There are really two major Republican political stories dominating the news these days. The more obvious of the two is the attempt by former president Donald Trump and his followers to destroy American democracy. The other story is older, the one that led to Trump but that stands at least a bit apart from him. It is the story of a national shift away from the supply-side ideology of Reagan Republicans toward an embrace of the idea that the government should hold the playing field among all Americans level.
Thank you Professor HCR. Is it too much to ask to have all the Trump tax cuts repealed? Under his tax changes , my taxes went up, not down. I am not wealthy, I am a retired government employee. I see no reason to have our tax laws based on the legacy of a soon to be convicted criminal.
This is one of the best essays I’ve read on our current political situation. Thank you Heather. And thank you President Biden and VP Kamala Harris. There is hope and it’s up to us. As Thom Hartmann says “ democracy is not a spectator sport” please get involved.
"The growing economy would result in higher tax revenues, enabling Americans to have both low taxes and government services, and prosperity would spread to everyone. But the system never worked as promised." This theory failed to materialize because CEOs believe in the false premise of profit maximization. Their goals are to make more money, regardless of laws, regulations, communities, the environment and workers, so they can raise their own pay and invest in stock buybacks which also increase their personal wealth. And yet, Congressional Republicans want to give them even more tax relief through tax cuts. MO Republicans want to eliminate the already low state corporate income tax. If you want to stop this behavior don't vote for any Republican.
Professor, this overview of how we have arrived at this anxiety-ridden place sets the stage for the fraught election ahead.
The wealthy powerbrokers who want Trump must know that he is collapsing - politically, legally, and mentally.
What will they do to improve their odds? Or are they, like Trump, counting on rampant voter suppression and violence at polling places to skew the results? But can such despicable tactics stem what I think is a Blue Wave building?
Heather, thank you once again for counteracting the lie of “trickle down” economics. “Workers have realized they’ve been getting screwed for decades, and they’re fed up.” Hopefully not only the workers but women will realize that a lot of Republican officeholders care more about a poor unborn child than his mother, even to the point of putting her in the ICU or allowing her to die. Wealthy women have few problems going to a state that allows abortion or overseas; only poor women are harmed. Donald Trump expected Marla Maples to get an abortion; he was pro choice back then.
If America manages to remain a democracy in November, how long will it take to undo all the harm tRump and the Republicans have done? If the Democrats can take back both the House and the Senate, will they be able to swiftly pass the laws needed so this situation can never happen again? But we’ve been shown that a large percentage of the population doesn’t have the common good at heart, just hatred and greed. Children’s education is so important but has been so neglected.
These are simple and undeniable truths. The question is whether there are enough Americans with the intellect to understand these truths along with the will to vote, or whether the culture warriors, zealots and true believers will prevail. I guess we will know the answer in less than 7 months. I fear desperately for my country.
Biden and Harris have done a lot of great work, but few people hear about it. Dammit! If you're a trumpet player, blow the damn thing! People need to hear about what's going on in the Oval Office on a daily basis.
The President doesn't have to do anything more than he's doing now, but a daily recap, even a weekly recap, of what's been accomplished could certainly be handled by the Press Secretary. It's called a Press Release, so release that good press!
Ok. Rant over.
Back to painting the nails on my middle fingers orange. It's subtle, but it makes me feel better.
I’m delighted to hear that someone as insightful and knowledgeable as HCR thinks the Reagan era (trickle-down economics, union busting, and industrial deregulation) is over. It seems sadly unlikely to me, however, that racism, misogyny, and related political practices will suddenly stop driving the majority of white voters from casting their votes for racists, misogynists, Christofascists, and the like (that is to say, Republicans).
I'm very puzzled by the opening paragraph about "two major Republican political stories" in the current news. HCR surely can't mean this passage as written: "The other story is older, the one that led to Trump but that stands at least a bit apart from him. It is the story of a national shift away from the supply-side ideology of Reagan Republicans toward an embrace of the idea that the government should hold the playing field among all Americans level." Republicans have not to my knowledge moved to a belief in a level economic playing field! Mainstream news is saturated with stories of corporate price-gouging, astronomical CEO earnings, the predations of ALEC, Republican attempts to block social service budget items and forgiveness of student debt, and their plans to eviscerate Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits.
Peter Drucker made the observation in 1946 in his book, "Concept of the Corporation" that corporations had become the central institutions around which society is organized, more so than governmental, religious, or educational institutions. An opportunity to right the ship, in terms of the economy, is rapidly approaching. A huge problem is that there are essentially no rules regarding the chartering of corporations in Delaware and Nevada, which is why they get most of the business. But, a new national corporate chartering process that recognizes the full scope of the fiduciary responsibility of corporate leaders to employees, communities, and customers by licensing the professions of board and executive committee membership (i.e. the whole C-suite). The licensing needs to include a requirement to adhere to a canon of ethics, just like legal, accounting, and medical professionals must. Then, whenever any "too big to fail" corporation comes knocking on Congress's door asking for bailout, part of the deal would be to re-charter it, and require the licensing of the leadership. These charters would become desirable because they would also have access to a new source of capital in the form of tightly controlled Fed advances. Leadership total compensation packages should be limited to 10x the average (not median) wage of all employees, including contract labor that works on site. One of our largest defense contractors is going to need a bailout quite soon. That's an opportunity.
I remember "way back when" well, partially anyway...some big mucky-muck was testifying before congress (Alan Greenspan????) regarding the removal of some regulations on banks. And the guy "testifying" specifically said "Oh, I think we can trust the banks to do the right thing."
And I remember thinking "Because BEFORE there were regulations on banking practices, that worked so well...for the rich, the stock mkt? not so much. The Nation? A disaster.
Thank you Professor HCR. Is it too much to ask to have all the Trump tax cuts repealed? Under his tax changes , my taxes went up, not down. I am not wealthy, I am a retired government employee. I see no reason to have our tax laws based on the legacy of a soon to be convicted criminal.
Two things:
1)This essay gives me hope that we may prevail in November.
2) Shawn Fain is a rock star.
Thank you. Brilliant summary both of the achievements of the Biden-Harris administration, and of the history that got us here.
I really appreciate the historic context your posts provide. You are making all of us smarter. Nicely done!
This is one of the best essays I’ve read on our current political situation. Thank you Heather. And thank you President Biden and VP Kamala Harris. There is hope and it’s up to us. As Thom Hartmann says “ democracy is not a spectator sport” please get involved.
"The growing economy would result in higher tax revenues, enabling Americans to have both low taxes and government services, and prosperity would spread to everyone. But the system never worked as promised." This theory failed to materialize because CEOs believe in the false premise of profit maximization. Their goals are to make more money, regardless of laws, regulations, communities, the environment and workers, so they can raise their own pay and invest in stock buybacks which also increase their personal wealth. And yet, Congressional Republicans want to give them even more tax relief through tax cuts. MO Republicans want to eliminate the already low state corporate income tax. If you want to stop this behavior don't vote for any Republican.
Professor, this overview of how we have arrived at this anxiety-ridden place sets the stage for the fraught election ahead.
The wealthy powerbrokers who want Trump must know that he is collapsing - politically, legally, and mentally.
What will they do to improve their odds? Or are they, like Trump, counting on rampant voter suppression and violence at polling places to skew the results? But can such despicable tactics stem what I think is a Blue Wave building?
Heather, thank you once again for counteracting the lie of “trickle down” economics. “Workers have realized they’ve been getting screwed for decades, and they’re fed up.” Hopefully not only the workers but women will realize that a lot of Republican officeholders care more about a poor unborn child than his mother, even to the point of putting her in the ICU or allowing her to die. Wealthy women have few problems going to a state that allows abortion or overseas; only poor women are harmed. Donald Trump expected Marla Maples to get an abortion; he was pro choice back then.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-tiffany-trump-ivanka-trump-tapes-howard-sterm-671826
Congrats on another compact, powerful perspective. Masterful.
If America manages to remain a democracy in November, how long will it take to undo all the harm tRump and the Republicans have done? If the Democrats can take back both the House and the Senate, will they be able to swiftly pass the laws needed so this situation can never happen again? But we’ve been shown that a large percentage of the population doesn’t have the common good at heart, just hatred and greed. Children’s education is so important but has been so neglected.
These are simple and undeniable truths. The question is whether there are enough Americans with the intellect to understand these truths along with the will to vote, or whether the culture warriors, zealots and true believers will prevail. I guess we will know the answer in less than 7 months. I fear desperately for my country.
Once again, thank you HCR for your insightful letters each day. Today was a day of reflection singing and peace here in Southern Oregon
Biden and Harris have done a lot of great work, but few people hear about it. Dammit! If you're a trumpet player, blow the damn thing! People need to hear about what's going on in the Oval Office on a daily basis.
The President doesn't have to do anything more than he's doing now, but a daily recap, even a weekly recap, of what's been accomplished could certainly be handled by the Press Secretary. It's called a Press Release, so release that good press!
Ok. Rant over.
Back to painting the nails on my middle fingers orange. It's subtle, but it makes me feel better.
I’m delighted to hear that someone as insightful and knowledgeable as HCR thinks the Reagan era (trickle-down economics, union busting, and industrial deregulation) is over. It seems sadly unlikely to me, however, that racism, misogyny, and related political practices will suddenly stop driving the majority of white voters from casting their votes for racists, misogynists, Christofascists, and the like (that is to say, Republicans).
I'm very puzzled by the opening paragraph about "two major Republican political stories" in the current news. HCR surely can't mean this passage as written: "The other story is older, the one that led to Trump but that stands at least a bit apart from him. It is the story of a national shift away from the supply-side ideology of Reagan Republicans toward an embrace of the idea that the government should hold the playing field among all Americans level." Republicans have not to my knowledge moved to a belief in a level economic playing field! Mainstream news is saturated with stories of corporate price-gouging, astronomical CEO earnings, the predations of ALEC, Republican attempts to block social service budget items and forgiveness of student debt, and their plans to eviscerate Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits.
Peter Drucker made the observation in 1946 in his book, "Concept of the Corporation" that corporations had become the central institutions around which society is organized, more so than governmental, religious, or educational institutions. An opportunity to right the ship, in terms of the economy, is rapidly approaching. A huge problem is that there are essentially no rules regarding the chartering of corporations in Delaware and Nevada, which is why they get most of the business. But, a new national corporate chartering process that recognizes the full scope of the fiduciary responsibility of corporate leaders to employees, communities, and customers by licensing the professions of board and executive committee membership (i.e. the whole C-suite). The licensing needs to include a requirement to adhere to a canon of ethics, just like legal, accounting, and medical professionals must. Then, whenever any "too big to fail" corporation comes knocking on Congress's door asking for bailout, part of the deal would be to re-charter it, and require the licensing of the leadership. These charters would become desirable because they would also have access to a new source of capital in the form of tightly controlled Fed advances. Leadership total compensation packages should be limited to 10x the average (not median) wage of all employees, including contract labor that works on site. One of our largest defense contractors is going to need a bailout quite soon. That's an opportunity.
I remember "way back when" well, partially anyway...some big mucky-muck was testifying before congress (Alan Greenspan????) regarding the removal of some regulations on banks. And the guy "testifying" specifically said "Oh, I think we can trust the banks to do the right thing."
And I remember thinking "Because BEFORE there were regulations on banking practices, that worked so well...for the rich, the stock mkt? not so much. The Nation? A disaster.