We do not learn from history, continued: “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.” - Frédéric Bastiat
How do you destroy a Democracy? First, control the message, and then erase history. As Steven notes: "out goes understanding and knowledge, in goes ignorance and hate." Lets just call it what it really is, George Orwell's, 2025.
Canceling town halls? Quick question: If Congress Republicans have crowned Trump king, will they now cease pretending to care about their constituents … Trump’s subjects? Asked and answered.
True. However, town halls are not attended by most people and up to now pretty low on constituent radar. The really direct way they are saying we don’t care is how they allow the slash and burn “policies” to be enacted.
For instance WaPo reported “… 875 terminated VA contracts included ones to help cover medical services, fund cancer programs, recruit doctors and provide burial services to veterans.“ Whacked the same day as the public P/R announcement.
Supposedly these services will now be provided “in house” by the VA (as it cuts more employees?). Is it a shot across the bow for veterans speaking out over other cuts?
Meanwhile the Orange Menace reposted Charlie Kirk’s “shut up about the price of eggs” 🙃
Phones are better than silence. I’d love to know the % who contact legislators. Most people have no idea what they do except a “newsletter” sales pitch maybe once a year or at election time. For certain they don’t understand the committee system or why it is important to have legislators represent you on committees. They don’t check to see how their legislator votes.
I’ve seen 3 people today on MSNBC talking about how they see what is happening at the VA and now at Social Security as comparable to crashing systems to privatize them. Specifically pointing to asset manager coming in with DOGE — the type who pick the bones after hostile takeovers to see what can be turned into profitable endeavors.
Little reporting from a few finance publications behind paywalls but this mentions it.
I mostly don't contact legislators myself (though a donation to Tammy Duckworth yielded an actual callback recently--yep I'm an Illinois Dem), but highly recommend phone banking for progressive candidates if only for one or two shifts. talk to NEIGHBORS/CITIZENS! ...yes >half of them will hang up, but the rest give me hope. --join me in working with wisdems.org on upcoming 4/1/25 election of state supreme court justice - Elon Musk has put >$5MM into an R candidate who would shift progressive majority to regressive. early voting starts in two days! GOTV
Hopefully Americans will realize Democracy doesn’t work on “auto pilot”. We need to inform our elected officials of our expectations and whether they are meeting them on a regular basis. Hard to do if we aren’t paying attention.
For about three years, we more or less relaxed and went on with our lives as our government went about doing its job on behalf of the People. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the architects and draftsmen of a fascist vision were preparing Project 2025.
Like architects, they thought about the details-- all the interconnections, what supported what, which pieces needed to be put into place before something else could be demolished. They made a set of plans for the demolition of the foundations of a country based on the rule of law, and are erecting a completely different kind of structure.
I've been an architect for over 40 years and am now a law student. I had no idea that my previous life would serve as a metaphor for my current preoccupations.
Steve Bannon said they would “flood the zone with sh*t”. It’s to the point where those of us who understand what this regime is trying to accomplish can barely keep up with the constant pressure of attacks on free speech, or autonomy of any sort.
I’m waiting for more Democrats to go head to head with this destruction of what we all hold dear. Rep. Al Green’s ‘good trouble’ even brought out democrats who don’t get the actual threats we are facing.
The Democrat Party suffered from a true lack of IMAGINATION and now are befuddled with what is happening. Those of us who understand what is really going on are truly worried about our Country. We feel quite deserted and on our own.
I believe it’s taking some time for the ones who recognize the threat to work out a solution. Sen. Sanders is an Independent, but he’s fighting for our democracy. I know Sen. Kim is also aware of the fascist possible overthrow of our government.
The road back to democracy from what has already occurred is going to be long and hard. This is new territory for us all, basically building from the ground up the foundation of a new government with sufficient barriers and protections so this raid on our way of life cannot happen again. But, as astonished as we all are—mouths hanging open and hearts aching at what is lost—we need to start the protests upon protests upon protests that will eventually take us to the new and shiny government we want. And we can do it. It will mean building back better.
Thank you once again for your insightful look into the insanity of these times and the importance of meaningful dialog. I have been watching the brilliant movie The Pianist to remind myself about how no dialogue took place under the Nazis, how desperation drove people to what otherwise would have been unconscionable acts, and how healing the arts are. I would encourage others to revisit this movie while we still have time to revisit and understand what has happened and could happen again if we don't speak up. I, too, wonder where are the voices of our former leaders.
We see the throttling and manipulation of truth & free speech!
Excerpts:
-“In other words, out goes understanding and knowledge, in goes ignorance and hate.”
-“We are watching the authoritarian playbook unfold at an intense pace, often making it hard to grasp how interconnected these antagonistic acts are. Chaos, confusion and fear are tools this administration is exploiting to achieve its hateful agenda.”
"The speed may lead us to miss how chilling all this is." And that is exactly the method they are using: a tidal wave of cruelty, control, and lies which are impossible to absorb and react to in a matter of weeks.
The object is to pick off groups and by the time their strongest supporters realize what has happened they will be too weak and divided to resist.
I’m older enough to have gone to school with a couple students whose families immigrated in the last days or after WWII. I’ve never forgotten the girl who pushed back at description of Hitler’s evil deeds. She recited a list of good things he did for the people - economically and before the war. Some never learn. Too young to have formed this opinion on her own it must have come from her family.
Coming to grips with Russia’s agenda and their talking points. Those now emanate from the seat of U.S. power, the White House. Our President acts very suspiciously. Is he fully compromised? Things were clear in my mind, as I wrote in this post. I have little doubt. https://bit.ly/4heWKvb
We have to exercise our freedoms to keep them alive, in just the same way as we have to exercise our muscles to keep them in shape. Democracy is dying by atrophy. But where is the fight in us? It's not enough for us to wring our hands and decry our fate.
The price of an unholy alliance between religion and government is what we have today. Separation of church and state protected our rights from religious interference, smart religious leaders knew it protected them from the government.
Because so many Republican members of Congress are not holding town halls, some districts have taken the reins and are holding their own. Citizen town halls are popping up. They invite their Representative. If the invitation is declined or there is no timely answer, an empty chair is present as the host holds a community discussion. (In anticipation of a refusal, at least one district joined with a neighboring district to issue 2 invitations.) It is a non-threatening way to engage, inform and organize communities.
Steven, Your Comments today are, as usual, on target! Two responses came to mind, Hopefully you’ll indulge me;
1. After talking to various people, in different walks of life. It becomes more apparent that tRump’s threatened attacks on key segments of the Government’s Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs whose function is to protect vulnerable segments of the the populace, will serve as a very effective deterrent!” Very similar to the “Sword of Damocles” or, the threat hanging over their heads by a hair, realizing that benefits “Might” be cut at any time, especially if this group begins dissenting…effectively removes this group from the ranks of trump opposition forces. The members of this slice of the population really can’t mount much more than a symbolic attack and are really only capable of morale support. Of course, they’re obviously aware there isn’t any opposition forces ready to defend their benefits should tRump decide to actual impair these services, only Democrats attacking their own party members…little more than an unorganized rabble.
2. In my opinion, because I haven’t got a Shingle to hang out, it’s all part of tRump’s intimidation and suppression of America/Americans! The People who have been suppressed mentally or physically are made subservient. When freedom of speech, the freedom of the press and other such interchanges are lost or, strictly controlled the populace becomes neutered and easily isolated. Added to if they’re deprived of education they become closed or worse, narrow minded. The MAGots are cancelling Town Meetings another source of inter communications. How long before the banishment of any free press or group gatherings takes place.The result…they become good repugnants aka, former republicans who have become trump trolls!
Cripes…anyone caught reading a free press article could land up in an American Gulag! (Guantanamo Bay)! Someone must have informed tRump of the danger of “The Sleeping Tiger Syndrome) ref. ADM Yamamoto, WWII Japan regarding the bombing of Pearl Harbor! I know…not a time for sardonic humor!
We do not learn from history, continued: “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.” - Frédéric Bastiat
How do you destroy a Democracy? First, control the message, and then erase history. As Steven notes: "out goes understanding and knowledge, in goes ignorance and hate." Lets just call it what it really is, George Orwell's, 2025.
Touche'.
Canceling town halls? Quick question: If Congress Republicans have crowned Trump king, will they now cease pretending to care about their constituents … Trump’s subjects? Asked and answered.
Answered, indeed.
True. However, town halls are not attended by most people and up to now pretty low on constituent radar. The really direct way they are saying we don’t care is how they allow the slash and burn “policies” to be enacted.
For instance WaPo reported “… 875 terminated VA contracts included ones to help cover medical services, fund cancer programs, recruit doctors and provide burial services to veterans.“ Whacked the same day as the public P/R announcement.
Supposedly these services will now be provided “in house” by the VA (as it cuts more employees?). Is it a shot across the bow for veterans speaking out over other cuts?
https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-02-28/kentucky-business-among-hundreds-losing-veteran-service-contracts-amid-trump-cuts
I guess in the 21st Century people have become used to just phoning it in.
Meanwhile the Orange Menace reposted Charlie Kirk’s “shut up about the price of eggs” 🙃
Phones are better than silence. I’d love to know the % who contact legislators. Most people have no idea what they do except a “newsletter” sales pitch maybe once a year or at election time. For certain they don’t understand the committee system or why it is important to have legislators represent you on committees. They don’t check to see how their legislator votes.
I’ve seen 3 people today on MSNBC talking about how they see what is happening at the VA and now at Social Security as comparable to crashing systems to privatize them. Specifically pointing to asset manager coming in with DOGE — the type who pick the bones after hostile takeovers to see what can be turned into profitable endeavors.
Little reporting from a few finance publications behind paywalls but this mentions it.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/musk-taps-private-equity-veterans-182903830.html
I mostly don't contact legislators myself (though a donation to Tammy Duckworth yielded an actual callback recently--yep I'm an Illinois Dem), but highly recommend phone banking for progressive candidates if only for one or two shifts. talk to NEIGHBORS/CITIZENS! ...yes >half of them will hang up, but the rest give me hope. --join me in working with wisdems.org on upcoming 4/1/25 election of state supreme court justice - Elon Musk has put >$5MM into an R candidate who would shift progressive majority to regressive. early voting starts in two days! GOTV
Hopefully Americans will realize Democracy doesn’t work on “auto pilot”. We need to inform our elected officials of our expectations and whether they are meeting them on a regular basis. Hard to do if we aren’t paying attention.
For about three years, we more or less relaxed and went on with our lives as our government went about doing its job on behalf of the People. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the architects and draftsmen of a fascist vision were preparing Project 2025.
Like architects, they thought about the details-- all the interconnections, what supported what, which pieces needed to be put into place before something else could be demolished. They made a set of plans for the demolition of the foundations of a country based on the rule of law, and are erecting a completely different kind of structure.
I've been an architect for over 40 years and am now a law student. I had no idea that my previous life would serve as a metaphor for my current preoccupations.
DEI? Well, the recent SpaceX explosions are good proof on how well partisan hiring works.
This is like watching our slow descent into hell. 🥲. America is lost.
Guess we should learn to ignore everything…just like much of America does…they ignore or just do not care.
Steve Bannon said they would “flood the zone with sh*t”. It’s to the point where those of us who understand what this regime is trying to accomplish can barely keep up with the constant pressure of attacks on free speech, or autonomy of any sort.
I’m waiting for more Democrats to go head to head with this destruction of what we all hold dear. Rep. Al Green’s ‘good trouble’ even brought out democrats who don’t get the actual threats we are facing.
The Democrat Party suffered from a true lack of IMAGINATION and now are befuddled with what is happening. Those of us who understand what is really going on are truly worried about our Country. We feel quite deserted and on our own.
I believe it’s taking some time for the ones who recognize the threat to work out a solution. Sen. Sanders is an Independent, but he’s fighting for our democracy. I know Sen. Kim is also aware of the fascist possible overthrow of our government.
The road back to democracy from what has already occurred is going to be long and hard. This is new territory for us all, basically building from the ground up the foundation of a new government with sufficient barriers and protections so this raid on our way of life cannot happen again. But, as astonished as we all are—mouths hanging open and hearts aching at what is lost—we need to start the protests upon protests upon protests that will eventually take us to the new and shiny government we want. And we can do it. It will mean building back better.
Thank you once again for your insightful look into the insanity of these times and the importance of meaningful dialog. I have been watching the brilliant movie The Pianist to remind myself about how no dialogue took place under the Nazis, how desperation drove people to what otherwise would have been unconscionable acts, and how healing the arts are. I would encourage others to revisit this movie while we still have time to revisit and understand what has happened and could happen again if we don't speak up. I, too, wonder where are the voices of our former leaders.
Chilling: Speed: Chaos:
We see the throttling and manipulation of truth & free speech!
Excerpts:
-“In other words, out goes understanding and knowledge, in goes ignorance and hate.”
-“We are watching the authoritarian playbook unfold at an intense pace, often making it hard to grasp how interconnected these antagonistic acts are. Chaos, confusion and fear are tools this administration is exploiting to achieve its hateful agenda.”
-“We need to keep the light shining bright.”
"The speed may lead us to miss how chilling all this is." And that is exactly the method they are using: a tidal wave of cruelty, control, and lies which are impossible to absorb and react to in a matter of weeks.
Smothering our country with so much garbage..folks just end up giving up.
Love Louder
How long will it take for a lot of magas to wake up? Will it be after they have lost everything ?
And how long will it take for our elected Democratic representatives to wake up?
truth
The object is to pick off groups and by the time their strongest supporters realize what has happened they will be too weak and divided to resist.
I’m older enough to have gone to school with a couple students whose families immigrated in the last days or after WWII. I’ve never forgotten the girl who pushed back at description of Hitler’s evil deeds. She recited a list of good things he did for the people - economically and before the war. Some never learn. Too young to have formed this opinion on her own it must have come from her family.
Coming to grips with Russia’s agenda and their talking points. Those now emanate from the seat of U.S. power, the White House. Our President acts very suspiciously. Is he fully compromised? Things were clear in my mind, as I wrote in this post. I have little doubt. https://bit.ly/4heWKvb
We have to exercise our freedoms to keep them alive, in just the same way as we have to exercise our muscles to keep them in shape. Democracy is dying by atrophy. But where is the fight in us? It's not enough for us to wring our hands and decry our fate.
The price of an unholy alliance between religion and government is what we have today. Separation of church and state protected our rights from religious interference, smart religious leaders knew it protected them from the government.
We’ve seen the white christian nationalist movement coop willing participants in undermining our rights and then unwilling participants. Catholics are seeing that reality in a direct attack. https://www.ncronline.org/trumps-us-attorney-dc-fires-salvo-georgetown-law-school-dean-fires-back
Because so many Republican members of Congress are not holding town halls, some districts have taken the reins and are holding their own. Citizen town halls are popping up. They invite their Representative. If the invitation is declined or there is no timely answer, an empty chair is present as the host holds a community discussion. (In anticipation of a refusal, at least one district joined with a neighboring district to issue 2 invitations.) It is a non-threatening way to engage, inform and organize communities.
Steven, Your Comments today are, as usual, on target! Two responses came to mind, Hopefully you’ll indulge me;
1. After talking to various people, in different walks of life. It becomes more apparent that tRump’s threatened attacks on key segments of the Government’s Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs whose function is to protect vulnerable segments of the the populace, will serve as a very effective deterrent!” Very similar to the “Sword of Damocles” or, the threat hanging over their heads by a hair, realizing that benefits “Might” be cut at any time, especially if this group begins dissenting…effectively removes this group from the ranks of trump opposition forces. The members of this slice of the population really can’t mount much more than a symbolic attack and are really only capable of morale support. Of course, they’re obviously aware there isn’t any opposition forces ready to defend their benefits should tRump decide to actual impair these services, only Democrats attacking their own party members…little more than an unorganized rabble.
2. In my opinion, because I haven’t got a Shingle to hang out, it’s all part of tRump’s intimidation and suppression of America/Americans! The People who have been suppressed mentally or physically are made subservient. When freedom of speech, the freedom of the press and other such interchanges are lost or, strictly controlled the populace becomes neutered and easily isolated. Added to if they’re deprived of education they become closed or worse, narrow minded. The MAGots are cancelling Town Meetings another source of inter communications. How long before the banishment of any free press or group gatherings takes place.The result…they become good repugnants aka, former republicans who have become trump trolls!
Cripes…anyone caught reading a free press article could land up in an American Gulag! (Guantanamo Bay)! Someone must have informed tRump of the danger of “The Sleeping Tiger Syndrome) ref. ADM Yamamoto, WWII Japan regarding the bombing of Pearl Harbor! I know…not a time for sardonic humor!