This was a good summary of the convention, with the added historical tie-back to the New Deal of the FDR administration. To me, the central idea that the role of government is to protect the community, not just property, is key. As a small recent microcosm of this concept, during the pandemic, there was pushback from Republicans, MAGA conservatives, etc… on getting vaccines, wearing masks, etc. It seemed everyone had “rights”, but no one had responsibilities- responsibilities, for example, to take measures to avoid making one’s vulnerable fellow citizens sick. I thought back to how the country pulled together during World War 2, and couldn’t imagine how we would ever come together to pull through another crisis. I mean, people weren’t being asked to storm the beaches of Normandy or Iwo Jima, they were being asked to walk into a CVS and get a free vaccine shot. Perhaps we can get back to the kind of mindset that we can work together to solve problems and look out for each other.
My 34 year long spouse refused vaccination, masks and isolation during pandemic because of various conspiracy theories. He is generally a very good man but suddenly decided he was religious and maga beginning about 2016.
What surprised and dismayed me most was that our 1st grandson was born 5/2/21, right in the worst of Covid. He was also helping care for his vulnerable elderly mother at the time. Thank goodness our grandson was vaccinated as soon as he was old enough and took mom to the vaccination appointment I scheduled her for.
He felt absolutely no compassion towards others health and safety.
He continues to express horrible (morally bereft) opinions about many other Maga beliefs.
I'm very sorry you have to witness your spouse's turning into a self-absorbed MAGA cultist. Hope one day you get him back or you find a way to move on.
I think the pandemic frightened a lot of people into MAGA. hence the "sudden" religious decision. and the paranoid acceptance of conspiracy theories. Nobody had the first idea what Covid was or how to treat it, so a lot of people just decided to put it all in God's hands. However, in doing that a lot of them forgot that "God helps those who help themselves." It was a lot easier, and more comfortable to leave it to God - and put the "blame" on someone else - Chinese, Liberals, immigrants etc.
Trump picked up on that real quick, and has been garnering support through fear mongering ever since.
I think that explains the explosion of support for Kamala's "Joy!" campaign - people are desperate to hear the message "We have nothing to fear but fear itself!"
Thank you Heather for the tie-in again to FDR's visionary, Frances Perkins and also fro the end bit with that very human story of 55 balloon artists honouring the cancer struggle of a loved one. Knowing the 100,000 balloons were an honouring and BIODEGRADABLE, made the DNC finale all the more meaningful... if that was possible!
We enjoy both your written then often play your audio as well. We love your insight, depth, dedication and research. Thank You! ( also like your hat. Own two wooden boats on the west coast)
She posts twice - once written and once audio. Look for the other one. Also she posts the letters on her Facebook page. So there are many options. Something for everyone.
Ms Richardson has not responsed herself to this. I have cancelled my annual subscription. I do not have Facebook, I do not own a Cellphone. I am receiving only the oral versions, no readable text. I subscribe to several other political newsletters, many on Substack, with no problems at all. Bottom line, she has one year to fix it, then my funding goes away for good. Sad, because I LOVE her historical commentary, unique to her alone.
Go to her substack page archive and sort by newest, Heather publishes the written version for each date first so that one will appear there BELOW the audio version. Same name and date as the audio.
If I have to go log in to Substack and run a Sort to find the messages, what is the point of subscribing? I have cancelled my annual subscription. I do not have this problem with the half dozen other Substack columnists I subscribe to, just Heather.
So are you getting her newsletter via email and reading it on a laptop or iPad? Just a note you don’t have to go to her page specifically on substack as all of her letters would come into your folder (like an inbox on email). But it sounds like you prefer to receive them as emails.
Am I the only one whose goosebumps had goosebumps when she said she had always had only one client- "Kamala Harris- for the people!" She invested one phrase with so much meaning, I just found it incredibly thrilling. I still choke up thinking about it. God bless her and Governor Walz, I pray for their health and safety and am just so thankful for how they and their campaign have elevated decency and unselfishness again in America!
I think it was a genius move from Biden to wait until after the RNC to drop out. So Trump, confident he could beat Biden, was unencumbered to sell the VP position to the highest bidder and now is stuck with another weirdo as his running mate. Biden also gives Harris / Waltz the unbelievable gift of the best economy of all of the G20 nations with inflation coming down, record low unemployment, and interest rates now falling right ahead of the most consequential election in our lifetimes. Reclaiming patriotism and rediscovering and redefining pride to be an American, now really leaves Republicans with nothing to hang their hat on and exposes them to be the sour grapes and anti democrats they have been all along.
I am so fired up to see that neo liberal fairytale finally being publicly disposed of and replaced by a joyous vision of the American Dream by the people for the people. We will once again lead the way and show the world why democracy is the best of all forms of government!
If there is anyone out there from Hollywood land, please consider tooling a movie or mini series based on the life of Frances Perkins. I’d watch in a heartbeat!
I’m so grateful for your audio version of this strong & informative “letter”. I have reading challenges & really appreciate this version & all of your dedication to the healing of our democracy through facts & challenging all Americans to do the right things to help our country and world towards equality and acceptance of each other.
This was a good summary of the convention, with the added historical tie-back to the New Deal of the FDR administration. To me, the central idea that the role of government is to protect the community, not just property, is key. As a small recent microcosm of this concept, during the pandemic, there was pushback from Republicans, MAGA conservatives, etc… on getting vaccines, wearing masks, etc. It seemed everyone had “rights”, but no one had responsibilities- responsibilities, for example, to take measures to avoid making one’s vulnerable fellow citizens sick. I thought back to how the country pulled together during World War 2, and couldn’t imagine how we would ever come together to pull through another crisis. I mean, people weren’t being asked to storm the beaches of Normandy or Iwo Jima, they were being asked to walk into a CVS and get a free vaccine shot. Perhaps we can get back to the kind of mindset that we can work together to solve problems and look out for each other.
My 34 year long spouse refused vaccination, masks and isolation during pandemic because of various conspiracy theories. He is generally a very good man but suddenly decided he was religious and maga beginning about 2016.
What surprised and dismayed me most was that our 1st grandson was born 5/2/21, right in the worst of Covid. He was also helping care for his vulnerable elderly mother at the time. Thank goodness our grandson was vaccinated as soon as he was old enough and took mom to the vaccination appointment I scheduled her for.
He felt absolutely no compassion towards others health and safety.
He continues to express horrible (morally bereft) opinions about many other Maga beliefs.
I'm very sorry you have to witness your spouse's turning into a self-absorbed MAGA cultist. Hope one day you get him back or you find a way to move on.
I think the pandemic frightened a lot of people into MAGA. hence the "sudden" religious decision. and the paranoid acceptance of conspiracy theories. Nobody had the first idea what Covid was or how to treat it, so a lot of people just decided to put it all in God's hands. However, in doing that a lot of them forgot that "God helps those who help themselves." It was a lot easier, and more comfortable to leave it to God - and put the "blame" on someone else - Chinese, Liberals, immigrants etc.
Trump picked up on that real quick, and has been garnering support through fear mongering ever since.
I think that explains the explosion of support for Kamala's "Joy!" campaign - people are desperate to hear the message "We have nothing to fear but fear itself!"
Thank you Heather for the tie-in again to FDR's visionary, Frances Perkins and also fro the end bit with that very human story of 55 balloon artists honouring the cancer struggle of a loved one. Knowing the 100,000 balloons were an honouring and BIODEGRADABLE, made the DNC finale all the more meaningful... if that was possible!
We enjoy both your written then often play your audio as well. We love your insight, depth, dedication and research. Thank You! ( also like your hat. Own two wooden boats on the west coast)
How can I go back to the written option. I would like to read, not listen.
She posts twice - once written and once audio. Look for the other one. Also she posts the letters on her Facebook page. So there are many options. Something for everyone.
I get both via email. So I can choose daily how I want to read or listen to her letter.
Me, also. I want only the written text, not a Podcast.
Ms Richardson has not responsed herself to this. I have cancelled my annual subscription. I do not have Facebook, I do not own a Cellphone. I am receiving only the oral versions, no readable text. I subscribe to several other political newsletters, many on Substack, with no problems at all. Bottom line, she has one year to fix it, then my funding goes away for good. Sad, because I LOVE her historical commentary, unique to her alone.
Go to her substack page archive and sort by newest, Heather publishes the written version for each date first so that one will appear there BELOW the audio version. Same name and date as the audio.
If I have to go log in to Substack and run a Sort to find the messages, what is the point of subscribing? I have cancelled my annual subscription. I do not have this problem with the half dozen other Substack columnists I subscribe to, just Heather.
So are you getting her newsletter via email and reading it on a laptop or iPad? Just a note you don’t have to go to her page specifically on substack as all of her letters would come into your folder (like an inbox on email). But it sounds like you prefer to receive them as emails.
I really like the option of audio and/or reading the article. Thank you for such good information.
Am I the only one whose goosebumps had goosebumps when she said she had always had only one client- "Kamala Harris- for the people!" She invested one phrase with so much meaning, I just found it incredibly thrilling. I still choke up thinking about it. God bless her and Governor Walz, I pray for their health and safety and am just so thankful for how they and their campaign have elevated decency and unselfishness again in America!
I think it was a genius move from Biden to wait until after the RNC to drop out. So Trump, confident he could beat Biden, was unencumbered to sell the VP position to the highest bidder and now is stuck with another weirdo as his running mate. Biden also gives Harris / Waltz the unbelievable gift of the best economy of all of the G20 nations with inflation coming down, record low unemployment, and interest rates now falling right ahead of the most consequential election in our lifetimes. Reclaiming patriotism and rediscovering and redefining pride to be an American, now really leaves Republicans with nothing to hang their hat on and exposes them to be the sour grapes and anti democrats they have been all along.
I am so fired up to see that neo liberal fairytale finally being publicly disposed of and replaced by a joyous vision of the American Dream by the people for the people. We will once again lead the way and show the world why democracy is the best of all forms of government!
It’s times like these that demonstrate
“ these United States.”
If there is anyone out there from Hollywood land, please consider tooling a movie or mini series based on the life of Frances Perkins. I’d watch in a heartbeat!
There is a documentary about her in a national public television program (sorry I don’t have the link).
Also love both options! Always worthwhile— thanks 🙏
Dear Heather,
I’m so grateful for your audio version of this strong & informative “letter”. I have reading challenges & really appreciate this version & all of your dedication to the healing of our democracy through facts & challenging all Americans to do the right things to help our country and world towards equality and acceptance of each other.