I'm of the old and "vulnerable" cohort and have ventured outdoors only to go to the grocery store during the old folks hours. Living as a hermit is hard but with the election of my lifetime as a motivator I will persist. My sense is voting is not an option. I WILL vote by mail if possible, dropping my ballot off in a secure dropbox (optimal), but if necessary will stand in line for however long it takes even if the result is that voting in person kills me. At this juncture not voting will also kill me. It is now just a matter of choosing which is the greater risk. Sitting on my old butt is not the way I choose to go.
Do check your state's rules. I have been a poll worker in PA and when the person has voted by mail, and their lives permit them to come to the poll and vote, they sign the book and then cast their vote since they are present at the polls. Their absentee ballot is checked by the book, it is sealed until after the polls close. When we check the book and see they voted in person, the absentee ballot is not opened and it is signed on the outside of the envelope so there is always just one person one vote. There is a carefully watched, set procedure.
My heart goes out to the people of Iowa, for dealing with the immediate challenges of how loss of electric power affects getting food, shelter, gas, money, roads…and then the longer term challenges of the devastation to the crops, agricultural infrastructure, and therefore the local economy. Four people died.
I had to look up “derecho:” sustained straight-lined winds; some were over 100 miles per hour. This devastation happened this past Monday, August 10, when I, for one, was oblivious. Instead I was focused on response to trump’s golf club executive order/memorandums and Mount Rushmore. Then news of USPS getting gutted and Kamala Harris selected for the Biden ticket clouded needs of aid to these regions impacted by the derecho.
Not surprisingly, we have to keep both a micro and macro perspective. In addition to the needs of the people on the ground in the here and now, there is the climate:
“Corn plays a significant role in Iowa’s climate. By releasing water into the atmosphere in a process called evapotranspiration, it has been shown to increase the dew point and subsequently the humidity. That can lead to higher heat indexes during heat waves, and it can also contribute to severe thunderstorms.”
Echoes of the Dust Bowl? The U.S. government and Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans onto reservations in what are now the Plains states with Oklahoma at the center. Then the Dawes Act of 1887 subdivided the reservations into family-held allotments compacted onto about one third of the tribes’ previous land holdings and created “surplus” lands available for purchase by non-Natives. Subsequent exploitations opened more and more of the land for European-American settlers from the East and ex-slaves. Heather could detail this history very well. Fast forward to the fact that the settlers did not know what they were doing, and the land became over-grazed and over-cultivated, resulting in widespread erosion. Then came drought and waves of dust storms that caused crop failure, deaths of cattle and people, and loss of livelihood.
When Heather has “spare time,” maybe we can look forward to another set of lessons learned to be taken up by a caring federal government, which tragically at the moment is a contradiction in terms. A Biden administration, Congress, and We the People have so much work to do.
So many historical events rushing at us posing a threat, it’s hard to take in the devastation each piece is bringing! The state of the planet, such as devastating weather events, is a survival alert to humans globally. Trying to even read these letters now that I’m forced back into the classroom has been sidetracked since I have to get to work. All we can think about is how can this be happening! Climate problems are extremely serious! But is attacked and not important under this administration! I wish I could vote today. I’m ready to end the nightmare!
I'm not sur that it is a silver lining at all in such a catastrophic situation but the soybean crop was probably largely destined for China and the chances of them buying currently are not necessarily looking good! The Federal Governments safety net.....much decried by GOP etc....represented here by the USDA's Crop Insurance program will pick up much of the slack. Let's be thankfull for constructive, thoughtful, intelligent and graceous past-presidents who put this in place.
Loss of topsoil is another one of those civilization ending problems that seems to get overlooked. Land stewardship and conservation is too important to be left unaddressed.
A great book on the dustbowl is Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. Besides the point of view of survivors, he also brings in how the politics & wars contributed the causes. I learned a lot and am still surprised about the description of a dust storm that started in the plains states and moving east darkened Chicago, New York City & some ships in the Atlantic.
First, as always: thank you, Heather. Incisive and comprehensive, and crucial writing is what we need, daily. I'm hooked.
Second, I live in Maryland and I'm a 74 year old election judge and county Democratic party communications head. Because Maryland is not in doubt, I have decided not to exercise my election judge functions and risk Covid, regretfully. OTOH, I am coordinating efforts to communicate with voters in swing states, by letter and postcards, through phone banking and text banking. We must assure a stunning turnout, similar to 2008, and a blue wave sufficient to sweep these corrupt, cheating incompetents out with an interesting margin.
Third, if all Heather's readers would dedicate one hour a week, or more, to actively pursue strategies to assure their own vote will be counted and others are encouraged to vote
I've applied for absentee ballot in Virginia. If necessary by circumstances I'll walk it into elections office in mask and Purell! I am so weary of our elected members of Congress complaining and then writing letters and asking for investigations. Time is of the essence and there's no time to be out of DC!
I recently started trying to use Twitter. Since I don't have a substantial following there yet, I rarely get any responses when I post. However, last night was different. I entered into a conversation with a few people about the USPS. I struck a few nerves and was even blocked by one. I was trying to make the point that the USPS does need to be restructured. Their funding model, as well as their business model are dated. They are not a "for profit" organization. They are required to operate on a budget that is equal to, or less than the revenue they generate. When they aren't generating enough revenue, they have traditionally raised postage prices to compensate or asked Congress for additional funding.
Once upon a time, when the price of a stamp was raised, it generated a lot of new revenue. But today, with less and less people using the USPS for letters, cards, and to conduct day-to-day personal business, the new revenue isn't as significant. In addition to USPS, agencies such as GSA, FPS, and USCIS all operate under similar models relying on generated revenue for operating cost. When generated revenue is insufficient, they have to ask Congress for additional funding and/or reinvent the way they operate. In the case of USCIS, on July 1st of this year over 13,000 employees were notified they were going to be furloughed on August 3rd due to insufficient funding to pay employee salaries. It would have shuttered the doors of the US immigration system. At the 11th hour, they figured out a way to stay solvent. The USPS is trying to find their way as well, albeit at a very bad time.
I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to help. I've thought about turning off paperless options on all my accounts which theoretically would generate some revenue for the USPS. I've thought of trying to write and mail one letter daily as well. But I wonder if more mail is the right thing now considering the election and the USPS's inability (or refusal) to deliver it's current mail volume in a timely manner. I am going to go buy stamps, which will put a little money in the system.
I had decided I was going to vote by mail here in Florida, but I'm rethinking that now. Not because I fear my ballot might not make it, but because I am able to go to the polls. If I do, that is one less ballot the USPS has to contend with. I am also thinking about volunteering to work at the polls this year since I recently retired and have time. There is concern that there may not be enough poll workers because of COVID due to the average age of poll workers. I'm 58 and worry about COVID myself, but maybe I can help ensure at least one polling place is prepared to handle voting volume in a timely manner which will minimize exposure to voters.
After my "altercation" on Twitter last night, I started thinking about the words of Thomas Jefferson that are inscribed on the southeast portico of the Jefferson Memorial. "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
The USPS is in need of restructure. Having said that, we all know this IS NOT the time. We need the 116th Congress to step in, but I fear they will not. I feel helpless, but I'm trying to find a way to take action to help.
Chris, I won't argue that the USPS doesn't need some adjustments, but I didn't see anywhere in your post about the fact that the USPS is the ONLY federal agency that has to pre-pay employee health care costs for the next 75 years; for it employees who aren't even there yet, who haven't been born yet.
Ben Franklin pointed out, back in the day, that there are services and jobs that must be done that will never attract private players because they will never turn a profit. That's the Post Office.
Exactly. NO OTHER agency was expected to come up with these costs. It more or less guaranteed their continued operation at a loss. Republicans ever since Reagan and Gingrich have been trying their damnedest to privatize to USPS. It has been one of their chief goals for many years. They'll do whatever they can to ensure it collapses. Now Trump is accelerating this with the added impetus that he can also create chaos and declare the election void and stay in power. Normally this would be taken up by entities like the DOJ, but does anyone honestly think Barr would lift a finger to stop violations of the law now?? Republicans in the Senate?? Make me laugh. We'll have to find other ways to fight this, but fight it we must!
I don't think we can even imagine the amount of money that could be made if USPS were privatized. Like social security funds, millionaires could step in, buy either, and become trillionaires. I'm not sure those services necessary to society should ever be private.
Couldn’t agree more. Their pension and healthcare would be addressed in the restructuring, if I were PMG. There are many other high cost programs that need to be restructured as well.
For example, we all see the little mail trucks that come through our neighborhoods daily. The average age of those things is 27 years. Any idea what it cost to keep the fleet running? If your car catches on fire, you’ll likely replace it. Not the USPS. All other government agencies follow GSA vehicle guidelines. Not USPS. They have been exempted for some reason.
Hi, Chris. Where in Florida are you? I’ve been a poll worker in Pasco County for years. Didn’t do it for the primary but will be back for the general. I agree with you that it may kill me, but living in a country where tRump is re-elected would be a fate worse than death.
I’m a poll worker in TN. At risk group for age, but I’m doing it anyway. If we can’t trust mail, we’ll have to have more polling places. Can’t do that without workers.
And not just before the election nor to the dictates of the "robber baron" class. He reminds me in the past when working for major, world-wide consultancies and i would see colleagues specialized turn-around operations in action; not for the faint hearted nor those seeking any form of social justice...just $$$$s
I had decided to vote in person when the whole vote by mail issue arose. Now I'm rethinking my plan since Pennsylvania is one of the states using suspect voting machines. While I don't think it should be an issue locally (my district is reliably red), I'm troubled that such considerations are necessary in the first place. Investigating ballot drop-off at the courthouse.
Twitter: After having been turned off years ago by the volume of superficial tweets and reactive commentary, I recently learned from my friends how to bypass the noise and search for the substance. For me, the substance is (a) breaking news, (b) tweets and retweets of trustworthy curators, like HCR, (c) pithy commentary, and (d) keeping a pulse on the world by looking at what’s trending (much of which is frustratingly about sports, entertainment, and gaming). The utility of Twitter includes (a) easy way to store links for posting elsewhere (wishing for folders), and (b) extremely easy way to amplify messaging via Retweet and/or Like. Adding our clicks to the fact-based narrative helps offset the Movement Conservative narrative of distortion. For meaningful discourse, I find this group of HCR readers to be safe, considerate, and thoughtful with comments that productively expand the conversation. In contrast, Facebook and Twitter tend to be reactive and are populated by a lot of trolls.
Fixing the USPS: Both/And. First identify and implement counter-measures to the sabotage of voting. With clear victories, Democrats will then be empowered to follow through with the fixes. Fixes include restoration, undoing the health benefit pre-funding, restructuring for solvency—as you suggested, and legislation to prevent the exploitation that has led to the current crisis.
How we as individuals can help: The ongoing exchange of ideas in this forum is very useful for posting specifics and then feedback as we track and adapt.
I agree 100%. Thanks for the guidance on Twitter. I think I'm stuck with the trolls at the moment, but I'll get there. And yes, this is an oasis for sharing of intelligent ideas.
You can block unwanted followers and report inappropriate tweets:
1. Go to the profile page of the account you wish to block.
2. Click the more icon on their profile page (sometimes 3 little dots ... )
3. Click on Block or Report Tweet from the menu.
As noted on HCR's Facebook post the other day about trolls, both NOT giving them algorithm-feeding oxygen by engaging AND reporting them are significant actions we can take, especially when the signs are that the troll is not just an individual but part of a nefarious group.
Thanks to all who participated in the discussion today. It’s troubling times and I haven’t slept a full night in months. I learn from every post. Helps me make some sense of my own feelings and certainly informs how I think.
I have yet to see in the press any acknowledgment that the power to establish post offices (and thus to fund them) resides in Congress, as specified by Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. Isn’t Trump once again usurping Congress here? And where is the outrage over this as there always is to the Second Amendment?
The gutting of the USPS is not being done directly by trump, but by DeJoy, as selected by the USPS Board of Governors to execute what is emerging as one part of a multi-faceted plan to sabotage the election and create profit opportunities in the private sector. We need to identify the behind-the-scenes plotters. Our outrage is toward these plotters, DeJoy as the executioner, and the Republican Senate as enablers.
It's already being reported that DeJoy has had private meetings with the President. They have a history already. DeJoy was a mega donor to Trump's campaign and DeJoy was, if I'm remembering correctly, part of the campaign's finance committee. I think this story is going to get bigger as journalists keep digging.
I'm outraged like you and agree it's sabotage of the election, the USPS and ongoing private sector motives to privatize USPS. I do however believe the President and DeJoy are on the exact same page in the"win by any means necessary playbook". It's the only one Trump has ever used or known.... all he needs are the right fixers.
I, too, am guilty of writing paragraph upon paragraph of deathless prose in these comments. Who's to stop us from blathering? But here's the thing. Heather has graciously invited us to this comment site. She doesn't need a pissed-off, little old lady from MN to defend her, but people, if you mess with Heather, you mess with me. Don't tell her how to think, analyze, write, okay? We are not the boss of her, and that is beyond crass. Full stop.
Although I received and sent in my application for a NYS ballot (by costly certified/return receipt requested mail) to track local USPS slowdown time, I am dropping off my ballot early to a local polling place. Bundle up and PPE and stand in line to hand off your piece of paper. Trump’s public assaults on voting and the USPS demand protest, but also effective countermeasures. It’s late in the game, and we need high voter turnout across the country. This year, it means braving the pandemic. Next, keep your eye on the core and evolving swing states-key to the first number we need to run up-that of the outdated electoral college. ❤️🤍💙
Thank you, Heather, for outlining and highlighting what is happening to the USPS and DHS, so that we the people have the chance to act and protest to our representatives to take action. Becoming informed is the first step towards affecting change. Thank you. 💜👍
Am I the first victim of a postal slow down? I ordered my insulin on time, but I see no notification that the medications I ordered have been sent let alone are en-route! With two days supply, it looks like I'll be scrambling to a local pharmacy and jumping through hoops to get my next shot! I'm afraid I won't be the last medicare recipient to suffer from Trump's shenanigans! I'm thinking we need to call AARP and start a protest!
Yes! Please do!!!! There has been an subjective uptick in DKA visits to emergency departments. My spouse is an emergency medicine physician and has noticed a difference. Had 3-4 DKA patients in one shift, which was highly unusual for this facility. Also, seizure medications not being taken. Could be directly or indirectly related to the USPS issue, COVID or some other factor.
Another thing to consider are the hospitals and medical facilities who require medication/paycheck/package delivery may also run in to more logistic issues, which could further cause economic strain to the healthcare industry.
Very interesting. I've been controlling my sugars for the last year, and taking 44 units of insulin daily. This might finally push me to lose weight which I know will help!
If I weren’t still staying inside and limiting my interactions due to COVID-19, I would protest outside our local post office...we each have them. Showing our anger in masse and then he can send his thug army to clear us away from his Federal Property.
I have called my Senators who happen to be Kelly Loeffler and Davis Perdue...I have a vision of their staff hitting delete on the voicemails with their feet propped up on a desk.
I'm sorry, Ms. Betty, but it may be time to die. I, also, live in Georgia and for the first time have worked as a pollworker at the past two elections. I fully intend to work at the November election, and despite wearing an N95 mask I recognize that I am heightening my exposure to COVID-19. Since I'm a 65 year old immunocompromised man with a bad heart, I am classed as a "high risk" for complications
But I guarantee that even if the only poll our Republican Sec. of State opens is in the middle of a COVID-19 isolation ward, I will claw through the plastic to vote Democrat in the pale hope of getting rid of these dictator wannabes.
Get your absentee ballot, mark it early, and go protest. It may well be time to die for our country.
**Don’t forget to SIGN the back of the envelope in the CORRECT place once you’ve sealed it! This is so important. This is the way to verify the voter’s signature.**
I think all of us dead set on voting should encourage others to early vote. We have some gravitas as poll workers to direct people. I was all about The safety of mail-in voting until Trump’s recent bad behavior. Now I’m telling ppl to early vote.
'Very much agree with you, Marcy. Frankly, I'm not terribly sure why everyone doesn't vote early. Even such a State as Georgia has several weeks of opportunities to vote early (at least, you can in Dekalb County), and it's hard to believe anyone is still undecided between the candidates.
Even though I had requested and, rather slowly, received an absentee ballot for the June primaries, I got kinda paranoid about the mails. So, I just took the absentee ballot to the poll for early voting, had it cancelled, and voted in person. It's a tragedy to see that my paranoia, then, is well justified, now, due to Trump's naked grab for autocratic power.
Let's all vote early. Have you ever been a poll watcher? Not just sitting at the voting site, but back at "Central" where the votes are tabulated? As my paranoia becomes ever more reality-based, I think overseeing this vote may be very important.
Another Georgian here...I voted by mail in the June primary (and we all know what happened in GA during that debacle) and had planned to again. I'm currently suffering with a totally effed-up spine and have real mobility issues. Plus, I am the primary care-giver for my mom, who turns 97 in a couple weeks, so I've become indispensable to her. If I or my brother contracted Covid-19 and it spread to her, she wouldn't last a day. So, I have solid reasons for needing to vote by mail: my own handicap and wanting to protect someone at home. HOWEVER, this recent kerfuffle with the postal service may change things. I will either get an absentee ballot and deliver it myself to the city/county administration building here (less chance of using machines that will malfunction or be hacked), or I will try to vote in the early voting period (Oct. 12 thru the 30th) in person, spine/leg pain be damned. I WILL vote "Lord willin' and the crick don't rise". I think everybody may have to re-think what to do to vote. A part of me also thinks/hopes at some point some enterprising entity will devise some ingenious way(s) to ensure that votes are cast and counted. Time for some good, old-fashioned American ingenuity to figure this out. The people simply HAVE to do whatever they can to not allow these egregious assaults on our democratic processes and our right to vote! It's beyond ludicrous that we, supposedly the leading democracy in the world, are even having to THINK about doing such things in order to vote. What happened to our being a shining light of example to the rest of the world? This is the stuff of some country run by a tin-pot dictator. Hmmm...I guess that's what we have descended into and what has been allowed to happen. WE HAVE TO FIGHT THIS!!
I don't think it matters WHO puts it in the box. Our city/county administrative building has a large bin where people deposit all manner of forms and stuff, especially because during the Covid-19 lock-down all face-to-face offices for city/county offices were closed. I used it for forms to move a date I had been called for jury duty (thanks to Covid-19 I never had to report). It was right outside the door, but there were guards stationed just inside the door and there are security cameras everywhere. My hope would be that for this election somebody might need to stand guard so someone didn't do some sort of mischief. Things are THAT divided right now that some right-wing nutter might try to firebomb the ballot box of a heavily Black/Latino district, or try to steal a bin. I put nothing past these folks they're so desperate.
I don't know about the legality of it in Georgia, but I recall from this past election, when I accompanied the poll manager to "Central" to hand off the memory chip and paper backups, I saw mailbox-type boxes set by the curb labeled "Absentee Ballots;" I think those were the boxes where you deposit your ballot if you don't have time or don't want to mail it.
No one was checking ID's or anything, so you could probably just drive up and deposit your neighbor's ballot with no one being the wiser. I also dimly recall discussion around the polls that you could deliver your neighbors' ballots, but only up to a certain number.
Exactly. Loeffler and Perdue are Trump shills and follow him in lock-(goose)-step. I wouldn't waste my time as they are deaf to reason. We HAVE to show them by our votes how we feel. THEN maybe they'll listen...but hopefully that will be too late for them because they will have been put out of office.
Marsha Blackburn (she with her head so far up Trump’s butt I don’t know how she breathes) is my Senator. I write my congresspeople regularly anyway, just to go on the record.
I’m back to school and I was late a couple of times because I was reading your letters and comments, too. Oops. A “colleague” told me the day after the election I had to accept the vote, I should stop being upset just because I didn’t get my way, how bad could it get? I told her to never tell me that again! Fast forward, we no longer speak. But a mutual friend said the “colleague’s” father died as a result of getting Covid at her wedding! That’s how bad it can get! Constant state of overwhelming emergency and death of loved ones!
As tempting as it can be to say “I told you so” (for me), we all know ppl who have to learn by losing. What a burden of guilt that colleague will bear forever. Now she knows for certain how bad it can get.
With regard to people who formerly supported/voted for Trump now realising the error they made, I feel in some instances it is wisest not to rub it in people's faces. I think some will come to that realisation on their own without it being pointed it out to them. They made a mistake. They fell for a huckster and a snake-oil salesman. They were had. It happens. They're human. People don't always like to be constantly reminded they made a mistake. I think it's best to just get everybody on board to take our country back from these horrible people. No "I told you so-s" are necessary.
And as to things being "God's plan" that right there is the explanation so many evangelicals (English friends of mine call them "Happy Clappies"...it fits) use for basically everything. I'm surrounded by them here. Their thought is Trump, even with all his faults, is what God intended for them to help re-establish their versions of Christian morality and theocracy in our government. Also, in some of their convictions that this all has to happen to lead to Armageddon, and The Rapture, and Christ's return to rule the earth. That's why they're so dangerous because of their being blinded by their deep religious convictions. I'm a Christian--confirmed Anglican here--but this is just all SO wrong-headed and so NOT what Christ represents. Oy! Indeed...
In that the original sense of "armageddon" was a '"revelation", truly, these days, Trump fits the bill...but not quite in the sense the "holy rollers" mean.
ANYTHING, no matter how awful, that hastens the "latter days" in their eyes, is all part of the "plan" and therefore understandable and acceptable. It's insane, or course, and is not far at all from the mindsets of people in cults.
I'm just reading the introduction of Nancy MacLeans Deocracy in Chains and it's frightening what the Koch people are up to. Subversion and organizing an effectif coup d'état by an irreverible slide to oligarchy: most definitly a highly dangerous cult.
Agreed. But principles aside, notice how many theocratic movements from various religions we have worldwide. Are we responding (albeit poorly) to a felt chaos and sense of injustice?
Not sure what you're asking, but I'm only addressing what is the reality and mindset in the overwhelming # of evangelical Christian denominations which surround me here and of which I know about first-hand. These groups are a core of Trump's support, and this is part of the explanation as to why. I basically know this for a fact. There is a remarkable incongruity between what evangelicals believe and the un-Christian behaviour of Dear Leader. If he hastens The End, then he is okay. Part of the "plan".
And this is the framework in which Evangelicals and fundamentalist movements in other religions grasp and explain their world: God/Allah/Holy One has a plan: Society is composed of those who cooperate with the Plan, those who oppose the Plan, and those who are ignorant of the Plan, but either serve to advance or retard it. This keeps one from taking responsibility for one’s actions or the effects of societal inequities, since God/Allah/Holy One is allowing it for a Reason. Evangelicalism is slowly evolving to encompass more than personal salvation through Jesus Christ, but that remains its primary focus. We are seeking stories to simplify the changing world around us. Evangelical Christianity is but one of those attempt led to do so.
Honestly, I don’t know if she has accepted the connection. She’d be the kind to say it was God’s plan. But I told you so was my first thought! I am sorry she lost her dad, but getting married was the most important thing in her life. Be careful what you wish for, you may not get the way you want.
I've heard it said, in reference to a friend praying for something, that God allowed him to have exactly what he wanted, and gave it to him good and hard!
And does that remind you of someone who wanted to be president, until he won?
As a devoted and dependent follower of your great writing, I do have to say that I am missing of late your incisive judgment about the implications of what you are reporting. Indeed, it's a bit more "reportage" and less critical thinking than I've enjoyed before. Example: your historian's-eye noting that the sabotage of the USPS was presaged by delay-ahead material produced before DeJoy took office seems a certain indictment of premeditated intent. But I'd have hoped for some specific assessment of what might be done other than a bunch of state secretaries pleading for a meeting to explain to him critical delays/demolition what he not only fully understands but is dutifully executing. Where is the light, or the hammer?
When “the zone” is being flooded, and malfeasance after cynical action after insult takes place every day, simply sifting through extraordinary amounts of primary source material and reporting clearly, concisely, and intelligently on it is easily a full-time job. And HCR’s paying full-time job is ramping up steeply right now.
I see her Letters and her weekly Facebook talks as an invaluable patriotic endeavor, and am grateful first for her reporting, then her adept synthesis of so much information — she brings political knowledge and a smart historian’s perspective, so we can see what’s happening in the flow of time, rather than as a series of snapshots. And really importantly, I’m grateful for her modeling of how a conscientious American can participate in our democracy and our democratic conversation. Letters From An American illuminates so much for thousands of people, every day; it’s useful to realize as well that in our conversations with others, we all have the ability to shed light in this dark time.
Of course it's always up to us, but even the most dedicated and aggressive players on the field benefit from coaching. Information is one thing, and guidance is another. We always imagined that raising our voices and making a stink would have effect. And they have. in the past. But when a psychopathic, narcissistic scofflaw reveals that compliance with the Constitution and with our most cherished values and traditions is OPTIONAL, surely we could benefit from thoughts about less-than-obvious courses of action.
In historical terms we should be referring more to Machaiavelli's The Prince and Klauswitz's On War to get the sort of advice that you are looking for. We are getting into the realms of political strategy in times of conflict; each to their own speciality. The historians role is not just to interpret the different events that come to pass but also to provide often hidden linkages and suggest explanations of both a "cause and Effect" nature and those that seem to owe more to Jung's "Synchronicity". It is relatively easy to say that we are looking too closely at the trees and missing the forest but the historian also has a duty to first establish clearly what happened before interpretation and to establish the size of the forest we're involved with. Whilst in the full swing of things it is very difficult, and sometimes foolish, to attempt prognostics and strategy planning. One often finds oneself being shunted down a side alley on a tangent as we followed kink in the curve and simply assumed life would go in that direction for eternity. Prudence is often a value.....but not always!
I would imagine that the length of each letter is important also. And when so much is happening that must be recorded, there isn't room every day for possible remedies. I am extremely grateful for the service Dr. Richardson performs, and I trust she daily makes the best use of what she has judged to be most important.
It is not HCR's role to guide us in the way you imagine. And Eliot, knowing that there are less-than-obvious courses of a action that might be taken, perhaps you could think about it and suggest some of those actions to like-minded people, including us.
I'll add this: it drives me crazy when a person asks another person or collective to do their thinking/research/organizing for them. It is often a sign of intellectual laziness. Having grown up in the 50s and 60s, I know raising my voice was one of many actions that helped change the course of the country. You have the wisdom of your experience. It is valuable. Use it to your best advantage.
I do appreciate your (and others') politely upbraiding me for my Oliver Twisty request for more from HCR. But I must resist your suggestion that I am asking her to do my thinking for me. In the hundreds of OpEds and LTEs I have published, I think I've demonstrated both my ability to think for myself and also to illuminate possible courses of action to my readers.
BUT I'm not asking HCR to do my work or yours. I'm not asking for courses of action so much as the kind of deep understanding that her earliest work offered by dint of placing current events in their historical context and relating them to historical precedents. I found those writings more informative and provocative in triggering my/our own thinking about how to deal with them, powered by those understandings. This seemed not unreasonable to ask of a historian whose earliest posts did exactly this, time and again.
An earlier chider noted that HCR is now presumably resuming the demands of teaching, and I should get off her back. That seemed a fairer way to help me understand why I (perhaps mistakenly) have of late sensed more reportage and less grounding in history. Then again, maybe I'm just utterly wrong in that perception. Wouldn't have been the first time!
All that said, I remain second to none in my monumental gratitude that Heather Cox Richardson is in my life and our lives.
There is so much happening on a daily basis; it's a deluge, not a steady drip, drip, drip. Everyone is feeling some level of frustration, if not anxiety. Have we ever before been in such a position of potential compromise by our own leadership?
One of the great things about the American public school system ...and which distinguishes it very clearly from elsewhere... is its emphasis on public speaking; learning effectively to stand up, speak out and be heard by one's peers.
When I was in high school, Speech was not even an option. But our Social Studies teacher incorporated his newly acquired Dale Carnegie public speaking skills into our classes for us to also learn and practice.
As a parent, my kids were not required to take a Speech class, but optional Speech and Debate classes, clubs, and teams are organized to participate in competitions up to a national scale. As a judge, I appreciated how students were learning to research a topic and then effectively present their point of view, all the while learning to argue both sides of an issue. Teenages, argument--constructively channeled to a perfect match!
Indeed. I know my school system required students to take at least one year of Speech. I'm "old" though. I don't know if it's required these days. (Montgomery County, Maryland, grades 1-12.
It does indeed seem somewhat far away now. When i was in school in UK the dominant philosophy was the necessity of questioning everything. Why am i supposed to accept this information as "fact" ...discuss and prove were the orders of the day...i think that too has been lost! Poor kids!
For myself, I was both impressed and surprised by the sheer depth of coverage that HCR continues to put out. I think social media are disconcerting in that as readers we become so ensconced in posts we begin to see ourselves as the peers or even friends of posters; unfortunately in this case, that is not true. More's the pity.
When I was teaching and had strong, interested students, I would "throw" a question or idea out there and let them take it where they would or could, and often to my delight, they produced a depth I couldn't have probably come to on my own. Unfortunately in high schools those days seem to be long gone.
What this space has become for me is almost a seminar space. I read through the comments for the critical thinking that, once again, I'm afraid I wouldn't have gotten to on my own, and that makes HCR the ideal Socratic teacher. Thanks to all.
I'm merely grateful that she can compile aspects of the news into one place for my perusal; she routinely catches stuff I miss. Her historical analysis is an added blessing, when she has the head-space to provide it.
I'm in awe of her. She's taken on a marathon that doesn't have an end-post. I would challenge any of us to choke down a day's worth of news, pick out the important parts ("turd diving," as Jon Stewart described the process), then write a 1500 word essay about it every, single, day. Every. Single. Day.
Whenever she cries, "Enough!!," I'll send her a bouquet of roses, a heartfelt note of thanks, and no complaints whatsoever.
challenge to do it every single day? I'd be hard pressed to do it even once. These letters are a fantastic public service, a blessing to all of us now, and will be an amazing resource to students of history in the future.
I disagree. The question to ask yourself is how is it possible to be critical when the actions described, on their face critique themselves as absurd? We have elected the blind and when the blind follow blind leaders, we simply fall into the pit, which is where we find ourselves today.
If this does not satisfy, then you, as all of us, have the responsibility to share your thoughts on "what might be done." How precisely, other than non violent civil disobedience, demonstrations, standing in a voting line during a pandemic, canceling newspaper subscriptions, writing letters to anyone and everyone does one respond?
The facts are clear and in all our faces, act in any non violent manner at your disposal. The responsibility to respond is ours, not Professor Cox Richardson's. She continues to provide analysis and historical depth that the "corporate media" long absented itself from providing. For too long we to have absented ourselves form the action of governing, while wasting our time intrigued by political ads, and blather.
Who devised the plan to gut the USPS, both to sabotage the election and to create opportunities for profit in the private sector, and when (before DeJoy) is a critical set of questions to be answered and acted upon—urgently.
HCR has said that she writes a Letter to stay under 1200 words and cuts stories of the day, along with adjectives, to do so. Her ability to connect dots between the gazillion facts in her fund of knowledge, which she adds to on a daily basis, is phenomenal. She seems pretty powerfully driven to be thorough and to be grounded in verifiable fact, as opposed to speculation, other than occasional pondering of possibilities—and driven to the point of constructively channeled OCD! We can feel her pain when she sticks to 1200 words of writing, 60 minutes of video talk, and maintaining balance of her job as a professor and self-care. She has also said that she is working on a book. So in addition to a deeper understanding about the USPS in future Letters and video talks as the story develops, we will also see her historian’s eye put to critical thinking in her next book.
My other thought relates to what others have expressed as our role as readers. We appear to be primarily a mature group of elders, and regardless of age, a fount of incredible wisdom. Hindsight is 20/20, so I do not mean to criticize your comment. But to explore your question, you could instead generically address it to the readers, noting that HCR is one of them, and see what ideas are sparked as a result. Readers have posted concrete means of relaying actionable ideas to the politicians who have the power to follow through. As HCR reads the comments, she no doubt integrates them into her own thought process.
Last night, Maddow had Ezra Levin co-founder of Indivisible talk very eloquently about the USPS dilemma. He said we must all phone our Rep in the House and ask them to STOP deJoy's destruction. Every Day! Call . They will get the message.
I saw that interview as well. Good advice to keep the pressure up on House and Senate members. Montana Senator John Tester, after hearing that mail boxes were being removed from street corners in cities and towns in Montana, immediately sent a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy demanding answers for their removal. Senator Daines and Congressman Gianforte (both Republicans, who, by the way, are up for re-election) also sent letters backing up Tester. USPS stopped the removal in Montana, and soon after, the USPS announced it would not continue what was in the works for the rest of the country. As it stands now, USPS will wait until after the election for the removal to resume (just in time for the Holidays everybody).
Constituents, regardless of party, calling House (they are all up for re-election) and Senate (35 seats are up and GOP members have to defend more seats than Dems) expressing their views, anger, outrage over what's going on with the USPS can make change happen.
I also agree with the folks who are urging Speaker Pelosi to call members back from August recess (ASAP) and hold emergency hearings on the USPS and its leadership's new policies.
Bring Louis DeJoy and the Board of Governors in to testify, let the American people hear them defend and justify the recent policy changes that they have implemented. We need accountability, and we need to hear, from the horses mouths, "why during a pandemic", they are knowingly, willingly and systematically, trying to destroy the US Postal Service, which is and has always been, a lifeline for millions of Americans.
On the derecho wind storm, I'm rather surprised the media and climate change groups aren't raising red flags about the climate crisis. It gave me chills that this one storm flattened and destroyed billions of dollars of crops. A few more of these derechos and the bread basket of the world won't be feeding the world and we'll see food shortages for all of us. And, its happening now not years in the future!
HCR is our motivator. Surely we can think up a few things We The People can do. Here are a few suggestions: CALL/COMPLAIN/ DAILY!!
•Senator Mitch McConnell
KY (on recess): 502-582-6304
WASH DC: 202-224-2541
•VP Mike Pence (Pres of Senate)
WASH DC: 202-224-2424
•Senator Chuck Grassley
WASH DC: 202-224-3744
• demand hearings now regarding the destruction of Federal property by Impostor Louis DeJoy; destroying sorting machines and removing blue mailboxes is sabotaging our right to fair elections.
• demand fired USPS leadership personnel be put back in their rightful positions.
• volunteer to be a poll worker
• volunteer to be a poll watcher
• hand carry your mail-in ballot to the poll and place in special provided “drop boxes”
Subversion incites. Subversion threatens our Democratic process. Patriots Get Going!!
I'm of the old and "vulnerable" cohort and have ventured outdoors only to go to the grocery store during the old folks hours. Living as a hermit is hard but with the election of my lifetime as a motivator I will persist. My sense is voting is not an option. I WILL vote by mail if possible, dropping my ballot off in a secure dropbox (optimal), but if necessary will stand in line for however long it takes even if the result is that voting in person kills me. At this juncture not voting will also kill me. It is now just a matter of choosing which is the greater risk. Sitting on my old butt is not the way I choose to go.
Problem is, those of us who are vulnerable can’t vote by mail and then turn around and vote in person if we think our ballots didn’t arrive
That actually varies among states. https://www.vote.org/absentee-voting-rules/
Our voting system in the county of Indiana that I live will only accept one vote!
Do check your state's rules. I have been a poll worker in PA and when the person has voted by mail, and their lives permit them to come to the poll and vote, they sign the book and then cast their vote since they are present at the polls. Their absentee ballot is checked by the book, it is sealed until after the polls close. When we check the book and see they voted in person, the absentee ballot is not opened and it is signed on the outside of the envelope so there is always just one person one vote. There is a carefully watched, set procedure.
Iowa derecho:
My heart goes out to the people of Iowa, for dealing with the immediate challenges of how loss of electric power affects getting food, shelter, gas, money, roads…and then the longer term challenges of the devastation to the crops, agricultural infrastructure, and therefore the local economy. Four people died.
I had to look up “derecho:” sustained straight-lined winds; some were over 100 miles per hour. This devastation happened this past Monday, August 10, when I, for one, was oblivious. Instead I was focused on response to trump’s golf club executive order/memorandums and Mount Rushmore. Then news of USPS getting gutted and Kamala Harris selected for the Biden ticket clouded needs of aid to these regions impacted by the derecho.
Not surprisingly, we have to keep both a micro and macro perspective. In addition to the needs of the people on the ground in the here and now, there is the climate:
“Corn plays a significant role in Iowa’s climate. By releasing water into the atmosphere in a process called evapotranspiration, it has been shown to increase the dew point and subsequently the humidity. That can lead to higher heat indexes during heat waves, and it can also contribute to severe thunderstorms.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/08/12/iowa-derecho-corn-damage/
Echoes of the Dust Bowl? The U.S. government and Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans onto reservations in what are now the Plains states with Oklahoma at the center. Then the Dawes Act of 1887 subdivided the reservations into family-held allotments compacted onto about one third of the tribes’ previous land holdings and created “surplus” lands available for purchase by non-Natives. Subsequent exploitations opened more and more of the land for European-American settlers from the East and ex-slaves. Heather could detail this history very well. Fast forward to the fact that the settlers did not know what they were doing, and the land became over-grazed and over-cultivated, resulting in widespread erosion. Then came drought and waves of dust storms that caused crop failure, deaths of cattle and people, and loss of livelihood.
When Heather has “spare time,” maybe we can look forward to another set of lessons learned to be taken up by a caring federal government, which tragically at the moment is a contradiction in terms. A Biden administration, Congress, and We the People have so much work to do.
So many historical events rushing at us posing a threat, it’s hard to take in the devastation each piece is bringing! The state of the planet, such as devastating weather events, is a survival alert to humans globally. Trying to even read these letters now that I’m forced back into the classroom has been sidetracked since I have to get to work. All we can think about is how can this be happening! Climate problems are extremely serious! But is attacked and not important under this administration! I wish I could vote today. I’m ready to end the nightmare!
I'm not sur that it is a silver lining at all in such a catastrophic situation but the soybean crop was probably largely destined for China and the chances of them buying currently are not necessarily looking good! The Federal Governments safety net.....much decried by GOP etc....represented here by the USDA's Crop Insurance program will pick up much of the slack. Let's be thankfull for constructive, thoughtful, intelligent and graceous past-presidents who put this in place.
Loss of topsoil is another one of those civilization ending problems that seems to get overlooked. Land stewardship and conservation is too important to be left unaddressed.
A great book on the dustbowl is Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. Besides the point of view of survivors, he also brings in how the politics & wars contributed the causes. I learned a lot and am still surprised about the description of a dust storm that started in the plains states and moving east darkened Chicago, New York City & some ships in the Atlantic.
First, as always: thank you, Heather. Incisive and comprehensive, and crucial writing is what we need, daily. I'm hooked.
Second, I live in Maryland and I'm a 74 year old election judge and county Democratic party communications head. Because Maryland is not in doubt, I have decided not to exercise my election judge functions and risk Covid, regretfully. OTOH, I am coordinating efforts to communicate with voters in swing states, by letter and postcards, through phone banking and text banking. We must assure a stunning turnout, similar to 2008, and a blue wave sufficient to sweep these corrupt, cheating incompetents out with an interesting margin.
Third, if all Heather's readers would dedicate one hour a week, or more, to actively pursue strategies to assure their own vote will be counted and others are encouraged to vote
(posted by accident to soon), we can prevail. I will gladly steer people toward get out the vote activities. I'll write again with specific links.
I've applied for absentee ballot in Virginia. If necessary by circumstances I'll walk it into elections office in mask and Purell! I am so weary of our elected members of Congress complaining and then writing letters and asking for investigations. Time is of the essence and there's no time to be out of DC!
I recently started trying to use Twitter. Since I don't have a substantial following there yet, I rarely get any responses when I post. However, last night was different. I entered into a conversation with a few people about the USPS. I struck a few nerves and was even blocked by one. I was trying to make the point that the USPS does need to be restructured. Their funding model, as well as their business model are dated. They are not a "for profit" organization. They are required to operate on a budget that is equal to, or less than the revenue they generate. When they aren't generating enough revenue, they have traditionally raised postage prices to compensate or asked Congress for additional funding.
Once upon a time, when the price of a stamp was raised, it generated a lot of new revenue. But today, with less and less people using the USPS for letters, cards, and to conduct day-to-day personal business, the new revenue isn't as significant. In addition to USPS, agencies such as GSA, FPS, and USCIS all operate under similar models relying on generated revenue for operating cost. When generated revenue is insufficient, they have to ask Congress for additional funding and/or reinvent the way they operate. In the case of USCIS, on July 1st of this year over 13,000 employees were notified they were going to be furloughed on August 3rd due to insufficient funding to pay employee salaries. It would have shuttered the doors of the US immigration system. At the 11th hour, they figured out a way to stay solvent. The USPS is trying to find their way as well, albeit at a very bad time.
I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to help. I've thought about turning off paperless options on all my accounts which theoretically would generate some revenue for the USPS. I've thought of trying to write and mail one letter daily as well. But I wonder if more mail is the right thing now considering the election and the USPS's inability (or refusal) to deliver it's current mail volume in a timely manner. I am going to go buy stamps, which will put a little money in the system.
I had decided I was going to vote by mail here in Florida, but I'm rethinking that now. Not because I fear my ballot might not make it, but because I am able to go to the polls. If I do, that is one less ballot the USPS has to contend with. I am also thinking about volunteering to work at the polls this year since I recently retired and have time. There is concern that there may not be enough poll workers because of COVID due to the average age of poll workers. I'm 58 and worry about COVID myself, but maybe I can help ensure at least one polling place is prepared to handle voting volume in a timely manner which will minimize exposure to voters.
After my "altercation" on Twitter last night, I started thinking about the words of Thomas Jefferson that are inscribed on the southeast portico of the Jefferson Memorial. "I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
The USPS is in need of restructure. Having said that, we all know this IS NOT the time. We need the 116th Congress to step in, but I fear they will not. I feel helpless, but I'm trying to find a way to take action to help.
Chris, I won't argue that the USPS doesn't need some adjustments, but I didn't see anywhere in your post about the fact that the USPS is the ONLY federal agency that has to pre-pay employee health care costs for the next 75 years; for it employees who aren't even there yet, who haven't been born yet.
Ben Franklin pointed out, back in the day, that there are services and jobs that must be done that will never attract private players because they will never turn a profit. That's the Post Office.
The prepayment of healthcare costs is the key.
Exactly. NO OTHER agency was expected to come up with these costs. It more or less guaranteed their continued operation at a loss. Republicans ever since Reagan and Gingrich have been trying their damnedest to privatize to USPS. It has been one of their chief goals for many years. They'll do whatever they can to ensure it collapses. Now Trump is accelerating this with the added impetus that he can also create chaos and declare the election void and stay in power. Normally this would be taken up by entities like the DOJ, but does anyone honestly think Barr would lift a finger to stop violations of the law now?? Republicans in the Senate?? Make me laugh. We'll have to find other ways to fight this, but fight it we must!
I don't think we can even imagine the amount of money that could be made if USPS were privatized. Like social security funds, millionaires could step in, buy either, and become trillionaires. I'm not sure those services necessary to society should ever be private.
Just look at the.money being made as a result of a privatized prison/correction system.
Which depends on taking in an amount per prisoner that could take excellent care of the person, and then keeping most of it as profit. Even ICE said the averaged cost was above $148 per person per day - to put children in cages without so much as a bar of soap! https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/04/detention-center-contractors-keep-reaping-profit-after-dhs-upheaval/#:~:text=In%20a%202019%20budget%20proposal,in%20influencing%20policies%20on%20detention.
It's not hard to imagine the postal equivalent.
Do you know why the USPS was saddled with this prepaid expense burden?
Another sensible option would be postal banking services, which would make money for the post office and free a lot of people from the payday lender sharks: http://www.campaignforpostalbanking.org/know-the-facts/#:~:text=Postal%20Banking%20is%20simply%20the,accounts%20to%20small%2Ddollar%20loans.
Healthcare/pension
Couldn’t agree more. Their pension and healthcare would be addressed in the restructuring, if I were PMG. There are many other high cost programs that need to be restructured as well.
For example, we all see the little mail trucks that come through our neighborhoods daily. The average age of those things is 27 years. Any idea what it cost to keep the fleet running? If your car catches on fire, you’ll likely replace it. Not the USPS. All other government agencies follow GSA vehicle guidelines. Not USPS. They have been exempted for some reason.
Hi, Chris. Where in Florida are you? I’ve been a poll worker in Pasco County for years. Didn’t do it for the primary but will be back for the general. I agree with you that it may kill me, but living in a country where tRump is re-elected would be a fate worse than death.
I’m a poll worker in TN. At risk group for age, but I’m doing it anyway. If we can’t trust mail, we’ll have to have more polling places. Can’t do that without workers.
We’re in west Volusia County.
And not just before the election nor to the dictates of the "robber baron" class. He reminds me in the past when working for major, world-wide consultancies and i would see colleagues specialized turn-around operations in action; not for the faint hearted nor those seeking any form of social justice...just $$$$s
I had decided to vote in person when the whole vote by mail issue arose. Now I'm rethinking my plan since Pennsylvania is one of the states using suspect voting machines. While I don't think it should be an issue locally (my district is reliably red), I'm troubled that such considerations are necessary in the first place. Investigating ballot drop-off at the courthouse.
You can drop off your mailed ballot in person and bypass the usps for submission.
Twitter: After having been turned off years ago by the volume of superficial tweets and reactive commentary, I recently learned from my friends how to bypass the noise and search for the substance. For me, the substance is (a) breaking news, (b) tweets and retweets of trustworthy curators, like HCR, (c) pithy commentary, and (d) keeping a pulse on the world by looking at what’s trending (much of which is frustratingly about sports, entertainment, and gaming). The utility of Twitter includes (a) easy way to store links for posting elsewhere (wishing for folders), and (b) extremely easy way to amplify messaging via Retweet and/or Like. Adding our clicks to the fact-based narrative helps offset the Movement Conservative narrative of distortion. For meaningful discourse, I find this group of HCR readers to be safe, considerate, and thoughtful with comments that productively expand the conversation. In contrast, Facebook and Twitter tend to be reactive and are populated by a lot of trolls.
Fixing the USPS: Both/And. First identify and implement counter-measures to the sabotage of voting. With clear victories, Democrats will then be empowered to follow through with the fixes. Fixes include restoration, undoing the health benefit pre-funding, restructuring for solvency—as you suggested, and legislation to prevent the exploitation that has led to the current crisis.
How we as individuals can help: The ongoing exchange of ideas in this forum is very useful for posting specifics and then feedback as we track and adapt.
I agree 100%. Thanks for the guidance on Twitter. I think I'm stuck with the trolls at the moment, but I'll get there. And yes, this is an oasis for sharing of intelligent ideas.
You can block unwanted followers and report inappropriate tweets:
1. Go to the profile page of the account you wish to block.
2. Click the more icon on their profile page (sometimes 3 little dots ... )
3. Click on Block or Report Tweet from the menu.
As noted on HCR's Facebook post the other day about trolls, both NOT giving them algorithm-feeding oxygen by engaging AND reporting them are significant actions we can take, especially when the signs are that the troll is not just an individual but part of a nefarious group.
Thanks to all who participated in the discussion today. It’s troubling times and I haven’t slept a full night in months. I learn from every post. Helps me make some sense of my own feelings and certainly informs how I think.
I have yet to see in the press any acknowledgment that the power to establish post offices (and thus to fund them) resides in Congress, as specified by Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. Isn’t Trump once again usurping Congress here? And where is the outrage over this as there always is to the Second Amendment?
Not expect much from the 116th Congress.
The gutting of the USPS is not being done directly by trump, but by DeJoy, as selected by the USPS Board of Governors to execute what is emerging as one part of a multi-faceted plan to sabotage the election and create profit opportunities in the private sector. We need to identify the behind-the-scenes plotters. Our outrage is toward these plotters, DeJoy as the executioner, and the Republican Senate as enablers.
It's already being reported that DeJoy has had private meetings with the President. They have a history already. DeJoy was a mega donor to Trump's campaign and DeJoy was, if I'm remembering correctly, part of the campaign's finance committee. I think this story is going to get bigger as journalists keep digging.
I'm outraged like you and agree it's sabotage of the election, the USPS and ongoing private sector motives to privatize USPS. I do however believe the President and DeJoy are on the exact same page in the"win by any means necessary playbook". It's the only one Trump has ever used or known.... all he needs are the right fixers.
I, too, am guilty of writing paragraph upon paragraph of deathless prose in these comments. Who's to stop us from blathering? But here's the thing. Heather has graciously invited us to this comment site. She doesn't need a pissed-off, little old lady from MN to defend her, but people, if you mess with Heather, you mess with me. Don't tell her how to think, analyze, write, okay? We are not the boss of her, and that is beyond crass. Full stop.
Although I received and sent in my application for a NYS ballot (by costly certified/return receipt requested mail) to track local USPS slowdown time, I am dropping off my ballot early to a local polling place. Bundle up and PPE and stand in line to hand off your piece of paper. Trump’s public assaults on voting and the USPS demand protest, but also effective countermeasures. It’s late in the game, and we need high voter turnout across the country. This year, it means braving the pandemic. Next, keep your eye on the core and evolving swing states-key to the first number we need to run up-that of the outdated electoral college. ❤️🤍💙
Thank you, Heather, for outlining and highlighting what is happening to the USPS and DHS, so that we the people have the chance to act and protest to our representatives to take action. Becoming informed is the first step towards affecting change. Thank you. 💜👍
Am I the first victim of a postal slow down? I ordered my insulin on time, but I see no notification that the medications I ordered have been sent let alone are en-route! With two days supply, it looks like I'll be scrambling to a local pharmacy and jumping through hoops to get my next shot! I'm afraid I won't be the last medicare recipient to suffer from Trump's shenanigans! I'm thinking we need to call AARP and start a protest!
Yes! Please do!!!! There has been an subjective uptick in DKA visits to emergency departments. My spouse is an emergency medicine physician and has noticed a difference. Had 3-4 DKA patients in one shift, which was highly unusual for this facility. Also, seizure medications not being taken. Could be directly or indirectly related to the USPS issue, COVID or some other factor.
Another thing to consider are the hospitals and medical facilities who require medication/paycheck/package delivery may also run in to more logistic issues, which could further cause economic strain to the healthcare industry.
Very interesting. I've been controlling my sugars for the last year, and taking 44 units of insulin daily. This might finally push me to lose weight which I know will help!
If I weren’t still staying inside and limiting my interactions due to COVID-19, I would protest outside our local post office...we each have them. Showing our anger in masse and then he can send his thug army to clear us away from his Federal Property.
I have called my Senators who happen to be Kelly Loeffler and Davis Perdue...I have a vision of their staff hitting delete on the voicemails with their feet propped up on a desk.
So Frustrated!
I'm sorry, Ms. Betty, but it may be time to die. I, also, live in Georgia and for the first time have worked as a pollworker at the past two elections. I fully intend to work at the November election, and despite wearing an N95 mask I recognize that I am heightening my exposure to COVID-19. Since I'm a 65 year old immunocompromised man with a bad heart, I am classed as a "high risk" for complications
But I guarantee that even if the only poll our Republican Sec. of State opens is in the middle of a COVID-19 isolation ward, I will claw through the plastic to vote Democrat in the pale hope of getting rid of these dictator wannabes.
Get your absentee ballot, mark it early, and go protest. It may well be time to die for our country.
I’m working up my courage but I think you are right...
**Don’t forget to SIGN the back of the envelope in the CORRECT place once you’ve sealed it! This is so important. This is the way to verify the voter’s signature.**
I think all of us dead set on voting should encourage others to early vote. We have some gravitas as poll workers to direct people. I was all about The safety of mail-in voting until Trump’s recent bad behavior. Now I’m telling ppl to early vote.
'Very much agree with you, Marcy. Frankly, I'm not terribly sure why everyone doesn't vote early. Even such a State as Georgia has several weeks of opportunities to vote early (at least, you can in Dekalb County), and it's hard to believe anyone is still undecided between the candidates.
Even though I had requested and, rather slowly, received an absentee ballot for the June primaries, I got kinda paranoid about the mails. So, I just took the absentee ballot to the poll for early voting, had it cancelled, and voted in person. It's a tragedy to see that my paranoia, then, is well justified, now, due to Trump's naked grab for autocratic power.
Let's all vote early. Have you ever been a poll watcher? Not just sitting at the voting site, but back at "Central" where the votes are tabulated? As my paranoia becomes ever more reality-based, I think overseeing this vote may be very important.
Another Georgian here...I voted by mail in the June primary (and we all know what happened in GA during that debacle) and had planned to again. I'm currently suffering with a totally effed-up spine and have real mobility issues. Plus, I am the primary care-giver for my mom, who turns 97 in a couple weeks, so I've become indispensable to her. If I or my brother contracted Covid-19 and it spread to her, she wouldn't last a day. So, I have solid reasons for needing to vote by mail: my own handicap and wanting to protect someone at home. HOWEVER, this recent kerfuffle with the postal service may change things. I will either get an absentee ballot and deliver it myself to the city/county administration building here (less chance of using machines that will malfunction or be hacked), or I will try to vote in the early voting period (Oct. 12 thru the 30th) in person, spine/leg pain be damned. I WILL vote "Lord willin' and the crick don't rise". I think everybody may have to re-think what to do to vote. A part of me also thinks/hopes at some point some enterprising entity will devise some ingenious way(s) to ensure that votes are cast and counted. Time for some good, old-fashioned American ingenuity to figure this out. The people simply HAVE to do whatever they can to not allow these egregious assaults on our democratic processes and our right to vote! It's beyond ludicrous that we, supposedly the leading democracy in the world, are even having to THINK about doing such things in order to vote. What happened to our being a shining light of example to the rest of the world? This is the stuff of some country run by a tin-pot dictator. Hmmm...I guess that's what we have descended into and what has been allowed to happen. WE HAVE TO FIGHT THIS!!
Is it legal in your state to delegate someone else to hand in your absentee ballot for you?
I don't think it matters WHO puts it in the box. Our city/county administrative building has a large bin where people deposit all manner of forms and stuff, especially because during the Covid-19 lock-down all face-to-face offices for city/county offices were closed. I used it for forms to move a date I had been called for jury duty (thanks to Covid-19 I never had to report). It was right outside the door, but there were guards stationed just inside the door and there are security cameras everywhere. My hope would be that for this election somebody might need to stand guard so someone didn't do some sort of mischief. Things are THAT divided right now that some right-wing nutter might try to firebomb the ballot box of a heavily Black/Latino district, or try to steal a bin. I put nothing past these folks they're so desperate.
I don't know about the legality of it in Georgia, but I recall from this past election, when I accompanied the poll manager to "Central" to hand off the memory chip and paper backups, I saw mailbox-type boxes set by the curb labeled "Absentee Ballots;" I think those were the boxes where you deposit your ballot if you don't have time or don't want to mail it.
No one was checking ID's or anything, so you could probably just drive up and deposit your neighbor's ballot with no one being the wiser. I also dimly recall discussion around the polls that you could deliver your neighbors' ballots, but only up to a certain number.
It is an exercise in futility to write to Loeffler and Perdue. Yet we must let them hear our voices, though I fear your vision is, sadly, correct.
Exactly. Loeffler and Perdue are Trump shills and follow him in lock-(goose)-step. I wouldn't waste my time as they are deaf to reason. We HAVE to show them by our votes how we feel. THEN maybe they'll listen...but hopefully that will be too late for them because they will have been put out of office.
Marsha Blackburn (she with her head so far up Trump’s butt I don’t know how she breathes) is my Senator. I write my congresspeople regularly anyway, just to go on the record.
Kinda reminds me of all the years I spent writing Jesse Helms, even though I knew it was a waste of postage.
I’m back to school and I was late a couple of times because I was reading your letters and comments, too. Oops. A “colleague” told me the day after the election I had to accept the vote, I should stop being upset just because I didn’t get my way, how bad could it get? I told her to never tell me that again! Fast forward, we no longer speak. But a mutual friend said the “colleague’s” father died as a result of getting Covid at her wedding! That’s how bad it can get! Constant state of overwhelming emergency and death of loved ones!
As tempting as it can be to say “I told you so” (for me), we all know ppl who have to learn by losing. What a burden of guilt that colleague will bear forever. Now she knows for certain how bad it can get.
With regard to people who formerly supported/voted for Trump now realising the error they made, I feel in some instances it is wisest not to rub it in people's faces. I think some will come to that realisation on their own without it being pointed it out to them. They made a mistake. They fell for a huckster and a snake-oil salesman. They were had. It happens. They're human. People don't always like to be constantly reminded they made a mistake. I think it's best to just get everybody on board to take our country back from these horrible people. No "I told you so-s" are necessary.
And as to things being "God's plan" that right there is the explanation so many evangelicals (English friends of mine call them "Happy Clappies"...it fits) use for basically everything. I'm surrounded by them here. Their thought is Trump, even with all his faults, is what God intended for them to help re-establish their versions of Christian morality and theocracy in our government. Also, in some of their convictions that this all has to happen to lead to Armageddon, and The Rapture, and Christ's return to rule the earth. That's why they're so dangerous because of their being blinded by their deep religious convictions. I'm a Christian--confirmed Anglican here--but this is just all SO wrong-headed and so NOT what Christ represents. Oy! Indeed...
In that the original sense of "armageddon" was a '"revelation", truly, these days, Trump fits the bill...but not quite in the sense the "holy rollers" mean.
ANYTHING, no matter how awful, that hastens the "latter days" in their eyes, is all part of the "plan" and therefore understandable and acceptable. It's insane, or course, and is not far at all from the mindsets of people in cults.
Meant to say "of course", not "or"...
I'm just reading the introduction of Nancy MacLeans Deocracy in Chains and it's frightening what the Koch people are up to. Subversion and organizing an effectif coup d'état by an irreverible slide to oligarchy: most definitly a highly dangerous cult.
Agreed. But principles aside, notice how many theocratic movements from various religions we have worldwide. Are we responding (albeit poorly) to a felt chaos and sense of injustice?
Not sure what you're asking, but I'm only addressing what is the reality and mindset in the overwhelming # of evangelical Christian denominations which surround me here and of which I know about first-hand. These groups are a core of Trump's support, and this is part of the explanation as to why. I basically know this for a fact. There is a remarkable incongruity between what evangelicals believe and the un-Christian behaviour of Dear Leader. If he hastens The End, then he is okay. Part of the "plan".
And this is the framework in which Evangelicals and fundamentalist movements in other religions grasp and explain their world: God/Allah/Holy One has a plan: Society is composed of those who cooperate with the Plan, those who oppose the Plan, and those who are ignorant of the Plan, but either serve to advance or retard it. This keeps one from taking responsibility for one’s actions or the effects of societal inequities, since God/Allah/Holy One is allowing it for a Reason. Evangelicalism is slowly evolving to encompass more than personal salvation through Jesus Christ, but that remains its primary focus. We are seeking stories to simplify the changing world around us. Evangelical Christianity is but one of those attempt led to do so.
I agree. Saying, "I told you so", to a former Trump supporter is the worst thing one can do. It is a sure-fire way to get someone to "backslide".
Note i said “as tempting.”
Honestly, I don’t know if she has accepted the connection. She’d be the kind to say it was God’s plan. But I told you so was my first thought! I am sorry she lost her dad, but getting married was the most important thing in her life. Be careful what you wish for, you may not get the way you want.
God's plan. Oy!
I've heard it said, in reference to a friend praying for something, that God allowed him to have exactly what he wanted, and gave it to him good and hard!
And does that remind you of someone who wanted to be president, until he won?
I guess we know beyond a doubt whom Trump had in mind when thinking about shooting someone on Fifth Avenue--it was a postal worker.
https://newsregister.com/article?articleTitle=editorial-cartoons--1542410676--31415--commentary
As a devoted and dependent follower of your great writing, I do have to say that I am missing of late your incisive judgment about the implications of what you are reporting. Indeed, it's a bit more "reportage" and less critical thinking than I've enjoyed before. Example: your historian's-eye noting that the sabotage of the USPS was presaged by delay-ahead material produced before DeJoy took office seems a certain indictment of premeditated intent. But I'd have hoped for some specific assessment of what might be done other than a bunch of state secretaries pleading for a meeting to explain to him critical delays/demolition what he not only fully understands but is dutifully executing. Where is the light, or the hammer?
When “the zone” is being flooded, and malfeasance after cynical action after insult takes place every day, simply sifting through extraordinary amounts of primary source material and reporting clearly, concisely, and intelligently on it is easily a full-time job. And HCR’s paying full-time job is ramping up steeply right now.
I see her Letters and her weekly Facebook talks as an invaluable patriotic endeavor, and am grateful first for her reporting, then her adept synthesis of so much information — she brings political knowledge and a smart historian’s perspective, so we can see what’s happening in the flow of time, rather than as a series of snapshots. And really importantly, I’m grateful for her modeling of how a conscientious American can participate in our democracy and our democratic conversation. Letters From An American illuminates so much for thousands of people, every day; it’s useful to realize as well that in our conversations with others, we all have the ability to shed light in this dark time.
Eliot, please. I think you ask for too much. It is up to us as American citizens to raise a stink. To write and call and make our voices heard.
Of course it's always up to us, but even the most dedicated and aggressive players on the field benefit from coaching. Information is one thing, and guidance is another. We always imagined that raising our voices and making a stink would have effect. And they have. in the past. But when a psychopathic, narcissistic scofflaw reveals that compliance with the Constitution and with our most cherished values and traditions is OPTIONAL, surely we could benefit from thoughts about less-than-obvious courses of action.
In historical terms we should be referring more to Machaiavelli's The Prince and Klauswitz's On War to get the sort of advice that you are looking for. We are getting into the realms of political strategy in times of conflict; each to their own speciality. The historians role is not just to interpret the different events that come to pass but also to provide often hidden linkages and suggest explanations of both a "cause and Effect" nature and those that seem to owe more to Jung's "Synchronicity". It is relatively easy to say that we are looking too closely at the trees and missing the forest but the historian also has a duty to first establish clearly what happened before interpretation and to establish the size of the forest we're involved with. Whilst in the full swing of things it is very difficult, and sometimes foolish, to attempt prognostics and strategy planning. One often finds oneself being shunted down a side alley on a tangent as we followed kink in the curve and simply assumed life would go in that direction for eternity. Prudence is often a value.....but not always!
Stuart, I think I'm in love. I almost never find someone else willing to use the word "whilst."
Don, I agree. I love the word whilst and use it whenever possible. It is most scrumptious!
Hush up, y'all'll make me blush!
I would imagine that the length of each letter is important also. And when so much is happening that must be recorded, there isn't room every day for possible remedies. I am extremely grateful for the service Dr. Richardson performs, and I trust she daily makes the best use of what she has judged to be most important.
It is not HCR's role to guide us in the way you imagine. And Eliot, knowing that there are less-than-obvious courses of a action that might be taken, perhaps you could think about it and suggest some of those actions to like-minded people, including us.
I'll add this: it drives me crazy when a person asks another person or collective to do their thinking/research/organizing for them. It is often a sign of intellectual laziness. Having grown up in the 50s and 60s, I know raising my voice was one of many actions that helped change the course of the country. You have the wisdom of your experience. It is valuable. Use it to your best advantage.
I do appreciate your (and others') politely upbraiding me for my Oliver Twisty request for more from HCR. But I must resist your suggestion that I am asking her to do my thinking for me. In the hundreds of OpEds and LTEs I have published, I think I've demonstrated both my ability to think for myself and also to illuminate possible courses of action to my readers.
BUT I'm not asking HCR to do my work or yours. I'm not asking for courses of action so much as the kind of deep understanding that her earliest work offered by dint of placing current events in their historical context and relating them to historical precedents. I found those writings more informative and provocative in triggering my/our own thinking about how to deal with them, powered by those understandings. This seemed not unreasonable to ask of a historian whose earliest posts did exactly this, time and again.
An earlier chider noted that HCR is now presumably resuming the demands of teaching, and I should get off her back. That seemed a fairer way to help me understand why I (perhaps mistakenly) have of late sensed more reportage and less grounding in history. Then again, maybe I'm just utterly wrong in that perception. Wouldn't have been the first time!
All that said, I remain second to none in my monumental gratitude that Heather Cox Richardson is in my life and our lives.
I stand duly chastised.
There is so much happening on a daily basis; it's a deluge, not a steady drip, drip, drip. Everyone is feeling some level of frustration, if not anxiety. Have we ever before been in such a position of potential compromise by our own leadership?
One of the great things about the American public school system ...and which distinguishes it very clearly from elsewhere... is its emphasis on public speaking; learning effectively to stand up, speak out and be heard by one's peers.
When I was in high school, Speech was not even an option. But our Social Studies teacher incorporated his newly acquired Dale Carnegie public speaking skills into our classes for us to also learn and practice.
As a parent, my kids were not required to take a Speech class, but optional Speech and Debate classes, clubs, and teams are organized to participate in competitions up to a national scale. As a judge, I appreciated how students were learning to research a topic and then effectively present their point of view, all the while learning to argue both sides of an issue. Teenages, argument--constructively channeled to a perfect match!
Teenagers...
Indeed. I know my school system required students to take at least one year of Speech. I'm "old" though. I don't know if it's required these days. (Montgomery County, Maryland, grades 1-12.
It does indeed seem somewhat far away now. When i was in school in UK the dominant philosophy was the necessity of questioning everything. Why am i supposed to accept this information as "fact" ...discuss and prove were the orders of the day...i think that too has been lost! Poor kids!
Yes, she is a full time professor...getting ready for classes....I don't see how she even has time for writing these letters...She is amazing....
And according to my friends who are still working, that kind of prep work is like teaching two full time jobs.
Interesting comment.
For myself, I was both impressed and surprised by the sheer depth of coverage that HCR continues to put out. I think social media are disconcerting in that as readers we become so ensconced in posts we begin to see ourselves as the peers or even friends of posters; unfortunately in this case, that is not true. More's the pity.
When I was teaching and had strong, interested students, I would "throw" a question or idea out there and let them take it where they would or could, and often to my delight, they produced a depth I couldn't have probably come to on my own. Unfortunately in high schools those days seem to be long gone.
What this space has become for me is almost a seminar space. I read through the comments for the critical thinking that, once again, I'm afraid I wouldn't have gotten to on my own, and that makes HCR the ideal Socratic teacher. Thanks to all.
I'm merely grateful that she can compile aspects of the news into one place for my perusal; she routinely catches stuff I miss. Her historical analysis is an added blessing, when she has the head-space to provide it.
I'm in awe of her. She's taken on a marathon that doesn't have an end-post. I would challenge any of us to choke down a day's worth of news, pick out the important parts ("turd diving," as Jon Stewart described the process), then write a 1500 word essay about it every, single, day. Every. Single. Day.
Whenever she cries, "Enough!!," I'll send her a bouquet of roses, a heartfelt note of thanks, and no complaints whatsoever.
challenge to do it every single day? I'd be hard pressed to do it even once. These letters are a fantastic public service, a blessing to all of us now, and will be an amazing resource to students of history in the future.
I disagree. The question to ask yourself is how is it possible to be critical when the actions described, on their face critique themselves as absurd? We have elected the blind and when the blind follow blind leaders, we simply fall into the pit, which is where we find ourselves today.
If this does not satisfy, then you, as all of us, have the responsibility to share your thoughts on "what might be done." How precisely, other than non violent civil disobedience, demonstrations, standing in a voting line during a pandemic, canceling newspaper subscriptions, writing letters to anyone and everyone does one respond?
The facts are clear and in all our faces, act in any non violent manner at your disposal. The responsibility to respond is ours, not Professor Cox Richardson's. She continues to provide analysis and historical depth that the "corporate media" long absented itself from providing. For too long we to have absented ourselves form the action of governing, while wasting our time intrigued by political ads, and blather.
Well said.
Who devised the plan to gut the USPS, both to sabotage the election and to create opportunities for profit in the private sector, and when (before DeJoy) is a critical set of questions to be answered and acted upon—urgently.
HCR has said that she writes a Letter to stay under 1200 words and cuts stories of the day, along with adjectives, to do so. Her ability to connect dots between the gazillion facts in her fund of knowledge, which she adds to on a daily basis, is phenomenal. She seems pretty powerfully driven to be thorough and to be grounded in verifiable fact, as opposed to speculation, other than occasional pondering of possibilities—and driven to the point of constructively channeled OCD! We can feel her pain when she sticks to 1200 words of writing, 60 minutes of video talk, and maintaining balance of her job as a professor and self-care. She has also said that she is working on a book. So in addition to a deeper understanding about the USPS in future Letters and video talks as the story develops, we will also see her historian’s eye put to critical thinking in her next book.
My other thought relates to what others have expressed as our role as readers. We appear to be primarily a mature group of elders, and regardless of age, a fount of incredible wisdom. Hindsight is 20/20, so I do not mean to criticize your comment. But to explore your question, you could instead generically address it to the readers, noting that HCR is one of them, and see what ideas are sparked as a result. Readers have posted concrete means of relaying actionable ideas to the politicians who have the power to follow through. As HCR reads the comments, she no doubt integrates them into her own thought process.
Last night, Maddow had Ezra Levin co-founder of Indivisible talk very eloquently about the USPS dilemma. He said we must all phone our Rep in the House and ask them to STOP deJoy's destruction. Every Day! Call . They will get the message.
I saw that interview as well. Good advice to keep the pressure up on House and Senate members. Montana Senator John Tester, after hearing that mail boxes were being removed from street corners in cities and towns in Montana, immediately sent a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy demanding answers for their removal. Senator Daines and Congressman Gianforte (both Republicans, who, by the way, are up for re-election) also sent letters backing up Tester. USPS stopped the removal in Montana, and soon after, the USPS announced it would not continue what was in the works for the rest of the country. As it stands now, USPS will wait until after the election for the removal to resume (just in time for the Holidays everybody).
Constituents, regardless of party, calling House (they are all up for re-election) and Senate (35 seats are up and GOP members have to defend more seats than Dems) expressing their views, anger, outrage over what's going on with the USPS can make change happen.
I also agree with the folks who are urging Speaker Pelosi to call members back from August recess (ASAP) and hold emergency hearings on the USPS and its leadership's new policies.
Bring Louis DeJoy and the Board of Governors in to testify, let the American people hear them defend and justify the recent policy changes that they have implemented. We need accountability, and we need to hear, from the horses mouths, "why during a pandemic", they are knowingly, willingly and systematically, trying to destroy the US Postal Service, which is and has always been, a lifeline for millions of Americans.
On the derecho wind storm, I'm rather surprised the media and climate change groups aren't raising red flags about the climate crisis. It gave me chills that this one storm flattened and destroyed billions of dollars of crops. A few more of these derechos and the bread basket of the world won't be feeding the world and we'll see food shortages for all of us. And, its happening now not years in the future!
I live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and we got NAILED by this storm.
I live in IL, and every day this week, the local news added another tornado to the count that had touched down.
HCR is our motivator. Surely we can think up a few things We The People can do. Here are a few suggestions: CALL/COMPLAIN/ DAILY!!
•Senator Mitch McConnell
KY (on recess): 502-582-6304
WASH DC: 202-224-2541
•VP Mike Pence (Pres of Senate)
WASH DC: 202-224-2424
•Senator Chuck Grassley
WASH DC: 202-224-3744
• demand hearings now regarding the destruction of Federal property by Impostor Louis DeJoy; destroying sorting machines and removing blue mailboxes is sabotaging our right to fair elections.
• demand fired USPS leadership personnel be put back in their rightful positions.
• volunteer to be a poll worker
• volunteer to be a poll watcher
• hand carry your mail-in ballot to the poll and place in special provided “drop boxes”
Subversion incites. Subversion threatens our Democratic process. Patriots Get Going!!