Once Biden moves his agenda through Congress, the “Republican problem” will resolve itself. To do this, Democrats must use every legal tool they have. Trying to negotiate with the other side – at least most of them – is like trying to reason with a screaming child who has a load in their diaper. Change the diaper!
The only thing sustaining the current Radical Republican party is the mass of voters who followed Donald down his rabbit hole. When those folks are working, living without the fear of unemployment and crushing, unrelenting debt, when they realize Biden is not Karl Marx in Ray Bans - they will stop threatening their neighbors with violence over lawn signs and they just might vote in their own best interest. Some will temper their public expressions of racism - few will admit they were duped, but they (like Sasse and Romney) will eventually dump Trump by the side of the road like an empty bag of Happy Meals.
The die-hards who had long awaited a Trump-like beast, will run Don Jr. or some other child of the porn, but they will fail. Those who are not already in prison or awaiting trial, will go back into their bunkers, soothe themselves inhaling the fumes of gun oil in darkened rooms, and break the odd law or neck to convince themselves they are real men. But even they will eventually have hip replacements and get to know a cardiologist – or not – and die off like last summer’s tomatoes.
The trick here is to do the People’s business. The party that does that, will prevail and in the process, still the unrest among those members of the MAGA nation who believe their economic grievances have not been addressed and do not want to burn down the Capitol every time they lose an election.
And here is the challenge: All of this must be done while addressing our greatest national shortcoming – our refusal to deal honestly and fairly with the historical reality of slavery in America and the entrenched systemic racism that prevents us from being a healthy, functioning Democracy. The wounds inflicted by slavery and its legacy, and the inability of whites to confront our ignorance and complacency runs so deep, that it will require monumental effort to even begin the process. But begin, we must.
R Dooley - Yeppers, you hit the nail on the head. I would add the genocide and injustices also done to Native Americans. Two traumas we have not dealt with.
R. Dooley, love your commentary, but I have a thought here. Your statement "But even they will eventually have hip replacements and get to know a cardiologist – or not – and die off like last summer’s tomatoes" sounds right, but don't forget that these people have children who have been regaled with this hatred and vitriol their entire lives, and will grow up into the next generation of the same. I'm sure you've seen videos of KKK rallies with young children in attendance shouting the slogans because it is expected. This will be one of the hardest practices to root out. And I find it sad beyond belief. "Teach your children well..."
"A new breed of Republicans has taken over the GOP. It is a new breed which is seeking to sell to Americans a doctrine which is as old as mankind - the doctrine of racial division, the doctrine of racial prejudice, the doctrine of white supremacy". If you think this is a recent quote, you'd be wrong. It is from the Republican convention of 1964 and is a quote from Jackie Robinson who left the party in disgust. This is from HCR's book "How the South Won the Civil War".(p. 165) My point is that these reThuglicans have been playing the long game for decades. Now that they have all the pieces in place including judges, state governments etc., it will be extremely difficult to stop them. We need to stop trying to work with them and start governing without them.
Well stated and optimistic view of current and future state. Addressing systemic racism honestly will be challenging without first addressing honesty in the news media. Too many rely on entertainment venues posing as news to bolster their beliefs and intolerance. Opinions and lies are too easily disseminated and believed. Fact checking should be mandatory for credible news sources.
R. You are correct in the urgency to address and undo systemic racism which is in the air we breathe and don’t think about or recognize. It’s everywhere, affecting everything. ❤️🤍💙
I think you're spot on in this assessment. The twin "building blocks" of our nation (slavery and genocide of Native Americans) must be addressed and resolved. It is like building a house with a bad foundation; eventually, the house will fail.
The most impressive thing about Caste is the countless stories Ms Wilkerson tells. They compel readers to realize "I didn't know what's going on until now."
R. Dooley you have eloquently stated all that is right and wrong in this moment. I believe if we can finally address "the wounds inflicted by slavery and its legacy" much of the rest will fall into place. But that's a VERY tall order.
Afternoon Lynn and Roy!! Thanks for the recs. Not sure if people saw The Long Song which PBS aired the last 3 Sundays. It's about mid-19C Jamaica from slavery to freedom, and is an interesting comparison with the US. Well-written, produced and acted, it's enlightening on race and economic relations in post-emancipation societies, with a compelling personal story. The redemptive ending is quite moving.
We HAVE TO PUT THIS IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AS WELL!!!
THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH!!!!!
I am Mortified about what happened to Africans, being STOLEN and Made as Slaves!!! And what Happened to AMERICAN Indians(all of it)!!!
Talk about INJUSTICES!!!!
THESE ARE CRIMES GOING ON FOR TOO DAMN LONG😡😠
[end quote]
Thank you LouAnn. I love the fury. Racism and sexism are at the core of Republican Party. So many people write about them without passion, as if they are any-old-topic. Slavery is not a normal conversation topic. The genocide of American "Indians" is not normal. Racism and sexism are vicious, vicious, and hideously ugly. The U.S. Cavalry and Nazi Germany have a lot in common with the KKK and Donald Trump and the U.S. Capitol Riot, the attack on Congress.
I am hopeful that U.S. society is getting its head out of the sand and seeing the ugly truths that are the Republican Party foundation and platform.
I must compliment you on your colorful style of writing! Seriously, I could actually envision a real person for each of your various portrayals. Case in point: "trying to reason with a screaming child who has a load in their diaper" - the image of Matt Gaetz sprang immediately to mind! LOL! Thanks, my friend.
Much as I agree with much of what you have written, I worry when people are being told they are prejudiced but just don't know it....unconscious bias. This open to abuse. This is what I wrote a couple of days ago in answer to Roland.
"Unconscious bias is a concept to be handled with extreme care. This seemingly irrefutable arguement....as you are not aware of being so biased and don't necessarily express it other than by lifestyle...can easily become the imposition of another's opinion in the place of your own and in the process you are being told you are stupid for not knowing you had it. How long will it take, with a weapon like this in people's hands before it becomes a method of control and limitation of free speech and thought, imposing the "official line" and acceptable wisdom of a segment of the population...elite or otherwise...It must be said that the Chinese State is particularly advanced along this line and quite adept at imposing its will in this way. Through "re-education" camps and citizenship "performance" monitoring and "nudging" in the right direction impenitent backsliders. With such powers, how long will it be before we follow them and start to punish those who don't want the official biases imposed upon their "unconscious ones and thius are pushed to the margins of society".
Hmmm. In healthcare, being cognizant of our implicit biases can be the difference in life or death of our patients. Based on extensive research, our governor has mandated the topic as part of our continuing education required for relicensure. I am in full agreement and look forward to the enlightenment to enabke me to be a better nurse.
[On Feb. 18 Stuart wrote in response to an R Dooley post:]
Much as I agree with much of what you have written, I worry when people are being told they are prejudiced but just don't know it....unconscious bias. This open to abuse. This is what I wrote a couple of days ago in answer to Roland.
"Unconscious bias is a concept to be handled with extreme care. This seemingly irrefutable arguement....as you are not aware of being so biased and don't necessarily express it other than by lifestyle...can easily become the imposition of another's opinion in the place of your own and in the process you are being told you are stupid for not knowing you had it. How long will it take, with a weapon like this in people's hands before it becomes a method of control and limitation of free speech and thought, imposing the "official line" and acceptable wisdom of a segment of the population...elite or otherwise...It must be said that the Chinese State is particularly advanced along this line and quite adept at imposing its will in this way. Through "re-education" camps and citizenship "performance" monitoring and "nudging" in the right direction impenitent backsliders. With such powers, how long will it be before we follow them and start to punish those who don't want the official biases imposed upon their "unconscious ones and thius are pushed to the margins of society".
[end quote of Stuart]
Hello Stuart. I admit I did not respond to you on Feb. 16 because I didn't understand what you are saying, it was not clear to me. Also, I never saw this particular written piece of yours (you requoted this on Feb. 18), until now. Now it's starting to clarify for me.
You are speaking, I presume now (correct me if I'm wrong), of society imposing conventions on its members.
I am not a fan of being PC. Being PC means subscribing to society's conventions. Have to capitalize Black and White when referring to Caucasians or African-Americans. Cannot speak of certain things in public, in "polite company." Rainbow means non-straight gender orientations and that's all it means anymore, instead of diversity of humans which includes all gender orientations.
Excuse me if my reply is weak or inconsistent, I am still working out my reply.
I am quite adept, when necessary, at being genteel and speaking and writing in such a way as not to cause offense. However, racism and sexism are not genteel subjects. I have long experience in this matter. My entire life I have had a diehard conservative in my face, a strong-willed German-born father who expects to get his way and is not skilled at negotiation or at concession. What it means to be Republican, what it means to be a Democrat, finally came to a head for me on February 16. That's the post that received over 150 likes and, more to the point, engendered a discussion thread that dominated HCR that day with 238 posts (at last count) out of a total of about 525. The most attention I have ever received in my life for anything.
If I am understanding you correctly, your concern is the imposition of yet another regulation and/or violation on members of society.
Nothing offends me more than the idea of control and limitation of free speech and thought. When I am describing the Republicans as the party of racism, sexism and misogyny, fighting against gay rights, et al, I am expressing myself due to that freedom which I love.
Are you suggesting that the concept of "unconscious bias" might be weaponized as the CCP would do? I really don't understand that concern here in America. How many articles have I read telling me that anyone can express their desire to do damage to the Capitol and engage in violent acts against other Americans, but the minute they are in the middle of a mob doing it, their 1st Amendment rights are forfeit because now they are inciting people to violence.
Let me be clear: my concern about the CCP is as great as yours. My awareness of 1984 is in the forefront of my mind as it is in the the forefront of your mind.
How precisely is my acknowledgement of unconscious bias in Republicans going to inspire someone to weaponize it against them? If that's what you are proposing.
Now let's be clear about something else: this forum is not a safe and happy haven for Republicans. I am speaking to the converted here. If I were speaking to Republicans, I doubt I would even mention the subject of unconscious bias. I remember precisely one conversation I had with my father about the subject of identifying people by race and gender. He asked me, "Are you suggesting that this is a racist habit?" or something to that effect. I said yes. I don't have the precise interchange, unlike my wife I do not have eidetic memory, but somehow I managed to discuss the subject of racism with a racist in such a way that he was able to engage in self-reflection.
Never once would I suggest imposing non-racist and non-sexist mores on American society. I know only too well that people have to arrive, by themselves, at awareness. Cultists cannot be forced, cannot be dictated to, cannot be "un-brainwashed" or "deprogrammed." That's a ridiculous concept, and I have mentioned on more than one occasion here on HCR that you have to love them and pray for them and wish them well. When I use those words, I use those words while speaking to an audience of my peers and allies, those who understand. For those who are able to hear, let them hear. If a Republican were to read my words, if they gain something, great. If it is a spark for insight, fine. But never in my worst nightmare would I suggest yet another social stigma and polite-society-social-norm be placed on us. Yech. I prefer brutal, ugly honesty over the genteel. I know that I offend people when I use profanity. I learned the word "scatological" on this forum, right here on HCR. I honestly think Shit-for-Brains is a perfectly justified and well earned name for Donald J. Trump whose racist heritage hearkens back to Kallstadt, Germany, from the same roots which gave my dear father his social training.
Ok, that's probably the longest post ever written on HCR. I don't care. It's just for you, Stuart, since today is Feb. 22 and this forum is 4 days ago.
Hopefully there has been some benefit in spending this time with you. I owed you a response to your Feb. 16 reply to my post. Perhaps this letter will move the process along.
Enjoy your day over there in Europe, my old home from my teenage years.
Many thanks for thinking of me and i very much appreciate your opening of a long and painfull fight for independent thought within your family. Mine was different but spiritual and intellectual emptiness on the part of my father obliged me to develop without a foil on whom i could test my arguments and hone my skills.I will think further on your points and we'll talk again.
Hello Stuart. Today is Feb. 24, I am posting to you on HCR Feb. 18.
Today we have an excellent example of the basis for my Feb. 16 post about unconscious bias.
Joe Manchin. This week, Joe Manchin is in the news because for reasons ostensibly known only to him, he is opposing the nominations of Neera Tanden and Deb Haaland.
I am using Joe Manchin as a case in point because (1) it's a clear (imo) case of unconscious racism and sexism and (2) Manchin is not even a Republican. I would label him something of a DINO, but perhaps you would object to that characterization, because it demonizes Republicans as the party of racism and sexism. Here is a clear example of a Democrat engaging in racist and sexist decision-making, as a Republican would do, without any self-awareness.
I am assuming the information in the following article is accurate, that Manchin lets the white male nominees skate through and then decides to oppose the female POC. I am not an expert on Joe Manchin and his voting record.
My concern, Roland, is very much with the attribution of motivation that obviously fits your own analysis of Manchin's positions. With only circumstantial evidence.Unfortunately, as with statistical correlation, external observation of similar tendencies does not necessarily indicate cause and effect. Then rather than examining the situation further...voting records, speeches, his own expression of his own motivations..one concludes that your "correlation" are proof enough and that the subject just doesn't know that he is doing it.
That said Roland, you may be entirely correct and Manchin might confirm it if asked and be proud of it. Then his bias would not be unconscious and he is only being true to his own opinions and values.. My point was that such automatic assumptions based upon opinion leading to pychological "conclusions" can be inspired or false. That is why i say to you that i am very wary of the term "unconscious bias" and am cautious about using it. I don't say don't use it just that i turn it around 10 times before doing so.
"I will think further on your points and we'll talk again."
Excellent. Again, and I repeat, please excuse me if my reply to you is weak or inconsistent, or does not address directly your concern. I am still trying to ascertain exactly what your concern is.
My starting point is the possible imputation of values to those largely ignorant of their own history. People are not necessarily "refusing to deal with" ...they might "not know the existence of.... Education about facts first, interpretation comes with discussion.
We count on Congress to prevent our following Chinese methods in dealing with 'unconscious bias.' A prosperous country, with all benefiting from its economic growth, will make it easier.
I would hope so...as long as the Democrates control things of course! Buuuttt..the technique is extremely useful to those that might not harbour the same respect for the individual and freedom of speech once it has been made "socially acceptable" .
YES. I have been taken to task for not subscribing to other liberal activist's demands for my penitence for "unconscious bias." Didn't all Libs read "1984?" I often disagree with gay rights activists, such as wanting to change the Rainbow Flag to include a brown stripe? WTF? Or adding a whole alfabet extender to LGBT. Also, racial equality activists who make rules for white ppl in what they can or cannot do or say. We are all individuals with our own life experience & frame of reference that just might make an exception to a limiting rule.
Thanks, I'm glad it worked for you, Bill. I’ve changed my share of loaded diapers and have always found that relieving a child of that discomfort, brings joy to all concerned.
I’m old enough to remember liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats. When a bill passed, it had the support of all the liberals and none of the conservatives. They were bipartisan. No one complained.
Today, all the liberals are in one party, all the conservatives in the other. If a bill passes today with the support of all the liberals and none of the conservatives, it’s partisan and people complain.
Bipartisanship should be abandoned as a metric of good or bad legislation. Laws are only partisan because the parties have divided into pure factions. That’s the parties’ problem, but Americans don’t care. They just want their real problems addressed.
Liberal Republicans believed government played a valuable role in society. Today’s Republicans are unwilling to govern in any meaningful way, other than to enforce policies ultimately grounded in grievance politics. According to their view of the world, even reasonable government efforts to help people are “socialism” or “handouts to moochers”. The same Republicans who accuse Biden of abandoning a bipartisan promise rammed through a Supreme Court nominee in seven days immediately before what they knew would be a heavily contested election despite pledges they would never do so which they made to justify inaction on an earlier Democratic nomination that was made almost a year before a Presidential election. Who are they kidding? The Republican Party institutionally is no longer a partner in doing the people’s work. As awkward as it feels, it’s time to move forward without them on anything that requires near term attention such as pandemic relief or voter suppression.
Hello Bryan, replying to your post from a few days ago.
I think bipartisanship is dead, for the reasons you mention. I also think that the-Republican Party-as-a-viable-party's days are numbered, for similar reasons. The Republicans are now the party of racism, sexism, Trump, QAnon, obstructionism, and corrupt and ineffective politicians, the ones who value self-service over public service. Already we see fragmenting of the party. I believe that fragmentation will continue, because cohesive unity is going to become impossible for them before long. The Under-One-Tent GOP is disintegrating, it appears to me.
I concur with the thought that the modern Republican Party, as a party, is losing political viability. That’s been a downhill slide for the past decade, with the seeds of their self-destruction planted in the Reagan era.
Fragmentation might actually save them. As Democrats, we call that “diversity” and have always grappled with holding diverse self-interests together. Herding cats, often without success. In past eras, all parties found ways to bring factions together to fend off their competitors, by finding a shared interest they could rally around. That’s what Madison wrote about in the Federalist Papers - that factions are inevitable, so government must be structured to control their effects. Parties must do likewise to promote and preserve their common goals.
But the Republican Party has become ideologically “purified”, intentionally, and that doesn’t bode well for them in an increasingly heterogeneous nation. A third viable major party, and even a fourth, seem both inevitable and desirable, to fill the gaps as the Republican Party careens toward the cliff.
When Republicans hold power they act with zero regard for what Democrats want and never apologize for it. Biden or Schumer or Pelosi cannot bend the Republican's will which puts their party before their jobs to represent the people.
The only way forward I can see is to barrel right over them. Once Americans see the positive results we should see a slow turn around in the states and Republicans will shed the skin of the "Don't Tread On Me" serpent and return to good faith bargaining.
I'm compelled to quote Steppenwolf, "Fire all of your guns at once...." legislatively speaking of course. Republicans always perceive kindness as a weakness and exploit it, they only respect power. Time to use your power or lose it (like we've done too many times).
I totally agree that it would be a huge mistake to think the Republicans will do anything except obstruct, obstruct, obstruct. "Barrel right over them." I like that. I would have expressed it differently, but that works.
I just don't understand it. I would venture to guess most Americans would like a working Congress. One where they discuss pros and cons to each bill presented with an open mind. Then compromise so that there is give and take, no one side wins everything. But now members of Congress state before hearing a thing they vow to stop any legislation or any nominees. How is this doing their job? Why can't the American people hold them accountable for doing their duty. Not just voting them out because these members of Congress who are obstructing hurt every single American not just their constituents. And while I'm at it the face Congress gets to make their own rules and laws for themselves seems very wrong!
Narrative, narrative, narrative. We swim in it like fish in the sea, and once people latch onto it, it affects how they interpret everything around them, including the evidence of their eyes and ears, so breaking away from it is darned hard.
Yes, the republicans think they’ll be in again in ‘24 so they will dig their heels in til then. We NEED to have another reasonable candidate most people, reps and Dems alike, can get behind.
This dilemma of rebuilding Congress's power or enacting a Democratic agenda is not a dilemma at all. It is a choice. Sure, we can restore some of the powers Congress exercised before Trump. But we can count on the GOP to use every obstructive means available to them to thwart a democratic agenda, *especially* any legislation that threatens the GOP's electoral advantage in the states, the Senate and the Electoral College. This includes any legislation that would strengthen voting rights, limit partisan gerrymandering, reform campaign finance, or grant statehood to DC.
It's naive to hope we can convince 10 Senate Republicans to join us in these reforms and overcome the body's supermajority requirement. And in the absence of federal action, states with Republican governors and legislatures will fill the vacuum. Is this a price we're willing to pay to redress an abstract notion about the proper balance of power between the executive and the legislative branches?
If we are serious about reviving democracy in this country, Democrats must eliminate the filibuster. True, we probably don't have 51 votes to do that today. Therefore, the task is to create the environment that gets us to 51 votes. The way to do that is to bring a series of popular bills to the Senate floor and spotlight Republicans blocking them. Perhaps in this way we can persuade Senators Manchin and Sinema to change their minds. If not, we should make GOP obstructionism a central issue in the 2022 Senate elections and aim to win the majority needed to
Yes! Kill the filibuster and force them to talk to each other like adults in the leadership positions we for which we elected them (and pay them) instead of acting like petulant children with their fingers in their ears sining "la la la la- I can't hear you, so I'm just going to keep talking ..."
Exactly. Republican senators with a history of supporting expanded child tax credits won’t even support another Republican’s proposed bill on the topic. They fear such a bill might pass with Democratic support and get Biden credit for restoring bipartisanship. Biden’s proposals have bipartisan support in the country. The obstructionists in Congress represent only their partisan selves.
First, from shivering in Texas, an update. Thank you to all who expressed concern and good wishes for the welfare of so many suffering here in Texas due to no fault of their own but entirely self-inflicted by Texas politicians and misguided infrastructure managers. Many of us now have power restored but are dealing with dire water challenges and post freeze damages. The news carries the updates and I will not recount them here.
A short an anecdote on the difference between the response of Democrats and Republicans to this crisis. My own local Democratic party membership a week ago raised from our members over $5,000. In only a couple of hours for our local coalition for the homeless to temporarily expand shelter and food assistance programs for the duration of the coming crisis. They also organized an emergency volunteer response team and a help line for local residents needing assistance of all kinds. In the last week this effort has responded to hundreds of calls of all kinds. The local Republicans released a statement of support for our governor and blaming the crisis on wind and solar farms going offline all at once - not true. Senator Ted Cruz decided the appropriate response was to take himself and his family to the Ritz Carlton in Cancun. And former Texas Governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, released a statement that said Texans would support more than three days of power outages to keep federal regulations out of Texas energy. A quick informal check of my Texas neighbors without power and water shows Perry should have checked with more Texans before releasing that statement as most felt he was not speaking for them. Local organized support from Republicans for any needing assistance? Thoughts and prayers, but little else. They did say they were interested in helping the NRA relocate their registration and headquarters to Texas. I guess they think the “R” in NRA makes them the National Relief Assistance.
The stark difference between the efforts and effectiveness of the Biden and Trump administrations and their priorities should be evident to all. Apparently Republicans think continuing to lie to the American public is a better strategy than actually doing anything to help people. I suppose we will see over time which approach voters respond to favorably.
I am impressed so far with watching the new administration focus on getting the balance right between a focus on both the urgent and the important. With the many crises they are facing that balance is not an easy one to achieve. We should all be thankful that we finally have competence and good intention restored to federal government. The last week’s experience of Texas and the rest of the nation should even further highlight what a difference competence and incompetence in government makes in the lives of citizens.
It was also striking to note the difference between the responses of Abbott and O'Rourke. Abbott rushed to lie on Fox, blaming "the Green New Deal" for the crisis while Beto organized volunteers to reach out to hundreds of thousands of Texans who might be in need of assistance. I'm not sure where in Texas you are, but in my own county, the Dems did the same - reached out with REAL help. From the Republicans here, crickets. Not even thoughts and prayers.
Typical reThuglican response, and the lies that continue to come from their mouths are staggering. With the drumbeat from Faux News amplifying this, the next step should be to publicize the different responses, like the one from your local Democratic group. Of course they will say we are politicizing the crisis...usual reply...but at this point we need to get the truth in front of every Texan and every American.
There are many Republican politicians who might want to educate themselves on the concept of “constituent services.” It means more then fulfilling requests for flags.
Bruce, best wishes through this crisis and for democratic and Democratic changes in TX. Many thoughts come to mind. At first, the Republican handling of utilities reminded me of little kids camping....in their parents backyard. Courageous, independent Republicans have been able to ignore the risk because the rest of us (federal govt) would bail them out. How brave and free-spirited of them! But it's worse than that. These Republican leaders are more like drug dealers, hooking unprepared citizens while lining their own pockets; the leaders can afford the costs of crises. They hook voters with false claims and myths. It is startling how little local Republican leaders have done to fix this problem.
You said it sets a bad precedent for Democrats to pass bills up to 5 trillion "by partisan votes alone." The bad precedent seems to me accepting the mystification perpetrated by the idea that Democrats must not be "partisan" --and now even those like you who agree with their policies accept the label of "partisan" applied to any and all plans that Republicans disagree with. The notion that the minority must agree contradicts logically and inhibits practically the possibility of majority rule. In a parliamentary system it would be clear that majority rule means the ruling party can pass legislation because they represent a majority of the people. Why is it "partisan?" It seems rather that it is responsible to use the opportunity to enact what the majority voted for. Only in America does the party that represents the majority of people continually surrender to the minority party, even passing on the opportunity to get rid of the 60-40 rule because they would be called "partisan." Republicans are only ever partisan, and their strategy has always been to accuse the other of their own moves. Obama came to grief by falling for the epithet. Since you recently pointed out that the undoing of the New Deal has been their long term project even though it is popular, I'm surprised you would succumb to the language of "partisan." Abolish the term and substitute simple majority rule. That is what democracy demands, and what the people need and voted for. Support ending the filibuster and getting "For the People" passed as soon as possible so our votes aren't further suppressed.
Absolutely. While our current majority is razor thin, let's not forget that the vast majority of Americans (75%?) support the concept of us as a people, as a community. The Republicans are crafty, even brilliant politicians. BUT they do NOT represent the American people.
As a member of a minority, I cannot trust the "wisdom" of the Majority. Visions of the French Revolution come to mind as well as Dred Scott. Porportional representation would create more justice than "winner take all".
Might You permit me to share this observation elsewhere? It edges up to a concern I have had that came into sharp focus wherein Republicans would not dare to break ranks in the impeachment trial. That is party solidarity or pledges (e.g., no new taxes, obstruct every bill or nomination). There cannot be independent thought or representation if ones pledge trumps ones oath of office. The higher up the chain of allegience, the lesser can a representative engage conservative and liberal thought in the writing of good laws. Almost feels like elected members from a party are engaging more in collusion in the anti-trust sense than in democratic governance.
Excellent point. Especially when one considers that an elected representative and senator is in office to serve all of their constituents even if from a particular conservative or liberal bent. The bent should not be the filter or the principle to which that elected person pledges.
Great points but seems to me that Biden has marked up infrastructure and stimulus bills to leave face-saving compromise for some Republicans to agree, but if they don't it's clear the Democrats must go ahead, with polling support. This is because sometimes you have to realize in dealing with an intransigence that's the only course left is to ask for FORGIVENESS simply because PERMISSION IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE DENIED.
I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen your update before I go to sleep - maybe this bodes well for your health and well being under the new administration? I hope so!!
Thanks again for your insight, Heather! As I was reading to beginning of your letter I was a bit concerned that you were going to end, or modify the frequency of, your nightly communications. But, thankfully, you are continuing to send your thoughts to the world 😊
I was struck by Rachel Maddow’s observation at the close of tonight’s show....I’m paraphrasing: We can design and land a mechanical explorer, like a feather, on Mars, but we can’t insure that people in Texas have clean water and heat. 🤔
Sending warm regards to all who are effected by the wintry temperatures.💗
Just a point here..the "we" in the point from Rachel Maddow about Texas is all on Texas. The state decided they didn't want federal money so they wouldn't have to follow federal regulations, and then the contractor they are paying to "insure that people in Texas have...heat" didn't maintain any of their equipment properly or safeguard against exactly the situations that have just occurred. Minnesota has windmills that aren't frozen up...but when arrogance overrides common sense and common practice (maintenance!), this is what happens.
I’m still very frustrated by this worrying about negotiating with republicans.
Wanting to work with the destroyers to rebuild something sound and secure is so very wrong.
For decades, republican politicians have all shown they are not performing their duty - if their constituents want something they should be working to get that done. There are so many things that the people want any yet neither party, but mostly republicans, don’t do it. It’s so frustrating!
And now, as we have seen, most are seditionists and traitors.
So, how, and more importantly, *why* does anyone even *consider* working with them?
They have destroyed the old way of doing things (long ago). They clearly don’t want to work in good faith and have a clear record of pretending and then destroying the program (see ACA).
They have destroyed so much and we MUST rebuild it before we can go back to they way things should be and only then, and only if they are truly working in good faith, should we negotiate with them.
The Repugs' total refusal to govern except for the 1% is a major obstacle given the awful challenges we face. Still, I hope (against hope, argh) that the GOP 7 voting to convict will form a nucleus of Senators who'll vote with Dems at least occasionally.
I concur with you. Why should we even bother with a group of mostly men who signed on to overthrowing our democracy for their cult leader? What is wrong with this picture? Why are we not all screaming about this insanity in our government and moving on like nothing happened for the past 12 years and Jan. 6th? Really. I am baffled that these cretins are allowed to be allowed in our halls of government. They are seditionists and obstructionists and should be fired/arrested. Why are we even talking about partisan/bi-partisan? We have people in our government who tried to overthrow it and they are still there?! There is something very, very wrong with normalizing this trumplican picture. Sedition is a felony. 20 years. Where is our justice system right now that is supposed to represent We The People?
Make the Seditionists step down and then we might be able to get to work.
The concept of bipartisan legislation needs to have two sides working towards a common goal. We do not have that now, and have not had that since the late 1960's. There could be something that passes with support from both sides, but that is not bipartisan in today's congress; that is a good idea that both sides buy into. I know I harp on the "you can't negotiate with terrorists" theme (back from my hostage negotiator days) but this is applicable to what we see today. I think it is a better saying that "you can't have a battle of wits with an unarmed person".
Unfortunately, a majority of Republicans are more interested in simply staying in power than the work of equitably ameliorating the lives of their constituents. Republican power is over-represented as has been well documented. Therefore, ideally while the Democrats have a marginal upper hand, it is imperative to 1) abolish the filibuster, 2) abolish the Electoral College, 3) balance the Supreme Court, and 4) reconfigure the Senate so representation is more balanced, as in the House. For example, each 1,000,000 Americans would warrant one Senator. This would give Alaska one Senator, and California 40. The basic problem with our "democracy" is that it is not, and really never has been, representative of "we the people."
Reconfiguring the Senate along these lines would essentially give us two Houses of Representatives. At that point, why have a Senate at all? For that matter, what do we gain by having the Senate (as currently configured) at all?
I agree. A 21st century Senate should represent segments of our complex society. To become a Senator should require a college degree in the sciences, including the social sciences. However, college would need to be free. The House would represent the population and control the purse strings of taxes. The Senate would represent the Sciences.and control research and development. Everyone with a college degree in each state would elect 2 Senators.
I am so glad that the American people saw the particular gifts that are Joe Biden’s in the general election. Many of my nieces and nephews were Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren supporters, and I could see their appeal. I could also see the polarizing affects they engendered. They are ahead of the country. Joe will get us closer to where we should be on sustaining the environment, just wages, immigration humanitarianism, closing the income gap, ensuring we have affordable health care, and vaccinating all of us against the coronavirus. Thank goodness.
Hi Jeanne. I am one of those people, a Bernie supporter. My wife was rooting for Elizabeth, and Bernie. But we relented and let the cards play out, and now that we are seeing Joe work, we are super pleased. He's better than Barack by far.
Even as President Biden acts on multiple crises, his administration has managed to reduce the temperature and bring some levity to the Executive Branch. I enjoy The Oval Pawffice on Twitter. It is my sincere hope that the symbol of the last administration will be the implosion of the former Trump Casino in Atlantic City. Congratulations to the NASA Perseverance Rover and may the world realize for now there still is no Planet B. Here's to science and reality coming to the forefront over lies, conspiracies, division and outrage. Pull together for solutions instead of assigning blame or derogatory labels that trigger responses that prevent communication.
Commondreams.org provides conclusions of a recent economic study helpful to the discussion of student loan debt forgiveness. To wit: “A recent economic study reported in The 2021 Student Debt and Young America report, authored by JFI's Laura Beamer and Eduard Nilaj, begins by noting that young people are "overrun with student debt."
"This crisis is the culmination of waning government funding for higher education, wage stagnation, wealth inequality, and a misleading emphasis on obtaining high credentials—all leading to the financial gap between college prices and later earnings," they write.“ What value do educated citizens have for the survival if not the flourishing of our democracy? Oughtn’t that value be mirrored in our tax dollars going to higher education? What forces are at work to expand economic inequality? Maintain wage stagnation? Minimize workers’ compensation and advancement opportunities? Please check out this illuminating report to use as one tool to assess Biden’s approach. Then. Speak out.
Exactly my thoughts on the "Loan forgiveness" question from yesterday.....
If you treat higher education in isolation you will end up merely changing the place where it hurts rather than curing the patient. First make sure all kids have got a good undertanding and can use the basics in junior school, then make high school a valuable experience and that school leavers have something real to offer employers when they're finished...either from a practical/commercial stream or a more academic one. Then University ceases to be the absolute necessity that it has become for every student...if only to avoid unemployment or underemployment. Once you've got that far then you change the structure and attitude of the university population. When you have achieved this you can start to wonder why universities were considered a business since Reagan and thus not part of the educational system with highly paid "CEOs" etc and financially influential "stakeholding alumnae etc. This only makes the University the cutting edge of republican socio-economic strategy to accelerate the dominant position of the rich propertied interest and " keeps the workers in their place". It currently simply reduces even education to a monetary value rather than a social and human necessity...it perpetuates and accelerates the slide into autocracy.
An early libertarian belief, and a strong one oddly propounded by an economics professor at UVA, was the belief the government should NOT be in the business of public education, including universities. This was a reaction to integration initially, of course. Nevertheless state legislatures decreased state contributions to universities and the costs to students increased tremendously. And once there was an “industry” for lending $$ for education, what Republican was going to stop that? And here we are.
I contend the separation of corporations and state as this could prove as benefical in this century as the separation of church and state has been in the former century.
Note the comparison: the separation of church and state was never meant to be the separation of religious belief and political belief. It was to avoid the institution of religion interfering with the governing of the country. Running a government like a business is like running the government like a religion. Business turns all Life into a resource or commodity. There is no freedom in that because everything comes at a price. Soon breatheable air and drinkable water will come at a price instead of protected as a human right to Life.
Very insightful. I think this slide into education by and for "more money" began during the Vietnam war when draft deferments gave a huge boost to the universities numbers and exacerbated class divisions. Our focus on profit has seriously undermined education AND medicine.
I am also thinking that the virtual courses accelerated by COVID shut-downs will change the structure of undergraduate degrees. Who decided it should take four years to get a college degree? So often the student is at the mercy of a rigid and sluggish scheduling of pre-requisites and teacher load which can also add years on to the magical 4. In the past in the U.S. we have also "sold" college as a Rite of Passage for young adults --meaning greater autonomy, experimentation and lots of partying!! Lately Liberal education ( meaning humanities, philosophy, critical thinking, etc., NOT a partisan political term!) is all but disappearing with the emphasi on employable degrees. Also, we are now at the point where an undergraduate degree is not enough to get a good job in some areas. Low salary means paying interest only on student loans and that can go on for years, This Virus will be speed up change in lots of our familiar structures I think.
No they are not, per se. But sometimes I think colleges are expected to be the next stage babysitters!! And kids themselves are "sold" Facebook-type expectations of what college life is supposed to be.
Not all of them, for sure........especially not the kids that have to work as well as study. But enough!
Thanks Carol. A couple of decades ago I heard a theory that, along with instruction, higher ed serves to delay the entry of untrained workers into the labor force. There is some merit in that view.
Despite its certain successes, US higher ed today is a mess. As an NTT I'm in the middle of it; as union activist I seek to address the problems. "Do more than nothing."
Are you making a distinction between education and technical training?
I recall being in the office of a university president around 1970, and him saying that the Nixon administration's response to the widespread student opposition to the Vietnam war was to shift funding from humanities to vocational training....
Technical training is also education. (Educere - to draw forth). It edifies. Brings dignity to work. Especially, when respected. Demonstrated by strong federal student loan support, strong federal quality control of educational institutions (remember the sudden influx of half-baked charlatan colleges for profit that grabbed students money then dumped them?) and in unionization as having a respected and dignified place in collaborating with bosses not just on remuneration but also in having a meaningful say in corporate decision making as in, for example, whether new plants should be located near what neighborhoods. Isn't it Germany and the Scandinavian countries where union representatives sit on corporate boards? Self-interested cold corporate influence where only the buck counts has moved to lessen federal dollars for education and to shift it out of the peoples' authority and into their own, to commodify it, extract money from it, own it and determine its nature. Then, students become objects to siphon money from and to hell with such foolishness as wasting federal dollars on the humanities, developing the mind, enriching the spirit, to think critically or consider your importance to the quality of civic life. I've been a teacher and was a child of teachers. I've witnessed the supplanting of education as an inherent value for individual development and society's (good for democracy) to one primarily servicing the employment/corporate sector which wants cheap, dependent, pliable workers. How stark the change!
One more point worth noting: "trade" jobs--working with ones hands, building or fixing stuff--generally can't be exported ("offshored"), whereas desk jobs very often can.
Kind of seems to me you started out on one "side" of this and finished up on the other. In Minnesota I'm seeing a constant barrage of comments to the effect that "four year degrees aren't necessary...you can make a great living in the building trades..." This is true enough but what about the kid who might like to be a historian, or dancer, or whatever? What about the inherent value of not living in a trumper community....
I made several comments regarding that - certainly not to denigrate college degrees - but not everyone desires, or in any way, can afford college. My opinion is that high schools & counselors need to provide other options. If that isnt done then at some point there will be no plumbers, electricians, etc. now, think about that. I have as much respect, sometimes more, for anyone who is capable of working in those fields. There are many kids who might possibly prefer working with their hands, so to speak. They shouldnt be made to feel its somehow beneath them! And "living in a trumper community"? We just spent 4 years there and it was hell! Remember, there were lots of politicians, businessmen & women, college grads, that were quite happy with that community - it wasnt only people in building trades.
What I saw missing in the college vs. trade school discussions in Michigan was RESPECT. When I was a lobbyist, Gov. Granholm insisted our economy of the future depended on the god of TECNOLOGY and EVERY STUDENT must go to College to Save the State. In so doing she denigrated our gifted and talented students who are geniuses at " working with their hands." My protests fell on deaf political ears in those days, as expectations were legislated requiring that all high school students to have 4 years of math and English, squeezing out the time needed for skill development. The result was far too few skilled trades people, and way too many arrogant attitudes, and we wonder why folks were ripe for tRump.
And that is it exactly! Having a dad who was a plumber, a father-in-law who was an electrician, my son was an auto mechanic - all of them could figure out or physically DO anything - not necessarily having to do with their own field. They were perfectly capable of figuring out how to solve almost any problem. Having skilled, intelligent "trades people" - essential workers - is as important now as it ever was. Right now, looking at Texas, for instance, thats what it will take to repair & replace all the residences, infrastructure, etc & get them back to "normal".
YES! I was so frustrated when my 6 year old son clearly was ready to be apprenticed to the dryer repair man, but instead he was made to sit still in a classroom where the teacher made sure he felt stupid (okay, nice teacher, bad system) and all his talents lay dormant and frustrated. Today he can, as you say, physically do anything, and runs a very successful trade business, in spite of our school system.
There's nothing wrong with being a plumber, food service worker or janitor. There is something very wrong with relegating the vast majority to those jobs while saving the most lucrative and prestigious ones for the Haves.
Hey, Kay. I live in VA, an area where we see a fair amount of freezing temps, ice storms, etc. I've never gone skiing in my life but several years ago I bought a pair of ski pants to wear on those sub-freezing days. What a game changer that was! Just a thought for you and your fellow Texans going forward.
Afternoon Lynn!! I visited Harpers Ferry near you on the day after Thanksgiving in 2019 (History Day for family trips). It was bitter cold even with multiple layers. The wind rushes through the river valleys like they're wind tunnels. Brrrrrr!
Afternoon, Almost Evening, TPJ! My trips to Harpers Ferry have always been in warmer weather! I think, also, the humidity in our region makes it feel colder. How is it up your way?
I'm next to Boston so the ocean often moderates weather extremes. Maybe that's why it's snowing steadily for nearly 30 hours but accumulating less than a foot. Snowfall is lovely until the grime of humanity settles on it.
The 2019 HF visit was half-baked, focusing only on the John Brown raiders. No Jefferson Rock, Catholic church, 1862 battle, Storer College, Frederick Douglass, WEB DuBois/NAACP. We'll plan better next time, and there will be a next time. Like Gettysburg, it rewards repeat visits.
How very kind of you, Kari; thank you. I lost power for about 17 hours. By the time it came back on, it was around 50 degrees in my home. I am grateful to have food and shelter because so many others don’t. We are under a boil water order under at least Monday. Sadly, the poorest among us suffer the most.
Thanks, TPJ. I still have power, but no water or heat. The interior temperature is 46 right now.
On a happier note, it's 35 outside in Austin and everything is melting.
People here have pulled together, with those who have hot water inviting anyone who doesn't to come and shower. We're sharing food items, helping to get the elderly into warm places, and helping any way possible.
Kay, I hope you and the rest of your fellow Texans, especially those here, are all able to stay warm and safe. Hopefully this terrible experience will encourage change so that nothing like this happens again.
Thanks again, Heather, for a concise --and early-- Letter.
You speak of 'the ramping up of the Biden years', a very charming phrase. I hope Mr Biden understand his years, if they are to be valuable, must hit the ground running, no time to negotiate with people we know are merely playing at collaboration in order to obstruct.
Passing big bills on a 'partisan' basis? Go right ahead and go as big as possible; after all, the 'partisan' bills will have fortuitous effects on the vast majority of Americans. If some Rs want to trot along and negotiate, as long as they don't slow down the process, fine, all are welcome, but keep the momentum going. Ultimately, the results will be all that matters and this country needs some results fast.
What we have to realize is that "bipartisan" is as archaic a tool as our appointed senators were. When one party steamrolls while in power and obstructs while in the minority it is impossible to negotiate between the two sides. Get rid of the filibuster (which does not have a comparatively long history in this country). Stop trying to negotiate with terrorists.
I think, if they did go big (do ALL of what the polls indicate for the 50+% of the population), the nation would feel like we do now (doubled? tripled?) with The Former Guy replaced - a huge weight lifted; the light at the end of the tunnel; blue skies; and so on.
Sadly, the dems appear to be reviving the Obama (& Biden) years and again: only seeking the love and approval of Republican politicians. - It’s like we really only have one party, representing less than 40% of the population, and the dems are completely afraid of offending one half of it and the repubs the other half. Both ignoring the 60%.
It seems that way. Certainly with a lot (all?) of his Executive Orders, but he often talks about working with them. And, of course, he can only do so much.
He's balked at the minimum wage and student loans, which is troubling, and implies to me he may not actually go big.
So glad, HCR, that you are able to take a breather. We all need one! I am pondering your question about student loan forgiveness and will respond tomorrow to that but I also think that the issues you raise here concerning a do-nothing Senate and a legitimate Executive that wants to advance humane legislation are very important. In this as in everything, I think that the Dems, whose diffidence has usually backfired, have to be loud and clear and not give up the megaphone, and then organize like crazy. Grassroots are the only way to change the creeping fascism happening in state government.
Once Biden moves his agenda through Congress, the “Republican problem” will resolve itself. To do this, Democrats must use every legal tool they have. Trying to negotiate with the other side – at least most of them – is like trying to reason with a screaming child who has a load in their diaper. Change the diaper!
The only thing sustaining the current Radical Republican party is the mass of voters who followed Donald down his rabbit hole. When those folks are working, living without the fear of unemployment and crushing, unrelenting debt, when they realize Biden is not Karl Marx in Ray Bans - they will stop threatening their neighbors with violence over lawn signs and they just might vote in their own best interest. Some will temper their public expressions of racism - few will admit they were duped, but they (like Sasse and Romney) will eventually dump Trump by the side of the road like an empty bag of Happy Meals.
The die-hards who had long awaited a Trump-like beast, will run Don Jr. or some other child of the porn, but they will fail. Those who are not already in prison or awaiting trial, will go back into their bunkers, soothe themselves inhaling the fumes of gun oil in darkened rooms, and break the odd law or neck to convince themselves they are real men. But even they will eventually have hip replacements and get to know a cardiologist – or not – and die off like last summer’s tomatoes.
The trick here is to do the People’s business. The party that does that, will prevail and in the process, still the unrest among those members of the MAGA nation who believe their economic grievances have not been addressed and do not want to burn down the Capitol every time they lose an election.
And here is the challenge: All of this must be done while addressing our greatest national shortcoming – our refusal to deal honestly and fairly with the historical reality of slavery in America and the entrenched systemic racism that prevents us from being a healthy, functioning Democracy. The wounds inflicted by slavery and its legacy, and the inability of whites to confront our ignorance and complacency runs so deep, that it will require monumental effort to even begin the process. But begin, we must.
R Dooley - Yeppers, you hit the nail on the head. I would add the genocide and injustices also done to Native Americans. Two traumas we have not dealt with.
R. Dooley, love your commentary, but I have a thought here. Your statement "But even they will eventually have hip replacements and get to know a cardiologist – or not – and die off like last summer’s tomatoes" sounds right, but don't forget that these people have children who have been regaled with this hatred and vitriol their entire lives, and will grow up into the next generation of the same. I'm sure you've seen videos of KKK rallies with young children in attendance shouting the slogans because it is expected. This will be one of the hardest practices to root out. And I find it sad beyond belief. "Teach your children well..."
Unless we make a concerted effort to truly educated this country equally among ALL people so each of us has the ability to reason and think!
I agree. Isabel Wilkerson refers to an "unspoken curriculum for generations of children".
"A new breed of Republicans has taken over the GOP. It is a new breed which is seeking to sell to Americans a doctrine which is as old as mankind - the doctrine of racial division, the doctrine of racial prejudice, the doctrine of white supremacy". If you think this is a recent quote, you'd be wrong. It is from the Republican convention of 1964 and is a quote from Jackie Robinson who left the party in disgust. This is from HCR's book "How the South Won the Civil War".(p. 165) My point is that these reThuglicans have been playing the long game for decades. Now that they have all the pieces in place including judges, state governments etc., it will be extremely difficult to stop them. We need to stop trying to work with them and start governing without them.
Well stated and optimistic view of current and future state. Addressing systemic racism honestly will be challenging without first addressing honesty in the news media. Too many rely on entertainment venues posing as news to bolster their beliefs and intolerance. Opinions and lies are too easily disseminated and believed. Fact checking should be mandatory for credible news sources.
R, I usually dislike scatalogical references, but “Change the diaper!” almost made me wet my pants.
OMG!
"Don Jr....child of porn." Outstanding!
R. You are correct in the urgency to address and undo systemic racism which is in the air we breathe and don’t think about or recognize. It’s everywhere, affecting everything. ❤️🤍💙
I think you're spot on in this assessment. The twin "building blocks" of our nation (slavery and genocide of Native Americans) must be addressed and resolved. It is like building a house with a bad foundation; eventually, the house will fail.
Isabel Wilkerson addresses this brilliantly in Caste.
The most impressive thing about Caste is the countless stories Ms Wilkerson tells. They compel readers to realize "I didn't know what's going on until now."
I had the same experience.
Also, "now I understand what just happened."
Yes she did.
Oh. Must Read. https://books.google.com/books/about/Caste.html?id=_er2DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1
A good deed for the day MP, presumably not limited to one. I donated to Texas winter relief earlier.
Spot on R.Dooley. You managed to deliver a very bitter pill and make me laugh at the same time. Brilliant.
Thanks - I'm glad it brought a smile.
R. Dooley you have eloquently stated all that is right and wrong in this moment. I believe if we can finally address "the wounds inflicted by slavery and its legacy" much of the rest will fall into place. But that's a VERY tall order.
It is, Pam - difficult, painful and imperative.
https://www.pbs.org/show/black-church/ A must watch!
And this from 1500 to 2013: https://shop.pbs.org/WC3372.html
Afternoon Lynn and Roy!! Thanks for the recs. Not sure if people saw The Long Song which PBS aired the last 3 Sundays. It's about mid-19C Jamaica from slavery to freedom, and is an interesting comparison with the US. Well-written, produced and acted, it's enlightening on race and economic relations in post-emancipation societies, with a compelling personal story. The redemptive ending is quite moving.
Watching it. Excellent in many ways.
Thanks, TPJ. I subscribe to PBS and have Passport. I'll check it out. Hope all is well with you and yours!
You have good taste Lynell and Sally, and not just when it matches mine.
We HAVE TO PUT THIS IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AS WELL!!!
THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH!!!!!
I am Mortified about what happened to Africans, being STOLEN and Made as Slaves!!! And what Happened to AMERICAN Indians(all of it)!!!
Talk about INJUSTICES!!!!
THESE ARE CRIMES GOING ON FOR TOO DAMN LONG😡😠
Thanks LouAnn. Definitely worth shouting about.
[begin quote]
We HAVE TO PUT THIS IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AS WELL!!!
THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH!!!!!
I am Mortified about what happened to Africans, being STOLEN and Made as Slaves!!! And what Happened to AMERICAN Indians(all of it)!!!
Talk about INJUSTICES!!!!
THESE ARE CRIMES GOING ON FOR TOO DAMN LONG😡😠
[end quote]
Thank you LouAnn. I love the fury. Racism and sexism are at the core of Republican Party. So many people write about them without passion, as if they are any-old-topic. Slavery is not a normal conversation topic. The genocide of American "Indians" is not normal. Racism and sexism are vicious, vicious, and hideously ugly. The U.S. Cavalry and Nazi Germany have a lot in common with the KKK and Donald Trump and the U.S. Capitol Riot, the attack on Congress.
I am hopeful that U.S. society is getting its head out of the sand and seeing the ugly truths that are the Republican Party foundation and platform.
Thank you Roland!
I must compliment you on your colorful style of writing! Seriously, I could actually envision a real person for each of your various portrayals. Case in point: "trying to reason with a screaming child who has a load in their diaper" - the image of Matt Gaetz sprang immediately to mind! LOL! Thanks, my friend.
You're welcome - glad you enjoyed it. But I am going to have to purge the image of changing Matt's diaper from my mind!
Much as I agree with much of what you have written, I worry when people are being told they are prejudiced but just don't know it....unconscious bias. This open to abuse. This is what I wrote a couple of days ago in answer to Roland.
"Unconscious bias is a concept to be handled with extreme care. This seemingly irrefutable arguement....as you are not aware of being so biased and don't necessarily express it other than by lifestyle...can easily become the imposition of another's opinion in the place of your own and in the process you are being told you are stupid for not knowing you had it. How long will it take, with a weapon like this in people's hands before it becomes a method of control and limitation of free speech and thought, imposing the "official line" and acceptable wisdom of a segment of the population...elite or otherwise...It must be said that the Chinese State is particularly advanced along this line and quite adept at imposing its will in this way. Through "re-education" camps and citizenship "performance" monitoring and "nudging" in the right direction impenitent backsliders. With such powers, how long will it be before we follow them and start to punish those who don't want the official biases imposed upon their "unconscious ones and thius are pushed to the margins of society".
Hmmm. In healthcare, being cognizant of our implicit biases can be the difference in life or death of our patients. Based on extensive research, our governor has mandated the topic as part of our continuing education required for relicensure. I am in full agreement and look forward to the enlightenment to enabke me to be a better nurse.
[On Feb. 18 Stuart wrote in response to an R Dooley post:]
Much as I agree with much of what you have written, I worry when people are being told they are prejudiced but just don't know it....unconscious bias. This open to abuse. This is what I wrote a couple of days ago in answer to Roland.
"Unconscious bias is a concept to be handled with extreme care. This seemingly irrefutable arguement....as you are not aware of being so biased and don't necessarily express it other than by lifestyle...can easily become the imposition of another's opinion in the place of your own and in the process you are being told you are stupid for not knowing you had it. How long will it take, with a weapon like this in people's hands before it becomes a method of control and limitation of free speech and thought, imposing the "official line" and acceptable wisdom of a segment of the population...elite or otherwise...It must be said that the Chinese State is particularly advanced along this line and quite adept at imposing its will in this way. Through "re-education" camps and citizenship "performance" monitoring and "nudging" in the right direction impenitent backsliders. With such powers, how long will it be before we follow them and start to punish those who don't want the official biases imposed upon their "unconscious ones and thius are pushed to the margins of society".
[end quote of Stuart]
Hello Stuart. I admit I did not respond to you on Feb. 16 because I didn't understand what you are saying, it was not clear to me. Also, I never saw this particular written piece of yours (you requoted this on Feb. 18), until now. Now it's starting to clarify for me.
You are speaking, I presume now (correct me if I'm wrong), of society imposing conventions on its members.
I am not a fan of being PC. Being PC means subscribing to society's conventions. Have to capitalize Black and White when referring to Caucasians or African-Americans. Cannot speak of certain things in public, in "polite company." Rainbow means non-straight gender orientations and that's all it means anymore, instead of diversity of humans which includes all gender orientations.
Excuse me if my reply is weak or inconsistent, I am still working out my reply.
I am quite adept, when necessary, at being genteel and speaking and writing in such a way as not to cause offense. However, racism and sexism are not genteel subjects. I have long experience in this matter. My entire life I have had a diehard conservative in my face, a strong-willed German-born father who expects to get his way and is not skilled at negotiation or at concession. What it means to be Republican, what it means to be a Democrat, finally came to a head for me on February 16. That's the post that received over 150 likes and, more to the point, engendered a discussion thread that dominated HCR that day with 238 posts (at last count) out of a total of about 525. The most attention I have ever received in my life for anything.
If I am understanding you correctly, your concern is the imposition of yet another regulation and/or violation on members of society.
Nothing offends me more than the idea of control and limitation of free speech and thought. When I am describing the Republicans as the party of racism, sexism and misogyny, fighting against gay rights, et al, I am expressing myself due to that freedom which I love.
Are you suggesting that the concept of "unconscious bias" might be weaponized as the CCP would do? I really don't understand that concern here in America. How many articles have I read telling me that anyone can express their desire to do damage to the Capitol and engage in violent acts against other Americans, but the minute they are in the middle of a mob doing it, their 1st Amendment rights are forfeit because now they are inciting people to violence.
Let me be clear: my concern about the CCP is as great as yours. My awareness of 1984 is in the forefront of my mind as it is in the the forefront of your mind.
How precisely is my acknowledgement of unconscious bias in Republicans going to inspire someone to weaponize it against them? If that's what you are proposing.
Now let's be clear about something else: this forum is not a safe and happy haven for Republicans. I am speaking to the converted here. If I were speaking to Republicans, I doubt I would even mention the subject of unconscious bias. I remember precisely one conversation I had with my father about the subject of identifying people by race and gender. He asked me, "Are you suggesting that this is a racist habit?" or something to that effect. I said yes. I don't have the precise interchange, unlike my wife I do not have eidetic memory, but somehow I managed to discuss the subject of racism with a racist in such a way that he was able to engage in self-reflection.
Never once would I suggest imposing non-racist and non-sexist mores on American society. I know only too well that people have to arrive, by themselves, at awareness. Cultists cannot be forced, cannot be dictated to, cannot be "un-brainwashed" or "deprogrammed." That's a ridiculous concept, and I have mentioned on more than one occasion here on HCR that you have to love them and pray for them and wish them well. When I use those words, I use those words while speaking to an audience of my peers and allies, those who understand. For those who are able to hear, let them hear. If a Republican were to read my words, if they gain something, great. If it is a spark for insight, fine. But never in my worst nightmare would I suggest yet another social stigma and polite-society-social-norm be placed on us. Yech. I prefer brutal, ugly honesty over the genteel. I know that I offend people when I use profanity. I learned the word "scatological" on this forum, right here on HCR. I honestly think Shit-for-Brains is a perfectly justified and well earned name for Donald J. Trump whose racist heritage hearkens back to Kallstadt, Germany, from the same roots which gave my dear father his social training.
Ok, that's probably the longest post ever written on HCR. I don't care. It's just for you, Stuart, since today is Feb. 22 and this forum is 4 days ago.
Hopefully there has been some benefit in spending this time with you. I owed you a response to your Feb. 16 reply to my post. Perhaps this letter will move the process along.
Enjoy your day over there in Europe, my old home from my teenage years.
Roland
Many thanks for thinking of me and i very much appreciate your opening of a long and painfull fight for independent thought within your family. Mine was different but spiritual and intellectual emptiness on the part of my father obliged me to develop without a foil on whom i could test my arguments and hone my skills.I will think further on your points and we'll talk again.
Hello Stuart. Today is Feb. 24, I am posting to you on HCR Feb. 18.
Today we have an excellent example of the basis for my Feb. 16 post about unconscious bias.
Joe Manchin. This week, Joe Manchin is in the news because for reasons ostensibly known only to him, he is opposing the nominations of Neera Tanden and Deb Haaland.
I am using Joe Manchin as a case in point because (1) it's a clear (imo) case of unconscious racism and sexism and (2) Manchin is not even a Republican. I would label him something of a DINO, but perhaps you would object to that characterization, because it demonizes Republicans as the party of racism and sexism. Here is a clear example of a Democrat engaging in racist and sexist decision-making, as a Republican would do, without any self-awareness.
I am assuming the information in the following article is accurate, that Manchin lets the white male nominees skate through and then decides to oppose the female POC. I am not an expert on Joe Manchin and his voting record.
https://www.rawstory.com/oh-come-on-joe-manchin-insists-his-opposition-to-first-woman-omb-nominee-is-not-personal/
My concern, Roland, is very much with the attribution of motivation that obviously fits your own analysis of Manchin's positions. With only circumstantial evidence.Unfortunately, as with statistical correlation, external observation of similar tendencies does not necessarily indicate cause and effect. Then rather than examining the situation further...voting records, speeches, his own expression of his own motivations..one concludes that your "correlation" are proof enough and that the subject just doesn't know that he is doing it.
That said Roland, you may be entirely correct and Manchin might confirm it if asked and be proud of it. Then his bias would not be unconscious and he is only being true to his own opinions and values.. My point was that such automatic assumptions based upon opinion leading to pychological "conclusions" can be inspired or false. That is why i say to you that i am very wary of the term "unconscious bias" and am cautious about using it. I don't say don't use it just that i turn it around 10 times before doing so.
"I will think further on your points and we'll talk again."
Excellent. Again, and I repeat, please excuse me if my reply to you is weak or inconsistent, or does not address directly your concern. I am still trying to ascertain exactly what your concern is.
I would be grateful if you could specify the language to which you refer.
My starting point is the possible imputation of values to those largely ignorant of their own history. People are not necessarily "refusing to deal with" ...they might "not know the existence of.... Education about facts first, interpretation comes with discussion.
We count on Congress to prevent our following Chinese methods in dealing with 'unconscious bias.' A prosperous country, with all benefiting from its economic growth, will make it easier.
I would hope so...as long as the Democrates control things of course! Buuuttt..the technique is extremely useful to those that might not harbour the same respect for the individual and freedom of speech once it has been made "socially acceptable" .
YES. I have been taken to task for not subscribing to other liberal activist's demands for my penitence for "unconscious bias." Didn't all Libs read "1984?" I often disagree with gay rights activists, such as wanting to change the Rainbow Flag to include a brown stripe? WTF? Or adding a whole alfabet extender to LGBT. Also, racial equality activists who make rules for white ppl in what they can or cannot do or say. We are all individuals with our own life experience & frame of reference that just might make an exception to a limiting rule.
Welcome to the club!
Thank you, R Dooley. Let's all take an honest look in the mirror...and then change our ways.
Ah, Mr. Dooley! Very well put, especially the soiled diaper part!
Thanks, I'm glad it worked for you, Bill. I’ve changed my share of loaded diapers and have always found that relieving a child of that discomfort, brings joy to all concerned.
You're welcome! Miss those "good ole" days!
Ain't it the truth.
I’m old enough to remember liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats. When a bill passed, it had the support of all the liberals and none of the conservatives. They were bipartisan. No one complained.
Today, all the liberals are in one party, all the conservatives in the other. If a bill passes today with the support of all the liberals and none of the conservatives, it’s partisan and people complain.
Bipartisanship should be abandoned as a metric of good or bad legislation. Laws are only partisan because the parties have divided into pure factions. That’s the parties’ problem, but Americans don’t care. They just want their real problems addressed.
Liberal Republicans believed government played a valuable role in society. Today’s Republicans are unwilling to govern in any meaningful way, other than to enforce policies ultimately grounded in grievance politics. According to their view of the world, even reasonable government efforts to help people are “socialism” or “handouts to moochers”. The same Republicans who accuse Biden of abandoning a bipartisan promise rammed through a Supreme Court nominee in seven days immediately before what they knew would be a heavily contested election despite pledges they would never do so which they made to justify inaction on an earlier Democratic nomination that was made almost a year before a Presidential election. Who are they kidding? The Republican Party institutionally is no longer a partner in doing the people’s work. As awkward as it feels, it’s time to move forward without them on anything that requires near term attention such as pandemic relief or voter suppression.
Hello Bryan, replying to your post from a few days ago.
I think bipartisanship is dead, for the reasons you mention. I also think that the-Republican Party-as-a-viable-party's days are numbered, for similar reasons. The Republicans are now the party of racism, sexism, Trump, QAnon, obstructionism, and corrupt and ineffective politicians, the ones who value self-service over public service. Already we see fragmenting of the party. I believe that fragmentation will continue, because cohesive unity is going to become impossible for them before long. The Under-One-Tent GOP is disintegrating, it appears to me.
I concur with the thought that the modern Republican Party, as a party, is losing political viability. That’s been a downhill slide for the past decade, with the seeds of their self-destruction planted in the Reagan era.
Fragmentation might actually save them. As Democrats, we call that “diversity” and have always grappled with holding diverse self-interests together. Herding cats, often without success. In past eras, all parties found ways to bring factions together to fend off their competitors, by finding a shared interest they could rally around. That’s what Madison wrote about in the Federalist Papers - that factions are inevitable, so government must be structured to control their effects. Parties must do likewise to promote and preserve their common goals.
But the Republican Party has become ideologically “purified”, intentionally, and that doesn’t bode well for them in an increasingly heterogeneous nation. A third viable major party, and even a fourth, seem both inevitable and desirable, to fill the gaps as the Republican Party careens toward the cliff.
When Republicans hold power they act with zero regard for what Democrats want and never apologize for it. Biden or Schumer or Pelosi cannot bend the Republican's will which puts their party before their jobs to represent the people.
The only way forward I can see is to barrel right over them. Once Americans see the positive results we should see a slow turn around in the states and Republicans will shed the skin of the "Don't Tread On Me" serpent and return to good faith bargaining.
I'm compelled to quote Steppenwolf, "Fire all of your guns at once...." legislatively speaking of course. Republicans always perceive kindness as a weakness and exploit it, they only respect power. Time to use your power or lose it (like we've done too many times).
I totally agree that it would be a huge mistake to think the Republicans will do anything except obstruct, obstruct, obstruct. "Barrel right over them." I like that. I would have expressed it differently, but that works.
I just don't understand it. I would venture to guess most Americans would like a working Congress. One where they discuss pros and cons to each bill presented with an open mind. Then compromise so that there is give and take, no one side wins everything. But now members of Congress state before hearing a thing they vow to stop any legislation or any nominees. How is this doing their job? Why can't the American people hold them accountable for doing their duty. Not just voting them out because these members of Congress who are obstructing hurt every single American not just their constituents. And while I'm at it the face Congress gets to make their own rules and laws for themselves seems very wrong!
Movement Conservatives want NO movement.
Narrative, narrative, narrative. We swim in it like fish in the sea, and once people latch onto it, it affects how they interpret everything around them, including the evidence of their eyes and ears, so breaking away from it is darned hard.
Yes, the republicans think they’ll be in again in ‘24 so they will dig their heels in til then. We NEED to have another reasonable candidate most people, reps and Dems alike, can get behind.
"Barrel right over them."
YES !!!!!!
Eloquent words rarely roll off my tongue, but thanks,
This dilemma of rebuilding Congress's power or enacting a Democratic agenda is not a dilemma at all. It is a choice. Sure, we can restore some of the powers Congress exercised before Trump. But we can count on the GOP to use every obstructive means available to them to thwart a democratic agenda, *especially* any legislation that threatens the GOP's electoral advantage in the states, the Senate and the Electoral College. This includes any legislation that would strengthen voting rights, limit partisan gerrymandering, reform campaign finance, or grant statehood to DC.
It's naive to hope we can convince 10 Senate Republicans to join us in these reforms and overcome the body's supermajority requirement. And in the absence of federal action, states with Republican governors and legislatures will fill the vacuum. Is this a price we're willing to pay to redress an abstract notion about the proper balance of power between the executive and the legislative branches?
If we are serious about reviving democracy in this country, Democrats must eliminate the filibuster. True, we probably don't have 51 votes to do that today. Therefore, the task is to create the environment that gets us to 51 votes. The way to do that is to bring a series of popular bills to the Senate floor and spotlight Republicans blocking them. Perhaps in this way we can persuade Senators Manchin and Sinema to change their minds. If not, we should make GOP obstructionism a central issue in the 2022 Senate elections and aim to win the majority needed to
finally kill the filibuster.
Yes! Kill the filibuster and force them to talk to each other like adults in the leadership positions we for which we elected them (and pay them) instead of acting like petulant children with their fingers in their ears sining "la la la la- I can't hear you, so I'm just going to keep talking ..."
Exactly. Republican senators with a history of supporting expanded child tax credits won’t even support another Republican’s proposed bill on the topic. They fear such a bill might pass with Democratic support and get Biden credit for restoring bipartisanship. Biden’s proposals have bipartisan support in the country. The obstructionists in Congress represent only their partisan selves.
Today, I offer several comments.
First, from shivering in Texas, an update. Thank you to all who expressed concern and good wishes for the welfare of so many suffering here in Texas due to no fault of their own but entirely self-inflicted by Texas politicians and misguided infrastructure managers. Many of us now have power restored but are dealing with dire water challenges and post freeze damages. The news carries the updates and I will not recount them here.
A short an anecdote on the difference between the response of Democrats and Republicans to this crisis. My own local Democratic party membership a week ago raised from our members over $5,000. In only a couple of hours for our local coalition for the homeless to temporarily expand shelter and food assistance programs for the duration of the coming crisis. They also organized an emergency volunteer response team and a help line for local residents needing assistance of all kinds. In the last week this effort has responded to hundreds of calls of all kinds. The local Republicans released a statement of support for our governor and blaming the crisis on wind and solar farms going offline all at once - not true. Senator Ted Cruz decided the appropriate response was to take himself and his family to the Ritz Carlton in Cancun. And former Texas Governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, released a statement that said Texans would support more than three days of power outages to keep federal regulations out of Texas energy. A quick informal check of my Texas neighbors without power and water shows Perry should have checked with more Texans before releasing that statement as most felt he was not speaking for them. Local organized support from Republicans for any needing assistance? Thoughts and prayers, but little else. They did say they were interested in helping the NRA relocate their registration and headquarters to Texas. I guess they think the “R” in NRA makes them the National Relief Assistance.
The stark difference between the efforts and effectiveness of the Biden and Trump administrations and their priorities should be evident to all. Apparently Republicans think continuing to lie to the American public is a better strategy than actually doing anything to help people. I suppose we will see over time which approach voters respond to favorably.
I am impressed so far with watching the new administration focus on getting the balance right between a focus on both the urgent and the important. With the many crises they are facing that balance is not an easy one to achieve. We should all be thankful that we finally have competence and good intention restored to federal government. The last week’s experience of Texas and the rest of the nation should even further highlight what a difference competence and incompetence in government makes in the lives of citizens.
Great thoughts Bruce! AOC and Beto also raised $1M for Texans; more in 24 hours than Texas Republicans did in years.
It was also striking to note the difference between the responses of Abbott and O'Rourke. Abbott rushed to lie on Fox, blaming "the Green New Deal" for the crisis while Beto organized volunteers to reach out to hundreds of thousands of Texans who might be in need of assistance. I'm not sure where in Texas you are, but in my own county, the Dems did the same - reached out with REAL help. From the Republicans here, crickets. Not even thoughts and prayers.
Typical reThuglican response, and the lies that continue to come from their mouths are staggering. With the drumbeat from Faux News amplifying this, the next step should be to publicize the different responses, like the one from your local Democratic group. Of course they will say we are politicizing the crisis...usual reply...but at this point we need to get the truth in front of every Texan and every American.
There are many Republican politicians who might want to educate themselves on the concept of “constituent services.” It means more then fulfilling requests for flags.
Bruce, best wishes through this crisis and for democratic and Democratic changes in TX. Many thoughts come to mind. At first, the Republican handling of utilities reminded me of little kids camping....in their parents backyard. Courageous, independent Republicans have been able to ignore the risk because the rest of us (federal govt) would bail them out. How brave and free-spirited of them! But it's worse than that. These Republican leaders are more like drug dealers, hooking unprepared citizens while lining their own pockets; the leaders can afford the costs of crises. They hook voters with false claims and myths. It is startling how little local Republican leaders have done to fix this problem.
Good analogy.
NRA = National Republican Advantage
You said it sets a bad precedent for Democrats to pass bills up to 5 trillion "by partisan votes alone." The bad precedent seems to me accepting the mystification perpetrated by the idea that Democrats must not be "partisan" --and now even those like you who agree with their policies accept the label of "partisan" applied to any and all plans that Republicans disagree with. The notion that the minority must agree contradicts logically and inhibits practically the possibility of majority rule. In a parliamentary system it would be clear that majority rule means the ruling party can pass legislation because they represent a majority of the people. Why is it "partisan?" It seems rather that it is responsible to use the opportunity to enact what the majority voted for. Only in America does the party that represents the majority of people continually surrender to the minority party, even passing on the opportunity to get rid of the 60-40 rule because they would be called "partisan." Republicans are only ever partisan, and their strategy has always been to accuse the other of their own moves. Obama came to grief by falling for the epithet. Since you recently pointed out that the undoing of the New Deal has been their long term project even though it is popular, I'm surprised you would succumb to the language of "partisan." Abolish the term and substitute simple majority rule. That is what democracy demands, and what the people need and voted for. Support ending the filibuster and getting "For the People" passed as soon as possible so our votes aren't further suppressed.
Democrats just need to get the work done they promised to voters. Republicans can join in or pout from the sidelines. Their choice.
Absolutely. While our current majority is razor thin, let's not forget that the vast majority of Americans (75%?) support the concept of us as a people, as a community. The Republicans are crafty, even brilliant politicians. BUT they do NOT represent the American people.
As a member of a minority, I cannot trust the "wisdom" of the Majority. Visions of the French Revolution come to mind as well as Dred Scott. Porportional representation would create more justice than "winner take all".
Kudos for remembering Mr Scott on a regular basis. I think of Dangerfield Newby every day. Every Day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerfield_Newby
Might You permit me to share this observation elsewhere? It edges up to a concern I have had that came into sharp focus wherein Republicans would not dare to break ranks in the impeachment trial. That is party solidarity or pledges (e.g., no new taxes, obstruct every bill or nomination). There cannot be independent thought or representation if ones pledge trumps ones oath of office. The higher up the chain of allegience, the lesser can a representative engage conservative and liberal thought in the writing of good laws. Almost feels like elected members from a party are engaging more in collusion in the anti-trust sense than in democratic governance.
Excellent point. Especially when one considers that an elected representative and senator is in office to serve all of their constituents even if from a particular conservative or liberal bent. The bent should not be the filter or the principle to which that elected person pledges.
Agree.
Diane Francis just now
Great points but seems to me that Biden has marked up infrastructure and stimulus bills to leave face-saving compromise for some Republicans to agree, but if they don't it's clear the Democrats must go ahead, with polling support. This is because sometimes you have to realize in dealing with an intransigence that's the only course left is to ask for FORGIVENESS simply because PERMISSION IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE DENIED.
I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen your update before I go to sleep - maybe this bodes well for your health and well being under the new administration? I hope so!!
Thanks again for your insight, Heather! As I was reading to beginning of your letter I was a bit concerned that you were going to end, or modify the frequency of, your nightly communications. But, thankfully, you are continuing to send your thoughts to the world 😊
I was struck by Rachel Maddow’s observation at the close of tonight’s show....I’m paraphrasing: We can design and land a mechanical explorer, like a feather, on Mars, but we can’t insure that people in Texas have clean water and heat. 🤔
Sending warm regards to all who are effected by the wintry temperatures.💗
Just a point here..the "we" in the point from Rachel Maddow about Texas is all on Texas. The state decided they didn't want federal money so they wouldn't have to follow federal regulations, and then the contractor they are paying to "insure that people in Texas have...heat" didn't maintain any of their equipment properly or safeguard against exactly the situations that have just occurred. Minnesota has windmills that aren't frozen up...but when arrogance overrides common sense and common practice (maintenance!), this is what happens.
Thanks for the clarification!
I found her final remarks spot on and accurate. I went so far as to write it down.
I’m still very frustrated by this worrying about negotiating with republicans.
Wanting to work with the destroyers to rebuild something sound and secure is so very wrong.
For decades, republican politicians have all shown they are not performing their duty - if their constituents want something they should be working to get that done. There are so many things that the people want any yet neither party, but mostly republicans, don’t do it. It’s so frustrating!
And now, as we have seen, most are seditionists and traitors.
So, how, and more importantly, *why* does anyone even *consider* working with them?
They have destroyed the old way of doing things (long ago). They clearly don’t want to work in good faith and have a clear record of pretending and then destroying the program (see ACA).
They have destroyed so much and we MUST rebuild it before we can go back to they way things should be and only then, and only if they are truly working in good faith, should we negotiate with them.
The Repugs' total refusal to govern except for the 1% is a major obstacle given the awful challenges we face. Still, I hope (against hope, argh) that the GOP 7 voting to convict will form a nucleus of Senators who'll vote with Dems at least occasionally.
I concur with you. Why should we even bother with a group of mostly men who signed on to overthrowing our democracy for their cult leader? What is wrong with this picture? Why are we not all screaming about this insanity in our government and moving on like nothing happened for the past 12 years and Jan. 6th? Really. I am baffled that these cretins are allowed to be allowed in our halls of government. They are seditionists and obstructionists and should be fired/arrested. Why are we even talking about partisan/bi-partisan? We have people in our government who tried to overthrow it and they are still there?! There is something very, very wrong with normalizing this trumplican picture. Sedition is a felony. 20 years. Where is our justice system right now that is supposed to represent We The People?
Make the Seditionists step down and then we might be able to get to work.
The concept of bipartisan legislation needs to have two sides working towards a common goal. We do not have that now, and have not had that since the late 1960's. There could be something that passes with support from both sides, but that is not bipartisan in today's congress; that is a good idea that both sides buy into. I know I harp on the "you can't negotiate with terrorists" theme (back from my hostage negotiator days) but this is applicable to what we see today. I think it is a better saying that "you can't have a battle of wits with an unarmed person".
MY does that apply far & wide in Congress! Very good saying.
Unfortunately, a majority of Republicans are more interested in simply staying in power than the work of equitably ameliorating the lives of their constituents. Republican power is over-represented as has been well documented. Therefore, ideally while the Democrats have a marginal upper hand, it is imperative to 1) abolish the filibuster, 2) abolish the Electoral College, 3) balance the Supreme Court, and 4) reconfigure the Senate so representation is more balanced, as in the House. For example, each 1,000,000 Americans would warrant one Senator. This would give Alaska one Senator, and California 40. The basic problem with our "democracy" is that it is not, and really never has been, representative of "we the people."
I call it “public service“ versus “self service.” OK I have to go to sleep now. Nighty night.
Naughty night, Roland.
Reconfiguring the Senate along these lines would essentially give us two Houses of Representatives. At that point, why have a Senate at all? For that matter, what do we gain by having the Senate (as currently configured) at all?
I agree. A 21st century Senate should represent segments of our complex society. To become a Senator should require a college degree in the sciences, including the social sciences. However, college would need to be free. The House would represent the population and control the purse strings of taxes. The Senate would represent the Sciences.and control research and development. Everyone with a college degree in each state would elect 2 Senators.
Interesting. Education would need to be a lot more equitable than it is now.
I am so glad that the American people saw the particular gifts that are Joe Biden’s in the general election. Many of my nieces and nephews were Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren supporters, and I could see their appeal. I could also see the polarizing affects they engendered. They are ahead of the country. Joe will get us closer to where we should be on sustaining the environment, just wages, immigration humanitarianism, closing the income gap, ensuring we have affordable health care, and vaccinating all of us against the coronavirus. Thank goodness.
green new deal: lower case, higher outcomes.
Hi Jeanne. I am one of those people, a Bernie supporter. My wife was rooting for Elizabeth, and Bernie. But we relented and let the cards play out, and now that we are seeing Joe work, we are super pleased. He's better than Barack by far.
Even as President Biden acts on multiple crises, his administration has managed to reduce the temperature and bring some levity to the Executive Branch. I enjoy The Oval Pawffice on Twitter. It is my sincere hope that the symbol of the last administration will be the implosion of the former Trump Casino in Atlantic City. Congratulations to the NASA Perseverance Rover and may the world realize for now there still is no Planet B. Here's to science and reality coming to the forefront over lies, conspiracies, division and outrage. Pull together for solutions instead of assigning blame or derogatory labels that trigger responses that prevent communication.
I loved the implosion too. I've never been so proud of gravity in my life!
laughing. Out. Loud.
🤣
Commondreams.org provides conclusions of a recent economic study helpful to the discussion of student loan debt forgiveness. To wit: “A recent economic study reported in The 2021 Student Debt and Young America report, authored by JFI's Laura Beamer and Eduard Nilaj, begins by noting that young people are "overrun with student debt."
"This crisis is the culmination of waning government funding for higher education, wage stagnation, wealth inequality, and a misleading emphasis on obtaining high credentials—all leading to the financial gap between college prices and later earnings," they write.“ What value do educated citizens have for the survival if not the flourishing of our democracy? Oughtn’t that value be mirrored in our tax dollars going to higher education? What forces are at work to expand economic inequality? Maintain wage stagnation? Minimize workers’ compensation and advancement opportunities? Please check out this illuminating report to use as one tool to assess Biden’s approach. Then. Speak out.
Exactly my thoughts on the "Loan forgiveness" question from yesterday.....
If you treat higher education in isolation you will end up merely changing the place where it hurts rather than curing the patient. First make sure all kids have got a good undertanding and can use the basics in junior school, then make high school a valuable experience and that school leavers have something real to offer employers when they're finished...either from a practical/commercial stream or a more academic one. Then University ceases to be the absolute necessity that it has become for every student...if only to avoid unemployment or underemployment. Once you've got that far then you change the structure and attitude of the university population. When you have achieved this you can start to wonder why universities were considered a business since Reagan and thus not part of the educational system with highly paid "CEOs" etc and financially influential "stakeholding alumnae etc. This only makes the University the cutting edge of republican socio-economic strategy to accelerate the dominant position of the rich propertied interest and " keeps the workers in their place". It currently simply reduces even education to a monetary value rather than a social and human necessity...it perpetuates and accelerates the slide into autocracy.
ReplyDelete
An early libertarian belief, and a strong one oddly propounded by an economics professor at UVA, was the belief the government should NOT be in the business of public education, including universities. This was a reaction to integration initially, of course. Nevertheless state legislatures decreased state contributions to universities and the costs to students increased tremendously. And once there was an “industry” for lending $$ for education, what Republican was going to stop that? And here we are.
I contend the separation of corporations and state as this could prove as benefical in this century as the separation of church and state has been in the former century.
Note the comparison: the separation of church and state was never meant to be the separation of religious belief and political belief. It was to avoid the institution of religion interfering with the governing of the country. Running a government like a business is like running the government like a religion. Business turns all Life into a resource or commodity. There is no freedom in that because everything comes at a price. Soon breatheable air and drinkable water will come at a price instead of protected as a human right to Life.
Very insightful. I think this slide into education by and for "more money" began during the Vietnam war when draft deferments gave a huge boost to the universities numbers and exacerbated class divisions. Our focus on profit has seriously undermined education AND medicine.
I am also thinking that the virtual courses accelerated by COVID shut-downs will change the structure of undergraduate degrees. Who decided it should take four years to get a college degree? So often the student is at the mercy of a rigid and sluggish scheduling of pre-requisites and teacher load which can also add years on to the magical 4. In the past in the U.S. we have also "sold" college as a Rite of Passage for young adults --meaning greater autonomy, experimentation and lots of partying!! Lately Liberal education ( meaning humanities, philosophy, critical thinking, etc., NOT a partisan political term!) is all but disappearing with the emphasi on employable degrees. Also, we are now at the point where an undergraduate degree is not enough to get a good job in some areas. Low salary means paying interest only on student loans and that can go on for years, This Virus will be speed up change in lots of our familiar structures I think.
"greater autonomy, experimentation and lots of partying!!"
This makes it sound like these are bad things when they're not.
No they are not, per se. But sometimes I think colleges are expected to be the next stage babysitters!! And kids themselves are "sold" Facebook-type expectations of what college life is supposed to be.
Not all of them, for sure........especially not the kids that have to work as well as study. But enough!
Thanks Carol. A couple of decades ago I heard a theory that, along with instruction, higher ed serves to delay the entry of untrained workers into the labor force. There is some merit in that view.
Despite its certain successes, US higher ed today is a mess. As an NTT I'm in the middle of it; as union activist I seek to address the problems. "Do more than nothing."
Thank you, Stuart Attewell. ❤️🤍💙
Are you making a distinction between education and technical training?
I recall being in the office of a university president around 1970, and him saying that the Nixon administration's response to the widespread student opposition to the Vietnam war was to shift funding from humanities to vocational training....
Technical training is also education. (Educere - to draw forth). It edifies. Brings dignity to work. Especially, when respected. Demonstrated by strong federal student loan support, strong federal quality control of educational institutions (remember the sudden influx of half-baked charlatan colleges for profit that grabbed students money then dumped them?) and in unionization as having a respected and dignified place in collaborating with bosses not just on remuneration but also in having a meaningful say in corporate decision making as in, for example, whether new plants should be located near what neighborhoods. Isn't it Germany and the Scandinavian countries where union representatives sit on corporate boards? Self-interested cold corporate influence where only the buck counts has moved to lessen federal dollars for education and to shift it out of the peoples' authority and into their own, to commodify it, extract money from it, own it and determine its nature. Then, students become objects to siphon money from and to hell with such foolishness as wasting federal dollars on the humanities, developing the mind, enriching the spirit, to think critically or consider your importance to the quality of civic life. I've been a teacher and was a child of teachers. I've witnessed the supplanting of education as an inherent value for individual development and society's (good for democracy) to one primarily servicing the employment/corporate sector which wants cheap, dependent, pliable workers. How stark the change!
One more point worth noting: "trade" jobs--working with ones hands, building or fixing stuff--generally can't be exported ("offshored"), whereas desk jobs very often can.
Kind of seems to me you started out on one "side" of this and finished up on the other. In Minnesota I'm seeing a constant barrage of comments to the effect that "four year degrees aren't necessary...you can make a great living in the building trades..." This is true enough but what about the kid who might like to be a historian, or dancer, or whatever? What about the inherent value of not living in a trumper community....
I made several comments regarding that - certainly not to denigrate college degrees - but not everyone desires, or in any way, can afford college. My opinion is that high schools & counselors need to provide other options. If that isnt done then at some point there will be no plumbers, electricians, etc. now, think about that. I have as much respect, sometimes more, for anyone who is capable of working in those fields. There are many kids who might possibly prefer working with their hands, so to speak. They shouldnt be made to feel its somehow beneath them! And "living in a trumper community"? We just spent 4 years there and it was hell! Remember, there were lots of politicians, businessmen & women, college grads, that were quite happy with that community - it wasnt only people in building trades.
What I saw missing in the college vs. trade school discussions in Michigan was RESPECT. When I was a lobbyist, Gov. Granholm insisted our economy of the future depended on the god of TECNOLOGY and EVERY STUDENT must go to College to Save the State. In so doing she denigrated our gifted and talented students who are geniuses at " working with their hands." My protests fell on deaf political ears in those days, as expectations were legislated requiring that all high school students to have 4 years of math and English, squeezing out the time needed for skill development. The result was far too few skilled trades people, and way too many arrogant attitudes, and we wonder why folks were ripe for tRump.
And that is it exactly! Having a dad who was a plumber, a father-in-law who was an electrician, my son was an auto mechanic - all of them could figure out or physically DO anything - not necessarily having to do with their own field. They were perfectly capable of figuring out how to solve almost any problem. Having skilled, intelligent "trades people" - essential workers - is as important now as it ever was. Right now, looking at Texas, for instance, thats what it will take to repair & replace all the residences, infrastructure, etc & get them back to "normal".
YES! I was so frustrated when my 6 year old son clearly was ready to be apprenticed to the dryer repair man, but instead he was made to sit still in a classroom where the teacher made sure he felt stupid (okay, nice teacher, bad system) and all his talents lay dormant and frustrated. Today he can, as you say, physically do anything, and runs a very successful trade business, in spite of our school system.
Really well said, Selina. Thanks.
There's nothing wrong with being a plumber, food service worker or janitor. There is something very wrong with relegating the vast majority to those jobs while saving the most lucrative and prestigious ones for the Haves.
Yay for your early night, Heather. As always, thank you from Texas.
Hey, Kay. I live in VA, an area where we see a fair amount of freezing temps, ice storms, etc. I've never gone skiing in my life but several years ago I bought a pair of ski pants to wear on those sub-freezing days. What a game changer that was! Just a thought for you and your fellow Texans going forward.
Afternoon Lynn!! I visited Harpers Ferry near you on the day after Thanksgiving in 2019 (History Day for family trips). It was bitter cold even with multiple layers. The wind rushes through the river valleys like they're wind tunnels. Brrrrrr!
Afternoon, Almost Evening, TPJ! My trips to Harpers Ferry have always been in warmer weather! I think, also, the humidity in our region makes it feel colder. How is it up your way?
I'm next to Boston so the ocean often moderates weather extremes. Maybe that's why it's snowing steadily for nearly 30 hours but accumulating less than a foot. Snowfall is lovely until the grime of humanity settles on it.
The 2019 HF visit was half-baked, focusing only on the John Brown raiders. No Jefferson Rock, Catholic church, 1862 battle, Storer College, Frederick Douglass, WEB DuBois/NAACP. We'll plan better next time, and there will be a next time. Like Gettysburg, it rewards repeat visits.
Kay, hope you’re doing well! Are you dealing with the cold in your part of the state?
How very kind of you, Kari; thank you. I lost power for about 17 hours. By the time it came back on, it was around 50 degrees in my home. I am grateful to have food and shelter because so many others don’t. We are under a boil water order under at least Monday. Sadly, the poorest among us suffer the most.
Hang in there. The thoughts of the Nation are with you!
Thinking of you, Kay Ingram. I can't imagine how many are managing to survive in Texas.💔💔
Dear Kay and Texans, good luck and warm wishes from MA. It's very wintry but we're lucky compared to you.
Thanks, TPJ. I still have power, but no water or heat. The interior temperature is 46 right now.
On a happier note, it's 35 outside in Austin and everything is melting.
People here have pulled together, with those who have hot water inviting anyone who doesn't to come and shower. We're sharing food items, helping to get the elderly into warm places, and helping any way possible.
It's beautiful to see.
Kay, I hope you and the rest of your fellow Texans, especially those here, are all able to stay warm and safe. Hopefully this terrible experience will encourage change so that nothing like this happens again.
💔💔💔💔 ❤️🤍💙
Thanks again, Heather, for a concise --and early-- Letter.
You speak of 'the ramping up of the Biden years', a very charming phrase. I hope Mr Biden understand his years, if they are to be valuable, must hit the ground running, no time to negotiate with people we know are merely playing at collaboration in order to obstruct.
Passing big bills on a 'partisan' basis? Go right ahead and go as big as possible; after all, the 'partisan' bills will have fortuitous effects on the vast majority of Americans. If some Rs want to trot along and negotiate, as long as they don't slow down the process, fine, all are welcome, but keep the momentum going. Ultimately, the results will be all that matters and this country needs some results fast.
What we have to realize is that "bipartisan" is as archaic a tool as our appointed senators were. When one party steamrolls while in power and obstructs while in the minority it is impossible to negotiate between the two sides. Get rid of the filibuster (which does not have a comparatively long history in this country). Stop trying to negotiate with terrorists.
I think, if they did go big (do ALL of what the polls indicate for the 50+% of the population), the nation would feel like we do now (doubled? tripled?) with The Former Guy replaced - a huge weight lifted; the light at the end of the tunnel; blue skies; and so on.
Sadly, the dems appear to be reviving the Obama (& Biden) years and again: only seeking the love and approval of Republican politicians. - It’s like we really only have one party, representing less than 40% of the population, and the dems are completely afraid of offending one half of it and the repubs the other half. Both ignoring the 60%.
I think Biden learned from Obama's efforts with the Republicans. He seems much less inclined to cater to them at the expense of his BIG agenda.
It's impressive that Biden often proceeds as if the GOP doesn't exist, which in terms of genuine governance, it doesn't.
It seems that way. Certainly with a lot (all?) of his Executive Orders, but he often talks about working with them. And, of course, he can only do so much.
He's balked at the minimum wage and student loans, which is troubling, and implies to me he may not actually go big.
I hope I'm wrong, but I don't like these signs.
I thought this article was instructive. Republicans are trying to obstruct just for the sake of obstructing, call the stimulus package a "payoff to progressives." Uh, this is for EVERYONE, not just progressives. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-struggle-to-derail-increasingly-popular-stimulus-package/ar-BB1dQeYk?li=BBnb7Kz
So glad, HCR, that you are able to take a breather. We all need one! I am pondering your question about student loan forgiveness and will respond tomorrow to that but I also think that the issues you raise here concerning a do-nothing Senate and a legitimate Executive that wants to advance humane legislation are very important. In this as in everything, I think that the Dems, whose diffidence has usually backfired, have to be loud and clear and not give up the megaphone, and then organize like crazy. Grassroots are the only way to change the creeping fascism happening in state government.