"Your letter brings home once again how vital it is that we push back and hold at bay the Christo-fascists!"
Maybe.
But, the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, was not caused by Christo-fascists. It was caused by the degradation of Obama era regulations on train safety that were removed during the Trump administration through effective "lobbying" accepted by non-Christo-fascists in Congress and by Norfolk Southern management's willingness to prioritize profit over all aspects of train transport.
In other words: The real threat in America is:
A Governmental model in this country that looks more like Prostitution than Democracy.
In short: I will call the governmental model in the US: Democratic Prostitution.
Those two words MOST accurately reflect the government model actually in use in the United States of America.
And, the current drumbeat from Fox News focusing NOT on the causes of the train derailment itself but on the EPA response? Nobody at Fox News is a Christo-fascist.
But everyone at FOX IS a Capitalist extremist and in full support of purchasing as many politicians as possible (lobbying) to get them to do their bidding. There it is again: Democratic Prostitution.
Likewise. Drug prices are not astronomical because of Christo-fascists.
Drug prices are high, and hospital stays are (now) profoundly expensive because Pharmaceutical companies prioritize profit over all aspects of health care and hospitals are now all owned mostly by hedge funds that also prioritize profit over the health of anyone at all.
And? The reason the two above facts exist is because of effective lobbying in Congress by Capitalist extremists who prefer a governmental model that looks more like prostitution than democracy. Democratic Prostitution again is the model for government here.
So, I would like to introduce what everyone already knows: Religious extremism is particularly easy to demonize because it is real, and, yes, some rich folks want private schools (mostly so that they don't have to go to integrated schools with black folks honestly).
BUT, the real problem in America is Capitalist Extremism that has led to a Governmental Model called: Democratic Prostitution.
Democratic Prostitution NOT Christian extremism/Christo-fascism is the threat we face most.
I rush to say: Sometimes, and more frequently of late, Capitalist Extremism in the form of Democratic Prostitution and Christo-fascist rhetoric overlap, in particular, with junk Christianity called "Prosperity Gospel".
Fox “News” may not believe a word they speak, they may be doing it all for money, but they are in fact promoting the self-called-Christian authoritarians. Mussolini, who knew fascism, once said it should have been called corporatism. So it’s both. My only problem with your snappy label, is that in today’s environment too many will think it describes Democrats and not Republicans.
Interesting take on Democratic Prostitution. Prostitutes need money to live on. Without the insane political system where politicians can't run a campaign without a ton of money, which make them beholding to their donors. It is impossible to see a problem where money is not at the root. (of all evil). A healthcare industry that is profit motivated is nuts. There is nothing wrong with lobbying the government. The problem is when big $ wants something from the government they have politicians who NEED their $. Public financing and eliminate large donations might help. If running for office did not require large sums of money thing might look differently.
But since when is health care an “industry”? Has the Hippocratic Oath lost all meaning? Isn’t it time that we have free medical schools for qualified applicants? And maybe it’s also time to outlaw hedge funds which are causing so much damage to so many while contributing nothing of which I am aware. (Someone can correct me on that?)
Agree. Except healthcare in America did become an industry in America when, in the 1930's, private physicians invented illness insurance so they could be paid more than a sack of potatoes and a chicken for their services. And hospitals and nursing homes, many started by well intentioned physicians and nuns, became more capitalistic toys for hedge funders like Mitt Romney who squeezed out any extra funds (I won't say "profits" because most are non-profits), and regular revenues, firing "excess" employees, requiring remaining ones to do overtime to make up the difference this hustle created. Yes, there should be a law - MANY EFFECTIVE LAWS AGAINST THIS THIEVERY:
Couldn’t agree more. Who is really happy that we want to help Ukraine? The corporations that will rake in billions in war profits. They are the ones in the rooms where decisions are made. Who was just happy to have a pandemic for a few years? The profiteers who were in the rooms where the decisions were made (under both Republican and Democratic administrations). Make America really great again-especially if it’s manufactured overseas for more profit.
Well, that might be part of it (the ill-gotten gains of the military-industrial complex), but as a Latvian I also know that this *is* about a rules-based international order. I was angry at Obama regarding his response to Crimea and predicted the war in Ukraine. Moldova, Poland and the Baltics will be next. Putin has never been shy about his obsession with restoring the USSR. Of course, this will lead us into WW3; we - and our allies - need to control Putin’s aggression or we are REALLY in danger.
I am really happy that we want to help Ukraine even with the war profits, of which I am very much aware. Helping Ukraine is helping Europe, our first western cultural center, and helping US keep democracy alive.
Why do you call it Democratic prostitution when it is the Republican side of the aisle that set up the flood of corporate money corrupting our elections? I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said,”In America , it’s lobbying. In the rest of the world, it is graft and corruption.” Corporations can no longer give legislators dinners, and cigars. But they can give them as much unidentified campaign money as they want. This happened when John Roberts agreed to make it the law of the land that a corporate entity was a person, right? What do you think would be the best way to stop the flood of anonymous money into campaign coffers at all levels of government, which is the only way I can see to push the “playing field back toward some semblance of level”?
Ideally, pass Adam Schiff's proposed Constitutional Amendment to repeal the Citizens United decision. Since that's not happening in my lifetime, support Senator Whitehouse's DISCLOSE bill that would put some daylight onto the 'dark money' being poured into campaigns.
Mike S. I mostly agree, but do not underestimate the power of the Christo-fascists. Their numbers are growing with the aid of Mike Flynn, and their fanaticism is strong.
You are right to use the term Christofascists, a term I first heard Carolyn Baker use. It encompasses the reality of authoritarian white male control over other beliefs, basically. Can anyone doubt its inherent values of racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-semitism, deliberate ignorance, and greed? Nevertheless, it's a loaded term that folks aren't quite ready to contemplate. But go for it, Jane! It certainly fits.
I first used the term "Christofascists" a few years back while arguing with my MAGAt cousin. It really made her angry, but because she was a Texan, "Y'all Qaeda" made her even angrier.
It makes me kind of sad now, because she was one of the Covid casualties last year (she got sick at the end of 2021) and we used to be close. But I still think the terms were kind of appropriate in the context of our conversation, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
I'm sorry that your cousin passed from Covid, Karen. Was she a no vaxer? If so, that is one among many reasons the MAGAs pursue their mad goals while causing their own demise (literally!)
I suspect that she was a no-vaxxer. She and I had had a falling out over tfg, and I didn't even realize that she had died until I happened to look at her Facebook page just before what would have been her 81st birthday last May. I only found out the tiny bit I did by messaging her daughter.
It's very sad. And I blame that selfish orange narcissistic asshole. Covid never should have been politicized in any way.
Oh my, that is so sad. I hope you are okay. Yes, I too blame tfg for the million plus deaths under his watch. I too have learned of deaths by Facebook. It feels bizarre, frankly.
Wow. What a Letter, Professor Richardson. I am reeling from the implications. The extremist wing of the Republican Party is at its inflection point and is now quite dangerous.
I’d like to take Senator Voldemort, while at his helm as governor of Florida caused suffering amongst human beings, straight to the woodshed and throttle him. And then follow with DeSantis. Florida has become a stain on the map of the UNITED States of America. How dare they become a blatant autocratic warship. They can go f*ck themselves and their white, racist agenda of christian nationalism. There is nothing of ethical and human value within its rotten framework.
Thank you for your Letters from an American. I know where truth shines.
Your letter brings home once again how vital it is that we push back and hold at bay the Christo-fascists!
Jane,
"Your letter brings home once again how vital it is that we push back and hold at bay the Christo-fascists!"
Maybe.
But, the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, was not caused by Christo-fascists. It was caused by the degradation of Obama era regulations on train safety that were removed during the Trump administration through effective "lobbying" accepted by non-Christo-fascists in Congress and by Norfolk Southern management's willingness to prioritize profit over all aspects of train transport.
In other words: The real threat in America is:
A Governmental model in this country that looks more like Prostitution than Democracy.
In short: I will call the governmental model in the US: Democratic Prostitution.
Those two words MOST accurately reflect the government model actually in use in the United States of America.
And, the current drumbeat from Fox News focusing NOT on the causes of the train derailment itself but on the EPA response? Nobody at Fox News is a Christo-fascist.
But everyone at FOX IS a Capitalist extremist and in full support of purchasing as many politicians as possible (lobbying) to get them to do their bidding. There it is again: Democratic Prostitution.
Likewise. Drug prices are not astronomical because of Christo-fascists.
Drug prices are high, and hospital stays are (now) profoundly expensive because Pharmaceutical companies prioritize profit over all aspects of health care and hospitals are now all owned mostly by hedge funds that also prioritize profit over the health of anyone at all.
And? The reason the two above facts exist is because of effective lobbying in Congress by Capitalist extremists who prefer a governmental model that looks more like prostitution than democracy. Democratic Prostitution again is the model for government here.
So, I would like to introduce what everyone already knows: Religious extremism is particularly easy to demonize because it is real, and, yes, some rich folks want private schools (mostly so that they don't have to go to integrated schools with black folks honestly).
BUT, the real problem in America is Capitalist Extremism that has led to a Governmental Model called: Democratic Prostitution.
Democratic Prostitution NOT Christian extremism/Christo-fascism is the threat we face most.
I rush to say: Sometimes, and more frequently of late, Capitalist Extremism in the form of Democratic Prostitution and Christo-fascist rhetoric overlap, in particular, with junk Christianity called "Prosperity Gospel".
But, that is (so far) a minority of Christians.
Fox “News” may not believe a word they speak, they may be doing it all for money, but they are in fact promoting the self-called-Christian authoritarians. Mussolini, who knew fascism, once said it should have been called corporatism. So it’s both. My only problem with your snappy label, is that in today’s environment too many will think it describes Democrats and not Republicans.
Interesting take on Democratic Prostitution. Prostitutes need money to live on. Without the insane political system where politicians can't run a campaign without a ton of money, which make them beholding to their donors. It is impossible to see a problem where money is not at the root. (of all evil). A healthcare industry that is profit motivated is nuts. There is nothing wrong with lobbying the government. The problem is when big $ wants something from the government they have politicians who NEED their $. Public financing and eliminate large donations might help. If running for office did not require large sums of money thing might look differently.
But since when is health care an “industry”? Has the Hippocratic Oath lost all meaning? Isn’t it time that we have free medical schools for qualified applicants? And maybe it’s also time to outlaw hedge funds which are causing so much damage to so many while contributing nothing of which I am aware. (Someone can correct me on that?)
Agree. Except healthcare in America did become an industry in America when, in the 1930's, private physicians invented illness insurance so they could be paid more than a sack of potatoes and a chicken for their services. And hospitals and nursing homes, many started by well intentioned physicians and nuns, became more capitalistic toys for hedge funders like Mitt Romney who squeezed out any extra funds (I won't say "profits" because most are non-profits), and regular revenues, firing "excess" employees, requiring remaining ones to do overtime to make up the difference this hustle created. Yes, there should be a law - MANY EFFECTIVE LAWS AGAINST THIS THIEVERY:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital-183291/
Couldn’t agree more. Who is really happy that we want to help Ukraine? The corporations that will rake in billions in war profits. They are the ones in the rooms where decisions are made. Who was just happy to have a pandemic for a few years? The profiteers who were in the rooms where the decisions were made (under both Republican and Democratic administrations). Make America really great again-especially if it’s manufactured overseas for more profit.
Well, that might be part of it (the ill-gotten gains of the military-industrial complex), but as a Latvian I also know that this *is* about a rules-based international order. I was angry at Obama regarding his response to Crimea and predicted the war in Ukraine. Moldova, Poland and the Baltics will be next. Putin has never been shy about his obsession with restoring the USSR. Of course, this will lead us into WW3; we - and our allies - need to control Putin’s aggression or we are REALLY in danger.
I am really happy that we want to help Ukraine even with the war profits, of which I am very much aware. Helping Ukraine is helping Europe, our first western cultural center, and helping US keep democracy alive.
Yes, that was the first thing I said.
Why do you call it Democratic prostitution when it is the Republican side of the aisle that set up the flood of corporate money corrupting our elections? I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said,”In America , it’s lobbying. In the rest of the world, it is graft and corruption.” Corporations can no longer give legislators dinners, and cigars. But they can give them as much unidentified campaign money as they want. This happened when John Roberts agreed to make it the law of the land that a corporate entity was a person, right? What do you think would be the best way to stop the flood of anonymous money into campaign coffers at all levels of government, which is the only way I can see to push the “playing field back toward some semblance of level”?
Ideally, pass Adam Schiff's proposed Constitutional Amendment to repeal the Citizens United decision. Since that's not happening in my lifetime, support Senator Whitehouse's DISCLOSE bill that would put some daylight onto the 'dark money' being poured into campaigns.
Good post. Thanks!
Mike S. I mostly agree, but do not underestimate the power of the Christo-fascists. Their numbers are growing with the aid of Mike Flynn, and their fanaticism is strong.
Flynn is SO DANGEROUS.
Extremely dangerous!
If they are voting and they get enough others to vote with them than that is democracy in action yes?
You are right to use the term Christofascists, a term I first heard Carolyn Baker use. It encompasses the reality of authoritarian white male control over other beliefs, basically. Can anyone doubt its inherent values of racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-semitism, deliberate ignorance, and greed? Nevertheless, it's a loaded term that folks aren't quite ready to contemplate. But go for it, Jane! It certainly fits.
I first used the term "Christofascists" a few years back while arguing with my MAGAt cousin. It really made her angry, but because she was a Texan, "Y'all Qaeda" made her even angrier.
It makes me kind of sad now, because she was one of the Covid casualties last year (she got sick at the end of 2021) and we used to be close. But I still think the terms were kind of appropriate in the context of our conversation, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
I'm sorry that your cousin passed from Covid, Karen. Was she a no vaxer? If so, that is one among many reasons the MAGAs pursue their mad goals while causing their own demise (literally!)
Thanks.
I suspect that she was a no-vaxxer. She and I had had a falling out over tfg, and I didn't even realize that she had died until I happened to look at her Facebook page just before what would have been her 81st birthday last May. I only found out the tiny bit I did by messaging her daughter.
It's very sad. And I blame that selfish orange narcissistic asshole. Covid never should have been politicized in any way.
Oh my, that is so sad. I hope you are okay. Yes, I too blame tfg for the million plus deaths under his watch. I too have learned of deaths by Facebook. It feels bizarre, frankly.
And so heartbreaking.
Wow. What a Letter, Professor Richardson. I am reeling from the implications. The extremist wing of the Republican Party is at its inflection point and is now quite dangerous.
I’d like to take Senator Voldemort, while at his helm as governor of Florida caused suffering amongst human beings, straight to the woodshed and throttle him. And then follow with DeSantis. Florida has become a stain on the map of the UNITED States of America. How dare they become a blatant autocratic warship. They can go f*ck themselves and their white, racist agenda of christian nationalism. There is nothing of ethical and human value within its rotten framework.
Thank you for your Letters from an American. I know where truth shines.
Salud!
🗽