The events of January 6, 2021, overshadowed those of January 5, 2021, but that day was crucially important in a different way: Georgia voters elected two Democrats, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, to the U.S.
Heather's history today of our corrupt rich of the Gilded Age has one emphatic lesson.
Go back and read Dashiell Hammett's first novel, "Red Harvest" (1929).
After his stint in WWI, Hammett worked for the Pinkertons out west. That is, he saw first-hand how what Heather calls the former enslaving class only exploited all the more crassly, murderously, corruptly in the wide-open west.
It rankled him. So on Nob Hill in San Francisco, he turned out many, many stories for the pulps. Then to his first novel.
It's great. Read it again or read it for the first time. You'll feel the vitality, the hoary reigning injustices. Best, you'll see the ties to today. And you'll want more of the great humanities by which America even then was answering the prolific corrupt.
And speaking of books. Which many of us access through libraries. One story of one librarian under siege by racist right wing religious extremists. Riled up by populist groups funded by plutocrats. (Looking at you Leonard Leo. Where your local library may soon get a copy of That Librarian by Amanda Jones.)
That Librarian
Amanda Jones talked about book bans and her experience as a librarian in Louisiana. Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore hosted this event.
Place comments on social media...."Not suckers or losers" to vets groups, military, military dependents, history sites. Vote vets has thousands of testimonials of 2020 Trump voters that flipped. According to Facebook, there are 4 million veterans or active duty members on Facebook, and 12.5 million family members of veterans or active duty members on Facebook.
This is critically important. While the 2020 election was evenly decided, it was not the way we usually think:
81 million Biden
74 million Trump
79 million didn't vote
It's not that half the country wants to live under an authoritarian. It's that a third of us don't care enough which way the vote goes, to do the minimal effort required to cast a ballot. Those are the people who should be reachable, who are shirking their primary duty as citizens.
Thanks, Daniel, for the links, and for the themes. Social media has been the biggest factor in poisoning our national conversation; it's time to start using it for good!
Lin*, I'm lucky to be able to spend time RVing each Spring and Fall on Cape Cod, where we are presently. The Eastham Public Library is wonderful and aligned towards literary freedom, and -- I'm not sure if other libraries do this or not -- allow me to hold a library pass (free), even though I'm an out-of-staters. I was just there again yesterday, borrowing another book. I'd hate to live in a place where personal freedoms such as reading are being taken away, along with so many others.
With your card, you can have access to the online collection of the Eastham library (it’s probably part of a consortium), and also, I think, of the Boston Public Library, which has a huge collection. Most of my reading is of downloaded books from my library, which I read on my iPad. I can carry an unlimited library, and if I forget which character is which, I can search for the name to remind myself.
Thanks Jon — yes, I believe all the Cape libraries are connected (at least those of the Outer Cape.) I much prefer printed books (aka carbon storage, as one friend referred to them 😆). I can access books through my home library as well, of course
All of the Cape Cod libraries are connected under the CLAMS system. If they don't have a book that I'm looking for, the Commonwealth Catalog probably does. And if I'm looking for something a little more esoteric, my librarian at the Brewster Ladies' Library (open to all), can get it for me from many of our colleges and universities through inter-library loan. Many databases are also available through our libraries.
Additionally, the American Library Association (ALA), like PEN, publishes lists of banned books and fights book banning throughout the country.
Also, at least since the McCarthy era and beyond, libraries have refused to turn over patron information to government or other agencies. They guard our privacy and provide information freely to all.
I don't know about other libraries in other places, but the BLL, and many other Cape libraries, provide computers that we can use for free, offer meeting space for town-related (or unrelated) activities, sponsor lectures and workshops on just about any topic you can imagine, and, of course, regale our youngest residents with toddler and preschool story times . Take a look at our website (https://www.brewsterladieslibrary.org/) and look at our calendar), and check out the calendar pages for a glimpse of some of the activities the library provides.
Hi Betsy, NH (where we live) has a state-run interlibrary loan system as well — if one’s local library doesn't have a book that another one does, it can be requested. And our library in Nashua also offers free computer use as well as many excellent programs weekly — for adults, teens, children and toddlers — from movies, lectures, classes to enhance computer skills, story times, etc. In addition, it no longer charges overdue fees.
Mary, this is excellent although I think I read that some librarian or teacher got in trouble for pointing students to this. I also read this week that the wing nuts are going after the little libraries on the street where people place books for others to take. As a side note, for Halloween, the Salem Public Library is having a drag event. It is after hours and funded by the library's foundation. I read the some of the comments and one guy in particular was having a fit. Happily, many were pro this event in answer to him and it is adults only and not funded by taxpayer dollars. Of course, there was a threat not to vote for the library budget. I was a school librarian for many years and although I had a few problems, I would hate to be one now.
I live in Seattle and am proud that the Seattle Public Library system has partnered in the Books Unbanned initiative. Since joining in April 2023, more than 11,000 young readers have signed up for free SPL e-cards from all 50 states; they have borrowed approximately 250,000 digital books.
The LA County Library and San Diego Public Library systems have also joined Books Unbanned.
Get him, lin!! I'm sending my best regards to you. LL is a monster in his crafty pursuit of religiosity without regard to consequences or the Constitution.
So, Phil, what’s the moral of the Dashiell Hammett stories? The following is my answer, but I’ve never read the novels so correct me if I’m off target.
There are the good people, there are the bad people, and there’s an easy way to tell the difference. Good people live according to the moral “treat others the way you would want to be treated if the shoe was on the other foot” principle, and bad people live by the immoral “do unto others before they do unto you” principle.
Bad people see good as weak, and strength is about getting away with stuff. Good people know that bad people are weak, and strength comes from building healthy relationships.
Question: What do you do when you realize you’re trying to build a relationship with someone who lives according to the immoral principle?
Answer: Be strong.
I think this is important. Is it possible to agree about how to tell the difference between good and bad? If yes, then right is might. Otherwise, "good" versus "bad" is just an opinion, and then might is right.
Today it's standardized testing that teaches us we can generalize, venture abstractions and categories, without any human experience.
Please, James, trust the human experience in humanities, though I think now all know fully well how the billionaires' grift of standardized testing has so largely killed the human along with the humanities.
You’re right about standardizing, of course, but it depends on what you’re standardizing, and if it’s all experience-based, then is all experience good? Project 2025 is experience-based.
Conversely, as a child, I had a child’s understanding of science, but as a scientist with more than a half-century of gained knowledge and experience, I can say with confidence that my immature and elementary school level understanding was fundamentally correct. My current understanding may be more mature, sophisticated, and complex, but it’s still supported by that same bedrock foundation. Moreover, I know many people with science credentials that have a sophisticated understanding of the scientific method but lack that elementary understanding.
To be more specific, that elementary understanding is the 1st scientific principle, which is the idea that science involves careful observation and rigorous skepticism of the assumptions we use to interpret those observations because they will otherwise distort our interpretations (ref: 1st paragraph of Wikipedia’s “Scientific Method” article).
That elementary understanding has an easy-to-detect effect. Disagree with a real scientist, and the effect is an adult conversation (per the previously defined moral principle). In my experience, disagree with a significant number of people with scientific credentials and they'll treat that disagreement like a problem with a one-step “I’m right, you’re wrong, and this conversation is over” solution (per the previously defined immoral principle).
I’ve previously described the above idea as follows. There are only two ways to respond to an inconvenient truth. The effect of following the moral principle is knowledge and experience that leads to enlightenment, and the effect of following the immoral principle is knowledge and experience that leads to the dark side. Either way, it always starts simple, and then it always gets complicated.
For the record, I do trust the human experience in humanities, and the billionaires' grift of standardized testing has killed humans and the humanities specifically because they went to the dark side.
That's my science speech. I have one for religion, democracy, capitalism, etc., but its all based on the same "choose between moral and immoral" standard.
Thanks for the recommendation, Phil. My late grandfather was a Dashiel Hammett fan -- I've always wanted to read something by him besides The Maltese Falcon, which I read years ago.
I read all of Hammett's works when I lived in the Bay Area, Phil. I was going to a school for fashion design just off Union Square in SF in the mid-70's, and during lunch break one day I went to the alley where Sam Spade's partner was killed in The Maltese Falcon. Hammett describes Miles Archer's body rolling down a hill to fetch up against a fence. There's an overpass that's cut off the alley's open access to Union Square now, so I couldn't really see how the murder played out, but it was clear enough in my mind's eye. I also lived near the Continental Op's apartment and re-traced some of his travels through the city. Hammett's passion for justice as well as having been targeted and jailed by pre-McCarthy anti-communists is hyper relevant today. His death from TB he contracted during WWI and exacerbated by his jail time (as well as hard living) may be emblematic of the impending demise of our constitution, should we have to harvest a Red election.
He wrote The Thin Man series. Have not read but the movies are so good. I have almost all of them in my movie folder. If only every married couple got on so well.
Faithful adherence to the tradition of the cocktail hour certainly helped with that. And undoubtedly the companionship of a good dog added to the bliss!
Rich guys will do anything to prevent poorer people from out-doing them. For the first time in 40 years lower income workers are gaining faster than the upper crust.
Phil, many thanks for sharing your favorite nobel. A retired pastor of the church I attend - I am not a MAGA Christian - taught us that power corrupts man. I do not need the lesson because I fear the life after from the famous parable of Lazarus and Richman.
While I hate that self-funded GOP candidates are trying to become Senators, I am more concerned that people who objectively are NOT from the states in which they are running are not being kicked off the ballots in those states!
Why isn’t Marc Elias ( Democracy Docket) going to court to stop these “don’t really live here” candidates from running?
Mike Rogers in Michigan is another one. He has been living in a huge home in Florida but when he decided to run for Debbie Stabenow's Senate seat because she is retiring he bought a tiny and shabby little house in Michigan. Thinking he isn't going to live there...just visit.
reminds me a bit of Herschel Walker running for office in GA but his very expensive home was in TX AND he was getting tax breaks which were for TX residents only.
Who is calling these people out? All we need is Florida spreading their poison. I am from a city that was poisoned by a Floridian, who has now returned to Florida with his kids. He is still reaching back and trying to influence our elections, but not as vociferously.
Floridating America, Floridating earth, water, air... even people's hearts and minds.
Floridating America, state by state, city by city, county by county, buying and selling the country, buying the land, buying every one and every thing that in it is.
Is it not high time for communities to stake THEIR claim to the land they live in?
Time to plaster the place, airwaves and all, with spoof auction notices for November 5th listing states and all contents, land—surface and sub-surface—water, air, vegetation, habitations, wildlife, cattle... never forgetting the human population, peons, serfs, whatever their Lords and Masters choose to call them, however their Lords and Masters choose to use them.
Time to flood states with caricatures showing up the truth, time for John Heartfield-style photomontages, AI-assisted photoshopping and, wherever possible, clips of said Lords and Masters speaking their minds unedited, uncensored. Pairings of SAYS and THINKS. Better still, pairings of SAYS (publicly) and SAYS (privately).
Time to mine inspiration from films like Seven Samurai and its American version, The Magnificent Seven. Even—for those able to sit through something long—Cimino’s magnificent (but accursed and proscribed) Heaven’s Gate!
Time to act, time to live as free citizens—WHILE YOU STILL CAN.
Florida does not have a state income tax or a state “death” (inheritance) tax. The wealthy and ultra wealthy (Eg. Jeff Bezos recently changed residency from WA state to FL) are not so much interested in sunshine, but clutching their wallets.
They better start to get more taxes if trump gets in . Project 2025 wants to transfer more responsibilities to the states (they are really big about states being responsible for stuff like voting, abortion). Florida has had 43 cat 3+ hurricanes since 1851. CT has had 3. Floridan has had 79 tropical or subtropical cyclones (2000-2023). 236 billion dollars worth of damage. have fun paying for it.
Mike Rogers used the address of that shabby little house in Michigan to register to vote and to vote in Michigan’s primary. He is “renovating” that little house, has never lived there, and indeed, the house has not even been granted a certificate of occupancy. Another man of integrity and honesty 🤮
Fraud = Jail. And that is the other disgusting attribute of wealth, money permits the injustice to happen. A poor man would be thrown in jail without delay. A rich man uses money to delay and get away with everything.
Rachel Maddow just covered this story and showed his alleged residence on her show. It is under construction and lacks a certificate of occupancy. I hope the people of Detriot where I believe this district is, challenge this and get him kicked off the ballot.
Here in PA, history is repeating itself. Last election, Dr Ozz was running for a PA seat. This year it is Dave McCormick. Dr Ozz and Dave McCormick don’t live in the Commonwealth. I thought you had to live in the State/Commonwealth to run?? Dr Ozz apparently lives in California and Dave in Connecticut. Are PA seats for sale on Amazon or something?
Nevada is a big state with a small population, and we have had several cases of "powerful" people from other states viewing Nevada as their big chance to be voted into office. We have one running for Senate right now. I'm not sure if this is the second or third state he's shopped to run for office. Modern day carpetbaggers, call them what they are.
Same with Northern Michigan's U.S. Rep, Jack Bergman of LOUISIANA. Had a cabin in Wisconsin, bought one in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which he suddenly could afford to expand & remodeling, represents big oil to keep Line 5 in place across The Straights of Lake Michigan & Lake Huron. Bought & bi-annually paid for. His Democratic opponent, Callie Barr, is fantastic!! She needs more TV commercial$:
Why isn’t Marc Elias ( Democracy Docket) going to court to stop these “don’t really live here” candidates from running?"
Why is Marc Elias expected to litigate every campaign issue?
What are the residency laws for Federal office in the US Constitution, each of the states, and each political party? Which authority enforces them?
These are questions one might consider and research.
For instance, the Constitution originally said resident and then changed it to inhabitant, and only disqualifies one "who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."
Re: US Constitution
"No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."[U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 3, clause 3]
"Every member of the Senate shall be . . . at the time of his election, a resident of the state from which he shall be chosen."
"On August 8 Connecticut's Roger Sherman moved to strike the word "resident" from the language dealing with requirements for members of the House and insert in its place "inhabitant," a term he considered to be "less liable to misconstruction." Madison seconded the motion, noting that "resident" might exclude people occasionally absent on public or private business. Delegates agreed to the term "inhabitant" and voted against adding a time period to the requirement. The following day, they amended the Senate qualification to include the word "inhabitant" prior to passing the clause by unanimous consent."
As usual, lin, such great information you provide. On the subject of Marc Elias, he is extremely busy defending democracy. He has filed over 200 lawsuits and is winning mostly all of them because the MAGATS have been relentless in trying to undermine voters. I believe he will eventually get involved with revealing these wealthy characters “endeavors” but in the meantime, there are others like ACLU & NAACP who are involved. Also, a side-note for those who don’t know: **Elias and his firm has grown because he is now working alongside Kamala-Walz attorneys. This is a big deal and may their collective powers bring Leonard Leo and Company to their knees!**
The rise of the extreme right has taken decades. By electing Biden we were able to avert some of the harm, although captured courts and Republican legislators continued to amplify and accelerate 'the Leo effect' - the collateral damage of the nascent corporate clerical fascist state on the body politic and individual lives.
Such as Jessica Norton in Florida and Amanda Jones in Louisiana.
Her trans daughter made the volleyball team. Then an armed officer showed up.
The second. A nightmare. All the makings of the Witches of Salem redux. But... the original episode took place over three hundred years ago...
So, are there to be book burnings again, as under the Holy Inquisition, as under Hitler? Both times when books were burned, people were burned. We hear of such vile things under ISIS, but... in the United States of America? Today? In the 21st century?
Or am I blind, am I being stupid? It is, after all, not that long since people were often hanged and burned by the populace... in the Deep South.
Under its weird governor—is it human?—Florida seems to be slithering faster and faster that way.
Should exorcists be sent to the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee?
Ryan Zinke is another one who is living in both CA & MT . Monica Tranel is from MT , lives here & is running an underfunded campaign against a the rich outsider
Lin, 🤬🤮This drives me crazy. It’s the same with Jon Tester, a man of integrity, wisdom and experience as a generational farmer running against a lying pack of 💩.
Reading about William Clark, who made a fortune repossessing mining claims reminded me of something my mother used to say. She said people become rich by stepping on and taking advantage of others. It may be legal, but it isn’t moral.
Although I agree with you, I feel we should cut Marc Elias some slack. Marc is doing a whole lot of good for our country. He is only one person with limited resources.
Marj, it's appeared to me that Mr. Elias has a team as well, and is funded by donations. Still, I agree -- let him/them litigate the top issue of voting rights.
Thank you, Steve! My question exactly. Isn’t there a minimum of years of residency that a potential nominee has to prove to run for such an important office?
You’re welcome. If there is a “minimum residency requirement” (and I think there is but have not researched the subject), then the GOP is blowing through that “guardrail of democracy”. And this, of course, is what the GOP does! The GOP does not care about the rules. (see: Mitch McConnell and SCOTUS nominations). Only the Democrats do. And this is why Al Gore lost the 2000 Florida recount.
Don’t, let’s forget Mark Meadows, Trump‘s right hand man who has yet to face the music and pretends to live in some trailer in North Carolina. he never even visits.
Professor Richardson, thank you for another history lesson that proves once again that history tends to repeat itself. That is, while there are historical similarities to the Gilded Age of the robber barons in the late 1800s, we are witnessing the result of the disastrous 2010 Supreme Court decision of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The influence of big money in politics is now simply out of control.
In the control of greed. Power of the people is gone and the rich who felt they owed something to the country are no more or are all repubs. Where are the rich who owe a debt of gratitude to the country that gave them opportunity.
While we are totally aligned, at least some (but not enough) of the ultra-wealthy understand the need to support the common interest, based on the fact that much of their success is based on the use of shared natural resources, infrastructure, etc. The most prominent of this group seem to be Democrats.
They do indeed. Look at the history of tariffs as one example. Without a vast transportation, educational, health infrastructure, finances by taxes modern American wealth, at all levels, wouldn't be remotely possible.
We have a complicated country, a more complicated earth, and an unbelievably complicated universe. Just think what we could accomplish if we were united in some meaningful way. Guess it will take an alien invasion. Nah, not a chance
Aliens lock their doors when they fly by earth. The nearest possibly habitated exoplanet is 4.2 light years away. As Calvin said, "The sirest sign of intelligent life in the universe is that they have not tried to contact us."
Jeri, I've spent much of my years of insomnia wondering odd subjects like aliens. I've wondered WHO first invented the wheel, or written language--and wondered if the seeds of that didn't originate from some alien society? (My mind--totally unaided by pharmaceuticals with the exception of ibuprofen--goes even stranger. I am totally amazed at the cleaning powers of "Magic Erasers" and have contemplated that if it was revealed they were reverse engineered by NASA from Area 51, I would TOTALLY believe it!!)
I tend to think aliens have already been here and we're some nutty adolescent superior being's pet rock. (The theme of an old Twilight Zone, I believe.)
Gee Miselle, my middle of the night musings have been more often focused on the strange paths my life has taken and the sometimes unfathomable choices I have made. Just as mysterious as the thoughts you mentioned. My musings in that direction have been about early language and the octopus arms of the those trajectories. Only after working at NASA and living in that environment did I contemplate the alien possibility. How the universe works is a constant amazement and what I turn to when life on earth confounds me too much. Yep, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
I did not know you had worked at NASA, Jeri! How interesting that must have been!
One reason I enjoy the LFAA discussion is the very many knowledgeable and intelligent people who frequent this area. Just like the physicians I assisted in the hospital, I love being surrounded by people who challenge my mind. I guess one could counter that MAGA challenges my mind as well, but I would say they only frustrate me.
I know (and respect) others that have no beliefs in a higher power, but it is the amazement of the universe and of nature that makes me believe, and also to suspect humanity is an experiment that might be deemed a failure.
I loved Mark, sanity in Texas. Then he hooked up with Meriam Adelson and is in gambling business with her. Cognitive dissonance, brain warp, and gratitude. Weird combination. She has set aside $100/mil for chump, wonder if he has. Seems that they put it into the insane emails that drive me crazy. Chump is desperate, he’s even begging me. Now that is pitiful…haha
JDH, I hold nothing against him if he's in business with Adelson. However, he's been actively campaigning for Harris, and has signed a letter, along with several others, in support for her. A quick Google search reveals he hasn’t donated to either candidate. Interestingly, Forbes says that Harris actually has more billionaire supporters than the other guy (70 vs 59,) and says it's likely because her policies would result in a more stable economic environment (which obviously puts more money into their super yachts.)
We should still eat the rich, but I'll at least give him credit for sanity.
In my first sentence. He has integrity too. I can’t think of one Dem billionaire who has expressed an agenda of power or has endorsed P2025, nor have they pledged mega millions to buy the win that chump so badly wants. Repubs support voter suppression, election manipulation and lies that would make Goebbels blush. The rich supporting chump are all in on these “lawful” strategies that undermine what we say we believe in. I welcome Mark and any decent rich dude.
He certainly has tried to give back, and encourage others to as well. Clone him; many others have decided that their money can buy power, which has many more perks than CEO’s normally give themselves.
The influence of big money in politics began to be out of control with the Citizens United ruling. Only if that is ever overruled will control revert to the people, not corporations and goodness knows what kinds of dark money.
We are in agreement. It's a crime that just a handful of people have given huge sums to their favorite Super PAC. This practice definitely skews the results of elections. You raise an important point about "dark money" as another, related concern.
Georgia flipped the Senate on January 5, but on January 6, extremists tried to flip the entire country. One election helped secure democracy’s agenda; the other tried to dismantle it. The echoes of 19th-century wealth buying Senate seats feel all too familiar today.
The interplay between corporate money and political influence has profound implications for democracy, particularly regarding the fossil fuel industry and the climate crisis. The ability of wealthy interests to fund political campaigns creates an environment where financial power often overshadows the public good, delaying necessary action on pressing issues like climate change.
In recent years, the fossil fuel sector has invested billions into lobbying and campaign contributions, supporting candidates who oppose stringent environmental regulations. This influence hampers legislative efforts to transition to renewable energy sources and implement meaningful climate policies. As a result, despite growing scientific consensus on the urgent need for action, the climate crisis continues to worsen, exacerbated by the very policies that corporate money sustains.
The question arises: when does the damage inflicted by these corporate interests outweigh their profits? The answer is increasingly evident in the form of climate-related disasters—wildfires, hurricanes, and floods—that are affecting millions. As these events become more frequent and severe, the societal cost of inaction escalates, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change. Voters must prioritize electing legislators committed to environmental stewardship over corporate interests. This requires an electorate that understands the long-term implications of their choices, fostering a political climate where the public good prevails.
The historical context of political corruption, such as the case of William A. Clark in the late 19th century, illustrates that the struggle against influence-buying is not new. The Seventeenth Amendment aimed to curb this corruption, yet the current landscape suggests that wealth can still effectively buy political access and sway legislative priorities. Overturning Citizens United is essential to restoring balance, allowing voters to reclaim their power.
As we face escalating environmental challenges, it is imperative for voters to advocate for transparency in campaign financing and support candidates who prioritize sustainable policies. This election presents a critical opportunity to elect leaders who will prioritize the well-being of the planet over the profits of a few. The stakes have never been higher, and the path forward demands our active engagement and commitment to a more equitable and sustainable future. Ultimately, the health of democracy and the future of the environment hinge on our collective ability to confront and dismantle the systemic barriers that allow wealth to dictate policy decisions.
They are profiting from demand for oil that you personally help increase every day. We need to move away from dependence on fossil fuels, but blaming others for our collective lifestyle choices is misguided. Aside from the technical challenges faced as we transition away from fossil fuels, societal and economic inertia will also take decades. The time to start was decades ago, but it will take decades.
Indeed, demand leads the way. If those blaming Big Oil would first give up their cars and trucks and refuse to fly or ride trains or buses, perhaps they might have more credibility. Reminds me of PETA people wearing leather shoes. So many people tout electric vehicles but are ignorant of where that electricity comes from.
With the exception of Jon Tester, D, MT , all the congressional people in MT support the fossil fuel industry & consistently post how the "woke" agenda is ruining the state. Your comments clearly state & identify politics in MT with summers of wild fires & smoke, higher than usual temp; warmer winters with lack of beetle kill.
Your criticism raises important points about the complexity of transitioning away from fossil fuels. It's true that individual consumption patterns contribute to demand, and a full transition requires careful planning to avoid economic and social disruptions.
However, the urgency of addressing the climate crisis shouldn't be overshadowed by the challenges of transition. While the fossil fuel industry plays a role in meeting current energy needs, it's crucial to hold them accountable for their historical contributions to climate change and their ongoing resistance to meaningful policy shifts.
The call for systemic change is not about an immediate halt to fossil fuel use but about accelerating investments in renewable energy and infrastructure to create a sustainable future. It's essential to recognize that the longer we delay, the more severe the consequences become, both environmentally and economically.
Engaging the fossil fuel sector as part of the solution is important, but it must be coupled with a commitment to prioritizing the public good over corporate interests. This approach can help balance immediate needs with long-term goals, ensuring that the transition is equitable and effective for all.
To effectively mitigate emissions without relying on fossil fuels, we can start by ceasing the issuance of new leases for oil and gas exploration on public lands. This approach limits future extraction and aligns with our commitments to reduce fossil fuel reliance. Additionally, investing in programs to safely plug abandoned oil wells is crucial, as this prevents methane leaks, which are potent greenhouse gases, and protects local ecosystems.
Restoration projects at former drilling sites can also play a significant role. By implementing habitat restoration initiatives, we can promote biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration through activities like reforestation and wetland restoration. Expanding public transportation networks will reduce reliance on personal vehicles, while investments in bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure will encourage sustainable mobility.
Encouraging energy efficiency upgrades in buildings is another vital step. Improving insulation, upgrading heating and cooling systems, and utilizing energy-efficient appliances can significantly lower overall energy consumption. Providing tax incentives and subsidies for adopting renewable energy sources like solar and wind can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
Supporting local agriculture through sustainable practices will also help decrease emissions, enhancing soil health and carbon storage. Developing community solar initiatives can make renewable energy more accessible, allowing multiple households to benefit from solar energy even if they can’t install panels on their properties. Finally, funding research and development for innovative technologies that capture carbon emissions or enhance energy efficiency is essential for a sustainable future.
These strategies will help mitigate emissions while paving the way for a greener economy.
We must put a stop to 24/7 methane spewing into the atmosphere
The thing is, folks seem to be waiting for an edict to come from “on high”-ie. the government so that the use of fossil fuels will end. I believe that each one of us, as individuals MUST take responsibility. Purchase an electric car. Purchase a heat pump. Use all electric appliances. Use public transport. Try to have just one car in the family, not two or three.
And of course, if there was such an edict from “on high”, all hell would break loose!
When it makes sense for an individual or family to switch they will do so. Those who can afford to switch earlier will do so. Those like me who don't believe electric auto technology, the charging infrastructure, or battery tech, are ready or still too expensive won't switch yet. Economically and environmentally, it didn't make sense to switch from my 2007 toyota to an electric car just yet, but I'm waiting for the economics and technology of hybrids to improve a bit more. When.i just switched out our AC unit, heat exchangers were too expensive, but we're using 1/2 the gas and electricity than before. Those who have less will take longer, will stick with gas guzzling used cars, and avoid new tech that is more likely to break. The power and dependability of diesel engine for larger vehicles cannot get be replaced by electric, but tests are being started or planned. When you say all hell would break loose, leaders who force the change before folk are close enough to being ready will deserve the blowback they'll receive.
My opinion is that the Biden administration approach - tax breaks for consumers and prioritized research support will help society get there faster than it would have been possible before.
While I completely agree that action to mitigate and minimize human-induced climate change, your and others' rhetoric regarding immediate switch away from fossil fuels and towards renewables sounds like you're willing to let the economy tank and let people freeze and starve until everyone adjusts. That may not be what you mean, but that's what it sounds like to me, and what it sounds like to industry.
The transition to a greener economy has started, but the incremental progress of science will take a few more decades to catch up. We are decades away from solving the power storage and transmission challenges that exist today.
It will also take a long time for laws to change to allow easier implementation of eminent domain to lay iut the electric power lines needed for electrification, and to nationalize the electrical grid so that electricity-rich states (high winds and solar energy options) can't gouge their neighbors (Looking at you, Texas).
The oil companies should be part of the solution. They are being vilified for satisfying public (your) demands and trying to stay alive in the face of what seems to be an unrealistic demand to roll over and due.
It's that kind of rhetoric that contributes to Democrats hemorrhaging voters in swing states. It cost Democrats all of Texas, which used to be a reasonable state.
It’s not just the oil companies. Notice how the rich also buy/create media including newspapers, social media platforms and television. Imagine if there was no Fox, X etc.
Actually, many oil companies are part of the solution. Texas (location of a lot of oil companies), for example, is home to more wind power than the next 3 states combined (Iowa, California and Oklahoma).
Elon Musk gave $75 million to a Trump pac. He is funding a GOTV ground game for Trump in PA.
He originally offered $47 to sign a petition and has now upped it to $100. Although his scheme may not be as successful as he hopes.
"Elon Musk is offering $100 to registered voters in Pennsylvania to sign a pro-Donald Trump petition. If you're a registered Pennsylvania voter, you & whoever referred you will now get $100 for signing our petition in support of free speech & right to bear arms. Earn money for supporting something you already believe in," the SpaceX CEO wrote to his more than 200 million followers on X, formerly Twitter."
"Musk is essentially paying people to collect voter information—which is a standard thing campaigns and organizations do, only in this arrangement he’s paying his distributed organizers by the signature instead of by the hour. His PAC is banking on that cash incentive to juice the MAGA outreach effort, and hopefully identify some new Trump voters. It can then use the information to get out the vote."
"Republicans Tell Trump That Elon Musk’s Super PAC Is Blowing It. Donald Trump’s allies have been warning him that Musk’s field operation is failing in key states — and that it’s being led by DeSantis’ failed team."
Gee, I ain't voting for a Republicsn for the next 8-12 years, but sure, for $100 each, I'll sign up all my Democratic friends and family for $100 so we can enjoy a big meal together at Elon's expense. If it gets local Republicans to get overconfident, that's a bonus.
And more, set limits on political campaign expenses, with public money enabling parties to present their messages to the public at large. I wonder if there is any way to pull down the vitriolic side of political rhetoric, let alone the outright use of misinformation ie lying eg the unfounded claims 2020 was a stolen election? "gloves off" politics isn't exactly new in USA, but the Republicans seemed to have made it an ingrained habit.
The only way to realize that goal is for Democrats to retain control of the Senate, vote to drop the filibuster for legislation, and enact a law increasing the SC by 4 seats, filling those seats with Constitutional loyalists, and bringing cases that challenge the Roberts Court decisions we know have to go…CU, Heller, Shelby, etc. That’s a long range strategy to repress the Heritage Foundation agenda and bring back a healthy balance to society.
The Professor didn't mention the Florida Senate seat that Rick Scott bought with almost $70 million of his own money. He is up for reelection and the Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell who is in a tight race with Scott.
With abortion on the ballot in Florida, hopefully Debbie can win this race.
And Senator Cruz in Texas is also in a tight race with Colin Allred.
It would be very beneficial to the Democrats if they could flip one or both of these seats.
The extent to which money is allowed to weigh on electoral and legislative outcomes in our country is deeply corrupt, period. It's the one ring to corrupt them all, and keep democracy at bay.
I'm glad you make that comment, because it's something that confounds the foreign observer (as does the Electoral College). With each State governed under its own laws, an adversarial congress, and only lip-service paid to Washington's anti-colonial struggles in the 18th century, the Union has yet to be achieved. How would Washington deal with Mitch McConnell? Or Lincoln with Gym Jordan?
Yes Rowshan, 'disconcerting' meaning the fruit s of the 2020 'concert' would not have existed at all. But, note well, Heather's reminder about the narrow GA Victories of Warnock & Osoff igniting Biden's successful Presidency:
ARP - American Rescue Plan
BIA - Bipartisan Infrastructure Act
CHIPS & Science Act ... repeat and SCIENCE!
IRA - Inflation Reduction Act (Professor, I am posting the new deal victories alphabetically.)
PACT
SCA - Safer Communities Act
Repeat as Needed - Friday DOW close at 43,275.91; NASDAQ 18,849.55 (Hat tip NETFLIX)
HCR Political Moral: Control the Senate! We must pass the SCA - SCOTUS Control Act (I Made that Up)
LOVE the idea of a SCOTUS Control Act since the extremist majority clearly have no ability to control themselves or monitor themselves when it comes to questions of integrity, decency, honesty, morality, or ethical decision making.
I have had trouble finding it again but I recall a statement months ago from Roberts who seemed to be claiming (in response to calls for a $COTUS code of ethics) that no ethical code could be legality enforced on his court and that $COTUS judges, unlike others, are simply above any need for guidance. I they think the president is above the law, I sense that the Roberts gang thinks they are too (except I think the think that they get to decide which laws a president can break and which presidents get to do so.
Another verification of the statement that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Their names will go down in history as those who attempted to murder democracy. I pray they fail.
If Harris wins and the Dems take Congress back, the first thing they should do (but probably won't), is work to get rid of Citizen's United and shut off dark money spigot. It is beyond stupid when politicians are spending the GDP of several small countries to pay for elections, and the oligarchs are spending even more to pay for the politicians. We can also get rid of the never-ending campaign. If Harris's campaign has shown us anything, it's that we don't 4 years of electioneering. Give each candidate two months to get their policies out there and have at it. Oh, and limit the number of fundraising requests each campaign can send out. If I'm going to donate to a campaign, I'm going to give what I can, and I'm going to give once. Twenty-five thousand extra requests isn't going to change that.
Apologies from Montana. Too many rich carpetbaggers are buying offices here. Gianforte is another example. We used to be called the “Last, Best Place” state. That needs to be changed to the “Race to Last Place” state.
Thank you so much for the history lesson. Montana is a great subject. It recently lost Brian Schweitzer and Steve Bullock, both immensely popular Democrats who worked with Republicans to enact greatly needed legislation serving the state. Demographics and the emerging lunacy of MAGAworld then allowed an out-of-state tech multimillionaire, Greg Gianforte, to win the governorship. He's another typically reactionary, dictatorial right wing idiot. And then you've got Ryan Zinke, the former Interior Secretary under Trump who was forced to resign under a cloud of corruption. He was elected to the House. It's a sad state of affairs, pun intended, to see Jon Tester, a native Montanan farmer, in the fight of his life to retain his Senate seat. The 1% have taken over the "last best place", buying up everything in sight.
We have Monic Tranel running against Zinke,. She was born & raised in MT. Steve Bullock D & Marc Racicot R sent out a letter to support candidates for the MT Supreme Court who are running against right wing candidates. It is encouraging to see the recognition of this whole election is NOT about party but our Constitutional form of Government!
Yes. Besides the money, this race is different from other Tester races- the extreme lies from Sheehy, the racism from Sheehy. Such extreme lies and racism are new to Mt. Senate campaigns, I think. In any case, Tester , when I talked to him after a rally last week,, said this race is very different. He’d given his usual wonderful talk about what he’s done and what he stands for. Later, he said to me that maybe he should have talked more about Sheehys lies… that this race is different . There’s a reason Sheehy is pretty much in hiding these last few weeks.
Another powerful letter No idea about the history of this Thanks for teaching us this part of history Certainly know idea of buying a seat but this extreme in the past and present is shocking and frightening
We need to support the democratic senate candidates in these critical states Thanks Heather
Same here, lauriemcf. Tester, Brown, Galagos so far. I'm adding Allred to my list. I'm already inundated with emails and texts from campaigns. What's one more?
Except it’s not just “one more.” I donated to several out of state campaigns and now have dozens and dozens of requests (many sounding almost threatening) every day from candidates I never heard of and can’t afford to support. I’ve hit my limit of tithing ten percent of my income to Democrats. And if I respond STOP it doesn’t seem to matter because campaigns have an unlimited supply of “senders” who need to be individually stopped.
SELLING THE PRESIDENT 1968 was a best selling book about how Roger Ailes sold Richard Nixon into the presidency.
BUYING THE PRESIDENCY 2024 would describe how billionaires sought to buy the presidency for Donald Trump. The New York Times published an article on a cabal of billionaires, four of whom, have ‘invested’ over $350,000,000 in Trump’s campaign.
Elon Musk so far has ‘invested’ over $140,000,000 in Trump. A grandson of the Mellon fortune has ‘invested’ about $175,000,00. Ms. Adelson has passed the $100,000,000 mark.
As the NYT article highlights, neither Kamala Harris (nor President Biden) were for sale. However, billionaires were able to ‘buy’ the Trump (Vance) candidacy.
Trump’s ’election auction’ is undisguised.
1) In a dinner meeting with fossil fuel executives, he stated that his deregulation policies would save them billions of $$$. He asked them to invest $1,000,000,000 in his campaign.
2) Trump had been opposed to Bitcoin and crypto currency. Then he attended a crypto conference where he promised to support loose crypto regulation and having the federal government purchasing billions of dollars of crypto. In return he asked that crypto fat cats ‘invest’ fulsomely in his campaign. An article this week spoke of a concerted crypto ‘investment’ of at least $134,000,000 in Trump’s campaign.
3) Elon Musk, who not so long ago did not favor Trump, is now belly to belly with the guy. Trump had been leery about EV cars. Recently he spoke in Michigan about how he would insure that gas guzzlers would continue to be manufactured in the U.S.
From the other side of his month, he has encouraged the world’s richest billionaire to campaign with him. Musk has ‘invested’ at least $145,000,000 so far and is personally heading a richly funded group determined to buy Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes for Trump. [Musk has billions of $$$ of contracts with the federal government and benefits from EV consumer credits for his Teslas.]
“Dark” billionaire $$$ are flowing into the Trump campaign as fat cats buy into a possible Trump White House. They apparently seek to assure that their low fat cat taxes and loose regulations agenda are policy in a Trump White House.
According to the NYT, they are also opposed to immigration, which they see as a Democratic initiative to fill America with ‘foreigners’ who would vote Democratic.
‘Buying’ into a Trump administration includes the Senate, where a Republican majority would provide a hammer lock over Supreme Court nominations (even if Kamala Harris won) and over any efforts to legislate ‘fair taxes’ to support a robust physical and social infrastructure.
A blatant example was how Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel plucked ‘hill billy’ Vance from Yale Law School, provided him buckets of money in Silicon Valley, and then ‘invested’ $15,000,000 in Vance’s senatorial campaign. Vance is known as the ‘venture capital’ senator.
As Heather describes, a number of fat cats have been recruited as Republican senatorial candidates. In addition to ‘dark money,’ some of these candidates are personally able to ‘lend’ millions of $$$ to their campaigns.
I am reminded of J. Howard Pew in Pennsylvania, when I was a youngster. Head of Sun Oil, he sought to control the Pennsylvania legislature. During each election he would arrange to ‘rent’ a number of legislators. This continued until he had a sufficient roster. I recall stories of the competition by Republican legislators to be ‘rented’.
In addition to BUYING THE PRESIDENCY 2024 perhaps there should be a separate book: BUYING THE SENATE 2024.
As a number of billionaires have found: Harris/Walz are not for sale, but they can ‘buy’ Trump and rent senators to support their low tax, loose regulatory, and Stench Court judiciary priorities.
As to MIRIAM ADELSON & per the NBC Political Desk, Miriam's Gaming money contributions actually started very early in the election cycle during the Nevada caucuses. Also, $95 Million of her gaming money funded the 'Preserve America PAC'.
As to ELON MUSK, in addition to his millions & his funding of America PAC, Trump has outsourced his election ground game to MUSK's control. Per Rolling Stone, Elon is botching the door-to-door ground game within 3 weeks of 11/5/24.
**** Plus, the Twitter Agit-Prop Center now 'X' is spewing dis & mis-information. Be alert to post-election MUSK propaganda everyone to 1/6/25 & beyond.
There are number of 'American Oligarchs', the Andreesens (plural) & others.
Perhaps I am being quaint, but why would people vote for McCormick and Hovde? Rich outsiders who haven’t built lives and livings in the state. What ever happened to the conservative preference for homegrown roots?
Trump represents the traditional wealthy candidate who can attract people impressed not by policy but by the trappings of wealth. His interference in immigration legislation shows his policy credentials are phony. Harris, on the other hand, has lived a more middle class life and has proposed policies to expand the middle class. The choice should be clear. Why it is not challenges the mind.
That’s all I can call them. They are not just people with policy differences. I detect racism, misogyny, and jealousy, even among MAGAts in my family. They would deny this of course, as the right gives such self-righteous reasons for hate (Christianity, patriotism, and self-reliance). Hope they like having Project 2025 crammed down their throats, no SS, Medicare, required god of their choice, and God, where did the people who did the “black” jobs go, not to mention the middle class. Ron is the best example of what repubs are these days. An enemy within.
It seems that our election cycles need to be shorter. Joe Biden may go down in history for having tried to reverse the fortunes of the American people by putting the power back with the people, and redistributing the wealth somewhat. The super wealthy don't need to have all that money. I don't care whether they were able to earn it or not with their investment portfolios. It is a scandal that the White House may be bought by the Bad Boy Billionaire Tech Bros. We are then a country for sale to the highest bidder. That virtually makes these people royalty as they are able to rule over us without consequence or our agreement. The media, also being owned by Oligarchs, is supporting their grabs for power.
The 2010 Citizens United decision pretty much nullified the Seventeenth Amendment. It is the poison that is destroying American democracy.
The 1890’s were not just the gilded age. They used their wealth and power to rewrite state constitutions which ushered in Jim Crow. It’s frightening to think that all the MAGA needs is two Senate seats to entrench Jim Crow II for decades.
Putin and Xi must be grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats. We are at a perilous juncture!
Heather's history today of our corrupt rich of the Gilded Age has one emphatic lesson.
Go back and read Dashiell Hammett's first novel, "Red Harvest" (1929).
After his stint in WWI, Hammett worked for the Pinkertons out west. That is, he saw first-hand how what Heather calls the former enslaving class only exploited all the more crassly, murderously, corruptly in the wide-open west.
It rankled him. So on Nob Hill in San Francisco, he turned out many, many stories for the pulps. Then to his first novel.
It's great. Read it again or read it for the first time. You'll feel the vitality, the hoary reigning injustices. Best, you'll see the ties to today. And you'll want more of the great humanities by which America even then was answering the prolific corrupt.
And speaking of books. Which many of us access through libraries. One story of one librarian under siege by racist right wing religious extremists. Riled up by populist groups funded by plutocrats. (Looking at you Leonard Leo. Where your local library may soon get a copy of That Librarian by Amanda Jones.)
That Librarian
Amanda Jones talked about book bans and her experience as a librarian in Louisiana. Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore hosted this event.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?538414-1/that-librarian
Stuff we can do,
FT 6 and Movement Labs are still registering Democrats in selected states. Texting today 2 pm to unregistered folk . https://www.mobilize.us/ft6/
DNC Anytime Training signup link (call on your schedule!) Share the link with your own message in an email or text: https://events.democrats.org/event/551644/
To share on any platform, just click on the link and share from there!
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/reel/8700220780030813
BlueSky
https://bsky.app/profile/call-crew-dems.bsky.social/post/3l6i7ek7ar422
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@call_crew_dems/video/7425650523291897134?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7424214167135847966
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBG_lriP8g0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Threads
https://www.threads.net/@call.crew.dems/post/DBG_rxuPmXf?xmt=AQGzH2vwgsu0KMyELxy40VA_BGr_rfvPhmMhy7wZvrz0aQ
YouTube
https://youtube.com/shorts/md3j9XPeOeA?feature=shared
We have the capacity to flip Trump 2020 voters. . https://rvat.org/
Place comments on social media...."Not suckers or losers" to vets groups, military, military dependents, history sites. Vote vets has thousands of testimonials of 2020 Trump voters that flipped. According to Facebook, there are 4 million veterans or active duty members on Facebook, and 12.5 million family members of veterans or active duty members on Facebook.
Trump hates dogs. Pet/animal charity sites.
Trump stole from kids with cancer.
Don't slit your own throat.
In your gut you know he's nuts.
This is critically important. While the 2020 election was evenly decided, it was not the way we usually think:
81 million Biden
74 million Trump
79 million didn't vote
It's not that half the country wants to live under an authoritarian. It's that a third of us don't care enough which way the vote goes, to do the minimal effort required to cast a ballot. Those are the people who should be reachable, who are shirking their primary duty as citizens.
Thanks, Daniel, for the links, and for the themes. Social media has been the biggest factor in poisoning our national conversation; it's time to start using it for good!
I hope you are on Threads (a civilized version of X [Twitter]) and will repost this there. Yours is a succinct and compelling summary of importance.
Talk radio in rural areas is also a big factor.
💯
http://yadontknow.blogspot.com/2021/01/by-people.html
Lin*, I'm lucky to be able to spend time RVing each Spring and Fall on Cape Cod, where we are presently. The Eastham Public Library is wonderful and aligned towards literary freedom, and -- I'm not sure if other libraries do this or not -- allow me to hold a library pass (free), even though I'm an out-of-staters. I was just there again yesterday, borrowing another book. I'd hate to live in a place where personal freedoms such as reading are being taken away, along with so many others.
With your card, you can have access to the online collection of the Eastham library (it’s probably part of a consortium), and also, I think, of the Boston Public Library, which has a huge collection. Most of my reading is of downloaded books from my library, which I read on my iPad. I can carry an unlimited library, and if I forget which character is which, I can search for the name to remind myself.
Thanks Jon — yes, I believe all the Cape libraries are connected (at least those of the Outer Cape.) I much prefer printed books (aka carbon storage, as one friend referred to them 😆). I can access books through my home library as well, of course
I agree, Doug! I love a printed book--especially those of my favorite author (and Massachusetts resident) and Roland Merullo.
For those who could use a satirical view of politics, I highly suggest his novel "American Savior" (which is very timely although published in 2008!)
Please see my reply to Doug Gange, above.
All of the Cape Cod libraries are connected under the CLAMS system. If they don't have a book that I'm looking for, the Commonwealth Catalog probably does. And if I'm looking for something a little more esoteric, my librarian at the Brewster Ladies' Library (open to all), can get it for me from many of our colleges and universities through inter-library loan. Many databases are also available through our libraries.
Additionally, the American Library Association (ALA), like PEN, publishes lists of banned books and fights book banning throughout the country.
Also, at least since the McCarthy era and beyond, libraries have refused to turn over patron information to government or other agencies. They guard our privacy and provide information freely to all.
I don't know about other libraries in other places, but the BLL, and many other Cape libraries, provide computers that we can use for free, offer meeting space for town-related (or unrelated) activities, sponsor lectures and workshops on just about any topic you can imagine, and, of course, regale our youngest residents with toddler and preschool story times . Take a look at our website (https://www.brewsterladieslibrary.org/) and look at our calendar), and check out the calendar pages for a glimpse of some of the activities the library provides.
Hi Betsy, NH (where we live) has a state-run interlibrary loan system as well — if one’s local library doesn't have a book that another one does, it can be requested. And our library in Nashua also offers free computer use as well as many excellent programs weekly — for adults, teens, children and toddlers — from movies, lectures, classes to enhance computer skills, story times, etc. In addition, it no longer charges overdue fees.
We love MA!
lin-, don’t forget about the Brooklyn Library offering free access to banned books!
https://www.bklynlibrary.org/books-unbanned
Mary, this is excellent although I think I read that some librarian or teacher got in trouble for pointing students to this. I also read this week that the wing nuts are going after the little libraries on the street where people place books for others to take. As a side note, for Halloween, the Salem Public Library is having a drag event. It is after hours and funded by the library's foundation. I read the some of the comments and one guy in particular was having a fit. Happily, many were pro this event in answer to him and it is adults only and not funded by taxpayer dollars. Of course, there was a threat not to vote for the library budget. I was a school librarian for many years and although I had a few problems, I would hate to be one now.
I live in Seattle and am proud that the Seattle Public Library system has partnered in the Books Unbanned initiative. Since joining in April 2023, more than 11,000 young readers have signed up for free SPL e-cards from all 50 states; they have borrowed approximately 250,000 digital books.
The LA County Library and San Diego Public Library systems have also joined Books Unbanned.
Does anyone know where I can get a list of all the currently banned books?
There are several. This is one I use when "providing" books to the "Little Free Libraries" in neighborhoods.
https://littlefreelibrary.org/about/book-bans/book-ban-map/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsc24BhDPARIsAFXqAB3BaUJ8kY_vyqm58F507xSt88TIPHI49JgOwps3BayTkeB2g7122W0aAhWgEALw_wcB
Aw, Ally! Just another reason to like you!
Have a great weekend!
Thank you!
Get him, lin!! I'm sending my best regards to you. LL is a monster in his crafty pursuit of religiosity without regard to consequences or the Constitution.
He is also a member if Opus Dei
Huh...I don't know why I'm even surprised. That would be right up his uptight pious little alley.
Thank you for the great recommendation -- I was just now able to check out the e-book from the library!
So, Phil, what’s the moral of the Dashiell Hammett stories? The following is my answer, but I’ve never read the novels so correct me if I’m off target.
There are the good people, there are the bad people, and there’s an easy way to tell the difference. Good people live according to the moral “treat others the way you would want to be treated if the shoe was on the other foot” principle, and bad people live by the immoral “do unto others before they do unto you” principle.
Bad people see good as weak, and strength is about getting away with stuff. Good people know that bad people are weak, and strength comes from building healthy relationships.
Question: What do you do when you realize you’re trying to build a relationship with someone who lives according to the immoral principle?
Answer: Be strong.
I think this is important. Is it possible to agree about how to tell the difference between good and bad? If yes, then right is might. Otherwise, "good" versus "bad" is just an opinion, and then might is right.
Need to read the stories, James, to judge them.
Today it's standardized testing that teaches us we can generalize, venture abstractions and categories, without any human experience.
Please, James, trust the human experience in humanities, though I think now all know fully well how the billionaires' grift of standardized testing has so largely killed the human along with the humanities.
You’re right about standardizing, of course, but it depends on what you’re standardizing, and if it’s all experience-based, then is all experience good? Project 2025 is experience-based.
Conversely, as a child, I had a child’s understanding of science, but as a scientist with more than a half-century of gained knowledge and experience, I can say with confidence that my immature and elementary school level understanding was fundamentally correct. My current understanding may be more mature, sophisticated, and complex, but it’s still supported by that same bedrock foundation. Moreover, I know many people with science credentials that have a sophisticated understanding of the scientific method but lack that elementary understanding.
To be more specific, that elementary understanding is the 1st scientific principle, which is the idea that science involves careful observation and rigorous skepticism of the assumptions we use to interpret those observations because they will otherwise distort our interpretations (ref: 1st paragraph of Wikipedia’s “Scientific Method” article).
That elementary understanding has an easy-to-detect effect. Disagree with a real scientist, and the effect is an adult conversation (per the previously defined moral principle). In my experience, disagree with a significant number of people with scientific credentials and they'll treat that disagreement like a problem with a one-step “I’m right, you’re wrong, and this conversation is over” solution (per the previously defined immoral principle).
I’ve previously described the above idea as follows. There are only two ways to respond to an inconvenient truth. The effect of following the moral principle is knowledge and experience that leads to enlightenment, and the effect of following the immoral principle is knowledge and experience that leads to the dark side. Either way, it always starts simple, and then it always gets complicated.
For the record, I do trust the human experience in humanities, and the billionaires' grift of standardized testing has killed humans and the humanities specifically because they went to the dark side.
That's my science speech. I have one for religion, democracy, capitalism, etc., but its all based on the same "choose between moral and immoral" standard.
Thanks for the recommendation, Phil. My late grandfather was a Dashiel Hammett fan -- I've always wanted to read something by him besides The Maltese Falcon, which I read years ago.
I read all of Hammett's works when I lived in the Bay Area, Phil. I was going to a school for fashion design just off Union Square in SF in the mid-70's, and during lunch break one day I went to the alley where Sam Spade's partner was killed in The Maltese Falcon. Hammett describes Miles Archer's body rolling down a hill to fetch up against a fence. There's an overpass that's cut off the alley's open access to Union Square now, so I couldn't really see how the murder played out, but it was clear enough in my mind's eye. I also lived near the Continental Op's apartment and re-traced some of his travels through the city. Hammett's passion for justice as well as having been targeted and jailed by pre-McCarthy anti-communists is hyper relevant today. His death from TB he contracted during WWI and exacerbated by his jail time (as well as hard living) may be emblematic of the impending demise of our constitution, should we have to harvest a Red election.
It just once again proves that money in the hands of a narcissist corrupts-period!
Someone needs to make a movie Ludlow Massacre
He wrote The Thin Man series. Have not read but the movies are so good. I have almost all of them in my movie folder. If only every married couple got on so well.
Faithful adherence to the tradition of the cocktail hour certainly helped with that. And undoubtedly the companionship of a good dog added to the bliss!
Rich guys will do anything to prevent poorer people from out-doing them. For the first time in 40 years lower income workers are gaining faster than the upper crust.
https://yadontknow.blogspot.com/2024/07/when-again.html
Phil, many thanks for sharing your favorite nobel. A retired pastor of the church I attend - I am not a MAGA Christian - taught us that power corrupts man. I do not need the lesson because I fear the life after from the famous parable of Lazarus and Richman.
While I hate that self-funded GOP candidates are trying to become Senators, I am more concerned that people who objectively are NOT from the states in which they are running are not being kicked off the ballots in those states!
Why isn’t Marc Elias ( Democracy Docket) going to court to stop these “don’t really live here” candidates from running?
Mike Rogers in Michigan is another one. He has been living in a huge home in Florida but when he decided to run for Debbie Stabenow's Senate seat because she is retiring he bought a tiny and shabby little house in Michigan. Thinking he isn't going to live there...just visit.
Why isn't there an ad with pictures of both houses with a voice over telling the story? Pictures are so effective.
Rachel Maddow featured it two weeks ago. Here’s the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwBUZ-v0T3c
Thank You. The whole thing stinks. $upport Elissa Slotkin!!
https://elissaslotkin.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsc24BhDPARIsAFXqAB0Pb0vDV2eWzCg_9r0i6BWq7IV-2fOgHl4DTQ2-FIKVezK36qhdx_oaAmEzEALw_wcB
Thanks for sharing.
Elissa Slotkin has an excellent ad about her "Michigan" opponent's supposed home in our state. $upport her campaign!
https://elissaslotkin.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsc24BhDPARIsAFXqAB0Pb0vDV2eWzCg_9r0i6BWq7IV-2fOgHl4DTQ2-FIKVezK36qhdx_oaAmEzEALw_wcB
I've seen a couple reports on that on MSNBC. There should indeed be advertising.
EXACTLY! We Democrats often call out the media, but at least for now we are free to call out the bad folks ourselves.
reminds me a bit of Herschel Walker running for office in GA but his very expensive home was in TX AND he was getting tax breaks which were for TX residents only.
Who is calling these people out? All we need is Florida spreading their poison. I am from a city that was poisoned by a Floridian, who has now returned to Florida with his kids. He is still reaching back and trying to influence our elections, but not as vociferously.
Floridating America, Floridating earth, water, air... even people's hearts and minds.
Floridating America, state by state, city by city, county by county, buying and selling the country, buying the land, buying every one and every thing that in it is.
Is it not high time for communities to stake THEIR claim to the land they live in?
Time to plaster the place, airwaves and all, with spoof auction notices for November 5th listing states and all contents, land—surface and sub-surface—water, air, vegetation, habitations, wildlife, cattle... never forgetting the human population, peons, serfs, whatever their Lords and Masters choose to call them, however their Lords and Masters choose to use them.
Time to flood states with caricatures showing up the truth, time for John Heartfield-style photomontages, AI-assisted photoshopping and, wherever possible, clips of said Lords and Masters speaking their minds unedited, uncensored. Pairings of SAYS and THINKS. Better still, pairings of SAYS (publicly) and SAYS (privately).
Time to mine inspiration from films like Seven Samurai and its American version, The Magnificent Seven. Even—for those able to sit through something long—Cimino’s magnificent (but accursed and proscribed) Heaven’s Gate!
Time to act, time to live as free citizens—WHILE YOU STILL CAN.
Florida does not have a state income tax or a state “death” (inheritance) tax. The wealthy and ultra wealthy (Eg. Jeff Bezos recently changed residency from WA state to FL) are not so much interested in sunshine, but clutching their wallets.
They better start to get more taxes if trump gets in . Project 2025 wants to transfer more responsibilities to the states (they are really big about states being responsible for stuff like voting, abortion). Florida has had 43 cat 3+ hurricanes since 1851. CT has had 3. Floridan has had 79 tropical or subtropical cyclones (2000-2023). 236 billion dollars worth of damage. have fun paying for it.
And there are 8 other states without an income tax.
Yes, WA, where I live, is one of them, but WA now has a capital gains tax, an inheritance tax, and a whooping 10% regressive sales tax.
Mike Rogers used the address of that shabby little house in Michigan to register to vote and to vote in Michigan’s primary. He is “renovating” that little house, has never lived there, and indeed, the house has not even been granted a certificate of occupancy. Another man of integrity and honesty 🤮
Fraud = Jail. And that is the other disgusting attribute of wealth, money permits the injustice to happen. A poor man would be thrown in jail without delay. A rich man uses money to delay and get away with everything.
Agreed, Mike Rogers should go back to his mansion in Florida, along with Trump.
Jonathan, actually trompy should go live in the Big House, if you catch my drift.
Rachel Maddow just covered this story and showed his alleged residence on her show. It is under construction and lacks a certificate of occupancy. I hope the people of Detriot where I believe this district is, challenge this and get him kicked off the ballot.
Here in PA, history is repeating itself. Last election, Dr Ozz was running for a PA seat. This year it is Dave McCormick. Dr Ozz and Dave McCormick don’t live in the Commonwealth. I thought you had to live in the State/Commonwealth to run?? Dr Ozz apparently lives in California and Dave in Connecticut. Are PA seats for sale on Amazon or something?
And the execrable Josh Chicken Run Hawley doesn't live in MO, Tommy Tubesteak doesn't live in AL
🤬🤬🤬
Nevada is a big state with a small population, and we have had several cases of "powerful" people from other states viewing Nevada as their big chance to be voted into office. We have one running for Senate right now. I'm not sure if this is the second or third state he's shopped to run for office. Modern day carpetbaggers, call them what they are.
Looks like.
😂
I’m a Pennsylvanian and it infuriates me to no end!
Dr. Oz in CA? Say it isn’t so!!
Same with Northern Michigan's U.S. Rep, Jack Bergman of LOUISIANA. Had a cabin in Wisconsin, bought one in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which he suddenly could afford to expand & remodeling, represents big oil to keep Line 5 in place across The Straights of Lake Michigan & Lake Huron. Bought & bi-annually paid for. His Democratic opponent, Callie Barr, is fantastic!! She needs more TV commercial$:
https://callieforcongress.com/
Why isn’t Marc Elias ( Democracy Docket) going to court to stop these “don’t really live here” candidates from running?"
Why is Marc Elias expected to litigate every campaign issue?
What are the residency laws for Federal office in the US Constitution, each of the states, and each political party? Which authority enforces them?
These are questions one might consider and research.
For instance, the Constitution originally said resident and then changed it to inhabitant, and only disqualifies one "who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."
Re: US Constitution
"No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."[U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 3, clause 3]
"Every member of the Senate shall be . . . at the time of his election, a resident of the state from which he shall be chosen."
"On August 8 Connecticut's Roger Sherman moved to strike the word "resident" from the language dealing with requirements for members of the House and insert in its place "inhabitant," a term he considered to be "less liable to misconstruction." Madison seconded the motion, noting that "resident" might exclude people occasionally absent on public or private business. Delegates agreed to the term "inhabitant" and voted against adding a time period to the requirement. The following day, they amended the Senate qualification to include the word "inhabitant" prior to passing the clause by unanimous consent."
https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/qualifications.htm
As usual, lin, such great information you provide. On the subject of Marc Elias, he is extremely busy defending democracy. He has filed over 200 lawsuits and is winning mostly all of them because the MAGATS have been relentless in trying to undermine voters. I believe he will eventually get involved with revealing these wealthy characters “endeavors” but in the meantime, there are others like ACLU & NAACP who are involved. Also, a side-note for those who don’t know: **Elias and his firm has grown because he is now working alongside Kamala-Walz attorneys. This is a big deal and may their collective powers bring Leonard Leo and Company to their knees!**
The rise of the extreme right has taken decades. By electing Biden we were able to avert some of the harm, although captured courts and Republican legislators continued to amplify and accelerate 'the Leo effect' - the collateral damage of the nascent corporate clerical fascist state on the body politic and individual lives.
Such as Jessica Norton in Florida and Amanda Jones in Louisiana.
Her trans daughter made the volleyball team. Then an armed officer showed up.
https://wapo.st/406hxwf
That Librarian
Amanda Jones talked about book bans and her experience as a librarian in Louisiana.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?538414-1/that-librarian
https://wapo.st/406hxwf
The first. The horror of it, Lin, the shame—heaven help us. To live in a country that treats human beings like that.
And this could be a sign of things to come, unless the evil is stopped and driven back where it came from.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?538414-1/that-librarian
The second. A nightmare. All the makings of the Witches of Salem redux. But... the original episode took place over three hundred years ago...
So, are there to be book burnings again, as under the Holy Inquisition, as under Hitler? Both times when books were burned, people were burned. We hear of such vile things under ISIS, but... in the United States of America? Today? In the 21st century?
Or am I blind, am I being stupid? It is, after all, not that long since people were often hanged and burned by the populace... in the Deep South.
Under its weird governor—is it human?—Florida seems to be slithering faster and faster that way.
Should exorcists be sent to the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee?
Agree -- surely it should be their primary home and meet the 180 days of living there per year requirement
Ryan Zinke is another one who is living in both CA & MT . Monica Tranel is from MT , lives here & is running an underfunded campaign against a the rich outsider
Lin, 🤬🤮This drives me crazy. It’s the same with Jon Tester, a man of integrity, wisdom and experience as a generational farmer running against a lying pack of 💩.
Go Jon!!
Reading about William Clark, who made a fortune repossessing mining claims reminded me of something my mother used to say. She said people become rich by stepping on and taking advantage of others. It may be legal, but it isn’t moral.
Legality vs morality …. Important distinction.
Although I agree with you, I feel we should cut Marc Elias some slack. Marc is doing a whole lot of good for our country. He is only one person with limited resources.
Marj, it's appeared to me that Mr. Elias has a team as well, and is funded by donations. Still, I agree -- let him/them litigate the top issue of voting rights.
I'm pretty sure Marc Elias has limited resources. The States Democratic party needs to play a role challenging these candidates.
Thank you, Steve! My question exactly. Isn’t there a minimum of years of residency that a potential nominee has to prove to run for such an important office?
You’re welcome. If there is a “minimum residency requirement” (and I think there is but have not researched the subject), then the GOP is blowing through that “guardrail of democracy”. And this, of course, is what the GOP does! The GOP does not care about the rules. (see: Mitch McConnell and SCOTUS nominations). Only the Democrats do. And this is why Al Gore lost the 2000 Florida recount.
Don’t, let’s forget Mark Meadows, Trump‘s right hand man who has yet to face the music and pretends to live in some trailer in North Carolina. he never even visits.
And Adam Schiff
Professor Richardson, thank you for another history lesson that proves once again that history tends to repeat itself. That is, while there are historical similarities to the Gilded Age of the robber barons in the late 1800s, we are witnessing the result of the disastrous 2010 Supreme Court decision of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The influence of big money in politics is now simply out of control.
In the control of greed. Power of the people is gone and the rich who felt they owed something to the country are no more or are all repubs. Where are the rich who owe a debt of gratitude to the country that gave them opportunity.
While we are totally aligned, at least some (but not enough) of the ultra-wealthy understand the need to support the common interest, based on the fact that much of their success is based on the use of shared natural resources, infrastructure, etc. The most prominent of this group seem to be Democrats.
They do indeed. Look at the history of tariffs as one example. Without a vast transportation, educational, health infrastructure, finances by taxes modern American wealth, at all levels, wouldn't be remotely possible.
We have a complicated country, a more complicated earth, and an unbelievably complicated universe. Just think what we could accomplish if we were united in some meaningful way. Guess it will take an alien invasion. Nah, not a chance
Careful what you wish for, JD!
Story of my life
lol ... ET, Independence Day, or Martian microbes!
Aliens lock their doors when they fly by earth. The nearest possibly habitated exoplanet is 4.2 light years away. As Calvin said, "The sirest sign of intelligent life in the universe is that they have not tried to contact us."
Jeri, I've spent much of my years of insomnia wondering odd subjects like aliens. I've wondered WHO first invented the wheel, or written language--and wondered if the seeds of that didn't originate from some alien society? (My mind--totally unaided by pharmaceuticals with the exception of ibuprofen--goes even stranger. I am totally amazed at the cleaning powers of "Magic Erasers" and have contemplated that if it was revealed they were reverse engineered by NASA from Area 51, I would TOTALLY believe it!!)
I tend to think aliens have already been here and we're some nutty adolescent superior being's pet rock. (The theme of an old Twilight Zone, I believe.)
Gee Miselle, my middle of the night musings have been more often focused on the strange paths my life has taken and the sometimes unfathomable choices I have made. Just as mysterious as the thoughts you mentioned. My musings in that direction have been about early language and the octopus arms of the those trajectories. Only after working at NASA and living in that environment did I contemplate the alien possibility. How the universe works is a constant amazement and what I turn to when life on earth confounds me too much. Yep, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
I did not know you had worked at NASA, Jeri! How interesting that must have been!
One reason I enjoy the LFAA discussion is the very many knowledgeable and intelligent people who frequent this area. Just like the physicians I assisted in the hospital, I love being surrounded by people who challenge my mind. I guess one could counter that MAGA challenges my mind as well, but I would say they only frustrate me.
I know (and respect) others that have no beliefs in a higher power, but it is the amazement of the universe and of nature that makes me believe, and also to suspect humanity is an experiment that might be deemed a failure.
JDH, well there is Mark Cuban who has come out forcefully in favor of Harris and against his fellow tech bros.
I loved Mark, sanity in Texas. Then he hooked up with Meriam Adelson and is in gambling business with her. Cognitive dissonance, brain warp, and gratitude. Weird combination. She has set aside $100/mil for chump, wonder if he has. Seems that they put it into the insane emails that drive me crazy. Chump is desperate, he’s even begging me. Now that is pitiful…haha
JDH, I hold nothing against him if he's in business with Adelson. However, he's been actively campaigning for Harris, and has signed a letter, along with several others, in support for her. A quick Google search reveals he hasn’t donated to either candidate. Interestingly, Forbes says that Harris actually has more billionaire supporters than the other guy (70 vs 59,) and says it's likely because her policies would result in a more stable economic environment (which obviously puts more money into their super yachts.)
We should still eat the rich, but I'll at least give him credit for sanity.
In my first sentence. He has integrity too. I can’t think of one Dem billionaire who has expressed an agenda of power or has endorsed P2025, nor have they pledged mega millions to buy the win that chump so badly wants. Repubs support voter suppression, election manipulation and lies that would make Goebbels blush. The rich supporting chump are all in on these “lawful” strategies that undermine what we say we believe in. I welcome Mark and any decent rich dude.
Bill Gates???
He certainly has tried to give back, and encourage others to as well. Clone him; many others have decided that their money can buy power, which has many more perks than CEO’s normally give themselves.
The influence of big money in politics began to be out of control with the Citizens United ruling. Only if that is ever overruled will control revert to the people, not corporations and goodness knows what kinds of dark money.
We are in agreement. It's a crime that just a handful of people have given huge sums to their favorite Super PAC. This practice definitely skews the results of elections. You raise an important point about "dark money" as another, related concern.
And, to be honest, Mark, perfectly in keeping with history.
Mark, I'm not sure I'm ready to agree with your "out of control" assessment, but I am sure one of us will change our minds on November 6.
Georgia flipped the Senate on January 5, but on January 6, extremists tried to flip the entire country. One election helped secure democracy’s agenda; the other tried to dismantle it. The echoes of 19th-century wealth buying Senate seats feel all too familiar today.
The interplay between corporate money and political influence has profound implications for democracy, particularly regarding the fossil fuel industry and the climate crisis. The ability of wealthy interests to fund political campaigns creates an environment where financial power often overshadows the public good, delaying necessary action on pressing issues like climate change.
In recent years, the fossil fuel sector has invested billions into lobbying and campaign contributions, supporting candidates who oppose stringent environmental regulations. This influence hampers legislative efforts to transition to renewable energy sources and implement meaningful climate policies. As a result, despite growing scientific consensus on the urgent need for action, the climate crisis continues to worsen, exacerbated by the very policies that corporate money sustains.
The question arises: when does the damage inflicted by these corporate interests outweigh their profits? The answer is increasingly evident in the form of climate-related disasters—wildfires, hurricanes, and floods—that are affecting millions. As these events become more frequent and severe, the societal cost of inaction escalates, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change. Voters must prioritize electing legislators committed to environmental stewardship over corporate interests. This requires an electorate that understands the long-term implications of their choices, fostering a political climate where the public good prevails.
The historical context of political corruption, such as the case of William A. Clark in the late 19th century, illustrates that the struggle against influence-buying is not new. The Seventeenth Amendment aimed to curb this corruption, yet the current landscape suggests that wealth can still effectively buy political access and sway legislative priorities. Overturning Citizens United is essential to restoring balance, allowing voters to reclaim their power.
As we face escalating environmental challenges, it is imperative for voters to advocate for transparency in campaign financing and support candidates who prioritize sustainable policies. This election presents a critical opportunity to elect leaders who will prioritize the well-being of the planet over the profits of a few. The stakes have never been higher, and the path forward demands our active engagement and commitment to a more equitable and sustainable future. Ultimately, the health of democracy and the future of the environment hinge on our collective ability to confront and dismantle the systemic barriers that allow wealth to dictate policy decisions.
Big Oil raked in record-breaking profits. The companies that caused the climate crisis are getting rich as they fuel the fire.
@ExxonMobil: $55.7 billion
Shell: $39.87 billion
@Chevron: $35.5 billion
@BP_plc: $27.7 billion
Time to make the pay for the damage they've caused.
S T O P B I G O I L
They are profiting from demand for oil that you personally help increase every day. We need to move away from dependence on fossil fuels, but blaming others for our collective lifestyle choices is misguided. Aside from the technical challenges faced as we transition away from fossil fuels, societal and economic inertia will also take decades. The time to start was decades ago, but it will take decades.
Indeed, demand leads the way. If those blaming Big Oil would first give up their cars and trucks and refuse to fly or ride trains or buses, perhaps they might have more credibility. Reminds me of PETA people wearing leather shoes. So many people tout electric vehicles but are ignorant of where that electricity comes from.
With the exception of Jon Tester, D, MT , all the congressional people in MT support the fossil fuel industry & consistently post how the "woke" agenda is ruining the state. Your comments clearly state & identify politics in MT with summers of wild fires & smoke, higher than usual temp; warmer winters with lack of beetle kill.
Your criticism raises important points about the complexity of transitioning away from fossil fuels. It's true that individual consumption patterns contribute to demand, and a full transition requires careful planning to avoid economic and social disruptions.
However, the urgency of addressing the climate crisis shouldn't be overshadowed by the challenges of transition. While the fossil fuel industry plays a role in meeting current energy needs, it's crucial to hold them accountable for their historical contributions to climate change and their ongoing resistance to meaningful policy shifts.
The call for systemic change is not about an immediate halt to fossil fuel use but about accelerating investments in renewable energy and infrastructure to create a sustainable future. It's essential to recognize that the longer we delay, the more severe the consequences become, both environmentally and economically.
Engaging the fossil fuel sector as part of the solution is important, but it must be coupled with a commitment to prioritizing the public good over corporate interests. This approach can help balance immediate needs with long-term goals, ensuring that the transition is equitable and effective for all.
To effectively mitigate emissions without relying on fossil fuels, we can start by ceasing the issuance of new leases for oil and gas exploration on public lands. This approach limits future extraction and aligns with our commitments to reduce fossil fuel reliance. Additionally, investing in programs to safely plug abandoned oil wells is crucial, as this prevents methane leaks, which are potent greenhouse gases, and protects local ecosystems.
Restoration projects at former drilling sites can also play a significant role. By implementing habitat restoration initiatives, we can promote biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration through activities like reforestation and wetland restoration. Expanding public transportation networks will reduce reliance on personal vehicles, while investments in bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure will encourage sustainable mobility.
Encouraging energy efficiency upgrades in buildings is another vital step. Improving insulation, upgrading heating and cooling systems, and utilizing energy-efficient appliances can significantly lower overall energy consumption. Providing tax incentives and subsidies for adopting renewable energy sources like solar and wind can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
Supporting local agriculture through sustainable practices will also help decrease emissions, enhancing soil health and carbon storage. Developing community solar initiatives can make renewable energy more accessible, allowing multiple households to benefit from solar energy even if they can’t install panels on their properties. Finally, funding research and development for innovative technologies that capture carbon emissions or enhance energy efficiency is essential for a sustainable future.
These strategies will help mitigate emissions while paving the way for a greener economy.
We must put a stop to 24/7 methane spewing into the atmosphere
"However, the urgency of addressing the climate crisis shouldn't be overshadowed by the challenges of transition." THIS
The thing is, folks seem to be waiting for an edict to come from “on high”-ie. the government so that the use of fossil fuels will end. I believe that each one of us, as individuals MUST take responsibility. Purchase an electric car. Purchase a heat pump. Use all electric appliances. Use public transport. Try to have just one car in the family, not two or three.
And of course, if there was such an edict from “on high”, all hell would break loose!
When it makes sense for an individual or family to switch they will do so. Those who can afford to switch earlier will do so. Those like me who don't believe electric auto technology, the charging infrastructure, or battery tech, are ready or still too expensive won't switch yet. Economically and environmentally, it didn't make sense to switch from my 2007 toyota to an electric car just yet, but I'm waiting for the economics and technology of hybrids to improve a bit more. When.i just switched out our AC unit, heat exchangers were too expensive, but we're using 1/2 the gas and electricity than before. Those who have less will take longer, will stick with gas guzzling used cars, and avoid new tech that is more likely to break. The power and dependability of diesel engine for larger vehicles cannot get be replaced by electric, but tests are being started or planned. When you say all hell would break loose, leaders who force the change before folk are close enough to being ready will deserve the blowback they'll receive.
My opinion is that the Biden administration approach - tax breaks for consumers and prioritized research support will help society get there faster than it would have been possible before.
Can I share your post with Rosendale, Sheehy, Daines?
While I completely agree that action to mitigate and minimize human-induced climate change, your and others' rhetoric regarding immediate switch away from fossil fuels and towards renewables sounds like you're willing to let the economy tank and let people freeze and starve until everyone adjusts. That may not be what you mean, but that's what it sounds like to me, and what it sounds like to industry.
The transition to a greener economy has started, but the incremental progress of science will take a few more decades to catch up. We are decades away from solving the power storage and transmission challenges that exist today.
It will also take a long time for laws to change to allow easier implementation of eminent domain to lay iut the electric power lines needed for electrification, and to nationalize the electrical grid so that electricity-rich states (high winds and solar energy options) can't gouge their neighbors (Looking at you, Texas).
The oil companies should be part of the solution. They are being vilified for satisfying public (your) demands and trying to stay alive in the face of what seems to be an unrealistic demand to roll over and due.
It's that kind of rhetoric that contributes to Democrats hemorrhaging voters in swing states. It cost Democrats all of Texas, which used to be a reasonable state.
It’s not just the oil companies. Notice how the rich also buy/create media including newspapers, social media platforms and television. Imagine if there was no Fox, X etc.
Actually, many oil companies are part of the solution. Texas (location of a lot of oil companies), for example, is home to more wind power than the next 3 states combined (Iowa, California and Oklahoma).
Molly Ivins would have disagreed about the state of Texas when she was active.
True that, although most of her comments dealt with social issues rather than economic issues.
The ultra rich Republicans running for seats in the Senate are very disconcerting, indeed!
We gotta get rid of citizens United
It's up there with fighting a climate disaster, and may be essential to any advance of the public's agenda.
We may need one before we can make more progress on the other.
Elon Musk gave $75 million to a Trump pac. He is funding a GOTV ground game for Trump in PA.
He originally offered $47 to sign a petition and has now upped it to $100. Although his scheme may not be as successful as he hopes.
"Elon Musk is offering $100 to registered voters in Pennsylvania to sign a pro-Donald Trump petition. If you're a registered Pennsylvania voter, you & whoever referred you will now get $100 for signing our petition in support of free speech & right to bear arms. Earn money for supporting something you already believe in," the SpaceX CEO wrote to his more than 200 million followers on X, formerly Twitter."
https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-offers-pennsylvania-voters-100-sign-donald-trump-petition-presidential-election-1971021
"Musk is essentially paying people to collect voter information—which is a standard thing campaigns and organizations do, only in this arrangement he’s paying his distributed organizers by the signature instead of by the hour. His PAC is banking on that cash incentive to juice the MAGA outreach effort, and hopefully identify some new Trump voters. It can then use the information to get out the vote."
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/10/elon-musk-super-pac-offering-47-dollars-refer-new-trump-voters/
"Republicans Tell Trump That Elon Musk’s Super PAC Is Blowing It. Donald Trump’s allies have been warning him that Musk’s field operation is failing in key states — and that it’s being led by DeSantis’ failed team."
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-elon-musk-republicans-super-pac-election-2024-1235134877/
Gee, I ain't voting for a Republicsn for the next 8-12 years, but sure, for $100 each, I'll sign up all my Democratic friends and family for $100 so we can enjoy a big meal together at Elon's expense. If it gets local Republicans to get overconfident, that's a bonus.
Too bad I don't live in PA.
The William Clark of 2024
I really appreciate all your informative comments.....with sources.
And more, set limits on political campaign expenses, with public money enabling parties to present their messages to the public at large. I wonder if there is any way to pull down the vitriolic side of political rhetoric, let alone the outright use of misinformation ie lying eg the unfounded claims 2020 was a stolen election? "gloves off" politics isn't exactly new in USA, but the Republicans seemed to have made it an ingrained habit.
The only way to realize that goal is for Democrats to retain control of the Senate, vote to drop the filibuster for legislation, and enact a law increasing the SC by 4 seats, filling those seats with Constitutional loyalists, and bringing cases that challenge the Roberts Court decisions we know have to go…CU, Heller, Shelby, etc. That’s a long range strategy to repress the Heritage Foundation agenda and bring back a healthy balance to society.
In three weeks?
And we need to call it what it really is: "Corporations United."
Government of the people, by the wealthy, for the wealthy, We had it for centuries.
Janis -- there's an Aerosmith song that comes to mind (Dream On 😪 )
(Fun fact: Aerosmith played that song at my high school in the early 70s.)
Yes!
The Professor didn't mention the Florida Senate seat that Rick Scott bought with almost $70 million of his own money. He is up for reelection and the Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell who is in a tight race with Scott.
With abortion on the ballot in Florida, hopefully Debbie can win this race.
And Senator Cruz in Texas is also in a tight race with Colin Allred.
It would be very beneficial to the Democrats if they could flip one or both of these seats.
I don’t think it was actually his money. He led the biggest Medicare scam ever in FL.
Debbie for Florida ! Phonebanking and textbanking opportunities⬇️
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/705746/
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/645766/
Two Texas cretins that are “enemies within.”
VERY, Gary.
Beneficial for humanity, beneficial for the world...
The extent to which money is allowed to weigh on electoral and legislative outcomes in our country is deeply corrupt, period. It's the one ring to corrupt them all, and keep democracy at bay.
I'm glad you make that comment, because it's something that confounds the foreign observer (as does the Electoral College). With each State governed under its own laws, an adversarial congress, and only lip-service paid to Washington's anti-colonial struggles in the 18th century, the Union has yet to be achieved. How would Washington deal with Mitch McConnell? Or Lincoln with Gym Jordan?
Yes Rowshan, 'disconcerting' meaning the fruit s of the 2020 'concert' would not have existed at all. But, note well, Heather's reminder about the narrow GA Victories of Warnock & Osoff igniting Biden's successful Presidency:
ARP - American Rescue Plan
BIA - Bipartisan Infrastructure Act
CHIPS & Science Act ... repeat and SCIENCE!
IRA - Inflation Reduction Act (Professor, I am posting the new deal victories alphabetically.)
PACT
SCA - Safer Communities Act
Repeat as Needed - Friday DOW close at 43,275.91; NASDAQ 18,849.55 (Hat tip NETFLIX)
HCR Political Moral: Control the Senate! We must pass the SCA - SCOTUS Control Act (I Made that Up)
LOVE the idea of a SCOTUS Control Act since the extremist majority clearly have no ability to control themselves or monitor themselves when it comes to questions of integrity, decency, honesty, morality, or ethical decision making.
I have had trouble finding it again but I recall a statement months ago from Roberts who seemed to be claiming (in response to calls for a $COTUS code of ethics) that no ethical code could be legality enforced on his court and that $COTUS judges, unlike others, are simply above any need for guidance. I they think the president is above the law, I sense that the Roberts gang thinks they are too (except I think the think that they get to decide which laws a president can break and which presidents get to do so.
Another verification of the statement that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Their names will go down in history as those who attempted to murder democracy. I pray they fail.
If Harris wins and the Dems take Congress back, the first thing they should do (but probably won't), is work to get rid of Citizen's United and shut off dark money spigot. It is beyond stupid when politicians are spending the GDP of several small countries to pay for elections, and the oligarchs are spending even more to pay for the politicians. We can also get rid of the never-ending campaign. If Harris's campaign has shown us anything, it's that we don't 4 years of electioneering. Give each candidate two months to get their policies out there and have at it. Oh, and limit the number of fundraising requests each campaign can send out. If I'm going to donate to a campaign, I'm going to give what I can, and I'm going to give once. Twenty-five thousand extra requests isn't going to change that.
Clarence Thomas, the tie-breaking vote that "gifted" us Citizen's United, was bought off by wealthy oligarchs.
So the greed of ONE MAN brought us where we are today.
Oh John Roberts wants his credit too
And let's work to get election day planted into a weekend, probably Sunday to get out more voters.
Actually, "election day" should be "election week" or "election month." I also like WA's mail-in ballot process.
Oregon has a similar one. I suspect our ballots are languishing in our mailbox; we're planning our household vote this weekend.
I got 2 emails from the California Secretary of State.
#1 - "We received your Ballot."
#2 - "We counted your Ballot."
T minus 17 ...
Needs to happen yesterday
When you give, the deluge gets worse. Why I hate to give early. It’s insane
Apologies from Montana. Too many rich carpetbaggers are buying offices here. Gianforte is another example. We used to be called the “Last, Best Place” state. That needs to be changed to the “Race to Last Place” state.
Don't forget Sheehy!!!!Zinke
That man has evil stamped on his forehead
Oh, I think Louisiana has a permanent lock on last place, don’t you?
So sad
Thank you so much for the history lesson. Montana is a great subject. It recently lost Brian Schweitzer and Steve Bullock, both immensely popular Democrats who worked with Republicans to enact greatly needed legislation serving the state. Demographics and the emerging lunacy of MAGAworld then allowed an out-of-state tech multimillionaire, Greg Gianforte, to win the governorship. He's another typically reactionary, dictatorial right wing idiot. And then you've got Ryan Zinke, the former Interior Secretary under Trump who was forced to resign under a cloud of corruption. He was elected to the House. It's a sad state of affairs, pun intended, to see Jon Tester, a native Montanan farmer, in the fight of his life to retain his Senate seat. The 1% have taken over the "last best place", buying up everything in sight.
Damn, it’s that green power. The cretins have been reading Ayn Ryan again. Did they ever stop.
We have Monic Tranel running against Zinke,. She was born & raised in MT. Steve Bullock D & Marc Racicot R sent out a letter to support candidates for the MT Supreme Court who are running against right wing candidates. It is encouraging to see the recognition of this whole election is NOT about party but our Constitutional form of Government!
Monica is great!!!
Yes. Besides the money, this race is different from other Tester races- the extreme lies from Sheehy, the racism from Sheehy. Such extreme lies and racism are new to Mt. Senate campaigns, I think. In any case, Tester , when I talked to him after a rally last week,, said this race is very different. He’d given his usual wonderful talk about what he’s done and what he stands for. Later, he said to me that maybe he should have talked more about Sheehys lies… that this race is different . There’s a reason Sheehy is pretty much in hiding these last few weeks.
Is he even lower than Zinke and Gianforte? He seems like a weasel.
Another powerful letter No idea about the history of this Thanks for teaching us this part of history Certainly know idea of buying a seat but this extreme in the past and present is shocking and frightening
We need to support the democratic senate candidates in these critical states Thanks Heather
I just donated to Jon Tester and will do to the 3 other Democrats running against those trying to buy senate seats💙
Even small amounts will help.
Elon Musk is trying to buy not only Trump's victory but 18 House seats. He has already pitched in over $75 million.
It's grotesque that one man can command so much money without doing any actual work.
And pay zip taxes and become too big to rein in. Chump would just hand over the reins. Unless Putin wanted them.
me too. I think this is the first election in which I've made multiple (small) donations to Senate candidates in other states.
Same here, lauriemcf. Tester, Brown, Galagos so far. I'm adding Allred to my list. I'm already inundated with emails and texts from campaigns. What's one more?
Except it’s not just “one more.” I donated to several out of state campaigns and now have dozens and dozens of requests (many sounding almost threatening) every day from candidates I never heard of and can’t afford to support. I’ve hit my limit of tithing ten percent of my income to Democrats. And if I respond STOP it doesn’t seem to matter because campaigns have an unlimited supply of “senders” who need to be individually stopped.
SELLING THE PRESIDENT 1968 was a best selling book about how Roger Ailes sold Richard Nixon into the presidency.
BUYING THE PRESIDENCY 2024 would describe how billionaires sought to buy the presidency for Donald Trump. The New York Times published an article on a cabal of billionaires, four of whom, have ‘invested’ over $350,000,000 in Trump’s campaign.
Elon Musk so far has ‘invested’ over $140,000,000 in Trump. A grandson of the Mellon fortune has ‘invested’ about $175,000,00. Ms. Adelson has passed the $100,000,000 mark.
As the NYT article highlights, neither Kamala Harris (nor President Biden) were for sale. However, billionaires were able to ‘buy’ the Trump (Vance) candidacy.
Trump’s ’election auction’ is undisguised.
1) In a dinner meeting with fossil fuel executives, he stated that his deregulation policies would save them billions of $$$. He asked them to invest $1,000,000,000 in his campaign.
2) Trump had been opposed to Bitcoin and crypto currency. Then he attended a crypto conference where he promised to support loose crypto regulation and having the federal government purchasing billions of dollars of crypto. In return he asked that crypto fat cats ‘invest’ fulsomely in his campaign. An article this week spoke of a concerted crypto ‘investment’ of at least $134,000,000 in Trump’s campaign.
3) Elon Musk, who not so long ago did not favor Trump, is now belly to belly with the guy. Trump had been leery about EV cars. Recently he spoke in Michigan about how he would insure that gas guzzlers would continue to be manufactured in the U.S.
From the other side of his month, he has encouraged the world’s richest billionaire to campaign with him. Musk has ‘invested’ at least $145,000,000 so far and is personally heading a richly funded group determined to buy Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes for Trump. [Musk has billions of $$$ of contracts with the federal government and benefits from EV consumer credits for his Teslas.]
“Dark” billionaire $$$ are flowing into the Trump campaign as fat cats buy into a possible Trump White House. They apparently seek to assure that their low fat cat taxes and loose regulations agenda are policy in a Trump White House.
According to the NYT, they are also opposed to immigration, which they see as a Democratic initiative to fill America with ‘foreigners’ who would vote Democratic.
‘Buying’ into a Trump administration includes the Senate, where a Republican majority would provide a hammer lock over Supreme Court nominations (even if Kamala Harris won) and over any efforts to legislate ‘fair taxes’ to support a robust physical and social infrastructure.
A blatant example was how Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel plucked ‘hill billy’ Vance from Yale Law School, provided him buckets of money in Silicon Valley, and then ‘invested’ $15,000,000 in Vance’s senatorial campaign. Vance is known as the ‘venture capital’ senator.
As Heather describes, a number of fat cats have been recruited as Republican senatorial candidates. In addition to ‘dark money,’ some of these candidates are personally able to ‘lend’ millions of $$$ to their campaigns.
I am reminded of J. Howard Pew in Pennsylvania, when I was a youngster. Head of Sun Oil, he sought to control the Pennsylvania legislature. During each election he would arrange to ‘rent’ a number of legislators. This continued until he had a sufficient roster. I recall stories of the competition by Republican legislators to be ‘rented’.
In addition to BUYING THE PRESIDENCY 2024 perhaps there should be a separate book: BUYING THE SENATE 2024.
As a number of billionaires have found: Harris/Walz are not for sale, but they can ‘buy’ Trump and rent senators to support their low tax, loose regulatory, and Stench Court judiciary priorities.
It appears that Elon Musk is doing the exact things that the Right has falsely claimed for years about George Soros.
Yep, they have raved ad nauseam about Soros being a Nazi sympathizer, now Elon is trying for that role, for real.
You did it again. Recap of the downfall of Republican “conservatism.” A misnomer from the gitgo.
Keith, this might be your best yet. Thank you.
Will it be greed that does US in? That and refusal to deal intelligently with climate change are closely linked.
Keith thank you for another Spot-On post. 🎯
As to MIRIAM ADELSON & per the NBC Political Desk, Miriam's Gaming money contributions actually started very early in the election cycle during the Nevada caucuses. Also, $95 Million of her gaming money funded the 'Preserve America PAC'.
As to ELON MUSK, in addition to his millions & his funding of America PAC, Trump has outsourced his election ground game to MUSK's control. Per Rolling Stone, Elon is botching the door-to-door ground game within 3 weeks of 11/5/24.
**** Plus, the Twitter Agit-Prop Center now 'X' is spewing dis & mis-information. Be alert to post-election MUSK propaganda everyone to 1/6/25 & beyond.
There are number of 'American Oligarchs', the Andreesens (plural) & others.
Seems all big money is gravitating to the evil of power
Perhaps I am being quaint, but why would people vote for McCormick and Hovde? Rich outsiders who haven’t built lives and livings in the state. What ever happened to the conservative preference for homegrown roots?
Conservatives have lost their souls, haven’t you noticed.
Because no one splits a ticket anymore.
It's a good question, KSC. Tester is a Monananan. The Other Guy is not. RepubliKKKans have lost their minds and sold their souls.
They like money more than homegrown roots.
Trump represents the traditional wealthy candidate who can attract people impressed not by policy but by the trappings of wealth. His interference in immigration legislation shows his policy credentials are phony. Harris, on the other hand, has lived a more middle class life and has proposed policies to expand the middle class. The choice should be clear. Why it is not challenges the mind.
Money buys propaganda, propaganda rules the fools. Texas is proof
Excellent summary of the Ron Johnson saga in Wisconsin! Money bought propaganda and propaganda bought the fools.
That’s all I can call them. They are not just people with policy differences. I detect racism, misogyny, and jealousy, even among MAGAts in my family. They would deny this of course, as the right gives such self-righteous reasons for hate (Christianity, patriotism, and self-reliance). Hope they like having Project 2025 crammed down their throats, no SS, Medicare, required god of their choice, and God, where did the people who did the “black” jobs go, not to mention the middle class. Ron is the best example of what repubs are these days. An enemy within.
Trump is an example of how people are impressed by superficial celebrity and vote for the “celebrity.”
It seems that our election cycles need to be shorter. Joe Biden may go down in history for having tried to reverse the fortunes of the American people by putting the power back with the people, and redistributing the wealth somewhat. The super wealthy don't need to have all that money. I don't care whether they were able to earn it or not with their investment portfolios. It is a scandal that the White House may be bought by the Bad Boy Billionaire Tech Bros. We are then a country for sale to the highest bidder. That virtually makes these people royalty as they are able to rule over us without consequence or our agreement. The media, also being owned by Oligarchs, is supporting their grabs for power.
Get money out of politics. That is the only way. But easier to say than to do. :-/
The 2010 Citizens United decision pretty much nullified the Seventeenth Amendment. It is the poison that is destroying American democracy.
The 1890’s were not just the gilded age. They used their wealth and power to rewrite state constitutions which ushered in Jim Crow. It’s frightening to think that all the MAGA needs is two Senate seats to entrench Jim Crow II for decades.
Putin and Xi must be grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats. We are at a perilous juncture!
That + gutting Voting Rights Act because, according to Joh Roberts, it was no longer needed.
They are waiting in the wings. Capitalism perverted
Or, perhaps....democracy perverted by capitalism unchecked?
That works