Oh we will have an election already, we must maintain the charade, and that is what it will be, a charade, Just like elections in Hungrary, Orban gifted Trump with his playbook.
The problem is that many democratic ballots are being "challenged" and they are not counted.
The Dems never investigate. Many people are kicked of the voter list for no other reason than that they are black/Hispanic or young. Many polling stations are closed in Democratic districts, Ballot Dropbox's are removed/voter i.d. laws etc.. The GOP does everything in its power to prevent democrats from voting. The Dems are weak and have never challenged the lies and conspiracy theories about Biden, they never defend their own.
Bernie and a few Dems have the guts to speak out but the majority of Dems are bureaucrats happy to sit back and collect money from the bribers on Capitol Hill.
More general electoral reform is definitely critical. Although we currently have some expectation of meaningful elections they are hampered by voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other election subversion techniques, highly influenced by oligarch-owned media, and our options are largely between politicians wholly owned by big money and those somewhat less influenced by it. Moves towards electoral reform are quashed in Congress by “moderates” or overturned by a corrupt judiciary. The next step is complete sham elections without any real opposition and suppression of dissent by the military as seen in outright dictatorships.
Only a concerted resistance can turn around this dangerous trend and move towards restoring freedom and democracy. The 2026 midterms are the first critical milestone.
You can make it a national holiday but the vote count might be bumped a little. People would consider it a longer weekend and not vote because they are traveling home from a trip. People will vote when they feel some really serious need to OR a candidate that they want in office. So many people this past election did not vote and they could have. Voter apathy is our enemy.
From Meidas -- "Since the ruling late on Friday, Musk, Vance and their allies have called for the judge to be impeached, and have also suggested that DOGE and Musk will simply ignore the order of the court and continue with what they are doing illegally.
… Elon Musk: “A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW!”
"… JD Vance: “If a judge tried to tell a General how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the Attorney General in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power."
If I were the judge I'd enter an order to show cause why they are not in contempt.
Buffett is highly invested in China w/ Musk's competitors.
"Warren Buffett-backed BYD and Elon Musk's Tesla are both involved in the electric vehicle (EV) market, and have faced off against each other in recent years. BYD is China's top car brand and the world's top EV manufacturer. Musk has said that Chinese automakers could "demolish" other companies if trade barriers aren't established."
"Tesla (TSLA) losses mounted to more than 3% after news that the company's electric-vehicle sales in China dropped 11.5% in January, according to the latest data from the China Passenger Car Association. Tesla stock is now more than 9% below its 10-week moving average.2 days ago."
In the third quarter of 2024, Buffett's Berkshire further slashed its massive Apple (AAPL) stake by 25%, leaving it with 300 million shares in the iPhone maker. Berkshire Hathaway also sold Bank of America (BAC), another major holding, among other key Q3 stock trades.
In Q4 2024, Berkshire Hathaway continued to sell Bank of America stock; hiked its stake in Sirius XM (SIRI); and bought shares of Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and VeriSign (VRSN), an internet domain-name registry company. Berkshire continues to buy Siri stock in the current quarter, filings showed Tuesday.
More details about Berkshire's Q4 stock buys and sells will come in a 13F filing in mid February.
Stocks
As of February 2025, these are the top stocks in Berkshire's portfolio by number of shares, based on 13F and other regulatory filings tracked whalewisdom.com:
Bank of America (BAC), 766.3 million
Coca-Cola (KO), 400 million
Kraft Heinz (KHC), 325.6 million
Apple (AAPL), 300 million
Occidental Petroleum (OXY), 264.3 million
American Express (AXP), 151.6 million
Chevron (CVX), 118.6 million
SiriusXM (SIRI), 117.5 million
Nu Holdings (NU), 86.4 million
Citigroup (C), 55.2 million
All told, Buffett and his investment team oversee around 50 stocks in Berkshire's equity portfolio, which is valued at more than $300 billion.
If I may, Oregon has all mail-in voting, if one wishes to use it. We receive our ballots, sit at the kitchen table and mark them.
We place them into the post-paid envelope, sign the back, and mail them back.
In a week or so, one of us checks with the Oregon Secretary of State 'My Vote' website, to make sure it was received in good order, and doesn't need a 'cure.'
The Oregon voting system is among the most secure, accurate, convenient of all states, with 1 of the highest rates of participation, but I still think Election Day as a national holiday is a good idea. Most states still have voting at poll stations.
Voting should be a holiday, or a holi-week, or even a holi-month, to get out the vote. It should be a celebratory occasion, with food, music, and dancing. "If you haven't voted, you haven't lived" should be the motto.
We have two major parties. Republicans want few people to vote. Democrats want all people to vote. Republicans refuse to do anything to make voting easier. And do everything they can come up with to make voting harder. Now. If the current administration has it's way, nobody will ever vote again. Trump said it out loud. "Vote for me in this election and you will never have to vote again."
Right, Captain my Captain. White men only no Black people. I am still glad I voted for Kamala and not the people destroying everything we know is good, Governance! Thom.
I am all for making election day a holiday. However I find it really sad that so many folks just don't
vote even when it is made easier. Here in Hawaii primary elections are on Saturday to help get more people to vote ( General elections though have to be on a Tuesday as we know). Now we have all mail-in-voting. Neither has really helped. I think many people just take democracy for granted ( really... now in the face of Trump and Musk), or feel that their vote doesn't really make a difference ( It does people. Most elections are very, very close).
If we don't stop Trump/Musk we won't have another real election.
Make he day Trump/Vance is impeached a national holiday.
Oh we will have an election already, we must maintain the charade, and that is what it will be, a charade, Just like elections in Hungrary, Orban gifted Trump with his playbook.
The problem is that many democratic ballots are being "challenged" and they are not counted.
The Dems never investigate. Many people are kicked of the voter list for no other reason than that they are black/Hispanic or young. Many polling stations are closed in Democratic districts, Ballot Dropbox's are removed/voter i.d. laws etc.. The GOP does everything in its power to prevent democrats from voting. The Dems are weak and have never challenged the lies and conspiracy theories about Biden, they never defend their own.
Bernie and a few Dems have the guts to speak out but the majority of Dems are bureaucrats happy to sit back and collect money from the bribers on Capitol Hill.
More general electoral reform is definitely critical. Although we currently have some expectation of meaningful elections they are hampered by voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other election subversion techniques, highly influenced by oligarch-owned media, and our options are largely between politicians wholly owned by big money and those somewhat less influenced by it. Moves towards electoral reform are quashed in Congress by “moderates” or overturned by a corrupt judiciary. The next step is complete sham elections without any real opposition and suppression of dissent by the military as seen in outright dictatorships.
Only a concerted resistance can turn around this dangerous trend and move towards restoring freedom and democracy. The 2026 midterms are the first critical milestone.
RESIST!!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/thomhartmann/p/how-oligarchy-works-who-wins-who-97d
You can make it a national holiday but the vote count might be bumped a little. People would consider it a longer weekend and not vote because they are traveling home from a trip. People will vote when they feel some really serious need to OR a candidate that they want in office. So many people this past election did not vote and they could have. Voter apathy is our enemy.
We need to try everything possible !
Trump/Musk overreach could make it possible.
This is a good start. https://statedemocracydefenders.org/fund/new-interim-order-locks-elon-musk-out-of-the-u-s-treasury/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
From Meidas -- "Since the ruling late on Friday, Musk, Vance and their allies have called for the judge to be impeached, and have also suggested that DOGE and Musk will simply ignore the order of the court and continue with what they are doing illegally.
… Elon Musk: “A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW!”
"… JD Vance: “If a judge tried to tell a General how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the Attorney General in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power."
If I were the judge I'd enter an order to show cause why they are not in contempt.
https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/
Newsflash: Warren Buffet just sold 133 Billion in stock, he knows something that we don't.
https://medium.com/@jayden_levitt/warren-buffett-just-sold-133-billion-in-stock-does-he-know-something-we-dont-94e8ed5cbc3d
Have to know what he sold.
Buffett is highly invested in China w/ Musk's competitors.
"Warren Buffett-backed BYD and Elon Musk's Tesla are both involved in the electric vehicle (EV) market, and have faced off against each other in recent years. BYD is China's top car brand and the world's top EV manufacturer. Musk has said that Chinese automakers could "demolish" other companies if trade barriers aren't established."
"Tesla (TSLA) losses mounted to more than 3% after news that the company's electric-vehicle sales in China dropped 11.5% in January, according to the latest data from the China Passenger Car Association. Tesla stock is now more than 9% below its 10-week moving average.2 days ago."
"BYD Shares Soar 21% This Week as Traders Await Autopilot Update" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-07/byd-shares-soar-20-this-week-as-traders-await-autopilot-update?embedded-checkout=true
My wife did some google research informed me that was old (Nov 24) NEWS.
I know about the drop in Tesla sales, world wide, more so in Europe than here, but that doesn't seem to have affect Musk much.
In the third quarter of 2024, Buffett's Berkshire further slashed its massive Apple (AAPL) stake by 25%, leaving it with 300 million shares in the iPhone maker. Berkshire Hathaway also sold Bank of America (BAC), another major holding, among other key Q3 stock trades.
In Q4 2024, Berkshire Hathaway continued to sell Bank of America stock; hiked its stake in Sirius XM (SIRI); and bought shares of Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and VeriSign (VRSN), an internet domain-name registry company. Berkshire continues to buy Siri stock in the current quarter, filings showed Tuesday.
More details about Berkshire's Q4 stock buys and sells will come in a 13F filing in mid February.
Stocks
As of February 2025, these are the top stocks in Berkshire's portfolio by number of shares, based on 13F and other regulatory filings tracked whalewisdom.com:
Bank of America (BAC), 766.3 million
Coca-Cola (KO), 400 million
Kraft Heinz (KHC), 325.6 million
Apple (AAPL), 300 million
Occidental Petroleum (OXY), 264.3 million
American Express (AXP), 151.6 million
Chevron (CVX), 118.6 million
SiriusXM (SIRI), 117.5 million
Nu Holdings (NU), 86.4 million
Citigroup (C), 55.2 million
All told, Buffett and his investment team oversee around 50 stocks in Berkshire's equity portfolio, which is valued at more than $300 billion.
It seems that if one is a gambler and likes the stock market, it would be smart to follow Buffet
Countries with mandatory voting https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-with-mandatory-voting
If I may, Oregon has all mail-in voting, if one wishes to use it. We receive our ballots, sit at the kitchen table and mark them.
We place them into the post-paid envelope, sign the back, and mail them back.
In a week or so, one of us checks with the Oregon Secretary of State 'My Vote' website, to make sure it was received in good order, and doesn't need a 'cure.'
That solves the necessity for a voting 'holiday.'
IMO ...
The Oregon voting system is among the most secure, accurate, convenient of all states, with 1 of the highest rates of participation, but I still think Election Day as a national holiday is a good idea. Most states still have voting at poll stations.
Voting should be a holiday, or a holi-week, or even a holi-month, to get out the vote. It should be a celebratory occasion, with food, music, and dancing. "If you haven't voted, you haven't lived" should be the motto.
We have two major parties. Republicans want few people to vote. Democrats want all people to vote. Republicans refuse to do anything to make voting easier. And do everything they can come up with to make voting harder. Now. If the current administration has it's way, nobody will ever vote again. Trump said it out loud. "Vote for me in this election and you will never have to vote again."
Right, Captain my Captain. White men only no Black people. I am still glad I voted for Kamala and not the people destroying everything we know is good, Governance! Thom.
What? And be like the rest of the "civilized" world? Or do we no longer qualify for that appellation?
Australian citizens MUST vote! They’re a free country.
And also make voting mandatory with a fine if you don’t vote like they do in Australia !
Many government policy could us updating. Not the way Trump and Musk and their minions are doing. They are sociopaths
I am all for making election day a holiday. However I find it really sad that so many folks just don't
vote even when it is made easier. Here in Hawaii primary elections are on Saturday to help get more people to vote ( General elections though have to be on a Tuesday as we know). Now we have all mail-in-voting. Neither has really helped. I think many people just take democracy for granted ( really... now in the face of Trump and Musk), or feel that their vote doesn't really make a difference ( It does people. Most elections are very, very close).
I've long pushed for Election Day to be a national holiday. I believe it used to be a holiday in California long ago. Don't know about now.