The big news until shortly before midnight tonight was that businesses do indeed seem to be coming home after the pandemic illustrated the dangers of stretched supply lines, the global minimum tax reduced the incentives to flee to other countries with lower taxes, and the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act spurred investment in technology.
Okay, I think I see what's going on here. Heather is putting these pieces together long before the news outlets and official statements are putting them together, which is why tonight's second-half (about the purloined documents) sounds like an echo of stuff we've already heard. We have heard it before, thanks to Heather's excellent narrative work.
The second half of this letter is a (MUCH) more crisp capture than otherwise exists anywhere that I have seen, of some past information.
Writing the theft of documents in such a crisp format has enabled me to send the letter to my Republican friends. Up to now, it was hard to send them stuff because the information is so lengthy and complicated and Trump and Fox and AM radio are spinning it so hard with simple sentences.
So, I have sent this to my Republican "friends" and contacts. Short, clear paragraphs that a 5th grader could read.
Yeah. I get the feeling that most MAGAs read at a third-grade level. To steal an old joke, two of the best years, of their lives, were spent in grade three.
Everything Dr. Richardson writes is just right on target. It's the best recap of news that I see all day, and, as a retired journalist, I read a lot of stuff.
Yes, best recap and I also enjoy the historical references....
I have a question about rump requesting a special master that I invite anyone here to answer: What business does he have to do this over government documents that are not his?
The first argument against the request for a Special Master states clearly that tfg has no standing to file this request. We'll see how his chosen judge reads that but she's certainly taking her time.
My take on her rulings so far is that she's doing what she can to shield herself against the kind of violent reaction from certain elements who also are scaring elections officers and poll workers away from their jobs. Maybe she's mapping out her escape route and safe house if she denies tfg a Special Master.
About 50 years ago, I took a Journalism class in HS. This was the first time to my recollection that I gave any recognition to political parties and that they were different. Using the Chgo Tribune and SunTimes, we learned that the Chicago Tribune was a Republican paper and the Chicago Sun-Times was a Democratic paper. I also learned that the format of the paper was geared to the reader: ie, the SunTimes was a magazine format that was easier to read on the bus, train, or at the diner. The Trib was the longer traditional format that could be spread on a large desk or at a large dining room table.
I was also taught that the reading level of the Trib was 8th grade, and the SunTimes was 5th grade. We studied identical stories in each paper, comparing sentence structure, paragraph lengths, vocabulary used.
(I became a newspaper reader, and a huge fan of Mike Royko. It was huge news when he jumped ship to the Trib.)
I comment on this because while I am a big Obama fan, I did sometimes think he was speaking above the level of the masses, although sincerity and message came through. Tfg seems to communicate at about 2nd grade reading comprehension, this in itself is telling as (IMHO) there is such a gap between the traditional GOP and the Trumpers!!
I have great hope for Biden's speech tomorrow. Those on the right like to complain that he speaks too slowly (ignoring his remarkable accomplishment over stuttering). In my view, I hear tfg yell out a few words, pause, repeat and wait for applause and think to myself "do they really think he is communicating better than Biden?!?" While Biden will often refer to the struggles his father went through, tfg whine on about "poor me" endlessly. If ONLY the more moderate GOP and all Independents would listen, they might find that Biden is accomplishing exactly what we all want, a better America. (although the GOP only seem to want it for some Americans)
Yes, and in the late 1980s, I took a class in expository writing. There, I learned that the new style for journalism had become “build the narrative”. This literally meant that fiction could become the new reality. When I questioned the professor (senior level class) how a reader could understand the facts of a story, he looked at me rather sadly and said: “that is the problem, and I don’t know the answer”. Now, 40 years later, we can all see — not only where that school of thought went, but what it’s tenets led to.
Be sure and look at my clarification note above. “Expository writing is the writing of facts rather than conjecture. Back in the WWII era, this tactic was known as “Double talk”.
valuable to know about, Patricia! getting this background is always helpful (at least to me). when we're dealing with media presenting 'info' that just seems ridiculous or out-of-whack ... i used to think it's just my inability to sort it out. only in the relatively recent past have i finally recognized these tactics... are deliberately intended to confuse and obfuscate. thank you for 'exposing' the expository style of journalism.
One example - maybe a simple one - is the difference between what the headline shouts out (!) and what the facts (hopefully) of the story are. Sometimes complete opposites. If someone only looks at the headline without reading the story - as I believe many of the DJTs followers do - they never ever "get" the truth. Sadly, thats not just on Faux, or Newsmax.
“Expository writing” is actually is writing interesting facts about a person, place, or thing. Expository writing presents readers with important research and information about a topic. Expository writing gives facts and information about a topic. This is why the introduction of “develop a narrative” was so devastating to facts. It was the birth of “alternative truths” in my opinion!
Thank you all for the kind comments, but in all honesty, I had a great teacher! I was very fortunate to have her class. She also sponsored the school newspaper and one class was to write a "letter to the editor" of the paper. A number of them were published. Who knew that parents read the school newspaper and my letter about the smoking in the bathrooms would cause a kerfuffle with the PTA calling the administrators!! (Ah, first sweet taste of the power of the pen!)
Can you just imagine if this was being taught today? Would certain subjects be off limits?
good questions, Miselle. seems like there oughta be some version of this lesson that could be taught today without getting into trouble. for sure some subjects would be off limits... however, it might matter how they were approached. bet there are ways to teach the principles she taught you without creating trouble.
what if it were taught using subjects that aren't considered controversial.. like sports or arts or food or fashion or film or hiking or gardening or travel or retirement, yadda, yadda. maybe? might take a little longer to find different perspectives on same topic for comparison. the basic concepts she taught would still be there.
isn't it shocking to first experience how influential your writing can be? so empowering for you as a high school student!! what a treasure of a teacher!! she was brilliant.
I tried to like this but it didn’t work. I think you have made so clearly exactly what needs to be said! I agree about Obama, I also think of him with great regard but he was almost too cerebral.
I wish I had had your journalism class in my HS. Thanks for you insight!
Miselle, both parts of your comment are so interesting. The first part informed my understanding of how different papers write a column. Thank you! The second part is what I was trying to convey in my post above. Your assessment about the two speakers, IMO, is so accurate. Again, thank you!
what a great course, Miselle!! thank you so much for sharing how it was taught and what you learned from it. good insights that would be valuable for most students to learn.
Readability is not the same as intelligence or grade in school. The smarter writing may actually be the 5th grade level, and may be much more difficult to compose. Clarity and conciseness count more in politics and business than in literature. And never should our goal be to insult or demean the reader.
"How to Ace the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
"Knowing the answers to a test can feel like cheating, but in the case of the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test, it’s just plain helpful. The test mainly takes two factors into consideration:
"The total number of syllables in a word
The total number of words in a sentence
Shorter words are easier to understand. Shorter sentences are easier to follow than longer sentences. Let’s look at a few examples:
A. “The urbane activity with which a man receives money is really marvelous, considering that we so earnestly believe money to be the root of all earthly ills, and that on no account can a monied man enter heaven.”
B. “I wish I could show him what sort of man I am.”
"Example A is a line from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Due to its wordy nature and long-winded sentences, this line is rated on an 18th-grade reading level. In other words, this line seems to only be easily readable to those with a post-graduate-level college education. The entire book is scored as being on the reading level of a college graduate.
"Example B is from The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. This line is rated as being on a 1st-grade reading level. The entire book is rated as being on a 4th-grade reading level. The book also won the Pulitzer's Prize for Fiction in 1953.
"The grade level of these literary classics does not take away from their genius. However, The Old Man and the Sea is seen as a delight to read while reading Moby-Dick is seen as a reading feat.
Boy Howdy on this one, MaryPat! Some of the articles I read are definitely in the Example A column. In fact, I end up having to read a sentence two or three times before I get the message. Lots of times I just quit reading it!
I suspect there are more The Old Man and the Sea readers than there are Moby Dick readers.
When reading a newspaper, I prefer The Old Man and the Sea style. It's easier to get through the paper. Since I subscribe to 4 right now, it can be very time consuming.
I also wish we had the old style journalism that presented who, what, when & where in the first paragraph. Why was the rest of the article.
That’s the old style I was taught in the journalism class I took at Michigan in 1970. Also “just the facts”, different papers had different slants in what they chose to print and/or stress, but editorializing was limited to the editorial page.
I'm with you on that Lynell. Sometimes I would think I was not bright enough to get at the root of the meaning. Even after looking up words that were unknown to me.
Yes. (Husband was a reading specialist so I have some insights.) I actually couldn't get into Hemmingway either, though. I think it's because his sentences don't dance.
I used that same readability formula years ago when I wrote a column for our school newsletter. I was told to aim no higher than sixth grade if I wanted it read...which was the point! In a way, it's like writing poetry - one carefully selects words with the most punch and meaning to keep the word pictures clean and clear.
In using fifth grade as the benchmark in my comment I really just meant any adult or youth reader could comprehend Dr Richardsons second half summary of all the mess Trump created with the documents.
I honestly have no idea what level it was but it was clear and I sent her writing far and wide.
It occurs to me that comedians who become politicians are successful because they have honed the ability to get an audience's attention, hold it for the millisecond that is the attention span of the average person, and deliver a distilled message that is deliciously digestible. All without the receiver having to do anything! I think we all like that Heather does so much that's similar for us; we just have to read her précises (sp?), and they're always brilliant.
Mike, good that you sent it! If they can understand, good. If not, well, that is what The People expect from idiots....I have several relatives, sad to say, who speak the devils’ tongue. OMG
It did my heart good to hear Bill Barr clearly state that ALL of the documents are government property, classified or not, and do not belong to tfg -- in a clip from Fox on MSNBC.
I'm so glad Biden is out there touting his agenda. The Technology Initiatives by Biden, you've listed, seem to be taking hold. We are moving forward while the maga people are just stirring up more $#!t to feed to their hungry base.
And as for that picture of those sensitive documents laying spread out on the floor, showing the evidence. How does this dude get away with this stuff? Thank you for the news HCR.
I am so glad Biden is going “Jean-Luc Picard” and not accepting an outcome that has not happened yet. Apologies to those who don’t get the reference. Watch the season 2 finale of Star Trek Picard. However for those who don’t have Paramount +, it involves fighting to the end. Something I wished Democrats would have done in 2010. They had significant accomplishments to tout at the time. If they would have fought to the end, the time between 2010 and 2022 would have been quite different. They accepted a “shellacking” was coming and did little to dissolve it.
The ‘shellacking’ was inevitable. Obama was trying to get bipartisan anything done and pulling the sides together was a huge goal. He did get Affordable Care Act passed, a miracle all on its own. The scuttled immigration legislation and so much more taught the Democrats how the Republican goal was to prevent any legislation getting passed, regardless of its benefit to the country. President Biden saw all this up close and personal. Fool me once!
And the ACA would not have happened if Nancy Pelosi had not convinced Obama (still naive about Republican politicians' obstructionist goals) that the Rs would not work with him and therefore the need to pass the ACA anyway, to abandon the hope of bipartisan support. It wasn't going to happen. Obama has acknowledged her major role in persuading him and getting it passed.
As Ari Melber pointed out last evening on MSNBC: racism is and has been the glue for the GOP. The JayZ poem was multi-layered and a 1619 on its own. I hope someone sends it to DeSantis with Ari Melber’s explication.
Whenever anyone insults Nancy Pelosi, I imagine all over again what it must have been for her to get that bill passed. And how Hillary Clinton tried and failed. When Obama is blamed for anything he didn’t do, I think of Mitch McConnell’s dinner meeting the night of Obama’s inauguration when he got Republican senators together to destroy a black man’s presidency.
Now I wonder if we can get enough Democrats elected to get corporate taxes back to reasonable, unions strengthened, universal service to America restored in some form(s), public transportation popularized to help the war on climate change, public schools funded by tax payers, teachers decently paid and appreciated, etc., etc. In short, can we get our democracy back or will machines, corporate greed unchecked by SCOTUS, and fear of the future destroy US?
I remember John Boehnor , when elected Speaker, with tears in his eyes, declaring something to the effect that his one purpose in life is to make Barak Obama a one term president. This was followed without any logistical or rational reason that I can remember so I just thought of the obvious ?
Thanks for writing just what I was thinking! Pelosi continues to be the critical operative for the Party, look what she did with the Jan 6 investigation!
Pelosi is an old hand and is not naive at all about how Rs operate. I am glad Obama took her advice. It is clear that Rs have not been reasonable people for a long time and certainly do not merit the label of patriots. So many of them have ignored the oath they took to the Constitution. I know how they are and yet I am sometimes amazed at what comes out of their mouths. Just read a NYT article which says some of the docs were found in death star's desk. Probably for study as to which ones would gain him the most money.
Yeah, I think President Obama had a bit of naivete. He figured 'I'm smart so I'll show these folks a logical argument and they'll be glad to back it.' It took him a while but he finally saw what he was dealing with and Joe saw it also.
The immigration legislation deserved to be scuttled. It would have more than doubled legal immigration, to the equivalent of one and a half New York States per decade, if I remember correctly, without doing a thing to stop illegal immigration, despite the fact that E-Verify was already being used by hundreds of thousands of companies. Between that, and O's efforts towards DAPA, I predicted we'd lose the Senate in the midterms, as we did. Not to mention losing the presidency to the former guy, who ran on immigration as his signature issue.
The Affordable Care Act, as you say, was a miracle, and probably improved millions of lives.
Another blog had a comment from someone who has worked in the field and stated that photos are taken first before handling any evidence. The ruler being an addition to the "crime" scene. They want to be able to present the evidence in court as it was found.
It looks like an FBI agent put documents from that box on the floor to photograph them as part of documenting the search. That’s why some docs have protective blank cover sheets. Trump apparently had these government secrets mixed in with his souvenir magazine covers.
Mostly the news is good, about the companies coming back to the US, jobs in the future for many now unemployed, we hope those jobs will pay well. Automation may “steal” some of the possible employment, but it all seems hopeful. Fossil fuels must be eliminated for energy needs and production of electric vehicles makes real sense. But the documents are troublesome and what he did with them is even more so. I will flip out if we eventually learn the scumbag sold data, intel, names, gossip to our enemies. And maybe to our friends. Sure seems like he was pawing his way through everything. That little detail about the pile of highly classified papers interspersed with framed Time Magazine covers made it very real. Obsessed only with himself and his illegal and treasonous way to gain and hold power is the lesson here. Let’s fire him into prison. You’re FIRED!
"Automation may “steal” some of the possible employment, "
Our plate is pretty full, but this is one I think we would be wise to keep an eye on. Self driving cars, even if not quite ready for prime time, (but out there anyway) are definitely not your father's automation, and equipment that can in some cases fully and successfully run itself, does not, by definition, need an operator; unlike job-providing production machinery of the industrial revolution. AI appears to have the potential to cut into many more employment categories, making inroads into more skilled trades and professions; interpretive radiology for example.
Authoritarian nations are already using high tech in Orwellian ways. The cat is out of the bag for high technology, but I think it would be foolish not to think about how this emerging technology can be applied for both good and ill, and how it may impact traditional social and economic patterns in ways we can be proactive about or passive. Where do we want to end up and what would it take to get there?
I too have mixed feelings about automation and the growth of AI. I am the type that doesn’t use self-checkout at stores because I want to support the human cashiers.
I would like to know who and where the robots/automatons for any type of production line venture are being created and built. That too may be an industry that needs to come back to US shores.
In the past the US companies have moved off-shore and the companies were happy to do that for two big reasons - cheaper labor and to escape environmental regulations - giving us cheap products and a poisoned world. If we bring industries back to the US we have a lot of work to do on the Environmental Protection side of this equation.
I worked in hospital labs for over 40 years. When I started, the first laboratory automation, the Coulter Counter (which automatically counted and sized red cells and white cells) was being used. We had to manually count platelets under a microscope with a "clicker". Soon, a platelet counting machine came into use, and automated cell differentiation machines.
I can't possibly convey to the general public what these advances meant, even most doctors don't realize as they sometimes would come down to the lab. I believe this 100%: modern medicine would NOT exist without automation! A CBC (Complete Blood Count) in the mid 70s took hours. Now, about 60 seconds. I could expound upon the myriad automated machines and how they give meaningful results almost in real time; indeed, at our lab, blood test results were delivered within 30 minutes FROM TIME OF DRAW such that clot busting drugs could be administered to stroke victims within the 60 minute window. And that included an ER person literally jogging about two blocks in the huge complex with specimen in hand.
In an aside, medical laboratory technologists (now called Medical Laboratory Scientists) are a dying breed--HIV scared a lot of them away in the 80s. More opportunities for females came in the areas of physicians, and nursing paid much, much higher wages. Some went into forensics as CSI made it look so appealing (and the lab is NOTHING like CSI to the surprise and remorse of some student interns that I taught!) Radiology advances stole a number of potential employees away. The lab worker shortage is unknown to anyone except labs. This is a very serious issue which at some point will need to be addressed. Medical labs have automated to the point where it is doubtful more automation can be done, but without the current automation.......I can't even imagine how many millions more would have died during the worst of COVID.
Miselle thank you for telling your story and bringing to light the changes in your field and the issue of a shortage in lab workers. I learned something new today from you.
Thank you, Karen. This was a very serious problem with COVID. There is a lab test called the "D-DIMER" which in many medium sized hospitals might run about 5-10 a day. I had just retired right before COVID, but my friends told me our large complex which normally ran about 50 or so a day now was running about 100/shift. And the results were so out of range that our automation couldn't handle it, techs had to make manual dilutions to run. (That in itself is problematic as machinery will almost always replicate better than individual techs, even the same tech at different times. Be assured though that medical labs are highly regulated and we were all tested on all aspects of our job, at very least monthly, usually even more frequently!)
Medical lab work is fascinating to any who have knowledge of healthcare. Any current physicians, nurses, or others reading this: might want to call down to your lab and ask if you can have a tour. Many hospital labs offer tours during mid April when Medical Laboratory Week occurs. And if by chance you are a CEO/upper admin in a hospital and you have not visited your lab, shame on you. Do it today.
Automation and technology in general are fantastically powerful kit of tools, one that keenly fascinated me from the age of three or four. We reap benefits our forebears could not have dreamed of by it's means. But I think the profit motive alone will not insure that it is always used to society's benefit. It can be used to control and destroy as well as heal and it can result in social and environmental changes I think we would be wise to try to anticipate and guide best we can. To enjoy democracy, we have to keep the immense power of applied science from being dominantly controlled by too few hands.
China uses it to control.......maybe not destroy yet. Does automation destroy creativity? The intersection between freedom of expression and technology is waiting for some stop lights.
Great example of the importance of automation. States with all this new tech industry should spend some of the $$$ on the education of their populace - duh!
Thank You Miselle. All these decades in nursing (and even running a few samples to the lab) I never got the full picture before. Maybe time for a hospital medical laboratory TV drama.
Karen, do you also seek out full service gas stations, instead of pumping your own gas? My point being that losing jobs like gas station attendant and check out cashier to automation is not a bad thing. Those attendants and cashiers will likely find better jobs. So not to worry. :)
I do miss a full service gas station. The attendant filled the tank, washed the windshield, checked the oil all the while exchanging pleasantries and news about the going’s in our community. Does that give you an idea of my vintage? ;)
It may be true that attendants and cashiers will find a better job. My question is what constitutes a better job? Until we as a society establish a level playing field for employees and embrace Environmental Protection the “better” part is yet undefined.
I’ll bet I’m older than you. I remember when gas was 30 cents a gallon :) I had a favorite gas station attendant, too, he was great at doing all the stuff you list. As for automation and jobs…55 years ago I worked on a truck farm. Right about this time of year, we’d start picking potatoes. A tractor pulled the harvester, which dug into the row as the tractor drove, and scooped up potatoes, vines, rocks, weeds etc onto a chain conveyor. A bunch of us stood on either side of the conveyor as the chain wizzed by, and picked out everything but the potatoes, which dropped into bushel baskets at the end of the conveyor. Every once in a while somebody would get injured, a cut, or a broken finger. And our backs and legs ached badly by the end of the day. Yesterday on my Instagram, a small farm I follow posted a Reel of their new automated potato harvester in action. No people picking weeds or rocks, they are replaced by automated arms. That’s progress. I would never go back to picking rocks and weeds.
No reason to go back, nor can we as a practical matter. But we are charting our life, not watching a movie, so looking ahead is in order. Imagining the future is only an educated guess and life is full of surprises. Yet cautiously and observantly, identifying reliable patterns from the past, we can make better than random guesses about the future.
New technologies are rooted in this process, and so too "wisdom", individual and national requires it. So far projections of waste gas induced global heating have proved to be a pretty good map, mostly underestimating the pace of the changes. It seems to me we need to be examining all supportable possibilities in order to influence best outcomes.
I recall hearing over 50 years ago the number of patchcord telephone operators that would be needed to operate the US telephone network as it then existed, and it was absurdly huge. Huge racks of clattering electromechanical relays had taken over that function, since replaced by microprocessors. That's a very good thing. There is no incentive to go back. Performing that function by hand would require an army of employees, but doing useless work, and doing it more slowly and less accurately.
That said, digital technologies are developing at an accelerating pace. Replacing far more skilled job categories will surely be possible. Should we just take on faith that worthwhile jobs will emerge from unprecedented developments? Who gets to decide how society will adapt? Just entrusting ultra-wealthy "Job Creators" to create meaningful (or any) jobs for employees that they would rather shed has not worked very well for all of the people so far, and it is not unthinkable that future circumstances may tend to make this worse. Fortune favors the prepared mind.
I 'm sure it is more complex than I know, but it seems to me that by moving US manufacturing to China lawmakers and capital knowingly helped despotic China to become a world security threat in terms of dependencies and financial clout. Like "road rage", greed blinds the brain to compassion, wisdom, and even national interest, yet anything for a profit has been the mantra of plutocratically sponsored Republicans since Reagan. Trump epitomizes how soul-destroying greed can become, and yet he remains their champion.
".... and equipment that can in some cases fully and successfully run itself, does not, by definition, need an operator; unlike job-providing production machinery of the industrial revolution."
Oh, I don't know, JL. I see a real parallel between this new shift toward automation and that production machinery you reference. Think for example what it would look like today if farming were still human labor intensive, or if cars were built by hand.
As far as what it would take to make the shift positive, I believe it would take development of lower cost sustainable energy like sun power which includes wind turbines and efficient solar power, followed by fusion reactors. We are headed briskly in those directions now.
Finally, zero population growth across the planet, though that could be an asymptote established by how fast the above advances progress. There's still plenty of land available to support a much larger human population; we just need technology and free energy to do it. And not to destroy ourselves or our planet before we can get there.
But think of the fantastic future this could create for our species (and all the others)! No more need. No more toil. No more wars....
It's not out of the question, but we'd have to do some soul searching. As far as abandoning the aid of advanced technologies, I don't think that any appreciable number of people want to do that. But technology is a human power and power tends to corrupt. How we apply our technological powers will make a huge difference, which is the point I am trying to make. An ordinary kitchen knife can cut up veggies, or kill.
First, your name has me high “on the mountain,” revisiting my French studies and recent trip to that “beau pays.” Second, thanks for teaching me a new word — asymptote!
At this point we need reader (and Texas Hill Country League of Women Voters President) Cathy Learoyd to weigh in on the benefits of measuring a country's success in terms of The Well Being Index instead of GDPs.
Fanciful predictions from years ago that computers would put everyone out of work proved to be wildly overstated. Think of how many jobs both the hardware and software industries have been created in the last decade, producing goods and services that people would not have anticipated. Automation may initially result in the loss of jobs involving repetitive tasks, but there will be opportunities for people to program, maintain, and repair automated equipment... as well as jobs created in related and spin-off industries.
Automation has been slow to catch on in the construction industry, so I think it'll be awhile before we see massive changes in the skilled trades. Sure, maybe robots can be used to build houses, but there will always be a need for people to handle more specialized or customized (and less dangerous) tasks that aren't so easily automated. It's more likely that humans will work alongside robots, not that robots will replace people in skilled trades.
I remember how computers were going to do away with PAPER documents! And THAT was many many years ago - judging from what I'm still seeing - thats something else thats "slow to catch on" anywhere - including in the healthcare industry!
"...but there will be opportunities for people to program, maintain, and repair automated equipment... as well as jobs created in related and spin-off industries...It's more likely that humans will work alongside robots, not that robots will replace people in skilled trades**"
In theory yes, but I invite you to look at the number of people phased out of manufacturing and industry in the US rust belt and coal belt then discuss the "success" of reeducating/retraining them. Consider the tens of thousands of mostly women who worked as 0 operators and 411 Operators who, beginning in the early 2000s, began to be replaced by audio response. I witnessed thousands of women and men lose jobs with decent pay and benefits as offices closed around the US. Did they find employment with the same level of pay and benefits? A great many did not.
Too, consider the appalling trend to remove science and critical thinking from the K-12 curriculums. No, I do not share your vision of a rosy automated future. Isaac Asimov, way back when, didn't either.
Daria, you cite certain things that leave me wondering. How did you “witness thousands of women and men lose jobs with decent pay and benefits as offices closed around the US“. What makes you think that there’s an “appalling trend to remove science and critical thinking from the K-12 curriculums” when exactly the opposite is true? There’s a nation-wide movement to strengthen and emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in public schools. I have witnessed this first hand, I’m a high school teacher. You and Ellen are both right about robots replacing jobs. Robots eliminate some jobs, and create other, higher value jobs for programming and monitoring. The jobs created are fewer in number than the jobs eliminated. You’re also right that there’s been little success in retraining coal and rust belt workers. The main reason is that there hadn’t been a concerted effort to do so. Another reason is that, absent a willingness to move, similar quality jobs may not exist in those same locales. Overall, there are promising trends. Unemployment is historically low, demand for workers is high and the result is that wages and benefits are starting to grow. Also, national support for unions is higher than it’s been in decades.
JR, I worked for a major telecom in mid level management. In 1998 there were literally thousands of Operators employed by the company. With a merger, the company grew even more. Beginning in 2000 Operator and Information Services Technology introduced what was called a whisper, the operator heard the customer's request before the operator greeted the customer. The goal was that the Average Work Time would drop significantly, from 25 - 30 seconds per call to under 12 seconds per call thus boosting productivity and eliminating the need foras many warm bodies to take calls. Dropping the AWT also meant that the Call Wait Time could be significantly reduced thus pushing more customers through the pipeline faster. BEFORE this technological rolled out , in the late 90s, the Telecom executives went to the Communication Workers of America and hammered out a new contract for new hires from about 1997. The Agent Services contract was bare bones featuring low starting pay with a low top pay ceiling. Paid and unpaid leave was decreased. Overtime pay was also reduced. Healthcare benefits were excellent at first but became less so as time went on. What was unknown to the Traditional side of the house was that their contract was going to be phased out either by office closures, forcing the Traditional Contract Operators to move into an Agent Contract Office at REDUCED WAGES or having them apply for other positions with no guarantee of employment. So, the Agent offices opened, the technology was introduced and fine tuned, the Traditional offices were closed. As the technology became more advanced the need for warm bodies dropped. More offices closed until all but one Agent office remained, then it closed. No there are no more Union contract employees in Operator and Information Services. The company used a very low number of exclusively non contract employees to handle calls. It does to this day. So, yes, when I say I watched thousands of people lose their jobs, I mean it. I was involved in breaking the news to employees that their office would be closing on thus and such date. I was on conference calls where hundreds of people were surplussed at a time. I was surplussed as well, as were other members of upper, mid and lower levels of management. On a mass conference call of hundreds.
Science and critical thinking in schools: perhaps you are lucky and live in an area where the school district is not run by a conservative bunch of people who believe that science is the devil's tool. I'm glad. I hope, too, you teach in a district where conservative, faith based crap isn't being dished out in history and social studies classes.
Unemployment is historically low, and there are thousands of jobs out there but many of them are low paying service industry jobs where, in some cases, the starting wage of 12 or 15 dollars an hour is still not a living wage. And, as for moving from the rust/coal belt to an urban area with available jobs, tell me how, logistically, that's supposed to happen? These are not people who are head hunted and offered relocation benefits. And the jobs? What are they and how many jobs will one person have to have to pay rent, utilities, food, transportation etc? The problem with the, "well, just move" concept is that it's frequently suggested by, white professionals who have no idea what it's like to be poor and have few marketable skills. And you are right, there are very, very few if any quality local jobs for rust belt/coal belt workers and we have done a terrible job retraining and or educating them. They have been left behind.
Historical changes tend to benefit some and burden others, but the devil is in the details. How recoverable are the losses some suffer, and what is the aggregated impact on society? That can be a toughie even from the view of liberty and justice for all, and devastating when maximizing profit is the dominating yardstick.
Daria, I did not state that there will be no economic displacement, nor did I imply a "vision of a rosy automated future." My point is simply that technological change does not have a universally negative impact on employment.
But where is it written that we have to limit our lives to “gainful employment” (I.e “work”) in order to be fulfilled, or even to survive? As several here have alluded, for every job eliminated by automation, several more are created, and in areas that no one could have predicted. Skilled machinists are replaced by CNC programmers that used to stand all day at a lathe, plus the people that designed and built the automated equipment, the people that installed and maintained it, the people that are planning for the next generation of automation and so on. It’s tempting to say that “oh yeah, you’re talking about a few elite people with the brains and education to do that, but what about the rest of the population that isn’t so fortunate”? Use your imagination. Relieved from the drudgery of “having to struggle to make ends meet” individuals can be freed up to gain specialized skills in areas we cant even imagine. Just transport yourself back 150 short years and imagine someone is trying to explain to you an industry like commercial aviation, employing huge numbers of people from executives and management at United Airlines and Boeing to all the workers in those industries, the pilots, flight crews and service workers, travel agents …. I could go on but you get the picture. And not to wax “utopian”, but lets say robotics and AI eventually replace all of those workers. What’s wrong with the idea of humans finally being free to pursue uniquely human pursuits? The arts, literature, music, or just gardening if they feel like it. By that time we may be colonizing Mars and beyond. Plenty of room out there for the rugged individual. Westward HO! (And hopefully the indigenous people see us coming this time.)
Except for your very last concept of *colonizing* anywhere (as it's been practiced so far) ... i couldn't agree more, LeMoine. AI can be used for benefit of all or not... and often we see some of each.
We do need to think bigger than trading every precious moment of our lives for money that gives someone else the options for exploring, learning, creating or just being. People in other countries live these values and raise their kids that way.
Let's measure 'success' on a Well Being Index for a change! That does mean a complete shift in how we live, what we value and how we treat each other. Not a short term process, given where we are in this country. A much rosier future COULD be ours...
"What’s wrong with the idea of humans finally being free to pursue uniquely human pursuits? The arts, literature, music, or just gardening if they feel like it. By that time we may be colonizing Mars and beyond. Plenty of room out there for the rugged individual. Westward HO! (And hopefully the indigenous people see us coming this time.)"
Sadly, you have swallowed the utopian dream. The only people who are going to be able to pursue uniquely human pursuits are the same ones who are doing so today.
Nothing ever changes if no one ever envisions and strives toward something better. Gotta start somewhere. Big dreams have evolved so much in this world. If not, we'd all still be living in caves.
I agree but we might want to think creatively about what being productive might mean. People fantasize about all the classic romances about the social trials of manor house aristocracy; and southern plantation mansions are a parallel in terms of "genteel" lifestyle, but of course that superficially "idyllic" life was based on human predation. Conceivably we could let technology handle the drudgery while we pursue more creative pursuits. Just maybe, since that's a very large order, may present unforeseen difficulties, and will face a lot of powerful enemies. But that's an very attractive route to explore. I just think we are better off anticipating what could be done right and what might go wrong.
A number of the people phased out of manufacturing and industry in the rust belt were working in abhorent and often dangerous conditions before automation. As told to me by a college friend who worked the line in summers to pay for his education, back in the day, the "Black guys" were put on the lower level of the assembly line, while the "White guys" were put on top. By end of shift, the Black guys were even more blackened by the dripping oil and debris that fell on them from the white guys above. Yet, my white college friend said he'd rather work below with the Blacks because they were happy, bragged about their beautiful wives, and were so fun to work with, while the Whites were mean and always whining about their bitchy wives. Hmm, can't remember the point of this story.
Yes. When I was a freshman in college, (what, 52 years ago?!), our very popular psychology professor advocated for a society that provided a " guaranteed income" to every adult. That alone, he said, would ameliorate so many of the psychological problems he was going to describe. Even though I was an open minded hippie with long braids, I had my doubts. He was right. And it's about time we stop thinking it is okay to have cracks in our social fabric for folks to fall through.
I'm not sure that "Science" as a category of subject matter is being removed, but perhaps science as "critical thinking' has been weakened. I believe that underneath the catalog of discoveries that science produces, which is the view of science found on quiz shows and I think to some degree, definitions of "science literacy", is a disciplined empirical philosophy. Our mind manufactures experiential reality regardless of how well tethered it is are to careful observation and measurement, as current "GOP" narratives now show. People will often hallucinate under sensory deprivation. The scientific method is democratic insofar as it appeals to what anyone able to do so can observe and measure for themselves, something of which even children can do to a fair degree. Language literacy is knowing HOW TO USE written language skills, not just being able to describe them, and science "literacy" would seem the same. Jurors are commanded to pay attention to evidence, which is a component of scientific thinking. When MTG says something dubious, and you look up the record, that is a component of scientific thinking, even apart from the whole exhaustive, formal methodology of professional science. You don't have to be a pro to stumble though a game of football. Those invested in unsupportable views of reality will not be fans.
I know I oversimplify, but it seems to me that in my lifetime education has been pushed to be overly focused by the essential function of job training over life skills in general, to satisfy commerce. It is my impression that, from that commerce perspective, the aim is to produce uniform, interchangeable, and disposable DNA-based robots, to hold the line before steel and silicon based replacements can be readied.
Also overstated by media was value and impact of teaching kids a few lines of computer code. A flurry of undisciplined imaginings with the introductions of new technologies. The same was done with TV. But I think that some developments slip in under the RADAR, such as the full impact of unregulated private data collection and AI. Industrialization displaced but also created jobs building, maintaining and operating machines. Throughout most of their history, computers were number crunchers. A car that can self-pilot will someday not need a "driver". Companies are talking about self-driving trucks and passenger planes. That's not just a category job titles, it demonstrates the degree of skilled labor that may be replaced by such techniques, and many people insufficiently skilled as it is.
There are humane, ethical, democratic responses to these and other changes we are likely to face, but allowing the profit-centered "marketplace" to make all of those decisions is probably a poor strategy.
Automation has yanked jobs from millions of people; robotics in manufacturing, automated voice response systems, self check out, ATM machines, online chat bots instead of a help desk, parking lot park and pay kiosks, automated toll way systems, are all examples of how technology and automation have taken people out of the work force. We were told these changes would increase efficiency, enhance productivity and the overall quality of every day life.
I'm not saying technology in and of itself is bad, but bear in mind, every innovation mentioned above was researched, developed and designed to remove a human from a job and replace them with automation. Things will only become more severe as more and more people are nudged then pushed out of their jobs.
Daria, we got tea today, in India, during a monsoon downpour. My friend paid for two teas, twelve rupees, ONLINE at the kiosk on his debit card. Just unbelievable.
we need to prepare and train people for the NEW jobs technology brings... and it's a long term process. we also need to adequately support people who lose their jobs in the short term... and this is not how it works, unfortunately. that's one place we need to make huge changes that help.
we're much too 'market' oriented rather than people oriented... and the human suffering this brings isn't valued or accommodated at all... and that is our problem.
easing ourselves into these new technologies takes time and adjustments, yet things change and evolve at such a rapid pace that most of us can't keep up.
keeping adequate education/training current and available so that next generations can adapt while their parents and grandparents can still live decent lives costs little $$ with huge benefits for all. UBI would help...
Amy Webb, the amazing futurist who writes for the WaPo, has many cogent thoughts on this topic, and if you prefer your thoughts to be shaped by fiction, Kazuo Ishiguru's excellent novel Klara and the Sun is a vision of a future with AI robots to be companions to our children. I watch my grandson engrossed in something on his mother's phone and think of Klara.
The purpose of automated driving is to monetize the American people. Shoshona Zuboff of the Harvard Business School, among others, has written about that.
Two “facts” regarding automated manufacturing returning to the US. First, the incentive of tax free manufacturing elsewhere will no longer lure American companies overseas. So regardless where those companies produce their wares, taxes will be paid here if the company is based here and subsidiaries of foreign based companies like LG will also pay taxes here. More taxes from businesses will generate more tax dollars for infrastructure investment here at home, along with reducing the tax burden of people like you and me. I don’t know about you but when I pay out a higher percentage of my income than a corporation like 3M (corp headquarters about 5 miles from my house; income in the billions) or Best Buy Company (corp headquarters about 11 miles from my house;) I get a little testy.
Second fact is that the US’s environmental standards are high, much higher than many other countries (though below others sadly). That means less air and water pollution produced from the creation of said products here than say those currently produced in Vietnam or even China. And even automated machinery requires maintenance - producing good jobs.
A third benefit that is huge in my opinion is that if the items produced only have to be shipped from Ohio to say Minnesota, then much less carbon will be emitted. That too is a win.
I am now hopeful I will be able to afford to install solar panels on my roof since shipping delays from China will no longer be a factor. As most of us here understand, it’s the climate crisis we HAVE to address. Now.
"So regardless where those companies produce their wares, taxes will be paid here if the company is based here and subsidiaries of foreign based companies like LG will also pay taxes here."
Finally. Tax gimmicks based on a fiction are just eyewink tax evasion. My understanding is if I make money in another country, I owe taxes there AND here, but get US tax credit for foreign taxes paid. That seems fair. But somehow companies move money like the "pea" in a shell game, from country to country, and tax burdens somehow disappear.
The very much needed infrastructure rebuild across the country will provide work at good wages in clerical and management in addition to physical labor. This may require fine tuning immigration as hiring is already difficult.
"Yesterday, he [tfg] demanded to be made president or to have a do-over of the 2020 election; today, after constant reposting of conspiracy theories and defenses on his ailing Truth Social, he wrote: “Why are people so mean?” It's high time for this infantile behavior to stop, NOW! Today! Enough is enough! Hopefully someone has started to sew the orange jumpsuits, not only for tfg but his henchmen and paid minions, especially those who are calling for violence instead of peace.
Yes, the threats against our people and elected and volunteers for many public services should have extremely high penalties to nip bully behavior in the bud. Merrick, please, get the indictment of the flambé soon before he finishes frying our country (and our minds) any further.
Oh my. That was my first 45 record that I bought with my allowance! I sang that over and over and over. Hearing the words again--so powerful, must have helped to shape who I am as I took them to heart and they still ring true. And man, do they fit today's American nazis who care nothing but create social injustices. Lynell, you are magical for remembering songs that reflect the human condition through decades, or maybe just humanity in general. That is a song we should all sing to the rethuglican party and their cult.
Henry Higgins! Love that movie. Love the song "Just you wait 'enry Higgins, just you wait..."
This is a short description of Higgins of Magnum:
"Higgins is known for his tendency to ramble when someone asks him a question. He usually manages to relate it to a story in either Korea or World War II, but sometimes other events. In one episode, when he is being robbed by people in costume, he says, 'I believe I've been in a situation much like this ... actually, no, this is a first ... but I read about something like this once.'"
The Big Turkey is regressing into whining adolescence or even infancy. I have always assumed he was badly abused as a -- no doubt -- bad child. Or maybe he is just a bad seed, born under a bad sign, though hardly ba-a-a-d! and certainly not bad-assed. I think an insanity defense is his only hope. Too bad for him.
Well, this is a kid who assaulted a teacher in first grade when she tried to admonish him for his behavior toward other students. At age 11, he was caught throwing rocks at a toddler in a playpen next door. So "bad seed" is certainly a hypothesis.
IMO worst case scenario for this nefarious narcissist would be for him to go quietly in the night and have all traces of his legacy erased. No news, no explanation. And meanwhile he is forced to sit in solitary confinement and watch the news 24/7 NOT talk about him.
TC, how the heck do you think of these kinds of mob boss endings? Are you Italian or something? Though I am normally passive, I am re-thinking the death penalty for traitors who harm an entire country, or planet, might be better off in a new incarnation to wherever it is we go. Put them out of their hatred and misery. The Golden Rule of Doing unto others, requires that you love yourself and others. Those who cannot love themselves (except narcissistically) cannot love others truly. That might be where the Golden Rule falls apart and must have a Plan B. That is what all children born need to have stable, loving homes to avoid these cretins bent on destruction. trump, hitler and putin —do any of them look happy? And thus they project that rotten core onto all others. Like most cult leaders who are about control and egocentricity, and trying to fill the black hole of their vacant beingness.
Pensa, watch the comments about Italian. A friendly reminder. Karma is ruled by the person’s actions. 45 is condemning himself to millions of lifetimes of suffering and misery because of his actions in this life and in past lives. Just sayin’….the “black hole of [his] vacant being-ness” is correct. He will suffer for more than we can even think about time-wise. Since I live in a “spiritual community” in India, I get to yak about this stuff. To total strangers….I hope you don’t mind. I read your comments carefully. You are thoughtful and on a path….
Thanks, I was hoping it was understood I am talking about the Italian mob here in American and also running Italy. I don't usually like to make huge brushstrokes in the way you read it with the exception of the rethugllican cult. Thank you for your thoughtful response, Elisabeth, as well as where you are located and the spiritual work you are doing!
I did understand. I know about the Italian mob from growing up on the streets of New York City. But, as you point out, “huge brushstrokes” are not always helpful or accurate. Capitalism runs everything, regardless of ethnicity, where you come from, how much money your family has or does not have, etc. We are all doing “spiritual work” as far as I am concerned, and exchanging here on Heather’s incredible place to share and enjoy life. No trolls, no creeps, no weird theories about reality that don’t exist. How refreshing! Thanks, Pensa.
"Vacant beingness." Darn, almost makes me feel some sympathy for him. For 3 seconds. But also why I spent a good chunk of my professional career working in maternal and child health. Of, course, his family was too rich for my type of services.
Funny. I read “Why are people so mean” and thought how perfectly he has given context to the picture of a whining toddler I’ve had in my head. It wasn’t just my imagination after all. He really has the maturity of a two year old. “Mine, mine, gimme”.
Should Trump need a safe haven he should place the Nevada Bundy Ranch at top of the list. Easy to reach, he would fit in well and apparently the only place on the planet that US law enforcement will not target.
There was something WRONG with him as a child. The stories about his behavior that eventually got him sent to military school are indicative of that. His constant lying and bullying to get his way, a trait that has never left him, is something that I suspect was handed down genetically from his loathsome father and then reinforced by watching the way his father behaved. It's pathetic to see that damaged child come out but we're way past the time that it elicits any sympathy. I hope that he can be kindly treated in prison.
I’d like the mirror to reflect a question back to the FPOTUS. “Why are you and your party of trump so damn mean?” You say you support law enforcement but you name as patriots and tourists those that attacked, maimed, killed and desecrated the Capitol on Jan 6th. How mean is it to say “we are the party of pro-law enforcement” but hold the troops back on Jan 6th so you can be pro-insurrection? You can’t be the party of law and order when violence again on the people is threatened this very week if the rule of law and order is upheld. And by the way… how mean is it to steal money to support your disgusting band of traitors from ordinary citizens who have pledged loyalty and their money to someone who coyly kisses the American flag at rallies but kisses the rings of Putin and Orban in dark rooms? Ewwww.
All you losers and posers. Your knickers in a knot because people are “so mean”?
You best call your nice Friends at Fox as they twiddle their widdles and make up new acronyms to denigrate Democracy. Not to be mean, but that Russian submarine can go f*ck itself.
My preference is for our duly elected President and Commander-in-Chief who is firmly in command.
Close up shop while you can, former. Before Melania sells off all the trinkets.
The party of meanness get off on blaming the victim, or anyone who calls them out. They are like kids who steal and eat a cookie, and then publicly complain that "someone stole a cookie, while suggesting a list of innocent "suspects". They glory in their contempt for their own accountability to anyone , proclaiming their indignant self-righteousness, as they transgress the very rules they accuse others of breaking.
😂, Lynell. I guess the “you are so mean” comment rattled the woodshed. My civility tolerance has been threatened. I’m getting on President Biden’s roll.
Yeah, efh. The former goes to rattle his sabre, but the scabbard is empty. So he says ridiculous things to stir it up.
President Biden, on the other hand, can and will immediately quell any uprising or insurrection with the forces at his command. That’s why I may feel afraid of the incessant and constant threat of violence from fringe paramilitary groups and the call to authoritarianism as existing threats, but I am not scared. The guardrails are in place once again. The former’s Twitter reign of terror damn near brought them down. We will not allow that again. Let’s secure that even more with our vote in November.
I give it a 20% chance that, after prompting from cronies, Trump will next try to say that, since that picture was taken with the appropriate cover sheets on the documents, no actual secrets were disclosed. <Queue the laugh track> . It IS true, if those cover sheets weren't present you couldn't publish that picture (also notice how many pages have been whited out. ONE word on a page can make it classified). It's also just amazing AF they have those docs all there, still with their bright yellow cover sheets on them screaming "Yoo hoo! TS//SCI information, right over here!" But if you listen to Michael Cohen (I rarely do, but when it comes to decoding Trump, I do) it makes sense--Trump wanted to show this stuff off like museum artifacts. Thankfully, I don't see any program names (those would be whited out too).
Just for reference, even INSIDE A SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) you can't just leave those documents lying around, say, at night when everyone goes home without those cover sheets (because, even in a SCIF, those docs can be from a program that not everyone with general access to the area has been read-on). Ordinary people have NO IDEA what a complete sh*tstorm big deal this is, NO IDEA.
How was trump able to take the SCIF docs to the White House in the first place? Without even an alarm recorded on a tracking sheet? That stuff all just disappeared without anyone knowing until it started turning up at NARA?
1. I'm not sure there WASN'T some sort of tracking that indicated exactly that for some of these things. But 2) I suspect those sorts of things are sometimes ignored in the WH; particularly in the Trump White House, I'm sure security people just got beaten down over 4 years by his continual insistence on doing whatever he wanted. These were docs that were brought to him in the Oval Office and then he took up to his residence (not allowed), then decided to sequester. It's pretty simple--he's the president; a man who relentlessly does whatever he wants to; and if rebuffed, fires people until he gets just the right sycophants. Frankly, it's amazing that, by 2021, there was even a Pat Cippolone left in the WH to say "no" about anything. It has already been noted that no less than John Kelly repeatedly tried to enforce discipline on such things and was only partially successful....and of course, eventually gone. We've seen numerous instances when the man WAS refused his indulgences on things...but he kept coming back to them. He's the child who just cannot be told no.
"the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act spurred investment in technology."
Poor Republicans. They have been trying (or so they say) to accomplish such things for over 40 years with corporate deregulation and tax cuts, and s o m e h o w it never worked.
I hope that if any of the Republicans running for office brag about the return of these companies or the jobs created by CHIPS and the other programs, their Democrats opponents are savvy enough to point out repeatedly that their Republican opponent and his or her colleagues voted against those bills.
We are far beyond the point of no return with what must be done with Trump. The Democrats know it. The GOP know it. More importantly he knows it. Yesterday's barrage of insane QAnon based tweets coming from him on his social media platform at the rate of over 60 in just the morning has laid bare the fact he is a detached from reality, desperate individual. If we can separate the man from the situation, for a moment we would call for an intervention for him if he were a neighbor or co-worker at this point. The chilling difference is he can call on his cult to cause violence.
Alas the man is the epitome of the big lies, lawlessness, and malignant narcissism of his entire party's leadership. They empower and protect him. They too are accessories to Trump's crimes, and will seek another would-be despot given the chance. Their whole dishonest playbook must face scrutiny.
Thank you for a piece that isn't so dark and dreary. I just finished watching "Rise of the Balsonaros" on WGBH, and it left me really depressed. The "Trump of the Tropics" has been leading the burning of the Amazon (the lungs of the world) and it looks like he, or his son, could remain in power for a long time. Any show that ends with Steve Bannon exulting over that possibility is terrifying. And the Brazilians are much closer to having a military coup than we are, as Bolsonaro has said he won't give up power if he loses the election. And I thought we had troubles...
Why is Bannon uncatchable? He and the slithering Farage have made this their sole occupation. I was going to say, life's work, but that has a tint of nobility which is entirely inappropriate. Farage is about to bestow himself on Australia - again - very glossy advertising, suntanned smile, no teeth showing, but the blurb mentions that he was the architect of Brexit, and an applauding Trump features prominently in the advertising. Who's that supposed to impress? We do have an idiot fringe, but I don't know if they'll want to spend $300 (cheap seats) or about $1400 for a 20-person private dinner - with champagne. His timing is a bit off - we've got rid of our trumpist prime minister and at the moment we're very happy with a new administration that's doing us proud, here and abroad.
Yes, Balsonaro is selling (out) all the timber to companies and the Amish who instantly clear all of the timber and sell it and plant soybeans. I mean every last tree.
For the first few years the cleared land produces, then, it stops raining because no tree ecosystem to support the sky.
So, those entities cut some more trees down and keep moving....clearing ever more forest.
Nobody is thinking about what happens when all of those forests are gone and nothing is producing oxygen into this closed atmospheric system ...... while we simultaneously continue to operate billions of cars pumping CO/CO2 into the air, coal fired power plants, (pumping same) natural gas fired power plants (pumping same) into that same closed atmosopheric system.
NOT to mention the 7.8 Billion PEOPLE who breath in O2 all day and breath out CO/CO2.
It could be really ugly in 100 years. Reminds me of a Twighlight Zone episode I saw as a kid where all of the oxygen had gone away (no cause was given). People starting to gasp......
But, hey, if we DON'T LOOK UP then it will all be OK, correct?
almost nobody anyway. It worries me.
We are headed toward the simple situation of someone walking out to their garage, closing the doors and windows, and cranking their car and waiting.
First, thank you for the link. I think (I hope this is right) that you are highlighting the fact that indiginous people populate the Brazilian forest and are the first line of defence against its clearing......and.....they might succeed. Correct?
If so, I am glad you are optimistic and I hope optimism is warranted.
However, a LOT of forest has been cleared and a LOT of indigenous people have lost their land already. Some groups have disappeared. They have very little power and very many enemies of trees who are very well funded.
I am not sure how to help them, but, I will find a link and donate hoping it is a legit link that you sent.
It is hard to fight big money Kathleen. Just look at our own Appalachian mountain range totally ruined by mountain top strip mining. Right here.
I hear you Mike - all to clearly - and honestly, I don't have much faith or confidence in anything ... except that life goes on - however fragile, delicate, and easily destroyed ..., life is resilient ... whether it is by the earth, or heaven and earth combined - the equation of energy and matter guided by clear intent and empowered dream - life goes on ....
And it's not just the indigenous people of the Brazilian forest - it is earth, and the forest itself - and all the elements combined - along with people from all over the earth who are working together to reimagine what life on this garden planet can be ... and the young - who always see more clearly and are open to change.
I am too well aware of the horrific loss of life - full spectrum - currently reading the book by Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz, "An Indigenous Peoples' History Of The United States" that states the truth of it in no uncertain terms ... the "blood sacrifice" of European immigrants justifying their claim to land as property does not come close to the loss of innocent life and blood of indigenous people, flora and fauna - the wholesale desecration of the sacred body of life laid waste in the quest for "freedom, wealth and progress" of "modern man."
What does give me hope is the fact that after so much loss, right here on this continent, indigenous people have survived - and are standing ever stronger today - cultural integrity intact ... they have the knowledge, skill and history of caring for the earth - for life itself - of managing the forests, of returning life to the land - along with people who study and practice permaculture - who see past the superficial, cosmetic materialism of modern times ...:
*******
We Can Do This Podcast: Healing Through Gardening with Dr. Vandana Shiva
I even see those who are invested in fossil fuels, oil pipelines and all the gawd-awful destructive, deadly industries are driven by a (poorly informed) vision of creating a more perfect world - a world of peace and order - believe it or not ... only, their dream is delusional ... and their methods will ultimately destroy them ... only, life will go on ....
What it will look like - what it will be - is being determined today - by the vision we enact - which is why people like you matter so much - clearly aware of the shortcomings - bold enough to speak the truth - sensitive enough to share it in a way that invites people so afraid of change to look up from patented illusions and maybe - just maybe open minds and hearts to a deeper truth - rooted in life and love - rather than fear based hatred and death dealing ways.
At least, that is how it looks to me.
... well, that said, I have to go for now - need a bit of sleep, and on with the day ... wishing well, ka
I saw that broadcast. Bolsonaro is not exactly Trump but their personalities and methods rhyme. John Adams claimed that “While all other Sciences have advanced, that of Government is at a stand; little better understood; little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.” Certainly despotism is an ancient plague. I suspect we need to understand it more deeply, on the level of our own human nature, to have any hope of escaping the curse.
Perhaps government could go substack, modernize, and be THE reflection of the will of the people. I feel like most of our leaders win their election to insure their goodie bag (grab bag) and guarantee of prosperity living in tall cotton. They don’t care about their constituents once they have achieved perpetual wealth.
We need to take a hard look at how we might democratize the public conversation. This blog is one such model, but it is a gated community, with a fee to discourage bots and trolls. We as a society have grown lazy about enforcing public sentiment to honor sincerity as a matter of principle and condemn fraud and lies. We cannot know for certain that we are correct, but lies are a choice.
Prominent Republicans now lie openly and outrageously, with a rhetoric that betrays the fact that they know they are lying, to an extent that I think would have troubled even Nixon. Democracy thrives in good faith, and can withstand lies, but if and only if We the People have the integrity to hand liars a red card; within our own cohort as well as our opponents'.
There were and are politicians who, though flawed and human, display sufficient integrity to be entrusted with profound civic responsibilities if held accountable. Modern campaigns however are often a "medicine show"; this not new but perhaps exacerbated by modern mass media. Big Lies and "dirty tricks" have always corrupted and afflicted society, but we can be a lot smarter and more ethical about weeding them out.
As we each do all we can to live in the solution as opposed to the problem, here’s a timely book I wholeheartedly recommend: “Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet” by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Tonight’s letter makes me so happy! Maybe we can turn things around. I know we have lots of work to do at the state level—all across the country. But this feels hopeful. The head of the snake is thrashing about with very little to no venom. 😁
One more thing for any Democrats living abroad - or anyone knowing Democrats living abroad - it is vital to vote. It was those of us abroad who put Biden over the top. It is so easy to vote this way. Go to VotefromAbroad.org for your absentee ballot for Americans. Thank you ❤️🤍💜
Delighted to read your commitment to vote while overseas, Gailee! Spent much time away as well… but I must correct this declaration, “It was those of us abroad who put Biden over the top.”
Joe Biden won with 7 million more votes than the stomping, romping, enraged troompa-loompa. That’s from many never-before, occasionally only, regular, everyone kinda voters. And from a small, but equally vital, overseas voters. Thank you for your civic engagement!
Condescension was not my intention. Please accept my apologies. My point was that we threw the bum out by a wide margin, made up of so many of us from everywhere.
Leslie & Gailee, Hoping no one misinterprets my intentions, I write to underscore, had 33,000, give or take, Biden voters from Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin voted for Trump, Trump would have been President. Because I imagine none of us expects electoral reform in the foreseeable future, I mention this disturbing fact lest we forget.
Thank you for today’s letter. Biden’s speech and his rediscovered feistiness is welcome news. The announcements from many large corporations to build new facilities in the U.S. is welcomed news, too. But the news of the DOJ laying out a timeline of the government’s efforts to recover secret intelligence documents and the former guy and his attorneys stonewalling efforts to recover them was a fine exclamation point on the day’s news.
Why are people so mean? It’s likely because they are tired of dealing with a mendacious blowhard who wouldn’t recognize the truth if he fell over it, who walks out on paying his bills, who stole Top Secret documents, whose businesses have repeatedly gone bankrupt, who is a con man, and who (despite claims that he is a billionaire) is constantly begging for money from his supporters, . . .
It will be a hot time in the old town the night he is indicted and arrested.
Thank you for dedication to democracy and the rule of law.
It is the proverbial cry of evangelicals who have operated under white tents (now big auditoriums or churches) for decades. He adopted this from them. Remember the famous photo of them all surrounding him in “deep” prayer? They are hawks who prey upon the ignorant, the innocent.
I think Trump is a spy. Think back remember when he announced that his meetings with Putin would be just him alone with Putin. " so they could have confidential exchanges " Reflect on Trump braggadocio assertions about how much money could be made on a presidential bid and if one got elected. Remember Trumps on going project deals in Russia around the world.
I think Trump took those document to trade their contents with foreign powers in exchange for future accommodations for deals he planned to make, in or out of office. You have to wonder how much classified material he has already traded to Putin the Saudis the Israelis, the North Koreans to further his development schemes in those countries or god knows what else.
I think Trump is a guy without the normal grasp of right and wrong. He is a greedy maniacal narcissist, incapable of guilt. He's nuts! And the tragedy is that we new that long before he was elected, and nobody took it seriously. Nobody cared! Even trump was amazed. ""I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?"
What the hell is wrong with Americans, with American media, and American Republicans, that they let this Maniac remain loose to run for and be elected President of the United States? Just getting rid of Trump won't fix that.
There is something far larger that needs fixing. something or some conspirators, who saw that nut job as useful, people willing to expose the nation to all the risks of what he might do, in order to disrupt our democracy , rewrite our constitution, and install a "Permanent Republican Majority". Single party rule, like Russia, like China, tyranny, Those are the people who plotted the overthrow of our government and belong in Jail. The trail leads all the way back to 1970 and Lewis Palmer and memorandum detailing ideas that launched a half century long corporatist conspiracy that eventually planned and funded an attempt to over throw the government of the United States.
I am pretty sure that doing that is against the law. And Trump is a chump compared to those guys.
Despite the enumeration of mighty promising ventures, the line that struck a nerve was the bit from the Wall Street Journal that noted, “this re-shoring will not necessarily translate to blue collar jobs, as companies will likely increase automation to avoid higher labor costs.” Upon reading said statement, my mind traveled back to the dawn of the millennium and to the tens of millions who had been the victims of modernity’s unevenly distributed opportunity and prosperity largely due not only to the shift in manufacturing from high-to low-wage countries which, indeed, drove down wages but also, and I believe more importantly, to the rapid technological changes that increasingly had rewarded higher-educated workers over the less skilled.
I suppose I raise this point because nothing I’ve read has helped answer the question as to whether the chaos we are living through is the beginning of something or the end of something. Nonetheless, I am certain of one thing: a principal challenge for America today is whether it will continue to deny, evade, and avoid the emergence of ancient tribalisms that have been revitalized under the aegis of an uncontested, unevenly distributed runaway wild capitalism.
“We should do away with the absolutely specious notion that everybody has to earn a living. It is a fact today that one in ten thousand of us can make a technological breakthrough capable of supporting all the rest. The youth of today are absolutely right in recognizing this nonsense of earning a living. We keep inventing jobs because of this false idea that everybody has to be employed at some kind of drudgery because, according to Malthusian Darwinian theory he must justify his right to exist. So we have inspectors of inspectors and people making instruments for inspectors to inspect inspectors. The true business of people should be to go back to school and think about whatever it was they were thinking about before somebody came along and told them they had to earn a living.”
Kristen, Considering that Buckminster Fuller died in 1983 and that in 2022 42.5 million Americans (13.4%), in the richest nation in the history of the world, live below the poverty line—conditions I find immoral— I advise, in the interim, we seek more plausible remedies, for example, recognizing that capitalism, though a reasonably productive system, isn’t very good at distribution unless wedded to social democratic institutions which regulate and contain its excesses and moderate its self-serving impulses.
Kristin, I would like to share that there are many reasons why a person may choose not to work for a salary: maybe because they are able to financially survive through other means but I would like to add that working, even if a job is not enough for an individual to survive without assistance really can fill a great void.
Work itself has great value to the individual engaged in work that is necessary for the wellbeing and survival of self or family. Attitude has a lot to do with the individual. The ability to work with a team, other people who are part of a businessis online or inperson is of great benefit emotionally, and intellectually.
I agree that not everyone is able to work as we think of work for an income but we need to do all we are able to do as a caring nation to help everyone be encouraged to do something. This is work itself to care for and to encourage our fellow Americans who struggle with mental or physical issues . Work is a part of our make up as human beings. Everyone benefits from doing something...giving a smile, a touch of a hand, a sign, etc.
For those who desperately need assistance, we should always be there for our fellow man or woman but also if possible to find some means of employment or work. It is healthy!!! It is caring!!!
I agree with you completely, Emily. I’ve worked both for money, and worked for no money but for the satisfaction of helping people. If there was universal income, many of us could do a lot more to contribute to society instead of always worrying how one will survive.
The Buddha taught that seeing beginnings and endings—the arising and passing away of all conditioned forms—is a vital step in developing the understanding that nothing exists apart from interdependent, cause-and-effect relationships.
Thank you so much for this, Jeff. The Heart Sutra sets this out so powerfully. Having committed it to memory has helped me cope with the roller coaster of challenges these times bring.
“No birth, no death
No being, no non-being
No defilement, no immaculacy
No increasing, no decreasing.”
As we do all each of us can to support truth and shed light on mendacity and disinformation, exercising our franchise, we do well also to work to stay grounded and centered.
Jeff, As one who feels the emotional weight of our country’s (and the world’s) troubles without so burdening myself that I would despair of ever being able to change things, whatever your philosophy, it feels entirely divorced from my summoning the will to contend with repeated frustrations and setbacks before making significant progress.
Also, a significant number of jobs will be created in the process. You have to construct the plants. You have to build the manufacturing infrastructure and maintain and operate it. So much of robotics now is in reality ‘robotics assisted’.
Jeff, Presuming your reply is valid (which I believe it is), I would add, in my view, that no democracy can survive with a working/middle class so devalued and aggrieved that it is willing to accept any authoritarian option seeming to offer, in its view, a modicum of social and economic equity. I raise this point relative to the Journal’s indication that the desired effect is to “avoid higher labor costs.”
My guess is that to CEOs, zero labor costs are ideal. Labor is seen as an unnecessary burden, or as a less than desirable burden. If Amazon could find ways to automate picking, packaging, shipping stuff that would replace the human element, they would. Eventually, they will. If Starbucks could make the customer a triple latte…without a barista, they would
Jeff, Aside from your latest comment bearing no logical connection to your previous one, I would note that my concerns rest with workers presently living precariously from paycheck to paycheck, wherein family income, often, only is sustained by more people working longer hours and still weighted down by mortgage debt, credit card debt….
Were the two comments supposed to have a logical connection? I understand and am aligned with your concerns. 21st century American capitalism is driven, in large part, by the desire of ever increasing stock value. This narrow focus tends to negate any possible concerns that corporate might have for labor. Corporate America is short sighted, with little long term views on the health and well being of the country or its citizens. It lives quarter to quarter, and success is measured in that way.
Jeff, I agree completely and merely would add that it’s past time we take seriously the civic responsibilities of corporations. There must be prescribed forms of public accountability for institutions that have a disproportionate amount of wealth, power, and influence. This is not a matter of maligning corporations, but an issue of democratic survival.
Well I suppose we could focus on high quality education, to promote a thinking populace, encourage and support those choosing trades that are hard if not impossible to completely automate, think creatively about the future of work, promote and support arts and scholarly work that generate new ideas.....
Jan, Stated a bit differently, if one believes, as I do, that the preservation of democracy is threatened by real economic decline, low quality of life, constant fear of violent assault and cruel insult, and the like, then within a democratic society, contrary to autocracy, questions about these matters must be continually raised and pushed.
Unfortunately you are right - robots don't complain, work 25H/day, won't join Unions, and other than initial cost and maintenance, require no salary, health benefits, insurance and, shock horror, vacation pay. What's to go wrong? (snark).
Barbara, That is also the line that stuck in my mind. This will certainly give the uneducated and those unwilling to better themselves by learning new skills something to whine about. Well all I can say is they've been given plenty of notice. Time to Learn Up!
Jeanne, I decided to redraft my reply to you. Starting with the overall actions of the mainly white, non-college educated, largely rural MAGA Republicans, I certainly can appreciate your portrayal of this crowd. Still, as I stated to Jan Kriebs, who is part of this thread, because I believe the preservation of democracy is threatened by real economic decline, low quality of life, and the like, then within a democratic society, contrary to autocracy, questions about the government’s role in the lives of people who have been limited and confined by the opportunities afforded or denied them must, in my view, continually be raised and pushed.
Okay, I think I see what's going on here. Heather is putting these pieces together long before the news outlets and official statements are putting them together, which is why tonight's second-half (about the purloined documents) sounds like an echo of stuff we've already heard. We have heard it before, thanks to Heather's excellent narrative work.
The second half of this letter is a (MUCH) more crisp capture than otherwise exists anywhere that I have seen, of some past information.
Writing the theft of documents in such a crisp format has enabled me to send the letter to my Republican friends. Up to now, it was hard to send them stuff because the information is so lengthy and complicated and Trump and Fox and AM radio are spinning it so hard with simple sentences.
So, I have sent this to my Republican "friends" and contacts. Short, clear paragraphs that a 5th grader could read.
Thanks Dr. Richardson.
Most 5th graders are a cut above any MAGAt
Funny comment to be sure Jeri. 😊😊
Seriously. This letter is THE most clear and short presentation that is Also fact based that I have seen anywhere.
Agree!
Yeah. I get the feeling that most MAGAs read at a third-grade level. To steal an old joke, two of the best years, of their lives, were spent in grade three.
Ooh, ouch, U.S.D.
The truth hurts, don't it?
Everything Dr. Richardson writes is just right on target. It's the best recap of news that I see all day, and, as a retired journalist, I read a lot of stuff.
Yes, best recap and I also enjoy the historical references....
I have a question about rump requesting a special master that I invite anyone here to answer: What business does he have to do this over government documents that are not his?
Narcissism?
The first argument against the request for a Special Master states clearly that tfg has no standing to file this request. We'll see how his chosen judge reads that but she's certainly taking her time.
My take on her rulings so far is that she's doing what she can to shield herself against the kind of violent reaction from certain elements who also are scaring elections officers and poll workers away from their jobs. Maybe she's mapping out her escape route and safe house if she denies tfg a Special Master.
Thing is she doesn’t have to do sensationalism. “Just the facts ma’am”.
Yes. With information, always write for 5th graders.
About 50 years ago, I took a Journalism class in HS. This was the first time to my recollection that I gave any recognition to political parties and that they were different. Using the Chgo Tribune and SunTimes, we learned that the Chicago Tribune was a Republican paper and the Chicago Sun-Times was a Democratic paper. I also learned that the format of the paper was geared to the reader: ie, the SunTimes was a magazine format that was easier to read on the bus, train, or at the diner. The Trib was the longer traditional format that could be spread on a large desk or at a large dining room table.
I was also taught that the reading level of the Trib was 8th grade, and the SunTimes was 5th grade. We studied identical stories in each paper, comparing sentence structure, paragraph lengths, vocabulary used.
(I became a newspaper reader, and a huge fan of Mike Royko. It was huge news when he jumped ship to the Trib.)
I comment on this because while I am a big Obama fan, I did sometimes think he was speaking above the level of the masses, although sincerity and message came through. Tfg seems to communicate at about 2nd grade reading comprehension, this in itself is telling as (IMHO) there is such a gap between the traditional GOP and the Trumpers!!
I have great hope for Biden's speech tomorrow. Those on the right like to complain that he speaks too slowly (ignoring his remarkable accomplishment over stuttering). In my view, I hear tfg yell out a few words, pause, repeat and wait for applause and think to myself "do they really think he is communicating better than Biden?!?" While Biden will often refer to the struggles his father went through, tfg whine on about "poor me" endlessly. If ONLY the more moderate GOP and all Independents would listen, they might find that Biden is accomplishing exactly what we all want, a better America. (although the GOP only seem to want it for some Americans)
Yes, and in the late 1980s, I took a class in expository writing. There, I learned that the new style for journalism had become “build the narrative”. This literally meant that fiction could become the new reality. When I questioned the professor (senior level class) how a reader could understand the facts of a story, he looked at me rather sadly and said: “that is the problem, and I don’t know the answer”. Now, 40 years later, we can all see — not only where that school of thought went, but what it’s tenets led to.
Wow, Patricia. This explains a lot about what happened to journalism in the last 40+ years. Thank you!
Be sure and look at my clarification note above. “Expository writing is the writing of facts rather than conjecture. Back in the WWII era, this tactic was known as “Double talk”.
valuable to know about, Patricia! getting this background is always helpful (at least to me). when we're dealing with media presenting 'info' that just seems ridiculous or out-of-whack ... i used to think it's just my inability to sort it out. only in the relatively recent past have i finally recognized these tactics... are deliberately intended to confuse and obfuscate. thank you for 'exposing' the expository style of journalism.
One example - maybe a simple one - is the difference between what the headline shouts out (!) and what the facts (hopefully) of the story are. Sometimes complete opposites. If someone only looks at the headline without reading the story - as I believe many of the DJTs followers do - they never ever "get" the truth. Sadly, thats not just on Faux, or Newsmax.
“Expository writing” is actually is writing interesting facts about a person, place, or thing. Expository writing presents readers with important research and information about a topic. Expository writing gives facts and information about a topic. This is why the introduction of “develop a narrative” was so devastating to facts. It was the birth of “alternative truths” in my opinion!
Agree, Suz. I blamed myself for being confused.
Good point
😔
Thank you all for the kind comments, but in all honesty, I had a great teacher! I was very fortunate to have her class. She also sponsored the school newspaper and one class was to write a "letter to the editor" of the paper. A number of them were published. Who knew that parents read the school newspaper and my letter about the smoking in the bathrooms would cause a kerfuffle with the PTA calling the administrators!! (Ah, first sweet taste of the power of the pen!)
Can you just imagine if this was being taught today? Would certain subjects be off limits?
Kudos to your great teacher, Miselle. Kudos to you for passing her teachings on to us!
good questions, Miselle. seems like there oughta be some version of this lesson that could be taught today without getting into trouble. for sure some subjects would be off limits... however, it might matter how they were approached. bet there are ways to teach the principles she taught you without creating trouble.
what if it were taught using subjects that aren't considered controversial.. like sports or arts or food or fashion or film or hiking or gardening or travel or retirement, yadda, yadda. maybe? might take a little longer to find different perspectives on same topic for comparison. the basic concepts she taught would still be there.
isn't it shocking to first experience how influential your writing can be? so empowering for you as a high school student!! what a treasure of a teacher!! she was brilliant.
I tried to like this but it didn’t work. I think you have made so clearly exactly what needs to be said! I agree about Obama, I also think of him with great regard but he was almost too cerebral.
I wish I had had your journalism class in my HS. Thanks for you insight!
Miselle, both parts of your comment are so interesting. The first part informed my understanding of how different papers write a column. Thank you! The second part is what I was trying to convey in my post above. Your assessment about the two speakers, IMO, is so accurate. Again, thank you!
what a great course, Miselle!! thank you so much for sharing how it was taught and what you learned from it. good insights that would be valuable for most students to learn.
Miselle. Thanks for the analysis of the two papers. Interesting for sure.
I was just guessing and it is likely that Dr Richardsons writing in the last half is above fifth grade.
I just meant it is crisp, clear and amenable to most literate adults and youth …
Even Republicans.
😊😊
Amen!
What a wonderful comment and story. I too was a Royko fan. Second grade? You give the Magats too much credit. Try “ come,sit,heel”
Readability is not the same as intelligence or grade in school. The smarter writing may actually be the 5th grade level, and may be much more difficult to compose. Clarity and conciseness count more in politics and business than in literature. And never should our goal be to insult or demean the reader.
"How to Ace the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
"Knowing the answers to a test can feel like cheating, but in the case of the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test, it’s just plain helpful. The test mainly takes two factors into consideration:
"The total number of syllables in a word
The total number of words in a sentence
Shorter words are easier to understand. Shorter sentences are easier to follow than longer sentences. Let’s look at a few examples:
A. “The urbane activity with which a man receives money is really marvelous, considering that we so earnestly believe money to be the root of all earthly ills, and that on no account can a monied man enter heaven.”
B. “I wish I could show him what sort of man I am.”
"Example A is a line from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Due to its wordy nature and long-winded sentences, this line is rated on an 18th-grade reading level. In other words, this line seems to only be easily readable to those with a post-graduate-level college education. The entire book is scored as being on the reading level of a college graduate.
"Example B is from The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. This line is rated as being on a 1st-grade reading level. The entire book is rated as being on a 4th-grade reading level. The book also won the Pulitzer's Prize for Fiction in 1953.
"The grade level of these literary classics does not take away from their genius. However, The Old Man and the Sea is seen as a delight to read while reading Moby-Dick is seen as a reading feat.
Boy Howdy on this one, MaryPat! Some of the articles I read are definitely in the Example A column. In fact, I end up having to read a sentence two or three times before I get the message. Lots of times I just quit reading it!
I suspect there are more The Old Man and the Sea readers than there are Moby Dick readers.
When reading a newspaper, I prefer The Old Man and the Sea style. It's easier to get through the paper. Since I subscribe to 4 right now, it can be very time consuming.
I also wish we had the old style journalism that presented who, what, when & where in the first paragraph. Why was the rest of the article.
That’s the old style I was taught in the journalism class I took at Michigan in 1970. Also “just the facts”, different papers had different slants in what they chose to print and/or stress, but editorializing was limited to the editorial page.
Yes!
Yes!
I'm with you on that Lynell. Sometimes I would think I was not bright enough to get at the root of the meaning. Even after looking up words that were unknown to me.
Yes. (Husband was a reading specialist so I have some insights.) I actually couldn't get into Hemmingway either, though. I think it's because his sentences don't dance.
LOL, MaryPat!
But the pictures his words build......
Following the trajectory of thought by the writer is challenging in a 6 line sentence. It forces us to think....often critically. Love it!
Punctuation properly applied can make all the difference. Some excel at it; others, not so much!
I used that same readability formula years ago when I wrote a column for our school newsletter. I was told to aim no higher than sixth grade if I wanted it read...which was the point! In a way, it's like writing poetry - one carefully selects words with the most punch and meaning to keep the word pictures clean and clear.
Yes!
Mary Pat.
In using fifth grade as the benchmark in my comment I really just meant any adult or youth reader could comprehend Dr Richardsons second half summary of all the mess Trump created with the documents.
I honestly have no idea what level it was but it was clear and I sent her writing far and wide.
Wonderful!
Not much humor in The Old Man and the Sea ( a lovely book); lots of humor in Moby Dick, which needs to be reread often as I found it delightful also.
The only thing missing is the coloring book... for Trump.
No way he could concentrate long enough for a coloring book Herb!!
You are so right. LOL!
LOL!
It occurs to me that comedians who become politicians are successful because they have honed the ability to get an audience's attention, hold it for the millisecond that is the attention span of the average person, and deliver a distilled message that is deliciously digestible. All without the receiver having to do anything! I think we all like that Heather does so much that's similar for us; we just have to read her précises (sp?), and they're always brilliant.
Mike, good that you sent it! If they can understand, good. If not, well, that is what The People expect from idiots....I have several relatives, sad to say, who speak the devils’ tongue. OMG
Elisabeth,
Folks just have limited time and bandwidth. Dr Richardson made it short and sweet today.
It did my heart good to hear Bill Barr clearly state that ALL of the documents are government property, classified or not, and do not belong to tfg -- in a clip from Fox on MSNBC.
Yep. These historians. Such sizzlin’ detectives.
Salud, Joseph. 🗽
This is true. I was going "But we already knew the timeline!" Yeah, *we* did, but a lot of USians didn't.
I was thinking that too. Why didn’t I hear this stuff on PBS?
I'm so glad Biden is out there touting his agenda. The Technology Initiatives by Biden, you've listed, seem to be taking hold. We are moving forward while the maga people are just stirring up more $#!t to feed to their hungry base.
And as for that picture of those sensitive documents laying spread out on the floor, showing the evidence. How does this dude get away with this stuff? Thank you for the news HCR.
I am so glad Biden is going “Jean-Luc Picard” and not accepting an outcome that has not happened yet. Apologies to those who don’t get the reference. Watch the season 2 finale of Star Trek Picard. However for those who don’t have Paramount +, it involves fighting to the end. Something I wished Democrats would have done in 2010. They had significant accomplishments to tout at the time. If they would have fought to the end, the time between 2010 and 2022 would have been quite different. They accepted a “shellacking” was coming and did little to dissolve it.
The ‘shellacking’ was inevitable. Obama was trying to get bipartisan anything done and pulling the sides together was a huge goal. He did get Affordable Care Act passed, a miracle all on its own. The scuttled immigration legislation and so much more taught the Democrats how the Republican goal was to prevent any legislation getting passed, regardless of its benefit to the country. President Biden saw all this up close and personal. Fool me once!
And the ACA would not have happened if Nancy Pelosi had not convinced Obama (still naive about Republican politicians' obstructionist goals) that the Rs would not work with him and therefore the need to pass the ACA anyway, to abandon the hope of bipartisan support. It wasn't going to happen. Obama has acknowledged her major role in persuading him and getting it passed.
As Ari Melber pointed out last evening on MSNBC: racism is and has been the glue for the GOP. The JayZ poem was multi-layered and a 1619 on its own. I hope someone sends it to DeSantis with Ari Melber’s explication.
Whenever anyone insults Nancy Pelosi, I imagine all over again what it must have been for her to get that bill passed. And how Hillary Clinton tried and failed. When Obama is blamed for anything he didn’t do, I think of Mitch McConnell’s dinner meeting the night of Obama’s inauguration when he got Republican senators together to destroy a black man’s presidency.
Now I wonder if we can get enough Democrats elected to get corporate taxes back to reasonable, unions strengthened, universal service to America restored in some form(s), public transportation popularized to help the war on climate change, public schools funded by tax payers, teachers decently paid and appreciated, etc., etc. In short, can we get our democracy back or will machines, corporate greed unchecked by SCOTUS, and fear of the future destroy US?
DeSantis should always be asked if he is a born bigot or if it's a life style choice.
I remember John Boehnor , when elected Speaker, with tears in his eyes, declaring something to the effect that his one purpose in life is to make Barak Obama a one term president. This was followed without any logistical or rational reason that I can remember so I just thought of the obvious ?
Thanks for writing just what I was thinking! Pelosi continues to be the critical operative for the Party, look what she did with the Jan 6 investigation!
Pelosi is an old hand and is not naive at all about how Rs operate. I am glad Obama took her advice. It is clear that Rs have not been reasonable people for a long time and certainly do not merit the label of patriots. So many of them have ignored the oath they took to the Constitution. I know how they are and yet I am sometimes amazed at what comes out of their mouths. Just read a NYT article which says some of the docs were found in death star's desk. Probably for study as to which ones would gain him the most money.
Plus the original Patriots wore blue.
I've read that Pelosi helped Obama , a great deal, with ACA. That Pelosi is an awe inspiring woman.
Pelosi is a truly great politician.
He had to compromise a lot to get the votes of Joe Lieberman's and the blue dog democrats. Lieberman was just a tool for the insurance companies.
Wow !
Yeah, I think President Obama had a bit of naivete. He figured 'I'm smart so I'll show these folks a logical argument and they'll be glad to back it.' It took him a while but he finally saw what he was dealing with and Joe saw it also.
Especially at the time Democrats had decent majorities. Imagine what Biden could do with 2010 Majorities
💙
The immigration legislation deserved to be scuttled. It would have more than doubled legal immigration, to the equivalent of one and a half New York States per decade, if I remember correctly, without doing a thing to stop illegal immigration, despite the fact that E-Verify was already being used by hundreds of thousands of companies. Between that, and O's efforts towards DAPA, I predicted we'd lose the Senate in the midterms, as we did. Not to mention losing the presidency to the former guy, who ran on immigration as his signature issue.
The Affordable Care Act, as you say, was a miracle, and probably improved millions of lives.
They were buried in bull Schitt.
We couldn't afford it then and we def can't afford it now !
I assume the documents are spread out like that to be photographed for forensic purposes, and to chase away roaches drawn to McDonald's residue.
I came across thinking they were spread that way when they found them.
Anyone know for sure??
Another blog had a comment from someone who has worked in the field and stated that photos are taken first before handling any evidence. The ruler being an addition to the "crime" scene. They want to be able to present the evidence in court as it was found.
I found that photo chilling.
And splattered ketchup on the walls....
Hmmm. Was there any ketchup on the docs???
only if it was in WH... never at his precious MaL
Is Mal short for malignant??
Actually it's MaL-Mar-a-Lago.
Yes, that works too,
From when he got testy.
LOL!
NYT reported that three of the classified docs were found in desks in his office. Belies the narrative of passivity.
Top drawer, yes. Unbelievable. What, so he could look at them every day? I’m sure that’s why. Sicko.
It looks like an FBI agent put documents from that box on the floor to photograph them as part of documenting the search. That’s why some docs have protective blank cover sheets. Trump apparently had these government secrets mixed in with his souvenir magazine covers.
Right.
Jared can read.
Therein lies the depth of my worries about those docs. And his 2 billion dollar "investment" from the Saudis deepens it further.
Somebody had to help Trump pick out which documents to steal. Jared would be a good bet, along with Steve Bannon and Roger Stone, among others.
Yup.
Mostly the news is good, about the companies coming back to the US, jobs in the future for many now unemployed, we hope those jobs will pay well. Automation may “steal” some of the possible employment, but it all seems hopeful. Fossil fuels must be eliminated for energy needs and production of electric vehicles makes real sense. But the documents are troublesome and what he did with them is even more so. I will flip out if we eventually learn the scumbag sold data, intel, names, gossip to our enemies. And maybe to our friends. Sure seems like he was pawing his way through everything. That little detail about the pile of highly classified papers interspersed with framed Time Magazine covers made it very real. Obsessed only with himself and his illegal and treasonous way to gain and hold power is the lesson here. Let’s fire him into prison. You’re FIRED!
"Automation may “steal” some of the possible employment, "
Our plate is pretty full, but this is one I think we would be wise to keep an eye on. Self driving cars, even if not quite ready for prime time, (but out there anyway) are definitely not your father's automation, and equipment that can in some cases fully and successfully run itself, does not, by definition, need an operator; unlike job-providing production machinery of the industrial revolution. AI appears to have the potential to cut into many more employment categories, making inroads into more skilled trades and professions; interpretive radiology for example.
Authoritarian nations are already using high tech in Orwellian ways. The cat is out of the bag for high technology, but I think it would be foolish not to think about how this emerging technology can be applied for both good and ill, and how it may impact traditional social and economic patterns in ways we can be proactive about or passive. Where do we want to end up and what would it take to get there?
I too have mixed feelings about automation and the growth of AI. I am the type that doesn’t use self-checkout at stores because I want to support the human cashiers.
I would like to know who and where the robots/automatons for any type of production line venture are being created and built. That too may be an industry that needs to come back to US shores.
In the past the US companies have moved off-shore and the companies were happy to do that for two big reasons - cheaper labor and to escape environmental regulations - giving us cheap products and a poisoned world. If we bring industries back to the US we have a lot of work to do on the Environmental Protection side of this equation.
I worked in hospital labs for over 40 years. When I started, the first laboratory automation, the Coulter Counter (which automatically counted and sized red cells and white cells) was being used. We had to manually count platelets under a microscope with a "clicker". Soon, a platelet counting machine came into use, and automated cell differentiation machines.
I can't possibly convey to the general public what these advances meant, even most doctors don't realize as they sometimes would come down to the lab. I believe this 100%: modern medicine would NOT exist without automation! A CBC (Complete Blood Count) in the mid 70s took hours. Now, about 60 seconds. I could expound upon the myriad automated machines and how they give meaningful results almost in real time; indeed, at our lab, blood test results were delivered within 30 minutes FROM TIME OF DRAW such that clot busting drugs could be administered to stroke victims within the 60 minute window. And that included an ER person literally jogging about two blocks in the huge complex with specimen in hand.
In an aside, medical laboratory technologists (now called Medical Laboratory Scientists) are a dying breed--HIV scared a lot of them away in the 80s. More opportunities for females came in the areas of physicians, and nursing paid much, much higher wages. Some went into forensics as CSI made it look so appealing (and the lab is NOTHING like CSI to the surprise and remorse of some student interns that I taught!) Radiology advances stole a number of potential employees away. The lab worker shortage is unknown to anyone except labs. This is a very serious issue which at some point will need to be addressed. Medical labs have automated to the point where it is doubtful more automation can be done, but without the current automation.......I can't even imagine how many millions more would have died during the worst of COVID.
Miselle thank you for telling your story and bringing to light the changes in your field and the issue of a shortage in lab workers. I learned something new today from you.
Thank you, Karen. This was a very serious problem with COVID. There is a lab test called the "D-DIMER" which in many medium sized hospitals might run about 5-10 a day. I had just retired right before COVID, but my friends told me our large complex which normally ran about 50 or so a day now was running about 100/shift. And the results were so out of range that our automation couldn't handle it, techs had to make manual dilutions to run. (That in itself is problematic as machinery will almost always replicate better than individual techs, even the same tech at different times. Be assured though that medical labs are highly regulated and we were all tested on all aspects of our job, at very least monthly, usually even more frequently!)
Medical lab work is fascinating to any who have knowledge of healthcare. Any current physicians, nurses, or others reading this: might want to call down to your lab and ask if you can have a tour. Many hospital labs offer tours during mid April when Medical Laboratory Week occurs. And if by chance you are a CEO/upper admin in a hospital and you have not visited your lab, shame on you. Do it today.
😲
Automation and technology in general are fantastically powerful kit of tools, one that keenly fascinated me from the age of three or four. We reap benefits our forebears could not have dreamed of by it's means. But I think the profit motive alone will not insure that it is always used to society's benefit. It can be used to control and destroy as well as heal and it can result in social and environmental changes I think we would be wise to try to anticipate and guide best we can. To enjoy democracy, we have to keep the immense power of applied science from being dominantly controlled by too few hands.
China uses it to control.......maybe not destroy yet. Does automation destroy creativity? The intersection between freedom of expression and technology is waiting for some stop lights.
Yes, which means we must elect wise leaders
“Because power corrupts, society’s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.” – John Adams
Great example of the importance of automation. States with all this new tech industry should spend some of the $$$ on the education of their populace - duh!
Thank You Miselle. All these decades in nursing (and even running a few samples to the lab) I never got the full picture before. Maybe time for a hospital medical laboratory TV drama.
Thank you for this view into the real world of the lab.
Karen, do you also seek out full service gas stations, instead of pumping your own gas? My point being that losing jobs like gas station attendant and check out cashier to automation is not a bad thing. Those attendants and cashiers will likely find better jobs. So not to worry. :)
I do miss a full service gas station. The attendant filled the tank, washed the windshield, checked the oil all the while exchanging pleasantries and news about the going’s in our community. Does that give you an idea of my vintage? ;)
It may be true that attendants and cashiers will find a better job. My question is what constitutes a better job? Until we as a society establish a level playing field for employees and embrace Environmental Protection the “better” part is yet undefined.
I’ll bet I’m older than you. I remember when gas was 30 cents a gallon :) I had a favorite gas station attendant, too, he was great at doing all the stuff you list. As for automation and jobs…55 years ago I worked on a truck farm. Right about this time of year, we’d start picking potatoes. A tractor pulled the harvester, which dug into the row as the tractor drove, and scooped up potatoes, vines, rocks, weeds etc onto a chain conveyor. A bunch of us stood on either side of the conveyor as the chain wizzed by, and picked out everything but the potatoes, which dropped into bushel baskets at the end of the conveyor. Every once in a while somebody would get injured, a cut, or a broken finger. And our backs and legs ached badly by the end of the day. Yesterday on my Instagram, a small farm I follow posted a Reel of their new automated potato harvester in action. No people picking weeds or rocks, they are replaced by automated arms. That’s progress. I would never go back to picking rocks and weeds.
No reason to go back, nor can we as a practical matter. But we are charting our life, not watching a movie, so looking ahead is in order. Imagining the future is only an educated guess and life is full of surprises. Yet cautiously and observantly, identifying reliable patterns from the past, we can make better than random guesses about the future.
New technologies are rooted in this process, and so too "wisdom", individual and national requires it. So far projections of waste gas induced global heating have proved to be a pretty good map, mostly underestimating the pace of the changes. It seems to me we need to be examining all supportable possibilities in order to influence best outcomes.
I recall hearing over 50 years ago the number of patchcord telephone operators that would be needed to operate the US telephone network as it then existed, and it was absurdly huge. Huge racks of clattering electromechanical relays had taken over that function, since replaced by microprocessors. That's a very good thing. There is no incentive to go back. Performing that function by hand would require an army of employees, but doing useless work, and doing it more slowly and less accurately.
That said, digital technologies are developing at an accelerating pace. Replacing far more skilled job categories will surely be possible. Should we just take on faith that worthwhile jobs will emerge from unprecedented developments? Who gets to decide how society will adapt? Just entrusting ultra-wealthy "Job Creators" to create meaningful (or any) jobs for employees that they would rather shed has not worked very well for all of the people so far, and it is not unthinkable that future circumstances may tend to make this worse. Fortune favors the prepared mind.
Wish we had been a little more prepared for the last 6 years.
I 'm sure it is more complex than I know, but it seems to me that by moving US manufacturing to China lawmakers and capital knowingly helped despotic China to become a world security threat in terms of dependencies and financial clout. Like "road rage", greed blinds the brain to compassion, wisdom, and even national interest, yet anything for a profit has been the mantra of plutocratically sponsored Republicans since Reagan. Trump epitomizes how soul-destroying greed can become, and yet he remains their champion.
Barcodes took over many jobs. But we like them.
".... and equipment that can in some cases fully and successfully run itself, does not, by definition, need an operator; unlike job-providing production machinery of the industrial revolution."
Oh, I don't know, JL. I see a real parallel between this new shift toward automation and that production machinery you reference. Think for example what it would look like today if farming were still human labor intensive, or if cars were built by hand.
As far as what it would take to make the shift positive, I believe it would take development of lower cost sustainable energy like sun power which includes wind turbines and efficient solar power, followed by fusion reactors. We are headed briskly in those directions now.
Finally, zero population growth across the planet, though that could be an asymptote established by how fast the above advances progress. There's still plenty of land available to support a much larger human population; we just need technology and free energy to do it. And not to destroy ourselves or our planet before we can get there.
But think of the fantastic future this could create for our species (and all the others)! No more need. No more toil. No more wars....
Approaching Zero population growth is easy, once women are educated, and have rights.
You'll have to speak to Amy Coney Barrett about that, Lynn :-)
Just that thought makes me nauseous.
Coney Island, LeMoine? I loved your comment, btw. Are you a monk?
Lynn, you must also educate the men. Maybe them first.
I disagree. They've had their chance(s)
Well, do they get a “one millionth” chance? Oh god.
California’s making vasectomies free!!! 🤩🤩 The entire nation should follow. It’s the right thing to do. Simple office procedure.
LOVE this
We need trees so we can breathe. The trees need land. Lots of it.
LeMoine, I love this observation....
"No more toil. No more wars...."
It's not out of the question, but we'd have to do some soul searching. As far as abandoning the aid of advanced technologies, I don't think that any appreciable number of people want to do that. But technology is a human power and power tends to corrupt. How we apply our technological powers will make a huge difference, which is the point I am trying to make. An ordinary kitchen knife can cut up veggies, or kill.
First, your name has me high “on the mountain,” revisiting my French studies and recent trip to that “beau pays.” Second, thanks for teaching me a new word — asymptote!
At this point we need reader (and Texas Hill Country League of Women Voters President) Cathy Learoyd to weigh in on the benefits of measuring a country's success in terms of The Well Being Index instead of GDPs.
isn't that the REAL measure??
YES
Yes!
Fanciful predictions from years ago that computers would put everyone out of work proved to be wildly overstated. Think of how many jobs both the hardware and software industries have been created in the last decade, producing goods and services that people would not have anticipated. Automation may initially result in the loss of jobs involving repetitive tasks, but there will be opportunities for people to program, maintain, and repair automated equipment... as well as jobs created in related and spin-off industries.
Automation has been slow to catch on in the construction industry, so I think it'll be awhile before we see massive changes in the skilled trades. Sure, maybe robots can be used to build houses, but there will always be a need for people to handle more specialized or customized (and less dangerous) tasks that aren't so easily automated. It's more likely that humans will work alongside robots, not that robots will replace people in skilled trades.
I remember how computers were going to do away with PAPER documents! And THAT was many many years ago - judging from what I'm still seeing - thats something else thats "slow to catch on" anywhere - including in the healthcare industry!
And the IRS...
Oh yes - well, pretty much any large entity, to be honest! Government OR private.
"...but there will be opportunities for people to program, maintain, and repair automated equipment... as well as jobs created in related and spin-off industries...It's more likely that humans will work alongside robots, not that robots will replace people in skilled trades**"
In theory yes, but I invite you to look at the number of people phased out of manufacturing and industry in the US rust belt and coal belt then discuss the "success" of reeducating/retraining them. Consider the tens of thousands of mostly women who worked as 0 operators and 411 Operators who, beginning in the early 2000s, began to be replaced by audio response. I witnessed thousands of women and men lose jobs with decent pay and benefits as offices closed around the US. Did they find employment with the same level of pay and benefits? A great many did not.
Too, consider the appalling trend to remove science and critical thinking from the K-12 curriculums. No, I do not share your vision of a rosy automated future. Isaac Asimov, way back when, didn't either.
** I believe you are dead wrong.
Daria, you cite certain things that leave me wondering. How did you “witness thousands of women and men lose jobs with decent pay and benefits as offices closed around the US“. What makes you think that there’s an “appalling trend to remove science and critical thinking from the K-12 curriculums” when exactly the opposite is true? There’s a nation-wide movement to strengthen and emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in public schools. I have witnessed this first hand, I’m a high school teacher. You and Ellen are both right about robots replacing jobs. Robots eliminate some jobs, and create other, higher value jobs for programming and monitoring. The jobs created are fewer in number than the jobs eliminated. You’re also right that there’s been little success in retraining coal and rust belt workers. The main reason is that there hadn’t been a concerted effort to do so. Another reason is that, absent a willingness to move, similar quality jobs may not exist in those same locales. Overall, there are promising trends. Unemployment is historically low, demand for workers is high and the result is that wages and benefits are starting to grow. Also, national support for unions is higher than it’s been in decades.
JR, I worked for a major telecom in mid level management. In 1998 there were literally thousands of Operators employed by the company. With a merger, the company grew even more. Beginning in 2000 Operator and Information Services Technology introduced what was called a whisper, the operator heard the customer's request before the operator greeted the customer. The goal was that the Average Work Time would drop significantly, from 25 - 30 seconds per call to under 12 seconds per call thus boosting productivity and eliminating the need foras many warm bodies to take calls. Dropping the AWT also meant that the Call Wait Time could be significantly reduced thus pushing more customers through the pipeline faster. BEFORE this technological rolled out , in the late 90s, the Telecom executives went to the Communication Workers of America and hammered out a new contract for new hires from about 1997. The Agent Services contract was bare bones featuring low starting pay with a low top pay ceiling. Paid and unpaid leave was decreased. Overtime pay was also reduced. Healthcare benefits were excellent at first but became less so as time went on. What was unknown to the Traditional side of the house was that their contract was going to be phased out either by office closures, forcing the Traditional Contract Operators to move into an Agent Contract Office at REDUCED WAGES or having them apply for other positions with no guarantee of employment. So, the Agent offices opened, the technology was introduced and fine tuned, the Traditional offices were closed. As the technology became more advanced the need for warm bodies dropped. More offices closed until all but one Agent office remained, then it closed. No there are no more Union contract employees in Operator and Information Services. The company used a very low number of exclusively non contract employees to handle calls. It does to this day. So, yes, when I say I watched thousands of people lose their jobs, I mean it. I was involved in breaking the news to employees that their office would be closing on thus and such date. I was on conference calls where hundreds of people were surplussed at a time. I was surplussed as well, as were other members of upper, mid and lower levels of management. On a mass conference call of hundreds.
Science and critical thinking in schools: perhaps you are lucky and live in an area where the school district is not run by a conservative bunch of people who believe that science is the devil's tool. I'm glad. I hope, too, you teach in a district where conservative, faith based crap isn't being dished out in history and social studies classes.
Unemployment is historically low, and there are thousands of jobs out there but many of them are low paying service industry jobs where, in some cases, the starting wage of 12 or 15 dollars an hour is still not a living wage. And, as for moving from the rust/coal belt to an urban area with available jobs, tell me how, logistically, that's supposed to happen? These are not people who are head hunted and offered relocation benefits. And the jobs? What are they and how many jobs will one person have to have to pay rent, utilities, food, transportation etc? The problem with the, "well, just move" concept is that it's frequently suggested by, white professionals who have no idea what it's like to be poor and have few marketable skills. And you are right, there are very, very few if any quality local jobs for rust belt/coal belt workers and we have done a terrible job retraining and or educating them. They have been left behind.
Historical changes tend to benefit some and burden others, but the devil is in the details. How recoverable are the losses some suffer, and what is the aggregated impact on society? That can be a toughie even from the view of liberty and justice for all, and devastating when maximizing profit is the dominating yardstick.
I am loving this discussion.
Daria, I did not state that there will be no economic displacement, nor did I imply a "vision of a rosy automated future." My point is simply that technological change does not have a universally negative impact on employment.
But where is it written that we have to limit our lives to “gainful employment” (I.e “work”) in order to be fulfilled, or even to survive? As several here have alluded, for every job eliminated by automation, several more are created, and in areas that no one could have predicted. Skilled machinists are replaced by CNC programmers that used to stand all day at a lathe, plus the people that designed and built the automated equipment, the people that installed and maintained it, the people that are planning for the next generation of automation and so on. It’s tempting to say that “oh yeah, you’re talking about a few elite people with the brains and education to do that, but what about the rest of the population that isn’t so fortunate”? Use your imagination. Relieved from the drudgery of “having to struggle to make ends meet” individuals can be freed up to gain specialized skills in areas we cant even imagine. Just transport yourself back 150 short years and imagine someone is trying to explain to you an industry like commercial aviation, employing huge numbers of people from executives and management at United Airlines and Boeing to all the workers in those industries, the pilots, flight crews and service workers, travel agents …. I could go on but you get the picture. And not to wax “utopian”, but lets say robotics and AI eventually replace all of those workers. What’s wrong with the idea of humans finally being free to pursue uniquely human pursuits? The arts, literature, music, or just gardening if they feel like it. By that time we may be colonizing Mars and beyond. Plenty of room out there for the rugged individual. Westward HO! (And hopefully the indigenous people see us coming this time.)
Except for your very last concept of *colonizing* anywhere (as it's been practiced so far) ... i couldn't agree more, LeMoine. AI can be used for benefit of all or not... and often we see some of each.
We do need to think bigger than trading every precious moment of our lives for money that gives someone else the options for exploring, learning, creating or just being. People in other countries live these values and raise their kids that way.
Let's measure 'success' on a Well Being Index for a change! That does mean a complete shift in how we live, what we value and how we treat each other. Not a short term process, given where we are in this country. A much rosier future COULD be ours...
I was being "tongue in cheek" at the end, Suz. I don't advocate colonizing in any form. I suspect there's plenty of room out there for all.
"What’s wrong with the idea of humans finally being free to pursue uniquely human pursuits? The arts, literature, music, or just gardening if they feel like it. By that time we may be colonizing Mars and beyond. Plenty of room out there for the rugged individual. Westward HO! (And hopefully the indigenous people see us coming this time.)"
Sadly, you have swallowed the utopian dream. The only people who are going to be able to pursue uniquely human pursuits are the same ones who are doing so today.
💞
Nothing ever changes if no one ever envisions and strives toward something better. Gotta start somewhere. Big dreams have evolved so much in this world. If not, we'd all still be living in caves.
People need to be creative and feel productive (work). Otherwise they turn out like .............
I agree but we might want to think creatively about what being productive might mean. People fantasize about all the classic romances about the social trials of manor house aristocracy; and southern plantation mansions are a parallel in terms of "genteel" lifestyle, but of course that superficially "idyllic" life was based on human predation. Conceivably we could let technology handle the drudgery while we pursue more creative pursuits. Just maybe, since that's a very large order, may present unforeseen difficulties, and will face a lot of powerful enemies. But that's an very attractive route to explore. I just think we are better off anticipating what could be done right and what might go wrong.
A number of the people phased out of manufacturing and industry in the rust belt were working in abhorent and often dangerous conditions before automation. As told to me by a college friend who worked the line in summers to pay for his education, back in the day, the "Black guys" were put on the lower level of the assembly line, while the "White guys" were put on top. By end of shift, the Black guys were even more blackened by the dripping oil and debris that fell on them from the white guys above. Yet, my white college friend said he'd rather work below with the Blacks because they were happy, bragged about their beautiful wives, and were so fun to work with, while the Whites were mean and always whining about their bitchy wives. Hmm, can't remember the point of this story.
Got the point.
there's more to life than just being miserable to make money?
My experience, too! And music and dance!
this is something Andrew Yang talks about and a big reason he proposed UBI ...
Yes. When I was a freshman in college, (what, 52 years ago?!), our very popular psychology professor advocated for a society that provided a " guaranteed income" to every adult. That alone, he said, would ameliorate so many of the psychological problems he was going to describe. Even though I was an open minded hippie with long braids, I had my doubts. He was right. And it's about time we stop thinking it is okay to have cracks in our social fabric for folks to fall through.
oh my!! and you still remember his lessons... thanks for sharing that!
He was right.
Yes indeed.
I'm not sure that "Science" as a category of subject matter is being removed, but perhaps science as "critical thinking' has been weakened. I believe that underneath the catalog of discoveries that science produces, which is the view of science found on quiz shows and I think to some degree, definitions of "science literacy", is a disciplined empirical philosophy. Our mind manufactures experiential reality regardless of how well tethered it is are to careful observation and measurement, as current "GOP" narratives now show. People will often hallucinate under sensory deprivation. The scientific method is democratic insofar as it appeals to what anyone able to do so can observe and measure for themselves, something of which even children can do to a fair degree. Language literacy is knowing HOW TO USE written language skills, not just being able to describe them, and science "literacy" would seem the same. Jurors are commanded to pay attention to evidence, which is a component of scientific thinking. When MTG says something dubious, and you look up the record, that is a component of scientific thinking, even apart from the whole exhaustive, formal methodology of professional science. You don't have to be a pro to stumble though a game of football. Those invested in unsupportable views of reality will not be fans.
I know I oversimplify, but it seems to me that in my lifetime education has been pushed to be overly focused by the essential function of job training over life skills in general, to satisfy commerce. It is my impression that, from that commerce perspective, the aim is to produce uniform, interchangeable, and disposable DNA-based robots, to hold the line before steel and silicon based replacements can be readied.
Also overstated by media was value and impact of teaching kids a few lines of computer code. A flurry of undisciplined imaginings with the introductions of new technologies. The same was done with TV. But I think that some developments slip in under the RADAR, such as the full impact of unregulated private data collection and AI. Industrialization displaced but also created jobs building, maintaining and operating machines. Throughout most of their history, computers were number crunchers. A car that can self-pilot will someday not need a "driver". Companies are talking about self-driving trucks and passenger planes. That's not just a category job titles, it demonstrates the degree of skilled labor that may be replaced by such techniques, and many people insufficiently skilled as it is.
There are humane, ethical, democratic responses to these and other changes we are likely to face, but allowing the profit-centered "marketplace" to make all of those decisions is probably a poor strategy.
Automation has yanked jobs from millions of people; robotics in manufacturing, automated voice response systems, self check out, ATM machines, online chat bots instead of a help desk, parking lot park and pay kiosks, automated toll way systems, are all examples of how technology and automation have taken people out of the work force. We were told these changes would increase efficiency, enhance productivity and the overall quality of every day life.
I'm not saying technology in and of itself is bad, but bear in mind, every innovation mentioned above was researched, developed and designed to remove a human from a job and replace them with automation. Things will only become more severe as more and more people are nudged then pushed out of their jobs.
Daria, we got tea today, in India, during a monsoon downpour. My friend paid for two teas, twelve rupees, ONLINE at the kiosk on his debit card. Just unbelievable.
Who made the tea?
we need to prepare and train people for the NEW jobs technology brings... and it's a long term process. we also need to adequately support people who lose their jobs in the short term... and this is not how it works, unfortunately. that's one place we need to make huge changes that help.
I absolutely agree.
we're much too 'market' oriented rather than people oriented... and the human suffering this brings isn't valued or accommodated at all... and that is our problem.
easing ourselves into these new technologies takes time and adjustments, yet things change and evolve at such a rapid pace that most of us can't keep up.
keeping adequate education/training current and available so that next generations can adapt while their parents and grandparents can still live decent lives costs little $$ with huge benefits for all. UBI would help...
Amy Webb, the amazing futurist who writes for the WaPo, has many cogent thoughts on this topic, and if you prefer your thoughts to be shaped by fiction, Kazuo Ishiguru's excellent novel Klara and the Sun is a vision of a future with AI robots to be companions to our children. I watch my grandson engrossed in something on his mother's phone and think of Klara.
A spectacular book..........thanks for mentioning it here. By a great writer.
The purpose of automated driving is to monetize the American people. Shoshona Zuboff of the Harvard Business School, among others, has written about that.
Really good comment.......thanks.
JL, I love you.
Two “facts” regarding automated manufacturing returning to the US. First, the incentive of tax free manufacturing elsewhere will no longer lure American companies overseas. So regardless where those companies produce their wares, taxes will be paid here if the company is based here and subsidiaries of foreign based companies like LG will also pay taxes here. More taxes from businesses will generate more tax dollars for infrastructure investment here at home, along with reducing the tax burden of people like you and me. I don’t know about you but when I pay out a higher percentage of my income than a corporation like 3M (corp headquarters about 5 miles from my house; income in the billions) or Best Buy Company (corp headquarters about 11 miles from my house;) I get a little testy.
Second fact is that the US’s environmental standards are high, much higher than many other countries (though below others sadly). That means less air and water pollution produced from the creation of said products here than say those currently produced in Vietnam or even China. And even automated machinery requires maintenance - producing good jobs.
A third benefit that is huge in my opinion is that if the items produced only have to be shipped from Ohio to say Minnesota, then much less carbon will be emitted. That too is a win.
I am now hopeful I will be able to afford to install solar panels on my roof since shipping delays from China will no longer be a factor. As most of us here understand, it’s the climate crisis we HAVE to address. Now.
"So regardless where those companies produce their wares, taxes will be paid here if the company is based here and subsidiaries of foreign based companies like LG will also pay taxes here."
Finally. Tax gimmicks based on a fiction are just eyewink tax evasion. My understanding is if I make money in another country, I owe taxes there AND here, but get US tax credit for foreign taxes paid. That seems fair. But somehow companies move money like the "pea" in a shell game, from country to country, and tax burdens somehow disappear.
Absolutely yes.
YES!!!
The very much needed infrastructure rebuild across the country will provide work at good wages in clerical and management in addition to physical labor. This may require fine tuning immigration as hiring is already difficult.
Why are people so mean?
Because you're such an ignorant, worthless, scummy moron piece of shit TRAITOR, Lardo Lardass. That's why!
We want you swinging from a rope till your corpse rots off it.
Orange jumpsuit should be sufficient.
Kind of brutal, TC, but the man did pave the way for meaness.
He normalized it.
SO true! I can't believe he even asked the question.
"Yesterday, he [tfg] demanded to be made president or to have a do-over of the 2020 election; today, after constant reposting of conspiracy theories and defenses on his ailing Truth Social, he wrote: “Why are people so mean?” It's high time for this infantile behavior to stop, NOW! Today! Enough is enough! Hopefully someone has started to sew the orange jumpsuits, not only for tfg but his henchmen and paid minions, especially those who are calling for violence instead of peace.
Yes, the threats against our people and elected and volunteers for many public services should have extremely high penalties to nip bully behavior in the bud. Merrick, please, get the indictment of the flambé soon before he finishes frying our country (and our minds) any further.
"Why are people so mean?" Easy, TC!
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3axt4o
(You're welcome, Christine FL!)
Oh my. That was my first 45 record that I bought with my allowance! I sang that over and over and over. Hearing the words again--so powerful, must have helped to shape who I am as I took them to heart and they still ring true. And man, do they fit today's American nazis who care nothing but create social injustices. Lynell, you are magical for remembering songs that reflect the human condition through decades, or maybe just humanity in general. That is a song we should all sing to the rethuglican party and their cult.
Amazing how important music and other arts are for humanity, isn't it?
Honestly, Pensa; sometimes I remind myself of "Higgins" of Magnum PI fame regaling stories of his past when faced with current events!
Lynell, my beautiful Maine Coon cat is named Mr. Higgins as in Henry of My Fair Lady. I will have to check out "Higgins" of Magnum!.
Henry Higgins! Love that movie. Love the song "Just you wait 'enry Higgins, just you wait..."
This is a short description of Higgins of Magnum:
"Higgins is known for his tendency to ramble when someone asks him a question. He usually manages to relate it to a story in either Korea or World War II, but sometimes other events. In one episode, when he is being robbed by people in costume, he says, 'I believe I've been in a situation much like this ... actually, no, this is a first ... but I read about something like this once.'"
I remember the original Magnum - enjoyed it. The "re-dos" of far too many older series just dont really rate that high (speaking personally).
Ah, I see what you are referring to!! Thanks for the quick synopsis, Lynell!
Perfection song pic of the day, Lynell.
I do thank you. And hallelujah… I do care about you.
🗽🙋🏻🙋🏼🙋🏽🙋🏾🙋🏿
🌞🌞🌞
😁😁😝😝That’s perfect, Lynell!
Brava!
Thank You Lynell!!
The Big Turkey is regressing into whining adolescence or even infancy. I have always assumed he was badly abused as a -- no doubt -- bad child. Or maybe he is just a bad seed, born under a bad sign, though hardly ba-a-a-d! and certainly not bad-assed. I think an insanity defense is his only hope. Too bad for him.
Well, this is a kid who assaulted a teacher in first grade when she tried to admonish him for his behavior toward other students. At age 11, he was caught throwing rocks at a toddler in a playpen next door. So "bad seed" is certainly a hypothesis.
IMO worst case scenario for this nefarious narcissist would be for him to go quietly in the night and have all traces of his legacy erased. No news, no explanation. And meanwhile he is forced to sit in solitary confinement and watch the news 24/7 NOT talk about him.
Have to agree, this would grieve his putrid soul
And then buried under the floor of a low-class dance hall.
I was thinking stuffed in a garbage can then thrown out of an airplane somewhere a few hundred miles east of Bermuda.
Just cremate the mess. Don’t spend one dime on gas for an airplane or polluting the ocean with his putrid remains.
Hey - don't waste gas - there are lots of (politically unaffiliated) critters who would be quite unperturbed at chawing down on his remains.
Can't throw them in Lake Mead anymore.
Well, not and expect a splash. More of a sploof or a splup.
A plop!
🤣😢
Yep.
TC, how the heck do you think of these kinds of mob boss endings? Are you Italian or something? Though I am normally passive, I am re-thinking the death penalty for traitors who harm an entire country, or planet, might be better off in a new incarnation to wherever it is we go. Put them out of their hatred and misery. The Golden Rule of Doing unto others, requires that you love yourself and others. Those who cannot love themselves (except narcissistically) cannot love others truly. That might be where the Golden Rule falls apart and must have a Plan B. That is what all children born need to have stable, loving homes to avoid these cretins bent on destruction. trump, hitler and putin —do any of them look happy? And thus they project that rotten core onto all others. Like most cult leaders who are about control and egocentricity, and trying to fill the black hole of their vacant beingness.
Pensa, watch the comments about Italian. A friendly reminder. Karma is ruled by the person’s actions. 45 is condemning himself to millions of lifetimes of suffering and misery because of his actions in this life and in past lives. Just sayin’….the “black hole of [his] vacant being-ness” is correct. He will suffer for more than we can even think about time-wise. Since I live in a “spiritual community” in India, I get to yak about this stuff. To total strangers….I hope you don’t mind. I read your comments carefully. You are thoughtful and on a path….
Thanks, I was hoping it was understood I am talking about the Italian mob here in American and also running Italy. I don't usually like to make huge brushstrokes in the way you read it with the exception of the rethugllican cult. Thank you for your thoughtful response, Elisabeth, as well as where you are located and the spiritual work you are doing!
I did understand. I know about the Italian mob from growing up on the streets of New York City. But, as you point out, “huge brushstrokes” are not always helpful or accurate. Capitalism runs everything, regardless of ethnicity, where you come from, how much money your family has or does not have, etc. We are all doing “spiritual work” as far as I am concerned, and exchanging here on Heather’s incredible place to share and enjoy life. No trolls, no creeps, no weird theories about reality that don’t exist. How refreshing! Thanks, Pensa.
He is the epitome of vacant beingness, an attraction to others of the same ilk.
"Vacant beingness." Darn, almost makes me feel some sympathy for him. For 3 seconds. But also why I spent a good chunk of my professional career working in maternal and child health. Of, course, his family was too rich for my type of services.
Low Earth orbit - spacesuit and/or ship optional
TC, you have to take care of yourself and not have these kind of extreme fantasies. Just my take. Ignore at will.....
Not a good idea! Think of the toxic oil slick.
Joseph, I love low-class dance halls! Would never allow such a piece of trash to enter these sacred spaces....really.
The idea was more that he'd hate it, and never get any rest at all. But you're right.
🕺💃 cue West Side Story "America!"
https://youtu.be/O0coLMyaoPg
Thinking in his swamp!
As Biden says, violence is so inappropriate. It's never OK.
Funny. I read “Why are people so mean” and thought how perfectly he has given context to the picture of a whining toddler I’ve had in my head. It wasn’t just my imagination after all. He really has the maturity of a two year old. “Mine, mine, gimme”.
Should Trump need a safe haven he should place the Nevada Bundy Ranch at top of the list. Easy to reach, he would fit in well and apparently the only place on the planet that US law enforcement will not target.
Self-reflection is not in the orange spectrum as shade is required to disrupt the bright light produced by a ego the size of a metaphor.
There was something WRONG with him as a child. The stories about his behavior that eventually got him sent to military school are indicative of that. His constant lying and bullying to get his way, a trait that has never left him, is something that I suspect was handed down genetically from his loathsome father and then reinforced by watching the way his father behaved. It's pathetic to see that damaged child come out but we're way past the time that it elicits any sympathy. I hope that he can be kindly treated in prison.
And a ignored by a sickly mother.
And may I add, can you see President Biden saying “Why are people so mean?” I mean really and FPOTUS was leader of the free world.
Yes, this squeamish peacenik would help. Sorry but never has such a vile cretin ensnared so many fools for so long.
Jeri….
Saddam Hussein.
Idi Amin.
Pol Pot.
Stalin.
Hitler.
… and Hitler’s guy Himmler.
Many more murderous villains. Many many many more vile cretins who not only ensnared so many fools, but murdered so many innocents.
Perhaps harpooning and rendering for lamp oil. Let there be light.
Ha ha! But…Ewww- I think it would be anti-light. Sort of like a black hole!
Please though tell us how you really feel. ; ()
C'mon, TC, how do you really feel???
I’d like the mirror to reflect a question back to the FPOTUS. “Why are you and your party of trump so damn mean?” You say you support law enforcement but you name as patriots and tourists those that attacked, maimed, killed and desecrated the Capitol on Jan 6th. How mean is it to say “we are the party of pro-law enforcement” but hold the troops back on Jan 6th so you can be pro-insurrection? You can’t be the party of law and order when violence again on the people is threatened this very week if the rule of law and order is upheld. And by the way… how mean is it to steal money to support your disgusting band of traitors from ordinary citizens who have pledged loyalty and their money to someone who coyly kisses the American flag at rallies but kisses the rings of Putin and Orban in dark rooms? Ewwww.
All you losers and posers. Your knickers in a knot because people are “so mean”?
You best call your nice Friends at Fox as they twiddle their widdles and make up new acronyms to denigrate Democracy. Not to be mean, but that Russian submarine can go f*ck itself.
My preference is for our duly elected President and Commander-in-Chief who is firmly in command.
Close up shop while you can, former. Before Melania sells off all the trinkets.
United we stand. 🗽🇺🇸
The party of meanness get off on blaming the victim, or anyone who calls them out. They are like kids who steal and eat a cookie, and then publicly complain that "someone stole a cookie, while suggesting a list of innocent "suspects". They glory in their contempt for their own accountability to anyone , proclaiming their indignant self-righteousness, as they transgress the very rules they accuse others of breaking.
My goodness, Christine! I have a couple more cans of Shellac I can give you if you need them...
😂, Lynell. I guess the “you are so mean” comment rattled the woodshed. My civility tolerance has been threatened. I’m getting on President Biden’s roll.
Enough already.
🗽🙅🏻🙅🏼🙅🏽🙅🏾🙅🏿
Telll you what: I'll HOLD the cans of Shellac for you to dispense at your discretion...anything to help the cause!
Let’s roll! Smoking’ Christine!
Sizlin', Christine!
You nailed it, Christine.
Yeah, efh. The former goes to rattle his sabre, but the scabbard is empty. So he says ridiculous things to stir it up.
President Biden, on the other hand, can and will immediately quell any uprising or insurrection with the forces at his command. That’s why I may feel afraid of the incessant and constant threat of violence from fringe paramilitary groups and the call to authoritarianism as existing threats, but I am not scared. The guardrails are in place once again. The former’s Twitter reign of terror damn near brought them down. We will not allow that again. Let’s secure that even more with our vote in November.
Democracy and rule of law will prevail.
Salud! 🗽
I give it a 20% chance that, after prompting from cronies, Trump will next try to say that, since that picture was taken with the appropriate cover sheets on the documents, no actual secrets were disclosed. <Queue the laugh track> . It IS true, if those cover sheets weren't present you couldn't publish that picture (also notice how many pages have been whited out. ONE word on a page can make it classified). It's also just amazing AF they have those docs all there, still with their bright yellow cover sheets on them screaming "Yoo hoo! TS//SCI information, right over here!" But if you listen to Michael Cohen (I rarely do, but when it comes to decoding Trump, I do) it makes sense--Trump wanted to show this stuff off like museum artifacts. Thankfully, I don't see any program names (those would be whited out too).
Just for reference, even INSIDE A SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) you can't just leave those documents lying around, say, at night when everyone goes home without those cover sheets (because, even in a SCIF, those docs can be from a program that not everyone with general access to the area has been read-on). Ordinary people have NO IDEA what a complete sh*tstorm big deal this is, NO IDEA.
How was trump able to take the SCIF docs to the White House in the first place? Without even an alarm recorded on a tracking sheet? That stuff all just disappeared without anyone knowing until it started turning up at NARA?
1. I'm not sure there WASN'T some sort of tracking that indicated exactly that for some of these things. But 2) I suspect those sorts of things are sometimes ignored in the WH; particularly in the Trump White House, I'm sure security people just got beaten down over 4 years by his continual insistence on doing whatever he wanted. These were docs that were brought to him in the Oval Office and then he took up to his residence (not allowed), then decided to sequester. It's pretty simple--he's the president; a man who relentlessly does whatever he wants to; and if rebuffed, fires people until he gets just the right sycophants. Frankly, it's amazing that, by 2021, there was even a Pat Cippolone left in the WH to say "no" about anything. It has already been noted that no less than John Kelly repeatedly tried to enforce discipline on such things and was only partially successful....and of course, eventually gone. We've seen numerous instances when the man WAS refused his indulgences on things...but he kept coming back to them. He's the child who just cannot be told no.
Yes.
The response to the court says three documents were in desks in his office. “Lookee what I’ve got!”. Horrifying.
I dunno. What is worse than "horrifying"? It is incomprehensible to me.
"the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act spurred investment in technology."
Poor Republicans. They have been trying (or so they say) to accomplish such things for over 40 years with corporate deregulation and tax cuts, and s o m e h o w it never worked.
I hope that if any of the Republicans running for office brag about the return of these companies or the jobs created by CHIPS and the other programs, their Democrats opponents are savvy enough to point out repeatedly that their Republican opponent and his or her colleagues voted against those bills.
Every. Single. Time. Big billboards that publish that person's "no" vote.
J L,
Well said and EXACTLY correct. Keep saying it exactly like you say it here. Everywhere.
Well said JLGraham!
👍🏼
👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋 👋
Thank you Heather.
We are far beyond the point of no return with what must be done with Trump. The Democrats know it. The GOP know it. More importantly he knows it. Yesterday's barrage of insane QAnon based tweets coming from him on his social media platform at the rate of over 60 in just the morning has laid bare the fact he is a detached from reality, desperate individual. If we can separate the man from the situation, for a moment we would call for an intervention for him if he were a neighbor or co-worker at this point. The chilling difference is he can call on his cult to cause violence.
He needs to be shut down. Now.
Be safe. Be well.
Alas the man is the epitome of the big lies, lawlessness, and malignant narcissism of his entire party's leadership. They empower and protect him. They too are accessories to Trump's crimes, and will seek another would-be despot given the chance. Their whole dishonest playbook must face scrutiny.
With you, Sister.
Be safe as well.
🗽
Thank you for a piece that isn't so dark and dreary. I just finished watching "Rise of the Balsonaros" on WGBH, and it left me really depressed. The "Trump of the Tropics" has been leading the burning of the Amazon (the lungs of the world) and it looks like he, or his son, could remain in power for a long time. Any show that ends with Steve Bannon exulting over that possibility is terrifying. And the Brazilians are much closer to having a military coup than we are, as Bolsonaro has said he won't give up power if he loses the election. And I thought we had troubles...
Why is Bannon uncatchable? He and the slithering Farage have made this their sole occupation. I was going to say, life's work, but that has a tint of nobility which is entirely inappropriate. Farage is about to bestow himself on Australia - again - very glossy advertising, suntanned smile, no teeth showing, but the blurb mentions that he was the architect of Brexit, and an applauding Trump features prominently in the advertising. Who's that supposed to impress? We do have an idiot fringe, but I don't know if they'll want to spend $300 (cheap seats) or about $1400 for a 20-person private dinner - with champagne. His timing is a bit off - we've got rid of our trumpist prime minister and at the moment we're very happy with a new administration that's doing us proud, here and abroad.
James, good post.
Yes, Balsonaro is selling (out) all the timber to companies and the Amish who instantly clear all of the timber and sell it and plant soybeans. I mean every last tree.
For the first few years the cleared land produces, then, it stops raining because no tree ecosystem to support the sky.
So, those entities cut some more trees down and keep moving....clearing ever more forest.
Nobody is thinking about what happens when all of those forests are gone and nothing is producing oxygen into this closed atmospheric system ...... while we simultaneously continue to operate billions of cars pumping CO/CO2 into the air, coal fired power plants, (pumping same) natural gas fired power plants (pumping same) into that same closed atmosopheric system.
NOT to mention the 7.8 Billion PEOPLE who breath in O2 all day and breath out CO/CO2.
It could be really ugly in 100 years. Reminds me of a Twighlight Zone episode I saw as a kid where all of the oxygen had gone away (no cause was given). People starting to gasp......
But, hey, if we DON'T LOOK UP then it will all be OK, correct?
almost nobody anyway. It worries me.
We are headed toward the simple situation of someone walking out to their garage, closing the doors and windows, and cranking their car and waiting.
What could go wrong??
Hi Mike ... this could go right - very, very right ...:
NDN COLLECTIVE - Our Dynamic Resistance: Past, Present, Future
https://ndncollective.org/newsletters/august-2022-newsletter/
Kathleen,
First, thank you for the link. I think (I hope this is right) that you are highlighting the fact that indiginous people populate the Brazilian forest and are the first line of defence against its clearing......and.....they might succeed. Correct?
If so, I am glad you are optimistic and I hope optimism is warranted.
However, a LOT of forest has been cleared and a LOT of indigenous people have lost their land already. Some groups have disappeared. They have very little power and very many enemies of trees who are very well funded.
I am not sure how to help them, but, I will find a link and donate hoping it is a legit link that you sent.
It is hard to fight big money Kathleen. Just look at our own Appalachian mountain range totally ruined by mountain top strip mining. Right here.
I hear you Mike - all to clearly - and honestly, I don't have much faith or confidence in anything ... except that life goes on - however fragile, delicate, and easily destroyed ..., life is resilient ... whether it is by the earth, or heaven and earth combined - the equation of energy and matter guided by clear intent and empowered dream - life goes on ....
And it's not just the indigenous people of the Brazilian forest - it is earth, and the forest itself - and all the elements combined - along with people from all over the earth who are working together to reimagine what life on this garden planet can be ... and the young - who always see more clearly and are open to change.
I am too well aware of the horrific loss of life - full spectrum - currently reading the book by Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz, "An Indigenous Peoples' History Of The United States" that states the truth of it in no uncertain terms ... the "blood sacrifice" of European immigrants justifying their claim to land as property does not come close to the loss of innocent life and blood of indigenous people, flora and fauna - the wholesale desecration of the sacred body of life laid waste in the quest for "freedom, wealth and progress" of "modern man."
What does give me hope is the fact that after so much loss, right here on this continent, indigenous people have survived - and are standing ever stronger today - cultural integrity intact ... they have the knowledge, skill and history of caring for the earth - for life itself - of managing the forests, of returning life to the land - along with people who study and practice permaculture - who see past the superficial, cosmetic materialism of modern times ...:
*******
We Can Do This Podcast: Healing Through Gardening with Dr. Vandana Shiva
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ivRZqiJ0Zbc&pp=QAFIAQ%3D%3D
*******
PAUL HAWKEN - REGENERATION
https://regeneration.org
*******
DR. ZACH BUSH - FARMER'S FOOTPRINT
https://farmersfootprint.us
*******
FANTASTIC FUNGI GLOBAL SUMMIT
Voices From The Underground
https://fungiglobalsummit.com
*******
I even see those who are invested in fossil fuels, oil pipelines and all the gawd-awful destructive, deadly industries are driven by a (poorly informed) vision of creating a more perfect world - a world of peace and order - believe it or not ... only, their dream is delusional ... and their methods will ultimately destroy them ... only, life will go on ....
What it will look like - what it will be - is being determined today - by the vision we enact - which is why people like you matter so much - clearly aware of the shortcomings - bold enough to speak the truth - sensitive enough to share it in a way that invites people so afraid of change to look up from patented illusions and maybe - just maybe open minds and hearts to a deeper truth - rooted in life and love - rather than fear based hatred and death dealing ways.
At least, that is how it looks to me.
... well, that said, I have to go for now - need a bit of sleep, and on with the day ... wishing well, ka
https://tahomahome.weebly.com/prayer-for-america.html
This looks like a good resource:
https://www.wilderness.org/take-action
Kathleen. I have to re read your posts by appreciate your written depth and the links.
Thank you.
Sure thing Mike - I am happy and great-full to be able to converse ....
This too:
Visions for the Future: Voting, Organizing & Building Indigenous Power @Illuminative @NDNCollective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg91FURcUwE
You said it best
Thanks Jerry.
I just said it in a way that makes it clear what will happen.
I use this analogy with my Republican friends who think that the atmosphere is infinite and infinitely full of oxygen.
it is not. It is a tiny garage in the Universe of Space.
I saw that broadcast. Bolsonaro is not exactly Trump but their personalities and methods rhyme. John Adams claimed that “While all other Sciences have advanced, that of Government is at a stand; little better understood; little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.” Certainly despotism is an ancient plague. I suspect we need to understand it more deeply, on the level of our own human nature, to have any hope of escaping the curse.
Same brand! Three wives, five children, and his middle name is "Messias". When he went to Israel he had himself baptised in the Jordan.
Perhaps government could go substack, modernize, and be THE reflection of the will of the people. I feel like most of our leaders win their election to insure their goodie bag (grab bag) and guarantee of prosperity living in tall cotton. They don’t care about their constituents once they have achieved perpetual wealth.
We need to take a hard look at how we might democratize the public conversation. This blog is one such model, but it is a gated community, with a fee to discourage bots and trolls. We as a society have grown lazy about enforcing public sentiment to honor sincerity as a matter of principle and condemn fraud and lies. We cannot know for certain that we are correct, but lies are a choice.
Prominent Republicans now lie openly and outrageously, with a rhetoric that betrays the fact that they know they are lying, to an extent that I think would have troubled even Nixon. Democracy thrives in good faith, and can withstand lies, but if and only if We the People have the integrity to hand liars a red card; within our own cohort as well as our opponents'.
There were and are politicians who, though flawed and human, display sufficient integrity to be entrusted with profound civic responsibilities if held accountable. Modern campaigns however are often a "medicine show"; this not new but perhaps exacerbated by modern mass media. Big Lies and "dirty tricks" have always corrupted and afflicted society, but we can be a lot smarter and more ethical about weeding them out.
John Adams himself wrote a comprehensive analysis and history of governments before the 1787 convention. It is a google books free digital artifact.
A defense of the constitutions of the United States of America.
A very hard read. Well worth the effort.
As we each do all we can to live in the solution as opposed to the problem, here’s a timely book I wholeheartedly recommend: “Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet” by Thich Nhat Hanh.
I dreamed about him last night, or should I say had a nightmare. Decimation of the rain forest will kill us all, slowly
Not like.
He might like to have Bannon as a permanent guest.
Tonight’s letter makes me so happy! Maybe we can turn things around. I know we have lots of work to do at the state level—all across the country. But this feels hopeful. The head of the snake is thrashing about with very little to no venom. 😁
I love this visual! Biden getting things done while the culture warriors are throwing a hissy fit in the corner.
Time to cut off the head.
🗽
One more thing for any Democrats living abroad - or anyone knowing Democrats living abroad - it is vital to vote. It was those of us abroad who put Biden over the top. It is so easy to vote this way. Go to VotefromAbroad.org for your absentee ballot for Americans. Thank you ❤️🤍💜
Delighted to read your commitment to vote while overseas, Gailee! Spent much time away as well… but I must correct this declaration, “It was those of us abroad who put Biden over the top.”
Joe Biden won with 7 million more votes than the stomping, romping, enraged troompa-loompa. That’s from many never-before, occasionally only, regular, everyone kinda voters. And from a small, but equally vital, overseas voters. Thank you for your civic engagement!
You sound quite condescending. Don't bother to reply.
Condescension was not my intention. Please accept my apologies. My point was that we threw the bum out by a wide margin, made up of so many of us from everywhere.
Sorry to have caused umbrage.
Leslie & Gailee, Hoping no one misinterprets my intentions, I write to underscore, had 33,000, give or take, Biden voters from Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin voted for Trump, Trump would have been President. Because I imagine none of us expects electoral reform in the foreseeable future, I mention this disturbing fact lest we forget.
True true true!!
Thank you for today’s letter. Biden’s speech and his rediscovered feistiness is welcome news. The announcements from many large corporations to build new facilities in the U.S. is welcomed news, too. But the news of the DOJ laying out a timeline of the government’s efforts to recover secret intelligence documents and the former guy and his attorneys stonewalling efforts to recover them was a fine exclamation point on the day’s news.
Why are people so mean? It’s likely because they are tired of dealing with a mendacious blowhard who wouldn’t recognize the truth if he fell over it, who walks out on paying his bills, who stole Top Secret documents, whose businesses have repeatedly gone bankrupt, who is a con man, and who (despite claims that he is a billionaire) is constantly begging for money from his supporters, . . .
It will be a hot time in the old town the night he is indicted and arrested.
Thank you for dedication to democracy and the rule of law.
Let’s not forget separating children from their parents at the border and not keeping any records. Infinitely mean.
we could go on for days and days and still not put a dent in the list of reasons there are to be "mean" to the former guy.
"he challenged the Republicans on their claim to be the party of law and order, "
"I will fight to protect you — I am your president of law and order..." - DJT
Yeah, and I'm a billionaire prince who just needs you to send me a $1500 money order so I can access my billions, and share them with you...
Why does anyone believe this stuff?
It is the proverbial cry of evangelicals who have operated under white tents (now big auditoriums or churches) for decades. He adopted this from them. Remember the famous photo of them all surrounding him in “deep” prayer? They are hawks who prey upon the ignorant, the innocent.
I remember
So delicious to see him squirm. On the other hand I am dismayed by the possible damage done. I just hope the whole rotten lot of them go down soon.
Hoping Dems increase their hold on congress and there are more good changes to come.
I think Trump is a spy. Think back remember when he announced that his meetings with Putin would be just him alone with Putin. " so they could have confidential exchanges " Reflect on Trump braggadocio assertions about how much money could be made on a presidential bid and if one got elected. Remember Trumps on going project deals in Russia around the world.
I think Trump took those document to trade their contents with foreign powers in exchange for future accommodations for deals he planned to make, in or out of office. You have to wonder how much classified material he has already traded to Putin the Saudis the Israelis, the North Koreans to further his development schemes in those countries or god knows what else.
I think Trump is a guy without the normal grasp of right and wrong. He is a greedy maniacal narcissist, incapable of guilt. He's nuts! And the tragedy is that we new that long before he was elected, and nobody took it seriously. Nobody cared! Even trump was amazed. ""I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?"
What the hell is wrong with Americans, with American media, and American Republicans, that they let this Maniac remain loose to run for and be elected President of the United States? Just getting rid of Trump won't fix that.
There is something far larger that needs fixing. something or some conspirators, who saw that nut job as useful, people willing to expose the nation to all the risks of what he might do, in order to disrupt our democracy , rewrite our constitution, and install a "Permanent Republican Majority". Single party rule, like Russia, like China, tyranny, Those are the people who plotted the overthrow of our government and belong in Jail. The trail leads all the way back to 1970 and Lewis Palmer and memorandum detailing ideas that launched a half century long corporatist conspiracy that eventually planned and funded an attempt to over throw the government of the United States.
I am pretty sure that doing that is against the law. And Trump is a chump compared to those guys.
Lewis Powell’s memo.
Thanks, Carol, at 76 my memory is getting less than perfect.
There’s a lot of that going around.
Think Borgias and Medicis
Despite the enumeration of mighty promising ventures, the line that struck a nerve was the bit from the Wall Street Journal that noted, “this re-shoring will not necessarily translate to blue collar jobs, as companies will likely increase automation to avoid higher labor costs.” Upon reading said statement, my mind traveled back to the dawn of the millennium and to the tens of millions who had been the victims of modernity’s unevenly distributed opportunity and prosperity largely due not only to the shift in manufacturing from high-to low-wage countries which, indeed, drove down wages but also, and I believe more importantly, to the rapid technological changes that increasingly had rewarded higher-educated workers over the less skilled.
I suppose I raise this point because nothing I’ve read has helped answer the question as to whether the chaos we are living through is the beginning of something or the end of something. Nonetheless, I am certain of one thing: a principal challenge for America today is whether it will continue to deny, evade, and avoid the emergence of ancient tribalisms that have been revitalized under the aegis of an uncontested, unevenly distributed runaway wild capitalism.
“We should do away with the absolutely specious notion that everybody has to earn a living. It is a fact today that one in ten thousand of us can make a technological breakthrough capable of supporting all the rest. The youth of today are absolutely right in recognizing this nonsense of earning a living. We keep inventing jobs because of this false idea that everybody has to be employed at some kind of drudgery because, according to Malthusian Darwinian theory he must justify his right to exist. So we have inspectors of inspectors and people making instruments for inspectors to inspect inspectors. The true business of people should be to go back to school and think about whatever it was they were thinking about before somebody came along and told them they had to earn a living.”
― Buckminster Fuller
Kristen, Considering that Buckminster Fuller died in 1983 and that in 2022 42.5 million Americans (13.4%), in the richest nation in the history of the world, live below the poverty line—conditions I find immoral— I advise, in the interim, we seek more plausible remedies, for example, recognizing that capitalism, though a reasonably productive system, isn’t very good at distribution unless wedded to social democratic institutions which regulate and contain its excesses and moderate its self-serving impulses.
Kristin, I would like to share that there are many reasons why a person may choose not to work for a salary: maybe because they are able to financially survive through other means but I would like to add that working, even if a job is not enough for an individual to survive without assistance really can fill a great void.
Work itself has great value to the individual engaged in work that is necessary for the wellbeing and survival of self or family. Attitude has a lot to do with the individual. The ability to work with a team, other people who are part of a businessis online or inperson is of great benefit emotionally, and intellectually.
I agree that not everyone is able to work as we think of work for an income but we need to do all we are able to do as a caring nation to help everyone be encouraged to do something. This is work itself to care for and to encourage our fellow Americans who struggle with mental or physical issues . Work is a part of our make up as human beings. Everyone benefits from doing something...giving a smile, a touch of a hand, a sign, etc.
For those who desperately need assistance, we should always be there for our fellow man or woman but also if possible to find some means of employment or work. It is healthy!!! It is caring!!!
I agree with you completely, Emily. I’ve worked both for money, and worked for no money but for the satisfaction of helping people. If there was universal income, many of us could do a lot more to contribute to society instead of always worrying how one will survive.
Took me a while to warm up, but I liked Bucky
Both an ending and beginning
The Buddha taught that seeing beginnings and endings—the arising and passing away of all conditioned forms—is a vital step in developing the understanding that nothing exists apart from interdependent, cause-and-effect relationships.
Thank you so much for this, Jeff. The Heart Sutra sets this out so powerfully. Having committed it to memory has helped me cope with the roller coaster of challenges these times bring.
“No birth, no death
No being, no non-being
No defilement, no immaculacy
No increasing, no decreasing.”
As we do all each of us can to support truth and shed light on mendacity and disinformation, exercising our franchise, we do well also to work to stay grounded and centered.
Yes!
Hence, the chaos we are living through is “[b]oth an ending and beginning”?
Indeed!
Jeff, As one who feels the emotional weight of our country’s (and the world’s) troubles without so burdening myself that I would despair of ever being able to change things, whatever your philosophy, it feels entirely divorced from my summoning the will to contend with repeated frustrations and setbacks before making significant progress.
Jeff, Unless you clarify what you mean, I can’t comment.
Also, a significant number of jobs will be created in the process. You have to construct the plants. You have to build the manufacturing infrastructure and maintain and operate it. So much of robotics now is in reality ‘robotics assisted’.
Jeff, Presuming your reply is valid (which I believe it is), I would add, in my view, that no democracy can survive with a working/middle class so devalued and aggrieved that it is willing to accept any authoritarian option seeming to offer, in its view, a modicum of social and economic equity. I raise this point relative to the Journal’s indication that the desired effect is to “avoid higher labor costs.”
My guess is that to CEOs, zero labor costs are ideal. Labor is seen as an unnecessary burden, or as a less than desirable burden. If Amazon could find ways to automate picking, packaging, shipping stuff that would replace the human element, they would. Eventually, they will. If Starbucks could make the customer a triple latte…without a barista, they would
Jeff, Aside from your latest comment bearing no logical connection to your previous one, I would note that my concerns rest with workers presently living precariously from paycheck to paycheck, wherein family income, often, only is sustained by more people working longer hours and still weighted down by mortgage debt, credit card debt….
Were the two comments supposed to have a logical connection? I understand and am aligned with your concerns. 21st century American capitalism is driven, in large part, by the desire of ever increasing stock value. This narrow focus tends to negate any possible concerns that corporate might have for labor. Corporate America is short sighted, with little long term views on the health and well being of the country or its citizens. It lives quarter to quarter, and success is measured in that way.
Jeff, I agree completely and merely would add that it’s past time we take seriously the civic responsibilities of corporations. There must be prescribed forms of public accountability for institutions that have a disproportionate amount of wealth, power, and influence. This is not a matter of maligning corporations, but an issue of democratic survival.
Well I suppose we could focus on high quality education, to promote a thinking populace, encourage and support those choosing trades that are hard if not impossible to completely automate, think creatively about the future of work, promote and support arts and scholarly work that generate new ideas.....
Jan, Stated a bit differently, if one believes, as I do, that the preservation of democracy is threatened by real economic decline, low quality of life, constant fear of violent assault and cruel insult, and the like, then within a democratic society, contrary to autocracy, questions about these matters must be continually raised and pushed.
Unfortunately you are right - robots don't complain, work 25H/day, won't join Unions, and other than initial cost and maintenance, require no salary, health benefits, insurance and, shock horror, vacation pay. What's to go wrong? (snark).
Hugh, I could take up a lot of space answering your question, but I expect it was meant to be rhetorical.
Barbara, That is also the line that stuck in my mind. This will certainly give the uneducated and those unwilling to better themselves by learning new skills something to whine about. Well all I can say is they've been given plenty of notice. Time to Learn Up!
Jeanne, I decided to redraft my reply to you. Starting with the overall actions of the mainly white, non-college educated, largely rural MAGA Republicans, I certainly can appreciate your portrayal of this crowd. Still, as I stated to Jan Kriebs, who is part of this thread, because I believe the preservation of democracy is threatened by real economic decline, low quality of life, and the like, then within a democratic society, contrary to autocracy, questions about the government’s role in the lives of people who have been limited and confined by the opportunities afforded or denied them must, in my view, continually be raised and pushed.
Check out Marianne Williamson Substack writing today. She addresses this very question beautifully.
Donna, Thank you for the reference. I will write back later tonight once I’ve had a chance to read Williamson’s Substack.
Donna, Reading Williamson helped to clarify some of the replies on this thread. Thanks again for the reference.