The radical-right House members aren't stupid enough to believe their irrational justifications for seeking to blow up the economy. They want more than a financial meltdown; they want a complete breakdown of the rule of law that ends democracy and imposes theocratic rule.
The danger should be big, big news every day. Most of America is clueless.
What is even more frightening to me is that bozos like Boebert, MJT, Jordan, Arrington, etc. don't have any clue how our government and its financial system actually functions.
Not raising the debt ceiling is like saying "I don't like this car I bought on credit so I am not going to pay the bank the money I owe."
But it's worse than that, the GQP gonzos are clueless as to how devastating a breach of our debt paying would be. It would destroy the lives of millions and millions of people. Of course, the stock markets would collapse. But everything the Federal Government is involved with could grind to a halt. Even state employees could be affected. About 18.8 million people have Federal or state jobs. A family of four means about 80 million people can't buy food or pay the rent. But that's just an average. What about the larger families and those who care for their elderly parents?
If the United States Government defaults on its obligations, as much as half the population of our proud nation would be in financial trouble. People will go hungry and people will die for lack of medical care and essential prescriptions.
I will say it again. This does not need to happen. It is embedded in our Constitution that we will honor our debt. President Biden can order Sec Yellen to issue a statement that America will pay its bills and honor its debt. Let the "Freedom From Responsibility" idiots sue.
"The Public Debt Clause is part of Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, and reads in part, “the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law … shall not be questioned.”
The idiots will cry that only Congress may appropriate spending. That's true. But Earth to Idiots. You already have. The debt ceiling has nothing to do with spending. It's the same as paying your mortgage or car loan.
Earth to Idiots: if you want the government to spend money differently, propose a budget that does that. Then sit down as adult elected officials and discuss it with the people who have already provided you with a perfectly reasonable budget. Earth to Idiots. Grow up.
The stupid Republican House members have no idea what governing means. They think they are there just to play to the Faux News cameras. They are there to perform. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Green are not people who would be hired by a company with job standards requiring measurable results, ex. an increase in sales. They will fade away, but after having damaged our country's governing infrastructure. They are like termites. Termites can be treated by exterminators, but the damage the termites did has to repaired in time consuming and very costly ways.
That is so well put. Thank you. I tend to go back to my years as a child and adolescent to put some of this behavior in perspective. Behavior displayed by these “leaders “ would never be tolerated in my grade school or high school and in my neighborhood. If such behavior did happen, the “performers “ would not be viewed as leaders. They would be viewed as pathetic and ostracized or given a dope slap.
Excellent, Bill. In addition to the statement you suggest from the President, Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Schumer should introduce matching companion bills eliminating the debt ceiling and ending this controversy for all time. Having actual legislative titles and numbers would give us something specific to discuss when call our Congresspeople and Senators and I'm willing to wager a small but significant amount that there are enough responsible (or scarable) Republicans in the House to come across and maybe leave the Crazy Caucus hanging out to dry. Doing so would also free up Congressional time from performative posturing so that they could follow Ally's excellent advice about governing.
Tangentially, it occurs to me that, at 82, the impact of his fall on Mr. McConnell may have been more serious than it was first thought to be. One wishes him well but hopes that he recognizes when it comes time to hang up the hat.
I hope there are traces of residual conscience left in the "GOP". This has been aggressively purged, especially of late. I wish McConnell well in his person, but really need him to do some soul-searching, along with the whole damned party.
The Republicans are long past soul-searching. The Republican "brand" has, in my opinion, been forever disgraced. Anyone who identifies him- or herself as a Republican should be voted out of office. If someone wants to start a new "conservative" party, fine. There was an article in NYT a day or two ago with headline something like "How Liberal Professors Can Save Conservatism", which seemed very sensible to me: teach young people "classical" conservatism (Burke, Hume, etc.), which contains some reasonable ideas, so they can replace the crazies who call themselves conservative, but are anything but.
In my limited experience with hospitalization, anytime a person is moved to rehab instead of going home means that the patient is no longer making progress but is not recovering. At the age of 82 a simple fall can be the end of "normal" life.
I've had the same unfortunate experience. It's a hard decision, but McConnell needs to do what is best for his constituents and the country although it could be argued that by reducing the number of Republicans in the Senate he's doing just that.
I think it’s nice - and overly generous - of you to wish him well. I wish him exactly what he’s given his country in the past few years: less than nothing.
Excellent point about the Public Debt Clause. I keep forgetting about that. I wonder if that's President Biden's ace in the hole. I hope he uses it at the last minute if these drama queen Rs are stupid enough to push it all the way.
You just KNOW that they are hoping to destroy the economy and then they will just turn around and say it's the Dem's fault (reality be damned).
"What is even more frightening to me is that bozos like Boebert, MJT, Jordan, Arrington, etc. don't have any clue how our government and its financial system actually functions."
Even more frighting is that they they clearly don't care. Gaining advantage for their quest to conquer is their only focus; malignant narcissism. The damage they cause is beside the point when it isn't part of the fun of feeling powerful.
As they live in the privilege of their unfettered ignorance, their only go to will be to destroy everything and start over. With nary a thought as to what the first thing they will have to do if we were to star all over. Remember the old song "They ran through the briars and they ran through the bushes....?" The don't realize we'd be after them with pitchforks, touches, and tar and feathers as they ran exhausted, hungry, and scared to death, not that they'd ever get to Natchez.
Thank You Bill! I fear the Repugnants aren't so much idiots as puppets, though. Who will benefit most if "It would destroy the lives of millions and millions of [American] people."?
Someone in a position of power somewhere thinks it will accrue to the accomplishment of their goal, whatever that is. That it makes no sense to you or me simply means that we're rational thinkers.
Absolutely. And the supreme court's ruling of "Citizens United" supercharged their anti-American activities--the activities designed to drain the treasury as well as drain the assets of every middle class and poor person in the country. It the end, they will simply take their unjustly-acquired assets and move to their other homes in other countries where they will get a higher interest rate on that money and buy the leaders to get citizenship in the new country of their "allegiance." They will laugh while America burns. Near the end of his life, comedian George Carlin gave a serious 4-minute talk about the nation's future and probable end. It's quite worthwhile to listen to.
Thank you, Bill. I am nearly 80 and I am scared. I don't have a lot of $$s but I sure don't want to lose what I have or my house. I still pay a mortgage payment that is less than $500 but still owe over 77,000 on my home. Poor choices of the heart caused that issue. If the idiots that the idiots elected continue, I will go down with a lot of other people and many that I know.
On point statement, Bill. The same wingnuts who want to compel students to pay every cent of crushing loan bills don't want to raise revenue or authorize the spending limit necessary to pay for the debts they ran up.
Yes, they ran them up. It was their votes to cut the country's income with tax breaks to rich people that exploded deficits, long before COVID stimulus rounds were necessary. (Quick aside: if tax cuts for rich worked, why did the Federal Government need to inject stimulus at all? Shouldn't our beneficent 1% have readily injected some of that tax money they saved into the economy to give it a boost and create jobs?) The CBO scored the Republicans' current suggestions to balance the budget, and even without dollar specifics CBO essentially said, as nicely as one can in an official document, that McCarthy and his bloc's claims are a fairy tale with numbers that don't add up.
Unfortunately, Bill's lament is mine: most of these circus clowns don't understand how our government works. It's one thing to claim to love the Constitution but another thing to actually read and comprehend it. We went from a very deft, creative, effective and accomplished Speaker to a feckless and spineless one. McCarthy putting the likes of Gaetz, Jordan, Boebert, Santos and MTG in positions of any responsibility shows the amount of respect he has for his position, this country, our House and the people of this nation. How can our government do better when a crowd that wouldn't pass a middle school civics course is in the driver's seat for one of our major parties? May voters in GA, FL, CO, NY, UT and every other state these MAGA people slithered from, wake up from their stupor, and vote this intellectually unfit lot out in the next term.
I think a kind of hedonism takes over. Just recently I read that mothers who sent their kids to school without a mask felt they were expressing a sense of personal freedom or power. Trump and the right have attacked our sense of the common good. Too many people just want to be on the "right side" when the apocalypse comes.
But they are motivated by malice. I worry when we claim they’re idiots or stupid that the truth of their malevolence gets lost, and it’s too important to lose!! So many people don’t want to recognize that their intention is to do harm. We must talk about it. The GOP is currently a party of wilful death. It’s not because they’re stupid.
Christy, I agree with you up to a point. I would humbly suggest that we inject the word solely into your observations. The most dangerously loud and blundering of this lot are not solely malicious, nor solely malevolent, nor solely unintelligent or ignorant. Unfortunately, none of the above is a mutually exclusive characteristic. It's my opinion that all of those qualities, and probably quite a few more, are working in concert to inspire them to gleefully drive our nation to its destruction, taking many other economies and nations of varying development along with it.
I suspect that the under-educated are more vulnerable to cult ideologies, though the highly, especially less broadly educated, are by no means immune. I also think one is primed for a cult by an authoritarian upbringing. I think authoritarianism is the real enemy here, and that in turn boils down to extreme narcissism.
Narcissism in it's most extreme state, total indifference if not glee in response to causing harm, is identical to "evil", and we don't talk enough about the details. "Evil" keeps regenerating, like a movie monster, despite seeming vanquished from time to time because its encoded in our DNA. I think we all have a narcissistic side of necessity, but are generally taught and encouraged to integrate this, at least to some degree, with "civility" and compassion, the capacity for which we are also endowed. I am convinced that social psychology, be it with regard to individuals, marriages, or inter- and intra-societal relationships might be, along with "good faith", be key to saving us from self-destruction; certainly a tool to relieve some of the epic suffering that has beset the human race throughout history, more or less around the globe.
“While all other Sciences have advanced, that of Government is at a stand; little better understood; little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.”
– John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson, Jul. 9, 1813.
There are a few folks who have devoted entire lifetimes/careers to answers.
Speaking of Waco brings to mind one of them:
“He treated the children released during the cult stand-off in Waco, Texas—and more recently, consulted for the state of Texas in the child custody case involving hundreds of children of polygamists. He has consulted for numerous law enforcement (including the FBI), mental health, educational, child welfare and juvenile justice institutions and agencies around the world.”
I recall reading a book by this person, perhaps the one you mentioned. I was very impressed. Yes, there are many serving humanity, some in exceptional ways. They rarely penetrate the "News" of sociopathy.
I think that the "GOP" has become consumed by a plutocrat-driven quest for absolute power. I think all that they do makes "sense" in that context. The direct and indirect death toll of their ideology, in Iraq, in the COVID crisis, as racism, and a cult of violence. Power comes in different forms, including money, governmental power and violence, or the threat of violence. The more corrupted a society, the more easily these three forms can be interchanged.
The current malaise of the "GOP" seems to me to oil down to the urge to bully.
JL, I am appreciating your astute and valuable observations, both in this post and your response above. I especially like the care taken in the previous post when expressing which educational demographics could be swayed into cults and cultish practices, and how someone deeply but not broadly educated would also be susceptible. Your earlier post also mentioned how this is underpinned by the demonization that is possible by someone being "the other", and how more familiarity with a more diverse group of people could help.
My own experience with some friends who subscribe to right-wing policies is a weird inconsistency with authority. With people they agree with, and especially those in power, there's an almost unblinking and unconsidered allegiance that manifests a reflexive obedience and compliance. If the person in question represents an ideology in opposition, especially one in a position of authority, conversely, there is reflexive resistance and an incited combative response.
The right also seems to depend on divisiveness; whether ethnicity, sexuality or something else, for elections. I do agree that this manipulation of those prone to cult mentality, enhanced with recommendations from their leadership to separate from others who could broaden their worldview, supports the conditions needed for cretins to keep power. Without ideas that address a people's needs, hatred of other groups and blind obedience is all you have left to run on for reelection.
we always seem to be up against the old split between the north and the south, a split that predates the civil war by a couple of hundred years. the north was settled by puritans, who opposed the king of england. some of the puritans fled england and settled new england. plymouth rock and all that. not long afterward, the puritans overthrew the king. the king and his followers had to flee. they landed in VA and settled the south. jamestown and all that. the north has always been dynamic and up for change, industrial, while the south has its heels dug in, an advocate for the old ways, agrarian. the puritans and the cavaliers still hate each other. why is it that extremists have not taken over the dems, but the supposedly level-headed GOP? a couple of quotes that might apply: a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds; winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. meanwhile, there are those who think the US can withstand anything and rise from the ashes like a phoenix bird, so why not play with fire? that's one way to avoid having to submit a budget. in their juvenile way they haven't realized yet that "what counts is what you learn after you know it all." we are currently playing out a melodrama, which we do periodically, all the dialogue written, unable to change a word of it. talk about march madness. pray for the joint chiefs.
This is an interesting observation and our country does seem to have this split, in mentality at least, between "north" and "south." I put those in quotes because whereas this at one time may have been strictly locational, it seems that it is now more of a state of mind and either mindset can be found in any part of the Union. The "northern" mindset, in my opinion, is similar to your description of someone more experimental and inclined to novel approaches. The "southern" mindset, as you described, more inclined to preserving things as they have always been done. Being in the northeast, I encountered more than my share of 'cavaliers' here, some of them with a curious affinity for the Royals, and they have never lived anywhere else in the country.
I appreciated the phoenix analogy too. If the most careless of the GQP really do have such an extreme view of American Exceptionalism; where the country completely unravels from economic disaster, falls into dystopian hellscape and miraculously become a shining beacon immediately afterwards, we are in the deepest pit of excrement imaginable.
Bill, for us folks working in the health care field the use of the word stupid is intensely grating. Meaning unintelligent, it reflects an organic inability to learn. One cannot help what they did or did not receive with the gift of birth. So I do not agree, the malicious GOPers are not stupid. They lack a heart not a brain.
Say you're in a room with 400 people. 36 don't have health insurance. 48 live in poverty. 85 are illiterate. 90 have untreated mental illnesses. And everyday, at least 1 person is shot. But 2 are transgender so you decide ruining their lives is a priority. That is what's happening in America right now.
I agree, lacking a heart. The priorities for more than half, 260 to be exact, are calculatedly written off.
It seems to me that the methodology of science is a partial work-around a recognition that the smartest of us are ultimately limited in our powers of observation, detection, and cognition, and a great deal surely eludes us. That said, I think our most foolish choices are more likely limited by what we prefer not to recognize than by our own capacities, or even our potentially remediable cluelessness. And yes, caring for someone, or something, beyond ones own directly self-serving interests and agenda is mostly independent of intellect.
Putin is clever. Not infallible, but clever. Hitler was clever, as was and is the whole of German science in his era; part of what makes it so creepy. Lincoln warned of "cunning" tyrants. Elon Musk is clever. Trump is an astonishingly lazy thinker, but he has mastered a certain strategy, albeit Orwellian. And I know from experience that people can be under-educated or even intellectually challenge and have hearts of gold. Even be wiser than those who are "smart".
Good analysis. Appears that the Drooling Caucus is pulling their ideas from Art of the Deal. Renegotiate the contract when the rube send you the bill. The, proof perfect that government doesn't work once their game of chicken doesn't work? The bums (Democrats) bankrupted themselves (the Dark State) instead of taking the deal. Point proven and they keep the taxcuts.
Does anybody have the power to tell the public what the republicans want for the country. Trump’s dystopia will be no picnic for anyone, especially the old, vulnerable arses who worship his putrid, vile pretense of human. Rupert does, but fat chance there…MSM just blathers on like Nero, focusing on the inferno. The empire teeters…
Meanwhile, the French are pissing and moaning about raising their retirement age from 62 to 64... I wish I could come up with a soupçon of sympathy for them.
I felt the same way as you, James, until I read further and found out that a key provision of Macron’s proposed law requires people to work 44 years to receive a full pension. That means that those who go to graduate school or women who cared for their children before joining the workforce will be penalized. If my own situation took place under Macron’s proposed plans, I could not retire until I am 86!
I worked as an independent until I was 71, with a very small pension because I started working late, so it also irritates me when people whine over 2 years more, but while it's true that there is a long tradition of the sacred right to strike, the 2-year extension is just the straw that broke the camel's back over a situation that has been worsening for years. Government decisions over the past few decades have practically ruined the once-excellent French medical system. At the same time as the gov't demagogues refuse to remunerate GPs correctly (when my deceased GP husband retired in 2009, GPs earned 22 euros for a consultation. The next year, it increased to 23 euros (whoopee!!!), and did not increase further until 2017, when it rose to a princely 25 euros. Now the gov't is offering a magnanimous 1€50 increase. Very difficult for a doctor who wants to give his patients his time to make a living. About 15-20 years ago, the gov't started reducing the permitted entries into medical school, resulting in a gradual decrease in the number of doctors (including specialists) entering into practice. Of course, this helped docs to work more, but is now running them ragged. The pandemic aggravated the situation, and it is now very difficult to get an appointment with anyone within a reasonable delay. The medical system is becoming like the one in the States, where doctors/phys.therapists/ostéopaths/dermatologists/etc. have to practice in large centers with receptionists/secretaries, seeing many patients a day. So that is another aspect. Elsewhere, gov't benefits are being reduced for everyone but the legislators, it seems. So yes, a lot of French people do seem sometimes to demand something for nothing, but there are legitimate complaints. That said, it is annoying when the strikers upset everything. Just yesterday evening, I was stranded all alone in a small train station (NO employees present to inform or help, no other passengers) on my way back from Avignon because my next connection to home simply didn't arrive. Had to scramble to find someone to come and pick me up.
I love your beautiful country and I'm going there in a few months. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. Like us, your population is aging. We all need more young people to work and pay into the system to support us. Even so for us, we're reluctant to take in immigrants, despite all the energy and innovation they have brought our country.
There's a recent book you should read, Back of the Hiring Line: A 200-Year History of Immigration Surges, Employer Bias, and Depression of Black Wealth.
Among the many examples, in 1980, most meat packers were Black, earning good middle class wages. By that decade's end, most were immigrants, toiling for barely above minimum wage, under atrocious conditions, where maimings and amputations were frequent. Similar conditions prevailed in other areas of low/no-skilled work.
The book is solid (296 footnotes), yet well written, covering the relevant academic economic history, black periodicals, statements from black leaders beginning with Frederick Douglass, whose sons were downwardly mobile due to mass immigration (companies would send ships to Europe to bring back white workers so they could fire the black workers, and the same sort of thing goes on today with companies bringing in H1-Bs), and gov't commissions on immigration reform. The latest of these, run by Barbara Jordan, the Black Texas Democrat who made her name on the House Judiciary Committee during Watergate, recommended cutting immigration numbers roughly in half, and strict enforcement of immigration laws, so that Blacks and other American workers could get decent jobs with decent pay.
The book also gives the lie to to the notion there are jobs Americans won't do. the author interviewed laid off poultry workers on the Eastern Shore, who'd been replaced by immigrants. Would they take their old jobs back? No, they told him. with the greatly reduced wages, they'd have to live in their cars, or many to a house.
Companies that need more workers should be raising their wages. Our labor participation rate is still quite low (meaning a lot of unemployed people are not looking for work).
Thank you, Carolyn, for describing, clearly and with ample illustration, the situation in France. Hearing it from someone who has lived through and is struggling to survive the consequences of unwise politics further justifies the French people’s outrage. Wishing for the French people a peaceful and prosperous resolution to these challenges. Be well and safe, mon amie!
Thank Carolyn for this inside look. What you have revealed is that the new plan will ultimately benefit, as usual, affluent white men--people whose work arc remains consistent and who are not troubled by bias, inequities in wages and employment, etc. Plus ça change, c'est plus la même chose, eh?
It's sad that France has devolved to this. I lived there in '65-'66, and attended the 6ieme in the international section of the Lycee de Sevres, and had a wonderful year. In '71, on a visit, my much younger sister had to be flown to Paris from a couple of hundred miles away to have her appendix out (I think one parent flew with her and one stayed whereever they were when this occurred). Everything went smoothly. I had two wonderful bicycle trips in different parts of France in May of '87 and of '89, after the latter trip took the TGV back to Paris from Avignon, and it was a marvel. The only bad part was getting gridlocked on Rue de Rivoli on my bicycle, but a managed to get to another street after about ten minutes, and had a pleasant ride to friends' apartment.
It pains me to hear how bady things are functioning there now.
In these early years of my retirement, I just completed a life long dream: I wrote a novel. Over the years, I had many friends encourage me to do this.
I realize I need a literary agent to publish, and I have no idea how to find one. I have a friend who wrote a YA novel (I read it, I think it is good!) and self published. Her journey of this is one of such frustration that she gave up after the first book. She is not a person who is easily defeated, either, she's had many difficulties in life that she overcame. This discouraged me from taking this route.
As a retiree from a major publisher and someone who spent five years writing an unpublished novel, I would advise anyone who wants to write a novel not to count on getting it published. There are rare exceptions, but the opportunities are shrinking except for the field of romance novels (because that audience buys more books than others) And don't forget that agents are not invested in one book wonders; they need clients who will continue to be productive. Self-publishing is a decent option if you want that book on people's shelves. I don't regret the time I spent on my novel, because I explored a family story that had always troubled me, but I'm glad I had a side gig, because I needed it.
You might try joining the American Society of Journalists and Authors. I don't know if you can, unless you were a journalist, or at least have published a few articles, but it won't hurt to inquire, because they definitely help people get agents. They're in NYC. There are probably other groups of this sort.
I can't remember whether Stephen King's book, On Writing, would be helpful or not, but I very much enjoyed reading it. Actually, now that I think about it, he did talk about how he got started, so I think it might help.
The University of Iowa caters to people who want to write books, and there are probably certain profs who are more in tune than others with fiction. Perhaps a call to one of them out of the blue, after googling to see who looks more likely to cater to fiction might net you some valuable information.
Maybe someone among the encouraging friends might also have ideas about how to proceed. I certainly wish you success!
And a ps to the reply below, my friend who self published? In the long run, I do believe she got taken. It cost her a LOT of money and she sold probably 50 books via Amazon. All to friends.
Thank you, David. I also read Stephen King's book. I have never published anything. (I don't consider some letters to the editors to magazines as being "published" but perhaps if my name was George Santos............ )
I have done some Googling and with internet sites, it's difficult to know who is genuine and what is just phishing.
I will consider your suggestions. My attempts so far have led to dead ends.
Mark I started a new career at 58-80 and it paid me a $$$ pittance, though tremendous personal satisfaction. As Joseph Campbell said: ‘follow your bliss,’
Following my bliss is the trouble!! As an artist I followed my bliss all these years. I did ok and live well. I just never considered the world would do these tumblesaults, inflation would be so crippling and these cool new tech tools would come along! I am having fun!
After a career mostly in civil service clerical work, I went to the middle east and taught English for 5 years to children and adults. I'm sorry I never became a teacher here in the US because I had the time of my life. It turned out that I was actually good at it, and I loved it. Best of luck!
My observation is that for the majority -retirement at 62 if one is healthy- beats the odds . But for the majority life has been hard , paycheck to paycheck, now little benes in the corporate world ( pension, savings,health care) are slim . So ‘they’ -the lower percentage -has to work beyond to keep their head above the rising tides. And I DO heavily factor in the marginalized , a growing number .
None the less retirement at 64 ain’t bad . They also have free health care?
I always solicit correction sisters, brothers. I’m also in the’ 80s ‘ still farming after retirement at 67 and find much enlightenment knowing how much I have to yet learn.
I worked for the State of Indiana and their rule was age plus years of service had to equal 85. I worked until I was 70.5 and had worked 26.5 years. I can't imagine actually retiring at 62 and being able to continue the same life style.
Adding 2 years of work doesn't sound like much, but as a nurse who ran hospital halls for 40 years, there's no way I physically could have lasted 2 more years. Ditto for construction workers, teachers (who are on their feet 8 hours/day), mail carriers, and others with very physical jobs.
Exactly! As an educator, I slept 4 to 6 (max) hours per night at least 10 months of the year. If I hadn’t retired when I did, I might not be writing this message. Yes, my pension and SS are less than if I had worked two more years, but quality of life—LIFE itself—became more important! I don’t regret early retirement one bit.
It's been pointed out that even though you retire earlier, you collect more money because you live longer. I was diagnosed with spinal cord damage at 59, and I chose to collect my late ex's Social Security as a widows' benefit, and it pays more than if I had collected disability or waited until I was 65 and collected my own. In fact, my disability occurred in Egypt while I was living there, and I couldn't get disability because I didn't have verification of the onset of my disability from doctors in Egypt.
Rose, I also live in WNY. Would like your thoughts on what's been going on with the Hilton Schools bomb threats. They say the emails come from a Russian domain. I doubt the emailed threats came from Russia, but we don't know.
I understand. The MSM only seems to report part of the story, and not the most important part, at that. Based on that requirement, of 44 years, their policies are unworkable. If I taken away four years of college and four years of military service, my retirement age would have been 70, by that rule. That's why I've encouraged my children to set up their own retirement funds, not relying on anything from the government. "God bless the child that's got his own" as the song says.
James this is much bigger than any change to the retirement age. it is a reflection of anger that has built up in the people as they feel that nobody is listening to them. The current President is the stereotype, arrogant, highly-educated elite "fonctionnaire" who think they know best and the people are too stupid to understand. This is personal! The majority of the people now whant rid of him and his ilk.
The French are well known for their well organized and effective protests. Were it not for that, the officials in France might well have been tempted to raise the retirement age even further. A two year increase is all they thought that they could get away with. I feel the French are fighting for all of us.
The similarites in terms of psychological and characterial structures between Trump and Macron have been noted before. Biden is making them both look rather foolish.
Thank you Stuart. I am struck by the social-political complaint. " ... nobody is listening to me". Cutting to my real question, who is manipulating who?
Brian, there are two levels to this; firstly, the public anger has building over the last 40 years during which, even when alternating left and right, nobody seems either to be listening and none of those elected keep their promises; secondly, the extreme left is trying desperately and unsuccessfully to get a hold of the movement and make it insurrectionary but they are only serving to necessary "order" perspective of the contested elite in power. The people are fed up with this bunch of mediocre politicians from both sides. It should be remembered that half of the people have stopped voting in disgust and nearly half those remaining actually voted Le Pen.....against Macron
The majority? I disagree. I'd say a fairly even split. Not everybody reads "Le Monde" (which has a very revealing comments column). Plus they re-elected him, in spite of sour-grapes Mélenchon, that burly man-of-the-people, who has spent the Macron years fanning any little spark into a fire.
Anne-Louise, his popularity is now down to 28% and heading fast into "Hollande" territory (he finished at 13%). They re-elected him last May because he had orchestrated a rematch with Marine Le Pen....who will never win given the left-wing fatwa against her imbedded by them in the psychy of society of the past 40 years. 4 weeks later he lost the elections to the National Assembly leaving him with a minority government. It has been all down hill for him since. He is now resisting dissolving the Assembly to call new elections because it will make his predicament worse. Whatever he tries now he is politically dead in the water and condemned to subterfuge which will increase antipathy for him or immobility. His psychology will suffer humiliation neither kindly nor for long. We'll see.....but he will explode!
Reader comment from Le Monde this morning 25 March (on today's fruity description of clashes between so-called protesters and police, from the usual "leaked" sources): "Un seul responsable, Mélenchon, qui n'a jamais supporté d'arriver quatrième à la présidentielle et qui depuis le lendemain de l'élection s'est démené à fabriquer ce sentiment de colère pour gagner par la violence ce qu'il n'a pas gagné dans les urnes. Le pire c'est que ça marche. Ça rappelle de très mauvais souvenirs." And no, I didn't write it. If you're looking for a Trump equivalent, it's Mélenchon, not Macron.
Sympathy is the last thing they want! Organised marches are a national pastime. (I've taken part in a couple). The great de Gaulle, ultimate Frenchman, once said that a country where there are 350 different types of cheese is ungovernable. Macron is sticking to his guns, but his poor little technocrat of a prime minister has suddenly aged ten years and lost her smile.
And i would love to taste every one of those cheeses!! What a great line and what a sad state of affairs for many. Our debt ceiling co-mingled with our bank failures is disconcerting. I am still reeling from the TikTok hearings. Hypocrisy with a capital H. So we ban books that open up the minds and hearts of children and empowers them to be aware of themselves, each other and the world, take away women rights, suppress voting and refuse to legislate about guns control YET the lawmakers argue TikTok is damaging the mental health of our children. Government is damaging our mental health.
I'm guessing that you saw the video of Jamie Raskin addressing Congress about banning books while allowing every kind of automatic firearm? It was great. I sure hope he's going to be ok; he's a wonderful man!
I share your disgust with the censorship, but it's true that social media is harmful to the health of children, as well as adults. And I would argue that government is both necessary, and dangerous, in the hands of the far-right or far-left. Or problem here in America is the far right.
I am not on TikTok, and I'm sure it has its benefits, but these challenges to eat laundry detergent, beat up teachers and such is very discouraging.
I am waiting to see "challenges" of the sort of "I collected XX pounds of trash out of our public park" with photos of mounds of trash bags. Or "I stood outside our local grocery and got people to donate xxx cans/packages of food for our local food bank."
Sadly, it seems like these "challenges" have to be something both
instantaneous and outrageous to go viral.
(BTW, we have 5 teachers in our family. One told me that a failing HS student who has a very serious truancy problem said that she "doesn't need to go to school" as she is "going to be an 'influencer'" so there is that.........)
Patricia, the 35 hour week only applies in highly unionized environments and that says clearly the Public Service and perhaps parts of the construction industry......and of course certain multinational car companies. It sounded the death knell for our hospital system. Outside the public sector it was never really fully applied and has been progressively diluted ever since. That said, the French do work significantly shorter work-years than do all their competitors. Industry shows high hourly productivity through mechanization saving high labour costs. Net salaries are low in this country because government taxes labour costs to pay for the extensive social protection system. The result for the worker is higher unemployment than elsewhere in Europe and a lower standard of living than the rest of the affluent occidental world.
Stuart, thank you for your informative posts. I definitely had a premature and poorly informed opinion of the retirement age increase. You provided a lot of insight, in fact much more information than any news service I've consulted here in the US. However, I must say that even before your posts, Macron forcing this change through without parliamentary approval immediately raised alarms.
I don't speak French, so I hope my translator app is correct: Excellent travail, continue comme ça!
Well at least they are pissing and moaning! How about some pissing and moaning from America about the debt ceiling , or lack of workers’ protections, or outrage at the LIES that drowned out the facts! Come home Monsieur and clean up your own dump!
Although I read, and sometimes hear, that Republicans want some kind of Christian Nationalist government, I honestly don't think that those Republicans who get elected want that.
Republicans who get elected do so because someone gave them campaign money. Whoever gave them money is who they are supporting for power in the government, not God. Most don't even believe there is a God outside of their campaign donors. But, they DO believe in MONEY.
Now? They may mention God here and there because there are some poor souls in the US that actually think there is a God (and who knows? Nobody). But, most of those folks are not trying to start a revolution.
Mostly, Republicans just want to get control of the levers of money so they can open the spigots for their donors and for themselves.
Seriously. I mean, last time Republicans were in power they showered money on their folks. Was not the PPP a Republican program?
And? The PPP was one of the most corrupt giveaways in history. Even Louren Bobert managed to steal money from it. So, even special needs people could steal from that program.
Republicans don't really want theocratic rule. They just want to trick those poor souls who do believe in God into keeping them in power so they can run a continuous heist by printing money for themselves.
In the meantime, our current government is aggressively pursuing the ignorant, misguided souls who responded to Trump's call to storm the Capital while simultaneously letting Trump, who called them all to violence, run for President.
Dare I say, ladies and gentlemen, that there is something wrong here. Republicans are bad yes.
But, Democrats were in charge for 2 years, and currently do have some power. Let's stop arresting the poor souls who believed the lies that were told by Trump.
It should not be illegal to believe that the President of the United States is telling the truth.
But, it SHOULD be illegal for the President to lie about losing and call up a civilian army.
While I do have sympathy for those who really were duped by Trump into participating in the Jan.6 attempted insurrection, I also think it is important to arrest and prosecute them. They need to know there are consequences for a violent attempt to overthrow the government.
I long for the arrest and prosecution of the planners and conspirators, which is even more important, but we pardoned everyone after the Civil War, and the former Confederacy still looms karge in the minds of many Southerners as if it were a great, romantic "lost cause". And they are still trying to re-enslave black people by depriving them of their right to vote and using police power to murder many.
"They need to know there are consequences for a violent attempt to overthrow the government."
Cheryl, but, is that what they thought they were doing? I don't think they did. I think they thought, based on Trump's lies, that they were PRESERVING the government.
Trump had told them he won right? He told them Biden lost. He told them they were going to "lose their country". Correct??
So, it is not a crime to have a somewhat below average intelligence and be easily duped.
It IS a crime to do the duping but that guy is running for President.
I have concluded: We are missing the mark prosecuting all these sub average intelligence people who were duped while not prosecuting the guy who duped them.
How about we go after the tech bro data miners who profit most from the continuing disinfo?
The theater of yesterday's hearing, adults attempting to critique the business model of TikTok while taking campaign cash from US profiteers and lobbyists, beggared belief.
It doesn't matter in the slightest what they *thought* they were doing. They were doing in direct violation of multiple laws. And if there aren't any consequences, followers like her will continue violating laws and destroying property because they *believe* they're in the right. I agree that the manipulators, especially the manipulator in chief, also must pay consequences. That is coming, just not as quickly as we want it to have arrived by now.
Successful DIY government (of, by and for the people), even in its republican (small "c") form, absolutely requires a well informed electorate. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, and there are reasons for caution (actually "conservatism" with a small "c"; the only thing "Conservatives" seem to want to conserve is their own privilege). The just exercise of power embraces responsibility. Period. Abuse of power, be it crime or corruption, is our species' eternal enemy.
Those who would be king use social stratification and divide and conquer (as well as hard and soft violence) to work their will. You can be clever and technically educated and still fall for the con. My dark corollary of The Golden Rule is that those who shaft unto others will, whenever it suits them, shaft unto you.
"Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises." - Lincoln
Your points are all well taken. But those poor souls who became convinced that they should storm the capitol should be held accountable. Those defendants were being given every opportunity to receive light sentences until many immediately publicly recanted their contrition on SM, at CPAC, and on talk shows. Our country cannot continue to privilege white (self professed) christians. The BLM protesters were specifically targeted by police and armed civilians despite proof that violence was being incited by outside groups. Had the seditionists not been white the outcome of 1/6 would have been very different.
It is aways about money. They are all grifters. Narcissists go into politics. Sometimes to do good things. Republicans fall into two camps, extremists who exploit the mindless and receive funding from people like the Mercers, and fellow travelers who sit on their hands and ride along the money train quietly. Always about money.
The "love of money", the priority of money over any other consideration; although I think in the end it is all about power. Money will persuade someone to make a sandwich for me, or for some vendors, commit murder for hire or treason. Governmental office is another form of power, as is weapons and violence. In a corrupted society, there forms are easily converted into one of the others.
I regard narcissism as our pursuit of self interest. Self interest is there with good reason, but it is toxic when not checked and balanced by compassion and emotional maturity. Not all politicians are narcissists, and the best are in a more admirable relationship with their own narcissism that most of us, including me. I don't think Elizabeth Warren is in it for the power and the glory, nor Bernie. I don't think that Lincoln was. There are many, many adequately and admirably responsible people holding society together.
There are others who are endangeringly irresponsible and/or predatory, and that's a problem.
These superlong links are that way for tracking. You don't need to include all that in the link for it to work. You will notice there's a questionmark at the end of the first line. Just use everything up until, and not including the questionmark and the link will work just fine.Try it
"The other approach uses the purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rate—the rate at which the currency of one country would have to be converted into that of another country to buy the same amount of goods and services in each country."
Maybe someone could explain why it was the biggest steal...
I think Mike is referring to the Paycheck Protection Program, a Covid emergency measure that came with loan forgiveness for entities that didn’t lay people off during the “lockdown” and its aftermath. The claim that Boebert received money from this fund is false. Her restaurant did not get a PPP loan. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz, among other Congress people, however, did, and those loans were forgiven. The hypocrisy of accepting that while opposing student loan forgiveness really rankles.
Well said, Mike S. These significant points are a rally call. We can agree on the principles , still believe in God, still carry arms ( not Ar15s are WE being heard?) still make mistakes AND correct them.
This all in or all out / to hell with only inch gains /tax codes put back to some fair balance /etc....has gotta go!
“The radical-right House members aren't stupid enough to believe their irrational justifications for seeking to blow up the economy”
Agreed they are not stupid but…..
They want to blow up the economy!! Then use their propaganda to blame it on Biden and the Democrats. And they’ll use blowing up the economy for the purpose of destroying Democracy, and creating an uprising to take over the USA in which their gun toting base will be/ is more than ready, willing, and able to proceed and attempt to achieve. The many calls for a Civil War by the extremists over the last few years could very well come to pass.
Most of the extremists in America are well armed, much more so than any center and liberal American citizens. The extremists know this too. Christian Extremists are also more than willing to destroy the economy, the USA, even the worlds economy in order to take over. And if they can’t take over they are ready to create the Armageddon they believe must happen before Christ will to return to earth.
We are living in some crazy, if not insane times…… GQP extremists have convinced their base that left is right, up is down, forward is backward, etc etc…..
You are falling victim to fear-mongering. We are not helpless, as I wrote recently:
"there are plenty of us in rural states who own and know how to use guns. No one needs to be intimidated by the irresponsible and often cowardly bullies who pose and threaten to get their way. Just shooting the opposition has never been an effective or permanent solution to anything.
However, an armed populace is not the answer to any of the problems this country faces (in fact, it's one of the problems). If we can't be smarter than an angry armed mob, we won't get out of this sinkhole. Every one of us is armed with a much more effective and powerful tool: our brains. We need to get better at using them."
Remember: real courage is the ability to keep moving forward even when you are afraid.
If we don’t speak and face facts, face the truth, we do so at our own peril. Stating what’s going is not fear mongering, it’s acknowledging “the elephant in the living room.”
“We are not helpless….” Agreed. But “to keep moving forward even when you are afraid” requires being fully aware of what it is you are dealing with as you (we) move forward.
We have to acknowledge that virtually all of the most radical of them come from ultra safe conservative (mostly rural) congressional districts. Threatening them politically because they are risking bringing our entire economy to the edge of collapse doesn’t work! They simply don’t care because they are safe politically and they are confident Democrats will surrender and agree to negotiate severe cuts in our economic safety net. Truthfully, in this ultimate economic game of chicken, we do not want to risk a severe blow to our prosperity! So how does Joe force them to agree to raise the debt ceiling without giving in to their horrible demands? We must find between 5 to 10 more reasonable Rs who do not want to risk disaster. They are there but they don’t want to show their hands yet as it will probably cost them their political career. They probably want us to give in part of the way in return for their votes? What do you say to this conundrum Helen? We need your wise counsel? Thank you!
Just my opinion Ira. You have well depicted the landscape. What scares me is that history reveals that as this phenomena reaches maturity like a boil, an eruption has been the only way back to normal. Will the haves continue to choke out the have nots or what? Is there a surgeon at hand with a deft scalpel ? Have we a way to parity for all ? Is there no such thing ? Will those holding the garrotes choke the life out of those who sustain them ?
Big Business has to turn the screws on the financial terrorists and pressure the not-yet-fascist Republicans. Business will pay a very heavy price is things blow up.
Businessmen are inherently cannibalistic. The big ones keep munching the little ones. They are okay with that until they get eaten. So disruption of business is often seen as opportunity to overtake each other. It’s good business to outlast your competitor full on no stops. Business men won’t step up they will put their pots to boil.
Question: Does the House Freedom Caucus really have the power to prevent the House from raising the debt limit?
The Pew Research Center has identified 49 House members as belonging to or being closely aligned with the House Freedom Caucus. There are 435 voting members. That leaves 386 house members that are not members of the caucus. Of that, 213 members are Democrats, leaving 173 House Republicans that do not fully align with the House Freedom Caucus. 218 votes are required to increase the debt ceiling. Therefore, only 5 of the 173 non-Freedom Caucus Republicans need to vote "Yes" to raise the debt limit.
What then is the true likelihood that 169 or more of these 173 non-Freedom Caucus Republicans will vote "No" and allow the United States to default for the first time in its history?
Let's hope not - I know one hard core Republican who understands the potential economic impact associated with a default. His response is the usual: Democrats have to stop spending.
So, here's my take:
Biden's budget has room - in other words, he'll agree to reduce certain spending in the new budget to give "cover" to 5 Republicans from purplish areas who understand the impact of not raising the debt ceiling so they can then vote to raise the debt ceiling.
I strongly agree. This is so very dangerous! Yet hardly a peep from msm. An occasional minute or two, but no real exposure of the magnitude od damage these radical right members want.
Yes Michael! Thank you for putting that out there. Every day all media outlets should be pressured to tell the facts about this.
The other powerful issue is that we should make “dumps” threat toward others a criminal offense. If I threatened anyone remotely like he is doing I would be sued.
America must be shaken out of its stupor. Put these outrageous tweets in every visible place and ask America how they would feel if someone were threatening them publicly or privately. This is Tyranny, not freedom and a serious danger to all young minds.
Color me skeptical on this one. The last few hours before lighting the match on a world crisis, of which the extent of the carnage cannot possibly be known, will require the Republicans to summon up enough nerve to see it through. These fine Representatives will be fully aware that they are about to face a withering onslaught of obloquy from around the world.
Have they showed nerves of steel before? Was there some event I missed reading about?
They will be hyper-aware in my opinion. The pressure from all around the world as the crisis nears a climax will feel like being stuck in a room with only one door out while a fire siren blares ceaselessly at full volume. Ignorance will not be permitted. Too many interests at play. The cretins will be neither able to run nor hide.
Yes, most of America is clueless. Most don't know the difference betweet the government's debt and its deficit, both of which begin with the letter 'd.' Without these clueless voters, the right-wing of the Republican Party would be miniscule and not pose the threat to democracy that it does today.
Destroying Biden's presidency is their top priority. Have any of these extremists introduced any proposed legislation that actually benefits ordinary Americans?
Gym Jordan is a good example of a deranged Republican looking for ways to destroy everything that doesn't pour money into corporate coffers and put Trump back in the Oval.
Now all you need to do is some outrageous stunt that gets a lot of media attention and YOU can be the GOP's new golden boy!!
I read a lot of your posts, you're really too intelligent for them.
(BTW, I've not seen much mention of it, thankfully---but then, here I go: Boebert filmed herself praying in the Capitol, accompanied by a cellist. Amazing. I thought the Bible told us to pray in secret.)
Miselle There’s a video of my Zumbaing with my three-wheel walker with the Princeton Precision Dance Team, but my wife has forbidden an encore.
Perhaps I could challenge the wobbly whale of Mar a Lago to a duel with harpoons at 10 paces.
Headline: “Skinny vs. Sordid”
I don’t think that Trump’s ‘Justice song’, in which he read the Pledge of Allegiance while a chorus of January 6th prisoners sang the national anthem became a top hit. Perhaps a video of a naked Trump playing golf would be considered an ‘outrageous stunt.’
I promise to remain clothed when family members visit this week end.
Miselle - you inadvertantly posted the same link 3 times instead of 3 different links as I found out when I clicked to watch them. Definitely appreciate Beau's take on the CBO analysis of House Rs budget cut demands.
Oh, goodness! My computer skills in the morning are not the best! Thank you for pointing it out, and Keith, you are a gentleman and too polite to point this out to me!
Here are the ones I believe I meant to post. Beau puts up from 2-6 clips a day at all different times. I will admit, the first one of his was forwarded by a friend and at first I thought, "what?!" I absolutely love his clips, as I also do the ones on YouTube by Brian Tyler Cohen. I hope they catch on and spread the good words.
Not necessarily your computer skills but perhaps your fingers... I've occasionally failed to 'copy' a link (I use the keyboard ctrl-C) that I thought I was copying then pasting it and being surprised at what showed up - I had pasted a previous url I had copied for another purpose!
Miselle Computer skills? You are a genius compared to me. I’m still using Navy signal flags and Morse code. Actually the prostrate ad was spot on—but not yet for me.
Torn between wanting to keep up with the news in the hope of hearing that 45 will be indicted, versus feeling my brain boiling in rage and frustration over the ignorance, selfishness and cruelty of the Rethugs in Congress... I rarely comment these past few weeks because I feel incoherent and wonder whether all the small things I do can make a difference in saving our democracy. However... WE THE PEOPLE must persist, and I follow HCR and Robert Hubbell and Jess Craven and others on Substack to hang onto my sanity.
@JustJanice, I write, first, to thank you for your comment and, second, to note, while it is impossible to foretell precisely when any of our endeavors will reach critical mass, suddenly creating change, I take heart from trusting that each person who joins us brings us one step closer.
Yes! That is the motto of our postcard group. We have been writing our fingers off, sending get-out-the-vote cards for our critical Wisconsin Supreme Court Election on April 4th. If we can swing the court left by one person, it will make a HUGE difference in our state for the safety of democracy in the 2024 election. And, a big thank-you to all of you from other states that also have been sending postcards; several of us have received those.
Robin, Despite having just posted a comment critiquing the accuracy of the Mead quote, I write to note how heartened I am knowing so many of us have prioritized working for Judge Janet this past month over all our other projects.
Christopher, I hesitated for a long time, contemplating whether to post this reply. However, given the stakes, and despite my warm feelings for the Mead quote, I feel obligated to note that there simply is no evidence to support it. To the contrary, every world-changing movement has clamored for millions of thoughtful, committed people.
MaryPat, Looking back at some world-changing events: The civil rights movement, the woman’s movement, the anti-war movement, the end of apartheid. Who did that? Not a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals, but millions of thoughtful, committed individuals.
Yes. But here is my perspective as a "Start Up Specialist." Every project, company, association and movement I started I did so when a small group (we thought we were pretty thoughtful and committed) of 5 or 6 of us came together, recognized a problem and decided we could do something about it. That doesn't mean every small group is successful in changing the world, but it is through small groups where the concern is identified, studied, confronted, tested and planted, before merging with the many. I started the new state nursing association, ANA-Michigan, with a few colleagues on my beach. It now has thousands of members. Major movements are hatched this way. Then, you are right: when millions of thoughtful, committed folks come together, they make a difference - because they have the road map, playbook, tools, and rallying cries finessed in one or more of the small groups.
MaryPat, Though I deeply appreciated your remarks, I would note the prevailing view, to which I subscribe, recognizes, while small groups such as yours can produce powerful results, the idea that a small group can start a world-changing movement is not based in fact.
Were one to ask, “But doesn’t it start with a small group?” the answer, rooted in historical movements, is no. That explanation is too mechanical. As Civil Rights and Antiwar Activist Tom Hayden has said, “No one ever predicts when or where people will rise up…”. Extrapolating from Hayden, I would contend small groups neither can predict when a world-changing event will start, let alone start it.
Some people read the news, feel despair and withdraw. Other people, thankfully, read the news, get mad and take action like Greta Thunberg and countless others.
It's that first group that keeps me baffled. There's no despair in Magaland which is why they, a mostly small group, are getting all the attention. I hope you can find courage to be part of the solution.
Christopher, Despite my taking issue with your presumptuous final sentence, given my comment has no bearing on the level of my commitment, my engagement, my caring, my work, I would note that the example of Greta Thunberg pokes a gaping hole in my argument, particularly my remark to MaryPat stating that small groups cannot start a world-changing event.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
... by Margaret Mead!...
...was my go-to quote in the classroom when I was teaching, prominently posted on the wall. It applies to everything! It was food for the soul and the foundation for many a discussion across the board. Everyone here, copy/paste this quote, and refer to it daily. It’s a good reminder to stay on track, stay focused. You won’t regret it.
Thank you to all here for so earnestly sharing your sanity, your humanity, your knowledge, and your hearts. Together, it’s a wonderful community!
Morning, JustJanice! I feel the same as you. I have chosen to hunker down and quietly do the "small things." Surely, if we all do the same, we can make a difference.
I’m in the same camp of fear and hope. And have the same unlimited resources of poems, proverbs and Truths. In the end... that is my biggest worry, that the money, corruption, power, Supremes, republicans (yes I mean it out loud and not abbreviated) are taking down our Democracy faster than we can prevent their fascist actions from causing irreparable damage. I don’t know if I’ve been more worried. Gratitude to Professor Richardson for daily connecting today to history. So in the end I will quote, Jorge Santayana’s warning, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But in some ways he is wrong. I would amend him. Those who know the past and don’t care of our future, our children, our environment, our present pressing needs for survival, individuals and the planet, they are condemning us to a downfall. Still no one can steal our Hope. And so far, voting and continuing to work against the repubs and their machine, staying Woke, is our charge.
I get it Irenie. I've been shocked over and over with what's been happening in our country, especially the last 6 years. And I don't really understand why everyone hasn't woken up to how dire things are by now. And I know you are speaking in generalities, but I know smart Republicans who want to survive, and who love children and want a better future for themselves and their family and neighbors. I think they don't understand how dire the situation is for everyone and that in the end we're all in the same boat. I think they are misguided for various reasons. They aren't corrupt or greedy or uncaring. They are good people. Keep speaking your truth. But people aren't going to listen if they think you regard them as stupid monsters.
Jay, I agree that alienating people is not the way to try to work together or communicate or make changes. I do not think people who disagree with me or are republicans are monsters. Not at all. Did I say that or communicate that? This is what I said, my worries: “… in the the end... that is my biggest worry, that the money, corruption, power, Supremes, republicans (yes I mean it out loud and not abbreviated) are taking down our Democracy faster than we can prevent their fascist actions from causing irreparable damage.” “Fascist actions.” Calling out those actions. Well, maybe that is too harsh. Too real. Preventing actions that harm rather than help? That use words that some people hear and fear connected to what they have learned. Yes, by now, I think the republican party has stepped over the line in not calling out violence and hate. But I don’t rudely or disrespectfully argue with people who disagree with me.
Sorry, I think it was the part that you pointed out that you were spelling out word republicans instead of repubs that threw me. I am not that familiar with your comments. I shouldn't have used the word monsters. I never thought that you were intolerant. I simply thought that it might appear that way to some people. Again, sorry for the misunderstanding.
Jay, We, you and I, we talk to each other, and agree or disagree and still continue the conversation. You were right though, if and when we communicate with people we know disagree with us, or we with them, listening and maybe asking a question, not with a hostile attitude, is important if we actually want to communicate. We are so divided, it’s not often I have that opportunity. You’re kind to apologize but I wasn’t angry or hurt. And I appreciate thinking about how someone who doesn’t know me, might not “know “ me.
Thank you for posting this, and thank you for sharing how it is for you now. I find myself commenting less, mostly because of said incoherent rage that only expresses itself in blasphemy, vulgarity, or profanity, but also because I simply cannot articulate my thoughts/feelings about where we are headed and why.
I find that over the past year my formerly complete sentences in my head have been reduced to just, "wtf, again???!!" And that's with trying not to read anything about Florida, or Idaho, or the news in general regarding the Rethugs in Congress. Glad and sad that we are united by shared outrage at the inhumanity and ignorance on display. Thanks for being here.
It seems that, for once, the Democrats need to use fear to get Republican voters to tell their Congress critters to vote to raise the debt ceiling. They need to be told on every television station how interest rates will skyrocket, making credit card payments go up dramatically, and explain that they won’t come back down because other countries won’t trust us to pay our debts. Show how various federal services will have to be curtailed due to money having to pay higher interest rates on federal debt—show long lines at veterans hospitals, airport screening, etc. it’s time to show the American public how not raising the debt ceiling will hurt them and those they love.
Yes, Mary, that is EXACTLY what needs to be publicized/shown in the spotlight/shouted from the rooftops! People need to recognize that their lives will be in tatters if the debt ceiling isn't raised - and that it will impact the world. Most folks (myself included) aren't necessarily well-versed in world economics. We need to be shown what can happen if the repugs try to follow through on their threats!
Gayle, that’s what I’m talking about. The White House (or the Lincoln Project, perhaps) need to produce ads to show a dystopian future if the debt ceiling isn’t passed. Make it a public service announcement.
I feel and share some of your pains sister. Please insist that the broadcast media hear your voice, all of it. They 'owe' us for their agency. In other words, a free press enjoys certain protections under our constitution. To accept those protections, they have obligations we must hold them to; legally and otherwise. Never forget that.. time may soon come to hold those liable that fail to fulfill those obligations. Perhaps past time.
I longed for/dreamed of moving out of our suburban home when I retired. I really wanted a couple acres of my own. As I've aged, now I realize two things: even in my very blue state, the further out of the urban area I go, the "redder" the area becomes. Secondly, having spent my career in healthcare, I will not move more than 30 minutes from a major medical complex that can handle any trauma.
I suggest that any interested in the forum read the book "The Hospital" by Brian Alexander!
The Republican position is based on a willful misunderstanding of our monetary system. The private sector doesn't fund the federal government. The federal government funds the private sector. It spends directly into the economy; it also delegates to banks the distribution of money to private business. The banks create and loan credit-money out of thin air ($16 trillion outstanding currently), but they rely on the Federal Reserve for (yes) reserves. The private sector creates goods and services, but it doesn't create money. When the government taxes back only part of what it spends, its debt grows and so does the value of private assets.
It's difficult for people to understand this, because households, cities, counties, and state governments don't create money. They can tax and they can borrow long-term, but they can't create money. And they do wither away when businesses and people leave and their tax bases erode. Look at inner cities in the Northeast. Look at much of the Deep South. Look at Midwestern farm towns. Look at former mining towns in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky.
Republicans pretend that Social Security is an expense. It isn't. It's funded by savings via the payroll tax, and Boomers after 1986 overpaid into Social Security, built up a trust fund, and subsidised other government spending along the way. Social Security isn't broke. It's experiencing the kind of demographic imbalance that all pension systems must navigate. Private insurance companies can't do what it does.
In our national balance sheet, the liabilities all end up on the government side, and the assets all end up on the private side. Conservative economists like to present only the government side, which always shows pure red ink. Some of them won't acknowledge that a Treasury bond is someone's asset as well as a government liability. I'm not talking accounting hocus-pocus. I'm talking about Alexander Hamilton's establishment of the nation's credit, backed by an almost infinitely large asset called the United States.
There's a specific lie at the core of the Republicans' position. Republicans are telling Americans, in effect, that they can pull the plug from the wall and have the lamp stay on. In truth, if the government doesn't pay its bills, nobody else can pay their bills. And if there's a temporary meltdown in asset prices, those who have already cornered the nation's money will snatch up everything on the cheap--stocks, bonds, real estate, companies, utilities--and economic darkness will cover the land.
Great explanation, Kerry, thank you. I’d like to add that few other countries even have a debt ceiling, and in those that do, it tends to be a percentage of GDP, not a fixed amount (typically 60%). Deficit spending is a critical way for the government to help the economy, especially in times of contraction. One of the problems with the Trump era deficits is that (pre-Covid), they were juicing the economy during a time of expansion. And now we all have to pay the bill. We have to, because the consequences of not doing so are so dire.
Thanks, not many people understand what you are saying but it is the way our macro economy works. Everyone should read J. D. Alt's book, Diagrams and Dollars. It pictorially shows how government funding works. I think even Lauren Boebert could understand but I don't think she ever reads, may be comic books.
As friends from the right have pointed out, they are not Comics they are Graphic Novels' . . . I suspect they need the pictures to understand what they are unable to comprehend though reading.
And, I hope, most from the left point out, too. Many very artistic and intelligent people comprehend better through pictures. Graphic novels are a very legitimate source of information. I myself can't process oral lectures unless I write the key words down and learn through the kinestheic motions, but I can absorb what I read (visual). I also can "hear" lectures if I do a jigsaw puzzle or wash dishes while listening. Unfortunately, neither was allowed in class.That doesn't make me smarter or dumber. It just is a variation on human capacities for learning. The problem with the Boeberts and Greenes is that they are just evil.
If it weren't for "Classics Illustrated" in the 60s, I probably would have missed a lot of literature, even though I spent a good portion of my childhood in the reading room at Willard Library in Battle Creek (the room is long gone, but my memories of high ceilings and laddered bookcases and big leather chairs are still fresh).
Just what chump’s dystopian vision describes, with him sitting on the right hand of god. Just to stick it to “woke libs.” And, of course, to “snatch up everything on the cheap.”
Thanks for this post, Kerry. For a variety of reasons, I do not deal well with/comprehend numbers, and since a lot of economics relies on numbers, I lack the capacity to do research that I can understand. This post is extremely helpful.
That's one way to do it. Or he can simply instruct Sec Yellen to honor our debts. She makes a statement that invokes the 14th amendment. Let them sue her.
The Public Debt Clause is part of Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, and reads in part, “the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law … shall not be questioned.”
"His antics have gotten so extreme that he posted an image today of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg beside an image of himself brandishing a baseball bat. Today, citing Trump’s apparent calls for violence, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ordered that the jurors in the case of E. Jean Carroll’s rape accusations against Trump be kept anonymous for their own safety."
Let’s face it (for those that haven’t already) the GOP doesn’t give a rats ass about the average American. What would happen to the economy well they could care less. Wonder if they realize they loose some of their almighty $$$$$$ too.
It’s unbelievable that they hate the democrats so much to put power over country.
I wonder if their government salaries will not be deposited to their bank accounts, the month after a default? That is the question I am going to ask my Representative, a nice man who sincerely believes that God will take care of climate change, but who did sign on to the letter advocating for not certifying Biden’s election. As far as I know, he still has not admitted Biden won the election, even tho he is quite sure he, himself did. Needless to say, I did not vote for him, but he is my Representative, in spite of that...
Prez. Biden needs to direct the treasury to simply follow the constitution (14th Amendment) and honor the congressionally approved debt. The "Debt Ceiling" is a senseless political fiction.
Simply ignore it and challenge the "originalist" fanatics on the Robert's Kangaroo Court to twist themselves into pretzels to come up with yet another example of partisan hackery to explain why the constitution must be ignored when a Democrat is in the White House . . .
Going forward, all budget bills passed by the Democrats (since the GQP is too fanatical and incompetent to ever do the right thing) should have one simple line added: "The treasury is authorized to issue any debt needed to cover approved spending."
"Republican far-right extremists are becoming more committed to using the opportunity to blow up the economy as a way to get their wishes."
"in response to a question about "whether you think this debt ceiling is going to be used as a bargaining chip in some way that could turn dangerous?” the chair of the House Budget Committee, Jodey Arrington (R-TX), said, “I believe it will and I believe it has to.” "
What comes to mind is "hostage taking", "IEDs", "bombing", "Taliban", "terrorists" and "treason". The Taliban destroyed Afghanistan in order to gain control. They opposed and destroyed all aspects of civil, social, economic and modern society in the name of their ultraconservative religion and ideology. Extreme Republicans with their manufactured anti-woke rhetoric are equivalent to the Taliban, ISIS, Saudis and current Israeli government leadership.
If the banking system and/or the dribble of loan defaults on commerical real estate becomes a torrent and the government has to bail out more institutions and there are a few more FEMA emergencies, the debt ceiling due date will get pushed forward. It is currently less than 3 months away.
If the debt ceiling is not passed the government shuts down and bills and salaries and benefits don't get paid. And aid to Ukraine from America STOPS. The ensuing financial crisis will disrupt the NATO allies as well. And aid to Ukraine STOPS. No more bullets. No more short range missiles. No more ammunition for tanks.
The debt ceiling hawks are also the Putin admirers in Congress.
And Putin and XI made their arrangements last week.
A terrifying prospect-and how absolutely insane is it that we were depending on a traitorous unAmerican like McConnell to control the extremists??????? If our economy collapses, will the GOP cult members then open their eyes? Or will Fox and tfg convince them it was caused by the dems? (Rhetorical questions with an obvious answer). This entire debacle can be laid at the feet of the GOP-Greed Over People indeed.
Long topic that HCR might cover in some detail, should she ever be permitted by current events to divert her attention. If she can't, at some future point perhaps. In a sense, we are in a cold war 2.0, which means we have an adversarial non-relationship with other potentially dangerous adversaries, but we're not actively firing weapons (hot war) at each other; think Russia, and perhaps China, N.Korea, Iran these days. Hope that helps. Lots of very knowledgeable folks here Gayle. Cheers ~
IMO, Gayle, your life experience, whatever it entails, matters as much as any graduate-level education. That said, this gathering of LFAAers is top notch!
Agreed. I was once bemoaning my lack of formal education when sitting with a group of friends having pizza; I was with a Ph.D Psychologist, a Ph.D History professor, a JD, JAG USMC (ret), and a USMC Col (ret) who holds three Masters Degrees. (This was after a band concert that 4 of us played in and the Colonel attended.) The Colonel turned to me and said "Your Ph.D is in street smarts, situational awareness, and people skills. Don't ever demean that." My only reply was "Aye aye, Ma'am".
Gayle, this is what Heather Cox Richard has been doing in detail from the beginning of her ‘Letters”. She is a Republican Historian starting during the time of Lincoln to present day. If you can possibly go back through her letters and live info times on Tuesday (current politics) and Thursday ( historical history). She is so amazing, fun, and profoundly informative. Do to her total blatant love for our country and delightful curiosity as to why and how our country has evolved over time to continue to level up dispute devious power struggles, manipulated and greed. Check it out
But since she has returned to teaching (she took a year sabbatical) her schedule has not been regular. Tuesdays politics chat used to start at 4:00pm, but she has changed it to 7:00p.m. and sometimes earlier. But they are all recorded so you can watch anytime. I haven't seen her give a history chat in quite a while now. Hopefully, she will resume those on Thursdays soon!
Please post anything succinct Gayle if found. A very useful book is Tony Judt's thick "Post War" history of post WWII set out in separate chapters by countries. Upon Putin's attack on Ukraine I reread Judt's chapter on Ukaine. Judt provides full historical context. Judt worked on a movie as well, "AntiSemitism in the 21st Century". Anne Applebaum is, of course, an expert historian on Poland, Ukraine, Germany actually any Euro country. Anne lives in Poland. Love to have HCR weigh in as well.
Gayle, here are two accessible options to tide you over:
Extra History's animated videos on the Cold War begin, I think, with the Berlin Airlift (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nwjFSQCrShM); the style is a bit breezy, but the gist in areas I know well enough to judge is pretty solid.
When I want a springboard into a topic (as opposed to a source I could cite unblushingly in a bibliography), I start with Wikipedia. A Wikipedia history article generally opens with an overview, then does a deeper dive that can include useful maps; media from the period or event in question; links to Wikipedia articles on people, places, related events, and technical terminology; and bibliographical references.
You're welcome! Here's another resource: the YouTube channel of CGP Grey, at https://www.youtube.com/CGPGrey. Grey is an Irish-American and, as nearly I can tell, an autodidact, who has been cranking out wry and well-researched short videos on practically everything for at least a decade.
Sometimes I think our age will be remembered for the shrill, brazen, ignorant voices of people like Trump, MTG, Gaetz, and Boebert. Then I hear people like Whitehouse, Sanders, Warren, and Porter and realize there is still hope.
Katie Porter brilliantly summarizes complex concepts on her whiteboard. This clip (which was on MSNBC in February) addresses social security and it's zero impact on the national debt as well as a couple of other issues. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1634152813675440 So weary of the abject ignorance of republicans in Congress. They don't even try to understand the basics of how the U.S. government functions. Their only mission (they have no policies) is to destroy and consolidate power into their own hands and make up rules to suit that goal. Their constituents are even more ignorant . . . they, and congressional republicans, continue to support a cultist criminal which is just plain nuts.
The only way to get to the Freedom Caucus folks who are driving this financial freight train toward the precipice is for them to feel that their "powerful" jobs are in jeopardy if they don't turn away or apply the brakes very soon. It seems that they can't win a fair fight, they can't play by the rules with the other kids in the sandbox so they create the threat of a disaster...a meltdown...to get their way...to get Joe & company to be the weak adults and capitulate to the children having a world class tantrum. We all know how that turns out in our lives. Spoiled children who rule the roost. We cannot do that...we cannot empower that kind of drunken behavior. It just makes everyone miserable. We have to call their bluff at every opportunity. Because if they drive their train over the cliff...they have nothing. We can't be on their train. We need to be on the sane train. Not the insane train. Do I hear an amen brother...??? We MUST encourage the administration and our local elected leaders to stay the course. Get the message above the Trump noise.
One thing Trump has that's neither negative or positive on it's own is AUDACITY. He's not afraid to be audacious in his manipulation of the media. He may be the "Stonewall Jackson" of modern manipulation of the media. I like that simile...and I can only hope that Trump meets his own "demise" (not violent) to friendly fire on May 10. There would be historic poetry in that. 160 years to the day that Thomas J Jackson was swept off the battlefield by his mistake of being too far out front on a night recon. Just to finish this "history lesson" part of the sermon out...Lee would fail at Gettysburg...his high water mark 2 months later. Many historians believe that the lack of Jackson in his normal command position, may have cost the confederates the battle...and the war. His command had been divided up between two lesser generals...who lacked Jackson's audacity to perform battlefield miracles. On July 4, 1863 Lee's Army of Northern Virginia retreated in a miserable procession, in the rain to the Potomac River, where they set up a defensive perimeter. He lost more men in those 3 days at Gettysburg than he did in any other battle. It was the single deadliest battle in the history of the Western Hemisphere. Lee was able to keep the war going (insert Mitch here) because of his ability to manage the chess pieces he had in his command...but the die was cast, he had lost too many of his pawns & knights...and he had no queen to save him. Lincoln finally found the right general, after Gettysburg in Grant, who knew how to checkmate Lee and end the deadly mess. Let's do that. Let's have Joe give his own "new birth of freedom" speech...and let's rally round the flag. I was just in Gettysburg yesterday. The town is basically a quiet tourist trap, promoting ghost tours....one last thought on audacity.
It may have been the audacity of a professor from Maine that really saved the Union at Gettysburg.
After 3 assaults by rebels up Little Round Top, Joshua L. Chamberlain of Bowdoin College, pulled out a textbook maneuver and did a wheel and charge bayonets down hill at the exhausted foe. The men of the 20th Maine had almost no ammo left. Rather than run...they charged...and won the day. Read the Killer Angels...Lee the invincible became Lee the loser.
We are living with spoiled children who rule the roost. The most spoiled of all, plus his cult of like minded bullies. Chump has the audacity of insanity, MSM can’t look away….
DJT was audacious before he went insane. He's had audacity his whole career and I feel he was more sane...these days I do think he's crazed. He keeps using his same tricks and his world keeps shrinking. He really does act like an alcoholic with his mid night rants...but they say he doesn't drink. It's OK for MSM to stare at him...we can choose when to we want or need to watch them. Don't drink at the well all day long...just taste it...and go about your business. Peace.
Yuri Bezmenov (a KGB defector of the 1980s) tried to warn the west against Kremlin psychological subversion. One of the strategies he went over, is to debilitate a countries economy. Thereby creating an insurmountable instability and chaos that allows the enemy with a less powerful military to invade, destroy and conquer. What's the reward to the treasonous Trump republicans if this happens by kicking out our economy at a very bad time to be vulnerable to Russia? Or is it simply a tactic for Russia to win it's genocide and invasion of Ukraine by crippling the U.S. so badly it can't help Ukraine? And then Treasonous Trump republicans will get a cut of that exploitation?
The radical-right House members aren't stupid enough to believe their irrational justifications for seeking to blow up the economy. They want more than a financial meltdown; they want a complete breakdown of the rule of law that ends democracy and imposes theocratic rule.
The danger should be big, big news every day. Most of America is clueless.
What is even more frightening to me is that bozos like Boebert, MJT, Jordan, Arrington, etc. don't have any clue how our government and its financial system actually functions.
Not raising the debt ceiling is like saying "I don't like this car I bought on credit so I am not going to pay the bank the money I owe."
But it's worse than that, the GQP gonzos are clueless as to how devastating a breach of our debt paying would be. It would destroy the lives of millions and millions of people. Of course, the stock markets would collapse. But everything the Federal Government is involved with could grind to a halt. Even state employees could be affected. About 18.8 million people have Federal or state jobs. A family of four means about 80 million people can't buy food or pay the rent. But that's just an average. What about the larger families and those who care for their elderly parents?
If the United States Government defaults on its obligations, as much as half the population of our proud nation would be in financial trouble. People will go hungry and people will die for lack of medical care and essential prescriptions.
I will say it again. This does not need to happen. It is embedded in our Constitution that we will honor our debt. President Biden can order Sec Yellen to issue a statement that America will pay its bills and honor its debt. Let the "Freedom From Responsibility" idiots sue.
"The Public Debt Clause is part of Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, and reads in part, “the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law … shall not be questioned.”
The idiots will cry that only Congress may appropriate spending. That's true. But Earth to Idiots. You already have. The debt ceiling has nothing to do with spending. It's the same as paying your mortgage or car loan.
Earth to Idiots: if you want the government to spend money differently, propose a budget that does that. Then sit down as adult elected officials and discuss it with the people who have already provided you with a perfectly reasonable budget. Earth to Idiots. Grow up.
Excellent comment, Bill. Thank you. Govern, for Pete's sake, don't posture.
“Govern, for Pete’s sake, don’t ,posture.
The stupid Republican House members have no idea what governing means. They think they are there just to play to the Faux News cameras. They are there to perform. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Green are not people who would be hired by a company with job standards requiring measurable results, ex. an increase in sales. They will fade away, but after having damaged our country's governing infrastructure. They are like termites. Termites can be treated by exterminators, but the damage the termites did has to repaired in time consuming and very costly ways.
That is so well put. Thank you. I tend to go back to my years as a child and adolescent to put some of this behavior in perspective. Behavior displayed by these “leaders “ would never be tolerated in my grade school or high school and in my neighborhood. If such behavior did happen, the “performers “ would not be viewed as leaders. They would be viewed as pathetic and ostracized or given a dope slap.
Excellent, Bill. In addition to the statement you suggest from the President, Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Schumer should introduce matching companion bills eliminating the debt ceiling and ending this controversy for all time. Having actual legislative titles and numbers would give us something specific to discuss when call our Congresspeople and Senators and I'm willing to wager a small but significant amount that there are enough responsible (or scarable) Republicans in the House to come across and maybe leave the Crazy Caucus hanging out to dry. Doing so would also free up Congressional time from performative posturing so that they could follow Ally's excellent advice about governing.
Tangentially, it occurs to me that, at 82, the impact of his fall on Mr. McConnell may have been more serious than it was first thought to be. One wishes him well but hopes that he recognizes when it comes time to hang up the hat.
I hope there are traces of residual conscience left in the "GOP". This has been aggressively purged, especially of late. I wish McConnell well in his person, but really need him to do some soul-searching, along with the whole damned party.
The Republicans are long past soul-searching. The Republican "brand" has, in my opinion, been forever disgraced. Anyone who identifies him- or herself as a Republican should be voted out of office. If someone wants to start a new "conservative" party, fine. There was an article in NYT a day or two ago with headline something like "How Liberal Professors Can Save Conservatism", which seemed very sensible to me: teach young people "classical" conservatism (Burke, Hume, etc.), which contains some reasonable ideas, so they can replace the crazies who call themselves conservative, but are anything but.
Here's the link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/opinion/conservative-college-students.html
Unfortunately the very first sentence contains a grammatical mistake, presumably not a recommendation for liberal professors to do the same.
In my limited experience with hospitalization, anytime a person is moved to rehab instead of going home means that the patient is no longer making progress but is not recovering. At the age of 82 a simple fall can be the end of "normal" life.
I've had the same unfortunate experience. It's a hard decision, but McConnell needs to do what is best for his constituents and the country although it could be argued that by reducing the number of Republicans in the Senate he's doing just that.
I think it’s nice - and overly generous - of you to wish him well. I wish him exactly what he’s given his country in the past few years: less than nothing.
I encourage everyone to have their congressional representative reiterate what Bill just wrote on both the House & Senate floor!
Excellent point about the Public Debt Clause. I keep forgetting about that. I wonder if that's President Biden's ace in the hole. I hope he uses it at the last minute if these drama queen Rs are stupid enough to push it all the way.
You just KNOW that they are hoping to destroy the economy and then they will just turn around and say it's the Dem's fault (reality be damned).
Provided the pseudo-justices will recognize it. The clause must certainly be underlined and defended. It's plain-language enough to make the point.
Thank you, especially for your closing paragraph. These idiots are financial terrorists and should be treated as such.
Extortionists.
So well said, Bill!
"What is even more frightening to me is that bozos like Boebert, MJT, Jordan, Arrington, etc. don't have any clue how our government and its financial system actually functions."
Even more frighting is that they they clearly don't care. Gaining advantage for their quest to conquer is their only focus; malignant narcissism. The damage they cause is beside the point when it isn't part of the fun of feeling powerful.
Even more frightening, their constituents have even less of a clue, hence they’re so easily persuaded to continue voting for them!
As they live in the privilege of their unfettered ignorance, their only go to will be to destroy everything and start over. With nary a thought as to what the first thing they will have to do if we were to star all over. Remember the old song "They ran through the briars and they ran through the bushes....?" The don't realize we'd be after them with pitchforks, touches, and tar and feathers as they ran exhausted, hungry, and scared to death, not that they'd ever get to Natchez.
Boebert's GED classes didn't include Civics.
Or civility,
If it did she was probably out sick !
Thank You Bill! I fear the Repugnants aren't so much idiots as puppets, though. Who will benefit most if "It would destroy the lives of millions and millions of [American] people."?
Intriguing question. A great deal hangs on the answer.
I can't imagine that derailing the entire American economy would benefit anyone.
Someone in a position of power somewhere thinks it will accrue to the accomplishment of their goal, whatever that is. That it makes no sense to you or me simply means that we're rational thinkers.
EXCELLENT question, MaryPat!
Absolutely. And the supreme court's ruling of "Citizens United" supercharged their anti-American activities--the activities designed to drain the treasury as well as drain the assets of every middle class and poor person in the country. It the end, they will simply take their unjustly-acquired assets and move to their other homes in other countries where they will get a higher interest rate on that money and buy the leaders to get citizenship in the new country of their "allegiance." They will laugh while America burns. Near the end of his life, comedian George Carlin gave a serious 4-minute talk about the nation's future and probable end. It's quite worthwhile to listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyvxt1svxso
Exactly.
Thank you, Bill. I am nearly 80 and I am scared. I don't have a lot of $$s but I sure don't want to lose what I have or my house. I still pay a mortgage payment that is less than $500 but still owe over 77,000 on my home. Poor choices of the heart caused that issue. If the idiots that the idiots elected continue, I will go down with a lot of other people and many that I know.
Whew! Well said! Thank you!
On point statement, Bill. The same wingnuts who want to compel students to pay every cent of crushing loan bills don't want to raise revenue or authorize the spending limit necessary to pay for the debts they ran up.
Yes, they ran them up. It was their votes to cut the country's income with tax breaks to rich people that exploded deficits, long before COVID stimulus rounds were necessary. (Quick aside: if tax cuts for rich worked, why did the Federal Government need to inject stimulus at all? Shouldn't our beneficent 1% have readily injected some of that tax money they saved into the economy to give it a boost and create jobs?) The CBO scored the Republicans' current suggestions to balance the budget, and even without dollar specifics CBO essentially said, as nicely as one can in an official document, that McCarthy and his bloc's claims are a fairy tale with numbers that don't add up.
Unfortunately, Bill's lament is mine: most of these circus clowns don't understand how our government works. It's one thing to claim to love the Constitution but another thing to actually read and comprehend it. We went from a very deft, creative, effective and accomplished Speaker to a feckless and spineless one. McCarthy putting the likes of Gaetz, Jordan, Boebert, Santos and MTG in positions of any responsibility shows the amount of respect he has for his position, this country, our House and the people of this nation. How can our government do better when a crowd that wouldn't pass a middle school civics course is in the driver's seat for one of our major parties? May voters in GA, FL, CO, NY, UT and every other state these MAGA people slithered from, wake up from their stupor, and vote this intellectually unfit lot out in the next term.
I think a kind of hedonism takes over. Just recently I read that mothers who sent their kids to school without a mask felt they were expressing a sense of personal freedom or power. Trump and the right have attacked our sense of the common good. Too many people just want to be on the "right side" when the apocalypse comes.
Spot on.
What a wonderful Rant! Thanks for the chuckle, Bill. The Theater of the Absurd strikes again!
But they are motivated by malice. I worry when we claim they’re idiots or stupid that the truth of their malevolence gets lost, and it’s too important to lose!! So many people don’t want to recognize that their intention is to do harm. We must talk about it. The GOP is currently a party of wilful death. It’s not because they’re stupid.
Christy, I agree with you up to a point. I would humbly suggest that we inject the word solely into your observations. The most dangerously loud and blundering of this lot are not solely malicious, nor solely malevolent, nor solely unintelligent or ignorant. Unfortunately, none of the above is a mutually exclusive characteristic. It's my opinion that all of those qualities, and probably quite a few more, are working in concert to inspire them to gleefully drive our nation to its destruction, taking many other economies and nations of varying development along with it.
I suspect that the under-educated are more vulnerable to cult ideologies, though the highly, especially less broadly educated, are by no means immune. I also think one is primed for a cult by an authoritarian upbringing. I think authoritarianism is the real enemy here, and that in turn boils down to extreme narcissism.
Narcissism in it's most extreme state, total indifference if not glee in response to causing harm, is identical to "evil", and we don't talk enough about the details. "Evil" keeps regenerating, like a movie monster, despite seeming vanquished from time to time because its encoded in our DNA. I think we all have a narcissistic side of necessity, but are generally taught and encouraged to integrate this, at least to some degree, with "civility" and compassion, the capacity for which we are also endowed. I am convinced that social psychology, be it with regard to individuals, marriages, or inter- and intra-societal relationships might be, along with "good faith", be key to saving us from self-destruction; certainly a tool to relieve some of the epic suffering that has beset the human race throughout history, more or less around the globe.
“While all other Sciences have advanced, that of Government is at a stand; little better understood; little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.”
– John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson, Jul. 9, 1813.
There are a few folks who have devoted entire lifetimes/careers to answers.
Speaking of Waco brings to mind one of them:
“He treated the children released during the cult stand-off in Waco, Texas—and more recently, consulted for the state of Texas in the child custody case involving hundreds of children of polygamists. He has consulted for numerous law enforcement (including the FBI), mental health, educational, child welfare and juvenile justice institutions and agencies around the world.”
Bruce Perry on his book, Born for Love
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5gU1wXbs5mc
I recall reading a book by this person, perhaps the one you mentioned. I was very impressed. Yes, there are many serving humanity, some in exceptional ways. They rarely penetrate the "News" of sociopathy.
I think that the "GOP" has become consumed by a plutocrat-driven quest for absolute power. I think all that they do makes "sense" in that context. The direct and indirect death toll of their ideology, in Iraq, in the COVID crisis, as racism, and a cult of violence. Power comes in different forms, including money, governmental power and violence, or the threat of violence. The more corrupted a society, the more easily these three forms can be interchanged.
The current malaise of the "GOP" seems to me to oil down to the urge to bully.
JL, I am appreciating your astute and valuable observations, both in this post and your response above. I especially like the care taken in the previous post when expressing which educational demographics could be swayed into cults and cultish practices, and how someone deeply but not broadly educated would also be susceptible. Your earlier post also mentioned how this is underpinned by the demonization that is possible by someone being "the other", and how more familiarity with a more diverse group of people could help.
My own experience with some friends who subscribe to right-wing policies is a weird inconsistency with authority. With people they agree with, and especially those in power, there's an almost unblinking and unconsidered allegiance that manifests a reflexive obedience and compliance. If the person in question represents an ideology in opposition, especially one in a position of authority, conversely, there is reflexive resistance and an incited combative response.
The right also seems to depend on divisiveness; whether ethnicity, sexuality or something else, for elections. I do agree that this manipulation of those prone to cult mentality, enhanced with recommendations from their leadership to separate from others who could broaden their worldview, supports the conditions needed for cretins to keep power. Without ideas that address a people's needs, hatred of other groups and blind obedience is all you have left to run on for reelection.
we always seem to be up against the old split between the north and the south, a split that predates the civil war by a couple of hundred years. the north was settled by puritans, who opposed the king of england. some of the puritans fled england and settled new england. plymouth rock and all that. not long afterward, the puritans overthrew the king. the king and his followers had to flee. they landed in VA and settled the south. jamestown and all that. the north has always been dynamic and up for change, industrial, while the south has its heels dug in, an advocate for the old ways, agrarian. the puritans and the cavaliers still hate each other. why is it that extremists have not taken over the dems, but the supposedly level-headed GOP? a couple of quotes that might apply: a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds; winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. meanwhile, there are those who think the US can withstand anything and rise from the ashes like a phoenix bird, so why not play with fire? that's one way to avoid having to submit a budget. in their juvenile way they haven't realized yet that "what counts is what you learn after you know it all." we are currently playing out a melodrama, which we do periodically, all the dialogue written, unable to change a word of it. talk about march madness. pray for the joint chiefs.
This is an interesting observation and our country does seem to have this split, in mentality at least, between "north" and "south." I put those in quotes because whereas this at one time may have been strictly locational, it seems that it is now more of a state of mind and either mindset can be found in any part of the Union. The "northern" mindset, in my opinion, is similar to your description of someone more experimental and inclined to novel approaches. The "southern" mindset, as you described, more inclined to preserving things as they have always been done. Being in the northeast, I encountered more than my share of 'cavaliers' here, some of them with a curious affinity for the Royals, and they have never lived anywhere else in the country.
I appreciated the phoenix analogy too. If the most careless of the GQP really do have such an extreme view of American Exceptionalism; where the country completely unravels from economic disaster, falls into dystopian hellscape and miraculously become a shining beacon immediately afterwards, we are in the deepest pit of excrement imaginable.
I get it. But isn't it inherently stupid to be malevolent?
Bill, for us folks working in the health care field the use of the word stupid is intensely grating. Meaning unintelligent, it reflects an organic inability to learn. One cannot help what they did or did not receive with the gift of birth. So I do not agree, the malicious GOPers are not stupid. They lack a heart not a brain.
Received this in a text this morning:
Say you're in a room with 400 people. 36 don't have health insurance. 48 live in poverty. 85 are illiterate. 90 have untreated mental illnesses. And everyday, at least 1 person is shot. But 2 are transgender so you decide ruining their lives is a priority. That is what's happening in America right now.
I agree, lacking a heart. The priorities for more than half, 260 to be exact, are calculatedly written off.
This is a powerful analogy. I hope I can retain and redeploy this in the future. Outstanding.
It seems to me that the methodology of science is a partial work-around a recognition that the smartest of us are ultimately limited in our powers of observation, detection, and cognition, and a great deal surely eludes us. That said, I think our most foolish choices are more likely limited by what we prefer not to recognize than by our own capacities, or even our potentially remediable cluelessness. And yes, caring for someone, or something, beyond ones own directly self-serving interests and agenda is mostly independent of intellect.
Putin is clever. Not infallible, but clever. Hitler was clever, as was and is the whole of German science in his era; part of what makes it so creepy. Lincoln warned of "cunning" tyrants. Elon Musk is clever. Trump is an astonishingly lazy thinker, but he has mastered a certain strategy, albeit Orwellian. And I know from experience that people can be under-educated or even intellectually challenge and have hearts of gold. Even be wiser than those who are "smart".
It is because of greed and the way they get what they want is to create fear!
Good analysis. Appears that the Drooling Caucus is pulling their ideas from Art of the Deal. Renegotiate the contract when the rube send you the bill. The, proof perfect that government doesn't work once their game of chicken doesn't work? The bums (Democrats) bankrupted themselves (the Dark State) instead of taking the deal. Point proven and they keep the taxcuts.
Don't make me shoot Ms Liberty here.
We are all responsible for our choices. Fire away, JL. 😉
Thanks Bill, your last 2 paragraphs are perfection. They make great ad campaign messages.
Does anybody have the power to tell the public what the republicans want for the country. Trump’s dystopia will be no picnic for anyone, especially the old, vulnerable arses who worship his putrid, vile pretense of human. Rupert does, but fat chance there…MSM just blathers on like Nero, focusing on the inferno. The empire teeters…
Meanwhile, the French are pissing and moaning about raising their retirement age from 62 to 64... I wish I could come up with a soupçon of sympathy for them.
I felt the same way as you, James, until I read further and found out that a key provision of Macron’s proposed law requires people to work 44 years to receive a full pension. That means that those who go to graduate school or women who cared for their children before joining the workforce will be penalized. If my own situation took place under Macron’s proposed plans, I could not retire until I am 86!
I worked as an independent until I was 71, with a very small pension because I started working late, so it also irritates me when people whine over 2 years more, but while it's true that there is a long tradition of the sacred right to strike, the 2-year extension is just the straw that broke the camel's back over a situation that has been worsening for years. Government decisions over the past few decades have practically ruined the once-excellent French medical system. At the same time as the gov't demagogues refuse to remunerate GPs correctly (when my deceased GP husband retired in 2009, GPs earned 22 euros for a consultation. The next year, it increased to 23 euros (whoopee!!!), and did not increase further until 2017, when it rose to a princely 25 euros. Now the gov't is offering a magnanimous 1€50 increase. Very difficult for a doctor who wants to give his patients his time to make a living. About 15-20 years ago, the gov't started reducing the permitted entries into medical school, resulting in a gradual decrease in the number of doctors (including specialists) entering into practice. Of course, this helped docs to work more, but is now running them ragged. The pandemic aggravated the situation, and it is now very difficult to get an appointment with anyone within a reasonable delay. The medical system is becoming like the one in the States, where doctors/phys.therapists/ostéopaths/dermatologists/etc. have to practice in large centers with receptionists/secretaries, seeing many patients a day. So that is another aspect. Elsewhere, gov't benefits are being reduced for everyone but the legislators, it seems. So yes, a lot of French people do seem sometimes to demand something for nothing, but there are legitimate complaints. That said, it is annoying when the strikers upset everything. Just yesterday evening, I was stranded all alone in a small train station (NO employees present to inform or help, no other passengers) on my way back from Avignon because my next connection to home simply didn't arrive. Had to scramble to find someone to come and pick me up.
(End of rant! :-) )
I love your beautiful country and I'm going there in a few months. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. Like us, your population is aging. We all need more young people to work and pay into the system to support us. Even so for us, we're reluctant to take in immigrants, despite all the energy and innovation they have brought our country.
There's a recent book you should read, Back of the Hiring Line: A 200-Year History of Immigration Surges, Employer Bias, and Depression of Black Wealth.
Among the many examples, in 1980, most meat packers were Black, earning good middle class wages. By that decade's end, most were immigrants, toiling for barely above minimum wage, under atrocious conditions, where maimings and amputations were frequent. Similar conditions prevailed in other areas of low/no-skilled work.
The book is solid (296 footnotes), yet well written, covering the relevant academic economic history, black periodicals, statements from black leaders beginning with Frederick Douglass, whose sons were downwardly mobile due to mass immigration (companies would send ships to Europe to bring back white workers so they could fire the black workers, and the same sort of thing goes on today with companies bringing in H1-Bs), and gov't commissions on immigration reform. The latest of these, run by Barbara Jordan, the Black Texas Democrat who made her name on the House Judiciary Committee during Watergate, recommended cutting immigration numbers roughly in half, and strict enforcement of immigration laws, so that Blacks and other American workers could get decent jobs with decent pay.
The book also gives the lie to to the notion there are jobs Americans won't do. the author interviewed laid off poultry workers on the Eastern Shore, who'd been replaced by immigrants. Would they take their old jobs back? No, they told him. with the greatly reduced wages, they'd have to live in their cars, or many to a house.
Companies that need more workers should be raising their wages. Our labor participation rate is still quite low (meaning a lot of unemployed people are not looking for work).
Reagan's 80's were a dark era for the middle class, many of whom naively supported the old fool. History repeats itself with Trump's base.
Thank you, Carolyn, for describing, clearly and with ample illustration, the situation in France. Hearing it from someone who has lived through and is struggling to survive the consequences of unwise politics further justifies the French people’s outrage. Wishing for the French people a peaceful and prosperous resolution to these challenges. Be well and safe, mon amie!
Follow the money; not just specific transactions but the flow throughout society. Who benefits? Who is shafted? And why?
Essential questions for "Liberty and Justice For ALL".
Thank Carolyn for this inside look. What you have revealed is that the new plan will ultimately benefit, as usual, affluent white men--people whose work arc remains consistent and who are not troubled by bias, inequities in wages and employment, etc. Plus ça change, c'est plus la même chose, eh?
It doesn't sound like it's helping anyone except the legislators. Sounds like you're projecting the US onto France.
It's sad that France has devolved to this. I lived there in '65-'66, and attended the 6ieme in the international section of the Lycee de Sevres, and had a wonderful year. In '71, on a visit, my much younger sister had to be flown to Paris from a couple of hundred miles away to have her appendix out (I think one parent flew with her and one stayed whereever they were when this occurred). Everything went smoothly. I had two wonderful bicycle trips in different parts of France in May of '87 and of '89, after the latter trip took the TGV back to Paris from Avignon, and it was a marvel. The only bad part was getting gridlocked on Rue de Rivoli on my bicycle, but a managed to get to another street after about ten minutes, and had a pleasant ride to friends' apartment.
It pains me to hear how bady things are functioning there now.
I just started a new career at age 68!
Maybe this career will pay me what I am worth? One can hope!
In these early years of my retirement, I just completed a life long dream: I wrote a novel. Over the years, I had many friends encourage me to do this.
I realize I need a literary agent to publish, and I have no idea how to find one. I have a friend who wrote a YA novel (I read it, I think it is good!) and self published. Her journey of this is one of such frustration that she gave up after the first book. She is not a person who is easily defeated, either, she's had many difficulties in life that she overcame. This discouraged me from taking this route.
Good luck to us both, Marj!
As a retiree from a major publisher and someone who spent five years writing an unpublished novel, I would advise anyone who wants to write a novel not to count on getting it published. There are rare exceptions, but the opportunities are shrinking except for the field of romance novels (because that audience buys more books than others) And don't forget that agents are not invested in one book wonders; they need clients who will continue to be productive. Self-publishing is a decent option if you want that book on people's shelves. I don't regret the time I spent on my novel, because I explored a family story that had always troubled me, but I'm glad I had a side gig, because I needed it.
My best friend wrote a novel, didn't get it published, and then went to grad school. (This was years ago.)
Self publish! Cheers!
You might try joining the American Society of Journalists and Authors. I don't know if you can, unless you were a journalist, or at least have published a few articles, but it won't hurt to inquire, because they definitely help people get agents. They're in NYC. There are probably other groups of this sort.
I can't remember whether Stephen King's book, On Writing, would be helpful or not, but I very much enjoyed reading it. Actually, now that I think about it, he did talk about how he got started, so I think it might help.
The University of Iowa caters to people who want to write books, and there are probably certain profs who are more in tune than others with fiction. Perhaps a call to one of them out of the blue, after googling to see who looks more likely to cater to fiction might net you some valuable information.
Maybe someone among the encouraging friends might also have ideas about how to proceed. I certainly wish you success!
I agree with you about Stephen King's book.
And a ps to the reply below, my friend who self published? In the long run, I do believe she got taken. It cost her a LOT of money and she sold probably 50 books via Amazon. All to friends.
Thank you, David. I also read Stephen King's book. I have never published anything. (I don't consider some letters to the editors to magazines as being "published" but perhaps if my name was George Santos............ )
I have done some Googling and with internet sites, it's difficult to know who is genuine and what is just phishing.
I will consider your suggestions. My attempts so far have led to dead ends.
Mark I started a new career at 58-80 and it paid me a $$$ pittance, though tremendous personal satisfaction. As Joseph Campbell said: ‘follow your bliss,’
Following my bliss is the trouble!! As an artist I followed my bliss all these years. I did ok and live well. I just never considered the world would do these tumblesaults, inflation would be so crippling and these cool new tech tools would come along! I am having fun!
Marj Joseph Campbell of ‘follow your bliss’ also described life as ‘trouble’:
“When you’re laughing
Keep on laughing
And the Whole world laughs with you
When you’re crying…”
Wishing you the best, Marj!
After a career mostly in civil service clerical work, I went to the middle east and taught English for 5 years to children and adults. I'm sorry I never became a teacher here in the US because I had the time of my life. It turned out that I was actually good at it, and I loved it. Best of luck!
Mary congrats! You found your bliss!
I started a new career at age 60! In France. Best years of my life.
Thanks for the insider heads up Rose👍
Rose I would qualify under Macron’s pension Regis since I worked until I was 80 (beyond my normal life expectancy?)
How wonderful, hopefully enjoying what you did.
My observation is that for the majority -retirement at 62 if one is healthy- beats the odds . But for the majority life has been hard , paycheck to paycheck, now little benes in the corporate world ( pension, savings,health care) are slim . So ‘they’ -the lower percentage -has to work beyond to keep their head above the rising tides. And I DO heavily factor in the marginalized , a growing number .
None the less retirement at 64 ain’t bad . They also have free health care?
I always solicit correction sisters, brothers. I’m also in the’ 80s ‘ still farming after retirement at 67 and find much enlightenment knowing how much I have to yet learn.
I worked for the State of Indiana and their rule was age plus years of service had to equal 85. I worked until I was 70.5 and had worked 26.5 years. I can't imagine actually retiring at 62 and being able to continue the same life style.
Adding 2 years of work doesn't sound like much, but as a nurse who ran hospital halls for 40 years, there's no way I physically could have lasted 2 more years. Ditto for construction workers, teachers (who are on their feet 8 hours/day), mail carriers, and others with very physical jobs.
Exactly! As an educator, I slept 4 to 6 (max) hours per night at least 10 months of the year. If I hadn’t retired when I did, I might not be writing this message. Yes, my pension and SS are less than if I had worked two more years, but quality of life—LIFE itself—became more important! I don’t regret early retirement one bit.
It's been pointed out that even though you retire earlier, you collect more money because you live longer. I was diagnosed with spinal cord damage at 59, and I chose to collect my late ex's Social Security as a widows' benefit, and it pays more than if I had collected disability or waited until I was 65 and collected my own. In fact, my disability occurred in Egypt while I was living there, and I couldn't get disability because I didn't have verification of the onset of my disability from doctors in Egypt.
Rose, I also live in WNY. Would like your thoughts on what's been going on with the Hilton Schools bomb threats. They say the emails come from a Russian domain. I doubt the emailed threats came from Russia, but we don't know.
I understand. The MSM only seems to report part of the story, and not the most important part, at that. Based on that requirement, of 44 years, their policies are unworkable. If I taken away four years of college and four years of military service, my retirement age would have been 70, by that rule. That's why I've encouraged my children to set up their own retirement funds, not relying on anything from the government. "God bless the child that's got his own" as the song says.
James this is much bigger than any change to the retirement age. it is a reflection of anger that has built up in the people as they feel that nobody is listening to them. The current President is the stereotype, arrogant, highly-educated elite "fonctionnaire" who think they know best and the people are too stupid to understand. This is personal! The majority of the people now whant rid of him and his ilk.
The French are well known for their well organized and effective protests. Were it not for that, the officials in France might well have been tempted to raise the retirement age even further. A two year increase is all they thought that they could get away with. I feel the French are fighting for all of us.
You provide a very good description of Trump, but not Biden.
The similarites in terms of psychological and characterial structures between Trump and Macron have been noted before. Biden is making them both look rather foolish.
Thank you Stuart. I am struck by the social-political complaint. " ... nobody is listening to me". Cutting to my real question, who is manipulating who?
Brian, there are two levels to this; firstly, the public anger has building over the last 40 years during which, even when alternating left and right, nobody seems either to be listening and none of those elected keep their promises; secondly, the extreme left is trying desperately and unsuccessfully to get a hold of the movement and make it insurrectionary but they are only serving to necessary "order" perspective of the contested elite in power. The people are fed up with this bunch of mediocre politicians from both sides. It should be remembered that half of the people have stopped voting in disgust and nearly half those remaining actually voted Le Pen.....against Macron
Let’s hope they stave off Marine Le Pen though
They will.
The majority? I disagree. I'd say a fairly even split. Not everybody reads "Le Monde" (which has a very revealing comments column). Plus they re-elected him, in spite of sour-grapes Mélenchon, that burly man-of-the-people, who has spent the Macron years fanning any little spark into a fire.
Anne-Louise, his popularity is now down to 28% and heading fast into "Hollande" territory (he finished at 13%). They re-elected him last May because he had orchestrated a rematch with Marine Le Pen....who will never win given the left-wing fatwa against her imbedded by them in the psychy of society of the past 40 years. 4 weeks later he lost the elections to the National Assembly leaving him with a minority government. It has been all down hill for him since. He is now resisting dissolving the Assembly to call new elections because it will make his predicament worse. Whatever he tries now he is politically dead in the water and condemned to subterfuge which will increase antipathy for him or immobility. His psychology will suffer humiliation neither kindly nor for long. We'll see.....but he will explode!
I don't think so. I hope not. I'm watching closely.
Reader comment from Le Monde this morning 25 March (on today's fruity description of clashes between so-called protesters and police, from the usual "leaked" sources): "Un seul responsable, Mélenchon, qui n'a jamais supporté d'arriver quatrième à la présidentielle et qui depuis le lendemain de l'élection s'est démené à fabriquer ce sentiment de colère pour gagner par la violence ce qu'il n'a pas gagné dans les urnes. Le pire c'est que ça marche. Ça rappelle de très mauvais souvenirs." And no, I didn't write it. If you're looking for a Trump equivalent, it's Mélenchon, not Macron.
Sympathy is the last thing they want! Organised marches are a national pastime. (I've taken part in a couple). The great de Gaulle, ultimate Frenchman, once said that a country where there are 350 different types of cheese is ungovernable. Macron is sticking to his guns, but his poor little technocrat of a prime minister has suddenly aged ten years and lost her smile.
And i would love to taste every one of those cheeses!! What a great line and what a sad state of affairs for many. Our debt ceiling co-mingled with our bank failures is disconcerting. I am still reeling from the TikTok hearings. Hypocrisy with a capital H. So we ban books that open up the minds and hearts of children and empowers them to be aware of themselves, each other and the world, take away women rights, suppress voting and refuse to legislate about guns control YET the lawmakers argue TikTok is damaging the mental health of our children. Government is damaging our mental health.
Exactly!
I'm guessing that you saw the video of Jamie Raskin addressing Congress about banning books while allowing every kind of automatic firearm? It was great. I sure hope he's going to be ok; he's a wonderful man!
I did not but i will. He is a gem. And i pray for him often.
I share your disgust with the censorship, but it's true that social media is harmful to the health of children, as well as adults. And I would argue that government is both necessary, and dangerous, in the hands of the far-right or far-left. Or problem here in America is the far right.
I am not on TikTok, and I'm sure it has its benefits, but these challenges to eat laundry detergent, beat up teachers and such is very discouraging.
I am waiting to see "challenges" of the sort of "I collected XX pounds of trash out of our public park" with photos of mounds of trash bags. Or "I stood outside our local grocery and got people to donate xxx cans/packages of food for our local food bank."
Sadly, it seems like these "challenges" have to be something both
instantaneous and outrageous to go viral.
(BTW, we have 5 teachers in our family. One told me that a failing HS student who has a very serious truancy problem said that she "doesn't need to go to school" as she is "going to be an 'influencer'" so there is that.........)
What a brief and concise post! I Like it. Keep thinking and paying attention to what is going on in our troubled times.
Especially with their 35 hour work week! At least manual laborers with strenuous jobs could be required to work fewer hours.
Patricia, the 35 hour week only applies in highly unionized environments and that says clearly the Public Service and perhaps parts of the construction industry......and of course certain multinational car companies. It sounded the death knell for our hospital system. Outside the public sector it was never really fully applied and has been progressively diluted ever since. That said, the French do work significantly shorter work-years than do all their competitors. Industry shows high hourly productivity through mechanization saving high labour costs. Net salaries are low in this country because government taxes labour costs to pay for the extensive social protection system. The result for the worker is higher unemployment than elsewhere in Europe and a lower standard of living than the rest of the affluent occidental world.
Good to know. Thanks!
Stuart, thank you for your informative posts. I definitely had a premature and poorly informed opinion of the retirement age increase. You provided a lot of insight, in fact much more information than any news service I've consulted here in the US. However, I must say that even before your posts, Macron forcing this change through without parliamentary approval immediately raised alarms.
I don't speak French, so I hope my translator app is correct: Excellent travail, continue comme ça!
Well at least they are pissing and moaning! How about some pissing and moaning from America about the debt ceiling , or lack of workers’ protections, or outrage at the LIES that drowned out the facts! Come home Monsieur and clean up your own dump!
I don’t fully agree with you but take huge delight in your immaculate phrase, “soupçon of sympathy”.
Michael,
Although I read, and sometimes hear, that Republicans want some kind of Christian Nationalist government, I honestly don't think that those Republicans who get elected want that.
Republicans who get elected do so because someone gave them campaign money. Whoever gave them money is who they are supporting for power in the government, not God. Most don't even believe there is a God outside of their campaign donors. But, they DO believe in MONEY.
Now? They may mention God here and there because there are some poor souls in the US that actually think there is a God (and who knows? Nobody). But, most of those folks are not trying to start a revolution.
Mostly, Republicans just want to get control of the levers of money so they can open the spigots for their donors and for themselves.
Seriously. I mean, last time Republicans were in power they showered money on their folks. Was not the PPP a Republican program?
And? The PPP was one of the most corrupt giveaways in history. Even Louren Bobert managed to steal money from it. So, even special needs people could steal from that program.
Republicans don't really want theocratic rule. They just want to trick those poor souls who do believe in God into keeping them in power so they can run a continuous heist by printing money for themselves.
In the meantime, our current government is aggressively pursuing the ignorant, misguided souls who responded to Trump's call to storm the Capital while simultaneously letting Trump, who called them all to violence, run for President.
Dare I say, ladies and gentlemen, that there is something wrong here. Republicans are bad yes.
But, Democrats were in charge for 2 years, and currently do have some power. Let's stop arresting the poor souls who believed the lies that were told by Trump.
It should not be illegal to believe that the President of the United States is telling the truth.
But, it SHOULD be illegal for the President to lie about losing and call up a civilian army.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/us/politics/jan-6-nancy-pelosi-riley-williams.html?unlocked_article_code=PfQtsiaky0HBLUoePpp-C_5eZraSeis_hjcG74DAIa-o_ZxzmImM1O2pkqCsVcsd1PoUvTYaf6kpGJOBMeSzJL-3iR-FhMNgXVySbpoXf3CMKwpyjfb2WKzV_UyEdsPvp2t3lD47YvVKV7JGEWhxp8fSaqOww1gHhsZ9YFcoMWGg7kJ3ZfyPdlD1tWH9emWc7LWFXY_sC0dj7ILjyy7is2dLVt8ZDTcCqvdzi6a_PhE6b5Py6Tc6x2lBxhlq3TBfqR4Idv1NB1fGNs9PWr73x1MD5DFtRxNuJmtV1gqC3P0jUQP93vyvKQFcKpAHSe5PxcvuqBa8O96nrppBcxb0Iuo2oWv6zWv-TI_tJ5tuZw&smid=url-share
While I do have sympathy for those who really were duped by Trump into participating in the Jan.6 attempted insurrection, I also think it is important to arrest and prosecute them. They need to know there are consequences for a violent attempt to overthrow the government.
I long for the arrest and prosecution of the planners and conspirators, which is even more important, but we pardoned everyone after the Civil War, and the former Confederacy still looms karge in the minds of many Southerners as if it were a great, romantic "lost cause". And they are still trying to re-enslave black people by depriving them of their right to vote and using police power to murder many.
"They need to know there are consequences for a violent attempt to overthrow the government."
Cheryl, but, is that what they thought they were doing? I don't think they did. I think they thought, based on Trump's lies, that they were PRESERVING the government.
Trump had told them he won right? He told them Biden lost. He told them they were going to "lose their country". Correct??
So, it is not a crime to have a somewhat below average intelligence and be easily duped.
It IS a crime to do the duping but that guy is running for President.
I have concluded: We are missing the mark prosecuting all these sub average intelligence people who were duped while not prosecuting the guy who duped them.
Seriously.
How about we go after the tech bro data miners who profit most from the continuing disinfo?
The theater of yesterday's hearing, adults attempting to critique the business model of TikTok while taking campaign cash from US profiteers and lobbyists, beggared belief.
It doesn't matter in the slightest what they *thought* they were doing. They were doing in direct violation of multiple laws. And if there aren't any consequences, followers like her will continue violating laws and destroying property because they *believe* they're in the right. I agree that the manipulators, especially the manipulator in chief, also must pay consequences. That is coming, just not as quickly as we want it to have arrived by now.
Successful DIY government (of, by and for the people), even in its republican (small "c") form, absolutely requires a well informed electorate. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, and there are reasons for caution (actually "conservatism" with a small "c"; the only thing "Conservatives" seem to want to conserve is their own privilege). The just exercise of power embraces responsibility. Period. Abuse of power, be it crime or corruption, is our species' eternal enemy.
Those who would be king use social stratification and divide and conquer (as well as hard and soft violence) to work their will. You can be clever and technically educated and still fall for the con. My dark corollary of The Golden Rule is that those who shaft unto others will, whenever it suits them, shaft unto you.
"Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises." - Lincoln
Your points are all well taken. But those poor souls who became convinced that they should storm the capitol should be held accountable. Those defendants were being given every opportunity to receive light sentences until many immediately publicly recanted their contrition on SM, at CPAC, and on talk shows. Our country cannot continue to privilege white (self professed) christians. The BLM protesters were specifically targeted by police and armed civilians despite proof that violence was being incited by outside groups. Had the seditionists not been white the outcome of 1/6 would have been very different.
Amen sister!
The "kid glove" treatment of the armed and threatening Bundy gang draws a very stark contrast.
It is aways about money. They are all grifters. Narcissists go into politics. Sometimes to do good things. Republicans fall into two camps, extremists who exploit the mindless and receive funding from people like the Mercers, and fellow travelers who sit on their hands and ride along the money train quietly. Always about money.
The "love of money", the priority of money over any other consideration; although I think in the end it is all about power. Money will persuade someone to make a sandwich for me, or for some vendors, commit murder for hire or treason. Governmental office is another form of power, as is weapons and violence. In a corrupted society, there forms are easily converted into one of the others.
I regard narcissism as our pursuit of self interest. Self interest is there with good reason, but it is toxic when not checked and balanced by compassion and emotional maturity. Not all politicians are narcissists, and the best are in a more admirable relationship with their own narcissism that most of us, including me. I don't think Elizabeth Warren is in it for the power and the glory, nor Bernie. I don't think that Lincoln was. There are many, many adequately and admirably responsible people holding society together.
There are others who are endangeringly irresponsible and/or predatory, and that's a problem.
These superlong links are that way for tracking. You don't need to include all that in the link for it to work. You will notice there's a questionmark at the end of the first line. Just use everything up until, and not including the questionmark and the link will work just fine.Try it
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/23/us/politics/jan-6-nancy-pelosi-riley-williams.html
Excellent, thanks. I need to subscribe to these formats ..drats.
For us ignorami...
Purchasing Power Parity
"The other approach uses the purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rate—the rate at which the currency of one country would have to be converted into that of another country to buy the same amount of goods and services in each country."
Maybe someone could explain why it was the biggest steal...
I think Mike is referring to the Paycheck Protection Program, a Covid emergency measure that came with loan forgiveness for entities that didn’t lay people off during the “lockdown” and its aftermath. The claim that Boebert received money from this fund is false. Her restaurant did not get a PPP loan. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz, among other Congress people, however, did, and those loans were forgiven. The hypocrisy of accepting that while opposing student loan forgiveness really rankles.
KR. Thanks for clarifying. I was thinking MTG but my brain glitched.
Well said, Mike S. These significant points are a rally call. We can agree on the principles , still believe in God, still carry arms ( not Ar15s are WE being heard?) still make mistakes AND correct them.
This all in or all out / to hell with only inch gains /tax codes put back to some fair balance /etc....has gotta go!
“The radical-right House members aren't stupid enough to believe their irrational justifications for seeking to blow up the economy”
Agreed they are not stupid but…..
They want to blow up the economy!! Then use their propaganda to blame it on Biden and the Democrats. And they’ll use blowing up the economy for the purpose of destroying Democracy, and creating an uprising to take over the USA in which their gun toting base will be/ is more than ready, willing, and able to proceed and attempt to achieve. The many calls for a Civil War by the extremists over the last few years could very well come to pass.
Most of the extremists in America are well armed, much more so than any center and liberal American citizens. The extremists know this too. Christian Extremists are also more than willing to destroy the economy, the USA, even the worlds economy in order to take over. And if they can’t take over they are ready to create the Armageddon they believe must happen before Christ will to return to earth.
We are living in some crazy, if not insane times…… GQP extremists have convinced their base that left is right, up is down, forward is backward, etc etc…..
You are falling victim to fear-mongering. We are not helpless, as I wrote recently:
"there are plenty of us in rural states who own and know how to use guns. No one needs to be intimidated by the irresponsible and often cowardly bullies who pose and threaten to get their way. Just shooting the opposition has never been an effective or permanent solution to anything.
However, an armed populace is not the answer to any of the problems this country faces (in fact, it's one of the problems). If we can't be smarter than an angry armed mob, we won't get out of this sinkhole. Every one of us is armed with a much more effective and powerful tool: our brains. We need to get better at using them."
Remember: real courage is the ability to keep moving forward even when you are afraid.
“You are falling victim to fear-mongering.”
If we don’t speak and face facts, face the truth, we do so at our own peril. Stating what’s going is not fear mongering, it’s acknowledging “the elephant in the living room.”
“We are not helpless….” Agreed. But “to keep moving forward even when you are afraid” requires being fully aware of what it is you are dealing with as you (we) move forward.
We have to acknowledge that virtually all of the most radical of them come from ultra safe conservative (mostly rural) congressional districts. Threatening them politically because they are risking bringing our entire economy to the edge of collapse doesn’t work! They simply don’t care because they are safe politically and they are confident Democrats will surrender and agree to negotiate severe cuts in our economic safety net. Truthfully, in this ultimate economic game of chicken, we do not want to risk a severe blow to our prosperity! So how does Joe force them to agree to raise the debt ceiling without giving in to their horrible demands? We must find between 5 to 10 more reasonable Rs who do not want to risk disaster. They are there but they don’t want to show their hands yet as it will probably cost them their political career. They probably want us to give in part of the way in return for their votes? What do you say to this conundrum Helen? We need your wise counsel? Thank you!
Just my opinion Ira. You have well depicted the landscape. What scares me is that history reveals that as this phenomena reaches maturity like a boil, an eruption has been the only way back to normal. Will the haves continue to choke out the have nots or what? Is there a surgeon at hand with a deft scalpel ? Have we a way to parity for all ? Is there no such thing ? Will those holding the garrotes choke the life out of those who sustain them ?
Big Business has to turn the screws on the financial terrorists and pressure the not-yet-fascist Republicans. Business will pay a very heavy price is things blow up.
Businessmen are inherently cannibalistic. The big ones keep munching the little ones. They are okay with that until they get eaten. So disruption of business is often seen as opportunity to overtake each other. It’s good business to outlast your competitor full on no stops. Business men won’t step up they will put their pots to boil.
Question: Does the House Freedom Caucus really have the power to prevent the House from raising the debt limit?
The Pew Research Center has identified 49 House members as belonging to or being closely aligned with the House Freedom Caucus. There are 435 voting members. That leaves 386 house members that are not members of the caucus. Of that, 213 members are Democrats, leaving 173 House Republicans that do not fully align with the House Freedom Caucus. 218 votes are required to increase the debt ceiling. Therefore, only 5 of the 173 non-Freedom Caucus Republicans need to vote "Yes" to raise the debt limit.
What then is the true likelihood that 169 or more of these 173 non-Freedom Caucus Republicans will vote "No" and allow the United States to default for the first time in its history?
Exactly,
Watch Leader Jeffries lead while the idiots continue to wage their war on us.
The republican party stays in line. They are terrified of their right wing. People like Nancy Mace may make fun of them but she votes with them.
Let's hope not - I know one hard core Republican who understands the potential economic impact associated with a default. His response is the usual: Democrats have to stop spending.
So, here's my take:
Biden's budget has room - in other words, he'll agree to reduce certain spending in the new budget to give "cover" to 5 Republicans from purplish areas who understand the impact of not raising the debt ceiling so they can then vote to raise the debt ceiling.
Hope I'm not wrong.
Applause to the math man👏
I strongly agree. This is so very dangerous! Yet hardly a peep from msm. An occasional minute or two, but no real exposure of the magnitude od damage these radical right members want.
Yes Michael! Thank you for putting that out there. Every day all media outlets should be pressured to tell the facts about this.
The other powerful issue is that we should make “dumps” threat toward others a criminal offense. If I threatened anyone remotely like he is doing I would be sued.
America must be shaken out of its stupor. Put these outrageous tweets in every visible place and ask America how they would feel if someone were threatening them publicly or privately. This is Tyranny, not freedom and a serious danger to all young minds.
But American spending caused inflation across the globe, and wrecking the American economy will.....
bunk..
LOL.
....... help them (Republicans) stay in power by giving Fox News more stuff to blame on Biden??
It was the pandemic that did that, not American spending.
Note to self, sarcasm is wasted here.
Hard to recognize sarcasm these days.
Which is why /s at the end of a sarcastic comment is helpful.
Michael Have you forgotten that House renegades have a bottomless pit of stupidity? The pit of poop?
Color me skeptical on this one. The last few hours before lighting the match on a world crisis, of which the extent of the carnage cannot possibly be known, will require the Republicans to summon up enough nerve to see it through. These fine Representatives will be fully aware that they are about to face a withering onslaught of obloquy from around the world.
Have they showed nerves of steel before? Was there some event I missed reading about?
They are chickenshit.
I agree that they are chickenshit but it's not courage that drives them, it's ignorance. They won't be aware until it happens.
They will be hyper-aware in my opinion. The pressure from all around the world as the crisis nears a climax will feel like being stuck in a room with only one door out while a fire siren blares ceaselessly at full volume. Ignorance will not be permitted. Too many interests at play. The cretins will be neither able to run nor hide.
Yes, most of America is clueless. Most don't know the difference betweet the government's debt and its deficit, both of which begin with the letter 'd.' Without these clueless voters, the right-wing of the Republican Party would be miniscule and not pose the threat to democracy that it does today.
You are right but there are also many democrats who don't understand anything about macro economics.
Destroying Biden's presidency is their top priority. Have any of these extremists introduced any proposed legislation that actually benefits ordinary Americans?
Gym Jordan is a good example of a deranged Republican looking for ways to destroy everything that doesn't pour money into corporate coffers and put Trump back in the Oval.
A short clip that further emphasizes the impact of the GOP budget:, every American should hear it and WAKE UP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM6UABFagK8
Speaking of being awake, another clip, this one about American public's view of the term "woke""
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM6UABFagK8
A a final one, pointing out that a short term, letting the debt ceiling crash would be LESS harmful than a GOP budget.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM6UABFagK8
"Y'all have a good day."
Miselle I can write a GOP budget on the back of an envelope:
1) lower taxes on the wealthy
2) a humongous defense budget that provides for over-contract, under-performing weapons produced principally in Republican congressional districts;
3) slashing of ‘social expenditures,’ including Social Security, SNAP (food for the hungry,) and unemployment insurance;
4) Cancel proposed technical and personnel IRS upgrades (that ‘ridiculous’ $80 billion that previously had been voted)
Keith
Now all you need to do is some outrageous stunt that gets a lot of media attention and YOU can be the GOP's new golden boy!!
I read a lot of your posts, you're really too intelligent for them.
(BTW, I've not seen much mention of it, thankfully---but then, here I go: Boebert filmed herself praying in the Capitol, accompanied by a cellist. Amazing. I thought the Bible told us to pray in secret.)
Have a good weekend and keep posting!
Miselle Was the cellist at Boebert’s prayer fest using an AK 15 as a bow? My headline: ‘The praying maggot.’
Miselle There’s a video of my Zumbaing with my three-wheel walker with the Princeton Precision Dance Team, but my wife has forbidden an encore.
Perhaps I could challenge the wobbly whale of Mar a Lago to a duel with harpoons at 10 paces.
Headline: “Skinny vs. Sordid”
I don’t think that Trump’s ‘Justice song’, in which he read the Pledge of Allegiance while a chorus of January 6th prisoners sang the national anthem became a top hit. Perhaps a video of a naked Trump playing golf would be considered an ‘outrageous stunt.’
I promise to remain clothed when family members visit this week end.
Too funny!!
Here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WGFoxh2xt0
Miselle The video left me prostrate and totally flushed.
Miselle - you inadvertantly posted the same link 3 times instead of 3 different links as I found out when I clicked to watch them. Definitely appreciate Beau's take on the CBO analysis of House Rs budget cut demands.
Judith If something is worth saying once, almost certainly it is worth saying three times for those of us who are slow minded.
Oh, goodness! My computer skills in the morning are not the best! Thank you for pointing it out, and Keith, you are a gentleman and too polite to point this out to me!
Here are the ones I believe I meant to post. Beau puts up from 2-6 clips a day at all different times. I will admit, the first one of his was forwarded by a friend and at first I thought, "what?!" I absolutely love his clips, as I also do the ones on YouTube by Brian Tyler Cohen. I hope they catch on and spread the good words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhnvvIyQtrg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw424GG_2-A
Not necessarily your computer skills but perhaps your fingers... I've occasionally failed to 'copy' a link (I use the keyboard ctrl-C) that I thought I was copying then pasting it and being surprised at what showed up - I had pasted a previous url I had copied for another purpose!
PS: thanks for the additional links.
Miselle Computer skills? You are a genius compared to me. I’m still using Navy signal flags and Morse code. Actually the prostrate ad was spot on—but not yet for me.
Misellle. Great post.
Thank you , Mike.
Have a good weekend!
You can say the radical right wing but, in reality, it's the whole republican party.
Torn between wanting to keep up with the news in the hope of hearing that 45 will be indicted, versus feeling my brain boiling in rage and frustration over the ignorance, selfishness and cruelty of the Rethugs in Congress... I rarely comment these past few weeks because I feel incoherent and wonder whether all the small things I do can make a difference in saving our democracy. However... WE THE PEOPLE must persist, and I follow HCR and Robert Hubbell and Jess Craven and others on Substack to hang onto my sanity.
@JustJanice, I write, first, to thank you for your comment and, second, to note, while it is impossible to foretell precisely when any of our endeavors will reach critical mass, suddenly creating change, I take heart from trusting that each person who joins us brings us one step closer.
Hear Hear! Me too Barb.
You yourself just stated the answer to the problems that vex us all:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Take action and feel better. No act is too small.
Yes! That is the motto of our postcard group. We have been writing our fingers off, sending get-out-the-vote cards for our critical Wisconsin Supreme Court Election on April 4th. If we can swing the court left by one person, it will make a HUGE difference in our state for the safety of democracy in the 2024 election. And, a big thank-you to all of you from other states that also have been sending postcards; several of us have received those.
Robin, Despite having just posted a comment critiquing the accuracy of the Mead quote, I write to note how heartened I am knowing so many of us have prioritized working for Judge Janet this past month over all our other projects.
We're tryin'! Got your back! 💙
👏👏👏👏
Thank you all, Robin!
Christopher, I hesitated for a long time, contemplating whether to post this reply. However, given the stakes, and despite my warm feelings for the Mead quote, I feel obligated to note that there simply is no evidence to support it. To the contrary, every world-changing movement has clamored for millions of thoughtful, committed people.
After a few thoughtful, committed citizens got the millions to act and vote.
MaryPat, Looking back at some world-changing events: The civil rights movement, the woman’s movement, the anti-war movement, the end of apartheid. Who did that? Not a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals, but millions of thoughtful, committed individuals.
Yes. But here is my perspective as a "Start Up Specialist." Every project, company, association and movement I started I did so when a small group (we thought we were pretty thoughtful and committed) of 5 or 6 of us came together, recognized a problem and decided we could do something about it. That doesn't mean every small group is successful in changing the world, but it is through small groups where the concern is identified, studied, confronted, tested and planted, before merging with the many. I started the new state nursing association, ANA-Michigan, with a few colleagues on my beach. It now has thousands of members. Major movements are hatched this way. Then, you are right: when millions of thoughtful, committed folks come together, they make a difference - because they have the road map, playbook, tools, and rallying cries finessed in one or more of the small groups.
MaryPat, Though I deeply appreciated your remarks, I would note the prevailing view, to which I subscribe, recognizes, while small groups such as yours can produce powerful results, the idea that a small group can start a world-changing movement is not based in fact.
Were one to ask, “But doesn’t it start with a small group?” the answer, rooted in historical movements, is no. That explanation is too mechanical. As Civil Rights and Antiwar Activist Tom Hayden has said, “No one ever predicts when or where people will rise up…”. Extrapolating from Hayden, I would contend small groups neither can predict when a world-changing event will start, let alone start it.
Some people read the news, feel despair and withdraw. Other people, thankfully, read the news, get mad and take action like Greta Thunberg and countless others.
It's that first group that keeps me baffled. There's no despair in Magaland which is why they, a mostly small group, are getting all the attention. I hope you can find courage to be part of the solution.
Christopher, Despite my taking issue with your presumptuous final sentence, given my comment has no bearing on the level of my commitment, my engagement, my caring, my work, I would note that the example of Greta Thunberg pokes a gaping hole in my argument, particularly my remark to MaryPat stating that small groups cannot start a world-changing event.
How do you think social media has change the meaning of this quote? For better or worse?
Very good question Sharon B.
Christopher J. (Ohio),
I second your comment!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
... by Margaret Mead!...
...was my go-to quote in the classroom when I was teaching, prominently posted on the wall. It applies to everything! It was food for the soul and the foundation for many a discussion across the board. Everyone here, copy/paste this quote, and refer to it daily. It’s a good reminder to stay on track, stay focused. You won’t regret it.
Thank you to all here for so earnestly sharing your sanity, your humanity, your knowledge, and your hearts. Together, it’s a wonderful community!
Morning, JustJanice! I feel the same as you. I have chosen to hunker down and quietly do the "small things." Surely, if we all do the same, we can make a difference.
I’m in the same camp of fear and hope. And have the same unlimited resources of poems, proverbs and Truths. In the end... that is my biggest worry, that the money, corruption, power, Supremes, republicans (yes I mean it out loud and not abbreviated) are taking down our Democracy faster than we can prevent their fascist actions from causing irreparable damage. I don’t know if I’ve been more worried. Gratitude to Professor Richardson for daily connecting today to history. So in the end I will quote, Jorge Santayana’s warning, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But in some ways he is wrong. I would amend him. Those who know the past and don’t care of our future, our children, our environment, our present pressing needs for survival, individuals and the planet, they are condemning us to a downfall. Still no one can steal our Hope. And so far, voting and continuing to work against the repubs and their machine, staying Woke, is our charge.
Morning, Irenie! To me, staying Woke is huge. Let the un-woke blather on!
Lynell, I’m with you. I’ve always been awake!!! Awoke.
😎
I get it Irenie. I've been shocked over and over with what's been happening in our country, especially the last 6 years. And I don't really understand why everyone hasn't woken up to how dire things are by now. And I know you are speaking in generalities, but I know smart Republicans who want to survive, and who love children and want a better future for themselves and their family and neighbors. I think they don't understand how dire the situation is for everyone and that in the end we're all in the same boat. I think they are misguided for various reasons. They aren't corrupt or greedy or uncaring. They are good people. Keep speaking your truth. But people aren't going to listen if they think you regard them as stupid monsters.
Jay, I agree that alienating people is not the way to try to work together or communicate or make changes. I do not think people who disagree with me or are republicans are monsters. Not at all. Did I say that or communicate that? This is what I said, my worries: “… in the the end... that is my biggest worry, that the money, corruption, power, Supremes, republicans (yes I mean it out loud and not abbreviated) are taking down our Democracy faster than we can prevent their fascist actions from causing irreparable damage.” “Fascist actions.” Calling out those actions. Well, maybe that is too harsh. Too real. Preventing actions that harm rather than help? That use words that some people hear and fear connected to what they have learned. Yes, by now, I think the republican party has stepped over the line in not calling out violence and hate. But I don’t rudely or disrespectfully argue with people who disagree with me.
Sorry, I think it was the part that you pointed out that you were spelling out word republicans instead of repubs that threw me. I am not that familiar with your comments. I shouldn't have used the word monsters. I never thought that you were intolerant. I simply thought that it might appear that way to some people. Again, sorry for the misunderstanding.
Jay, We, you and I, we talk to each other, and agree or disagree and still continue the conversation. You were right though, if and when we communicate with people we know disagree with us, or we with them, listening and maybe asking a question, not with a hostile attitude, is important if we actually want to communicate. We are so divided, it’s not often I have that opportunity. You’re kind to apologize but I wasn’t angry or hurt. And I appreciate thinking about how someone who doesn’t know me, might not “know “ me.
Morning, Lynell! I think I'll join you in doing some small things to make a difference.
It's an honor and a privilege to be with you, Ally...morning!
Ditto All!
Morning, MaryPat!
Thank you for posting this, and thank you for sharing how it is for you now. I find myself commenting less, mostly because of said incoherent rage that only expresses itself in blasphemy, vulgarity, or profanity, but also because I simply cannot articulate my thoughts/feelings about where we are headed and why.
I find that over the past year my formerly complete sentences in my head have been reduced to just, "wtf, again???!!" And that's with trying not to read anything about Florida, or Idaho, or the news in general regarding the Rethugs in Congress. Glad and sad that we are united by shared outrage at the inhumanity and ignorance on display. Thanks for being here.
Venting on TCinLA's site is very satisfying (if vulgar, profane...)
Agreed.
JustJanice, thank you....I pay attention, read, despair, and occasionally have to take a news break, for sanity, and do what little I can.
Janice WE SHALL OVERCOME SOME DAY!
It seems that, for once, the Democrats need to use fear to get Republican voters to tell their Congress critters to vote to raise the debt ceiling. They need to be told on every television station how interest rates will skyrocket, making credit card payments go up dramatically, and explain that they won’t come back down because other countries won’t trust us to pay our debts. Show how various federal services will have to be curtailed due to money having to pay higher interest rates on federal debt—show long lines at veterans hospitals, airport screening, etc. it’s time to show the American public how not raising the debt ceiling will hurt them and those they love.
Yes, Mary, that is EXACTLY what needs to be publicized/shown in the spotlight/shouted from the rooftops! People need to recognize that their lives will be in tatters if the debt ceiling isn't raised - and that it will impact the world. Most folks (myself included) aren't necessarily well-versed in world economics. We need to be shown what can happen if the repugs try to follow through on their threats!
Gayle, that’s what I’m talking about. The White House (or the Lincoln Project, perhaps) need to produce ads to show a dystopian future if the debt ceiling isn’t passed. Make it a public service announcement.
Wonderful idea! The Lincoln Project can really get catchy messages before the public. This is real-world scarey and it needs publicity.
I feel and share some of your pains sister. Please insist that the broadcast media hear your voice, all of it. They 'owe' us for their agency. In other words, a free press enjoys certain protections under our constitution. To accept those protections, they have obligations we must hold them to; legally and otherwise. Never forget that.. time may soon come to hold those liable that fail to fulfill those obligations. Perhaps past time.
Definitely past time D4N: we must respond now.
Very true points there, Gayle!
I longed for/dreamed of moving out of our suburban home when I retired. I really wanted a couple acres of my own. As I've aged, now I realize two things: even in my very blue state, the further out of the urban area I go, the "redder" the area becomes. Secondly, having spent my career in healthcare, I will not move more than 30 minutes from a major medical complex that can handle any trauma.
I suggest that any interested in the forum read the book "The Hospital" by Brian Alexander!
Miselle, thanks for the book recommendation
The Republican position is based on a willful misunderstanding of our monetary system. The private sector doesn't fund the federal government. The federal government funds the private sector. It spends directly into the economy; it also delegates to banks the distribution of money to private business. The banks create and loan credit-money out of thin air ($16 trillion outstanding currently), but they rely on the Federal Reserve for (yes) reserves. The private sector creates goods and services, but it doesn't create money. When the government taxes back only part of what it spends, its debt grows and so does the value of private assets.
It's difficult for people to understand this, because households, cities, counties, and state governments don't create money. They can tax and they can borrow long-term, but they can't create money. And they do wither away when businesses and people leave and their tax bases erode. Look at inner cities in the Northeast. Look at much of the Deep South. Look at Midwestern farm towns. Look at former mining towns in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky.
Republicans pretend that Social Security is an expense. It isn't. It's funded by savings via the payroll tax, and Boomers after 1986 overpaid into Social Security, built up a trust fund, and subsidised other government spending along the way. Social Security isn't broke. It's experiencing the kind of demographic imbalance that all pension systems must navigate. Private insurance companies can't do what it does.
In our national balance sheet, the liabilities all end up on the government side, and the assets all end up on the private side. Conservative economists like to present only the government side, which always shows pure red ink. Some of them won't acknowledge that a Treasury bond is someone's asset as well as a government liability. I'm not talking accounting hocus-pocus. I'm talking about Alexander Hamilton's establishment of the nation's credit, backed by an almost infinitely large asset called the United States.
There's a specific lie at the core of the Republicans' position. Republicans are telling Americans, in effect, that they can pull the plug from the wall and have the lamp stay on. In truth, if the government doesn't pay its bills, nobody else can pay their bills. And if there's a temporary meltdown in asset prices, those who have already cornered the nation's money will snatch up everything on the cheap--stocks, bonds, real estate, companies, utilities--and economic darkness will cover the land.
Great explanation, Kerry, thank you. I’d like to add that few other countries even have a debt ceiling, and in those that do, it tends to be a percentage of GDP, not a fixed amount (typically 60%). Deficit spending is a critical way for the government to help the economy, especially in times of contraction. One of the problems with the Trump era deficits is that (pre-Covid), they were juicing the economy during a time of expansion. And now we all have to pay the bill. We have to, because the consequences of not doing so are so dire.
Thanks, not many people understand what you are saying but it is the way our macro economy works. Everyone should read J. D. Alt's book, Diagrams and Dollars. It pictorially shows how government funding works. I think even Lauren Boebert could understand but I don't think she ever reads, may be comic books.
As friends from the right have pointed out, they are not Comics they are Graphic Novels' . . . I suspect they need the pictures to understand what they are unable to comprehend though reading.
And, I hope, most from the left point out, too. Many very artistic and intelligent people comprehend better through pictures. Graphic novels are a very legitimate source of information. I myself can't process oral lectures unless I write the key words down and learn through the kinestheic motions, but I can absorb what I read (visual). I also can "hear" lectures if I do a jigsaw puzzle or wash dishes while listening. Unfortunately, neither was allowed in class.That doesn't make me smarter or dumber. It just is a variation on human capacities for learning. The problem with the Boeberts and Greenes is that they are just evil.
If it weren't for "Classics Illustrated" in the 60s, I probably would have missed a lot of literature, even though I spent a good portion of my childhood in the reading room at Willard Library in Battle Creek (the room is long gone, but my memories of high ceilings and laddered bookcases and big leather chairs are still fresh).
Wonderful! We were graced with the then new Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland, which was very nice, but I would have loved an older design.
In order for Boebert to understand she must be willing to attempt it. This is contrary to her willful ignorance
Thank you, signed “The Money Supply”
Just what chump’s dystopian vision describes, with him sitting on the right hand of god. Just to stick it to “woke libs.” And, of course, to “snatch up everything on the cheap.”
Thanks for this post, Kerry. For a variety of reasons, I do not deal well with/comprehend numbers, and since a lot of economics relies on numbers, I lack the capacity to do research that I can understand. This post is extremely helpful.
Very good post, thank you.
Up next, tRump prints "Trump dollars" with his mug on it. And the rubes will line up for the paper.
Excellent synopsis.
Superb explanation! Thank You Kerry. I finally get it.
P.S. May I share?
Biden better fire up the mint and print the $1 trillion platinum coin.
And then tell these goddamned Goobers to go to hell.
That's one way to do it. Or he can simply instruct Sec Yellen to honor our debts. She makes a statement that invokes the 14th amendment. Let them sue her.
The Public Debt Clause is part of Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, and reads in part, “the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law … shall not be questioned.”
The President is sworn to uphold the 14th, right?
“Shall”
Dave Dalton “Shall”
𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 - verb
1. (in the first person) expressing the future tense.
"this time next week I shall be in Scotland"
2. expressing a strong assertion or intention.
"they shall succeed"
In legal language, Shall is an imperative, as opposed to “can”, “might”, “should”, ….
The debt SHALL be paid, means No Question about nebulous issues such as “debt ceiling” subject to the whims of a minority bombthrowing cabal
You should have said that... instead of leaving it up to me.
Why would I leave something up to you?
lol
"His antics have gotten so extreme that he posted an image today of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg beside an image of himself brandishing a baseball bat. Today, citing Trump’s apparent calls for violence, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ordered that the jurors in the case of E. Jean Carroll’s rape accusations against Trump be kept anonymous for their own safety."
NOT satire.
Keeping fingers crossed that there WILL be consequences for tfg for his latest rants.
Thanks for this.
Let’s face it (for those that haven’t already) the GOP doesn’t give a rats ass about the average American. What would happen to the economy well they could care less. Wonder if they realize they loose some of their almighty $$$$$$ too.
It’s unbelievable that they hate the democrats so much to put power over country.
Yes, they hate Democrats, but hate democracy more. It's inimical with plutocracy, the policy they are paid to push.
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both” — Louis Brandeis
Republicans fully agree but choose the opposing side to Brandeis as to which is the proper priority.
I wonder if their government salaries will not be deposited to their bank accounts, the month after a default? That is the question I am going to ask my Representative, a nice man who sincerely believes that God will take care of climate change, but who did sign on to the letter advocating for not certifying Biden’s election. As far as I know, he still has not admitted Biden won the election, even tho he is quite sure he, himself did. Needless to say, I did not vote for him, but he is my Representative, in spite of that...
Good question, Meredith! If you do get to ask him, please let us know his response 😉
Thanks, Rose. I will let you know if his office responds.
Sounds like MT
Correction, they don’t give a flying rat’s ass.
Not unbelievable at all, been coming for decades
Prez. Biden needs to direct the treasury to simply follow the constitution (14th Amendment) and honor the congressionally approved debt. The "Debt Ceiling" is a senseless political fiction.
Simply ignore it and challenge the "originalist" fanatics on the Robert's Kangaroo Court to twist themselves into pretzels to come up with yet another example of partisan hackery to explain why the constitution must be ignored when a Democrat is in the White House . . .
Going forward, all budget bills passed by the Democrats (since the GQP is too fanatical and incompetent to ever do the right thing) should have one simple line added: "The treasury is authorized to issue any debt needed to cover approved spending."
"Republican far-right extremists are becoming more committed to using the opportunity to blow up the economy as a way to get their wishes."
"in response to a question about "whether you think this debt ceiling is going to be used as a bargaining chip in some way that could turn dangerous?” the chair of the House Budget Committee, Jodey Arrington (R-TX), said, “I believe it will and I believe it has to.” "
What comes to mind is "hostage taking", "IEDs", "bombing", "Taliban", "terrorists" and "treason". The Taliban destroyed Afghanistan in order to gain control. They opposed and destroyed all aspects of civil, social, economic and modern society in the name of their ultraconservative religion and ideology. Extreme Republicans with their manufactured anti-woke rhetoric are equivalent to the Taliban, ISIS, Saudis and current Israeli government leadership.
Some food for thought.
If the banking system and/or the dribble of loan defaults on commerical real estate becomes a torrent and the government has to bail out more institutions and there are a few more FEMA emergencies, the debt ceiling due date will get pushed forward. It is currently less than 3 months away.
If the debt ceiling is not passed the government shuts down and bills and salaries and benefits don't get paid. And aid to Ukraine from America STOPS. The ensuing financial crisis will disrupt the NATO allies as well. And aid to Ukraine STOPS. No more bullets. No more short range missiles. No more ammunition for tanks.
The debt ceiling hawks are also the Putin admirers in Congress.
And Putin and XI made their arrangements last week.
Just saying...
Horrible consequences and the GOP not only doesn’t care, it’s what they want. Bannon will get his wish to burn it all down. We cannot let this happen.
Yikes I never thought of that!
This.
Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, China & Russia vs. the rest of us.
A terrifying prospect-and how absolutely insane is it that we were depending on a traitorous unAmerican like McConnell to control the extremists??????? If our economy collapses, will the GOP cult members then open their eyes? Or will Fox and tfg convince them it was caused by the dems? (Rhetorical questions with an obvious answer). This entire debacle can be laid at the feet of the GOP-Greed Over People indeed.
Greed over people...absolutely!
Somebody here, smarter than me, coined the phrase. I love it! 😊
Who knew that the Freedumb Caucus would be Putin’s best weapon in Cold War 2.0.
Putin is getting what he paid for.
I did, not that it gives me much satisfaction...
Long topic that HCR might cover in some detail, should she ever be permitted by current events to divert her attention. If she can't, at some future point perhaps. In a sense, we are in a cold war 2.0, which means we have an adversarial non-relationship with other potentially dangerous adversaries, but we're not actively firing weapons (hot war) at each other; think Russia, and perhaps China, N.Korea, Iran these days. Hope that helps. Lots of very knowledgeable folks here Gayle. Cheers ~
IMO, Gayle, your life experience, whatever it entails, matters as much as any graduate-level education. That said, this gathering of LFAAers is top notch!
Agreed. I was once bemoaning my lack of formal education when sitting with a group of friends having pizza; I was with a Ph.D Psychologist, a Ph.D History professor, a JD, JAG USMC (ret), and a USMC Col (ret) who holds three Masters Degrees. (This was after a band concert that 4 of us played in and the Colonel attended.) The Colonel turned to me and said "Your Ph.D is in street smarts, situational awareness, and people skills. Don't ever demean that." My only reply was "Aye aye, Ma'am".
Gayle, come and climb in my boat.
Oh, Ally. Love this comment, all of it! Please make room for me - and others of us - in your boat.
Ally, do you recall this phrase from years ago?
BS= bull shit
MS= more shit
PHD= piled high & deep
❤️👍🏻
Permission to come aboard Officer?
Not ever an "only"! So glad you are here Gayle!
Gayle, this is what Heather Cox Richard has been doing in detail from the beginning of her ‘Letters”. She is a Republican Historian starting during the time of Lincoln to present day. If you can possibly go back through her letters and live info times on Tuesday (current politics) and Thursday ( historical history). She is so amazing, fun, and profoundly informative. Do to her total blatant love for our country and delightful curiosity as to why and how our country has evolved over time to continue to level up dispute devious power struggles, manipulated and greed. Check it out
Just wanted to update you as to the live chats Heather has provided. Yes, it is on her Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson
But since she has returned to teaching (she took a year sabbatical) her schedule has not been regular. Tuesdays politics chat used to start at 4:00pm, but she has changed it to 7:00p.m. and sometimes earlier. But they are all recorded so you can watch anytime. I haven't seen her give a history chat in quite a while now. Hopefully, she will resume those on Thursdays soon!
Please post anything succinct Gayle if found. A very useful book is Tony Judt's thick "Post War" history of post WWII set out in separate chapters by countries. Upon Putin's attack on Ukraine I reread Judt's chapter on Ukaine. Judt provides full historical context. Judt worked on a movie as well, "AntiSemitism in the 21st Century". Anne Applebaum is, of course, an expert historian on Poland, Ukraine, Germany actually any Euro country. Anne lives in Poland. Love to have HCR weigh in as well.
That would be a fascinating historical capsule to hear from HCR, please?
HCR is always open to suggestions for her political and history chats.
Gayle, here are two accessible options to tide you over:
Extra History's animated videos on the Cold War begin, I think, with the Berlin Airlift (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nwjFSQCrShM); the style is a bit breezy, but the gist in areas I know well enough to judge is pretty solid.
When I want a springboard into a topic (as opposed to a source I could cite unblushingly in a bibliography), I start with Wikipedia. A Wikipedia history article generally opens with an overview, then does a deeper dive that can include useful maps; media from the period or event in question; links to Wikipedia articles on people, places, related events, and technical terminology; and bibliographical references.
You're welcome! Here's another resource: the YouTube channel of CGP Grey, at https://www.youtube.com/CGPGrey. Grey is an Irish-American and, as nearly I can tell, an autodidact, who has been cranking out wry and well-researched short videos on practically everything for at least a decade.
Sometimes I think our age will be remembered for the shrill, brazen, ignorant voices of people like Trump, MTG, Gaetz, and Boebert. Then I hear people like Whitehouse, Sanders, Warren, and Porter and realize there is still hope.
Katie Porter brilliantly summarizes complex concepts on her whiteboard. This clip (which was on MSNBC in February) addresses social security and it's zero impact on the national debt as well as a couple of other issues. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1634152813675440 So weary of the abject ignorance of republicans in Congress. They don't even try to understand the basics of how the U.S. government functions. Their only mission (they have no policies) is to destroy and consolidate power into their own hands and make up rules to suit that goal. Their constituents are even more ignorant . . . they, and congressional republicans, continue to support a cultist criminal which is just plain nuts.
The only way to get to the Freedom Caucus folks who are driving this financial freight train toward the precipice is for them to feel that their "powerful" jobs are in jeopardy if they don't turn away or apply the brakes very soon. It seems that they can't win a fair fight, they can't play by the rules with the other kids in the sandbox so they create the threat of a disaster...a meltdown...to get their way...to get Joe & company to be the weak adults and capitulate to the children having a world class tantrum. We all know how that turns out in our lives. Spoiled children who rule the roost. We cannot do that...we cannot empower that kind of drunken behavior. It just makes everyone miserable. We have to call their bluff at every opportunity. Because if they drive their train over the cliff...they have nothing. We can't be on their train. We need to be on the sane train. Not the insane train. Do I hear an amen brother...??? We MUST encourage the administration and our local elected leaders to stay the course. Get the message above the Trump noise.
One thing Trump has that's neither negative or positive on it's own is AUDACITY. He's not afraid to be audacious in his manipulation of the media. He may be the "Stonewall Jackson" of modern manipulation of the media. I like that simile...and I can only hope that Trump meets his own "demise" (not violent) to friendly fire on May 10. There would be historic poetry in that. 160 years to the day that Thomas J Jackson was swept off the battlefield by his mistake of being too far out front on a night recon. Just to finish this "history lesson" part of the sermon out...Lee would fail at Gettysburg...his high water mark 2 months later. Many historians believe that the lack of Jackson in his normal command position, may have cost the confederates the battle...and the war. His command had been divided up between two lesser generals...who lacked Jackson's audacity to perform battlefield miracles. On July 4, 1863 Lee's Army of Northern Virginia retreated in a miserable procession, in the rain to the Potomac River, where they set up a defensive perimeter. He lost more men in those 3 days at Gettysburg than he did in any other battle. It was the single deadliest battle in the history of the Western Hemisphere. Lee was able to keep the war going (insert Mitch here) because of his ability to manage the chess pieces he had in his command...but the die was cast, he had lost too many of his pawns & knights...and he had no queen to save him. Lincoln finally found the right general, after Gettysburg in Grant, who knew how to checkmate Lee and end the deadly mess. Let's do that. Let's have Joe give his own "new birth of freedom" speech...and let's rally round the flag. I was just in Gettysburg yesterday. The town is basically a quiet tourist trap, promoting ghost tours....one last thought on audacity.
It may have been the audacity of a professor from Maine that really saved the Union at Gettysburg.
After 3 assaults by rebels up Little Round Top, Joshua L. Chamberlain of Bowdoin College, pulled out a textbook maneuver and did a wheel and charge bayonets down hill at the exhausted foe. The men of the 20th Maine had almost no ammo left. Rather than run...they charged...and won the day. Read the Killer Angels...Lee the invincible became Lee the loser.
OK I surrender now....Peace to all
We are living with spoiled children who rule the roost. The most spoiled of all, plus his cult of like minded bullies. Chump has the audacity of insanity, MSM can’t look away….
DJT was audacious before he went insane. He's had audacity his whole career and I feel he was more sane...these days I do think he's crazed. He keeps using his same tricks and his world keeps shrinking. He really does act like an alcoholic with his mid night rants...but they say he doesn't drink. It's OK for MSM to stare at him...we can choose when to we want or need to watch them. Don't drink at the well all day long...just taste it...and go about your business. Peace.
Mike, from what I understand, his drugs of choice are uppers (e.g., snorting crushed Adderall pills) rather than downers (e.g., alcohol).
Mike, History in song. I give you Steve Earle
Dixieland
https://youtu.be/ivbNEXjuu_4
Yuri Bezmenov (a KGB defector of the 1980s) tried to warn the west against Kremlin psychological subversion. One of the strategies he went over, is to debilitate a countries economy. Thereby creating an insurmountable instability and chaos that allows the enemy with a less powerful military to invade, destroy and conquer. What's the reward to the treasonous Trump republicans if this happens by kicking out our economy at a very bad time to be vulnerable to Russia? Or is it simply a tactic for Russia to win it's genocide and invasion of Ukraine by crippling the U.S. so badly it can't help Ukraine? And then Treasonous Trump republicans will get a cut of that exploitation?
the reward - any and all of what Vicki mentioned