In a speech yesterday in Northfield, Minnesota, President Joe Biden explained his economic vision to rural Americans. “Over the past 40 years or so, we’ve had a practice in America—an economic practice called trickle-down economics, and it hit rural America especially hard,” he said. “It hollowed out Main Street, telling farmers the only path to success was to get big or get out.”
And the Biden/Harris team keeps on rolling out these FDR-esque programs. I am consistently impressed by and grateful for the holistic nature of these plans: "$20 billion of the Inflation Reduction Act will go to helping farmers and ranchers adjust to climate change by changing cover crops and managing nutrients and grazing, while urging farmers to diversify from single crops and sell in local markets."
Here's hoping Mike Johnson dies by his own poison pills.
Thank you for placing my very thoughts on this page .
Thank you Heather. My mom and dad were great farmers. They worked hard together every day. Their rhythm of life began before light and during harvest ....into the darkness. They were also people of deep faith.
We have a great President and his team matches his passion and love for the ideal of Democracy to be evidenced throughout his administration. He is for each of us. Even his enemies benefit from his (and his team's) wise decisions.
Beautiful post, Emily! I especially love this: "Even his enemies benefit from his (and his team's) wise decisions." It's the most heartbreaking thing about the attacks on Team Biden - they're often coming from the people the team is working most diligently to help.
My dad was a farmer, and I grew up farming. We were taught that the job HAS to be finished. If you finished your row, you helped the person (usually my younger brother) finish his row, then move on.
The little communities where we lived are drying up. Farming changed dramatically with more mechanization. Small textile plants moved offshore, etc. My husband and I left home because there were few opportunities for him as an engineer.
Regarding the poison pill of cutting SNAP, that's the equivalent of stealing from the poor box in church.
I agree. You can't argue that 41 million people are lazy. I work sometimes in a food bank in a community with fewer than 300 people. We routinely serve more than 400 families, which means that people are coming from all over in this corner of rural Utah, which includes part of the Navajo reservation. Our only source of "groceries" here is a gas station that carries a lot of snacks, mixes and a few potatoes and onions There's a Dollar Store on the reservation, hardly a source of good nutrition. When state development team surveyed our area, they argued that you need at least (I think) 3,500 people. The best thing that has happened this year is a gardening program with raised beds started by a local church.
Boy oh boy I think EVERYONE should have "mindful meditation" at this point.. How many people who literally exist on SS do so with the help of SNAP benefits? Pres.Biden's speech is great but the message MUST get to the people who will benefit from this help. Noise - billboards - every possible way.
We keep hearing much about how great the "economy" is - that there are jobs out there - but sadly, the pay is NOT out there. My daughter works in a drs office - making less than McDonald's workers! And I believe shes not alone in that respect. Having a job is great, but being paid enough to survive on would be really nice.
It's good that the church started the garden, that church even coupled with additional churches and charities cannot provide enough resources to address the hunger problem exacerbated by lack of grocery stores. The tiny town where my husband grew up now has no grocery store. Convenience stores are not intended to be full spectrum grocery stores. Not a good situation for any community.
If you read The Nation, the whole recent issue is about water use and water availability problems in the Great Basin, which of course includes Utah. A previous recent issue focused on the major problems with the Great Salt Lake. We have been heading into a water calamity and of course you know who Fox and the MAGAts will blame.
Terry Tempest Williams has written eloquently about the Great Salt Lake, first in her memoir about the cancer in her family, Refuge,and more recently in the NYTimes in a huge page feature. Not only is its demise a great loss for migrating birds, but there's toxic waste in the remains, which will blow everywhere. And both Lake Powell and Lake Mead, whose dams supply much of the region's electricity, experienced dangerously low water levels this year. Now that it's come back a little, some people are in the "no problem" mode, but it is a BIG problem. Much of Utah's water upstream helps sustain crops that are sold abroad, but no one wants to deny those big farmers of their profits.
I want to raise my hand and stand on the soapbox for a minute.
In the Great Depression, I wager "most" people still were agrarian rather than urban - many were growing their own food. (Remember WWII Victory Gardens?)
In the 21st century, that is NOT THE CASE In the USA!
Most elementary school students would be hard pressed to identify more than a dozen vegetables and fruits in their grocery store, and I warrant even fewer know how to fix them from scratch (core an apple, remove seeds from citrus, dice melons into bite-sized pieces, etc.)
Bottom line - food deserts and supply chains are another of the at-risk systems that will deepen environmental crises in our society. "Non-nutritious" habits that include sugary drinks and fast food have also harmed our youth and contribute to the ongoing obesity epidemic.
We sure would benefit from learning to grow essential foods in our backyards or container gardens again.
How inhumane are the GOP who don't want kids to be fed or families and the elderly in particular to have assistance???
JennSH, it is a direct assault on the poor and flies in the face of what Jesus taught. This man is no Christian, but just another true believer who has never seen any real light in terms of how he can better serve humankind. He seems to be serving hatred, bias, and his own hubris.
As a Jew who has read the gospels, it always has amazed me how so many Christians never read or understood or put into practice what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount.
Thanks to both of your farming families. I hope more conservative farm families will realize which party has their best interests at heart when they vote.
The old farmers in Texas (at least the ones I ran across) were Dems and remembered who had helped them. Sadly, they have been replaced with Fox-loving malcontents who sit on the front-row pew and think Jesus preached a prosperity gospel.
Because of culture war issues. My MAGA leaning friend (with a good heart, good work ethic, not trligious, and generous) is convinced that grade school teachers were grooming kids to question their sexual identities. He's convinced that he needs a loaded shotgun at home because 'all those criminals' are coming for him. He hates government intervention which protects his job. He hated the idea of wearing masks, even though his workplace has seen repeated waves of Covid.
Sigh. He's not alone. Ironically, he doesn't bother to vote, just rant, and I hope his cohort is mostly just like him.
Sadly, this phenomenon was occurring before Trump, and before Covid together metastasized these toxic brain cells.
Remember how George Dubyah Bush won a narrow re-election due in no small part to fear mongering the then nascent issue of gay people marrying, causing the pillars of the Republic to fall down upon our collective shoulders!
Also, Thomas Frank's "What's the matter with Kansas" tells a poignant and spot on tale of how a formerly progressive State morphed into a regressive red one.
I come from a family who loves and loved to eat. A couple generations back, most of them were also farmers and some still are. Unfortunately, they have all the prejudices of many people in Indiana. When my cousin and I were at a reunion, we, OMG, stayed at a motel owned by Indians and ate at a Mexican restaurant. Fox was on everywhere. Here one of our principles is to buy locally and support farmers and ranchers who do things right. The Saturday Market is over for the season, but when we grocery shop at a locally owned store, I look for things that are local. I also try not to buy things out of season which have travelled a long way. I also have a garden and it is mostly done....still have parsnips, carrots, and celeriac in the ground, for the season. Some of the neighbors around here also share from their gardens. We also support the local food bank.
Mine too, Lynell. I taught in a rural school district that was heavily Catholic and then up the canyon, heavily fundamentalist. Based on that and what my friends who live there say, I cannot have a lot of hope. We have a lot of pastors around with small churches that they can lord it over....pun intended. Lots of home schooling as well, not the Catholics, they have a Catholic system in this small town, but often to the detriment of the kids. It's too small a place actually for a Catholic system, but they had a wealthy Catholic lumber benefactor. That alone has caused all sorts of problems and resentments. We had students we called Regis rejects because they did not have to follow due process and could throw kids out easily. Sometimes we knew who was coming to us. Our kids also somehow believed they were inferior which was total BS. I had to explain to my basketball team once that there are good people and bad people and bad people can be found anywhere, even in religious schools.
Emily, I talked to a farmer’s wife yesterday who was bemoaning how their three kids had to leave town to find good jobs. How great that Biden and the Democrats are working to make sure that the kids can find good jobs at home!
I have probably posted this here before, but it bears repeating here. One of my favorite former politicians, Jason Kander of Missouri, likes to say, "People want four things for their family. They want their family to be happy, to be healthy, to be safe and to be nearby." I do think a lot of the resentment in rural areas comes from knowing that there is no future for successful young people in their hometowns.
My sister died in 2015 in rural Missouri from multiple myeloma. She wasn’t diagnosed until she was in stage 4. She had no health insurance because she had a pre existing condition and so she had no regular doctor or check ups. I know now that people, if diagnosed early enough, can live quite awhile with multiple myeloma. Look at Steve Scalise! I am still so angry that she lived in a red state that didn’t offer Obamacare and that she only got to see a doctor when she was 65 and could get Medicare. And the irony of it all is that her father in law was the only doctor in their small town of 2000, but after he passed away from cancer, there was no doctor in town. The closest one was 60 miles away!!!
That's heart-breaking, Elizabeth. The county hospital in my Georgia hometown is closed now (turned into a nursing home), and people have to travel at least 24 miles to a hospital in the next county where those hospitals are merging as we speak. I think we need to get away from privatzing our healthcare system and tying that economy to market needs.
Also tragic how people think it is unpatriotic to learn from countries that cover everyone. There are several different ways they manage to do it. But we are Exceptional, so no need to consider other systems.
This fills me with sorrow and anger, Elizabeth. How is it that Americans accept this situation? It is too late, of course, for your sister, but the Missouri legislature was finally forced to expand Medicaid, only after years of trying to get around the vote of the people by 6 percentage points in 2020 to do so. Monsters, and yet, in many, if not most, rural districts, Republicans run unopposed.
So sorry about your sister. Yes, medical care in rural America is appalling. But we also need to dig deeper into the entire medical system. Our medical care is controlled by the insurance industry. They pay for 15-minute office visits, so that’s what most doctors provide. Doctors spend half that time reading the patient’s medical records, hoping to remember who you are (I just read email while the doc reads her computer screen). That leaves 7.5 minutes for her to listen to you, order tests and write a prescription. And that’s it. As someone with a complex medical condition, it’s no wonder it took decades to diagnose the problem. And then the Part D provider decides if they want to cover the prescription and then they can change their mind at any time. Our medical system is broken. But very profitable for the insurance industry.
Impossible to 'like' your post which is soooo appropriately aimed at the insurance companies who have definitely taken the concept of 'middlemen' to the point of absurdity in their regulation of who can practice medicine and where and who can receive medical care and where, even adjudicating whether enough money changed hands or results were acceptable. How do we allow this? We are forced to choose between segregated systems of care and then bet against ourselves and Mother Nature mostly to provide insurance companies with profits and power. Blessed will be the day that they are laid to rest.
I am so sorry, Elizabeth. That is simply criminal. It goes back to something I first read a few years ago: It isn't the "Mediterranean Diet" that helps people live healthier, it is the socialized medicine that provides timely medical care for everyone. Little problems don't become big ones.
You are so right! I get so upset when people spout that “we’re the best country in the world” when we lead in mass shootings and lousy healthcare. We’re not going to able to address and fix these things until our voters realize they are voting the bad guys in continually because they are voting on the appeals to their emotions instead if their reason.
Elizabeth, what a sad story. I was surprised to read that many rural hospitals are closing because Medicare Advantage plans pay so much less than regular Medicare.
I have a suggestion for the LFAA bookclub: "The Hospital" by Brian Alexander.
As a retired laboratory tech, reading this was heartbreaking. Being in a Chicago suburb, I am within 10 minutes of at least 3 hospitals. As a a tech, I performed the vital blood tests for people actively stroking out--that is the reason I'd never want to live more than 30 minutes from a large hospital.
What the GOP won't look at, and somehow brainwashes their cult to ignore, is that routine checkups and early intervention not only saves lives, it is much cheaper in the long run! The crisis of diabetes in our country does not get enough coverage. Catch someone early enough, in pre-diabetes, perhaps it can avert it. Wait until much later, then it is dialysis, blindness, renal failure, limbs amputated, people unable to care for themselves so nursing home. And that is just ONE disease.
The MAGA stance on abortion is forcing more and more docs out of their states. They focus on bringing those babies into the world, not recognizing that those ob/gyn do much more than just delivering babies.
I guess some states will have to rely on the local "Goody Smith" or "Goody Jones". Which would probably work fine for them, then they can eliminate powerful leader women by witch-burning.
Yes the loss of farming families and farms is truly significant . But replacing it is little farms , farmers markets, and the programs Biden talks about both state and fed level are helping many. The influx of money from Biden’s tenure was spoken about in our own annual farm inspection by the NRCS delightful young man . Ours is a small operation and we benefit from cost sharing ( amongst many other perks) such as Heather reiterates Biden’s discusses. All of us farmers advocate to these little farmers introducing new blood to the programs available...come on aboard!
The children seek higher compensation . Ours ,having grown up ON THE farm, knew these ‘long hours’ , the ‘hard work’ , opted for higher education and got great opportunities. The FFA is another entity in our own school systems , many kids enjoy the education , exposure, and outdoorsy. Some inner cities have summer programs to introduce eyes that have never seen this side of life.
Great money spent, thanks to all who realize and enable this.
It’s a lifestyle for a select percentage of people , the agribusiness culture has made bounty available for the masses, is being challenged by climate..but helping the small time farmer and their markets have been a determined push for many years. Doubt it would be ever TRENDY again, but needed . Coming with now the many perks ie nutritional sidelight but obviously OVERSIGHT enforced as was uncovered being used by paper manipulation of corporate entities with the PPP loans during COViD. 😡
There’s always a scam somewhere going on.🤦♀️
Periodically the tables turn from once an agricultural to a industrial and now just maybe the virtues will balance out ...whatcha think?
Thanks Heather for your attention to Northfield visit and rural issues. And thanks, Emily, for your thoughtful post. My parents also were great farmers and I’m indebted to them for their hard work, progressive values, and support for their daughters’ education wherever that might take them.
We had one car ( not a new one until 10 years later or more)...my father took great care of our old equipment. He had a big 1940's Dodge truck used in the late 1980s
by my brother-in-law.
His tool shed was spotless...all tools clean for when he needed them.
We went on one vacation...I was in the 4th grade. He was so happy he could take us to the NC mountains. He must have done well when he sold the cows we had...just a few..we always had cows and two mules.
Mom loved gardening ...she planted, kept the weeds out , havested, canned,and froze food non-stop. There was always enough due to her hard work and saving together with my dad.
Sometimes women would bring plants to her to heal...she was amazing. She understood nature, according to the moon.... when to plant which crops and how to care for each one.
My mom was also a great seamstress....later cloth became more expensive....watching for sales of all things was first on her list.
When my father died of cancer, she was in the hospital by his side while my little brother and I stayed with my older sister. We did not celebrate Christmas with gifts that year.
I will never be equal to my parents. They will always be the greatest people in the world to me.
Emily, thank you for sharing. Farming has always perplexed me. When the harvest is good, crop prices drop due to supply; when the harvest is poor, crop prices go up, but you have little to sell. The anxiety must be palpable. Sounds like you cornered the market on family though. Blessings
Painfully by his own pills. I love that Joe's taking it on the road. I'd love to see him and the administration do more explaining in plain language what we're all up against. The rest of the dems need to break out with cases of pure, unadulterated, humble honesty. Take the gloves off.
The problem is that we Democrats shouldn’t just rely ‘old man Joe’ to deliver his proposals and programs alone; we need to be beside him and behind him helping to deliver his messages to the American voting and non-voting populace. There is strength in numbers and we should project how proud we are that Biden/Harris [Pelosi, Jeffries & Schumer team] have been delivering good deeds - not just for America and Americans - but also for democracy loving people everywhere!!!
Jim, you are 100% right, thank you! We all need to be showing the pride and spreading the word. I'd add Pete Aguilar to your list - he's going to be vital, going forward.
Thanks Alexandra ... but so too should most - if not all - Democratic members of not just the U.S. House and the Senate, but Democrats everywhere whether they (we) have been elected to a position of trust or not. Our goals should be to help expand the coattails of Biden so that we can try to get supermajorities in the House and the Senate ... and not ignore the states’ legislative bodies!!!
Here we still have people on the far left (and someone here objects to that, but I am going to use it), still cannot understand the pragmatic aspects of politics. No one around here calling themselves a socialist is going to get elected. And we have to have candidates to can win in swing districts. We have a chance to pick up a seat in Oregon's 5th. One of the candidates to run against her, who has primary opponents, seems to be assuming that she will be the candidate which ain't necessarily so.
Interesting. I'm going to have to pay attention to that. I know that Oregon's 4th has been solidly democratic, but they have been close races the past few elections.
People on the far left, and as a socialist, I am one of ‘those’ people, recoil at the ‘pragmatic aspects of politics’, because we understand the practice of such political ideology is a main driver of populist rage/frustration and the accompanying increasing extremism within the GOP, courtesy of Bill Clinton and his lineage of milquetoast centrist Democrats.
There is nothing pragmatic about incremental solutions to catastrophic problems.
Sure socialists have a hard time getting elected, but it’s as much based on the cowardice of liberals as it is any fear on the behalf of voters writ large. And it’s also based on a centrist Democratic Party establishment that seeks to hold on to power just as much as any of the wackos in the GOP. Neither group will lift a finger in the face of bald-faced media propaganda or campaign ad lies using ‘Socialism’ as a cudgel, except to offer up a meek, gutless ‘l am not a Socialist’ defense.
Tell me what the difference is between any run of the mill power play done by any GOP nut job, and the example of Biden Administration attempted malfeasance in the link below. Other than, the tribal ‘if my side does it it’s ok’.
I am not going to have this argument with you. What I am saying is that one cannot call oneself a socialist in my area and expect to be elected. I am not gutless, but I am a realist. I do not approve of everything that the Biden administration does either, but it is a much much better than the alternative. If you want people like the Trumpets to prevail, then by all means, vote for someone who cannot win. People can claim that they are going to do all sorts of things once they are elected and then they find out that, for example, the Rs walked out of the Oregon Senate and business there stopped. We voters passed by a reasonable large margin that those who do that cannot run again in the next election. But of course, those Rs who cannot run are taking this to court. The gun measure we passed is stuck in an Eastern Oregon court although it will probably eventually get to the Oregon Supreme Court. And we wouldn't have the Supreme Court we have now where this gun measure will probably end up. And we wouldn't have had that Court if HRC had prevailed no matter how some see her.
Big problem with the terminology 'old man Joe' when I know and have known vibrant and essential people his age and older. I hope to be of some use when I'm his age in not that many years. There are 'youngers' plenty less healthy mentally or physically in many government and corporate offices as well as the general population.
At 78 Roxanna, I believe that those frighten by Joe’s chronological age - or a good portion thereof - maybe using it as a crutch for being fearful of a possible Harris Administration in some form. Biden has shown that, at least to me, that he’s up for the job ... it is rigors of hitting the campaign trail that can really proof hazardous to one’s health ... so it’s we - those who still believe in our system of government and the democratic processes who need to help guide and support our current standard bearer - Joe Biden - over and past the November 2024 electoral goal line and to help get as many like-minded and thinking democrats elected to office as possible!!!
Bidenomics is using our democracy to ensure :liberty and justice for all - for it is clear that capitalism does not. Capitalism provides enormous profits for a few, while Bidenomics creates job opportunities for all Americans, from the farmlands to the forests to the fisheries and well into the future. We are investing our tax dollars back into the heartland, to ensure liberty and justice for all"
I would like to suggest that REGULATED capitalism in it's truest form, not the subsidized socialist capitalism we now have, does work for creating competition, innovation, and is responsive to social concerns (as it responds to the consumer...not forcing it's model onto the consumer)
I understand your concern to soften my critique of capitalism. I feel linking 'democracy' as a guide to our economy/capitalism does this, in my thinking. I say this because I have thought about this since ... oh, 2002 or so.
But I feel your perception Susan is more attuned to how most Americans will hear this notion - to link both democracy AND capitalism in the sane discussion AND to draw the vital distinction. I don't think this has EVER been done, as a consistent frame, by an American politician. Not even Bernie.
I have heard elected Republicans accidentally but honestly refer to our country as a Capitalist society as a stand-alone description. While Capitalism has run amok and become an oligarchy, we have to be very careful about how we use terms. The audience we need to teach probably confuses the two also!
You have a great point, Marge. The great linguist and educator on progressive framing, George Lakoff, reminds us to speak from our values base - and try to find what we share in common with people who may apparently disagree. These could be conservatives or trump voters - and find our agreements.
So, people KNOW the system is rigged. MOST people are discontented in this society. 44% own guns. I feel if we talk about the inherent unfairness of the system, we are following actually in the trail blazed by Bernie, trump and Biden. Many people may, finally, say, "Ive known this my entire life!!"
Of course it's "savable." America is not the pestilent hellhole of Mad Max media imagination. It's a normal nation with problems, but they can be fixed by some simple reforms of our political system. It may take a crisis to force Congress into enacting them, but (unfortunately) that will come sooner rather than later. As Rahm Emanuel famously said, "Never waste a good crisis." If we're smart, we will take whatever that crisis is and reform the hell out of the election funding system, which is the marrow of out poisoned blood.
I would too, but the media just seems to ignore his accomplishments. Like many of the LFAA group, I rely on YouTube's "Beau of the Fifth Column" and I send links of his clips to people all the time.
It's time for some high profile personalities, popular in the central U.S., to get the word out. To tell the plain truth about how "Trickle Down" economics decimated family farms and Bidenomics, like him or not, is helping restore small farming and the middle class. (And let's not forget the how TFG's tariffs more recently crippled farmers.)
These policies have never benefited small farms. And Biden's speeches have been spelling this out.
He needs others with popularity and a clear message to be surrogates and build awareness.
Trickle-down economics and unregulated free trade. The favorite policy of Biden's nominee for deputy secretary of state, Kurt Campbell. By your deeds shall ye know them. Someone has to ask the president how he squares his words on farms and small businesses with his nomination of a free trade zealot like Campbell--who will be very unpopular with Democrats across the board.
And yet, this is the first time I have heard about this speech. Why? Because it is not discussed in the NYTimes morning newsletters (there are 4 of them, so one would think it would appear somewhere, but no), or in the Guardian, or on the WaPo headline page, or on NPR--and you can bet that it won't appear in the Right Wingnut echo chamber. The only reporting I heard about the speech yesterday was that Biden was in Minnesota and "would give a campaign speech." In other words, is the speech even useful if no one hears it? if no news outlets report on it? if the dumbass musings of a deranged orange-colored wannabe dictator are given more weight in public outlets? Farmers all over the USA vote against their self interest and have for years. Why? Because it feeds into their prejudices against BIPOC and the vacuum chamber that is their whiteness and isolation. Sorry: I am not feeling charitable today.
Hear, hear! That is absolutely the problem--it’s time Biden and Harris did some ‘fireside chats’ on some widespread media venues that will air what Biden has managed to do and is hoping to do, and why. Not ‘campaign speeches’ per se, but spreading some facts!!!
But how many “firesides” are there? Do families still collect after dinner or are they too scattered by strange job schedules, everyone with his own phone? How many families actually dine together? I remember thinking back in the early 90’s when Lamar Alexander was Secretary of Education speaking of dinner table conversations, that he was out of touch with most American lives.
Could the Administration get any widely-listened-to/watched station to broadcast the fireside chats? I’m assuming the government would have to contract/pay for the air time! Where’s the profit?!
We didn’t hear about this speech for the same reason we haven’t heard about anything, or very little, about what the Biden-Harris administration is accomplishing. That reason is that our free and fair press has gone the same way as the family farm. All the major news outlets are owned by a few billionaires and they certainly don’t want Biden to win the coming election. They are billionaires. He wants to level the playing field. Their money is their power and he wants to diminish...not take away, but diminish their power. Ouch.
Well, to be fair, that was always the case. Journalists always danced to the tune of the names on the paychecks. Those who didn't got assigned to overnight shifts in the suburbs--exile--or were terminated.
Media are too obsessed with polls because poll-based reporting is a cheap and easy way to generate content to feed the 24/7/365 media machine. The pollsters absorb the cost of the polling, the reporter is emailed the results, he or she rounds up the usual suspects for comments, and then custom-crafts the story for the media website, Facebook, Twitter (fuck "X"), and other social media; his or her, podcast and vlog; and eleventy-thousand different expressions of the same information. No actual reporting harmed in the making of this content because actual reporting takes time and money that the media no longer have.
The days of sending reporters on the road to talk to a lot of people about how they actually feel about X vs. Y are loooooong gone. Too much investment for too little content generation. Polling and press releases have taken the place of actual reporting.
SG. Excellent points. I encourage all newspaper readers to complain to individual journalists about their overuse of polls, their lack of critical analysis of such polls, etc. The excessive quantity and poor quality of polls and their overuse in present day MSM is shocking. I’m actually surprised about the lack of systematic analysis of this issue. It’s ripe for a thoughtful and groundbreaking expose by a small group of journalists who have similar concerns.
Even MSNBC this morning after a report by Richard Engel, one of the best journalists from the field in Gaza, immediately went to a hardliner. I suspected corporate influence.
Well, some farmers are voting for their self-interest---You may remember Vicky Hartzler from MO, who got millions in soybean payments from Trump after he started his trade war with China. The Farm Bureau is generally a mouthpiece for those agribusiness-type farms. But you are 100% right about the lack of coverage. I'm assuming KCMO is Kansas City MO? Did the Star cover it, or local TV or radio?
I'm finding a lot of value in taking a peek at the "Notes:" links Professor Richards provides such as the link to the Northfield speech at the top of today's notes. My previous knowledge of Northfield related to the way it's many Union Civil War Veterans and citizens reacted (rather calmly and purposefully), to the James-Younger Gang attempt to rob their bank on September 7th, 1876.
Then I just started looking up more sites like the local government and their interests and initiatives using other commenters suggestions, and some I find on my own. I used to use runforoffice.org (to see all the offices I could vote for from my address in California), and votesmart.org (to get as complete a backgrounds as I could on people in office or running for office). I actually used it to do much deeper research for friends in other voting districts to compare the officials biographies, speeches, stated positions, donors, and ratings by interest groups. Now, I have difficulty hearing and reading since recent surgery makes it uncomfortable to wear glasses so I appreciate the efforts of Georgia Fisanick who seems to be able to do the deeper explorations of votesmart.org in particular.
I don't do well trying to keep up with videos, other than to get a sense of the passions better than the written transcripts which help a huge amount in correcting anything misheard. Transcripts also make it easier to find other links and make more complete note on important points and context.
When I taught advanced courses at the Space Systems Command and Control School I knew I could never cover everything, so I concentrated on taking some of the early questions as deep as it took to build up students ability and confidence in doing the further research themselves. Once they trusted that they could do the same, the questions got much simpler and more time was spent on the bigger picture and what was required along the main signal paths and feedback loops. I hope to see if I can keep up with the many smart and informed people I see on (or through), this site.
Excellent instruction technique, Jim. I had a "deep dive" experience, but from the opposite direction. When Graham v. Connor (SCOTUS decision moving all police use of force under the 4th Amendment by defining using force to control someone as a "seizure") all of my instructors within the department bemoaned that as horrible for law enforcement. I got involved with the instructor cadre when developing a class for hostage officer survival, and ended up taking a class on my own that was called "integrated use of force". To avoid boring folks, what I learned was that instead of being a hinderance, it was, when all the requirements were present, a free pass to use force as deemed "necessary under the circumstances" when properly documented.
Sadly, it is the 20-teens application of that that has morphed into "I was scared so I shot him" where cops, following the letter of the law, are excused from conduct that under ordinary circumstances would not be justifiable.
Yes, have you noticed how Ukraine seems to have dropped into the background as the war in Israel/Palestine heats up and the House is talking about ditching funding for it?
Yes. I can't possibly 'like' your post, but you hit the nail on the head! Like it's impossible to cover both -- never mind the necessity to link them for the obvious connections to terrorist actions and Russian power. Shallow thinking from those at the top of the media. Cut the crap about lunches and spats and family feuds, and give us more information!
It’s like they don’t exist anymore. I know it’s a firehose everyday with chump, war horrors in MEast and sports, but maybe a little acknowledgment of other important things.
IMHO. We may find that the end won here is that we are no longer governed or protected by the rule of law as much as by exceptions and loopholes whether pursued in court cases and appeals (where as precedent) and in the Supreme Court (where precedent is certified). No longer the spirit or intent of the law, but some dubious though academically appealing hole in application of existing lawS that create a wedge around which grows into the circumvention, the new standard defense, for what may never have been a right or intent protected by law.
I am not only impressed consistently with Biden (with the sole exception of his enthusiasm for bombing Gaza continuously), Biden is ALSO, for perhaps the first time in American history, going after a criminal who is rich and white and successfully penalizing them for massive theft and fraud: Bankman Freid will now go to jail for the rest of his sorry, privileged, born rich life.
Rich white men stealing other peoples money has long been completely legal in theUSA as Trump has shown with SIX massive bankruptcies which shafted thousands of people over 40 years.
Apparently, the Biden Justice Department is color blind where crime is relevant. This is as huge a deal as Bidenomics. Maybe a "huger" deal.
A white man who steals BILLIONS of dollars actually CAN go to jail in America. I never thought I would see it. Ever.
Yes, I know, Madoff went to jail. But, the people he shafted were pretty prominent and made that happen outside of government circles. AND, the government repeatedly ignored warnings about Madoff. Only when a bunch of rich and powerful people lost their money and got lawyers involved did Madoff go to jail. Government ignored Madoff.
This is the first time (or one of the very rare times) when the American Justice Department took up the cause of prosecuting a white man for massive theft.
Mike, I'm with you - but Biden isn't personally going after these criminals. He might in his heart support it, as anyone with conscience would— but he's not DOING IT. It's important to make that distinction or it gives tffg and MAGAs fuel for their preposterous "political persecution" and "witch hunt" claims.
However, if Trump were President Freid would be a free man. He would have wired whatever money to whatever account Trump specified and, boom, no Justice Department investigation.
So, although Biden is NOT involved, neither has he set up a puppet Justice Department to reward his buddies and penalize his foes like Trump sort of did and definitely will do if he is elected again.
Apparently, Biden has no influence on Netanyahu who is attempting to regain some popularity by bombing civilians all day every day after his security service slept through the Hamas attack.
If Biden is asking for a "pause" and only bombing is happening, then, Biden is toothless with Netanyahu.
You've got to call it as you see it. I don't remember from where, but I heard that there is speculation that Netanyahu may be forced out soon. I'm well aware that people are suffering and dying in the meantime.
I have a 79-year old sister who owns a 6,000 acre ranch near San Angelo, Texas. She runs the ranch with her 54 year old son. They're MAGA Republicans yet they accept about $50,000 a year to not grow something on the ranch, I'm not entirely sure exactly what it is. Yet they accuse the Democrats of being Socialists, a clever device thought up by William Buckley, according to HCR. The video of HCR being interviewed at the LBJ Library is a must view.
I have two high school buddies (1958) who are now MAGA Republicans. This is a text to me yesterday from one of them: "Biden is corrupt, senile and not capable. Should be impeached, not allowed to finish term. Destroying our economy. Our enemies don't respect the US, think they can do what they want, Not sufficient words to describe damage he and democrats have done to us." Three guesses as to what his source of "information" is and the first two don't count. This disinformation campaign broadcast by Fox, OAN, Newsmax and Alex Jones, to name just four, is working for the forces behind the effort. The author of this piece just spent 87 days in the hospital, three operations, all paid by Medicare. No gratitude at all.
My daughter and son-in-law, MAGAs previously, (and their large group of friends and like-minded neighbors & coworkers, in their early 50s & making $200,000+ a year), have decided none of them will vote ever again for Trump. She just told me that after not speaking about politics for years. That gave me a little bit of hope. Of course, they will remain conservative, whatever that means now. But it makes me think that there are many other “conservative“ citizens, at least those who are educated (and that doesn’t necessarily mean they all have a college education) and feel that way.
That is good news - that they're turning away from Trump, one of the greatest con men to ever live, thanks to modern communication advances in the electronic world. Yes, "conservative" has lost its meaning when applied to American politics.
So-called Conservatives are anything but. What I find that characterizes them is the heartlessness (zero empathy) and their lack of critical thinking skills while wedded to the notion that the U.S. should be a nation controlled by white Protestants exclusively. There is virtually no chance to have any kind of meaningful dialogue with them. I don't know that they have a theory of government, other than to crush the hated "Libral-socialists," women's rights advocates, immigrants, Jews, gays, Blacks, Muslims and more.
It terms of a political philosophy, I like the one that Frances Perkins, the woman who is responsible for "FDR's" New Deal (should be known as Frances Perkins' New Deal:)
"The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to provide the means by which all the people under its jurisdiction can access the best possible life." ALL the people and now a few oligarchs.
A fantastic group that doesn’t expect perfection but appreciates morality, competence, and has empathy for downtrodden humans, and animals. A real community like so many of us have lost.
I hear you, Jeri. Dovetailing on what Miselle said, we are family here. We may never meet in person, but we are, indeed friends that could become family. (My personal network is called Framily. There are 5 households, all of us women, one couple, one bi-generational, and the others are all single households. We care for and tend to one another.)
I really appreciate my substack connections. Had a similar group on Twitter. Sure miss people who aren’t trolls or cult devotees. I’m one of those who would be upset if one of my grands would hook up with a MAGAt.
Our principal solution is to out vote them. Too many Democrats in this country don't go to the polls. They aren't voting. This is one area in which we can direct our attention and efforts this coming year, starting right now with local elections.
If nothing else, we should make sure that people know Republicans want THEIR benefits—Social Security, Medicare, etc. not just those to the "undeserving."
True, MAGA Republicans want THEIR benefits - and their refrain is "But we EARNED it," as though the hundreds of millions of working Americans didn't, by paying into it for a lifetime while working for wages that are and were less than they deserved. We need to bring an end to this oligarchical structure of our economy and government. How important are these under-paid workers? We got a glimpse of this during the pandemic when there weren't enough to staff many positions.
I have never understood how people conveniently forget their social security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. And who is working to protect those programs? Who is working to cut them? Geez...aren’t they socialist leaning programs that complainers are utilizing? I am disgusted by the willful ignorance of so many of my fellow Americans!!!!!
Their willful ignorance in refusing to acknowledge the debt that they owe to Democrats for their peace of mind owing to their having Social Security and Medicare, along with other benefits - I could be smirk an say that it is an "enigma wrapped up in a mystery." It's difficult to comprehend that their critical thinking skills are overcome by their dedication to believe a particular thing, for example, that Democrats are Socialists and Socialism is bad. This is my high school buddy's constant refrain. Is there a solution? Can he ever see "the light of day, the error in his facts and his reasoning?" I don't think so. My resolve? To outvote them. They've already drunk "the poison lemonade." Time is better spent elsewhere.
Reviving the farmer's role that combines producing good food for the population with guardianship of the land.
Currently, the only arable cash crop that counts is... cash.
A very few, operating on a vast scale, exclusively for maximized profit yields, and when the soil's poisoned and exploited to the point of exhaustion, they'll move on.
Livestock raised in factories that are animal hells, polluting the land, undermining public health by the abuse of antibiotics.
Peter, thanks so much for bringing up a point that all HCR's millions of followers could implement for the good of the planet RIGHT NOW: stop eating meat and poultry. "Animal hells" is right, and it's killing the earth, too.
It is so true, we have devastated the habitat for other creatures that share our planet. Cows are a particularly bad contributor to pollution. Hard to believe but true. We could all do well being a lot more vegetarian. What do we do when the earth's population is 14 billion? More wars, more starvation. I take some comfort in knowing that I won't be around to experience it and I think that is why one daughter (39 and a J.D.) has no children and the other (41 with an MBA) has one daughter, 4 years old. They're not optimistic either.
"In addition to the existing national investments in power grids and broadband that will help rural communities, Biden announced $1 billion to fix aging rural infrastructure systems like electricity, water, and waste water systems that haven’t been updated in decades; $2 billion to help farmers fight climate change; $145 million for clean energy technologies like solar panels that will help lower electric bills; and $274 million for rural high-speed internet expansion."
That's it?? Just a billion to fix infrastructure?? While some CEO gets a $40 million raise?? While universities brazenly squeeze unheard of costs for an undergraduate degree from students and their parents? No, no, we need to give tax cuts to corporations instead!
What does it take to imbue "woke" onto people who insist to continue to sleep....?
When we moved to rural Maine in 2004, the choices for Internet was Hughes Satellite, pay Adelphia $5,000 to connect to their system 1000 feet up the road, dial-up at 14.4k baud or drive into town and go the public library and use their Internet.
Most of us have had to use choose one or more of those options in the past and they all suck. My neighbor finally ponied up the $5K to connect to the Time-Warner and we split the cost with him. The other four neighbors decided not to connect for various reasons.
This is how it was for tens of thousands of rural Mainers until last year when new cable was run to several rural parts of Maine. Rural Maine includes many towns with up to 5000 residents that now have access to high speed internet. It may have only been $1 billion to you, which I agree is not a lot compared to what Senator Grassley and many of his Republican colleagues got in Covid-19 farm aid, but there are already tens of thousands of American homes and business that have high speed Internet for the first time.
Shame on Spectrum for not doing this sooner. Of course it was financially a loser for them if they did, so why bother? It's great to be a monopoly in America. Thanks so much Republicans --- NOT.
Gary, Our experience in rural Maine mirrors yours from dial-up to rapid speed fiber optics.
Our son, a computer animator has moved back from LA to Maine now that there is broadband capable of handling ther high speed necessary for his data intensive work. Bidenomics is attracting the highly educated , talented workers to expand Maine's economy.
It's great to have our son's family close enough for daly visits rather than 3200 miles away. High speed broadband made it possible.
C'mon, demonizing people who see reality, i.e. "woke", is what Fox News does best.
As long as Fox Newspaganda demonizes people who see reality clearly (i.e. woke) rather than the fake reality Fox Newspaganda are selling, the blind followers will hear "woke" and, although they cannot enunciate specifically WHY, they will tell you that "woke" is "Bulls..t and "communist".
Fox Newspaganda is THE most effective part of America today. Millions of people believe blatant lies all day every day as a result of Fox.
Alexandra, one of the best things about Biden highlighting the affects of the Inflation Reduction Act here is that many farmers are already pretty knowledgeable about the climate crisis - we have a 100% renewable energy standard in the state, and there are dozens of wind turbines and a couple of solar farms - literally fields of solar arrays on the farms surrounding Northfield. We have already worked hard to keep farmers informed of federal tax credits available for renewables and helped them jump through the regulatory hoops required to get the energy they produce on the grid. Informing them about the investments available from the IRA is truly a holistic approach I hope locals farmers will take advantage of!!
In addition, several organizations that I support work hard to build local markets for local products - every Wednesday at the Community center in my suburb, I can go find local farm products - eggs, pork, produce, soaps made from sheep and goat’s milk, candles, honey, hard red winter wheat flour, yarn - so much beautiful yarn, and much more. Most products are from either organic or small regenerative farms - the kind that can’t compete with corporate farms. Yes, the products can be expensive. Because I can afford them, I purchase there. The planet and our climate are worth this investment.
Like you, I am grateful every day to have the Biden/Harris team in charge. Here in Minnesota, the Democratic party is called the DFL - the Democratic Farmer Labor party. Sadly, rural MN is pretty red. Time to get the word out that Bidenomics is a far better choice for farm communities and local economies!
I think that if Mt Rushmore had been started 20 or 30 years later it might be FDR up there instead of his 2nd cousin Teddy. Not that Teddy wasn't great. We certainly could use a good "Trust Buster" again now. Joe seems to have great appreciation for our great leaders, both present and past. As for Mike Johnson, perhaps he could use the slogan: Speak softly and carry a big Bible. He's in the history books now. Hopefully he will soon be forgotten. Just another cautionary tale.
Biden's words at Northfield, MN, were right on point. But we all know his delivery is less than powerful. It's the 'sizzle' that sells the steak. I'd like to see these words duplicated by more firery Democratic speakers, specifically the Vice President, and a few Democratic Senators and governors.
How I wish a host of well-known Democrats would echo the President's words and thereby start to increase his polling numbers, which have stayed at scary levels for far too long. It seems you have to yell to get any media attention, and that's a shame, but we must turn around general public perceptions so they understand the wonderful job that Joe has been doing.
Thank you Heather for another great summary. Alexandra like the many others here agreeing with you, you nail it with "Even his enemies benefit from his (and his team's) wise decisions." And yet how much was seen in any of the MSM sources of Biden’s impressive speech and explanations that maybe, just maybe could open some minds and hearts. Or maybe it is already doing that but the American voters are keeping it close to their chest as not to tip their hands for voting in 2024 for the BLUE.
Joe Biden continues to prove that he is fighting to make every American's life better on the home front as well as helping to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression. Those on the other side -- such as Mike Johnson and the rest of House Republicans-- show their fealty only to Defendant Donny, high income/wealth patrons and of course, Vlad Putin.
The contrast couldn't be clearer, yet Biden seemingly struggles to get his message across. Perhaps it's because his political opponent's various legal troubles continue to take up a lot of air time and political commentary. Still. I look forward to seeing him to continue his trips around the country promoting his bold plans to remake the American economy into an engine that elevates the working class from the post-Reagan doldrums.
Scrolling down The NY Times headlines just now, there is no mention at all of President Biden’s speech. The same for the OpEd page. However, TFG, et fils aujourd’hui, get the usual daily dose of NY Times front page attention.
No wonder Biden’s poll numbers bounce along at around 40% approval.
You are so right, Ralph, and though I’ve read newspapers since I was a kid, I can barely look at their biased content and am aware of what they choose to ignore. Just like the farming industry they are corporate owned. We will be so misled and eventually doomed by corporate greed.
Not a good source at all. Do you remember their support of Bush’s post 9/11 war for which they later had to publicly apologize? The loss of life from that irresponsible reporting was huge. I live in Philadelphia and I thought I was a real big shot when I subscribed years ago (I’m 76 so have seen a lot over the years). Our local paper is a joke. When I look at the front page of either paper I say to my husband “We are so doomed.” These papers are going and I held on longer than many newspaper readers.
If we had real reporting instead of the whining about what to do about terrorists in the Middle East, we’d remind our own citizens that we were attacked by terrorists from across a vast ocean and we were governed by a president and his staff who blew off the warnings.
And it goes unmentioned that Trump gave highly classified Israeli information to Lavrov and Kislyak in his secret White House meeting after he fired Comey.
Sorry, but it's the best source we have left, with the possible exception of some Substack newsletters, particularly this one.
I'm no big shot by any means. 9/11 must have hit you pretty hard. Sorry if I hit a nerve.
Yes I know that our media is pathetic and I'm not at all happy with it. But you'll have to break the rest down for me a little bit if you want to continue this discussion.
Ralph, As we all know, the media constitute a commercial, profit-driven enterprise. Accordingly, fair or not, it falls on Biden, perhaps aided by more charismatic surrogates, to present content, we all know to be pertinent to the public interest, in a way that sets the expectation of attracting a sizable enough audience to meet profit thresholds.
Barbara, agreed. And, it would be helpful if congressional Democrats from both houses put a little more effort in pointing out what real political leadership looks like.
I just did a NYT scroll also. Israel, Ukraine, Biden 4 times, including his Minnesota trip, no TFG, Brittany Spears, Matthew Perry, Arlington, Texas. See, stuff is getting better. Also, polls are worthless.
Jay, you must be getting a different NY Times edition than I am. I went all the way down to sports and saw nothing about Biden except a mildly critical OpEd re immigration.
Yep. I just looked for the NYT reporting on his speech, and one sentence:, "' e told a well-worn story of the “hollowing out of Main Street” ' shows that the NYT has a short attention span. They're mental midgets, it seems.
Also, a criminal psychopath running for high office to avoid prosecution sells more papers than a quietly competent political leader diligently, and successfully, doing his job.
Biden has a fantastic spokesperson in U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who travels the country, cutting ribbons for superb new infrastructure projects, with very happy and grateful local Republicans as well as Democrats! I follow his facebook page because it is so hopeful, real and important.
Secretary Buttigieg was here in CO not too long ago to open a large hwy project with our Governor. He brought with him significant extra dollars to cover cost increases that have occured between design and built. As surveyors on both ends of this project the infrastructure $$ comes right into my home.
Thank you Pres Biden and Secretary Buttigieg ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
Thank you! I so admire him, hope he will be POTUS some day. I will follow him on Facebook. I'm not in the States, so not always aware of everything that is going on.
They (the GQP and the orange menace) take up all the oxygen in the room. I am still "Ridin' with Biden!". I wish they would just put the orange devil behind bars.
Doug, While I agree that Biden should lead from the front and go where the trouble is in this country, the trouble that Trump / Trumpism is stoking and making worse, the Biden team also must show they can work on legitimate issues and grievances. Moreover, contrary to Trump who presents himself as “the savior,” this team needs to show an alternate, admittedly arduous, vision so just, so focused, and so disciplined as not to allow Republican deceptions and distortions, particularly as they relate to the state of the economy, to go unanswered.
We must never forget how much Biden has on his plate and how hard he must work to juggle everything. I am grateful for Jill, for the vice-president and First Gentleman and for his team. Their hard work is making all this good news possible.
I would like to see a day by day comparison of the work accomplished by the Biden administration vs. The TFG's administration. Souks be illuminating and useful.
Very good points, Doug Gagne. I think President Biden and his administration have been speaking aggressively about what policies they advocate and what principles guide their decisions. I completely agree that the contrast between their views and those of the Trump Republican Party couldn’t be clearer. I don’t know why the polling looks like it does, but we have a year before the election and I think time is on our side. People must be feeling positive about their finances because they are buying stuff. Apparently, the consumer is driving our economy now and it seems likely that means they have some money in their pockets. One hopes they’ll begin to understand why. And, I don’t think they believe our country should embrace authoritarianism and side with authoritarian oligarchs like Putin.
I honestly don't believe the polls at this point in the process, and perhaps even more so because I think most voters don't respond to polling queries. (I can at least speak for myself about that last point.) I hope that, a year from tomorrow (Nov 5th), most Americans will have been exhausted from hearing about Trumps trials and grievances that they put a political end to him.
But we Americans are funny, with our truncated memories: How many times have we heard, for instance, that gas prices were so much lower under Trump, when the clear reason was THE COUNTRY WAS SHUT DOWN AND NOBIDY COULD TRAVEL!?!
Buckle up -- anything can happen in a year. May it only be good.
Obviously one Senator doesn't care about making Americans' lives better through national security:
"After an angry fight last night over Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) holds on military promotions, in which Republican senators joined Democrats in confronting him, the Senate today confirmed General David Allvin to be Air Force chief of staff and Admiral Lisa Franchetti as chief of naval operations, by votes of 95 to 1. Franchetti is the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Wednesday’s fight appears to have been prompted by the hospitalization of acting Marines Commandant General Eric Smith after an apparent heart attack. Smith was holding down two high-level positions at once owing to Tuberville’s holds, and he had warned his schedule was “not sustainable.” Although the Pentagon says Tuberville is endangering national security, Tuberville insists that his hold on almost 400 military promotions is not hurting the military. "
Do you think there's a chance that this fight might be the awareness of hate's impact?
It's very sad that one military leader is so strained under the pressure of covering two jobs that he suffers a heart attack and ONLY THAT serves to incite the appointment of new members to cover his important work. That is horrible. Wishing the General a swift and full recovery.
And that a Senator can proclaim that he's not hurting the military by forcing people into such situations! A Representative might be held to lesser standards, but a Senator should better understand the needs of leadership in national security.
There are three other issues that need to be addressed in regard to agriculture in this country:
1)more efficient use of ground water resources in aquifers
2) Fair distribution of above ground water resources. The seven states agreement on water distribution for the Colorado River just kicked the can down the road for 3 years.
3) funding for research into developing new crops that can withstand higher temperatures, and the effects of climate change on the distribution of pollinators that are needed for 75% of crops.
With climate change water resources are going to be critical worldwide in terms of providing food stocks. Mass migrations are already occurring in Africa with desertification with populations being driven to cities. America needs to fund major research into water conservation, development of new crops that can withstand heat and use less water, and dealing with the impact of climate change on timing and distribution of pollinators.
Agreed, but we can’t address issues in a system controlled by monied interests, including a Court that almost always sides with those interests. Until we throw off that yoke, climate chaos is a given. MoveToAmend.org
Georgia Fisanick, thanks for your list and links. We also need to rethink which crops should get hefty subsidies. Let's strongly subsidize healthy vegetables and fruits to grow strong, healthy, and vibrant citizens. Let's not continue to most heavily subsidize crops used in foods that addict, weaken, and sicken us.
I am right there with you on that. I switched to a whole food plant based diet and have significantly reversed my Type 2 diabetes (off long lasting injected insulin and down to 1/4 of my oral medication), off statins and down to 1/2 of my blood pressure meds in 6 months . No added sugar or oils in the diet. I also have lost 30 pounds and have loads more energy and no knee pain, edema, leg cramps, and have regained flexibility. I feel about 20 years younger. The food is delicious and the portions are huge and satisfying. Oh, and did I mention the side effects of the big pharma meds have also gone away.
Agribusiness and big pharma have done us all harm in the name of their profits.
Georgia Fisanick, your testimonial is glorious! I am so happy for you! Dr. Mark Hyman speaks courageously about how gov't heavily subsidizes crops for the food industry that is literally killing us. He has a great book about what we should eat and not eat.
Research about how to reverse diabetes with a whole foods plant based diet has been around for a hundred years now. One of the big issues is that nutrition is not taught in med schools--most doctors are woefully ignorant but they sure get taught a lot about expensive and ultimately harmful medications like ozempic.
My wife was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about 5 years ago (she has PCOS, which is her primary trigger). We went to the "nutritional classes" offered by one of the satellite groups that our medical group supports. I found that the diet they recommended was neither nutritional nor particularly appetizing. We ultimately followed a keto diet for about a year, wherein she both lost 50 pounds and got completely off the oral diabetes meds and cut her blood pressure meds in half (family history of HBP).
We follow a closer to whole foods diet now; our meat comes from a locally grown, pasture raised, humanely butchered (on site, which means they can't label it "organic"), but raised under organic standards. Tons of locally grown (some ourselves; do you need tomatoes?) and preserved for the winter months.
I'm pretty sure plant based is in our future, but I am not ready to give up my hobby of grill/smoke/preserve beef and pork. Yet.
Keto works great in the short term (I did it for a while a number of years ago) but it does not deal with the underlying problem of insulin resistance which is due to excess fat in cells where it shouldn't be, like your liver and muscles. So it isn't long term sustainable. I was an avid meat, cheese and eggs person but found the transition really easy because I felt so much better so quickly and all my previous digestive issues disappeared. Took a couple of weeks for my gut microbiome to like all the beans :-)
My Dad was one of 8 brothers, 7 of whom were diabetic. He grew up on a farm and and he rarely ate a green vegetable or fruit. Our household always had two meats on holidays and huge roasts for Sunday dinner. And my uncles would down 6 eggs at a sitting. Loads of potatoes.
Food in the future is going to need wiser thinking than just the lure of profit can provide. I still think that the lure of profits plays a role, but not a sole consideration.
My shopping guideline is to walk around the edges. Produce, dairy, meat and bakery are all on the perimeter of the store. My local market (an Albertsons) also has an entire aisle of chips. Another aisle has "snack" "foods" that includes nuts, jerky, candy, and bagged snacks that aren't nuts or chips.
Indeed. Most produce departments are to the right, since most folks are right handed. The exception is when the entry door is on the shopper's left as they enter, and to avoid going around the check stands, encourages shopping there first.
Milk and meat are often in the back because the access to the large coolers is often there. Produce, being lighter, gets to cart their supplies a bit further.
It's nuts that Albertson's/Safeway and Kroger bought all of the local and statewide chains in my region are trying to merge into virtually the sole source of grocery distribution available. Nuts that it is even possible from a "for the people" perspective. The Internet began as a way to decentralize communication should that centralized system be disrupted by war. It is also democratizing which monopolies are not.
This is the robustness that the natural selection process has built into life; sexuality is first and foremost a way to shuffle the genetic deck and, like dual brake cylinders in cars or redundant dual ignition in aircraft engines, provide some protection from "Murphy's Law". We know what happens with excessive inbreeding. "Weeds" can be difficult to control when they produce seeds that specialize in germinating under varied conditions. What appears to be "efficiency" under one set of condition can be fragility in another; nature is not profligate, it is robust. We are losing potentially useful and ecologically significant species and cultivars to monocultures. If we don't do more comprehensive long term thinking, we could perish in a trap of our own clueless making.
President Biden’s focus on Bidenomics is a much needed full court press to get our economy on track for 2050 AND to serve the great majority of the American people.
Nobel Laureate Sir Angus Deaton, in his recent book, ECONOMICS IN AMERICA: AN IMMIGRANT ECONOMIST EXPLORES THE LAND OF INEQUALITY, provides a persuasive rationale for why Bidenomics is imperative.
1) As an immigrant from a wealthy country (UK), Sir Angus found the American health care system a shock. It consumes almost one fifth of America’s GDP, with life expectancy for the lower quartile 14 years below that of four-year college graduates;
2) Sir Angus was distressed by the monetization of health care. In addition to private investors, an increasing number of doctors have turned from “repairing bodies to destroying wallets, from the pursuit of healing to the pursuit of wealth;”
3) Sir Angus finds the United States a darker society than when he moved here in 1983. He is deeply concerned by the corruption of the American economy and its politics, a corruption that threatens American democracy;
4) Sir Angus observes that the richer are getting richer at the expense of everyone else;
5) He is modestly encouraged by some initiatives of the Biden administration, including obliging pharmaceutical companies to negotiate prices with Medicare. He is also encouraged by the recent upswing in unionization; and
6) A ‘wealth tax’ is essential to making America less unequal.
Joe and Sir Angus: Bidenomics is what America needs—and now!
Fred Back in my youth these attributes led us to admire three British Soviet spies: Burgess, McLean, & Philby. In 1960 I had dinner in Beirut with Philby, several years before he fled to Moscow. At the time he was again working for MI6, or for Soviet intelligence, or for both, or for neither. A slippery spy married to thre ex-wife of a NYT journalist.
Blunt, the fourth spy, even fooled Queen Elizabeth, who had him on her royal staff. She was, so to speak, shafted by a Brit. Not so sporting while she was losing the British empire.
Sir Angus is the real deal, somewhat de-anglicized by 40 years in the US. Read his book! Sobering and sparked by his witty stilettos.
Remember those guys and the damage they wroth, but not the backstop. Americans do have a thing about British nobility, including language skills. Thanks. Keep writing
Fred My mother was British, but I speak funny Americanese. This didn’t seem to matter in 1975 when I visited the Bank of England to tell them that I wouldn’t permit them to issue British bonds on the NY financial market. (I had given France an Aaa, which complicated our Anglo-American chat. One might describe it as a deGaulling experience.)
Tibit that legitimizes, again. Your accent doesn't show much in you penning your lived history. Mum did well, including the tactful us of the u derappreciated pun.
How is it possible that a single crazed individual in Congress can wreak havoc like Tuberman and like Gaetz? What is the matter with a democratic system that allows this? Is it the Electoral College that always winds up leading to this sort of situation? The Constitution needs a new amendment.
The anti-democratic "Electoral College" sticks us with presidents like Bush Jr. and Trump. It is one of many features that mock the promises of one person, one vote, and liberty and justice for all.
And Wyoming, a large, beautiful, yet sparsely populated state, home of the wild and spectacular Wind River Range, elects the same number of US Senators as California.
There are historical reasons for this, but it is unfair to urban populations and a far cry from democracy in the modern world.
I would change the Constitution to eliminate the Electoral College, elect senators proportionately, and mandate truly progressive taxation of all income. Then we might be able to deal with our existential issues effectively. Enough of allowing a selfish, racist minority to push the rest of us around.
The irony is that the Senate is working and functioning in a bipartisan manner, but the House which is supposedly proportional is choked because those proportions can be manipulated at a more local level, such that Republicans control a very disproportionate amount of it.
If the right to vote is considered a foundational human right (legal equality and consent of the governed). How (but for epic corruption) can deliberately or even negligently depriving citizens of the full and fair right to vote be be viewed as deeply corrupt?
David If you could get 3/4 of the states to support your recommended constitutional changes, Houdini would come from his grave to dub you the greatest magician ever.
Neither Wyoming nor Delaware would reverse the Great Compromise [two senators for each state] that resulted in the Constitution. Ditto eliminating the Electoral College.
We need more public discussion of one person, one vote. we have really mucked it up today, although it could be worse and if we let it, could go there. The equal representations of states Senate seems more anachronistic when you consider the difference between the mostly agrarian society of the US in the Framers era with the urban populations of today. That said, as discussed above, the Senate can't be gerrymandered or Electoral Colleged. The electoral College seems the more odious of the two, since the President and Vice President are the one national choice for which all registered citizens can vote, and for whom, all are constituents. Also, given the scale of (often) necessary but highly dangerous-if-misused powers granted to a president, there, above all, "one person, one vote" should rule.
The electoral college impacts voting. How do you convince people that it is important to vote and that their vote counts when the electoral college can override the popular vote??? Gerrymandering doesn’t help either!
I think there are at least two major dynamics at work here. First is that the way we traditionally do things that makes some votes "tr#mp" others, such as which states vote first in presidential primaries. While many minds are made up from the get go , the game is still in play; but the decision is often "made" even before many get to cast their vote.
Secondly, we overemphasize voting as an expression of personal choice when is at least as legitimately a share of societal responsibility, and outcomes that affect not only us and our families, but many, many others, and generally impacts, one way or the other, the already most vulnerable the most. No? And I'm talking about the living. We make decisions now that will also impact generations to come, and even not voting shapes that. Asking how our behavior is likely to affect others is the foundation of a civil society.
And there's more. It felt to me in my youth and it feels to me now that there is far too little good faith inclusion of the priorities of young people in our national dialog. The young don't necessarily have the whole story, but they often provide a fresh "emperor-is-naked" view of our own follies, that can become so familiar to us we no longer notice. In any case, a society that is not a whole society can become it's own worst enemy. At some point solidarity and good faith conversation is foundational for liberty and justice for all.
Oh, and the notion that unlimited money spent to alter political outcomes is the same thing as free speech is an anti-democratic travesty.
What Tubeville won’t say …… I harbor a real fear that the real reason he holds all the military appointments is a plan to have those vacancies so that Trump can fill them with military loyalists. They are good at the long game. They did it with the judiciary and the Supreme Court.
Sharp observation. It will probably happen the minute Trump returns to the White House. Same strategy as Moscow Mitch pulled: when Obama put forth a nominee for the Supreme Court, he screamed hell and indignation because it was waaay to close to an election, but when Trump did it almost a day before the elections, it suddenly was no problem at all.
The Christian Right/Nationalist are hell bent on turning the country into one of its’ own yet they work to deprive citizens in need of basic life means- food and medical. The hypocrisy has no end.
To see that smiling, soft speaking MAGA monster demanding cutting off food aid to citizens living in poverty as part of major, non-related bill infuriates me to the point of speaking incoherently. The perversion of Christianity, of democracy, of basic concern for the commonweal of American society is despicable. I can’t believe it is for debt ceiling/monetary reasons; it is racially motivated White Nationalism in action. So what if some impoverished whites lose out; they don’t count anyway ( they can’t afford to donate to political campaigns.) People of ALL good faiths should be shouting these selfish, greedy, racists down.
There are a number of absolute "dummies" out there, with monied interests pulling their strings. Some of those strings were recently cut for Tuberville.
Heather does not say how Biden's speech was received by the rural/farming community - I would imagine enthusiastically? How did the press and broadcasting media react? There's no doubt
Biden's policies are now having a positive effect (despite the best efforts of the Fed) and he's now out there spreading the word. But he needs the media onside. From here in the UK this does not appear to be happening. Am I right?
What a contrast between Joe Biden's commitment to rural American, the Senate's commitment to American defense and the Republican extremes! Extremist Republicans plan to reduce SNAP when they are also complaining about the cost of food; Tuberville insists on fighting the culture wars rather than ensuring the military is able to fight actual wars.
I’m not certain, but I think I heard that the term “Bidenomics” was first coined by Republicans as a laughing stock to ridicule his ecomic views. If that is true, Biden should really emphasize that part. Somewhat like “Schadenfreude”, but he’s mire than entitled to that.
Bidenomics actually makes sense. Reaganomics never did, except as a way to hollow out the middle class and trash the planet to make the richest richer. What was ever in it for us except stress, pain, and peril?
You mean an economic policy centered around "trickling down" very little money from big corporations and hugely rich individuals by making them even richer with tax cuts sounded hokey? Made no sense?
Well, "trickle" made sense millions and millions of Americans and to the majority of Congress from 1980-1982. Including the majority of Democrats who voted WITH Reagan on those economic "policies". A very bipartisan "trickle" was turned on to Americans.
So, you can "fool all of the people all of the time" sometimes. You just need a "gosh shucks who me?" white man with a rosy nose and a ready smile to sell it.
Owning mass media helps a lot, as does the "Chicago School: doctrine that maximizing corporate profit is our nation's raison d'etre. The latter works like this:
The repub messaging apparatus promotes these catchphrases and astroturfs them shamelessly. But since it's nearly always punching down, it can sometimes blow up in their faces.
"Obamacare" was supposed to be a scathing criticism until it became popular. Look at "snowflake", too. Repubs loved that one until it started to be applied to them! They're struggling with "woke" because it's competing with people who are. Once your "consciousness has been raised", you don't go backwards willingly.
Woke though, is dangerous. In Britain now if you are not actually racist they call you woke, if you are not homophobic... or misogynist... they call you woke...
Mike --- that's precisely where the term came from, and JB has embraced it. Many times the background screen behind him repeats the term Bidenomics. The other side gave him yet another gift.
Does it not amaze you that you could have a Republican/MAGA read the same article that a Democrat reads and comes up with polar opposite observations. I now live in a farming community that hails trump as a God and belittles every move that President Biden makes. I was at an estate sale over the summer and got into a conversation with one of the local farmers. He was blaming Biden that there was the estate sale. Ofcourse I had to ask why it was Bidens fault that the family of a 97 years old man that died from cancer and none of the family wanted the farm had to do with Biden. Keeping in mind his "children" were in their 70's and lived out of State. All the man kept parroting were FOX propaganda lines. It will never end with those people.
In the back of the barn was a faded Biden/Harris yard sign that the late farmer must had put in his front yard.
Having lived in California in the Reagan years I say, 'First Reagan ruined California and then he ruined the Nation." It has taken us ALL these years to recover from his "government is the problem" and trickle down economics echoed in the Bush years. We are not done - yet. Let us re-elect the Biden administration. What a team of amazing, competent, committed, people he has surrounded himself with - all on the right side of history.
What so called "Republican" now sell it the notion, not of no or even little government, but rather entitlement to lord it over others; with impunity for them, and enforced subservience for others. Under the hood are some of the billionaires who tell even themselves that this is God's will. It's what Reagan advocated all along.
It's all kabuki. Jerks like Cruz will wail that Biden is trying to limit people to only 2 beers a week, something he never said and applies to a recommendation but he's all too willing to tell women what they can do with their bodies, what books we can read and who is able to vote.
And the Biden/Harris team keeps on rolling out these FDR-esque programs. I am consistently impressed by and grateful for the holistic nature of these plans: "$20 billion of the Inflation Reduction Act will go to helping farmers and ranchers adjust to climate change by changing cover crops and managing nutrients and grazing, while urging farmers to diversify from single crops and sell in local markets."
Here's hoping Mike Johnson dies by his own poison pills.
Alexandra Sokoloff,
Thank you for placing my very thoughts on this page .
Thank you Heather. My mom and dad were great farmers. They worked hard together every day. Their rhythm of life began before light and during harvest ....into the darkness. They were also people of deep faith.
We have a great President and his team matches his passion and love for the ideal of Democracy to be evidenced throughout his administration. He is for each of us. Even his enemies benefit from his (and his team's) wise decisions.
Beautiful post, Emily! I especially love this: "Even his enemies benefit from his (and his team's) wise decisions." It's the most heartbreaking thing about the attacks on Team Biden - they're often coming from the people the team is working most diligently to help.
My mom's family were farmers, too.
My dad was a farmer, and I grew up farming. We were taught that the job HAS to be finished. If you finished your row, you helped the person (usually my younger brother) finish his row, then move on.
The little communities where we lived are drying up. Farming changed dramatically with more mechanization. Small textile plants moved offshore, etc. My husband and I left home because there were few opportunities for him as an engineer.
Regarding the poison pill of cutting SNAP, that's the equivalent of stealing from the poor box in church.
I agree. You can't argue that 41 million people are lazy. I work sometimes in a food bank in a community with fewer than 300 people. We routinely serve more than 400 families, which means that people are coming from all over in this corner of rural Utah, which includes part of the Navajo reservation. Our only source of "groceries" here is a gas station that carries a lot of snacks, mixes and a few potatoes and onions There's a Dollar Store on the reservation, hardly a source of good nutrition. When state development team surveyed our area, they argued that you need at least (I think) 3,500 people. The best thing that has happened this year is a gardening program with raised beds started by a local church.
Boy oh boy I think EVERYONE should have "mindful meditation" at this point.. How many people who literally exist on SS do so with the help of SNAP benefits? Pres.Biden's speech is great but the message MUST get to the people who will benefit from this help. Noise - billboards - every possible way.
We keep hearing much about how great the "economy" is - that there are jobs out there - but sadly, the pay is NOT out there. My daughter works in a drs office - making less than McDonald's workers! And I believe shes not alone in that respect. Having a job is great, but being paid enough to survive on would be really nice.
It's good that the church started the garden, that church even coupled with additional churches and charities cannot provide enough resources to address the hunger problem exacerbated by lack of grocery stores. The tiny town where my husband grew up now has no grocery store. Convenience stores are not intended to be full spectrum grocery stores. Not a good situation for any community.
If you read The Nation, the whole recent issue is about water use and water availability problems in the Great Basin, which of course includes Utah. A previous recent issue focused on the major problems with the Great Salt Lake. We have been heading into a water calamity and of course you know who Fox and the MAGAts will blame.
Terry Tempest Williams has written eloquently about the Great Salt Lake, first in her memoir about the cancer in her family, Refuge,and more recently in the NYTimes in a huge page feature. Not only is its demise a great loss for migrating birds, but there's toxic waste in the remains, which will blow everywhere. And both Lake Powell and Lake Mead, whose dams supply much of the region's electricity, experienced dangerously low water levels this year. Now that it's come back a little, some people are in the "no problem" mode, but it is a BIG problem. Much of Utah's water upstream helps sustain crops that are sold abroad, but no one wants to deny those big farmers of their profits.
I want to raise my hand and stand on the soapbox for a minute.
In the Great Depression, I wager "most" people still were agrarian rather than urban - many were growing their own food. (Remember WWII Victory Gardens?)
In the 21st century, that is NOT THE CASE In the USA!
Most elementary school students would be hard pressed to identify more than a dozen vegetables and fruits in their grocery store, and I warrant even fewer know how to fix them from scratch (core an apple, remove seeds from citrus, dice melons into bite-sized pieces, etc.)
Bottom line - food deserts and supply chains are another of the at-risk systems that will deepen environmental crises in our society. "Non-nutritious" habits that include sugary drinks and fast food have also harmed our youth and contribute to the ongoing obesity epidemic.
We sure would benefit from learning to grow essential foods in our backyards or container gardens again.
How inhumane are the GOP who don't want kids to be fed or families and the elderly in particular to have assistance???
JennSH, it is a direct assault on the poor and flies in the face of what Jesus taught. This man is no Christian, but just another true believer who has never seen any real light in terms of how he can better serve humankind. He seems to be serving hatred, bias, and his own hubris.
As a Jew who has read the gospels, it always has amazed me how so many Christians never read or understood or put into practice what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount.
The Sermon is too woke. They would rather hate anyone who is not like them and punish people for being that way.
The poor box in church is fair game. “Conservative” cretins think it is their pie and they want it all.
"Regarding the poison pill of cutting SNAP, that's the equivalent of stealing from the poor box in church." True words there...
Thanks to both of your farming families. I hope more conservative farm families will realize which party has their best interests at heart when they vote.
The old farmers in Texas (at least the ones I ran across) were Dems and remembered who had helped them. Sadly, they have been replaced with Fox-loving malcontents who sit on the front-row pew and think Jesus preached a prosperity gospel.
He's a steroids-enhanced
Double-bandoleroed!
cum AK-47 sportin'
blonde hair blue-
eyed Prosperity
Jesus to be
precise
&
by
Gawd
He's just
like them.
Ran for my life
Ain't that the truth, Jeri.
Yeah! What's up with that? Why can they not see they have been voting against themselves?
Because of culture war issues. My MAGA leaning friend (with a good heart, good work ethic, not trligious, and generous) is convinced that grade school teachers were grooming kids to question their sexual identities. He's convinced that he needs a loaded shotgun at home because 'all those criminals' are coming for him. He hates government intervention which protects his job. He hated the idea of wearing masks, even though his workplace has seen repeated waves of Covid.
Sigh. He's not alone. Ironically, he doesn't bother to vote, just rant, and I hope his cohort is mostly just like him.
Sadly, this phenomenon was occurring before Trump, and before Covid together metastasized these toxic brain cells.
Remember how George Dubyah Bush won a narrow re-election due in no small part to fear mongering the then nascent issue of gay people marrying, causing the pillars of the Republic to fall down upon our collective shoulders!
Also, Thomas Frank's "What's the matter with Kansas" tells a poignant and spot on tale of how a formerly progressive State morphed into a regressive red one.
I remember when Dubya won his first election in 2000…. Oh, wait, that’s right, he didn’t.
Another from Steve Earle
The Rain Came Down
https://youtu.be/DtWSTnZSGCE?si=lHmRoSLQhn6ODOAY
Steve Earle is magnificent. So sad about his son
We should always ask what sources are behind the opinions of those attacking Team Biden and suggest trying this one.
Emily and Alexandra, coming from a family that loves to eat, I am grateful for your families who love(d) to farm!
Agree that our great President is all in for all of us.
Lynell, speaking of eating, Julia Child said, "People who love to eat are always the best people."
Here's to all the farmers who work hard to produce the food that we love to eat.
Hey, Pam...and I've got the pounds to prove it!
Sadly true for me too. I’m doing better in old age, but old age is not doing better by me.
Ditto, Jeri!
(raises hand)
Present in the love to cook and eat, and showing the pounds for it club.
Morning, Lynell!
You know it...morning, Ally!
LOL, Lynell, so do I.
🤣
and farm workers????
I come from a family who loves and loved to eat. A couple generations back, most of them were also farmers and some still are. Unfortunately, they have all the prejudices of many people in Indiana. When my cousin and I were at a reunion, we, OMG, stayed at a motel owned by Indians and ate at a Mexican restaurant. Fox was on everywhere. Here one of our principles is to buy locally and support farmers and ranchers who do things right. The Saturday Market is over for the season, but when we grocery shop at a locally owned store, I look for things that are local. I also try not to buy things out of season which have travelled a long way. I also have a garden and it is mostly done....still have parsnips, carrots, and celeriac in the ground, for the season. Some of the neighbors around here also share from their gardens. We also support the local food bank.
It's my hope, Michele, that Biden's road trip to the families in rural areas will help them see he is truly supporting him.
Mine too, Lynell. I taught in a rural school district that was heavily Catholic and then up the canyon, heavily fundamentalist. Based on that and what my friends who live there say, I cannot have a lot of hope. We have a lot of pastors around with small churches that they can lord it over....pun intended. Lots of home schooling as well, not the Catholics, they have a Catholic system in this small town, but often to the detriment of the kids. It's too small a place actually for a Catholic system, but they had a wealthy Catholic lumber benefactor. That alone has caused all sorts of problems and resentments. We had students we called Regis rejects because they did not have to follow due process and could throw kids out easily. Sometimes we knew who was coming to us. Our kids also somehow believed they were inferior which was total BS. I had to explain to my basketball team once that there are good people and bad people and bad people can be found anywhere, even in religious schools.
Emily, I talked to a farmer’s wife yesterday who was bemoaning how their three kids had to leave town to find good jobs. How great that Biden and the Democrats are working to make sure that the kids can find good jobs at home!
I have probably posted this here before, but it bears repeating here. One of my favorite former politicians, Jason Kander of Missouri, likes to say, "People want four things for their family. They want their family to be happy, to be healthy, to be safe and to be nearby." I do think a lot of the resentment in rural areas comes from knowing that there is no future for successful young people in their hometowns.
Here is a recent article showing that in Missouri, there is LESS access to medical care for rural Missourians now than there was 100 years ago, largely because young rural people who get trained in health care fields can't or won't return home. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/far-from-equal-rural-missourians-have-less-medical-care-than-they-did-100-years-ago/article_b894cbb6-7444-11ee-a686-3f10f9458652.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#tncms-source=Top%20Story
My sister died in 2015 in rural Missouri from multiple myeloma. She wasn’t diagnosed until she was in stage 4. She had no health insurance because she had a pre existing condition and so she had no regular doctor or check ups. I know now that people, if diagnosed early enough, can live quite awhile with multiple myeloma. Look at Steve Scalise! I am still so angry that she lived in a red state that didn’t offer Obamacare and that she only got to see a doctor when she was 65 and could get Medicare. And the irony of it all is that her father in law was the only doctor in their small town of 2000, but after he passed away from cancer, there was no doctor in town. The closest one was 60 miles away!!!
That's heart-breaking, Elizabeth. The county hospital in my Georgia hometown is closed now (turned into a nursing home), and people have to travel at least 24 miles to a hospital in the next county where those hospitals are merging as we speak. I think we need to get away from privatzing our healthcare system and tying that economy to market needs.
Medical desert = premature death. How tragic
Also tragic how people think it is unpatriotic to learn from countries that cover everyone. There are several different ways they manage to do it. But we are Exceptional, so no need to consider other systems.
This fills me with sorrow and anger, Elizabeth. How is it that Americans accept this situation? It is too late, of course, for your sister, but the Missouri legislature was finally forced to expand Medicaid, only after years of trying to get around the vote of the people by 6 percentage points in 2020 to do so. Monsters, and yet, in many, if not most, rural districts, Republicans run unopposed.
So sorry about your sister. Yes, medical care in rural America is appalling. But we also need to dig deeper into the entire medical system. Our medical care is controlled by the insurance industry. They pay for 15-minute office visits, so that’s what most doctors provide. Doctors spend half that time reading the patient’s medical records, hoping to remember who you are (I just read email while the doc reads her computer screen). That leaves 7.5 minutes for her to listen to you, order tests and write a prescription. And that’s it. As someone with a complex medical condition, it’s no wonder it took decades to diagnose the problem. And then the Part D provider decides if they want to cover the prescription and then they can change their mind at any time. Our medical system is broken. But very profitable for the insurance industry.
Impossible to 'like' your post which is soooo appropriately aimed at the insurance companies who have definitely taken the concept of 'middlemen' to the point of absurdity in their regulation of who can practice medicine and where and who can receive medical care and where, even adjudicating whether enough money changed hands or results were acceptable. How do we allow this? We are forced to choose between segregated systems of care and then bet against ourselves and Mother Nature mostly to provide insurance companies with profits and power. Blessed will be the day that they are laid to rest.
I am so sorry, Elizabeth. That is simply criminal. It goes back to something I first read a few years ago: It isn't the "Mediterranean Diet" that helps people live healthier, it is the socialized medicine that provides timely medical care for everyone. Little problems don't become big ones.
You are so right! I get so upset when people spout that “we’re the best country in the world” when we lead in mass shootings and lousy healthcare. We’re not going to able to address and fix these things until our voters realize they are voting the bad guys in continually because they are voting on the appeals to their emotions instead if their reason.
Elizabeth, what a sad story. I was surprised to read that many rural hospitals are closing because Medicare Advantage plans pay so much less than regular Medicare.
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1553
I have a suggestion for the LFAA bookclub: "The Hospital" by Brian Alexander.
As a retired laboratory tech, reading this was heartbreaking. Being in a Chicago suburb, I am within 10 minutes of at least 3 hospitals. As a a tech, I performed the vital blood tests for people actively stroking out--that is the reason I'd never want to live more than 30 minutes from a large hospital.
What the GOP won't look at, and somehow brainwashes their cult to ignore, is that routine checkups and early intervention not only saves lives, it is much cheaper in the long run! The crisis of diabetes in our country does not get enough coverage. Catch someone early enough, in pre-diabetes, perhaps it can avert it. Wait until much later, then it is dialysis, blindness, renal failure, limbs amputated, people unable to care for themselves so nursing home. And that is just ONE disease.
The MAGA stance on abortion is forcing more and more docs out of their states. They focus on bringing those babies into the world, not recognizing that those ob/gyn do much more than just delivering babies.
I guess some states will have to rely on the local "Goody Smith" or "Goody Jones". Which would probably work fine for them, then they can eliminate powerful leader women by witch-burning.
Yes the loss of farming families and farms is truly significant . But replacing it is little farms , farmers markets, and the programs Biden talks about both state and fed level are helping many. The influx of money from Biden’s tenure was spoken about in our own annual farm inspection by the NRCS delightful young man . Ours is a small operation and we benefit from cost sharing ( amongst many other perks) such as Heather reiterates Biden’s discusses. All of us farmers advocate to these little farmers introducing new blood to the programs available...come on aboard!
The children seek higher compensation . Ours ,having grown up ON THE farm, knew these ‘long hours’ , the ‘hard work’ , opted for higher education and got great opportunities. The FFA is another entity in our own school systems , many kids enjoy the education , exposure, and outdoorsy. Some inner cities have summer programs to introduce eyes that have never seen this side of life.
Great money spent, thanks to all who realize and enable this.
It’s a lifestyle for a select percentage of people , the agribusiness culture has made bounty available for the masses, is being challenged by climate..but helping the small time farmer and their markets have been a determined push for many years. Doubt it would be ever TRENDY again, but needed . Coming with now the many perks ie nutritional sidelight but obviously OVERSIGHT enforced as was uncovered being used by paper manipulation of corporate entities with the PPP loans during COViD. 😡
There’s always a scam somewhere going on.🤦♀️
Periodically the tables turn from once an agricultural to a industrial and now just maybe the virtues will balance out ...whatcha think?
Thanks Heather, great Letter
And Joe ( and your Team) ...helluva job 😔🫶
💙💙VOTE ALL THE COMPLICIT OUT💙💙
Thanks Heather for your attention to Northfield visit and rural issues. And thanks, Emily, for your thoughtful post. My parents also were great farmers and I’m indebted to them for their hard work, progressive values, and support for their daughters’ education wherever that might take them.
Emily, here’s a song you may relate to from the Michigan Everyman, Drew Nelson
Farmer’s Lament
https://youtu.be/JOYTYlFWMHk?si=CPtbeWiTvQhsVVVa
Yes, Dave, this happened as well.
We had one car ( not a new one until 10 years later or more)...my father took great care of our old equipment. He had a big 1940's Dodge truck used in the late 1980s
by my brother-in-law.
His tool shed was spotless...all tools clean for when he needed them.
We went on one vacation...I was in the 4th grade. He was so happy he could take us to the NC mountains. He must have done well when he sold the cows we had...just a few..we always had cows and two mules.
Mom loved gardening ...she planted, kept the weeds out , havested, canned,and froze food non-stop. There was always enough due to her hard work and saving together with my dad.
Sometimes women would bring plants to her to heal...she was amazing. She understood nature, according to the moon.... when to plant which crops and how to care for each one.
My mom was also a great seamstress....later cloth became more expensive....watching for sales of all things was first on her list.
When my father died of cancer, she was in the hospital by his side while my little brother and I stayed with my older sister. We did not celebrate Christmas with gifts that year.
I will never be equal to my parents. They will always be the greatest people in the world to me.
Emily, thank you for sharing. Farming has always perplexed me. When the harvest is good, crop prices drop due to supply; when the harvest is poor, crop prices go up, but you have little to sell. The anxiety must be palpable. Sounds like you cornered the market on family though. Blessings
Thanks for this.
His enemies, by their own definition, have no eyes and ears.
Painfully by his own pills. I love that Joe's taking it on the road. I'd love to see him and the administration do more explaining in plain language what we're all up against. The rest of the dems need to break out with cases of pure, unadulterated, humble honesty. Take the gloves off.
The problem is that we Democrats shouldn’t just rely ‘old man Joe’ to deliver his proposals and programs alone; we need to be beside him and behind him helping to deliver his messages to the American voting and non-voting populace. There is strength in numbers and we should project how proud we are that Biden/Harris [Pelosi, Jeffries & Schumer team] have been delivering good deeds - not just for America and Americans - but also for democracy loving people everywhere!!!
Jim, you are 100% right, thank you! We all need to be showing the pride and spreading the word. I'd add Pete Aguilar to your list - he's going to be vital, going forward.
Thanks Alexandra ... but so too should most - if not all - Democratic members of not just the U.S. House and the Senate, but Democrats everywhere whether they (we) have been elected to a position of trust or not. Our goals should be to help expand the coattails of Biden so that we can try to get supermajorities in the House and the Senate ... and not ignore the states’ legislative bodies!!!
Here we still have people on the far left (and someone here objects to that, but I am going to use it), still cannot understand the pragmatic aspects of politics. No one around here calling themselves a socialist is going to get elected. And we have to have candidates to can win in swing districts. We have a chance to pick up a seat in Oregon's 5th. One of the candidates to run against her, who has primary opponents, seems to be assuming that she will be the candidate which ain't necessarily so.
Interesting. I'm going to have to pay attention to that. I know that Oregon's 4th has been solidly democratic, but they have been close races the past few elections.
I will be interested to note who wins the D primary. McLeod-Skinner assumes she will be the candidate, but that remains to be seen.
People on the far left, and as a socialist, I am one of ‘those’ people, recoil at the ‘pragmatic aspects of politics’, because we understand the practice of such political ideology is a main driver of populist rage/frustration and the accompanying increasing extremism within the GOP, courtesy of Bill Clinton and his lineage of milquetoast centrist Democrats.
There is nothing pragmatic about incremental solutions to catastrophic problems.
Sure socialists have a hard time getting elected, but it’s as much based on the cowardice of liberals as it is any fear on the behalf of voters writ large. And it’s also based on a centrist Democratic Party establishment that seeks to hold on to power just as much as any of the wackos in the GOP. Neither group will lift a finger in the face of bald-faced media propaganda or campaign ad lies using ‘Socialism’ as a cudgel, except to offer up a meek, gutless ‘l am not a Socialist’ defense.
Tell me what the difference is between any run of the mill power play done by any GOP nut job, and the example of Biden Administration attempted malfeasance in the link below. Other than, the tribal ‘if my side does it it’s ok’.
https://inthesetimes.com/article/white-house-request-waiver-arms-sales-gaza-israel
I am not going to have this argument with you. What I am saying is that one cannot call oneself a socialist in my area and expect to be elected. I am not gutless, but I am a realist. I do not approve of everything that the Biden administration does either, but it is a much much better than the alternative. If you want people like the Trumpets to prevail, then by all means, vote for someone who cannot win. People can claim that they are going to do all sorts of things once they are elected and then they find out that, for example, the Rs walked out of the Oregon Senate and business there stopped. We voters passed by a reasonable large margin that those who do that cannot run again in the next election. But of course, those Rs who cannot run are taking this to court. The gun measure we passed is stuck in an Eastern Oregon court although it will probably eventually get to the Oregon Supreme Court. And we wouldn't have the Supreme Court we have now where this gun measure will probably end up. And we wouldn't have had that Court if HRC had prevailed no matter how some see her.
Big problem with the terminology 'old man Joe' when I know and have known vibrant and essential people his age and older. I hope to be of some use when I'm his age in not that many years. There are 'youngers' plenty less healthy mentally or physically in many government and corporate offices as well as the general population.
At 78 Roxanna, I believe that those frighten by Joe’s chronological age - or a good portion thereof - maybe using it as a crutch for being fearful of a possible Harris Administration in some form. Biden has shown that, at least to me, that he’s up for the job ... it is rigors of hitting the campaign trail that can really proof hazardous to one’s health ... so it’s we - those who still believe in our system of government and the democratic processes who need to help guide and support our current standard bearer - Joe Biden - over and past the November 2024 electoral goal line and to help get as many like-minded and thinking democrats elected to office as possible!!!
"The rest of the dems need to break out with cases of pure, unadulterated, humble honesty." —YES!!! What a triumph that would be.
Email Biden and Harris. Suggest this. I have at least twice since he was elected. The more whomever reads these emails hears from the better…
Plain language sounds to me like this: "
Bidenomics is using our democracy to ensure :liberty and justice for all - for it is clear that capitalism does not. Capitalism provides enormous profits for a few, while Bidenomics creates job opportunities for all Americans, from the farmlands to the forests to the fisheries and well into the future. We are investing our tax dollars back into the heartland, to ensure liberty and justice for all"
I would like to suggest that REGULATED capitalism in it's truest form, not the subsidized socialist capitalism we now have, does work for creating competition, innovation, and is responsive to social concerns (as it responds to the consumer...not forcing it's model onto the consumer)
I understand your concern to soften my critique of capitalism. I feel linking 'democracy' as a guide to our economy/capitalism does this, in my thinking. I say this because I have thought about this since ... oh, 2002 or so.
But I feel your perception Susan is more attuned to how most Americans will hear this notion - to link both democracy AND capitalism in the sane discussion AND to draw the vital distinction. I don't think this has EVER been done, as a consistent frame, by an American politician. Not even Bernie.
I have heard elected Republicans accidentally but honestly refer to our country as a Capitalist society as a stand-alone description. While Capitalism has run amok and become an oligarchy, we have to be very careful about how we use terms. The audience we need to teach probably confuses the two also!
You have a great point, Marge. The great linguist and educator on progressive framing, George Lakoff, reminds us to speak from our values base - and try to find what we share in common with people who may apparently disagree. These could be conservatives or trump voters - and find our agreements.
So, people KNOW the system is rigged. MOST people are discontented in this society. 44% own guns. I feel if we talk about the inherent unfairness of the system, we are following actually in the trail blazed by Bernie, trump and Biden. Many people may, finally, say, "Ive known this my entire life!!"
Gloves off, anybody who thinks America is savable…
Of course it's "savable." America is not the pestilent hellhole of Mad Max media imagination. It's a normal nation with problems, but they can be fixed by some simple reforms of our political system. It may take a crisis to force Congress into enacting them, but (unfortunately) that will come sooner rather than later. As Rahm Emanuel famously said, "Never waste a good crisis." If we're smart, we will take whatever that crisis is and reform the hell out of the election funding system, which is the marrow of out poisoned blood.
But we can and will do it.
I’m counting on it. Don’t see many quotes by Rahm. I keep waiting for sanity to rear its head, but money keeps burying it.
I would too, but the media just seems to ignore his accomplishments. Like many of the LFAA group, I rely on YouTube's "Beau of the Fifth Column" and I send links of his clips to people all the time.
It's time for some high profile personalities, popular in the central U.S., to get the word out. To tell the plain truth about how "Trickle Down" economics decimated family farms and Bidenomics, like him or not, is helping restore small farming and the middle class. (And let's not forget the how TFG's tariffs more recently crippled farmers.)
These policies have never benefited small farms. And Biden's speeches have been spelling this out.
He needs others with popularity and a clear message to be surrogates and build awareness.
Trickle-down economics and unregulated free trade. The favorite policy of Biden's nominee for deputy secretary of state, Kurt Campbell. By your deeds shall ye know them. Someone has to ask the president how he squares his words on farms and small businesses with his nomination of a free trade zealot like Campbell--who will be very unpopular with Democrats across the board.
Sorry, I was unclear--it's free trade that Campbell is enamored of, not necessarily trickle-down economics.
And yet, this is the first time I have heard about this speech. Why? Because it is not discussed in the NYTimes morning newsletters (there are 4 of them, so one would think it would appear somewhere, but no), or in the Guardian, or on the WaPo headline page, or on NPR--and you can bet that it won't appear in the Right Wingnut echo chamber. The only reporting I heard about the speech yesterday was that Biden was in Minnesota and "would give a campaign speech." In other words, is the speech even useful if no one hears it? if no news outlets report on it? if the dumbass musings of a deranged orange-colored wannabe dictator are given more weight in public outlets? Farmers all over the USA vote against their self interest and have for years. Why? Because it feeds into their prejudices against BIPOC and the vacuum chamber that is their whiteness and isolation. Sorry: I am not feeling charitable today.
Hear, hear! That is absolutely the problem--it’s time Biden and Harris did some ‘fireside chats’ on some widespread media venues that will air what Biden has managed to do and is hoping to do, and why. Not ‘campaign speeches’ per se, but spreading some facts!!!
Fireside chats! You're so right, Heather.
But how many “firesides” are there? Do families still collect after dinner or are they too scattered by strange job schedules, everyone with his own phone? How many families actually dine together? I remember thinking back in the early 90’s when Lamar Alexander was Secretary of Education speaking of dinner table conversations, that he was out of touch with most American lives.
Could the Administration get any widely-listened-to/watched station to broadcast the fireside chats? I’m assuming the government would have to contract/pay for the air time! Where’s the profit?!
Well expressed cynicism. There was a time when the president was heard by nearly everyone.
We didn’t hear about this speech for the same reason we haven’t heard about anything, or very little, about what the Biden-Harris administration is accomplishing. That reason is that our free and fair press has gone the same way as the family farm. All the major news outlets are owned by a few billionaires and they certainly don’t want Biden to win the coming election. They are billionaires. He wants to level the playing field. Their money is their power and he wants to diminish...not take away, but diminish their power. Ouch.
YES! And maybe journalists are too obsessed with polls.
Far too many “journalists” are obsessed with what their bosses tell them to be obsessed about, hence the “”.
Well, to be fair, that was always the case. Journalists always danced to the tune of the names on the paychecks. Those who didn't got assigned to overnight shifts in the suburbs--exile--or were terminated.
Media are too obsessed with polls because poll-based reporting is a cheap and easy way to generate content to feed the 24/7/365 media machine. The pollsters absorb the cost of the polling, the reporter is emailed the results, he or she rounds up the usual suspects for comments, and then custom-crafts the story for the media website, Facebook, Twitter (fuck "X"), and other social media; his or her, podcast and vlog; and eleventy-thousand different expressions of the same information. No actual reporting harmed in the making of this content because actual reporting takes time and money that the media no longer have.
The days of sending reporters on the road to talk to a lot of people about how they actually feel about X vs. Y are loooooong gone. Too much investment for too little content generation. Polling and press releases have taken the place of actual reporting.
SG. Excellent points. I encourage all newspaper readers to complain to individual journalists about their overuse of polls, their lack of critical analysis of such polls, etc. The excessive quantity and poor quality of polls and their overuse in present day MSM is shocking. I’m actually surprised about the lack of systematic analysis of this issue. It’s ripe for a thoughtful and groundbreaking expose by a small group of journalists who have similar concerns.
Even MSNBC this morning after a report by Richard Engel, one of the best journalists from the field in Gaza, immediately went to a hardliner. I suspected corporate influence.
Reach out to them all! Get in touch with NPR, call the newspapers, etc etc. maybe over and over. I will now that I know
Good idea. I posted it on Substack Notes also
Well, some farmers are voting for their self-interest---You may remember Vicky Hartzler from MO, who got millions in soybean payments from Trump after he started his trade war with China. The Farm Bureau is generally a mouthpiece for those agribusiness-type farms. But you are 100% right about the lack of coverage. I'm assuming KCMO is Kansas City MO? Did the Star cover it, or local TV or radio?
Indeed, the conglomerates know how to squeeze money out of turnips.
I'm finding a lot of value in taking a peek at the "Notes:" links Professor Richards provides such as the link to the Northfield speech at the top of today's notes. My previous knowledge of Northfield related to the way it's many Union Civil War Veterans and citizens reacted (rather calmly and purposefully), to the James-Younger Gang attempt to rob their bank on September 7th, 1876.
Then I just started looking up more sites like the local government and their interests and initiatives using other commenters suggestions, and some I find on my own. I used to use runforoffice.org (to see all the offices I could vote for from my address in California), and votesmart.org (to get as complete a backgrounds as I could on people in office or running for office). I actually used it to do much deeper research for friends in other voting districts to compare the officials biographies, speeches, stated positions, donors, and ratings by interest groups. Now, I have difficulty hearing and reading since recent surgery makes it uncomfortable to wear glasses so I appreciate the efforts of Georgia Fisanick who seems to be able to do the deeper explorations of votesmart.org in particular.
I don't do well trying to keep up with videos, other than to get a sense of the passions better than the written transcripts which help a huge amount in correcting anything misheard. Transcripts also make it easier to find other links and make more complete note on important points and context.
When I taught advanced courses at the Space Systems Command and Control School I knew I could never cover everything, so I concentrated on taking some of the early questions as deep as it took to build up students ability and confidence in doing the further research themselves. Once they trusted that they could do the same, the questions got much simpler and more time was spent on the bigger picture and what was required along the main signal paths and feedback loops. I hope to see if I can keep up with the many smart and informed people I see on (or through), this site.
Excellent instruction technique, Jim. I had a "deep dive" experience, but from the opposite direction. When Graham v. Connor (SCOTUS decision moving all police use of force under the 4th Amendment by defining using force to control someone as a "seizure") all of my instructors within the department bemoaned that as horrible for law enforcement. I got involved with the instructor cadre when developing a class for hostage officer survival, and ended up taking a class on my own that was called "integrated use of force". To avoid boring folks, what I learned was that instead of being a hinderance, it was, when all the requirements were present, a free pass to use force as deemed "necessary under the circumstances" when properly documented.
Sadly, it is the 20-teens application of that that has morphed into "I was scared so I shot him" where cops, following the letter of the law, are excused from conduct that under ordinary circumstances would not be justifiable.
You are as pissed as I am, our MSM has tunnel vision and can’t cover more than one thing at a time.
Yes, have you noticed how Ukraine seems to have dropped into the background as the war in Israel/Palestine heats up and the House is talking about ditching funding for it?
Yes. I can't possibly 'like' your post, but you hit the nail on the head! Like it's impossible to cover both -- never mind the necessity to link them for the obvious connections to terrorist actions and Russian power. Shallow thinking from those at the top of the media. Cut the crap about lunches and spats and family feuds, and give us more information!
Yes, progwoman, that is so true. :(
It’s like they don’t exist anymore. I know it’s a firehose everyday with chump, war horrors in MEast and sports, but maybe a little acknowledgment of other important things.
IMHO. We may find that the end won here is that we are no longer governed or protected by the rule of law as much as by exceptions and loopholes whether pursued in court cases and appeals (where as precedent) and in the Supreme Court (where precedent is certified). No longer the spirit or intent of the law, but some dubious though academically appealing hole in application of existing lawS that create a wedge around which grows into the circumvention, the new standard defense, for what may never have been a right or intent protected by law.
I understand the lack of charitability.
Yes, Linda! You go!
Biden Travels to Minnesota to Highlight Rural Investments https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/01/us/politics/biden-minnesota-rural-investments.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
Why not a headline
Biden Travels to Minnesota to Highlight Rural Investments. HCR didn't give us a NYT link so I'm wondering if she scooped them on this
Lisa Friedman was the NYT reporter
Alexandra,
I am not only impressed consistently with Biden (with the sole exception of his enthusiasm for bombing Gaza continuously), Biden is ALSO, for perhaps the first time in American history, going after a criminal who is rich and white and successfully penalizing them for massive theft and fraud: Bankman Freid will now go to jail for the rest of his sorry, privileged, born rich life.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/technology/sam-bankman-fried-fraud-trial-ftx.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7kw.fUQL.BCAgdcaSVhXN&smid=url-share
Rich white men stealing other peoples money has long been completely legal in theUSA as Trump has shown with SIX massive bankruptcies which shafted thousands of people over 40 years.
Apparently, the Biden Justice Department is color blind where crime is relevant. This is as huge a deal as Bidenomics. Maybe a "huger" deal.
A white man who steals BILLIONS of dollars actually CAN go to jail in America. I never thought I would see it. Ever.
Yes, I know, Madoff went to jail. But, the people he shafted were pretty prominent and made that happen outside of government circles. AND, the government repeatedly ignored warnings about Madoff. Only when a bunch of rich and powerful people lost their money and got lawyers involved did Madoff go to jail. Government ignored Madoff.
This is the first time (or one of the very rare times) when the American Justice Department took up the cause of prosecuting a white man for massive theft.
GO BIDEN. You have my loyalty and vote.
Mike, I'm with you - but Biden isn't personally going after these criminals. He might in his heart support it, as anyone with conscience would— but he's not DOING IT. It's important to make that distinction or it gives tffg and MAGAs fuel for their preposterous "political persecution" and "witch hunt" claims.
Understood.
However, if Trump were President Freid would be a free man. He would have wired whatever money to whatever account Trump specified and, boom, no Justice Department investigation.
So, although Biden is NOT involved, neither has he set up a puppet Justice Department to reward his buddies and penalize his foes like Trump sort of did and definitely will do if he is elected again.
Mike, I agree. And 100% grateful for it!
Mike,
I agree you 100%, except for this:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/us/politics/biden-israel-gaza-fighting-pause.html
Jay,
Thank you for the link.
Apparently, Biden has no influence on Netanyahu who is attempting to regain some popularity by bombing civilians all day every day after his security service slept through the Hamas attack.
If Biden is asking for a "pause" and only bombing is happening, then, Biden is toothless with Netanyahu.
You've got to call it as you see it. I don't remember from where, but I heard that there is speculation that Netanyahu may be forced out soon. I'm well aware that people are suffering and dying in the meantime.
I have a 79-year old sister who owns a 6,000 acre ranch near San Angelo, Texas. She runs the ranch with her 54 year old son. They're MAGA Republicans yet they accept about $50,000 a year to not grow something on the ranch, I'm not entirely sure exactly what it is. Yet they accuse the Democrats of being Socialists, a clever device thought up by William Buckley, according to HCR. The video of HCR being interviewed at the LBJ Library is a must view.
"The video of HCR being interviewed at the LBJ Library is a must view." Yes!!!
Yes! It was incredible, it brought tears to my eyes, some hope to my heart, and I’ve passed it along to friends
Repeat last sentence
The video of HCR being interviewed at the LBJ Library is a must view. HCR is a national treasure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkbAayPUjtM
And, let's not forget Melanie Trecek-King: https://thinkingispower.com/
Thank you, Jeri, for this reminder.
Fantastic! Thank you!
I have two high school buddies (1958) who are now MAGA Republicans. This is a text to me yesterday from one of them: "Biden is corrupt, senile and not capable. Should be impeached, not allowed to finish term. Destroying our economy. Our enemies don't respect the US, think they can do what they want, Not sufficient words to describe damage he and democrats have done to us." Three guesses as to what his source of "information" is and the first two don't count. This disinformation campaign broadcast by Fox, OAN, Newsmax and Alex Jones, to name just four, is working for the forces behind the effort. The author of this piece just spent 87 days in the hospital, three operations, all paid by Medicare. No gratitude at all.
My daughter and son-in-law, MAGAs previously, (and their large group of friends and like-minded neighbors & coworkers, in their early 50s & making $200,000+ a year), have decided none of them will vote ever again for Trump. She just told me that after not speaking about politics for years. That gave me a little bit of hope. Of course, they will remain conservative, whatever that means now. But it makes me think that there are many other “conservative“ citizens, at least those who are educated (and that doesn’t necessarily mean they all have a college education) and feel that way.
That is good news - that they're turning away from Trump, one of the greatest con men to ever live, thanks to modern communication advances in the electronic world. Yes, "conservative" has lost its meaning when applied to American politics.
"Conservative" these days seems to translate to "heartless," given the proposed cuts in SNAP benefits, to cite just one example.
So-called Conservatives are anything but. What I find that characterizes them is the heartlessness (zero empathy) and their lack of critical thinking skills while wedded to the notion that the U.S. should be a nation controlled by white Protestants exclusively. There is virtually no chance to have any kind of meaningful dialogue with them. I don't know that they have a theory of government, other than to crush the hated "Libral-socialists," women's rights advocates, immigrants, Jews, gays, Blacks, Muslims and more.
It terms of a political philosophy, I like the one that Frances Perkins, the woman who is responsible for "FDR's" New Deal (should be known as Frances Perkins' New Deal:)
"The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to provide the means by which all the people under its jurisdiction can access the best possible life." ALL the people and now a few oligarchs.
Frances Perkins deserves much more recognition. What an admirable person.
Wish that were true for my educated ex-bff and family
Sorry for that, and I sure empathize, Jeri.
Just remember that you have a family on this forum.
A fantastic group that doesn’t expect perfection but appreciates morality, competence, and has empathy for downtrodden humans, and animals. A real community like so many of us have lost.
I hear you, Jeri. Dovetailing on what Miselle said, we are family here. We may never meet in person, but we are, indeed friends that could become family. (My personal network is called Framily. There are 5 households, all of us women, one couple, one bi-generational, and the others are all single households. We care for and tend to one another.)
I really appreciate my substack connections. Had a similar group on Twitter. Sure miss people who aren’t trolls or cult devotees. I’m one of those who would be upset if one of my grands would hook up with a MAGAt.
Richard, I have a cousin who posts the same nonsense on FB about President Biden. She has been on disability for years. They are all brainwashed.
Our principal solution is to out vote them. Too many Democrats in this country don't go to the polls. They aren't voting. This is one area in which we can direct our attention and efforts this coming year, starting right now with local elections.
Watch Jen Senko’s “The Brainwashing of My Dad” for some ideas about help with the brainwashing..
If nothing else, we should make sure that people know Republicans want THEIR benefits—Social Security, Medicare, etc. not just those to the "undeserving."
True, MAGA Republicans want THEIR benefits - and their refrain is "But we EARNED it," as though the hundreds of millions of working Americans didn't, by paying into it for a lifetime while working for wages that are and were less than they deserved. We need to bring an end to this oligarchical structure of our economy and government. How important are these under-paid workers? We got a glimpse of this during the pandemic when there weren't enough to staff many positions.
One of the chief cost-cutting measures in hospitals is cutting the nursing staff.
In my mind, that is criminal.
The nurses and others who work at Kaiser Permanente, have just won arrays due to their striking.
I have never understood how people conveniently forget their social security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. And who is working to protect those programs? Who is working to cut them? Geez...aren’t they socialist leaning programs that complainers are utilizing? I am disgusted by the willful ignorance of so many of my fellow Americans!!!!!
Their willful ignorance in refusing to acknowledge the debt that they owe to Democrats for their peace of mind owing to their having Social Security and Medicare, along with other benefits - I could be smirk an say that it is an "enigma wrapped up in a mystery." It's difficult to comprehend that their critical thinking skills are overcome by their dedication to believe a particular thing, for example, that Democrats are Socialists and Socialism is bad. This is my high school buddy's constant refrain. Is there a solution? Can he ever see "the light of day, the error in his facts and his reasoning?" I don't think so. My resolve? To outvote them. They've already drunk "the poison lemonade." Time is better spent elsewhere.
You can send daily clips from YouTube's "Beau of the Fifth Column" to him. He might listen to them.
"Beau of the Fifth Column," I will check it out.
Cult logic, amygdala in overdrive, no pfcortex
Accurate assessment.
Sad!
Everything trump touches dies. Johnson hopefully will be the next to be affected by this kiss of death.
Amen, Hoyt!
When republicans win, we all lose
But Johnson got elected and the fellow from Minnesota did not
Reviving the farmer's role that combines producing good food for the population with guardianship of the land.
Currently, the only arable cash crop that counts is... cash.
A very few, operating on a vast scale, exclusively for maximized profit yields, and when the soil's poisoned and exploited to the point of exhaustion, they'll move on.
Livestock raised in factories that are animal hells, polluting the land, undermining public health by the abuse of antibiotics.
Just a point or two for starters.
Peter, thanks so much for bringing up a point that all HCR's millions of followers could implement for the good of the planet RIGHT NOW: stop eating meat and poultry. "Animal hells" is right, and it's killing the earth, too.
It is so true, we have devastated the habitat for other creatures that share our planet. Cows are a particularly bad contributor to pollution. Hard to believe but true. We could all do well being a lot more vegetarian. What do we do when the earth's population is 14 billion? More wars, more starvation. I take some comfort in knowing that I won't be around to experience it and I think that is why one daughter (39 and a J.D.) has no children and the other (41 with an MBA) has one daughter, 4 years old. They're not optimistic either.
Two of my daughters decided to have one child but they got twins each.
Kathy: "Two of my daughters decided to have one child but they got twins each." "The best laid plans of mice and women." OMG.
"In addition to the existing national investments in power grids and broadband that will help rural communities, Biden announced $1 billion to fix aging rural infrastructure systems like electricity, water, and waste water systems that haven’t been updated in decades; $2 billion to help farmers fight climate change; $145 million for clean energy technologies like solar panels that will help lower electric bills; and $274 million for rural high-speed internet expansion."
That's it?? Just a billion to fix infrastructure?? While some CEO gets a $40 million raise?? While universities brazenly squeeze unheard of costs for an undergraduate degree from students and their parents? No, no, we need to give tax cuts to corporations instead!
What does it take to imbue "woke" onto people who insist to continue to sleep....?
When we moved to rural Maine in 2004, the choices for Internet was Hughes Satellite, pay Adelphia $5,000 to connect to their system 1000 feet up the road, dial-up at 14.4k baud or drive into town and go the public library and use their Internet.
Most of us have had to use choose one or more of those options in the past and they all suck. My neighbor finally ponied up the $5K to connect to the Time-Warner and we split the cost with him. The other four neighbors decided not to connect for various reasons.
This is how it was for tens of thousands of rural Mainers until last year when new cable was run to several rural parts of Maine. Rural Maine includes many towns with up to 5000 residents that now have access to high speed internet. It may have only been $1 billion to you, which I agree is not a lot compared to what Senator Grassley and many of his Republican colleagues got in Covid-19 farm aid, but there are already tens of thousands of American homes and business that have high speed Internet for the first time.
Shame on Spectrum for not doing this sooner. Of course it was financially a loser for them if they did, so why bother? It's great to be a monopoly in America. Thanks so much Republicans --- NOT.
Gary, Our experience in rural Maine mirrors yours from dial-up to rapid speed fiber optics.
Our son, a computer animator has moved back from LA to Maine now that there is broadband capable of handling ther high speed necessary for his data intensive work. Bidenomics is attracting the highly educated , talented workers to expand Maine's economy.
It's great to have our son's family close enough for daly visits rather than 3200 miles away. High speed broadband made it possible.
"Chuck Grassley received more than $1.4 million [in farm subsidies] from 1995 to 2021." Des Moines Register, Feb 2023
Amazing. What a hypocritical old fart he is.
Sophia,
C'mon, demonizing people who see reality, i.e. "woke", is what Fox News does best.
As long as Fox Newspaganda demonizes people who see reality clearly (i.e. woke) rather than the fake reality Fox Newspaganda are selling, the blind followers will hear "woke" and, although they cannot enunciate specifically WHY, they will tell you that "woke" is "Bulls..t and "communist".
Fox Newspaganda is THE most effective part of America today. Millions of people believe blatant lies all day every day as a result of Fox.
Alexandra, one of the best things about Biden highlighting the affects of the Inflation Reduction Act here is that many farmers are already pretty knowledgeable about the climate crisis - we have a 100% renewable energy standard in the state, and there are dozens of wind turbines and a couple of solar farms - literally fields of solar arrays on the farms surrounding Northfield. We have already worked hard to keep farmers informed of federal tax credits available for renewables and helped them jump through the regulatory hoops required to get the energy they produce on the grid. Informing them about the investments available from the IRA is truly a holistic approach I hope locals farmers will take advantage of!!
In addition, several organizations that I support work hard to build local markets for local products - every Wednesday at the Community center in my suburb, I can go find local farm products - eggs, pork, produce, soaps made from sheep and goat’s milk, candles, honey, hard red winter wheat flour, yarn - so much beautiful yarn, and much more. Most products are from either organic or small regenerative farms - the kind that can’t compete with corporate farms. Yes, the products can be expensive. Because I can afford them, I purchase there. The planet and our climate are worth this investment.
Like you, I am grateful every day to have the Biden/Harris team in charge. Here in Minnesota, the Democratic party is called the DFL - the Democratic Farmer Labor party. Sadly, rural MN is pretty red. Time to get the word out that Bidenomics is a far better choice for farm communities and local economies!
Alexandra,
I think that if Mt Rushmore had been started 20 or 30 years later it might be FDR up there instead of his 2nd cousin Teddy. Not that Teddy wasn't great. We certainly could use a good "Trust Buster" again now. Joe seems to have great appreciation for our great leaders, both present and past. As for Mike Johnson, perhaps he could use the slogan: Speak softly and carry a big Bible. He's in the history books now. Hopefully he will soon be forgotten. Just another cautionary tale.
I love the image of FDR on Rushmore. But the whole mountain could use a reboot, honestly!
I'm just grateful the Mango's mug isn't up there!!!!!!!!!!
Biden's words at Northfield, MN, were right on point. But we all know his delivery is less than powerful. It's the 'sizzle' that sells the steak. I'd like to see these words duplicated by more firery Democratic speakers, specifically the Vice President, and a few Democratic Senators and governors.
Maybe, ‘gags on them’ is a gentler wish!
Louis, I get it. I usually wish for the Johnsons of the world to be Raptured up. Everyone wins, right?
🤣🤣🤣 Raptured up. Priceless!
Can it be soon
How I wish a host of well-known Democrats would echo the President's words and thereby start to increase his polling numbers, which have stayed at scary levels for far too long. It seems you have to yell to get any media attention, and that's a shame, but we must turn around general public perceptions so they understand the wonderful job that Joe has been doing.
Maybe he'll be miraculously raptured up and we can be rid of him for good!
Thank you Heather for another great summary. Alexandra like the many others here agreeing with you, you nail it with "Even his enemies benefit from his (and his team's) wise decisions." And yet how much was seen in any of the MSM sources of Biden’s impressive speech and explanations that maybe, just maybe could open some minds and hearts. Or maybe it is already doing that but the American voters are keeping it close to their chest as not to tip their hands for voting in 2024 for the BLUE.
Joe Biden continues to prove that he is fighting to make every American's life better on the home front as well as helping to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression. Those on the other side -- such as Mike Johnson and the rest of House Republicans-- show their fealty only to Defendant Donny, high income/wealth patrons and of course, Vlad Putin.
The contrast couldn't be clearer, yet Biden seemingly struggles to get his message across. Perhaps it's because his political opponent's various legal troubles continue to take up a lot of air time and political commentary. Still. I look forward to seeing him to continue his trips around the country promoting his bold plans to remake the American economy into an engine that elevates the working class from the post-Reagan doldrums.
Scrolling down The NY Times headlines just now, there is no mention at all of President Biden’s speech. The same for the OpEd page. However, TFG, et fils aujourd’hui, get the usual daily dose of NY Times front page attention.
No wonder Biden’s poll numbers bounce along at around 40% approval.
You are so right, Ralph, and though I’ve read newspapers since I was a kid, I can barely look at their biased content and am aware of what they choose to ignore. Just like the farming industry they are corporate owned. We will be so misled and eventually doomed by corporate greed.
That's why I start my newsday with HCR first.
Me too - first before any other readings of the day
I agree about the corporate media. NYT is still a pretty good source though. Although I pay little or no attention to stories about Gotham.
Not a good source at all. Do you remember their support of Bush’s post 9/11 war for which they later had to publicly apologize? The loss of life from that irresponsible reporting was huge. I live in Philadelphia and I thought I was a real big shot when I subscribed years ago (I’m 76 so have seen a lot over the years). Our local paper is a joke. When I look at the front page of either paper I say to my husband “We are so doomed.” These papers are going and I held on longer than many newspaper readers.
If we had real reporting instead of the whining about what to do about terrorists in the Middle East, we’d remind our own citizens that we were attacked by terrorists from across a vast ocean and we were governed by a president and his staff who blew off the warnings.
And it goes unmentioned that Trump gave highly classified Israeli information to Lavrov and Kislyak in his secret White House meeting after he fired Comey.
Really? Is that documented?
Marie,
Sorry, but it's the best source we have left, with the possible exception of some Substack newsletters, particularly this one.
I'm no big shot by any means. 9/11 must have hit you pretty hard. Sorry if I hit a nerve.
Yes I know that our media is pathetic and I'm not at all happy with it. But you'll have to break the rest down for me a little bit if you want to continue this discussion.
Ralph, As we all know, the media constitute a commercial, profit-driven enterprise. Accordingly, fair or not, it falls on Biden, perhaps aided by more charismatic surrogates, to present content, we all know to be pertinent to the public interest, in a way that sets the expectation of attracting a sizable enough audience to meet profit thresholds.
Barbara, agreed. And, it would be helpful if congressional Democrats from both houses put a little more effort in pointing out what real political leadership looks like.
I agree, Ralph. Now I have to find a way of including this thought in my letters to House and Senate leadership.
Agree, the President's actions should be widely promoted!!!
Ralph,
I just did a NYT scroll also. Israel, Ukraine, Biden 4 times, including his Minnesota trip, no TFG, Brittany Spears, Matthew Perry, Arlington, Texas. See, stuff is getting better. Also, polls are worthless.
Jay, you must be getting a different NY Times edition than I am. I went all the way down to sports and saw nothing about Biden except a mildly critical OpEd re immigration.
I did include the politics section if that helps
Yep. I just looked for the NYT reporting on his speech, and one sentence:, "' e told a well-worn story of the “hollowing out of Main Street” ' shows that the NYT has a short attention span. They're mental midgets, it seems.
“…the NYT has a short attention span.“
Also, a criminal psychopath running for high office to avoid prosecution sells more papers than a quietly competent political leader diligently, and successfully, doing his job.
I think Biden needs a good spokesman to travel the country to explain in his stead, at least part of the time.
Biden has a fantastic spokesperson in U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who travels the country, cutting ribbons for superb new infrastructure projects, with very happy and grateful local Republicans as well as Democrats! I follow his facebook page because it is so hopeful, real and important.
https://fb.watch/o4sG2Ogdru/?mibextid=NSMWBT
MaryPat, I immediately think of Mayor Pete to be a great spokesperson for the Biden administration. Thanks for the FB link!
I love Mayor Pete, but Biden needs people who have credibility with and know how to talk to rural people and farmers as well.
Jon Tester
Yes! Great suggestion, Kathy!
Good point, Ellen.
Secretary Buttigieg was here in CO not too long ago to open a large hwy project with our Governor. He brought with him significant extra dollars to cover cost increases that have occured between design and built. As surveyors on both ends of this project the infrastructure $$ comes right into my home.
Thank you Pres Biden and Secretary Buttigieg ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
WONDERFUL!!
Thank you! I so admire him, hope he will be POTUS some day. I will follow him on Facebook. I'm not in the States, so not always aware of everything that is going on.
Carolyn Wouldn’t Jon Stewart be an excellent spokesperson for Bidenomics! He has credibility and a way with words.
The words of Biden HCR gathers are memorable for their clarity, but Biden also needs help to get these ideas out.
An army of well-briefed volunteer spokesmen, a hundred thousand Paul Reveres.
Watch Pete Buttigieg on facebook!!
https://fb.watch/o4sG2Ogdru/?mibextid=NSMWBT
SIgned up to follow!
They (the GQP and the orange menace) take up all the oxygen in the room. I am still "Ridin' with Biden!". I wish they would just put the orange devil behind bars.
Doug, While I agree that Biden should lead from the front and go where the trouble is in this country, the trouble that Trump / Trumpism is stoking and making worse, the Biden team also must show they can work on legitimate issues and grievances. Moreover, contrary to Trump who presents himself as “the savior,” this team needs to show an alternate, admittedly arduous, vision so just, so focused, and so disciplined as not to allow Republican deceptions and distortions, particularly as they relate to the state of the economy, to go unanswered.
Totally agree Doug. I love that he's taking it on the road.
We must never forget how much Biden has on his plate and how hard he must work to juggle everything. I am grateful for Jill, for the vice-president and First Gentleman and for his team. Their hard work is making all this good news possible.
I would like to see a day by day comparison of the work accomplished by the Biden administration vs. The TFG's administration. Souks be illuminating and useful.
🤣 I remember the endless “unscheduled” days of DT.
Very good points, Doug Gagne. I think President Biden and his administration have been speaking aggressively about what policies they advocate and what principles guide their decisions. I completely agree that the contrast between their views and those of the Trump Republican Party couldn’t be clearer. I don’t know why the polling looks like it does, but we have a year before the election and I think time is on our side. People must be feeling positive about their finances because they are buying stuff. Apparently, the consumer is driving our economy now and it seems likely that means they have some money in their pockets. One hopes they’ll begin to understand why. And, I don’t think they believe our country should embrace authoritarianism and side with authoritarian oligarchs like Putin.
I honestly don't believe the polls at this point in the process, and perhaps even more so because I think most voters don't respond to polling queries. (I can at least speak for myself about that last point.) I hope that, a year from tomorrow (Nov 5th), most Americans will have been exhausted from hearing about Trumps trials and grievances that they put a political end to him.
But we Americans are funny, with our truncated memories: How many times have we heard, for instance, that gas prices were so much lower under Trump, when the clear reason was THE COUNTRY WAS SHUT DOWN AND NOBIDY COULD TRAVEL!?!
Buckle up -- anything can happen in a year. May it only be good.
Obviously one Senator doesn't care about making Americans' lives better through national security:
"After an angry fight last night over Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) holds on military promotions, in which Republican senators joined Democrats in confronting him, the Senate today confirmed General David Allvin to be Air Force chief of staff and Admiral Lisa Franchetti as chief of naval operations, by votes of 95 to 1. Franchetti is the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Wednesday’s fight appears to have been prompted by the hospitalization of acting Marines Commandant General Eric Smith after an apparent heart attack. Smith was holding down two high-level positions at once owing to Tuberville’s holds, and he had warned his schedule was “not sustainable.” Although the Pentagon says Tuberville is endangering national security, Tuberville insists that his hold on almost 400 military promotions is not hurting the military. "
Do you think there's a chance that this fight might be the awareness of hate's impact?
It's very sad that one military leader is so strained under the pressure of covering two jobs that he suffers a heart attack and ONLY THAT serves to incite the appointment of new members to cover his important work. That is horrible. Wishing the General a swift and full recovery.
And that a Senator can proclaim that he's not hurting the military by forcing people into such situations! A Representative might be held to lesser standards, but a Senator should better understand the needs of leadership in national security.
There are three other issues that need to be addressed in regard to agriculture in this country:
1)more efficient use of ground water resources in aquifers
2) Fair distribution of above ground water resources. The seven states agreement on water distribution for the Colorado River just kicked the can down the road for 3 years.
3) funding for research into developing new crops that can withstand higher temperatures, and the effects of climate change on the distribution of pollinators that are needed for 75% of crops.
With climate change water resources are going to be critical worldwide in terms of providing food stocks. Mass migrations are already occurring in Africa with desertification with populations being driven to cities. America needs to fund major research into water conservation, development of new crops that can withstand heat and use less water, and dealing with the impact of climate change on timing and distribution of pollinators.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/28/climate/groundwater-drying-climate-change.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/29/climate/groundwater-aquifer-overuse-investigation-takeaways.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-states-reach-colorado-river-water-conservation-deal-interior-dept-2023-05-22/
https://ourworldindata.org/pollinator-dependence
Agreed, but we can’t address issues in a system controlled by monied interests, including a Court that almost always sides with those interests. Until we throw off that yoke, climate chaos is a given. MoveToAmend.org
We’re living under corporate inverted totalitarianism, and most of us don’t have a clue. What it is, and how it happened; partial explanation here: https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-chris-hedges-report-show-with-da4
Georgia Fisanick, thanks for your list and links. We also need to rethink which crops should get hefty subsidies. Let's strongly subsidize healthy vegetables and fruits to grow strong, healthy, and vibrant citizens. Let's not continue to most heavily subsidize crops used in foods that addict, weaken, and sicken us.
I am right there with you on that. I switched to a whole food plant based diet and have significantly reversed my Type 2 diabetes (off long lasting injected insulin and down to 1/4 of my oral medication), off statins and down to 1/2 of my blood pressure meds in 6 months . No added sugar or oils in the diet. I also have lost 30 pounds and have loads more energy and no knee pain, edema, leg cramps, and have regained flexibility. I feel about 20 years younger. The food is delicious and the portions are huge and satisfying. Oh, and did I mention the side effects of the big pharma meds have also gone away.
Agribusiness and big pharma have done us all harm in the name of their profits.
Georgia Fisanick, your testimonial is glorious! I am so happy for you! Dr. Mark Hyman speaks courageously about how gov't heavily subsidizes crops for the food industry that is literally killing us. He has a great book about what we should eat and not eat.
Research about how to reverse diabetes with a whole foods plant based diet has been around for a hundred years now. One of the big issues is that nutrition is not taught in med schools--most doctors are woefully ignorant but they sure get taught a lot about expensive and ultimately harmful medications like ozempic.
My wife was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about 5 years ago (she has PCOS, which is her primary trigger). We went to the "nutritional classes" offered by one of the satellite groups that our medical group supports. I found that the diet they recommended was neither nutritional nor particularly appetizing. We ultimately followed a keto diet for about a year, wherein she both lost 50 pounds and got completely off the oral diabetes meds and cut her blood pressure meds in half (family history of HBP).
We follow a closer to whole foods diet now; our meat comes from a locally grown, pasture raised, humanely butchered (on site, which means they can't label it "organic"), but raised under organic standards. Tons of locally grown (some ourselves; do you need tomatoes?) and preserved for the winter months.
I'm pretty sure plant based is in our future, but I am not ready to give up my hobby of grill/smoke/preserve beef and pork. Yet.
Keto works great in the short term (I did it for a while a number of years ago) but it does not deal with the underlying problem of insulin resistance which is due to excess fat in cells where it shouldn't be, like your liver and muscles. So it isn't long term sustainable. I was an avid meat, cheese and eggs person but found the transition really easy because I felt so much better so quickly and all my previous digestive issues disappeared. Took a couple of weeks for my gut microbiome to like all the beans :-)
My Dad was one of 8 brothers, 7 of whom were diabetic. He grew up on a farm and and he rarely ate a green vegetable or fruit. Our household always had two meats on holidays and huge roasts for Sunday dinner. And my uncles would down 6 eggs at a sitting. Loads of potatoes.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍🙏😎
Good for you. Wonderful!
Food in the future is going to need wiser thinking than just the lure of profit can provide. I still think that the lure of profits plays a role, but not a sole consideration.
A walk down the aisle of any large grocery store documents that. I noticed yesterday that there was a whole aisle of chips in a store I visited.
My shopping guideline is to walk around the edges. Produce, dairy, meat and bakery are all on the perimeter of the store. My local market (an Albertsons) also has an entire aisle of chips. Another aisle has "snack" "foods" that includes nuts, jerky, candy, and bagged snacks that aren't nuts or chips.
Milk is generally all the way in the back. It is the product people buy most frequently.
Indeed. Most produce departments are to the right, since most folks are right handed. The exception is when the entry door is on the shopper's left as they enter, and to avoid going around the check stands, encourages shopping there first.
Milk and meat are often in the back because the access to the large coolers is often there. Produce, being lighter, gets to cart their supplies a bit further.
It's nuts that Albertson's/Safeway and Kroger bought all of the local and statewide chains in my region are trying to merge into virtually the sole source of grocery distribution available. Nuts that it is even possible from a "for the people" perspective. The Internet began as a way to decentralize communication should that centralized system be disrupted by war. It is also democratizing which monopolies are not.
This is the robustness that the natural selection process has built into life; sexuality is first and foremost a way to shuffle the genetic deck and, like dual brake cylinders in cars or redundant dual ignition in aircraft engines, provide some protection from "Murphy's Law". We know what happens with excessive inbreeding. "Weeds" can be difficult to control when they produce seeds that specialize in germinating under varied conditions. What appears to be "efficiency" under one set of condition can be fragility in another; nature is not profligate, it is robust. We are losing potentially useful and ecologically significant species and cultivars to monocultures. If we don't do more comprehensive long term thinking, we could perish in a trap of our own clueless making.
It is telling to look at the price to weight ratio of the product; and what they are made of:
corn and potatoes, both exceptionally cheap crops to produce.
President Biden’s focus on Bidenomics is a much needed full court press to get our economy on track for 2050 AND to serve the great majority of the American people.
Nobel Laureate Sir Angus Deaton, in his recent book, ECONOMICS IN AMERICA: AN IMMIGRANT ECONOMIST EXPLORES THE LAND OF INEQUALITY, provides a persuasive rationale for why Bidenomics is imperative.
1) As an immigrant from a wealthy country (UK), Sir Angus found the American health care system a shock. It consumes almost one fifth of America’s GDP, with life expectancy for the lower quartile 14 years below that of four-year college graduates;
2) Sir Angus was distressed by the monetization of health care. In addition to private investors, an increasing number of doctors have turned from “repairing bodies to destroying wallets, from the pursuit of healing to the pursuit of wealth;”
3) Sir Angus finds the United States a darker society than when he moved here in 1983. He is deeply concerned by the corruption of the American economy and its politics, a corruption that threatens American democracy;
4) Sir Angus observes that the richer are getting richer at the expense of everyone else;
5) He is modestly encouraged by some initiatives of the Biden administration, including obliging pharmaceutical companies to negotiate prices with Medicare. He is also encouraged by the recent upswing in unionization; and
6) A ‘wealth tax’ is essential to making America less unequal.
Joe and Sir Angus: Bidenomics is what America needs—and now!
And those peer Brits come across as so much smarter with their public school accents and clever ways of explaining things, most mundane. 🙄
Fred Back in my youth these attributes led us to admire three British Soviet spies: Burgess, McLean, & Philby. In 1960 I had dinner in Beirut with Philby, several years before he fled to Moscow. At the time he was again working for MI6, or for Soviet intelligence, or for both, or for neither. A slippery spy married to thre ex-wife of a NYT journalist.
Blunt, the fourth spy, even fooled Queen Elizabeth, who had him on her royal staff. She was, so to speak, shafted by a Brit. Not so sporting while she was losing the British empire.
Sir Angus is the real deal, somewhat de-anglicized by 40 years in the US. Read his book! Sobering and sparked by his witty stilettos.
Remember those guys and the damage they wroth, but not the backstop. Americans do have a thing about British nobility, including language skills. Thanks. Keep writing
Fred My mother was British, but I speak funny Americanese. This didn’t seem to matter in 1975 when I visited the Bank of England to tell them that I wouldn’t permit them to issue British bonds on the NY financial market. (I had given France an Aaa, which complicated our Anglo-American chat. One might describe it as a deGaulling experience.)
Another ‘shot heard around the world?’
Tibit that legitimizes, again. Your accent doesn't show much in you penning your lived history. Mum did well, including the tactful us of the u derappreciated pun.
How is it possible that a single crazed individual in Congress can wreak havoc like Tuberman and like Gaetz? What is the matter with a democratic system that allows this? Is it the Electoral College that always winds up leading to this sort of situation? The Constitution needs a new amendment.
The anti-democratic "Electoral College" sticks us with presidents like Bush Jr. and Trump. It is one of many features that mock the promises of one person, one vote, and liberty and justice for all.
And Wyoming, a large, beautiful, yet sparsely populated state, home of the wild and spectacular Wind River Range, elects the same number of US Senators as California.
There are historical reasons for this, but it is unfair to urban populations and a far cry from democracy in the modern world.
I would change the Constitution to eliminate the Electoral College, elect senators proportionately, and mandate truly progressive taxation of all income. Then we might be able to deal with our existential issues effectively. Enough of allowing a selfish, racist minority to push the rest of us around.
The irony is that the Senate is working and functioning in a bipartisan manner, but the House which is supposedly proportional is choked because those proportions can be manipulated at a more local level, such that Republicans control a very disproportionate amount of it.
Add effective and immediate oversight of "gerrymandering" to the election reform bill!
If the right to vote is considered a foundational human right (legal equality and consent of the governed). How (but for epic corruption) can deliberately or even negligently depriving citizens of the full and fair right to vote be be viewed as deeply corrupt?
David If you could get 3/4 of the states to support your recommended constitutional changes, Houdini would come from his grave to dub you the greatest magician ever.
Neither Wyoming nor Delaware would reverse the Great Compromise [two senators for each state] that resulted in the Constitution. Ditto eliminating the Electoral College.
We need more public discussion of one person, one vote. we have really mucked it up today, although it could be worse and if we let it, could go there. The equal representations of states Senate seems more anachronistic when you consider the difference between the mostly agrarian society of the US in the Framers era with the urban populations of today. That said, as discussed above, the Senate can't be gerrymandered or Electoral Colleged. The electoral College seems the more odious of the two, since the President and Vice President are the one national choice for which all registered citizens can vote, and for whom, all are constituents. Also, given the scale of (often) necessary but highly dangerous-if-misused powers granted to a president, there, above all, "one person, one vote" should rule.
The electoral college impacts voting. How do you convince people that it is important to vote and that their vote counts when the electoral college can override the popular vote??? Gerrymandering doesn’t help either!
I think there are at least two major dynamics at work here. First is that the way we traditionally do things that makes some votes "tr#mp" others, such as which states vote first in presidential primaries. While many minds are made up from the get go , the game is still in play; but the decision is often "made" even before many get to cast their vote.
Secondly, we overemphasize voting as an expression of personal choice when is at least as legitimately a share of societal responsibility, and outcomes that affect not only us and our families, but many, many others, and generally impacts, one way or the other, the already most vulnerable the most. No? And I'm talking about the living. We make decisions now that will also impact generations to come, and even not voting shapes that. Asking how our behavior is likely to affect others is the foundation of a civil society.
And there's more. It felt to me in my youth and it feels to me now that there is far too little good faith inclusion of the priorities of young people in our national dialog. The young don't necessarily have the whole story, but they often provide a fresh "emperor-is-naked" view of our own follies, that can become so familiar to us we no longer notice. In any case, a society that is not a whole society can become it's own worst enemy. At some point solidarity and good faith conversation is foundational for liberty and justice for all.
Oh, and the notion that unlimited money spent to alter political outcomes is the same thing as free speech is an anti-democratic travesty.
A Hold should require at least three Senators objecting, IMHO. And, at least one from the opposing party, to provide legitmacy.
Or three.
Carolynn,
I'm disturbed by the troubles caused by Tuberman and Gaetz as well. But getting rid of the Electoral College is nuclear. It's never going to happen.
What Tubeville won’t say …… I harbor a real fear that the real reason he holds all the military appointments is a plan to have those vacancies so that Trump can fill them with military loyalists. They are good at the long game. They did it with the judiciary and the Supreme Court.
That is exactly what he is doing.
He’s not intelligent enough to think that up himself. WHO specifically is behind his unpatriotic actions?
Orders from Moscow, I'd wager...
Sharp observation. It will probably happen the minute Trump returns to the White House. Same strategy as Moscow Mitch pulled: when Obama put forth a nominee for the Supreme Court, he screamed hell and indignation because it was waaay to close to an election, but when Trump did it almost a day before the elections, it suddenly was no problem at all.
Absolutely hypocritical
Absolutely. But also absolutely always a key strategy of right-wing nationalists...
The Christian Right/Nationalist are hell bent on turning the country into one of its’ own yet they work to deprive citizens in need of basic life means- food and medical. The hypocrisy has no end.
To see that smiling, soft speaking MAGA monster demanding cutting off food aid to citizens living in poverty as part of major, non-related bill infuriates me to the point of speaking incoherently. The perversion of Christianity, of democracy, of basic concern for the commonweal of American society is despicable. I can’t believe it is for debt ceiling/monetary reasons; it is racially motivated White Nationalism in action. So what if some impoverished whites lose out; they don’t count anyway ( they can’t afford to donate to political campaigns.) People of ALL good faiths should be shouting these selfish, greedy, racists down.
Fascinating.
So just one person, one single radicalised nutjob is paralysing the efficiency of the decision making of the world's top superpower.
But he says he isn't, so that's ok.
There are a number of absolute "dummies" out there, with monied interests pulling their strings. Some of those strings were recently cut for Tuberville.
How does one person get away with this? I don’t understand.
The short answer is Senate procedural rules.
Thanks!
Heather does not say how Biden's speech was received by the rural/farming community - I would imagine enthusiastically? How did the press and broadcasting media react? There's no doubt
Biden's policies are now having a positive effect (despite the best efforts of the Fed) and he's now out there spreading the word. But he needs the media onside. From here in the UK this does not appear to be happening. Am I right?
What a contrast between Joe Biden's commitment to rural American, the Senate's commitment to American defense and the Republican extremes! Extremist Republicans plan to reduce SNAP when they are also complaining about the cost of food; Tuberville insists on fighting the culture wars rather than ensuring the military is able to fight actual wars.
I’m not certain, but I think I heard that the term “Bidenomics” was first coined by Republicans as a laughing stock to ridicule his ecomic views. If that is true, Biden should really emphasize that part. Somewhat like “Schadenfreude”, but he’s mire than entitled to that.
Bidenomics actually makes sense. Reaganomics never did, except as a way to hollow out the middle class and trash the planet to make the richest richer. What was ever in it for us except stress, pain, and peril?
JL,
You mean an economic policy centered around "trickling down" very little money from big corporations and hugely rich individuals by making them even richer with tax cuts sounded hokey? Made no sense?
Well, "trickle" made sense millions and millions of Americans and to the majority of Congress from 1980-1982. Including the majority of Democrats who voted WITH Reagan on those economic "policies". A very bipartisan "trickle" was turned on to Americans.
So, you can "fool all of the people all of the time" sometimes. You just need a "gosh shucks who me?" white man with a rosy nose and a ready smile to sell it.
As W smirkingly said “ You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones we want to concentrate on.”
Owning mass media helps a lot, as does the "Chicago School: doctrine that maximizing corporate profit is our nation's raison d'etre. The latter works like this:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/leslie-moonves-donald-trump-may-871464/
Thank you, haven’t heard a peep from Leslie in a while. Maybe his idiocy became too obvious
Les was eventually canned facing sexual assault charges., not his take on civic duty.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-11-02/paramount-cbs-moonves-pay-million-ny-ag-settlement
And Interpreters of the Constitution who claim to like to drive their quarter million dollar gift RV to hang around Walmart.
Hope I don’t see his arse in WM parking lot. Would like to smear a bit of crap around.
That's how language works
- "woke" started out as a good thing, very positive.
And remains, except for the Ignorance is Strength crowd.
Interesting, here in Europe it has been picked up almost exclusively in the negative sense (in several languages - *le wokisme*)
mainly as an insult by the right wing populist movements.
It has entirely replaced political correctness as a term.
I second that. In the Netherlands and Germany, too, "woke" has mostly a negative connotation in the sense of 'being _too_ politically correct'.
The repub messaging apparatus promotes these catchphrases and astroturfs them shamelessly. But since it's nearly always punching down, it can sometimes blow up in their faces.
"Obamacare" was supposed to be a scathing criticism until it became popular. Look at "snowflake", too. Repubs loved that one until it started to be applied to them! They're struggling with "woke" because it's competing with people who are. Once your "consciousness has been raised", you don't go backwards willingly.
Snowflake has a much wider range as a metaphor.
Woke though, is dangerous. In Britain now if you are not actually racist they call you woke, if you are not homophobic... or misogynist... they call you woke...
So woke is really something to be in the UK
Proudly
Be woke folks
Give a few years, and Nazi crap sounds great to some, current cult is proof, sad to say
Mike --- that's precisely where the term came from, and JB has embraced it. Many times the background screen behind him repeats the term Bidenomics. The other side gave him yet another gift.
Just like Dark Brandon and Biden admin posts on Truth Social
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/10/joe-biden-truth-social-decides-its-time-to-troll-trump
…..Admiral Lisa Franchetti
…..chief of naval operations
…..first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Now THIS is a beautiful thing!
Yes. It. Is.
Thank you Heather.
Does it not amaze you that you could have a Republican/MAGA read the same article that a Democrat reads and comes up with polar opposite observations. I now live in a farming community that hails trump as a God and belittles every move that President Biden makes. I was at an estate sale over the summer and got into a conversation with one of the local farmers. He was blaming Biden that there was the estate sale. Ofcourse I had to ask why it was Bidens fault that the family of a 97 years old man that died from cancer and none of the family wanted the farm had to do with Biden. Keeping in mind his "children" were in their 70's and lived out of State. All the man kept parroting were FOX propaganda lines. It will never end with those people.
In the back of the barn was a faded Biden/Harris yard sign that the late farmer must had put in his front yard.
I really wished the loudmouth saw that sign.
Be safe. Be well.
Having lived in California in the Reagan years I say, 'First Reagan ruined California and then he ruined the Nation." It has taken us ALL these years to recover from his "government is the problem" and trickle down economics echoed in the Bush years. We are not done - yet. Let us re-elect the Biden administration. What a team of amazing, competent, committed, people he has surrounded himself with - all on the right side of history.
I invite everyone who thinks Coach Tuberville is an idiot to "LIKE" my comment.
The 11 scariest words: "Hello, I'm a Republican and I've come to break your government"
That needs to be spoken in a Russian accent.
What so called "Republican" now sell it the notion, not of no or even little government, but rather entitlement to lord it over others; with impunity for them, and enforced subservience for others. Under the hood are some of the billionaires who tell even themselves that this is God's will. It's what Reagan advocated all along.
It's all kabuki. Jerks like Cruz will wail that Biden is trying to limit people to only 2 beers a week, something he never said and applies to a recommendation but he's all too willing to tell women what they can do with their bodies, what books we can read and who is able to vote.