Why do so many Americans embrace the fascist/oligarchs that now control the republican party? Do they not understand that they are actually supporting the corporations and billionaires who pay those in office, and they will be the next to lose their liberties (vote) and rights (guns), and freedoms (speech)?
Why do so many Americans embrace the fascist/oligarchs that now control the republican party? Do they not understand that they are actually supporting the corporations and billionaires who pay those in office, and they will be the next to lose their liberties (vote) and rights (guns), and freedoms (speech)?
It's hard to understand. There are the stewed grievances but there are also the people like Bill Barr who, while he doesn't like Trump, would never vote for a Dem if that was the only choice. I have people like this in my family. Privilege is a part of it, I think, so much white male privilege that they don't know what's going on in a way, and are so convinced that Dems will ruin this country more than a fascist sociopath. The hatred of Obama was more than race, I believe, because I hear it for Biden too. But never hear exactly what was/is "so bad" about either of them. They each got handed a country in tatters and certainly made/making it better. This schism is something like being in a different reality. So hard to understand.
It might appear to be the same hatred on the faces of the mob that faced those on school busses trying to desegregate the southern schools, those walking up the school steps while being spat on, those in classroom never called on. Is there a name for that hatred?
Pretty clear to me. People tend to believe what they are being fed when it's coming from a trusted source. Faux News has become their "trusted" source. And it's omnipotent presence keeps it that way. Makes me want enquire what your source of 'income' is.., and compare it to them. I like your comments, Kim. I sit with you.
Speaking of Fox, the judge has allowed a suit against Fox, by Smartmatic and Dominion voting systems, to go forward. Fox will likely settle, rather than allowing testimony and emails to come out. Story at Press Run.
You ask "why": my guess is that Americans are subjected to a school curriculum chosen by corporate flunkies who have no intention of teaching ethics, civics or the ability to think analitically . I don't know how teachers cope!
My father gave me тАЬTeaching As A Subversive ActivityтАЭ when I graduated in 1969. It guided me. I had to make my own social studies curriculum for my fourth and fifth graders even until 2012 when I retired. Read тАЬLies My Teacher Told Me.тАЭ
I think this so often. When I tutored in 2002, a studen'ts textbook still had Russia is The Union of Soviet Socialists Republic. In this day textbooks need to be replaced with dialogue supported with facts.
It appears that some hear only truncated news, and really don't have a clue. Some American news is so whitewashed, just like Kremlin news. I spoke with a friend who had no idea that chump had made fun of a journalist or praised putin for invading Ukraine. She said chump wouldn't do that. When I suggested that she google it, she said that news is distorted. I told her it's on video, nothing to distort. Some Americans don't know what's really going on and don't seek out alternative because they're been told that all other news is fake, and gullibly believe it. They believe their authorities, and never learned to question authority.
I think Tucker Carlson should be checked out to see if he's on Russia's payroll.
Not just Carlson is on Russia's payroll, NC's version of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, must be as well. He's labeled Zelensky a "thug" and sounds like a Russian operative. He's since tried to backtrack a little, but his allegiances seem clear. What a piece of...um..."work".
Today.. the capability exists to "alter" anything. What is 'difficult' to alter is a real-time paper print-out (but it can be time delayed) taken from the printer by a entrusted person (entrusted by whom?) and placed in a 'safe' to be opened only by 3 entrusted (..? ) persons. All under the whims of the HMFICC. This is a simple explanation of "a means of distortion", but there exists many others. This not conspiracy-theory crap. Let's recall the phone call between the President of the Ukraine and our president. Have you or I ever seen the 'actual' transcript of that call. I'm referring to the word-for-word "print-out" of every single word! Maybe we should ask the HMFICC..and not his atty gen'l (POS).
There is a man, a man of outstanding honor, an American Hero Patriot who risked EVERYTHING but his honor to tell America about "That-Phone-Conversation"
Colonel Alexander Vindman!
His book is: "Here Right Matters"
Also
I thought you might be interested in the following repeat of my previous comment found elsewhere in this newsletter:
Biden's advisors must change their perception about Putin/Ukrainian war according to Colonel Alexander Vindman...
A most enlightening criticism of the current efforts being implemented in dealing with the War. Colonel Vindman emphasizes issues of timing and missed opportunities that would have had positive consequential outcomes but are no longer available because of misconceptions about advisors; hope focused efforts of "Returning-To-Normal" and the political survival distractions of the up-coming Mid-Term elections.
SEE:
Alexander Vindman: The U.S. Is at Great Risk of Ending Up in This War | Amanpour and Company
I also think that in their grievances they do not care to react to lies. Trump is their oligarch and he is better than any other oligarch so they will stick with him.
ReaganтАЩs basic creed, why Bannon said goal of chump was destruction of the administrative state. Well, one reason, plus, heтАЩs a cretin like none other, except maybe Putin
C'mon Lynn, these are everyday Christians.., and NO, Biden didn't win. Now go away. Lynn, you kinda implied they are dumb... and I suppose you're gonna blame Faux Noose? Hope so. I do. It's what they are told by Faux. And the party of repubDUB's are ready to defend it..., they're 'united' WE better have our ducks together for Biden/2024.
Except they don't mind the government expanding to block legal abortions, or harass trans children, or prevent people from voting. Now Desantis has his very own special police force to harass voters.
The short answer - yes. They traded privacy for security; they traded morality for dogma; and they traded entrepreneurial spirit with loyalty to oligarchs, (because their only investment into capitalism rests in their IRAs); and they traded truth for propaganda.
In short, quoting Pink Floyd, we all traded тАЬa walk-on part in a war for a leading role in a cage.тАЭ
I donтАЩt get it. HeтАЩs so ill-informed and stupid, so how? I donтАЩt disagree with you, I just canтАЩt fathom that heтАЩs capable of that. There must be someone pulling the strings. Is it Putin? Is trump merely a vessel?
I can't remember the scholar but I heard a talk about people who grow up in authoritarian households (patriarchy) and authoritarian churches are very likely to respond positively to leaders like T***p.
The irony is that the people who cry the loudest about freedom don't realize that they are in essence supporting the destruction of freedom. (Granted, some of them are hell-bent on creating a nation where there is freedom for them but not others.) Also, HCR points out the inefficiency and corruption of authoritarian regimes. Trumpists don't recognize the glaring fact that Dear Leader's administration was not just corrupt but extraordinarily inept at delivering basic services.
We have a serious problem with widespread, reinforced right wing propaganda in this country. Seems we haven't figured out how to respect the First Amendment freedom of speech without letting damaging propaganda run wild.
Absolutely. It's an enormous issue. Our right wing media has repeated lies so many times, it has become the truth. It parallels exactly what is happening in Russia with their state-controlled media.
I read the link. I have never experienced terror or fears regarding death. It's part of life. It happens. Maybe thats why I find religions fascinating but false.
I believe it was FDR who said, about Nicaraguan dictator, Somoza, "He might be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch." So partly, I'd say, it's self-interest. The other part, I believe, is that Americans seem to be in love with showy violence--our heroes are cowboys and gangsters; some of our great writers fall in love with the murderers and rapists they write about.
I lived in an area of Michigan where, I was told, there was a "strong Native American culture." The culture in question, in Michigan as most everywhere in this country, is a terrible parody of itself. I was nearly overcome with the horribleness of popular "pow-wows"--attended mostly by white people--where we could see "Indian" costumes, watch dances, eat "authentic" Indian food, and buy jewelry. I cannot imagine being a citizen of a dead world and putting on a performance for the people whose ancestors destroyed that world. As a woman in this white world, my only possible point of reference would be the many humiliations of "performing" for the men who have abused me.
I see it differently, perhaps because the current Anishinaabe First Nations (Canadian) and Tribes (U.S.) are authentic and have succeeded. As the Odawa/Chippewa Culturalist here in northwest Michigan explained to me, they were able to "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man centuries ago." (And he had the red pipe to prove it!). What may have seemed cheesy and cheap to you (and to me when I was young growing up here) was a concerted effort to reclaim The People's customs, heritage, beliefs and skills. It worked. My husband (Mississauga First Nation) was President of the Michigan Indian Confederation for a year in the 70's, where I saw first hand the poverty, and the pride. This is no longer a dead world or culture. Come visit again!
MaryPat, you have truly made my day. If I have heard more beautiful words than "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man" I don't recall them. I don't travel anymore, but your comment here allows me to feel my feet on the ground out there. I had a sweat lodge (big enough for only four) on my ten acres, five llamas who always followed us across the yard to the lodge, and two hawks who circled when the sweats were in the daytime. Very good memories that you bring back for this old woman. Thank you
Exactly, That's exactly what I meant, Jane. It was a delicately worded question, which the person at the receiving end would either understand entirely; or choose to respond as you have. Or simply keep me guessing as to why a person would choose a name that sounds every bit like Jailee, a person in Jail. Did I mention I enjoyed her comments? Well, I find them very astute.
Why do so many Americans embrace the fascist/oligarchs that now control the republican party? Do they not understand that they are actually supporting the corporations and billionaires who pay those in office, and they will be the next to lose their liberties (vote) and rights (guns), and freedoms (speech)?
It's hard to understand. There are the stewed grievances but there are also the people like Bill Barr who, while he doesn't like Trump, would never vote for a Dem if that was the only choice. I have people like this in my family. Privilege is a part of it, I think, so much white male privilege that they don't know what's going on in a way, and are so convinced that Dems will ruin this country more than a fascist sociopath. The hatred of Obama was more than race, I believe, because I hear it for Biden too. But never hear exactly what was/is "so bad" about either of them. They each got handed a country in tatters and certainly made/making it better. This schism is something like being in a different reality. So hard to understand.
It might appear to be the same hatred on the faces of the mob that faced those on school busses trying to desegregate the southern schools, those walking up the school steps while being spat on, those in classroom never called on. Is there a name for that hatred?
Hmmm. If I think about it long enoughтАж.
Well, I wasnтАЩt carefully taught, so I do know the answer, which they will deny to the very end.
Pretty clear to me. People tend to believe what they are being fed when it's coming from a trusted source. Faux News has become their "trusted" source. And it's omnipotent presence keeps it that way. Makes me want enquire what your source of 'income' is.., and compare it to them. I like your comments, Kim. I sit with you.
Speaking of Fox, the judge has allowed a suit against Fox, by Smartmatic and Dominion voting systems, to go forward. Fox will likely settle, rather than allowing testimony and emails to come out. Story at Press Run.
I hope the plaintiffs will decline to settle in order to ensure that testimony & emails will become public.
Yes!
ItтАЩs Shakespearian. As if they deeply envy and hate and distrust kindness and a generous heart. A deep contempt for goodness.
You ask "why": my guess is that Americans are subjected to a school curriculum chosen by corporate flunkies who have no intention of teaching ethics, civics or the ability to think analitically . I don't know how teachers cope!
My father gave me тАЬTeaching As A Subversive ActivityтАЭ when I graduated in 1969. It guided me. I had to make my own social studies curriculum for my fourth and fifth graders even until 2012 when I retired. Read тАЬLies My Teacher Told Me.тАЭ
Thanks for this recommendation. Just ordered from ThriftBooks
How lucky your students were!
Yes! That book is still around here somewhere.
I think this so often. When I tutored in 2002, a studen'ts textbook still had Russia is The Union of Soviet Socialists Republic. In this day textbooks need to be replaced with dialogue supported with facts.
In the 70s Values Clarification was a big deal in education. No one knew how to determine what values to teach to what community.
It appears that some hear only truncated news, and really don't have a clue. Some American news is so whitewashed, just like Kremlin news. I spoke with a friend who had no idea that chump had made fun of a journalist or praised putin for invading Ukraine. She said chump wouldn't do that. When I suggested that she google it, she said that news is distorted. I told her it's on video, nothing to distort. Some Americans don't know what's really going on and don't seek out alternative because they're been told that all other news is fake, and gullibly believe it. They believe their authorities, and never learned to question authority.
I think Tucker Carlson should be checked out to see if he's on Russia's payroll.
Putin boasted that he could buy any Western politician or media figure. He proved it with Trump. I'm certain he owns Carlson and many others. Remember how the NRA laundered rubles? Republicans were on the receiving end. https://www.npr.org/2019/09/27/764879242/nra-was-foreign-asset-to-russia-ahead-of-2016-new-senate-report-reveals
Not just Carlson is on Russia's payroll, NC's version of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, must be as well. He's labeled Zelensky a "thug" and sounds like a Russian operative. He's since tried to backtrack a little, but his allegiances seem clear. What a piece of...um..."work".
https://www.wral.com/us-rep-madison-cawthorn-calls-zelensky-thug/20180199/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossneakpeek&stream=top
A Yogi Berra type pundit said, "You can see a lot if you just start looking."
No matter who is paying him, Tucker is working for Putin.
I love Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman's new moniker for him "Tuckyo Rose"!
Yes. They refuse to see the truth before their eyes no matter the facts.
Today.. the capability exists to "alter" anything. What is 'difficult' to alter is a real-time paper print-out (but it can be time delayed) taken from the printer by a entrusted person (entrusted by whom?) and placed in a 'safe' to be opened only by 3 entrusted (..? ) persons. All under the whims of the HMFICC. This is a simple explanation of "a means of distortion", but there exists many others. This not conspiracy-theory crap. Let's recall the phone call between the President of the Ukraine and our president. Have you or I ever seen the 'actual' transcript of that call. I'm referring to the word-for-word "print-out" of every single word! Maybe we should ask the HMFICC..and not his atty gen'l (POS).
There is a man, a man of outstanding honor, an American Hero Patriot who risked EVERYTHING but his honor to tell America about "That-Phone-Conversation"
Colonel Alexander Vindman!
His book is: "Here Right Matters"
Also
I thought you might be interested in the following repeat of my previous comment found elsewhere in this newsletter:
Biden's advisors must change their perception about Putin/Ukrainian war according to Colonel Alexander Vindman...
A most enlightening criticism of the current efforts being implemented in dealing with the War. Colonel Vindman emphasizes issues of timing and missed opportunities that would have had positive consequential outcomes but are no longer available because of misconceptions about advisors; hope focused efforts of "Returning-To-Normal" and the political survival distractions of the up-coming Mid-Term elections.
SEE:
Alexander Vindman: The U.S. Is at Great Risk of Ending Up in This War | Amanpour and Company
March 10, 2022 you tube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQX9HLnYwU
AND SEE
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/opinion/alexander-vindman-ukraine-russia-war.html?showTranscript=1
Of course Tucker is.
I also think that in their grievances they do not care to react to lies. Trump is their oligarch and he is better than any other oligarch so they will stick with him.
Too many people vote Republican because they hate paying taxes and they hate the government, all government.
Government by oligarchs is still government, only with no oversight or limits.
Exactly! Bumper sticker worthy.
Yes, bumper sticker worthy.
ReaganтАЩs basic creed, why Bannon said goal of chump was destruction of the administrative state. Well, one reason, plus, heтАЩs a cretin like none other, except maybe Putin
Yet, they love Obama care and rental assistance. Hypocrisy is too big a word to pronounce, much less understand.
C'mon Lynn, these are everyday Christians.., and NO, Biden didn't win. Now go away. Lynn, you kinda implied they are dumb... and I suppose you're gonna blame Faux Noose? Hope so. I do. It's what they are told by Faux. And the party of repubDUB's are ready to defend it..., they're 'united' WE better have our ducks together for Biden/2024.
Except they don't mind the government expanding to block legal abortions, or harass trans children, or prevent people from voting. Now Desantis has his very own special police force to harass voters.
Good grief... you left off 'Libtards'..we're liked like a tipped over litterbox.
The short answer - yes. They traded privacy for security; they traded morality for dogma; and they traded entrepreneurial spirit with loyalty to oligarchs, (because their only investment into capitalism rests in their IRAs); and they traded truth for propaganda.
In short, quoting Pink Floyd, we all traded тАЬa walk-on part in a war for a leading role in a cage.тАЭ
Whoa, PinkFloyd, nice touch, JaneDough.
They are drunk on a тАЬcocktail of carefully stewed grievances.тАЭ Works in any country. (Thanks Kathy Clark for posting Nic RobertsonтАЩs column today https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/11/europe/leaving-russia-analysis-robertson-intl-cmd/index.html)
тАЬmarching the nation on a cocktail of carefully stewed grievances..."
Thanks for passing this phrase on to us. It describes exactly the formula that our own fascists have employed so effectively in America.
And another from Robertson's essay: "oligarchs newly minted as gamekeepers turned poachers"
Trump is America's Putin.
I donтАЩt get it. HeтАЩs so ill-informed and stupid, so how? I donтАЩt disagree with you, I just canтАЩt fathom that heтАЩs capable of that. There must be someone pulling the strings. Is it Putin? Is trump merely a vessel?
This is the question I have had in mind since Trump took office.
Trump is a wannabe America's Putin! I believe he was purchased by Putin! Money talks!
As the great Ain't Vic alway used to say " Money doesn't talk. It screams."
Hahaa.. that's because their mind (by Faux) has been made up and they don't want to be confused by "the facts" as represented by some Libtard.
Great line. Great column.
They embrace autocrats because they are hardwired for authoritarianism. About 27% of any given population is hardwired to embrace it.
I can't remember the scholar but I heard a talk about people who grow up in authoritarian households (patriarchy) and authoritarian churches are very likely to respond positively to leaders like T***p.
The irony is that the people who cry the loudest about freedom don't realize that they are in essence supporting the destruction of freedom. (Granted, some of them are hell-bent on creating a nation where there is freedom for them but not others.) Also, HCR points out the inefficiency and corruption of authoritarian regimes. Trumpists don't recognize the glaring fact that Dear Leader's administration was not just corrupt but extraordinarily inept at delivering basic services.
We have a serious problem with widespread, reinforced right wing propaganda in this country. Seems we haven't figured out how to respect the First Amendment freedom of speech without letting damaging propaganda run wild.
Absolutely. It's an enormous issue. Our right wing media has repeated lies so many times, it has become the truth. It parallels exactly what is happening in Russia with their state-controlled media.
Partly because much of our right wing media is funded by the experts in misinformation, the Russians?
When people are scared, particularly of mortality -- and mortality signals, particularly, are all around us -- they cling more to authoritarians. Look up "terror management theory" and read the book "The Worm at the Core." Here is a review: 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 read the link. I have never experienced terror or fears regarding death. It's part of life. It happens. Maybe thats why I find religions fascinating but false.
Will do. Thank you. Yes. Fear is what rules so many. That's what religions tap into.
And, on a more immediate level, that's what authoritarians tap into. They have, or seem to have, figured out how to control those things we fear.
тАЬUnlike the baboon who gluts himself only on food, man nourishes himself mostly on self-esteem.тАЭ Thanks for this insightful book, Bronwyn...!
Full disclosure: I helped them write it.
Cooool!!!
Exactly.
They want what the Republicans say they will give them: Their White, Christian, Entitled-Privilege unquestioned back, by any means necessary.
ThatтАЩs why they love trump even though some acknowledge heтАЩs a blowhard.
Their wants are very explicit:
1) White control of the voting process.
2) Women under menтАЩs thumb and control,
3) No money from their pockets going to black or POC.
4) Education that never questions their supremacy or their beloved myths.
And truly they are showing us тАЬBy Any Means Necessary.тАЭ
I believe it was FDR who said, about Nicaraguan dictator, Somoza, "He might be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch." So partly, I'd say, it's self-interest. The other part, I believe, is that Americans seem to be in love with showy violence--our heroes are cowboys and gangsters; some of our great writers fall in love with the murderers and rapists they write about.
Eeeuuuww. We are a sicko country at base.
Yep. Those cowboy heroes were out there wiping out the entire cultures of every single Native American tribe.
I lived in an area of Michigan where, I was told, there was a "strong Native American culture." The culture in question, in Michigan as most everywhere in this country, is a terrible parody of itself. I was nearly overcome with the horribleness of popular "pow-wows"--attended mostly by white people--where we could see "Indian" costumes, watch dances, eat "authentic" Indian food, and buy jewelry. I cannot imagine being a citizen of a dead world and putting on a performance for the people whose ancestors destroyed that world. As a woman in this white world, my only possible point of reference would be the many humiliations of "performing" for the men who have abused me.
I see it differently, perhaps because the current Anishinaabe First Nations (Canadian) and Tribes (U.S.) are authentic and have succeeded. As the Odawa/Chippewa Culturalist here in northwest Michigan explained to me, they were able to "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man centuries ago." (And he had the red pipe to prove it!). What may have seemed cheesy and cheap to you (and to me when I was young growing up here) was a concerted effort to reclaim The People's customs, heritage, beliefs and skills. It worked. My husband (Mississauga First Nation) was President of the Michigan Indian Confederation for a year in the 70's, where I saw first hand the poverty, and the pride. This is no longer a dead world or culture. Come visit again!
MaryPat, you have truly made my day. If I have heard more beautiful words than "raise the red pipe, buried by the white man" I don't recall them. I don't travel anymore, but your comment here allows me to feel my feet on the ground out there. I had a sweat lodge (big enough for only four) on my ten acres, five llamas who always followed us across the yard to the lodge, and two hawks who circled when the sweats were in the daytime. Very good memories that you bring back for this old woman. Thank you
Thank You for your memories and kind words!
ЁЯШФ
What?? Me worry...? Colour me Mad :)) Where are you housed, Walker? Nice photo, plus I like your comments.
ItтАЩs - where do you live. Asking someone where they are housed implies that someone else put them there.
Exactly, That's exactly what I meant, Jane. It was a delicately worded question, which the person at the receiving end would either understand entirely; or choose to respond as you have. Or simply keep me guessing as to why a person would choose a name that sounds every bit like Jailee, a person in Jail. Did I mention I enjoyed her comments? Well, I find them very astute.