“It’s been a tradition for more than half a century that the major party candidates for president sit down with 60 Minutes in October,” host Scott Pelley said to the camera last night before 60 Minutes aired an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The proposals to help seniors in their homes is common sense overdue. First, it is the humane thing to do. Second, it is the cheaper thing to do compared to the warehousing of old people.
Kudos to Harris for presenting a plan. For most of us in the "sandwich" ... it is a DUH!
We are the richest nation to have ever existed in the history of humanity. And yet we struggle to care for our elders, punish working families and make the rich richer every day.
Time to search the world - looking for examples of problem solving. Child care, elder care, Healthcare in general are all addressed with less expense and stress in more mature and functional nations. We could learn. But instead we proclaim that we are exceptional. OY.
I agree. I am one of those sandwich generation women. My mom, who lives in the US, is living in a senior residence and has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. My daughter and I are mainly living in Germany. If I cannot straighten things out with my mom's long term care insurance company, which is not responding to me, I am considering bringing her to Germany. It will not be easy though. But, it is cheaper here and the government does more care subsidization. For example, I was told there is an agency that will assess one's home for what will need to be done to retrofit it to the needs of one's parents, and then there is money to pay for or help pay for that, depending on one's income. While there is generally not enough child care in Germany, although that can vary depending on where on lives, the care that is provided is paid for. In some areas there is maybe a fee for the food, but otherwise it is subsidized, and also each family gets 250€ a month per child from the government, which more than covers any child care costs. I am really excited to hear Kamala Harris is planning on including long term care coverage in Medicare. In Germany, everyone pays into both medical insurance and long term care insurance, basically from birth. The two come as a package. So, everyone has it. Retired people are paying around 215€ a month for their health and long term care insurance, and so are students, and people who are poor. Wealthier people may be paying more. Still, it includes medical and dental, and medical eye care. However, eye exams are done at the stores that sell glasses, and the most common place to get glasses in the city I live in has prescription glasses for as low as 25€ at some outlets, and for 60 € at others. So, affordable, and the exam is included.
Most European countries have some form of this. The US is unique in believing that the individual should find their own solutions instead of their being a Social Contract whose goal if to improve the quality of life for all.
The minute the left tries to help more people, the right cries "socialism" -- not realizing that big subsidies to corporations are corporate socialism that does not help regular people.
Truman's remarks in Syracuse, New York on October 10, 1952, he said this:
Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years.
Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called farm price supports.
Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
When the Republican candidate inscribes the slogan "Down With Socialism" on the banner of his "great crusade," that is really not what he means at all.
What he really means is "Down with Progress--down with Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal," and "down with Harry Truman's fair Deal." That's all he means
Laurie, this is so tiresome, but it has been going on for a very long time as Heather has demonstrated. What we do have is paltry in comparison in terms of helping ordinary people. People or entities that do not need help are always first in line here. And sometimes the fraud is breathtaking. What we have is hypocrisy on steroids.
And Aunt Jemimah makes everybody pancakes. And like Betty, knows her place. America, land of hyper-masculine, misogynist and racist myths, which thankfully, shifted to an equality-based reality; oops, well, for about half the population.
I should have written: And Aunt Jemima comforts everybody with pancakes. This commercial image gained such easy currency because it disguised its racist, slavery-era underpinnings with an image that engendered fondness for her — providing easy deniability of one's unconscious racism.
What really depresses me is that during my youth and through, maybe, 1980 things seemed to be gradually getting better. Sometimes terribly slowly and with some very horrible setbacks (or perhaps tragic costs), but better. Since then, things have begun to deteriorate, and the pace of that deterioration continued to accelerate (leveling off under Clinton and particularly under Obama) but resumed dramatically under Trump. If he wins again, I fear we may go through the seven hells that Nazi Germany created about a hundred years ago.
Advertising is simply storytelling-for. It is the shadowland of our cultural creativity. Yes, we need a social conversation on all of this. Postwar corporate advertising has been allowed far too much power without political responsibility over our social cultural narrative. Our educators voices are drowned out by their manipulative bells & whistles. It is a black propaganda global crisis currently playing out in the US with MAGA followers.
The USA POP = profit over people. And it is institutionalize by a system that makes it possible for the minority to rule. Minority = monied interests = oligarchy.
That belief has long worn out its time for continuity. It's a holdover from the days where people *had* to look out for themselves because government agencies were not yet ramped up to help. The sad part is that those who still believe in that system are essentially born out of their era. In other words, they were born too late, where they should have been born in the 1800 and before. I know, it sounds silly, but I am still amazed at the ignorance of some who believe, that a government who helps them improve their lives, leans toward communism. Most don't want to use that term, so they say "socialism" instead. However, the reality of what they are saying is quite clear to me.
Sounds like Germany's plan alleviates much of the stress and confusion that go hand in hand with growing old in America, not to mention the debt that is incurred. That alone increases the quality of life for all, seniors and family alike.
Why is it that greed and anger have taken such a deep hold here? We will not survive as a country if VP Harris isn't elected. She is the only choice for the well-being of Americans.
Why is it "that greed and anger have taken such a deep hold here” Celeste?
I fear it is pretty simple and logical. Greed (and self-interest) is the basis for Capitalism and a big part of why it works so well at generating energy and activity and productivity and has driven our economy to be the most productive in the world. The problems we face as a nation arise when we as voters fail to demand a balance with adequate funding (that word “taxes” the Right as been able to utterly vilify) to support adequate social welfare, or “socialism” as the political Right like to (inaccurately) label it. More social welfare requires that we take more of that highly productive profit generated by greed (Capitalism) and apply it to care for the other; for the group, the family, and really the whole nation.
I have been trying to write a letter to my CongressCritters (mine aren’t really that bad) explaining all this and it spread out over two or three pages. Thanks for condensing my scrawl. I hope you don’t mind if I send yours with a few added thoughts?
Oh Linda, I'm so sorry to learn this. So far, I've cared for or had a hand in said care for both my parents and my spouse's. My Mom had early onset Alzheimers; It was long painful road. Do you keep all of our Dr.'s letters ?
Dan and Linda, kudos to you for taking care of your parents in their time of confusion and need. My brother liveed with, and took care of my father, who'd had a stroke; my mother, who had dementia and was blind from glaucoma; and then my aunt, whose cause of death was "failure to thrive." My mother and aunt both died at 94.
I remember when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer, which caused his death. Since he couldn't stand or walk, he had to be transported for radiation by ambulance for six weeks. Insurance would not pay for the ambulance.
For roughly twenty-five years, my brother took care of my three family members. I lived 1 1/2 hours away and went every weekend to help. It was exhausting, but a labor of love.
There should be some compensation for those who keep their aged relatives at home instead of having to hand over everything they've worked for all their lives to a nursing home.
Thank you. I do have files. My mom is 90-years-old. Her sister who is 14 years younger is helping her, as are friends and other family, but it is a shock. Her doctor is advising me on her care.
And, JD, a real life education that informs one going forward in anticipatory preparation of one’s own affairs, to the degree possible, to lessen the burden, however lovingly it would be carried out, on family/friends. Been there, done that…it’s hard work, especially the frustration of dealing with (battling!) the private medical insurance system.
Linda, I worked for German company and when my colleagues described their social network support compared to ours, I was astounded. They didn’t mind paying the taxes. They saw the benefits. They value education
In the next 50 years , after the Trump/Putin destroy us, perhaps a more resilient American population will advance
Remember that after WWII the US helped Germany rebuild into the nation it is today. That was a challenge and a choice we made. Our post war taxes were high. The war created a huge national debt. However, we did the right thing. We can do the right things again for our country.
Depressing, isn’t it? A few years ago I read the book The Year of Living Danishly. I know they’re a more homogenous country but still….they _care_ about things like well-being.
When I was around 20ish I traveled to Denmark. I found it a fascinating culture. In Copenhagen I remember walking down the street at night with kiosks in the middle of the sidewalk... fully populated with the wares of the businesses including jewelry. It was amazing to me that this was possible in a big city. So different from the Los Angeles I grew up in. The Scandinavian countries were all similar in that way. People were happy and friendly . At 20ish it was such an eye opener that cultures could be so different from ours and be happy and content. Of course that was a long time ago... I wonder if that is still true today. I hope so.
Isn't it crazy that Medicare won't cover international travel? I experienced the lower cost of health care when I paid out of pocket for ER visit, x-rays & a splint in Germany- equivalent of $175.
Years ago an international student from Germany explained to me how in Germany, before parents leave the hospital with a newborn, the insurance is setup. She predicted the U.S. will eventually build a similar system. Makes sense we will not gut our insurance industry—a huge employer. We will need to work with it. I have an AARRP advantage plan which is a step in that direction. I think South Korean’s system is similar with everyone being required to pick an insurance plan (think being the operative word here—forgive my retired brain).
Well I understand your view but we do not NEED to work with the insurance industry and should not if we can muster the political will. We need a single payer system that covers all equally and equitably. Our current system just sucks a substantial amount of the money available into the hands of private profiteers for no reason other than "its the way we've always done it". If we used that "middle man" money to pay our doctors and nurses, our system would be a lot healthier and so would most of us.
I would vote for universal healthcare but I think that may not be possible with our huge insurance infrastructure. I am not in favor of how everything is being privatized. To unravel all of it may not be possible because so many people are employed within these privatized sectors. It is a shame we have gone in the direction of profit-making off of life essentials but we have. If I could have my way I would not want this structure with healthcare or housing or education or utilities or defense or long term care including prisons but the U.S. was/is built on exploiting labor and resources to make profits. Regulation within those sectors may help? Not even sure I know what I am talking about. This is all in the I think category.
Mary Ellen, if single-payer is government-run, it will still employee people. People who are paid for their time, not for their success in denying care to maximize profits. What we have now is inexcusable. There are layers and layers of private sector bureaucracy sucking off healthcare dollars - mostly by jacking up prices (and copays) and denying care. This is one sector where Capitalism (ie for-profit) should be disallowed. An example is the highly profitable Medicare Advantage plans that control doctors, services and drugs. Every denial puts $$$ in their pockets. It shouldn’t even have to be”Medicare” in the name.
And Germany lost the war? Thank you for your input. In the 1970’s a friend of mine moved to Canada with his wife. Both were citizens of the USA. In the two years that they were living there while he attended graduate school they had a baby and he had weekly psychological therapy for “ writer’s block”. Canada paid for everything.
To get home to Minnesota I hitchhiked through Canada in the early 80s (because the car I was riding in fell off a cliff in Idaho). While in Canada I injured my foot. Canada did all the necessary tests and gave me crutches. I wanted to pay them but they told me they had no billing department under National Health Care. I gave them $15 for the crutches - just because it didn’t seem right not to. They probably used it to buy lunch. Think of all the insurance adjusters and billing departments they didn’t have to pay for. I’ve never forgotten!
I was not but my companion, the car owner, was. She and her car went down 250 feet and she had to climb up the cliff and walk five miles to a ranger station. The following night we had to go back up the mountain (in someone else’s truck, of course). My friend got drunk to deal with that trip, blacked out and ultimately spent the entire night wandering around the small town, crawling into bed with total strangers (who generally took it quite calmly). She would say “I’m Lisa from Minnesota and I’m dead but I’m going to screw your lights out.” Which she then did do. We had to stay in that town for nearly a week and apparently everyone had heard the story. I would introduce myself and when their eyes widened “No, that was Lisa.”
Any care in the US provided by the government is considered “socialism” by many. We need to get over this misconception of socialism (disinformation once again by the wealthy !). It’s compassionate capitalism where the strong support the weak.
I agree. No one else considers this socialism, but the Right wing has created fallacious language around everything that we need to reclaim and redefine. Being a Democrat is not being leftist, it is basically being center, while Republicans are Right wing or extremely right.
IF not labeled as "socialism", methinks that much of the work of socialism might be called "Christianity" (with apologies to non-Christian readers here). Or perhaps we would say, living by the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have done unto you?
My husband has a good take on it. He says "socialism" is concept people don't understand to apply to something that frightens them. May I add that it is applied to something someone TOLD them to be afraid of.
It’s always the wealthy that think they need every penny they have and if they contribute to the lesser then that makes them lazy. Our system is difficult to navigate for so many…so the wealthy buy off the republican congress to keep the middle class struggling. SMH
Miselle and Christine, I fear the word “socialism” became so slippery and acquired such a bad reputation because of the difficulty so many people have in seeing both sides of an argument as being true or useful or important.
We all benefit from corporate “greed” when it droves jobs, productivity and an economy with enough wealth to spread around to ensure the welfare (another one of those dirty words) of all who reside in our richest of all societites ever to have been developed. It requires BALANCING the Capitalism (greed) with the welfare of all; too much welfare and the Capitalism gets stifled, too much Capitalism and a few get very, very rich and the welfare of all gets stifled.
Martyn, I would respectfully disagree with the need to call it “compassionate Capitalism” and put it into the larger context with Capitalism just half the equation and the welfare of all, government “of the people, by the people and for the people” the other half, the balancing half in our thoughtfully constructed, constitutionally guided democratic republic.
I also agree with her plan for seniors it is long overdue. Seniors deserve to die with dignity toward the latter part of their years. Home health care is a right. In Demark, people pay nothing for health care. In my opinion, we should have health care for all.
Joseph, If we retake the House and hold the Senate and the Presidency, we can advance this legislation with zero Republican support. To clarify, currently, 49 Democratic Senators support some version of filibuster reform, be it through resuscitating the talking filibuster or through carve-outs. Either way, the reform, presuming we have 50 Democratic Senators and a Democratic VP to cast the tie-breaking vote, ultimately would allow legislation to move to the floor for discussion and an up or down majority vote.
I would note that diminishing minority control in the Senate over the will of the majority, while not my sole reason for being in this fight, is a major factor.
"some version of filibuster reform, be it through resuscitating the talking filibuster or through carve-outs"
The whole "carve-out" idea is plainly ridiculous, because there is no way to say one thing deserves a carve-out but not another thing without deeply offending people in your coalition who value that. Can you imagine Senate Democrats saying "OK, abortion rights are SO IMPORTANT we will make an exception for that"... but then not doing the same for gun control? Goodbye, youth movement. Or the Equality Act? Goodbye, LGBT voters. Or police reform? Goodbye, black voters. Or the PRO Act? Goodbye, union voters. Or raising the minimum wage? Goodbye, all voters who aren't rich. The Senators know this. Everyone knows this.
The key change that has to happen here is that we can no longer have an arbitrary minority of Senators be allowed to perpetually block a vote from ever occurring on things the majority of the public clearly wants. Any rule change that still allows this to happen is useless. Until 51 votes makes a yes instead of 60 (which is NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION) then we are just beating around the bush. The Senators know this. Everyone knows this.
Will, My understanding, while we currently have 49 Democratic Senators who support filibuster reform, is that we don’t have nearly as many who support abolishing the filibuster. I wish we did. That said, I expect a carve-out would be reserved for rights so fundamental that they are preservative of every other right—voting rights for example. Otherwise, I expect we would see a resuscitation of the speaking filibuster, which both would resuscitate the Senate as a more deliberative body than the House while also eventually allowing legislation to move to the floor for debate and an up or down majority vote.
Barbara, these are politicians we are talking about. With respect, unless you can provide me some on-the-record PUBLIC statements of any other Democratic Senator unequivocally stating "I support carve-outs for these few things but not abolishment" then we can only conclude they are keeping their options open. I'm sure there are several who are privately uncomfortable with the idea. But come on, it's not as if this would be the the first time a politician changed their mind about something and voted for something they didn't personally like, in order to keep their job.
Let's be clear: the specter of what happened to Sinema will hang over every one of them. No one her age retires after one term voluntarily. She was going to get primaried and she was going to lose, and lose baaaaadly. Just a few years after becoming the first Arizona Dem to win a seat in forever, everyday party members were willing to nuke the whole place just to get rid of her. Democrats have become significantly more militant in the last decade and far less forgiving of anyone that stands in the way of what is viewed as desperately needed progress. I remember attending an Indivisible event (so, not exactly a fringe gathering of radicals) in late '21 and there were people straight up booing and chanting against Dianne Feinstein in a public park because she had made some vauge comment about being wary of abolishing the filibuster. This was the Bay Area, mind you! She has been a hero here for DECADES and people were turning on her overnight. She changed her tune PDQ. Everyone in the Senate who might not personally like the idea knows that if they are the next Sinema/Manchin in opposing a carve-out on any given issue, the millions of decidicated people behind that issue will be organizing against them online and in person within the day to end their career with a vengeance. Not a spot politicians are willing to put themselves in, exactly.
The Supreme Court decisions of '22 sealed the deal. Restoring what they damaged is the #1 reason Democrats will win if/when they do. Not acting is now untenable, there is no way to act with the filibuster intact, and there is no way to justify breaking it for one thing and not the myriad of other pressing issues without deeply offending millions of people fighting for that issue, all of which are key to a winning coalition. The die has kind of been cast here, whether every Senator likes it or not.
Will, Presuming a Democratic federal trifecta in November, I expect Senate filibuster reform will be a top priority. Because I don’t believe 50 Senators will support abolishing the filibuster entirely, I anticipate discussions regarding compromise measures.
I would note a commenter on this thread reminded me of a bid from congressional scholar Norm Ornstein who had proposed that the Senate shift the burden from the majority, requiring 60 Senators to end debate, to the minority, requiring 41 to continue it. Ornstein also had foreseen a return to the talking filibuster.
As for Manchin and Sinema, you might recall in January 2022 that passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act had hinged on Manchin and Sinema joining the 48 Democratic Senators to enact, through a procedural maneuver, a taking filibuster of sorts. Each side would be granted as much as 100 hours of speaking time prior to the legislation moving to the floor for debate and an up or down majority vote, Regrettably, Manchin and Sinema voted with the 50 Republicans who opposed the plan.
Additionally, I expect you recall Manchin and Sinema, back in 2022, had blocked passage of Biden’s Build Back Better reconciliation package that required only 50 votes, leaving us instead with the substantially edited down Inflation Reduction Act.
My point is that Manchin and Sinema are outliers who don’t belong in the conversation at-hand.
Dave, Your post brought to mind Texas’s former state Senator Wendy Davis’s thirteen-hour-long filibuster to block anti-abortion legislation, wherein she had prepared by being catheterized.
Sadly at least for this election that is a pipe dream. There is simply no logical path to a Democratic senate majority this year. The best we will get is 51-49 GOP. Could be worse. You just look at the states where there are senators up for election and unless something totally unexpected happens in Texas or Florida, we simply can't hold the Senate. I wish it weren't so but fantasy doesn't get you very far in American politics. Reality is a better place to start from.
Jon, Though we’ve known from the start that the 2024 Senate map for Democrats is brutally unfriendly, we’ll continue to write postcards/ letters to voters, text bank, phone bank, knock on doors, and so forth. While not originating with me, I, nonetheless, would note, whenever the words “margin of error”are spoken, I hear “margin of effort.” And while the odds, as in most struggles, are not in our favor, we won’t be stopped.
I'm not so sure about that. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty certain it is not true. I think they all know that it has to go the first time they get a chance or they will not get another chance. Getting and keeping a Senate majority takes several cycles.
Just try to imagine voters defying all the pundits again, delivering the first female President to the White House and handing a slim trifecta to Democrats only for them to say "Yeah, I know we ran on restoring the basic rights and human dignity that Christian nationalists and corrupt billionaires are stripping from you, and we now have the votes to actually do what we promised... but we're going to hold out until you give us 52 Senators instead of 50! We just need a little more confidence! Keep dying for a little while longer, women of reproductive age in the South!" The backlash would be like nothing you have ever seen in your life.
Well just to point out ( based only on history) but even winning the white house and a tie in the Senate will not get rid of the filibuster. A senate tie results in NO rule changes that are not agreed on by 51 at senators. Walz as senate chair has no vote on the initial rules. The rules will stay the same unless a majority of senators approve a change. So assuming Manchins seat is won by a GOP, the Democrats must not only hold all their current seats but must pick up one from some where else. Ted Cruz? It could happen but a VERY long shot. The filibuster is her e for at least another two years by my calculations. Wish it wasn't so but reality again rears its ugly had.
My California Vote-by-Mail ballot arrived yesterday. I will return my ballot this Saturday & digitally confirm county registrar's receipt of same & later counted. Voting top to bottom of the ballot. Another $60 out to Kam & the Coach last Monday.
Got mine too, Bryan, and have carefully marked all the candidates (bona fides well known), but am studying local & state propositions and measures….doing my homework!….before I drive to & drop off my ballot in person at the county election headquarters! Hoping for a 🌊!!!
Just all out effort. You are leading the charge as always. Not an iota of criticism. Texas efforts have fallen short so often. Repub cheating leaves no stone unturned. So many here are working to make Texas sane again.
JD, Thanks for the clarification. I would note your comment stands as a reminder of my gratitude for the fellow travelers, yourself included, on this site, who have joined the battle to rescue our freedoms and rights from those who would rip them all away, if given the chance.
@MisTBlu, I very much appreciate the reminder. I would note, when first presented, I had been a fan of Norm Ornstein’s proposal that the Senate shift the burden from the majority, requiring 60 Senators to end debate, to the minority, requiring 41 to continue it. Still, I would link this shift in burden to resuscitating the talking filibuster 1) to return the Senate to its roots as a more deliberative body and 2) to ensure the legislation ultimately moved to the floor for an up or down majority vote.
Manchin is really a Republican, left over from when Democrats were able to win elections in W Virginia (before FOX or Rush Limbaugh polluted the airwaves).
Well at least now we will have a REAL republican MAGAt in the west Virginia seat. Democrats need to stop acting like there is only one way or the highway. Manchin was a thoughtful Senator who represented his state for US and we chased him out. Not a very smart thing to do when you can barely hold on to a majority. I am honestly not even sure what will happen in Arizona. Gallego looks like he will win but ONLY because the GOP nominated the most outrageous candidate they could find, Kari Lake. Almost as bad as Georgia when they put up Herschel walker.
Politics is the art of the possible. Demanding only "our way" is a losing premise. You younger folks need to learn about that. Learn to compromise. Understand that there are other ideas out there that might mean you have to compromise. Because extremism isn't a good look especially for a so called "democratic" party.
Patricia, Manchin, though no longer relevant, is hardly the only Senator opposed to ending the filibuster. Moreover, Harris, who makes clear nearly every day she seeks consensus which she understands entails compromise, would likely work with the Senate to reach agreement on the sorts of filibuster reforms I noted in my original comment.
Sinema and Manchin were the holdouts. They are both "retiring" this year, and that is not a coincidence, as their refusal in the name of "protecting bipartisanship" (read: fundraising friends) was correctly viewed as betrayal by the rest of the party that rendered them both persona non grata. Manchin may have had *some* justification, given the politics of his state, but Sinema is the classic example of someone trying to outplay everyone who ends up playing themselves instead. Girl, bye.
Her seat is in Arizona, which is competitive again this year and we have a very strong candidate in Ruben Gallego. Debbie Stabenow from Michigan is also retiring, so we must replace her with Elissa Slotkin. (Neither of them faced a competitive primary, so I am certain conversations with Schumer have taken place where he extracted a guarantee neither will be another Sinema in exchange for an easy road to the nomination.) Otherwise, our job is to make sure every other one of our incumbents who voted to remove the filibuster for Voting Rights in 2018 stays right where they are. That means Jacky Rosen in Nevada, Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, and Bob Casey in Pennsylvania need to come along with a Harris victory and Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Jon Tester in Montana need to outperform the top of the ticket as they have done in the past. In Maryland, Hogan will give Alsobrooks a close race rather than the walk she would have had otherwise, but she is heavily favored. I know some people are throwing out other names, but trust me, unless Harris ends up in a historic landslide we don't have room to expand the map otherwise, although if you want to help out someone in your own state obviously God bless. I do think all of our incumbents are very strong in comparison to their competitors and the more vulnerable ones are being underestimated.
Barbara you really are dreaming here. Tester is going to go down badly in Montana. That and Manchins seat make it 49-51 against us. Where do you even see another gain? TEXAS? FLORIDA? You're dreaming girl. I wish you weren't but wishful thinking is a bad political strategy. Sorry to call the kettle black but we are not holding the Senate this year. I'd start getting over that now.
I'm talking non-profit public or internal polling. I'm talking voter turnout and data modeling. I'm talking volunteer numbers. I'm talking fundraising and spending figures. (Party leaders don't spend money on unwinnable races. Ever. Period.) I'm talking non-anonymous statements from party professionals. I'm talking historical precedent. I'm talking ANY evidence other than your own dusty "crystal ball."
You know what, Jon? Let's say you are right. You STILL need to shut up, because you are being rude to Barbara (and others) on the most basic level. She doesn't need you to shut her down by saying "you're dreaming." (She's not, but whatever.) Let her dream and keep it to yourself. What are you getting out of making posts solely shutting down other people's positivity, exactly? If you think you are saving them from something then I can recommend a really good therapist, 'cause you got some issues that go DEEP, man. Follow the advice of Thumper's Mom in Bambi - advice so easy a kindergartener can put it into practice - and if you don't got somethin' nice to say, don't say nuthin' at all.
I think 51 currently is Testa and I agree we only need 50 plus Walz but with wins in FL, NE, and maybe even TX we are on our way to kill if not modify filibuster; I worked in the senate years ago for Paul Simon!
Tester is 50. Manchin was 51. We will lose both seats. With 21 democratic seats up this year and only 12 Gop seats, there is virtually no way to hold the majority or even a tie. Hate to intrude on your fantasies but reality is a better medicine.
Ira, Keeping in mind we need only 50 (with a Democratic VP casting the tie-breaking vote) and in no particular order: 1) Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) [btw, Sinema (I-AZ) is not seeking reelection]; 2) Colin Allred (D-TX) ; 3) Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL); and 4) Dan Osborn (D-NE).
Additionally, if we’re not to lose our seat in Maryland, Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) must win her race against former popular Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD). I would note Alsobrooks is mighty impressive. Moreover, it should be noted that Jon Tester (D-Montana) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are in competitive races to hold their seats.
Barbara Jo: Optimistic and clearly possible certainly in Md, AZ, NE (really important & doable; I’ve been helping Dan), not sure about Fl until today as floods will take away millions of R votes in western Fl, GA, and NC; was sure before flood about NC and the power of the Black campaign in GA (Warnock twice and even Ossoff!) when they elected Ossoff it signals a new day in GA for federal statewide elections!!
Kathy, Thank you for writing. Admittedly, my only way to survive editors, who kept trying to break up my sentences, was to get better at inserting embedded clauses that clarified without cluttering my training of thought.
Yeah, we know. Which is why we need to do it without them.
This idea that a political party can be voted into the minority in all branches of government and yet still have veto power over any change in policy is literally unheard of in any other advanced democracy, as it is patently absurd on its face. It is the single reason nothing ever gets done and the Repubs never have the incentive to get their act together. When you get voted out, it means the public has chosen a winner in the battle of ideas, and they were not yours. You need to get back on the same page with the public, and until you do you shall not possess the power that is solely the public's to give.
The filibuster makes all of this impossible. Its current form fundamentally breaks democracy and breeds nihilism in its participants. It must go, plain and simple.
No they won't, but if we forced our high school students to do a year or even a semester abroad, they would be exposed to other ways of doing things. It could be tied to a comparison of governments while they are in their host country. It was super informative for my daughter and her exchange partner to spend half a year in each other's home country's and schools, even though my daughter, being a dual German-US citizen was generally familiar with a similar culture, from going each year to Germany. She also went to Poland on a school trip with the class and to France and Spain. Just the culture of the students planning in committee the trip, which was tied to arts and architecture studies, so a heavy schedule of visiting museums and sites on their trip to Paris and Barcelona, and taking the sleeping train. To Poland they went for Holocaust Remembrance, which they had been studying that semester. The greater independence of students was a cultural shift that some cannot handle. My friend, whose son went to my daughter's school, had an exchange for half a year in Germany last year when he was in 10th grade, and this summer and beginning of the fall he had an exchange in Norway. There are so many countries in this world, and it would be great to get our next generation of leaders to visit and see other ways of doing things, so that they see it in practice, and it is not just a foreign idea to them.
An excellent idea exposing young people to other cultures and systems. After 2 years of college, emphasis on cultural anthropology and three years of military getting lucky and working in intelligence Communications my eyes were opened. It would be so nice if our high schools would incorporate a requirement to study our own government system. So a requirement of our own government and then a year of Exchange in other countries would be a real Plus to our future leaders. Compared with other countries we do not reward our teachers sufficiently I am completely in favor of promoting a student exchange program, while offering greater compensation to our teachers also instituting a program that helped our own student understand civics and our own form of government.
I have long felt that this would be a fantastic way to help Americans be less insular and more aware of other ways of organizing society. And it would be relatively inexpensive. A bit like the study abroad programs for college students but it would be wonderful if it could be more egalitarian and available to students from all backgrounds.
I can’t remember the citation but quite a few years ago I read an article that an immersive experience in another culture at the right time can result in a more open and tolerant attitude for many subsequent years. I believe it was during high school years. I went on one such experience at age 17 and it absolutely led directly to a lifelong career in human services. I also became one of the adults on church-sponsored youth group trips and watched the young people change significantly after the two week trips.
We need a mandatory civil service internship after High School to facilitate what Linda is suggesting. Many families concern is far removed from International travel albeit grand, at this stage in our countey.
International exchanges are great but we also need exchanges at home-rural vs cities, Black neighborhoods vs White neighborhoods, one religion vs.another, wealthy vs poor, Ds vs Rs, etc-our children (and far too many adults) don’t understand or empathize with other Americans which is why it’s so easy for people like DJT to divide us.
Very few students have chances to even travel within the U.S. never mind internationally. Having programs for both internal and foreign travel will go a long way in stimulating people to create better ways of living as a nation and globally.
Gina, I would propose that may have been one of the very few advantages of The Draft (into the military) of the 50’s and 60’s; being forced in some respects to live with and get along with a wide variety of folks from all walks of life in the US (except those with disabling bone spurs). Too bad it couldn’t have been repurposed into part of the Peace Corps…although that vey concept was way too easily morphed into a “we know better” corps.
You read my mind John! I worked with a number of students returning to college after time in AmeriCorps/VISTA and the Conservation Corps & Peace Corps…they always spoke of what the experience meant to them & how it expanded their horizons & understanding.
Victoria, I love this idea. Germany has been big on sending youth out on gap years after they finish school, and have a whole program set up, generally to either work in childcare or senior care. A friend of our's daughter went to Israel for half a year, and is fluent now in spoken Hebrew. Another friend's daughter spent half a year in Tibet, half a year in Nicaragua, again working in child care. This and living with families teaches about culture. My daughter's class went on a trip to Costa Rica, where they helped with a community center. They painted it. She lived with a family, and still communicates with them. Their 5 year old son, who has asthma just like her, but not the access to health care or medicines, has to lie down when he is having breathing difficulties. She saw this and learned what the health care was like in the village. She has inhalers to help her when she has difficulties and knows when to use them. She also has regular doctor access. I have Mormon neighbors whose children all took 2 years off to do service trips. They had to earn the money for it themselves too. One went to South Korea, sisters went at different times to Brazil, another one went to Chile. Another to the Dominican Republic. While they are supposed to do missionary work, they also get to live in another culture and understand it. The mom of one had been to Israel. The dad of another did East LA. My daughter also went in 8th grade to the Navajo reservation where she learned about weaving, but also helped build an addition to a house, and dig irrigation for this family. These trips have broadened her horizons and increased her self confidence.
Here is a Gap year program for American students in Germany.
Also, German college students are encouraged to do a semester or year abroad as undergraduates or even graduates. Typically in a country that relates to what you are studying if it can. My husband studied in Greece for a year in Graduate school. That is why he speaks modern Greek. It helps in restaurants where friendly service is even friendlier.
Because, my daughter's small private school class of 20 students, only 6 of the students went on a foreign exchange. My daughter was one of 5 girls, and 1 boy who went. The boy that went also went away for college. They are the covid generation, staying a little too close to home sometimes. All of the ones who went have gone away to college. Those who did not, most stayed in state. Somehow their worlds got smaller, and smaller from Covid. My daughter went on exchange during covid, and did actually get it in that country, although in the summer vacation while she was still there. So, there are those that jump at the chance, and those that don't. It is the latter that might need a push.
“ Deepa Shivaram of NPR noted that a relatively large percentage of middle-aged and older women remain undecided in this race and Harris’s plan speaks to their needs.”
That is phenomenal to me. I ask my self, how can any woman in America be undecided in this election? Perhaps the vulnerability to a con is far greater than I realize.
I do not know, Gary. Gina offers a good opinion regarding unconscious racism and misogyny. As a member of that "middle-aged and older women" cohort, I cannot fathom how anyone who is a woman, however you choose to define it*, can support fpotus.
*I thought several versions: XX chromosomes, but I know there are far, far more female presenting combinations than that, plus it excludes transwomen.
I have a life long acquaintance who has completed surgical transition. It blows my mind that while now presenting as female, her mind very much has remained a Republican, perhaps even MAGA, male. No concern for bodily autonomy, no appreciation of the rights women fought so hard for in the 60’s, ‘70’s, and still railing on the preference for a tiny Federal government. We had lunch a few weeks ago and avoided politics. It’s time to do it again and “go there”.
The middle-aged and older women who need to hear about the Harris plan described in HCR's post probably won't get the opportunity if they watch Fox Spews. It astounds me how much real news does not get covered by Fox (based on what my husband tells me - I don't have the patience to watch and see what they are reporting!). It's like an alternative version of reality over there.
I was one of the sandwich generation - driving often from NY to Michigan where my mother was declining. Now I care for my husband who has ALS - and after 40 years of sharing all the household tasks, it all falls to me. He, of course, has a tougher road than I do with this insidious disease - but there's still an awful lot on my shoulders and I would love some home help without it breaking the bank.
Laurie, I hold you in the arms of care and concern. My wife and I have been trading off on who is the "able bodied" one these days (currently, she is more unable with her back and ankle problems than I am with my knee problems, but we are both severely limited in what we could do even 4 months ago. At least I am scheduled for knee replacement...)
Good luck! 🍀 My husband was scheduled for knee surgery but undiagnosed extreme hypertension cancelled the surgery. At this age one thing seems to follow another in trying to remain healthy and active. We still have goals!
I did something called PRP instead. I had to pay, but was very surprised it has been around awhile. Sure better than knee surgery and I feel great. https://www.healthline.com/health/prp
Bill I really don't understand people fighting against their own personal interests ? It makes no sense...but Trump still being within 20 points makes no sense. 15-20 years ago he would have been toast long ago.
Given the way we have structured our society based on racism, misogyny, standardized testing in schools, lack of gun control and “greed is good” it’s no wonder we have so many problems with “mental health”.
To think that "man" stood for women as well, replacing the representative word "woman" out of existence. To be dominated by accepted language as well as action completed the oppression.
In an acting class, a woman wrote a monologue she presented. It recalled her childhood when she was all of six years old. Her mother and aunt, concerned for her status in society, gave her the "paper bag" test. Much darker than the paper, she privately hoped her skin would lighten as she grew older. The sadness in the room was palpable, especially because she was a champion for everyone; warm and upbeat with a great sense of humor. How did she, the full of love woman we all knew, prevail?
Every time, I am shocked at the pejorative lies and characterizations carelessly cast by DT and JDV. They seem blissfully unaware of the personal havoc they bring to these people; they seem to lack the mildest sense of human empathy — and that absence mirrors their soulless sense of superiority. Equality be damned; to them, people are merely expendable pawns to be manipulated in their conquest of power.
I always get a kick from this argument. Sure, we’re so rich that we can afford to impoverish ourselves by handing out free bangers and mash in unlimited quantities!
And let’s no forget firearm management. Most other civilized countries have specially trained police who the only ones with high powered firearms and even they do not have private possession.
As a Medicare recipient, I've been generally happy with my coverage, but I've been waiting for Bernie's Medicare for All to be enacted. I like Harris' addition of eyes and ears and mouth to Medicare since I pay out of pocket for my bifocal contact lenses and my dental bills. I'm waiting for good quality hearing aids to be free. I'm voting BLUE so that I won't have to wait too much longer.
I'm 100% for universal healthcare. Harris's ideas are not all I think we need, but they're a step in the right direction instead of Trump's huge step back. I was denied heath insurance when I was in my early 20's because of an asthma medication I had just been prescribed. Today, I would have still been on my dad's excellent, union-negotiated health insurance in the first place. I racked up credit card debt to pay out of pocket for healthcare that plagued my credit rating for many years. Now I'm 50, unmarried, and unable to start the business I'd love to go into because I can't afford to leave my job and my health insurance.
I need *a lot* of healthcare, and I have a really good plan. I'm sure I could, but I fear it would be worse coverage for more money. But I haven't really looked or run the numbers. I probably should. It's just a hard thing to leave. I wonder how many people don't start businesses because of healthcare and how much stronger our economy would be if not only the wealthy could take risks. And thinking about people who stay in abusive marriages and domestic situations because they would otherwise lose their health insurance literally keeps me up at night. The ACA does a lot of good, especially in protecting people with existing health care needs and covering young adults longer on their parents' insurance (if they have it), but changing insurance often means changing providers and having gaps in coverage. I don't know what I would do if my entire healthcare team suddenly became out-of-network. For-profit healthcare and insurance is simply amoral. I'm glad that Medicare is at least starting to negotiate drug prices. Americans are being taken advantage of by the pharmaceutical companies and the Congress Critters in their pockets. But getting money out of politics is a whole other (and necessary) conversation.
My sister was in a similar "no win" situation after her husband had a major stroke. He had excellent health care coverage which she was able to COBRA for 18 months, but then she had to find replacement coverage.
She found an excellent agent that helped her find affordable coverage until she turned 65. And then the agent helped her again with her Medicare supplement insurance.
I second this, Gary, especially for people hitting 65. Look into all of your options, and look past the short term into the long term. I have found an amazing agent, who not only got me into an affordable supplemental Medicare plan but has helped my wife. My former employer allows her to buy COBRA on our (admittedly) Cadillac plan that is as cheap as even the lowest cost one they could find on the open market
This is exactly what my husband and I need to do. He's semi-retired and we're on COBRA for now, but we need to look into replacement coverage, as we have a few more years before Medicare.
It's unfortunate that when the older spouse turns 65, that both people can't go on Medicare or that it doesn't start at age 60. It would probably prevent many bankruptcies when people one or the other spouse has a catastrophic event.
We were very happy with COBRA but it ran out before I turned 65.
You may find an insurance broker who can run the numbers and give you the best information. We need universal health care in this country as they have in the rest of the modern developed world.
Sounds like a Cadillac plan where you can see whatever doctor you want including specialists. If you're interested in this plan you should also consider a concierge service.
That's really sad. I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that. On a lighter note do you happen to be a childless cat or dog lady? If so, that might be the reason you are unhappy. I don't mean to make fun of your situation, really I don't, but the statement just seems to fit in with what is going on with the republican VP candidate. I"m sure that is what he would say!
I've been waiting for Heather to talk about the clemency given to the Medicare/Medicaid fraudsters.
"As Amy B. Wang and Azi Paybarah explained in the Washington Post: “In his last year in office, Trump commuted the sentences of at least five people who collectively filed nearly $1.6 billion in fraudulent claims through Medicare or Medicaid.”"
By my count, there were 10 Medicare/Medicaid fraudsters Trump gave clemency to totally over $2 billion. This was reported by other MSM and since I didn't read the WAPO piece HCR mentions, I am not sure why she only mentions "the five".
Of course Rick Scott and Matt Gaetze's daddy were also big time Medicare/Medicaid fraudsters, but apparently the Republicans only care about cutting funding and not prosecuting criminals.
I'm not sure about Harris, but it's part of Bernie's plan, and it's included in the 2023 Medicare for All Act that Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell introduced in the House. From Google: "The Medicare for All Act builds upon and expands Medicare to provide comprehensive benefits to every person in the United States. This includes primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, substance abuse, long-term services and supports, reproductive health care, and more." So tell your Rep and your Senator to sign on as co-sponsors.
Maria, I understand Woodward's tease, the last Putin-Trump telephone talk was in January 2024. Bob W is holding trump cards pun intended. Woodward's book title is "War". More to come.
Tune in to Lawrence O'Donnell on Monday night; Bob Woodward is his guest. Let's see what Bob is holding.
Per Jeff Stein's 'Spy Talk' today & barring any technical difficulties, "the NSA has almost certainly monitored" the Bromance calls.
Interesting FRE question meaning is NSA and/or cyber security intelligence admissible in Federal court?
YES, but rarely scene in Court although I was allowed to watch the government's cross examination of a signals intelligence spy back in the 1980's as a law clerk.
Note, on subject related of cyber security matters, back on 1/19/2019 there was a wrongful death case in the Northern District of California, Eschavaria vs Facebook, Inc. Case18-05982.
Both sides were be permitted to present a 1 hour 'tutorial' on cyber security & data leaks. Video of same is still available. The capable Judge Alsup was presiding. I am going to watch that historical video this weekend.
My late mother had a plan that included a long-term home health care aide. As my mother got older and frailer, Mildred helped her with the shopping and some cooking and various other small tasks. When I applied for the same type of insurance, I was denied at least partly since I'm a cancer survivor and have scoliosis. I never got to decide whether the cost was prohibitive since my applications for coverage were denied by several different insurance plans. None of my potential "disabilities" is currently disabling, but they may well be at some point. If Harris succeeds in adding long-term home health care coverage to Medicare, what a blessing that will eventually be for millions of us.
The cost of long-term healthcare insurance is outrageous. I live in Virginia, where the State Corporation Commission governs insurance and utilities. The SCC approved the high long-term care insurance rates because, a rep told me, they didn't want the insurer (Genworth) to stop providing insurance, which Genworth threatened to do when it guessed wrong on people living longer. Would love it if Harris as president addresses this issue. Won't help me, but it might help future generations.
When we have Medicare for All, they can't threaten to stop insuring us because we will have excluded them from the game. May you have a long and healthy life, John, but may long-term care be available, whether you need it or not.
It was my husband’s birthday too. Being Italian, he wanted pasta, so I cooked a bolognese which simmered all day, then a plum tart. Then he and our daughter went off to sing and play guitar at open mike night at a jazz club. A good day! I’m waiting for hip replacement surgery and just not up for bars and crowds.
I had my right hip replaced in late 2022 (after our tuba group's Christmas season) after 10+ years of increasing pain. It has been awesome! Pro tip: Keep up with the PT. It is hard to catch up if you get lazy and think that your "routine" active life will take care of it.
I didn’t know you did that! You never said a word (that I caught and remembered, at least). I’m so glad it’s worked well for you. I’m desperate to get it done, and get back on my horses. I’m not very good at sitting still. I’ve heard the same about the PT. I’ve been doing PT since July, and now it’s just part of my routine - and also really the only movement I get in the day, since I’m not weight bearing and have a lot of trouble walking. This is boring!
Happy Birthday, Heather and congrats on making it another year basking in the sun’s rays! So we know Trump is a total sleaze and all of these recent goodies just prove that he is the devil incarnate. Mitch McConnell held that title until today because Trump literally sold his soul to Vladimir. Benedict Arnold never was punished for spying for the Brits. The French jailed him for a short time but he continued his dastardly deeds. Trump could have been a hero but he took the forked road because he saw a pot of gold that he wanted to get his hands on. I want his hands and wrists cuffed so that he can experience what he really deserves, rotting in a prison cell until death do us part.
You wrote ..."that he wanted to get his hands on...." the pot of gold. I saw "hard on" instead. The word that's been missing from the public is "sadistic". You refer to the devil and rightly so. Sadism or devil worship with sex and violence as the medium is right before us but so far wrapped in a veil of avoidance and side stepping.
Some of the most memorable "debates" I've seen are debates where there's an empty chair where the candidate who chose not to show up would ordinarily be sitting. I'm hoping that the single-person debate will take place, and Trump's absence will speak volumes.
I genuinely think part of the reason that the Georgia Senate races that sealed the positive fate of much of Biden's agenda went the right way was the debates. Perdue did so poorly against Ossoff in the first that he actually refused to show up for the second one that had already been scheduled. Wonder of wonders, the debate organizers actually decided to go forward with just Ossoff onstage next to another lectern with no one behind it. Ossoff agreed to submit to a solo grilling in which he got twice as many tough questions as he would have before, and the bet he made on himself paid off. Local audiences saw a young impressive guy firing back answer after answer and excoriating his scandal-trapped opponent, who couldn't answer back because he was a ghost. When Loeffler faced off against Warnock, she was so out of her depth that she ended up repeating the same talking points about the supposed threat of socialism in a robot voice while looking straight ahead as if under some sort of creepy hypnosis, while Warnock turned on his sermon skills and ran rings around her while looking like the most decent prophet of goodwill, which in turn just made her attacks even more flat.
Hey, the unique nature of the dual race and surge of support after Biden beat the odds in November would probably have carried the day regardless. But the contrast on those two stages between the people who either literally didn't show up or barely did, versus two people who didn't just show up but SHOWED UP could not have been lost on people.
Betsy, here is JD Vance in an interview with the hosts from “All-In” sucking up softball questions to JD Vance. Nothing mentioned about Trump’s Project 2025, Roe vs Wade, bribing the SCOTUS, the bias with Media. Its like JD’s Republican Fan Club.
🥳🥳🥳 Then that same batch of hosts from ‘All In’ podcast are trying to trip up an interview with Mark Cuban, but he’s too quick for them — and Mark’s got only GOOD Attributes for HARRIS and fumbles for TRUMP. Mark Cuban’s GREAT Audio Podcast link >>>
Hillary’s emails were a non-starter from the beginning. Another lie foisted on us by Trump, the media (including legit news organizations and newspapers of record), the FBI, and elements of the military. “Quaint” doesn’t seem like the right word.
It came across the Wires today: "Former President Donald Trump has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving the White House, according to reporting from a new book by journalist Bob Woodward."... I don't think it was about Hurricanes in Florida ;-) ... Additionally, "The conversations cover a period before and after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a NATO ally the Biden administration has spent billions of dollars to support."... Didn't Putin place a Bounty on American Troops in Afghanistan during DJT's Presidency? Allegedly, the Trump Organization, and DWAC, the predecessor of the Ticker 'DJT', has been floated by Russian Money... Seems that Putin is trying to Maximize his Investment... More To Come...
I was a sandwich generation mom, daughter and full time employee. Add to that - i was a single mom for the last year of my mom’s life. I honestly don’t know how I managed, reeling from task to task to task. Exhausted and overwhelmed don’t describe it - and navigating the search for a decent nursing home was brutal.
Medicare funding for health care is a no brainer in my opinion. It is way cheaper than a nursing home, and it is often comforting to those whose health is frail but manageable, to remain in familiar surroundings. I cared for my husband who had ALS at home until the last three weeks. It was tough but better than giving him completely over to the care of strangers.
I have no idea how anyone could even think that voting for a MAGA Republican could be a good idea. Soulless monsters, the lot of them. Endlessly grateful to my fellow Americans who are working so diligently to get out the vote!
Man, I hope that the tRump supporters here in the NC Hurricane Helene area, start to think. The misinformation has been terrible, and Repubs refuse to admit the lies; they spew falsehood after falsehood. But now that the relief response is more and more visible, I'm hoping that a few of them have a change of heart. I was at a restaurant on Saturday night in a city we escaped to, and there was tRump on CNN. His entire rally was about him. Not one word about the people suffering from the cataclysmic storm. And stupid CNN showed the entire rally! I tried not to look at the TV screen, bec it made me So angry! I'm praying that people begin to see the light. I'm praying one good thing to come out of the devastation is that people see the emperor has no clothes.
Drove from the airport home today (70 miles) in central NC and saw only a handful of Trump signs (outside of the rash in front of a gun store). Note that I saw several groupings of Republican local election signs; quite a number of these included Robinson signs but only 1 or 2 had Trump signs. If Trump is less popular than Robinson, he's in trouble.
Maybe. But I have been wondering what else The Orange One has up his sleeve. He’s had plenty of time to wallow in his own pettiness. I agree that he doesn’t plan to play fair.
the public is getting ugly on Biden / Harris because they are avoiding talking about the war(s) in Middle East and Ukraine. Trump could gain many voters and lets hope this doesn’t happen.
To be frank, the fact anyone is still telling themselves this story about what is going on is preposterous. The public is not "getting ugly" toward Harris, or she wouldn't be currently ahead in polling, early vote, grassroots funding, and volunteers. No survey shows foreign policy as top issue for most Americans this year, and it rarely ever is. If it was, there is no serious trust advantage for 45 on these issues. Literally today, the Uncommitted movement is encouraging their people to back Harris, considering the alternative. https://thehill.com/policy/international/4922430-uncommitted-group-back-harris/
It's okay to disagree about the policy stance of any given administration or candidate. What is not okay is to create a false narrative of how the rest of the country is reacting in order to make your own reaction seem more justified. Please own your opinion without projecting it onto "the Public," which has shown no signs of agreeing with it.
I hear what you’re saying, but Will, the backlash about the war is not my POV. I’m supporting Harris/Walz, and only when I started researching why US Voters would still vote for Trump, did I start reading repetitive directions about the war. Believe me, I hope our positive work to win blue is successful.
Love how Heather concludes with the striking difference between a "theatrical move" and "reality."
Trouble is, how Trump, Putin, their Iranian mullahs, Netanyahu, and many U.S. billionaires know they can keep the U.S. divided, in class war, and paranoid about easily manipulable phantoms because -- thankfully for the dictators and autocrats -- the world's worst can rejoice in the U.S. now long having many of the world's worst schools.
Tens of millions -- all MAGA-land -- lap up all the lies the orange felon, Vance, and all the other Republican accomplices keep dishing out. None of these tens of millions went to any school to learn any respect for human pain in "others" but, instead, never to see "others" except as the mass group threats and danger abstractions by which our demagogues demagogue.
Can educator Tim Walz speak to this mortal rending of the American fabric? Can anyone?
Yeah. It’s hard to think of a worse government than that of
Texas. Well, maybe Florida. Probably the rest of the Confederacy plus Oklahoma and Idaho, too, but they’re low population, so they can’t do as much damage.
Remember, too, Rex -- those states you mention -- where the former enslavers ruled:
All have zero respect for their teachers. And as the former enslavers in their day ruled, so today do the corporate textbook packagers and their fellow cohorts of standardized testing.
Neuter all. Package all. All to profit the nihilist classes.
Details in Diane Ravitch, "The Language Police" (2003).
For the Finns, Rex, pay had nothing to do with it.
Their concerns were 1) getting only the best college grads as teachers and 2) making sure the teachers then made all decisions -- no bureaucrats, politicians, religious nut jobs, or standardized testers in the scene at all.
Rex- I agree with you about the "major damage" they do is economically.
There are still 20 states with minimum wage set at $7.25 an hour. That is akin to slavery. 17 of the states are red states. Trump refused to raise the Federal minimum wage. but yet him and his MAGA blow hards constantly complain about inflation.
While we all know that very few employers pay minimum wage, just the fact that a state has a $7.25 minimum wage reduces what other workers in the state are making.
The Democrats under Kamala need to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 a hour starting with $12.00 an hour in 2025 and increasing by $1.00 an hour every calendar (or fiscal) year.
Yes. Not sure what the numbers should be. Yours seem low to me. In addition, we need a guaranteed minimum income sufficient to cover lodging and food, plus Medicare for alll, of course.
A National Program of National Service would work Wonders... Better to learn how to Fight Forest Fires, and perform other Natural Disaster Cleanup together, then to fight each other...
I'm thinking 17-year-olds. Maybe six-week stinks of mostly on-site work/participation, with a small classroom component in both forestry and natural disaster clean-up, as you mention, plus more choices from hospital work, elder care, cafeteria and other food prep, crop harvesting, orchard care, small child daycare, commercial fishing, furniture care, and various horticulture trades.
All Excellent Fields of Endeavor... I talk to a lot of People that feel that their Young Sons are Lost... Just Sit Home, and Play Video Games... Better to get out and make Real Friends from different parts of the USA....
Yes! Another of Jerry Brown’s contributions to humanity. He’s a surpassing genius. One of only two people I ever saw reduce to vacuous platitudes Wm F Buckley (asshole of assholes but not a dumbass).
I love the idea of at least one year (I'd prefer two) after HS graduation or the equivalent. Military service, Peace Corps, or an as yet created CCC for public works projects where trade skills could be taught. Kicker is a requirement to go to a different part of the country than where they live.
Exactly, experience something different. So glad I left my small town and got to see a different part of the country. Even confronted my Dad's racist remark after a few months.
Re immigrant issues, in the 1930s 900 Jews fled Europe on the ship the Saint Louis. The people were not permitted entry into the US and had to return to Europe where many were killed. Is that the way our country treats people leaving home and family to escape from death? Do immigrants from Europe have better genes than anyone else? How would the Saint Louis story be received today?
I saw an image online the other day that featured photos of the last several Presidents next to bold letters listing each one's "biggest scandal." In went as thus:
Reagan/Bush Sr.: Iran-Contra affair
Clinton: Got a blow job
Bush Jr.: Invaded Middle East under false pretenses
Obama: Wore a tan suit
Tr*mp: Attempted violent overthrow of democracy in own country
Biden: Was old
It ended by asking "Do Republican voters have the memory of a goldfish?" and I thought "hey, you don't need to do goldfish like that!"
I somehow missed the fact that it is Heather’s Birthday. We are privileged to have you writing and providing an element of sanity in a scenario where it is lacking. Your letters are an open window to reality and I’m ever grateful for them!
She announced it during her Politics and History Facebook chat yesterday. That's the only way I knew she had made a spaghetti sauce that had simmered all afternoon while she was "on the water", and that she was capping it off with spice cake.
The proposals to help seniors in their homes is common sense overdue. First, it is the humane thing to do. Second, it is the cheaper thing to do compared to the warehousing of old people.
Kudos to Harris for presenting a plan. For most of us in the "sandwich" ... it is a DUH!
We are the richest nation to have ever existed in the history of humanity. And yet we struggle to care for our elders, punish working families and make the rich richer every day.
Time to search the world - looking for examples of problem solving. Child care, elder care, Healthcare in general are all addressed with less expense and stress in more mature and functional nations. We could learn. But instead we proclaim that we are exceptional. OY.
I agree. I am one of those sandwich generation women. My mom, who lives in the US, is living in a senior residence and has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. My daughter and I are mainly living in Germany. If I cannot straighten things out with my mom's long term care insurance company, which is not responding to me, I am considering bringing her to Germany. It will not be easy though. But, it is cheaper here and the government does more care subsidization. For example, I was told there is an agency that will assess one's home for what will need to be done to retrofit it to the needs of one's parents, and then there is money to pay for or help pay for that, depending on one's income. While there is generally not enough child care in Germany, although that can vary depending on where on lives, the care that is provided is paid for. In some areas there is maybe a fee for the food, but otherwise it is subsidized, and also each family gets 250€ a month per child from the government, which more than covers any child care costs. I am really excited to hear Kamala Harris is planning on including long term care coverage in Medicare. In Germany, everyone pays into both medical insurance and long term care insurance, basically from birth. The two come as a package. So, everyone has it. Retired people are paying around 215€ a month for their health and long term care insurance, and so are students, and people who are poor. Wealthier people may be paying more. Still, it includes medical and dental, and medical eye care. However, eye exams are done at the stores that sell glasses, and the most common place to get glasses in the city I live in has prescription glasses for as low as 25€ at some outlets, and for 60 € at others. So, affordable, and the exam is included.
Most European countries have some form of this. The US is unique in believing that the individual should find their own solutions instead of their being a Social Contract whose goal if to improve the quality of life for all.
The minute the left tries to help more people, the right cries "socialism" -- not realizing that big subsidies to corporations are corporate socialism that does not help regular people.
You are so right. The hypocrisy stinks badly.
Truman's remarks in Syracuse, New York on October 10, 1952, he said this:
Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years.
Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called farm price supports.
Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
When the Republican candidate inscribes the slogan "Down With Socialism" on the banner of his "great crusade," that is really not what he means at all.
What he really means is "Down with Progress--down with Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal," and "down with Harry Truman's fair Deal." That's all he means
Thank you for that wonderful quote.
Laurie, this is so tiresome, but it has been going on for a very long time as Heather has demonstrated. What we do have is paltry in comparison in terms of helping ordinary people. People or entities that do not need help are always first in line here. And sometimes the fraud is breathtaking. What we have is hypocrisy on steroids.
And is corporate socialism.
Love that expression, Gjay15!
"big subsidies to corporations are corporate socialism that does not help regular people."
So why arent the Dems using that as a "selling" point?
Seems to me thats short and sweet and easy to understand (for anyone!)
How shocking. We think the Marlboro Man will ride up on his trusty steed and fix things. Oh wait, he killed himself with cigarettes.
Or that Betty Crocker woman should be able to be a generic Mother multi task problem solver for all as Marlboro Man rides off to manly adventures.
And Aunt Jemimah makes everybody pancakes. And like Betty, knows her place. America, land of hyper-masculine, misogynist and racist myths, which thankfully, shifted to an equality-based reality; oops, well, for about half the population.
Talk about a myth. I was so dissolutioned when I found out that Betty Crocker wasn't a real person.
Much like Trump.
I should have written: And Aunt Jemima comforts everybody with pancakes. This commercial image gained such easy currency because it disguised its racist, slavery-era underpinnings with an image that engendered fondness for her — providing easy deniability of one's unconscious racism.
The five most hated words in our English language “all men are created equal.”
What really depresses me is that during my youth and through, maybe, 1980 things seemed to be gradually getting better. Sometimes terribly slowly and with some very horrible setbacks (or perhaps tragic costs), but better. Since then, things have begun to deteriorate, and the pace of that deterioration continued to accelerate (leveling off under Clinton and particularly under Obama) but resumed dramatically under Trump. If he wins again, I fear we may go through the seven hells that Nazi Germany created about a hundred years ago.
If only those pesky women would get out of the workplace and the pulpit, men (white men) would "make America great again," right?
Especially those with a tan (not gotten at the beach)
A gentle reminder the Marlboro man died of lung cancer. Cared for by Betty.
😂😂🤣😅
Some remember, our young people have no heroes of their ilk
June Cleaver cooking dinner in a dinner dress?
Happened for my momma because she had been at work, I ditched dresses as soon as I could, so did many.
Oh, our myths are so useful. Joseph Campbell should have studied our advertising. It has made us who we are to a great extent, sad to say.
Advertising is simply storytelling-for. It is the shadowland of our cultural creativity. Yes, we need a social conversation on all of this. Postwar corporate advertising has been allowed far too much power without political responsibility over our social cultural narrative. Our educators voices are drowned out by their manipulative bells & whistles. It is a black propaganda global crisis currently playing out in the US with MAGA followers.
My flawed parents fell a little short, but those “heroes“ had feet of clay. Mine didn’t
Spoiled ass Americans rail against programs that benefit others “get something they don’t deserve”, even when they’re getting it too
Favorite sign at Tea Party rally: Keep your gov’t hands off my medicare
The myth, the romanticized version of America loosely epitomized by such actors as Ronnie Rayguns to DonOLD T. to now OUR dream 🗣️YOU’RE FIRED!
These things portray the theocracy of today as democracy worldwide struggles under little d’s-dictators, disinformation, destruction.
💙💙VOTE BLUE.END THE COUP.UP TO YOUS.💙💙
The USA POP = profit over people. And it is institutionalize by a system that makes it possible for the minority to rule. Minority = monied interests = oligarchy.
We believe in giving everyone an opportunity to pull himself up by his bootstraps! We know everyone can! /s/
Yeah, one of the dumbest historical statements ever.
That belief has long worn out its time for continuity. It's a holdover from the days where people *had* to look out for themselves because government agencies were not yet ramped up to help. The sad part is that those who still believe in that system are essentially born out of their era. In other words, they were born too late, where they should have been born in the 1800 and before. I know, it sounds silly, but I am still amazed at the ignorance of some who believe, that a government who helps them improve their lives, leans toward communism. Most don't want to use that term, so they say "socialism" instead. However, the reality of what they are saying is quite clear to me.
Sounds like Germany's plan alleviates much of the stress and confusion that go hand in hand with growing old in America, not to mention the debt that is incurred. That alone increases the quality of life for all, seniors and family alike.
Why is it that greed and anger have taken such a deep hold here? We will not survive as a country if VP Harris isn't elected. She is the only choice for the well-being of Americans.
Why is it "that greed and anger have taken such a deep hold here” Celeste?
I fear it is pretty simple and logical. Greed (and self-interest) is the basis for Capitalism and a big part of why it works so well at generating energy and activity and productivity and has driven our economy to be the most productive in the world. The problems we face as a nation arise when we as voters fail to demand a balance with adequate funding (that word “taxes” the Right as been able to utterly vilify) to support adequate social welfare, or “socialism” as the political Right like to (inaccurately) label it. More social welfare requires that we take more of that highly productive profit generated by greed (Capitalism) and apply it to care for the other; for the group, the family, and really the whole nation.
Thank you for an excellent analysis!
I have been trying to write a letter to my CongressCritters (mine aren’t really that bad) explaining all this and it spread out over two or three pages. Thanks for condensing my scrawl. I hope you don’t mind if I send yours with a few added thoughts?
Democracies allow greed and anger. Democracies also allow the power of the vote, when it is not gerrymandered or suppressed.
Celest. I totally agree. 💙💙💙💙
Oh Linda, I'm so sorry to learn this. So far, I've cared for or had a hand in said care for both my parents and my spouse's. My Mom had early onset Alzheimers; It was long painful road. Do you keep all of our Dr.'s letters ?
Dan and Linda, kudos to you for taking care of your parents in their time of confusion and need. My brother liveed with, and took care of my father, who'd had a stroke; my mother, who had dementia and was blind from glaucoma; and then my aunt, whose cause of death was "failure to thrive." My mother and aunt both died at 94.
I remember when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer, which caused his death. Since he couldn't stand or walk, he had to be transported for radiation by ambulance for six weeks. Insurance would not pay for the ambulance.
For roughly twenty-five years, my brother took care of my three family members. I lived 1 1/2 hours away and went every weekend to help. It was exhausting, but a labor of love.
There should be some compensation for those who keep their aged relatives at home instead of having to hand over everything they've worked for all their lives to a nursing home.
Thank you. I do have files. My mom is 90-years-old. Her sister who is 14 years younger is helping her, as are friends and other family, but it is a shock. Her doctor is advising me on her care.
A long and painful road, indeed. Strength to all who have to travel it.
And, JD, a real life education that informs one going forward in anticipatory preparation of one’s own affairs, to the degree possible, to lessen the burden, however lovingly it would be carried out, on family/friends. Been there, done that…it’s hard work, especially the frustration of dealing with (battling!) the private medical insurance system.
Hard work indeed, paperwork battles are the most inscrutable at times…
As you well know. ❤️
Scars run deep, but some good memories. ❤️
Linda, I worked for German company and when my colleagues described their social network support compared to ours, I was astounded. They didn’t mind paying the taxes. They saw the benefits. They value education
In the next 50 years , after the Trump/Putin destroy us, perhaps a more resilient American population will advance
Remember that after WWII the US helped Germany rebuild into the nation it is today. That was a challenge and a choice we made. Our post war taxes were high. The war created a huge national debt. However, we did the right thing. We can do the right things again for our country.
Depressing, isn’t it? A few years ago I read the book The Year of Living Danishly. I know they’re a more homogenous country but still….they _care_ about things like well-being.
When I was around 20ish I traveled to Denmark. I found it a fascinating culture. In Copenhagen I remember walking down the street at night with kiosks in the middle of the sidewalk... fully populated with the wares of the businesses including jewelry. It was amazing to me that this was possible in a big city. So different from the Los Angeles I grew up in. The Scandinavian countries were all similar in that way. People were happy and friendly . At 20ish it was such an eye opener that cultures could be so different from ours and be happy and content. Of course that was a long time ago... I wonder if that is still true today. I hope so.
Isn't it crazy that Medicare won't cover international travel? I experienced the lower cost of health care when I paid out of pocket for ER visit, x-rays & a splint in Germany- equivalent of $175.
Years ago an international student from Germany explained to me how in Germany, before parents leave the hospital with a newborn, the insurance is setup. She predicted the U.S. will eventually build a similar system. Makes sense we will not gut our insurance industry—a huge employer. We will need to work with it. I have an AARRP advantage plan which is a step in that direction. I think South Korean’s system is similar with everyone being required to pick an insurance plan (think being the operative word here—forgive my retired brain).
Well I understand your view but we do not NEED to work with the insurance industry and should not if we can muster the political will. We need a single payer system that covers all equally and equitably. Our current system just sucks a substantial amount of the money available into the hands of private profiteers for no reason other than "its the way we've always done it". If we used that "middle man" money to pay our doctors and nurses, our system would be a lot healthier and so would most of us.
I would vote for universal healthcare but I think that may not be possible with our huge insurance infrastructure. I am not in favor of how everything is being privatized. To unravel all of it may not be possible because so many people are employed within these privatized sectors. It is a shame we have gone in the direction of profit-making off of life essentials but we have. If I could have my way I would not want this structure with healthcare or housing or education or utilities or defense or long term care including prisons but the U.S. was/is built on exploiting labor and resources to make profits. Regulation within those sectors may help? Not even sure I know what I am talking about. This is all in the I think category.
Mary Ellen, if single-payer is government-run, it will still employee people. People who are paid for their time, not for their success in denying care to maximize profits. What we have now is inexcusable. There are layers and layers of private sector bureaucracy sucking off healthcare dollars - mostly by jacking up prices (and copays) and denying care. This is one sector where Capitalism (ie for-profit) should be disallowed. An example is the highly profitable Medicare Advantage plans that control doctors, services and drugs. Every denial puts $$$ in their pockets. It shouldn’t even have to be”Medicare” in the name.
I agree it is about time we have this and it should start at birth.
Actually, before...prenatal care for moms.
And Germany lost the war? Thank you for your input. In the 1970’s a friend of mine moved to Canada with his wife. Both were citizens of the USA. In the two years that they were living there while he attended graduate school they had a baby and he had weekly psychological therapy for “ writer’s block”. Canada paid for everything.
To get home to Minnesota I hitchhiked through Canada in the early 80s (because the car I was riding in fell off a cliff in Idaho). While in Canada I injured my foot. Canada did all the necessary tests and gave me crutches. I wanted to pay them but they told me they had no billing department under National Health Care. I gave them $15 for the crutches - just because it didn’t seem right not to. They probably used it to buy lunch. Think of all the insurance adjusters and billing departments they didn’t have to pay for. I’ve never forgotten!
Marge, hope you were NOT in that car when it fell off that cliff 😮!!!
I was not but my companion, the car owner, was. She and her car went down 250 feet and she had to climb up the cliff and walk five miles to a ranger station. The following night we had to go back up the mountain (in someone else’s truck, of course). My friend got drunk to deal with that trip, blacked out and ultimately spent the entire night wandering around the small town, crawling into bed with total strangers (who generally took it quite calmly). She would say “I’m Lisa from Minnesota and I’m dead but I’m going to screw your lights out.” Which she then did do. We had to stay in that town for nearly a week and apparently everyone had heard the story. I would introduce myself and when their eyes widened “No, that was Lisa.”
😙 sounds like a brush w/ Mr Grim himself loosens one’s inhibitions! Def a one-of-a-kind story! Glad everyone was OK—know I’d be traumatized!
Yes, we're exceptional alright. But not in a good way, some days.
Any care in the US provided by the government is considered “socialism” by many. We need to get over this misconception of socialism (disinformation once again by the wealthy !). It’s compassionate capitalism where the strong support the weak.
I consider the tax cuts corporations get socialism. Just sayin'!
Corporate welfare. For those who don't need it.
It's worse than socialism Lynell !
In the most inhumane way…
Morning, Lynell, and agree 100%
Morning, Ally!
I agree. No one else considers this socialism, but the Right wing has created fallacious language around everything that we need to reclaim and redefine. Being a Democrat is not being leftist, it is basically being center, while Republicans are Right wing or extremely right.
IF not labeled as "socialism", methinks that much of the work of socialism might be called "Christianity" (with apologies to non-Christian readers here). Or perhaps we would say, living by the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have done unto you?
My husband has a good take on it. He says "socialism" is concept people don't understand to apply to something that frightens them. May I add that it is applied to something someone TOLD them to be afraid of.
Exactly. Let us look into the waste of Corporate Socialism!
It’s always the wealthy that think they need every penny they have and if they contribute to the lesser then that makes them lazy. Our system is difficult to navigate for so many…so the wealthy buy off the republican congress to keep the middle class struggling. SMH
Miselle and Christine, I fear the word “socialism” became so slippery and acquired such a bad reputation because of the difficulty so many people have in seeing both sides of an argument as being true or useful or important.
We all benefit from corporate “greed” when it droves jobs, productivity and an economy with enough wealth to spread around to ensure the welfare (another one of those dirty words) of all who reside in our richest of all societites ever to have been developed. It requires BALANCING the Capitalism (greed) with the welfare of all; too much welfare and the Capitalism gets stifled, too much Capitalism and a few get very, very rich and the welfare of all gets stifled.
Martyn, I would respectfully disagree with the need to call it “compassionate Capitalism” and put it into the larger context with Capitalism just half the equation and the welfare of all, government “of the people, by the people and for the people” the other half, the balancing half in our thoughtfully constructed, constitutionally guided democratic republic.
Love the expression compassionate capitalism, Martin!
Martyn!
I also agree with her plan for seniors it is long overdue. Seniors deserve to die with dignity toward the latter part of their years. Home health care is a right. In Demark, people pay nothing for health care. In my opinion, we should have health care for all.
republicons will never get behind this.
Joseph, If we retake the House and hold the Senate and the Presidency, we can advance this legislation with zero Republican support. To clarify, currently, 49 Democratic Senators support some version of filibuster reform, be it through resuscitating the talking filibuster or through carve-outs. Either way, the reform, presuming we have 50 Democratic Senators and a Democratic VP to cast the tie-breaking vote, ultimately would allow legislation to move to the floor for discussion and an up or down majority vote.
I would note that diminishing minority control in the Senate over the will of the majority, while not my sole reason for being in this fight, is a major factor.
"some version of filibuster reform, be it through resuscitating the talking filibuster or through carve-outs"
The whole "carve-out" idea is plainly ridiculous, because there is no way to say one thing deserves a carve-out but not another thing without deeply offending people in your coalition who value that. Can you imagine Senate Democrats saying "OK, abortion rights are SO IMPORTANT we will make an exception for that"... but then not doing the same for gun control? Goodbye, youth movement. Or the Equality Act? Goodbye, LGBT voters. Or police reform? Goodbye, black voters. Or the PRO Act? Goodbye, union voters. Or raising the minimum wage? Goodbye, all voters who aren't rich. The Senators know this. Everyone knows this.
The key change that has to happen here is that we can no longer have an arbitrary minority of Senators be allowed to perpetually block a vote from ever occurring on things the majority of the public clearly wants. Any rule change that still allows this to happen is useless. Until 51 votes makes a yes instead of 60 (which is NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION) then we are just beating around the bush. The Senators know this. Everyone knows this.
Will, My understanding, while we currently have 49 Democratic Senators who support filibuster reform, is that we don’t have nearly as many who support abolishing the filibuster. I wish we did. That said, I expect a carve-out would be reserved for rights so fundamental that they are preservative of every other right—voting rights for example. Otherwise, I expect we would see a resuscitation of the speaking filibuster, which both would resuscitate the Senate as a more deliberative body than the House while also eventually allowing legislation to move to the floor for debate and an up or down majority vote.
Barbara, these are politicians we are talking about. With respect, unless you can provide me some on-the-record PUBLIC statements of any other Democratic Senator unequivocally stating "I support carve-outs for these few things but not abolishment" then we can only conclude they are keeping their options open. I'm sure there are several who are privately uncomfortable with the idea. But come on, it's not as if this would be the the first time a politician changed their mind about something and voted for something they didn't personally like, in order to keep their job.
Let's be clear: the specter of what happened to Sinema will hang over every one of them. No one her age retires after one term voluntarily. She was going to get primaried and she was going to lose, and lose baaaaadly. Just a few years after becoming the first Arizona Dem to win a seat in forever, everyday party members were willing to nuke the whole place just to get rid of her. Democrats have become significantly more militant in the last decade and far less forgiving of anyone that stands in the way of what is viewed as desperately needed progress. I remember attending an Indivisible event (so, not exactly a fringe gathering of radicals) in late '21 and there were people straight up booing and chanting against Dianne Feinstein in a public park because she had made some vauge comment about being wary of abolishing the filibuster. This was the Bay Area, mind you! She has been a hero here for DECADES and people were turning on her overnight. She changed her tune PDQ. Everyone in the Senate who might not personally like the idea knows that if they are the next Sinema/Manchin in opposing a carve-out on any given issue, the millions of decidicated people behind that issue will be organizing against them online and in person within the day to end their career with a vengeance. Not a spot politicians are willing to put themselves in, exactly.
The Supreme Court decisions of '22 sealed the deal. Restoring what they damaged is the #1 reason Democrats will win if/when they do. Not acting is now untenable, there is no way to act with the filibuster intact, and there is no way to justify breaking it for one thing and not the myriad of other pressing issues without deeply offending millions of people fighting for that issue, all of which are key to a winning coalition. The die has kind of been cast here, whether every Senator likes it or not.
Will, Presuming a Democratic federal trifecta in November, I expect Senate filibuster reform will be a top priority. Because I don’t believe 50 Senators will support abolishing the filibuster entirely, I anticipate discussions regarding compromise measures.
I would note a commenter on this thread reminded me of a bid from congressional scholar Norm Ornstein who had proposed that the Senate shift the burden from the majority, requiring 60 Senators to end debate, to the minority, requiring 41 to continue it. Ornstein also had foreseen a return to the talking filibuster.
As for Manchin and Sinema, you might recall in January 2022 that passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act had hinged on Manchin and Sinema joining the 48 Democratic Senators to enact, through a procedural maneuver, a taking filibuster of sorts. Each side would be granted as much as 100 hours of speaking time prior to the legislation moving to the floor for debate and an up or down majority vote, Regrettably, Manchin and Sinema voted with the 50 Republicans who opposed the plan.
Additionally, I expect you recall Manchin and Sinema, back in 2022, had blocked passage of Biden’s Build Back Better reconciliation package that required only 50 votes, leaving us instead with the substantially edited down Inflation Reduction Act.
My point is that Manchin and Sinema are outliers who don’t belong in the conversation at-hand.
Yes Barbara, make the Senators talk till they have to pee; far less filibusters
Dave, Your post brought to mind Texas’s former state Senator Wendy Davis’s thirteen-hour-long filibuster to block anti-abortion legislation, wherein she had prepared by being catheterized.
Sadly at least for this election that is a pipe dream. There is simply no logical path to a Democratic senate majority this year. The best we will get is 51-49 GOP. Could be worse. You just look at the states where there are senators up for election and unless something totally unexpected happens in Texas or Florida, we simply can't hold the Senate. I wish it weren't so but fantasy doesn't get you very far in American politics. Reality is a better place to start from.
Jon, Though we’ve known from the start that the 2024 Senate map for Democrats is brutally unfriendly, we’ll continue to write postcards/ letters to voters, text bank, phone bank, knock on doors, and so forth. While not originating with me, I, nonetheless, would note, whenever the words “margin of error”are spoken, I hear “margin of effort.” And while the odds, as in most struggles, are not in our favor, we won’t be stopped.
We are on our way; see my replies before yours! You state it convincingly but it will take 52 or 53 to give them confidence to abolish it!
I'm not so sure about that. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty certain it is not true. I think they all know that it has to go the first time they get a chance or they will not get another chance. Getting and keeping a Senate majority takes several cycles.
Just try to imagine voters defying all the pundits again, delivering the first female President to the White House and handing a slim trifecta to Democrats only for them to say "Yeah, I know we ran on restoring the basic rights and human dignity that Christian nationalists and corrupt billionaires are stripping from you, and we now have the votes to actually do what we promised... but we're going to hold out until you give us 52 Senators instead of 50! We just need a little more confidence! Keep dying for a little while longer, women of reproductive age in the South!" The backlash would be like nothing you have ever seen in your life.
We get a trifecta, the filibuster goes.
I agree that 52 or 53 gets it done!
Well just to point out ( based only on history) but even winning the white house and a tie in the Senate will not get rid of the filibuster. A senate tie results in NO rule changes that are not agreed on by 51 at senators. Walz as senate chair has no vote on the initial rules. The rules will stay the same unless a majority of senators approve a change. So assuming Manchins seat is won by a GOP, the Democrats must not only hold all their current seats but must pick up one from some where else. Ted Cruz? It could happen but a VERY long shot. The filibuster is her e for at least another two years by my calculations. Wish it wasn't so but reality again rears its ugly had.
I certainly hope this would happen, 27 days there’s still alot of work to do 👍
Like getting more volunteers. https://www.mobilize.us/
We need a sweep, half-assed won’t do.
My California Vote-by-Mail ballot arrived yesterday. I will return my ballot this Saturday & digitally confirm county registrar's receipt of same & later counted. Voting top to bottom of the ballot. Another $60 out to Kam & the Coach last Monday.
Go get ‘em. Hope I can vote on 10-21
Got mine too, Bryan, and have carefully marked all the candidates (bona fides well known), but am studying local & state propositions and measures….doing my homework!….before I drive to & drop off my ballot in person at the county election headquarters! Hoping for a 🌊!!!
JD, Since I’m not sure I know what you mean, I would need clarification in order to reply.
Just all out effort. You are leading the charge as always. Not an iota of criticism. Texas efforts have fallen short so often. Repub cheating leaves no stone unturned. So many here are working to make Texas sane again.
🤞
JD, Thanks for the clarification. I would note your comment stands as a reminder of my gratitude for the fellow travelers, yourself included, on this site, who have joined the battle to rescue our freedoms and rights from those who would rip them all away, if given the chance.
I'd really like someone to implement Norm Ornstein's ideas about the filibuster. This is 3-years old but still very relevant. https://wapo.st/3Y1SzeG
@MisTBlu, I very much appreciate the reminder. I would note, when first presented, I had been a fan of Norm Ornstein’s proposal that the Senate shift the burden from the majority, requiring 60 Senators to end debate, to the minority, requiring 41 to continue it. Still, I would link this shift in burden to resuscitating the talking filibuster 1) to return the Senate to its roots as a more deliberative body and 2) to ensure the legislation ultimately moved to the floor for an up or down majority vote.
Barbara Jo - as I read his proposal, he foresees a return to the talking filibuster.
@MisTBlu, I imagine he would. Thanks for the confirmation.
Manchin said he wouldn't support Harris because she wanted to get rid of the filibuster.
Manchin is really a Republican, left over from when Democrats were able to win elections in W Virginia (before FOX or Rush Limbaugh polluted the airwaves).
Exactly. I call him a Republican (wolf) in Democrat's clothing (sheep). Same with Kristin Sinema. Glad they are both gone from the party.
Sinema just didn't know any better; Manchin did.
Well at least now we will have a REAL republican MAGAt in the west Virginia seat. Democrats need to stop acting like there is only one way or the highway. Manchin was a thoughtful Senator who represented his state for US and we chased him out. Not a very smart thing to do when you can barely hold on to a majority. I am honestly not even sure what will happen in Arizona. Gallego looks like he will win but ONLY because the GOP nominated the most outrageous candidate they could find, Kari Lake. Almost as bad as Georgia when they put up Herschel walker.
Politics is the art of the possible. Demanding only "our way" is a losing premise. You younger folks need to learn about that. Learn to compromise. Understand that there are other ideas out there that might mean you have to compromise. Because extremism isn't a good look especially for a so called "democratic" party.
You hit that nail on the head
Patricia, Manchin, though no longer relevant, is hardly the only Senator opposed to ending the filibuster. Moreover, Harris, who makes clear nearly every day she seeks consensus which she understands entails compromise, would likely work with the Senate to reach agreement on the sorts of filibuster reforms I noted in my original comment.
Really... ?
Barbara Jo: who is the 50th and 51st currently: Sinema and ??
Sinema and Manchin were the holdouts. They are both "retiring" this year, and that is not a coincidence, as their refusal in the name of "protecting bipartisanship" (read: fundraising friends) was correctly viewed as betrayal by the rest of the party that rendered them both persona non grata. Manchin may have had *some* justification, given the politics of his state, but Sinema is the classic example of someone trying to outplay everyone who ends up playing themselves instead. Girl, bye.
Her seat is in Arizona, which is competitive again this year and we have a very strong candidate in Ruben Gallego. Debbie Stabenow from Michigan is also retiring, so we must replace her with Elissa Slotkin. (Neither of them faced a competitive primary, so I am certain conversations with Schumer have taken place where he extracted a guarantee neither will be another Sinema in exchange for an easy road to the nomination.) Otherwise, our job is to make sure every other one of our incumbents who voted to remove the filibuster for Voting Rights in 2018 stays right where they are. That means Jacky Rosen in Nevada, Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, and Bob Casey in Pennsylvania need to come along with a Harris victory and Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Jon Tester in Montana need to outperform the top of the ticket as they have done in the past. In Maryland, Hogan will give Alsobrooks a close race rather than the walk she would have had otherwise, but she is heavily favored. I know some people are throwing out other names, but trust me, unless Harris ends up in a historic landslide we don't have room to expand the map otherwise, although if you want to help out someone in your own state obviously God bless. I do think all of our incumbents are very strong in comparison to their competitors and the more vulnerable ones are being underestimated.
Barbara you really are dreaming here. Tester is going to go down badly in Montana. That and Manchins seat make it 49-51 against us. Where do you even see another gain? TEXAS? FLORIDA? You're dreaming girl. I wish you weren't but wishful thinking is a bad political strategy. Sorry to call the kettle black but we are not holding the Senate this year. I'd start getting over that now.
CITE.
YOUR.
F#CKING.
SOURCES.
BEFORE.
MAKING.
THESE.
STATEMENTS.
I'm talking non-profit public or internal polling. I'm talking voter turnout and data modeling. I'm talking volunteer numbers. I'm talking fundraising and spending figures. (Party leaders don't spend money on unwinnable races. Ever. Period.) I'm talking non-anonymous statements from party professionals. I'm talking historical precedent. I'm talking ANY evidence other than your own dusty "crystal ball."
You know what, Jon? Let's say you are right. You STILL need to shut up, because you are being rude to Barbara (and others) on the most basic level. She doesn't need you to shut her down by saying "you're dreaming." (She's not, but whatever.) Let her dream and keep it to yourself. What are you getting out of making posts solely shutting down other people's positivity, exactly? If you think you are saving them from something then I can recommend a really good therapist, 'cause you got some issues that go DEEP, man. Follow the advice of Thumper's Mom in Bambi - advice so easy a kindergartener can put it into practice - and if you don't got somethin' nice to say, don't say nuthin' at all.
I think 51 currently is Testa and I agree we only need 50 plus Walz but with wins in FL, NE, and maybe even TX we are on our way to kill if not modify filibuster; I worked in the senate years ago for Paul Simon!
Paul Simon? Gosh, that's special! Did he let you call him Al?
**ducks out of the way of flying tomatoes**
Al? Huh?
Support Katrina Christiansen in ND, Lucas Kunce in MO.
I was on a FT 6 call the other day, when Jason Berlin said we already have 4.5 million new Democrats, under the radar, on board.
Tester is 50. Manchin was 51. We will lose both seats. With 21 democratic seats up this year and only 12 Gop seats, there is virtually no way to hold the majority or even a tie. Hate to intrude on your fantasies but reality is a better medicine.
Ira, Keeping in mind we need only 50 (with a Democratic VP casting the tie-breaking vote) and in no particular order: 1) Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) [btw, Sinema (I-AZ) is not seeking reelection]; 2) Colin Allred (D-TX) ; 3) Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL); and 4) Dan Osborn (D-NE).
Additionally, if we’re not to lose our seat in Maryland, Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) must win her race against former popular Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD). I would note Alsobrooks is mighty impressive. Moreover, it should be noted that Jon Tester (D-Montana) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are in competitive races to hold their seats.
Barbara Jo: Optimistic and clearly possible certainly in Md, AZ, NE (really important & doable; I’ve been helping Dan), not sure about Fl until today as floods will take away millions of R votes in western Fl, GA, and NC; was sure before flood about NC and the power of the Black campaign in GA (Warnock twice and even Ossoff!) when they elected Ossoff it signals a new day in GA for federal statewide elections!!
Ira, I’m thrilled you’re helping Dan, who has a real shot at unseating two-term Republican Senator Deb Fischer.
Love your clauses!
Kathy, Thank you for writing. Admittedly, my only way to survive editors, who kept trying to break up my sentences, was to get better at inserting embedded clauses that clarified without cluttering my training of thought.
Yeah, we know. Which is why we need to do it without them.
This idea that a political party can be voted into the minority in all branches of government and yet still have veto power over any change in policy is literally unheard of in any other advanced democracy, as it is patently absurd on its face. It is the single reason nothing ever gets done and the Repubs never have the incentive to get their act together. When you get voted out, it means the public has chosen a winner in the battle of ideas, and they were not yours. You need to get back on the same page with the public, and until you do you shall not possess the power that is solely the public's to give.
The filibuster makes all of this impossible. Its current form fundamentally breaks democracy and breeds nihilism in its participants. It must go, plain and simple.
Yes, but maybe we better do away with gerrymandering first?
Fair and equal voting rights for all & no gaming the system to win! Seems simple enough of a concept to me!
Truth is the ‘republicons’ have zero interest in governing. Their driving purpose is to hold onto power and self interest and grifting.
For some reason (not explained publicly) the demo-crats refuse to go there I agree with you ! They need to explain why not or grow a pair and do it !
No they won't, but if we forced our high school students to do a year or even a semester abroad, they would be exposed to other ways of doing things. It could be tied to a comparison of governments while they are in their host country. It was super informative for my daughter and her exchange partner to spend half a year in each other's home country's and schools, even though my daughter, being a dual German-US citizen was generally familiar with a similar culture, from going each year to Germany. She also went to Poland on a school trip with the class and to France and Spain. Just the culture of the students planning in committee the trip, which was tied to arts and architecture studies, so a heavy schedule of visiting museums and sites on their trip to Paris and Barcelona, and taking the sleeping train. To Poland they went for Holocaust Remembrance, which they had been studying that semester. The greater independence of students was a cultural shift that some cannot handle. My friend, whose son went to my daughter's school, had an exchange for half a year in Germany last year when he was in 10th grade, and this summer and beginning of the fall he had an exchange in Norway. There are so many countries in this world, and it would be great to get our next generation of leaders to visit and see other ways of doing things, so that they see it in practice, and it is not just a foreign idea to them.
An excellent idea exposing young people to other cultures and systems. After 2 years of college, emphasis on cultural anthropology and three years of military getting lucky and working in intelligence Communications my eyes were opened. It would be so nice if our high schools would incorporate a requirement to study our own government system. So a requirement of our own government and then a year of Exchange in other countries would be a real Plus to our future leaders. Compared with other countries we do not reward our teachers sufficiently I am completely in favor of promoting a student exchange program, while offering greater compensation to our teachers also instituting a program that helped our own student understand civics and our own form of government.
I have long felt that this would be a fantastic way to help Americans be less insular and more aware of other ways of organizing society. And it would be relatively inexpensive. A bit like the study abroad programs for college students but it would be wonderful if it could be more egalitarian and available to students from all backgrounds.
I can’t remember the citation but quite a few years ago I read an article that an immersive experience in another culture at the right time can result in a more open and tolerant attitude for many subsequent years. I believe it was during high school years. I went on one such experience at age 17 and it absolutely led directly to a lifelong career in human services. I also became one of the adults on church-sponsored youth group trips and watched the young people change significantly after the two week trips.
We need a mandatory civil service internship after High School to facilitate what Linda is suggesting. Many families concern is far removed from International travel albeit grand, at this stage in our countey.
International exchanges are great but we also need exchanges at home-rural vs cities, Black neighborhoods vs White neighborhoods, one religion vs.another, wealthy vs poor, Ds vs Rs, etc-our children (and far too many adults) don’t understand or empathize with other Americans which is why it’s so easy for people like DJT to divide us.
Very few students have chances to even travel within the U.S. never mind internationally. Having programs for both internal and foreign travel will go a long way in stimulating people to create better ways of living as a nation and globally.
Gina, I would propose that may have been one of the very few advantages of The Draft (into the military) of the 50’s and 60’s; being forced in some respects to live with and get along with a wide variety of folks from all walks of life in the US (except those with disabling bone spurs). Too bad it couldn’t have been repurposed into part of the Peace Corps…although that vey concept was way too easily morphed into a “we know better” corps.
You read my mind John! I worked with a number of students returning to college after time in AmeriCorps/VISTA and the Conservation Corps & Peace Corps…they always spoke of what the experience meant to them & how it expanded their horizons & understanding.
Victoria, I love this idea. Germany has been big on sending youth out on gap years after they finish school, and have a whole program set up, generally to either work in childcare or senior care. A friend of our's daughter went to Israel for half a year, and is fluent now in spoken Hebrew. Another friend's daughter spent half a year in Tibet, half a year in Nicaragua, again working in child care. This and living with families teaches about culture. My daughter's class went on a trip to Costa Rica, where they helped with a community center. They painted it. She lived with a family, and still communicates with them. Their 5 year old son, who has asthma just like her, but not the access to health care or medicines, has to lie down when he is having breathing difficulties. She saw this and learned what the health care was like in the village. She has inhalers to help her when she has difficulties and knows when to use them. She also has regular doctor access. I have Mormon neighbors whose children all took 2 years off to do service trips. They had to earn the money for it themselves too. One went to South Korea, sisters went at different times to Brazil, another one went to Chile. Another to the Dominican Republic. While they are supposed to do missionary work, they also get to live in another culture and understand it. The mom of one had been to Israel. The dad of another did East LA. My daughter also went in 8th grade to the Navajo reservation where she learned about weaving, but also helped build an addition to a house, and dig irrigation for this family. These trips have broadened her horizons and increased her self confidence.
Here is a Gap year program for American students in Germany.
https://www.germany.info/us-en/welcome/language-study-research/gapp/1306010
Also, German college students are encouraged to do a semester or year abroad as undergraduates or even graduates. Typically in a country that relates to what you are studying if it can. My husband studied in Greece for a year in Graduate school. That is why he speaks modern Greek. It helps in restaurants where friendly service is even friendlier.
We have multiple cultures within the U. S. But rarely learn from each other.
Why do you say forced? Most teenagers would jump at time in a different country. Once again, cost is the issue.
Because, my daughter's small private school class of 20 students, only 6 of the students went on a foreign exchange. My daughter was one of 5 girls, and 1 boy who went. The boy that went also went away for college. They are the covid generation, staying a little too close to home sometimes. All of the ones who went have gone away to college. Those who did not, most stayed in state. Somehow their worlds got smaller, and smaller from Covid. My daughter went on exchange during covid, and did actually get it in that country, although in the summer vacation while she was still there. So, there are those that jump at the chance, and those that don't. It is the latter that might need a push.
I think a free ticket and a spending allowance would inspire their parents to let them go.
Because the nursing home lobby is powerful in every state. My mother fought this battle over 40 years ago, God rest her soul.
Let's abolish lobbying, which in many cases is just legal bribery of our government representatives by big money.
The finest gov’t money can buy 🤦🏻♀️….
That, Candace, and private equity firms buying them up and bleeding them dry 🧛🏻♂️…what could possibly go wrong?
Yet nursing homes in rural areas are rapidly becoming unviable.
Of course not , greed comes first with them and people come last.
The 1% wound pull their support.
And then there is this tidbit from HCR’s letter:
“ Deepa Shivaram of NPR noted that a relatively large percentage of middle-aged and older women remain undecided in this race and Harris’s plan speaks to their needs.”
That is phenomenal to me. I ask my self, how can any woman in America be undecided in this election? Perhaps the vulnerability to a con is far greater than I realize.
IMHO most people do not realize how unconscious and conscious racism and misogyny are features of American life.
Some women absolutely do want a “protector” and some people absolutely want to maintain a caste system based on skin color.
No question it’s far too many people. This election should NOT be a close call if we really believe in liberty, equality and justice for all.
I do not know, Gary. Gina offers a good opinion regarding unconscious racism and misogyny. As a member of that "middle-aged and older women" cohort, I cannot fathom how anyone who is a woman, however you choose to define it*, can support fpotus.
*I thought several versions: XX chromosomes, but I know there are far, far more female presenting combinations than that, plus it excludes transwomen.
I have a life long acquaintance who has completed surgical transition. It blows my mind that while now presenting as female, her mind very much has remained a Republican, perhaps even MAGA, male. No concern for bodily autonomy, no appreciation of the rights women fought so hard for in the 60’s, ‘70’s, and still railing on the preference for a tiny Federal government. We had lunch a few weeks ago and avoided politics. It’s time to do it again and “go there”.
Fascinating. I really wonder how she wraps her head around that.
Texting hasn't answered many questions, looking forward to the discussion
Maybe it takes having lived life as a female, like most of us.
The middle-aged and older women who need to hear about the Harris plan described in HCR's post probably won't get the opportunity if they watch Fox Spews. It astounds me how much real news does not get covered by Fox (based on what my husband tells me - I don't have the patience to watch and see what they are reporting!). It's like an alternative version of reality over there.
I was one of the sandwich generation - driving often from NY to Michigan where my mother was declining. Now I care for my husband who has ALS - and after 40 years of sharing all the household tasks, it all falls to me. He, of course, has a tougher road than I do with this insidious disease - but there's still an awful lot on my shoulders and I would love some home help without it breaking the bank.
Laurie, I hold you in the arms of care and concern. My wife and I have been trading off on who is the "able bodied" one these days (currently, she is more unable with her back and ankle problems than I am with my knee problems, but we are both severely limited in what we could do even 4 months ago. At least I am scheduled for knee replacement...)
Good luck! 🍀 My husband was scheduled for knee surgery but undiagnosed extreme hypertension cancelled the surgery. At this age one thing seems to follow another in trying to remain healthy and active. We still have goals!
I did something called PRP instead. I had to pay, but was very surprised it has been around awhile. Sure better than knee surgery and I feel great. https://www.healthline.com/health/prp
National Research Council can appoint a committee to do a comparative study of the government healh care program for select wealthy countries.
Bill I really don't understand people fighting against their own personal interests ? It makes no sense...but Trump still being within 20 points makes no sense. 15-20 years ago he would have been toast long ago.
Tfg and they hate the same people. They bond.
Just adding that during the Pandemic, we had more surplus deaths than any other developed and developing countries, most of which were our seniors.
We are exceptional, exceptionally bad at caring for the vulnerable in our society. That is on purpose.
Given the way we have structured our society based on racism, misogyny, standardized testing in schools, lack of gun control and “greed is good” it’s no wonder we have so many problems with “mental health”.
We are pitied in Western Europe for our state of things, in particular our taxation of the working class.
To think that "man" stood for women as well, replacing the representative word "woman" out of existence. To be dominated by accepted language as well as action completed the oppression.
Russell-there’s also the language for “minorities”-minor people because of differences in skin color. This language also allows for domination.
In an acting class, a woman wrote a monologue she presented. It recalled her childhood when she was all of six years old. Her mother and aunt, concerned for her status in society, gave her the "paper bag" test. Much darker than the paper, she privately hoped her skin would lighten as she grew older. The sadness in the room was palpable, especially because she was a champion for everyone; warm and upbeat with a great sense of humor. How did she, the full of love woman we all knew, prevail?
Every time, I am shocked at the pejorative lies and characterizations carelessly cast by DT and JDV. They seem blissfully unaware of the personal havoc they bring to these people; they seem to lack the mildest sense of human empathy — and that absence mirrors their soulless sense of superiority. Equality be damned; to them, people are merely expendable pawns to be manipulated in their conquest of power.
Soulless is a very good description for the Republican team. Also, racist.
I always get a kick from this argument. Sure, we’re so rich that we can afford to impoverish ourselves by handing out free bangers and mash in unlimited quantities!
And let’s no forget firearm management. Most other civilized countries have specially trained police who the only ones with high powered firearms and even they do not have private possession.
One place to start—eliminate the profit motive in health care, in favor of a health outcome motive (or ideally balance the two).
As a Medicare recipient, I've been generally happy with my coverage, but I've been waiting for Bernie's Medicare for All to be enacted. I like Harris' addition of eyes and ears and mouth to Medicare since I pay out of pocket for my bifocal contact lenses and my dental bills. I'm waiting for good quality hearing aids to be free. I'm voting BLUE so that I won't have to wait too much longer.
I'm 100% for universal healthcare. Harris's ideas are not all I think we need, but they're a step in the right direction instead of Trump's huge step back. I was denied heath insurance when I was in my early 20's because of an asthma medication I had just been prescribed. Today, I would have still been on my dad's excellent, union-negotiated health insurance in the first place. I racked up credit card debt to pay out of pocket for healthcare that plagued my credit rating for many years. Now I'm 50, unmarried, and unable to start the business I'd love to go into because I can't afford to leave my job and my health insurance.
Check to see if you can get ACA insurance. My son got it and has a medical history.
I need *a lot* of healthcare, and I have a really good plan. I'm sure I could, but I fear it would be worse coverage for more money. But I haven't really looked or run the numbers. I probably should. It's just a hard thing to leave. I wonder how many people don't start businesses because of healthcare and how much stronger our economy would be if not only the wealthy could take risks. And thinking about people who stay in abusive marriages and domestic situations because they would otherwise lose their health insurance literally keeps me up at night. The ACA does a lot of good, especially in protecting people with existing health care needs and covering young adults longer on their parents' insurance (if they have it), but changing insurance often means changing providers and having gaps in coverage. I don't know what I would do if my entire healthcare team suddenly became out-of-network. For-profit healthcare and insurance is simply amoral. I'm glad that Medicare is at least starting to negotiate drug prices. Americans are being taken advantage of by the pharmaceutical companies and the Congress Critters in their pockets. But getting money out of politics is a whole other (and necessary) conversation.
My sister was in a similar "no win" situation after her husband had a major stroke. He had excellent health care coverage which she was able to COBRA for 18 months, but then she had to find replacement coverage.
She found an excellent agent that helped her find affordable coverage until she turned 65. And then the agent helped her again with her Medicare supplement insurance.
Let an agent do the leg work for you.
And good luck.
I second this, Gary, especially for people hitting 65. Look into all of your options, and look past the short term into the long term. I have found an amazing agent, who not only got me into an affordable supplemental Medicare plan but has helped my wife. My former employer allows her to buy COBRA on our (admittedly) Cadillac plan that is as cheap as even the lowest cost one they could find on the open market
This is exactly what my husband and I need to do. He's semi-retired and we're on COBRA for now, but we need to look into replacement coverage, as we have a few more years before Medicare.
It's unfortunate that when the older spouse turns 65, that both people can't go on Medicare or that it doesn't start at age 60. It would probably prevent many bankruptcies when people one or the other spouse has a catastrophic event.
We were very happy with COBRA but it ran out before I turned 65.
Good luck and happy hunting.
You may find an insurance broker who can run the numbers and give you the best information. We need universal health care in this country as they have in the rest of the modern developed world.
I second what Gary has said; look into a good, trustworthy insurance agent.
What is FFS?
https://www.thebalancemoney.com/health-insurance-ppo-s-hmo-s-1289671
Sounds like a Cadillac plan where you can see whatever doctor you want including specialists. If you're interested in this plan you should also consider a concierge service.
For F(ill in the blank)s Sake
That's really sad. I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that. On a lighter note do you happen to be a childless cat or dog lady? If so, that might be the reason you are unhappy. I don't mean to make fun of your situation, really I don't, but the statement just seems to fit in with what is going on with the republican VP candidate. I"m sure that is what he would say!
I am a childless (not by choice) dog and cat lady. But I would be a dog and cat lady even if I'd had kids.
I've been waiting for Heather to talk about the clemency given to the Medicare/Medicaid fraudsters.
"As Amy B. Wang and Azi Paybarah explained in the Washington Post: “In his last year in office, Trump commuted the sentences of at least five people who collectively filed nearly $1.6 billion in fraudulent claims through Medicare or Medicaid.”"
By my count, there were 10 Medicare/Medicaid fraudsters Trump gave clemency to totally over $2 billion. This was reported by other MSM and since I didn't read the WAPO piece HCR mentions, I am not sure why she only mentions "the five".
Of course Rick Scott and Matt Gaetze's daddy were also big time Medicare/Medicaid fraudsters, but apparently the Republicans only care about cutting funding and not prosecuting criminals.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/mar/03/florida-democratic-party/rick-scott-rick-scott-oversaw-largest-medicare-fra/
Rick Scott 'oversaw the largest Medicare fraud' in U.S. history, Florida Democratic Party says
I didn't see in Heather's letter dental being mentioned. That coverage would be great if true.
I'm not sure about Harris, but it's part of Bernie's plan, and it's included in the 2023 Medicare for All Act that Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell introduced in the House. From Google: "The Medicare for All Act builds upon and expands Medicare to provide comprehensive benefits to every person in the United States. This includes primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, substance abuse, long-term services and supports, reproductive health care, and more." So tell your Rep and your Senator to sign on as co-sponsors.
And we all know deep in our hearts that what we do not yet know is much worse than what Woodward reveals.
Maria, I understand Woodward's tease, the last Putin-Trump telephone talk was in January 2024. Bob W is holding trump cards pun intended. Woodward's book title is "War". More to come.
Tune in to Lawrence O'Donnell on Monday night; Bob Woodward is his guest. Let's see what Bob is holding.
Per Jeff Stein's 'Spy Talk' today & barring any technical difficulties, "the NSA has almost certainly monitored" the Bromance calls.
Is any of the NSA monitoring admissible in court?
If so, hopefully Trump will be held accountable for even more crimes or at least more leaks will come out from the NSA, FBI, etc.
Interesting FRE question meaning is NSA and/or cyber security intelligence admissible in Federal court?
YES, but rarely scene in Court although I was allowed to watch the government's cross examination of a signals intelligence spy back in the 1980's as a law clerk.
Note, on subject related of cyber security matters, back on 1/19/2019 there was a wrongful death case in the Northern District of California, Eschavaria vs Facebook, Inc. Case18-05982.
Both sides were be permitted to present a 1 hour 'tutorial' on cyber security & data leaks. Video of same is still available. The capable Judge Alsup was presiding. I am going to watch that historical video this weekend.
Interesting - thanks.
Well, thank god for that!
My late mother had a plan that included a long-term home health care aide. As my mother got older and frailer, Mildred helped her with the shopping and some cooking and various other small tasks. When I applied for the same type of insurance, I was denied at least partly since I'm a cancer survivor and have scoliosis. I never got to decide whether the cost was prohibitive since my applications for coverage were denied by several different insurance plans. None of my potential "disabilities" is currently disabling, but they may well be at some point. If Harris succeeds in adding long-term home health care coverage to Medicare, what a blessing that will eventually be for millions of us.
The cost of long-term healthcare insurance is outrageous. I live in Virginia, where the State Corporation Commission governs insurance and utilities. The SCC approved the high long-term care insurance rates because, a rep told me, they didn't want the insurer (Genworth) to stop providing insurance, which Genworth threatened to do when it guessed wrong on people living longer. Would love it if Harris as president addresses this issue. Won't help me, but it might help future generations.
When we have Medicare for All, they can't threaten to stop insuring us because we will have excluded them from the game. May you have a long and healthy life, John, but may long-term care be available, whether you need it or not.
Glad you wrote today. Happy Birthday, and hope your spaghetti and spice cake were as good as they sounded!
It was my husband’s birthday too. Being Italian, he wanted pasta, so I cooked a bolognese which simmered all day, then a plum tart. Then he and our daughter went off to sing and play guitar at open mike night at a jazz club. A good day! I’m waiting for hip replacement surgery and just not up for bars and crowds.
I had my right hip replaced in late 2022 (after our tuba group's Christmas season) after 10+ years of increasing pain. It has been awesome! Pro tip: Keep up with the PT. It is hard to catch up if you get lazy and think that your "routine" active life will take care of it.
I didn’t know you did that! You never said a word (that I caught and remembered, at least). I’m so glad it’s worked well for you. I’m desperate to get it done, and get back on my horses. I’m not very good at sitting still. I’ve heard the same about the PT. I’ve been doing PT since July, and now it’s just part of my routine - and also really the only movement I get in the day, since I’m not weight bearing and have a lot of trouble walking. This is boring!
I highly recommend it. It was a game changer for me!
I can’t wait! Scheduled for 11/25 yay
Happy Birthday, Heather and congrats on making it another year basking in the sun’s rays! So we know Trump is a total sleaze and all of these recent goodies just prove that he is the devil incarnate. Mitch McConnell held that title until today because Trump literally sold his soul to Vladimir. Benedict Arnold never was punished for spying for the Brits. The French jailed him for a short time but he continued his dastardly deeds. Trump could have been a hero but he took the forked road because he saw a pot of gold that he wanted to get his hands on. I want his hands and wrists cuffed so that he can experience what he really deserves, rotting in a prison cell until death do us part.
Benedict Donald
Bingo!
👍👍💥😎
You wrote ..."that he wanted to get his hands on...." the pot of gold. I saw "hard on" instead. The word that's been missing from the public is "sadistic". You refer to the devil and rightly so. Sadism or devil worship with sex and violence as the medium is right before us but so far wrapped in a veil of avoidance and side stepping.
Some of the most memorable "debates" I've seen are debates where there's an empty chair where the candidate who chose not to show up would ordinarily be sitting. I'm hoping that the single-person debate will take place, and Trump's absence will speak volumes.
I genuinely think part of the reason that the Georgia Senate races that sealed the positive fate of much of Biden's agenda went the right way was the debates. Perdue did so poorly against Ossoff in the first that he actually refused to show up for the second one that had already been scheduled. Wonder of wonders, the debate organizers actually decided to go forward with just Ossoff onstage next to another lectern with no one behind it. Ossoff agreed to submit to a solo grilling in which he got twice as many tough questions as he would have before, and the bet he made on himself paid off. Local audiences saw a young impressive guy firing back answer after answer and excoriating his scandal-trapped opponent, who couldn't answer back because he was a ghost. When Loeffler faced off against Warnock, she was so out of her depth that she ended up repeating the same talking points about the supposed threat of socialism in a robot voice while looking straight ahead as if under some sort of creepy hypnosis, while Warnock turned on his sermon skills and ran rings around her while looking like the most decent prophet of goodwill, which in turn just made her attacks even more flat.
Hey, the unique nature of the dual race and surge of support after Biden beat the odds in November would probably have carried the day regardless. But the contrast on those two stages between the people who either literally didn't show up or barely did, versus two people who didn't just show up but SHOWED UP could not have been lost on people.
One of my favorite political t-shirts came from that Georgia race:
I Worked My
Ossoff
Yeah. Like that Clint Eastwood one.
Betsy, here is JD Vance in an interview with the hosts from “All-In” sucking up softball questions to JD Vance. Nothing mentioned about Trump’s Project 2025, Roe vs Wade, bribing the SCOTUS, the bias with Media. Its like JD’s Republican Fan Club.
🤨Link for YouTube >>>
‘JD Vance | All-In Summit 2024’
https://youtu.be/eMxcM3ZcVmM?si=kGk1kRjGU2NgZj0h
🥳🥳🥳 Then that same batch of hosts from ‘All In’ podcast are trying to trip up an interview with Mark Cuban, but he’s too quick for them — and Mark’s got only GOOD Attributes for HARRIS and fumbles for TRUMP. Mark Cuban’s GREAT Audio Podcast link >>>
Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-in-with-chamath-jason-sacks-friedberg/id1502871393?i=1000671718715
Fact-checking has kept Trump out of an interview. Let's hope it can keep him out of the Oval Office.
For sure it should.
In a self-respecting world, facts would wash away the "Republican" agenda like a firehose trained on a sand castle.
Hillary’s emails seem quaint
Hillary’s emails were a non-starter from the beginning. Another lie foisted on us by Trump, the media (including legit news organizations and newspapers of record), the FBI, and elements of the military. “Quaint” doesn’t seem like the right word.
How about deliberate subterfuge
How ‘bout a Nothing Burger?
Tan suit
A travesty
It came across the Wires today: "Former President Donald Trump has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving the White House, according to reporting from a new book by journalist Bob Woodward."... I don't think it was about Hurricanes in Florida ;-) ... Additionally, "The conversations cover a period before and after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a NATO ally the Biden administration has spent billions of dollars to support."... Didn't Putin place a Bounty on American Troops in Afghanistan during DJT's Presidency? Allegedly, the Trump Organization, and DWAC, the predecessor of the Ticker 'DJT', has been floated by Russian Money... Seems that Putin is trying to Maximize his Investment... More To Come...
Trump is what we would call slackers in our workforce “brown-nosing” dictators. Same with the bribes he’s probably giving SCOTUS…
Your birthday?!! How wonderful! Happy birthday; happy year to come. You are cherished by many.
I was a sandwich generation mom, daughter and full time employee. Add to that - i was a single mom for the last year of my mom’s life. I honestly don’t know how I managed, reeling from task to task to task. Exhausted and overwhelmed don’t describe it - and navigating the search for a decent nursing home was brutal.
Medicare funding for health care is a no brainer in my opinion. It is way cheaper than a nursing home, and it is often comforting to those whose health is frail but manageable, to remain in familiar surroundings. I cared for my husband who had ALS at home until the last three weeks. It was tough but better than giving him completely over to the care of strangers.
I have no idea how anyone could even think that voting for a MAGA Republican could be a good idea. Soulless monsters, the lot of them. Endlessly grateful to my fellow Americans who are working so diligently to get out the vote!
Not to equate a hurricane with an election, but do you sense a blue wave about to sweep over the electoral landscape?
Man, I hope that the tRump supporters here in the NC Hurricane Helene area, start to think. The misinformation has been terrible, and Repubs refuse to admit the lies; they spew falsehood after falsehood. But now that the relief response is more and more visible, I'm hoping that a few of them have a change of heart. I was at a restaurant on Saturday night in a city we escaped to, and there was tRump on CNN. His entire rally was about him. Not one word about the people suffering from the cataclysmic storm. And stupid CNN showed the entire rally! I tried not to look at the TV screen, bec it made me So angry! I'm praying that people begin to see the light. I'm praying one good thing to come out of the devastation is that people see the emperor has no clothes.
Drove from the airport home today (70 miles) in central NC and saw only a handful of Trump signs (outside of the rash in front of a gun store). Note that I saw several groupings of Republican local election signs; quite a number of these included Robinson signs but only 1 or 2 had Trump signs. If Trump is less popular than Robinson, he's in trouble.
I sense a civil war if tRump doesn't win. He doesn't plan to win fair and square.
Maybe. But I have been wondering what else The Orange One has up his sleeve. He’s had plenty of time to wallow in his own pettiness. I agree that he doesn’t plan to play fair.
I sense a civil war if he does as he will unleash the government against its citizens. Take kevin roberts at his words "Bloodless if the left allows."
He will never win legitimately, MAGAt love notwithstanding
the public is getting ugly on Biden / Harris because they are avoiding talking about the war(s) in Middle East and Ukraine. Trump could gain many voters and lets hope this doesn’t happen.
To be frank, the fact anyone is still telling themselves this story about what is going on is preposterous. The public is not "getting ugly" toward Harris, or she wouldn't be currently ahead in polling, early vote, grassroots funding, and volunteers. No survey shows foreign policy as top issue for most Americans this year, and it rarely ever is. If it was, there is no serious trust advantage for 45 on these issues. Literally today, the Uncommitted movement is encouraging their people to back Harris, considering the alternative. https://thehill.com/policy/international/4922430-uncommitted-group-back-harris/
It's okay to disagree about the policy stance of any given administration or candidate. What is not okay is to create a false narrative of how the rest of the country is reacting in order to make your own reaction seem more justified. Please own your opinion without projecting it onto "the Public," which has shown no signs of agreeing with it.
People should know that chump and Bibi are simpatico in every way. Could even be cell mates. Who doesn’t know that.
I hear what you’re saying, but Will, the backlash about the war is not my POV. I’m supporting Harris/Walz, and only when I started researching why US Voters would still vote for Trump, did I start reading repetitive directions about the war. Believe me, I hope our positive work to win blue is successful.
I wish I got the vibes in Texas
I believe Harris will win the popular vote, but the Electoral College is stressing me out. No confidence Dems will win the House & Senate.
One can only hope…
Love how Heather concludes with the striking difference between a "theatrical move" and "reality."
Trouble is, how Trump, Putin, their Iranian mullahs, Netanyahu, and many U.S. billionaires know they can keep the U.S. divided, in class war, and paranoid about easily manipulable phantoms because -- thankfully for the dictators and autocrats -- the world's worst can rejoice in the U.S. now long having many of the world's worst schools.
Tens of millions -- all MAGA-land -- lap up all the lies the orange felon, Vance, and all the other Republican accomplices keep dishing out. None of these tens of millions went to any school to learn any respect for human pain in "others" but, instead, never to see "others" except as the mass group threats and danger abstractions by which our demagogues demagogue.
Can educator Tim Walz speak to this mortal rending of the American fabric? Can anyone?
I was an adult when I finally learned more about Reconstruction than "carpet-baggers and scalawags" because of my Texas-approved history books.
Yeah. It’s hard to think of a worse government than that of
Texas. Well, maybe Florida. Probably the rest of the Confederacy plus Oklahoma and Idaho, too, but they’re low population, so they can’t do as much damage.
Remember, too, Rex -- those states you mention -- where the former enslavers ruled:
All have zero respect for their teachers. And as the former enslavers in their day ruled, so today do the corporate textbook packagers and their fellow cohorts of standardized testing.
Neuter all. Package all. All to profit the nihilist classes.
Details in Diane Ravitch, "The Language Police" (2003).
Yes. Zero respect of teachers and pretty close to zero pay.
For the Finns, Rex, pay had nothing to do with it.
Their concerns were 1) getting only the best college grads as teachers and 2) making sure the teachers then made all decisions -- no bureaucrats, politicians, religious nut jobs, or standardized testers in the scene at all.
Yes. It works, and that’s one of many ways Finnish government outclasses American government.
Rex- I agree with you about the "major damage" they do is economically.
There are still 20 states with minimum wage set at $7.25 an hour. That is akin to slavery. 17 of the states are red states. Trump refused to raise the Federal minimum wage. but yet him and his MAGA blow hards constantly complain about inflation.
While we all know that very few employers pay minimum wage, just the fact that a state has a $7.25 minimum wage reduces what other workers in the state are making.
The Democrats under Kamala need to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 a hour starting with $12.00 an hour in 2025 and increasing by $1.00 an hour every calendar (or fiscal) year.
Yes. Not sure what the numbers should be. Yours seem low to me. In addition, we need a guaranteed minimum income sufficient to cover lodging and food, plus Medicare for alll, of course.
It is low, I agree. Where can a single parent with one or more kids live on $30K/year?
Nowhere, except maybe in places where it’s impossible to get a job. Catch 22
The rest of the confederacy…like that description!
Texas-approved history books were used nation-wide, thanks to Mel and Norma Gabler and their crap campaign to influence their content,
Texas sucks. They were forced to drop the line about immigrants coming on boats from Africa seeking employment at plantations in the South.
They suck worse from up close. Donating all I can and then some. Every time I get a begging email from Cruz (which is crazy), I donate to Allred.
Good for you, Chillcut! Keep on truckin’
Wish I could tell Ted that he helps Allred.
A National Program of National Service would work Wonders... Better to learn how to Fight Forest Fires, and perform other Natural Disaster Cleanup together, then to fight each other...
Very much agreed, Apache.
I'm thinking 17-year-olds. Maybe six-week stinks of mostly on-site work/participation, with a small classroom component in both forestry and natural disaster clean-up, as you mention, plus more choices from hospital work, elder care, cafeteria and other food prep, crop harvesting, orchard care, small child daycare, commercial fishing, furniture care, and various horticulture trades.
All Excellent Fields of Endeavor... I talk to a lot of People that feel that their Young Sons are Lost... Just Sit Home, and Play Video Games... Better to get out and make Real Friends from different parts of the USA....
Its called the California Conservation Corps in California
Yes! Another of Jerry Brown’s contributions to humanity. He’s a surpassing genius. One of only two people I ever saw reduce to vacuous platitudes Wm F Buckley (asshole of assholes but not a dumbass).
FDR did great with CCC, those efforts are still seen and used
I love the idea of at least one year (I'd prefer two) after HS graduation or the equivalent. Military service, Peace Corps, or an as yet created CCC for public works projects where trade skills could be taught. Kicker is a requirement to go to a different part of the country than where they live.
Exactly, experience something different. So glad I left my small town and got to see a different part of the country. Even confronted my Dad's racist remark after a few months.
Great idea. Work to unite instead of divide.
Re immigrant issues, in the 1930s 900 Jews fled Europe on the ship the Saint Louis. The people were not permitted entry into the US and had to return to Europe where many were killed. Is that the way our country treats people leaving home and family to escape from death? Do immigrants from Europe have better genes than anyone else? How would the Saint Louis story be received today?
The Saint Louis story is told & documented in detail on the 3rd Floor of the Holocaust Museum in DC.
While reading this I was thinking, "The right went ape-s**t because Obama wore a tan suit.
I saw an image online the other day that featured photos of the last several Presidents next to bold letters listing each one's "biggest scandal." In went as thus:
Reagan/Bush Sr.: Iran-Contra affair
Clinton: Got a blow job
Bush Jr.: Invaded Middle East under false pretenses
Obama: Wore a tan suit
Tr*mp: Attempted violent overthrow of democracy in own country
Biden: Was old
It ended by asking "Do Republican voters have the memory of a goldfish?" and I thought "hey, you don't need to do goldfish like that!"
Will, that is awesome!! And thank you for not "doing goldfish like that". I'd go for guppies.
I somehow missed the fact that it is Heather’s Birthday. We are privileged to have you writing and providing an element of sanity in a scenario where it is lacking. Your letters are an open window to reality and I’m ever grateful for them!
She announced it during her Politics and History Facebook chat yesterday. That's the only way I knew she had made a spaghetti sauce that had simmered all afternoon while she was "on the water", and that she was capping it off with spice cake.