"Not charity. Investment." Important point. Beautiful symbolism, the exchange of real flags. As for the Republican punks in question, we already knew who and what they are.
While we are at it, we really need to drive home this larger point in our daily conversations with fellow citizens: Stop thinking of every policy - foreign and domestic - in terms of "spending" and start thinking of it all on terms of "investment."
You want the country run like a business, eh? Well, **that's what good businesses do!!!** Will this expenditure get us more out than we put in in the long term, in terms of another something we value? If yes, then expend.
Or better yet, try thinking of running the country as running a big family in which everyone has a say. Buying good food and new clothes for your kids is considered worthwhile because we value the results of those purchases.
Every dollar spent helping Ukraine IS an investment in making sure you world democracy survives, and you can't put a price on that. Similarly, domestic programs like paid family leave, child tax credit, universal child & eldercare, expanded Medicare, and free community college are INVESTMENTS in a future. Spend big now on smart things, get a bigger return later with a more prosperous society.
This line of thinking, of course, DOES depend on being willing to think at any point about other people being worth helping. We'll have to still work on drilling that idea in too, apparently.
Brilliant. True. And a message that needs to be made clear -- repeatedly -- to a people who are feeling unsupported and threatened. That JD Vance defeated patriot Tim Ryan in Ohio is evidence of our need to make your points incredibly clear, repeatedly. Investments in our fellows are investments in our ourselves. We are only as strong as our neighbor. We have ignored the incredible physic and physical damage done to the collective by myriad daily traumas: racism, inequity in every corner of peopleтАЩs lives: education, healthcare, opportunities, housing, transportation, access to healthy food, green spaces and recreation, access to peace of mind and faith in rule of law.
This is one of the most compelling weeks in our nationтАЩs history. That the white patriarchy is NOT getting by with the election scam attempt of a corrupt cabal of self-centered old white men; that an old white man who ruined the lives of countless aspiring actresses by lording power over them as he raped and terrorized them has been sentenced to what amounts to life in prison plus, and that this brave soul Zelensky has shone as a guiding light of rule of law over an almost caricature of corruption whom TFG idolized? What a week. And itтАЩs only Wednesday. Oh. Yes. And include in the litany of wins for democracy that TFGтАЩs taxes are finally being given the light and air that should have been required for him to even think of running for office? This is a win for rule of law. Rule of law. That no one is above the law. Equity: that we do not favor one race or economic class over another (we have a LONG way to go on this).
Rule of law: that the patriarchy can withhold assets to some and SYSTEMATICALLY destroy the assets and opportunities of others? These are traumas in our nationтАЩs long litany of colonization, genocide, kidnapping and enslavement.
ZelenskyтАЩs choice of military clothing during this war, his standing before congress with boots тАЬlikely covered in dust from the front lines of war,тАЭ show the willingness of a leader willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of his country men. That he and Joe Biden could share warm moments of solidarity and even laughter is a testimony to the human spirit. That Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris were literally behind Zelensky during his historic and inspiring speech (for a treat look up the Anderson Cooper interview with Doris Kerns Goodwin last night as she puts the importance of ZelenskyтАЩs visit in historical perspective), that all of this is happening as the Billionaire plutocracy in this nation seems to be just a little bit closer to being outed as Russian sympathizers yearning for autocracy, and wow. Again. What. A. Week. What a holiday gift not unlike the Hanukkah lights. The story of a baby born in a manger becoming one whose message of love and support for the poor managed to change the world without a single tweet. And on and on and on. This is a week of long fought for miracles. I do not take it for granted and I will draw strength from it for years to come. The love of fellow man and the power of the human spirit to rise above self for the greater good? Affirmed. That all of this happened as this fragile earth tipped its access to turn toward more light than darkness? Need I say more?
Brilliantly and movingly written Carey! That there could be a Rule Of Law is one of the most fundamental myths (or abstract beliefs like money or nations or government) that Homo Sapiens found it could believe in the Cognitive Revolution 70,000 years ago and go on to prosper and flourish! May we keep that idea, that myth, The Rule of Law ascendant over and above nations and governments who don't also hold the necessity of that truth above all others.
Nobody ever questions our own military industrial complex spending which now exceeds all domestic spending combined. They all lay down at the feet of the military contractor lobby.
Every time I read the dollar number of the Pentagon's budget I cringe as it is so telling what the priorities are in this country. Guns over homes, food, bridges, education, medical care, even research. It will be a great day when the schools get all the money they need and the Airforce has to hold a bake sale.
When we stop spending on defense we will be at the mercy of governments that hate us. Bake sale for the Air Force? No, the money for investment in education, housing, health care, drug addiction reduction, opportunity for minorities etc must come from taxing the wealthy. If we persist in the stratification we have now, there will be fewer and fewer reasons morally to have anything to defend. We are becoming an oligarchy, the last step before autocracy.
Our military budget is larger than most of the other countries combined. We could still have a military but not spend as much as we do. It often looks like the money goes for military "toys" that is more for the excitement of the new gadget than we actually need. In fact what the Pentagon often gets is way more than they ask for. And, it's our aggressive approach around the world that contributes to other countries and governments hating us in the first place. If a military weapon is devised you can bet somebody will come up with a rationale for using it. It's criminal and immoral. Aggression breeds aggression.
An established ratio that requires that domestic spending to be larger than military.
An audit of the military budget and complete review of what programs are funded and how contracts are awarded.
Have some fun and enter into Google "trillion dollar jet" (that doesn't work)
While I am in complete support of Ukraine and providing whatever assistance they need, the bill we just a watched go through Congress was just more tasty sausage for the Oligarchs who get fat on tax payer dollars.
Yes to all paragraphs. The last paragraph, especially, is so true---defense contract. ( I wrote "military" but realize that is NOT an appropriate description) "defense contract" includes all the fat cat bonuses built in to the contracts. If this country could find the will to appropriate just a fraction of the defense contract budget to building up this country instead of manufacturing machines of destruction it would be glorious and transformative. But the 'system' won't allow it until there is transformation. (Others may disagree, but Bernie stands enough against the current 'system' to offer hope, but he, like all of us eventually, has a limited time on this planet to work for good and transformation!!!!!) End of rant. Peace and Courage to All----and to the People of Ukraine as they fight True Evil.
WaPo: "But a small group of House Republicans critical of the ongoing funding to Ukraine, including Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Matt Gaetz of Florida, did not clap for Zelensky when he walked onto the House floor and rarely stood throughout his speech. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), the top critics of funding the war, did not attend."
Disgusting. Yet another truly contemptible example of what these people - and their ilk - represent. History will record them as what they truly are. As should each and every voter in this country claiming to value patriotism, democracy and decency.
Anne-Louise and Peter, one can fervently hope The Rule of Law eventually reaches them as well for their complicity in efforts to overthrow our government...sitting in Congress or absenting themselves for the last time.
That was my hope, also, as I watched last night. There are still 30-some members of Congress who aided and abetted the insurrection who should be on trial for their crimes, and then shown the door and barred from ever holding office again.
Oh, please, can we just stop using that word! If you have something to contribute, please don't just call names. Use sentences that say something meaningful and hopefully illuminating.
The primary snarkers seated together and caught on camera were Gaetz and Boebert. The primary snarker outside the chamber was Tucker Carlson who squawked and squeaked referring to Zelensky clothes as making him look like a тАЬstrip club ownerтАЭ.
May we not mention the names of any traitors again this year.
Christine's message is a good one. I have not mentioned the name of 'the defeated former president' in my blog or in any emails for well over a year now, fearing that doing so might contaminate my keyboard in addition to giving him unwarranted exposure by its mere mention.
Hah...those who treated President Zelenskyy with such disrespect have caught the amoral, character-destroying virus that drumpf spreads. They no longer possess the ability to feel shame or embarrassment.
Indeed, I'm surprised they haven't yet bragged about their disrespect as though it was some kind of signifier of their 'strength of mind'.
Yes we do know who they are. Now we can vote those traitors out, if the rule of law doesn't catch up with them first! Why isn't Matt Gaetz in jail already for having sex with an underage girl???
It was quite a speech from quite a man--a seeming super hero because of his courage, resolve in democracy, and compassion for his people, NOT for power and glory. The contrast to Putin are of epic proportions--the Holy Spirit vs the ego. Zelensky is a real-life-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show our children what a true superhero is....
There is something so very curiously similar between trump and putin that perhaps only a comparable reading of their astrology charts can bring us some clarity. Both men of the same authoritarian mindset stood together in the White House, in the height of their power, gloatingly heaping praise on each other. Both held secret meetings together, plotting who-knows-what and confiscating the interpreter's notes. Both have lifted up the Bible as cover and to infer that they were the chosen ones. Suddenly, the winds have shifted. Both men's egregiously deleterious actions have brought about their downfall as they desperately cling to power by cooking up big lies. In the face of desperation both demand unwavering loyalty as they further isolate. Both are in big trouble...as the little mouse stands up and roars. It's truly biblical....
Agreed! It certainly makes me wonder who among the ultra-wealthy are paying the bills for these Republicans who want an authoritarian kleptocracy and why the Justice Department isn't perusing them.
Pursuing them? My spellchecker made the same mistake. But we see what you mean, even with stupid spells checkerтАЩs mistake. I would like to see those people names published for all to see. Along with how much tax the paid this year.
You can start with Koch Industries. Their fingers are in all the pies. Then there is a lot of foreign money flowing in now through organizations like the NRA. There's a reason Republicans won't allow any legislation that requires donors provide their names on donations. Also, when I worked for a very large corporation, they went around to all the offices collecting money for their political contributions. I raised questions about the ethics of being asked to give money, but no say in how it would be spent. I was laid off about 3 months later. Coincidence?
That was quite the speech. We must continue to support Ukraine. Shame on the Republican punks who were disrespectful.
"Not charity. Investment." Important point. Beautiful symbolism, the exchange of real flags. As for the Republican punks in question, we already knew who and what they are.
While we are at it, we really need to drive home this larger point in our daily conversations with fellow citizens: Stop thinking of every policy - foreign and domestic - in terms of "spending" and start thinking of it all on terms of "investment."
You want the country run like a business, eh? Well, **that's what good businesses do!!!** Will this expenditure get us more out than we put in in the long term, in terms of another something we value? If yes, then expend.
Or better yet, try thinking of running the country as running a big family in which everyone has a say. Buying good food and new clothes for your kids is considered worthwhile because we value the results of those purchases.
Every dollar spent helping Ukraine IS an investment in making sure you world democracy survives, and you can't put a price on that. Similarly, domestic programs like paid family leave, child tax credit, universal child & eldercare, expanded Medicare, and free community college are INVESTMENTS in a future. Spend big now on smart things, get a bigger return later with a more prosperous society.
This line of thinking, of course, DOES depend on being willing to think at any point about other people being worth helping. We'll have to still work on drilling that idea in too, apparently.
Brilliant. True. And a message that needs to be made clear -- repeatedly -- to a people who are feeling unsupported and threatened. That JD Vance defeated patriot Tim Ryan in Ohio is evidence of our need to make your points incredibly clear, repeatedly. Investments in our fellows are investments in our ourselves. We are only as strong as our neighbor. We have ignored the incredible physic and physical damage done to the collective by myriad daily traumas: racism, inequity in every corner of peopleтАЩs lives: education, healthcare, opportunities, housing, transportation, access to healthy food, green spaces and recreation, access to peace of mind and faith in rule of law.
This is one of the most compelling weeks in our nationтАЩs history. That the white patriarchy is NOT getting by with the election scam attempt of a corrupt cabal of self-centered old white men; that an old white man who ruined the lives of countless aspiring actresses by lording power over them as he raped and terrorized them has been sentenced to what amounts to life in prison plus, and that this brave soul Zelensky has shone as a guiding light of rule of law over an almost caricature of corruption whom TFG idolized? What a week. And itтАЩs only Wednesday. Oh. Yes. And include in the litany of wins for democracy that TFGтАЩs taxes are finally being given the light and air that should have been required for him to even think of running for office? This is a win for rule of law. Rule of law. That no one is above the law. Equity: that we do not favor one race or economic class over another (we have a LONG way to go on this).
Rule of law: that the patriarchy can withhold assets to some and SYSTEMATICALLY destroy the assets and opportunities of others? These are traumas in our nationтАЩs long litany of colonization, genocide, kidnapping and enslavement.
ZelenskyтАЩs choice of military clothing during this war, his standing before congress with boots тАЬlikely covered in dust from the front lines of war,тАЭ show the willingness of a leader willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of his country men. That he and Joe Biden could share warm moments of solidarity and even laughter is a testimony to the human spirit. That Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris were literally behind Zelensky during his historic and inspiring speech (for a treat look up the Anderson Cooper interview with Doris Kerns Goodwin last night as she puts the importance of ZelenskyтАЩs visit in historical perspective), that all of this is happening as the Billionaire plutocracy in this nation seems to be just a little bit closer to being outed as Russian sympathizers yearning for autocracy, and wow. Again. What. A. Week. What a holiday gift not unlike the Hanukkah lights. The story of a baby born in a manger becoming one whose message of love and support for the poor managed to change the world without a single tweet. And on and on and on. This is a week of long fought for miracles. I do not take it for granted and I will draw strength from it for years to come. The love of fellow man and the power of the human spirit to rise above self for the greater good? Affirmed. That all of this happened as this fragile earth tipped its access to turn toward more light than darkness? Need I say more?
"Need I say more?"
That was quite a bit, but, very well written. Thanks!
Brilliantly and movingly written Carey! That there could be a Rule Of Law is one of the most fundamental myths (or abstract beliefs like money or nations or government) that Homo Sapiens found it could believe in the Cognitive Revolution 70,000 years ago and go on to prosper and flourish! May we keep that idea, that myth, The Rule of Law ascendant over and above nations and governments who don't also hold the necessity of that truth above all others.
Thank you Carey for this.
Thank you!
Thank you Carey. So true. I missed the boots.
Will,
Nobody ever questions our own military industrial complex spending which now exceeds all domestic spending combined. They all lay down at the feet of the military contractor lobby.
Every time I read the dollar number of the Pentagon's budget I cringe as it is so telling what the priorities are in this country. Guns over homes, food, bridges, education, medical care, even research. It will be a great day when the schools get all the money they need and the Airforce has to hold a bake sale.
When we stop spending on defense we will be at the mercy of governments that hate us. Bake sale for the Air Force? No, the money for investment in education, housing, health care, drug addiction reduction, opportunity for minorities etc must come from taxing the wealthy. If we persist in the stratification we have now, there will be fewer and fewer reasons morally to have anything to defend. We are becoming an oligarchy, the last step before autocracy.
If we taxed the wealthy we could have housing, superior school buildings, healthcare etc etc. the rich get richer by impoverishing others. Dr
Our military budget is larger than most of the other countries combined. We could still have a military but not spend as much as we do. It often looks like the money goes for military "toys" that is more for the excitement of the new gadget than we actually need. In fact what the Pentagon often gets is way more than they ask for. And, it's our aggressive approach around the world that contributes to other countries and governments hating us in the first place. If a military weapon is devised you can bet somebody will come up with a rationale for using it. It's criminal and immoral. Aggression breeds aggression.
You hit on one of my biggest frustrations, military spending. Sickening.
J. Nol, Wish I could deliver a tractor trailer load of heartsтЭдтЭдтЭд for your comment! Thank you; very well said, indeed.
I would like to see:
An established ratio that requires that domestic spending to be larger than military.
An audit of the military budget and complete review of what programs are funded and how contracts are awarded.
Have some fun and enter into Google "trillion dollar jet" (that doesn't work)
While I am in complete support of Ukraine and providing whatever assistance they need, the bill we just a watched go through Congress was just more tasty sausage for the Oligarchs who get fat on tax payer dollars.
Yes to all paragraphs. The last paragraph, especially, is so true---defense contract. ( I wrote "military" but realize that is NOT an appropriate description) "defense contract" includes all the fat cat bonuses built in to the contracts. If this country could find the will to appropriate just a fraction of the defense contract budget to building up this country instead of manufacturing machines of destruction it would be glorious and transformative. But the 'system' won't allow it until there is transformation. (Others may disagree, but Bernie stands enough against the current 'system' to offer hope, but he, like all of us eventually, has a limited time on this planet to work for good and transformation!!!!!) End of rant. Peace and Courage to All----and to the People of Ukraine as they fight True Evil.
A wonderful message during this season of giving. Thank you, Will, from Cal. I look forward to your comments. Always refreshing.
Salud!
ЁЯЧ╜ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╕ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗж
Republicans would much prefer a big tax cut for the
rich and corporations than invest in anyone else. Their moto is тАЬI got mine; Fuck youтАЭ.
Can I share your post with credit to you?
Yes, we can guess who they were, but wouldnтАЩt it be nice to see an official list of who they were? Give them a little unwelcome publicity???
WaPo: "But a small group of House Republicans critical of the ongoing funding to Ukraine, including Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Matt Gaetz of Florida, did not clap for Zelensky when he walked onto the House floor and rarely stood throughout his speech. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), the top critics of funding the war, did not attend."
Disgusting. Yet another truly contemptible example of what these people - and their ilk - represent. History will record them as what they truly are. As should each and every voter in this country claiming to value patriotism, democracy and decency.
Anne-Louise and Peter, one can fervently hope The Rule of Law eventually reaches them as well for their complicity in efforts to overthrow our government...sitting in Congress or absenting themselves for the last time.
That was my hope, also, as I watched last night. There are still 30-some members of Congress who aided and abetted the insurrection who should be on trial for their crimes, and then shown the door and barred from ever holding office again.
Hear, hear!
Deplorables!
Oh, please, can we just stop using that word! If you have something to contribute, please don't just call names. Use sentences that say something meaningful and hopefully illuminating.
If you are paid by Putin to do what he wants, then, you do what he wants you to do.
I am sure they are being paid directly by Putin.
After all, since Citizen's United, it is legal to take money from any dark source.
Same list as the insurrectionists.
The primary snarkers seated together and caught on camera were Gaetz and Boebert. The primary snarker outside the chamber was Tucker Carlson who squawked and squeaked referring to Zelensky clothes as making him look like a тАЬstrip club ownerтАЭ.
May we not mention the names of any traitors again this year.
Salud Patricia.
ЁЯЧ╜ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╕ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗж
TUCKER CARLSON!!! Now, how would he know what a strip club owner looks like? Actually, now that I come to think about his appearance on Faux News...
LOL.
Christine's message is a good one. I have not mentioned the name of 'the defeated former president' in my blog or in any emails for well over a year now, fearing that doing so might contaminate my keyboard in addition to giving him unwarranted exposure by its mere mention.
LOL. Our keyboards are grateful, Jack.
Salud!
Slavi Ukraini!
ЁЯЧ╜ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╕ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗжЁЯТЬ
That's all Repugs can see . . . the surface. The appearance. The show. They have no ability to see the substance of a person or their worth.
Oh, they do. ItтАЩs just that the substance and worth they see is so much more than their own.
ЁЯЧ╜ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗ╕ЁЯЗ║ЁЯЗжЁЯТЬ
Creo que si!
Yes. I tried to google the list, but couldn't find it. Only 86 (!) pugs attended. Among them were the nasty punks.
See the list of Traitors compliments of Michael Moore: https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5a529864-4e4d-4be3-9efe-d2f2b13d753a_2150x5075.jpeg
Hah...those who treated President Zelenskyy with such disrespect have caught the amoral, character-destroying virus that drumpf spreads. They no longer possess the ability to feel shame or embarrassment.
Indeed, I'm surprised they haven't yet bragged about their disrespect as though it was some kind of signifier of their 'strength of mind'.
Ah! But that is what they think.
Despicable
We know what they are: pathetic scum. Here's who they are:
Some right-wing members repeatedly remaining seated in standing ovations during the Zelensky speech:
- Matt Gaetz
- Lauren Boebert
- Andrew Clyde
- Dianne Harshbarger
- Warren Davidson
- Michael Cloud
- Jim Jordan
Thanks to @AndrewSolender
Thanks for calling them out Richard... I hope they go down as Traitors and get an education in Prison!
Yes we do know who they are. Now we can vote those traitors out, if the rule of law doesn't catch up with them first! Why isn't Matt Gaetz in jail already for having sex with an underage girl???
It was quite a speech from quite a man--a seeming super hero because of his courage, resolve in democracy, and compassion for his people, NOT for power and glory. The contrast to Putin are of epic proportions--the Holy Spirit vs the ego. Zelensky is a real-life-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show our children what a true superhero is....
Also a contrast of epic proportions to the Anti-leader, wannabe dictator trump.
How can we forget tfgтАЩs bone-spurred resolve to not serve in our countryтАЩs military? Zelensky is his polar opposite!
There is something so very curiously similar between trump and putin that perhaps only a comparable reading of their astrology charts can bring us some clarity. Both men of the same authoritarian mindset stood together in the White House, in the height of their power, gloatingly heaping praise on each other. Both held secret meetings together, plotting who-knows-what and confiscating the interpreter's notes. Both have lifted up the Bible as cover and to infer that they were the chosen ones. Suddenly, the winds have shifted. Both men's egregiously deleterious actions have brought about their downfall as they desperately cling to power by cooking up big lies. In the face of desperation both demand unwavering loyalty as they further isolate. Both are in big trouble...as the little mouse stands up and roars. It's truly biblical....
And a contrast to how tfg treated Zelenskyy, making his visit to,the US dependent on тАЬfavors.тАЭ
Remember ZalenskyтАЩs expressions when he sat with TFGтАж.priceless.
TFG behaves like the true a-hole he is!
yes, Holy Spirit (or soul) vs Ego.
Agreed! It certainly makes me wonder who among the ultra-wealthy are paying the bills for these Republicans who want an authoritarian kleptocracy and why the Justice Department isn't perusing them.
Pursuing them? My spellchecker made the same mistake. But we see what you mean, even with stupid spells checkerтАЩs mistake. I would like to see those people names published for all to see. Along with how much tax the paid this year.
You can start with Koch Industries. Their fingers are in all the pies. Then there is a lot of foreign money flowing in now through organizations like the NRA. There's a reason Republicans won't allow any legislation that requires donors provide their names on donations. Also, when I worked for a very large corporation, they went around to all the offices collecting money for their political contributions. I raised questions about the ethics of being asked to give money, but no say in how it would be spent. I was laid off about 3 months later. Coincidence?
It's very difficult to get the ultra wealthy donors because they own the Congress that should be pursuing them and reining them in.
Yeah, I know. I saw the nasty look in Gaetz's eyes while he sat with a buddy while everyone else was standing and cheering. What a schmuck.
IтАЩve heard it said that our eyes are a window to our soul. I see nothingness in his eyes.
When will somebody track the mony trail from Russia to Matt, Loren and Marjorie?
There needs to be legislation that requires full disclosure, or better yet, get money out of politics.
No private money in politics is the way to go. Some countries operate like.
None! Give all candidates the same budget and media coverage. Level the playing field.
And even if there were such legislation, would people like these three be honest about the sources of their funds?
I guess it depends on how the law is written and if our lawmakers have the gumption to enforce it.
They have sold their souls and are no longer capable of shame. May they rot in obscurity forever.
They have souls?
Thanks, Evelyn. Yes, I was embarrassed at those "punks" audacity! They should be shipped to Ukraine's frontlines.
I doubt they would last an hour. OK, maybe a day since they would be hiding somewhere, peeing in their pants!
How about dropping then off in Russia? They would fit right in and bend their knee to Putin, just wonder how long they would last.....