Hopefully, the effective governing that President Biden has done, and will continue to do as much as possible, will overshadow the screeching lies and faux issues of the feckless Republicans. He has truly been the leader we needed at an inflection point.
Hopefully, the effective governing that President Biden has done, and will continue to do as much as possible, will overshadow the screeching lies and faux issues of the feckless Republicans. He has truly been the leader we needed at an inflection point.
Feckless: what a wonderful word. If you remember, some years ago, Samantha Bee called Ivanka trump a “feckless c**t”. I’ll never forgot the meaning of that word again.
I share you sentiment "will overshadow the screeching lies and faux issues of the feckless Republicans"
However, one thing that is not working, initiated by President Biden, with the best of intentions, is economic sanctions against Russia. Much like economic sanctions have not worked in most cases of their use by the United States, if we are honest.
Gift link, below, from NY Times showing how the rest of the world can (today) step up when the US levers sanctions (unlike days gone by). I mean, some of that is good news because other countries that formerly had economies a small fraction of the size of the US now CAN step up. Good for the folks in those countries for sure.
But, the bad new is: We only hurt Europe and ourselves with sanctions, not, so much, Russia. We HELP other, non-western countries develop trade with Russia as Russia replaces Europe and the US for needed goods.
screeching lies are definitely bad. Sometimes, however, so is the truth. I hate to say this, but, maybe attempting to fight a war without fighting a war is, umm, not possible?
Mike, that's an important read. Thanks for the link. My take away is twofold. First, our "ally" Turkey once again undermines democracy. Makes me crazy. But second, just because Putin is finding workarounds to sanctions doesn't mean they were wrong to do (as you said). He is still an international pariah.
This is a really tough situation. But I believe in the long run that the Oligarchs who are Putin's puppets are also his enablers. It's hard for me to believe that as the Russians continue to fail on the battlefield and the uber rich robber barons yachts are confiscated and/or banned from ports, that these enablers won't become weary of a war that gains them nothing but social ostracization and inconvenience.
The deal struck by Putin with the Oligarchs (captains of industry) is that they fund his political games and his dachas while they are given monopolistic control and the world as a playground. If their finances are hurt, social isolation continues and they are deprived of their island vacations, this deal may sour.
I could be grasping at straws here. But dictators always peter out in the end. Their promises become hollow and their military adventures fail. I see echoes of Mussolini who was removed from office by the very fascists who put him there - as his African adventures collapsed and Italy was shamed by failure. Putin is failing. That won't stand for long....
Sometime I would like to hear (or read) a deeper discussion of how to fight against authoritarian governments that engage in warfare (troop-invasion based, cyber) and are bent, as Russia is, on taking out a country and its people? Like others, I question how effective or predictable use of pressures like sanctions can have in stopping wars? Have their use merely delayed the inevitable of democracy’s troops on the ground? By what measure do democracies use to say we must unite with our forces, not just materiale and prayers, to stop evil? Is this where we are at? Playing an intellectual game of give them guns until at some point the country in defense is so obliterated that besides its geographic proximity to other nations, it is no longer worth trying to recapture and reconstruct? I want sanctions to not merely deter, but actually make Russia, in this case, conclude that the cost of regaining (their idea) the Ukraine is untenable. How long before the will is gone, the wheat is unharvestable, the male population is decimated, a next generation is lacking in it cultural memories and ability to re-establish a once venerable and vibrant Euro nation, and the authoritarian aggressor has proven to be victorious over the intellectual dwaddling of the free-world? And, no. I do not want our nation's young fighting on someone elses soil, even European, or dying for their national crisis. No more wars, please. But, when is the stalemate of soft-responses to authoritarian power both seen as ineffectual, at best giving great support for our weapons -industrial complex, and too late? It is Tuesday and I worry.
I hear you Fred. But sometimes we need to flip the view. How would we look...how would we feel...if we didn't at least try to punish Putin financially? Wouldn't that send a message of tacit approval.
I think the trap we all fall into is this. It takes more than one action to create change. Just sanctions wouldn't work, obviously. But sanctions can hurt in subtle ways that MSM doesn't find scintillating enough to report. Things like key electronic components for armored vehicles being N/A.
Sanctions, sending effective weapons, pulling together with Europe...it all adds up over time to stymie.
Thanks for the Substact article. It is helpful to hear how leadership is playing out. Poland has taken the stand we'd like to see among other allies, fiscally, militarily (supplies), and as humanitarian resource for refugees. Your points about combined effects of sanctions that disrupt supplies and warfare capacity I agree with. Getting democracies to collaborate and push the cart of options equally causes one to remember how wont cats, Democrats, and diverse cultures are to being herded. The curve of devastation in Ukraine has gone on so long, I'm feeling like the cavalry will be called in too late and require extreme measures to win on behalf of the Ukrainian people that a reborn democracy in that country and Russia will have a slimmer chance of happening. I remember our hopes that economic competition would allow nations to grow without engaging in wars of aggression, existing nations could continue and arms races avoided. Treaties and economic pacts could keep autocratic nations (leaders) from infringing upon others. What if warfare by sanction + doesn't work? What then? Questions I have roiling about in my head. Maybe, as you suggest, Bill, these are not the profitable ones to rely upon or frame in figuring our how lasting peace can be achieved instead of avoidance of war or direct conflict. Thanks.
Morning Mike, see Professor Paul Krugman on all these topics. As a Post-Grad, Paul was part of a Team that was flown into Portugal to tackle all sorts of "trade issues" as well as other Macro & Micro realities. Got an important conference call this am or I would do the Work. Salud
Thanks for the article. To date, economic sanctions have rarely had the desired effect of causing the collapse of a regime. My paternal grandfather was from Havana, so sanctions were often part of family conversations. In this case, perhaps a strategy to buy time? Putin does seem internationally weakened. For how long, and at what final cost? In the meantime, we are again in a cold war style proxy war. Not a sound position, I agree.
I hope so too, but it will have to be when they see and experience the actual roads, bridges, reliable electricity, etc., because they aren't going to hear about it. Or at least they aren't going to hear anything positive about it while watching Fox news, reading Druge Report, listening to Neal Bortz, or going on Truth Social.
BK, thank you for the statistics on the recent drop in life expectancy, particularly for white males. Stunning reversal for an overwhelmingly wealthy country.
But don’t talk about Universal Health Care!!! At least not within earshot of white Republican males in Congress. (Say Obamacare and watch their blood pressure rise instead)
Over the last decade Iowa votes blood red. The GQP holds the government trifecta. In the first 2 weeks of the current session GQP lawmakers ignored the protests of thousands of Iowans and passed a school voucher law that will funnel millions away from already cash starved public schools and award them to private schools purportedly to give all Iowa parents control over their children's education.
Here in NH, we have a Repub Quadrafecta-we have an elected Executive Council that works on okaying state contracts. All 4 branches of state government are red and there's a fair number of the legislature that are ultra libertarian; that group is called the Free State Project and hide, calling themselves Republicans. They went so far last year to put a secession bill up to a vote (they lost 323 to 13.) We also have a voucher bill that passed and diverts public education monies to private/religious schools and home schoolers. There was a great deal of opposition to the voucher bill, but just as happened in Iowa, the legislature did NOT listen to their constituents. In NH, a goodly amount of Public Ed money comes from property taxpayers-minimal state funding. That voucher program was initially budgeted for $130K in 2020; now over $8 million within two years. These voucher plans were created by A.L.E.C. Here's an overview of that group for those not familiar with it.: https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_%26_Education
It appears that this class of red state Americans are simply too lazy to be informed or educated. Going to school required “homework” that they’re not interested in doing
Why read the book when you can skim the Cliff Note version from Breitbart or watch a Fox Entertainment movie?
It is amazing that they make no connection between their woes and the party of death. Here in Oregon, the rural areas scream all the time about the libs in the Willamette Valley. The new governor is visiting all the counties in Oregon the first year and she is starting with those who didn't vote for her. I don't know what kind of epiphany has to happen before they see the light.
Years ago when I started my teaching career in a rural town east of Salem, kids could quit school and make more than we were working in the timber industry. That is no longer true. Now we have something that began by calling itself Timber Unity (not sure what they call themselves now) which constantly stirs up the base. And thanks to redistricting we are now stuck in red districts for the Oregon legislature. No one ran against our new wacko rep because it isn't worth the time or the money. I wrote someone in.
Yes they ARE criminals and it is unconscionable that the wealthiest nation in the world denies its citizens universal healthcare.Meanwhile these”criminals” are enjoying taxpayer-funded Cadillac style healthcare plans.The same thing goes for the Covid vaccines.They cry that making people get these shots is infringing on their”Freedoms “ but I would bet every member of Congress and their families were first in line to get each vaccine as they were rolled out.
The screamers are always first in line when there is something that they want from the government. How much of the COVID money went to fraudsters, for example. And then we have one of the best fraudsters of all serving in Congress, Rick Scott.
BK At 89 I have benefitted from Social Security for 24 years. The Republicans can prove that actuarially I have exceed my normal lifetime benefits.
It seems reasonable that the Republicans would want to terminate my Social Security benefits (‘lived too damn long’) and jack up eligibility to 70 to stop folks from supping at the government trough without working long enough. (Actually, I was a professor until age 80–paid ‘old age’ minimal compensation.)
Meanwhile, Republicans insist on retaining ‘carried interest,’ which permits a number of quasi-entrepreneurs to defer their compensation on which they pay capital gains rather than income taxes and on which they pay no Social Security fees.
Also, isn’t Medicare an unwarranted benefit for a person of my age? Sharply curbing my medical benefits could accelerate my ‘expiration’ date, which also seems a Republican priority.
24 years in SSA & a Professor until 80? Think you may qualify for Social Security Emeritus status very soon but, sorry no extra credit for educating the next Generations.
Byran My ‘extra credit’ comes from the people I have been privileged to give a lift on my shoulders and watch them run. Last week I heard (for the first time) from a person I helped in 1960 and 63 years later he persevered to say thanks and catch up. Ditto with a student who came up while I was lunching with my wife to tell me what a difference I had made to her 20 years ago and how she is describing my teaching techniques to a retired West Point grad who wishes to become a history teacher.
I find it a joy to give and then watch the acorns grow into oaks. AND to remember all those who provided me a helping hand when I needed it.
Keith, it is heart-warming and validating to hear from folks whose lives you touched. You really never know…just doing “your thing” and doing your best can impact folks in ways you never know. One of several instances over the years that floored & validated me, a few years back-maybe in 2018–I was in a local hardware store waiting for my purchase to be rung up, and a woman ahead of me asked….”didn’t you work at the HSU Financial Aid Office?”. Yes, I replied. She said thank you for all the help you gave me. You’re welcome, I replied. Then asked when did you graduate…..1985, was her reply. Wow….you just never know when doing your best to fulfill your heart-felt chosen profession will impact others & how long it will stay with them. I was gobsmacked and grateful for the acknowledgement—that she remembered so many years later was astounding to me. To me that’s the whole idea & always was in my 40+ years at it….make a positive difference in people’s lives…..a real right livelihood!
Unfortunately the US economic model is predicated on more and more people eating more and more of ever worsening quality food, resulting in ever poorer health outcomes. When this meets the effects of an extravagantly expensive healthcare system, those are the results to be expected on the national level.
Hopefully, the effective governing that President Biden has done, and will continue to do as much as possible, will overshadow the screeching lies and faux issues of the feckless Republicans. He has truly been the leader we needed at an inflection point.
Feckless: what a wonderful word. If you remember, some years ago, Samantha Bee called Ivanka trump a “feckless c**t”. I’ll never forgot the meaning of that word again.
Carmen,
I share you sentiment "will overshadow the screeching lies and faux issues of the feckless Republicans"
However, one thing that is not working, initiated by President Biden, with the best of intentions, is economic sanctions against Russia. Much like economic sanctions have not worked in most cases of their use by the United States, if we are honest.
Gift link, below, from NY Times showing how the rest of the world can (today) step up when the US levers sanctions (unlike days gone by). I mean, some of that is good news because other countries that formerly had economies a small fraction of the size of the US now CAN step up. Good for the folks in those countries for sure.
But, the bad new is: We only hurt Europe and ourselves with sanctions, not, so much, Russia. We HELP other, non-western countries develop trade with Russia as Russia replaces Europe and the US for needed goods.
screeching lies are definitely bad. Sometimes, however, so is the truth. I hate to say this, but, maybe attempting to fight a war without fighting a war is, umm, not possible?
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/business/economy/russia-sanctions-trade-china-turkey.html?unlocked_article_code=UOuCiU5uRJt6LXH-XL2auL-kBlegB259TIuokC-OzcqZQbIihokSGgktsx2aAnaysmikW-YseCo67yJgyrfDeNreHa5KYa6h4RviWt9e7vVBt6Ub5ZeMWCR0ixTZhOvs8ovtywH1GEbHqY40q5bH6PaSUvQJXYbCQbu_xTuHqTlmchhOnC77aylKokohrAv-9ua3kSK121ckCsi_zs7q3-xPdXC4juAtWOHyvLQAP_FU7nIJqSbL-1OBemtARE4tJ3zMVkBY_g2cpomc121jMrirk0jgvKCvFz5SjZYdF4MG7Z1znk3apN7cBrzWCWzWPOoYrR9jlEFqcqmhlJ9-xT0OpF5DfnIRbIT8r3wRh-vUBf87Gk8&smid=share-url
Mike, that's an important read. Thanks for the link. My take away is twofold. First, our "ally" Turkey once again undermines democracy. Makes me crazy. But second, just because Putin is finding workarounds to sanctions doesn't mean they were wrong to do (as you said). He is still an international pariah.
This is a really tough situation. But I believe in the long run that the Oligarchs who are Putin's puppets are also his enablers. It's hard for me to believe that as the Russians continue to fail on the battlefield and the uber rich robber barons yachts are confiscated and/or banned from ports, that these enablers won't become weary of a war that gains them nothing but social ostracization and inconvenience.
The deal struck by Putin with the Oligarchs (captains of industry) is that they fund his political games and his dachas while they are given monopolistic control and the world as a playground. If their finances are hurt, social isolation continues and they are deprived of their island vacations, this deal may sour.
I could be grasping at straws here. But dictators always peter out in the end. Their promises become hollow and their military adventures fail. I see echoes of Mussolini who was removed from office by the very fascists who put him there - as his African adventures collapsed and Italy was shamed by failure. Putin is failing. That won't stand for long....
Sometime I would like to hear (or read) a deeper discussion of how to fight against authoritarian governments that engage in warfare (troop-invasion based, cyber) and are bent, as Russia is, on taking out a country and its people? Like others, I question how effective or predictable use of pressures like sanctions can have in stopping wars? Have their use merely delayed the inevitable of democracy’s troops on the ground? By what measure do democracies use to say we must unite with our forces, not just materiale and prayers, to stop evil? Is this where we are at? Playing an intellectual game of give them guns until at some point the country in defense is so obliterated that besides its geographic proximity to other nations, it is no longer worth trying to recapture and reconstruct? I want sanctions to not merely deter, but actually make Russia, in this case, conclude that the cost of regaining (their idea) the Ukraine is untenable. How long before the will is gone, the wheat is unharvestable, the male population is decimated, a next generation is lacking in it cultural memories and ability to re-establish a once venerable and vibrant Euro nation, and the authoritarian aggressor has proven to be victorious over the intellectual dwaddling of the free-world? And, no. I do not want our nation's young fighting on someone elses soil, even European, or dying for their national crisis. No more wars, please. But, when is the stalemate of soft-responses to authoritarian power both seen as ineffectual, at best giving great support for our weapons -industrial complex, and too late? It is Tuesday and I worry.
I hear you Fred. But sometimes we need to flip the view. How would we look...how would we feel...if we didn't at least try to punish Putin financially? Wouldn't that send a message of tacit approval.
I think the trap we all fall into is this. It takes more than one action to create change. Just sanctions wouldn't work, obviously. But sanctions can hurt in subtle ways that MSM doesn't find scintillating enough to report. Things like key electronic components for armored vehicles being N/A.
Sanctions, sending effective weapons, pulling together with Europe...it all adds up over time to stymie.
I am particularly inspired by Poland.
https://open.substack.com/pub/dianefrancis/p/polands-moral-leadership?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android
Thanks for the Substact article. It is helpful to hear how leadership is playing out. Poland has taken the stand we'd like to see among other allies, fiscally, militarily (supplies), and as humanitarian resource for refugees. Your points about combined effects of sanctions that disrupt supplies and warfare capacity I agree with. Getting democracies to collaborate and push the cart of options equally causes one to remember how wont cats, Democrats, and diverse cultures are to being herded. The curve of devastation in Ukraine has gone on so long, I'm feeling like the cavalry will be called in too late and require extreme measures to win on behalf of the Ukrainian people that a reborn democracy in that country and Russia will have a slimmer chance of happening. I remember our hopes that economic competition would allow nations to grow without engaging in wars of aggression, existing nations could continue and arms races avoided. Treaties and economic pacts could keep autocratic nations (leaders) from infringing upon others. What if warfare by sanction + doesn't work? What then? Questions I have roiling about in my head. Maybe, as you suggest, Bill, these are not the profitable ones to rely upon or frame in figuring our how lasting peace can be achieved instead of avoidance of war or direct conflict. Thanks.
I hope you are right Bill. Thanks for thoughtful reply.
Morning Mike, see Professor Paul Krugman on all these topics. As a Post-Grad, Paul was part of a Team that was flown into Portugal to tackle all sorts of "trade issues" as well as other Macro & Micro realities. Got an important conference call this am or I would do the Work. Salud
Thanks for the link Mike. It is very discouraging to see what is happening. It really shows a distinct global division. Is there no stopping Putin?
Thanks for the article. To date, economic sanctions have rarely had the desired effect of causing the collapse of a regime. My paternal grandfather was from Havana, so sanctions were often part of family conversations. In this case, perhaps a strategy to buy time? Putin does seem internationally weakened. For how long, and at what final cost? In the meantime, we are again in a cold war style proxy war. Not a sound position, I agree.
I hope so too, but it will have to be when they see and experience the actual roads, bridges, reliable electricity, etc., because they aren't going to hear about it. Or at least they aren't going to hear anything positive about it while watching Fox news, reading Druge Report, listening to Neal Bortz, or going on Truth Social.
My bottom line w Biden is please please please no deals with these saboteurs.
I hope its a secure plan to not negotiate w terrorists
BK, thank you for the statistics on the recent drop in life expectancy, particularly for white males. Stunning reversal for an overwhelmingly wealthy country.
But don’t talk about Universal Health Care!!! At least not within earshot of white Republican males in Congress. (Say Obamacare and watch their blood pressure rise instead)
Gobsmackingly feckless, the whole lot of ‘em! 😎
Even more so, as they ride the tax payer paid gravy train with Cadillac style health care.
Uh-oh. Living on borrowed time !
And that they're uneducated is no accident since the Republicans eschew funding education.
Over the last decade Iowa votes blood red. The GQP holds the government trifecta. In the first 2 weeks of the current session GQP lawmakers ignored the protests of thousands of Iowans and passed a school voucher law that will funnel millions away from already cash starved public schools and award them to private schools purportedly to give all Iowa parents control over their children's education.
That is just criminal, IMO.
Here in NH, we have a Repub Quadrafecta-we have an elected Executive Council that works on okaying state contracts. All 4 branches of state government are red and there's a fair number of the legislature that are ultra libertarian; that group is called the Free State Project and hide, calling themselves Republicans. They went so far last year to put a secession bill up to a vote (they lost 323 to 13.) We also have a voucher bill that passed and diverts public education monies to private/religious schools and home schoolers. There was a great deal of opposition to the voucher bill, but just as happened in Iowa, the legislature did NOT listen to their constituents. In NH, a goodly amount of Public Ed money comes from property taxpayers-minimal state funding. That voucher program was initially budgeted for $130K in 2020; now over $8 million within two years. These voucher plans were created by A.L.E.C. Here's an overview of that group for those not familiar with it.: https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_%26_Education
It appears that this class of red state Americans are simply too lazy to be informed or educated. Going to school required “homework” that they’re not interested in doing
Why read the book when you can skim the Cliff Note version from Breitbart or watch a Fox Entertainment movie?
Feckless indeed
Would there even be Cliff Notes -- Breitbart and Fox would simply be substituting a different book.
It is amazing that they make no connection between their woes and the party of death. Here in Oregon, the rural areas scream all the time about the libs in the Willamette Valley. The new governor is visiting all the counties in Oregon the first year and she is starting with those who didn't vote for her. I don't know what kind of epiphany has to happen before they see the light.
Years ago when I started my teaching career in a rural town east of Salem, kids could quit school and make more than we were working in the timber industry. That is no longer true. Now we have something that began by calling itself Timber Unity (not sure what they call themselves now) which constantly stirs up the base. And thanks to redistricting we are now stuck in red districts for the Oregon legislature. No one ran against our new wacko rep because it isn't worth the time or the money. I wrote someone in.
BK, they ARE criminals…..thank you for taking the comment further….
Yes they ARE criminals and it is unconscionable that the wealthiest nation in the world denies its citizens universal healthcare.Meanwhile these”criminals” are enjoying taxpayer-funded Cadillac style healthcare plans.The same thing goes for the Covid vaccines.They cry that making people get these shots is infringing on their”Freedoms “ but I would bet every member of Congress and their families were first in line to get each vaccine as they were rolled out.
The screamers are always first in line when there is something that they want from the government. How much of the COVID money went to fraudsters, for example. And then we have one of the best fraudsters of all serving in Congress, Rick Scott.
"Our Wotld in Data", thank you BK, stunning data.
BK At 89 I have benefitted from Social Security for 24 years. The Republicans can prove that actuarially I have exceed my normal lifetime benefits.
It seems reasonable that the Republicans would want to terminate my Social Security benefits (‘lived too damn long’) and jack up eligibility to 70 to stop folks from supping at the government trough without working long enough. (Actually, I was a professor until age 80–paid ‘old age’ minimal compensation.)
Meanwhile, Republicans insist on retaining ‘carried interest,’ which permits a number of quasi-entrepreneurs to defer their compensation on which they pay capital gains rather than income taxes and on which they pay no Social Security fees.
Also, isn’t Medicare an unwarranted benefit for a person of my age? Sharply curbing my medical benefits could accelerate my ‘expiration’ date, which also seems a Republican priority.
24 years in SSA & a Professor until 80? Think you may qualify for Social Security Emeritus status very soon but, sorry no extra credit for educating the next Generations.
Byran My ‘extra credit’ comes from the people I have been privileged to give a lift on my shoulders and watch them run. Last week I heard (for the first time) from a person I helped in 1960 and 63 years later he persevered to say thanks and catch up. Ditto with a student who came up while I was lunching with my wife to tell me what a difference I had made to her 20 years ago and how she is describing my teaching techniques to a retired West Point grad who wishes to become a history teacher.
I find it a joy to give and then watch the acorns grow into oaks. AND to remember all those who provided me a helping hand when I needed it.
Keith, it is heart-warming and validating to hear from folks whose lives you touched. You really never know…just doing “your thing” and doing your best can impact folks in ways you never know. One of several instances over the years that floored & validated me, a few years back-maybe in 2018–I was in a local hardware store waiting for my purchase to be rung up, and a woman ahead of me asked….”didn’t you work at the HSU Financial Aid Office?”. Yes, I replied. She said thank you for all the help you gave me. You’re welcome, I replied. Then asked when did you graduate…..1985, was her reply. Wow….you just never know when doing your best to fulfill your heart-felt chosen profession will impact others & how long it will stay with them. I was gobsmacked and grateful for the acknowledgement—that she remembered so many years later was astounding to me. To me that’s the whole idea & always was in my 40+ years at it….make a positive difference in people’s lives…..a real right livelihood!
Barbara Kudos for a well-deserved gobsmacked.
Well said. 🙏
Always a $ calculation. A fetus will be a worker bee. Old or disabled people are money pits.
Ya don't even have to read the article. The charts say all! As does "feckless"
BK - thank you for the links, very interesting.
Unfortunately the US economic model is predicated on more and more people eating more and more of ever worsening quality food, resulting in ever poorer health outcomes. When this meets the effects of an extravagantly expensive healthcare system, those are the results to be expected on the national level.
I dont know what "ave" is.
Wow! I thought it meant "hail", as in "Ave Maria". (Just to be clear: being sarcastic.)
thx!