Prof. Richardson refers to "Republicans desperate to spin the deadly attack as a reflection of political violence on both sides of the aisle...or—appallingly and without evidence—of a gay tryst gone bad."
Why not mention that the richest man in the world, now the owner of the most influential social media platform in the world, was the…
Prof. Richardson refers to "Republicans desperate to spin the deadly attack as a reflection of political violence on both sides of the aisle...or—appallingly and without evidence—of a gay tryst gone bad."
Why not mention that the richest man in the world, now the owner of the most influential social media platform in the world, was the most prominent source of the rumor that the Speaker's octogenarian husband is the victim not of an attack by a manicacal political assassin but "of a gay tryst gone bad"?
Nothing seems more consequential to me, even Bolsonaro's defeat, than the takeover of Twitter and Musk's posting a malignant apologia for attempted murder on his first full day at work as Dear Leader.
Mary, I suggest no worries, Musk as 'Chief Twit' is not a big deal. First, a Bolsonaro win had the chance to turn the Amazon jungle from our largest 'carbon sink' into a net carbon emitter and essentially end any chance of avoiding the worst of climate change. Second, Musk horribly over paid for Twitter, he said so explicitly! LMAO! Bought at top of market. He is firing 50% of employees. Jack Dorsey (founder of Twitter) has already started a competitor called Blue Sky. He is flush with cash from Musk’s overpayment! After Twitter fires 50% of its employees, Dorsey can hire his old staff and eat Twitter for lunch using Musk's money. Tesla shares are down dramatically on worries Musk's attention will be diverted, doubling his miserly and mistake. EPIC bad purchase, causes epic negative change in Musk's fortunes and maybe epic good for society. GM has already suspended advertising on Twitter.
Actually I think we must pay attention to Musk and every billionaire who thinks he’s more powerful than our Democracy, our constitution, our laws. I just posted this link yesterday in Robert Reich. The very nature of our sinking Democracy, to allow tax laws and privileges to benefit the wealthy and corporations means out of control billionaires like Musk can own and control and evidently say, whatever they choose. Our courts have given away powers. Changing campaign limits changed the power of the wealthy and of corporations to influence elections. Connect the dots as we witness the erosion of protection for our Democracy. From a Brennan Center report : “This is perhaps the most troubling result of Citizens United: in a time of historic wealth inequality,” wrote Weiner, “the decision has helped reinforce the growing sense that our democracy primarily serves the interests of the wealthy few, and that democratic participation for the vast majority of citizens is of relatively little value.”
As long as those with the wealth have the "loudest" voices we can not have a functioning democracy. If only those voices were committed to the facts/truth.
And near the root of income inequality is the racism that encourages a significant portion of the U.S. population -- maybe over half of the white population -- to fall in line behind the super-wealthy, who of course are enthusiastically funding every candidate and officeholder who calls every attempt to deal with income inequality "socialism."
In the booklet, On Tyranny, 20 Lessons from the 20th Century by Timothy Snyder, 2017, the Prologue begins: "History does not repeat, but it does instruct. As the Founding Fathers debated our Constitution, they took instruction from the history they knew. Concerned that the democratic republic they envisioned would collapse, they contemplated the descent of ancient democracies and republics into oligarchy and empire. As they knew, Aristotle warned that inequality brought instability, while Plato believed that demagogues exploited free speech to install themselves as tyrants. In founding a democratic republic upon law and establishing a system of checks and balances, the Founding Fathers sought to avoid the evil that they, like the ancient philosophers, called tyranny. They had in mind the usurption of power by a single individual or group, or the circumvention of law by rulers for their own benefit. Much of the succeeding political debate in the United States has concerned the problem of tyranny within American society …"
I also love the pithy Quote before the Prologue, "In politics, being deceived is no excuse." Leszek Kolakowski, Polish philosopher and historian.
When I read this, I reached for my copy of 'On Tyranny' but it wasn't there. I had given it to someone to read. I would hope they did the same. Anyhow, inexpensive used copies are available on Amazon.
I have to make a plea here.....why help Bezos. Here in Oregon we have the wonderful bookstore, Powell's, which is both new and used. I just placed a large order with them yesterday for Christmas presents. My husband and I give each other books, one at a time, and when finished, we get another one.
Here is South Florida, we do not have bookstores like Powells or the Strand in NYC. They usually fail leaving Barnes & Noble as the only choice. As an Amazon Prime member (getting free shipping and Prime streaming TV), I reluctantly support Bezos. But he does own the Washington Post, if that matters.
I don't need to cite or quote statistics, we've all heard the stories of the number of Americans with ZERO saved for retirement. We've seen the gaping divide between the 1% and the rest of us in terms of wealth. We have people living in trailer courts--heck, there was the 60 minute story of people in Alabama with NO SEWAGE SYSTEM., while others, like Mehmet Oz own several mansions.
But those with so little will elect the wealthy to give more to the wealthy.
Before the New Deal reforms, retirement meant sitting on one's adult children's or grandchildren's porch in a rocking chair sipping lemonade, and sleeping in their spare room. This is what the Republicans offer to those who count on them to M. A. G. A. ..... but how great was that kind of retirement anyway? And with families spread out all over the country these days, that is no longer possible, and whatever happened to those front porches?
Perhaps we should better structure our economy so that we don't have billionaires. Even with the steady growth of the planet's total worth, their presence makes it difficult to acheive a fairer, although still unequal, distribution of that wealth among its inhabitants. They should be taxed down to the status of mere millionaires.
The Powerball right now is more than $1 billion. That's an obscene amount of money and more evidence of our social sickness. If I were in charge, I'd make a million million-dollar winners. And if I won, I would do a heck of a lot to help erase income inequality (maybe I'd keep a measly million for myself)....
You are whimsically commenting on this, but many millions of American take the investment they make in Powerball tickets very seriously. And some who can least afford it, spend $20, $50 or much more on them. (When I spend a few bucks on the slots in a casino just for fun, I look around me at those pouring twenty dollar bill after twenty dollar bill into those machines, in the hope of hitting it big, and I know from just looking at them that they can't afford it.) At least the casino games return about 80% of their take as prize money while the lotteries only return about half of their take. There's one born every minute.
There’s a theme here. Odd kids get bullied. They amass personal power one way or another when they grow up. If they’re actual geniuses, as Musk is, they find ways to “show us” they’re in charge now. Bottom line, there’s a theme here.
Completely agree. But the deep seated reactions that play out in the bullied kids head are what we end up dealing with. Musk is the poster child. But we should remember the school shootings by kids who were bullied. Action/reaction.
Reducing bullying by kids is a mission and a critical goal. But bullying isn't going to go away anymore than jealousy and anger. There will always be kids who bully. So how to deal with this?
Red flags go up around these victims if we pay attention and provide support and redirection early on. But that would require a commitment to mental health and money to help these young people - before they become monsters. Neither one of these things are important in our selfish "ME FIRST" society.
When I worked at jr high, my principal would not tolerate bullies. I went with him to bus stops, and other places to deal with such. Word got around, especially after he made popular bully be a protector in the lunchroom for a bullied kid. Needs to come from the top.
There's good news on this front over the past 20 years - Aspergers is on the list of "disabilities" covered by the ADA so schools are now required to support them. With early intervention and counseling, the kid gets the kind of help that would have made me a successful writer in my 20s rather than my late 40s after I worked it all out myself.
Yes, it still happens, but a kid like Musk would have been "rescued" before it got as bad as it did for him, with things as they are now.
It’s always important to recognize learning needs, differences and disabilities as well as the high achievers. However that’s two different issues. Our government regulations, laws, courts and structure allow the economic power and economic disparities. And that is equal opportunity for anyone with family money, good luck or smart economic strategy. Or corrupt and /or evil intentions.
Look at all the monster, bully role models children and adults have in politics and media, and in our Oval office in the prior, so-called "administration." Sickos should not be allowed in politics, social media or have guns...and hammers.
He excuses his own evil. Stop the whining. Most kids with Asperger’s never take it out on the whole world. And yes, I am familiar with the bullying kids do. Also with the bullying the cult does to us all.
Asperger's is just one of the many, many things that make kids the object of bullying. It often starts at home in that some kids are left more defenseless or are bullied and belittled at home. Where was Musk's father, for example? Anyway, mental and emotional health is important for all. As I finish the sections Conclusions and recommendations sections of my ridiculously long and took forever to write book about former gifted kids now grown up (longitudinal "very qualitative" study) social and emotional issues and differences only add to the complexity of lives for my subjects. Siblings, parents, classmates ... some kids are more resilient than others ... but often those who are more resilient had enough qualities to attract admirers, protectors, have enough confidence ... whatever. So complex and yet so clear in so many ways. I love you guys!
Jeri - those kids with Aspergers do take it out more than you think, and the ones who don't wish they could. There is a LOT of pent-up anger and frustration there. Trust me, I know.
There is indeed. I was one of them (not as bad as what I have read about him), got out of there three days after graduation, have never been back to anything associated with school. But have made sure to provide information for the reunions. Loved it a few years ago when one of my friends told me after the 30th that one of the "golden kids" who was one of the tormentors saw my entry and exclaimed "He's more famous than all of us!" I plead guilty to feeling very "fuck you" at that moment.
In a funny way, if I went back there now, I would say "thank you for all you did" to them. It might sound perverse, but what happened made me react in a way that led to being who I am now, rather than accepting "this is the way things are" as they did and going nowhere.
I dunno TC. I don't think he's that bad. I don't agree with his politics, but he has provided society with some very useful things, in contrast to other authoritarians like tfg, who really have contributed nothing.
Hmmm, good authoritarians v. bad authoritarians in the present tense. Behavior of Musk, in present tense, may influence your opinion of him. As for the how authoritarians are affecting democracy, the following was excerpted from a recent report by Freedom House:
'Authoritarians in every region are working together to consolidate power and accelerate their attacks on democracy and human rights, according to Freedom in the World 2022: The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule. Political rights and civil liberties have declined worldwide for each of the past 16 years, raising the prospect that autocracy could overtake democracy as the governance model guiding international standards of behavior.'
'Checks on abuse of power and human rights violations have eroded within nations and international organizations alike, dealing a serious blow to democracy’s foundations and reputation. Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, and elsewhere have gained greater power in the international system, and freer countries have seen their established democratic norms challenged and fractured.'
'A total of 60 countries suffered declines in political rights and civil liberties over the past year, while only 25 improved. Fewer countries experienced net improvements in 2021 than in any other year since the current period of global democratic decline began. As of today, some 38 percent of the world’s people live in countries rated Not Free, the highest proportion since 1997. Only two in 10 people live in Free countries.'(FreedomHouse) See link to report below.
Yes, when he "sticks to what he knows that interests him" he's good at things. Elsewhere he's a moron, and because he has $200 billion to finance being a moron, that's dangerous.
The potential karmic justice here is the fickle nature of the consumer public. Is anyone old enough to remember AOL? Then gmail, then Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and ALL the fringe also-ran platforms whose names have already been forgotten. Twitter, for all of its many millions of tweet-ers, followers, influencers, ( ), ( ), will turn the corner and become passe when the 15 minute attention span of the public finds the next latest concept. Musk's 42 billion could evaporate like an ice cube in the hot sun with nothing more than a few highly insulting tweets and the coincident arrival of a younger, more sexy social media platform. His form of venture capital hunger to devour anything and everything around him is happening because he CAN. He can lose 99.9% of his wealth and still be a multi-millionaire 100 times over. I say, let him...eat all you can, until you choke on it, Elon. Then slink back to the world of tech, where you actually HAVE done some remarkable things.
Diminishing Marginal Utility . . . a well studied psychological and economic concept. As I often said "less is often more". This is obviously in direct conflict with capitalism where economic growth is measured by more.
We constantly hear "spend more, spend more" and the media exploits it all. This year spending on Halloween alone is expected to be "a record $10.6 billion, exceeding last year's record of $10.1 billion". ($3.3 billion in 2005) That amount of money hasn't made Halloween any more fun or memorable to kids today versus the much less expensive days of old!
And, of course, we're all aware of the shopping mantra, marketing, and pressures to spend everything we've got in the 4thQ of the year or the economy will collapse!!! Christmas items were on full display at Lowe's inn September. Bigger and more expensive houses has not made for a happier society . . . so on and so forth.
And, all of this results in a throw away society that we have been commenting on for decades . . . most recently in the Boston Globe regarding new disposal restrictions in clothing, furniture, mattress disposal in Massachusetts that begins on November 1st.
You articulated one of my biggest gripes. I detest living in a throw away society. My small town keeps tearing down and rebuilding young buildings. My town has a very poor maintenance plan. I cry seeing the waste. When will we ever learn?
House across the street was built new about ten years ago. Sold this year for asking price $4.5 million, but new owners apparently don’t like its style, as contractors have been there for six weeks. More money than sense?
I've just spent a remarkable 12 days in Paris, France, where the 20 +/- hour work week ables leisure life, together with friends, over discussion, drink and cigarettes. Who could ask for more - but for less smoke! I
And we've never been more satisfied without seeing the sun for nearly two weeks!
It is a good site to explore regarding issues of sustainability, ‘de-growth’ ideas, the vanishing of ‘the commons’, and how there should be alternatives to the idea of the ‘GDP’ being the indicator of a healthy economy….worth perusing their archives on such topics.
As a craftsperson I have at times had to make my own tools to execute a design. This has taught me I don't need to run out and buy every little thing I thing I need. This has led me to question every purchase. How goods are made, packaged and delivered are of concern to me. I oppose gadgets with a vengeance. I often try to make what I need first. I love living in an uncluttered environment. I hate dusting and cleaning so I don't own stuff that needs to be dusted and cleaned. Less is definitely more for me. I have everything I need. My biggest stress today is will my country survive the hateful upheaval? Hopefully we will smarten up ( doubtful ) & Elon Musk is nothing more than an annoying mosquito.
That used to be the way of things a long time ago. And antiques were & are much more valuable (not only financially) than the new cheaply made "stuff". If it was necessary for everyone to "question every purchase" - rather than to use a credit card - we'd be in a lot better shape personally & country wise (or global wise). But currently, not only adults, but children, have been taught that anything they want - they can have - one way or another. Of course, that does not include people living in poverty! Which are many here in this country.
Barbara - thank you for that link. I think about economic growth all the time. The planet is finite, but our economic system treats it as if it is infinite. That may have been OK in the distant past, when humanity's global impact was much less. But now it is catastrophic. Unfettered capitalism, and the quest for ever continuing growth is now the enemy. As is hyper-religiousity especially of the Christian type, where scientific advancement is replaced by blind faith in obsolete ideas thousands of year old. Both turn a blind eye to the reality of the planet we live on. Years ago I would have never admitted I would one day think this way. But now it seems a no-brainer. It would be great to snap one's fingers and turn it around. But I fear human nature, which is not all that different from the nature of any other species wanting to survive in the near term, is incapable of paying enough attention to the long term, and will pay the price. Almost all species who have lived on earth over the eons are extinct.
Actually, for my husband and I it hasn't been difficult. We lost millions in the crash of 2008-09. Had to sell our home for nothing. Lived in an RV for 11 years - traveling for the first two - and it was a blast. Left the U.S. in 2019 to live in Europe where living is so much simpler, easier, and happier. It depends upon the ability to make lemon margaritas out of lemons.
Hubby was diagnosed with Alz end of 07, so missed any chance for such a margarita. Would have loved it. Next 15 years devoted to “downsizing,” the ultimate less is more…
Not everyone feels that way, but advertising pushes people in that direction. Wealthy people have to worry about their security more than ordinary people do. I am happy not to live in a gated community or to imagine my child being kidnapped for ransom.
"If democracy-minded people don’t seize control of the information environment, powerful sociopathic autocrats will do so instead. We leave a power vacuum open at our peril, and at the moment, Musk and Putin are the ones with the most will to fill it."
Warning bells went off with this:¨Musk and his backers believe that the global geopolitical arena was being warped by too much “woke” ideology and censorship, and wanted to fix that by first restoring voices that had previously been silenced —and then implementing technical and algorithmic solutions that allow each user to get the experience they want.¨
A very interesting piece, and quite disturbing. I recall the anti computer voices decades back, who suggested that the technology would be the undoing of us. Money = Power. It appears that some very strange people can end up with world altering power.
He's a rather dangerous philanthropist--too rich to be "bullied" by advisors, too badly educated to have humility or do research into his whims and notions. I exaggerate for clarity, but it is never safe to have public goods dictated or serviced by individuals.
'Elon Musk Says Twitter Will Give Blue Checks Only to Verified Conspiracy Theorists'
'SAN FRANCISCO (The Borowitz Report)—In a policy shift, Twitter announced that it will bestow blue checks only on users it called “verified conspiracy theorists.”
'Elon Musk, the platform’s new owner, said that the policy was designed to “curate a world-class collection of the most prominent paranoiacs working today.”
“We will be vetting conspiracy theorists to insure that they have an established track record of disseminating falsehoods,” he said. “For the benefit of our users, we want to make a clear distinction between the Dinesh D’Souzas of the world and some rookie crackpot hoping to become a major-league crackpot.” (Satire, NewYorker)
Suz-an, I read the description you wrote about your father, his politics, personality and the impact on you and your sister. I imagine that your writing would be helpful to many who suffered from that kind of 'authority'. 🍎 Thank you and a NYC apple for your teaching, imagine a million more of them, Suz-an.
The "Reagan Revolution" and the subsequent devolution of the Republican Party has greatly magnified the power of great sums of money over "government of the people, by the people, for the people". Considering that the two "high Crimes and Misdemeanors" that the Constitution spells out, for which "the President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction" are "Treason" and "Bribery". it is difficult to square the current influence of huge fortunes over electoral, legislative, and societal events with the form of governance the Constitution prescribes, especially in it's current, amended form. The goal of the former "Party of Lincoln" now appears closer to refeudalization.
Leigh's calling out candidates pretending to be democrats- it happened here. I was handing out sample democratic ballots outside our voting office. There was a democrat's tent on one side of the sidewalk and a republican's across the way. Two supporters for republicans, one a candidate for mayor and the other school board, stood on our side, insisting their candidate is non-partisan. The current mayor asked them to stand on the other side and they politely refused. Guess they didn't want to stand with the losing team.
Thanks Christine. An example of the hideous tsunami of money and lies they saved up till the last month, just when we were all down to wondering which our last $10 donation would have to be....
Exactly. I am content being a $10 donor to several campaigns dedicated to democracy than giving a $million to traitors intent on changing democracy to something unacceptable resembling a gaseous bag of hot stinking air.
Absolutely!!! Including Google. Yes it's a pain and it's difficult to switch to a different browser, but we have the power to shut down the $$$ of all corporations who are working against us.
We need to get a list published. There must be a way to do that... I will look into this. Having been a radio executive for 20+ years, there were readily available reports on advertiser lists.
It shows how much $$$ companies give to which political parties. I’ll be switching insurance companies due to my current insurance company donates to Republicans
that's fantastic! I was feeling better until at this very. moment I saw that Roberts issued a freeze on the release of trump's taxes... what kind of b.s. is this/ I can't wait for heather's talk today!
"Nothing seems more consequential to me, even Bolsonaro's defeat, than the takeover of Twitter and Musk's posting a malignant apologia for attempted murder on his first full day at work as Dear Leader."
Not to mention that, apparently, a fair bit of the funding that Musk has received to buy twitter came from China and certainly the fact that he is groveling at the feet of the Chinese to keep his manufacturing access and access to Lithium won't help Twitter either.
China comes to twitter through Musk.
I am glad I never acquired an account. No tracking.
I too am so sickened by these tragic events but the fact that this sociopathic wizard is controlling what amounts to being the 'airwaves' is terrifying! There must be a viable alternative! That monster is poisoning our water supply!
Mary, I believe that her paragraph about Mika Brzezinski's comments on Morning Joe had an oblique reference to The Twit. My guess is that she didn't want to give him more oxygen. He promises to be a new layer to the discord that TFG has sown. Since he is really a billionaire, he's even more dangerous than the about-to-be-broke wannabe billionaire.
Respectfuly Nancy, Heather Cox Richardson can't realistically starve Elon Musk of oxygen. She can however pay attention to the danger we in the Real World are suffering, have suffered, will suffer (look at the UK) from billionaires who create alternate realities that undermine our ability to function as a democracy. Or to frame our future, in the face of the overwhelming obstacles (uncluding multiple simultaneous pandemics) that climate change is hatching.
Mary, of course Heather cannot starve Musk or any other prominent person of oxygen. However, as many mainstream news outlets have done, it appears that Heather is attempting in this forum to refuse him the notoriety he so craves. You are correct that we are in the grip of malevolent tyrants who are manipulating the world for their own ends. Heather alone can't control the tide, but she can put it in perspective, as she has done throughout our recent travails. The best we can do is to arm ourselves with knowledge, refuse to be victims of disinformation, and vote - while we still can.
I have tried to deactivate/delete my Twitter account and Twitter is not allowing me to deactivate. I get an error message with a request to try again later. Anyone else have that issue?
I managed to trigger a "review" of my account status & received a confirmation of my request which "may take days". If that does not work. I will try reposting my comment about the Chief Twit to see I can get barred ASAP.
It takes a month of deactivation. If you do not use it during that time, they are supposed to delete your account. But all bets are off now with the Dear Leader owner.
Actually no. It really is important to stay on and continue to speak truth and support truth. Including on the posts of the swamptoads. Staying silent is contributing to their power.
It is too much like reading faux news with the vitriol. I got sick this morning. I can still read it, but am deactivated. Giving nothing to fascists and corporations who support twitter. Keeping my mind for better things. And that is coming from a professional fox troller!!
I do not and have never had a Twitter account, but I respectfully disagree with you. I think that as long as there are millions of accounts to feed his revenue, you can post whatever truths you want and it won't matter a damn. The only thing that matters to these billionaires is MONEY. Hit them in the pocketbook.
Yes ‘a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with gun’…JUST like in Uvalde and Parkland…where tons of cops sat outside while kids are being shot, too afraid to confront the shooter for over an hour! MTG assumes at 4-5am when Paul Pelosi gets up to pee he would have his gun holstered under his PJs. Can’t say enough bad things about that moron MTG!!
I opined last night that instead of "Chief Twit", Musk should be dubbed "Chief Troll". If this is any indication of the future, I suspect there will be a mass exodus from Twitter, both of users and staffers.
Prof. Richardson refers to "Republicans desperate to spin the deadly attack as a reflection of political violence on both sides of the aisle...or—appallingly and without evidence—of a gay tryst gone bad."
Why not mention that the richest man in the world, now the owner of the most influential social media platform in the world, was the most prominent source of the rumor that the Speaker's octogenarian husband is the victim not of an attack by a manicacal political assassin but "of a gay tryst gone bad"?
Nothing seems more consequential to me, even Bolsonaro's defeat, than the takeover of Twitter and Musk's posting a malignant apologia for attempted murder on his first full day at work as Dear Leader.
Mary, I suggest no worries, Musk as 'Chief Twit' is not a big deal. First, a Bolsonaro win had the chance to turn the Amazon jungle from our largest 'carbon sink' into a net carbon emitter and essentially end any chance of avoiding the worst of climate change. Second, Musk horribly over paid for Twitter, he said so explicitly! LMAO! Bought at top of market. He is firing 50% of employees. Jack Dorsey (founder of Twitter) has already started a competitor called Blue Sky. He is flush with cash from Musk’s overpayment! After Twitter fires 50% of its employees, Dorsey can hire his old staff and eat Twitter for lunch using Musk's money. Tesla shares are down dramatically on worries Musk's attention will be diverted, doubling his miserly and mistake. EPIC bad purchase, causes epic negative change in Musk's fortunes and maybe epic good for society. GM has already suspended advertising on Twitter.
Actually I think we must pay attention to Musk and every billionaire who thinks he’s more powerful than our Democracy, our constitution, our laws. I just posted this link yesterday in Robert Reich. The very nature of our sinking Democracy, to allow tax laws and privileges to benefit the wealthy and corporations means out of control billionaires like Musk can own and control and evidently say, whatever they choose. Our courts have given away powers. Changing campaign limits changed the power of the wealthy and of corporations to influence elections. Connect the dots as we witness the erosion of protection for our Democracy. From a Brennan Center report : “This is perhaps the most troubling result of Citizens United: in a time of historic wealth inequality,” wrote Weiner, “the decision has helped reinforce the growing sense that our democracy primarily serves the interests of the wealthy few, and that democratic participation for the vast majority of citizens is of relatively little value.”
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained
6
Income inequality is at the root of the vast majority of our problems. My response addressed Mary’s particular worry.
As long as those with the wealth have the "loudest" voices we can not have a functioning democracy. If only those voices were committed to the facts/truth.
...if only.....
And near the root of income inequality is the racism that encourages a significant portion of the U.S. population -- maybe over half of the white population -- to fall in line behind the super-wealthy, who of course are enthusiastically funding every candidate and officeholder who calls every attempt to deal with income inequality "socialism."
In the booklet, On Tyranny, 20 Lessons from the 20th Century by Timothy Snyder, 2017, the Prologue begins: "History does not repeat, but it does instruct. As the Founding Fathers debated our Constitution, they took instruction from the history they knew. Concerned that the democratic republic they envisioned would collapse, they contemplated the descent of ancient democracies and republics into oligarchy and empire. As they knew, Aristotle warned that inequality brought instability, while Plato believed that demagogues exploited free speech to install themselves as tyrants. In founding a democratic republic upon law and establishing a system of checks and balances, the Founding Fathers sought to avoid the evil that they, like the ancient philosophers, called tyranny. They had in mind the usurption of power by a single individual or group, or the circumvention of law by rulers for their own benefit. Much of the succeeding political debate in the United States has concerned the problem of tyranny within American society …"
I also love the pithy Quote before the Prologue, "In politics, being deceived is no excuse." Leszek Kolakowski, Polish philosopher and historian.
When I read this, I reached for my copy of 'On Tyranny' but it wasn't there. I had given it to someone to read. I would hope they did the same. Anyhow, inexpensive used copies are available on Amazon.
I have to make a plea here.....why help Bezos. Here in Oregon we have the wonderful bookstore, Powell's, which is both new and used. I just placed a large order with them yesterday for Christmas presents. My husband and I give each other books, one at a time, and when finished, we get another one.
Here is South Florida, we do not have bookstores like Powells or the Strand in NYC. They usually fail leaving Barnes & Noble as the only choice. As an Amazon Prime member (getting free shipping and Prime streaming TV), I reluctantly support Bezos. But he does own the Washington Post, if that matters.
This, THIS, is what makes me so incredulous!!
I don't need to cite or quote statistics, we've all heard the stories of the number of Americans with ZERO saved for retirement. We've seen the gaping divide between the 1% and the rest of us in terms of wealth. We have people living in trailer courts--heck, there was the 60 minute story of people in Alabama with NO SEWAGE SYSTEM., while others, like Mehmet Oz own several mansions.
But those with so little will elect the wealthy to give more to the wealthy.
It boggles the mind.
Before the New Deal reforms, retirement meant sitting on one's adult children's or grandchildren's porch in a rocking chair sipping lemonade, and sleeping in their spare room. This is what the Republicans offer to those who count on them to M. A. G. A. ..... but how great was that kind of retirement anyway? And with families spread out all over the country these days, that is no longer possible, and whatever happened to those front porches?
Perhaps we should better structure our economy so that we don't have billionaires. Even with the steady growth of the planet's total worth, their presence makes it difficult to acheive a fairer, although still unequal, distribution of that wealth among its inhabitants. They should be taxed down to the status of mere millionaires.
The Powerball right now is more than $1 billion. That's an obscene amount of money and more evidence of our social sickness. If I were in charge, I'd make a million million-dollar winners. And if I won, I would do a heck of a lot to help erase income inequality (maybe I'd keep a measly million for myself)....
You are whimsically commenting on this, but many millions of American take the investment they make in Powerball tickets very seriously. And some who can least afford it, spend $20, $50 or much more on them. (When I spend a few bucks on the slots in a casino just for fun, I look around me at those pouring twenty dollar bill after twenty dollar bill into those machines, in the hope of hitting it big, and I know from just looking at them that they can't afford it.) At least the casino games return about 80% of their take as prize money while the lotteries only return about half of their take. There's one born every minute.
Ike’s budget??
I guess that's why some in his old Party call him a 'commie.'
Muck used to get chased and beaten up when he was a weird kid. He needs to get chased and beaten up by the financial system for being a weird moron.
There’s a theme here. Odd kids get bullied. They amass personal power one way or another when they grow up. If they’re actual geniuses, as Musk is, they find ways to “show us” they’re in charge now. Bottom line, there’s a theme here.
Musk has said he has Aspergers. Many kids with Aspergers are bullied because their deportment isn’t typical. It’s never, never justified.
Completely agree. But the deep seated reactions that play out in the bullied kids head are what we end up dealing with. Musk is the poster child. But we should remember the school shootings by kids who were bullied. Action/reaction.
Reducing bullying by kids is a mission and a critical goal. But bullying isn't going to go away anymore than jealousy and anger. There will always be kids who bully. So how to deal with this?
Red flags go up around these victims if we pay attention and provide support and redirection early on. But that would require a commitment to mental health and money to help these young people - before they become monsters. Neither one of these things are important in our selfish "ME FIRST" society.
When I worked at jr high, my principal would not tolerate bullies. I went with him to bus stops, and other places to deal with such. Word got around, especially after he made popular bully be a protector in the lunchroom for a bullied kid. Needs to come from the top.
There's good news on this front over the past 20 years - Aspergers is on the list of "disabilities" covered by the ADA so schools are now required to support them. With early intervention and counseling, the kid gets the kind of help that would have made me a successful writer in my 20s rather than my late 40s after I worked it all out myself.
Yes, it still happens, but a kid like Musk would have been "rescued" before it got as bad as it did for him, with things as they are now.
It’s always important to recognize learning needs, differences and disabilities as well as the high achievers. However that’s two different issues. Our government regulations, laws, courts and structure allow the economic power and economic disparities. And that is equal opportunity for anyone with family money, good luck or smart economic strategy. Or corrupt and /or evil intentions.
Look at all the monster, bully role models children and adults have in politics and media, and in our Oval office in the prior, so-called "administration." Sickos should not be allowed in politics, social media or have guns...and hammers.
He excuses his own evil. Stop the whining. Most kids with Asperger’s never take it out on the whole world. And yes, I am familiar with the bullying kids do. Also with the bullying the cult does to us all.
Asperger's is just one of the many, many things that make kids the object of bullying. It often starts at home in that some kids are left more defenseless or are bullied and belittled at home. Where was Musk's father, for example? Anyway, mental and emotional health is important for all. As I finish the sections Conclusions and recommendations sections of my ridiculously long and took forever to write book about former gifted kids now grown up (longitudinal "very qualitative" study) social and emotional issues and differences only add to the complexity of lives for my subjects. Siblings, parents, classmates ... some kids are more resilient than others ... but often those who are more resilient had enough qualities to attract admirers, protectors, have enough confidence ... whatever. So complex and yet so clear in so many ways. I love you guys!
Jeri - those kids with Aspergers do take it out more than you think, and the ones who don't wish they could. There is a LOT of pent-up anger and frustration there. Trust me, I know.
I can’t justify bullying by anyone. It is always wrong, regardless of who/which side is doing it.
TFG's mostly an orange sociopath, at least he seems that way to me. Traumatized growing up, yes. Unlikely Asperger dude tho ... is my guess.
There is indeed. I was one of them (not as bad as what I have read about him), got out of there three days after graduation, have never been back to anything associated with school. But have made sure to provide information for the reunions. Loved it a few years ago when one of my friends told me after the 30th that one of the "golden kids" who was one of the tormentors saw my entry and exclaimed "He's more famous than all of us!" I plead guilty to feeling very "fuck you" at that moment.
In a funny way, if I went back there now, I would say "thank you for all you did" to them. It might sound perverse, but what happened made me react in a way that led to being who I am now, rather than accepting "this is the way things are" as they did and going nowhere.
You definitely hit the nail on the head. You've described one who never got help and the awfulness that can result perfectly.
Mush isn't a genius.
He is proving he might be more like an "idiot savant."
Genius, not genius, it is in the eye and viewpoint of the beholder.
I dunno TC. I don't think he's that bad. I don't agree with his politics, but he has provided society with some very useful things, in contrast to other authoritarians like tfg, who really have contributed nothing.
Hmmm, good authoritarians v. bad authoritarians in the present tense. Behavior of Musk, in present tense, may influence your opinion of him. As for the how authoritarians are affecting democracy, the following was excerpted from a recent report by Freedom House:
'Authoritarians in every region are working together to consolidate power and accelerate their attacks on democracy and human rights, according to Freedom in the World 2022: The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule. Political rights and civil liberties have declined worldwide for each of the past 16 years, raising the prospect that autocracy could overtake democracy as the governance model guiding international standards of behavior.'
'Checks on abuse of power and human rights violations have eroded within nations and international organizations alike, dealing a serious blow to democracy’s foundations and reputation. Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, and elsewhere have gained greater power in the international system, and freer countries have seen their established democratic norms challenged and fractured.'
'A total of 60 countries suffered declines in political rights and civil liberties over the past year, while only 25 improved. Fewer countries experienced net improvements in 2021 than in any other year since the current period of global democratic decline began. As of today, some 38 percent of the world’s people live in countries rated Not Free, the highest proportion since 1997. Only two in 10 people live in Free countries.'(FreedomHouse) See link to report below.
https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-report-authoritarian-rule-challenging-democracy-dominant-global-model
Fern, did you just send me an email regarding your niece?!
Yes, when he "sticks to what he knows that interests him" he's good at things. Elsewhere he's a moron, and because he has $200 billion to finance being a moron, that's dangerous.
His contributions are heading into the shadows of his dysfunction....
Amen!
The potential karmic justice here is the fickle nature of the consumer public. Is anyone old enough to remember AOL? Then gmail, then Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and ALL the fringe also-ran platforms whose names have already been forgotten. Twitter, for all of its many millions of tweet-ers, followers, influencers, ( ), ( ), will turn the corner and become passe when the 15 minute attention span of the public finds the next latest concept. Musk's 42 billion could evaporate like an ice cube in the hot sun with nothing more than a few highly insulting tweets and the coincident arrival of a younger, more sexy social media platform. His form of venture capital hunger to devour anything and everything around him is happening because he CAN. He can lose 99.9% of his wealth and still be a multi-millionaire 100 times over. I say, let him...eat all you can, until you choke on it, Elon. Then slink back to the world of tech, where you actually HAVE done some remarkable things.
Personally, I think we need to focus on ‘enough’ not ‘more’: https://www.resilience.org/stories/2022-10-28/settling-on-enough/?mc_cid=20cb5e2a49&mc_eid=7920841364
Diminishing Marginal Utility . . . a well studied psychological and economic concept. As I often said "less is often more". This is obviously in direct conflict with capitalism where economic growth is measured by more.
We constantly hear "spend more, spend more" and the media exploits it all. This year spending on Halloween alone is expected to be "a record $10.6 billion, exceeding last year's record of $10.1 billion". ($3.3 billion in 2005) That amount of money hasn't made Halloween any more fun or memorable to kids today versus the much less expensive days of old!
And, of course, we're all aware of the shopping mantra, marketing, and pressures to spend everything we've got in the 4thQ of the year or the economy will collapse!!! Christmas items were on full display at Lowe's inn September. Bigger and more expensive houses has not made for a happier society . . . so on and so forth.
And, all of this results in a throw away society that we have been commenting on for decades . . . most recently in the Boston Globe regarding new disposal restrictions in clothing, furniture, mattress disposal in Massachusetts that begins on November 1st.
You articulated one of my biggest gripes. I detest living in a throw away society. My small town keeps tearing down and rebuilding young buildings. My town has a very poor maintenance plan. I cry seeing the waste. When will we ever learn?
House across the street was built new about ten years ago. Sold this year for asking price $4.5 million, but new owners apparently don’t like its style, as contractors have been there for six weeks. More money than sense?
My assisted living is the ultimate trash bin, unconscionable by any measure
I've just spent a remarkable 12 days in Paris, France, where the 20 +/- hour work week ables leisure life, together with friends, over discussion, drink and cigarettes. Who could ask for more - but for less smoke! I
And we've never been more satisfied without seeing the sun for nearly two weeks!
thank you.
Barbara, I will read your link with the reassuring calm I discovered in 1975; that calm was the answer to the question: "How much is enough?"
It is a good site to explore regarding issues of sustainability, ‘de-growth’ ideas, the vanishing of ‘the commons’, and how there should be alternatives to the idea of the ‘GDP’ being the indicator of a healthy economy….worth perusing their archives on such topics.
Thank you for this link. Excellent commentary, makes me think about the impact of my consumerism.
As a craftsperson I have at times had to make my own tools to execute a design. This has taught me I don't need to run out and buy every little thing I thing I need. This has led me to question every purchase. How goods are made, packaged and delivered are of concern to me. I oppose gadgets with a vengeance. I often try to make what I need first. I love living in an uncluttered environment. I hate dusting and cleaning so I don't own stuff that needs to be dusted and cleaned. Less is definitely more for me. I have everything I need. My biggest stress today is will my country survive the hateful upheaval? Hopefully we will smarten up ( doubtful ) & Elon Musk is nothing more than an annoying mosquito.
That used to be the way of things a long time ago. And antiques were & are much more valuable (not only financially) than the new cheaply made "stuff". If it was necessary for everyone to "question every purchase" - rather than to use a credit card - we'd be in a lot better shape personally & country wise (or global wise). But currently, not only adults, but children, have been taught that anything they want - they can have - one way or another. Of course, that does not include people living in poverty! Which are many here in this country.
Improvise, I love it.
Barbara - thank you for that link. I think about economic growth all the time. The planet is finite, but our economic system treats it as if it is infinite. That may have been OK in the distant past, when humanity's global impact was much less. But now it is catastrophic. Unfettered capitalism, and the quest for ever continuing growth is now the enemy. As is hyper-religiousity especially of the Christian type, where scientific advancement is replaced by blind faith in obsolete ideas thousands of year old. Both turn a blind eye to the reality of the planet we live on. Years ago I would have never admitted I would one day think this way. But now it seems a no-brainer. It would be great to snap one's fingers and turn it around. But I fear human nature, which is not all that different from the nature of any other species wanting to survive in the near term, is incapable of paying enough attention to the long term, and will pay the price. Almost all species who have lived on earth over the eons are extinct.
Maybe our species belongs in the La Brea tar pits and the earth or unified field of energy can just start over.
Nice article. Thank you.
I like this article. I've been pondering that ? myself
Thanks for the link!
It is difficult to be content with enough when you know you could have "more".
Actually, for my husband and I it hasn't been difficult. We lost millions in the crash of 2008-09. Had to sell our home for nothing. Lived in an RV for 11 years - traveling for the first two - and it was a blast. Left the U.S. in 2019 to live in Europe where living is so much simpler, easier, and happier. It depends upon the ability to make lemon margaritas out of lemons.
Hubby was diagnosed with Alz end of 07, so missed any chance for such a margarita. Would have loved it. Next 15 years devoted to “downsizing,” the ultimate less is more…
Not everyone feels that way, but advertising pushes people in that direction. Wealthy people have to worry about their security more than ordinary people do. I am happy not to live in a gated community or to imagine my child being kidnapped for ransom.
Lol my husband still has an AOL email. Good post! I too, hope his purchase is a bust.
My husband, too.
How about MySpace? Does anyone even remember that?
Only because my sons both had accounts in their teens. Actually, I had two accounts, because neither of them had email. 😉
Looks reasonable. Mr Dorsey can look forward to some nice lunches. "Blue Skies" is a promising name.
“After Twitter fires 50% of its employees, Dorsey can hire his old staff and eat Twitter for lunch using Musk's money. ”
Best thing I’ve read since the head twit walked in with the sink.
Here is another view of that:
https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competitors-theyre-collaborating-3e88cde5267d
Ending with:
"If democracy-minded people don’t seize control of the information environment, powerful sociopathic autocrats will do so instead. We leave a power vacuum open at our peril, and at the moment, Musk and Putin are the ones with the most will to fill it."
Warning bells went off with this:¨Musk and his backers believe that the global geopolitical arena was being warped by too much “woke” ideology and censorship, and wanted to fix that by first restoring voices that had previously been silenced —and then implementing technical and algorithmic solutions that allow each user to get the experience they want.¨
Everyone to their own echo chamber? What a world. 🙁
“Allow.” I just love being “allowed.”
Beware the genius of mental robots
A very interesting piece, and quite disturbing. I recall the anti computer voices decades back, who suggested that the technology would be the undoing of us. Money = Power. It appears that some very strange people can end up with world altering power.
Is there a difference between Gates and Musk?
The difference between Bill Gates and Musk? Bill plans to give away "virtually all" his fortune. Please read: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/15/bill-gates-plans-to-give-away-virtually-all-his-113-billion-fortune.html
He's a rather dangerous philanthropist--too rich to be "bullied" by advisors, too badly educated to have humility or do research into his whims and notions. I exaggerate for clarity, but it is never safe to have public goods dictated or serviced by individuals.
❤️
Whaa? a world of difference.
I am sure of that.
One hell of an end
Olof Ribbing thank you, worthwhile read.
OK. Thanks for the link.
"Mary, I suggest no worries, Musk as 'Chief Twit' is not a big deal. "
Unbelievable. In every sense Musk's control of Twitter is a big deal.
Yes the muskrat is part of a very much bigger deal...another Dave Troy essay https://washingtonspectator.org/paranoia-on-parade/
My lord! I had no idea about Dorsey's plans! Thank God! Someone just turned the lights on!
oh...I guess I spoke too soon...
Hey Thanks for biz analysis. I know nothing of Dorsey but if he bankrupts Musk, I’m all in
Lets all hope Mask's wallet takes as big a hit as Zuckerberg's has of late. Tome to get serious about taxing these ass clowns.
Regrettably, probably not with respect to Musk and Dorsey. It appears they’re working in concert.
https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competitors-theyre-collaborating-3e88cde5267d
Was hoping Jack would rue the day…
Me too and it’s nerve wracking to see how many people I follow on Twitter plan to shift to BlueSky.
Me
Not nerve-wracking to me! Time for a platform for people with critical thinking skills...like here!
argh...really? REALLY WTF? sorry. but that really pisses me off!
Wow. I wonder if Dave Troy is credible? Sounds like he is. I am not a good judge though. Thx for posting!
If the underlying goal was to open the door wider for Russian bots and trolls a week before a crucial election, then the cost was Priceless.
dear lord...
'Elon Musk Says Twitter Will Give Blue Checks Only to Verified Conspiracy Theorists'
'SAN FRANCISCO (The Borowitz Report)—In a policy shift, Twitter announced that it will bestow blue checks only on users it called “verified conspiracy theorists.”
'Elon Musk, the platform’s new owner, said that the policy was designed to “curate a world-class collection of the most prominent paranoiacs working today.”
“We will be vetting conspiracy theorists to insure that they have an established track record of disseminating falsehoods,” he said. “For the benefit of our users, we want to make a clear distinction between the Dinesh D’Souzas of the world and some rookie crackpot hoping to become a major-league crackpot.” (Satire, NewYorker)
Well said... of course... it's none other than... Andy Borowitz! :D
Suz-an, I read the description you wrote about your father, his politics, personality and the impact on you and your sister. I imagine that your writing would be helpful to many who suffered from that kind of 'authority'. 🍎 Thank you and a NYC apple for your teaching, imagine a million more of them, Suz-an.
PleaseDearGodYes...
The "Reagan Revolution" and the subsequent devolution of the Republican Party has greatly magnified the power of great sums of money over "government of the people, by the people, for the people". Considering that the two "high Crimes and Misdemeanors" that the Constitution spells out, for which "the President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction" are "Treason" and "Bribery". it is difficult to square the current influence of huge fortunes over electoral, legislative, and societal events with the form of governance the Constitution prescribes, especially in it's current, amended form. The goal of the former "Party of Lincoln" now appears closer to refeudalization.
Morning Mary. Here’s the latest from Leigh McGowan, Politics Girl.
A comparison worth noting this week.
Unita! 🗽
https://youtu.be/o87GP8Dclxg
I always appreciate you posting Politics Girl! Thank you for another great one!
Thanks. Nutshells so many elections.
Leigh's calling out candidates pretending to be democrats- it happened here. I was handing out sample democratic ballots outside our voting office. There was a democrat's tent on one side of the sidewalk and a republican's across the way. Two supporters for republicans, one a candidate for mayor and the other school board, stood on our side, insisting their candidate is non-partisan. The current mayor asked them to stand on the other side and they politely refused. Guess they didn't want to stand with the losing team.
How pathetic
Ah! thanks. Drop everything and watch.
Thanks Christine. An example of the hideous tsunami of money and lies they saved up till the last month, just when we were all down to wondering which our last $10 donation would have to be....
Exactly. I am content being a $10 donor to several campaigns dedicated to democracy than giving a $million to traitors intent on changing democracy to something unacceptable resembling a gaseous bag of hot stinking air.
They can go f*ck themselves. Immediately.
Salud, Mary.
🗽
So many excellent points.
The situation is happening in many states.
Money and disinformation/lies may change WI, as well.
I love her!
As I commented 2 days ago, boycott the products advertised on the chirping Bird's platform by the Chief Twit.
Absolutely!!! Including Google. Yes it's a pain and it's difficult to switch to a different browser, but we have the power to shut down the $$$ of all corporations who are working against us.
We need to get a list published. There must be a way to do that... I will look into this. Having been a radio executive for 20+ years, there were readily available reports on advertiser lists.
I’ve downloaded an app
Goods Unite Us
It shows how much $$$ companies give to which political parties. I’ll be switching insurance companies due to my current insurance company donates to Republicans
that's fantastic! I was feeling better until at this very. moment I saw that Roberts issued a freeze on the release of trump's taxes... what kind of b.s. is this/ I can't wait for heather's talk today!
Excellent. We all should do that! I love this- thanks!
So, there's no list of their entire list of advertisers, but here's a start...https://www.mediamatters.org/twitter/these-top-advertisers-can-stop-musks-twitter-supercharging-online-radicalization
"Nothing seems more consequential to me, even Bolsonaro's defeat, than the takeover of Twitter and Musk's posting a malignant apologia for attempted murder on his first full day at work as Dear Leader."
Not to mention that, apparently, a fair bit of the funding that Musk has received to buy twitter came from China and certainly the fact that he is groveling at the feet of the Chinese to keep his manufacturing access and access to Lithium won't help Twitter either.
China comes to twitter through Musk.
I am glad I never acquired an account. No tracking.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2022/04/25/does-elon-musks-twitter-deal-give-china-influence-over-the-site/?sh=7d79271a26a8
And the KSA. Senator Chris Murphy is calling for a national security review.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democratic-us-senator-wants-probe-into-saudi-stake-twitter-2022-10-31/
I can't believe no one else has mentioned this!! Between Saudi Arabia now having a huge stake in Twitter, and China owning TikTok... (this is bad).
Lithium, dammit all anyway
I have one thought re Musk; bankrupt Twitter
Good strategy Dave; Musk needs a "business" lesson on how to crater a billion dollar gig.
Perhaps he could ask tRump for business advice...............??
I too am so sickened by these tragic events but the fact that this sociopathic wizard is controlling what amounts to being the 'airwaves' is terrifying! There must be a viable alternative! That monster is poisoning our water supply!
Fox and reaganite/trumplicans traitors to America beat him to it.
So brilliant a post, Mary!
Musk has turned Twitter into a cesspool. After he posted the conspiracy theory I deleted my Twitter account.
👏👏👏👏👏
Mary, I believe that her paragraph about Mika Brzezinski's comments on Morning Joe had an oblique reference to The Twit. My guess is that she didn't want to give him more oxygen. He promises to be a new layer to the discord that TFG has sown. Since he is really a billionaire, he's even more dangerous than the about-to-be-broke wannabe billionaire.
Respectfuly Nancy, Heather Cox Richardson can't realistically starve Elon Musk of oxygen. She can however pay attention to the danger we in the Real World are suffering, have suffered, will suffer (look at the UK) from billionaires who create alternate realities that undermine our ability to function as a democracy. Or to frame our future, in the face of the overwhelming obstacles (uncluding multiple simultaneous pandemics) that climate change is hatching.
Mary, of course Heather cannot starve Musk or any other prominent person of oxygen. However, as many mainstream news outlets have done, it appears that Heather is attempting in this forum to refuse him the notoriety he so craves. You are correct that we are in the grip of malevolent tyrants who are manipulating the world for their own ends. Heather alone can't control the tide, but she can put it in perspective, as she has done throughout our recent travails. The best we can do is to arm ourselves with knowledge, refuse to be victims of disinformation, and vote - while we still can.
Indeed, Muck is mad with money, may he eat his own narcissistic lunch and choke on his vomit, or has he already done that?
what a great visual!
I have tried to deactivate/delete my Twitter account and Twitter is not allowing me to deactivate. I get an error message with a request to try again later. Anyone else have that issue?
I managed to trigger a "review" of my account status & received a confirmation of my request which "may take days". If that does not work. I will try reposting my comment about the Chief Twit to see I can get barred ASAP.
Just post anti-chump info. They will ban you pronto.
It takes a month of deactivation. If you do not use it during that time, they are supposed to delete your account. But all bets are off now with the Dear Leader owner.
I believe you are spot-on Pensa.
Hmmm. I was deactivating but couldn't find my password so I thought I would wait until after the elections. Will do it then.
Meanwhile make like it doesn't exist.
Actually no. It really is important to stay on and continue to speak truth and support truth. Including on the posts of the swamptoads. Staying silent is contributing to their power.
I can't - they depress me beyond words - the French call it a "dialogue de sourds", noisy, exhausting and unproductive. Silence thwarts them.
I know. I am the same. But then I find my rage and keep going.
It is too much like reading faux news with the vitriol. I got sick this morning. I can still read it, but am deactivated. Giving nothing to fascists and corporations who support twitter. Keeping my mind for better things. And that is coming from a professional fox troller!!
I do not and have never had a Twitter account, but I respectfully disagree with you. I think that as long as there are millions of accounts to feed his revenue, you can post whatever truths you want and it won't matter a damn. The only thing that matters to these billionaires is MONEY. Hit them in the pocketbook.
Just saw a tweet by Marjorie TG, how if Pelosi was for gun rights he could have shot the intruder....
Yeah, because everything is about guns with that idiot.
Yes ‘a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with gun’…JUST like in Uvalde and Parkland…where tons of cops sat outside while kids are being shot, too afraid to confront the shooter for over an hour! MTG assumes at 4-5am when Paul Pelosi gets up to pee he would have his gun holstered under his PJs. Can’t say enough bad things about that moron MTG!!
SHe's a waste of breath... dear God...don't let her get any more power : (
I opined last night that instead of "Chief Twit", Musk should be dubbed "Chief Troll". If this is any indication of the future, I suspect there will be a mass exodus from Twitter, both of users and staffers.
He referred to himself as ‘Chief Twit’.
And his post re: Mr. Pelosi was "just a joke", right? Because when an 82 yr old man is assaulted in his home its just too hilarious. SMH.