enabling, ally to slavery), and NO Corporations United (I REFUSE to call it "Citizens United"!).
Oh my Goddess, you are right. I had not seen the freaking irony in that title. Oligarchs United, more likely. That electoral college has to go. I can't stand another round of these two-equally-alienated-from the people parties. We need new parties! But without giving the vote to conservative. Did you notice that? Whenever the electoral vote is used, the results favor the conservative party. So definitely skewed, I would say!
Oh, YES! Short and to the point -- THANK YOU!
You know, it just occurred to me that what Trump's motto meant was that after he finished with us and we defeated him, we would have to work hard to Make American Great Again. That's his legacy.
Just STOP deifying them and they cease to have the power of omnipotent gods.
IF we did not (I personally NEVER have!) adulate them for their out of control, psychotic GREED dressed up as 'ambition', they would lose their total control over U.S.
Sounds like a piece of the puzzle, but--a major problem is that Peter Thiel, at least, and probably several others among the tech broliarchs, seems to lack most human emotions, and to feel mainly things like resentment, envy, greed and arrogance. Meaning they are poster boyz for psychopathy and maybe autistic disorders, or, most likely a combination of both, given that Bill Gates appears to be on the spectrum but has empathy for the suffering of others. Anyway, Thiel et al probably are incapable of caring what anyone without direct power over them thinks or feels. And, along those lines, it might prove very important for 'normie' people to hold onto a gut sense of the really awful ways abnormal humans operate. I think people did not understand about Herr Hitler until it was too late.
The people with whom Trump surrounds himself as like him. They are sick. They are all cruel, lacking in empathy and seriously ignorant and stupid. That way he feels better about himself. But that makes the entire cabinet so useless as to be dangerous.
Sad, but true, Maria. I remember when Hilary Clinton made her infamous remark about Trump's voters being a 'basket of deplorables.' How ironic that it's more true of his cabinet and other appointees than it ever was about them!
Feed the poor—that actually sounds like Christianity. But judging by the BBB and its supporters, many of whom are Christian nationalists, I have news for them: they are the exact opposite of Christian.
That's why the ChristoFASCISTS came up with their BS 'prosperity gospel' to justify their abject, very UN-Jesus like, psychotic greed.
Religions, like the rest of human culture, evolves. Many strains don't seem resemble their ancestors much: that is, many American variants of Christianity share the name, and some of the symbols, but little else. (This is from an outsider's perspective. Feel to correct me if I'm off).
Wants are infinite. Needs are specific.
All the Hero’s are in the Cemeteries. . .Honor the Living The Dead are Just Dead history is written by the winners…
Most of the problems we have in the USA could be solved if we carried out what you have just said in one sentence. Much of the problem is money. And it took the many years starting about the time of President Reagan to reach the state that it is now in. It took mostly republicans (and yes . . . a few democrats too,) corporate America and what I now call us having "the best politicians that money can buy". What I mean by that is many of our richest people in the country paying little or no taxes. Also our president's former friend Elon Musk buying him the presidency. Also highly paid lobbyists influencing in ways you and I could never do.
Especially with that really bad decision "Citizens United" combined with the idea that "corporations are people".
Citizen United, itself, was created by wealth because wealth put the Justices who decided it in place. John Roberts, over his tenure as Chief Justice, re-architected The Constitution, an architecture that the passage of Trump's bill funding his police state shows has definitely failed. If you don't believe that under our current circumstances free and fair elections are coming, then it's hard to see a Constitutionally way out of this mess.
And for some reason, every time our state wants to hold a constitutional convention, the cry is ALWAYS "It'll cooooooooooossssssssssstttttttt too much!"
Money compounding YOY has added to our huge wealth inequality and shift in power. As Piketty has so well, laboriously, documented.
Which is why, in the absence of truly progressive taxation of income and estates to keep the wealth differential small, a hereditary overclass was inevitable. Capitalism works well within a relatively narrow range of wealth inequality. Without that, black holes of wealth are sucking everything into their singularities.
We need to do away with big money out of politics. NOW. The only way I see to do this is from the bottom up, because they are not going to cede. This means that we have to reach a consensus that we do not vote for anyone with big money funding. And let it be known. So that would be a national movement campaign. What do you think?
We would also need reputable sources that show where the big money funding comes from -- transparency might be the biggest sticking point.
And to achieve consensus? That might be another sticker...
Have you any other ideas? I sure agree with you on it needing to be a national movement! That's the only way we'll get our country back.
The national movement is already happening as grassroots come together to coordinate events.
I'm tracking the about 100 oligarchs who are actively manipulating our political system. I'm putting together a list. It's not easy because articles tend to shy back from revealing names, but I found one list that I'm doing this week with the main names of big money in elections. That's a start.
I'm thinking of sending it to "Target Majority"--who focuses on boycotts and Indivisible, of which I'm a member. The later works with most other grassroots at a national level. They did Hands Off! and No King!, so they can work on developing a consensus and spreading the work. And they can create the national strike.
But I do know that they and other groups have said that doing a successful national strike it's not easy. That's why we are doing targeted boycotts now, to get people used and allow them time to sort it out.
Strikes means that you won't go to work. You are risking getting fired. That is a huge risk for some people. So that is the challenge there.
By the way, Target Majority is doing a DRY JULY boycott targetting Amazon, so you are invited! It started July 3 and goes on until July 30.
About oligarchy. I'm tracking the names, how much they gave, to what party and for what, their companies and state. With this we can get more information and begin to put together a web page where people can go to. That's where organizations that plan boycotts can enter.
If you want to help, let me know here.
Will be checking out "Target Majority" -- thanks for that.
As far as the "Dry July" boycott, I'll be passing along the info to friends and family. I do not buy from Amazon myself(not having a credit card), but I did attend our local No King! protest.
The work I do (part-time on a local family farm) isn't exactly something I'd need to "strike" over -- they're already suffering from Trump's actions. I do wonder how many other situations are like mine, and how that would work?
I keep thinking that of those in government, and their hangers-on, they certainly don't have the power of numbers behind them. If we can talk to our neighbors who voted Trump in, especially pointing out in economic terms just how harmful his policies are to them as well as to those they demonize, we could get more numbers.
Piketty, the economist, seems to have nailed it. Reagan re-established the positive feedback loop between wealth and power than had been broken by the Great Depression and WWII. The key change was tax rates that allowed which allowed high earners to invest larger amounts of money, since they consumed less of its proportionally to everyday wage workers. Once that was established, the compounding returns on the investments drove the rest. With greater wealth, greater power - larger shares of ownership of growing companies, and the companies that owned them obtaining greater tax breaks themselves.
When a tax break is given to a company, its indirectly another tax break to its owners whose growing investment wealth can further purchase companies. The math is a little like that of gravitation black holes. All of this was inevitable and clearly seen by some from the time of Reagan. Our situation was mathematically inevitable once Reagan broke unions. Professor Reich saw this and has been writing about this for decades.
Feed the poor, sound like christianianity. By the looks of the BBB and all of its supporters who are christian nationalist - I have news for them they are exactly the opposite of christian.
Pretty sure they don't care. It's all about appearances, "in name only" stuff, and lip service.
The working poor are held in Contempt by the Kingdom of Demented Donald Trump. Working Poor were put on Earth by god for the Rich , The King to Exploit. . .
They think that anyone who does not have money is stupid and lazy. (They have not seen themselves in the mirror lately, I guess)):
That's why they want to take all away so that the "lazy" poor get up and work. But, hey, Trump and many of his cabinet have seldom work a day on their lives. You can't call what they are doing work either. ):
Meanwhile, with their refusal to pay due taxes, they generate the conditions for that poverty.
I think we need to be clear and vocal loudly and prolifically about this message: "You have stole millions from us and we refuse to be your welfare any more."
Let's flip that perception so they are finally able to see themselves in the mirror... or break the mirrors, I don't care as long as they pay their fair share.
We are NOT their personal piggy banks.
What will they do when there are no people to "rule" over?
That's an excellent change of perspective! Thank you!
So true!!!
Nailed it.
The appetite for wealth and power has destroyed this republic Mike! There’s never enough money to satisfy our transnational criminal syndicate overlords!!
We need to break the alliance between the corporations, the oligarchs and the Trump regime.
We need to march on Washington. We need a series of general strikes to show that we still have power, that we can shut the country down if necessary. We need an economic rights movement. Martin Luther King was heading in that direction when he was assassinated.
The rich invented class warfare and if they keep trying to destroy our democracy and take our rights away, they will pay a terrible price. But we’re going to have to prove it to them.
Fascism isn’t going to work in America. It will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs that the rich feast on.
Michael, I agree with you on all of your points. However, the strategies you mention start with grass roots organizing and with participating in that it builds a sense of empowerment. I suspect that with the passage of the Big Bad Bill many have a first reaction of disillusionment, discouragement and some bitterness. Some of the questions I hear are “Where do we go from here?” and “How do we get there.” Answering these questions is what occupies my mind the most.
Anti movements such as anti Vietnam war, Anti slavery, have been effective but “Pro” movements are more powerful and lasting such as pro Women’s right to vote, Pro LGBT rights and Pro Democracy movements in other parts of the planet. It is clear we are starting as an anti-fascism movement, but what is the vision for a better America and a better planet that will inspire the grass roots that are the heart of any successful movement?
A number of people have mentioned their age or physical impediments as limitations but in this and other Substacks Personally I am witnessing minds that are as sharp or even sharper than ever. Additionally we have the wisdom that comes from experience in many effective grass roots movements that we have been participants and taken leadership roles in past times. Plus we have the example of those like Robert Reich whose appeal and activities span generations.
So, what is the positive vision we can unitedly hold for the future that will motivate large masses of the population for change. I suspect it is in the direction of a true and modernized Democracy and an economy that serves all and is structured so that the Ultra Wealthy and the power crazed cult leaders can never lead us astray again.
Perhaps we can start with a linguistic clean up. Replace the deployment of the verb progress as a given noun in political discourse and replace it with something akin to inclusive sustainability ? 🐈⬛
Monnina, 'Thrivable' is a higher goal than sustainability--it means we go beyond mere metrics to something even better. I have been involved with the environmental movement for years, and thrivable is the new mantra for life on Earth in all its forms. America needs to become a thrivable nation for all.
Language is so important!
Interesting! I agree that tactic should be one of the arrows in our quiver...Thanks Monnina!
You know, things are changing very fast. When Bernie launched his Fight Oligarchy Tour, he went to red states. People were terrified and confused and Republican reps were not addressing them. Bernie explained what is going on in his simple, no-nonsense way. And something began to shift. I think that progressives are now seen as allies. People are looking at the "left" and saying to themselves, "Hmm. The right betrayed me. These people are helping. Maybe they are not the boogeyman." JAJAJA!
Marc, our exchanges of views all circle around these themes and questions. I am an old man in Europe, but I can think and have studied all my life in social history.
It sounds maybe egocentric, but that is because of the matter at hand. How can we find a way out of this mess?
I was born in the last month of Hitler's life, 250 miles distant from the ruins of Berlin. My youth was one of poverty, inmoney, food, culture.
But we found our way out.
And this is where the US will be, long before the election to get rid of this robber regime; how to find the power?
Build it up local, yes, but educate the voters as well. How? Teach them social history, but how can that be done, without using these awfull words like socialist, social democrat, justice or solidarity?
I wish I knew...
I too am an old man - formerly American - living in Germany since 1969. I was born in Brooklyn three months before Germany was liberated. Yes. our predicament begins with the banning of "words like socialist, social democrat, justice or solidarity." We have to keep the true meaning of these words alive, against all the assaults by fanatical greed!
We have allowed the extreme REICHwing in this land to turn the words; socialist, justice, progressive, and liberal into filthy dirty words for their fascist base and devotees.
We must take them back, and display them as great descriptors of something inherently GOOD, NOT evil!
Fredric, what old men still can tell the younger. It must have been in the seventies, when I saw a moving film "Deutschland im Herbst".
The identification with the collective guilt of six million murders is not over. You cannot be a "German" when you don't recognise the existence of a Jewish national home. Did you sign a form like that?
You are right that teaching history is crucial in the development of discriminating voters, but in a country that has underfunded education for many decades, how do you see this happening? An educated electorate is the last thing the oligarchs want. That holds true around the world, anywhere we see the rise of the far right.
Their putrid orange despot has blatantly stated this, outright;
"I LOVE the uneducated!".
(Even though he himself is barely 'educated', obviously.)
Tom and Fredric (hope he sees this), I have been involved with the sustainability of our environment but also doing course work with noted systems scientist and social development leader Dr. Annelose Smitsman, along with Dr. Jean Houston--revered for her decades work in international development. From them, I learned a wonderful replacement word for our views: 'thrivable'. This is the new buzz word to signify that all we do from agriculture, housing, economics, and social service to governance must be focused around the meaning of this word for the benefits of all! It is a simple word yet all encompassing and points to a better existence for life on Earth. Take care, Joan
Why would “social democracy” be bad when you think about those two words?
Maybe we need to create catching term similar to “New Deal” .
Something that would include
reform
fairness
freedom
recovery
change
unity
progress
Yes Kaija, words are not innocent.
I believe in the US the cash nexus is dominant: the basic model of social relations is what happens in a transaction. Your present president illustrates that. That is not social (only money matters) and not democratic (power is money), But I agree with all your terms...
I am all in for Economic Democracy!
I like that very much! I'm going to add it to my glossary of civic terms.
When you research it, Catherine, you will find it aligns with our path forward. It is sometimes called Democratic Democracy, too. It is a philosophy that shifts ownership and decision-making powers from corporate shareholders and corporate managers like the board of directors to a larger group of public stakeholders that includes workers, consumers, suppliers, communities and the broader public. Note the difference - from shareholders to stakeholders. When we get our country back we need to push for stakeholder capitalism rather than shareholder capitalism.
The grassroots movement is already here. Together with Indivisible and 50501 there are about 10 other grassroots organization. Many of these organizations are national and have local groups throughout the 50 states. They work with dozens of non-profits and community leaders to generate massive events.
That's how we generated a 3.5 million people march for Hands Off! and a 5 million march for No Kings! Our way of thinking right now is that the first goal is to defeat Trump's regime. He has created divisions and we are unifying people by staying with this one goal: reclaiming our democracy. People are welcome with all kinds of priorities and they can express them. But the goal is simple and unifying. Democrats and independents as well as people who saw themselves as apolitical and did not vote attend and now about 8-10% of Republicans have began to attend. All our welcome.
We believe that once we are more united and have accomplished that goal then it is the time to move to our other goal: to create an evolved democracy; to look at all the flukes in our current democracy and address them. And we will ensure that it is done with the input of the grassroots movement, not from the top down again. Because we are training citizen leaders who are awake and will keep participating in democracy. Otherwise we'll have the same problem again.
Furthermore, Indivisible is very focused on training people in non-violent resistance. We follow the strategies of Professor Erica Chenoweth, (Harvard University's Ash Center and Kennedy School) in non-violent movement and civil resistance and there is ample training and resources. We meet weekly to discuss priorities and answer questions. Indivisible is excellent in training leaders that can then lead in their cities and communities.
I just created a group there. I was frustrated because, as you say, I am still recovering from a fall and I could not march for a long time. So I went through their resources, and when I realized that people were not aware of the movement's size and strength yet and many were disheartened, I decided to create a group. The name of the group is storytellers.Indivisible. If you are interested, write to storytellers.indivisible@gmail.com and we can talk some more.
If you are an activist, you may also love the non-violent resistance training that congresswoman Pramila Jayapal offers. It's called the Resistance Lab. I'm an old baby-boomer activist and I loved it. It gave me new tools for the current situation. You can sign up here: https://www.pramilaforcongress.com/the-resistance-lab
For more information about the movement go to https://indivisible.org/
The mind is sharp, but the container is weak.
When I look at comments by magas on news feeds (I try not to do that too often) they say the "libs" are whining and crying about nothing with this bill. They blindly believe that this bill will only effect those people they want it to effect. I just shook my head because it started effecting me the moment it was passed. I know this because I have been going to a thyroid doctor for about two years. She was able to get my out of control thyroid stable with medication. Now to ensure the medication is working correctly, I go in every six months to have it checked. She does that by taking blood work and examining and comparing the results each time. Now, I am on Medicare and have a Medicare plan that covered the lab that does the blood work. I only did a copay of $5.00. When I went to make an appointment for blood work this time, even with my Medicare, the cost was now right at $200.00. Now that might not seem very much but for someone like me living on Social Security and a small retirement, they might as well have charged me $2,000.00! When this sudden rise in costs for everyone starts spreading across the country, our movement will increase ten-fold! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Peggy - I am sorry that you are having to deal with this. I understand your frustration and fears. I go every six months for an infusion that costs over a million dollars (blood work is also crazy expensive) and if it wasn’t for my insurance paying most all of it I’d be dead now. Don’t even get me started on my other medications. With what is coming I am pretty sure I won’t be around much longer unless I can finagle something. Sometimes I am not sure that I want to witness the destruction. Check with your state, local government, charities and other organizations who might be able to help you. If not for the medical bills maybe for your other expenses. Of course now they too might not have the funding, and paperwork sucks, but keep trying because you are needed.
My hope is that the next candidate who runs for president, and is who we need and want, reads verbatim what RR just wrote. It makes me wonder though if Harris read something like this if she could have won?Would people have seen past her sex and race? What is it going to take to make people want to fight for their rights, country, freedom, future or the planet where we can all live peacefully? Why is it so hard? How is hate and division so attractive to some people? They are questions that I am still trying to figure out.
These same questions I ask myself every single day, Anon! I have sent letters and made phone calls to Democratic representatives in Congress and asked them to record those conversations where maga politicians and the orange man and couch vance threaten, bully or intimidate them. Then, blast that recording out for everyone to hear. If politicians are afraid to do their job, our problem only worsens. I am sorry to hear about your health worries, too, Anon! I will keep hoping that everything will work out for you. Don't worry about me! My kids are the best and have told me to get whatever tests done that I need and they will help me take care of the cost. I don't know what I did to deserve such kind and caring children, but I am thankful for them! Family is what it is all about and why I fight and resist so damn hard! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Glad your kids are there for you,Peggy. Mine.too. I,too, am not sure what I did to deserve them.
Peggy - You wrote: “ I don't know what I did to deserve such kind and caring children, but I am thankful for them!”
While I do not know you personally I am pretty sure, and I think others here who have read your posts and interacted with you, know exactly what you did to deserve them. You also gave them the roadmap and showed them kindness and caring and they chose to follow the path and are thankfully returning that compassion to you. You do deserve it!
We must incorporate a Pharmacare program in the vision of an economic democracy. Net profit margins for pharmaceutical companies ranges between 15%-30%. The average net profit margin in other businesses is about 7%. This is why life saving drugs are so expensive. Obscene greed.
I don't think Harris lost because she did anything wrong. As an outsider (Canadian) it looks to me like that election was finagled.
Lindsay - I fully agree with you. Just wish someone had proof and would show it. I don’t like saying that the election was stolen because that is the lie that helped the reelection of a criminal. I do wonder though especially after T said pretty much that it was.
The hateful fascists and racists are severely ADDICTED TO said hate and division, and it is constantly, incessantly forced down their throats via their confirmation biased, Goebbels Propaganda outlets they are compelled to view 24/7/365.
Ironic, isn't it, that a country (Germany) which brought to unfettered power THE most insidiously demonic, EVIL despot in history, with all of it's cruel patriarchal misogyny, has already had a woman leader, whereas we, the supposed 'shining city on the hill' beacon of democracy<-LOFL! just flat out refuse, collectively, to elect the same.
I agree with you Peggy. Enough people will only wake up exactly when their own personal bills and expenses for "needs", in order to survive, go up drastically. When this despicably cruel bill affects enough people economically that they don't have enough money to pay for basic survival needs like medicine, medical care and food, they just might feel enough pain to wake up and want to resist this evil regime. Pain can lead to anger which is moving energy that can propel us to take action and move us towards a real desire for change. This bill has so many inhumane, ugly parts to it and I doubt if it will take long for most Americans to begin feeling its painful effects in our own lives economically and emotionally. Unfortunately, too often, us humans only seem to learn through pain but hopefully, this time, the experience and threshold for pain needed will be enough for us to keep fighting and resisting and to work to create a different governing system which holds at its core the intrinsic values of people over money and power. We will ultimately not survive unless our core values become helping people, animals and nature survive and thrive in community. Thank you for sharing your own medical bill example Peggy.
Unfortunately, Lilla, they planned their scheme so the cuts in Medicaid are delayed by about 16 months. So, this gives Republicans the advantage to say how things are going great; then, the Dems may have a hard time even winning in 2026! This needs to be broadcast to more people. I am not certain when the SNAP cuts will begin. We'll see how this all unfolds. And of course there will be bad consequences with the cuts to the Pell education grants and Planned Parenthood! Hideous.
ALL of the Dems (even the effing ineffective, complacent, corporatist ones!) MUST start NOW in SCREAMING at the top of their lungs that this sadistically cruel BS death sentence is 200% the fault of all of the spineless, shaking in their boots, quisling Repugnaf**ks, solely and TOTALLY, PERIOD!!
DO NOT allow these MAGAtNAZI Congresscritter low lives to shift the blame for this crap bill's destruction and death onto the Dems in the very same way that they ALWAYS co-opt the credit for any great legislation brought about by Dems, and which they decisively voted AGAINST, which helps out their constituents immensely.
Beautifully said, Lilla!
Peggy, thank you for sharing. I wish you and everyone safety and good, affordable health and health care.
A particular vision treatment needed at intervals for some people would cost nearly four thousand dollars each time if it were not for Medicare. How that help will change remains to be seen in the near future, and senators, who are aware of that and more, wisely voted NAY on the devastating bill. However, representatives did not stand up for the people yesterday.
Regular scans and fibro-scans also are concerns, as I am sure many other needed medical checks and procedures are for numerous people. Can you believe that some individuals, who are wrongly persuaded and not informed, insist that there will be no change and no effect on the medical needs many of us face?
I know this will be a horrible thing to say, JP4M, but when those individuals are suddenly hit with a huge change in their health needs, I will not feel sorry when they start screaming. I mean seriously, it does not take a genius to read what is in that bill and determine that is not what is best for American citizens. I'm sorry for saying I won't feel sorry for them, I know I will, but right now after being hit almost immediately after that bill passed, I am just simmering with anger! Thanks for letting me vent, JP4M!
Peggy, you are a blessing, and I thank you for listening! I am so grateful for all of the people on here, who are wise and understanding! There is so much more I would like to say, and I remain concerned for everyone. You are right. The individuals who refused to understand are not going to be immune to situations. Sometimes it could turn out for some people to be a choice of home with a shortened ailing life, or life for a while without a home. For some people life is already that way, and that is tragic. It also could be that fine doctors will no longer be available. Do you think anyone will fight and succeed in getting this situation reversed? I wish you and everyone the very best!
Remember when all the QAnon and MAGA nuts were hating on "Obamacare" while happy with the ACA? Then, upon encountering reality, were the fastest people to EVER leave a group chat?
Same now with all the different state-specific names for Medicaid:
"Many states' Medicaid programs have a different name, but local reporting is connecting the dots on One Big Beautiful Bill's massive cuts"
https://www.mediamatters.org/health-care/many-states-medicaid-programs-have-different-name-local-reporting-connecting-dots-one
MediaMatters is being specifically attacked by the WH, and anything each of us can do to support MM's GREAT WORK will no doubt be welcome:
"Media Matters sues FTC to block probe"
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5366602-media-matters-sues-ftc-retaliation/
FYI, 'Obamcare' is The Affordable Care Act. No one should ever have given it the nickname 'Obamacare' that has racist connotations.
I don't think there's any doubt that the same people who embraced Trump's "birtherism" lies would also come up with the term "Obamacare".
But Obama embraced the term, saying "Yes, Obama cares!"
It allowed the racist, fascist rightwingnuts to wield it like a WEAPON against that administration, and the Dems who backed it, and then got it signed into law. :(
YES!
I think a better name for BUB would be THUG (The Humongous Ugly Bill) THUG would also define its supporters.
The issues that might be leaders for discussion 1) climate catastrophe is coming and needs immediate action, those who oppose fighting this together are enemies of the people. Remember that people who have not believed this in the past are not going to be turned by accusations but with acceptance. Perhaps they should be told that it was not clear before but now the information is clear, I.e., ask them to open their eyes slowly. 2) we need immigration reform and good people need a place to work and want to become Americans like almost all our ancestors. Etc. we need not make this a battle. It must be a partnership. Hopefully, the world can grow to be one world in truth, cooperation with enough for all to live with sufficient food and shelter, plus the freedom to have more if they want it.
On your second point, Bob Marley says it best. One love.
As soon as I read "one world" I immediately thought of that song!
In Columbus we have an annual event called the Big Table.
(https://columbusfoundation.org/the-big-table)
I try to host one each year. Your ideas are perfect for a theme for this year's group. Thank you. It is much better than discussing traffic jams on local roads!
Thank you. I’m glad someone is listening. It is easy to find fault with things one sees with a different lens. The positive road less traveled may be harder, but the joy of joining together for a positive goal may be more difficult than using negative views to feel part of a tribe, but my belief is that is a bit like mercy as Portia described it without the religious overtones. I wish the discussions of those who founded our system of government were still taught so people would understand the reality of governance.
Miles Taylor; it’s only been a month since he came out about the retribution acted upon him by Trump for telling the truth. Keep our heroes against this tyranny in the spotlight. You too could be targeted by someone because you point out their criminality.
Pro-America is not focusing on the chanting USA three or more times. It is being strong and confident yet emphatic and humble.
Marc, I have been hearing these questions too. So I created an Indivisible group called Storytellers.Indivisible. We are working to change those narratives so that people join the pro-democracy movement that is already here and is 5 million strong. The group is new and I'm looking for members. Want to give it a try?
What we do for now is to visit alternative news media in YT and participate in the comments threats below. We answer those questions. When people talk about no one doing anything and feeling despair, we talk about the grassroots organizations behind the Hands Off! and No Kings! marches. When they say they do not know what to do, we give them examples and links to resources. And we also inspire, uplift, empower and change the narrative.
I have been seeing a small but significant shift from No Kings! to now. Before there was a lot of asking what leader would help. Now they are beginning to understand that is up to us. So little by little, the narrative changes.
Anyone interested, contact me at storytellers.indivisible@gmail.com
They honestly don't care, they're rich. Melania even had the meme embroidered on her coat, "I don't care, do you." It wasn't real subtle.
Agree. We may as well implode our beautiful Constitution Center and chuck the Liberty Bell right into the Schuylkill River. There’s nothing to celebrate today.
The thing to celebrate is that about 70% of the US does not agree with the MAGA fools. If just over half of that 70% shows up and votes in the midterms the GOP will be obliterated. So there's some hope.
Midterms you say??
Trying hard to have some hope today.
That’s a big IF!
Your last sentence nails it.
I've been searching for a way to sum that concept up.
Every time I read about Curtis Yarvin & Peter Theil and their plans for neo-feudalism and a dictatorship of CEOs I wonder, 'don't they realize that disempowering, suppressing and empoverishing the workers/consumers that they're destroying the very free market they so greedily revere?' Haven't they read history? Don't they see how that turns out?
Same for that other sick righteous fuck Russell Vought, Kevin Roberts and the Christian Fascists and their nationalist theocracy. I wonder, 'Can't they see the inevitable collapse and chaos that eliminating, or attempting to, all non-white, non-(pseudo-perverse)-christians or forcefully suppressing and/or punishing them into uselessness will wreak upon the nation and the world?'
Even more absurdly, can't they see that ensuring, instigating the imminent deaths of millions and millions of people of all races and religions all around the world by ending USAID and any and all government provided assistance of any kind to fellow humans, is a sin far far greater than the allegedly 'left-captured' deep state he so vehemently despises and which doesn't exist except in his paranoid fantasies, but which he imagines is his enemy and his righteous goal to destroy?
*sigh*
🙄
As usual, I rambled on endlessly in compound sentences and probably indecipherable stream of consciousness as my mind reels at the madness fueled by caffeine. (My version of the weave! LOL)
You see how I value your clarity and succinct summation.
I am afraid that the big tech guys who are "accelerating" us towards the feudalistic states are delusional in their own power and removed from appreciating nature, biodiversity, and human life in general. They seem to look forward to a world of paved in concrete with robots replacing workers. They don't really think they will need market capitalism much longer. Meanwhile, the very extreme so-called Christian nationalist crowd believe they want to hasten the Second Coming regardless of what happens to everyone and every other living thing. Personally, I am hopeful that everyday Americans appreciate individual freedoms and do believe in a social covenant. We need to rebuild our personal community interactions in civic participation. Mutual respect and empathy will be the only path for us to build a better society.
Excellent
Accelerationism is their vision Frantz, but I love what you say here!!
Superbly said Frantz
Superbly said
Marches aren't going to cut it any more. Its long past time for the guillotines.
If you think that violence is going to work, that guillotines are going to be a match for the United States military with Abrams tanks, attack aircraft, the XM7, howitzers, M240 machine guns, the Marine Expeditionary Units, the U.S. Army Rangers and so much more, you’re mistaken.
It is unknown, at least to me, how the military would shake out in a worst case scenario.
It seems that the confidential phone lines for G.I.s are overloaded with soldiers asking about things like refusing to follow unlawful orders, how to become a conscientious objector, etc. They're dreading the possibility that they will be asked to do things they know are wrong.
I agree Michael. And I'm hoping Andy meant guillotines rhetorically!
Absolutely true.
IF the putrid orange despot and his demonic regime currently has the U.S. military 100% at their backs, and if they have already totally violated their collective OATH to uphold and defend OUR Constitution, and are ready, willing and anxiously able to fully obey any blatantly inhuman, unlawful orders.
But yes, if the above is the case, it is an exercise in futile martyrdom to try and fight them guerilla style, a la The WW2 French Underground Resistance, or the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the evil fascists of that time.
Remember when Dems tried to have investigations into far-right membership in law enforcement and the military several tears ago and the GOP shot it down unanimously?
We weren't fooled even then. (For all the good it did.)
In this case, in a system based on capitalism, not hereditary monarchy, general strikes should do the trick. It's all about money, and consumer spending drives, or crashes, the economy.
Please remember the use of guillotines. They were part of the end of a trial of government that was corrupted by dystopian understanding of reality and loss of empathy leading to the government by a tyrant. In that case a tyrant who, to some degree valued the public good and effected some remaining steps forward in government. But, also was flawed by power and the need to maintain it. Remember the guillotine was designed by a physician/scientist that was used on its designer and another prominent scientist, Lavoisier. The elite threaten those who want change, science threatens those who do not want logic and reason to pertain.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité Andy!!
100% agree!
End Carve outs from the tax code make the rich pay the same percentage of the income from all sources as the Working Poor. . .
Why doesn’t the minimum pay a living wage ???
Guys like Ray Crock (McDonalds) created less than the 35 hour work week no retirement , no health benefits .
A large contribution to Nixon’s Presidential slush fund and destruction of the workers chance for health benefits, Retirement benefits. As if high school kids will never grow up to be adults. . .
Ray crock also invented Office Cubical’s so office workers were treated like animals with the cube serving as Blinders to keep workers focused on their own desk top Fuck sun light🌞.
Made offices worse destroying team spirit along with individual spirits…
Yeap. The pro-democracy movement has been doing that already. 50501 is really good at boycotts. The Tesla movement has worked well. Now this month we are focusing on Amazon. Right now there is a boycott from buying in Amazon from yesterday to July 30. So join!
We are flexing our boycott muscles. It is not easy to get a national strike to succeed. So we have been practicing with smaller boycotts and blackouts. This is the longest one, I think-- for an entire month.
But I so badly want to do a national strike right now after that BBB. Anyway, we can work on focusing so we can target it well. But we may need to wait until we have double the 5 million that are participating now. Then I think we will be able to stop everything for 1-3 days. What do you think?
I love America for the beauty of its promise, even though that promise was never totally fulfilled, even though that promise has now been cast on the bonfire of violence, cruelty and fascism.
Marianne Williamson ran on the Democratic ticket in 2024 with an Economic Bill of Rights, Michael, based on FDRs work left undone due to his ill health. I realized that the MSM and oligarchy wouldn't allow Williamson's campaign or great platform to succeed. This is when I knew America was truly lost. I still grieve and now more than ever! Joan
As a musician not a touring one but one who ha written several ( oh just a few) songs about the madness in Washington, I firmly believe in the power of the song. One of my favorite albums of all time was a collection of songs and artists in performance at a little encampment called Resurrection City in Washington in 1968 founded by Martin Luther King before he was assassinated earlier that year. Pete Seeger had brought together the likes of Bernese Reagan, Revered Fredrick Douglass Kirkpatrick, Jimmy Collier and others. They have all passed now but the songs remain stirring. When I play it, I stop what I’m doing in order to listen. I cry. They continue to stir my soul. Go ahead and search on YouTube “Pete Seeger and Songs from Resurrection City”. You’ll see.
That’s what we need now across the nation. More concerts to save America. We have someone here in Connecticut who has produced them before Covid set in. I’m trying to get his ass out to do it again. I’ll add her momentarily one of my compositions.
Here is one of my songs composed in 2019: "Blue Daze" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYtTGIzb7OA
That’s a beautiful idea, Bill. Music for America, music for democracy, music for freedom and equality, music for opportunity for everyone. I love it.
Great song, Bill! Ah, and the ways things have played out. So, here's a song I wrote in 2022 and put in a new music lyric video in 2023. It's my first song, I'm not a musician. And here's the kicker---I had to find a Mexican to sing it! American vocalists were reluctant to have their voices associated with anything political. Though an American composed the melody--I didn't list his name though I love what he did with it----so it wouldn't impact his business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfaaZ4Z7lv4
The problem, as I saw it, was that Americans, particularly politicians (and vocalists), were clinging to outdated strategies, hoping for the same favorable outcomes. They failed, and many are still failing to rise to the challenge, as our democracy slips away.
We can still get it back---if there's a fair election next year. IF.
Hopeful and Bill Katz, thank you for the music and demonstrating yet another powerful force for our future. Musicians, writers and all types of artists can lead the way for our future. “We Shall Overcome” popularized by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez was a powerful song to lead movements of the recent past as was Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changing.” Now we need inspiring songwriters and singers for the growing moment of today.
Joan's cover of "Carry It On" and Mr. Zimmerman's "Chimes Of Freedom" are two of my faves from the past, which are even more relevant today, sadly.
"If I Had A Hammer" could have been written tomorrow it is so on point for today's dystopian distress.
It was the first song played by the live performers at our 6/14 No Kings protest.
But you are a musician. Nice song. You marketed it well with 14,000 hits. Wow good for you.
Wonderful song and idea! Thank you
Appreciate the song; very nice and definitely needed for these times.
The average idiot american cannot even properly conceive how much wealth a billion dollars actually is and how much has been stolen from them by the oligarchs in the last 50 years. Its genuinely easier for them to believe that their struggles are because of immigrants somehow because they can't even fathom how corrupt and evil the people at the top of the pyramid scheme that is America actually are. The billionaires are literally rubbing it in all of our faces that they won the class war and are now gleefully fucking us all out in the open and still some refuse to see it. On their own the white nationalists of MAGA could be defeated, but with the billionaires funding the largest propaganda machines on earth we are all fucking doomed to be trapped in a police state run by the dumbest people in the country. If the people don't start actually fighting back soon, there is going to be nothing good in this country left to save.
"...cannot even properly conceive how much wealth a billion dollars actually is.."
A commenter in the Guardian made this point about Jeff Bezos's wedding:
"Bezos spent around $40 million on the wedding and has a net worth of $220 billion. This is the equivalent of the average Brit (median net worth £125k) spending £22.73 on their wedding., "(Sokotox, 2 Jul 2025)
which puts the scale of Bezos's wealth into perspective.
(£125k ≈ $170k, £22.73 ≈ $31)
Bezos is not trying to cripple the Ukraine or Enable Russia to Continue to Invade peaceful countries. Bezos invented Amazon made a ton of money and is enjoying spending it on his wedding; I’m disappointed I didn’t get invited to his wedding .
My comment was only repeating a way of making the concept of billionaire more tangible.
However, I don't think Bezos can be let off the hook so easily when he stopped the Washington Post editorial team from endorsing Kamala Harris and donated $1m to Trump's' inauguration fund. Beyond politics, he has a reputation for treating his workers badly, and although stating that "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet"*, Amazon's CO2 emissions have increased dramatically*. And having 96 private jets arriving at his wedding is hardly minimising his carbon footprint.
* https://www.instagram.com/p/B8rWKFnnQ5c/
* https://www.pacificenvironment.org/press-releases/amazons-u-s-transportation-pollution-surges-since-company-announced-climate-pledge-five-years-ago/
If Christ Came Off the Cross and endorsed Kamala Harris she still would have lost. Bezos was not about to throw himself on that funeral 🔥
Andy-yes, always easier for the MAGATS to create and blame scapegoats.
I agree. How do people fight back? What would make a difference?
One commenter called for a general strike. I agree. Collective action that affects their bank accounts is all they will pay attention to. All the shaming words and appeals to common decency are laughed off. They believe that as long as we have all our shiny toys, we'll complain but otherwise go along as usual. We made a difference in Target's bottom line this spring. No new cars, no fancy restaurants, no trips, definitely no Amazon. Yes, strikes hurt, and I would hate the impact on small businesses, but collective economic action would hit them where it hurts.
it could. If smartly done. there's the rub.
Fighting back - just like the great young man in New York city: knocking on doors and speaking to people. Treating the electorate like human beings: Good human beings, even.
Yes Brian, that is exactly what we must do! However, there are more ways than ever to connect with others as well as knocking on doors.
I see this crisis as not limited to the US nation state but as a global one. We are all experiencing a disintegration of anachronistic colonialist worldviews as their cruelties and limitations are being made transparent through their everywhere everyone all at once implementation by the Tech Bros top down imposition of societal boundary busting Wild West electronic social media. Our societies are suffering an emotional breakdown. We are in a similar historical period as the challenging intellectual discoveries of the Renaissance: it is a crisis of faith.
You’re certainly right, Monnina, in that democracies have been weakening for quite some time now. Freedom has been under assault across the planet. We don’t know as a species how to live within our means. Greed and power mongering is out of control. We’re destroying the biosphere on a planetary scale. Social and economic inequality are both growing. Hate and intolerance are encouraged by totalitarian regimes everywhere, including now in America.
We’re in trouble.
It's time for a reset. The crud has finally risen to the top, we now know exactly what we're dealing with; a disgusting shit stew, concocted by evil. sick, soulless human beings, perverse throwbacks. It's been simmering and bubbling beneath the surface for decades, poisoning the atmosphere, the minds of the vulnerable, plotting its ascension to power.
There are more good people than bad, more smart people than stupid, more humane people than cruel. We will win in the end against these archaic, stunted regressive human beings. Their only winning strategies are oppression and violence. It's not enough....these "losers" will lose (as they usually do). The fight is on.
Monnina, thank you for bringing in the planetary perspective. And as you infer, the Renaissance sprung out of a very dark period.
Yes, it did. I can not be alone in seeing the parallels between the mass mediated global spectacle of the insane cruelties of the MAGA movement and the artwork of Hieronymus Bosch (d.1516). Living in this timeline has gifted me with a deeper historical understanding of the realities which informed his shocking images of human depravity and suffering.
Well said, Monnina!! Your first sentence says it all......
I disagree with Professor Reich's conclusion that "Our problem is that too many Americans, including the person who now holds the highest office in the land, don’t know the true meaning of patriotism." I think they know full well what patriotism is, and since it doesn't serve their needs, they wrap themselves in the flag and wrap the rest of us in the distractions you highlighted as well as other lies and projections.
I like your comment, "Fascism thrives on chaos and hate. Democracy needs an even break." But I'm not holding my breath waiting for the rich to give back. It's up to us to change the leadership to one that gives us all an even break, but holds us equally responsible for the common good.
Oh, we clearly can’t wait for them to relent and give anything back.
Please don't believe that objection to the Israeli Fascist actions are anti-semetic. They are not. The Israeli government is grossly fascist, inhuman and insane.
My True Love’s comment yesterday: “Well Honey, we are no longer middle class, we are now poverty level. They’ll take Social Security next and most of us depending on it won’t survive.” The abject cruelty of Fascism deletes any facet of patriotism and that’s where Trump has carried America. That’s also where this Congress and SCOTUS have willingly removed it. The leaders of the free world have lead us into Fascism and taken away our freedoms one..by one…and we have not stood up patriotically yelling “Hell NO!”
Ladies and Gentlemen of the USA - PLEASE fight against these monsters. They are wrong, misguided, evil, self-obsessed, overly powerful and, at the very least, destructive. Vote them out.
Well written. Income inequality, broadly defined, is approaching a crisis. Those at the top are aware of that, and they will do everything they can to keep their perch. And that means they have to throw sand into the gears of democracy.
I like this response!
Thanks Michael
Check out
The Declaration of Resistance
From closer to the edge substack
Powerful stuff!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/closertotheedge/p/the-declaration-of-resistance?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=awntt
Donna, thank you for sharing this document.
Well, the rich have too much MONEY and the rest of us have too much pride aAND too little money. Sadly, for the vast majority, it’s mostly about the money.
Poignant Michael, agree!!
I’ve struggled with the word patriotism because it’s so often used to divide or exclude. But what you’ve shared here gets to something deeper. For me, real love of country means caring enough to want it to be fair, kind, and just for everyone. We’ve been pushed apart by fear and greed, but I believe we can still choose a different path — one rooted in mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Case in point - multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos $50 million dollar Venice wedding (over 90 private jets to haul in his illustrious guests) Every detail indicates a callous indifference toward the realities the rest of the world is facing. When everyone knows how much you have, flaunting it so flagrantly is insulting to the common person - even vulgar. People are struggling - emotionally, financially, and socially. Let them eat wedding cake, I guess.
Absolutely true, Michael. As far as the division in our country, we can work to try and reach common ground with those who have opposing political views; however, until that orange smear and his sycophants are removed and dealt with, magas will continue to hate us. He continuously stokes their hatred and no matter if we held out the olive branch, magas will follow the orange man. We can choose to just not engage to avoid continuous conflicts, but we must never stop fighting and resisting his regime. Right now, it seems that he and his ilk have the upper hand with the bill passing, immigrants continuing to be rounded up and laws being broken everyday by them but bringing down the hammer on anyone else. It would cause anyone to say 'I give up'. We can't give up though. We must double down, protests more and start general strikes not just in this little space or that little space but all across the country. Professor Reich infused in me a boost of fighting energy. We are true patriots, Michael. When the dust is settled on this chapter of America, history will say it was We the People, the patriots that fought so hard to keep our Democracy. Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!
Your framing of patriotism as a collective responsibility—not a performative gesture—is a timely reminder. True patriotism isn’t about flag-waving bravado or exclusionary rhetoric; it’s about defending democracy, paying our fair share, and strengthening the “we” in “we the people.” In an era of performative politics and billionaire tax evasion, this call to civic integrity couldn’t be more urgent.
Strengthening the "we."
Nothing WEAKENS the WE as being forced to tolerate a traitor representing us in our People's house -- the House of Representatives.
We have the right and obligation to remove that unfaithful member -- non-violently, working with the governor of the state, with thousands of registered voters signing a petition -- declaring the seat "Vacated." Especially if the member is petitioned to meet voters in a public town hall and they refuse. They have gone missing.
Defending our constitution as a civilian is just as patriotic as joining the armed forces. Time for this to be recognized and celebrated. And there’s nearly an infinite number of methods!
On the continuum below, the US has now gone too far.
Patriotism = pride about one's country
Nationalism = no other country is as good or important as ours
Totalitarianism = the state is more important than the individual, and the individual must obey regardless of personal cost
Hallo World of the Truth Sayers
Here from Africa ....
We know the feeling of this horror story unfolding in your home....
Never Ever Ever give up Hope, Compassion, Belief....
You are blessed...this is just a micro moment in time
Navalny's last message to us all was more than any words... the shape of a heart with his hands ... Across this war torn Planet please let us not give in...even to despair
EVER
with love and deep care to you all
Thank you wambui muchai for your inspiring message. I just reposted it to another group of content creators.
Thank you!
Wambui, thanks for your encouragement.
Professor Reich: there are those who loudly proclaim "THIS IS NOT AMERICA! THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE!" but in fact, reality shows that yes, THIS IS WHO WE ARE as a nation: greedy, cruel, violent, money worshipping, vindictive narcissists. this in fact, is the america i grew up in, and was always excluded from. i cannot even begin to imagine the hell that someone of color or with a different ethnicity must have experienced growing up in a country where parts of it were closed to them and which became ever more closed to them and to anyone else who was "different".
Hey, watch who you’re callin’ “WE!”
I truly have to remind myself that indeed a majority of voters chose this.
Sumac01, it was very far from a landslide. These pathetic voters didn't understand who and what they were voting for. They had ample warning.
I never said landslide, I just said majority. I agree they didn't understand.
Sumac01- I regret inadvertently giving that impression. I was just mentioning the lack of landslide for emphasis.
hey, it's okay! thanks for the reply, too. I just really, really have to remind myself that more folks out there voted for this (even if they didn't realize it). I know people are going to be hurt (hell, folks have already died due to climate-change deniers, just look at Texas this weekend), and I hope and wish for them to actually realize it and use their vote for change in the future.
This is not United States of America. I don’t know what country it is, but it’s not the USA.
I would like to see included in this list that a patriot protects the environment and does all they can to prevent climate and ecological breakdown.
You need to fight the nearest alligator. If Trump and his henchmen are not stopped, ecological breakdown is least of your worries.
Meryl - critical! Thank you.
I think the time for poetic explanations of the meaning of patriotism has passed. A non-violent General Strike is probably the only vehicle left to force the utterly corrupted political parties to attend to the will and well-being of the people.
Although I just wrote a poetic explanation of why patriotism itself has passed, I do agree with you. For many years I have chosen to forego celebrations of the country's imperfect beginning. Let's strike.
Too many "patriots" equate patriotism with symbols like flags and fighting in wars for your country. Draft-dodger Trump is a patriot because he hugs flags on TV. His campaign staff asserts that he is a true patriot because he is sacrificing his billion-dollar business to serve his country as president. Then I read articles showing Trump was going broke until he ran for a second term. Now he is rich due to investor bribes and brazenly selling cars and other merch on TV. MAGAs continue to overlook that successful businessmen do not have 6 bankruptcies in their resume'.
MAGAs ignore Trump's litany of aspersions toward military heroes as losers - starting with the late Senator McCain. Being a retired Navy Captain with a total of 45 years of uniformed and civilian federal service, I am deeply offended by Trump, Musk, and the GOP legislators who characterize me and all civil servants as lazy incompetents who need to find "real" jobs. That simply does not jibe with my experience. Quite the opposite. The quality of leadership I experienced from Vietnam onward was exceptional. I had the privilege of providing direct support to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Joint Chiefs. When they blew their noses, the kleenex they tossed in the wastebasket contained more leadership than our current Secretary of Defense has shown.
Voters should keep in mind that studies show all federal jobs pay less than the private sector. That too reflects patriotism. How much less pay? Well, on several occasions, I was offered positions with private sector firms that were double my federal salary. The people offering such pay could not understand why I turned them down just because my job was more gratifying, knowing that I was daily making my government a bit better for everyone. That is one example of patriotism
Thank you for your service and for such a succinct character analysis of the current cabinet.
Patriots do not hate their fellow citizens and threaten them.........They respect the diversity that made America great...
I’m Waiting for a final solution plan to exterminate the poor the disabled the different than our king . . .
We Will soon only admit tall beautiful Females suitable for breeding and 🏆 purposes.
that just passed in the House and senate.
Unfortunately that’s possible with the Jerks currently in office…
After the Revolution, it is good to recall that 20 to 30% of the people living in the 13 states were still loyal to the king of England. There was no way these people were allowed to vote.
Trump talks about removing / revoking the citizenship of Americans. This should be done to MAGAts. They are traitors to this country
Being Stupid Is Not Yet A Crime , Elections in the USA are poorly planned and conducted, Our Elections are Simply Beauty Contests, Popularity, Test of Telegenic Power.
Ronald Regan, Trump, John F Kennedy are proof of the Unfortunate fact.
Perhaps a return to the smoke filled rooms of yesterday could end it.
Personally I favor a mandatory voting law with financial penalties of $500 for non voters. Additionally a Constitutional Convention to rewrite our ancient Constitution to Reflect the need of Today Citizens after mandatory voting .
State legislators should be eliminated from the process. . .
Many fear the outcome but I trust the population more than Supreme Court Crooks in robes…
Your stupidity nearly reaches the level of criminality.
Perhaps the sarcasm was lost on you.
Your ignorance of sarcasm exceeds my knowledge …
Btw that is trumps path he has implemented not mine.
The choice is clear: USA or Trumpland, constitutional due process or dictatorship.
Profoundest sympathy from Finland.
Profoundest inspiration (and envy) for your government assisting in creating one of the happiest populations on the planet. (We want to know your secret!)
Finland's secret is illuminated in a brief account by Jarred Diamond in Upheaval, a very readable book.
What American Patriotism requires is loyalty to the Constitution. There MUST be a national movement bringing the Constitution back to the center of all US politics. From my last post: https://dialector.substack.com/p/to-support-and-defend "To Make America Great Again, the culture war must die and the Constitution must rise. The Constitution must rise as the sacred bond that unites a free people across every difference of class, color, and creed. It must rise as the unwavering standard by which every leader, law, and movement is judged. It must rise as the shared inheritance of patriots who choose principle over party and courage over comfort. It must rise as the moral compass that guides our protest, our service, and our sacrifice. It must rise as the voice of our highest civic ideals, calling us to build a nation ruled by law, not ruled by partisan division. It must rise, not as a relic remembered, but as the living covenant of a people who refuse to be divided, and who will not be ruled by anything less than liberty and justice for all...It is this transformation, from culture war reactionaries to constitutional patriots, that makes peaceful protest powerful enough to call soldiers back to their oath and inspire a nation back to its founding covenant."
Well said, Max. Patriots do not betray their oath to uphold the Constitution. Donald Trump betrayed his oath on Jan 6, 2021. Those who support him are cowards, not patriots.
Two thumbs -- WAY up.
If you liked "To Support and Defend" as a call to disciplined, principled resistance, the companion essay gives the rational and philosophical grounding for that call and how to execute it with maximum clarity and resolve: E Pluribus Unum: Defending the Constitution, Conserving American Heritage - https://dialector.substack.com/p/e-pluribus-unum
I see a lot of patriots today. In fact, every night I send legions of angels to protect them. Here is the list:
Robert Reich,
Heather and the Inequality Media team
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Bernie Sanders
Greg Casar
Pramila Jayapal
Ilhan Omar
Jasmine Crocket
Jamie Raskin,
Biden. YES. Biden. He is the most pro-labor, pro-women and pro-African American president we've had in a long time and I don't think we appreciated him enough!
And thousands of veterans.
Kamala Harris,
Tim Walz,
Senators Schiff, Murray, Garcia, Padilla, McIver, Velazquez, and Van Hollen
Zohran Mamdani
Rachel Maddow
Katie Phang,
Leah and Ezra, the leaders of Indivisible
Laurie Woodward Garcia, organizer of PeoplePowerUnited
Rev. WIlliam Barber II
Pete Buttigieg
Alternative media, including
PoliticsGirl
Ben, Brett and Jordy Meiselas brothers, Meidas Touch
David Parkman,
Mary Trump,
Brian Tyler Cohen
Kyle (Secular Talk)
Thom Hartman (Hartman Report)
Marc Elias (Democracy Ducket)
Tim Miller (The Bulwark)
And many many others who practice free speech in dangerous time, including me.
5 million Americans who are marching in non-violent protests
I can't go on. I'm too tired. Got to go to bed.
Each one of these people sustains me in my fight against this regime. They inform, inspire, uplift, and educate me and let me know that I am not alone.
And this may sound odd, but so do many people who write comments below these alternative media presentations. Yes. You would think that taking a bit of time to write a comment sharing how you are feeling, inspiring others, asking a question-- that this is nothing.
But it is not nothing. I come after you and read your words and feel connected. Perhaps you inspire me. Perhaps I needed to cry and you sharing your feelings helps me do this. Perhaps I have the answer you need and I feel helpful.
Nothing is too small. We help each other. That's BIG!
But please, it is important that we SEE ourselves and VALUE what we do each day. It may seem small in the face of so much overwhelming evil. But it is not small. When we keep fighting and keep speaking and writing and showing up. We matter.
We are the patriots of today's United States.
YES!
Straight to the heart, Bob.
Only one remark: "the fear of loosing your job..." Is it the foundation of the new order?
Or is it much worse: using the threat of the fascist following of Trump and the risk of lethal violence? Thinking about that: is'nt the second Civil War in full swing?
I don't talk about ICE; but in Europe we still call it Gestapo. That were Hitlers goons, 80 years ago. This Trump regime will be in the history books, when we will still have them. But the Trump crimes will be in the minds of the peoples, when we still can remember.
Depressed? Yes, very much.
"As long as he owns your tools he owns your job, and if he owns your job he is the master of your fate. You are in no sense a free man. You are subject to his interest and to his will. He decides whether you shall work or not. Therefore, he decides whether you shall live or die. And in that humiliating position anyone who tries to persuade you that you are a free man is guilty of insulting your intelligence. Eugene V. Debs
It is poetry, Gregg. What "owning" means is not defined by a word.
The concept of property is a social concept, that can be changed. The oligarchs know that very well and act accordingly.
The owner of the tools is not master of your fate if a constitutional government protects your rights. This is why Trump and the businesses backing Project 2025 are demolishing our government. Make no mistake: this is a fascist takeover of America, and we will lose our freedom if they succeed.
WWG1WGA is the oath the President and his cult all took to destroy everything that you mentioned Professor Reich. These are not patriots, they are anti Americans.
yeah the oath of the Jones cult.
We know they are not patriots, for sure.
Keith , what does WWG1WGA stand for? I just googled this and got this information from the Anti Defamation League : it means "where we go one, we go all," for a digital army used as a rallying cry by the online community of "digital soldiers" that support Q in the battle against the Deep State.
Where We Go One, We Go All
Thank you, Keith. I think it predates "Q".
I will not lose hope ❤️🩹🤍💙
Continue to - Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly.
Use/share this spreadsheet as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, as well as those in others. Use your voice and make some “good trouble”
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/edit?usp=drivesdk
People who have never served anyone, except themselves, are in charge. Patriotism takes giving yourself to serve the needs of the people, not determining what needs they decide to provide in self and conflict of interests.
Win the Senate and House, Impeach and Prosecute
ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE!!!!!
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.