". . . those who show up *and don't go home*." Unfortunately, most of us have jobs and other responsibilities, so this leaves too much up to the lobbyists, who get paid to show up and stay put.
In my state -- supposedly blue Massachusetts -- the legislature doesn't have its own research bureau, so guess who does a lot of the "research"? Got it in one: lobbyists.
I have known a number of lobbyists. Other than your very important point regarding "it's how they make a living; we do other jobs", they have the same problems and obligations as the rest of us do.
Unfortunately, it would take trump winning and screwing around with social security, MAGA wanting to retire at 66 1/2 (right?) and then told he has to wait until 70 to get his full benefits. Conversation: What? I thought social security kicked in at 66 1/2? Sorry, trump signed off on the extension. He said he would and he did. Happy working on your construction job for another few years.
The other problem that arises from extension of time for workers is that the jobs they create when they retire aren't available and all those people new to the work force can't find one. It really backs everything up and creates more financial hardship among the young.
This is where the government subsidies can come in by giving people whose jobs are obsolete (coal) better skills. People are concerned about the advent of electric cars. Train the existing people how to do this.
College isn't for everyone. Train the ones without high school diplomas or just a high school diploma a skill. You don't need to read Shakespeare to fix an electrical system or repair a car.
In the long run this will (hopefully) reduce unemployment and welfare costs. Hey, republicans! Some times you need to spend a little money to save even more.
Maybe trump will be arrogant and tell his people they don't have to vote because he is winning. He certainly waasn't very welcoming to Haley's supporters.
I agree. Many of us are, but not enough and too many are getting their news(?) from the likes of Fox and the Rush's clones. I've been listening to Sara Longwell's reports based on interviews with voters from all over the country. The trumpian conservatives are incredibly misinformed and inarticulate. I hope they are more intelligent than they sound because all of them were likely voters.
On the other hand, the liberals were well informed, even though many hold very different opinions from mine. Those who might not vote for Biden are angry, but they articulate their anger well. I hope they are intelligent enough to vote for Joe even if they don't like it.
I don't mean to look down on trump supporters because I understand their anger too. If we can get them to listen to facts instead of culture war nonsense, they might just come around. And one of the things they need to both hear and feel in their lives is that Reganomics is why the system WAS rigged against them and Biden's new approach is working for them and will continue to if we give he and Harris another term.
In a conversation with Robert Rich on Saturday, Journalist Michael Pollen said that if Biden wins another 4 years, he will take the gloves off in fighting corporations who are pillaging America. I believe that.
All trumpers see is the high price of groceries and gas. I, myself, am a bit dismayed at the grocery prices BUT from what I have read, the lower wage earners have increased their salaries to accommodate inflation. The thing is if you increase salaries, prices increase, too.
Just because people don't make a lot of noise doesn't mean they aren't listening. In a classroom there are always the noisy ones....maybe If the teacher is lucky 30%. The rest are either asleep at the wheel or just listening. Sometimes hard to tell the difference. But when test time comes teachers are sometimes surprised at how many actually got it. Sometimes disappointed, sometimes truly amazed. I think this year, like 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 we'll be truly amazed.
And therein lies the challenge. They arenтАЩt. Too many people, whose very lives are at risk because of these power hungry, my way is right and righteous, callous, uncaring, ignorant, canтАЩt think of what they are to be called, have bamboozled them totally. And many are people who are not stupid, who are aware mostly of whatтАЩs going on. I keep saying there will be huge numbers of psychological studies about this phenomena.
The best thing I saw was a comment the other day from someone who pointed to the hundreds of thousands of people who drove and flew and rented hotel rooms, etc. to watch the eclipse, a scientific event, predicted long ago, but many were the same who refused to believe in vaccines or think the earth is flat!
My husband drove one hour to get into the zone of totality. He stopped at a gas station to ask where the town park was and mentioned the eclipse. The attendant's response: "What eclipse?" This was 30 minutes before totality! I'm not convinced that folks ARE aware of the world around them...
Many of my family live in the area of total eclipse. i had to set one of them straight after she posted a conspiracy theory. She did thank me for my post, so at least she read it. Southern Indiana and Illinois....hotbeds of ignorance and regressive nonsense. And based on their lives, I would say a lot of people are busy trying to make ends meet, having health problems, arguing with each other, having children they shouldn't have, etc.
How about people who spend a lot of money going to trump rallies. I am sure they are not free. Add admission, gas (flights, maybe not so much), hotel rooms (what I saw were trumpers staying in tents supposedly used for summer camping or cars). Just saying. BTW it was snowing
FYI when I was in NH for Pete's rally, I stayed in a bed and breakfast, home breakfast including fresh baked muffins, private bathroom. When I got to my room, a fire was going in the electric fire place.
"While the Senate is a challenge it is doable with citizens paying attention to the most unproductive legislative years on record."
The question being whether the citizens are actually paying attention or not. Hopefully, they will wake up soon.
It ain't government of the people, by the people, for the people if people ain't payin' attention.
I think we are....more than Republicans think we are.
Yesterday my state held their Democratic convention . The numbers seem to show 82%! of the delegates were there.
Last week the Republicans held theirs, and had less than 50% show.
I think there might be hope.
One of my enduring favorites: "The world is run by those who show up"!
". . . those who show up *and don't go home*." Unfortunately, most of us have jobs and other responsibilities, so this leaves too much up to the lobbyists, who get paid to show up and stay put.
In my state -- supposedly blue Massachusetts -- the legislature doesn't have its own research bureau, so guess who does a lot of the "research"? Got it in one: lobbyists.
If we don't do it, there's always someone with an agenda who will.
Right, but my point is that those who are getting paid have more staying power than those who have livings to make and other obligations to fulfill.
I have known a number of lobbyists. Other than your very important point regarding "it's how they make a living; we do other jobs", they have the same problems and obligations as the rest of us do.
Sounds like Massachusetts government should hire their own lobbyists.
I wonder if the R's who show up are the ones most afraid of what awaits.?
Unfortunately, it would take trump winning and screwing around with social security, MAGA wanting to retire at 66 1/2 (right?) and then told he has to wait until 70 to get his full benefits. Conversation: What? I thought social security kicked in at 66 1/2? Sorry, trump signed off on the extension. He said he would and he did. Happy working on your construction job for another few years.
The other problem that arises from extension of time for workers is that the jobs they create when they retire aren't available and all those people new to the work force can't find one. It really backs everything up and creates more financial hardship among the young.
This is where the government subsidies can come in by giving people whose jobs are obsolete (coal) better skills. People are concerned about the advent of electric cars. Train the existing people how to do this.
College isn't for everyone. Train the ones without high school diplomas or just a high school diploma a skill. You don't need to read Shakespeare to fix an electrical system or repair a car.
In the long run this will (hopefully) reduce unemployment and welfare costs. Hey, republicans! Some times you need to spend a little money to save even more.
Maybe trump will be arrogant and tell his people they don't have to vote because he is winning. He certainly waasn't very welcoming to Haley's supporters.
To expand the base, register more Democrats. Register Democrats to save Democracy.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Writing 25 postcards to voters per dayтАФmore if thereтАЩs not too much to write. Current batch to MI can do 25 in three hours.
Working on a batch of postcards for Wisconsin citizens right now.
I agree. Many of us are, but not enough and too many are getting their news(?) from the likes of Fox and the Rush's clones. I've been listening to Sara Longwell's reports based on interviews with voters from all over the country. The trumpian conservatives are incredibly misinformed and inarticulate. I hope they are more intelligent than they sound because all of them were likely voters.
On the other hand, the liberals were well informed, even though many hold very different opinions from mine. Those who might not vote for Biden are angry, but they articulate their anger well. I hope they are intelligent enough to vote for Joe even if they don't like it.
I don't mean to look down on trump supporters because I understand their anger too. If we can get them to listen to facts instead of culture war nonsense, they might just come around. And one of the things they need to both hear and feel in their lives is that Reganomics is why the system WAS rigged against them and Biden's new approach is working for them and will continue to if we give he and Harris another term.
In a conversation with Robert Rich on Saturday, Journalist Michael Pollen said that if Biden wins another 4 years, he will take the gloves off in fighting corporations who are pillaging America. I believe that.
All trumpers see is the high price of groceries and gas. I, myself, am a bit dismayed at the grocery prices BUT from what I have read, the lower wage earners have increased their salaries to accommodate inflation. The thing is if you increase salaries, prices increase, too.
Just because people don't make a lot of noise doesn't mean they aren't listening. In a classroom there are always the noisy ones....maybe If the teacher is lucky 30%. The rest are either asleep at the wheel or just listening. Sometimes hard to tell the difference. But when test time comes teachers are sometimes surprised at how many actually got it. Sometimes disappointed, sometimes truly amazed. I think this year, like 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 we'll be truly amazed.
I really hope you're right.
And therein lies the challenge. They arenтАЩt. Too many people, whose very lives are at risk because of these power hungry, my way is right and righteous, callous, uncaring, ignorant, canтАЩt think of what they are to be called, have bamboozled them totally. And many are people who are not stupid, who are aware mostly of whatтАЩs going on. I keep saying there will be huge numbers of psychological studies about this phenomena.
The best thing I saw was a comment the other day from someone who pointed to the hundreds of thousands of people who drove and flew and rented hotel rooms, etc. to watch the eclipse, a scientific event, predicted long ago, but many were the same who refused to believe in vaccines or think the earth is flat!
Selective ignorance?
More like willful ignorance, I think.
My husband drove one hour to get into the zone of totality. He stopped at a gas station to ask where the town park was and mentioned the eclipse. The attendant's response: "What eclipse?" This was 30 minutes before totality! I'm not convinced that folks ARE aware of the world around them...
A lot certainly aren't. But a lot are. (I don't know how the numbers break down at any particular time or place.)
Many of my family live in the area of total eclipse. i had to set one of them straight after she posted a conspiracy theory. She did thank me for my post, so at least she read it. Southern Indiana and Illinois....hotbeds of ignorance and regressive nonsense. And based on their lives, I would say a lot of people are busy trying to make ends meet, having health problems, arguing with each other, having children they shouldn't have, etc.
and they think health insurance is bad now...
How about people who spend a lot of money going to trump rallies. I am sure they are not free. Add admission, gas (flights, maybe not so much), hotel rooms (what I saw were trumpers staying in tents supposedly used for summer camping or cars). Just saying. BTW it was snowing
FYI when I was in NH for Pete's rally, I stayed in a bed and breakfast, home breakfast including fresh baked muffins, private bathroom. When I got to my room, a fire was going in the electric fire place.