Trump giving the Republicans whiplash by stepping to the left of them? I'm getting some popcorn.
Meanwhile, I hope the Democrats are honing their messaging blades for the moment when government services stop and people stop getting paid. Why aren't we in full attack mode?
Trump giving the Republicans whiplash by stepping to the left of them? I'm getting some popcorn.
Meanwhile, I hope the Democrats are honing their messaging blades for the moment when government services stop and people stop getting paid. Why aren't we in full attack mode?
It’s a show they are all putting on, and it has historical precedent. Make a country ungovernable then welcome a strongman saviour who promises to resolve differences with ‘reasonable’ policies. Then shut down or sideline democratic institutions because they are ‘stuck’.
Remember that throughout human history, democracy, in all its various forms, has been the exception, not the rule - an exception that flourishes before descending into factionalism, stasis, chaos - to be replaced by oligarchs or strongmen.
Is our generation in Europe and the USA going to lose our democracies? How can we make them stronger? How can we resist the factionalism, stasis and chaos that are the conditions for strongmen to take power?
Complaining about extremists isn’t good enough anymore. Biden knows his history and his political instincts are impeccable, but only when democratically-inclined conservatives put democracy first and organise against the saboteurs on their own side can democracy thrive. We on the left can make it easier for them by being open to their timid overtures.
Likewise governments more generally must throw their might against the disinformation cyber war being waged against democracy and truth by the illiberal forces of autocrats and oligarchs.
"Is our generation in Europe and the USA going to lose our democracies? How can we make them stronger? How can we resist the factionalism, stasis and chaos that are the conditions for strongmen to take power?"
1. Make sure kids get to the library once per week for a new book (any book, it does not matter).
2. Teach them to stay off social media, for the most part, thereby avoiding spending large amounts of time on the truly trivial.
3. Avoid pounding any dogma of any type into the minds of young people (political, religious, doctrinaire, etc.).
4. Teach young people to understand others are different and to learn what those differences are and value them rather than minimize them.
5. Teach young people that "superior" means you have suspended your brain. Teach them that equivalent but different is the norm.
6. Don't spend any time trying to scare a child into believing he or she might go to hell. That is the dumbest pony trick I have ever been exposed to.
7. Do teach them not to judge. Perfection does not exist. Superiority does not exist. Treat differences with respect.
8. DO teach them that there are 7 Billion people on the planet. All of them are of equal "value", that is, nearly zero. A species value is inverse its population.
My kids, for the most part, do most of the above with normal human glitches. Which, I kindly point out.
Then? I get the "OK, Dad, we already KNOW that".
Yep, my kids point out my own failings too, like, if I happen to refer to tRUMP with one of my more vile nicknames. Then? I get "Daaaaad!. That's SO gross".
Your “suggestions” are impressive, and it’s good to hear that you have communicated them to you family in a way that they take them for granted and can tease you about them.
But you are probably in a good town or city and your kids go to good schools, and you are living a prosperous life that you, and probably our wife, has worked hard to create.
The problem is how do WE get these kinds of caring messages into the families in the middle of Ohio that is struggling financially, has schools with hollowed libraries, goes to an evangelical church, and watches Fox News?
The chaos in Congress, and the possible return of Trump is making their lives more difficult and threatening their future much more than it threatens yours (ours, as I am not much different except I’m dealing with my grandchildren).
Can American idealism penetrate into Florida or Texas or are they lost to corrupt, racist, fascist governments, and are unredeemable?
I don’t live in any of those places. My town and state are at the opposite end. We are getting rid of plastics, moving rapidly toward renewable energy, preparing for the sea to rise, trying and failing to equalize education for all, and even putting up billboards in Florida and Texas inviting LBGTQ folks to move here.
How do we get messages across the great divide? M.T. Greene is telling those states to succeed. I hope Lauren Boebert is on birth control and is making it easy for her constituents to get it.
Oldandintheway Absolutely! I do think about people in those states who have been groomed to accept misogyny, racism, homophobia, xenophobia. How is there any hope for them? And the “minority” populations in Blue states? Having done some training for human services staff about how stress overload affects health and cognitive function, I am too well aware of how our policies, politics and funding have damaged and trapped millions in powerlessness and learned helplessness. Is there any way out? Perhaps the most obvious remedy is for everyone to have a job, a home, an education, healthcare and a vote? Is this really too much to ask?
If we all had those things, how would we tell who was special and deserving and worthy, and who wasn't? We can't possibly do away with our caste markers!
"how do WE get these kinds of caring messages into the families in the middle of Ohio that is struggling financially, has schools with hollowed libraries, goes to an evangelical church, and watches Fox News?"
I guess that I think those folks are in charge of packing their own suitcase.
If they head out with an empty suitcase, well, what is a body to do?
By all means, follow Mike’s suggestions. But the crisis demands that we focus on the here and now, as sanity is oozing out all over. Dems need a battle plan, smart and well-funded. The Lincoln Project on steroids. Repubs had the know-how before the kooks took over. Can we turn it around post-haste, before our next generation is lost in the morass…
The reason kids are hooked on social media is because they live in a trivial world socially. It is a viscous cycle that is set and tough to break.
Personally, I think it is because due to the availability of 'grown up' issues and problems in the world and of the planet, they don't have time to just be kids.
Is there such a thing as a democratically-inclined conservative? "The modern conservative is engaged in one of the oldest exercises in moral philosophy, that is, that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." John Kenneth Galbraith Selfishness is simply greed. My mama taught it was terrible to be selfish and not share. Would I want someone to share with me?
Galbraith was an economist, not a political scientist. He was talking about fiscal policy - and there, the conservatives are indeed usually selfish.
To answer your question - yes, there are democratically-inclined conservatives. Two US politicians from that tradition have been hounded in the Republican Party, but held firm to their principles (Elizabeth Cheney and Mitt Romney). I also invite you to read Rory Stewart’s article in The Atlantic. Think also of Angela Merkel and her mentor, Helmut Koch.
Republicans and Tories have been taken over by a far-right populist cancer, but conservatives who value democracy still exist. We must encourage them.
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of the oldest exercises in moral philosophy, that is, that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
THE best description of a Ronald Reagan "conservative" I have met!
Love this Galbraith quote. Posted it a lot before I got banned on FB and “X.” “Conservative” has been corrupted, twisted, and is now meaningless. Just a word to legitimize greed. JKG said it best.
According to many historians, the last progressive Republican Senator was George W. Norris (NE-R). He ushered through the legislation for the TVA and the REA. He also led the fight to switch NE from a bi-cameral to a unicameral legislature. He worked closely with FDR on the social programs introduced in the 1930's. The conservative Republicans in the Senate wouldn't support his legislation and so he became an Independent in the 1940's and NE voted him out for doing so. He's perhaps the most influential politician to come out of Nebraska.
You're so right about history having supported autocratic governance, it has been the rule and democratic governance a recent exception. We all cry for "freedom' and wonder how autocratic regimes manage, but just check out the Chinese, Russians etc and you get some idea. It pays well to remember that in America only about 1/2 of voters actually "vote" in presidential elections except when the clarion calls have stirred maybe another 15% to turn out. Political parties indulge routinely in "disinformation" these days since that often seems to work, that's one hell of a "moral backbone". 2024 is going to be something, I'm sure. My bet is on the Democrats!
We agree, Frank. My take on most revolutions is that they don't change much....often exchanging one set of autocrats for another set of autocrats. Somehow the wealthy manage to stay in charge and actual democracy is hard work. We have a set of ideals in this country which we have failed in many ways to bring about, but it does give us a goal. The current R party of death has given us plenty of reasons to get out the vote, actually vote, and vote D.
Agreed, although democratic rule is not a recent exception - it’s a very ancient exception. Its demise always follows the same pattern, however - factionalism, stasis, chaos.
For sure, but democratic rule was practiced in a very limited way among the Greeks. Our school book praise of Athenian democracy is more illusory than real, given autocracy has largely been the name of the game through history. Ancient and not so ancient writers were generally down on it, noting features such as you mention. People like Edward Gibbon presumed that civilizations were intended to serve and maintain wealth-based self-interested autocracies, as the only foundation for stability. It was only following the American revolution that the idea and gradual practice of broadly based democracies arose, and has had an uncertain history ever since. It is a complicated story indeed. Social revolution or dysfunctional democracies have often led to dictatorial, one-party regimes. Thus much of the world lives today.
I wasn’t thinking of the Athenians, although they invented the word. Many other places and political units have had democratic governments before the American revolution - government by and for the people- of some description at some point, the better known in Europe being several Italian cities between the 12th and 15th centuries and Swiss Landsgemeinde.
By the way, I certainly wouldn’t call the American revolution a democratic one since it was meant to preserve wealth and oligarchy, including through the practice of widescale slavery and ethnic cleansing. The remarkable aspect of the American system is that oligarchic rule became steadily more democratic without changing the core constitution, through the means of amendments that widened the political and legal definition of ‘the people’. But that’s part of what keeps the American democracy fragile - its core constitution is oligarchic and riveted to its time. The old colonists got rid of the king, but retained the 18th century ‘enlightened’ aristocratic privileges. Arguably, the Electoral College and gerrymandered constituencies keeps the system from being a fully-fledged democracy, as there is no generalized system of ‘one citizen one vote’ in the US.
Thanks Annis, your history is more rounded out than mine, don't my general remarks hold though? Dynasties, aristocracies, empires, ruled the larger polities, right? Ive heard that about the early American revolution, ethnic cleansing though was as much from below as above (I gather you're talking about colonial expansion and expropriation of native lands), and weren't there debates about the moral underpinnings of slavery, though because of slaveholding interests the issue was postponed, while states were encouraged to divest themselves of slaveholding, albeit gradually for those which did and often slaves were subsequently sold into the southern slave plantation states?
The responsible media need to stop saying “Congress did not do xyz” “Congress failed to do xyz” and call it like is: The Republicans or GOP are the ones failing America.
The simple fact is: "The enemy is inside the gates." We need to recognize this virulent cancer for what it is: these MAGA/KKK Republicans are in fact enemies of the state. What they are doing is the equivalent of the shot fired on Ft. Sumter. It is an attack on the Union, meant to do great harm to the republic.
This is akin to DC Stephenson, as portrayed in the book you recommended Richard. Fever In The Heartland. My car buddy used to say, "you can't polish a turd" when referring to something unfixable. In no way can you pretty it up. This applies applies to republicans of all stripes. Either love the destruction, or leave it in your past. Tipping points are real!
Carl Sagan said: "The most complicated thing in the known universe is the human brain." Perhaps it is that we shouldn't be surprised that some of those now in Congress are Fascists who would favor bringing down the U.S. government for reasons perhaps only known to them. We humans are not purely rational creatures. Pres. G.W. Bush was right on 3/31/2001 at the White House Correspondents' Dinner when he said: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on." Those in Congress who would shut down the government got there because some of the people get fooled all of the time.
I'm referring to what's usually called the mainstream media. Dr. Richardson's amazing research and comprehensive assessment of what's going on is a given at the top of the list of responsible media. No need to be snarky, Ed. I'm pretty sure you knew exactly what I meant.
Considering how much the "GOP" bellows about "tax and spend", I'm inclined to wonder about what all the spending buys? A cure for disease? A bridge over troubled waters? A public haven away from pavement? Or Troops called to the border for an election stunt? The ugly, ineffective, and ecologically disastrous Great Wall of Trump? Benghazi and other lengthy and very costly hearings that produce no more than theater? Hobby wars? Tax cuts and subsidies for the wealthiest? Bonuses for bankrupted banks? Some bills are worth every penny and others a ripoff. we need to say more about the difference.
The taxing and spending the Republicans castigate the Dems with is spending to fix all the things Republicans broke during their administrations when they pushed through tax cuts for the morbidly rich and corporations, while continuing to spend on things like weapons systems, etc. Voting for a Republican for president is tantamount to voting for a recession.
JL, the voters must stop electing these sc*mbags. Real leaders don’t waste our hard-earned money. Spending tax dollars “wisely” for the benefit of many, is the goal of democracy. Not throwing precious resources into some bottomless pit of nonsense and hatred.
One small problem with that, Elizabeth: Voters will continue to elect these s*****gs as long as the voters themselves remain irresponsible. Multiple issues stand out here, including a large majority of Republican voters that remain willfully ignorant. Root causes need to be addressed.
Yes, at what point might the "vindictive vandalism", committed by the creepiest of our GOP Reps and other elected officials apparently desirous of converting our country into a Fascist backwater, constitute treason? I mean, could they be investigated by the DOJ and arrested for treason based on their public statements and likely backroom conspiracies? Is there a legal case to be made consistent with the Constitution as written and interpreted by the SCOTUS?
I fear not, and it thus seems to me we as a nation are in very dangerous waters, largely unforeseen until quite recently, because our Constitution does not provide specific remedies for the various abuses of power that the GOP feels obliged to rely on (because they cannot win national elections fair and square).
It seems we may be forced to choose between voting our way out of this situation (only a DEM landslide would suffice) or preparing to fight fire with fire.
I'm worried the Democratic Party as an institution has not yet come to this conclusion, nor has Joe Biden (bless his earnest and patriotic soul). As we all know, civil wars happen, often because nobody takes the possibility seriously until it is too late to avoid bloodshed.
Should we be in full attack mode? Or.. hear me out... should we take time to possibly look to do things differently?
Democrats, Republicans... what about Americans? How are we individually and our communities? I don’t know if voting in presidential elections helps our communities grow which is why I think we need to take a step back and look locally:
IRS agents , Gary Shipley & Kevin Breuninger are in full "attack & distract" mode against the President's son. Hunter Biden did not "attack". Hunter simply filed a civil lawsuit against the appropriate Defendant, the IRS, in the appropriate venue: Case No: 1:23-cv-027 seeking appropriate damages for each & every violation. Federal Lawsuits require early & extensive discovery disclosures.
I think we also need to ask tough questions as well. One of the best philosophical questions I’ve come across is: how would we know if we, the people, were under attack by those in power?
Would we be able to tell? Or would we be under the propaganda?
Lastly, there’s the component of a spiritual and psychological attack. Religions call them demons or archons, Jung calls it the shadow -- is there a force bent on destroying humanity that we need to make ourselves familiar with?
Donald Trump said that he is “the apple of Putin’s eye”. Putin’s pocket is where our corrupt politicians are.
I truly believe it was the 2016 election that was rigged not 2020. Trump never has been honestly elected anything. Now the smear of his reviling court will be on us forever. Joe Biden is a Great man and will go down in history as one of the Best world leaders ever.
I think that ultimately we need to look way more deeply into human nature, especially in terms of why it is that so many people, for many centuries, have supported their own oppressors? Why is "Liberty and Justice for All" such an uphill battle, and fragile even when progress is made? There is a lot of psychology there that we might have more purchase on of we understood it better.
That said, who benefits and who suffers as a result of specific policies is always one of the most important questions. I'd like to see a triage done across the board to evaluate how much each feature of law and policy conforms to government of, by and for the people, rather than some wealthy political patron(s) buying favor.
J L Graham I always find much to ponder in your posts!
Some thoughts about today: have we been exposed to too many TV and movie “heroes?” And we believe someone will “save us?”
I’m reading “American Crusade” and am aghast about the actual long-term planning that has been focused on turning our country into a Christian Nationalist nation. Throughout history men have used religion to justify their actions, accrue power and money and then to defend themselves as god’s chosen, to lead and judge the masses. That seems to be a common thread these days.
Do you really need to "bogart " some else's substack to further an audience to your own? I think there are many references to how to get traffic to your page on the Support pages of Substack. I don't think continously linking in "comments" is one of them
Franklin, the syntax of your phrase "under the propaganda" does not make much sense. I don't think the issue is a "philosophical question". I see you have made a 3rd successive comment.
My husband and I were discussing this again this morning. The subject has been well investigated , it’s the why of anger so obvious in our society . The CEO pay vs the laborer is the perfect example. That gap has widened at breakneck speed in the last 40-50 years.
We have ALL done better -relative terms . Having come from no electric or indoor plumbing to today , the stat is more than half the worlds poverty is gone. But the gap of thems that have and thems that don’t is a commonly known spread, the rich have gained 300% + over what us ground levels have. We’re the paycheck to paycheck people and qualifiers for every assistance program (which btw ‘ the thems’ want to eradicate) which year to year is siphoned off bit by bit.
What does increase are the monies needed from rainy day/emergency funds . IE It costs more to treat the sick from emergency visits than insure them through adequate medical coverage.
Greed has taken the front row causative.
It’s human nature at its worst.
Who are those ‘thems’?
They’re the ones (including their puppets) pointing the fingers of blame, screaming foul, and making a scene.
The others ones are too busy working solutions and helping .
If us has any blame to bear it’s that voter participation factor. 40-50% voting population..HELLO!!!!
As Simon says😉...”if you don’t take the shot you won’t score at all” .
Right now Anthony Blinken is being interview on CBS this Morning. He was asked how can we give more money to Ukraine when Zelensky just fired his top 6 military leaders for corruption.Blinken said that “Z is doing what he can seeing something isn’t working”....
I think the same way...
💙💙VOTE OUT ALL THE COMPLICIT! THE RABLE ROUSING DO NOTHING CONGRESS and their PUPPETEERS💙💙
( this includes those continuing the ‘rigged and stolen barkers’ - governors/lawyers/politicians/attorney generals/judges/school board/board members/think tanks)
For sure, voting local is essential. This was the first thing I taught my children by taking them to the voting booth in strollers for the seemingly most obscure local elections. We must vote in all elections. The franchise is not to be taken lightly. Ever. I appreciate the points you make in this article and wish you'd mentioned Marianne Williamson's presidential campaign as a foil to the corruption you enumerate. I am not saying she is our savior. I am saying she addresses these concerns in an intelligent, thoughtful way. And yet she is ridiculed and canceled by establishment Democrats. This is a problem.
I really don't care about your argument. This is the system we have! If we don't vote, you can be sure of a facist takeover, so NO! We MUST Vote and Vote Blue or lose your rights as a person of color, immigrants, women, LBGTQ people and even poor people! Don't be a fool!!!
I think West has some things to say we should listen to. RFK will be responsible for the suffering and deaths of Americans who believe his fantasies.
I love the idea of a third or fourth party or person to vote for - but only if we had national Ranked Choice Voting.
Under the current system, if one does not vote, or does not vote for Biden, one is embracing, endorsing, supporting, believing in and literally voting for Trump. Period.
Sadly, that's exactly true! We Must Vote these fascists OUT or suffer a radical change in what America was founded on. Equality and Freedom! Little by little, both of those things are being taken away. If you don't see this, you're not paying attention!
Voting at the State level gives States Gerrtmandered jigsaw puzzle districts designed by the current minority to keep them in power, obliterating the general will of the voters
In Michigan voters rallied to mitigate gerrymandering and won. In the next election both houses of Congress flipped to Democrats after 40 years of GOP Gerrymandered rule
Michigan is the exception. Texas, Wisconsin, Florida are the rule
Contesting does not change the current political landscape. Removing gerrymandering on a national requires the will of fair minded Congressmen
Yes, Dave! A friend of mine here in Michigan helped to write our anti-gerrymandering ballot proposal that passed with flying colors, and we should not be the exception, but the "Indepent Commission" Rule! Here's how we did it:
The R's and the R Governor refused to allow an Independent Commission. Whether we'll be able to win over a few R's is the question. Getting a Dem Gov. is really important. I think Cinde Warmington would be great.
I watched that clip. I think he was in “Professional “ mode. Conveying the facts of the case. I also think the journalist was playing, trying to play, the game of “make a stumble, I’ll get an exclusive if I can trip you up.”
I think Jefferys did a good job of avoiding that trap.
Thanks for the laugh Jerry. I know a lot of people want us to get even, even maybe just be appropriately aggressive back. It’s struggle ad infinitum and right now a lot of chaos as this is the MO of MAGA.
For sure plenty to do. But what we don’t hear enough of is the people behind the scenes plodding away ‘at getting things done’.
DrDebra Turner (Women’s league of Voters) shows the push to get people registered . I’m sure you know the past stats. But more impressive is a prevailing character of ALL people being able to express their opinion, get heard, all religions, all colors, all parties.
We spend so much time on the bad news, yup ‘it sells the morning paper Jimmy Brown’...
people are so tuned into the bad news they’re missing the good. They’re defeating their dreams in apathy, and complacency.
No doubt the job ahead , Jerry.
Someone once said at least I gave them a smile in such a tirade midst one day. Take a deep breath folks, stay the course, listen to some good music, encourage another vote or registration.
Our President is doing a ‘helluva job’. Let’s have his back. Let’s make him even better, us better.
Amy Walters on PBS last night was eloquent, but decent , accurate, and concise . There’s a ramrod crowd out there , the circus ( or worse) we’ve labeled them. Will we rise above, get more improvements done , learn the lesson and extend a hand to a forgotten middle class ( or poorer). It won’t take or be anybody but us getting that done.
“Headlines this morning said that “Congress” is in crisis. But that construction obscures the true story: the Republicans are in crisis, and they are taking the country down with them.”
Sorry, I disagree Dr. Richardson, it is “we the people” that are in a crisis. We the people have not formed a perfect union. And we need to help understand and guide or Republican friends from this.
It could be Trump going to jail or it could be a more sane Republican nominee, but we need to stop this narcissistic leader.
Trump giving the Republicans whiplash by stepping to the left of them? I'm getting some popcorn.
Meanwhile, I hope the Democrats are honing their messaging blades for the moment when government services stop and people stop getting paid. Why aren't we in full attack mode?
It’s a show they are all putting on, and it has historical precedent. Make a country ungovernable then welcome a strongman saviour who promises to resolve differences with ‘reasonable’ policies. Then shut down or sideline democratic institutions because they are ‘stuck’.
Remember that throughout human history, democracy, in all its various forms, has been the exception, not the rule - an exception that flourishes before descending into factionalism, stasis, chaos - to be replaced by oligarchs or strongmen.
Is our generation in Europe and the USA going to lose our democracies? How can we make them stronger? How can we resist the factionalism, stasis and chaos that are the conditions for strongmen to take power?
Complaining about extremists isn’t good enough anymore. Biden knows his history and his political instincts are impeccable, but only when democratically-inclined conservatives put democracy first and organise against the saboteurs on their own side can democracy thrive. We on the left can make it easier for them by being open to their timid overtures.
Likewise governments more generally must throw their might against the disinformation cyber war being waged against democracy and truth by the illiberal forces of autocrats and oligarchs.
"Is our generation in Europe and the USA going to lose our democracies? How can we make them stronger? How can we resist the factionalism, stasis and chaos that are the conditions for strongmen to take power?"
1. Make sure kids get to the library once per week for a new book (any book, it does not matter).
2. Teach them to stay off social media, for the most part, thereby avoiding spending large amounts of time on the truly trivial.
3. Avoid pounding any dogma of any type into the minds of young people (political, religious, doctrinaire, etc.).
4. Teach young people to understand others are different and to learn what those differences are and value them rather than minimize them.
5. Teach young people that "superior" means you have suspended your brain. Teach them that equivalent but different is the norm.
6. Don't spend any time trying to scare a child into believing he or she might go to hell. That is the dumbest pony trick I have ever been exposed to.
7. Do teach them not to judge. Perfection does not exist. Superiority does not exist. Treat differences with respect.
8. DO teach them that there are 7 Billion people on the planet. All of them are of equal "value", that is, nearly zero. A species value is inverse its population.
My kids, for the most part, do most of the above with normal human glitches. Which, I kindly point out.
Then? I get the "OK, Dad, we already KNOW that".
Yep, my kids point out my own failings too, like, if I happen to refer to tRUMP with one of my more vile nicknames. Then? I get "Daaaaad!. That's SO gross".
Good.
Those rules for the most part apply to everyone.
Your “suggestions” are impressive, and it’s good to hear that you have communicated them to you family in a way that they take them for granted and can tease you about them.
But you are probably in a good town or city and your kids go to good schools, and you are living a prosperous life that you, and probably our wife, has worked hard to create.
The problem is how do WE get these kinds of caring messages into the families in the middle of Ohio that is struggling financially, has schools with hollowed libraries, goes to an evangelical church, and watches Fox News?
The chaos in Congress, and the possible return of Trump is making their lives more difficult and threatening their future much more than it threatens yours (ours, as I am not much different except I’m dealing with my grandchildren).
Can American idealism penetrate into Florida or Texas or are they lost to corrupt, racist, fascist governments, and are unredeemable?
I don’t live in any of those places. My town and state are at the opposite end. We are getting rid of plastics, moving rapidly toward renewable energy, preparing for the sea to rise, trying and failing to equalize education for all, and even putting up billboards in Florida and Texas inviting LBGTQ folks to move here.
How do we get messages across the great divide? M.T. Greene is telling those states to succeed. I hope Lauren Boebert is on birth control and is making it easy for her constituents to get it.
Oldandintheway Absolutely! I do think about people in those states who have been groomed to accept misogyny, racism, homophobia, xenophobia. How is there any hope for them? And the “minority” populations in Blue states? Having done some training for human services staff about how stress overload affects health and cognitive function, I am too well aware of how our policies, politics and funding have damaged and trapped millions in powerlessness and learned helplessness. Is there any way out? Perhaps the most obvious remedy is for everyone to have a job, a home, an education, healthcare and a vote? Is this really too much to ask?
It is NOT too much to ask. It is done in Europe. We just have to be too “special.” We aren’t.
If we all had those things, how would we tell who was special and deserving and worthy, and who wasn't? We can't possibly do away with our caste markers!
I wish some state other than Texas, where I live, would invite all these Republicans moving here to get them out of here!
Man you must be livid with the Paxton thing.
Oldand...
"how do WE get these kinds of caring messages into the families in the middle of Ohio that is struggling financially, has schools with hollowed libraries, goes to an evangelical church, and watches Fox News?"
I guess that I think those folks are in charge of packing their own suitcase.
If they head out with an empty suitcase, well, what is a body to do?
Excellent list!
Which vile nickname do they object to? I’m curious. My own favorite is “orange cocksplat”.
I love your rules.
I'm partial to Big Orange Twatwaffle myself.
My favorite is "orange anusmouth".
Jen,
Vile indeed. I should probably not write mine here. Not a place for names learned on an East Texas farm. Not a bit. Dr. Richardson is from Maine.
chuckle
Critical Thinking is sorely needed and should be taught to kids early. Asking questions is an art which can be learned.
By all means, follow Mike’s suggestions. But the crisis demands that we focus on the here and now, as sanity is oozing out all over. Dems need a battle plan, smart and well-funded. The Lincoln Project on steroids. Repubs had the know-how before the kooks took over. Can we turn it around post-haste, before our next generation is lost in the morass…
Mike S: you are a wonderful parent and role model. Love your advice!
Well,
You would have to ask my kids if I am a great Dad, but, as a long time guy, I much appreciate your positive feedback.
The reason kids are hooked on social media is because they live in a trivial world socially. It is a viscous cycle that is set and tough to break.
Personally, I think it is because due to the availability of 'grown up' issues and problems in the world and of the planet, they don't have time to just be kids.
Teaching CIVICS in school would be nice.
Love this thank you. Great ideas to stick to. Look out girl’s mom’s coming! 😂
If I could have used a thumbs up symbol for each of your points I would have.
I love your thinking and child raising methods.
YIKES!
1/Billion is still == 0.00000000001 or something. Each of our value.
Is there such a thing as a democratically-inclined conservative? "The modern conservative is engaged in one of the oldest exercises in moral philosophy, that is, that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." John Kenneth Galbraith Selfishness is simply greed. My mama taught it was terrible to be selfish and not share. Would I want someone to share with me?
Liz Cheney? Mitt Romney? Jeff Flake? Repubs who didn't agree w Trump left in droves after 2016.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/congressional-republicans-left-office-in-droves-under-trump-just-how-conservative-are-their-replacements/
Robert Reich in his substake yesterday make a logical case for these non-maga's to create a third party & run someone (LizC) w a backbone against tfg.
But NOT in 2024!
Oh, and I would not support Cheney no matter how much I admire her for her role on the J6 Committee.
You don’t have to support her socio-economic policies to welcome and encourage her principled stand on democracy and the rule of law.
Galbraith was an economist, not a political scientist. He was talking about fiscal policy - and there, the conservatives are indeed usually selfish.
To answer your question - yes, there are democratically-inclined conservatives. Two US politicians from that tradition have been hounded in the Republican Party, but held firm to their principles (Elizabeth Cheney and Mitt Romney). I also invite you to read Rory Stewart’s article in The Atlantic. Think also of Angela Merkel and her mentor, Helmut Koch.
Republicans and Tories have been taken over by a far-right populist cancer, but conservatives who value democracy still exist. We must encourage them.
John Kenneth Galbraith was an economist in the broadest sense with a keen eye and great wit.
Jenn,
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of the oldest exercises in moral philosophy, that is, that is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
THE best description of a Ronald Reagan "conservative" I have met!
It vastly depends on what you're being asked to share.
Love this Galbraith quote. Posted it a lot before I got banned on FB and “X.” “Conservative” has been corrupted, twisted, and is now meaningless. Just a word to legitimize greed. JKG said it best.
According to many historians, the last progressive Republican Senator was George W. Norris (NE-R). He ushered through the legislation for the TVA and the REA. He also led the fight to switch NE from a bi-cameral to a unicameral legislature. He worked closely with FDR on the social programs introduced in the 1930's. The conservative Republicans in the Senate wouldn't support his legislation and so he became an Independent in the 1940's and NE voted him out for doing so. He's perhaps the most influential politician to come out of Nebraska.
You're so right about history having supported autocratic governance, it has been the rule and democratic governance a recent exception. We all cry for "freedom' and wonder how autocratic regimes manage, but just check out the Chinese, Russians etc and you get some idea. It pays well to remember that in America only about 1/2 of voters actually "vote" in presidential elections except when the clarion calls have stirred maybe another 15% to turn out. Political parties indulge routinely in "disinformation" these days since that often seems to work, that's one hell of a "moral backbone". 2024 is going to be something, I'm sure. My bet is on the Democrats!
We agree, Frank. My take on most revolutions is that they don't change much....often exchanging one set of autocrats for another set of autocrats. Somehow the wealthy manage to stay in charge and actual democracy is hard work. We have a set of ideals in this country which we have failed in many ways to bring about, but it does give us a goal. The current R party of death has given us plenty of reasons to get out the vote, actually vote, and vote D.
Agreed, although democratic rule is not a recent exception - it’s a very ancient exception. Its demise always follows the same pattern, however - factionalism, stasis, chaos.
For sure, but democratic rule was practiced in a very limited way among the Greeks. Our school book praise of Athenian democracy is more illusory than real, given autocracy has largely been the name of the game through history. Ancient and not so ancient writers were generally down on it, noting features such as you mention. People like Edward Gibbon presumed that civilizations were intended to serve and maintain wealth-based self-interested autocracies, as the only foundation for stability. It was only following the American revolution that the idea and gradual practice of broadly based democracies arose, and has had an uncertain history ever since. It is a complicated story indeed. Social revolution or dysfunctional democracies have often led to dictatorial, one-party regimes. Thus much of the world lives today.
I wasn’t thinking of the Athenians, although they invented the word. Many other places and political units have had democratic governments before the American revolution - government by and for the people- of some description at some point, the better known in Europe being several Italian cities between the 12th and 15th centuries and Swiss Landsgemeinde.
By the way, I certainly wouldn’t call the American revolution a democratic one since it was meant to preserve wealth and oligarchy, including through the practice of widescale slavery and ethnic cleansing. The remarkable aspect of the American system is that oligarchic rule became steadily more democratic without changing the core constitution, through the means of amendments that widened the political and legal definition of ‘the people’. But that’s part of what keeps the American democracy fragile - its core constitution is oligarchic and riveted to its time. The old colonists got rid of the king, but retained the 18th century ‘enlightened’ aristocratic privileges. Arguably, the Electoral College and gerrymandered constituencies keeps the system from being a fully-fledged democracy, as there is no generalized system of ‘one citizen one vote’ in the US.
Thanks Annis, your history is more rounded out than mine, don't my general remarks hold though? Dynasties, aristocracies, empires, ruled the larger polities, right? Ive heard that about the early American revolution, ethnic cleansing though was as much from below as above (I gather you're talking about colonial expansion and expropriation of native lands), and weren't there debates about the moral underpinnings of slavery, though because of slaveholding interests the issue was postponed, while states were encouraged to divest themselves of slaveholding, albeit gradually for those which did and often slaves were subsequently sold into the southern slave plantation states?
Excellent synopsis and advice!
Good question!!
What does this vindictive vandalism cost in terms of total dollars, lasting damage, and disrupted individual lives? And who pays the bill?
The responsible media need to stop saying “Congress did not do xyz” “Congress failed to do xyz” and call it like is: The Republicans or GOP are the ones failing America.
The simple fact is: "The enemy is inside the gates." We need to recognize this virulent cancer for what it is: these MAGA/KKK Republicans are in fact enemies of the state. What they are doing is the equivalent of the shot fired on Ft. Sumter. It is an attack on the Union, meant to do great harm to the republic.
This is akin to DC Stephenson, as portrayed in the book you recommended Richard. Fever In The Heartland. My car buddy used to say, "you can't polish a turd" when referring to something unfixable. In no way can you pretty it up. This applies applies to republicans of all stripes. Either love the destruction, or leave it in your past. Tipping points are real!
Guess it applies doubly.
The enemy within. The evil never ends. Is this America or Captain McHook and Captain McCrook's Neverland?
Carl Sagan said: "The most complicated thing in the known universe is the human brain." Perhaps it is that we shouldn't be surprised that some of those now in Congress are Fascists who would favor bringing down the U.S. government for reasons perhaps only known to them. We humans are not purely rational creatures. Pres. G.W. Bush was right on 3/31/2001 at the White House Correspondents' Dinner when he said: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on." Those in Congress who would shut down the government got there because some of the people get fooled all of the time.
Please name what constitutes the "responsible media" these days.
You are here, aren't you?
I'm referring to what's usually called the mainstream media. Dr. Richardson's amazing research and comprehensive assessment of what's going on is a given at the top of the list of responsible media. No need to be snarky, Ed. I'm pretty sure you knew exactly what I meant.
We, the tax payers, will be handed the bill for sure.
Considering how much the "GOP" bellows about "tax and spend", I'm inclined to wonder about what all the spending buys? A cure for disease? A bridge over troubled waters? A public haven away from pavement? Or Troops called to the border for an election stunt? The ugly, ineffective, and ecologically disastrous Great Wall of Trump? Benghazi and other lengthy and very costly hearings that produce no more than theater? Hobby wars? Tax cuts and subsidies for the wealthiest? Bonuses for bankrupted banks? Some bills are worth every penny and others a ripoff. we need to say more about the difference.
The taxing and spending the Republicans castigate the Dems with is spending to fix all the things Republicans broke during their administrations when they pushed through tax cuts for the morbidly rich and corporations, while continuing to spend on things like weapons systems, etc. Voting for a Republican for president is tantamount to voting for a recession.
Well said.
JL, the voters must stop electing these sc*mbags. Real leaders don’t waste our hard-earned money. Spending tax dollars “wisely” for the benefit of many, is the goal of democracy. Not throwing precious resources into some bottomless pit of nonsense and hatred.
One small problem with that, Elizabeth: Voters will continue to elect these s*****gs as long as the voters themselves remain irresponsible. Multiple issues stand out here, including a large majority of Republican voters that remain willfully ignorant. Root causes need to be addressed.
You are SO right!
Corporations excluded....
What vindictive vandalism?
The Fweedumbass Kawkuss. Maybe if the Fweedumbasses were arrested for treason, that would move things along while they were absent in jail.
Ciao TC !
Yes, at what point might the "vindictive vandalism", committed by the creepiest of our GOP Reps and other elected officials apparently desirous of converting our country into a Fascist backwater, constitute treason? I mean, could they be investigated by the DOJ and arrested for treason based on their public statements and likely backroom conspiracies? Is there a legal case to be made consistent with the Constitution as written and interpreted by the SCOTUS?
I fear not, and it thus seems to me we as a nation are in very dangerous waters, largely unforeseen until quite recently, because our Constitution does not provide specific remedies for the various abuses of power that the GOP feels obliged to rely on (because they cannot win national elections fair and square).
It seems we may be forced to choose between voting our way out of this situation (only a DEM landslide would suffice) or preparing to fight fire with fire.
I'm worried the Democratic Party as an institution has not yet come to this conclusion, nor has Joe Biden (bless his earnest and patriotic soul). As we all know, civil wars happen, often because nobody takes the possibility seriously until it is too late to avoid bloodshed.
Reckless political theater that harms people and American assets, including our reputation as a stable partner with other nations.
You mean the House Republicans, the hardline right wingers?
Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Not to mention the possible delay of Social Security payments!
Imagine the sea of gray haired (and shiny bald) march on Washington, DC!
'Why aren't we in full attack mode? ' This the forever question for liberals.
Should we be in full attack mode? Or.. hear me out... should we take time to possibly look to do things differently?
Democrats, Republicans... what about Americans? How are we individually and our communities? I don’t know if voting in presidential elections helps our communities grow which is why I think we need to take a step back and look locally:
https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/why-we-need-to-stop-voting-in-presidential
IRS agents , Gary Shipley & Kevin Breuninger are in full "attack & distract" mode against the President's son. Hunter Biden did not "attack". Hunter simply filed a civil lawsuit against the appropriate Defendant, the IRS, in the appropriate venue: Case No: 1:23-cv-027 seeking appropriate damages for each & every violation. Federal Lawsuits require early & extensive discovery disclosures.
I think we also need to ask tough questions as well. One of the best philosophical questions I’ve come across is: how would we know if we, the people, were under attack by those in power?
Would we be able to tell? Or would we be under the propaganda?
https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/september-11th-and-menticide#details
Interested in thoughts if any!
Lastly, there’s the component of a spiritual and psychological attack. Religions call them demons or archons, Jung calls it the shadow -- is there a force bent on destroying humanity that we need to make ourselves familiar with?
https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/are-we-under-satanic-attack#details
Because politics is not therapy. Politics is the ongoing struggle about how a society distributes goods, services, and power.
The tough question is asking who benefits, or thinks they will benefit, from the collapse of the Democratic Republic?
Who is funding the moves to collapse the government and economy.
Those are political questions. They have nothing to do with therapy.
Ken, agree! WHO “is funding the moves to collapse the government and economy.” Is exactly the right question. The answers give me the shivers.....🙀
Donald Trump said that he is “the apple of Putin’s eye”. Putin’s pocket is where our corrupt politicians are.
I truly believe it was the 2016 election that was rigged not 2020. Trump never has been honestly elected anything. Now the smear of his reviling court will be on us forever. Joe Biden is a Great man and will go down in history as one of the Best world leaders ever.
We know it’s not the puppets in the house - Gaetz, MTG, Jordan, et al. There’s big money and primary threats motivating them.
I think that ultimately we need to look way more deeply into human nature, especially in terms of why it is that so many people, for many centuries, have supported their own oppressors? Why is "Liberty and Justice for All" such an uphill battle, and fragile even when progress is made? There is a lot of psychology there that we might have more purchase on of we understood it better.
That said, who benefits and who suffers as a result of specific policies is always one of the most important questions. I'd like to see a triage done across the board to evaluate how much each feature of law and policy conforms to government of, by and for the people, rather than some wealthy political patron(s) buying favor.
J L Graham I always find much to ponder in your posts!
Some thoughts about today: have we been exposed to too many TV and movie “heroes?” And we believe someone will “save us?”
I’m reading “American Crusade” and am aghast about the actual long-term planning that has been focused on turning our country into a Christian Nationalist nation. Throughout history men have used religion to justify their actions, accrue power and money and then to defend themselves as god’s chosen, to lead and judge the masses. That seems to be a common thread these days.
Until the citizenry at large loose access to football, streaming, video games and their credit cards, will they either suffer or truly care?
Do you really need to "bogart " some else's substack to further an audience to your own? I think there are many references to how to get traffic to your page on the Support pages of Substack. I don't think continously linking in "comments" is one of them
That’s a fair call out. I can take that back.
Franklin, I call your 3rd "spiritual" comment BS.
Why so?
Franklin, the syntax of your phrase "under the propaganda" does not make much sense. I don't think the issue is a "philosophical question". I see you have made a 3rd successive comment.
Propagandized for too long. So a lot of people won't know I think.
My husband and I were discussing this again this morning. The subject has been well investigated , it’s the why of anger so obvious in our society . The CEO pay vs the laborer is the perfect example. That gap has widened at breakneck speed in the last 40-50 years.
We have ALL done better -relative terms . Having come from no electric or indoor plumbing to today , the stat is more than half the worlds poverty is gone. But the gap of thems that have and thems that don’t is a commonly known spread, the rich have gained 300% + over what us ground levels have. We’re the paycheck to paycheck people and qualifiers for every assistance program (which btw ‘ the thems’ want to eradicate) which year to year is siphoned off bit by bit.
What does increase are the monies needed from rainy day/emergency funds . IE It costs more to treat the sick from emergency visits than insure them through adequate medical coverage.
Greed has taken the front row causative.
It’s human nature at its worst.
Who are those ‘thems’?
They’re the ones (including their puppets) pointing the fingers of blame, screaming foul, and making a scene.
The others ones are too busy working solutions and helping .
If us has any blame to bear it’s that voter participation factor. 40-50% voting population..HELLO!!!!
As Simon says😉...”if you don’t take the shot you won’t score at all” .
We.Can.Do. This.
💙💙VOTE💙💙
Right now Anthony Blinken is being interview on CBS this Morning. He was asked how can we give more money to Ukraine when Zelensky just fired his top 6 military leaders for corruption.Blinken said that “Z is doing what he can seeing something isn’t working”....
I think the same way...
💙💙VOTE OUT ALL THE COMPLICIT! THE RABLE ROUSING DO NOTHING CONGRESS and their PUPPETEERS💙💙
( this includes those continuing the ‘rigged and stolen barkers’ - governors/lawyers/politicians/attorney generals/judges/school board/board members/think tanks)
For sure, voting local is essential. This was the first thing I taught my children by taking them to the voting booth in strollers for the seemingly most obscure local elections. We must vote in all elections. The franchise is not to be taken lightly. Ever. I appreciate the points you make in this article and wish you'd mentioned Marianne Williamson's presidential campaign as a foil to the corruption you enumerate. I am not saying she is our savior. I am saying she addresses these concerns in an intelligent, thoughtful way. And yet she is ridiculed and canceled by establishment Democrats. This is a problem.
I really don't care about your argument. This is the system we have! If we don't vote, you can be sure of a facist takeover, so NO! We MUST Vote and Vote Blue or lose your rights as a person of color, immigrants, women, LBGTQ people and even poor people! Don't be a fool!!!
Think it is time to vote for someone like Cornel West or RFK.
America can't go on with the 2 party system owned by money.
I think West has some things to say we should listen to. RFK will be responsible for the suffering and deaths of Americans who believe his fantasies.
I love the idea of a third or fourth party or person to vote for - but only if we had national Ranked Choice Voting.
Under the current system, if one does not vote, or does not vote for Biden, one is embracing, endorsing, supporting, believing in and literally voting for Trump. Period.
Sadly, that's exactly true! We Must Vote these fascists OUT or suffer a radical change in what America was founded on. Equality and Freedom! Little by little, both of those things are being taken away. If you don't see this, you're not paying attention!
Yep. What you said.
I’m sorry but that would be a vote for the republican, most likely Trump to end democracy.
I thought the same thing with Sanders and Ron Paul. The system runs deep and we have hope, yet every year, it’s the same thing over and over
I still think Bernie is there pushing the Dems.
Yes. Voting at the State level seems to be working.
Voting at the State level gives States Gerrtmandered jigsaw puzzle districts designed by the current minority to keep them in power, obliterating the general will of the voters
I see a lot of this being contested now.
In Michigan voters rallied to mitigate gerrymandering and won. In the next election both houses of Congress flipped to Democrats after 40 years of GOP Gerrymandered rule
Michigan is the exception. Texas, Wisconsin, Florida are the rule
Contesting does not change the current political landscape. Removing gerrymandering on a national requires the will of fair minded Congressmen
Yes, Dave! A friend of mine here in Michigan helped to write our anti-gerrymandering ballot proposal that passed with flying colors, and we should not be the exception, but the "Indepent Commission" Rule! Here's how we did it:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Michigan_Proposal_2
Not in New Hampshire, sadly.
The R's and the R Governor refused to allow an Independent Commission. Whether we'll be able to win over a few R's is the question. Getting a Dem Gov. is really important. I think Cinde Warmington would be great.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Michigan_Proposal_2
Good question, Jerry. Here is what I found from Hakim Jeffries yesterday.
Listen to the questions the ABC interviewer asks and the lack of follow-up questions on the Democratic agenda.
But also listen to lack of fire from Jeffries--fact filled but flat delivery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh3XhMBwzGI
I watched that clip. I think he was in “Professional “ mode. Conveying the facts of the case. I also think the journalist was playing, trying to play, the game of “make a stumble, I’ll get an exclusive if I can trip you up.”
I think Jefferys did a good job of avoiding that trap.
Thanks for the laugh Jerry. I know a lot of people want us to get even, even maybe just be appropriately aggressive back. It’s struggle ad infinitum and right now a lot of chaos as this is the MO of MAGA.
For sure plenty to do. But what we don’t hear enough of is the people behind the scenes plodding away ‘at getting things done’.
DrDebra Turner (Women’s league of Voters) shows the push to get people registered . I’m sure you know the past stats. But more impressive is a prevailing character of ALL people being able to express their opinion, get heard, all religions, all colors, all parties.
We spend so much time on the bad news, yup ‘it sells the morning paper Jimmy Brown’...
people are so tuned into the bad news they’re missing the good. They’re defeating their dreams in apathy, and complacency.
No doubt the job ahead , Jerry.
Someone once said at least I gave them a smile in such a tirade midst one day. Take a deep breath folks, stay the course, listen to some good music, encourage another vote or registration.
Our President is doing a ‘helluva job’. Let’s have his back. Let’s make him even better, us better.
Amy Walters on PBS last night was eloquent, but decent , accurate, and concise . There’s a ramrod crowd out there , the circus ( or worse) we’ve labeled them. Will we rise above, get more improvements done , learn the lesson and extend a hand to a forgotten middle class ( or poorer). It won’t take or be anybody but us getting that done.
Thanks Heather 🫶
💙💙VOTE ALL THE COMPLICIT OUT💙💙
Maybe waiting for the stupids to destroy themselves? The Bobert story is a good start.
Well, Virginia, that would be nice, but in the meantime they're normalizing stupidity and turning into a feature, vs a bug.
“Headlines this morning said that “Congress” is in crisis. But that construction obscures the true story: the Republicans are in crisis, and they are taking the country down with them.”
Sorry, I disagree Dr. Richardson, it is “we the people” that are in a crisis. We the people have not formed a perfect union. And we need to help understand and guide or Republican friends from this.
It could be Trump going to jail or it could be a more sane Republican nominee, but we need to stop this narcissistic leader.
JB
To Jerry Helmand thank you for the belly laugh you gave me today, “I’m getting the popcorn”.
So agree with you!
Yes but you can't believe what Trump says!