In 11 months, we’ll have an opportunity to retrieve our democracy from the clutches of the morbidly rich, the ideologues who deify them (and have for millennia), & their bought-&-paid-for politicians…
a. Curtis Yarvin is a half-wit. Nay. He's an eighth-wit, b/c he wants to round up wastes-of-life [his definition, of course] and use them as bio-fuel to propel municipal buses — I kid you not.
b. The US has always been the oligarchs' [read gangsters'] paradise. To wit:
In the early [till abt 1855] United States, most voters were required to own property or meet tax-paying thresholds. These restrictions were gradually lifted starting in the early 19th century; however, at the nation’s founding, suffrage was tightly limited to White male property owners.
One of my literary analogies for the early days?
"Lord of the Flies," and it seems we're heading back there.
Change of subject; I just got email from the Ink, followed a link and what to my bloodshot eyes should appear, no it was not reindeer, but a picture of Steve Bannon and his good chum Noah Chomsky at Epstein's.
I have personally been suspicious of Chomsky, especially since he outed himself as a Putinistsky;, as has so many darlings on the left like Amy Goodman.
Ah for the good ole days of Marxism, the fools actually believed the USSR was Marxist and that Putin is a proper heir.
America was not a democracy until the 15th 17th and 19th Amendment.
I do not think that Thomas Jefferson believe in a full fledged demos, voting.
His democratic republic was the rule of propertied people, which at the time included propertied blacks and women (in some state) for instance in NJ property owning blacks and women could vote until disenfranched in 1807
1789
The Constitution of the United States recognizes that the states have the power to set voting requirements. A few states allowed free Black men to vote, and New Jersey also included unmarried and widowed women who owned property.[1] Generally, states limited this right to property-owning or tax-paying White males (about 6% of the population).[2]
Georgia removes property requirement for voting.[3]
1790s
1790
The Naturalization Act of 1790 allows free White persons born outside of the United States to become citizens. However, since each state set its own requirements for voting, this Act (and its successor Naturalization Act of 1795) did not automatically grant these naturalized citizens the right to vote.[4]
Thomas Jefferson visited a Baptist business meeting in Danville, VA and was so alarmed by the bickering that it left a distaste in his mouth for democracy of the common man.
Peter Thiel is an enigma, something is going on. The Republican party is notoriously homophobic, yet it attracts an incredible number of gays
Thiel is married to a man, Matt Danzeisen; they married in 2017 in a surprise wedding in Vienna,. Some say that Benny Johnson and Charlie Kirk were gay, that Nick Fuentes is as well, When CPAC had it's convention in Phoenix, Grindr went wild as did male escort services. Then ther is Ms Lady Bugs Graham, and the wealthy Log Cabin Republicans.
Then again, there are black NAZI's like Mark Robinson and NAZI Jews like Stephen Miller., even Israel has its share like Netanyahu and the Likkud party of orthodox.
You could say some taking back has already begun.....
The Epstein Bill, Governors Newsom, Walz & Pritzger fighting back, Mamdani elected in NYC, Higgins elected in Miami, NO Kings movement, fighting ICE, and now the gerrymandering rejection by the Republicans in Indiana.
That was the good news. The bad news is the plan to take over the Western Hemisphere is real. The resources will be stolen and the TechBros would gain ultimate control of the approximately one billion people. It's insane. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) just talked about their Technocracy bullsh*t:
Trump FLAILS To Turn Around His BOTCHED Presidency
We are going to suffer a huge health care crisis. Dems must tell the stories. The pain may force the issue---FINALLY. I believe the herd will do what is best in the end. See you in the streets.
That is my fear Daniel. Redistricting, voter caging, voter ID laws, the 100's of Voter Suppression laws enacted in red states. restrictions on mail in voting, reducing the number of ballot boxes and voting booths, MAGA election commissions, Dominion voting machines was just bought by Sc ott Leiendecker
Scott Leiendecker former GOP operative with ties to Trump ally Ed Martin now owns election equipment used in 29 states/DC/Puerto Rico after acquiring Dominion Voting Systems.
Ed Martin was too exteme for the Senate to appoint as US Attorney for DC
So Trump has appointed him as Pardons Attorney andDirector of the Weaponization Working Group, tasked with investigating alleged "weaponization" of the DOJ.
Alis, I fear that The Epstein Bill, Governors Newsom, Walz & Pritzger fighting back, Mamdani elected in NYC, Higgins elected in Miami, NO Kings movement, fighting ICE, and now the gerrymandering rejection by the Republicans in Indiana." Will lull the populace into complacency. one step forward, two steps back. A small victory here and there is celebrated as evidence that the tide is going on, but what goes out comes back in.
You would think that with this small victories, including lower court decisions, that there would be some adjustment, some acknowledgement by the regime, yet there isn't.
It is plowing full steam ahead, and even ignors judicial rulings, steals elections. with all of this "setbacks" Trump signaled that he isn't going anywhere, by tearing downthe East Wing and blinging the White House, hanging full giant banners of his visage hung from government buildings, and now authorizing a silver dollar with his on both obverse and reverse.
Evidently it takes an anvil to fall on peoples heads before the get a clue, and the longer we wait and hope that (non existing) institutions will save us, the deeper we are mired in the quicksand of authoritarianism.
Right, as you have clearly noted, every headline in WaPo and most other media make the smallest hint seem like a great turnaround for liberal causes, so that when you find out what actually was said or what happened, you have to be discouraged at democracy's chances for survival.
Alis,all the good points you brought up give us a little hope. We must remember we in the process of a complete " Nazi" takeover of our Gov't and unless thee is more pushback than are having the " Nazi Infrastructure" will continue. There must be massive pushback against the " Technonazis" who wish to control every part of our lives. There should be massive pushback against CNBC,Wall Street,the Supreme Court,the Federal Reserve( who exists for the benefit of the billionaires and who gleefully reduces interest rates to kill the savers and seniors who have savings).Pushback against the churches,synogogues who do not defend the right of immigrants who have no police record,whose only problem is they are "brownskinned".
RICO, RICO, RICO — derisive, enough? They know that’s their future if Demos get back in office. This is a battle for right to exist — on both sides. Finally, the average citizen is smart enough and has the numbers to really look at the other side of the coin of humanity and be sickened by it instead of awe struck and worshipful. We have to build on this, and grow up as a population and see the addiction to power over others and define morbid wealth as part of this sickness that it is.
"Massive pushback" of the Trump/Republican extreme right actions of 2025 must include (on the part of Democrats) those 'progressive" actions that would be considered radical left today (but only relative to the far right,) but only what the people in FDR's day (the 40's and 50's) liked, and would have considered necessary. Today's centrist Democrats would have been seen as wild-eyed far rightist radicals prior to Trump or even Reagan. It is what the Republicans always wanted, but wouldn't admit until it was (or is) a fiat accompli under Trump.
What a lovely, intelligent way to explain the purpose of a democratic society, based in nature and scientific observations. Individuals can make mistakes, but decisions based on the group's wisdom and experience will lead to survival of the whole. It is common sense, in a way that can be deeply registered as true. And it fits well with Darwin's theories, which in my experience are usually explained poorly, or simply short-handed as to defy his conclusions. Survival of the fittest never referred to the physically or mentally strong, it means the most adaptable to changing conditions. Recent studies propose that group activities -- such as singing or chanting can bring the group forward as it helps maintain cohesiveness as the society moves towards a goal.
Pete Seeger said that there is nothing that cannot be fixed with a song. Lets join together and sing "This land is my land" as we march...to the polls
What I would like to see is the extension of "Direct Democracy" to all states in the union.
Only about half are doing this in some fashion. Congress should authorize this for all states, allowing each state to have citizen sourced initiatives and referendums for statutes and amendments to their constitutions. This would allow states to move ahead in the face of their legislatures on issues like ending partisan gerrymandering, ratifying the National Popular Vote (NPV), and legalizing abortion.
- Side note: Congress must give the eventual NVP full protection from SCOTUS interference. I'd bet this SCOTUS would salivate at a chance to destroy this effort to give The People true free and fair elections.
If we succumb to MAGAlitis, then our group doesn't DESERVE to survive. Next year's elections will pretty much determine where we are going. I am not optimistic. Our species is corrupted by power and the love of money. Neither will matter when we self-immolate.
Keeping score and awarding merit and punishing the losers in what is always a contest may not be in our genes, but it is in our bloodstream. We learn very early that, in a meritocracy, which is what has been created for us, it's about performance, discipline, and keeping up. Every movement, every misstep, every red mark on the assignment places us somewhere in the hierarchy and tells us if we are trying hard enough and "living up to our potential" We are compulsive about being graded and grading others. We believe everything can and must be measured. The teacher and the school measure our learning and our degree of compliance and how well we perform. We are immersed in the idea of merit and behavioral indices and avoiding any exception to the rules, regardless how absurd or arbitrary they are. Instead of fostering individuality and mutual respect, our institutions and especially our schools teach and encourage competition and winning at all cost. Of course, we have a meritocracy. Of course, having more money and influence means you are superior. That is the primary purpose of the twelve-year indoctrination process which is mandatory to guarantee that the message gets sufficiently drilled into our skulls. If you are okay with that whole authority-based paradigm, then do not complain when the outcome is not working out the way you expected.
Now there's an idea that even Jefferson and Franklin might have bought into, as long as those comprising the ruling class were educationally and intellectually meritorious - and not necessarily wealthy, land-owning, and/or influential.
See Amartya Senn "Political freedoms refer to the ability of the people to have a voice in government and to be able to scrutinise the authorities." Also that no democracy has ever experienced a famine. Quote taken from Wikipedia.
In Rome the elite would not support the masses. The masses then left Rome and the elite could not find the basic needs in the city. The people forced the elites to acknowledge that the people needs had to be met if they wanted a functioning city. This is what needs to happen worldwide. The people must stop helping the elites that oppose meeting the needs of the people from getting any services they offer. Let them live without social help. We must force the billionaires and their group to wear clothing that signals they support the people in their needs so any actions on their part can be criminalized in wearing such clothing while doing things to keep the people from meeting their needs.
Fall of Rome. Google: Historians debate which factor was most important, but most agree it was a combination for the fall of Rome, a slow decay rather than a sudden "fall," with the Western Empire collapsing in 476 CE while the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire continued for another thousand years.
IMHO lead poison, plagues, climate change.
Key Causes:
Military & Invasions: Constant pressure from Germanic tribes, Huns, and others, combined with an overstretched military and reliance on non-Roman soldiers, weakened defenses. MAGA would say it was mosty due to immigration.
Economic Problems: Massive military spending, high taxes, inflation, and a disruption of trade (especially after losing North Africa to Vandals) crippled the economy, while the end of expansion dried up the slave supply.
Political Instability: A poor system for emperor succession led to frequent civil wars, assassinations, and a lack of consistent, strong leadership, making unified action difficult.
Empire Division: The split between the Eastern and Western Empires meant resources were divided, weakening the West, which held fewer wealthy provinces.
Social & Cultural Shifts: Some historians point to the rise of Christianity, which shifted focus and resources, and a general decline in civic duty or moral fiber, though these are debated.
Environmental Factors: Climate change, plagues, and population shifts also played a role, impacting agriculture and stability.
The nail in the coffin was Valentian III murdering the General Flavius Aetius.
Flavius had defeated Attila at the battle of Chalons, and Valention was fearful that his popularity would threaten his rule so he recalled him to Ravenna and stabbed him to death. Thus died the last competent Roman General, and their was none to stand in the way of Odocaer the Ostrogoth,who defeated Valentians successor marking the end of the Western Roman Empire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odoacer
Aetius has been called "Last of the Romans" but he was actually born in Bulgaria, but by that time, all who lived in conquered lands were Roman citizens.
Rome was in decline earlier, it had no more territory to conquer, it was stopped by the Germanic tribes, the Parthians stopped it's eastward expansion. It fell in on itself. pacified the Gauls, Brythonic and people under it's control, unable to defend themselves, they relied on Rome to protect them from the Huns, Vandals, Ostrogoths
In a word Rome has become soft, lazy, corrupt. No longer would the Roman, the Latin and people of what we now call Italy, join the legions, the legions were made up of and led by people from the Empire, North Afica, Spain, Syria Palaestina, Constantine was from Illyria encompassing parts of modern-day Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia.
Soft, corrupt, lazy, with not real leadership Rome was ripe for the pickings.
The turning point came when Rome shifted from the Gladius (the short offensive Spanish Sword)to the longer spatha and the shields mutated from the classic Roman scutum to smaller round shields for skirmishers (parma, aspida) and eventually developing elongated kite shields (or teardrop shields) for cavalry and heavy infantry by the 8th century These kite shields were subsequently adopted by the Normans
Technology, and in specific communication technology makes the difference, In the days of the Roman Empire it took a month for news to travel. Shit the Battle of New Orleans was fought three weeks after the Treaty of Paris.
After Harold Godwinson beat the force of Harald Hardata and his brother Tostig Godwinson outside of York in 1066, it took him 2 weeks to catch William at Hastings, and that was a forced march. Some 250-280 miles by road, today.
Anyway technology makes the difference, especially information technology,
On top of that we, today, are much more privileged, comforted and soft than the people at that time.
When you are accustomed to living under the thumb of the ruling class, the elite, you see no way out. The Roman saw no alternative to the life they were living, change came from without,not within.
Serfs had no way of getting out from under the thumb of the lord of the manor. It was only a labor shortage brought about by the plague, that finally resulted in the proliferation of freemen.
I fear we are in the same situation, people are so comfortable, that the frog is being boiled, and the only hope of change is from without, an external factor or circumstance.
Trump's superpower is America's consumption, our consumption is driven by debt, so long as we, as a nation and a people can go into debt, we will be enabling Trump and the fascists.
He gets the worlds leaders, well our former allies, and weaker nations, to come crawling to his feet and debasing themselves, begging him to buy their wares.
BTW until the mid 20th Century TB was called consumption. Consumption is nature's way of turning matter into waste. We consume animals and vegetables and convert them into feces. We consume plastic and it winds up in the ocean killing critters that think it is food, we consume glass, metal and plastic and it winds up in landfills.
At least feces recycles into the ecosystem, our glass, plastics and some metals don't.
IMO the real purpose of tariff's is to debase other countries, and force them to kiss his feet.
None of this would happen, if they didn't get together and tell him to go get fucked. If Europe stood as a single entity as a countervailing power to Trump then he would fold.
But each country is venal, has it's own priority and problems. As I understand it Belgium is holding the Russian sanctioned funds, and is dragging it's heels, when Germany and the EU says it wants to use those funds to defend Ukraine.
The only reason I can fathom is that Belgium is not a rich country on it's own and has been using the funds to backstop it's own deficits.
I've studied the history in some depth and visited most of what was their empire. From what I've read there are over 200 theories to why Rome "fell"--you covered a lot here though the steady drain of silver to the East is another one, and certainly Mediterranean trade was declining for a long time. But actually most of the people in 476 wouldn't have noticed that a German king replaced a puppet emperor in Ravenna. Maybe things actually were more stable after that.
Anyway, take a look at the 250th anniversary coins "(Semiquincentennial is a mouthful.) The dime's one year slogan, "Liberty Over Tyranny", the quarter's "A New Nation Conceived in Liberty", and especially the half's "Knowledge is the Only Guarantee of True Liberty" could all be taken as slaps at the current administration. It just depends on how seriously you take their messages.
"Liberty." Willis Carto established the "Liberty Lobby" in 1958, billing it as a conservative, anti-Communist "pressure group for patriotism". Over time, it became known for its advocacy of white supremacy and antisemitism.
Affiliated organizations.
Institute for Historical Review (IHR): Founded in 1978, the IHR was presented as an academic organization focused on historical revisionism but primarily promoted Holocaust denial and defended Nazism.
Noontide Press: Carto established this publisher, which distributed extremist and racist literature, including early works of Holocaust denial.
The Barnes Review: After losing control of IHR and Noontide Press in the mid-1990s, Carto started this publication, continuing to focus on historical revisionism and Holocaust denial.
American Free Press: Launched immediately after the Liberty Lobby's bankruptcy in 2001 by Carto and former Spotlight staff, this newspaper published antisemitic and racist content.
Youth for George Wallace/National Youth Alliance: Carto organized "Youth for George Wallace" for the 1968 campaign, later forming the National Youth Alliance (NYA). He eventually lost control of the NYA to William Luther Pierce, who transformed it into the neo-Nazi National Alliance.
Populist Party: Carto was involved in founding this 1980s political party, which provided a platform for white supremacists and Ku Klux Klan members like David Duke.
The American Mercury: Carto acquired this magazine in 1966 and used it to disseminate his views until 1980.
Sun Radio Network: The Liberty Lobby acquired this network in 1989 to promote Carto's views through talk radio.
Foundation to Defend the First Amendment: This was one of several non-profit entities used by Carto to fund like-minded individuals and groups.
Although Liberty, in various forms (wild hair, big busted, seated, walking, standing, etc.) has been on U.S. coins from 1793 to 1947 after which dead white guys completely took over. I think that is what they are going back to now.
Daniel,good post.I think we can credit the White Christian Nationalists for the success of the " Trump Nazi Movement" . Can you just imagine a "Dept of Faith" in the White House for a "Nazi" .
It is the opinion of scholars that Classical Greek was the birthplace of democracy, and Athens in particular. But only property owning men could hold office. The Roman republic was of the same ilk, senators were chosen from the patricians, the wealthy property owning men, and the consuls (two of them) were chosen from among the senators and ruled for a limited term. Until Julius Caesar.
The 1789 Constitution provided the same form of government, only they left it to the states as to manage the voting, including eligibility.
The first category to be enfranchised (state by state) was all white males, that was New Hampshire in 1792, then slowly state by state others followed.
The party that enfranchises the most, reaps a temporary dividend, as the newly enfranchised will vote for them.
Women were enfranchised because it was believed (and tis true) that by doing so the party in power will double the vote, The Republican party was the majority political party in 1919.
The Republican party was also the majority political party when the 15th amendment was passed.
Since the Presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson, culturally, the Republican party has become the old Democratic party, economically it has remained the party of the wealthy., the trusts, the oligarchs, the plutocrats. And that is why we have the Techfascists, financiers, corporations, racists, homophobes, eugenics, xenophobes in power as a regime.
The Democratic party never found it's footing as, until LBJ it was the party of the working man and the racists., and unable to reinvent itself, it became the party of Republican lite.
Their goal is not only the US of A but the whole world! Look at the odious attack on Europe, and other previous allies. Trump and company are even lending US public money to dicators in the making. See Argentina. Wait for Venezuela as the stupid new real peace price winner has dedicated this foul- smelling medal to trump!! Mama mia. Fascists of all countries unite unite !
It is increasingly common to see and hear MAGA voters bah like Yarvin's sheep, and who are fine with being told what to do because they think their shepherd's dogs will look out for them. Many voters seem to accept the capitalist myth that if you are rich you must be smarter than they are, and therefore deserve to rule. They fail to grasp that the Techbros are not smarter, just more ruthless than they are. Their proletariat notions are strengthened by a social "herd mentality" - those Trump rallies. "We must be right because look how many of us support Trump."
As a psychologist, I do take umbrage with the notion that herd mentality reflects democracy as the norm in the animal world. That overlooks studies that have pointed out that all species in the so-called "animal kingdom" have leaders - ruthless "alpha males" who assert leadership by vanquishing any challengers. Being Alpha entitles them to get first shot at mating with whomever they choose - that is Darwinian. That is in line with the capitalist dominance that billionaires represent. Humans are not sheep or deer or apes. We just feel more secure in groups. It is reassuring that all alpha males are finally vanquished either by a foe or by lack of confidence within the herd.
It depends on what behavior you are looking at. In a herd or a pack, the alpha has mating rights, and other males are submissive. Yet when you assess pack behavior, they do act democratically. The Alpha male's job is to protect his position,his mating rights, and his offspring, he is not the movement decision maker.
The Indian tribes has a similar structure. White man thinks only of the war chief, like Sitting Bull or Geronimo,woodland tribes had a paramount chief, but among the Iroquois confederation, chiefs were elected by the squaws.
There was a hunting chief, a movement chief, in other words the General in charge of transportation, a chief in charge of farming.
The leader was not the dictator though, he ruled by consent of the people, so long as he had their trust and confidence.
Ah yes, trust and confidence, there's the rub...that's what 40% of the American electorate has in the Trump/Republican Party. It must be conceded that the forty plus years of Republican misinformation has (very successfully) attempted to put in the heads of any gullible supporters just the opposite of what they would have learned if they had really observed and studied our government and related problems. So, in contrast to the lions or horses, who depend upon their natural senses to pick their leaders, our country's senses have been misled by cherry-picked misinformation fed in tasty, you-have-been-wronged, feel-good dollops, by outside interests.
Unfortunately, those alpha males (usually) often do a heck of a lot of damage (as did G Khan, Atilla, Hitler - and in our time, Trump) before they are finally vanquished, so I do not find that particularly reassuring.
a. Curtis Yarvin is a half-wit. Nay. He's an eighth-wit, b/c he wants to round up wastes-of-life [his definition, of course] and use them as bio-fuel to propel municipal buses — I kid you not.
b. The US has always been the oligarchs' [read gangsters'] paradise. To wit:
In the early [till abt 1855] United States, most voters were required to own property or meet tax-paying thresholds. These restrictions were gradually lifted starting in the early 19th century; however, at the nation’s founding, suffrage was tightly limited to White male property owners.
One of my literary analogies for the early days?
"Lord of the Flies," and it seems we're heading back there.
Vote, Prole, VOTE !!!
Hey or should I say hay, cow pies were a "thing", so is dung in other places. You missed the chance to say I sh*t you not.
Other than that, Sir, you really nailed the politics.
Thx. I had a Johnny Carson flashback.
Change of subject; I just got email from the Ink, followed a link and what to my bloodshot eyes should appear, no it was not reindeer, but a picture of Steve Bannon and his good chum Noah Chomsky at Epstein's.
I have personally been suspicious of Chomsky, especially since he outed himself as a Putinistsky;, as has so many darlings on the left like Amy Goodman.
Ah for the good ole days of Marxism, the fools actually believed the USSR was Marxist and that Putin is a proper heir.
Some pictures here at this link: https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/latest-epstein-photos-released-today-files-trump-gates-bannon-d3f9c6j6q?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqfKUJ6h-o7zZy0v1javacL4Af4TfUR7qb2EKEtWu-QDmew3T3t59GtL5wpxww%3D%3D&gaa_ts=69405f09&gaa_sig=RjTOFkHkwIPmHcPrxotf_d11owls13ODhCepEZZFQrZUHnZJQGsi4A9XovBDxdHQ9cqop4FLi3gCMtn5XJmInA%3D%3D
America was not a democracy until the 15th 17th and 19th Amendment.
I do not think that Thomas Jefferson believe in a full fledged demos, voting.
His democratic republic was the rule of propertied people, which at the time included propertied blacks and women (in some state) for instance in NJ property owning blacks and women could vote until disenfranched in 1807
1789
The Constitution of the United States recognizes that the states have the power to set voting requirements. A few states allowed free Black men to vote, and New Jersey also included unmarried and widowed women who owned property.[1] Generally, states limited this right to property-owning or tax-paying White males (about 6% of the population).[2]
Georgia removes property requirement for voting.[3]
1790s
1790
The Naturalization Act of 1790 allows free White persons born outside of the United States to become citizens. However, since each state set its own requirements for voting, this Act (and its successor Naturalization Act of 1795) did not automatically grant these naturalized citizens the right to vote.[4]
1791
Vermont is admitted as a new state, giving the vote to all men regardless of color or property ownership.[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_voting_rights_in_the_United_States
Thomas Jefferson visited a Baptist business meeting in Danville, VA and was so alarmed by the bickering that it left a distaste in his mouth for democracy of the common man.
1792
Sir,you are right about Curtis Yarvin.Why is there not pushback against him. Why are we letting him espouse those malignant views without pushback.
Easy. Not unlike Jackass De Vance, C.Y. is a creature of Petey Thiel's billions. Untouchable therefore.
Peter Thiel is an enigma, something is going on. The Republican party is notoriously homophobic, yet it attracts an incredible number of gays
Thiel is married to a man, Matt Danzeisen; they married in 2017 in a surprise wedding in Vienna,. Some say that Benny Johnson and Charlie Kirk were gay, that Nick Fuentes is as well, When CPAC had it's convention in Phoenix, Grindr went wild as did male escort services. Then ther is Ms Lady Bugs Graham, and the wealthy Log Cabin Republicans.
Then again, there are black NAZI's like Mark Robinson and NAZI Jews like Stephen Miller., even Israel has its share like Netanyahu and the Likkud party of orthodox.
Hypocrites all, but then the easiest mode of self ego protection is to criticize and accuse others of having one's own desires or proclivities.
Yet it boggles the mind,. Like the signs I saw, Feminist and Queers for Palestine, neither would last a day in Palestine or any Muslim country.
I guess we could start with Peter Thiel.I don't think anyone is untouchable.
Grab a pitchfork, then. I've got a torch.
You could say some taking back has already begun.....
The Epstein Bill, Governors Newsom, Walz & Pritzger fighting back, Mamdani elected in NYC, Higgins elected in Miami, NO Kings movement, fighting ICE, and now the gerrymandering rejection by the Republicans in Indiana.
That was the good news. The bad news is the plan to take over the Western Hemisphere is real. The resources will be stolen and the TechBros would gain ultimate control of the approximately one billion people. It's insane. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) just talked about their Technocracy bullsh*t:
Trump FLAILS To Turn Around His BOTCHED Presidency
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DqHUXJj8Y4V0
We are going to suffer a huge health care crisis. Dems must tell the stories. The pain may force the issue---FINALLY. I believe the herd will do what is best in the end. See you in the streets.
If, and only if we actually have a valid election.
"Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything". Joe Stalin.
That is my fear Daniel. Redistricting, voter caging, voter ID laws, the 100's of Voter Suppression laws enacted in red states. restrictions on mail in voting, reducing the number of ballot boxes and voting booths, MAGA election commissions, Dominion voting machines was just bought by Sc ott Leiendecker
Scott Leiendecker former GOP operative with ties to Trump ally Ed Martin now owns election equipment used in 29 states/DC/Puerto Rico after acquiring Dominion Voting Systems.
Ed Martin was too exteme for the Senate to appoint as US Attorney for DC
So Trump has appointed him as Pardons Attorney andDirector of the Weaponization Working Group, tasked with investigating alleged "weaponization" of the DOJ.
That's a lot of county clerks to corrupt for the House. I'm hopeful, if the turnout is huge.
Alis, I fear that The Epstein Bill, Governors Newsom, Walz & Pritzger fighting back, Mamdani elected in NYC, Higgins elected in Miami, NO Kings movement, fighting ICE, and now the gerrymandering rejection by the Republicans in Indiana." Will lull the populace into complacency. one step forward, two steps back. A small victory here and there is celebrated as evidence that the tide is going on, but what goes out comes back in.
You would think that with this small victories, including lower court decisions, that there would be some adjustment, some acknowledgement by the regime, yet there isn't.
It is plowing full steam ahead, and even ignors judicial rulings, steals elections. with all of this "setbacks" Trump signaled that he isn't going anywhere, by tearing downthe East Wing and blinging the White House, hanging full giant banners of his visage hung from government buildings, and now authorizing a silver dollar with his on both obverse and reverse.
Evidently it takes an anvil to fall on peoples heads before the get a clue, and the longer we wait and hope that (non existing) institutions will save us, the deeper we are mired in the quicksand of authoritarianism.
Right, as you have clearly noted, every headline in WaPo and most other media make the smallest hint seem like a great turnaround for liberal causes, so that when you find out what actually was said or what happened, you have to be discouraged at democracy's chances for survival.
Alis,all the good points you brought up give us a little hope. We must remember we in the process of a complete " Nazi" takeover of our Gov't and unless thee is more pushback than are having the " Nazi Infrastructure" will continue. There must be massive pushback against the " Technonazis" who wish to control every part of our lives. There should be massive pushback against CNBC,Wall Street,the Supreme Court,the Federal Reserve( who exists for the benefit of the billionaires and who gleefully reduces interest rates to kill the savers and seniors who have savings).Pushback against the churches,synogogues who do not defend the right of immigrants who have no police record,whose only problem is they are "brownskinned".
Exposure, exposure, exposure. Throw in a little derision and we have a really good chance, David.
RICO, RICO, RICO — derisive, enough? They know that’s their future if Demos get back in office. This is a battle for right to exist — on both sides. Finally, the average citizen is smart enough and has the numbers to really look at the other side of the coin of humanity and be sickened by it instead of awe struck and worshipful. We have to build on this, and grow up as a population and see the addiction to power over others and define morbid wealth as part of this sickness that it is.
"Massive pushback" of the Trump/Republican extreme right actions of 2025 must include (on the part of Democrats) those 'progressive" actions that would be considered radical left today (but only relative to the far right,) but only what the people in FDR's day (the 40's and 50's) liked, and would have considered necessary. Today's centrist Democrats would have been seen as wild-eyed far rightist radicals prior to Trump or even Reagan. It is what the Republicans always wanted, but wouldn't admit until it was (or is) a fiat accompli under Trump.
What a lovely, intelligent way to explain the purpose of a democratic society, based in nature and scientific observations. Individuals can make mistakes, but decisions based on the group's wisdom and experience will lead to survival of the whole. It is common sense, in a way that can be deeply registered as true. And it fits well with Darwin's theories, which in my experience are usually explained poorly, or simply short-handed as to defy his conclusions. Survival of the fittest never referred to the physically or mentally strong, it means the most adaptable to changing conditions. Recent studies propose that group activities -- such as singing or chanting can bring the group forward as it helps maintain cohesiveness as the society moves towards a goal.
Pete Seeger said that there is nothing that cannot be fixed with a song. Lets join together and sing "This land is my land" as we march...to the polls
What I would like to see is the extension of "Direct Democracy" to all states in the union.
Only about half are doing this in some fashion. Congress should authorize this for all states, allowing each state to have citizen sourced initiatives and referendums for statutes and amendments to their constitutions. This would allow states to move ahead in the face of their legislatures on issues like ending partisan gerrymandering, ratifying the National Popular Vote (NPV), and legalizing abortion.
- Side note: Congress must give the eventual NVP full protection from SCOTUS interference. I'd bet this SCOTUS would salivate at a chance to destroy this effort to give The People true free and fair elections.
If we succumb to MAGAlitis, then our group doesn't DESERVE to survive. Next year's elections will pretty much determine where we are going. I am not optimistic. Our species is corrupted by power and the love of money. Neither will matter when we self-immolate.
Keeping score and awarding merit and punishing the losers in what is always a contest may not be in our genes, but it is in our bloodstream. We learn very early that, in a meritocracy, which is what has been created for us, it's about performance, discipline, and keeping up. Every movement, every misstep, every red mark on the assignment places us somewhere in the hierarchy and tells us if we are trying hard enough and "living up to our potential" We are compulsive about being graded and grading others. We believe everything can and must be measured. The teacher and the school measure our learning and our degree of compliance and how well we perform. We are immersed in the idea of merit and behavioral indices and avoiding any exception to the rules, regardless how absurd or arbitrary they are. Instead of fostering individuality and mutual respect, our institutions and especially our schools teach and encourage competition and winning at all cost. Of course, we have a meritocracy. Of course, having more money and influence means you are superior. That is the primary purpose of the twelve-year indoctrination process which is mandatory to guarantee that the message gets sufficiently drilled into our skulls. If you are okay with that whole authority-based paradigm, then do not complain when the outcome is not working out the way you expected.
So your solution then is an educated ruling class and an illiterate lower class. For that is where your ideation takes us.
Now there's an idea that even Jefferson and Franklin might have bought into, as long as those comprising the ruling class were educationally and intellectually meritorious - and not necessarily wealthy, land-owning, and/or influential.
See Amartya Senn "Political freedoms refer to the ability of the people to have a voice in government and to be able to scrutinise the authorities." Also that no democracy has ever experienced a famine. Quote taken from Wikipedia.
In Rome the elite would not support the masses. The masses then left Rome and the elite could not find the basic needs in the city. The people forced the elites to acknowledge that the people needs had to be met if they wanted a functioning city. This is what needs to happen worldwide. The people must stop helping the elites that oppose meeting the needs of the people from getting any services they offer. Let them live without social help. We must force the billionaires and their group to wear clothing that signals they support the people in their needs so any actions on their part can be criminalized in wearing such clothing while doing things to keep the people from meeting their needs.
Fall of Rome. Google: Historians debate which factor was most important, but most agree it was a combination for the fall of Rome, a slow decay rather than a sudden "fall," with the Western Empire collapsing in 476 CE while the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire continued for another thousand years.
IMHO lead poison, plagues, climate change.
Key Causes:
Military & Invasions: Constant pressure from Germanic tribes, Huns, and others, combined with an overstretched military and reliance on non-Roman soldiers, weakened defenses. MAGA would say it was mosty due to immigration.
Economic Problems: Massive military spending, high taxes, inflation, and a disruption of trade (especially after losing North Africa to Vandals) crippled the economy, while the end of expansion dried up the slave supply.
Political Instability: A poor system for emperor succession led to frequent civil wars, assassinations, and a lack of consistent, strong leadership, making unified action difficult.
Empire Division: The split between the Eastern and Western Empires meant resources were divided, weakening the West, which held fewer wealthy provinces.
Social & Cultural Shifts: Some historians point to the rise of Christianity, which shifted focus and resources, and a general decline in civic duty or moral fiber, though these are debated.
Environmental Factors: Climate change, plagues, and population shifts also played a role, impacting agriculture and stability.
Cannot deny what the Romans and Greeks left us, but with a proper democracy, we get to reject the stupid and cruel stuff. Still working on doing that.
It wasn't until 1776 that we broke with feudalism.
The BS that people like Yarvin spreads is just a rationalization for a form of feudalism.
Trump is just a bully. Everyone else is a mark.
Very clear summary for only three sentences, Daniel.
The nail in the coffin was Valentian III murdering the General Flavius Aetius.
Flavius had defeated Attila at the battle of Chalons, and Valention was fearful that his popularity would threaten his rule so he recalled him to Ravenna and stabbed him to death. Thus died the last competent Roman General, and their was none to stand in the way of Odocaer the Ostrogoth,who defeated Valentians successor marking the end of the Western Roman Empire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odoacer
Aetius has been called "Last of the Romans" but he was actually born in Bulgaria, but by that time, all who lived in conquered lands were Roman citizens.
Rome was in decline earlier, it had no more territory to conquer, it was stopped by the Germanic tribes, the Parthians stopped it's eastward expansion. It fell in on itself. pacified the Gauls, Brythonic and people under it's control, unable to defend themselves, they relied on Rome to protect them from the Huns, Vandals, Ostrogoths
In a word Rome has become soft, lazy, corrupt. No longer would the Roman, the Latin and people of what we now call Italy, join the legions, the legions were made up of and led by people from the Empire, North Afica, Spain, Syria Palaestina, Constantine was from Illyria encompassing parts of modern-day Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia.
Soft, corrupt, lazy, with not real leadership Rome was ripe for the pickings.
The turning point came when Rome shifted from the Gladius (the short offensive Spanish Sword)to the longer spatha and the shields mutated from the classic Roman scutum to smaller round shields for skirmishers (parma, aspida) and eventually developing elongated kite shields (or teardrop shields) for cavalry and heavy infantry by the 8th century These kite shields were subsequently adopted by the Normans
Interesting history, that, and still, the Roman Empire lasted twice as long as has the American experiment, so far.
Technology, and in specific communication technology makes the difference, In the days of the Roman Empire it took a month for news to travel. Shit the Battle of New Orleans was fought three weeks after the Treaty of Paris.
After Harold Godwinson beat the force of Harald Hardata and his brother Tostig Godwinson outside of York in 1066, it took him 2 weeks to catch William at Hastings, and that was a forced march. Some 250-280 miles by road, today.
Anyway technology makes the difference, especially information technology,
On top of that we, today, are much more privileged, comforted and soft than the people at that time.
When you are accustomed to living under the thumb of the ruling class, the elite, you see no way out. The Roman saw no alternative to the life they were living, change came from without,not within.
Serfs had no way of getting out from under the thumb of the lord of the manor. It was only a labor shortage brought about by the plague, that finally resulted in the proliferation of freemen.
I fear we are in the same situation, people are so comfortable, that the frog is being boiled, and the only hope of change is from without, an external factor or circumstance.
Trump's superpower is America's consumption, our consumption is driven by debt, so long as we, as a nation and a people can go into debt, we will be enabling Trump and the fascists.
He gets the worlds leaders, well our former allies, and weaker nations, to come crawling to his feet and debasing themselves, begging him to buy their wares.
BTW until the mid 20th Century TB was called consumption. Consumption is nature's way of turning matter into waste. We consume animals and vegetables and convert them into feces. We consume plastic and it winds up in the ocean killing critters that think it is food, we consume glass, metal and plastic and it winds up in landfills.
At least feces recycles into the ecosystem, our glass, plastics and some metals don't.
IMO the real purpose of tariff's is to debase other countries, and force them to kiss his feet.
None of this would happen, if they didn't get together and tell him to go get fucked. If Europe stood as a single entity as a countervailing power to Trump then he would fold.
But each country is venal, has it's own priority and problems. As I understand it Belgium is holding the Russian sanctioned funds, and is dragging it's heels, when Germany and the EU says it wants to use those funds to defend Ukraine.
The only reason I can fathom is that Belgium is not a rich country on it's own and has been using the funds to backstop it's own deficits.
None of them eligble to join SOI.
None of whom, eligible to join what?
Sons of Italy.
I get it, not even Roman Emperors are eligible to join SOI. LOL And their vaunted Christopher Columbus was a Jew. That doesn't sit well with the SOI.
Incidentally he set sail for the very day that the expulsion Edict took effect
Jul 31, 1492, Columbus didn't set sail until Aug 3rd because of delays coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences
I've studied the history in some depth and visited most of what was their empire. From what I've read there are over 200 theories to why Rome "fell"--you covered a lot here though the steady drain of silver to the East is another one, and certainly Mediterranean trade was declining for a long time. But actually most of the people in 476 wouldn't have noticed that a German king replaced a puppet emperor in Ravenna. Maybe things actually were more stable after that.
Anyway, take a look at the 250th anniversary coins "(Semiquincentennial is a mouthful.) The dime's one year slogan, "Liberty Over Tyranny", the quarter's "A New Nation Conceived in Liberty", and especially the half's "Knowledge is the Only Guarantee of True Liberty" could all be taken as slaps at the current administration. It just depends on how seriously you take their messages.
"Liberty." Willis Carto established the "Liberty Lobby" in 1958, billing it as a conservative, anti-Communist "pressure group for patriotism". Over time, it became known for its advocacy of white supremacy and antisemitism.
Affiliated organizations.
Institute for Historical Review (IHR): Founded in 1978, the IHR was presented as an academic organization focused on historical revisionism but primarily promoted Holocaust denial and defended Nazism.
Noontide Press: Carto established this publisher, which distributed extremist and racist literature, including early works of Holocaust denial.
The Barnes Review: After losing control of IHR and Noontide Press in the mid-1990s, Carto started this publication, continuing to focus on historical revisionism and Holocaust denial.
American Free Press: Launched immediately after the Liberty Lobby's bankruptcy in 2001 by Carto and former Spotlight staff, this newspaper published antisemitic and racist content.
Youth for George Wallace/National Youth Alliance: Carto organized "Youth for George Wallace" for the 1968 campaign, later forming the National Youth Alliance (NYA). He eventually lost control of the NYA to William Luther Pierce, who transformed it into the neo-Nazi National Alliance.
Populist Party: Carto was involved in founding this 1980s political party, which provided a platform for white supremacists and Ku Klux Klan members like David Duke.
The American Mercury: Carto acquired this magazine in 1966 and used it to disseminate his views until 1980.
Sun Radio Network: The Liberty Lobby acquired this network in 1989 to promote Carto's views through talk radio.
Foundation to Defend the First Amendment: This was one of several non-profit entities used by Carto to fund like-minded individuals and groups.
Although Liberty, in various forms (wild hair, big busted, seated, walking, standing, etc.) has been on U.S. coins from 1793 to 1947 after which dead white guys completely took over. I think that is what they are going back to now.
Daniel,good post.I think we can credit the White Christian Nationalists for the success of the " Trump Nazi Movement" . Can you just imagine a "Dept of Faith" in the White House for a "Nazi" .
Thom, how do you put so much helpful, pertinent info in one article?! Thank you
It is the opinion of scholars that Classical Greek was the birthplace of democracy, and Athens in particular. But only property owning men could hold office. The Roman republic was of the same ilk, senators were chosen from the patricians, the wealthy property owning men, and the consuls (two of them) were chosen from among the senators and ruled for a limited term. Until Julius Caesar.
The 1789 Constitution provided the same form of government, only they left it to the states as to manage the voting, including eligibility.
The first category to be enfranchised (state by state) was all white males, that was New Hampshire in 1792, then slowly state by state others followed.
The party that enfranchises the most, reaps a temporary dividend, as the newly enfranchised will vote for them.
Women were enfranchised because it was believed (and tis true) that by doing so the party in power will double the vote, The Republican party was the majority political party in 1919.
The Republican party was also the majority political party when the 15th amendment was passed.
Since the Presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson, culturally, the Republican party has become the old Democratic party, economically it has remained the party of the wealthy., the trusts, the oligarchs, the plutocrats. And that is why we have the Techfascists, financiers, corporations, racists, homophobes, eugenics, xenophobes in power as a regime.
The Democratic party never found it's footing as, until LBJ it was the party of the working man and the racists., and unable to reinvent itself, it became the party of Republican lite.
Their goal is not only the US of A but the whole world! Look at the odious attack on Europe, and other previous allies. Trump and company are even lending US public money to dicators in the making. See Argentina. Wait for Venezuela as the stupid new real peace price winner has dedicated this foul- smelling medal to trump!! Mama mia. Fascists of all countries unite unite !
It is increasingly common to see and hear MAGA voters bah like Yarvin's sheep, and who are fine with being told what to do because they think their shepherd's dogs will look out for them. Many voters seem to accept the capitalist myth that if you are rich you must be smarter than they are, and therefore deserve to rule. They fail to grasp that the Techbros are not smarter, just more ruthless than they are. Their proletariat notions are strengthened by a social "herd mentality" - those Trump rallies. "We must be right because look how many of us support Trump."
As a psychologist, I do take umbrage with the notion that herd mentality reflects democracy as the norm in the animal world. That overlooks studies that have pointed out that all species in the so-called "animal kingdom" have leaders - ruthless "alpha males" who assert leadership by vanquishing any challengers. Being Alpha entitles them to get first shot at mating with whomever they choose - that is Darwinian. That is in line with the capitalist dominance that billionaires represent. Humans are not sheep or deer or apes. We just feel more secure in groups. It is reassuring that all alpha males are finally vanquished either by a foe or by lack of confidence within the herd.
It depends on what behavior you are looking at. In a herd or a pack, the alpha has mating rights, and other males are submissive. Yet when you assess pack behavior, they do act democratically. The Alpha male's job is to protect his position,his mating rights, and his offspring, he is not the movement decision maker.
The Indian tribes has a similar structure. White man thinks only of the war chief, like Sitting Bull or Geronimo,woodland tribes had a paramount chief, but among the Iroquois confederation, chiefs were elected by the squaws.
There was a hunting chief, a movement chief, in other words the General in charge of transportation, a chief in charge of farming.
The leader was not the dictator though, he ruled by consent of the people, so long as he had their trust and confidence.
Ah yes, trust and confidence, there's the rub...that's what 40% of the American electorate has in the Trump/Republican Party. It must be conceded that the forty plus years of Republican misinformation has (very successfully) attempted to put in the heads of any gullible supporters just the opposite of what they would have learned if they had really observed and studied our government and related problems. So, in contrast to the lions or horses, who depend upon their natural senses to pick their leaders, our country's senses have been misled by cherry-picked misinformation fed in tasty, you-have-been-wronged, feel-good dollops, by outside interests.
Unfortunately, those alpha males (usually) often do a heck of a lot of damage (as did G Khan, Atilla, Hitler - and in our time, Trump) before they are finally vanquished, so I do not find that particularly reassuring.
In psychology, "behavior analysis" can make the subject conform.
B.F. Skinner.