But obviously bad men surface and do what they can to abuse the system. I haven't seen a rush to tighten things in Washington; seems everyone likes to have all their options open to commit fraud, not be held accountable, and maximize power and fund-raising. It will happen again. The foxes ruling the chicken coop. I blame Citizens United for giving this tendency more financial steam.
"Citizens United" (how's that for Orwellian labeling?) was certainly a travesty, effectively legalizing corruption while claiming a mandate from the Constitution. Government, like infectious disease, never goes away completely, but it got a big boost from Nixon. Nixon's excesses were almost caught in time. but Ford let them out the back door. By the time Reagan launched his presidential bid, the lesson learned from the Nixon affair was NEVER admit wrong doing, shred all evidence against you, buy off all the refs, and jettison decency for good. Seek and hold ABSOLUTE POWER.
Former President Carter was correct to call Citizens United тАЬlegalized political bribery.тАЭ It may very well destroy what is left of the concept of government, of, for and by the people.
Bernie is advocating a greater public financing of political competition. The current 40m allotted isn't remotely close to the real cost of running national elections. But at the same time the PAC spigots have to be severely curtailed. "corporate personalities" indeed!
This was predicted back in 2000, even before that election was stolen by the then sitting supremes. It was likely that the next president would have several supreme court vacancies to fill. The importance of that did not get through to the voters.
We have been suffering the consequences of that election in so many ways.
When the decision came down from the court in December 2000, Gore graciously accepted the outcome and stepped aside for the (supposed at the time) good of the nation. Republicans don't play that.
The George Bush vs Al Gore election was also stolen by FUTURE Supreme Court members, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett, who were sent down to Florida by the Heritage Society to "help count the ballots."
We.. "We The People", have been served notice of what the "thugs" and alex-joneses convince dupes to do. I hope this administration has communicated this "Notice" thoroughly to all our law enforcement agencies, regarding prompt and firm response to any behavior which jeopardizes civil election activities. We don't need a contingent of white-supremacists guarding ballot boxes, or Kyle-shithouses threatening crowd control. Nip that crap in the bud! We only have one chance.. make it count this time.
The best dinner party IтАЩve attended all year took place at a conference held at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, overlooking the San Francisco Bay. It was a family-style meal, arranged to make you ask the person sitting next to you to please pass the kale salad, at which point you might realize that to your left is a celebrated economist, and to your right, a top government official. Our host, Jennifer Harris, gave a speech about how economic ideas change to meet the needs of a new era.
Everyone listened. In a room full of V.I.P.s, she was the Queen Bee.
IтАЩd wanted to interview Ms. Harris for years. She has been the quiet intellectual force behind the Biden administrationтАЩs economic policies, and she seemed key to understanding why both parties in Washington had walked away from free trade and neoliberalism тАФ the belief that free markets will bring prosperity and democracy around the world.
These matters felt personal to me. I spent much of the Trump administration following steelworkers in Indiana who lost their jobs when their factory moved to Mexico. They felt betrayed by elites тАФ and they werenтАЩt wrong. I was thrilled when the Biden administration came in with a plan for big federal investments in the American industrial base, tariffs, support for labor unions and actions against monopolies. No one knew what to call it тАФ Post-neoliberalism? Democratic capitalism? Neopopulism? тАФ but for the first time in generations a U.S. administration was saying that people should control the market, not the other way around. I believed in it. But if it was the right path, why didnтАЩt more voters trust President Biden on the economy?
To understand who Ms. Harris is, you have to know who she used to be. As a young State Department policy planner in the 2000s, she was a lonely voice in Washington raising the alarm about the rise of China. She pushed for tariffs and against trade agreements before it was cool, and was an author of a book called тАЬWar by Other MeansтАЭ about how blind faith in free markets put the United States at a geopolitical disadvantage. For years, she felt like an oddball in Washington, where both parties were still in thrall to neoliberalism.
Thank you for this article and introducing me to Jennifer Harris. It is an example of President Joe Biden's ability to recognize excellence and respect for the work of a gifted brilliant, female patriot! He loves this country and wants the best for all of us!!!
AND....."for the first time in generations a US administration was saying that people should control the market, NOT the other way around." (Gary Loft).
Let's be reminded that we are BLESSED to live within a DEMOCRACY...no matter the imperfections. I am personally grateful......thank you Joe Biden..... I do NOT want our country led by a dictator....especially by a "Putin" OOPS!!! I mean "PUPPET" dictator.
Good and bad old days. A lot has continued to progress since then, such as gay rights, but a lot went wrong as well. I think government corruption has increased overall, both in scope and intensity.
Back then you didnтАЩt social media being used by foreign entities sowing discord. Also way too much money is being spent in campaigns. Fox News plays a huge role in helping one side but also forces them further right.
Biased is biased. AF is a modifier that means extremely or very and it typically comes after the word it modifies instead of before. It's not a term used in polite company; my mother would wash my mouth out with soap if she heard me use it. You'll find it in the Urban Dictionary if you google it.
The good old days when GOP legislators didn't blindly support a corrupt (former) president and the SCOTUS wasn't biased AF. :(
But obviously bad men surface and do what they can to abuse the system. I haven't seen a rush to tighten things in Washington; seems everyone likes to have all their options open to commit fraud, not be held accountable, and maximize power and fund-raising. It will happen again. The foxes ruling the chicken coop. I blame Citizens United for giving this tendency more financial steam.
"Citizens United" (how's that for Orwellian labeling?) was certainly a travesty, effectively legalizing corruption while claiming a mandate from the Constitution. Government, like infectious disease, never goes away completely, but it got a big boost from Nixon. Nixon's excesses were almost caught in time. but Ford let them out the back door. By the time Reagan launched his presidential bid, the lesson learned from the Nixon affair was NEVER admit wrong doing, shred all evidence against you, buy off all the refs, and jettison decency for good. Seek and hold ABSOLUTE POWER.
Former President Carter was correct to call Citizens United тАЬlegalized political bribery.тАЭ It may very well destroy what is left of the concept of government, of, for and by the people.
Bernie is advocating a greater public financing of political competition. The current 40m allotted isn't remotely close to the real cost of running national elections. But at the same time the PAC spigots have to be severely curtailed. "corporate personalities" indeed!
Citizens United. "[Expletive deleted]"
ЁЯдг
Nicely articulated, JL.
Just shows the power of a stacked SC, how far reaching that outlook has become.
This was predicted back in 2000, even before that election was stolen by the then sitting supremes. It was likely that the next president would have several supreme court vacancies to fill. The importance of that did not get through to the voters.
We have been suffering the consequences of that election in so many ways.
When the decision came down from the court in December 2000, Gore graciously accepted the outcome and stepped aside for the (supposed at the time) good of the nation. Republicans don't play that.
The George Bush vs Al Gore election was also stolen by FUTURE Supreme Court members, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett, who were sent down to Florida by the Heritage Society to "help count the ballots."
Yeah.. that was some sickening to listen to.. hanging chads.. GMAB!
Bonnie...it's all Biden has done...trying to turn around the nation. He's hamstrung by the Republican held House.
We.. "We The People", have been served notice of what the "thugs" and alex-joneses convince dupes to do. I hope this administration has communicated this "Notice" thoroughly to all our law enforcement agencies, regarding prompt and firm response to any behavior which jeopardizes civil election activities. We don't need a contingent of white-supremacists guarding ballot boxes, or Kyle-shithouses threatening crowd control. Nip that crap in the bud! We only have one chance.. make it count this time.
Completely agree.
Very good article in The NY Times today about the person behind Bidenomics -Ms. Harris.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/jennifer-harris-bidenomics.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0U0.2N75._EVr57SE0BhG&smid=url-share
Here is a little bit of the article -
The best dinner party IтАЩve attended all year took place at a conference held at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, overlooking the San Francisco Bay. It was a family-style meal, arranged to make you ask the person sitting next to you to please pass the kale salad, at which point you might realize that to your left is a celebrated economist, and to your right, a top government official. Our host, Jennifer Harris, gave a speech about how economic ideas change to meet the needs of a new era.
Everyone listened. In a room full of V.I.P.s, she was the Queen Bee.
IтАЩd wanted to interview Ms. Harris for years. She has been the quiet intellectual force behind the Biden administrationтАЩs economic policies, and she seemed key to understanding why both parties in Washington had walked away from free trade and neoliberalism тАФ the belief that free markets will bring prosperity and democracy around the world.
These matters felt personal to me. I spent much of the Trump administration following steelworkers in Indiana who lost their jobs when their factory moved to Mexico. They felt betrayed by elites тАФ and they werenтАЩt wrong. I was thrilled when the Biden administration came in with a plan for big federal investments in the American industrial base, tariffs, support for labor unions and actions against monopolies. No one knew what to call it тАФ Post-neoliberalism? Democratic capitalism? Neopopulism? тАФ but for the first time in generations a U.S. administration was saying that people should control the market, not the other way around. I believed in it. But if it was the right path, why didnтАЩt more voters trust President Biden on the economy?
To understand who Ms. Harris is, you have to know who she used to be. As a young State Department policy planner in the 2000s, she was a lonely voice in Washington raising the alarm about the rise of China. She pushed for tariffs and against trade agreements before it was cool, and was an author of a book called тАЬWar by Other MeansтАЭ about how blind faith in free markets put the United States at a geopolitical disadvantage. For years, she felt like an oddball in Washington, where both parties were still in thrall to neoliberalism.
Gary Loft,
Thank you for this article and introducing me to Jennifer Harris. It is an example of President Joe Biden's ability to recognize excellence and respect for the work of a gifted brilliant, female patriot! He loves this country and wants the best for all of us!!!
AND....."for the first time in generations a US administration was saying that people should control the market, NOT the other way around." (Gary Loft).
Let's be reminded that we are BLESSED to live within a DEMOCRACY...no matter the imperfections. I am personally grateful......thank you Joe Biden..... I do NOT want our country led by a dictator....especially by a "Putin" OOPS!!! I mean "PUPPET" dictator.
No.. you mean led by "a POS".., #45 is the epitome of a Piece Of S--t. There's your akronum for the day. Howzat?
Thanks so much for sharing this very illuminating article!
Thank you Gary.
Thank You, Gary!! The clarification I needed on Building Back Better IN THE USA!
Shared
An inspiring article.
Good and bad old days. A lot has continued to progress since then, such as gay rights, but a lot went wrong as well. I think government corruption has increased overall, both in scope and intensity.
Back then you didnтАЩt social media being used by foreign entities sowing discord. Also way too much money is being spent in campaigns. Fox News plays a huge role in helping one side but also forces them further right.
Please tell me what "biased AF" might be.
Biased is biased. AF is a modifier that means extremely or very and it typically comes after the word it modifies instead of before. It's not a term used in polite company; my mother would wash my mouth out with soap if she heard me use it. You'll find it in the Urban Dictionary if you google it.