Heather sadly leaves out the one most salient fact:
The tens of millions who voted for the convicted criminal need no facts, only fantasy.
When they attended those American schools all hollowed out of humanities -- humanities all gone -- reality TV and far-right entertainment sensationalism filled that void.
People hunger for fiction, for stories. The convicted criminal can spin yarns, con games, and fantasyland with a straight face -- as well as with "bing-bing-boing-bong" and lugubrious dance moves. But as those tens of millions have never read a whole novel, of any kind, they lack sober perspective on the madness they inhabit.
OMG you are so right and expressed something that’s has been on my mind about the humanities no longer being emphasized in basic education…a frame of reference for morality and decency has vanished.
Neatly put. And in these days, when I'm looking for books for my young granddaughters, it's that frame of reference that I'm finding it hard to find. I could wrap up some of my childhood books in pretty paper and gift them, but will they read or listen to them? Love them as I did?
Our elites, Anne-Louise, don't model taking any books seriously.
No whole books such as history, memoirs, novels, or biographies -- and the whole matters because such bits as we might quote (or summarize, cite without quotation marks) bear as important due to their larger context.
Phil, the problem of relative mass illiteracy has been around since even i, 79, was a kid in Canada. Even then history for example was a near bottom in popularity. Same today in good old USA. And i imagine you might rember the mindless anti communism parroted by soldiers headed forVietnam? I suredo.
History taught as rolling dates in time to remember for tests does nothing to teach about the actual period and the human condition during those times.
John Jakes, "North and South" was a very personal and relatable trilogy that set the scenes for early 1800's through the civil war and beyond. Very enlightening.
History is our guides if we wish to actually move forward other than our current capitalism (Trump'ism type) that drives - "create more junk" model. We are too hyper focused on wealth as a destination (Trumps only measure of success and he worships it) with money as an item to collect vs. use as means of trade for goods and services.
Bill, I taught history for a few years and I did not do dates although I hoped the kids had a relative idea of what came before and in what sequence. I tried to encourage them to think critically and they had lots of projects, group and individual. No textbook because the class was ancient and English history to match our college prep English sequence. One of the things we started out with was "The Gods Must Be Crazy" because for one thing, I wanted to them to note what happened when the new technology of the coke bottle arrived. Many other good lessons in that movie too. One of my students wondered about the use of a comedy and I said we could have humor in a history class.
Difference is people choose what they want! capitalism allows that. People want less treadmill they can live somewhere else or they can live here and be content. No one is stopping them.
Why do you think everyone wants to live here? Economic freedom and opportunity
Anti-communist, or pro-arms industry. Another thing that seems to me to be overlooked all too often is, it ain't just the Republican politicians who are beholden to our corporate world. Also, I did spend a year in Vietnam in 1969-70; it's a beautiful place with wonderful people.
We read to our daughter. She read to her children. All the classics. And then, like us, followed this up with discussion and active inclusion of the imaginative landscapes in play. Consequent upon this hard humanitarian work her eldest has increasingly rejected the shallow societal demands his generation is conforming to and her young teen daughter has recently had to leave mainstream education in the UK for her ‘sensitivities’. They attracted heinous bullying from her class mates.
Our grandchildren are experiencing the stigmata of being framed as social outcasts, their ‘out of the box’ empathic creative thinking increasingly pathologized as manifestations of ‘mental illness’.
The cultural destruction in Western societies of the past 50 years, the sacrifice and whoring of culture upon the altar of perpetual economic Progress, will take decades to heal and yet more to recreate a nurturing societal environment for true dreamers and thinkers to freely live, move and have their being 🐈⬛
My middle-aged son (schoolteacher) said to me recently that the reason for his extensive vocabulary is probably that I used to read Dickens to them at bedtime. He's very proud that his 8-year-old is a "great reader". It turns out that everything she's given to read is in comic-strip form. Now, at 8 I enjoyed Prince Valiant, (well drawn, especially the horses), and thrilled to Val's romance with Aleta, Queen of the Misty Isles, but I also enjoyed Hamlet, read in the boxed set of miniature complete works, printed on vellum, gold-leafed edges, which Grannie had sent me from England. The last volume was poetry. I found the sonnets heavy going, but the graphic descriptions in things like "Venus and Adonis" and "The Rape of Lucrece" were a bit of a shock. I read and re-read them. Nobody ever knew, and school libraries were well-stocked with conventional reading for the designated age group. I could polish one off in a day, and be back for another.
The Complete Works of H W Longfellow fell into my hands when I was 12 or 13, by which time I was too sophisticated not to feel that "Well whistled, my sweet caramillo, well whistled!" wouldn't sound very good actually spoken. It took a lot of reading to figure out what his sweet caramillo was, furthermore.
But I might start her off as I did, with Enid Blyton...
It is so rewarding nurturing loved ones culturally first and foremost from your own lived literary experiences. It is infinitely fascinating how other generations will perceive different things in the same works 🐈⬛
In the late 1950s, 15 years after the Holocaust, no one talked about it at home or in school. I found out about it by reading the books of Leon Uris, and then I needed to find out everything I could about WWII. SO many good authors: Willa Cather, James Michener, Hemingway, Faulkner, the Russian authors, Sinclair Lewis, John Steinbeck, Rachel Carson, etc.. And they are still out there.
I craved for the "Great Books of Western Civilization" and bought the set. I've been through maybe 1/8th of the collection as it often provokes deep thoughts that just need to sit for a while to think about. I love history of great authors that do not shy from the truths that they knew. I am now 60 and still learning. I was so certain at 20 ;-)
It is also interesting to contemplate how their truth of the day is still relevant in our human condition or has moved forward as science has shown differently.
Hiding our human history is a crime in my opinion - warts and all make us better people. Trying to beat morality into a uniformed people without internal understandings or having different views (for self vs. others) seems to be a constant theme.
Bravo! To you and now your daughter. I’m a literacy educator who only promotes just that, and it has been novels that we have grown together as kind humans we pulling to listen to other’s ideas. It truly is about books.
Thanks, Heather for highlighting President Biden’s speech at the Brookings Institute where he laid out the facts of the U.S. economy after his four years in office. President Biden’s benchmark facts need to be clearly established in the collective memory of every working American to compare with the next four years under the next administration. Will the media do its part in making that comparison?
And yes, Anne-Louise, I agree with you and Phil that voters who fail to read novels and biographies are depriving themselves of one way of developing empathy. I am currently reading one such book:
Hawaiian Senator Mazie Hirono’s memoir: Heart of Fire, An Immigrant Daughter’s Story (2021).
Senator Hirono lays bare her personal story of coming to Hawaii from Japan as a young child. Mazie Hirono overcame the limitations of extreme poverty by the sheer determination of her strong mother and her own belief in hard work to become an exceptionally empathetic legislator who has served her uniquely diverse constituency since 2007. Stories like hers are powerful indeed.
But reading books is, sadly, time-consuming! As long as our lifestyle is focused on consumption of material goods in a 21st century capitalist society, time for reading is restricted by demands of higher paying jobs to pay the rent or mortgage and put food on the table.
We are left at the mercy of influencers of today, movie makers, book/song writers, athletes, celebrities, media personalities, (and Substack writers!) etc. who will all have to have their own epiphany and begin to fuel the hearts of fire within each of our fellow Americans by whatever mode they utilize. The fire is there in each of us and waiting to be sparked for greater change…thinking now of old E.Scrooge! We all seek a good life. We are still learning how money plays into that good life.
It was my wife and still she is the one that read books to our 6 grandkids at bed time. Our last, now 8 is still expecting to be read a few pages of a book before falling asleep. I always preferred to make up stories about dolphins or gray cats going across the street . Hope they do that to their kids and grandkids, it's a great communal feeling .😄
"Cultural literacy is a term coined by American educator and literary critic E. D. Hirsch, referring to the ability to understand and participate fluently in a given culture. Cultural literacy is an analogy to literacy proper (the ability to read and write letters). A literate reader knows the object-language's alphabet, grammar, and a sufficient set of vocabulary; a culturally literate person knows a given culture's signs and symbols, including its language, particular dialectic, stories,[1] entertainment, idioms, idiosyncrasies, and so on. The culturally literate person is able to talk to and understand others of that culture with fluency."
Phil, is this what we're missing by removing humanities from the curriculum.
Hirsch released a couple of follow-up books as well.
Hirsch, Eric Donald; Kett, Joseph F.; Trefil, James S. (2002). The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-618-22647-8.
If you read the dictionary, each of you will likely be familiar with most of the terms he defines. To Phil's point, the cultural literacy of Gen-X, Gen-Z and Millineals is not so robust.
Yes and when considering cultural literacy it's helpful to consider the sub-cultures that have their own defining characteristics. An example for me is the literacy of plant people -- whether scholars or rural farmers, reading the health of living landscapes (and weather) can become bonding when spoken language is vastly different.
An example I like is Bettina Love who's designed Hip Hop civics curriculum: https://getfreehiphopcivics.com/ . There are YouTube videos of her that inspire me and show that lots is happening. She's written many books: https://bettinalove.com/books/.
That is a good point. You have to meet people where they are. People are not reading books and long narratives. Even beautiful children’s books are replaced by kindles and iPads with computer games.
If the history classes in HS were presented by people impassioned by, and vastly enthused by, their appreciation for, and knowledge of our history, you are very fortunate indeed! My senior year I had such advantage, AND, the class was team taught by three equally enthusiastic teachers, Mrs. Woodruff, Mr. Banks, and Mr. Hernandez, in the school auditorium. Preparing to soon ship out via the draft, I paid attention. I named them here, some of my many mentors. Thank you Madam, and sirs. "We've seen the enemy, and he is us!" Pogo. Remember him?
If they're young, read those books to them. If they're older, make sure they frequently see you reading books. Suggest books to them. Give them books. That's what we did and we ended up with a pair of bookworms. Their kids are mostly strong readers, too. It's a generational thing that needs to be modeled in front of the young.
Give them the books you loved as a child and make sure they know how much they mean to you. They may not appreciate the gesture right away, but it will likely be a cherished memory later in their lives.
Anne-Louise, it's worth a try to give your next generation family what you loved and encourage them to read. They may find they do love it as you did, but perhaps with a different slant. You could then discuss it with them. My students often liked the books I had liked and their explanations for why were different from mine, but no less valid. It truly is worth the effort!!
I reported "Rick" to Substack Inc. as a good example IMO of what HCR described on "The News Hour", 'America at the Crossroads', as a "Disinformation Crisis".
So what do you exactly men by "ignore him" -- let disinformation drown low-info voters who HCR correctly noted on The News Hour as voting 19% for Trump?
*****
JAMS-SF: I have previously filed a mediation claim against Substack Inc a year or so back on he matter of liability for 3rd party torts. Last week, I have identified nine (9) LFAA Troll incidents (human or non-human) to get to the larger legal issues in construing Substack Inc's latest 9/2024 TOU & Substack's representations under their choice of law at their choice of Venue, JAMS-SF.
I will update with the facts regarding the issues I mediate that concern HCR & many other Substack "Readers" & "Authors"..
I share your regret about the loss of the humanities in education. But the root problem our country faces is deeper--low literacy and numeracy scores, especially in our urban school districts. This started long before the pandemic. Without these basics, students grow into adulthood with no ability to make their own assessment of 30-second political statements, etc.
Completely agree. Even graduate students cannot seem to write a coherent sentence. And now they won’t have to thanks to AI.
We sorely need to address our education goals and strategies… to educate ALL of our students to be ready for and competitive in the workplace but also to attract and retain good teachers.
Less basic education is getting more and more expensive and is turning young people away to avoid being saddled with hundred of thousands of debt. Excellent education and health care is free in Finland. My daughter received two masters degrees from an esteemed school in France specializing in public health policy-- a two-year program for $15,000. Where are our priorities? I am terrified of the next four years....
"In the Washington Post yesterday, Catherine Rampell noted that Republicans’ claim that extending those cuts isn’t extraordinarily expensive means “getting rid of math."
Some spectacular gaslighting returns on January 20th.
George H.W. Bush called supply-side economics “voodoo economics.” Paul Krugman called trickle down economics a “zombie idea,” meaning it’s undead; it just won’t go away. Supply side economics is basically build it and they will come. But that is a movie line from “Field of Dreams,” and it’s not reality. 45’s tax cuts in 2017 resulted in stock buybacks, not business investments and job creation. Buybacks are stock manipulation. A small business might invest a tax cut windfall in needed business items, but a large business, not pressed for cash, doesn’t do that. Trickle down economics is like quitting your job and going on a spending spree.
John Stoehr sees one big problem in Democrats not investing in their own media outlets, the the Republicans did with Fox. They constantly keep their voters marinating in lies and hate. No wonder they believe all sorts of lies.
Rupert Murdoch - not dead yet, unfortunately - but a Nevada court this week has rejected his attempt to get his family trust into the hands of his eldest son, who follows his father's lying fascist footsteps, instead of to all four of his offspring, three of whom seem possibly reasonable human beings.
I was wondering how that Trust case came out. The younger son doesn’t agree with his father and older brother. I think that’s why Rupert wanted to change the estate. The younger son (in particular) foresees a revolt against the greed of his father and brother.
Perhaps the execution of the United Healthcare CEO gave the judge the reality check to the pleadings of the other children.
It doesn't seem like they've been reading much of anything. They're every bit as agnorant of science as they are of the humanities - why they fall for conmen like Trump and RFK Jr.
Really who is ignorant? If the democrats are not getting the message out to where it is being read then who is really smart? There is plenty of “reading” on Facebook. Top ten things Trump accomplished, where is Biden’s list? Get it out in the form and contest people in which people will be exposed to the message.
Sadly too late for the voters and not in a format or place they would be likely to come across. It guts me that the GOP will turn Biden's achievements into dust - and then blame him.
And educating the public—if it can be done <sigh>—needed to be done every day, not all at once in one speech. But it’s just not Biden’s style. So someone else should have done it. OTOH, there was probably no way to counter tfg’s constant me, me, me, look at me to which the press is addicted.
There is still potentially an option for the Senate to try to block Trump. Although SCOTUS rejected the attempt of Colorado and two other states to block him, the decision leaves the congressional option available. It would require a 2/3 vote. In the Colorado case, facts show that Trump aided, abetted and gave comfort to insurrectionists.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Are too ignorant to know how ignorant they are… yep. Agree for most, and some are just self-righteous bastards. Some just Fox haters for anything Dem. A perfect storm of ignorance, apostasy, greed, and hate. Miasma for the masses…
Had to refresh my memory on lugubrious, you nailed it.
The flaw in the democratic experiment is that if the majority is fooled, either through ignorance or misrepresentation, it can be led down a path of self-destruction by a minority that collects all the resources and power to itself. It happened in Nazi Germany during the period of 1923-1934, when Hitler became Fuhrer, and it's happening here in America 100 years later.
But the planet cannot survive another world war, or unaddressed climate change, so we either have to defeat maga or perish.
No matter what the benchmarks, facts, or truth are, maga will create their own reality and the sheep will eat it up. We must destroy the maga illusion and do it quickly -- this will take opposition leadership that has not yet emerged. We are in desperate need of a miracle.
I think that, to act against the horrific direction this country is taking, we have to dig further into the flaw. Ignorance and misrepresentation are so effective, for example, because the MAGA propaganda made an inseparable link between LGBTQ, the bane of the average MAGA supporter, and Biden economics. The election was stolen, FEMA will take your house, children surprise parents with a new sexual identity: all of these confuse the MAGA decision-making process because they feed a hatred for liberal ideals to the point that their absurdity and destruction of democracy are invisible to the MAGA supporter. I understand Nazism capitalized on similar hatred for the Versailles Treaty. According to Life in the Third Reich (Paul Roland, Kindle Edition), "a sizeable proportion of Germany’s citizens impassively witnessed the country’s descent into dictatorship because they believed they were simply powerless to prevent it – as well as many more who could not see the danger until it was too late." This piece of history is repeating itself.
That the American voter believed this sh!t is a worse problem! This nonsense didn’t come from nowhere before this last election; that as many people as did believed these loony, insane statements means we have a longer and wider problem than just tfg’s ravings.
I'm going with media (in its broadest sense) manipulation. The USian voter who buys into the firehose of lies, insane statements, et al has only one source of information (I call it "angertainment") from their various "news" sources. There are a host of factors ranging from the takeover of school system curricula to churches preaching "gospel" politics to the anger and hatred unleashed by the election of a Black man in 2008 and given license for expression during the 2016 Presidential campaign.
When President Biden initiated his policies, I figured he had returned to Keynesian economics; he may have staved off a depression in doing so. The price was the inflation, aggravated by the supply shocks and, unfortunately, predatory pricing attendant to COVID. 🤔
As Dr Cox Richardson details carefully, President Biden had a lot more in mind than a re-run of Keynesianism following the exhaustion and ill effects of a re-run of classical economics. The President had a radical new polity -- one of equality of, with, for opportunity. ⚖️
With civics training of generations past washed away, consumerism and hyper-stimulation of simulated violence have vitiated our citizenry. Sadly, we live and breathe republican virtue no more. Let us pray that President Biden's record cements into a legacy. 🙏
I disagree. We failed the people by not getting the message out. We focused on beating up trump with what we don’t want rather than providing what we do want in quick short sentences. I met people that could not tell me one thing Biden accomplished. Unless we change the way we communicate this info will not be well known. Where is the list of the top ten accomplishments?
Getting the message out, Sandra, depends on listening skills, too.
The reason to quote from a novel, memoir, history, or bio is to cite something that speaks to the pain of someone to whom you're listening, we're listening.
Tens of millions of working-class Americans have real pain, partly from the mass offshoring of jobs by the corporate suits, partly because schools anymore treat kids like zombies for the dehumanized standardized testing, and partly, too, for the huge widening of the wealth gap purposely sought by the billionaire classes.
Add in the AR-15 epidemic, the opioid epidemic, the obesity epidemic.
They don't feel seen or heard, these many who've been exploited, abandoned. Citing the right book can locate them in a world you know and can sympathize with.
It could have provided Dems with the human messaging they so sorely lacked.
I agree with you and also see how social ingestion of thought-provoking content is moving ideas -- to address many of your points, I hope you'll watch/listen to Ben Wikler (aims to be chair of the DNC) and Jon Stewart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfBtlvfysjw
Willer, for those not familiar, created the playbook for (and followed through) breaking the stranglehold of state Republicans in Wisconsin. His energy level and enthusiasm is infective, and listening to him lifted me from the morass I’ve been in since the election. Strongly recommend the Stewart interview.
Sandra, in the months up to the election, I saw several lists of the Biden administration's accomplishments. There were out there... but the media did not, and still does not, report on these accomplishments. If you get all your news from Fox, you will see only negative stories about Biden.
I can agree with you (and do), but I avoided the humanities (and spent more time in math and science) throughout my education. More than fantasy, I believe these (MAGA) people crave connection and excitement. They're not getting it in their daily lives (as are many non-MAGA folks) and (somehow) find it in Trump and his cabal.
I have a few serious MAGA people in my orbit (and I ignore them as much as possible, excluding my sister), and they're literate, read novels, visit museums, and appreciate art. (I know this because I knew it Pre-Trump.) They continue to do these things. They don't go to Trump rallies (but he doesn't come to Massachusetts, fortunately.)
I agree that education (and especially the humanities and arts) have been impacted, but I also believe these MAGA enthusiasts are finding more than fantasy in Trump et al.
I think that the MAGA movement feeds something in their souls. They are scared of anyone/thing other than white, Christian, male dominated, heteronormative, and cisgendered, and what MAGA has given them is a place to turn fear into anger, and the ability to express this hatred of/disdain for those who are not any of those 5 categories I mentioned above.
Now that is cold hard truth! Agreed Phil, agreed. I personally belive we must fight back on every level now. Local on up. Push back like our lives depend on it.
You are so right! There’s a reason the Greeks called them the “liberal” arts—the humanities inform scientific knowledge, which they called the “servile” arts, which have value not in and of themselves, but only in service to a wider world view and a greater humanitarian context. When the so-called servile arts are divorced from the liberal arts, they lose meaning and value.
Phil, the No Child Left Behind act had such a good-sounding goal—making sure that each student had a good education, regardless of where they live or the wealth of their school district. The reality is a series of tests and fragmented teaching as teachers “teach to the test” so that they, and their schools continue to get money. I don’t know how to spread the best methods of teaching, but the current system is clearly not working for children whose families are unable, or unwilling, to spread the love of reading and learning.
Sounds like you’re suggesting to just give up. I think the benchmarks that Biden pointed out will stand as a great reference for the sure to come economic downturn. And if a billionaire like Mark Cuban will match the dollars spent for misinformation perhaps that uninformed electorate will clearly see the truth and vote accordingly.
A bit more than 30 years ago I ran the first program at any university in central Europe for students to hear -- weekly -- discussions among 1) a professor from their own culture; 2) a visiting prof from either England or the U.S.; and 3) rotating writers (mostly) from neighboring central European cultures. (Thank you Soros money.)
I've replicated it twice since, in other parts of the world.
I've continued to spend energy trying to get the U.S. to use its Fulbright program (or Peace Corps) so cultural neighbors in conflict with each other might get schools to teach essay writing for seeing "others" as individuals in the other cultures, not just repetitive units in old stereotypes.
I've been trying, and trying, and trying.
In the recent U.S. national elections I contacted many in the Dem party urging teams of well-known Dems to appear together and cite not just needed programs, but also humanities (books, films, songs) that could put a human face on some of the deep and galling hurt abroad the land -- hurt which good public programs could remedy.
Key: using our arts, artists, to message listening and action skills.
I've been doing this a long time, Ken1 -- and am not giving up.
Phil, you address the reality that my HS English teacher faces daily.
We talked about what she faces in attempting to teach unwilling students over this past Thanksgiving. Anyone whose read any of my comments on prior days might remember this, so I apologize for being repetitious (and you can stop reading now) but this does alarm me.
She said that she can't get these kids off their phones. They enter the class and immediately are on TikTok and when class time starts, tell HER "uh...just another minute."
She said they can't stay in their seats, and will get up and wander around the class. Last year, one class period was totally lost when a student un-bent a paperclip, reached over and stuck it in a electrical outlet and got shocked. Thankfully, not serious enough to require hospitalization, but the resultant spark scared her and the rest of the class. (When questioned why he did it, he said "I guess I'm just stupid")
She is an excellent teacher. She has taught for ten years, and her school's English scores are rising. (Their school enrollment ranges between 100-120 students and she teaches 80% of the English classes.) Readers might question why she doesn't address these behavioral issues, and she has told me that the administration will often be intimidated by the school board, which is often comprised of the parents of students. (Thankfully, she currently has administration with a backbone, which has not always been the case in the past.) Fighting to get them to put down their phones, send them to the dean, or even to get them to SHUT UP wastes so much class time that it often isn't worth it. They are frequently behind, because she needs to use class time to allow them to do homework.
She told us that she "can't assign reading homework, because THEY DON'T READ." That's it. They just won't do it. She is struggling to teach Shakespeare to one class.
Her sister, a few years older and also an English teacher, teaches in a nearby state. Same stories, same issues. (And btw, while both were RA's in college, this one became a house manager of a dorm and was referred to by the residents as "The Hammer". She had no problem enforcing rules among her own peers.)
Both daughters have spent their careers teaching in rural areas. When they started, there was actually a glut of English teachers! Most of their classmates needed to start their careers in rural areas, and while many then transferred to suburban or urban areas (also known as higher paying jobs--neither daughter has broken over $50k/yr in their careers.) Both of them love to teach, and love to teach in rural areas because they then teach their students over multiple years, which might account for the rising English scores. They know these kids well, know their siblings, and know the parents--that is, the ones who show up for P/T conferences. (This semester, the younger of my daughters had less than 10 parents of her 80 or so kids show up.)
The rural areas don't have a lot of money, and to get a new set of novels for the class to read is problematic enough, so I used to scour thrift shops, our local library booksales, etc, to get novels for each to establish a "classroom library" for their student's entertainment reading. When the elder daughter first started teaching, this was well received by the kids, as these were "new" books and they'd fight over them. Now, my daughters told me to stop, as one said "I don't have time to read every novel to make sure there is NOTHING that some parent will object to" and the other said "They just don't read. It's a waste of your money."
I recall how I used to have to purchase THREE copies of every Harry Potter book as my three kids would fight to read it. I recall those were my first Amazon purchases, and how excited my kids were to hear that delivery thump against the door. Reading continues to be one of my greatest pleasures. To think that this is being lost is disheartening. I blame the internet for this.
I will add that SOME kids "get it" and are very grateful to both my daughters, and contact them after graduation to tell them how much they appreciate the education they received. While my daughters could teach elsewhere, definitely at a higher salary, don't rural students deserve a quality education as well?
I know that you bring up the humanities all the time, Phil, sometimes to the annoyance of others here. I'm quite sure my long comments annoy others, too. (I could claim free speech, or that nobody is compelled to read our comments)
When I look around me at the state of this country, sometimes I think, it's good to be old.
Inhopexdomecdevidevtovrrsf out loud other children. If the kids are old enough everyone can read a paragraph or two and get to hear what the story means to each .. the listeners & thecredfrrs!
Biden's message is too complicated for average voters to understand. Democrats are great policy wonks, but most people don't think in those terms. Historians and economists will hopefully give Biden credit for his plan and execution.
It’s not that complicated. But it would have been nice to hear repeatedly from multiple sources, almost ad nauseam the entire year before the election. Turned into little sound bite commercials and bumper stickers…
Perhaps they could understand a lot more of it if so much reporting of "news" was not controlled by billionaires and driven by more than maximization of profit. If your sole, motive is maximum profit, why not sell fentanyl? Maybe some of what is being sold is not so acutely destructive as fentanyl, but even more erosive of a civilized society. Pre-Reagan I sensed a lot more effort to find the "sweet spots" between diverse individual pursuit of happiness and mutual responsibilities, including graduated collection of taxes. By no means a golden age, but more actively committed to forming more perfect union.
Free speech is an essential component of liberty, but selling lies is a kind of fraud. Successful self-governance cannot be based on lies, or lazy, irresponsible error, lest we face inevitable collisions with unforgiving realities. There will always be egregious liars and bullies in any society, and also, to err is human, but we can at least try to keep that to a minimum, and we must, to make it through what appears to be a number of perilous circumstances.
That “news” outlets can get away with not only inaccuracies, but blatant lies is gobsmacking. And just today Facebook would not post a comment of mine because I said I was “pissed off”. Then again, I’m not a billionaire corporate media mogul. Sigh.
I read that, Anne, and it disappointed, but didn’t really surprise me. Wonder if he ever saw his “better self” aspirations leading to this….a sell out or convert I wonder.
Yep, and the MAGA playbook knew it. Kept it to Simple one sentence refuting and slogans. Truth and the details are no match for social media memes, $ and algorithms Spreading the propaganda like an aggressive cancer. Time for radiation and chemotherapy?
But the main culprit, the cancer on the body politic, is money: Money, money, money... We don't have time for each other. We don't have time for constituents, except for the givers. Somebody ought to tell the truth about that. - Fritz Hollings
Exactly. The US economy is booming, but Rump says it isn’t - and his cultists believe him.
On January 20th, he will suddenly say “look how good the economy is doing now that I am president!” - and his cultists will believe it.
Then, Rump will set Darth Musk loose, who will destroy the American government, democracy and the economy in just half a year, crashing the economy, sinking the American people in poverty and disease, because Elon likes his slaves poor and docile. Rump, who just went golfing all the time, will claim that the economy is doing better than ever before - and his cultists will believe him…
Let’s also remember that the Trump cultists are not a majority of Americans. Once the economy tanks and most Americans experience the effects of Trump’s undoing of Biden’s legacy, they will realize that it’s not working for them or for 99% of Americans. The 2026 midterms will show that discontent and shift the House & Senate to the Democrats.
Most of us share the same feelings as you. As a non-partisan, some of my positions defer from many here but I think we can all agree that a dreadful monster won and is about to infect the land with his ignorance again. I happen to be one of those who cares less about the migrants that rushed the border. I’m in favor of lawful immigration not the crap that took place. We lost the election mainly on that one issue. Not totally but ask any Trump voter and it’s the border issue that immediately come to the fore. I lost my government because of these folks therefore, as Melania’s tee shirt once said, “I don’t care.”
And as much good as Biden did as he led us out of the Great Pandemic, he also backtracked on his promise to be a transactional president with one term. That ego always gets in the way.
Democrats have a communications problem, but Republicans communicate well even if what they communicate is dishonest and distorted. The DNC doesn’t get the message.
Terry- yes it is too complicated for the average voter, but if it isn't said then what?
I often think of Adlai Stevenson's exchange with a voter in 1956 -
A popular story is told about Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965) when he was running for president in 1952 (or in 1956). Someone heard Stevenson’s impressive speech and said, “Every thinking person in America will be voting for you.” Stevenson replied, “I’m afraid that won’t do—I need a majority.”
Stevenson was as witty as Will Rogers and often quoted in the 1940s - 1960s. Hopefully someday, Heather will have a reason to write about him.
And now, if they have their way, "education" will consist of revisionist history, brushed with the stroke of a pure white hue, with a hefty dose of bible stories to boot.
Thank you for this. I don't know much about Stevenson. I was surprised about the "fragile craft" quote. So true, and would be labeled sentimental today. Maybe it was then.
Based on the statistics Heather cited on Marketplace's podcast "Make Me Smart" in the episode "Trump’s contradictory economic agenda" 12/10/24, the voters who were willing to pay attention favored Harris/Walz. The problem seems to have been the voters who either don't pay attention to news or only get their news from right-wing sources. Here's the URL for the episode https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/trumps-contradictory-economic-agenda/
Execution is a very appropriate word, which is exactly what he did to the middle class and poor. Made America un affordable. And open the floodgates for illegal immigration. Well done.
As this news letter catalogs the coming disasters to cripple America, here's another one from Bloomberg's Balance of Power:
'The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a crucial source of American soft power, providing free data and expertise to countries desperate for high-quality forecasts as climate change triggers rising numbers of extreme weather events. But NOAA’s influence and funding are under threat as Trump prepares to return to office, creating an opening for a new global leader: China.'
Never in my wildest dreams just a year ago could I have foreseen such self destructive madness.
Actually if the average voter read anything but Facebook & twitter etc they’d have known more about Project 25 which few men are talking about in the trump admin because it doesn’t affect them.. and they might have understood the stark differences in the candidates plans for our national future.
I know, right? Americans (most or many) pay attention????? Hahahahaha…nope. Is really sad and will sooner or later (sooner seems likelier each day) implode our democracy.
Tax the rich and eliminate the cap on wages for the Social Security payroll tax. ( FICA) If we did that it would solve all the financial problems. So simple.
By the way, I have been screaming since my early 30s that I did not understand and did not agree with capping Social Security I think that's stupid for someone earned $10 million. They need to pay their 7 1/2 or whatever it is and if they own the company 15% of their wages to Social Security, no matter what they earned.
I don't know why they do that. I have no idea but it's really dumb so there I agree with you 100%.
Do you know why it's the case I've never heard a reasonable explanation for that, but I would put my both hands up to vote against that and to vote for no cap on Social Security payments
SS was not set up as an entitlement program, but as an insurance program. Hence there is a relationship between the amount you pay annually and the benefit you receive. As you must know, the benefit is capped, therefore so is the payment.
I realize that, but I also realize that the rich can afford to pay a little bit higher percentage for the greater good. If you raise the cap $50,000 a year I don’t think people would have a problem paying an additional $3750. Just my opinion
I believe that it was a compromise in the beginning so FDR could get enough support to pass it. But, I could be wrong. I have learned that many things I was taught in history class were either watered down or just plain lies. And much was omitted.
You could be correct, my mother thought FDR was the best thing since sliced bread because he pulled America out of the doldrums out of the suffering. That was the first slice of Socialism in this country and probably fit the needs of the day. I’m sure Congress could change the Social Security laws to increase the cap every year or perhaps 10 or 20 years to get it to be uncapped… I know when I was younger the cat was about $87,000 and I think now it’s 100 and something maybe 125,000 or so. If they raise the cap by $50,000 a year I believe people that earned that kind of money could certainly afford another $3750 more in tax.
By the way, I also found it strange that the 6.2% is paid to Social Security and the balance is paid to medicare. And that is paid with no cap no matter how much you earn pay that.
I am confounded and I don't understand why that cap exists and why they can't gradually increase it It has been increased over the years, but it's still too low in my opinion.
This law has been an effect for about 50 years and they've occasionally raised the cap, but Trump has nothing to do with the Social Security cap whatsoever. But I've been screaming about it since a young age and when I looked it up just recently tonight there was really not a reason for it other than it was in the law. They also suggested that if they raise the cap to unlimited, it might be a greatest tax hike in history. I still think they could gradually increase it until it's unlimited. That's just my opinion. But once again, this has been around since Social Security has been around
I just googled it and all it states is that's the current law but they say if they didn't cap, it would be the largest tax hike in history. I think it certainly could be graduated up until it becomes uncapped. I've never understood it and I do think it's unfair. Not to mention that the people that make this kind of money don't necessarily need the income coming back when they retire.
I would even go further. I think there needs to be term limits, which would resolve a lot of these issues. It wouldn't give congressman time to get rich off the government teat. But I would do if I would go even further, I would take away all credit cards from any congressman or woman as they enter their offices. Pay them their salary and watch them, obviously not overextend themselves like they do our government they have to live in reality and they don't
Jack I keep looking for your post about Eisenhower and the tax rate back then. How do you sleep that would never work today and the times are much different.
Whoever to meet you problem lies in government. How is it possible for government workers to become multimillionaires on a government salary? I can understand how states don’t ratify term limits and endless saga of people in government spending whatever the hell they want while at the same time getting Corporate perks because companies know they have somebody in there that can help them. Tell me that’s the biggest issue in Washington. Two terms for senate returns for the house done.
I'm not Jack, but given how much of the wealth they command, a lot more. They have that kind of wealth and income because of the very laws they are seeking to destroy, and the very workers they want to suppress. But if you have no sense of the value and dignity of your fellow Americans, and only a sense of garish consumption, you likely don't care about that. It is interesting to me that one of the first appropriations that the GOP wanted to cut was the additional funding for the IRS to go after higher income tax evaders. Golly gee, I wonder why.
KEM, the sheer volume, weird tone, all-too-consistent grammatical errors, and oddly abusive language revealed to me several weeks ago that Rick Sender is a Russian bot. Please do not engage with him further.
That’s not too blatant, is it? Just like the convicted felon ran to stay out of jail, at least that was his top priority. Secondly he ran to make himself more money via grifting.
Let me provide you a little segue into my life. I work for major corporation and after doing some really great work was offered the job to handle a certain category of their business for the 7500 location locations in the US. But I found an invention that made them almost $11 million a year back in the mid 80s. And for that they gave me a little marble trophy and $1000 check. And that's when I first started thinking about going to business for myself. And this is a very reputable company and I could've taken the job that they offered, but I thought she maybe they don't reward their employees enough for the work that they do On the other hand, they had a profit program that allowed some employees to retire at 50 years old with $1 million in the bank back in the mid 80s so stick around you get rewarded I remember when Sears had such a program years ago, you retired with enough money to live the rest of your life comfortably and I know someone that worked in the parts department at Tesla who threw their stock options was able to garner $2 million in order to retire at age 50
Right place right time? The choices we sometimes have to make to get ahead.
By the way, it's interesting that you claim that Republicans are rich, which I think modicum of them are certainly that, but there was one poster earlier tonight that suggested but he doesn't know anybody that's a republican tbat's wealthy.
I found that quite amusing by the way you may not know, but I've said it in every post that I can. I've been a registered independent for over 40 years.
Well, truthfully, I am astounded at some of the Pay packages offered to CEOs. I think that's very insulting in many cases depending upon what job they do and what profits they generate for their company. I don't see CEOs basically being worth $23 million on average but the companies obviously decide to pay that and that's their absolute right to do so.
I don't mind the IRS going after anybody it just they need to be equally targeted to both sides of the aisle and not use as a weapon as the DOJ is currently being used. And we both know why they wanted those agents who wasn't to tackle the Democrats. By the way, you know that that 40% is only income tax many of them pay an additional state tax so imagine you go to work and earn $100 and get to take home 45 or less after state taxes, real estate, taxes, property, taxes, capital gains, taxes, gasoline, taxes, etc. is that OK with you?
Just a point of fact: the poor pay state, real estate, local, gasoline and sales tax too. And it’s usually out of a more critical portion of their budget.
Kimberly, you are conversing with a bot. Please do not engage. You are the only human involved in such an exchange - look at the sheer volume of posts - no human could do that.
I'm not sure what the threshold is for state income tax but I'm assuming it's a lot lower than for the federal taxes but I'm not sure. But as I said, I agree that it's a bigger chunk out of a poor person's wallet. But you can only dig into a rich person's wallet so far until you make it not worthwhile for them to get further ahead. And further in many cases, you stifle invention, which cost a lot of money.
In my state there are a few exemptions ( mostly for extremely low income senior citizens) but it’s a flat tax and pretty much everyone who earns any kind of money must pay it.
Agreed!! However I'm not sure the poor pay real estate taxes. They probably pay rent which is even worse so the ideal is do better earn more work harder take some risks. That's how success is found in most cases. That is the essence of the capitalistic system. My wife and I struggle for quite a while, but we worked hard and continue to plug on until we reached our financial goals, which each individual or a couple set for themselves.
This country provides opportunity for success, not a guarantee, and not an equitable result. That's why if we opened our doors we have 3 billion people living here and not 330 million.
Rick, we’re onto to your creative math. And tired of your trolling. It’s not noble to pay 40 percent of the taxes when that same group holds 90 percent of the money.
Kimberley, one commenter here recently suggested to me that Rick is actually a bot-boy and to ignore his blathering baiting. Dunno about that, but have been scrolling past when I see his name.
He’s probably not a bot. Definitely a troll. He’s repeating GOP talking points. I think it’s important to refute them at least once each thread so people read facts. But it’s a good point not to get involved in an endless back and forth. He especially likes to try and drag people in with “you didn’t respond to my remarks about…. XYZ”
I enjoy the lively discussions here & often learn something new, or to at least ponder, when there are varying opinions on a subject. Blind regurgitation of oft debunked talking points and needling & taunting others…no thanks, not worth a second of my time.
Go look it up. It's not my creative math. That's a fact of life just google percent of taxes page by each wealthy bracket and you'll see that that number is correct.
I don’t need to look it up. Read it again. It’s not noble to pay 40 percent of the taxes when the same group holds 90 percent of the wealth. Shouldn’t they be paying 90 percent of the taxes? I mean if things were just?
And I just replied to you what kind of an incentive would they be if they took risks significant risks to earn millions only to pay 90% of that money to the government. Not to repeat myself, but there is a point of the deincentivizing.
The same incentive they have in the rest of the world where taxes are more just. And if they get disincentivized, another poor entrepreneur will just take up the mantle!
Why that way read my answers above I don't understand a cap on Social Security. It's ridiculous. You earned 10 million you pay your 7 1/2 whatever it is percent on the 10 million. Read my post above.
This is what happens on the radical left and the radical right they don't wanna hear the other side of the story and they think shutting down speech is the way to go and certainly it is not. That's fine. I don't need you to respond if you'd like to come find if you don't, it's not a problem for me. I just wanna make sure that people are aware that there's two sides to the story as the one above. I'm sure nobody here would like to be paying 60% of what they take home to the government. And that's apparently what you're asking. They pay 40% in federal tax in California. They pay another 13% in state tax. Not to mention all the other taxes I mentioned. You don't want to take away the incentive that America provides do you
Well said, Gloria. Rick is not a human, "he" is a Russian bot. The sheer volume of 'his' posts alone indicate this. Please do not engage with it any further.
Gloria, you may not be aware, but I do not wish to cause discard but when I first was sent a couple of emails from people on this blog and found them squarely from the people on the radical left, I thought at least people need to hear both sides of the story such as in a courtroom. You can't have the prosecutor get up make accusations and send it directly to the jury doesn't work that way. And I use the axiom minds are like parachutes. They work better when they're open. I'm sorry you feel irritated but feel free to question. Anything I say or have a ongoing discussion and if not, that's fine
@ Rick AllI want is for the rich to pay the same tax rate they paid when I was a kid and Eisenhower was president. ( 90% marginal rate ) Eisenhower was able to build the Interstate Highway system with CASH. No bonds, no borrowing. Of course no rich person ever actually paid 90%, there were tax accountants and lawyers back then too. The rich were still rich even at 90%.
Because we live in a capitalist country, not in a socialist country, equal opportunity, not equal result.
Also, not sure what you mean by that you should pay taxes on all their income?
How much should somebody making $1 million pay in taxes?
I’m not sure you understand how the tax system works but what you’re asking would actually do the opposite of what you want to achieve.
Also, the poor end of the scale let’s say pay 12% of their income. Do you want everybody to pay 12% of their income? If so, that would decrease the amount of taxes the rich now pay.
And you can never compare percentage with dollars two different animals.
When you go to the bank, you never take percentage you take dollars.
Michelle was really funny is yesterday I got over 70 likes for a couple posts I made. All having to do with the fairness of the Social Security tax that we pay.
But one of your participants actually told me the word TROLL was coined in the late 80s for people like me that hang out here for a debate ON THE INTERNET. I’m usually not one to Nitpick but this one individual always talks about disinformation and now they are the bearer of same.
The Internet didn’t go out to the public till 1993. Small detail, but thought it important to point it out in this case.
I have done that with trolls in the past. There was one about a year ago who posted as frequently, although he used to copy paste the same paragraph, sometimes up to twenty times. There was a function to block back then (it seems to be gone, but it didn't work anyhow) and I know that numerous people from the forum reported him. (Bryan would remember the name. I've forgotten it.) I HAVE already reported this guy, but here he is. He's the landline heavy breather (oops, dating myself here!) of this forum. He thrives on attention, even if it is negative. Best to scroll past him.
Don’t tell us zero, because the poor still pay state, local, gasoline, property and sales tax which is a huge part of their income. I’m glad they are, for the most part exempt from federal income tax. And by the way: I pay a boatload of federal taxes. I’m not exactly the 1 percent but it has never disincentivized me from working toward a promotion or interview for a better job.
Nope not zero. The tax table says between 2.5 and 3.5%. Well if you are talking about employment you pretty much know going in what the ceiling is….BUT if you are in business TOTALLY TOTALLY different story. There are many folks in the franchise world that can own one or 250 locations ….depends on their appetite for risk and how high their goals might be. Some are content owning their own business but once they get a taste of that success most want to be multi unit owners.
Even without a franchise backing….take “untuck it “ for example. Started with one now has 80 stores. Why? Loftier goals.
Henry Ford….Mark Zuckerberg. Donald Trump… Steve Jobs.. sheldon Adelson ….Elon Musk. and look at the people that come on shark tank.
America stands out in the world due to the POTENTIAL.
I still want to know if forensic audits of swing state voting have been requested and are in process as called for by cybersecurity experts. DJT has done nothing but lie and cheat his whole life and it makes MUCH more sense that he/Musk cheated than it does that he legitimately won ALL the swing states AND the popular vote. If audits show they didn’t cheat, then so be it… but it seems much more likely that they did… and that audits would prove it. Right now it seems like people are more concerned with blaming different groups of Dem voters (thus tearing apart the fabric that holds us together… again, just what the DJT cabal would love to have happen) than getting to the bottom of whether they cheated and we’re all about to hand the keys to the kingdom over to someone who is stealing it from us.
We’ve long known that Team Biden has been hard at work - from the day he took the Oath of Office - to restore our economy, society and place in the world. And come January 20, it may all unravel - again.
I have to be honest, Heather, the emphasis on Biden redirecting policy to supporting the middle class (compared to Republicans pushing policies that support the very wealthy) misses the even more critical story of our age. Biden said he was fighting for the soul our nation and was pro democracy. And we all knew it was the most important fight of them all because the GOP does not support democracy. So, the fact that Biden did not make sure that every seditious member of Congress was prosecuted (not just Trump but the members of Congress too) and the fact that they were never kicked out of Congress for what they did on January 6th makes his presidency a total failure to me. Economies can change. But when you lose democracy, it is gone forever. I will always see Biden as a man who let democracy die, because I believe there is a very strong probability that it will. 
Sadly, I feel the same. It all dies post Biden and all the great numbers never told when it mattered. Spelling it all out now in his speech? A lot too late, imo. This should have been said every day at a podium for the past 4 years.
I agree. Biden did a terrible job of selling his accomplishments … along with a terrible job of making sure democracy was protected. What good is it if you do good and nobody knows that you did good? And I don’t care if Fox did nothing but lie. He should’ve found a way to get the American be able to know the truth no matter what. He’s the president for crying out loud ! He’s supposed to know how to do stuff like that! How to beat the propaganda machine!
It seems that Joe Biden is just trying to 'Polish' his Legacy... DJT will distort those figures or take Credit for the Good... Good enough for DJT, he believes anything that makes HIM feel better...
That the Donvict and other MAGAs take credit for the accomplishments of the Biden Administration means those policies that brought them about are good policies. That they do so in such a craven, underhanded way is maddening, but it is still an endorsement.
I agree that all the January 6 people should have been punished. Unfortunately, no one dreamed that what is happening now could happen-- it seemed too extreme. I refuse to believe that democracy is dead. If we do that, it will be.
Let me put it another way, it is the president‘s job along with his team to imagine the impossible and to protect us against those unlikely scenarios. Also, there are a lot of people who did not think this was such a hard to believe scenario. And I’m happy you don’t think democracy will die. But I will say this… Keeping it alive is going to be a gigantically larger challenge with Trump in the oval office and Mike Johnson in the House then would’ve been had they been prosecuted. The forces that want to destroy democracy would still be out there, but they would not have their allies in the White House and running the House of Representatives. I refuse to let Biden off the hook. Sorry if that disappoints you. As the expression goes, “He had just one job“
I get it. Yes, somebody in the administration should have anticipated this, and the buck stops with Biden. With Garland as AG, it would have taken a lot of pressure to prosecute them, and Biden used his political capital on the good things he did. Hindsight is great, but often painful. However, for those (like me) who feared what could happen, when we verbalized it, we mostly got pegged as extreme even by Dems except by others who were also scared. And now I’m going to hope that a lot of Trump voters get very angry when government doesn’t work for them, and I’m going to do all I can to step up and speak up.
Kevin McCarthy went to Florida and resurrected chump. When will he get his ambassadorship. Or Rudy? Sort of hope that they stay in the trash bin. Joe didn’t have the votes to go after the perps after Repubs went rogue and he had two traitors in the senate. Have mercy Steve. Plenty of blame to go around…
Remember…accepting a pardon means you admit guilt. Trump can pardon all he wants - those Jan 6 traitors - STILL GUILTY. trumps kids FIL - STILL GUILTY. Bannon/Manafort/Stone - STILL GUILTY. They can never wash that stink off.
Sleazy Ronald Reagan sold the message that government of the people, by the people, for the people is an unworkable, pathetic joke and that the wealthiest among us are our societies rightful natural leaders. Sorta like feudalism.
As many wonderful things that our president accomplished economically, I also believe he failed to hold congress accountable. There are more traitors in congress, who are two-faced bold liars, spineless, and without a solid moral compass than I can to admit.
Great accomp!ishments, great speech. Unfortunately, the electorate chose not to care. There's not a chance in Hell that Trump is going to listen to this. We're screwed until we can figure out how to get this across to those who would be supportive if they only stopped listening to lies and could understand what is to their advantage.
Rupert is the cult leader. He lost his court case to continue his flim flaming of America, but, of course, he will appeal probably to our traitorous SC
Facts matter. But facts aren’t being communicated to the American people in a way that they can feel it and digest it. And the MSM has failed in their responsibility to inform. Dems need a new way of communicating and new outlets for doing so.
And start speaking in ways to easily understand. What does it mean to create so many jobs? Give an example. What does/did the Pact Act accomplish? Examples? Dumb it down, make it super easy to wrap our minds around. Quit talking above our heads. This is what we did and this is what it means in the lives of every day Americans.
And, if inflation is down, and some prices are too high, why? Maybe ask the companies who set prices? General reference to “price gouging” doesn’t do it. Like you said, dumb it down.
Biden delivered 16 million jobs, booming business growth, and stabilized inflation—tangible results from middle-out economics. Meanwhile, Trump’s team pushes $4 trillion in billionaire tax cuts, pretending deficits don’t exist. It’s facts versus an echo chamber—which one builds a stronger America?
“Biden is willing to bet that if the American people pay attention to those facts, they will recognize that his approach to the economy, rather than supply-side economics, works best for everyone.”
Sadly, a huge plurality of the electorate is beguiled by right-wing propaganda and frightening ignorance about even the most basic economic facts — as demonstrated by their returning this abominable man to the presidency
Since World War II, the United States economy has performed significantly better on average under the administration of Democratic presidents than Republican presidents. The reasons for this are debated, and the observation applies to economic variables including job creation, GDP growth, stock market returns, personal income growth, and corporate profits. The unemployment rate has risen on average under Republican presidents, while it has fallen on average under Democratic presidents. Budget deficits relative to the size of the economy were lower on average for Democratic presidents.[1][2] Ten of the eleven U.S. recessions between 1953 and 2020 began under Republican presidents.[3] Of these, the most statistically significant differences are in real GDP growth, unemployment rate change, stock market annual return, and job creation rate.[4][5]”
Damn, I remember when facts were reported by Walter, and believed by a significant majority. Then Rupert was imported by Reagan, and, as Karl Rove reportedly said, republicans make their own reality. And everybody has to deal with that. And, silly me, I thought W/Dickie was as crazy as they could get.
There was a time that Walter Cronkite, CBS broadcast journalist was the most trusted voice in America. He would sign off each broadcast with his trademark phrase "And that's the way it is.”
At a time when the official word was that the Vietnam War was winnable, Cronkite went there to see for himself. He concluded that a stalemate was the best America and South Vietnam could reasonably be expected. LBJ reported to have said "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."
Cronkite was recruited by Edward R Murrow whose reporting on WWII from Europe and London were legendary.
I’m old enough to remember. Walter mostly, but saw Murrow a few times…we have lost our North Stars and haven’t been able to orient ourselves. Our GPSs keep us running around in circles.
If only, some just seem to say “can’t compute.” I have noticed that young people (well my daughter qualifies as old people) just turn on GPS and have no clue where they will be going. I have to have a general idea before I set out. Be oriented…. It helps to have a clue where you will be headed.
Before I retired, GPS units were all in vogue with our patrol staff. Our county is 4600 square miles with an unincorporated urban population of about 45,000. We had deputies who never “learned” the county.
A lot of what President Biden put in place will not come to fruition for a few years. Trump and his cronies, who voted AGAINST all of Biden’s projects, will claim credit for them…and the sheep will believe him.
One can wave that blue flag all day and all night for the next four years and no one will be listening. The more I hear the convicted felon elect talk about his “day one,” the more imperative it feels to leave the country. The felon and his billionaire buddies will destroy this country almost immediately because we do not have a congress or court with any moral guidelines. They are all out for themselves…always have been and always will be.
It’s a given that trump will claim that he inherited a horrible economy with record inflation, then a week or two later will say that he miraculously saved the economy and made it the best the world has ever seen. We’ve seen this act of his before.
Joyce Vance is keeping a scorecard of where prices are and where they go. I hope she gets PLENTY of coverage of this, and it will be up to us to see that her information goes viral.
Heather sadly leaves out the one most salient fact:
The tens of millions who voted for the convicted criminal need no facts, only fantasy.
When they attended those American schools all hollowed out of humanities -- humanities all gone -- reality TV and far-right entertainment sensationalism filled that void.
People hunger for fiction, for stories. The convicted criminal can spin yarns, con games, and fantasyland with a straight face -- as well as with "bing-bing-boing-bong" and lugubrious dance moves. But as those tens of millions have never read a whole novel, of any kind, they lack sober perspective on the madness they inhabit.
OMG you are so right and expressed something that’s has been on my mind about the humanities no longer being emphasized in basic education…a frame of reference for morality and decency has vanished.
Neatly put. And in these days, when I'm looking for books for my young granddaughters, it's that frame of reference that I'm finding it hard to find. I could wrap up some of my childhood books in pretty paper and gift them, but will they read or listen to them? Love them as I did?
Our elites, Anne-Louise, don't model taking any books seriously.
No whole books such as history, memoirs, novels, or biographies -- and the whole matters because such bits as we might quote (or summarize, cite without quotation marks) bear as important due to their larger context.
We've entered terrifyingly vulgar times.
A return of the dark ages really where fundamentalist religious oppression, ignorance and feudalism reign...
'Terrifyingly, vulgar times' of the shortform scholars.
Phil, the problem of relative mass illiteracy has been around since even i, 79, was a kid in Canada. Even then history for example was a near bottom in popularity. Same today in good old USA. And i imagine you might rember the mindless anti communism parroted by soldiers headed forVietnam? I suredo.
History taught as rolling dates in time to remember for tests does nothing to teach about the actual period and the human condition during those times.
John Jakes, "North and South" was a very personal and relatable trilogy that set the scenes for early 1800's through the civil war and beyond. Very enlightening.
History is our guides if we wish to actually move forward other than our current capitalism (Trump'ism type) that drives - "create more junk" model. We are too hyper focused on wealth as a destination (Trumps only measure of success and he worships it) with money as an item to collect vs. use as means of trade for goods and services.
Humanity exists for more than the work treadmill.
Bill, I taught history for a few years and I did not do dates although I hoped the kids had a relative idea of what came before and in what sequence. I tried to encourage them to think critically and they had lots of projects, group and individual. No textbook because the class was ancient and English history to match our college prep English sequence. One of the things we started out with was "The Gods Must Be Crazy" because for one thing, I wanted to them to note what happened when the new technology of the coke bottle arrived. Many other good lessons in that movie too. One of my students wondered about the use of a comedy and I said we could have humor in a history class.
Not my point at all Bill, but thought appreciated.
Difference is people choose what they want! capitalism allows that. People want less treadmill they can live somewhere else or they can live here and be content. No one is stopping them.
Why do you think everyone wants to live here? Economic freedom and opportunity
Anti-communist, or pro-arms industry. Another thing that seems to me to be overlooked all too often is, it ain't just the Republican politicians who are beholden to our corporate world. Also, I did spend a year in Vietnam in 1969-70; it's a beautiful place with wonderful people.
Phil, your last sentence says it all. I am a voracious reader and could not live without reading.
We read to our daughter. She read to her children. All the classics. And then, like us, followed this up with discussion and active inclusion of the imaginative landscapes in play. Consequent upon this hard humanitarian work her eldest has increasingly rejected the shallow societal demands his generation is conforming to and her young teen daughter has recently had to leave mainstream education in the UK for her ‘sensitivities’. They attracted heinous bullying from her class mates.
Our grandchildren are experiencing the stigmata of being framed as social outcasts, their ‘out of the box’ empathic creative thinking increasingly pathologized as manifestations of ‘mental illness’.
The cultural destruction in Western societies of the past 50 years, the sacrifice and whoring of culture upon the altar of perpetual economic Progress, will take decades to heal and yet more to recreate a nurturing societal environment for true dreamers and thinkers to freely live, move and have their being 🐈⬛
My middle-aged son (schoolteacher) said to me recently that the reason for his extensive vocabulary is probably that I used to read Dickens to them at bedtime. He's very proud that his 8-year-old is a "great reader". It turns out that everything she's given to read is in comic-strip form. Now, at 8 I enjoyed Prince Valiant, (well drawn, especially the horses), and thrilled to Val's romance with Aleta, Queen of the Misty Isles, but I also enjoyed Hamlet, read in the boxed set of miniature complete works, printed on vellum, gold-leafed edges, which Grannie had sent me from England. The last volume was poetry. I found the sonnets heavy going, but the graphic descriptions in things like "Venus and Adonis" and "The Rape of Lucrece" were a bit of a shock. I read and re-read them. Nobody ever knew, and school libraries were well-stocked with conventional reading for the designated age group. I could polish one off in a day, and be back for another.
The Complete Works of H W Longfellow fell into my hands when I was 12 or 13, by which time I was too sophisticated not to feel that "Well whistled, my sweet caramillo, well whistled!" wouldn't sound very good actually spoken. It took a lot of reading to figure out what his sweet caramillo was, furthermore.
But I might start her off as I did, with Enid Blyton...
It is so rewarding nurturing loved ones culturally first and foremost from your own lived literary experiences. It is infinitely fascinating how other generations will perceive different things in the same works 🐈⬛
In the late 1950s, 15 years after the Holocaust, no one talked about it at home or in school. I found out about it by reading the books of Leon Uris, and then I needed to find out everything I could about WWII. SO many good authors: Willa Cather, James Michener, Hemingway, Faulkner, the Russian authors, Sinclair Lewis, John Steinbeck, Rachel Carson, etc.. And they are still out there.
I craved for the "Great Books of Western Civilization" and bought the set. I've been through maybe 1/8th of the collection as it often provokes deep thoughts that just need to sit for a while to think about. I love history of great authors that do not shy from the truths that they knew. I am now 60 and still learning. I was so certain at 20 ;-)
It is also interesting to contemplate how their truth of the day is still relevant in our human condition or has moved forward as science has shown differently.
Hiding our human history is a crime in my opinion - warts and all make us better people. Trying to beat morality into a uniformed people without internal understandings or having different views (for self vs. others) seems to be a constant theme.
We have the set. All that wisdom and history at our fingertips.
I'm jealous of that boxed set. It sounds amazing. There's nothing quite like a quality book in your hands.
My Mom had that set; my sister has it now. She's not getting any grandkids, but has an eye on who she wants to pass that set to.
Bravo! To you and now your daughter. I’m a literacy educator who only promotes just that, and it has been novels that we have grown together as kind humans we pulling to listen to other’s ideas. It truly is about books.
"All Creatures Great and Small", James Herriott, 1972 was one heck of book in my early teens.
I believe books give us empathy through seeing the world through other's eyes.
Monnina, I am sorry about what has happened to your grandchildren and I note your excellent last paragraph...whoring indeed.
Thanks, Heather for highlighting President Biden’s speech at the Brookings Institute where he laid out the facts of the U.S. economy after his four years in office. President Biden’s benchmark facts need to be clearly established in the collective memory of every working American to compare with the next four years under the next administration. Will the media do its part in making that comparison?
And yes, Anne-Louise, I agree with you and Phil that voters who fail to read novels and biographies are depriving themselves of one way of developing empathy. I am currently reading one such book:
Hawaiian Senator Mazie Hirono’s memoir: Heart of Fire, An Immigrant Daughter’s Story (2021).
Senator Hirono lays bare her personal story of coming to Hawaii from Japan as a young child. Mazie Hirono overcame the limitations of extreme poverty by the sheer determination of her strong mother and her own belief in hard work to become an exceptionally empathetic legislator who has served her uniquely diverse constituency since 2007. Stories like hers are powerful indeed.
But reading books is, sadly, time-consuming! As long as our lifestyle is focused on consumption of material goods in a 21st century capitalist society, time for reading is restricted by demands of higher paying jobs to pay the rent or mortgage and put food on the table.
We are left at the mercy of influencers of today, movie makers, book/song writers, athletes, celebrities, media personalities, (and Substack writers!) etc. who will all have to have their own epiphany and begin to fuel the hearts of fire within each of our fellow Americans by whatever mode they utilize. The fire is there in each of us and waiting to be sparked for greater change…thinking now of old E.Scrooge! We all seek a good life. We are still learning how money plays into that good life.
If we stop reading, we stop being human.
Good post, Jane. Thanks.
A dedicated readership has always been a minority in my experience, Jane, just the same your thoughts are appreciated.
Hello, is there a name for Bidenomics that we can use like Supply Side Economics?
Always time to read.
I bet they will hold up. I hope you can read them together. ❤️🎄
Heather, that was a great interview you participated in on The News Hour.
Along with Judge Luttig! Both sharp & on point.
READ TO your granddaughters yourself.. in person or on FaceTime or zoom ! Give them the books and keep your own copy by our phone!
At the end tell them a little bit of your childhood memories … will read to you , etc story!
It was my Grannie who taught me about books and poetry. And I loved it when she told me about "the olden days".
It was my wife and still she is the one that read books to our 6 grandkids at bed time. Our last, now 8 is still expecting to be read a few pages of a book before falling asleep. I always preferred to make up stories about dolphins or gray cats going across the street . Hope they do that to their kids and grandkids, it's a great communal feeling .😄
We read toour kids, i became the finger picture teller. They loved it all. Literacy skills are major through much of the economy
"Cultural literacy is a term coined by American educator and literary critic E. D. Hirsch, referring to the ability to understand and participate fluently in a given culture. Cultural literacy is an analogy to literacy proper (the ability to read and write letters). A literate reader knows the object-language's alphabet, grammar, and a sufficient set of vocabulary; a culturally literate person knows a given culture's signs and symbols, including its language, particular dialectic, stories,[1] entertainment, idioms, idiosyncrasies, and so on. The culturally literate person is able to talk to and understand others of that culture with fluency."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_literacy
Phil, is this what we're missing by removing humanities from the curriculum.
Hirsch released a couple of follow-up books as well.
Hirsch, Eric Donald; Kett, Joseph F.; Trefil, James S. (2002). The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-618-22647-8.
If you read the dictionary, each of you will likely be familiar with most of the terms he defines. To Phil's point, the cultural literacy of Gen-X, Gen-Z and Millineals is not so robust.
Yes and when considering cultural literacy it's helpful to consider the sub-cultures that have their own defining characteristics. An example for me is the literacy of plant people -- whether scholars or rural farmers, reading the health of living landscapes (and weather) can become bonding when spoken language is vastly different.
An example I like is Bettina Love who's designed Hip Hop civics curriculum: https://getfreehiphopcivics.com/ . There are YouTube videos of her that inspire me and show that lots is happening. She's written many books: https://bettinalove.com/books/.
Could be, as a kid i heard how kids weren't as robust as they used to be, that was 1955
That is a good point. You have to meet people where they are. People are not reading books and long narratives. Even beautiful children’s books are replaced by kindles and iPads with computer games.
If the history classes in HS were presented by people impassioned by, and vastly enthused by, their appreciation for, and knowledge of our history, you are very fortunate indeed! My senior year I had such advantage, AND, the class was team taught by three equally enthusiastic teachers, Mrs. Woodruff, Mr. Banks, and Mr. Hernandez, in the school auditorium. Preparing to soon ship out via the draft, I paid attention. I named them here, some of my many mentors. Thank you Madam, and sirs. "We've seen the enemy, and he is us!" Pogo. Remember him?
If they're young, read those books to them. If they're older, make sure they frequently see you reading books. Suggest books to them. Give them books. That's what we did and we ended up with a pair of bookworms. Their kids are mostly strong readers, too. It's a generational thing that needs to be modeled in front of the young.
Give them the books you loved as a child and make sure they know how much they mean to you. They may not appreciate the gesture right away, but it will likely be a cherished memory later in their lives.
Anne-Louise, it's worth a try to give your next generation family what you loved and encourage them to read. They may find they do love it as you did, but perhaps with a different slant. You could then discuss it with them. My students often liked the books I had liked and their explanations for why were different from mine, but no less valid. It truly is worth the effort!!
Give it a try at least!
Try it, you might be surprised, and very pleasantly.
Well, sadly, I never heard back from you on the Israel Palestinian thing. What a shame.
You should buy my book, Rick.
Bill, rick is a bot. Engagement is futile. Please ignore him/it.
No Steve.
I reported "Rick" to Substack Inc. as a good example IMO of what HCR described on "The News Hour", 'America at the Crossroads', as a "Disinformation Crisis".
So what do you exactly men by "ignore him" -- let disinformation drown low-info voters who HCR correctly noted on The News Hour as voting 19% for Trump?
*****
JAMS-SF: I have previously filed a mediation claim against Substack Inc a year or so back on he matter of liability for 3rd party torts. Last week, I have identified nine (9) LFAA Troll incidents (human or non-human) to get to the larger legal issues in construing Substack Inc's latest 9/2024 TOU & Substack's representations under their choice of law at their choice of Venue, JAMS-SF.
I will update with the facts regarding the issues I mediate that concern HCR & many other Substack "Readers" & "Authors"..
Two of the greatest traits of a human being, patience, and persistence. Keep it up Bill you may persuade me lol
I share your regret about the loss of the humanities in education. But the root problem our country faces is deeper--low literacy and numeracy scores, especially in our urban school districts. This started long before the pandemic. Without these basics, students grow into adulthood with no ability to make their own assessment of 30-second political statements, etc.
Completely agree. Even graduate students cannot seem to write a coherent sentence. And now they won’t have to thanks to AI.
We sorely need to address our education goals and strategies… to educate ALL of our students to be ready for and competitive in the workplace but also to attract and retain good teachers.
Don’t blame urban schools - rural schools are hurting a lot too and losing literally a day a week of education.
Less basic education is getting more and more expensive and is turning young people away to avoid being saddled with hundred of thousands of debt. Excellent education and health care is free in Finland. My daughter received two masters degrees from an esteemed school in France specializing in public health policy-- a two-year program for $15,000. Where are our priorities? I am terrified of the next four years....
Phil is correct!! So true. The facts either didn’t matter to voters or didn’t get communicated.
I try to remain hopeful but it’s really hard!
- Pulled Quote -
"In the Washington Post yesterday, Catherine Rampell noted that Republicans’ claim that extending those cuts isn’t extraordinarily expensive means “getting rid of math."
Some spectacular gaslighting returns on January 20th.
It's already present in their defense of Hegseth and the other clowns!
George H.W. Bush called supply-side economics “voodoo economics.” Paul Krugman called trickle down economics a “zombie idea,” meaning it’s undead; it just won’t go away. Supply side economics is basically build it and they will come. But that is a movie line from “Field of Dreams,” and it’s not reality. 45’s tax cuts in 2017 resulted in stock buybacks, not business investments and job creation. Buybacks are stock manipulation. A small business might invest a tax cut windfall in needed business items, but a large business, not pressed for cash, doesn’t do that. Trickle down economics is like quitting your job and going on a spending spree.
I thought that was a great quote. I continue to think of the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.
lots of Google searches for "how do I change my vote?"
John Stoehr sees one big problem in Democrats not investing in their own media outlets, the the Republicans did with Fox. They constantly keep their voters marinating in lies and hate. No wonder they believe all sorts of lies.
Democrats Lost the Propaganda War by Ryan Cooper at The American Prospect. quite a good read.
FOX is a creation of Australian mega wealthy … can’t remember name.. died leaving the whole business to three sons ..
Rupert Murdoch - not dead yet, unfortunately - but a Nevada court this week has rejected his attempt to get his family trust into the hands of his eldest son, who follows his father's lying fascist footsteps, instead of to all four of his offspring, three of whom seem possibly reasonable human beings.
I was wondering how that Trust case came out. The younger son doesn’t agree with his father and older brother. I think that’s why Rupert wanted to change the estate. The younger son (in particular) foresees a revolt against the greed of his father and brother.
Perhaps the execution of the United Healthcare CEO gave the judge the reality check to the pleadings of the other children.
Did not get communicated. You nailed it
It doesn't seem like they've been reading much of anything. They're every bit as agnorant of science as they are of the humanities - why they fall for conmen like Trump and RFK Jr.
Really who is ignorant? If the democrats are not getting the message out to where it is being read then who is really smart? There is plenty of “reading” on Facebook. Top ten things Trump accomplished, where is Biden’s list? Get it out in the form and contest people in which people will be exposed to the message.
This whole Letter, and Biden's whole speech, that's where..
Sadly too late for the voters and not in a format or place they would be likely to come across. It guts me that the GOP will turn Biden's achievements into dust - and then blame him.
And educating the public—if it can be done <sigh>—needed to be done every day, not all at once in one speech. But it’s just not Biden’s style. So someone else should have done it. OTOH, there was probably no way to counter tfg’s constant me, me, me, look at me to which the press is addicted.
There is still potentially an option for the Senate to try to block Trump. Although SCOTUS rejected the attempt of Colorado and two other states to block him, the decision leaves the congressional option available. It would require a 2/3 vote. In the Colorado case, facts show that Trump aided, abetted and gave comfort to insurrectionists.
I don't expect this to happen, but.......https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-719_19m2.pdfs
Section 3
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Great and important point! Why aren’t they getting it?
Don't forget ignorant of economics, too.
Are too ignorant to know how ignorant they are… yep. Agree for most, and some are just self-righteous bastards. Some just Fox haters for anything Dem. A perfect storm of ignorance, apostasy, greed, and hate. Miasma for the masses…
Had to refresh my memory on lugubrious, you nailed it.
BTW, trolls are the perfect example of above
I learned that word from my band director... When placed in the context of a piece of lively, uplifting music, it is an amazing insult and challenge.
I love weird words, and people who know them and can teach me. Greg O is the best.
Agree Phil Balla.
The flaw in the democratic experiment is that if the majority is fooled, either through ignorance or misrepresentation, it can be led down a path of self-destruction by a minority that collects all the resources and power to itself. It happened in Nazi Germany during the period of 1923-1934, when Hitler became Fuhrer, and it's happening here in America 100 years later.
But the planet cannot survive another world war, or unaddressed climate change, so we either have to defeat maga or perish.
No matter what the benchmarks, facts, or truth are, maga will create their own reality and the sheep will eat it up. We must destroy the maga illusion and do it quickly -- this will take opposition leadership that has not yet emerged. We are in desperate need of a miracle.
I think that, to act against the horrific direction this country is taking, we have to dig further into the flaw. Ignorance and misrepresentation are so effective, for example, because the MAGA propaganda made an inseparable link between LGBTQ, the bane of the average MAGA supporter, and Biden economics. The election was stolen, FEMA will take your house, children surprise parents with a new sexual identity: all of these confuse the MAGA decision-making process because they feed a hatred for liberal ideals to the point that their absurdity and destruction of democracy are invisible to the MAGA supporter. I understand Nazism capitalized on similar hatred for the Versailles Treaty. According to Life in the Third Reich (Paul Roland, Kindle Edition), "a sizeable proportion of Germany’s citizens impassively witnessed the country’s descent into dictatorship because they believed they were simply powerless to prevent it – as well as many more who could not see the danger until it was too late." This piece of history is repeating itself.
That the American voter believed this sh!t is a worse problem! This nonsense didn’t come from nowhere before this last election; that as many people as did believed these loony, insane statements means we have a longer and wider problem than just tfg’s ravings.
I'm going with media (in its broadest sense) manipulation. The USian voter who buys into the firehose of lies, insane statements, et al has only one source of information (I call it "angertainment") from their various "news" sources. There are a host of factors ranging from the takeover of school system curricula to churches preaching "gospel" politics to the anger and hatred unleashed by the election of a Black man in 2008 and given license for expression during the 2016 Presidential campaign.
Nailed it.
When President Biden initiated his policies, I figured he had returned to Keynesian economics; he may have staved off a depression in doing so. The price was the inflation, aggravated by the supply shocks and, unfortunately, predatory pricing attendant to COVID. 🤔
As Dr Cox Richardson details carefully, President Biden had a lot more in mind than a re-run of Keynesianism following the exhaustion and ill effects of a re-run of classical economics. The President had a radical new polity -- one of equality of, with, for opportunity. ⚖️
With civics training of generations past washed away, consumerism and hyper-stimulation of simulated violence have vitiated our citizenry. Sadly, we live and breathe republican virtue no more. Let us pray that President Biden's record cements into a legacy. 🙏
I disagree. We failed the people by not getting the message out. We focused on beating up trump with what we don’t want rather than providing what we do want in quick short sentences. I met people that could not tell me one thing Biden accomplished. Unless we change the way we communicate this info will not be well known. Where is the list of the top ten accomplishments?
Getting the message out, Sandra, depends on listening skills, too.
The reason to quote from a novel, memoir, history, or bio is to cite something that speaks to the pain of someone to whom you're listening, we're listening.
Tens of millions of working-class Americans have real pain, partly from the mass offshoring of jobs by the corporate suits, partly because schools anymore treat kids like zombies for the dehumanized standardized testing, and partly, too, for the huge widening of the wealth gap purposely sought by the billionaire classes.
Add in the AR-15 epidemic, the opioid epidemic, the obesity epidemic.
They don't feel seen or heard, these many who've been exploited, abandoned. Citing the right book can locate them in a world you know and can sympathize with.
It could have provided Dems with the human messaging they so sorely lacked.
Do perfectly said. Schools are such a mess. We were in the top three for educating our young, in the world. Now we are literally last.
I agree with you and also see how social ingestion of thought-provoking content is moving ideas -- to address many of your points, I hope you'll watch/listen to Ben Wikler (aims to be chair of the DNC) and Jon Stewart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfBtlvfysjw
Willer, for those not familiar, created the playbook for (and followed through) breaking the stranglehold of state Republicans in Wisconsin. His energy level and enthusiasm is infective, and listening to him lifted me from the morass I’ve been in since the election. Strongly recommend the Stewart interview.
Sandra, in the months up to the election, I saw several lists of the Biden administration's accomplishments. There were out there... but the media did not, and still does not, report on these accomplishments. If you get all your news from Fox, you will see only negative stories about Biden.
Right. In short clear sentences.
I can agree with you (and do), but I avoided the humanities (and spent more time in math and science) throughout my education. More than fantasy, I believe these (MAGA) people crave connection and excitement. They're not getting it in their daily lives (as are many non-MAGA folks) and (somehow) find it in Trump and his cabal.
I have a few serious MAGA people in my orbit (and I ignore them as much as possible, excluding my sister), and they're literate, read novels, visit museums, and appreciate art. (I know this because I knew it Pre-Trump.) They continue to do these things. They don't go to Trump rallies (but he doesn't come to Massachusetts, fortunately.)
I agree that education (and especially the humanities and arts) have been impacted, but I also believe these MAGA enthusiasts are finding more than fantasy in Trump et al.
I think that the MAGA movement feeds something in their souls. They are scared of anyone/thing other than white, Christian, male dominated, heteronormative, and cisgendered, and what MAGA has given them is a place to turn fear into anger, and the ability to express this hatred of/disdain for those who are not any of those 5 categories I mentioned above.
Now that is cold hard truth! Agreed Phil, agreed. I personally belive we must fight back on every level now. Local on up. Push back like our lives depend on it.
You are so right! There’s a reason the Greeks called them the “liberal” arts—the humanities inform scientific knowledge, which they called the “servile” arts, which have value not in and of themselves, but only in service to a wider world view and a greater humanitarian context. When the so-called servile arts are divorced from the liberal arts, they lose meaning and value.
Phil, the No Child Left Behind act had such a good-sounding goal—making sure that each student had a good education, regardless of where they live or the wealth of their school district. The reality is a series of tests and fragmented teaching as teachers “teach to the test” so that they, and their schools continue to get money. I don’t know how to spread the best methods of teaching, but the current system is clearly not working for children whose families are unable, or unwilling, to spread the love of reading and learning.
I completely agree - I still recall my humanities classes from high school - they opened my eyes - and my heart - to so much.
Sounds like you’re suggesting to just give up. I think the benchmarks that Biden pointed out will stand as a great reference for the sure to come economic downturn. And if a billionaire like Mark Cuban will match the dollars spent for misinformation perhaps that uninformed electorate will clearly see the truth and vote accordingly.
Not at all giving up, Ken1.
A bit more than 30 years ago I ran the first program at any university in central Europe for students to hear -- weekly -- discussions among 1) a professor from their own culture; 2) a visiting prof from either England or the U.S.; and 3) rotating writers (mostly) from neighboring central European cultures. (Thank you Soros money.)
I've replicated it twice since, in other parts of the world.
I've continued to spend energy trying to get the U.S. to use its Fulbright program (or Peace Corps) so cultural neighbors in conflict with each other might get schools to teach essay writing for seeing "others" as individuals in the other cultures, not just repetitive units in old stereotypes.
I've been trying, and trying, and trying.
In the recent U.S. national elections I contacted many in the Dem party urging teams of well-known Dems to appear together and cite not just needed programs, but also humanities (books, films, songs) that could put a human face on some of the deep and galling hurt abroad the land -- hurt which good public programs could remedy.
Key: using our arts, artists, to message listening and action skills.
I've been doing this a long time, Ken1 -- and am not giving up.
I haven't heard this tidbit about Mark Cuban, but I'd love to see it.
Phil, you address the reality that my HS English teacher faces daily.
We talked about what she faces in attempting to teach unwilling students over this past Thanksgiving. Anyone whose read any of my comments on prior days might remember this, so I apologize for being repetitious (and you can stop reading now) but this does alarm me.
She said that she can't get these kids off their phones. They enter the class and immediately are on TikTok and when class time starts, tell HER "uh...just another minute."
She said they can't stay in their seats, and will get up and wander around the class. Last year, one class period was totally lost when a student un-bent a paperclip, reached over and stuck it in a electrical outlet and got shocked. Thankfully, not serious enough to require hospitalization, but the resultant spark scared her and the rest of the class. (When questioned why he did it, he said "I guess I'm just stupid")
She is an excellent teacher. She has taught for ten years, and her school's English scores are rising. (Their school enrollment ranges between 100-120 students and she teaches 80% of the English classes.) Readers might question why she doesn't address these behavioral issues, and she has told me that the administration will often be intimidated by the school board, which is often comprised of the parents of students. (Thankfully, she currently has administration with a backbone, which has not always been the case in the past.) Fighting to get them to put down their phones, send them to the dean, or even to get them to SHUT UP wastes so much class time that it often isn't worth it. They are frequently behind, because she needs to use class time to allow them to do homework.
She told us that she "can't assign reading homework, because THEY DON'T READ." That's it. They just won't do it. She is struggling to teach Shakespeare to one class.
Her sister, a few years older and also an English teacher, teaches in a nearby state. Same stories, same issues. (And btw, while both were RA's in college, this one became a house manager of a dorm and was referred to by the residents as "The Hammer". She had no problem enforcing rules among her own peers.)
Both daughters have spent their careers teaching in rural areas. When they started, there was actually a glut of English teachers! Most of their classmates needed to start their careers in rural areas, and while many then transferred to suburban or urban areas (also known as higher paying jobs--neither daughter has broken over $50k/yr in their careers.) Both of them love to teach, and love to teach in rural areas because they then teach their students over multiple years, which might account for the rising English scores. They know these kids well, know their siblings, and know the parents--that is, the ones who show up for P/T conferences. (This semester, the younger of my daughters had less than 10 parents of her 80 or so kids show up.)
The rural areas don't have a lot of money, and to get a new set of novels for the class to read is problematic enough, so I used to scour thrift shops, our local library booksales, etc, to get novels for each to establish a "classroom library" for their student's entertainment reading. When the elder daughter first started teaching, this was well received by the kids, as these were "new" books and they'd fight over them. Now, my daughters told me to stop, as one said "I don't have time to read every novel to make sure there is NOTHING that some parent will object to" and the other said "They just don't read. It's a waste of your money."
I recall how I used to have to purchase THREE copies of every Harry Potter book as my three kids would fight to read it. I recall those were my first Amazon purchases, and how excited my kids were to hear that delivery thump against the door. Reading continues to be one of my greatest pleasures. To think that this is being lost is disheartening. I blame the internet for this.
I will add that SOME kids "get it" and are very grateful to both my daughters, and contact them after graduation to tell them how much they appreciate the education they received. While my daughters could teach elsewhere, definitely at a higher salary, don't rural students deserve a quality education as well?
I know that you bring up the humanities all the time, Phil, sometimes to the annoyance of others here. I'm quite sure my long comments annoy others, too. (I could claim free speech, or that nobody is compelled to read our comments)
When I look around me at the state of this country, sometimes I think, it's good to be old.
But Phil, the educational implosion affects far more than literacy -- how about numeracy? Another catastrophe.
Could society itself be collapsing into savagery?
Inhopexdomecdevidevtovrrsf out loud other children. If the kids are old enough everyone can read a paragraph or two and get to hear what the story means to each .. the listeners & thecredfrrs!
?
Biden's message is too complicated for average voters to understand. Democrats are great policy wonks, but most people don't think in those terms. Historians and economists will hopefully give Biden credit for his plan and execution.
It needed to be said. The media haven't done so. It needs to be there, on record, and accessible.
And loud enough to be heard.
It’s not that complicated. But it would have been nice to hear repeatedly from multiple sources, almost ad nauseam the entire year before the election. Turned into little sound bite commercials and bumper stickers…
The new Newspeak. We can't successfully self-govern if we are not putting "two and two together".
Kimberly...and that would have taken a page out of the republican playbook, wouldn't it? Hammer the (good) news. Repeat it and repeat it and...
Will the dems learn?
They had better!
Good news isn’t as juicy.
Perhaps they could understand a lot more of it if so much reporting of "news" was not controlled by billionaires and driven by more than maximization of profit. If your sole, motive is maximum profit, why not sell fentanyl? Maybe some of what is being sold is not so acutely destructive as fentanyl, but even more erosive of a civilized society. Pre-Reagan I sensed a lot more effort to find the "sweet spots" between diverse individual pursuit of happiness and mutual responsibilities, including graduated collection of taxes. By no means a golden age, but more actively committed to forming more perfect union.
Free speech is an essential component of liberty, but selling lies is a kind of fraud. Successful self-governance cannot be based on lies, or lazy, irresponsible error, lest we face inevitable collisions with unforgiving realities. There will always be egregious liars and bullies in any society, and also, to err is human, but we can at least try to keep that to a minimum, and we must, to make it through what appears to be a number of perilous circumstances.
That “news” outlets can get away with not only inaccuracies, but blatant lies is gobsmacking. And just today Facebook would not post a comment of mine because I said I was “pissed off”. Then again, I’m not a billionaire corporate media mogul. Sigh.
And just today, Mark Zuckerberg donated one million dollars to trumps inaugural fund.
SMH
Sorry, what does that mean?
SMH
😫
I read that, Anne, and it disappointed, but didn’t really surprise me. Wonder if he ever saw his “better self” aspirations leading to this….a sell out or convert I wonder.
That’s why I get p!ssed off
I think as long as Fox News, Newsmax, Sinclair media, X, etc. exist we will never make progress.
Listening to Biden's legacy, I couldn't help picturing a precious flower about to be trampled by hideous gold boots.
😞
Yep, and the MAGA playbook knew it. Kept it to Simple one sentence refuting and slogans. Truth and the details are no match for social media memes, $ and algorithms Spreading the propaganda like an aggressive cancer. Time for radiation and chemotherapy?
But the main culprit, the cancer on the body politic, is money: Money, money, money... We don't have time for each other. We don't have time for constituents, except for the givers. Somebody ought to tell the truth about that. - Fritz Hollings
Major surgery...
Or Democrats should take a page from their playbook.
Exactly. The US economy is booming, but Rump says it isn’t - and his cultists believe him.
On January 20th, he will suddenly say “look how good the economy is doing now that I am president!” - and his cultists will believe it.
Then, Rump will set Darth Musk loose, who will destroy the American government, democracy and the economy in just half a year, crashing the economy, sinking the American people in poverty and disease, because Elon likes his slaves poor and docile. Rump, who just went golfing all the time, will claim that the economy is doing better than ever before - and his cultists will believe him…
Let’s also remember that the Trump cultists are not a majority of Americans. Once the economy tanks and most Americans experience the effects of Trump’s undoing of Biden’s legacy, they will realize that it’s not working for them or for 99% of Americans. The 2026 midterms will show that discontent and shift the House & Senate to the Democrats.
I hope!
Most of us share the same feelings as you. As a non-partisan, some of my positions defer from many here but I think we can all agree that a dreadful monster won and is about to infect the land with his ignorance again. I happen to be one of those who cares less about the migrants that rushed the border. I’m in favor of lawful immigration not the crap that took place. We lost the election mainly on that one issue. Not totally but ask any Trump voter and it’s the border issue that immediately come to the fore. I lost my government because of these folks therefore, as Melania’s tee shirt once said, “I don’t care.”
And as much good as Biden did as he led us out of the Great Pandemic, he also backtracked on his promise to be a transactional president with one term. That ego always gets in the way.
👍🫤💀
Democrats have a communications problem, but Republicans communicate well even if what they communicate is dishonest and distorted. The DNC doesn’t get the message.
The corporate media is in free fall. The NY Times, the WAPO, USA Today and other major papers have lost tens of thousands of subscribers.
Cable subscriptions have dropped below 50% of eligible subscribers and still dropping.
Millions of Americans get their information from social media where truth and integrity are severally lacking.
What is your solution Kathy?
Terry- yes it is too complicated for the average voter, but if it isn't said then what?
I often think of Adlai Stevenson's exchange with a voter in 1956 -
A popular story is told about Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965) when he was running for president in 1952 (or in 1956). Someone heard Stevenson’s impressive speech and said, “Every thinking person in America will be voting for you.” Stevenson replied, “I’m afraid that won’t do—I need a majority.”
Stevenson was as witty as Will Rogers and often quoted in the 1940s - 1960s. Hopefully someday, Heather will have a reason to write about him.
https://www.azquotes.com/author/14116-Adlai_E_Stevenson
And now, if they have their way, "education" will consist of revisionist history, brushed with the stroke of a pure white hue, with a hefty dose of bible stories to boot.
Thank you for this. I don't know much about Stevenson. I was surprised about the "fragile craft" quote. So true, and would be labeled sentimental today. Maybe it was then.
Someday
The English major at universities has been all but eliminated. Liberal arts would have made a come back had the American people voted in Kamala.
Based on the statistics Heather cited on Marketplace's podcast "Make Me Smart" in the episode "Trump’s contradictory economic agenda" 12/10/24, the voters who were willing to pay attention favored Harris/Walz. The problem seems to have been the voters who either don't pay attention to news or only get their news from right-wing sources. Here's the URL for the episode https://www.marketplace.org/shows/make-me-smart/trumps-contradictory-economic-agenda/
Execution is a very appropriate word, which is exactly what he did to the middle class and poor. Made America un affordable. And open the floodgates for illegal immigration. Well done.
As this news letter catalogs the coming disasters to cripple America, here's another one from Bloomberg's Balance of Power:
'The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a crucial source of American soft power, providing free data and expertise to countries desperate for high-quality forecasts as climate change triggers rising numbers of extreme weather events. But NOAA’s influence and funding are under threat as Trump prepares to return to office, creating an opening for a new global leader: China.'
Never in my wildest dreams just a year ago could I have foreseen such self destructive madness.
Like National suicide
If the average voter cared about facts, Harris would be President elect.
Propaganda works, who knew
Best comment in a long time.
Been repeating it ad nauseam for years, even decades. Broken record since Newt, Tom Delay and Trent
Jeri always has the best lines!!
Actually if the average voter read anything but Facebook & twitter etc they’d have known more about Project 25 which few men are talking about in the trump admin because it doesn’t affect them.. and they might have understood the stark differences in the candidates plans for our national future.
I know, right? Americans (most or many) pay attention????? Hahahahaha…nope. Is really sad and will sooner or later (sooner seems likelier each day) implode our democracy.
Fox provides fact, but many are lies.
Does Fox label : TRUTH…Fiction… ur guess - good as mine
Tax the rich and eliminate the cap on wages for the Social Security payroll tax. ( FICA) If we did that it would solve all the financial problems. So simple.
By the way, I have been screaming since my early 30s that I did not understand and did not agree with capping Social Security I think that's stupid for someone earned $10 million. They need to pay their 7 1/2 or whatever it is and if they own the company 15% of their wages to Social Security, no matter what they earned.
I don't know why they do that. I have no idea but it's really dumb so there I agree with you 100%.
Do you know why it's the case I've never heard a reasonable explanation for that, but I would put my both hands up to vote against that and to vote for no cap on Social Security payments
SS was not set up as an entitlement program, but as an insurance program. Hence there is a relationship between the amount you pay annually and the benefit you receive. As you must know, the benefit is capped, therefore so is the payment.
I realize that, but I also realize that the rich can afford to pay a little bit higher percentage for the greater good. If you raise the cap $50,000 a year I don’t think people would have a problem paying an additional $3750. Just my opinion
I believe that it was a compromise in the beginning so FDR could get enough support to pass it. But, I could be wrong. I have learned that many things I was taught in history class were either watered down or just plain lies. And much was omitted.
You could be correct, my mother thought FDR was the best thing since sliced bread because he pulled America out of the doldrums out of the suffering. That was the first slice of Socialism in this country and probably fit the needs of the day. I’m sure Congress could change the Social Security laws to increase the cap every year or perhaps 10 or 20 years to get it to be uncapped… I know when I was younger the cat was about $87,000 and I think now it’s 100 and something maybe 125,000 or so. If they raise the cap by $50,000 a year I believe people that earned that kind of money could certainly afford another $3750 more in tax.
To help the wealthy..why else?
By the way, I also found it strange that the 6.2% is paid to Social Security and the balance is paid to medicare. And that is paid with no cap no matter how much you earn pay that.
I am confounded and I don't understand why that cap exists and why they can't gradually increase it It has been increased over the years, but it's still too low in my opinion.
This law has been an effect for about 50 years and they've occasionally raised the cap, but Trump has nothing to do with the Social Security cap whatsoever. But I've been screaming about it since a young age and when I looked it up just recently tonight there was really not a reason for it other than it was in the law. They also suggested that if they raise the cap to unlimited, it might be a greatest tax hike in history. I still think they could gradually increase it until it's unlimited. That's just my opinion. But once again, this has been around since Social Security has been around
Yesterday's ProPublica:
How a Decades-Old Loophole Lets Billionaires Avoid Medicare Taxes
https://www.propublica.org/article/medicare-tax-loophole-steve-cohen?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter&utm_content=feature
I just googled it and all it states is that's the current law but they say if they didn't cap, it would be the largest tax hike in history. I think it certainly could be graduated up until it becomes uncapped. I've never understood it and I do think it's unfair. Not to mention that the people that make this kind of money don't necessarily need the income coming back when they retire.
I would even go further. I think there needs to be term limits, which would resolve a lot of these issues. It wouldn't give congressman time to get rich off the government teat. But I would do if I would go even further, I would take away all credit cards from any congressman or woman as they enter their offices. Pay them their salary and watch them, obviously not overextend themselves like they do our government they have to live in reality and they don't
Jack I keep looking for your post about Eisenhower and the tax rate back then. How do you sleep that would never work today and the times are much different.
Whoever to meet you problem lies in government. How is it possible for government workers to become multimillionaires on a government salary? I can understand how states don’t ratify term limits and endless saga of people in government spending whatever the hell they want while at the same time getting Corporate perks because companies know they have somebody in there that can help them. Tell me that’s the biggest issue in Washington. Two terms for senate returns for the house done.
I've been asking do you know why the capsule Social Security taxes anybody help here?
Hey Jack, the top 1% already paid 40% of the income taxes in this country and the top 10% pay 60%. How much more do you want to text them?
I'm not Jack, but given how much of the wealth they command, a lot more. They have that kind of wealth and income because of the very laws they are seeking to destroy, and the very workers they want to suppress. But if you have no sense of the value and dignity of your fellow Americans, and only a sense of garish consumption, you likely don't care about that. It is interesting to me that one of the first appropriations that the GOP wanted to cut was the additional funding for the IRS to go after higher income tax evaders. Golly gee, I wonder why.
KEM, the sheer volume, weird tone, all-too-consistent grammatical errors, and oddly abusive language revealed to me several weeks ago that Rick Sender is a Russian bot. Please do not engage with him further.
thanks
You should write a book on conspiracy theories because your conspiracy theory is wrong. I wonder how many copies you would sell
That’s not too blatant, is it? Just like the convicted felon ran to stay out of jail, at least that was his top priority. Secondly he ran to make himself more money via grifting.
RIGHT ON KEM‼️
Let me provide you a little segue into my life. I work for major corporation and after doing some really great work was offered the job to handle a certain category of their business for the 7500 location locations in the US. But I found an invention that made them almost $11 million a year back in the mid 80s. And for that they gave me a little marble trophy and $1000 check. And that's when I first started thinking about going to business for myself. And this is a very reputable company and I could've taken the job that they offered, but I thought she maybe they don't reward their employees enough for the work that they do On the other hand, they had a profit program that allowed some employees to retire at 50 years old with $1 million in the bank back in the mid 80s so stick around you get rewarded I remember when Sears had such a program years ago, you retired with enough money to live the rest of your life comfortably and I know someone that worked in the parts department at Tesla who threw their stock options was able to garner $2 million in order to retire at age 50
Right place right time? The choices we sometimes have to make to get ahead.
By the way, I'm voice texting so please allow these spelling mishaps along the way thank you
Edit?
By the way, it's interesting that you claim that Republicans are rich, which I think modicum of them are certainly that, but there was one poster earlier tonight that suggested but he doesn't know anybody that's a republican tbat's wealthy.
I found that quite amusing by the way you may not know, but I've said it in every post that I can. I've been a registered independent for over 40 years.
No, Republicans are not rich. Many are poor which is baffling. But most of the truly RICH are Republicans.
Not sure about that. Lots of mega donors backed Biden. Wonder if that stat is available.
Plus, I think they need to simplify the tax code.
Well, truthfully, I am astounded at some of the Pay packages offered to CEOs. I think that's very insulting in many cases depending upon what job they do and what profits they generate for their company. I don't see CEOs basically being worth $23 million on average but the companies obviously decide to pay that and that's their absolute right to do so.
I don't mind the IRS going after anybody it just they need to be equally targeted to both sides of the aisle and not use as a weapon as the DOJ is currently being used. And we both know why they wanted those agents who wasn't to tackle the Democrats. By the way, you know that that 40% is only income tax many of them pay an additional state tax so imagine you go to work and earn $100 and get to take home 45 or less after state taxes, real estate, taxes, property, taxes, capital gains, taxes, gasoline, taxes, etc. is that OK with you?
Just asking, what's the number .
Just a point of fact: the poor pay state, real estate, local, gasoline and sales tax too. And it’s usually out of a more critical portion of their budget.
Kimberly, you are conversing with a bot. Please do not engage. You are the only human involved in such an exchange - look at the sheer volume of posts - no human could do that.
Nice try Stevearenio. Nope. Real live human. So sorry to disappoint you
I'm not sure what the threshold is for state income tax but I'm assuming it's a lot lower than for the federal taxes but I'm not sure. But as I said, I agree that it's a bigger chunk out of a poor person's wallet. But you can only dig into a rich person's wallet so far until you make it not worthwhile for them to get further ahead. And further in many cases, you stifle invention, which cost a lot of money.
In my state there are a few exemptions ( mostly for extremely low income senior citizens) but it’s a flat tax and pretty much everyone who earns any kind of money must pay it.
Agreed!! However I'm not sure the poor pay real estate taxes. They probably pay rent which is even worse so the ideal is do better earn more work harder take some risks. That's how success is found in most cases. That is the essence of the capitalistic system. My wife and I struggle for quite a while, but we worked hard and continue to plug on until we reached our financial goals, which each individual or a couple set for themselves.
This country provides opportunity for success, not a guarantee, and not an equitable result. That's why if we opened our doors we have 3 billion people living here and not 330 million.
Rick, we’re onto to your creative math. And tired of your trolling. It’s not noble to pay 40 percent of the taxes when that same group holds 90 percent of the money.
Kimberley, one commenter here recently suggested to me that Rick is actually a bot-boy and to ignore his blathering baiting. Dunno about that, but have been scrolling past when I see his name.
He’s probably not a bot. Definitely a troll. He’s repeating GOP talking points. I think it’s important to refute them at least once each thread so people read facts. But it’s a good point not to get involved in an endless back and forth. He especially likes to try and drag people in with “you didn’t respond to my remarks about…. XYZ”
I enjoy the lively discussions here & often learn something new, or to at least ponder, when there are varying opinions on a subject. Blind regurgitation of oft debunked talking points and needling & taunting others…no thanks, not worth a second of my time.
PLEASE resist the urge to respond to him.
Go look it up. It's not my creative math. That's a fact of life just google percent of taxes page by each wealthy bracket and you'll see that that number is correct.
I don’t need to look it up. Read it again. It’s not noble to pay 40 percent of the taxes when the same group holds 90 percent of the wealth. Shouldn’t they be paying 90 percent of the taxes? I mean if things were just?
And I just replied to you what kind of an incentive would they be if they took risks significant risks to earn millions only to pay 90% of that money to the government. Not to repeat myself, but there is a point of the deincentivizing.
The same incentive they have in the rest of the world where taxes are more just. And if they get disincentivized, another poor entrepreneur will just take up the mantle!
And you haven't answered my question about what do you think the bottom 50% pay what percent of the taxes?
Why that way read my answers above I don't understand a cap on Social Security. It's ridiculous. You earned 10 million you pay your 7 1/2 whatever it is percent on the 10 million. Read my post above.
I'm tired of seeing your comments. As I have suggested before, you just want to cause discord and should seek mental health treatment. Good bye!
This is what happens on the radical left and the radical right they don't wanna hear the other side of the story and they think shutting down speech is the way to go and certainly it is not. That's fine. I don't need you to respond if you'd like to come find if you don't, it's not a problem for me. I just wanna make sure that people are aware that there's two sides to the story as the one above. I'm sure nobody here would like to be paying 60% of what they take home to the government. And that's apparently what you're asking. They pay 40% in federal tax in California. They pay another 13% in state tax. Not to mention all the other taxes I mentioned. You don't want to take away the incentive that America provides do you
Well said, Gloria. Rick is not a human, "he" is a Russian bot. The sheer volume of 'his' posts alone indicate this. Please do not engage with it any further.
Gloria, you may not be aware, but I do not wish to cause discard but when I first was sent a couple of emails from people on this blog and found them squarely from the people on the radical left, I thought at least people need to hear both sides of the story such as in a courtroom. You can't have the prosecutor get up make accusations and send it directly to the jury doesn't work that way. And I use the axiom minds are like parachutes. They work better when they're open. I'm sorry you feel irritated but feel free to question. Anything I say or have a ongoing discussion and if not, that's fine
@ Rick AllI want is for the rich to pay the same tax rate they paid when I was a kid and Eisenhower was president. ( 90% marginal rate ) Eisenhower was able to build the Interstate Highway system with CASH. No bonds, no borrowing. Of course no rich person ever actually paid 90%, there were tax accountants and lawyers back then too. The rich were still rich even at 90%.
PLEASE don't feed the troll!
I want the rich to pay the same % of taxes on ALL of their income….like I do.
I don’t give a crap how much they contribute to the overall taxes paid in this country.
You have glommed onto a narrative that means absolutely NOTHING to anyone but those who take advantage of an unjust system.
We should all contribute the same % of our income. That is a fair system for all participants.
Do the rich get a break on the % sales tax they pay for food? NO
Do the rich get a break on the % taxes at the pump? NO
Why the f____ should they get a break on % of taxes paid on income?
Because we live in a capitalist country, not in a socialist country, equal opportunity, not equal result.
Also, not sure what you mean by that you should pay taxes on all their income?
How much should somebody making $1 million pay in taxes?
I’m not sure you understand how the tax system works but what you’re asking would actually do the opposite of what you want to achieve.
Also, the poor end of the scale let’s say pay 12% of their income. Do you want everybody to pay 12% of their income? If so, that would decrease the amount of taxes the rich now pay.
And you can never compare percentage with dollars two different animals.
When you go to the bank, you never take percentage you take dollars.
PLEASE don't feed the troll!
Michelle was really funny is yesterday I got over 70 likes for a couple posts I made. All having to do with the fairness of the Social Security tax that we pay.
But one of your participants actually told me the word TROLL was coined in the late 80s for people like me that hang out here for a debate ON THE INTERNET. I’m usually not one to Nitpick but this one individual always talks about disinformation and now they are the bearer of same.
The Internet didn’t go out to the public till 1993. Small detail, but thought it important to point it out in this case.
Ask Admin to ban him if you really think he is a bot.
Kimberly with all our dialogue back-and-forth I’m sure you know I’m not a bot.
Sure a bot probably wouldn’t have misspelled my name.
I have done that with trolls in the past. There was one about a year ago who posted as frequently, although he used to copy paste the same paragraph, sometimes up to twenty times. There was a function to block back then (it seems to be gone, but it didn't work anyhow) and I know that numerous people from the forum reported him. (Bryan would remember the name. I've forgotten it.) I HAVE already reported this guy, but here he is. He's the landline heavy breather (oops, dating myself here!) of this forum. He thrives on attention, even if it is negative. Best to scroll past him.
Oh, how much would you like them to pay in a capitalistic society? Do you know how much the bottom 50% pay?
Don’t tell us zero, because the poor still pay state, local, gasoline, property and sales tax which is a huge part of their income. I’m glad they are, for the most part exempt from federal income tax. And by the way: I pay a boatload of federal taxes. I’m not exactly the 1 percent but it has never disincentivized me from working toward a promotion or interview for a better job.
Nope not zero. The tax table says between 2.5 and 3.5%. Well if you are talking about employment you pretty much know going in what the ceiling is….BUT if you are in business TOTALLY TOTALLY different story. There are many folks in the franchise world that can own one or 250 locations ….depends on their appetite for risk and how high their goals might be. Some are content owning their own business but once they get a taste of that success most want to be multi unit owners.
Even without a franchise backing….take “untuck it “ for example. Started with one now has 80 stores. Why? Loftier goals.
Henry Ford….Mark Zuckerberg. Donald Trump… Steve Jobs.. sheldon Adelson ….Elon Musk. and look at the people that come on shark tank.
America stands out in the world due to the POTENTIAL.
I still want to know if forensic audits of swing state voting have been requested and are in process as called for by cybersecurity experts. DJT has done nothing but lie and cheat his whole life and it makes MUCH more sense that he/Musk cheated than it does that he legitimately won ALL the swing states AND the popular vote. If audits show they didn’t cheat, then so be it… but it seems much more likely that they did… and that audits would prove it. Right now it seems like people are more concerned with blaming different groups of Dem voters (thus tearing apart the fabric that holds us together… again, just what the DJT cabal would love to have happen) than getting to the bottom of whether they cheated and we’re all about to hand the keys to the kingdom over to someone who is stealing it from us.
I agree and I’m tired of being told that demanding audits of this election is the same as pushing the Big Lie.
I agree but who has the stomach for civil war. Kick it down the road…
No way. If there’s ANY chance of not living one more minute having to worry about what new heinous thing that jackass is doing I’ll fight for it.
Agree completely. But I’ve seen no evidence that any of this is happening.
Gib to o Simon Rosenberg’s HOPIUM Substack and/or Scott Dworkin’s and go back to last week and ck out the voting final counts.
Thank you, Heather.
We’ve long known that Team Biden has been hard at work - from the day he took the Oath of Office - to restore our economy, society and place in the world. And come January 20, it may all unravel - again.
Noble is as noble does.
Foolish is as foolish does.
I have to be honest, Heather, the emphasis on Biden redirecting policy to supporting the middle class (compared to Republicans pushing policies that support the very wealthy) misses the even more critical story of our age. Biden said he was fighting for the soul our nation and was pro democracy. And we all knew it was the most important fight of them all because the GOP does not support democracy. So, the fact that Biden did not make sure that every seditious member of Congress was prosecuted (not just Trump but the members of Congress too) and the fact that they were never kicked out of Congress for what they did on January 6th makes his presidency a total failure to me. Economies can change. But when you lose democracy, it is gone forever. I will always see Biden as a man who let democracy die, because I believe there is a very strong probability that it will. 
Sadly, I feel the same. It all dies post Biden and all the great numbers never told when it mattered. Spelling it all out now in his speech? A lot too late, imo. This should have been said every day at a podium for the past 4 years.
{head in hands}
I agree. Biden did a terrible job of selling his accomplishments … along with a terrible job of making sure democracy was protected. What good is it if you do good and nobody knows that you did good? And I don’t care if Fox did nothing but lie. He should’ve found a way to get the American be able to know the truth no matter what. He’s the president for crying out loud ! He’s supposed to know how to do stuff like that! How to beat the propaganda machine!
Ah, but it's not so much Joe, it's the rest of the Democrat team - who have proven themselves as absolutely hopeless at PR.
Buttigieg was often on the road extolling the Biden administration, but the mainstream media JUST WOULD NOT AIR IT.
Biden got plenty of coverage when Commander bit someone. He'd get more coverage out of that, and THAT sums up the attention span of many Americans.
It seems that Joe Biden is just trying to 'Polish' his Legacy... DJT will distort those figures or take Credit for the Good... Good enough for DJT, he believes anything that makes HIM feel better...
That the Donvict and other MAGAs take credit for the accomplishments of the Biden Administration means those policies that brought them about are good policies. That they do so in such a craven, underhanded way is maddening, but it is still an endorsement.
We need a shared fact spreadsheet with monthly numbers for employment, food prices, etc. AP should maintain this.
I agree that all the January 6 people should have been punished. Unfortunately, no one dreamed that what is happening now could happen-- it seemed too extreme. I refuse to believe that democracy is dead. If we do that, it will be.
Let me put it another way, it is the president‘s job along with his team to imagine the impossible and to protect us against those unlikely scenarios. Also, there are a lot of people who did not think this was such a hard to believe scenario. And I’m happy you don’t think democracy will die. But I will say this… Keeping it alive is going to be a gigantically larger challenge with Trump in the oval office and Mike Johnson in the House then would’ve been had they been prosecuted. The forces that want to destroy democracy would still be out there, but they would not have their allies in the White House and running the House of Representatives. I refuse to let Biden off the hook. Sorry if that disappoints you. As the expression goes, “He had just one job“
I get it. Yes, somebody in the administration should have anticipated this, and the buck stops with Biden. With Garland as AG, it would have taken a lot of pressure to prosecute them, and Biden used his political capital on the good things he did. Hindsight is great, but often painful. However, for those (like me) who feared what could happen, when we verbalized it, we mostly got pegged as extreme even by Dems except by others who were also scared. And now I’m going to hope that a lot of Trump voters get very angry when government doesn’t work for them, and I’m going to do all I can to step up and speak up.
Kevin McCarthy went to Florida and resurrected chump. When will he get his ambassadorship. Or Rudy? Sort of hope that they stay in the trash bin. Joe didn’t have the votes to go after the perps after Repubs went rogue and he had two traitors in the senate. Have mercy Steve. Plenty of blame to go around…
Remember…accepting a pardon means you admit guilt. Trump can pardon all he wants - those Jan 6 traitors - STILL GUILTY. trumps kids FIL - STILL GUILTY. Bannon/Manafort/Stone - STILL GUILTY. They can never wash that stink off.
Any yes, Hunter - STILL GUILTY - no buts.
Those J6 people will never get the time in jail back, they probably won't get their jobs, might not get their friends and families back either.
I FULLY expect them to sue the government for their imprisonment.
Chump will reward them, absolutely no doubt
Joe still believes in the system. For better or worse. Worse coming
Agreed.
Sleazy Ronald Reagan sold the message that government of the people, by the people, for the people is an unworkable, pathetic joke and that the wealthiest among us are our societies rightful natural leaders. Sorta like feudalism.
As many wonderful things that our president accomplished economically, I also believe he failed to hold congress accountable. There are more traitors in congress, who are two-faced bold liars, spineless, and without a solid moral compass than I can to admit.
So Congress is controlled by the President, now? Good grief..
Bet he wished that he could have, Senate as well. Had a few Dem traitors there as well…
Great accomp!ishments, great speech. Unfortunately, the electorate chose not to care. There's not a chance in Hell that Trump is going to listen to this. We're screwed until we can figure out how to get this across to those who would be supportive if they only stopped listening to lies and could understand what is to their advantage.
Rupert is the cult leader. He lost his court case to continue his flim flaming of America, but, of course, he will appeal probably to our traitorous SC
Facts matter. But facts aren’t being communicated to the American people in a way that they can feel it and digest it. And the MSM has failed in their responsibility to inform. Dems need a new way of communicating and new outlets for doing so.
And start speaking in ways to easily understand. What does it mean to create so many jobs? Give an example. What does/did the Pact Act accomplish? Examples? Dumb it down, make it super easy to wrap our minds around. Quit talking above our heads. This is what we did and this is what it means in the lives of every day Americans.
And, if inflation is down, and some prices are too high, why? Maybe ask the companies who set prices? General reference to “price gouging” doesn’t do it. Like you said, dumb it down.
Biden delivered 16 million jobs, booming business growth, and stabilized inflation—tangible results from middle-out economics. Meanwhile, Trump’s team pushes $4 trillion in billionaire tax cuts, pretending deficits don’t exist. It’s facts versus an echo chamber—which one builds a stronger America?
The goal is destruction, and sell off the spoils. They told us.
Exactly.
No mystery, is it
“Biden is willing to bet that if the American people pay attention to those facts, they will recognize that his approach to the economy, rather than supply-side economics, works best for everyone.”
Sadly, a huge plurality of the electorate is beguiled by right-wing propaganda and frightening ignorance about even the most basic economic facts — as demonstrated by their returning this abominable man to the presidency
Yes, the ignorant are too ignorant to know that they are ignorant
Facts matter. Facts are not optional.
“U.S. economic performance by presidential party
Since World War II, the United States economy has performed significantly better on average under the administration of Democratic presidents than Republican presidents. The reasons for this are debated, and the observation applies to economic variables including job creation, GDP growth, stock market returns, personal income growth, and corporate profits. The unemployment rate has risen on average under Republican presidents, while it has fallen on average under Democratic presidents. Budget deficits relative to the size of the economy were lower on average for Democratic presidents.[1][2] Ten of the eleven U.S. recessions between 1953 and 2020 began under Republican presidents.[3] Of these, the most statistically significant differences are in real GDP growth, unemployment rate change, stock market annual return, and job creation rate.[4][5]”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._economic_performance_by_presidential_party
Damn, I remember when facts were reported by Walter, and believed by a significant majority. Then Rupert was imported by Reagan, and, as Karl Rove reportedly said, republicans make their own reality. And everybody has to deal with that. And, silly me, I thought W/Dickie was as crazy as they could get.
There was a time that Walter Cronkite, CBS broadcast journalist was the most trusted voice in America. He would sign off each broadcast with his trademark phrase "And that's the way it is.”
At a time when the official word was that the Vietnam War was winnable, Cronkite went there to see for himself. He concluded that a stalemate was the best America and South Vietnam could reasonably be expected. LBJ reported to have said "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."
Cronkite was recruited by Edward R Murrow whose reporting on WWII from Europe and London were legendary.
I’m old enough to remember. Walter mostly, but saw Murrow a few times…we have lost our North Stars and haven’t been able to orient ourselves. Our GPSs keep us running around in circles.
"return to the route"
If only, some just seem to say “can’t compute.” I have noticed that young people (well my daughter qualifies as old people) just turn on GPS and have no clue where they will be going. I have to have a general idea before I set out. Be oriented…. It helps to have a clue where you will be headed.
Before I retired, GPS units were all in vogue with our patrol staff. Our county is 4600 square miles with an unincorporated urban population of about 45,000. We had deputies who never “learned” the county.
A lot of what President Biden put in place will not come to fruition for a few years. Trump and his cronies, who voted AGAINST all of Biden’s projects, will claim credit for them…and the sheep will believe him.
One can hope. One can worry. One can keep up the blue flag going forward.
One can wave that blue flag all day and all night for the next four years and no one will be listening. The more I hear the convicted felon elect talk about his “day one,” the more imperative it feels to leave the country. The felon and his billionaire buddies will destroy this country almost immediately because we do not have a congress or court with any moral guidelines. They are all out for themselves…always have been and always will be.
It’s a given that trump will claim that he inherited a horrible economy with record inflation, then a week or two later will say that he miraculously saved the economy and made it the best the world has ever seen. We’ve seen this act of his before.
Joyce Vance is keeping a scorecard of where prices are and where they go. I hope she gets PLENTY of coverage of this, and it will be up to us to see that her information goes viral.
a PS, Joyce isn't the only one:
https://steady.substack.com/p/playing-chicken-with-the-economy?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=247881&post_id=152870580&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ithz2&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Gotta love Dan Rather.
It is always the best and smartest move by the smartest man ever. Astonishing, isn’t it?