This is one of the reasons it can be so tough to keep supporting Dems. It's clear the corporate friendly strategy isn't working for actual people, so what will they do? Keep it going with no lessons learned. No meaningful effort to stop corporate greed. No effort to take back the trillions that have been taken from the millions strugglin…
This is one of the reasons it can be so tough to keep supporting Dems. It's clear the corporate friendly strategy isn't working for actual people, so what will they do? Keep it going with no lessons learned. No meaningful effort to stop corporate greed. No effort to take back the trillions that have been taken from the millions struggling due to the failure of government to reign in monopolies and consolidated industries.
Then, Dems will stand around wondering why so much misery and anger has built up that the GOP will get massive support from voters who are told the Dems are responsible for that pain. And so it goes...
The Federal Reserve is supposed to be non-partisan. Are you sure they are raising interest rates because they are Democrats? What about the trillions in tax cuts for the wealthy & corps DJT pushed through & he raised the deficit $8 trillion in only four years!
Jerome Powell, in fact, was appointed by Trump, 1 of several controversial Trump appointees, including Christopher Wray & Louis DeJoy, that Biden refuses to dismiss.
Jaime Ramirez ; I think the President can't 'fire' Dejoy ; there is a board that controls the postal service. Powell and Wray, I don't know. But why hasn't he replaced them if he could?
He can fire the (USPS) Board of Governors for their silence and complicity in Trumps and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's campaign to subvert vote-by-mail elections and destroy the Post Office.
Libby: I wonder if that would entail a long, drawn out legal battle with the need to prove intent? It may be that President Biden needs to 'pick his battles' carefully.? Why would he allow Dejoy et al to abuse the postal service to the extent of blocking the vote? It does not make sense to me.
Laurie, no doubt he has to pick his battles and choose carefully, and yes, the legal red tape is what it is. You aren't alone in saying that it doesn't make sense.
As I understand it, Laurie, the board members decide & there is 1 position on that board which has gone unfilled for quite a long time that, once filled, could become the deciding vote to oust Dejoy. I don't know what's holding up that appointment.
It seems to me Biden is very averse to firing people from his administration or getting into a controversy about government personnel.
Jaime ; I wonder if that is why DOJ has not done a stellar job of stopping MAGA seditionists and bringing them to justice? May be related. They must give the workers at least an impression that we are served, at least once in a while, by a winning Democrat. But it is never really real. Witness Clinton and Obama and how they gave away the store, so to speak.
They always let us down in the end. True that they're much better (or, should I say, "much less bad") than the Republicans, & they spend a lot of their time cleaning up the messes left by their Republican predecessors, but after an often promising start, they underperform in some fundamental way.
As an outsider (not an American) I think Obama was not allowed to be everything he could have been. And this is probably true of a lot of former presidents. They are kept on leashes, and no matter how they try they are only allowed to go so far.
In the eyes of the world, Barrack Obama was the greatest president the USA ever had. But not even he could fight the "old boy's club" that is holding the leash. Money talks in the USA, but it also silences those who would take away its power.
Rawgod ; It's like the R's, funded by the 'powers that be' allow the Democrats to have a 'president'. The whole thing is carefully controlled and manipulated, by the judiciary and the press. The rest is accomplished by sheer treachery, the way the DNC threw Bernie under the bus, with Hillary' (and the chair of the DNC's), help. The current Congress was bought by Oligarch money: some from Russia, from what I have read. But dirty money for sure.
And that is the way the world sees US politics. No matter who is "elected to power" the real control lies behind the scenes, in the hands of the wealthy. And they sure--as-hell arent going to give up that power willingly.
rawgod ; Just recognizing what is going on helps. It is a beginning. If there are good candidates avoiding taking dirty money, those are the ones to support.
I got that sense, too. I remember 1 time after a secret meeting with some of the military & intelligence leaders within a month of his inauguration, Obama came out of it looking downcast & disillusioned as if he realized he couldn't (wouldn't be allowed to) do all he wanted to do for the country. He was never quite the same after that.
I agree that Obama was our finest President of the past half-century, maybe since Franklin Roosevelt. I wish he could've had a 3rd term, which would likely have been outstanding. He was on a roll by then & comfortable in his role.
I had a stupid thought the other day. Biden could be keeping these fools around to ensure Trump gets the nominatiion for Republican candidate for the presidency, thinking he can defeat Trump again whereas he might not be able to defeat Duh'Santis or someone else.
IF this is his thinking, Biden is playing with fire! Overconfidence almost always leads to a downfall, and letting Trump slip back into the Presidency of the USA is the worst possible outcome, because that will be the end of American democracy as known today!
It's so often a fatal mistake to underestimate an opponent, even (or maybe especially) if the opponent is obviously unfit & unpalatable. Those are the most dangerous kind, as Nixon, Reagan, Bush & Trump have all shown us.
Apparently Biden has an aversion to firing people in his administration, even those he didn't appoint & are problematic. Only rational explanation I can think of.
Jaime Ramirez ; Strange that tRump had no such aversions to installing anyone he chose, qualified or not! Just like the debt ceiling being raised 3 times under his watch, but it's a no no under Democrats ? What's with that? Who is making these rules? and getting away with it?
This Powell guy has an affinity to raising interest rates. I might be wrong but didn't Trump have a hand in his appointment. Imagine what a frightening duo Jerome and Sidney would make.
!!!!!! I KNOW!!!!!!!!! Infuriates me that Biden has left many Trump acolytes in powerful positions in the government. BIG MISTAKE. Recent criticism of Wray should influence Biden, but it won't.
And why aren’t we asking: Who’s paying their salaries. ? We are and it makes me even more furious to think we stand by, pay them huge salaries to “ not work for us”!! Amazing. What nut case would do this?
Powell does not need to still be there, but he is. And for all their excuses, DeJoy should be gone. When the GOP comes into power, they clean house. Dems continue too many bad policies, and in these cases, with the same people. I'm not saying there are zero differences, but the policies that matter most are waaaaay too similar regardless of the party in power....which, of course, is just another sign that neither political party is really the one in power, but is just the current puppet distracting the masses from the wealthy individuals and corporations actually driving policy.
From my perspective, because we have gridlock in Congress and the Federal Reserve is Republican the way to have reduced inflation would have been through litigation. Sue price fixers and price gougers. The Federal government has limited power to do it. At least one state, California, is suing Amazon for price fixing.
IMHO energy prices were fixed by Trump administration's deals with Saudi and OPEC, benefitting Russia. This caused a ripple effect.
Yes, and while the Republicans keep baiting their followers with the horrors of Hunter Biden, no one says a word about the Saudis' payout to Jared Kushner. Now Ivanka has the financial security to "stay home with the children."
Katrina: The Goya collection? Oh, no! Don’t tell me she got the crystal ketchup bowl from the White House burger bar! That belongs in the Smithsonian! Or at least on Antiques Roadshow.
Both parties allowed the corporate consolidations that have allowed many of our major market segments to be dominated by just a handful of large companies giving them effective monopoly control to raise prices. We need some good old fashioned trust busting. Antitrust law doesn't do any good unless DOJ implements it.
“Supposed to be” non-partisan. Powell is a Republican, with Republican ideologies. Biden should have replaced him. Is there a reason why he didn’t? Does he need a committee to do it?
The Federal Reserve Chair serves a four year term. Powell was originally appointed by Trump when Obama appointee Janet Yellen's term was up. When Powell's term was expiring, Biden reappointed him to another four year term. So, yes, Biden could have replaced him. I don't know why he chose not to.
I think we need someone of national prominence like Reich to start a contract with America thing like newt did but with outing lobbyist and corp. contributions make the people we vote for sign on it and hold them accountable and due an amendment to the constitution if need be because the supreme court will push back. Lot of work but what do we want to leave out kids and grandkids? Or do we just complain from our feeling entitlement ?
You are spot on. That is because guess who is funding the democrats. Yes that same well oiled monopoly machine big business. We need to hold our officials accountable to us not the lobbyist.
A third party? A fourth party? Support them vs actively work to pressure them without throwing support to Republicans? these are just some of the options. I believe we have to stop thinking that the only ones are support them or the GOP.
3rd party. no; 4th Party? Definitely NO. Other options? The 2024 Election is now underway. I am liking what I see deveoping in the Demcratcic Party in Nevada. I need to do some more local political science but, I understand Nevada's role in the Electoral Count Act. I am likely to start donating after I evaluate their deployed tactics.
In Nevada the progressives were ELECTED to run the state Dem party. In response the ousted DINO party leadership raided the state party treasury and gave all the $ to DCCC to campaign against progressives.
How's that for democracy? You can't trust the party "leadership."
Alternatively: stay home. Low voter turnout has multiple causes, not always apathy or ignorance. I've sat out a couple of recent primaries. How can a voter choose among interchangeable candidates? My yardstick: direct mail. The more junk mail the candidate can afford to stuff into my mailbox, the higher the corporate-owned score, the less likely my vote. But the Democratic Party in my state, NY, has ceased to function [see: US House}, so no direct mail recently.
Support the Dems because they are our only hope. Removing all barriers to campaign spending is exclusively a Republican project. They will only make everything worse. Since 2010, 19 states and nearly 800 local governments have called on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and similar decisions. In 2014, the majority of the U.S. Senate voted for the Democracy for All amendment that would add an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that permits Congress and state legislatures to put sensible limits on political spending. House Dems have introduces and supported multiple bills to overturn Citizens United. All of these efforts are blocked by Republicans.
Nailed it Ian! I left the Democratic Party years ago for this very reason. I hold them complicit in the situation we are in today. They are just as beholden to their billionaire ruling class donors as the GOP.
"Dems" is too general a word in the Professor's community; I thought "Dems" was originaly coined by the right now in widespead misuse. Fed Days (4 days over the next week) are a good time to discuss macro & micro distinct policies -- comparative policies.
Absolutely not. They don't deserve it. But I'm tired of choking back my pride and common sense by fully supporting Dems who deserve scorn and who badly need a harsh lesson in taking progressives for granted.
I have felt the same way. Alas, this is not the time, when the next time Republicans take over could very likely be the last time we see a free & fair election, to teach them such a lesson.
Ian ; That donkey has been punished so often it seems normal. I wonder if we need one more 'Democrat' or progressive helping the R's to 'Teach them a lesson'?
Major Macro delopments going on TODAY Folks as part of "Fed Days" such as the failure this morning of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Regulators have shut SVB down after trading was halted after 62 percent stock loss over the last 5 days. SVB RIP.
SVB's death will have a huge impact on Tech Start-Ups (of course) but, also Life Science companies. Hey, LA Jolla, CA ... wake up if you were not contacted by a Fiduciary yesterday to move assets before SVB's BK.
This is one of the reasons it can be so tough to keep supporting Dems. It's clear the corporate friendly strategy isn't working for actual people, so what will they do? Keep it going with no lessons learned. No meaningful effort to stop corporate greed. No effort to take back the trillions that have been taken from the millions struggling due to the failure of government to reign in monopolies and consolidated industries.
Then, Dems will stand around wondering why so much misery and anger has built up that the GOP will get massive support from voters who are told the Dems are responsible for that pain. And so it goes...
The Federal Reserve is supposed to be non-partisan. Are you sure they are raising interest rates because they are Democrats? What about the trillions in tax cuts for the wealthy & corps DJT pushed through & he raised the deficit $8 trillion in only four years!
Jerome Powell, in fact, was appointed by Trump, 1 of several controversial Trump appointees, including Christopher Wray & Louis DeJoy, that Biden refuses to dismiss.
Jaime Ramirez ; I think the President can't 'fire' Dejoy ; there is a board that controls the postal service. Powell and Wray, I don't know. But why hasn't he replaced them if he could?
He can fire the (USPS) Board of Governors for their silence and complicity in Trumps and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's campaign to subvert vote-by-mail elections and destroy the Post Office.
Libby: I wonder if that would entail a long, drawn out legal battle with the need to prove intent? It may be that President Biden needs to 'pick his battles' carefully.? Why would he allow Dejoy et al to abuse the postal service to the extent of blocking the vote? It does not make sense to me.
Laurie, no doubt he has to pick his battles and choose carefully, and yes, the legal red tape is what it is. You aren't alone in saying that it doesn't make sense.
Libby, it seems that our entire legal system is set up to be cumbersome to justice itself.
Indeed.
Really?! Well, then get on with it, Joe!!!
kdsherpa ; Too bad Joe doesn't have tRump's drive and chutspah ; only without the evil intent!
Too true!
As I understand it, Laurie, the board members decide & there is 1 position on that board which has gone unfilled for quite a long time that, once filled, could become the deciding vote to oust Dejoy. I don't know what's holding up that appointment.
It seems to me Biden is very averse to firing people from his administration or getting into a controversy about government personnel.
Jaime ; I wonder if that is why DOJ has not done a stellar job of stopping MAGA seditionists and bringing them to justice? May be related. They must give the workers at least an impression that we are served, at least once in a while, by a winning Democrat. But it is never really real. Witness Clinton and Obama and how they gave away the store, so to speak.
They always let us down in the end. True that they're much better (or, should I say, "much less bad") than the Republicans, & they spend a lot of their time cleaning up the messes left by their Republican predecessors, but after an often promising start, they underperform in some fundamental way.
As an outsider (not an American) I think Obama was not allowed to be everything he could have been. And this is probably true of a lot of former presidents. They are kept on leashes, and no matter how they try they are only allowed to go so far.
In the eyes of the world, Barrack Obama was the greatest president the USA ever had. But not even he could fight the "old boy's club" that is holding the leash. Money talks in the USA, but it also silences those who would take away its power.
This is the real enemy of democracy!
Rawgod ; It's like the R's, funded by the 'powers that be' allow the Democrats to have a 'president'. The whole thing is carefully controlled and manipulated, by the judiciary and the press. The rest is accomplished by sheer treachery, the way the DNC threw Bernie under the bus, with Hillary' (and the chair of the DNC's), help. The current Congress was bought by Oligarch money: some from Russia, from what I have read. But dirty money for sure.
And that is the way the world sees US politics. No matter who is "elected to power" the real control lies behind the scenes, in the hands of the wealthy. And they sure--as-hell arent going to give up that power willingly.
rawgod ; Just recognizing what is going on helps. It is a beginning. If there are good candidates avoiding taking dirty money, those are the ones to support.
I got that sense, too. I remember 1 time after a secret meeting with some of the military & intelligence leaders within a month of his inauguration, Obama came out of it looking downcast & disillusioned as if he realized he couldn't (wouldn't be allowed to) do all he wanted to do for the country. He was never quite the same after that.
I agree that Obama was our finest President of the past half-century, maybe since Franklin Roosevelt. I wish he could've had a 3rd term, which would likely have been outstanding. He was on a roll by then & comfortable in his role.
Jaime Ramirez ; It's not as though they are acting in a bipartisan way, the R's. Ever hear the sound of one hand clapping?
I had a stupid thought the other day. Biden could be keeping these fools around to ensure Trump gets the nominatiion for Republican candidate for the presidency, thinking he can defeat Trump again whereas he might not be able to defeat Duh'Santis or someone else.
IF this is his thinking, Biden is playing with fire! Overconfidence almost always leads to a downfall, and letting Trump slip back into the Presidency of the USA is the worst possible outcome, because that will be the end of American democracy as known today!
It's so often a fatal mistake to underestimate an opponent, even (or maybe especially) if the opponent is obviously unfit & unpalatable. Those are the most dangerous kind, as Nixon, Reagan, Bush & Trump have all shown us.
Send DeJoy to Ukraine to help them rebuild their postal service, starting in Bakhmut.
Greg DeCowsky ; We are trying to help Ukraine, not destroy their postal service!
Apparently Biden has an aversion to firing people in his administration, even those he didn't appoint & are problematic. Only rational explanation I can think of.
Jaime Ramirez ; Strange that tRump had no such aversions to installing anyone he chose, qualified or not! Just like the debt ceiling being raised 3 times under his watch, but it's a no no under Democrats ? What's with that? Who is making these rules? and getting away with it?
1 low standard for the Republicans & a much higher standard for the Democrats. Republicans, hypocrisy is thy name.
Jaime Ramirez ; "Them that got the gold make the rules".
For Trump, the only qualification he valued was loyalty to him & willingness to do whatever dastardly deed he wanted done.
Jaime Ramirez ; "Dirty deeds and they're not dirt cheap".
He can but usually they say to let the term un out. The worked so well for Carter
Tom Tonelli ; Who are 'they' ?
Donald Hodgins
Writes Donald’s Substack
11 min ago
This Powell guy has an affinity to raising interest rates. I might be wrong but didn't Trump have a hand in his appointment. Imagine what a frightening duo Jerome and Sidney would make.
!!!!!! I KNOW!!!!!!!!! Infuriates me that Biden has left many Trump acolytes in powerful positions in the government. BIG MISTAKE. Recent criticism of Wray should influence Biden, but it won't.
AGREE!!!
And why aren’t we asking: Who’s paying their salaries. ? We are and it makes me even more furious to think we stand by, pay them huge salaries to “ not work for us”!! Amazing. What nut case would do this?
Powell does not need to still be there, but he is. And for all their excuses, DeJoy should be gone. When the GOP comes into power, they clean house. Dems continue too many bad policies, and in these cases, with the same people. I'm not saying there are zero differences, but the policies that matter most are waaaaay too similar regardless of the party in power....which, of course, is just another sign that neither political party is really the one in power, but is just the current puppet distracting the masses from the wealthy individuals and corporations actually driving policy.
We don't have a dictatorship.
From my perspective, because we have gridlock in Congress and the Federal Reserve is Republican the way to have reduced inflation would have been through litigation. Sue price fixers and price gougers. The Federal government has limited power to do it. At least one state, California, is suing Amazon for price fixing.
IMHO energy prices were fixed by Trump administration's deals with Saudi and OPEC, benefitting Russia. This caused a ripple effect.
Yes, and while the Republicans keep baiting their followers with the horrors of Hunter Biden, no one says a word about the Saudis' payout to Jared Kushner. Now Ivanka has the financial security to "stay home with the children."
Progwoman: LOL “stay home with the children”: Don Jr. and Eric.
Katrina: The Goya collection? Oh, no! Don’t tell me she got the crystal ketchup bowl from the White House burger bar! That belongs in the Smithsonian! Or at least on Antiques Roadshow.
Both parties allowed the corporate consolidations that have allowed many of our major market segments to be dominated by just a handful of large companies giving them effective monopoly control to raise prices. We need some good old fashioned trust busting. Antitrust law doesn't do any good unless DOJ implements it.
Democrats control the FTC, but the courts resist.
Yeah, the courts are a problem. Still they should try. Get them on record for their craziness.
Dems are too nice, and it is killing us.
“Never be deceived that the rich will permit you to vote away their wealth.”
- Lucy Parsons, IWW founding convention, 1905
My Grandma used to say, "Zu gut ist nicht gut", and would add, "Too good is not good".
Roger:
Q. What do you call 100 politicians buried up to their necks in sand?
A. Not enough sand.
LOVE it!
LOL!
Roger: Is that the same thing as a Хуйло (khuylo)?
BtW my congresscritter Andy Gaspasser Harris worships Orbán.
Was Orbán at CPAC this year? He was a big hero there last year… f’ing Stalinist.
“Supposed to be” non-partisan. Powell is a Republican, with Republican ideologies. Biden should have replaced him. Is there a reason why he didn’t? Does he need a committee to do it?
The Federal Reserve Chair serves a four year term. Powell was originally appointed by Trump when Obama appointee Janet Yellen's term was up. When Powell's term was expiring, Biden reappointed him to another four year term. So, yes, Biden could have replaced him. I don't know why he chose not to.
He was playing chess to get his legislative program through. Got infrastructure, Chips Act, etc.
Daniel:
He's no Bobby Fischer.
Greg : Bobby Fischer is no Joe Biden.
Laurie: Neither was FDR.
Well that’s very disappointing.
Thank you Corena, I almost left a message with a bunch of swear words!
Thanks for making me laugh early this morning.
Powell is a Republican.
Ian: Agreed. Tell me the definition of insanity again… it seems Powell and his cronies have rediscovered it.
Powell and his cronies are insanely wealthy and crazy like a Fox.
So true but what to do about it?
I think we need someone of national prominence like Reich to start a contract with America thing like newt did but with outing lobbyist and corp. contributions make the people we vote for sign on it and hold them accountable and due an amendment to the constitution if need be because the supreme court will push back. Lot of work but what do we want to leave out kids and grandkids? Or do we just complain from our feeling entitlement ?
Tax the Rich! for starters.
You are spot on. That is because guess who is funding the democrats. Yes that same well oiled monopoly machine big business. We need to hold our officials accountable to us not the lobbyist.
Ian, “tough to support the Dems”? So support the Repubs? Throw the baby out with the bath water, why not?
A third party? A fourth party? Support them vs actively work to pressure them without throwing support to Republicans? these are just some of the options. I believe we have to stop thinking that the only ones are support them or the GOP.
Maybe support the progressives. The ones who do not accept corporate $$$.
3rd party. no; 4th Party? Definitely NO. Other options? The 2024 Election is now underway. I am liking what I see deveoping in the Demcratcic Party in Nevada. I need to do some more local political science but, I understand Nevada's role in the Electoral Count Act. I am likely to start donating after I evaluate their deployed tactics.
Bryan:
In Nevada the progressives were ELECTED to run the state Dem party. In response the ousted DINO party leadership raided the state party treasury and gave all the $ to DCCC to campaign against progressives.
How's that for democracy? You can't trust the party "leadership."
Very useful info Greg. I am going to check the Nevada Secretary of State data for party identification in ALL Nevda counties for February 2023.👌
Alternatively: stay home. Low voter turnout has multiple causes, not always apathy or ignorance. I've sat out a couple of recent primaries. How can a voter choose among interchangeable candidates? My yardstick: direct mail. The more junk mail the candidate can afford to stuff into my mailbox, the higher the corporate-owned score, the less likely my vote. But the Democratic Party in my state, NY, has ceased to function [see: US House}, so no direct mail recently.
Support the Dems because they are our only hope. Removing all barriers to campaign spending is exclusively a Republican project. They will only make everything worse. Since 2010, 19 states and nearly 800 local governments have called on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and similar decisions. In 2014, the majority of the U.S. Senate voted for the Democracy for All amendment that would add an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that permits Congress and state legislatures to put sensible limits on political spending. House Dems have introduces and supported multiple bills to overturn Citizens United. All of these efforts are blocked by Republicans.
Don Herbst ; No surprise there, since they seem to get so many more and larger 'contributions'.
It's totally in line with the Republican agenda of allowing the wealthy to buy and own everything.
Nailed it Ian! I left the Democratic Party years ago for this very reason. I hold them complicit in the situation we are in today. They are just as beholden to their billionaire ruling class donors as the GOP.
"Dems" is too general a word in the Professor's community; I thought "Dems" was originaly coined by the right now in widespead misuse. Fed Days (4 days over the next week) are a good time to discuss macro & micro distinct policies -- comparative policies.
They've gone far beyond "Dems" in usage of derogatory terms.
Ian ; would you actually support The Rs at this point?
Absolutely not. They don't deserve it. But I'm tired of choking back my pride and common sense by fully supporting Dems who deserve scorn and who badly need a harsh lesson in taking progressives for granted.
I have felt the same way. Alas, this is not the time, when the next time Republicans take over could very likely be the last time we see a free & fair election, to teach them such a lesson.
Ian ; That donkey has been punished so often it seems normal. I wonder if we need one more 'Democrat' or progressive helping the R's to 'Teach them a lesson'?
Major Macro delopments going on TODAY Folks as part of "Fed Days" such as the failure this morning of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Regulators have shut SVB down after trading was halted after 62 percent stock loss over the last 5 days. SVB RIP.
SVB's death will have a huge impact on Tech Start-Ups (of course) but, also Life Science companies. Hey, LA Jolla, CA ... wake up if you were not contacted by a Fiduciary yesterday to move assets before SVB's BK.