Yesterday, by a vote of 6 to 3, the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s requirement that businesses with more than 100 employees address the coronavirus pandemic by making employees either get vaccines or, if they choose not to be vaccinated, to test weekly and wear a mask at work. Employees who work exclusively at home or mostly outside were exempted from the requirement, as were those with a religious exemption.
For over 30 years, I have been traveling the world delivering intercultural negotiation, conflict resolution programs and have often found myself in war zones. It always seems that authoritarianism, strong man rule requires chaos to either take or remain in control. This pandemic seems the perfect opportunity for those interested in killing our democracy. Am I missing something to say that all the rights leaders are vaccinated? What does it matter if they lose thousands of their foot soldiers to the cause by continuing to create mayhem with the virus so they can distract from their real intent which is oligarchy…..
It would matter if they were incapable of rigging elections. The thing that amazes me is the number of elected officials willing to sell us out, on the assumption they'll end up in their own little corner of Trump heaven. They fail to notice how he treats not only his voters, but also his minions.
Drump rules by his own emotions. Plain and simple. What pleases him today, may displease him by evening. And, his own emotions stem from extreme narcissism and sociopathy.
What we've had for some time now (like maybe since the founding of the republic) is more like a plutocracy. The wealthy rule, often by controlling the elected "rulers." Money talks louder than votes, and since votes remain necessary, anyone who points out economic power and economic imbalances is called a socialist or something similar. And no, it's not just the Republicans. One clue is how quickly some Democrats call other Democrats "socialist" in order to discredit them and their proposals.
I think of "authoritarian" as being primarily (?) an individual characteristic. Some teachers, parents, and bosses are described as authoritarian. "Authoritarian rule" could describe a dictatorship, or an absolute monarchy. "Oligarchy' is more about number: "-archy" comes from "rule" and "olig-" from "few." So oligarchy is rule by a few, monarchy is rule by one, and anarchy is rule by no one. ;-)
Sometimes I think oligarchs are the followers of the authoritarian leader who willingly accept the financial incentives to keep that leader in power. You can't tell me that Guiliani, Bannon, Nixon lover, Cruz, Graham, and other Drump sycophants aren't waiting for the money.
The oligarchs, and the super-wealthy in general, benefit from the laws and other conditions the authoritarian leader creates. That's definitely what's going on in Russia -- and in a way it's why wealthy landowners and others supported the tsar.
A lot of them are in it for the financial gain and power over the "people." Right now they are using extreme manipulation, gaslighting, and fake promises. When they win, they will regulate the followers into submission by using those followers who are eager to use violence and aggression in name of the leader.
Susan, Astute observation. Yes chaos and cruelty are the main strategies. Botton line is that it is all about personal power. No empathy or heartfelt concern for our fellow humans.
Chaos has benefitted the right wing, including the neocons ( hello Cheney senior ) forever. Halliburton, Bechtel, Carlisle Group, all benefit from disarray.
I would prefer my government to serve the needs of the majority of people, not just billionaires, lobbyist, and an ever shrinking population of under served, uneducated, rural voters, made angry and resentful, by lies of a demagogue, and amplified by conservative media outlets, to sustain shrinking profit and power.
Oops!I didn’t mean to do that! I am also in a rural area! My grandfather was a farmer. His grandfather not being the oldest boy on their farm in Bavaria hopped on a freighter, and dug canals as an immigrant laborer for decades, saving just enough to acquire a homestead farm in the Midwest. Growing up, I think all the Midwest farmers were democrats and in the west through heavily subsidized water projects, farmers and ranchers of the west were Republicans. The isolation of both, and lack of equal funding in rural education has left both susceptible to demagoguery, fueling old resentments based on lies, sparking anger, seeking redemption through a strongman leader… the pattern is not a new one. My dirt farmer grandfather taught me that, and to never forget it.
No offence taken! I'm an ex-urbanite myself. The truth of the matter is, I AM surrounded by idiots. I like to think of Queensland like a piece of raisin bread - vast tracts of abysmal ignorance dotted with small enclaves of intellectuals - the raisins.
That’s the challenge to todays leaders. How to reach forgotten and isolated rural voters. Is their historical social research on how to decouple the rural populace from the populist demagogic “leader”? How to decouple grievance? How to decouple us and “them”? ( other than just pulling the plug on social media)
The sad part is that many rural people are under educated for their intelligence. I taught for several years in a rural school. The people represent the intelligence spectrum, but the lack of education makes them very easily manipulated by politicians who use scare and anger tactics and then provide the only solutions to solving this anger and fear. Many don't know the difference between fact and fiction with topics they are ignorant in. They often use emotions to verify something as fact. Also, many don't know how to fact check or even understand that fact-checking is important. Add to that in many states rural America is mostly white. Then racial bias is easily grown.
" Conceived decades ago by psychologists Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski, terror-management theory holds that... become more attached to our belief systems, especially those that give us a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves.We may thus become more patriotic and religious and less tolerant of those outside of our tribe, who do not share our values. We also become more likely to turn to ultra-confident, authoritarian leaders."
I just read the review at the link you provided. I will definitely read the book. But in the meantime, how do “chaoticians” and death fears work together?
That's an interesting comment. When I look at people like Ted Cruz, Hawley, T. Carlson, all of whom have had "elite" educations, I begin to wonder what they were fed. They have been pampered since day one, put in private institutions, told they were destined for great things, and this is how they behave? These are not people I could ever look up to. My only hope is that they do not have any street smarts so that when the larger issues like Climate Change begin to catch up with us, they will be found cowering in the corner.
Informative article on Politico about which group is most likely to spread disinformation …. People who score high on preference for chaos, eg, “burn down the government” sentiments!
Susan, Ive been pretty well convinced we already are an oligarchy. With this recent decision by the Supreme Court, and Citizens United, and voter suppression, how are we not already an oligarchy or at the least a corptocracy?
From your background, does the continued fear of disease increase or decrease the potential for conflict?
Increase for sure! (I find myself calling it a "cleptocracy" these days.) Adversarial or win-lose conflict style greatly influenced by fear and lack of trust. And fundamental to a one-up, one-down patriarchal world order -- might makes right. I find the work being done on trauma may really help us move beyond because being in the one-up position, or the illusion of it, is essentially traumatic and disconnected, even though it feels good to those on top.
Are you familiar with programs post WW2 that worked to de-radicalize the German people? Or in Serbia? How does power or control work in these scenarios? Seems like de radicalization is easier or a different process after a war, as the radicalized have been defeated at great cost, and have lost their power. Compared to South Africa where both parties agreed to change and evolve peacefully. But a difference in South Africa was both parties were willing participants in the reconciliation process to avoid continued and potential for escalations of political violence. Neither examples had the challenge of social media. To me, we are facing a huge challenge, as the other side is led by obstructionists or leaders only set on their complete rule.
Given the number and diversity of Democratic candidates in 2020, how are we an oligarchy? It is true that an "establishment" candidate won the nomination--and the presidency--but he won because tens of millions of Americans who were offered very different choices voted for him. While it's true that money has a very disproportionate influence, that ought to be reduced sharply (let's hear it for public financing of campaigns), that's not the same as saying that we're under the thumb of oligarchs. Look at Russia, for comparison.
Our democracy rating is at 5 on the scale of -10 to 10. North Korea being negative 10 and Canada and Switzerland are 10. We have slipped and are sliding the wrong way. Citizens United means that a few have more free speech than the many, and that’s not a democracy. If the voting rights act doesn’t pass, we will go to rating of 0 immediately and then who knows how fast to an authoritarian state.
Oh, think of 2020 as the past. The state laws have changed, so big differences in IF a democrat can win in red states, EVEN if they win the votes necessary, but now it is legal for state election officials to send whatever “legal” forgeries and false electors. And then there is gerrymandering to divide and dilute majority voters. This is Georgia and 19 other states today and why our rating has slid from 10 to 5.
Is that a serious question, or snark? Assuming you're serious, a couple of points: First, all organized societies have rules. You need to wear seatbelts. You can't open the emergency door while the plane is in flight. (Well, actually, it's a crime to open it at any time, unless there's a crash.) If you have a child entering kindergarten, she or he will need nine--count 'em, nine--vaccinations to go to school, not counting the one against Covid. Second, Justice Holmes famously observed that freedom of speech does not include the right to cry Fire! in a crowded theater. Those who believe that they should have the right to be unvaccinated--unless they are prepared to quarantine strictly, forever--are not saying that they have the right to cry Fire! They are saying that they have the right to carry fire into a crowded theater.
This is a sleight of hand twist on the actual point. Most of the discussion preceding your question does not propose mandates are more or less authoritarian - they are mostly saying there is a correlation between who takes an anti mask and vaccination mandate position and what their leadership views and styles are. The majority of the comments are about a correlation not about the status of mandates themselves. Besides, even if you view all restriction by laws, all mandates guided by expertise, and all requirements to do no harm to others as authoritarian (which would frankly be thick and un-nuanced, hopefully just for the sake of discussion) it is still perfectly possible to take a single more "authoritarian" stance (on a range of authoritarianism) and be less authoritarian over all if the purpose and observable out comes of the stance are in support of population movement toward less authoritarianism, and vice versa.
Interesting fact: No European country has anything like as broad a vaccine mandate as Biden’s, except Austria. Are they all dangerously authoritarian and medically ignorant?
I guess I have a broader concept of “authoritarian” than most people. I find it difficult to find any non-authoritarians in politics any more. And, yes, democracy can be quite authoritarian when it is devolves to mere majoritarianism.
( it’s about protecting everyone’s health. AND our limited hospital capacity of less than 1 m hospital beds with less than 350,000 icu beds…. That are both already 85% full on average. The promise of the current variant is explosive spread, and as a principle of the Epidemiology of +RNA respiratory viruses that are prone to mutate (because the enzymes that correct mutations are only found in the cell nucleus NOT the cytoplasm) explosive spread promises the next variant, and repeat. Public Health is necessary to maintain school, business, security. Health of nations is directly proportional to the wealth of nations.
Too bad for them, then, if that’s the case. But I know intelligent medical professionals who aren’t in favor of mandates either. They are vaccinated and so am I.
Mandatory vaccinations are about collaborating for the common good. Libertarians have so polluted our culture with their sel-centered brand of narcissism that they have convinced preppie that good public health practice is tyranny! Ignorance and arrogance are a deadly combination!
Well, sometimes. There is a place for it like you say and absolute no to your little kid it about to run across the street and you restrain them. But, to stick to my main focus these days, there is no gender equality in authoritarian regimes, and there is no racial justice either. There is a pyramid pecking order with 'servants' supporting those on top. And that's why we are getting so much push back from the right-wing. They don't want to lose their help mates whether they are female or of-color. Of course, there are many in those categories who slip through as long as the basic pyramid stays in place.
The decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are frightening. In my 80 years, I have never felt so powerless. Being afraid of our Government is a new, eerie experience. We are in a time like no other, and I cling to the hope that people like you, Heather, can reach enough people to turn the tide. Thank you so much for sharing the facts as they play out day by day.
Coming to the end of my 76th year on this planet, having marched, sat, written and called for so many causes, I feel betrayed. Waiting for the ice to melt so I can hop in my kayak and stop occasionally wringing my hands. Thank you, Heather Cox Richardson, for your clarity, which helps me to at least understand how we are at this shameful place in our government.
What is now being experienced by the whole country is life in the south before 1965, one party rule. That party is made up of the same kind of people it has always been-white men with money. The name, R or D, does not matter. They could be called
the FuzzyWuzzy party and they would still operate to use the powers of government to enrich themselves and their donors. The US system of governance is having all its flaws and weaknesses exposed. The Constitution was a cobbled together document that could be passed at the time, and that took a while. Our government has relied on traditions and norms which relied on good character to be implemented, as Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that working for us today?”
The supreme court decisions are proof that “the law really is just man’s opinion.” Along with one token woman in the mold of Phyllis Schlafley.
Well said, JennSH. Come to think of it, the Constitution was not made for most of us. Our push to make it so is an exercise in resilience and idealism. Power plays by shape-shifting rules. Figuring out how to battle it effectively is continuously the task at hand. Seeing through the veil of “death fear” take clarity and comprehension. I thank HCR for her diligence in providing that for us.
Same thoughts here. I hadn’t put it into words, but reading your comment gave me a chill. I too am actually afraid,, I have lost the sense that heretofore had taken for granted…. I have always trusted my government, like a young child trusts their parents. Suddenly, I feel betrayed. Thank world according to TFG was harrowing enough,,but the reality of his poison is evident in the decisions of the Court in many issues!
Find a teenager, preferably one turning 18 soon, and talk to them about voting. Encourage them to make their voice heard. Explain how to register, right down to where to get the registration form and when and where it needs to be submitted. Four million teens will turn 18 this year and if they all cast a vote it would have the force of a political tsunami.
I have lived in Houston, TX, for the past 15 years and have worked with voter registration efforts for most of those years. Many different organizations in Harris County, including the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, continue to work tirelessly to reach high school seniors, contacting high school officials to obtain permission to attend some senior functions to explain and register those 18 and approaching 18 years of age.
It was interesting to watch leaders emerge in those circumstances. When attending a senior picnic, I approached a table of about 15 young women who all said no to registering until one courageous student stood up and said yes, and then all the others said yes. I don’t know if they actually went to the polls during the next election, but at least those 15 were registered and had heard my speech about using their voices to protect our democracy.
And whatever happened to Civics as a required course in high school?
Absolutely the question of the hour! Every hour! I had a Civics class in 7th grade,? I remember really liking it. But that was it. That was in 1964!
When my daughter was in high school they had NOTHING! And when Obama was running for President I was appalled that there were no ‘mock debates’ as we had in HS, and even when he won there was not even any announcement, not even in her honors History class?!
How are these kids supposed to get exposed, much less get involved if their schools seem so indifferent?!
I didnt' get any Civics in high school despite going to a good private school. But I did absorb it from my parents, beginning at age 7, from the 1960 election. I would argue over the presidential election with my friend Ralphie, whose grandfather had started Nordstrom's.
My father was an economist, and my mother had been all but dissertation when she decided to switch to psych.
My mother loved to tell this story--she was driving, with me and Ralphie in the car. I said to Ralphie, "you shouldn't vote for Nixon because he called that lady in California something like an economist"
(For those too young to remember this election, in an earlier election in which he ran against Helen Gahagan Douglas--who had been an actress--he called her a communist.)
On election night, my parents went out for the evening, leaving my brother--age 10--and me alone. They told us we could watch the election results on TV until it was called. I trundled off to bed around 10. When they got home at 3AM (6AM eastern), they found my brother bleary eyed but still watching.
Ha! You make me remember my folks...every federal election, they would go to dinner, then a movie, and when they got out of the show they fond out the results! My Dad was a Republican, my Mom, a Democrat... they always were so excited but laughed about how they canceled each other out!!
I really don't think the solution to what we're going through in the USA is to vote harder. A Princeton study in 2014 made the bald case that we haven't been a democracy for a long time:
We have that teen in our home. He voted in his first election for Biden. He had a friend whose family was far-right and convinced him how bad Trump was. He will not give up when he’s trying to persuade someone. My daughter was a great debater so I guess he got that trait from her. I hope he never loses that enthusiasm.
I am very proud of him. He’s my grandson, my daughter passed away when he was 15. I have to give her most of the credit for teaching him to persevere and stand his ground. Some days I see so much of her in him that it both breaks my heart and gives me comfort. He’s a critical thinker. I think that’s something children don’t learn anymore because not many adults do it. They go along with the crowd and crumble under peer pressure.
I like to encourage voting. It is also important to revisit the ideals of our democracy and using critical thinking to make sure your vote goes to those that understand the common good as well as their own, possibly selfish interests.
That’s a great idea…. I wonder if there is some way to do that in an organized way? If high schools would allow an outside organization to give a presentation and a question/answer session… like perhaps the League of Women Voters? Or…?
Yes, the LWV in Tucson, anyway, has a program "Seeking Truth, Embracing Courage: A Youth Perspective of the National Day of Healing " Tuesday, January 18.
Please encourage them to also educate themselves on the candidates. My step grandson voted in the last election (he was 20) & his review of candidates led him to believe that Trump was a good businessman & deserved another 4 years. If I had seen him before he voted, I hope I would have shed some light on his news sources. *sigh*
Yes, we sat and discussed every candidate plus every proposition on the ballot. We all learned something from each other’s point of view and how to research.
I feel the same way. Afraid of gov't. I want to wake up on Wednesday Nov. 9, 2016, to find that Hillary Clinton was elected and this trump stuff was all a horrible dream.
oh brother! you and me both... I never thought this at the time, but looking back now I am 1000% POSITIVE that the 2016 election was stolen.. and of course the Russians got hi in there... why didn't we go full steam ahead to dig up the truth..or did we? ugh
I understand all too well how you feel, Cynthia. But don't give up your power. Lena has a great suggestion. so do others, especially Ellie; also Jessica Craven in Chop Wood, Carry Water. You are not alone
In the words of Robert Hubbell, “We have every reason to be hopeful but no reason to be complacent.” I’ll be sending good hopeful vibes your way all day, Cynthia.
Cynthia, well put. I feel the same as you. Growing up I had the misguided notion that the government was looking out for us, all of us. I thought that were safeguards in place to protect us from chaos and evil. Learning now in my 63rd year, that is non existent. I thought it was bad under the last Administration, no, that was child's play compared to now. I had someone ask me the other day if life is better under Biden than Trump. I had to plea the 5th.
I know...but I am a die-hard loyalist, and an ailing optimist... I can't give up on him yet... I think that so many of the problems reveal the prejudice, the greed, and the HUGE egos of so many of these republicans (i.e. Joe M and Krysten C for starters) and the outright evil of the Jim Jordans, Matt G., Kevin Mc, the ultimate blowhard, Kennedy (with. Ron Johnson right behind him) the two moronic teens: Marjorie and Lauren 'Bobo'...oh gawd, I could go on forever...) were there always this many truly extreme evil players in our leadership?
Cynthia, I firmly believe that Biden will do everything possible to right this ship. That it his passion. I fear for what will happen next that he can't stop.
Until recently, I used to think of the Supreme Court as a bulwark against crazy, thoughtfully considering cases and using good judgment and our bank of laws to rule. Not anymore. I respected those placed on the SC. Until Clarence Thomas, a guy with an oversized grudge.
Since it is now 100% clear that corruption has taken over the Supreme Court, how long are we destined for the destruction of true values (not just American) to be modus operandi.
The SCOTUS conservatives' reasoning (or lack of it) is mind boggling. I take some comfort in their childishness, which hopefully can be outsmarted. Indeed our country seems hell-bent on having a contest between unfettered might vs. common sense. It's like second graders with weapons vs. unarmed adults. The Jan 6th insurrection was an example writ large.
they are really in their own world... like a hybrid fraternity/sorority who are only allowed to talk to each other so they can all stick together...(or a select part of the group that is.....grrrr)
So, hospitals accept federal dollars and therefore the federal government, i.e. the administration, can lawfully mandate vaccination, by a 5/4 vote of the supreme court. What about other institutions, particularly public institutions that accept federal dollars? I'll bet that the NY city subway accepted federal dollars at some point in it's construction. How about airports? Not airplanes per-se, but the airports themselves? And bus systems, other forms of transportation? How about those institutions that have borrowed from federal programs? Isn't that a connection to the federal government? In my state, 3 in 10 adults have not been vaccinated. Omicron takes 3 days or more to produce symptoms. We are still in the up-swing on this particular surge in the pandemic. I'm pretty much guaranteed to come within shouting distance of an infected individual in any grocery store, mall, other public place where people congregate. I'm vaccinated and boosted, but also have a pre-existing condition putting me in a high-risk category for complications of a coronavirus infection. I would like to be protected by the law in any place that has accepted federal dollars in construction or operation. If a grocery store sells US stamps, that's enough for me. Any financial institution that invests some of its deposits in federal funds, borrows from the treasury, accepts federal deposit insurance is enough connection for me.
If I can't rely on local, regional, state or federal regulatory protection against a potentially deadly epidemic illness, perhaps I should simply carry a yellow flag and a wear a t-shirt with large letters, saying "if you're not vaccinated, please step away; I am at enhanced risk of your as-yet undiagnosed, asymptomatic COVID infection." Why are governments allowed to set the speed limit on any public street, but aren't allowed to protect me against potentially lethal exposure to potentially infectious people, who haven't taken the only effective steps themselves against the infection? I'm exercising all reasonable precautions to protect others and myself from contracting the virus, not the least of which is simply staying home unless it's absolutely necessary to be out in public, but like most of the country, I'm past "done" with it. Anywhere that vaccination is the ticket for entry, I'll be willing to patronize. Wouldn't it be something if large private companies might put safety before profits and post signs saying "if you're not vaccinated, please shop elsewhere"? What if commercial property owners would post similar requests at the parking garage entrance to their multi-tenant buildings? On the first floor elevator doors? Perhaps we should turn Dr. Suess on his head and become the "Sneeches with (vaccination) Stars"? What will it take to persuade people to do the right thing, if mandates are so deplorable?
Nathan, I agree with and empathize with you. A bit of good news is that students across the nation are protesting the dangers they are being subjected to every time they enter a school building. They are walking out!
That’s right. They have the good sense to know their lives are at risk and are taking action to protect themselves. How devalued they must feel by those who have sabotaged their safety! And yes indeed, bless them!
Has not the Federal Reserve, every night since April of 2020, purchased Corporate bonds in the overnight bond market to "stabilize" (i.e. provide welfare to corporations), the debt markets??
Yes they have. EVERY CORPORATION IN AMERICA has Federal support.
"Why are governments allowed to set the speed limit on any public street".
I don't know if you have noticed but Republicans in giant pickup trucks sucking 8 mpg are blowing through stop signs and racing on the streets all over the USA.
Mostly, they are just crashing their trucks and putting themselves in the hospital but once in a while they blow through a stop sign and waste somebody else.
It is the new badge of being a Republican. Crashing a giant truck.
Nathan, I loved your comment. One of the reasons I did was the following: 'I should simply carry a yellow flag and a wear a t-shirt with large letters, saying "if you're not vaccinated, please step away; I am at enhanced risk of your as-yet undiagnosed, asymptomatic COVID infection." One caveat to your t-shirt is that the message is probably too long to be printed in large letters.
Another reason for loving your comment is that you write the farce of America making it clear that it is real life in America. Naturally, it is worse than farce, it is a tragedy dressed up as farce.
The first part of Nathan's last sentence, 'What will it take to persuade people to do the right thing...?' That's the kicker, perhaps, nothing will.
Thanks for the kind words; In the days that 9 judges deliberated, I wonder if any of them raised the issue that federal influence is deeply entwined in industry/commerce at all levels. Drawing a distinction with health care facilities is really an arbitrary line, not something supported by a strong legal argument, much less by common sense. there's a point at which the grocery store is every bit as pivotal to public health as a hospital; about 3 weeks after the trucks stop running to down-town Manhattan, Chicago, Philadelphia, LA, etc. How many federal subsidies are attached to those corn chips in the nacho's you'll enjoy while staying in to quarantine from your last exposure from the co-worker who thinks he knows better than the CDC?
Nathan, Frustrating, isolating, challenging, infuriating and dangerous as this time is -- cogent comments, such as yours, light the mind and bring a smile.
Nathan, I agree fully. I have put myself back in lockdown again while I wait to be eligible for my booster (for me, it’s a fourth shot) which I will get on Monday. I’m angry that I have to do this. I’m not riding my horses - because there are unvaccinated people riding without masks on at my barn. I had just started back riding after my bout with cancer, and I’m mad about it.
I have been thinking about the increased power that labor is seeing these days. Surely, corporations will see much higher absenteeism with unvaccinated employees, and surely, employees could refuse to work in a workplace that puts them in close contact with unvaccinated coworkers. Wouldn’t the fact that employers can choose to mandate or not, put them at risk of lawsuits for workplace-acquired infection? Although I have no idea how one would prove that.
I gotta say, I’m all on board with being vaccinated but a booster every few months is unsustainable. Plus, I suspect a law of diminishing returns. We need to figure something else out to keep you safe. If people won’t even get one shot, there’s no way they’re going to get one every quarter. But it sure would be a boon for big pharma if they can continue to persuade us it’s the only possible way.
I personally would get vaccinated every damn week if I needed to. Unfortunately, the other tools we have to get out of the pandemic have been neutralized. We know that masks work. But we can’t mandate them, either.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I thought we’d see a series of rolling two-three week lockdowns, triggered by positivity rates and hospital capacity. But we aren’t capable of doing that either. What else is there, besides vaccination? I can only do my part by trying as hard as I can to stay out of the hospital. Luckily, I like my husband’s company 🤣
I don’t know what there is besides vaccination but I also know that the people who could figure it out aren’t really incentivized to try. Also, please understand I agree that vaccination is one of the most important tools in the toolbox. It’s just that if it’s our only tool, we won’t get the job done. Masks and the new meds are other tools but I just wonder if there are others we’re not even imagining now.
Beth, I disagree. The people who could figure it out are being hounded out of their jobs (witness Dr. Amy Acton in Ohio) or vilified in the Senate and the right wing media. We know how to do this, we just can’t do it. The economy takes precedence over public health.
That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about pharmaceutical companies who have no incentive to continue to investigate options. They found ONE (imperfect) solution and have zero interest in supporting intellectual curiosity about other options. That we know of. But I have little faith in the corporate structure. I understand they’ve been developing the pills but that’s not preventative. That’s responsive. A defense not an offense. Re: watching things on YouTube, I’m a nope. Especially in relation to politics or healthcare. For the record and in case it hasn’t been clear, my POV is that economics and corporate manipulation are what we should be keeping an eye on as it relates to the fate of this country. Thank you, Kathy. I’ve appreciated your responses. But this has now taken too much of my time so I’ll sign off. Wishing you continued good health.
"Meanwhile, Biden is deploying another 1000 military personnel to hospitals, which are overwhelmed with unvaccinated coronavirus patients."
It goes beyond comprehension that six individuals have the power to make decisions on such a massive life and death issue: first, they have no medical expertise, and second, two of them were forced onto the court willy-nilly by a non-president and his vindictive lackeys -- plus, both lied under oath. It is time for the judicial branch of government to look deep within and assess its oaths of office. The justices are not elected by the people, and yet, they are supposed to come to their positions with higher standards, unique knowledge, and a more elevated code of justice, integrity and conscience. Where are those standards? Where is that knowledge? And, the Force help us, but where are the signs of their elevated code of justice, integrity and conscience?
Now, one thousand military lives are put in jeopardy to assist in the fight of a lifetime -- a medical battle that has killed almost one million US citizens. In my eyes, this quasi-illigitimate, right-wing Supreme Court of the US has lost face, basic gravitas, and honor over the past two years!
Rowshan, thank you for your comment. You bring up the very good point that the quality of expertise and integrity on the Supreme Court Bench is lacking in some of the members. The most expeditious solution: Term Limits. That way we can make sure that our judiciary AND elected officials remain relevant and fluid and that each person's vote actually counts for something. Those whose term expires would still able to act in an advisory capacity but we wouldn't be stuck with lifetime appointees and the likes of bad actors like McConnell. Those who are dedicated civil servants could use their expertise in other roles. We have seen the results of an entrenched 2 party system with no term limits, it doesn't work. If our system functioned the way it was imagined we would not be in the mess we find ourselves today – issues that have dogged us for centuries would have been resolved. It boils down to this, people will resist the notion of term limits for federal office holders with the excuse that we've never done it that way before. Isn't it time we look at what our open ended term structure hath wrought, in real terms? And aren't we grateful that the office of president has term limits?
It won't, if you-know-who gets himself back in. He talked about this throughout his four years of rallies, which is how he spent his time when not on the golf course or in a presidential aircraft.
Hi Daria. I like your comment, even though I have never liked the idea of term limits for elected officials for the simple reason that I want to be able to vote for the best would-be representative, senator, president, mayor, dog-catcher, whatever, best able -- in my opinion -- to do a good job of governing. regardless of age or tenure or anything else. I believe that being able to win an election is no guarantee of either competence or righteousness, and experience should not be wasted. But I agree with you that term limits for SCOTUS justices is a good idea, and not just because our current Court is loaded with bible-hugging miscreants.
Right now the predominant SCOTUS mind-set is that they must not interpret the Constitution but simply apply it as they believe it was intended by the Founders to be applied, end of discussion, even though historians have dedicated lifetimes to understanding the real intentions of the founders without ever reaching some final verdict beyond dispute. Also, the fact that there is an amendment procedure written into the Constitution suggests flexibility, even mutability, as part of the Founders' original intent, so it follows that they knew no constitution could be perfect or that any decision of the Court could be more than temporarily definitive. They knew the world would become a different place sooner or later, and that the Court would need to keep pace.
So, it's better to have some orderly turnover to keep justices well tuned-in to America's present circumstances, and I suggest the following: Rolling ten-year terms, one justice enters, another retires each year. Also, to cast the tie-breaking vote as necessary, all living retired justices could vote on the tie-breaking vote in the case of a 5-5 deadlock. This would permit the Court to be "of" its moment in history, but it would be left to no single justice to cast the deciding vote, only the group of wise old former justices.
Just an idea that jumped into my head a couple of minutes ago.
David, I love your ideas for SCOTUS. You should start submitting them far and wide - put them out there to see if you can seed some change. Plus, I see you have sneaked another justice in there! I do think term limits for representatives is not a bad idea however - I understand your position, but feel like there is enough advantage to fresh ideas, fresher ideals and less time for normalization of small moral rule bending to build up along with enough other talent waiting for opportunity to make the small loss of a few years' experience to be worth it. Perhaps a term limit beyond which a few years off were required before return would be a compromise?
Sure, Yehawes, that's a compromise I could accept, but stricter laws regarding corruption and campaign finance, coupled with a Constitutional distinction between corporate and personal free speech would make me happier.
I would have liked Biden to have appointed a committee on the second day in office to take the past administration's actions day by day and examine them, identify all the places governmental actions on all levels are bound only by honor or precedence and not by legal restriction, and write up laws to be handed back to Congress to consider passing, that would close those windows on corruption. (On the first day he'd have appointed one to work on ways to pass voter protection laws).
IMHO, SCOTUS was bought by the Federalist Society to do it's bidding to accomplish Court Capture by allowing Citizens United to go forth and to accomplish it's goal to destroy the government from within.
When I think of RBG's dogged struggle to stay alive, just to stay alive, to stave this off - and she had barely breathed her last when her smug little replacement stood simpering at a superspreader event in the mutilated Rose Garden. The fat orange fraud and his wife stood nervously beside the coffin until the chant of VOTE HIM OUT became too loud and unmistakeable, and he turned tail and slunk away. Or, stole away, since there's so much talk of stealing. The will of the people? The people's will wasn't what got him "elected" in the first place. It was unequivocally expressed in November 2020, and it's got nothing to do with what's happening now. Weimar 1933.
Anne, I do think RBG allowed her ego to get just a bit in the way of doing what I would have done: Resign under Obama and go, finally, spend some time with her kids.
But, she just could not do it nor is it required (but, those guys should NOT be allowed to sleep on the bench until they are dead, which, is what RBG actually did).
As much as I admired RBG, I have to agree. The venerable RBG was an elderly cancer survivor a few times over. While she worked relentlessly to stay in shape and stay sharp, she expired under the worst possible President. We do need term limits for the Supremes. The same goes for Senators. Chuck Grassley and Diane Feinstein come immediately to mind.
But, Mike, Mitch the Merciless would NOT have allowed Obama to appoint a justice. As he clearly demonstrated. For all we know, RBG was pressured to hang on, hang in.
Cynthia, My understanding is that in 1789 when the high court was first seated there were 5 justices plus 1 Chief Justice, each of whom presided over 1 of the 6 federal circuit courts. Today, because there are 13 federal circuit courts and only 9 Supremes, the high court accepts fewer cases. I would imagine, invoking precedent, that one convincingly could argue both to expand the high court to 13 and also to add judges to the lower courts. I would note that at some point there were 10 Supremes, though I don’t find that point particularly relevant. I also would add that the person who comes to mind, who is truly knowledgeable in this area, is Robert Reich, who served as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration and currently teaches at Stanford University. I believe he quite recently launched a project to test the constitutionality of the filibuster.
Yesterday, I spent several hours at a local school vaccinating students, parents, and staff against COVID-19. The cost to the school district? $0.00. The cost to the state government? $0.00, as the federal government has picked up the tab. The school nurse told me that earlier that fall, fully 1/3 of the teachers and staff had been out at some point with COVID-19 or had to quarantine because someone in their household was COVID-19 positive. Those costs must have run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. I do not believe the costs to US businesses to vaccinate employees is greater than having large portions of their workforce out sick/quarantining for extended periods.
As for the non-delegation doctrine, it sounds like something straight out of a symposium on dysfunctional relationships. Have you ever worked with/for someone who refused/did not know how to delegate? What ensues is not pretty. Neither the judicial nor the legislative branches of government can enforce laws and regulations. That is the executive branch's function. The irony here is that the legislative branch used the judicial branch to thwart enforcement of a public health measure by the executive branch. Sounds a lot like de facto delegation to me. This cynical thwarting of public health measures in the guise of states rights is cart-before-the-horse wrong headed, BAD for the economy, and deadly.
You are a hero among heroes giving these vaccines and I thank you for that. You are right about “de facto delegation”. We, The People, must come out in droves, to fight this authoritarian takeover. We must not be powerless but be powerful. We cannot think there is nothing that we cannot do because we can! We can continuously get the word out about voting and justice. We will demand that our representatives actually represent the people who elected them. We just have to!
Sadly, the purpose of the non-delegation rule is to eliminate most regulations, not philosophical purity. Modern life has become so complex that there is no practical way Congress could ever formulate necessary regulation, and this Congress, which cannot agree on the color of the sky, could ever come up with a single rule. Rescinding FDR’s New Deal has been a goal of the Republicans since he was in office.
Steve, you have described a very important principle of autocratic/authoritarian strategies and practices - 'non-delegation' - by illustrating how one branch of government can lesson and or strip another of delegating power -- disrupting the chain of decision making. It is a strategy to consolidate power into the hands of a small group. At its core 'non-delegation' vastly limits the rights and voices of citizens to have a role government. The work of the state legislatures to limit access to voting and nullify the results by placing partisan politicians in positions to change voting results is a brother of non-delegation in the consolidation of power to the few. As it spreads so does the country lose self-government as its founding principle.
Fern--I answered your post to me personally but got it bounced back. Perhaps the thread is too long or too old, so I hunted you down. Thanks for the link--excellent and appreciated.
I spent the day yesterday pulling years of photos from my own books and one I inherited from my Dad. I have taken many photos over the years, but my brother was 12 years older than me. I found some of his childhood pictures in the book from my Dad. Then helped my niece and nephew with the arrangements, but much had already been done. His wife passed a bit over 4 years ago and he had already lost much of his memory. When he and the kids made her arrangements, he went ahead and made many of his at the same time.
So next Friday we will have the wake, who knows how it will go in the time of COVID. He was a police officer, a member of a Pipe and Drum Corp, well known and loved in his community. In normal times, the place would be packed. Now, I have no idea.
I'm actually pretty okay--as the song went, take a sad song and make it better. There was no hope for a cure in his lifetime, but he lived a good life. The celebration of his life really will be turning a sad song into a "better" one.
While I so appreciate this letter and forum, depending upon my mood, sometimes the comments weigh me down so much as I think I'm unable to become an expat. I'm too close to my kids and family. And what might happen truly terrifies me. For that reason, I only skimmed the letter today and until now, avoided the comment section.
Miselle, It was precious to read every word you wrote. I hope that you and the family can spend time together, particularly, in the next month or two. Do what works for you. I go through periods when I don't want to even see the forum. Nutrition is important from food, sleep, good company and, yes, music. You are under no obligation to LFAA or to read a newspaper. It was good to hear of you brother and that he was loved by the community. You are close to your children and family -- that is wonderful. I wish that I was a DJ. It would be fun to link all kinds of music to you. Maybe you'd find some music that gives you a different lift. Let's stay in touch Miselle. My new signoff, 'That's what friends are for!'
Good morning, Fern. That was a good choice, it is a favorite song of mine--and while it was playing, I was thinking that what I will remember as my "final" memory of my brother is me putting up his 3' Christmas tree and singing goofy holiday songs and making him laugh. His last full sentence to me "you're really doing lot!" (That was big for him) As you know, people with dementia often respond well to music.
Early in November, my dear nephew had the thought to get some of my brother's former Pipe and Drum corps to come to his facility to play. (My nephew used to be in it too, he dropped out when his job/small children/move to IN made it too difficult) He got about a dozen to show up and the reaction of my brother was priceless. He was mesmerized. It was so poignant to see. It was worth the effort to get my brother in his wheelchair and down to the lobby, he was so weak and bloated that it took my nephew, my husband and niece to help/lift him while I maneuvered the chair under him.
I have read Heather's letter today but didn't feel like commenting at all. Sometimes this wait on justice, pandemic, legislation changes, etc seems like the pregnancy that never ends---and I fear that "Rosemary's Baby" could be the end result.
A good MLK day to you. One of my HS teacher daughters came home to spend the weekend, and while not an academic, my husband is employed by a university and also has a holiday. A good day to get some larger home cleaning projects done that are almost pleasant when done as a team.
I would say that Gorsuch, who endangered Justice Sotomayor's life by refusing to wear a mask while in court the other day, has abandoned the moral, ethical side of the argument and is purely a tool of the radical right.
I also read in Greg Olear's substack post that the execrable governor of Florida disappeared from public view, including social media, for quite a long time--and that no one has raised a peep about it. Apparently, when he did resurface he looked terrible and could barely speak from all the coughing he was doing. Hmmm. Maybe Karma is going to work. It would be nice to see him experience the stuff he is putting his state through quite directly. And long covid, like the lifetime after-effects of chemo, is unpleasant.
He disappeared for at least two weeks and tried to mislead the public with photos on Twitter. In his first presser upon return, which is available to watch for yourself, he was breathless. Reminded me of TFG at the top of the staircase after being released from the hospital. DeSantis also refuses to disclose his booster status. There is escalating tension between DeSantis and TFG. Not sure how that plays out if TFG is indicted (🙏).
DeSantis’ wouldn’t know if he had Covid because.. "Now think about it," DeSantis said on Friday. "Before COVID did anyone go out and seek testing to determine if they were sick? It's usually you feel like you're sick and you get tested to determine what you maybe have come down with.". 😂
I don't understand that kind of thinking, but I know there is a lot of it going around at Fox and in the Republican party. Sadly, although we have a vaccine called critical thinking, just like the vaccine we can't mandate it. If only Biden had mandated vaccines under some emergency war power he must have... administering TB tests or the polio and smallpox vaccine etc, how did that happen? Politics was not used to divide people over a national health crisis! These people and the anti-vaxer stupidity disgusts me. Remember how the millennials thought it was so cool to say "Thanks Obama?" Well everytime someone dies from Covid we should say "Thanks Trump." He wants credit for the vaccine. He made no plans to distribute it. He refused to assist the Biden administration in preparing the transition of power. And he put three functional lunatics on the supreme court ..each one worse than their immediate predecessor. "Thanks Trump."
I wonder how his wife discovered her breast cancer. Did she discover it in a routine mammogram, or did she feel like she was sick and go get tested? I also wonder how she feels about likely being so cavalierly exposed to Covid while in cancer treatment.
Routine mammogram. And her husband was telling people there's no need to be tested. Used words to the effect: Who gets tested without symptoms? Meanwhile, wife, Casey, is urging everyone to get a mammogram because you might have cancer! Who knows how she feels about the whole thing?
His first reappearance was at an evangelical holiday party. Both of them were on stage without masks. Crowded venue. Nuts!
Ahh, the male-centric ego. Females generally get to start annual exams for cervical cancer in their teens, then mammograms in their 40s. And then there’s elders’ exams. Isn’t he getting old enough for colonoscopies and prostate exams? He’s definitely passed the test for stupid and unfortunately there’s no cure.
The final press story was that he was out to be with his wife for her cancer treatment.
Yeah, let that sink in. Why would you risk your spouses life with Covid? She attended every event with him, just as maskless as he was. They risked their children losing a mother for political points.
Thanks for adding a new adjective to my vocabulary: execrable. An appropriate descriptor the current crop of GOP leadership, and sounds more sophisticated than the four letter words usually use. From the same Latin root as excretion, perhaps?
I had seen one explanation, that his wife has cancer and he was with her while she was going through her treatments..why that would be so secret totally eludes me!?
Having gone through cancer treatment myself, this makes zero sense. The treatments just don’t last that long. Chemo days are long to be sure, but they’re once a week at most, often every other week or every three weeks, and in Covid times, the patient goes alone. I wasn’t allowed to bring a companion. Radiation treatments are even shorter - I was in the hospital less than an hour for those. I call BS.
Casey was diagnosed in October so why wait until December to go with her? Plus, his press secretary (who is blocking people on Twitter) gave no less than 5 different answers to the Florida Cabinet and the Public.
I am no longer surprised by the decisions made by the right wing of the USSC. For over 20 years I taught courses about Constitutional Law at a Community College. That was not my field of study for my. Ph.D. In History but as my father - a University Professor loved to say - college is where you go to learn how to learn. That plus a summer fellowship in Constitutional Law taught by a well known and well regarded professor of Constitutional Law at a major university. I write this only to note that I thought I had a first class education in Constitutional Law. Increasingly I feel that I have moved to another universe where legal reasoning has been replaced with an ideology based upon personal prejudice and bull shit. Throughout American History (and for that matter - the history of the modern world )those out for personal gain and hatred of those unlike themselves - males of females, whites of persons of color, landowners of those without land, educated of uneducated, tall people of short people - take your pick - you are not like me, I have more than you etc - have worked to hoard what they have and take away from those who have less. Having this play out in the world of modern communications is new and we have yet to stop the spread of lies, disinformation, prejudice etc. Watching the USSC majority destroy its reputation is beyond depressing. “It is a republic if you can keep it” - true and apparently the majority of the USSC is hell bent to destroy it. I have a hard time not wishing ill health and the demise of those unvaccinated. Our form of government is being destroyed by the majority in power in our government. I am old and am unlikely to see it crumble but my children and grandchildren will have to live with the result of the stupid thoughtless greedy of the majority of those on the USSC, in Congress, and in most states. That makes me as mad as hell - to the point that I am writing this incoherent note.
Actually it's the SCOTUS that is incoherent. They skirt around all the causes of our discontent by using legal-speak as if they could convince us of their smarts. They remind me of freshman term paper writers.
They totally baffle me! Ever since BK was ‘installed’, I almost was finished with them. Then came ACB and I felt sick! I literally prayed that she would be independent and fair, but so much came out about her history and I was dumbfounded!
Funny story… during the hearings of Anita Hill/CT, I was ‘hiding away’ in Acadia National Park. I had blown the whistle on my boss, and it became a huge deal, (he was a very senior guy at a major network) and the powers above him to whom I had ‘whistled’ to, suggested I literally get out of town. It was all about to come down and they thought it would be better if I wasn’t there! So as I hiked through the woods and mountains, I listened to the proceedings on my Walkman and it was quite unnerving. When I returned, ‘he’ was gone, and the new ‘boss’ never said a word to me and within a year my career was totally derailed . The story has more to it but that should suffice!
OH I am sorry for your mistreatment. But yes, it is all part of a corrupt and diseased patriarchy (with some women contributing such as ACB) which has become so vindictive. I remember Anita HIll's testimony and I saluted her courage. How many individual losses such as yours, losses of our children by school shootings, losses by POC, will happen before the slow moving arc of justice really gets rolling?
It’s so disturbing. And I am ashamed of how little I really knew about so much of our history. Thank God for Dr. R…. I have been following her from the beginning, with only a few misses. She’s inspired me to read and study and read until I have almost isolated myself (well, actually I was already isolated!!) I’ve read so many books about Pictures C, the indigenous people, about the Presidents and the so many others. And still there’s so much more to learn. I was always an activist, but now I think back and realize that I was just looking at the tip of the iceberg.
The book I’m reading now I want to recommend to everyone here at Heather’s Cafe… ‘How the Word is Passed’ by Clint Smith. I again stunned by my limited knowledge. But I’m going to keep going!
Exactly! I totally understand everything you said… so I guess I am incoherent as well! But when I evaluate what’s going on… I think it’s better to be incoherent. It’s all too depressing to deal with…
Fusspot I took a course on constitutional law at MIT and taught the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution for over 20 years at a community college. My students were astonished to be exposed to checks and balances as regards the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. Evidently they were exposed to none of this in civics or high school history. If one doesn’t learn this as a student, it’s unlikely that it will be learned, much less appreciate later on. I, like some of my judge friends, carry a copy of the Constitution in my pocket. It’s brief and concise. I also reread MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA every few years to remind me of the massive compromises that resulted in the greatest living constitution in the world.
The depths to which the majority of the current Supreme Court has now fallen in representing a perspective that is contrary to the best interests of the public-- or indeed, to the good faith and good will of our Country-- is distressing, and to the lowest point in my lifetime. Two of the new right-wing majority justices are serving under questionable circumstances. Clarence Thomas-- with a shockingly poor record of performance over his thirty years as a justice-- has a wife (Ginni Thomas) who cheered-on the January 6 Insurrectionists in social media and also was among a network of Trump loyalists who provided constant input to him regarding lists of government officials who were not sufficiently supportive, and should be replaced by him. Brett Kavanaugh benefitted from a "fake" background investigation by the FBI intended to ignore several complaints of his sexual and other misconduct, in order that his appointment to the Supreme Court could be confirmed. Consideration should be made as to whether these justices are qualified to continue to serve in this capacity.
This court is truly awful. At least four of them should not be there. I am 78 and never thought I would live to see what is happening now. It is comforting to know that there are plenty of people who feel the same. This is why I always start my morning with Heather and all the posters here.
Is there another governmental system that can have 80 years of its operations overthrown by six unelected idiots who actually know nothing about what they're deciding?
TC, Accepting HCR’s premise that “[t]he Supreme Court is working with today’s Republicans to dismantle [the]…modern system…”, governing structures, one might say, that date back to the 1930s, wherein lawmakers enlisted “the federal government to combat unfair state laws,” I would imagine the “six unelected idiots,” to whom you refer, are quite aware, damn the consequences, of how they are using their powers.
Kavanaugh, Thomas, Alito....i'm not sure the first has the intelectual capacity or the un-enebriated interest in the results of his work. The other two seem to be ideological fanatics...throwbacks from prehistoric societies
Yes, I agree with your statement identifying Neanderthals. Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett aren’t even qualified to be there, no surprise considering the guy who nominated them.
But let's remember that the Federalist Society is the organization that put forth the nominations and takes dark money so thereby allowing Court Capture to accomplish their goal of saying that corporations are people. Once that was done, they've been calling the shots since 2010.
The Federalist Society like the NRA has played an outsized roll in our government. It’s troubling how little we know of their inner workings. Fortunately the NRA is distracted by a self inflicted wound at the moment.
Remember that the guy who nominated them was elected in 2016 by the rules as prescribed in our Constitution. Those rules need to be changed and that will only happen if, over the next few decades, candidates who recognize that need are elected at the State and national level.
TC, I think they DO know what they’re deciding and that’s why the Federalist Society has picked them. They don’t need to be experts on medicine because that doesn’t matter here.
Currently in France, and for the past few years, the elected President, Macron, is ruling by decree whether because of the terrorists or covid....powers granted by his own supermajority who consider themselves part of the Executive rather than the body that is supposed to control the Executive. He is brooking no opposition to his view of how things should be and he's getting a taste for the "chinese citizen's social credit" system it would seem.
De Gaulle, who was so right about a lot of things, once said that a country that produces 365 different types of cheese is ungovernable. Poor Macron! A friend of mine wrote, "Whether you like him or not, il faut dire qu'il n'a pas eu de chance!" And he certainly hasn't had much luck. Mélenchon made sure of that very quickly.
Off topic, sorry, but a favourite subject of mine.
SCOTUS is the former guy's primary legacy. It looks like a good reason to advocate for judiciary term limits at all levels. SCOTUS now resembles a cabal
Banks accept federal funds. So do the airlines. So does any corporation that uses tax incentives and loopholes to claw back cash from the federal government. Perhaps all of these businesses should be
treated the same as healthcare.
Also, I think it’s time to start saying that what the GOP is rapidly moving us toward is a switch from the United States to the Associated States. Or an American Union that mirrors the EU. Where each state becomes its own country. I think it’s time for historians, political scientists and economists to tell us what that will look like. Maybe even state by state. So Americans can know whether that’s a system they’d really like in practice rather than just in theory. In particular, residents in poorer states should know that if we become the American Union, they have to come up with all their own revenue for things like education, infrastructure, etc. They don’t get federal tax dollars as a member of the American Union.
I have been having this same thought recently. If the Supreme Court should continue stating that a state’s rights should supersede the rights and laws set forth by the federal government, then what is it that unites us? We can no longer be called the “United” States of America. I shudder to think what that would look like.
Well, I think it’s possible it would look like a group of states working collectively on the East coast and a group working collectively on the west coast. I think the middle would look a lot like Russia and I think it’s probable that purple states would be positioned similarly to the Ukraine.
A few years ago, one of the Australian universities made a last-minute amendment to the text of the annual handbook. It was decided to scrap "units" and call them "subjects", as in previous times. Search-and-replace did the job in the twinkling of an eye, and anyone who's ever been caught by search-and-replace will know what happened, and why students were seen in giggling groups, poring over the booklet. "Unit" became "subject" wherever it occurred, as in the "Subjected States of America". It was very funny at the time.
The problem with that description is the fact that many divisions are within the States themselves. The urban areas with the bulk of the population hold progressive ideas and the rural areas with a minority of citizens hold a conservative ideas. My State is gerrymandered to give ruling power to the minority no matter how often the majority votes to change that.
Sure but the whole question around voting rights is about the power of the state legislature. So, in this case, those who hold the power in the state dictate the direction of said state. Much like what happens at the federal level now. But in microcosm. And also, with only the revenue generated by each state to run itself (please see McConnell’s repeated attempts to bankrupt left leaning states for further support of my suggestion). States that rely heavily on federal subsidies provided partly from the taxes collected from wealthier states will have to either find ways to replace those subsidies or will cut services.
I'd rather see them work a week of shifts at a meat plant, shoulder to shoulder with their sick compatriots, who don't have sick time and will get fired if they call out.
Selfish bullies vs unselfish, dedicated workers. Ivermectin is heartworm medicine for animals. The fools are deworming themselves and then coming to the hospital when it doesn’t work. Defeatedi idjt ex45 and his family fully,secretly vaccinated. How much more dumbed down can we get??
And the irony is that many hospitals are part of a conglomerate umbrella, so therefore under SCOTUS rules, they should NOT be allowed to mandate vaccinations, right?
Healthcare entities are generally held as a separate corporation to insulate the parent corporation from liability which may arise from injuries to patients (and other reasons). Therefore, any legal entity providing health care services accepting federal dollars will be required to have their workforce vaccinated. Note: There has been a growing trend among physicians to eschew federal dollars and provide care under a "concierge" model, which in practice works like a membership fee.
I understand that Mike and I am grateful. However, by not allowing it to stand for all other businesses undoubtedly will perpetuate and increase the number of critically ill unvaccinated patients in our already overwhelmed hospitals.
Ah, the specious, usually-disingenuous, states' rights and preferred-level-of-authority argument. I love the largely-unexamined belief by most of these jamokes that a state is somehow the magically-imbued, perfectly-sized entity for each and every decision (probably, declared by God directly to Robert E. Lee). As Heather alluded to, it's largely because of repeated and utter failures by states that the federal government was created/assumed its powers--and it's clear as day this hasn't changed. Or, as James Carville once said nearly 30 years ago, "Anyone thinking the states are models of efficiency has never seen the Louisiana State Legislature in action." To a small town, THE STATE is the "tyrannical" power. Here's another one: even with all this "communist tyranny," the U.S. STILL devolves A LOT to its states. I live in Europe--trust me when I tell you, I don't know of a region, district, judetul, prefecture--hell, even Catalonia or Scotland--that has the levels of authority in so many things that our states still do (I can't comprehensively say it's that way--but my observations and anecdotal sampling says it's not even close). I repeatedly hear Europeans who've spent time in the states BEFUDDLED at how many laws, requirements and other standards are at state-level. I've had some ask me if were are 50 semi-autonomous countries.
This disingenuous diatribe about federal tyranny in an era with impossibly complex systems that no single human or even organization fully understands, in a country of 350 million people is unforgivably stupid. And it's disingenuous because, as we've seen, when Republicans control the government...it still grows. Funny how that works (to this point, when I was in the military--full of conservative-voting, small government-espousing people, esp. officers BTW--I never saw one leader who passed up the chance to create a new organization/unit (needed or not) or didn't fight to keep one slated for inactivation alive because it was "crucial and essential." Every. Single. Time.)
It's a disingenuous power grab driven by fear. That's all it ever was 160 years ago and all it's ever been since. They are trying to destroy our country, and we'd better do everything in our power to stop them, peacefully, or eventually that will not be possible either. I'm not kidding or exaggerating.
Robert, I wish I thought the Convervative majority was operating based on some kind of theory of states rights.
However, on this point, I think Dr. Richardson's analysis is based on her historical understandings.
Personally, I think that the Conservative majority is just bought and paid for by corporations and the ruling was simply passed to them, followed by deposits in all of their major Swiss Bank accounts.
No lie. The ruling to oveturn vaccines for corporations was just an outcome of corruption and greed. Each conservative made a few more million dollars is all.
Mike S. Are you familiar with the investigating that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has been doing regarding the Courts? If not, go to You Tube and type in his name and "The Scheme" So far, it's an 11 part discussion regarding Court Capture. Well done and a deep dive into how dark money and the Federalist Society has done just that.
Barbara, I have not seen that but will do. Actually, I just remember that NY Times reported that a $200,000 baseball ticket loan was paid off right before he was nominated. (Kavanaugh acquired loans to go to every baseball game).
The FBI was made aware of the debt but I don't think they investigated.
Right there we see somebody is paying his way other than himself.
As evidenced by Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, state governments will strip local governments and businesses of local power to exert their will. Several Florida cities enacted mask mandates. DeSantis, by executive order, outlawed them. When the vaccine mandates for federal workers issued, DeSantis called the Legislature into special session to outlaw vaccine mandates, even extending unemployment benefits to those who quit their jobs. This is rich since Florida curtailed federal unemployment benefits 3 months early. Even today, federal employees continue to work maskless in Post Office buildings in Florida with no apparent consequence. It may well not be that way in predominantly Blue areas of the State, but it is accurate for predominantly Red areas.
NH became a Red state in the last election-it isn't a trifecta, it's a quadrafecta -we have the Executive Council as well as the other 3 branches. It's a group to advise the governor and OK/ Refuse things like contracts that affect the state- ALL went Republican and NOT to the benefit of constituents. They're passing atrocious bills that hurt people, like FL ha been doing.
Ugh... FL is definitely Red now. And, to be on the Board of Governors for its flagship university, the University of FL, aspiring members must donate $100k to even be considered! Replicate that paradigm with all other Gov-appointed Commisions/Boards, and business leaders under assault if they are not Republican, is it any wonder Non-Party Affiliates (NPAs) have dramatically increased? The GOP has also been culling voter rolls. I've twice had to fight to get my name back on the roll and have some concern that my move to Ecudaor will again make this an issue despite visiting the SOE office in lesson before I moved. It is exhausting.
Jamokes just got adopted into my lexicon. I’m a lady who drives her “jalopy” like a bat out of hell from and to everywhere! “Get outta my jalopy’s way, you Jamokes! I got business to do for my country!”
Interjecting humor into a situation where antacids, Maddow and HCR’s letters are the only reasons I’m not quivering with fear.
Oh - and yes. It’s the Professor’s letters…Youbetcha…but reading the responses from fellow like-hearted Americans also tip my happy scale to positve/sane.
So - Thank you, Professor. And a big thanks to respondents who add to the meal at which we share.
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! My prayers go out to those Americans tethered to their unvaccinated coworkers while they try to stay safe from a disease that knows no politics.
Morning Lynell. Unfortunately, covid vaccines can not be the unique answer. The European Health Authoriy (EU version of CDC) has just issued a warning about the possible dangers to the immune system of repeated ARM-based jabs (see Bloomberg article below); repetition required by the short life-span (3-4 months) of effective protection given by current ARM technology for those seriously at risk with comorbidity problems. Spain has just rejected the "booster" policy and has decided to accept that the virus Omicron, being less dangerous if more infectious, represents a future in which the virus is endemic and nolonger pandemic. Other European governments are following as the "Omicron fire storm" is proving intense but short lived with hospital problems more created by staff quarantining themselves causing bed closures than from patient overload. The most furious battle now is for governments trying to get their hands on sufficient Merck or Pfizer anti-virals. The people aren't waiting and doctors are starting to prescribe existing treatment combinations which governments have until now shunned.
Unfortunately, we now also have to accept that the ARM vaccines do not significantly reduce the infectiousness of the individual. Vaccinated workers or family members can be almost as much at risk or risky for others than the unvaccinated. See The Scientific American and Lancet references.
Omicron has changed the game in sanitary and political terms; It is not "Delta". The Covid virus is pursuing the normal course of viral mutation and "tending towards" a virus with which we can and must live.
the major part of your comment is correct, especially the insistence that it is high time to treat it as an endemic, but the part about the dangers to the immune system inherent in the ARM-based vaccine is simply wrong and not proven. Also, I live in Spain, and there is no such thing like an withdrawal from booster schedules: boosters are given in millions on a province-established schedule to all citizen above 60. I'm a retired 75-year old physician myself, and feel healthy like a rock due to my great life-proven immune system, who has already received four vaccines, three of which are mRNA-based. Btw, I don't know where did you dig out the notion of ARM from, I don't understand what this acronym stands for. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA-based.
Try reading my Bloomberg reference and do follow on research with the European Medical Authority...the one Okaying the jabs in the first place. The WHO is also saying that the ARM technology can not be the only response to the endemic virus. The news of Spain is what is being covered by the public media here in France....try this Bloomberg peice too
I'm reading the Spanish news first-hand, and the suggestion to treating covid as endemic does not imply not giving boosters or changing the timing of booster jabs. I figured out that the ARM acronym comes from French, it would be Acide Ribonucléic Messager, but it is still not mentioned anywhere as a specific harmful agent to the immune system.
Forgive me if i may sound anal on the precise interpretations, but I do believe that precision and exactitude is paramount to pull ourselves out of the mess created by the media about this pandemic. We, the people, should care about our thorough understanding and vulgarizing biomedical data.
Morning, Stuart! Thank you for this explanation and links. The news I have seen/heard here did not mention anything about "arm-based jabs." Funny, when they came out with the booster, I was not too thrilled with the idea of yet another vaccine "jab" in such a short amount of time. Being retired, I have the luxury of not having to deal with too much in the way of human contact, but do empathize with those who have no choice but to intermingle with their fellow humans. Hurry the day when it's declared an endemic, says this fully vaccinated/boostered anti-vaxer!
The Novavax covid vaccine is a real "traditional" flu-like vaccine as will be the forthcoming Valneva and Sanofi/GSK vaccines (all aiming for february rollouts. The Pfizer/Modena/Astrazeneca jabs are effectively "gene therapy". We enjoy our own company a lot at home too and have no great need to go into Paris much usually. However, I'm braving the elements a bit this year as I've gone back to University to obtain a post-graduate diploma in Mediation from the University of Paris-Panthéon/Assas; the countries premier law school. Hope to be practicing here and in the village next year. In-presence classes and public transport though are somewhat tiresome in current circumstances although the group and profs are very stimulating.
Stuart, I’ve read similar articles, but, recently virologists are disputing this theory. They say viral mutations are chaotic by nature and we can’t assume Covid will become less deadly over time. It also appears that immunity, natural or vaccine induced, fades over time.
When the scientists are fighting we definitely should head for the woods. The current variant Omicron would, unless its an outrider, would tend to confirm my point.
we must expand the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is comprised of 6 Federalist Society Judges and 3 liberal judges, the 6 judges were hand picked by the Federalist society whose goal is to fundamentally change America into a white anglo-saxon fundamentalist Christian society with a patriarchy comprised of the wealthy white males , a severely deconstructed Federal Government with States rights being supreme. The conservative justices argue that States rights are more democratic while at the same time supporting voter suppression, extreme gerrymandering and election subversion, thus ensuring that only the elite white conservative minority can vote. Scotus has codified corruption in our political system with their Citizen's United decision and have guaranteed that women have no agency over their bodies. Conservative Judges around the country have repeatedly been extremely lenient with white male rapists indicating that this is not a real crime, while black male rapist are held to a different standard. I am not supporting black rapists but I am appalled at how many young white rapists are not held accountable by conservative, white, older judges.
It isn't just rapists. It is everything from shoplifting to homicide. And look at the justification for "stand your ground" laws protecting white men's' stuff and the disproportionate punishment for a woman who "stands her ground" against an abusive and dangerous male partner.
The Supreme Court has lost all legitimacy. They're now controlled by sadists who care not one bit about the little people. They have come down on the side of monied interests. The attack on OSHA is a step in the dismantling of protections of workers and agencies meant to help ordinary people. What's next? Child labor laws? Public education? It's time for revolt.
...and here in NH as well-the Republican majority legislature has deemed that taking public education money (that is mostly funded by property taxes)and giving it to private/religious schools and home schoolers is OK and then cut Public Ed money even more, totally ignoring the overwhelming opposition to the school voucher program. The Education "Freedom" Accounts (vouchers) (" " my emphasis as sarcasm) have already gone 5000 % over budget in less than 6 months and will increase property taxes, especially in poor towns. That majority has also decided that teachers cannot discuss issues like racism in elementary/high schools, basically allowing censorship.
Similar experience in FL. In 1986, Florida voters authorized a lottery through a constitutional amendment, enacted by a two-to-one margin that would use its proceeds to enhance public education in Florida. Instead, public education lost what it used to get in the overall budget. The Charter schools and faith-based schools are permitted to operate outside the requirements imposed on public schools, which are increasingly attended by poorer and minority students. DeSantis has led the GOP-controlled legislature to outlaw teaching CRT (which was taught only at law school) and last week proposed the teachers be required to wear microphones so parents could monitor what they say! And this guy wants to be president!!
For over 30 years, I have been traveling the world delivering intercultural negotiation, conflict resolution programs and have often found myself in war zones. It always seems that authoritarianism, strong man rule requires chaos to either take or remain in control. This pandemic seems the perfect opportunity for those interested in killing our democracy. Am I missing something to say that all the rights leaders are vaccinated? What does it matter if they lose thousands of their foot soldiers to the cause by continuing to create mayhem with the virus so they can distract from their real intent which is oligarchy…..
It would matter if they were incapable of rigging elections. The thing that amazes me is the number of elected officials willing to sell us out, on the assumption they'll end up in their own little corner of Trump heaven. They fail to notice how he treats not only his voters, but also his minions.
I’m just waiting for the GOP primaries for those guys to start overturning fair wins that they don’t like. Can’t wait for the squeals.
Drump rules by his own emotions. Plain and simple. What pleases him today, may displease him by evening. And, his own emotions stem from extreme narcissism and sociopathy.
That is a point well made. Thank you.
Exactly.
Good point until the last word - we already have an oligarchy. And have had for quite some time now. Their real intent is authoritarianism.
What we've had for some time now (like maybe since the founding of the republic) is more like a plutocracy. The wealthy rule, often by controlling the elected "rulers." Money talks louder than votes, and since votes remain necessary, anyone who points out economic power and economic imbalances is called a socialist or something similar. And no, it's not just the Republicans. One clue is how quickly some Democrats call other Democrats "socialist" in order to discredit them and their proposals.
It is the Republican Party now. They have moved beyond being a cult to being the embodiment of authoritarianism.
Oligarchs are authoritarians, no?
I think of "authoritarian" as being primarily (?) an individual characteristic. Some teachers, parents, and bosses are described as authoritarian. "Authoritarian rule" could describe a dictatorship, or an absolute monarchy. "Oligarchy' is more about number: "-archy" comes from "rule" and "olig-" from "few." So oligarchy is rule by a few, monarchy is rule by one, and anarchy is rule by no one. ;-)
Roughly:
the size of the group: Democracy = everyone, Oligarchs = a small fraction (eg the 1%), Auth = fewer
Auth is more hierarchical - tfg directs - states the lie for others to spread
Olig is a group of independents (groups of independents) with same goal
Olig = all big business execs & super-rich
Auth = leader & cronies
Sometimes I think oligarchs are the followers of the authoritarian leader who willingly accept the financial incentives to keep that leader in power. You can't tell me that Guiliani, Bannon, Nixon lover, Cruz, Graham, and other Drump sycophants aren't waiting for the money.
The oligarchs, and the super-wealthy in general, benefit from the laws and other conditions the authoritarian leader creates. That's definitely what's going on in Russia -- and in a way it's why wealthy landowners and others supported the tsar.
A lot of them are in it for the financial gain and power over the "people." Right now they are using extreme manipulation, gaslighting, and fake promises. When they win, they will regulate the followers into submission by using those followers who are eager to use violence and aggression in name of the leader.
Susan, Astute observation. Yes chaos and cruelty are the main strategies. Botton line is that it is all about personal power. No empathy or heartfelt concern for our fellow humans.
And long-standing deep acculturation to patriarchy which is the largest superpower on the planet, time to dismantle that. Not good for any gender
Chaos has benefitted the right wing, including the neocons ( hello Cheney senior ) forever. Halliburton, Bechtel, Carlisle Group, all benefit from disarray.
Yes, if only Russia wasn’t waiting in the wings
I would prefer my government to serve the needs of the majority of people, not just billionaires, lobbyist, and an ever shrinking population of under served, uneducated, rural voters, made angry and resentful, by lies of a demagogue, and amplified by conservative media outlets, to sustain shrinking profit and power.
Agreed - although you do stereotype residents of rural areas! (I live in country Queensland, an area not known for its intellectual profundity.)
Oops!I didn’t mean to do that! I am also in a rural area! My grandfather was a farmer. His grandfather not being the oldest boy on their farm in Bavaria hopped on a freighter, and dug canals as an immigrant laborer for decades, saving just enough to acquire a homestead farm in the Midwest. Growing up, I think all the Midwest farmers were democrats and in the west through heavily subsidized water projects, farmers and ranchers of the west were Republicans. The isolation of both, and lack of equal funding in rural education has left both susceptible to demagoguery, fueling old resentments based on lies, sparking anger, seeking redemption through a strongman leader… the pattern is not a new one. My dirt farmer grandfather taught me that, and to never forget it.
No offence taken! I'm an ex-urbanite myself. The truth of the matter is, I AM surrounded by idiots. I like to think of Queensland like a piece of raisin bread - vast tracts of abysmal ignorance dotted with small enclaves of intellectuals - the raisins.
That’s the challenge to todays leaders. How to reach forgotten and isolated rural voters. Is their historical social research on how to decouple the rural populace from the populist demagogic “leader”? How to decouple grievance? How to decouple us and “them”? ( other than just pulling the plug on social media)
Tried to fix it. How’d I do?
Sehr interessant /very interesting
The sad part is that many rural people are under educated for their intelligence. I taught for several years in a rural school. The people represent the intelligence spectrum, but the lack of education makes them very easily manipulated by politicians who use scare and anger tactics and then provide the only solutions to solving this anger and fear. Many don't know the difference between fact and fiction with topics they are ignorant in. They often use emotions to verify something as fact. Also, many don't know how to fact check or even understand that fact-checking is important. Add to that in many states rural America is mostly white. Then racial bias is easily grown.
Terror management theory holds that the repressed fear of death drives all kinds of antisocial and reckless behavior. We are surrounded by reminders of death that the right wing exploits to the hilt in all kinds of ways (be afraid, be very afraid of Democrats, immigrants, etc. etc.) and makes this pandemic a perfect tool for authoritarians. For more, see https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/05/how-the-unrelenting-threat-of-death-shapes-our-behavior/256728/ And for more on terror management theory and Trump, see Scientific American, "Does Surging Existential Dread Help Trump?" https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/does-surging-existential-dread-help-trump/#
" Conceived decades ago by psychologists Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski, terror-management theory holds that... become more attached to our belief systems, especially those that give us a sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves.We may thus become more patriotic and religious and less tolerant of those outside of our tribe, who do not share our values. We also become more likely to turn to ultra-confident, authoritarian leaders."
For a deeper dive into terror management theory, see the book "The Worm at the Core" by Solomon, et. al. (full disclosure: I helped write it.)https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/31/the-worm-at-the-core-on-the-role-of-death-in-life-solomon-greenberg-pyszczynski-review
I just read the review at the link you provided. I will definitely read the book. But in the meantime, how do “chaoticians” and death fears work together?
Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine" gets at it, but basically those who seek to get and hold power use fear, and especially existential fear, to do that.
Thanks! I’ll check out the Klein book as well as yours!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xioCMK_YO90
Yes, familiar with it. thanks.
Rule by fear is their basic tenet. Keeping the “fear of disease” is an opportunity to deliver another populist “savior” strongman.
Ignorance seems to be the progenitor of fear with fear then becoming the primogenitor for voting/supporting republicans, (e.g. stupidity), Eh!?
Which came first - enlarged amygdalas or ignorance? Hard to tell.
not sure if the earliest Hominidae were blessed with our amygdalas...but darn good reply!!!
That's an interesting comment. When I look at people like Ted Cruz, Hawley, T. Carlson, all of whom have had "elite" educations, I begin to wonder what they were fed. They have been pampered since day one, put in private institutions, told they were destined for great things, and this is how they behave? These are not people I could ever look up to. My only hope is that they do not have any street smarts so that when the larger issues like Climate Change begin to catch up with us, they will be found cowering in the corner.
Privilege comes with access to those schools. They don’t necessarily graduate with any added integrity, character, or awareness of their privilege.
Cruz...Carlson...including tRump... elite educations can be easily diminished when tarnished by the greed factor's distractions, Eh!?
Stewart Rhodes is a Yale educated lawyer. I would imagine that’s not being highlighted in the alumni mag.
Consider the possibility that most of their "degrees" were bought and paid for by their families.
Informative article on Politico about which group is most likely to spread disinformation …. People who score high on preference for chaos, eg, “burn down the government” sentiments!
Their followers are cannon-fodder.
Susan, Ive been pretty well convinced we already are an oligarchy. With this recent decision by the Supreme Court, and Citizens United, and voter suppression, how are we not already an oligarchy or at the least a corptocracy?
From your background, does the continued fear of disease increase or decrease the potential for conflict?
Increase for sure! (I find myself calling it a "cleptocracy" these days.) Adversarial or win-lose conflict style greatly influenced by fear and lack of trust. And fundamental to a one-up, one-down patriarchal world order -- might makes right. I find the work being done on trauma may really help us move beyond because being in the one-up position, or the illusion of it, is essentially traumatic and disconnected, even though it feels good to those on top.
Are you familiar with programs post WW2 that worked to de-radicalize the German people? Or in Serbia? How does power or control work in these scenarios? Seems like de radicalization is easier or a different process after a war, as the radicalized have been defeated at great cost, and have lost their power. Compared to South Africa where both parties agreed to change and evolve peacefully. But a difference in South Africa was both parties were willing participants in the reconciliation process to avoid continued and potential for escalations of political violence. Neither examples had the challenge of social media. To me, we are facing a huge challenge, as the other side is led by obstructionists or leaders only set on their complete rule.
Given the number and diversity of Democratic candidates in 2020, how are we an oligarchy? It is true that an "establishment" candidate won the nomination--and the presidency--but he won because tens of millions of Americans who were offered very different choices voted for him. While it's true that money has a very disproportionate influence, that ought to be reduced sharply (let's hear it for public financing of campaigns), that's not the same as saying that we're under the thumb of oligarchs. Look at Russia, for comparison.
Our democracy rating is at 5 on the scale of -10 to 10. North Korea being negative 10 and Canada and Switzerland are 10. We have slipped and are sliding the wrong way. Citizens United means that a few have more free speech than the many, and that’s not a democracy. If the voting rights act doesn’t pass, we will go to rating of 0 immediately and then who knows how fast to an authoritarian state.
A democracy means everyone’s vote counts the same in each state, and have equal access to the ballot.
Oh, think of 2020 as the past. The state laws have changed, so big differences in IF a democrat can win in red states, EVEN if they win the votes necessary, but now it is legal for state election officials to send whatever “legal” forgeries and false electors. And then there is gerrymandering to divide and dilute majority voters. This is Georgia and 19 other states today and why our rating has slid from 10 to 5.
Have you read “The Shock Doctrine”?
it's perfect.
Exactly!
No, enlighten me!
Naomi Klein. How keeping the masses in a constant state of PTSD ( from war, chemical spills, disease ) allows the powerful to accrue more power.
Add Climate disasters to that list.
Naomi Klein explains this use of catastrophe in Shock Doctrine.
“…living our lives one step from catastrophe, creates a pool of willing militants” Dr. Barbara Walter “How Civil Wars Start and how to stop them
🙏
Who are the authoritarians here, though? The ones who don’t want to force people to vaccinate, or the ones who do?
Is that a serious question, or snark? Assuming you're serious, a couple of points: First, all organized societies have rules. You need to wear seatbelts. You can't open the emergency door while the plane is in flight. (Well, actually, it's a crime to open it at any time, unless there's a crash.) If you have a child entering kindergarten, she or he will need nine--count 'em, nine--vaccinations to go to school, not counting the one against Covid. Second, Justice Holmes famously observed that freedom of speech does not include the right to cry Fire! in a crowded theater. Those who believe that they should have the right to be unvaccinated--unless they are prepared to quarantine strictly, forever--are not saying that they have the right to cry Fire! They are saying that they have the right to carry fire into a crowded theater.
Beware of trolls from the federalist society.
My point was to find out your reasoning as to why the anti-mandate position is more authoritarian than the mandate position.
This is a sleight of hand twist on the actual point. Most of the discussion preceding your question does not propose mandates are more or less authoritarian - they are mostly saying there is a correlation between who takes an anti mask and vaccination mandate position and what their leadership views and styles are. The majority of the comments are about a correlation not about the status of mandates themselves. Besides, even if you view all restriction by laws, all mandates guided by expertise, and all requirements to do no harm to others as authoritarian (which would frankly be thick and un-nuanced, hopefully just for the sake of discussion) it is still perfectly possible to take a single more "authoritarian" stance (on a range of authoritarianism) and be less authoritarian over all if the purpose and observable out comes of the stance are in support of population movement toward less authoritarianism, and vice versa.
Interesting fact: No European country has anything like as broad a vaccine mandate as Biden’s, except Austria. Are they all dangerously authoritarian and medically ignorant?
I guess I have a broader concept of “authoritarian” than most people. I find it difficult to find any non-authoritarians in politics any more. And, yes, democracy can be quite authoritarian when it is devolves to mere majoritarianism.
To start, almost all of those opposing mandates are not vaccinated.
( it’s about protecting everyone’s health. AND our limited hospital capacity of less than 1 m hospital beds with less than 350,000 icu beds…. That are both already 85% full on average. The promise of the current variant is explosive spread, and as a principle of the Epidemiology of +RNA respiratory viruses that are prone to mutate (because the enzymes that correct mutations are only found in the cell nucleus NOT the cytoplasm) explosive spread promises the next variant, and repeat. Public Health is necessary to maintain school, business, security. Health of nations is directly proportional to the wealth of nations.
Too bad for them, then, if that’s the case. But I know intelligent medical professionals who aren’t in favor of mandates either. They are vaccinated and so am I.
Mandatory vaccinations are about collaborating for the common good. Libertarians have so polluted our culture with their sel-centered brand of narcissism that they have convinced preppie that good public health practice is tyranny! Ignorance and arrogance are a deadly combination!
Do authoritarians in general take good care of their people?
Well, sometimes. There is a place for it like you say and absolute no to your little kid it about to run across the street and you restrain them. But, to stick to my main focus these days, there is no gender equality in authoritarian regimes, and there is no racial justice either. There is a pyramid pecking order with 'servants' supporting those on top. And that's why we are getting so much push back from the right-wing. They don't want to lose their help mates whether they are female or of-color. Of course, there are many in those categories who slip through as long as the basic pyramid stays in place.
No. They are self-centered!
I really don't get this. Your argument seems sadly plausible.
Do they think they will survive, to reach the top of the command chain they hope to create?
The decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are frightening. In my 80 years, I have never felt so powerless. Being afraid of our Government is a new, eerie experience. We are in a time like no other, and I cling to the hope that people like you, Heather, can reach enough people to turn the tide. Thank you so much for sharing the facts as they play out day by day.
Coming to the end of my 76th year on this planet, having marched, sat, written and called for so many causes, I feel betrayed. Waiting for the ice to melt so I can hop in my kayak and stop occasionally wringing my hands. Thank you, Heather Cox Richardson, for your clarity, which helps me to at least understand how we are at this shameful place in our government.
What is now being experienced by the whole country is life in the south before 1965, one party rule. That party is made up of the same kind of people it has always been-white men with money. The name, R or D, does not matter. They could be called
the FuzzyWuzzy party and they would still operate to use the powers of government to enrich themselves and their donors. The US system of governance is having all its flaws and weaknesses exposed. The Constitution was a cobbled together document that could be passed at the time, and that took a while. Our government has relied on traditions and norms which relied on good character to be implemented, as Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that working for us today?”
The supreme court decisions are proof that “the law really is just man’s opinion.” Along with one token woman in the mold of Phyllis Schlafley.
Well said, JennSH. Come to think of it, the Constitution was not made for most of us. Our push to make it so is an exercise in resilience and idealism. Power plays by shape-shifting rules. Figuring out how to battle it effectively is continuously the task at hand. Seeing through the veil of “death fear” take clarity and comprehension. I thank HCR for her diligence in providing that for us.
👍👍👍
How sadly true.
Same thoughts here. I hadn’t put it into words, but reading your comment gave me a chill. I too am actually afraid,, I have lost the sense that heretofore had taken for granted…. I have always trusted my government, like a young child trusts their parents. Suddenly, I feel betrayed. Thank world according to TFG was harrowing enough,,but the reality of his poison is evident in the decisions of the Court in many issues!
It’s so sad, and I feel somewhat helpless….
Find a teenager, preferably one turning 18 soon, and talk to them about voting. Encourage them to make their voice heard. Explain how to register, right down to where to get the registration form and when and where it needs to be submitted. Four million teens will turn 18 this year and if they all cast a vote it would have the force of a political tsunami.
I have lived in Houston, TX, for the past 15 years and have worked with voter registration efforts for most of those years. Many different organizations in Harris County, including the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, continue to work tirelessly to reach high school seniors, contacting high school officials to obtain permission to attend some senior functions to explain and register those 18 and approaching 18 years of age.
It was interesting to watch leaders emerge in those circumstances. When attending a senior picnic, I approached a table of about 15 young women who all said no to registering until one courageous student stood up and said yes, and then all the others said yes. I don’t know if they actually went to the polls during the next election, but at least those 15 were registered and had heard my speech about using their voices to protect our democracy.
And whatever happened to Civics as a required course in high school?
Absolutely the question of the hour! Every hour! I had a Civics class in 7th grade,? I remember really liking it. But that was it. That was in 1964!
When my daughter was in high school they had NOTHING! And when Obama was running for President I was appalled that there were no ‘mock debates’ as we had in HS, and even when he won there was not even any announcement, not even in her honors History class?!
How are these kids supposed to get exposed, much less get involved if their schools seem so indifferent?!
I didnt' get any Civics in high school despite going to a good private school. But I did absorb it from my parents, beginning at age 7, from the 1960 election. I would argue over the presidential election with my friend Ralphie, whose grandfather had started Nordstrom's.
My father was an economist, and my mother had been all but dissertation when she decided to switch to psych.
My mother loved to tell this story--she was driving, with me and Ralphie in the car. I said to Ralphie, "you shouldn't vote for Nixon because he called that lady in California something like an economist"
(For those too young to remember this election, in an earlier election in which he ran against Helen Gahagan Douglas--who had been an actress--he called her a communist.)
On election night, my parents went out for the evening, leaving my brother--age 10--and me alone. They told us we could watch the election results on TV until it was called. I trundled off to bed around 10. When they got home at 3AM (6AM eastern), they found my brother bleary eyed but still watching.
Ha! You make me remember my folks...every federal election, they would go to dinner, then a movie, and when they got out of the show they fond out the results! My Dad was a Republican, my Mom, a Democrat... they always were so excited but laughed about how they canceled each other out!!
I really don't think the solution to what we're going through in the USA is to vote harder. A Princeton study in 2014 made the bald case that we haven't been a democracy for a long time:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/princeton-experts-say-us-no-longer-democracy
we live in a kakistocracy. noun
government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state.
"the danger is that this will reduce us to kakistocracy"
Idiocracy, the film from 2006
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiocracy
And then there’s kleptokakistocracy, as above, but with the addition of governing in order to enrich themselves.
I will read the article, but later… ugh
We have that teen in our home. He voted in his first election for Biden. He had a friend whose family was far-right and convinced him how bad Trump was. He will not give up when he’s trying to persuade someone. My daughter was a great debater so I guess he got that trait from her. I hope he never loses that enthusiasm.
Sharon, that’s great! I’m sure his enthusiasm is contagious!
You surely are a proud Mama! You have done a good job there..good for you!
I am very proud of him. He’s my grandson, my daughter passed away when he was 15. I have to give her most of the credit for teaching him to persevere and stand his ground. Some days I see so much of her in him that it both breaks my heart and gives me comfort. He’s a critical thinker. I think that’s something children don’t learn anymore because not many adults do it. They go along with the crowd and crumble under peer pressure.
Your grandson gives me hope for the next generation..❣️
Oh Sharon, your heart is surely so big with all the love and pain you’ve had, but surely all the love will offset the pain.
I like to encourage voting. It is also important to revisit the ideals of our democracy and using critical thinking to make sure your vote goes to those that understand the common good as well as their own, possibly selfish interests.
That’s a great idea…. I wonder if there is some way to do that in an organized way? If high schools would allow an outside organization to give a presentation and a question/answer session… like perhaps the League of Women Voters? Or…?
Yes, the LWV in Tucson, anyway, has a program "Seeking Truth, Embracing Courage: A Youth Perspective of the National Day of Healing " Tuesday, January 18.
https://thecivicscenter.org/
Thanks!
Please encourage them to also educate themselves on the candidates. My step grandson voted in the last election (he was 20) & his review of candidates led him to believe that Trump was a good businessman & deserved another 4 years. If I had seen him before he voted, I hope I would have shed some light on his news sources. *sigh*
Yes, we sat and discussed every candidate plus every proposition on the ballot. We all learned something from each other’s point of view and how to research.
Excellent and important recommendation Lena!! Thanks for all you do!
And of course explain why they have to vote for Democrats all the way down the ticket!
Although tempted, we were instructed to never ever mention a party name when registering anybody and I didn't.
That was a joke of course but these times may require different strategies
got it...and you may be right.
I feel the same way. Afraid of gov't. I want to wake up on Wednesday Nov. 9, 2016, to find that Hillary Clinton was elected and this trump stuff was all a horrible dream.
oh brother! you and me both... I never thought this at the time, but looking back now I am 1000% POSITIVE that the 2016 election was stolen.. and of course the Russians got hi in there... why didn't we go full steam ahead to dig up the truth..or did we? ugh
I understand all too well how you feel, Cynthia. But don't give up your power. Lena has a great suggestion. so do others, especially Ellie; also Jessica Craven in Chop Wood, Carry Water. You are not alone
Thanks… I have been sad for so long,,,
In the words of Robert Hubbell, “We have every reason to be hopeful but no reason to be complacent.” I’ll be sending good hopeful vibes your way all day, Cynthia.
Oh thank you Mary B xxx Right back atcha!
Cynthia, well put. I feel the same as you. Growing up I had the misguided notion that the government was looking out for us, all of us. I thought that were safeguards in place to protect us from chaos and evil. Learning now in my 63rd year, that is non existent. I thought it was bad under the last Administration, no, that was child's play compared to now. I had someone ask me the other day if life is better under Biden than Trump. I had to plea the 5th.
I know...but I am a die-hard loyalist, and an ailing optimist... I can't give up on him yet... I think that so many of the problems reveal the prejudice, the greed, and the HUGE egos of so many of these republicans (i.e. Joe M and Krysten C for starters) and the outright evil of the Jim Jordans, Matt G., Kevin Mc, the ultimate blowhard, Kennedy (with. Ron Johnson right behind him) the two moronic teens: Marjorie and Lauren 'Bobo'...oh gawd, I could go on forever...) were there always this many truly extreme evil players in our leadership?
Cynthia, I firmly believe that Biden will do everything possible to right this ship. That it his passion. I fear for what will happen next that he can't stop.
Until recently, I used to think of the Supreme Court as a bulwark against crazy, thoughtfully considering cases and using good judgment and our bank of laws to rule. Not anymore. I respected those placed on the SC. Until Clarence Thomas, a guy with an oversized grudge.
And his wife?!?! Have you read about her!?!
🤬🤯 and I will NEVER forgive Danforth for his nomination of CT and how he stood by him during the hearings.
Talk about conflict of interest!
Since it is now 100% clear that corruption has taken over the Supreme Court, how long are we destined for the destruction of true values (not just American) to be modus operandi.
The SCOTUS conservatives' reasoning (or lack of it) is mind boggling. I take some comfort in their childishness, which hopefully can be outsmarted. Indeed our country seems hell-bent on having a contest between unfettered might vs. common sense. It's like second graders with weapons vs. unarmed adults. The Jan 6th insurrection was an example writ large.
they are really in their own world... like a hybrid fraternity/sorority who are only allowed to talk to each other so they can all stick together...(or a select part of the group that is.....grrrr)
Amen and amen!!! Another frightened elder............
You are Not Alone Anna!!! Believe me!!
In my 65yrs, I have never felt the way I do Now!!
But, I truly Believe, GOOD does, and will, overcome Evil.
It's just the When and How is the Question!!!
EVIL WILL GET WHAT'S COMING TO THEM!!!🤔🗽
I still believe that...but I feel like I am sliding down a greased pole...
Neither hail, nor gale nor dark of night can stay this historian from her appointed rounds.
HCR's self appointed and widely appreciated circumnavigation of the political sphere.
Best post of the morning, Christopher!
Morning, Daria...agree wholeheartedly!
Morning, Lynell!🌷
So, hospitals accept federal dollars and therefore the federal government, i.e. the administration, can lawfully mandate vaccination, by a 5/4 vote of the supreme court. What about other institutions, particularly public institutions that accept federal dollars? I'll bet that the NY city subway accepted federal dollars at some point in it's construction. How about airports? Not airplanes per-se, but the airports themselves? And bus systems, other forms of transportation? How about those institutions that have borrowed from federal programs? Isn't that a connection to the federal government? In my state, 3 in 10 adults have not been vaccinated. Omicron takes 3 days or more to produce symptoms. We are still in the up-swing on this particular surge in the pandemic. I'm pretty much guaranteed to come within shouting distance of an infected individual in any grocery store, mall, other public place where people congregate. I'm vaccinated and boosted, but also have a pre-existing condition putting me in a high-risk category for complications of a coronavirus infection. I would like to be protected by the law in any place that has accepted federal dollars in construction or operation. If a grocery store sells US stamps, that's enough for me. Any financial institution that invests some of its deposits in federal funds, borrows from the treasury, accepts federal deposit insurance is enough connection for me.
If I can't rely on local, regional, state or federal regulatory protection against a potentially deadly epidemic illness, perhaps I should simply carry a yellow flag and a wear a t-shirt with large letters, saying "if you're not vaccinated, please step away; I am at enhanced risk of your as-yet undiagnosed, asymptomatic COVID infection." Why are governments allowed to set the speed limit on any public street, but aren't allowed to protect me against potentially lethal exposure to potentially infectious people, who haven't taken the only effective steps themselves against the infection? I'm exercising all reasonable precautions to protect others and myself from contracting the virus, not the least of which is simply staying home unless it's absolutely necessary to be out in public, but like most of the country, I'm past "done" with it. Anywhere that vaccination is the ticket for entry, I'll be willing to patronize. Wouldn't it be something if large private companies might put safety before profits and post signs saying "if you're not vaccinated, please shop elsewhere"? What if commercial property owners would post similar requests at the parking garage entrance to their multi-tenant buildings? On the first floor elevator doors? Perhaps we should turn Dr. Suess on his head and become the "Sneeches with (vaccination) Stars"? What will it take to persuade people to do the right thing, if mandates are so deplorable?
Nathan, I agree with and empathize with you. A bit of good news is that students across the nation are protesting the dangers they are being subjected to every time they enter a school building. They are walking out!
https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/6517812001
These kids are our future who will change the trajectory of where our precious nation is headed for. Bless them!
That’s right. They have the good sense to know their lives are at risk and are taking action to protect themselves. How devalued they must feel by those who have sabotaged their safety! And yes indeed, bless them!
Nathan, GREAT POINT!
Has not the Federal Reserve, every night since April of 2020, purchased Corporate bonds in the overnight bond market to "stabilize" (i.e. provide welfare to corporations), the debt markets??
Yes they have. EVERY CORPORATION IN AMERICA has Federal support.
GREAT POINT>
"Why are governments allowed to set the speed limit on any public street".
I don't know if you have noticed but Republicans in giant pickup trucks sucking 8 mpg are blowing through stop signs and racing on the streets all over the USA.
Mostly, they are just crashing their trucks and putting themselves in the hospital but once in a while they blow through a stop sign and waste somebody else.
It is the new badge of being a Republican. Crashing a giant truck.
It would probably be more effective to wear a shirt reading CONTAGIOUS.
Nathan, I'm with you 1000%. Excellent points.
Nathan, I loved your comment. One of the reasons I did was the following: 'I should simply carry a yellow flag and a wear a t-shirt with large letters, saying "if you're not vaccinated, please step away; I am at enhanced risk of your as-yet undiagnosed, asymptomatic COVID infection." One caveat to your t-shirt is that the message is probably too long to be printed in large letters.
Another reason for loving your comment is that you write the farce of America making it clear that it is real life in America. Naturally, it is worse than farce, it is a tragedy dressed up as farce.
The first part of Nathan's last sentence, 'What will it take to persuade people to do the right thing...?' That's the kicker, perhaps, nothing will.
Thank you, Nathan.
Thanks for the kind words; In the days that 9 judges deliberated, I wonder if any of them raised the issue that federal influence is deeply entwined in industry/commerce at all levels. Drawing a distinction with health care facilities is really an arbitrary line, not something supported by a strong legal argument, much less by common sense. there's a point at which the grocery store is every bit as pivotal to public health as a hospital; about 3 weeks after the trucks stop running to down-town Manhattan, Chicago, Philadelphia, LA, etc. How many federal subsidies are attached to those corn chips in the nacho's you'll enjoy while staying in to quarantine from your last exposure from the co-worker who thinks he knows better than the CDC?
Nathan, Frustrating, isolating, challenging, infuriating and dangerous as this time is -- cogent comments, such as yours, light the mind and bring a smile.
Sadly Fern you are correct.
Nathan, I agree fully. I have put myself back in lockdown again while I wait to be eligible for my booster (for me, it’s a fourth shot) which I will get on Monday. I’m angry that I have to do this. I’m not riding my horses - because there are unvaccinated people riding without masks on at my barn. I had just started back riding after my bout with cancer, and I’m mad about it.
I have been thinking about the increased power that labor is seeing these days. Surely, corporations will see much higher absenteeism with unvaccinated employees, and surely, employees could refuse to work in a workplace that puts them in close contact with unvaccinated coworkers. Wouldn’t the fact that employers can choose to mandate or not, put them at risk of lawsuits for workplace-acquired infection? Although I have no idea how one would prove that.
I gotta say, I’m all on board with being vaccinated but a booster every few months is unsustainable. Plus, I suspect a law of diminishing returns. We need to figure something else out to keep you safe. If people won’t even get one shot, there’s no way they’re going to get one every quarter. But it sure would be a boon for big pharma if they can continue to persuade us it’s the only possible way.
I personally would get vaccinated every damn week if I needed to. Unfortunately, the other tools we have to get out of the pandemic have been neutralized. We know that masks work. But we can’t mandate them, either.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I thought we’d see a series of rolling two-three week lockdowns, triggered by positivity rates and hospital capacity. But we aren’t capable of doing that either. What else is there, besides vaccination? I can only do my part by trying as hard as I can to stay out of the hospital. Luckily, I like my husband’s company 🤣
I don’t know what there is besides vaccination but I also know that the people who could figure it out aren’t really incentivized to try. Also, please understand I agree that vaccination is one of the most important tools in the toolbox. It’s just that if it’s our only tool, we won’t get the job done. Masks and the new meds are other tools but I just wonder if there are others we’re not even imagining now.
Beth, I disagree. The people who could figure it out are being hounded out of their jobs (witness Dr. Amy Acton in Ohio) or vilified in the Senate and the right wing media. We know how to do this, we just can’t do it. The economy takes precedence over public health.
That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about pharmaceutical companies who have no incentive to continue to investigate options. They found ONE (imperfect) solution and have zero interest in supporting intellectual curiosity about other options. That we know of. But I have little faith in the corporate structure. I understand they’ve been developing the pills but that’s not preventative. That’s responsive. A defense not an offense. Re: watching things on YouTube, I’m a nope. Especially in relation to politics or healthcare. For the record and in case it hasn’t been clear, my POV is that economics and corporate manipulation are what we should be keeping an eye on as it relates to the fate of this country. Thank you, Kathy. I’ve appreciated your responses. But this has now taken too much of my time so I’ll sign off. Wishing you continued good health.
If you want to know how I feel, spend two minutes listening to The Politics Girl: https://youtu.be/iJ8H5y-o8jw
How about COVID funds being used by states to build state prisons, or to fund ANTI vax programs in the schools.
"Meanwhile, Biden is deploying another 1000 military personnel to hospitals, which are overwhelmed with unvaccinated coronavirus patients."
It goes beyond comprehension that six individuals have the power to make decisions on such a massive life and death issue: first, they have no medical expertise, and second, two of them were forced onto the court willy-nilly by a non-president and his vindictive lackeys -- plus, both lied under oath. It is time for the judicial branch of government to look deep within and assess its oaths of office. The justices are not elected by the people, and yet, they are supposed to come to their positions with higher standards, unique knowledge, and a more elevated code of justice, integrity and conscience. Where are those standards? Where is that knowledge? And, the Force help us, but where are the signs of their elevated code of justice, integrity and conscience?
Now, one thousand military lives are put in jeopardy to assist in the fight of a lifetime -- a medical battle that has killed almost one million US citizens. In my eyes, this quasi-illigitimate, right-wing Supreme Court of the US has lost face, basic gravitas, and honor over the past two years!
Rowshan, thank you for your comment. You bring up the very good point that the quality of expertise and integrity on the Supreme Court Bench is lacking in some of the members. The most expeditious solution: Term Limits. That way we can make sure that our judiciary AND elected officials remain relevant and fluid and that each person's vote actually counts for something. Those whose term expires would still able to act in an advisory capacity but we wouldn't be stuck with lifetime appointees and the likes of bad actors like McConnell. Those who are dedicated civil servants could use their expertise in other roles. We have seen the results of an entrenched 2 party system with no term limits, it doesn't work. If our system functioned the way it was imagined we would not be in the mess we find ourselves today – issues that have dogged us for centuries would have been resolved. It boils down to this, people will resist the notion of term limits for federal office holders with the excuse that we've never done it that way before. Isn't it time we look at what our open ended term structure hath wrought, in real terms? And aren't we grateful that the office of president has term limits?
“And aren't we grateful that the office of president has term limits?” ‼️‼️
But weren't we grateful for 4 term FDR
Now, that was a President.
It won't, if you-know-who gets himself back in. He talked about this throughout his four years of rallies, which is how he spent his time when not on the golf course or in a presidential aircraft.
Lordy, I can't even imagine otherwise.
‼️‼️‼️
Yes!
Hi Daria. I like your comment, even though I have never liked the idea of term limits for elected officials for the simple reason that I want to be able to vote for the best would-be representative, senator, president, mayor, dog-catcher, whatever, best able -- in my opinion -- to do a good job of governing. regardless of age or tenure or anything else. I believe that being able to win an election is no guarantee of either competence or righteousness, and experience should not be wasted. But I agree with you that term limits for SCOTUS justices is a good idea, and not just because our current Court is loaded with bible-hugging miscreants.
Right now the predominant SCOTUS mind-set is that they must not interpret the Constitution but simply apply it as they believe it was intended by the Founders to be applied, end of discussion, even though historians have dedicated lifetimes to understanding the real intentions of the founders without ever reaching some final verdict beyond dispute. Also, the fact that there is an amendment procedure written into the Constitution suggests flexibility, even mutability, as part of the Founders' original intent, so it follows that they knew no constitution could be perfect or that any decision of the Court could be more than temporarily definitive. They knew the world would become a different place sooner or later, and that the Court would need to keep pace.
So, it's better to have some orderly turnover to keep justices well tuned-in to America's present circumstances, and I suggest the following: Rolling ten-year terms, one justice enters, another retires each year. Also, to cast the tie-breaking vote as necessary, all living retired justices could vote on the tie-breaking vote in the case of a 5-5 deadlock. This would permit the Court to be "of" its moment in history, but it would be left to no single justice to cast the deciding vote, only the group of wise old former justices.
Just an idea that jumped into my head a couple of minutes ago.
David, I like your idea very, very much!
Then somebody needs to convince older justices to retire before they expire.
I agree. Completely.
Trump did that!
David, I love your ideas for SCOTUS. You should start submitting them far and wide - put them out there to see if you can seed some change. Plus, I see you have sneaked another justice in there! I do think term limits for representatives is not a bad idea however - I understand your position, but feel like there is enough advantage to fresh ideas, fresher ideals and less time for normalization of small moral rule bending to build up along with enough other talent waiting for opportunity to make the small loss of a few years' experience to be worth it. Perhaps a term limit beyond which a few years off were required before return would be a compromise?
Sure, Yehawes, that's a compromise I could accept, but stricter laws regarding corruption and campaign finance, coupled with a Constitutional distinction between corporate and personal free speech would make me happier.
I would have liked Biden to have appointed a committee on the second day in office to take the past administration's actions day by day and examine them, identify all the places governmental actions on all levels are bound only by honor or precedence and not by legal restriction, and write up laws to be handed back to Congress to consider passing, that would close those windows on corruption. (On the first day he'd have appointed one to work on ways to pass voter protection laws).
Daria Even were term limits passed in Congress (oh yeah), they would affect current justices.
How would it even happen? (Term limits for SCOTUS)?
Rowshan,
The conservatives on the Supremee Court are just doing the bidding of those who have purchased them. Corporations.
It is the most significant flaw in our system. Corporations buying court members and representatives.
IMHO, SCOTUS was bought by the Federalist Society to do it's bidding to accomplish Court Capture by allowing Citizens United to go forth and to accomplish it's goal to destroy the government from within.
Barbara, I completely agree and would add that the Federalist Society is funded by Corporations.
I would say that the Federalist Society endangers the country.
Along with that corporation called FOX Entertainment News
They buy most of our leaders!
When I think of RBG's dogged struggle to stay alive, just to stay alive, to stave this off - and she had barely breathed her last when her smug little replacement stood simpering at a superspreader event in the mutilated Rose Garden. The fat orange fraud and his wife stood nervously beside the coffin until the chant of VOTE HIM OUT became too loud and unmistakeable, and he turned tail and slunk away. Or, stole away, since there's so much talk of stealing. The will of the people? The people's will wasn't what got him "elected" in the first place. It was unequivocally expressed in November 2020, and it's got nothing to do with what's happening now. Weimar 1933.
Anne, I do think RBG allowed her ego to get just a bit in the way of doing what I would have done: Resign under Obama and go, finally, spend some time with her kids.
But, she just could not do it nor is it required (but, those guys should NOT be allowed to sleep on the bench until they are dead, which, is what RBG actually did).
As much as I admired RBG, I have to agree. The venerable RBG was an elderly cancer survivor a few times over. While she worked relentlessly to stay in shape and stay sharp, she expired under the worst possible President. We do need term limits for the Supremes. The same goes for Senators. Chuck Grassley and Diane Feinstein come immediately to mind.
And oh-so many others, Catherine!
Yes, sad to say, but we’d be in a different situation if she had resigned. A dreadful mistake on her part…
But, Mike, Mitch the Merciless would NOT have allowed Obama to appoint a justice. As he clearly demonstrated. For all we know, RBG was pressured to hang on, hang in.
Being somewhat of a computer nerd, I'd say the US of Anxiety needs an upgraded operating system. The current version does not support the new apps.
🤣
A new motto for the SCOTUS: I’m not a judge but I play one on TV for the former president.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Pretty much true...
As currently constituted, SCOTUS is illegitimate.
is there anything we can do about it?
Cynthia, My understanding is that in 1789 when the high court was first seated there were 5 justices plus 1 Chief Justice, each of whom presided over 1 of the 6 federal circuit courts. Today, because there are 13 federal circuit courts and only 9 Supremes, the high court accepts fewer cases. I would imagine, invoking precedent, that one convincingly could argue both to expand the high court to 13 and also to add judges to the lower courts. I would note that at some point there were 10 Supremes, though I don’t find that point particularly relevant. I also would add that the person who comes to mind, who is truly knowledgeable in this area, is Robert Reich, who served as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration and currently teaches at Stanford University. I believe he quite recently launched a project to test the constitutionality of the filibuster.
I thought Reich was teaching at Berkeley....not that it matters.
Betsy, You’re right. Still, because he once taught at Brandeis in my home state, at least I didn’t screw up on the coast.
Since the RNC is taking care of Trump’s pre - office legal bills, maybe we can get them to foot the cost of this deployment. They’re his justices…
Amen!
Yesterday, I spent several hours at a local school vaccinating students, parents, and staff against COVID-19. The cost to the school district? $0.00. The cost to the state government? $0.00, as the federal government has picked up the tab. The school nurse told me that earlier that fall, fully 1/3 of the teachers and staff had been out at some point with COVID-19 or had to quarantine because someone in their household was COVID-19 positive. Those costs must have run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. I do not believe the costs to US businesses to vaccinate employees is greater than having large portions of their workforce out sick/quarantining for extended periods.
As for the non-delegation doctrine, it sounds like something straight out of a symposium on dysfunctional relationships. Have you ever worked with/for someone who refused/did not know how to delegate? What ensues is not pretty. Neither the judicial nor the legislative branches of government can enforce laws and regulations. That is the executive branch's function. The irony here is that the legislative branch used the judicial branch to thwart enforcement of a public health measure by the executive branch. Sounds a lot like de facto delegation to me. This cynical thwarting of public health measures in the guise of states rights is cart-before-the-horse wrong headed, BAD for the economy, and deadly.
Steve- thank you for the work that you do!
You are a hero among heroes giving these vaccines and I thank you for that. You are right about “de facto delegation”. We, The People, must come out in droves, to fight this authoritarian takeover. We must not be powerless but be powerful. We cannot think there is nothing that we cannot do because we can! We can continuously get the word out about voting and justice. We will demand that our representatives actually represent the people who elected them. We just have to!
Sadly, the purpose of the non-delegation rule is to eliminate most regulations, not philosophical purity. Modern life has become so complex that there is no practical way Congress could ever formulate necessary regulation, and this Congress, which cannot agree on the color of the sky, could ever come up with a single rule. Rescinding FDR’s New Deal has been a goal of the Republicans since he was in office.
Steve, you have described a very important principle of autocratic/authoritarian strategies and practices - 'non-delegation' - by illustrating how one branch of government can lesson and or strip another of delegating power -- disrupting the chain of decision making. It is a strategy to consolidate power into the hands of a small group. At its core 'non-delegation' vastly limits the rights and voices of citizens to have a role government. The work of the state legislatures to limit access to voting and nullify the results by placing partisan politicians in positions to change voting results is a brother of non-delegation in the consolidation of power to the few. As it spreads so does the country lose self-government as its founding principle.
Fern--I answered your post to me personally but got it bounced back. Perhaps the thread is too long or too old, so I hunted you down. Thanks for the link--excellent and appreciated.
I spent the day yesterday pulling years of photos from my own books and one I inherited from my Dad. I have taken many photos over the years, but my brother was 12 years older than me. I found some of his childhood pictures in the book from my Dad. Then helped my niece and nephew with the arrangements, but much had already been done. His wife passed a bit over 4 years ago and he had already lost much of his memory. When he and the kids made her arrangements, he went ahead and made many of his at the same time.
So next Friday we will have the wake, who knows how it will go in the time of COVID. He was a police officer, a member of a Pipe and Drum Corp, well known and loved in his community. In normal times, the place would be packed. Now, I have no idea.
I'm actually pretty okay--as the song went, take a sad song and make it better. There was no hope for a cure in his lifetime, but he lived a good life. The celebration of his life really will be turning a sad song into a "better" one.
While I so appreciate this letter and forum, depending upon my mood, sometimes the comments weigh me down so much as I think I'm unable to become an expat. I'm too close to my kids and family. And what might happen truly terrifies me. For that reason, I only skimmed the letter today and until now, avoided the comment section.
Miselle, It was precious to read every word you wrote. I hope that you and the family can spend time together, particularly, in the next month or two. Do what works for you. I go through periods when I don't want to even see the forum. Nutrition is important from food, sleep, good company and, yes, music. You are under no obligation to LFAA or to read a newspaper. It was good to hear of you brother and that he was loved by the community. You are close to your children and family -- that is wonderful. I wish that I was a DJ. It would be fun to link all kinds of music to you. Maybe you'd find some music that gives you a different lift. Let's stay in touch Miselle. My new signoff, 'That's what friends are for!'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dw2r45Xzg
Good morning, Fern. That was a good choice, it is a favorite song of mine--and while it was playing, I was thinking that what I will remember as my "final" memory of my brother is me putting up his 3' Christmas tree and singing goofy holiday songs and making him laugh. His last full sentence to me "you're really doing lot!" (That was big for him) As you know, people with dementia often respond well to music.
Early in November, my dear nephew had the thought to get some of my brother's former Pipe and Drum corps to come to his facility to play. (My nephew used to be in it too, he dropped out when his job/small children/move to IN made it too difficult) He got about a dozen to show up and the reaction of my brother was priceless. He was mesmerized. It was so poignant to see. It was worth the effort to get my brother in his wheelchair and down to the lobby, he was so weak and bloated that it took my nephew, my husband and niece to help/lift him while I maneuvered the chair under him.
I have read Heather's letter today but didn't feel like commenting at all. Sometimes this wait on justice, pandemic, legislation changes, etc seems like the pregnancy that never ends---and I fear that "Rosemary's Baby" could be the end result.
A good MLK day to you. One of my HS teacher daughters came home to spend the weekend, and while not an academic, my husband is employed by a university and also has a holiday. A good day to get some larger home cleaning projects done that are almost pleasant when done as a team.
Thank you for sharing your memories with me. They are vivid, touching and loving. We both have cleaning to do. On we go! Salud, Miselle.
I would say that Gorsuch, who endangered Justice Sotomayor's life by refusing to wear a mask while in court the other day, has abandoned the moral, ethical side of the argument and is purely a tool of the radical right.
I also read in Greg Olear's substack post that the execrable governor of Florida disappeared from public view, including social media, for quite a long time--and that no one has raised a peep about it. Apparently, when he did resurface he looked terrible and could barely speak from all the coughing he was doing. Hmmm. Maybe Karma is going to work. It would be nice to see him experience the stuff he is putting his state through quite directly. And long covid, like the lifetime after-effects of chemo, is unpleasant.
He disappeared for at least two weeks and tried to mislead the public with photos on Twitter. In his first presser upon return, which is available to watch for yourself, he was breathless. Reminded me of TFG at the top of the staircase after being released from the hospital. DeSantis also refuses to disclose his booster status. There is escalating tension between DeSantis and TFG. Not sure how that plays out if TFG is indicted (🙏).
https://youtu.be/4tT3qvR2IXE
Kelly, This makes sense. He is very calculating…
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/ron-desantis-2024-president-campaign-trump-covid-lockdown-booster-vaccine.html
DeSantis’ wouldn’t know if he had Covid because.. "Now think about it," DeSantis said on Friday. "Before COVID did anyone go out and seek testing to determine if they were sick? It's usually you feel like you're sick and you get tested to determine what you maybe have come down with.". 😂
I don't understand that kind of thinking, but I know there is a lot of it going around at Fox and in the Republican party. Sadly, although we have a vaccine called critical thinking, just like the vaccine we can't mandate it. If only Biden had mandated vaccines under some emergency war power he must have... administering TB tests or the polio and smallpox vaccine etc, how did that happen? Politics was not used to divide people over a national health crisis! These people and the anti-vaxer stupidity disgusts me. Remember how the millennials thought it was so cool to say "Thanks Obama?" Well everytime someone dies from Covid we should say "Thanks Trump." He wants credit for the vaccine. He made no plans to distribute it. He refused to assist the Biden administration in preparing the transition of power. And he put three functional lunatics on the supreme court ..each one worse than their immediate predecessor. "Thanks Trump."
I wonder how his wife discovered her breast cancer. Did she discover it in a routine mammogram, or did she feel like she was sick and go get tested? I also wonder how she feels about likely being so cavalierly exposed to Covid while in cancer treatment.
Routine mammogram. And her husband was telling people there's no need to be tested. Used words to the effect: Who gets tested without symptoms? Meanwhile, wife, Casey, is urging everyone to get a mammogram because you might have cancer! Who knows how she feels about the whole thing?
His first reappearance was at an evangelical holiday party. Both of them were on stage without masks. Crowded venue. Nuts!
Ahh, the male-centric ego. Females generally get to start annual exams for cervical cancer in their teens, then mammograms in their 40s. And then there’s elders’ exams. Isn’t he getting old enough for colonoscopies and prostate exams? He’s definitely passed the test for stupid and unfortunately there’s no cure.
He's 43.
The final press story was that he was out to be with his wife for her cancer treatment.
Yeah, let that sink in. Why would you risk your spouses life with Covid? She attended every event with him, just as maskless as he was. They risked their children losing a mother for political points.
Thanks for adding a new adjective to my vocabulary: execrable. An appropriate descriptor the current crop of GOP leadership, and sounds more sophisticated than the four letter words usually use. From the same Latin root as excretion, perhaps?
I had seen one explanation, that his wife has cancer and he was with her while she was going through her treatments..why that would be so secret totally eludes me!?
Having gone through cancer treatment myself, this makes zero sense. The treatments just don’t last that long. Chemo days are long to be sure, but they’re once a week at most, often every other week or every three weeks, and in Covid times, the patient goes alone. I wasn’t allowed to bring a companion. Radiation treatments are even shorter - I was in the hospital less than an hour for those. I call BS.
I totally agree, I am a ‘survivor’, and seeing him speak, or should I say ‘wheeze’, who is he trying to fool?!
Casey was diagnosed in October so why wait until December to go with her? Plus, his press secretary (who is blocking people on Twitter) gave no less than 5 different answers to the Florida Cabinet and the Public.
I am no longer surprised by the decisions made by the right wing of the USSC. For over 20 years I taught courses about Constitutional Law at a Community College. That was not my field of study for my. Ph.D. In History but as my father - a University Professor loved to say - college is where you go to learn how to learn. That plus a summer fellowship in Constitutional Law taught by a well known and well regarded professor of Constitutional Law at a major university. I write this only to note that I thought I had a first class education in Constitutional Law. Increasingly I feel that I have moved to another universe where legal reasoning has been replaced with an ideology based upon personal prejudice and bull shit. Throughout American History (and for that matter - the history of the modern world )those out for personal gain and hatred of those unlike themselves - males of females, whites of persons of color, landowners of those without land, educated of uneducated, tall people of short people - take your pick - you are not like me, I have more than you etc - have worked to hoard what they have and take away from those who have less. Having this play out in the world of modern communications is new and we have yet to stop the spread of lies, disinformation, prejudice etc. Watching the USSC majority destroy its reputation is beyond depressing. “It is a republic if you can keep it” - true and apparently the majority of the USSC is hell bent to destroy it. I have a hard time not wishing ill health and the demise of those unvaccinated. Our form of government is being destroyed by the majority in power in our government. I am old and am unlikely to see it crumble but my children and grandchildren will have to live with the result of the stupid thoughtless greedy of the majority of those on the USSC, in Congress, and in most states. That makes me as mad as hell - to the point that I am writing this incoherent note.
Actually it's the SCOTUS that is incoherent. They skirt around all the causes of our discontent by using legal-speak as if they could convince us of their smarts. They remind me of freshman term paper writers.
They totally baffle me! Ever since BK was ‘installed’, I almost was finished with them. Then came ACB and I felt sick! I literally prayed that she would be independent and fair, but so much came out about her history and I was dumbfounded!
Funny story… during the hearings of Anita Hill/CT, I was ‘hiding away’ in Acadia National Park. I had blown the whistle on my boss, and it became a huge deal, (he was a very senior guy at a major network) and the powers above him to whom I had ‘whistled’ to, suggested I literally get out of town. It was all about to come down and they thought it would be better if I wasn’t there! So as I hiked through the woods and mountains, I listened to the proceedings on my Walkman and it was quite unnerving. When I returned, ‘he’ was gone, and the new ‘boss’ never said a word to me and within a year my career was totally derailed . The story has more to it but that should suffice!
OH I am sorry for your mistreatment. But yes, it is all part of a corrupt and diseased patriarchy (with some women contributing such as ACB) which has become so vindictive. I remember Anita HIll's testimony and I saluted her courage. How many individual losses such as yours, losses of our children by school shootings, losses by POC, will happen before the slow moving arc of justice really gets rolling?
It’s so disturbing. And I am ashamed of how little I really knew about so much of our history. Thank God for Dr. R…. I have been following her from the beginning, with only a few misses. She’s inspired me to read and study and read until I have almost isolated myself (well, actually I was already isolated!!) I’ve read so many books about Pictures C, the indigenous people, about the Presidents and the so many others. And still there’s so much more to learn. I was always an activist, but now I think back and realize that I was just looking at the tip of the iceberg.
The book I’m reading now I want to recommend to everyone here at Heather’s Cafe… ‘How the Word is Passed’ by Clint Smith. I again stunned by my limited knowledge. But I’m going to keep going!
"an ideology based on personal preference and bull shit" -- nailed it
Exactly! I totally understand everything you said… so I guess I am incoherent as well! But when I evaluate what’s going on… I think it’s better to be incoherent. It’s all too depressing to deal with…
Fusspot I took a course on constitutional law at MIT and taught the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution for over 20 years at a community college. My students were astonished to be exposed to checks and balances as regards the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. Evidently they were exposed to none of this in civics or high school history. If one doesn’t learn this as a student, it’s unlikely that it will be learned, much less appreciate later on. I, like some of my judge friends, carry a copy of the Constitution in my pocket. It’s brief and concise. I also reread MIRACLE AT PHILADELPHIA every few years to remind me of the massive compromises that resulted in the greatest living constitution in the world.
Not at all incoherent! Thank you for this comment!
My view and fears written with your pen. 🥴😣😠
We have a democracy, if the Senate and the Supreme Court can keep it.
The depths to which the majority of the current Supreme Court has now fallen in representing a perspective that is contrary to the best interests of the public-- or indeed, to the good faith and good will of our Country-- is distressing, and to the lowest point in my lifetime. Two of the new right-wing majority justices are serving under questionable circumstances. Clarence Thomas-- with a shockingly poor record of performance over his thirty years as a justice-- has a wife (Ginni Thomas) who cheered-on the January 6 Insurrectionists in social media and also was among a network of Trump loyalists who provided constant input to him regarding lists of government officials who were not sufficiently supportive, and should be replaced by him. Brett Kavanaugh benefitted from a "fake" background investigation by the FBI intended to ignore several complaints of his sexual and other misconduct, in order that his appointment to the Supreme Court could be confirmed. Consideration should be made as to whether these justices are qualified to continue to serve in this capacity.
This court is truly awful. At least four of them should not be there. I am 78 and never thought I would live to see what is happening now. It is comforting to know that there are plenty of people who feel the same. This is why I always start my morning with Heather and all the posters here.
I agree.
Is there another governmental system that can have 80 years of its operations overthrown by six unelected idiots who actually know nothing about what they're deciding?
TC, Accepting HCR’s premise that “[t]he Supreme Court is working with today’s Republicans to dismantle [the]…modern system…”, governing structures, one might say, that date back to the 1930s, wherein lawmakers enlisted “the federal government to combat unfair state laws,” I would imagine the “six unelected idiots,” to whom you refer, are quite aware, damn the consequences, of how they are using their powers.
Kavanaugh, Thomas, Alito....i'm not sure the first has the intelectual capacity or the un-enebriated interest in the results of his work. The other two seem to be ideological fanatics...throwbacks from prehistoric societies
Yes, I agree with your statement identifying Neanderthals. Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett aren’t even qualified to be there, no surprise considering the guy who nominated them.
But let's remember that the Federalist Society is the organization that put forth the nominations and takes dark money so thereby allowing Court Capture to accomplish their goal of saying that corporations are people. Once that was done, they've been calling the shots since 2010.
The Federalist Society like the NRA has played an outsized roll in our government. It’s troubling how little we know of their inner workings. Fortunately the NRA is distracted by a self inflicted wound at the moment.
Remember that the guy who nominated them was elected in 2016 by the rules as prescribed in our Constitution. Those rules need to be changed and that will only happen if, over the next few decades, candidates who recognize that need are elected at the State and national level.
TC, I think they DO know what they’re deciding and that’s why the Federalist Society has picked them. They don’t need to be experts on medicine because that doesn’t matter here.
TC, it's a big world out there. I'm sure ours are not the only know-nothing unelected idiot supreme court justices. Well, pretty sure. Hmmmm...
Currently in France, and for the past few years, the elected President, Macron, is ruling by decree whether because of the terrorists or covid....powers granted by his own supermajority who consider themselves part of the Executive rather than the body that is supposed to control the Executive. He is brooking no opposition to his view of how things should be and he's getting a taste for the "chinese citizen's social credit" system it would seem.
De Gaulle, who was so right about a lot of things, once said that a country that produces 365 different types of cheese is ungovernable. Poor Macron! A friend of mine wrote, "Whether you like him or not, il faut dire qu'il n'a pas eu de chance!" And he certainly hasn't had much luck. Mélenchon made sure of that very quickly.
Off topic, sorry, but a favourite subject of mine.
"the baby"? How about "body"?
Thanks David....done. Though baby wasn't necessarily inappropriate given the way these deputies are acting these days.
The US Senate??
SCOTUS is the former guy's primary legacy. It looks like a good reason to advocate for judiciary term limits at all levels. SCOTUS now resembles a cabal
Banks accept federal funds. So do the airlines. So does any corporation that uses tax incentives and loopholes to claw back cash from the federal government. Perhaps all of these businesses should be
treated the same as healthcare.
Also, I think it’s time to start saying that what the GOP is rapidly moving us toward is a switch from the United States to the Associated States. Or an American Union that mirrors the EU. Where each state becomes its own country. I think it’s time for historians, political scientists and economists to tell us what that will look like. Maybe even state by state. So Americans can know whether that’s a system they’d really like in practice rather than just in theory. In particular, residents in poorer states should know that if we become the American Union, they have to come up with all their own revenue for things like education, infrastructure, etc. They don’t get federal tax dollars as a member of the American Union.
I have been having this same thought recently. If the Supreme Court should continue stating that a state’s rights should supersede the rights and laws set forth by the federal government, then what is it that unites us? We can no longer be called the “United” States of America. I shudder to think what that would look like.
Well, I think it’s possible it would look like a group of states working collectively on the East coast and a group working collectively on the west coast. I think the middle would look a lot like Russia and I think it’s probable that purple states would be positioned similarly to the Ukraine.
😢😢😢
A few years ago, one of the Australian universities made a last-minute amendment to the text of the annual handbook. It was decided to scrap "units" and call them "subjects", as in previous times. Search-and-replace did the job in the twinkling of an eye, and anyone who's ever been caught by search-and-replace will know what happened, and why students were seen in giggling groups, poring over the booklet. "Unit" became "subject" wherever it occurred, as in the "Subjected States of America". It was very funny at the time.
And maybe prescient?
The problem with that description is the fact that many divisions are within the States themselves. The urban areas with the bulk of the population hold progressive ideas and the rural areas with a minority of citizens hold a conservative ideas. My State is gerrymandered to give ruling power to the minority no matter how often the majority votes to change that.
Sure but the whole question around voting rights is about the power of the state legislature. So, in this case, those who hold the power in the state dictate the direction of said state. Much like what happens at the federal level now. But in microcosm. And also, with only the revenue generated by each state to run itself (please see McConnell’s repeated attempts to bankrupt left leaning states for further support of my suggestion). States that rely heavily on federal subsidies provided partly from the taxes collected from wealthier states will have to either find ways to replace those subsidies or will cut services.
I would like each of those 6 Supreme Court justices to walk a shift in the shoes of an ICU Nurse, and another, and another, and another……..
I'd rather see them work a week of shifts at a meat plant, shoulder to shoulder with their sick compatriots, who don't have sick time and will get fired if they call out.
Better yet, let them live with medicine "served up" as it was in the 18th and early 19th century.
Karen, the justices did allow the vaccine mandate to stand for Hospitals and ICU Nurses.
But they think that's enough? it's not just about saving your own skin; they need to see and experience what those nurses are seeing and experiencing.
Selfish bullies vs unselfish, dedicated workers. Ivermectin is heartworm medicine for animals. The fools are deworming themselves and then coming to the hospital when it doesn’t work. Defeatedi idjt ex45 and his family fully,secretly vaccinated. How much more dumbed down can we get??
Please, don't ask that question. They will demonstrate for you.
THIS, Anne-Louise and Karen RN!
You’re missing her point.
And the irony is that many hospitals are part of a conglomerate umbrella, so therefore under SCOTUS rules, they should NOT be allowed to mandate vaccinations, right?
Healthcare entities are generally held as a separate corporation to insulate the parent corporation from liability which may arise from injuries to patients (and other reasons). Therefore, any legal entity providing health care services accepting federal dollars will be required to have their workforce vaccinated. Note: There has been a growing trend among physicians to eschew federal dollars and provide care under a "concierge" model, which in practice works like a membership fee.
Anything goes! So long as it's against the elected government.
I understand that Mike and I am grateful. However, by not allowing it to stand for all other businesses undoubtedly will perpetuate and increase the number of critically ill unvaccinated patients in our already overwhelmed hospitals.
Ah, the specious, usually-disingenuous, states' rights and preferred-level-of-authority argument. I love the largely-unexamined belief by most of these jamokes that a state is somehow the magically-imbued, perfectly-sized entity for each and every decision (probably, declared by God directly to Robert E. Lee). As Heather alluded to, it's largely because of repeated and utter failures by states that the federal government was created/assumed its powers--and it's clear as day this hasn't changed. Or, as James Carville once said nearly 30 years ago, "Anyone thinking the states are models of efficiency has never seen the Louisiana State Legislature in action." To a small town, THE STATE is the "tyrannical" power. Here's another one: even with all this "communist tyranny," the U.S. STILL devolves A LOT to its states. I live in Europe--trust me when I tell you, I don't know of a region, district, judetul, prefecture--hell, even Catalonia or Scotland--that has the levels of authority in so many things that our states still do (I can't comprehensively say it's that way--but my observations and anecdotal sampling says it's not even close). I repeatedly hear Europeans who've spent time in the states BEFUDDLED at how many laws, requirements and other standards are at state-level. I've had some ask me if were are 50 semi-autonomous countries.
This disingenuous diatribe about federal tyranny in an era with impossibly complex systems that no single human or even organization fully understands, in a country of 350 million people is unforgivably stupid. And it's disingenuous because, as we've seen, when Republicans control the government...it still grows. Funny how that works (to this point, when I was in the military--full of conservative-voting, small government-espousing people, esp. officers BTW--I never saw one leader who passed up the chance to create a new organization/unit (needed or not) or didn't fight to keep one slated for inactivation alive because it was "crucial and essential." Every. Single. Time.)
It's a disingenuous power grab driven by fear. That's all it ever was 160 years ago and all it's ever been since. They are trying to destroy our country, and we'd better do everything in our power to stop them, peacefully, or eventually that will not be possible either. I'm not kidding or exaggerating.
Robert, I wish I thought the Convervative majority was operating based on some kind of theory of states rights.
However, on this point, I think Dr. Richardson's analysis is based on her historical understandings.
Personally, I think that the Conservative majority is just bought and paid for by corporations and the ruling was simply passed to them, followed by deposits in all of their major Swiss Bank accounts.
No lie. The ruling to oveturn vaccines for corporations was just an outcome of corruption and greed. Each conservative made a few more million dollars is all.
Mike S. Are you familiar with the investigating that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has been doing regarding the Courts? If not, go to You Tube and type in his name and "The Scheme" So far, it's an 11 part discussion regarding Court Capture. Well done and a deep dive into how dark money and the Federalist Society has done just that.
I have a secret crush on him, maybe at least partly because of his plain-spokenness. But … so what do we do about the identified problem?
Barbara, I have not seen that but will do. Actually, I just remember that NY Times reported that a $200,000 baseball ticket loan was paid off right before he was nominated. (Kavanaugh acquired loans to go to every baseball game).
The FBI was made aware of the debt but I don't think they investigated.
Right there we see somebody is paying his way other than himself.
There was a “tip line” allegedly to the FBI. But it went to the White House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH8g92pxIzo
Disgusting.
But, I sort of knew it.
"(probably, declared by God directly to Robert E. Lee)"
Hey, how did you know!!
:-))
As evidenced by Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, state governments will strip local governments and businesses of local power to exert their will. Several Florida cities enacted mask mandates. DeSantis, by executive order, outlawed them. When the vaccine mandates for federal workers issued, DeSantis called the Legislature into special session to outlaw vaccine mandates, even extending unemployment benefits to those who quit their jobs. This is rich since Florida curtailed federal unemployment benefits 3 months early. Even today, federal employees continue to work maskless in Post Office buildings in Florida with no apparent consequence. It may well not be that way in predominantly Blue areas of the State, but it is accurate for predominantly Red areas.
NH became a Red state in the last election-it isn't a trifecta, it's a quadrafecta -we have the Executive Council as well as the other 3 branches. It's a group to advise the governor and OK/ Refuse things like contracts that affect the state- ALL went Republican and NOT to the benefit of constituents. They're passing atrocious bills that hurt people, like FL ha been doing.
Ugh... FL is definitely Red now. And, to be on the Board of Governors for its flagship university, the University of FL, aspiring members must donate $100k to even be considered! Replicate that paradigm with all other Gov-appointed Commisions/Boards, and business leaders under assault if they are not Republican, is it any wonder Non-Party Affiliates (NPAs) have dramatically increased? The GOP has also been culling voter rolls. I've twice had to fight to get my name back on the roll and have some concern that my move to Ecudaor will again make this an issue despite visiting the SOE office in lesson before I moved. It is exhausting.
Jamokes just got adopted into my lexicon. I’m a lady who drives her “jalopy” like a bat out of hell from and to everywhere! “Get outta my jalopy’s way, you Jamokes! I got business to do for my country!”
Interjecting humor into a situation where antacids, Maddow and HCR’s letters are the only reasons I’m not quivering with fear.
Oh - and yes. It’s the Professor’s letters…Youbetcha…but reading the responses from fellow like-hearted Americans also tip my happy scale to positve/sane.
So - Thank you, Professor. And a big thanks to respondents who add to the meal at which we share.
Great hearts and minds…
♥️🌷
Robert, your argument is solid and sound. Not for a second did I think you were kidding or exaggerating.
Great comment, Robert. Thanks.
Me either. Thank you for your usual thoughtful, well expressed post, Robert.
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! My prayers go out to those Americans tethered to their unvaccinated coworkers while they try to stay safe from a disease that knows no politics.
Morning Lynell. Unfortunately, covid vaccines can not be the unique answer. The European Health Authoriy (EU version of CDC) has just issued a warning about the possible dangers to the immune system of repeated ARM-based jabs (see Bloomberg article below); repetition required by the short life-span (3-4 months) of effective protection given by current ARM technology for those seriously at risk with comorbidity problems. Spain has just rejected the "booster" policy and has decided to accept that the virus Omicron, being less dangerous if more infectious, represents a future in which the virus is endemic and nolonger pandemic. Other European governments are following as the "Omicron fire storm" is proving intense but short lived with hospital problems more created by staff quarantining themselves causing bed closures than from patient overload. The most furious battle now is for governments trying to get their hands on sufficient Merck or Pfizer anti-virals. The people aren't waiting and doctors are starting to prescribe existing treatment combinations which governments have until now shunned.
Unfortunately, we now also have to accept that the ARM vaccines do not significantly reduce the infectiousness of the individual. Vaccinated workers or family members can be almost as much at risk or risky for others than the unvaccinated. See The Scientific American and Lancet references.
Omicron has changed the game in sanitary and political terms; It is not "Delta". The Covid virus is pursuing the normal course of viral mutation and "tending towards" a virus with which we can and must live.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-11/repeat-booster-shots-risk-overloading-immune-system-ema-says
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00768-4/fulltext
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-risk-of-vaccinated-covid-transmission-is-not-low/
the major part of your comment is correct, especially the insistence that it is high time to treat it as an endemic, but the part about the dangers to the immune system inherent in the ARM-based vaccine is simply wrong and not proven. Also, I live in Spain, and there is no such thing like an withdrawal from booster schedules: boosters are given in millions on a province-established schedule to all citizen above 60. I'm a retired 75-year old physician myself, and feel healthy like a rock due to my great life-proven immune system, who has already received four vaccines, three of which are mRNA-based. Btw, I don't know where did you dig out the notion of ARM from, I don't understand what this acronym stands for. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA-based.
Try reading my Bloomberg reference and do follow on research with the European Medical Authority...the one Okaying the jabs in the first place. The WHO is also saying that the ARM technology can not be the only response to the endemic virus. The news of Spain is what is being covered by the public media here in France....try this Bloomberg peice too
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-11/spain-calls-for-debate-to-consider-covid-as-endemic-like-flu
I'm reading the Spanish news first-hand, and the suggestion to treating covid as endemic does not imply not giving boosters or changing the timing of booster jabs. I figured out that the ARM acronym comes from French, it would be Acide Ribonucléic Messager, but it is still not mentioned anywhere as a specific harmful agent to the immune system.
Forgive me if i may sound anal on the precise interpretations, but I do believe that precision and exactitude is paramount to pull ourselves out of the mess created by the media about this pandemic. We, the people, should care about our thorough understanding and vulgarizing biomedical data.
Morning, Stuart! Thank you for this explanation and links. The news I have seen/heard here did not mention anything about "arm-based jabs." Funny, when they came out with the booster, I was not too thrilled with the idea of yet another vaccine "jab" in such a short amount of time. Being retired, I have the luxury of not having to deal with too much in the way of human contact, but do empathize with those who have no choice but to intermingle with their fellow humans. Hurry the day when it's declared an endemic, says this fully vaccinated/boostered anti-vaxer!
The Novavax covid vaccine is a real "traditional" flu-like vaccine as will be the forthcoming Valneva and Sanofi/GSK vaccines (all aiming for february rollouts. The Pfizer/Modena/Astrazeneca jabs are effectively "gene therapy". We enjoy our own company a lot at home too and have no great need to go into Paris much usually. However, I'm braving the elements a bit this year as I've gone back to University to obtain a post-graduate diploma in Mediation from the University of Paris-Panthéon/Assas; the countries premier law school. Hope to be practicing here and in the village next year. In-presence classes and public transport though are somewhat tiresome in current circumstances although the group and profs are very stimulating.
Good for you, Stuart...All the best!
Congratulations, Stuart! My best to you, as well.
Stuart, I’ve read similar articles, but, recently virologists are disputing this theory. They say viral mutations are chaotic by nature and we can’t assume Covid will become less deadly over time. It also appears that immunity, natural or vaccine induced, fades over time.
So chop wood, carry water and wear a mask.
When the scientists are fighting we definitely should head for the woods. The current variant Omicron would, unless its an outrider, would tend to confirm my point.
Future mutations will tell the story. I’m hoping it’ll be a happy story.
Stuart,
Boosters also have the side effect o preventing first shots in disadvantaged countries, which, the WHO has be wailing about for months.
I'm humbled...thanks, Mike.
Absolutely totally useful post Stuart. Thank you.
we must expand the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is comprised of 6 Federalist Society Judges and 3 liberal judges, the 6 judges were hand picked by the Federalist society whose goal is to fundamentally change America into a white anglo-saxon fundamentalist Christian society with a patriarchy comprised of the wealthy white males , a severely deconstructed Federal Government with States rights being supreme. The conservative justices argue that States rights are more democratic while at the same time supporting voter suppression, extreme gerrymandering and election subversion, thus ensuring that only the elite white conservative minority can vote. Scotus has codified corruption in our political system with their Citizen's United decision and have guaranteed that women have no agency over their bodies. Conservative Judges around the country have repeatedly been extremely lenient with white male rapists indicating that this is not a real crime, while black male rapist are held to a different standard. I am not supporting black rapists but I am appalled at how many young white rapists are not held accountable by conservative, white, older judges.
It isn't just rapists. It is everything from shoplifting to homicide. And look at the justification for "stand your ground" laws protecting white men's' stuff and the disproportionate punishment for a woman who "stands her ground" against an abusive and dangerous male partner.
Absolutely Ally. I also think open carry laws are there to allow white guys to shoot black people who have their own weapons.
The Supreme Court has lost all legitimacy. They're now controlled by sadists who care not one bit about the little people. They have come down on the side of monied interests. The attack on OSHA is a step in the dismantling of protections of workers and agencies meant to help ordinary people. What's next? Child labor laws? Public education? It's time for revolt.
Public education, at least in Florida, has long been under assault.
...and here in NH as well-the Republican majority legislature has deemed that taking public education money (that is mostly funded by property taxes)and giving it to private/religious schools and home schoolers is OK and then cut Public Ed money even more, totally ignoring the overwhelming opposition to the school voucher program. The Education "Freedom" Accounts (vouchers) (" " my emphasis as sarcasm) have already gone 5000 % over budget in less than 6 months and will increase property taxes, especially in poor towns. That majority has also decided that teachers cannot discuss issues like racism in elementary/high schools, basically allowing censorship.
Similar experience in FL. In 1986, Florida voters authorized a lottery through a constitutional amendment, enacted by a two-to-one margin that would use its proceeds to enhance public education in Florida. Instead, public education lost what it used to get in the overall budget. The Charter schools and faith-based schools are permitted to operate outside the requirements imposed on public schools, which are increasingly attended by poorer and minority students. DeSantis has led the GOP-controlled legislature to outlaw teaching CRT (which was taught only at law school) and last week proposed the teachers be required to wear microphones so parents could monitor what they say! And this guy wants to be president!!